Chapter Two

"They don't want me with some Quidditch Player, but I guess since Regulus Black is from the Noble house, it's okay for him to play Quidditch!" Cassia huffed as she paced the compartment in the train, "James, you and Sirius offered, I never really thought I would have resorted to use that, but they want me to marry his brother!" she said, jabbing a finger at Sirius who sat across from James.

"Why didn't you just say my name then?" Sirius asked her.

"Sirius..." Cassia sighed, "Keaira and you are in the same year, if I said you, she'd know I was lying because your such a womanizer. She'd know right away that, and she'd watch and wait to see you run off with some girl, and the cover would be blown."

"Not true," Sirius protested.

"Mate, what were you doing before we got on the train?" James asked pointedly.

"W-well that doesn't matter! It's not like I'm now engaged to anyone," Sirius crossed his arms after his statement, "how do you think Evans' will celebrate?"

"Sirius, we're not reallyengaged," Cassia said sitting down next to James and Remus, "it's only acting, and I hope all of you won't tell anyone. The last thing I need is for Keaira to know, and she goes and tells them."

"Then you'll be forced to marry that thing," Sirius made a face that looked like he was staring death in the eye.

"You keep making it seem like you're the one that's going to be forced to be married," Remus teased, getting everyone to laugh.

They settled down and Remus left to Prefect duty. The mood was light for a majority of the train ride as Cassia got into a conversation with Peter on Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans while James and Sirius began some diabolical planning for the year. Only an hour later in the Train ride, there came a knock on the door before it was opened by Lily Evans.

"Is it true?" she asked, sounding quite unsure.

"Is what true?" James and Sirius both asked.

"That Potter's engaged," she asked.

"Why does it matter, Evans? You jealous?" James shot with a smirk.

"No- I- I just came to get Cassia," she shot, her cheeks tinted red, "why would you even think that I would be jealous, Potter."

"Get me for what?" Cassia asked before James or Sirius could retort with something witty.

"Professor Slughorn has invited you to a Slug Club Meeting. He wishes you would attend it as soon as possible."

"Oh?" Cassia glanced to James and Sirius confused, "what about-"

"Only you," she insisted, "I'll show you were it is."

"Okay," Cassia said looking back to James and Sirius before leaving with Lily Evans. She closed the compartment door and began down the corridor with the sixth year Prefect to the compartment which the heavy Potions master would be at. "Is something wrong, Lil's?" Cassia asked.

Lily Evans was her first friend at Hogwarts, and although they didn't talk much, they still considered themselves friends. "Why Potter of all people?"

"It was either James or the heir of a Noble House," Cassia shrugged, Lily thinking it was a joke- laughed. Cassia gave a half smile at the thought before sighing when they reached the compartment. Lily entered and took her seat near a Ravenclaw girl. Cassia looked around and only found one seat open and took it, looking to her right was an empty seat, and to her left was Remus.

"It's nice to have you here, Miss Aesalon," Professor Slughorn said with a smile, "I've been waiting for you to be a fifth year and come and join us."

"Thank you for inviting me," Cassia said politely before the door suddenly opened.

"Sir, Keaira Aesalon won't be able to make it today. She's still on Head duty," the Slytherin said as Slughorn nodded.

"That's all right, Miss Aesalon deserves that Head Girl position, she's worked for it," he chuckled, "go ahead and take a seat, Regulus."

Regulus Black looked around the compartment and saw the only open spot left next to Cassia and the wall. He slid into the seat, not looking at Cassia or the others in the compartment while he watched Professor Slughorn. Cassia looked back to the Professor who had pulled out bowls of food and passed it around.

"Now that everyone is here, I'd like to have a go around with names and years. Some of you may not know the others," Slughorn said, "Miss Evans, why don't you start?"

"Lily Evans, sixth year Gryffindor," the red head said proudly.

"Clover Wittaker, sixth year Ravenclaw, and transfer student," a blond Ravenclaw said with a small Canadian accent.

"Salem Locke, seventh year Ravenclaw."

"Nathaniel Monroe, fifth year Gryffindor."

