Chapter 9: The Letters

It took a long two years before Cassie was able to go back into the spare room and look in Sirius's box. She had gotten a job as a bartender in the Leaky Cauldron and was too busy working to clear out that room. It wasn't the job she wanted, not by far. She longed to be teaching.

She had cleared out the remaining rooms, including James's room, which had been extremely difficult even though there were only a few things remaining. She had purchased a small flat in muggle London and was slowly moving the items she wanted to keep. Cassie was just finishing packing up the books in her room when a beautiful tawny owl flew through the open window. It stood patiently waiting for Cassie to remove the scroll from its leg and was soon off flying again. She opened the scroll and read aloud:

Cassie

May I inquire why you haven't talked to me in several months? I'm getting lonely and miss you. Please respond. I want to know what you have been doing for the past year.

I miss you Cass.

Your friend,

Remus

Cassie sighed and rolled up the letter again. "I suppose I should answer him. I have been avoiding him." She pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill and began writing.

Remus

Please accept my apologies. I never fully meant to avoid you. Why don't we meet next week? I have a few things I'd like to show you. Miss you.

Your friend,

Cassie

Cassie called her owl over and tied the parchment to her leg. "Okay Sophia. Bring that to Remus." The owl hooted affectionately and flew off. Cassie returned to the spare room and pulled the old box out away from the wall where she had left it.

Pulling out the small bracelet box and the small box of notes, she sat down on the bed. She first opened the black velvet bracelet box. Inside was a beautiful silver charm bracelet. It already had four charms: a dog, a stag and a wolf and a lily flower. A note fell out in Sirius's handwriting and landed on the floor. She picked it up and read it out loud.

"Happy Birthday Love. It's not everyday you turn 18. It's to remember us by when you're away teaching. I love you Cassie. Yours Sirius"

Cassie felt her eyes well with hot tears. She let them fall as she reached for the other box. She pulled out several of the notes and sat Indian-style on the bed. The dates ranged from 1977 to the final one being August of 1981.

CassieJune, 1978

I wish I could tell you how much I love you. Every time I try, my voice is lost. I think about you so often.

I love you.

She cried harder as she continued reading through the notes.

CassSeptember 1979

I love you. I watch Lily and James and I want that. I want someone who loves me fully, with all my faults. I wish that could be us.

Love you.

Cassie had to stop reading for the tears had blurred her vision. Wiping them away with the back of her hand, she picked up the next note and continued to read.

CassieMay 1980

I wish I could tell you. I just want to tell you how much I love you. You're amazing Cassie. You make me smile when I'm down. I want to tell you I love you, but I can't. I'm afraid of what James will say. He'll kill me when he finds out.

Love you.

CassAugust 1981

You're leaving for school tomorrow, you're final year. I got to hold you in my arms tonight and it was the greatest feeling. I wish I could hold you all the time. I regret breaking up with you. Being with you was the greatest thing. I knew that I had you for those four short months. Please forgive me; I didn't want to hurt you!

Love you.

She read that one over again, remembering back to that night, remembering her final moments with Sirius. She remembered how she told him she loved him, and how she felt in his arms. It was an indescribable feeling, everything had made sense in the world and she felt more love than she had in her entire life.

"I have to go. I have to go to Azkaban… I need to see him." Cassie stood up and began pacing. "I'm going."


AN: Short chapter, I know. Oh, and if you're wondering how the last note got in the box if James and Cassie's parents were dead, Sirius had a "key" so to speak and was able to put it in the box. Please R&R!