Disclaimer: All rights go to JK Rowling. Anything you don't recognize is mine.

Welcome back! This chapter is a lot shorter than others, but considering it's a complete mess anyway, it's probably for the best that it's not any longer. On the bright side, it's bringing us closer to the end of Cassie and the Marauders' fifth year! And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Thank you for all the new favorites/follows, and thank you to my wonderful reviewers from last time: tennismaniac19, HPuni101, Bsmiles123, heroherondaletotherescue, Cae-Leigh Anne, ForeverCharmed00, Cassie-D1, 19irene96, Epochs, PoisonDreamz, FlooJo, Raven that flies at night, FangirlForEternity, hellohaha, Guest 1, Guest 2, Guest 3, and Guest 4!


Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Lone Wolf

My dearest daughter,

How are you, my darling? I hope my gift got to you safely. We had a spat of bad weather this last week and I'm afraid Osbourne was trapped in the manor for some time before he could get out and fly again. Hopefully you weren't gifted too many boxes of chocolate on Valentine's so you still have room for mine (though I highly doubt any boy would be clever enough to get gourmet from Belgium – only the best for my lovely Cassie!).

Speaking of boys, how are those darling ones you've been spending time with recently? Any progression with Walburga's boy? (Sorry! I can't help myself – he's dashing, and seems to have a keen eye for you, if you will allow this one small intrusion from your mother…). Or I reckon Euphemia's boy is also rather handsome…

Sorry!

Your father has been kept busy at the Ministry these last months. After clearing Will of all charges he's been working extra hard to appease his constituents, and with the Wizengamot preparing to pass this new legislation (keep an eye on the Prophet in the coming weeks…) I've hardly seen him. Witch Weekly has been in an uproar; half our models for the spring catalog canceled out of the blue! They wouldn't say why, but it's clear from the tense climate here in Britain that they're worried something might happen. The Prophet has been tight-lipped about a lot of what's going on, but your father has been keeping me up to date on what isn't being shared. Why, just this last week there was an awful attack on a Muggle family; said all their hearts had been missing from their bodies! Can you believe it?

It worries me, Cassie. I just want you to be safe here with me, but I know Hogwarts is the best place for you right now. I even got a letter a few days ago from Professor Carlisle – she says you've been a model student in her class. I'm so proud of you!

I haven't heard from your brother since Christmas. I do hope he's all right. The wizarding community is becoming more and more divided each day, and forgive me, but I wish he would come to his senses and stay out of such needless conflict. I fear it is only going to get worse before it becomes better.

I love you, my darling Cassie. Study hard, and stay out of trouble with those boys!

Much love,

Mother

P.S. Your father sends his love, as well.

Cassie finished reading her letter and shoved it underneath the exquisite box of chocolates Ozzy had just delivered to her with that morning's post, her stomach churning. Eleanor may be privy to things the Daily Prophet didn't report, but Cassie seemed to be the only one in her family who was aware of what exactly had happened with that Muggle family. It was probably for the best, she thought; having Will splayed across every editorial Britain had to offer as the instigator behind such another brutal attack would put a decided wrench in her plans, and she didn't wish to see her mother experience that sort of heartache. Still, that didn't keep her from feeling nauseous at the reminder of what You-Know-Who had forced her brother to do.

"Your mum has such delightful taste," Marlene said wistfully, eyeing Cassie's chocolates with a dreamy gaze. "And those robes she was wearing to the Minister's Gala last month? So beautiful."

Cassie gave her a strange look. "You saw her?"

"Page twenty-eight of the February issue of Witch Weekly," she said, sighing. "Said she was the best-dressed of the night."

"That seems biased, though, right?" Alice said, looking up from her own post quizzically. "I mean, not saying she doesn't deserve it, but she is the editor for that same magazine…"

"Oh, please," Marlene huffed. "Cassie's mum could wear a burlap sack and a tea cozy and still be considered the most beautiful woman in Britain."

"Sheesh, Marlene, I can get you an autograph if you want," Cassie said, laughing.

"She hugged me once on Platform 9 ¾," she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder importantly. "That's all I'll ever need in life."

