Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter. Anything you don't recognize is mine.

I know I said these next few chapters would focus pretty heavily on the fallout from Sirius's "prank," but the plot demanded to be written, so...here we are.

Thanks for all the new favorites/follows, and thank you to those who reviewed the last time!

Chapter Seventeen

The Remains

Midterm exams were upon them, and the Hogwarts student body was suffering. Meltdowns were common, Madam Pomfrey's stores of Pepper-Up were low, and Peeves the Poltergeist only made everything worse by wreaking havoc on the stressed students and staff however he could. In fact, only three days prior had Cassie witnessed calm, collected Professor McGonagall shriek at the poltergeist after the wily spirit splattered the Transfiguration corridor with sheep brains from Professor Slughorn's stores. (Cassie also learned a great deal of new swear words during that time that she planned on saving for future use.)

With the holidays and exams bearing down on her, Cassie realized with jarring alarm that she had completely neglected her studies in the aftermath of Sirius's betrayal, so for the past two nights she had stayed awake until obscene hours of the morning to cram. Fortunately, the workload provided her an apt excuse for avoiding any difficult conversations with her friends.

In the fortnight since Sirius had sent Snape to the Whomping Willow, Cassie had not spoken a single word to him. Neither had the others. She didn't know what the boys' dormitory was like now, but if their frosty silence and pointed avoidance of Sirius in public was any indication, then she could very well imagine.

Her own friends were naturally gobsmacked when Cassie had told them the news of her breakup with Sirius. She kept the true reason to herself—only the Marauders knew why she had really ended things—but the girls had offered their support, nonetheless.

"Oh, Cass," Lily had said, drawing her in for a hug one night in their dormitory. "I'm so sorry. I thought things had been going well?"

"Yeah, well," Cassie muttered, "he turned out to be much different than what I thought."

Alice gripped her hand, her eyes sympathetic. "What happened?"

"If he cheated—" Marlene practically snarled, but Cassie shook her head.

"He's just not the same Sirius I became friends with," she'd said, simple and matter-of-fact. She'd already shed her tears over him, and she refused to shed any more. "That's all."

The boys had reacted much differently.

"Serves him right," James had growled over breakfast the morning after their split. He'd taken an angry gulp of his pumpkin juice. "Disloyal little weasel—"

Remus, pale and exhausted, had sighed. He'd looked broken, like he would shatter the moment Cassie touched him. "Leave it alone, James. I'd rather not even have to think of him right now."

At that moment, Sirius had slouched into the Great Hall. He'd taken the farthest seat from Cassie and the Marauders and poked at his food without eating it. If she hadn't been so furious still, she might've pitied him.

Peter had only glared at the other boy, but as he went back to his breakfast, Cassie had heard him mutter, "Git."

Meanwhile, Snape had become more hostile than ever.

Although Dumbledore's warnings seemed to hold the Slytherin's tongue from divulging any information about Remus, his animosity toward them had reached new heights.

In the past week, Snape and his goonish friends had ganged up on them multiple times, either to jinx them in the corridors when no professors or prefects were around or to bodily shove them out of the way. Cassie had been hit with several Stinging Hexes already, but at least her retaliatory Bat-Bogey had been enough to send Peggy Sloane to the hospital wing.

But no one had received Snape's ire more than James.

It seemed that James saving the Slytherin boy's life had infuriated Snape beyond measure, and each jinx or hex sent toward James became increasingly Dark. Cassie feared that Snape would somehow get James alone to perform another curse on him like last year, and the terrifying image of her friend bleeding out on the bathroom floor was enough to suggest to Remus and Peter that one of them should always be with James at any given time, which they had readily agreed to.

All in all, the past two weeks had driven Cassie to the breaking point, and perhaps for the first time in her life, she couldn't wait to get away from Hogwarts.

"Something on your mind, Miss Alderfair?"

Cassie jumped at the unexpected voice, wheeling around to see Professor Staghart standing in the corridor behind her. He carried a stack of papers under one arm and held a teacup in his scarred hand. He must've been on his way to the staff room, but instead he'd come across her standing in the corridor and gazing out a window with blank eyes. She didn't even remember stopping, but it didn't surprise her, considering how lost in her head she had been.

