Chapter 8
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(Scene: Snape's report to Order of the Phoenix)
"Severus, would you tell the rest of the gathered order what you told me." Professor Dumbledore addressed the weary traveler.
The potions master briefly shut his eyes forcing him to concentrate. He had just returned from America after he had investigated the death eaters' activity. He looked around the gathered ensemble. There were so few present. Most were out on secretive missions themselves. Then there was the absence of Sirius. The absence of his childhood enemy was perhaps the most sobering.
"From what I can gather, there seems to be an alliance between the werewolves and the death eaters. Remus has contacted Dumbledore and has confirmed this suspicion. Apparently, the leader of one of the tribes has made an agreement with Lord Voldemort. The wizards will aid the wolf leader, Luther, in his search for his queen that has disappeared." Snape glanced over to Dumbledore silently asking him to finish the tale. His exhaustion was being to overwhelm him, but he did not want to show it.
Dumbledore stepped in. "Queen is not the best term. Rather, it is the woman that Luther wishes was his queen. This woman by chance happens to be Hermoine's cousin, Cassiopeia. I am not certain why Riddle wants to ally with the werewolves. However, they present another interesting development.
"I have also spoken with Remus. He and Gabriel, the leader of the other tribe have agreed to guard Cassiopeia. So it would seem that we also have created an alliance with a wolf tribe."
"Do you think it wise to be allying with werewolves? I mean, Remus is one thing. But these others, we know nothing about them!" Mrs. Weasely nervously protested.
Dumbledore smiled at her and at all the rest gathered. "I assure you, we have done wisely to trust this tribe." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with mysterious insight; he always seemed to know more than he let on.
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(Scene: Gabriel's hideout)
Two and a half uneventful months had passed. Cassi's roommate Gwen had returned from her stay in London. Gabriel and Remus alternated shifts in protecting Cassiopeia. She spent long nights at the lab developing breakthroughs in her battle against the infection that plagued her and so many others.
"I really do not believe it is a good idea for you to attend." Gabriel argued with the stubborn woman.
"Oh, come on Gabi. Where is your sense of adventure? It's not like I won't be protected." Cassi argued back.
"Have you even asked Remus? Besides you know that Luther will be there."
"Well I haven't asked him yet. I was planning on doing so this evening, after you agreed. Besides I really don't want to spend much time with my roommate." She cringed at the thought of spending her time with Gwen.
Apparently when Gwen went to London she became involved with the a cult. She now fancied herself as a true student of Wicca. Remus found this highly amusing when he heard of it.
~Begin Flashback-- Almost two months prior.
"Basically, that's what happened." Cassi concluded to the man who had been listening to her for half an hour barely containing his laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! She wants to be a witch! That's so ironic! You can't just LEARN to be a wizard, it's genetic! OH this is great!" He slapped the big black dog on the back heartily that had lain at the couple's feet during the tale.
Sirius seemed to roll his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't like Remus being around. It was just that he was around too often for his tastes. Apparently, Gwen already knew about Gabriel. However, Cassi had explained Remus' constant presence by claiming him as her boyfriend. Which that would have been fine if they didn't bloody act like it was true!
"I think she would love to hound you if she conveniently discovered you were a wizard." Cassi winked at Remus, letting the suggestion sink in.
"You wouldn't dare." His answer was an evil smirk. "What can I do, that will prevent you from creating this disaster?" He pleaded the woman in front of him. The gleam in her eye was not one he wanted to see, but the possibilities excited him.
"When I ask you for something later, you have to say yes." Cassi replied with the idea of Remus accompanying her to the annual gala that Gabriel hosts for his multibillion dollar genetic corporation.
"Okay, I'll say yes, to something that you ask of me later."
(-End of Flashback~
"I am confident he will be up for the gala. Now, PLEASE can we go? Besides, you have invested so much in my research it would look highly suspicious if I did not attend."
Gabriel could never resist her puppy dog eyes and caved. "Looks like you have just invited another werewolf to the gala."
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(Scene: Hogwarts)
"Hermoine, I don't get it. Why are you writing so often to your muggle cousin?" Ron asked during the evening mail at the school. Hermoine had just received a response letter from Cassi.
"Ron, honestly, must you be so nosey? Perhaps I just want to keep in touch with my family." Hermoine answered him curtly.