Cassie rolled her eyes as Alice snickered under her breath.

"Anything worth sharing?" Lily asked, setting down her own letter and nodding to Cassie's. She lowered her voice. "Does she know about Will?"

Cassie shook her head. "No. But from what it sounds like, I don't think anyone knows except for us and some select others," she said, tilting her head towards the staff table, where Carlisle was sitting. "Not even the Aurors have any leads."

"That's awful," Lily said. "I'm definitely not trying to implicate Will or anything, but shouldn't the Ministry know that You-Know-Who and his followers were behind it?"

"Oh, I'm sure they suspect," Cassie said. "They just don't have any evidence to link someone to the crime. And a lot of You-Know-Who's followers are still unknown."

"What about an anonymous tip or something?" Lily asked. "They said something about it in last week's Prophet – " But Cassie was already shaking her head.

"No meddling, remember?" she said. She couldn't help her eyes flicking towards the center of the Gryffindor table, where the Marauders sat. They were talking normally, as if they hadn't been avoiding her for the past week, but she swallowed down the sharp flare of hurt that spiked in her chest, knowing it was to their benefit.

Lily looked like she wanted to argue, but Marlene shook her head slightly when the redhaired witch opened her mouth, and she closed it again, frowning.

"We should get to lessons," Alice said, finishing up her breakfast and standing while the other girls followed suit.

Cassie shouldered her bookbag, trailing after her friends as they exited the Great Hall. She turned her head slightly to see Regulus Black's eyes trained on her from where he sat at the Slytherin table, but he didn't acknowledge her, so she did the same, unable to stop her gut from squirming uncomfortably.

The weeks leading up to the Valentine's incident had required her to pull a lot of strings, and now she was reaping the fruits of her labor, even if it made her feel wretched. It had taken loads of planning to get the ever-cunning Slytherins out of her way, including Professor Carlisle. Neither Avery nor Regulus had blown the whistle on their cover to the icy Defense professor, but Cassie wasn't willing to take any chances; perhaps her Gryffindor bias against Slytherins had pushed her towards the decision, but ultimately it was her need for discretion and headspace that had made her play the two Slytherins against each other so they would stop assisting her in her plans.

Carlisle and You-Know-Who had already made it clear enough that her meddling was causing issues, if Will's torment hadn't convinced her entirely. The horrendous force that had been used against her brother made her realize that no one else could be allowed to endure the same fate, and everyone close to her was a prime target for the same thing to happen to them. Therefore, she had come up with the idea a fortnight ago to throw everyone off the scent, as they say; she couldn't do anything to help Will if everyone knew what she was doing. Carlisle, Avery, Regulus, the girls, and even – as much as it pained her – the Marauders couldn't know about anything. The more people who knew, the more chance she had of being exposed, and then Will – or maybe even herself – would be killed.

Though the Sorting Hat had placed her into Gryffindor all those years ago, she had been a close call for Ravenclaw, like most of the generations of her family before her. She was smart, she knew that; perhaps not as cunning as the Slytherins, but years of pure-blood aristocracy and an affinity for wit had trained her well enough to fool everyone, even those closest to her.

Now, all she had to do was continue the task Will had set out for her months ago, and try not to get killed by the most powerful Dark Lord since Grindelwald.

Sometimes she really cursed her Gryffindor roots.

The day passed as it normally did, though Cassie was acutely aware of the Marauders' avoidance of her. She couldn't blame them, not really; she had promised James no more secrets, which she had meant at the time. But this secret was to protect everyone she loved, and if she succeeded, she hoped they would understand that – Sirius, especially. His withdrawal from her was perhaps the most difficult, if only because her feelings were struggling to make themselves known. She hadn't gotten a chance to explain to him that Avery kissing her meant nothing, was nothing, that she had been going to meet him (even if she was under the effect of Veritaserum, but who was she to deny herself anymore?), but he'd been colder than ever towards her, so she kept her distance.

Slughorn's class was the worst. He had even gone so far as to trade seats with Lily, opting to sit next to Remus instead of her. Avery always shot her baleful glares over his shoulder, as if he blamed her personally for Will getting tortured, but she ignored him. Avery wasn't a rat, and perhaps he truly had meant well when he offered to help her, but she couldn't allow herself to trust anyone else but herself at the moment. No, she had to do this alone.

