The Prisoner and his Love
Cassie followed Professor McGonagall into Professor Dumbledore's office. She looked around, amazed at all the items held within. There were cupboards, shelves full of books, more books piled in various places on the floor. Cassie looked up and saw the Sorting Hat that had placed her in Ravenclaw six years previous.
"Please, have a seat" Dumbledore said, pointing to the cushy couch. "I'm afraid that what I have to tell you will not be pleasant to hear."
Cassie heard a hint of sadness in his voice, and thought she saw his eyes tear up. What on Earth could cause Prof. Dumbledore to be sad and even cry? Cassie looked down at her hands, folded on her lap. I really should have repainted my nails this evening. Cassie began to pick at her nails, causing more chips to peel and then fall off.
Dumbledore began, "I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you this." Cassie looked up from her hands and glanced at Prof. McGonagall's face. She saw a tear fall from McGonagall's eye. "Cassie, your brother and sister-in-law have been discovered. Lord Voldemort has killed them."
Cassie snapped her head up and gasped. "NO. It's James. He can't... Not Lily! No. Oh my goodness. What am I going to tell Sirius? Oh." She felt the hot tears fall and drop softly on her jeans. How could this happen? He said they'd be safe!
"Cassie." Dumbledore paused, "I'm afraid I have more bad news. As I'm sure you were aware, Lily and James performed the Fidelius Charm. This requires a Secret Keeper to hold the whereabouts of the hidden deep within his soul. The only way the hidden person could be found was if the Secret Keeper told where the person was." Professor Dumbledore paused, "Cassie, Sirius was James and Lily's Secret Keeper. He betrayed them and allowed Voldemort to kill them. Sirius is now in a cell awaiting sentencing to Azkaban."
Cassie felt the hot tears run down her cheeks as she looked up at the Professor. His eyes welled up with tears and one slid down, dropping to the floor below. The room was silent and Cassie heard the tear make a soft plop on the wooden floor.
"NO! Sirius would never have betrayed James! They were like brothers! No. It's not possible. He wasn't the Secret Keeper! They changed at the last minute! He told me tonight!" Cassie stood up and started pacing the carpet. "He was with me tonight; in the common room. He couldn't possibly have told Voldemort where James and Lily were. He was with me the whole night! We went to Hogsmeade…"
Cassie sat back on the couch and put her head in her hands. She felt someone sit beside her and start to rub her back.
"There, there. Cassie, you must be strong. James wouldn't have wanted you to fall apart. He and Lily knew what they were doing and they knew the risk." Prof. McGonagall continued to rub Cassie's back, attempting to calm the weeping girl.
Cassie jumped to her feet. "Oh no! Where's Harry? Is he okay? Is he alive? Can I see him? What's going to happen to him?" Cassie began pacing again. Her only nephew was in that house with her brother. Surely if the great and wonderful James Potter was killed, Harry stood no chance!
"Harry is still alive. He managed to defeat Voldemort as well." Dumbledore smiled but it quickly vanished from his face. "Harry has been taken to live with his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon."
"NO! You can't allow him to live there! They're awful people! Lily wouldn't have wanted it! No! I won't allow it! Can't I…" Cassie trailed off. What was she thinking?! She wasn't even finished school yet. She couldn't finish school and take care of an infant.
"Harry will be fine at the Dursley's. I have written them a letter explaining everything. He will remain there until he begins Hogwarts at age 11."
Prof. McGonagall hugged Cassie. "It's time you returned to your dormitory. You'll need your rest. It will be a rough few days."
Cassie walked with Professor McGonagall to her dormitory. She changed into her nightshirt and climbed into bed. Madam Pomfrey soon arrived with a potion.
"Here dear. Drink this. It's a potion for a dreamless sleep." Cassie drank it and laid her head on her pillow.
My whole family: gone. They're all gone. I have no one left; no one but Harry and he won't even remember me when he's eleven! "What am I going to do now?" she asked aloud before the potion caused her eyes to droop and she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.