Bold*- parstletounge

Italics - thoughts

"Normal"- speech and narrative

Chapter 55: Catching Up

Foreign languages start to come into play now so translations will be in brackets and italics 3

4/9/1994

~~~~~~~~~

"Well what are you waiting for Andy? Come and give your favourite Uncle a hug!"

She laughed slightly, throwing herself into his awaiting arms; that she had longed to be in for so long.

Barty squeezed her tight, and she did the same - acting like this would be the last time they would see each other. Reluctantly, they pulled away, knowing they did not have long to talk.

"How are you alive? I thought you were dead! Everyone did..." Cassandra asked, snuggling into his chest and breathing in the familiar and calming scent of morning dew with the smallest hint of rose.

"My father had the same idea as you my petal. He snuck me out of Azkaban with someone glamoured in my place, although unlike you he used someone he cared about, that I cared about: my mother."

"He made nana Isobel do what?!"

He looked up, tears glistening his eyes. "I'll get to that in a minute but first I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Whatever for?"

"I begged and begged for father to get your other Uncles out with me - to get Bastan out with me. But I couldn't and I'm sorry. I failed you, I failed them and I failed him!"

Cassandra wrapped her arms around him, "it isn't your fault they know that, and you know, as well as I, Uncle Rabby will not hold it against you! Now, what happened to nana Isobel, and you, after your escape?"

"She was sick already, father said she lasted longer than he thought when she finally died and had left it at that - but I can't just forgive what he did to her! He kept me locked up with the most trusted house elf, that wasn't his personal one, to guard me. You see, if the elf messed up, he didn't want it to go to me should it be freed."

Cassandra was in shock, "how did you escape?!"

"I felt in my dark mark that something big was going to happen, so I convinced my father to let me watch the Quidditch world cup in means to try and escape. So, he asked the elf to take me under an invisibility cloak and sit in the top box pretending to be waiting for him. And that was when I saw you. I wasn't sure at first but when you introduced yourself to the elf I knew that I had to come back to you - I saw the way your face saddened when she said which family she served."

Realisation washed over Cass, "you were the one who cast the mark!"

"Aye, I wanted to be a part of the fun while it lasted, it had been so long after all. Now what I want to know is why you were part of the action, not stirring up Potter with your cousin. And what's with that Diggory boy and the Weasley's? You know they aren't on our side!"

She pulled up her sleeve, revealing her dark mark."This was why I was part of it."

Her Uncle looked her in the eyes with sadness and pride.

"I wish I was there to see it..."

"I know it's not the same, but you could watch it through a memory?" He nodded and looked back expectingly towards her.

"Okay as for you questions. Fred, George and the oldest Weasley, Bill, have sworn allegiance. The twins have the mark, William not yet. Remus Lupin your, well Moody's, predecessor is also on our side and marked. Luna Lovegood is taking in her mothers footsteps, though not marked obviously, and we have to keep a safe distance else it would be suspicious."

Barty looked impressed. "And why are you not keeping distance from the twins for the same reason? And what is Diggory's role in all this?"

"Cedric is my friend, and as I hang around with him, the twins come too - it is only natural that I became friends with them publicly. Ced knows what I am, and of the mark on this arm, but he is loyal to a fault and would not tell if it means losing me."

"That's great! We can tell your father and-"

"NO!" She yelled out. Her Uncle looked at her in shock. "I'm sorry, it's just, father and mother can't know - Uncle Cias is suspicious as it is." Cass looked sadly into her Uncle's eyes and instantly he understood.

"You like this boy don't you?"

She nodded, burying her face in his chest once more. "They would kill him Zio, and I can't let that happen!"

(Uncle)

He caressed her head lovingly, smiling at the Italian she used - that he had taught her.

"I won't tell anyone mio petalo. He will be safe."

(My Petal)

———

Later that night Cass had finally joined the others by the fire in the Slytherin common room. The joy of her Uncle's return spiriting her to sit with them and reconnect.

Cassandra had just gone up to tuck Malcom in. When she returned Theo suggested they make a start on Professor Trelawney's homework; predictions for the coming month.

Cassandra plonked herself down on the couch next to Blaise, smiling at him, before looking at her parchment full of sums, symbols and calculations.

"Okay, so, Jupiter states that a family member will return - how ironic!" Cass smiled. "Have any of you got a prediction yet? Theo?"

The boy blushed as she looked at him intently. Daphne raised an knowing eyebrow to Pansy and the two girls shared a look. "Um, mine says that because of Mercury I will have a bout of jealousy and it will start to effect my relationship with friends - but it doesn't say good or bad..."

Blaise snorted. "How deep. Mine just says that I'm going to get burns on Monday - which makes sense cause we have Care Of Magical Creatures."

Cassie turned to Daphne. "What does yours say Daph?"

Her friend looked down at her chart. "It states that because of the conjunction of Mars and Saturn I will find love in a friend."

Draco's head snapped up. "Mine says that too..."

The duo made eye contact for a second before looking away quickly, cheeks red.

Everyone laughed loudly and the two joined in, grateful that their group were together once more.

A hoot interrupted their fun.

Cassandra leaped off of the couch almost instantly: to open the window. She unattached the letter from Midnights leg quickly, tearing it open.

Dear Pup,

It's just as well you told me about Grimauld Place being mine, else I might have got caught coming back up North; had I been on the run.

Somethings up with Harry, I'll leave it at that - you know the drill. But I just wanted to say to be careful.

I know that you are not on the same side as me but I still want you to be safe. Whatever's going down this year is something big and I don't want you to get hurt.

I hope you're having a good start of term and feel free to write to me any time. I hope to Merlin we can see each other soon.

Love from Sirius x

She smiled at the note.

"Who's that from Cass?" Asked Vince, the others too regarding her with curiosity.

"No one-"

"You've been getting secret letters all summer according to Aunt Bella. She, of course, thinks their love letters from Marcus."

Theo and Blaise looked up in a flash. "What?!"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "Me and Marcus were jokingly blowing kisses and winking at each other on the platform last year. Mother has now got it into her head that we are dating - which is utterly ridiculous as it would be like dating Blaise."

Blaise shuddered, "urgh, Cass never say that again!"

She laughed and lightly hit him across the head, "love you too loser."