The last class of the day came abruptly, and Cassie took her seat at the front of the Defense classroom, waiting for Professor Carlisle to arrive. Ever since her trip to the hospital wing the week before, the professor/Death Eater had been unnervingly civil to her, as evidenced by what her mother had said in her letter at breakfast. The twisted witch was probably celebrating her victory in getting Cassie out of the way, and it was all Cassie could do to stop from laughing out loud every time she thought of what Carlisle's face would look like when she came out on top instead.

"Today will be a note-taking day," Carlisle announced as she stepped out of her office upstairs and descended the staircase. "Take out your quills and parchment."

Cassie complied with the rest of the class, setting her items on her desk as Carlisle spoke.

"For today's lesson, we will be talking about Dark creatures that may appear on your O.W.L. Can anyone give me examples of such a Dark creature?'

Lily's hand shot up first, along with Snape's, but that was no surprise to anyone. What was a surprise, however, was Carlisle calling on Lily first. "Yes, Miss Evans?"

"Inferi, Professor," she said. "Or an Inferius, if singular."

Carlisle nodded. "Five points to Gryffindor. Ten, if you can describe in detail what an Inferius is."

Lily took the challenge with ease, sounding as if she had swallowed the textbook and was now vomiting its contents as she rattled off: "An Inferius is a dead body, reanimated by Dark Magic for the purpose of serving the master who raised them from the dead. They're impervious to most spells and physical harm, but fire is the only sure way to kill one."

"Very good, Miss Evans. You have earned your ten points," Carlisle said. "Raising Inferi is a complex task; the spellwork behind such a feat is marvelously advanced, and requires dabbling in the obscure art that is Necromancy, which very few wizards and witches know."

Cassie saw Kanin Mulciber's hand raise, and Carlisle called on him.

"Professor, is it true He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is raising an army of Inferi?" he asked breathlessly, and if Cassie didn't know any better she would've thought his fear was genuine. Instead, he just sounded awed.

"Perhaps," Carlisle said vaguely. "I would not put too much worry behind the thought, however, Mr. Mulciber; I'm sure You-Know-Who has better things to do than go around raising the dead."

She gave Cassie a cursory look at this, but she forced herself to remain calm, merely staring back blandly. "What other Dark creatures? Ah, yes, Mr. Snape."

"Werewolves," the sallow boy practically hissed, and Cassie turned in her seat to stare at the hook-nosed Slytherin. He glared darkly from beneath his curtains of greasy hair, and she followed his glittering black gaze to the front, seeing his eyes trained on Remus next to her.

Remus didn't seem to be engaged in the discussion, merely tapping his quill on the edge of his desk and looking bored, but Cassie wondered if his face was somehow paler. Figuring Snape was just being his usual git self, she tuned back in to the lesson.

"Werewolves aren't Dark creatures," James snapped from a few rows behind her, and she turned to see the bespectacled Marauder scowling at Snape. "They're people."

Snape sneered. "Maybe on every other day besides the full moon. But they're monsters inside, Potter – you should know that."

James bristled, but Carlisle raised her hand for quiet. "Enough, gentlemen." She regarded the class for a moment, tilting her head before speaking again. "While it can be argued that werewolves are indeed people, the Ministry of Magic has classified them as a five in the Beast category on the official Ministry Classification of Magical Creatures. This rating means that magical creatures who belong to this category are known wizard-killers, and are impossible to train or domesticate."

"But when they're in human form they're classified as Beings," James argued. "The classification is bogus."

Peggy Sloane let out an ugly laugh. "Aw, look at the blood traitor defending werewolf rights! No wonder they don't consider you a pure-blood anymore, Potter. Sleeping with the half-breeds like some mutt — "

"Silence, Miss Sloane!" Carlisle snapped, and the Slytherin girl scowled. "Ten points from Slytherin. And I'll do the same for you if you don't sit down, Mr. Black."

