There was something about burn victims that sent a cold chill down Arabelle's spine. Maybe it was the horrificness of how severe some burns could be. Or maybe it was the pain that the patients were in from even minor burns. Or maybe it was because in every patient she saw Charlie. In every cry of pain she heard his voice. In every scar she saw his pale, freckled skin, and muscular body covered with burns and scars of his own. It made her palms sweat and her fingers shake. But it also made her go the extra mile with the burn patients. She had spent hours trying to perfect a new healing cream she had invented. She would stay late working on transfiguring patients scars so they were less visible and she would sneak them extra pain potions when she knew the pain was becoming too much. She treated each patient as she would if they were Charlie.
The day was long, the burn victim was a woman slightly older than herself, a potion gone wrong. She had cried from the pain of the burn, she cried from the pain of the thick healing paste being applied, and she cried for the scars left on her arms and hands. Arabelle had worked for hours trying to heal them over properly but the deep red scars were still visible. She had spent all night comforting her, telling her the scars would fade and they would barely be visible in a year or so if she applied the cream Arabelle had mixed for her. It was a long day and Arabelle was more than ready to get home.
She managed to climb the stairs to her room fairly quietly, it really was about time she moved out. The house felt more still than usual with the boys back at Hogwarts, and it made her stomach drop to know she could have been there with them. She made a promise to spend the day with Ginny tomorrow, she knew Ginny would be missing all her brothers as much as Arabelle was. They would go shopping with Molly in Diagon Alley and she would buy them each something to cheer them up, as well as something to cheer herself up too while they were at it.
There was an envelope waiting for her on her dressing table when she made it into her room. It had her name written in George's handwriting. She was surprised that they had sent her a letter so quickly, but she guessed they had probably forgotten something and were just asking for her to send it to school. Still she tore open the envelope quickly and threw herself on to the bed. A letter fell out and with it a small note fluttered to the floor. She swiped it up and written from Fred and George, she read:
Arabelle,
While we are still not happy with the fact we have to wait a year to have you come back to Hogwarts with us, we have however had some time to discuss your situation. Inside this envelope you will find a letter from Charlie. We took it out the original envelope after you kept setting them on fire every five minutes. We took it upon ourselves to make sure you read it, we know you know you're ready. Don't worry we swear we didn't read it ourselves, but you have to! We're heartbroken out here, and you owe us. So do us, and yourself a favour and hear what he has to say.
P.S tell Ginny to expect that toilet seat in 3 to 5 working days.
Lots of love,
Fred and George x
Arabelle's eyes flicked to let letter lying face down on the bed. She let curiosity finally take over. Fred and George were right, she was ready to hear Charlie out, she snatched up the letter and for those few minutes she read his words and heard his voice again, the rest of the world stood still.
Arabelle,
I don't know exactly how to start this letter, I guess the only thing I can say is sorry. Because everything I say to you in writing I know I should have said to your face the night I left. I should have woken you up, but the look in your eyes would have made me stay in a heartbeat.
You have to understand that I had to leave to follow my dreams of working out here with the dragons, you know how I always used to go on about it. But making that decision was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I miss your face already and I've only been gone a few hours. The tents here are nice and the mountain views are pretty spectacular but nothing feels like home without you around. I'm dreading going to bed, to fall asleep and wake up without you next to me makes my heart ache, so maybe I'll just stay up all night writing you letters as if you were sitting here listening to me. I can almost picture you when I close my eyes, sitting at the dressing table, your clothes lying on the ground and you're brushing your hair and laughing at the stories I'm telling you of my day. God I miss you.
I know you're angry with me, I'm angry with myself for leaving you. I understand if you don't want to talk to me straight away. But maybe when you're ready you could send a letter my way. I know I couldn't bear living out here alone without knowing how you are and that you're happy. I know that I've hurt you but please don't let it get in the way of your happiness.
I want you to know that this doesn't have to be the end for us, if you don't want it to be. I'll write to you every day that we're apart if that's what it takes to keep you. I'd do anything in the world to have you out here with me, I know you'd love it. But you're right, your path is still paved there for the moment. Maybe one day fate will bring us back together again but until then I'll think of you as much as I breathe.
Take care of yourself, and don't forget that I love you no matter how much distance is between us. Until I see your beautiful face again I'll keep you safe in my heart and our memories fresh in my mind.
Sending all my love,
Charlie x
Once again Arabelle closed her eyes and cried herself to sleep thinking only of Charlie and how much her heart longed for him.