Unfortunately, Harry happened upon the two and sat down at the table next to Ron diagonal to Hermoine. "Hermoine, I am also curious about something."
Hermoine swallowed thickly, but did her best to appear calm and collected. "Yes, what is it, Harry?"
"You seem to be talking with Remus an awful lot. I'd like to know what about." Harry answered with suspicion evident in his voice. He adjusted his glasses as he glared at Hermoine in what he hoped to be an intimidating manner.
"Harry, it's something personal. It has nothing to do with either you or Ron." Hermoine replied. It was somewhat truthful. If you didn't think about the whole Sirius being Cassi's dog then it was totally unrelated to Harry.
"Hey! You've never kept secrets from us before!" Ron's face flushed with anger to match that of his fiery hair.
"Don't be ridiculous Ron. Of course I've kept secrets from you before. They wouldn't have been secrets if I told you." She answered very matter- of- factly as she straightened her dark hair. It was no longer a mousy brown, but had become dark during the summer.
"Hermoine, I thought you trusted us. Does it have to do with Viktor?" Ron asked jealously.
"Viktor? What would Lupin have to do with Krum you dolt?" Harry smacked Ron upside the head for his stupidity resulting in Hermoine expelling a round of uncharacteristic giggles.
"Honestly Hermoine, I tell you what's going on. Why won't you share the same courtesy? I just want to know. You know what happens when people don't tell me and I have to look for the answers myself." Harry warned her.
Hermoine thought about that. It was true, whenever Harry was left in the dark he always ended up creating more trouble than there would have been if he had been enlightened. "Okay, well you see, the thing is, it's about my cousin."
The two boys nodded their heads in anticipation. They both wondered how Hermoine's muggle cousin could be related to Lupin.
"Professor Lupin and she have become close."
"How did they meet in the first place?" Harry interrupted the anxious girl.
"You see, my cousin Cassi is a werewolf." She whispered the last part so that only Harry and Ron would hear. Their shocked expressions indicated that they had not thought of this possibility.
After a few moments of silence Ron finally stammered out, "Your muggle cousin, is a werewolf?"
"Yes, she's a werewolf. So that is why Professor Lupin and she have been in contact with one another. And it is only natural that I be involved since I am the link that introduced the two." Hermoine opened the letter that the owl had brought her.
"So she's a werewolf. They're friends. That doesn't explain why you are in contact with Lupin so much. Does this have anything to do with that mysterious accident that happened in America when you were visiting your cousin?" Harry asked after thinking for a while. He knew that something was missing. Some vital clue was being omitted.
"I suppose I could tell you because obviously you saw something about it on the news. That mysterious accident was a death eater who incinerated Cassi's boyfriend. Lord Voldemort and ----"
"Must you say his name?!?" Ron hissed at the girl in front of him.
"Lord Voldemort," Hermoine continued as if there was no interruption "has made a pact with the leader of one of the American werewolf tribes. The leader of that tribe is searching for my cousin. He wants to make her his queen. He sought out an alliance."
"So we have werewolves working alongside the dark wizards?" Harry said through clenched teeth as he violently stood.
"Calm yourself and sit down." Hermoine whispered urgently. He complied and took his seat. "Not all the werewolves. There are two tribes. Cassi has no desire to be in either tribe, but she is treated like family in the other tribe. The leader of that tribe and Professor Lupin are taking turns standing guard over her and scoping out the activities of the death eaters in America."
"You have been keeping this from us for nearly two months!" Harry shouted at the girl as he once again rose to his feet. Only this time he would not be calmed. He stormed out of the dining hall to vent somewhere else.
"That's quite a bombshell. You know how Harry feels about being left out of the loop. He's the one that's destined to destroy you-know-who. If anyone should know all the ins and outs of what is going on, it's him." Ron answered in a somewhat intelligent musing.
"I know. But he has enough on his plate. He doesn't need to know everything that is going on. He has to trust that the responsibility is not all his to shoulder."
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(Scene: Cassi's apartment)
"Hey Gwen, I'm home," Cassi called as she opened the front door. However there was no reply from her roommate. Correction, there was no reply from her human roommate.
Her ever loyal Sirius greeted her in great spirits. "Sirius, I missed you too sweetie!" She affectionately hugged her big black dog as he stood on his hind legs with his paws resting on her shoulders. He was a huge dog.
