Disclaimer: We do not owe the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Chapter Two

"Cass! Come on! We have to get to Transfiguration!" Lily called pulling back her hangings.

"Mmmm…just five more minutes!" Casselle mumbled as she rolled over.

"No! We're late as it is, now get up!"

"No," Casselle groaned pulling the blankets over her head.

"Oh no you don't," Lily said going to grab a glass of water. "If you don't get up in five seconds I'll pour this water on you," Lily threatened.

"No you won't," Casselle mumbled. No sooner had the words left her mouth she felt cold water drench her face and hair. "Lily!" Casselle gasped and jumped up. "I can't believe you!" She yelled but smiled despite herself.

"I told you. Now come on we are going to miss breakfast." Lily said walking back to the bathroom.

Emma grinned sitting up from her own bed as she took in Casselle's dripping figure, "At least you won't have to shower now."

Casselle laughed and got up and dressed. She brushed her teeth not even bothering to dry her hair. The three Gryffindors made their way down to the Great Hall chatting happily.

"I wonder what we are going to be learning in Transfigurations," Lily said as they sat down.

"Please Lil we already know you've read ahead in all our classes," Casselle said grabbing some toast and taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"Hey Dawson what's wrong with your hair? It looks even worse than usual," Sirius called from down the table.

"Lily poured it on me this morning, but it looks like your hair could use a thorough washing," Casselle said trying to block him out.

"I'll have you know I get many compliments on my silky smooth hair."

"I bet all those girls will say anything to get your attention," Casselle said then turned to Lily and Emma. "Are you ready? I've lost my appetite."

"Yeah I'm ready." Lily said dropping the crust of her toast on her plate.

Casselle and Lily grabbed seats in the front of the classroom much to Casselle's chagrin. She loved Lily, but sometimes she couldn't take her teacher's pet friend. Emma sat at the table next to them.

"Come on Lil, I don't wanna be this close to McGonagall."

"It wouldn't hurt you to sit in the front and actually pay attention for once," Lily retorted setting her supplies out neatly on her desk. "God knows how you've managed to scrape by in class."

Casselle grinned cheekily, "Must be because I'm brilliant," She teased reaching behind her and pulling her long dark hair into a messy bun. Magic was dangerous when you had long hair.

Lily rolled her eyes but couldn't keep from laughing when Casselle batted her eye lashes. "Sometimes I think your heads as big as Potter's."

"Talking about me Evans?"

Lily groaned recognizing the arrogant drawl. "Insulting actually," She corrected hotly opening her Transfigurations book.

"Ah well you know what they say, even bad publicity is still good publicity."

Casselle chuckled amazed by James's never ending optimism.

'Valiant attempt to fix your hair Dawson, too bad it didn't work."

"Sod off Black," Casselle replied her eyes flashing in anger.

Sirius merely grinned always happy to get a rise out of Casselle. "Ah well sometimes the truth hurts love," He responded airily sliding into the table directly behind the two girls.

"James Potter don't you dare take that seat!" Lily warned her eyes narrowing. "You and Black always sit in the back."

"Ah well your good influence must be rubbing off on me and Padfoot then," and with that James slid into the seat directly behind Lily. Remus sighed and slid in next to Emma while Peter sat behind them.

Other students began filing in followed by McGonagall. "Now class today we will be turning mice into pin cushions." And after showing them a complex wand movement, McGonagall set them to it.

Much to Lily and Casselle's displeasure James and Sirius were the first to change their mice successfully.

"Excellent Potter, Black. Ten points each."

The pair grinned and Casselle could swear that if you listened close enough you could hear their heads inflating.

Casselle, Remus and Lily were the only other ones that managed to perform the change before class ended. Peter had also made some progress, though his pincushion was sprouting a full tail and whiskers. Emma on the other hand had had no luck with the process, though she didn't seem particularly put out.

"What was up with Potter and Black? Since when do they give a flying hippogriff about school?" Casselle asked Remus as they made their way to charms.

"Knowing them, they were just showing off," Remus replied with a shrug. "If there's anything those two love more than mischief it's showing off."

"Oi Moony! You spreading lies about us?" Sirius called approaching the pair.

"I would hardly call them lies, Padfoot," Remus replied good naturedly.

"Moony I am hurt!" James chimed in. "I have always taken my studies very seriously."

"But not as seriously as me!" Sirius added. "Get it Seriously!"

The other three Gryffindors rolled their eyes.

"Those jokes are getting seriously old," Casselle snapped adding emphasis on seriously.

"I'm sorry Dawson I don't recall asking you for your opinion," Sirius replied hotly.

"Well Black love, sometimes the truth hurts," Casselle quipped before rushing to catch up with Lily and Emma.

"Ugh! How can you stand her she's such a troll!" Sirius demanded after Casselle had scattered off.

"You seem to be the only one that has a problem with her Padfoot," Remus replied. "She's actually quite descent."