When she didn't answer immediately, Professor Staghart raised an eyebrow at her. "Thinking about your Defense Against the Dark Arts project, I hope? It's due at the end of the week."

Cassie's cheeks heated. "Er, yes, sir."

He wasn't convinced. "Really? Because I've noticed you haven't come to see me to borrow any of my books on your topic."

She shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, er, sorry about that. It's been a crazy…" She didn't know what to say. Week? Month? Year? Life? "Just…sorry. I'll get to work soon."

Professor Staghart studied her with tawny eyes before sighing. "Come to my office, Miss Alderfair. I was planning on grading these in the staff room, but…" He lifted the papers, confirming Cassie's suspicions. "Unless you have somewhere else to be this afternoon?"

It was a Sunday, and undoubtedly the library would be packed. She hadn't really had a destination in mind when she'd left the rowdy common room for some peace, and Professor Staghart was right—she did have to start on that project…

"No, sir," she said. "I'll go with you. Thanks."

He gave her a wry grin as she fell into step beside him. Even at her own height, it still shocked her just how big he was. He probably stood just a head shorter than Hagrid, and she was convinced the gamekeeper had giant blood in him.

"I understand your reluctance," he said as they walked through the corridors together. "I was abysmal when it came to keeping up with schoolwork during my own time here."

"How long ago did you graduate?" she asked.

"Oh, just over ten years, I think," he said. "Time becomes a strange thing once you're out in the real world. School feels like a century, and once you're done, you look up one day and realize a whole decade has passed."

Cassie frowned at the corridor. "That's comforting."

Professor Staghart chuckled. "Any holiday plans?"

She scratched at her cheek, shrugging. "Just going back to my aunt's. My friend James says his parents are hosting a gala for New Year's, so I might go to that. Otherwise, there's not much else."

"Ah, yes. Mr. Potter." Her professor nodded. "Quite the troublemaker, isn't he? Professor Dumbledore specifically mentioned him to me when I first started. Him and his partner in crime, Mr. Black."

Cassie stiffened at the mention of Sirius. "Yes, sir."

He glanced at her sidelong. "I haven't seen them together lately. And you yourself seem rather…distant from Mr. Black, as well."

She kept her eyes forward. "Just a difference in character and judgment, sir. That's all. Thank you for your concern."

There was a bite to her words she hadn't meant to let slip, but Professor Staghart seemed unfazed by it. "Of course, Miss Alderfair. My apologies for intruding."

They remained quiet until they reached the Defense classroom and Professor Staghart led her inside. She followed him up the staircase to his office, where he lit the candles with a wordless spell before seating himself behind his desk.

He waved his wand again, and a small desk and comfortable chair appeared in a secluded corner near one of his many bookshelves. He gestured to it. "Feel free to stay and work as long as you like. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

Cassie frowned at his full bookshelves, overwhelmed by the sheer number of volumes that poked out at her. "Er, where should I begin, sir?"

He flicked his wand. Several books wiggled free and soared toward her. She barely managed to catch them in her arms before they toppled to the floor. She looked down and found a blank, brown leather cover staring back at her. "This one doesn't have a title."

"Indeed." Professor Staghart drew a paper toward himself and picked up a quill. "You won't find much about the Seven Elders in any publication. Names, perhaps, but nothing about their magic. What you have there are my personal journals from when I worked as a Curse-Breaker. Much of it is conjecture, but there are several facts about the witches I believe you will find useful."

"I know one of the names already." Cassie bit her lip. "Norvina Alderfair. My ancestor."

He didn't seem surprised. "Yes. Another Elder's name is Farrow Staghart. My ancestor."

Cassie's mouth fell open. "What? You…you're a descendant of the Seven, too?" She took her books and slammed them on the desk. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm telling you now," he said, amused.

Her mind spun. "You've known this whole time?" She thought back to the night of her seventeenth birthday and drew herself up. "Was that why you were out so late on my birthday? You were trying to find me?"

His lips quirked. "If you'll recall, Miss Alderfair, that was also the night of my own birthday as well." He sighed when she continued to stare at him, outraged. "Very well. I…suspected what you might be going through that night. I sought you out to make sure that you were taking it well."

