— chapter twenty two —
WITH LOVE, GINGER

—

THE LETTER SEEMED so small in her hands. It was, really, small compared to her, and it weighed almost nothing. Like a feather, yet it seemed to hold so much meaning to her. In carefully crafted print writing that this person had trained themselves in after years of learning cursive because it was much neater and nicer to see. No elegant feature to it, so quickly written it could be passed off as carefree when Remelda knew that it took so much concentration to write just like that, fight the installed in their brains from their parents, like most other things as well.

It was beautiful, how much he had placed in every letter to be perfect in its way. No one could compare this print to his cursive, which is why she presumed he used it. The thought sent her lips into a slight curl upwards into a smile, yet the sadness lingered in the thought that she could now never see him publicly. Every meeting would be small and infrequent; she didn't even know when she would see him again or even if she would ever see him again. With the world the way it was, and her unique position in the midst of it all, it seemed so unlikely that she would be one to survive. And him, traveling and lurking in the shadows not to be caught, presumed dead to everyone, it seemed that the odds were not in their favors.

Yet here was a letter, clear evidence that their meeting weeks ago had not been another hopeful dream of hers. Here was a letter that confirmed her memory held true and he was alive and well and somewhere else in the world. Maybe Hawaii, Regulus did say he enjoyed it there. Or maybe he did stick around in London or went back to Romania. She hadn't a clue, and here was standing almost like a fool in the Owlry just staring at her own letter as she heard the chatter of others.

"Heather! My parents are bringing me to France this summer! I can't wait!"

"You're so lucky, Nancy, my parents are only helping me get a job in the Ministry. I so would love to go."

"Ministry work is good work. I want to be an Auror, though, not just stuck at some boring office job like my dad has, but I'll probably start there too for a couple years before going into training."

"Good idea."

Remelda's eyes snapped over to the two girls standing there, the one with bright red hair leaning against the wall with a letter of her own in her hands. She didn't have the same awe as Remelda for hers, but it was more understandable. She didn't have a brother who faked their death and currently gallivanting around the world while she was the only one who knew he was alive. Upon further inspection, Remelda realized these were two girls she used to see with Nadia Greene. Not since last year, though, and she couldn't even remember their names. Did they say Hannah and Natalie? She couldn't recall.

The girls left the Owlry, leaving Remelda by herself. Greedily, she opened the letter right then and took a seat at the bay window. It wasn't the smartest decision, she probably should've picked somewhere safer to read it, but she couldn't wait. Patience had never been her strong point, though.

Remelda,

His writing was so neat, still holding the same print she had started learning with him. Merlin, she hadn't written like that in such a long time she was sure she had forgotten how to write like that. And no 'dear'...wow, traveling had changed him.

Sorry this letter is coming later than expected. I was in Hawaii and the owls there demand such a great cost to fly to Europe. Well, I don't blame them. I miss you dearly, sister, even if it hasn't been too long since I've last seen you. I feel like it's important to say that, along with that I love you more than one could express in words.

I'm in London at the moment, just to write and send this letter. I won't be back until summer when I can see you again because it's too close to the Ministry here, along with mother and father and the Death Eaters. I'll probably visit Canada next, I heard so much about it during my brief stay at New York.

When I get back into London, I'll mail you again, but don't expect anything until late June or early July when I plan to have a permanent residence there. At least for the summers when I can see you. The country would be nice, wouldn't it? Our cottage there had always been so nice and I think I would like to live somewhere like that, maybe we could stay together.

How's Nadia? And Sirius, I assume you've been getting closer with them and I want to congratulate you on that. I miss him too, but not as badly as I miss you. Hopefully Nadia has introduced you to more Disney movies, so if she has please send me your favorites.

With love,
ginger xx

Remelda let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. He seemed happy, although that could not truly be determined by just writing. Immediately once she finished, she read it again and again, before setting off for a piece of parchment and a quill. She told him to tell her about New York next time and that Canada would be beautiful. Said she would love to see him again and he better visit during summer, no matter the danger, and that the cottage their family owned on the countryside had always been beautiful before recalling a memory of when their parents weren't home during a holiday there. They had been playing tag, she chasing him around the house and hearing his laughter and Sirius scooping her up just as she was about to reach him so that Regulus could continuing to run. She had pouted, saying how unfair it all was before touching Sirius had saying 'tag, you're it!' and wiggling out his grasp, giggling, and running away herself.