Cassie looked to see Sirius slowly sitting back down in his seat, glaring acidly at the group of sniggering Slytherins on the other side of the room. She tried to catch his eye, but he looked resolutely forward, his jaw clenched.

"We are not here to discuss werewolf rights," Carlisle continued. "We are here to discuss only Defense Against the Dark Arts, and politics aside, werewolves are considered Dark creatures. Now, can anyone describe werewolves, and why they are considered Dark? No one? What about you, Miss Alderfair?"

Cassie started, not expecting her name to be called, but she swallowed nervously and tried to recall everything she had read about werewolves.

"Er, well, they're not exactly wolves," she started uncertainly. "They have wolf-like characteristics, but their minds and bodies are different, I guess." Remus was staring at her intently, and his gaze was beginning to make her feel self-conscious. "When they transform on the full moon they lose their human sense of self, which is why I guess the Ministry classifies them as dangerous." She shook her head disapprovingly, frowning when Remus's eyes refused to look away from her.

Carlisle nodded. "Five points to Gryffindor. Anything else? Why do werewolves transform, then?"

"They have no choice," Remus said, speaking up. He met the professor's gaze, but his voice sounded hollow when he spoke. "Once a human is infected with lycanthropy, they have to turn on a full moon. And only people who are bitten by a werewolf on a full moon can be infected."

"Five more points to Gryffindor," Carlisle said brusquely, giving Remus an odd glance Cassie couldn't decipher. The sandy-haired boy seemed to slouch lower in his seat when Cassie looked over to him, and she had the sudden urge to reach out to him before Carlisle was already moving the lesson along.

When the final bell rang to dismiss them, Cassie packed up her things and stood up, opening her mouth to say something to Remus, but when she looked he had already gone, darting out the classroom door with the rest of the Marauders on his heels. She frowned, staring after them until Professor Carlisle said her name.

"Miss Alderfair, a word please."

The blonde witch was beckoning her to her desk, and after waving for the girls to go on without her, she approached the desk, hoisting her bag higher onto her shoulder.

"You're not going to offer me another drink, are you?" she asked shrewdly, giving the professor a pointed look that she merely smiled at.

"Of course not," she said sweetly. "I will admit, the Veritaserum was a bit of a stretch, in hindsight, and I had no idea it would have such an adverse effect on you."

"And you needed me to tell the truth…why?" Cassie said. "You didn't even stick around to see if I drank it."

"I didn't need to," she said. "As you well know, Miss Alderfair, I have eyes and ears everywhere in this school. I always know what you are doing." She smiled again. "That's why I'd like to commend you on keeping your wits about you and stopping your little investigation before I had to step in myself. Your nosiness had been a nuisance, but now you know not to get in my way anymore."

"Yeah, well, having some dick of a Dark Lord torture your brother is a good warning to heed," Cassie said sarcastically.

"Indeed." Carlisle tapped her fingers on her chin, scrutinizing Cassie. "Continue to keep your nose clean, Miss Alderfair, and perhaps I can put in a word that will help dear William. After I get what I'm looking for, I'm sure the Dark Lord would not dismiss my counsel so easily." Her red lips curled into a predatory smile. "That is all, Miss Alderfair. Enjoy your dinner. And need I remind you to keep your mouth shut about our little chats?"

"No," she said through gritted teeth.

Carlisle waved her along. "Good. Have a nice evening, then."

Cassie walked out of the door without another word, promising herself that after You-Know-Who was dealt with, Carlisle would be next on her list.


"Revision is the worst," Marlene moaned, smacking her head on the cover of The Standard Book of Spells Year 5. "I hate OWLs, and I haven't even taken them yet!"

"Why can't we go back to being annoying firsties?" Alice said wishfully, watching a cluster of said firsties take turns eating some of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"Speak for yourself," Cassie said, looking up from her star charts for Astronomy. "I was so invisible our first year that not even Peeves would prank me! That was the darkest period of my life." She made a face. "The only reason anyone knew who I was is because of Will. He was the popular one."

Lily glanced up from her Transfiguration book. "Have you even heard from him?"

Cassie shook her head. "Not since Christmas."

