Chapter 25: A Night Like No Other
Remus walked back up the stairs and stood outside the bedroom that had been converted to a nursery. He knocked quietly so he wouldn't wake the newborn baby resting inside. The house was more quiet than usual due to the fact that no one wanted to wake the baby.
"Hi Moony," Cassie whispered softly. "Come on in." She stepped aside to let him enter and then shut the door softly. The lights were dim and the werewolf let his eyes slowly adjust to the darkness.
He saw the basinet pushed up against the corner with an old rocker next to it. Several toys already cluttered the ground and he laughed at the sight. The baby was barely two weeks old and she was already spoiled. "What are you doing in here alone?" He whispered to the new mom.
"Sirius was here, he went downstairs to get another blanket. It's cold in here." Cassie smiled sheepishly. "That and I couldn't leave her alone. She looks so innocent when she's sleeping."
Remus smiled. "She does," he said looking down into the basinet. "Quite different from when she's awake. She certainly has a set of lungs on her."
Cassie chuckled softly as Lily stirred in her basinet and opened her eyes. "Good morning," she said in a high-pitched, soft voice. "Are you ready to eat?" Reaching down, Cassie smiled at her newborn. She picked her up gently, cradling her head in the crook of her arm.
"Do you care to join us Uncle Moony?" Cassie giggled girlishly.
He shook his head as he followed her out the door and down the stairs. "Being a mother suits you," he said once they reached the kitchen.
Cassie grinned back at him as she sat down in the nearest chair. She gently placed the bottle up to the newborn's lips and waiting for her to latch on. Holding the bottle at a slight angle, Cassie hummed softly to her self while Lily drank.
"You're a good mom Cassie," Remus said softly, smiling at the scene before him. "And it's certainly made Sirius a happier person these past two weeks. You never would have thought he could have changed this much."
"Thank you Moony," she responded. "He has been in an exceptionally good mood lately. I just hope it doesn't end anytime soon."
"Hope what doesn't end soon?" Sirius said, walking into the kitchen. He bent down, kissed Cassie's forehead, and left a small peck on Lily's.
"Nothing," Cassie said softly, winking at Remus. She smiled as she slowly pulled the bottle away from Lily's lips. "I'm going to bring her back upstairs for her afternoon nap. I'll be right back down."
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
When Cassie had returned down the stairs, her husband and best friend had moved up to the living room and they were laughing hysterically. "What are you two laughing at?" She sat next to Sirius on the couch and waited for a response.
"We're telling tales from school," Sirius replied, placing his arm around her shoulder.
Cassie sat and listened, more amused than she had been in a while. "Did you really do that?" She must have asked a dozen times. It was unfathomable how many adventures the Marauders had and how much trouble they really had gotten into. "Moony, why didn't you stop them? I thought that's why Professor Dumbledore made you a prefect?" Being four years younger and in Ravenclaw, Cassie wasn't a part of their adventures.
"Yes, I assumed he might have thought that I could control my friends, however I failed miserably." Remus smiled, his hazel eyes dancing with laughter. The smile on his face caused him to look younger than Cassie had seen him in a long time.
"You just couldn't bear to get us in trouble," said Sirius laughing. The group laughed loudly, not hearing the front door open or noticing the greasy haired man enter the room.
"Ah yes. Doing what you do best Black. Do tell me, have you done anything today? Or is socializing with your wife and a werewolf important to the Order?" Snape's lip turned upward and he sneered.
Sirius made to stand up but Cassie's arm flew to his knee. Don't, she thought, hoping and begging that he could somehow hear her. "Is there something we can help you with Severus? Or did you just come to gloat?" Cassie asked, still attempting to peacefully retain Sirius.
"As much fun as that sounds, I do have business here." Snape scowled. "It seems that your heroic godson has done something else stupid."
"What are you talking about?" spat Sirius angrily. He stood, making eye contact with the Potions master. Cassie held on to his hand, hoping to help him keep his temper. Unfortunately, this was a battle she was quickly losing.
"Harry has allowed the Dark Lord to penetrate his mind. He believes that you are being held captive in the Department of Mysteries and that the Dark Lord is going to kill you. I had hoped he was telling the truth, but obviously you are still with us." Snape sneered again.