"Sirius, I am so tired. You would not believe what a long day I have had. First, I had two tests this morning. Then I spent four hours at the lab. I didn't get much headway though. But, I really think I'll find a way to beat this virus." She led her dog to the couch and he took up his usual position. Head in her lap and she pet his ears.
"Then I went to over to talk to Gabriel about the gala. It's next week, you know? I am thinking of getting Remus to be my date. He's such a great guy. Don't you think?" She asked her over-grown puppy. She hadn't really expected a response. But for some reason she could have sworn she heard him growling lowly in his throat.
"I know you like Remus! He really is handsome. He's also very smart. He is a professor after all. His being a wizard is so mysterious. Also, because he's a werewolf I know he understands a lot of what I suffer through." Cassi became lost in her thoughts as she began to day dream about Remus.
The two had grown close in the two and a half months that they had known each other. Speaking of growing close to someone, she absolutely adored her dog Sirius. He truly was her best friend it seemed now-a-days.
"You know what boy? I was thinking and next week will mark the fourth month that you have been in my life. I'll have to do something special for you after the gala. Maybe Remus will have some ideas. Speaking of the man, he'll be here any minute now! I better go change!"
She hopped off the couch and made a mad dash for her closet leaving her annoyed dog on the couch.
Sirius was brooding internally.
'It would figure that my four months of living this lie will come to pass the night after this celebration. Why does she have to take Remus? I mean, I want him to be happy. But does he have to be happy with MY master? I mean, my girl?'
Not two seconds after that last thought of Sirius was there a visitor. Remus apparated into the apartment's living room. Then he plopped down on the recently vacated couch beside his best friend.
"Phew! The coast is clear. I was afraid that want-to-be witch Gwen would be here. I wouldn't doubt if Cassi told her I was a wizard. She was pretty sore at me the other day when I bet her so badly at Battleship."
Sirius glared at his human friend.
"Don't look at me like that. You were there! You saw the fit she threw when I sunk her Carrier ship! Looks like you've only got about a week left. Then you can finally be yourself, no secrets." Remus smiled innocently at Sirius.
Sirius hopped off the couch and sat on the other end of the room. He wanted to be far away from Remus right now.
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TBC
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(Scene: Snape's report to Order of the Phoenix)
"Severus, would you tell the rest of the gathered order what you told me." Professor Dumbledore addressed the weary traveler.
The potions master briefly shut his eyes forcing him to concentrate. He had just returned from America after he had investigated the death eaters' activity. He looked around the gathered ensemble. There were so few present. Most were out on secretive missions themselves. Then there was the absence of Sirius. The absence of his childhood enemy was perhaps the most sobering.
"From what I can gather, there seems to be an alliance between the werewolves and the death eaters. Remus has contacted Dumbledore and has confirmed this suspicion. Apparently, the leader of one of the tribes has made an agreement with Lord Voldemort. The wizards will aid the wolf leader, Luther, in his search for his queen that has disappeared." Snape glanced over to Dumbledore silently asking him to finish the tale. His exhaustion was being to overwhelm him, but he did not want to show it.
Dumbledore stepped in. "Queen is not the best term. Rather, it is the woman that Luther wishes was his queen. This woman by chance happens to be Hermoine's cousin, Cassiopeia. I am not certain why Riddle wants to ally with the werewolves. However, they present another interesting development.
"I have also spoken with Remus. He and Gabriel, the leader of the other tribe have agreed to guard Cassiopeia. So it would seem that we also have created an alliance with a wolf tribe."
"Do you think it wise to be allying with werewolves? I mean, Remus is one thing. But these others, we know nothing about them!" Mrs. Weasely nervously protested.
Dumbledore smiled at her and at all the rest gathered. "I assure you, we have done wisely to trust this tribe." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with mysterious insight; he always seemed to know more than he let on.
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(Scene: Gabriel's hideout)
Two and a half uneventful months had passed. Cassi's roommate Gwen had returned from her stay in London. Gabriel and Remus alternated shifts in protecting Cassiopeia. She spent long nights at the lab developing breakthroughs in her battle against the infection that plagued her and so many others.
"I really do not believe it is a good idea for you to attend." Gabriel argued with the stubborn woman.
"Oh, come on Gabi. Where is your sense of adventure? It's not like I won't be protected." Cassi argued back.
"Have you even asked Remus? Besides you know that Luther will be there."