"Desma Goyle, seventh year Slytherin."

"Daesus Cowell, sixth year Slytherin."

"Rabastan LeStrange, fifth year Slytherin."

"Remus Lupin, sixth year Gryffindor."

"Cassia Aesalon, fifth year Gryffindor," Cassia said, receiving glares from the Slytherin's in the compartment.

"Regulus Black, fifth year Slytherin." the boy next to Cassia said nonchalantly.

"Gregory McCann, seventh year Hufflepuff."

"Well, now that all names are accounted for," Slughorn chuckled, "may we all sit in a jovial company and snack on foods that most have never had before."

Cassia kept her gaze away from Regulus who she knew was sitting boredly and not talking to anyone. All his Slytherin buddies where on the other side of the compartment from him. She kept to Remus, who she knew she could talk to. Gregory McCann was speaking rapidly to Slughorn while Lily made small talk with the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors in her area of the compartment.

"How long do these usually last?" Cassia asked Remus in a hushed under tone voice so Slughorn would not hear.

"Usually until the end of the train ride," Cassia stared at Remus who had not opened his mouth. She turned to face Regulus who had a book out and was reading it. She swore it must have been him since those words didn't come out of Remus' mouth. He glanced over at her, "what? I was invited to one last year on our way back from Holiday."

"Oh..." Cassia said looking at him for a moment longer before looking back to Remus- who shrugged.

"Oh, where has the time gone?" Slughorn chuckled looking outside into the darkness, "we'll be arriving soon, so off with you. Go back and gather your things, I will see you all soon enough."

Everyone piled out of the compartment and headed back to their own compartments with their friends. Cassia left with Remus quickly, before anyone could stop them and talk. "Why was that so long and boring?" Cassia asked, "is it always like that?"

"Only on train rides, during the year it's more open," Remus explained as they reached the compartment and re-entered. They slid into the seats they once held before disappearing, and looked at the compartment, "what did you two do?" Remus asked about the dark soot that covered the window adn ceiling.

"He did it!" both Sirius and James yelled pointing at each other.

"Exploding Snaps..." Cassia sighed, recognizing the charmed game that was more than likely thrown out of hand by Sirius and-or James. "Can you guys not blow something up for once?"

"No," the two replied making the compartment burst into laughter.

"What was the meeting for? Same as always?" James asked.

"Practically," Remus shrugged, "there's a lot of fifth years now."

"I would imagine so, 1961 was a very excellent year," Cassia teased.

"All about '58," Sirius grinned.

"What? No way!" James protested, "1960!"

"Yes, and that's why the two of you are in the Slug Club," Remus laughed, "1959."

"You were born in 1959?!" Cassia asked, "I thought you three were all '60."

"Nope, December 12th, 1959," he told her, "or did you think it was 1960?"

"No, I just thought your birthday was in January."

"Close enough," Sirius shrugged with a laugh.

"No, Evans' birthday is in January."

"I know that, James," Cassia rolled her eyes, "So 1960 must have been the defected year then."

"Must have been."

"What about Evans?"

"She was born in January, it's close enough to 1959," Remus argued with a laugh. The others joined in as the train came to a stop.

"Let's hurry to the Great Hall, I'm all ready starved, and these first years better hurry up and get sorted. We don't want another Cassia moment," Sirius groaned while Cassia punched him playfully in the arm.

"Jerk," she laughed, "and besides, I talked to the hat, and he gave me a choice. Slytherin or Gryffindor. I told him to decide for me."

"I bet he wasn't happy with that," Peter pipped as they made their way to the carriages.

"Oh, crap!" Cassia stopped and searched her hand bag.

"What's wrong?" Remus and James asked.

"I can't find my book. I wasn't sure if I left it in the compartment or if I had stuck it back in my bag. I must have left it."

"Which book is it?" Sirius asked.

"My Transfiguration book."

"All right, go and get it, we'll wait for you," James told her.

"Go ahead, I'll catch one with Lily or something. She's usually last due to Prefect duties," Cassia said waving to them to leave, "I'll catch up with you at the feast."

