Bold*- parstletounge
Italics - thoughts
"Normal"- speech and narrative
Chapter 48: Family Look Out For Each Other
9/6/1994
~~~~~~~~~
An hour later you could tell that the exams had finished. People were laughing and joking in every direction, heading for the grounds and a bit of long-awaited freedom or just going to their common rooms to sleep the rest of the day away.
Tea was soon here and over but Cassandra and friends had left early. They were standing on the hill above Hagrid's hut. It was only the boys and Cass as Pansy and Daphne had decided for an early night.
"Cassandra why are we even here again?" Greg groaned as he leant against the giant stone that was sticking out of the ground.
"Because Hagrid might have won the appeal and I want to find out!"
"You're delusional Cass, there's no way Fudge will go against father. Hey maybe we can keep the head and send it to the Gryffindor common room?"
A tear fell down Cass's cheek and before she could say or do anything they heard a twig break behind them. Potter, Granger and Weasley were stood at the entrance to the bridge.
"Ah, come to see the show?"
Granger began quickly walking towards Draco, the other two scurrying behind her. "You! You foul loathsome evil little cockroach!"
She had backed the blonde onto the stone, wand pointed at his neck. He was whimpering.
"Hermione no! He's not worth it!" Weasley stated and Granger looked at the other Slytherins, all of whom were clutching their wands. She started to lower her own, twisting her waist around ever so slightly and moving her foot backwards. Cass knew what she was about to do.
"Hey Granger?" Cassandra stated. The girl in question looked up hesitantly.
"Yes Riddle?"
She smirked, "aim for the nose!"
Granger smirked back and before anyone could register what was happening the sound of a bone cracking echoed through the air.
"What the hell Cass!" Draco groaned clutching his nose, "Greg, Vince, come with me! And not a word of this to anyone!"
Cassandra giggled as her cousin stumbled across the bridge and out of sight. "Nice arm mudblood, saved me the trouble of doing it myself."
Potter glared. "What are you even doing here Riddle?!"
"I came to see if Buckbeak lost his appeal, I can't exactly go down and ask can I? The oaf hates Slytherins!"
"Why do you care? You're just a slimy snakey bi-" Weasley began, but Granger interrupted.
"He did lose I'm afraid, we came down to comfort Hagrid. We best get going now, c'mon guys!" She dragged the two down the hill. Cassie could faintly make out the boys complaints.
"Why did you interrupt Hermione!?"
"Oh hush Ronald she's clearly torn up about it like we are, honestly!"
Cassandra slunk to the ground and cried. She didn't know how long it had been but suddenly Blaise and Theo had pulled her behind a boulder that was outlining the bridge.
Dumbledore, Fudge and Macnair were making their way down to the Hut. When the terrible trio made their way back up they knew it was safe to come out of their hiding space.
The groups stood at opposite sides of the hill, watching as the executioner raised his axe and... SLAM! The noise made Cass flinch and she turned towards Theo. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his neck letting the tears fall.
Theo was stood still with shock. He frankly didn't know what to do. Why would she choose him and not Blaise? What was he supposed to do? What was going on? What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he think straight?
As Blaise hissed at him to comfort her, and as he mechanically wrapped his arms around Cass, rubbing her back, Theo realised something; he had a crush on his best friend.
"Ow!" Yelled out Weasley suddenly breaking Theo out of his revelation. "Scabbers! Come back!"
He took off down the hill after his rat, his two friends following. Theo, Blaise and Cass just stood there.
"What was that all about?" Said Blaise staring after them. "You know, they're a bit stupid aren't they, like Black is meant to be after Potter and so they go running off at sunset along the school grounds? Idiots!"
"Stay here, I'll be back!" Stated Cassandra quickly and before the boys could register she turned into the grim and ran after them. She had a feeling something was going to happen and that it had something to do with what she saw in her crystal ball.
Weasley managed to grab his pet, sitting on the ground he clutched it tight.
"Ron look out! It's the whomping willow!!"
"Harry, Hermione run, it's the grim!!"