James nodded, "You just don't like her because she doesn't fawn over you."

"As if I would ever touch that-that hag!" Sirius retorted with a snort.

James met Remus's eye and they shared a look that wasn't unnoticed by Sirius.

"What!" He demanded glaring at his best friends.

"Nothing," They replied in unison.

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Honestly I don't know why I bother with you two."

"Because if you didn't you'd be stuck with Peter?" James offered.

The three boys laughed as they hurried to make it to Charms on time. As they walked in they noticed Casselle, Lily and Emma sharing a table near the front again. "Should we irritate them some more?" Sirius asked nodding toward the two seats behind Lily and Casselle.

"Why not," James shrugged. "You know Lily it would be good for you to break the rules once in a while and what better way than to go out with me," James exclaimed sitting behind her and messing his hair up.

"Please I would not sink that low," Lily remarked, then turned around. "No you really cannot sit there. I know how terrible you are at Charms and I am not going to have your mistakes back fire on me."

"Relax Lily, we aren't that terrible," Sirius said leaning on the back two legs of his chair.

Casselle barked out a laugh failing despite her best efforts to contain it.

"Got something to say Dawson?" Sirius asked glaring at the back of her head.

"Nope why would you think that?" Casselle said sarcastically not even bothering to look back.

As professor Flitwick entered the room the class quieted. "Good Afternoon class today we will be practicing the Summoning charm. It is rather difficult. You need to concentrate very hard on the object and say Accio Pillow!" He called pointing at a pile of pillows, immediately sending one flying toward him.

"Now everyone grab a pillow and place it three feet in front of you." Flitwick said moving the desks out of the way.

Casselle and Lily managed to get the pillow to fly into their hands at the second try, Emma on the third. They then proceeded to move the pillow farther back.

As Casselle was about to summon her pillow she felt another hit her in the back of the head. She whipped around seeing Sirius look around innocently his pillow conspicuously missing.

Casselle's blood boiled as she threw it back at him and whispering 'reducto' as it blew up in his face, covering his hair with feathers.

James burst out into laughter at the sight of his friend, "You look like a chicken!" He called falling over with laughter causing most of the class to laugh as well.

"Mr. Black a little less concentration next time," Flitwick observed.

"Yeah Black relax, it will come when it's ready." Casselle called smirking causing Sirius to redden in anger.

"Class that should be enough for today, your homework it to practice summoning." Flitwick said cutting off Sirius's reply.

"Come on, let's get some lunch I am starving." Emma called to her friends as she packing her bag.

After a quick break for lunch it was time for History of Magic, the Gryffindors last class of the day. Most students despised Binns' long lectures but it was one of Casselle's favorite classes.

Not that she paid attention, of course, but rather took advantage of a period where she could practice her gift freely.

Casselle was unusually gifted at mind reading and she was often able, after a little concentration, to peer into most of her classmates minds with relative ease. Especially when most of her classmates were being lulled to sleep by Binns' monotone voice. The closer the mind was to sleep the more vulnerable it was.

The gift was not always a gift to her; she remembered when she first started hearing things at the age of 11 she thought she was going crazy. The constant voices in her head causing her to have massive headaches, but over time and practice she learned to control it, and could now turn the noises on and off.

Over the summer while she was shut up in her room she had taught herself how to channel her power towards certain people to just read their minds. So she was excited to try out this new development on her classmates.

History of Magic was the only class of the day where Casselle sat apart from Lily and instead sat with Emma. Lily often gave long lectures when one wasn't pretending to take notes.

The two girls sat at a table directly behind Lily and Mary, and the four of them chatted easily until Binns floated in and began the lesson.

Casselle smiled to herself closing her eyes and relaxing her mind. Her gift always felt like pushing against her own skull and expanding it. Some days it came easily, others it felt like running five miles. This particular time it took her ten minutes and felt like a light jog.

Keeping her eyes closed she brushed against Emma's mind. Some people could sense the intrusion but Emma seemed unaware.

She grinned as she heard Emma's thoughts, all of which seemed to be consumed by Remus.

Curiously she pushed her mind further touching Remus. Who paused in his note taking and glanced around uneasily.

Much to her disappointment most of Remus's thoughts were centered on their lesson. Pushing a little deeper she rifled through the many thoughts that circled in her head for anything concerning Emma and was pleased to find that Remus at least thought Emma was decent.

She left Remus and scanned randomly passing over James who seemed to be lost in a Lily fantasy and moving to the dark haired boy seated next to him.

Her eyes widened as she slammed into a wall. Black's mind was unreachable for her. What was worse he had turned and seemed to be staring directly at her with an unreadable expression.

Casselle stared back both impressed and incredibly curious. Where had Black learned a trick like that? She reeled herself into her own mind unsteadily.