She turned and made her way back to the train and into it. She entered in the compartment she had been in with the Marauders, but her book was no where to be seen. She searched under the seats, on the trunk rack and couldn't find it anywhere.

"Hurry up off the train, it'll be leaving soon."

She turned to the compartment door from searching the trunk rack to see Regulus Black. She jumped down from the seat and faced him, "I'm looking for my Transfiguration book. I left it in here and now it's gone."

"Here," he tossed her the book, "now let's get off the train." He gestured for her to leave the compartment and he followed her out of the train, ensuring that she was leaving.

"Why were you still on the train?" she asked him as they got off the train.

"I'm a Prefect, it's part of my duties if I was asked to stay on the train and find if anyone else is still on the train," he shrugged looking around, "dammit, we took to long, there's no more carriages," he scowled as he looked around, "The others must have taken it."

"I'm sorry..." Cassia apologized, "I didn't mean for us to miss a carriage."

"Come on, we won't do any good just standing here," he sighed as he pulled his wand out, "wand to the ready, we have to travel the back-side of the forest and get to the gates. No one knows what to expect."

"R-right," Cassia said pulling out her wand. She followed him, looking around in the darkness that blinded their vision. If Regulus had not been so pale, Cassia swore she would have lost him in the darkness. She quickened her pace to keep up with him, their wand tips lit as they traveled. "Do you think anyone will notice?" Cassia asked, "that we're not there?"

"Maybe, but nothing is for sure," he shrugged nonchalantly, "they won't send anyone for us until the feast begins, and they realize that two students are missing that had been on the train."

"Oh," Cassia said looking to her left where the forest was at, "do you think anything will come out and attack us?"

"No, we have wands, we can easily defend ourselves if necessary," Regulus said, "anything foolish enough to attack wanded wizards is stupid."

"Oh," Cassia said, "right."

They stayed quiet for a while, just walking in the silence. Cassia watched as he paid no attention to her as he looked around, finding the path that they needed to take. Cassia grew annoyed with the silence. She was use to Sirius and James always talking, about the most random of things. She couldn't take this silence much longer.

"Do you ever think that someone will be able to go into outer space?" Cassia asked him. He looked over his shoulder at her oddly, questioning why she had just said that. "I'm bored, and you're horrible at starting conversations."

He blinked and turned forward again, staying silent for moment. "Muggles will find a way," he told her, "they manage."

It fell silent for a while more and Cassia grew impatient, "SEE!" she yelled.

"What now?!" Regulus snapped, stopping and turning to face her, "why are you yelling at me?"

"Do you not know how to keep a conversation?" Cassia asked impatiently.

"Apparently not," he hissed, annoyed, "why do you even care?!"

"Well there's no one else here to talk to for one," she started.

"Must woman always have to talk? Don't you know what silence is?" he shot at her and the two glared at each other.

"Oh yes, because staying silent in a dark forest just doesn't scream someone come kill me!"

"Where do you get that from? Muggle movies?"

"Yes, yes I do!" Cassia argued, "and you know what? They're right!"

"No they are not!" Regulus stressed, "the louder you are, the more attention you draw, if your silent, they won't know your there at all!"

"So you've been trying to pretend I'm not here then, eh?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that..." he sighed. There came a loud crash from the forest and the two looked over, "now what?"

A loud screeching roar echoed out of the forest and Cassia stepped closer to Regulus, "what was that?" she asked looking around the area where the noise came from.

Three swooshing noises came before Cassia found herself on the ground, Regulus on the ground as well, grabbing his arm where a thin wooden arrow had pierced his forearm. "My God!" Cassia yelled, scrambling over to him, "are you hurt?"

"What do you think?!" Regulus snapped at her as he pulled the arrow out of his arm, "it must be Centaurs."

"Centaurs?" Cassia asked looking to the forest.

"Where's your wand, Aesalon?" he asked quickly, noticing her wand not in her hand.

"Uh-" she turned around and spotted her wand, grabbing it quickly and turning back to him, "I have it now."

"Good," Regulus cringed as he stood up, putting pressure on his arm that had been hurt. "Dammit."