Her heart pounded, panic locking up her limbs. Was he referring to her mark? Did he know what had happened?

At her wild gaze, he frowned. "I did my research on the Elders, Cassie. Did you really expect me not to know about their spellbook and what form it took?" He nodded to her chest, where the clockwork locket was tucked away under her shirt. "Or what the mark of the Seven was? Or what would awaken in your blood upon your seventeenth birthday?"

"You mean…" She swallowed, her throat dry. "You knew the mark would appear on me?" Did that mean the mark had appeared on him when he turned seventeen? What about Will? If he knew and had never told her…

Staghart shook his head, seemingly following her train of thought. "I had no mark. But you just confirmed for me that you did." He tilted his head, studying her carefully. "I wonder… Could it just be because you are in possession of the locket, then?" He sighed. "Too many variables. Of course, magic works in mysterious ways, but…" He trailed off, muttering under his breath.

Cassie's eyes darted to the door. It was shut, but she was close. And she had her wand. If she could just get to it without him noticing…

"You can grab your wand, Cassie," Staghart said. "If I wanted the locket, or you dead, I would've had both by now."

"Why?" she croaked. "Why…"

He gave her a dry smile. The scars on his face stretched gruesomely. "Unlike your last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I am no ally of the Death Eaters or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

She reached into her pocket and grasped the handle of her wand. The wood turned warm under her touch. "Then who are you allied with? Professor Dumbledore?" Her grip on her wand tightened. "Erebus Kane?"

"I am allied with you, Cassie." Staghart's tawny eyes bored into her. "The magic that flows in our veins binds us more than mere blood ever could. You and I are descendants of the most powerful witches who ever lived. History erased them and their deeds, but those of pure and ancient Houses have not forgotten."

She stepped toward the door. "What are you saying?"

She thought of Will and his fanaticism, his lust for power: "Magic is might, Sister. The Alderfair line is more than just a very old House. Anyone foolish enough to oppose us should be aware of that and the consequences they will face for their rebellion."

Staghart stared at her calmly. "The descendants of the Seven Elders contain power that has not been seen since the time of the gods. Together, all seven of us have the ability to change this world for the better. No Dark Lord, no Death Eaters, no discrimination—just peace. Is that not something to desire?"

She took another step. "My brother wants the same things. But he would kill and kill his way to that world, and that makes him no better than Voldemort, or any other Dark wizard."

"Help me find the other descendants," he said, ignoring her. "With the other four, we can wield the locket's full power together."

She faltered. The other four? Did he mean Will to count as one of the other descendants?

"The Seven Elders," he said to her look. "Norvina Alderfair. Farrow Staghart. Aurel Bloodbane, Brielle Baramont, Loran Helstairn, Marion Wilwood…and Grimhilde Kane."

She gaped. "Erebus Kane…"

He nodded. "I didn't become a Curse-Breaker by chance. I knew of my heritage and wanted to know more. I tracked down Kane and became his apprentice. We dreamed of finding the other descendants. I never thought one would land in his lap after he went to Azkaban—or that one would land in mine, with the very spellbook of our ancestors, no less."

Cassie drew her wand. "I wouldn't ally with you or Kane even if we were the last three people on Earth. I want nothing to do with this bloodline, or this power. But I swear on Merlin's grave that I will keep any of you from getting this locket."

Staghart smiled, looking genuinely pleased. "You have Godric Gryffindor's spirit, all right." He pushed himself to his feet, and Cassie raised her wand, her blood thundering in her ears. "Think on my words, Cassie. I have a feeling that before all is said and done, you and I will be on the same side."

"Fat chance," she retorted.

Staghart only smiled again and dipped his head. "Good day, Cassie. We'll be seeing each other again soon."

Cassie said nothing. She only wrenched the door open and fled down the stairs, her heart crashing against her ribs. Staghart made no move to follow her, and no spell came careening after her, either.

Still, that didn't stop her from sprinting away down the corridor, putting as much distance between herself and Staghart as possible.

James. She had to find James, and Remus, Peter, Lily…

Cassie rounded a corner and slammed into something hard. She tumbled to the floor, her wand leaping from her hand to clatter and roll on the stones. She scrambled to her feet, whipping her hair out of her face, expecting to see Staghart bearing down on her, his wand raised—

"Cassie?"