"Well I haven't asked him yet. I was planning on doing so this evening, after you agreed. Besides I really don't want to spend much time with my roommate." She cringed at the thought of spending her time with Gwen.
Apparently when Gwen went to London she became involved with the a cult. She now fancied herself as a true student of Wicca. Remus found this highly amusing when he heard of it.
~Begin Flashback-- Almost two months prior.
"Basically, that's what happened." Cassi concluded to the man who had been listening to her for half an hour barely containing his laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! She wants to be a witch! That's so ironic! You can't just LEARN to be a wizard, it's genetic! OH this is great!" He slapped the big black dog on the back heartily that had lain at the couple's feet during the tale.
Sirius seemed to roll his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't like Remus being around. It was just that he was around too often for his tastes. Apparently, Gwen already knew about Gabriel. However, Cassi had explained Remus' constant presence by claiming him as her boyfriend. Which that would have been fine if they didn't bloody act like it was true!
"I think she would love to hound you if she conveniently discovered you were a wizard." Cassi winked at Remus, letting the suggestion sink in.
"You wouldn't dare." His answer was an evil smirk. "What can I do, that will prevent you from creating this disaster?" He pleaded the woman in front of him. The gleam in her eye was not one he wanted to see, but the possibilities excited him.
"When I ask you for something later, you have to say yes." Cassi replied with the idea of Remus accompanying her to the annual gala that Gabriel hosts for his multibillion dollar genetic corporation.
"Okay, I'll say yes, to something that you ask of me later."
(-End of Flashback~
"I am confident he will be up for the gala. Now, PLEASE can we go? Besides, you have invested so much in my research it would look highly suspicious if I did not attend."
Gabriel could never resist her puppy dog eyes and caved. "Looks like you have just invited another werewolf to the gala."
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(Scene: Hogwarts)
"Hermoine, I don't get it. Why are you writing so often to your muggle cousin?" Ron asked during the evening mail at the school. Hermoine had just received a response letter from Cassi.
"Ron, honestly, must you be so nosey? Perhaps I just want to keep in touch with my family." Hermoine answered him curtly.
Unfortunately, Harry happened upon the two and sat down at the table next to Ron diagonal to Hermoine. "Hermoine, I am also curious about something."
Hermoine swallowed thickly, but did her best to appear calm and collected. "Yes, what is it, Harry?"
"You seem to be talking with Remus an awful lot. I'd like to know what about." Harry answered with suspicion evident in his voice. He adjusted his glasses as he glared at Hermoine in what he hoped to be an intimidating manner.
"Harry, it's something personal. It has nothing to do with either you or Ron." Hermoine replied. It was somewhat truthful. If you didn't think about the whole Sirius being Cassi's dog then it was totally unrelated to Harry.
"Hey! You've never kept secrets from us before!" Ron's face flushed with anger to match that of his fiery hair.
"Don't be ridiculous Ron. Of course I've kept secrets from you before. They wouldn't have been secrets if I told you." She answered very matter- of- factly as she straightened her dark hair. It was no longer a mousy brown, but had become dark during the summer.
"Hermoine, I thought you trusted us. Does it have to do with Viktor?" Ron asked jealously.
"Viktor? What would Lupin have to do with Krum you dolt?" Harry smacked Ron upside the head for his stupidity resulting in Hermoine expelling a round of uncharacteristic giggles.
"Honestly Hermoine, I tell you what's going on. Why won't you share the same courtesy? I just want to know. You know what happens when people don't tell me and I have to look for the answers myself." Harry warned her.
Hermoine thought about that. It was true, whenever Harry was left in the dark he always ended up creating more trouble than there would have been if he had been enlightened. "Okay, well you see, the thing is, it's about my cousin."
The two boys nodded their heads in anticipation. They both wondered how Hermoine's muggle cousin could be related to Lupin.
"Professor Lupin and she have become close."
"How did they meet in the first place?" Harry interrupted the anxious girl.
"You see, my cousin Cassi is a werewolf." She whispered the last part so that only Harry and Ron would hear. Their shocked expressions indicated that they had not thought of this possibility.
After a few moments of silence Ron finally stammered out, "Your muggle cousin, is a werewolf?"
"Yes, she's a werewolf. So that is why Professor Lupin and she have been in contact with one another. And it is only natural that I be involved since I am the link that introduced the two." Hermoine opened the letter that the owl had brought her.