She answered the other questions, asking her own and finishing her own letter with yours truly and using the header ginger for him, which he used in his own letter to her. She felt as if she were on Cloud Nine with that letter, a feeling of comfort with the knowledge that he was alright and hadn't been caught. Using one of the school owls, she whispered, "Fine Regulus Black," and hoped the owl didn't give her an incredulous look because, well, he was supposedly dead.

He was an owl, sure, but this was a crazy world she lived in. Thankfully, though, the owl didn't do that, just started to fly out the open window with the letter in hand as she watched him leave with a smile on her face.

"Oh," now that ruined her good mood, "You're here."

Remelda sighed, turning around to see Nancy Pendleton standing there in all her glory, holding a letter that Remelda assumed she was going to send to her parents. Her arms were crossed and she looked at the Black girl in disgust.

"I don't see why, though," Nancy continued, standing up straighter and walking past her to the window, "You don't have parents to send any letters to and, well, all your 'friends' are at school."

The black haired girl rolled her eyes and lied, "I was sending a letter to my cousins, actually, in response to their question of where I would be staying over summer."

"Where? The streets?" Nancy seemed pleased with her response, a smirk still proud on her face.

"Actually, with them, I think. Or with my brother," she saw the smirk turn to a sneer as Nancy thought of the Gryffindor boy Remelda called her brother.

"I don't see why you associate with that scum, especially after how deep he's dug you," Nancy sighed, "Although, I guess I should thank you. With you gone, I have Demetri all to myself, even our parents think we would be a great match."

"Congratulations, make sure never to invite me to your wedding," Remelda replied dryly.

Nancy rolled her eyes, "Like you would be even close to the guest list. Hell would have to freeze over before I would let you ruin my special day."

"I'm heartbroken, Nancy, really. I thought we were better friends than that. I mean, I did let you have my old man," Remelda smirked, straightening her robes.

The Pendleton girl scoffed, "Have a terrible life, Remelda, you deserve it."

Her lips twitched up into a smile, looking at the girl and returning with, "Likewise." She wasn't going to Nancy, but who would miss a girl like that? Remelda just turned her heel and left the Owlry only to bump into her late brother's best friend and older brother's girlfriend.

"Oh my!" Nadia exclaimed, startled, before looking up to see just who she hit, "Remelda? I'm so sorry!"

"It's quite alright," that was quite the unusual response. Last year, Remelda was sure she should've rolled her eyes or sneered and said a nasty comment and turned away. She surely was glad to be free from that life.

"Wow, I haven't seen you in so long. Well, I saw you, I think, two weeks ago, but I'm not really sure. You haven't really been around much," Nadia began to ramble.

"I just needed some time alone, no need to worry," Remelda smiled.

The Greene girl nodded, "I understand, although Remus seemed particularly upset about your missing presence. And when I asked where you were, he just grew tense. Well, they all did really."

Remelda hated that her heart skipped a beat at the mention of Remus and how he had supposedly missed her. Really, there wasn't any reason for it, yet she still couldn't help that her breath hitched at the fact that he was sulking over her. She had time to think and well, she concluded that he was still the same Remus as before she knew. Nothing had changed, so just couldn't swallow her pride and go back to them, really.

"Remus...missed me?" Remelda hesitantly asked, a little afraid of the answer.

Nadia, not noticing her apprehension, nodded, "Yeah. It's really weird, they won't tell me anything. I just...I think that whatever happened needs to be resolved because he really likes you, Remelda, and you've made him so much happier than I've ever seen him. I hope you know that."

She blinked as Nadia smiled, "Well, I best be off. Sirius is planning something with James that I just can't miss!" before leaving her.

Remelda didn't know what to think, but a part of her mind seemed so happy at the words he really likes you and she hadn't a clue why. Remus was just so confusing and he couldn't really seem to leave her head anymore. What was wrong with her?