Cassia looked at him, worried and concerned as he held his wand in his hand, "let's not dwell here much longer," Cassia told him, "maybe a Professor is on their way by now?"

"Hopefully, but we can't stay here any longer," Regulus scowled as he lit his wand with a simple, "lumos."

"Lumos," Cassia copied, her wand tip lit. Cassia decided to remain quiet as she watched Regulus walk, one hand on his wand, the other holding the open wound. It then hit her, "Regulus, wouldn't the open wound draw the scent of dangerous creatures?"

"More than likely," came Regulus' cold voice at the obvious answer, "you're not that good with magic, are you?"

"Wh-what? Why do you say that?" Cassia asked defensively.

"You don't do a spell as simple as lumos unless I've said it first," he pointed out, "and I've never seen your duel, and quite honestly, in Charms and Transfiguration, you always have help from the Professor or another student to tell you the spell first, and have it repeated to you numerous times before you can preform it."

"That's not true!" she protested.

"Yes it is," he stated, "you are book smart, but in action, you just suck."

"Ugh, Sirius is right. You are a git!" Cassia huffed, crossing her arms, and glaring at him.

"And?" he asked nonchalantly, "you're some bratty kid who thinks she deserves better because she's been forced to live with her Aunt and Uncle and had to pretend to be engaged to some boy just to get them off your back. If you didn't notice, that didn't work."

"Wh-How do you know all that?" Cassia said, her voice dropping to a soft tone.

"Good news travels fast," he shrugged, "although the plan can easily be seen through to someone that has quite the genius to think of it all as well."

"You're a git," Cassia stated.

"We've all ready agreed on this," Regulus rolled his eyes, "can we move forward in a conversation? Or is this a failed topic?"

"Epically failed."

"Hello? Mister Black? Miss Aesalon? Is that you?" a Professors voice came with a dim light not far from it.

"Professor!" Cassia said happily as she spotted her head of house, Professor McGonagall.

"Are you two all right?" she asked reaching them, "Mister Black, are you bleeding?"

"Yes, Professor," he said calmly, any trace of annoyance or anger had disappeared, "it's not to deep, only a mere graze."

"That's a lie! You had to rip it out of your skin!" Cassia shot at him, her eyes pleading to her Professor.

"Well, once we get back to the castle we'll have both of you up to the Hospital Wing and get checked. I'm just pleased your both alive," she said, sounding a little surprised that a Slytherin and a Gryffindor had not spent the time trying to kill each other.

Cassia looked at Regulus for a moment before looking to her Head of House, "Professor..." the elder witch turned to look to her student, "Regulus saved my life, I think Slytherin deserves some house points for their courage to protect others."

Regulus looked at Cassia bewildered as Professor McGonagall spoke, "ah, I see, Miss Aesalon. Mr Black, is it true? Did you save Miss Aesalon?"

"I wouldn't exactly say saved-"

"Don't be modest, Regulus, if it wasn't for you, I might have ended up dead," Cassia said with a small smile playing on her lips.

"Fifty points to Slytherin shall do, shall it, Miss Aesalon?"

"Sounds perfect, Professor," she beamed.

Regulus looked at her questioning while the Deputy Headmistress lead them back to the castle. Cassia ignored his bewildered look as she followed Professor McGonagall, feeling much safer that nothing would attack. When they arrived at the castle, the Professor bid them to the Hospital Wing, stating everyone else had all ready left to the dorms.

I really liked writing this chapter. =) I don't know why, well it was just fun and funny, was it not? =)
I have to say this. I don't own Harry Potter, or it's characters. If I did, Reggie would be alive, and so would Sirius. They would get along, and live in my closet, and I would be able to transport them to my friends who like them. Like Livia in Australia. lol Because if you didn't know, I live in the States. California actually. =)
ALSO, CORVYIE is a fanfiction writer on here that helped me become inspired with this story. Whenever you get the chance, make sure you go and read her stories too! YAY for my new Hawaii friend! lol You're one of the closest writers I know on here other than my friend CinnimonMintiMoon! lol love you all! =)