Day Twenty

Prompt: Stormier

Capella took the stairs two at a time, trying to hurry down to breakfast. Eddie Carmichael was close at her heels, trying to keep up. He had cornered her on her way out of the common room, talking incessantly.

"I'm telling you," Eddie said as Capella whipped around a corner and descended a set of stairs rapidly. "You're a fool if you believe Dumbledore. There's no way You-Know-Who is back."

"I believe Dumbledore. If he says You-Know-Who is back, well, then he's back." Capella tried to pick up her pace without breaking into an actual run. She had never really liked Eddie, he seemed very haughty and he was really overbearing. "Besides, Harry wouldn't lie."

"Oh, he wouldn't? I beg to differ," Eddie said, an edge of mockery in his tone.

"Then go ahead and differ," she said as she stopped suddenly in the middle of the stairs, causing Eddie to nearly lose his footing. She spun around to face him. "I believe Dumbledore and I believe Harry. Plus, I knew Cedric." She narrowed her eyes at Eddie. "If you don't think You-Know-Who is back then you're insulting Cedric. He was a talented wizard and it would have taken more than a simple 'accident' – as everyone seems to be calling it – to…to…you know, kill him." She swallowed hard and turned on her heel, heading for the Great Hall. Cedric's death had been shocking and the idea of a fellow student dying was difficult to bear.

"Cedric's death was horrible, I know," Eddie said, still following her. He tipped his head back. "But I personally think Dumbledore has gone a bit mad." He folded his arms across his chest smugly.

Capella paused just before the doorway to the hall. "Well, I personally think you're nutters yourself." The lofty look on Eddie's face fell a little. "You're the one that tried to sell me a brain elixir before our O.W.L.s last year. An elixir that turned out to be powdered doxy eggs, I might add." She slipped into the hall, leaving a red-faced Eddie behind her.

"I am so sick of that egotistical little prick," Capella said as she sat down next to her sister. She made a low noise of disgust and then reached for the plate of toast. Vega just laughed and passed her the bacon. "It's bad enough that we have to deal with that thing," Capella said in a low voice as she inclined her head towards the head table where a little frog-like witch was sitting. "I don't need to hear garbage opinions from my classmates too." She looked up, searching for George; he'd get a good laugh out of Eddie's thoughts.

She searched the whole length of the Gryffindor table, even though she knew the twins always sat near the middle. There was no mischievous familiar grin pointed in her direction though, no shock of bright red hair. No George. No Fred either. "Did I miss George earlier?" She searched once more in vain.

"No," Vega said with a shrug. "He wasn't here earlier. In fact, I haven't seen a single Weasley all morning, which is very strange."

A tiny knot formed in Capella's stomach. "Yes," she murmured. "Very strange."

All day the knot in Capella's stomach grew. She searched for George every chance she got. He was no where to be found. Something must have happened, something terrible. She even kept her eyes open for the twins' best friend Lee and that Hermione girl. One of them would surely know what was going on. But she spotted neither one all day. Finally, with the knot in her stomach threatening to take over her whole body, Capella reluctantly turned in early for the night.

Within a minute of lying down on her four-poster bed Capella was startled by a frantic tapping noise at her window. She had heard that noise many times before, George had sent her many letters using Ron's hyperactive little owl. "Pig," she cried, jumping out of bed and rushing to the window. As soon as she pushed open the window, Pig flew in. The little owl was shivering and he flew to her bed and nestled into her pillow. Capella paused to glance out the window. The weather was terrible; it was getting stormier by the minute. The bare branches of the trees were nearly bent double and there was frost forming on the window ledge.

Capella closed the window and hurried over to Pig, who hooted happily. She quickly untied the rolled up piece of parchment. "Sorry Pig. I don't have any treats." The little owl didn't seem to care; he nestled further into her pillow and gave a tiny hoot of contentment. Capella sat down on the edge of her bed and unrolled the letter.

Pell,

Dad's hurt.

Capella's stomach dropped and she quickly read on.

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you what was going on sooner. We were pulled out of our beds last night with no warning. Dad's in St. Mungo's. We're all here with him.

Remember what I told you about the Order? Well, it was dad's shift and –

Here, several lines were deeply scratched out. She tried to make out what they said but couldn't.

Frogs are watching!

Capella gave a weak smile, he was talking about Umbridge. She must be monitoring the mail. Capella glanced out the window again. The weather seemed to be matching her emotions. The wind had picked up and the sky was an inky black. She turned her attention back to George's letter.

I was so torn. I wanted to come back and make sure you knew I was okay. But dad…it's so scary Pell. They think he's going to be fine, but he looks terrible. I have to be here with my family. They are so important to me. Someone has to make sure mum sleeps. She'd sit next to dad every minute if she could.

That's how much I love you Pell. I'd sit with you every minute if I could. But, right now, I have to be with my family. I'll come back to you as soon as I can. Just know, I'm thinking about you every second.

I'm sending you so much love I'm not sure Pig can carry it.

George

By the end of the letter, Capella's eyes were full of tears. A low rumble outside stole her attention and when she looked up, the tears spilled down her cheeks. Outside, the snow had started to fall, hard and fast. Both the weather and her insides were frantic. "I love you too, George," she whispered.