Lily looked troubled, and Cassie tried not to mirror her expression. Will was safe, for now – at least she hoped he was.

"Can I copy your moon cycles?" Marlene asked, abandoning her Charms essay and scooting Cassie's Astronomy homework closer to her without waiting for an answer.

"Go ahead," Cassie said. "I'm pretty much done anyway."

"You really shouldn't be copying each other," Lily said with a disapproving frown. "It helps more if you do it on your own."

"Don't you have rounds tonight, Lily?" Marlene asked without looking to the other witch.

"Not until — " She glanced to her watch, groaning. "Now. I've got to get going, Stebbins is waiting for me. I'll see you later."

The other girls said their goodbyes as she departed hastily, leaving them to their never-ending mountain of homework.

Cassie was halfway through her last star chart when Marlene suddenly gasped, and she and Alice jumped in their seats, swiveling to face her in alarm.

"What's going on, Mar?" Cassie asked.

"I just realized something," Marlene said, pointing to her moon cycles. "Tomorrow's the full moon!"

"Er, yeah," Alice said, exchanging a confused look with Cassie. "What about it?"

Marlene lowered her voice conspiratorially, baring her teeth as she whispered, "Werewolves."

Cassie blinked. "Er, all right."

"Aw, c'mon, didn't you think today's lesson was exciting?" she whined. "Werewolves are creepy! I heard there's even some that live in the Forbidden Forest."

"Everyone tells you that when you're a firsty to scare you," Alice said, rolling her eyes. "There's no werewolves out there."

"That you know of," she retorted. "I sit next to Snape and all those Slytherins; Snape was talking about how he thinks one of the students here is a werewolf."

"That's such a load of dragon dung," Cassie scoffed. "Dumbledore would never let a werewolf roam around the castle when there's hundreds of students in here. That's mad."

Marlene held up her hands in defense. "Don't jinx the messenger! I was only reporting what I had overheard."

"Now I can't concentrate," Alice huffed. "I'm going to find Frank. Have fun you two."

She gathered her things and disappeared up the boys' staircases, leaving Cassie and Marlene alone together.

"Ugh, she's right," the blonde witch huffed after a few minutes. "I'm sick of doing homework anyway." She began packing her things, handing Cassie's moon cycles back to her. "Wanna come upstairs and do nails with me?"

"Can't," Cassie said with a sigh. "I have to finish this last star chart and start working on that History of Magic essay."

Marlene made a face. "Yuck. Well, I'll see you when you come up to bed."

Cassie waved as she retreated to their dormitory, turning back to her homework with a grimace. She worked late into the night, staying in her seat even after everybody left the common room for bed, determined to finish it all tonight so she didn't have to worry about it in the morning.

She took a break a little before midnight, stretching out her cramped hand and glancing over her work. Her moon cycles chart was still out, and she went to put it back in her bag, her eyes lingering on the unshaded circle that represented the full moon. It made her think of Remus, and that ridiculous nickname the other boys called him: 'Moony.' She wondered where that name even came from, but any thoughts about the Marauders made her gut twist, so she shrugged it off, stuffing the parchment into her bag.

"Psst. Psst!"

Cassie paused what she was doing, straining her ears. Had she imagined that?

"Cassie."

Bewildered, she looked toward the fireplace, squinting her eyes, but seeing nothing. Figuring it was just the fire, she went back to her work, but nearly toppled out of her seat when she definitely heard an exasperated voice say, "Cassie!"

Swiveling her head back toward the fireplace, she clapped a hand over her mouth when she met the eyes of someone peering out of the flames, looking directly at her.

"Will?" she breathed, throwing herself in front of the hearth. "Merlin, is it really you?"

"It's me," he said, and Cassie drank in every detail she could through the dancing flames. He looked rotten, with his normally immaculate hair in disarray, and his dark eyes shadowed and empty, a former shell of the light that once harbored there. "Cassie, are you all right?"

"Am I all right?" she choked, smiling despite herself. "Will, what happened to you? Are you hurt? Are you safe?"

"I'm fine, sister," he said, a ghost of a grin on his hollowed face.

"But you – the Muggles – You-Know-Who — "

The grin disappeared. "I'm fine, Cassie. Really."