Remus looked down at her, confusion and worry etched across his face. His green eyes trailed from her sweaty, panting form to her wand before coming back to her pale face. "Are you all right? You look like you've been fighting a dragon."

Cassie seized the front of his jumper in both hands, her eyes wild. He gazed at her in alarm. "Cass—"

"Staghart," she gasped out. "He knows—Norvina—the locket—"

"Whoa," Remus said, reaching out to steady her. "Slow down. What?"

"Staghart is a descendant like me," she babbled. "And Erebus Kane is one, too. Staghart wants me to help him find the others so he can use the locket's full power."

Remus's mouth had become a perfect 'O'. "Holy shit."

Cassie released her death-grip on his jumper and snatched up her wand. "Who do we tell? Dumbledore? But what's he going to do? He can't possibly believe us, and Staghart didn't even threaten me or anything—there's no proof—"

"Cassie. Cassie!" Remus put his hands on her shoulders, cutting off her rambling and forcing her to look at him. His face was grave, his eyes solemn, but his concern for her—not Staghart, not anything else—was what kept her from leaping out of her skin in panic. "Calm down. Breathe. We'll figure this out. We always do, remember? One thing at a time."

She threw up her hands. "How can you expect me to be calm, Remus? I thought Will was only being delusional about this bloodline thing, but now there's a whole damn cult of them out there!"

"And we'll figure it out," he said, his voice firm. "But you panicking isn't going to help anything. You know that."

He was right. Remus was always right. She forced herself to nod, exhaling sharply from her nose.

"Shit," she muttered, running a hand through her hair. "This is so messed up."

He gave her a wry smile. "You're just now realizing this?"

She flung her arms around his neck, if only to stave off the numbing chill that had steadily been growing in her bones since fleeing Staghart's office. "Shut up."

Remus hesitated briefly before hugging her back. "I'm here for you, Cassie. We all are."

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I know."

She thought of Sirius, and something in her chest cracked.

Not everyone.

Cassie didn't even remember taking her exams.

The entire week leading up to the start of the holiday break was nothing but a blur. Although she had constantly been surrounded by her friends in the wake of Staghart's revelation, she'd felt like a ghost living in the shell of someone else. Even standing on Platform 9 ¾ after the long journey from Hogwarts to London, she felt like a different person from the one that had left on September 1st.

Sirius had betrayed them, Norvina had turned out to be a nutcase, the sire of Cassie's bloodline, and one of the most powerful witches in history wrapped all in one, and her Defense Against the Dark Arts professor wanted her locket and allegiance.

At least that part hadn't changed.

However, the new feeling that had emerged in her was something that she had felt only once before, when Lord Voldemort had pointed his wand at her heart in Alderfair Manor almost exactly one year ago.

She was terrified.

She blinked, roused from her stupor when Remus joined her on the platform, his hand pressing something into hers. She looked down and saw a pouch of mandrake leaves.

"You'll need these," he said. "You're ready now."

She nodded. "I s'pose I am."

He paused, his fingers lingering near hers. "Write me, yeah? About anything. It doesn't even have to be important. You're bored, the weather's dreadful, you got an ugly sweater for Christmas…"

Despite the terror holding her heart captive in its thorns, she managed a small smile. "I get it. Anything."

He lowered his voice as their friends filed out of the train behind them. "We'll get through this. Don't worry."

The locket thumped against her chest. Her constant reminder that this time, she couldn't see a way out of the darkness around her. That it would keep growing, thicker and thicker, until it choked the life from her lungs.

And then there would be nothing left of her.

So, welcome to the Big Plot! I hope you'll enjoy your stay, because things get pretty crazy from here on out...

I can guarantee that the next few chapters will be Cassie-centric, but we'll definitely see some more (surprise?) characters too. Poor Cass, though. Girl can't catch a break out here.

As always, I'd love to know your thoughts/speculations/questions, so please review!

Next Chapter: The Mandrake Christmas

(P.S. - With the halfway mark for this story coming up, the title reveal for Part 3 will be coming soon, so stay tuned for that!)