"Severus, we must save him. Who knows what danger he'll get into there?" Remus turned towards Cassie and Sirius. "Sirius, stay here with Cassie. We'll be back soon." He moved towards the stairs that led down to the kitchen to alert the other order members that were in the house.
"No. I'm going with you." Sirius moved towards Remus, his eyes pleading.
"I'm afraid you can't my old friend. We can't have you walking right into the Ministry, not when they're so keen on catching you." Remus smiled and walked over to his friend. "Stay here, please. I promise we will come back with Harry."
"I can't. I can't Remus. I'll be careful. But I can't have you go and save Harry, not when I know I can help."
"Sirius you can't!" Cassie stood up, pulling on his arm. "Please. I have a bad feeling about this! Stay."
Sirius turned to face Cassie. He pulled her in close to his chest, running his hands through her hair. "I have to go. I'll be back. We'll be careful." Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck, the tears already forming in her bright blue eyes.
"How touching," said Snape from across the room. "I personally do not care if Black comes, however it would be a pity if we were to get there too late. I might have to face an inquiry if the boy and his friends were to die."
Sirius, Remus and Cassie all glared at the greasy haired man. "Fine. Sirius you can come. Just be careful." Remus ran down the stairs to the kitchen where Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks were discussing the next night's guard duty.
Cassie and Sirius hugged tightly, ending their hug in a passionate kiss. "Go. Please be careful." Remus came running up the stairs followed closely behind by the Order. Cassie watched as her best friend, her husband and the man she hated walked out the door. She heard the resounding CRACK as they apparated away from the house and to the Ministry. Suddenly, Cassie felt alone and she had this uneasy feeling she would never see him again.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Cassie walked up the stairs to her bedroom. She fell onto the bed and cried, her eyes were stinging with the salt tears. She didn't hear the door open and didn't realize anyone had entered the room until she heard quiet muttering in a raspy voice.
"Filthy bloodtraitor. Soon, they'll all be gone and Kreature will be left alone with his mistress. Soon…"
Cassie sat up and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Kreature what are you doing in here? What are you muttering?" She hoped the house elf choose this moment to actually obey a command. He was supposed to obey her, since she was in the family now, but he still ignored everything she said.
"Oh the bloodtraitor's wife is still here. Another one of that lot still here. Well she'll see, they'll all see."
"Kreature, what are you talking about? I demand you answer me!" Cassie sat up straight.
He glared at her and walked from the room, muttering under his breathe.
Cassie looked around the room, trying to find the time. Unable to find a clock that worked, she stood and walked down the stairs to the parlor. "Oh Merlin, please let them be okay. I can't lose anyone else!"
Once she reached the landing, she heard the baby cry from upstairs. "Yes Lily, I'm coming" she said, sighing. Cassie turned and walked back up the stairs to the baby's room. "Shh. There there sweetheart. Let's get you fed and changed, shall we?"
Summoning a bottle of warm milk, she sat in an old wooden rocker and fed her daughter. "Oh my darling. What are we going to do? I can't be left alone with you. I just can't." Cassie rocked her daughter and patted her back until she burped, and then laid her carefully in her crib for bed. "We both need your daddy here. He needs to take care of us."
Cassie covered Lily with a blanket and began humming a lullaby. Slowly, she turned her humming into words.
"Summertime, and the living is easy
Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high
Your daddy's rich, and your ma is good looking
So hush little baby, don't you cry.
One of these mornings, you're gonna rise up singing
You're gonna spread your wings as you take the sky
But till that morning, there's nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing nigh"
She slowly backed out of the room after placing a kiss on her daughter's forehead. She meandered down to the living room and grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch. Lying down, she pulled the blanket over her and laid her head down.
"Oh please, let them all be okay. I can't bear to lose anyone." Cassie stared at the flames flickering vibrantly in the hearth. Her eyes tearing as she continued to stare.
AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter :-) I'm finally moved into my new townhouse and have the next 1.5wks before I start teaching again, so hopefully this story will be finished by then. There are about 2 chapters left so get your reviews in now!
Also: I don't own the song used in this chapter. It is from Porgy and Bess by Gershwin. Thanks for reading!