Sensing that she should drop it, she swallowed down her disbelief and instead asked, "How are you talking to me?"

"I broke into some old witch's house when she went out for a spot of brandy," he said, snorting. "I can't stay long; the Ministry is beginning to monitor Floo communications, but I had to speak with you." He looked pained. "Cassie, I'm so sorry, for everything. I heard what Carlisle did. I never wanted to get you so involved — "

She shook her head, relief and sadness battling inside her. "Don't apologize. You were trying to do the right thing all along, and I never believed you. I should be the one who's sorry."

"Cassie," he said urgently. "Sparks, listen to me: I need you to be safe. Whatever pieces of the puzzle I gave you, forget about them, destroy them – whatever you have to do. I can't let you get hurt because of me. I don't want the same thing to happen to you – th-the things he made me do…" He shuddered. "Forget it all, sister. This is my burden, and I shouldn't have left it to you. I'm sorry."

"What?" she said, aghast. "No, Will, I can't do that – I can help! I've convinced everyone that I've stopped meddling, so I'm free to do whatever now. Just tell me what you're looking for, and I'll help — "

"Don't argue with me, Cassie!" he snapped. "This is life and death now. The Dark Lord is watching both of us, and I will never forgive myself if something were to happen to you."

"But — "

"Just stay out of it! There's nothing you can do anymore. It's over. I have to do this on my own now."

Cassie's blood chilled. "What are you saying?"

He hesitated, his expression pained. "I'm going to finish what I started. I don't care if I die anymore; I've seen what he does, what all of his followers do. This isn't a path to salvation; it's a path to ruin. And I have to try and stop it before this war can escalate any further."

Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she shook her head vehemently. "No, let me help you! Will, he'll kill you if he finds out — "

He smiled sadly at her, and suddenly she felt like screaming. "I have to, sister. I have to take this chance, or nobody will."

"That's not true!" she gasped. "There are others who think like you, who want to see this war over! It doesn't have to be you."

"I'm willing to make the sacrifice," he said. She saw a hand, wreathed in flame, reach out as if to touch her, before it lowered again. "I love you, Cassie. I'm sorry."

"Will, don't you dare," she said desperately. "Don't leave me, please — "

But the flames died, and she was left with nothing more but ashes.


Cassie didn't know how long she stayed curled in front of the hearth, tears slipping down her face.

Just when she was convinced that Will was really on her side, that he was still good, she had lost him for the third time, and quite possibly forever. But it didn't have to be that way, she reminded herself. She still had all the clues he had left her, and the locket; she could beat everyone, even her own brother, and save him too. Of course she wasn't going to stop hunting, no matter what he told her, and he should've known that. He should bloody know that.

She gripped the locket in her fist, feeling the little gears whirring and fluttering beneath its surface, against her skin, like a tiny second heart, pattering along to the rhythm of her own. She knew so much already, had come so far and gotten so many answers; she was so close, she could feel it. There were just the last missing pieces: what was You-Know-Who after, and where was it?

You-Know-Who, she thought to herself scathingly. The Dark Lord. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He doesn't scare me, not anymore. I do not fear Lord Voldemort.

She involuntarily shivered at the mere thought of his name, but she also felt…powerful, in a way. As if saying his name – even just thinking it – gave her some sort of power over him.

The sudden groaning of the portrait hole opening jarred her from her thoughts, and she sat up to see a familiar figure slinking into the common room, heading for the boys' dormitories. Sitting up and wiping her eyes, Cassie called, "Sirius?"

The figure hesitated briefly before continuing towards the staircases, and she cursed under her breath, getting to her feet and chasing him down. She caught him halfway up the staircase, grabbing his sleeve and turning him around to face her, his handsome features twisted into a scowl.

"What do you want, Cassie?"

His voice sounded rough and scratchy, and she ignored the swooping in her stomach as she said, "I want to talk to you. Where have you been? It's late!"

"I took a walk," he said defensively. "Had to clear my head. Why were you even lurking in the common room to begin with?"

"I had to think," she said, suddenly wishing that everything was still normal, that he wasn't glaring at her as he first did before they were friends. "Just…can we talk, please?"

