"Yeah, we all know how you get in. Neither of one us was getting a job at the Ministry," he said with a shrug. "Maybe I should. I'll give her some time. Maybe more than finding the cause, we can find a way to stop the temper tantrums? That might have become a little more important, because we don't know what's going to happen next. Actually, maybe that's the way to go with Harry. Forget about how we're here, but if we bring up security?" He had some memories of Padma, enough that maybe, just maybe, they could make it work. "Maybe we can tern it into a job and if not, we'll do it on our own free time."
Peter frowned. "Maybe the castle feeds off of the beings inside. Not us, but the house-elves and the ghosts. I mean none of the family members had any incestuous relationship, which considering how few of us there are, it's not that easy. Maybe you're onto something." He snorted. "I like theories that lead us somewhere. Platitudes just leave us open for the next time."
He nodded. "I know, but with a war everything gets amplified, because every friendship has a much deeper meaning." He sighed. "Yeah, well it sucks that you make sense, especially because I don't know if I'm good at not feeling. I guess I've learned long ago to deal with the fact that my feelings aren't as important. There was something more important to deal with. Growing up, my mum worked so hard and sacrificed so much just so we could have food. Then school. Then the war-" He stopped. "I think that's the biggest difference. No matter how terrible your life has been, you've had time to deal with a world with no war. Sirius, James and I- we are still in there. Mentally I mean. I'm not saying that you had it better, just- we need time to know who we are with no war."
He sighed. "That was my biggest worry with Cassandra. That I was getting close to her just because I was alone and she was there being kind. I didn't want her to be a substitute for the Marauders, you know? I told her, agreed that we'd go slow and become friends first. I'll miss her."