Professor Binns signaled the class for dismissal, and Casselle rose with her fellow Gryffindors packing her bag and tuning out Emma who was chatting at her. Casselle's attention was focused entirely on Sirius as she watched him leave the room with James, Remus and Peter. "What are you hiding?" she murmured.

"So you're sure none of you have Divinations?" Casselle asked her friends worriedly at Breakfast the next morning.

"No I have arithmetic," Lily said. "Sorry."

"Same here," Emma replied taking a bite or porridge.

Casselle let out a groan; she hated not having her friends in her class.

"Hey Dawson I have Divinations," Sirius called over smirking. Upon hearing this Casselle laid her head down in irritation. Great, she thought one more reason for me to hate this class.

Herbology seemed to fly by as Casselle dreaded the end when she would have to separate from her friends and be alone with Black.

She walked the castle, searching for the path that led to the Divination tower. As she turned a corner she noticed two people snogging, poorly concealed behind a suit of armor. Casselle, deciding she needed a good laugh, curiously pushed her mind towards the pair.

She concentrated and picked up on the girl immediately. 'Merlin he is so hot! He's the best kisser I have ever met, maybe he wants more.' Casselle pulled out not wanting to get that personal. Maybe the boy would be a little more coherent.

She concentrated and again the extraordinary happened, she hit a brick wall, harder this time.

She stumbled back and held her head from the pain as the boy turned around and she was staring straight into the grey eyes of Sirius Black.

His eyes narrowed as he took in her expression. Casselle ran down the corridor and stopped when she knew he wasn't following her.

How was that possible? The only other person who has blocked her was Snape but even then he didn't ever seem to be able to pinpoint her prodding. But Black could sense it and where it was coming from.

She gazed around realizing she was going to be late if she didn't hurry. She raced up the stairs and came to the trapdoor just as the bell was ringing. She slipped in unnoticed and slid into a plush cushion at the only empty table near the back. She looked at the faces around her, only a few people she would consider friends were in the class, but they already had full tables. She sighed a little sad, but then felt someone sit down next to her she looked up excitedly but her smile quickly turned to a scowl when she realized who it was.

"Don't be so disappointed Dawson tons of girls would love to sit with me," Sirius smirked as he sat down.

"Well then go sit with them," Casselle said.

"Can't only seat left," Black said. "Besides the girl I want to be sitting next to had to leave for a different class," He said with a knowing look.

"I bet," Casselle said shortly not wanting to discuss what happened earlier. She still had a slight pounding in her skull from his wall.

As the class started Casselle quickly tuned out the professor seeing as anyone with a brain would know that she was a fraud.

"Hey what were you doing there anyway?" Sirius asked interrupting her thoughts.

"Where?" Casselle asked confused.

"In the corridor," he said impatiently.

"I was looking for my class. What else would I be doing?"

"I don't know why don't you tell me?"

"What is your problem? It's not my fault you couldn't waste time looking for a nice broom closet. Instead you had to show your business to everyone." Casselle hissed getting annoyed. She rubbed her head as the pounding increased.

"So what, did someone put you up to watching me? Bellatrix? Regulus? Did your brother talk you into it?" He asked his voice becoming increasingly hostile.

'What are you talking about?" Casselle asked completely confused. "Why would I be watching you?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you."

"I'm not watching you!" Casselle said exasperated.

"Then why are you trying to get into my head?" he asked angrily.

Casselle gaped at him. She didn't even know what to say to that.

"Who taught you to do it? Is someone trying to test me? Is it my family?" Black replied pelting questions at her.

"Mr. Black, Miss Dawson please wait until after class to finish your discussion," Professor Freya reprimanded sniffing affectedly.

Sirius didn't get another chance to talk to her during the class and as soon as they were dismissed Casselle flew out of the room not wanting to finish their discussion.

"Hey Dawson wait!" Sirius called as he saw her hurrying down the corridor. "Casselle!" He yelled taking off after her.

She turned a corner and slipped into an empty classroom breathing a sigh of relief as she walked around the dark room, waiting for the halls to clear.

"If you're innocent then why are you running?" Sirius asked as he slipped into the classroom his wand pointed at her.

His voiced caused Casselle to jump in shock, but she recovered quickly pointing her wand at him.

"Now I'm going to ask you again, why are you trying to get into my head?" He asked dangerously.

"I just do it for fun!" Casselle explained quickly. In all their duels she had never seen that violent glint in his eyes as she saw now. For once she was worried to duel him. "I don't know anything about Bellatrix or Regulus watching you. I just do it when I'm bored! Will you please just drop it?"

"Who taught you?" Black asked confused.

"No one, now will you get out of my way."

Sirius moved slightly allowing Casselle to pass. "But how?" He asked as she made her way out of the door.

"That is none of your business," She said leaving.

When she walked a little further away and saw no one following her. She stopped and leaned against the wall taking deep breaths to calm her beating heart. She noticed that her hands were shaking, that was a side of Sirius Black that she never wanted to encounter again.