At first Cassandra thought they meant her but she followed Weasleys finger and saw the form of her Uncle Sirius. She watched with wide eyes as he attacked the redhead, grabbing his leg and pulling him down into a hole beneath the tree. As Granger and Potter began to try and get down there Cassie knew she had to tell Severus and Remus.
She had no idea what was going on but knew she could not just sit back and not know what was happening, especially if it was important.
Quickly running back to the boys Cassandra told them to get Lupin whilst she told her godfather.
It was then a waiting game.
———
As the night grew later and later Cassandra was getting worried, just as she was about to try and find someone Sev entered his office.
"Merlin are you okay? What happened? Is Remus okay? What of Uncle Sirius?"
The man sighed before slouching into his desk chair. "Yes I'm fine, Lupin is currently a uncontrollable werewolf and I have been gifted Black's wand to dispose of as he is in custody; soon to be given the dementors kiss."
"WHAT!"
"Voice Cassandra, I'm right here, there's no need to yell! Now what's the problem?"
"Uncle Sev you have to let me save him!"
Severus whipped his head up, "Cassandra, hunny, what do you mean? You can't possibly want him alive, he'll be one of the best fighters of the light! He's on their side!"
She looked him dead in the eyes. "You didn't get to save the person that you thought as your family, so please help me save the man who is mine!"
———
Cassandra was once again in the replica dog form of her Uncle. She was running through the halls, Sirius's wand in her mouth, and headed for the topmost tower cell.
As she reached it Cass looked inside. Just like Severus had said her Uncle was chained up in the little room. He looked defeated. She shimmied through the bars and the escaped criminal looked up in alarm.
She padded towards him and dropped the wand in his lap before turning into her human form.
"Cassandra? What-?"
"Heyyyy Uncle Sirius!" She stated sitting down next to him gesturing to the wand. "You can be free now, you've got to be free! You can't just sit here and let the dementors get you!"
The man looked shocked. "You're an animagus? My animagus? And you came to help me?! I am so confused!"
Cassandra blushed, "well yeah. Um I- I- I know that when the war comes, and don't deny it you know there will be one, I know that we will be on different sides but I just wanted to say that I still love you the same and I will not fight you. I know I'm not supposed to care about you but I do, that's why I brought you your wand. You're my family, and family look out for each other - no matter what side they are on!"
Sirius looked at the girl sat beside him, she had tears streaked down her face and was looking awkwardly at her hands.
Surprising himself, and Cassandra, he pulled her into a hug.
"Thank you pup, I don't want to fight you either - you're my cousins daughter after all. Don't give me that fake confused look! I know everyone else might be fooled but I know my cousin when I see her: and you are pure Bellatrix! Now, I may hate my cousin but that doesn't mean I hate you. I loved her once, and she loved me, I was her favourite cousin but us being on different sides pushed us to hate. I don't want that to happen with us so I promise I won't tell anyone that you are her daughter as that will not treat you well."
He gave her a squeeze. "Thank you for bringing me my wand by the way! I just need to figure out where I'm going to stay.."
An idea popped into Cass's head. "You could go to Grimauld Place! I know you hate it there but it's well protected and will keep you safe!"
"But Reg-"
She looked up at him with sad eyes. "Don't you know?! Uncle Reggie died ages ago, when he was 18!"
"W-what?"
Sirius wasn't even embarrassed when he let the tears fall. He couldn't believe he didn't know his baby brother was dead this whole time! Cassandra put her arms around him.
They sat there for I don't know how long, enjoying the company and comfort of a family member they didn't know when they were going to see again.
Suddenly a noise sounded from outside.
"What was that?"
"I don't know Pup but you need to hide!"
Cassandra waved her hand and she became invisible. A familiar voice sounded into the night."BOMBARDA!"
Cassandra couldn't believe what she was seeing. Potter, Granger and a very alive Buckbeak were standing outside the rubble.
As the two Gryffindor's were busy climbing on the creature once more Sirius whispered underneath his breath, "thanks again pup, don't forget to write!" And with that he mounted the Hippogriff and they flew off into the night.
Cassandra smiled before running back to the dungeon, she entered Severus's office.
"Well?"
She ran up and hugged him. "He's free!"