"So she's a werewolf. They're friends. That doesn't explain why you are in contact with Lupin so much. Does this have anything to do with that mysterious accident that happened in America when you were visiting your cousin?" Harry asked after thinking for a while. He knew that something was missing. Some vital clue was being omitted.
"I suppose I could tell you because obviously you saw something about it on the news. That mysterious accident was a death eater who incinerated Cassi's boyfriend. Lord Voldemort and ----"
"Must you say his name?!?" Ron hissed at the girl in front of him.
"Lord Voldemort," Hermoine continued as if there was no interruption "has made a pact with the leader of one of the American werewolf tribes. The leader of that tribe is searching for my cousin. He wants to make her his queen. He sought out an alliance."
"So we have werewolves working alongside the dark wizards?" Harry said through clenched teeth as he violently stood.
"Calm yourself and sit down." Hermoine whispered urgently. He complied and took his seat. "Not all the werewolves. There are two tribes. Cassi has no desire to be in either tribe, but she is treated like family in the other tribe. The leader of that tribe and Professor Lupin are taking turns standing guard over her and scoping out the activities of the death eaters in America."
"You have been keeping this from us for nearly two months!" Harry shouted at the girl as he once again rose to his feet. Only this time he would not be calmed. He stormed out of the dining hall to vent somewhere else.
"That's quite a bombshell. You know how Harry feels about being left out of the loop. He's the one that's destined to destroy you-know-who. If anyone should know all the ins and outs of what is going on, it's him." Ron answered in a somewhat intelligent musing.
"I know. But he has enough on his plate. He doesn't need to know everything that is going on. He has to trust that the responsibility is not all his to shoulder."
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(Scene: Cassi's apartment)
"Hey Gwen, I'm home," Cassi called as she opened the front door. However there was no reply from her roommate. Correction, there was no reply from her human roommate.
Her ever loyal Sirius greeted her in great spirits. "Sirius, I missed you too sweetie!" She affectionately hugged her big black dog as he stood on his hind legs with his paws resting on her shoulders. He was a huge dog.
"Sirius, I am so tired. You would not believe what a long day I have had. First, I had two tests this morning. Then I spent four hours at the lab. I didn't get much headway though. But, I really think I'll find a way to beat this virus." She led her dog to the couch and he took up his usual position. Head in her lap and she pet his ears.
"Then I went to over to talk to Gabriel about the gala. It's next week, you know? I am thinking of getting Remus to be my date. He's such a great guy. Don't you think?" She asked her over-grown puppy. She hadn't really expected a response. But for some reason she could have sworn she heard him growling lowly in his throat.
"I know you like Remus! He really is handsome. He's also very smart. He is a professor after all. His being a wizard is so mysterious. Also, because he's a werewolf I know he understands a lot of what I suffer through." Cassi became lost in her thoughts as she began to day dream about Remus.
The two had grown close in the two and a half months that they had known each other. Speaking of growing close to someone, she absolutely adored her dog Sirius. He truly was her best friend it seemed now-a-days.
"You know what boy? I was thinking and next week will mark the fourth month that you have been in my life. I'll have to do something special for you after the gala. Maybe Remus will have some ideas. Speaking of the man, he'll be here any minute now! I better go change!"
She hopped off the couch and made a mad dash for her closet leaving her annoyed dog on the couch.
Sirius was brooding internally.
'It would figure that my four months of living this lie will come to pass the night after this celebration. Why does she have to take Remus? I mean, I want him to be happy. But does he have to be happy with MY master? I mean, my girl?'
Not two seconds after that last thought of Sirius was there a visitor. Remus apparated into the apartment's living room. Then he plopped down on the recently vacated couch beside his best friend.
"Phew! The coast is clear. I was afraid that want-to-be witch Gwen would be here. I wouldn't doubt if Cassi told her I was a wizard. She was pretty sore at me the other day when I bet her so badly at Battleship."
Sirius glared at his human friend.
"Don't look at me like that. You were there! You saw the fit she threw when I sunk her Carrier ship! Looks like you've only got about a week left. Then you can finally be yourself, no secrets." Remus smiled innocently at Sirius.
Sirius hopped off the couch and sat on the other end of the room. He wanted to be far away from Remus right now.
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TBC