He stared at her, his grey eyes narrowed. "I have nothing to say."

"Then just listen to me." She crossed her arms, and though he looked like he wanted to retort something nasty, he only gestured for her to speak, leaning back against the wall.

"Look, Avery came to me, all right? He said he wanted to help me, and I believed him. We had only been working together for a few weeks before Valentine's, and that night, he followed me to the Astronomy Tower so we could talk, not knowing that I was…well, going to meet you. He kissed me out of reaction when he heard you coming; he thought it was someone else. We couldn't blow our cover."

Sirius snorted derisively. "So, that's why this whole thing has been a disaster? Because you decided to put your trust in a Slytherin?" He snorted again. "Glad to see where that got you in the end."

Cassie glared at him. "I'm not working with him anymore. Whatever truce we had is done."

"You still kept it a secret!" he snapped. "You promised us, Cassie!"

"I did what I had to do!" she argued. "Sirius, you have to understand that there are some things I have to protect you from — "

"Then how am I supposed to protect you?" he said angrily, cutting her off. "How am I supposed to protect you, Cassie? The only reason why I ever even bothered with this whole bloody mess was because I wanted you to be safe, and not get hurt if anything blew up in your face. Do you know how terrified I was that night? Watching you collapse like that, not breathing, not moving?" He was breathing raggedly, his chest heaving. "I thought you were dead because of me. I thought I had been too late, that my protection hadn't been good enough. And it killed me, Cassie."

She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, but she took an automatic step back when Sirius suddenly pushed off the wall, looming over her in the narrow staircase as the wood-paneled wall pressed into her shoulders.

His hands reached out and gripped her waist, and a jolt shot through her spine that made her stand straight, her body tensing. Heat flooded her as he pressed closer, as if reveling in the fact that she was alive, and her breath hitched when his forehead met hers, their noses just barely brushing as he breathed heavily, the rich scent of him washing over her.

"You don't have to protect me," she managed to get out, her voice a mere whisper as her heart beat frantically in her chest, the locket warming in response.

"I know," he murmured, and his hands tightened their hold, making her blood sing. Every part of them was touching except for their lips, and she sorely wished to change that, unconsciously arching herself into him, and she grinned faintly when she heard his breath catch.

"Cassie," he said hoarsely, and she hummed in response, leaning closer. "Cassie…"

The moment was shattered when the sudden sound of a door slamming from further upstairs broke them apart, and Cassie released the breath she'd been holding as Sirius practically ripped his hands from her, as if she were scalding to the touch.

"I have to go," he said abruptly, and before she could even blink he had already bounded up the stairs, disappearing from view and leaving her alone, reeling.

Cassie stayed on the stairs for a moment longer, smacking her head into the wall and groaning.

I hate boys.

The locket seemed to hum in agreement.


Please review! I love hearing from y'all!

Next Chapter: The Light of the Moon

This chapter was a mess, and I'm worried it might come across as confusing, especially combined with the last chapter, so I'll just give a brief rundown of everything that is happening:

Avery was not a rat to Carlisle; Cassie just had to get him out of her way, so she played it to Regulus like Avery was a rat. Regulus is the only one who knows she's going solo because she entrusted that information to him and him only (also, Regulus is smart, so he has her figured out for the most part). No comment on Regulus's allegiances at this point.

Cassie had to fool everyone into thinking she was done meddling, which she chose to do last chapter during the confrontation with Avery and the Marauders. The Marauders believe she is done with the mystery as well; they're only upset that she trusted Avery and didn't tell them, and from Sirius's POV, she put herself in a place where he couldn't protect her anymore (aw).

Will wants Cassie to stop meddling as well, so he can solve the mystery on his own and keep her out of harm's way; however, Cassie believes she knows more than Will and can find whatever Voldemort's looking for before him, so she's not going to give up saving him either.

And that's about all I can say without giving anything away. If you still have questions, you can always leave them in a review or shoot me a PM! Hope this clears things up, because from here on out, things are going to be happening pretty quickly as we approach the end of the first book. Thanks again for reading!

xx