Let me start off by saying how sorry I am that I haven't been updating
regularly. School's started up and let me tell you being a junior in
college like classes takes a lot of out you. I want to thank all my readers
for sticking to the story and waiting patiently! You have no idea how I
appreciate it and I hope to get updates up at a more regular basis. I've
also been experiencing writer's block for quite some time now so I've been
working on later chapters of the story. It's gonna be a doozy! ( I will
give more personalized thank you's in another chapter.I just wanted to get
this one up as soon as possible!
16
"Harry? You alright mate?" Ron asked, poking his head into the room, Hermione directly behind him. It had been over three hours since Harry and Cassie's fight and at the moment, Harry was lying on his bed staring at the wall across from him. Harry heard Ron close the door and he could hear his friends' footsteps on the hardwood floor. Harry blinked rapidly and sat up in his bed.
Even though the fight was long over, Hermione still looked a bit shaken up. She still had color to regain and Harry could see that she was shaking a bit. Ron looked to be in a state of shock his face pale, freckles jumping off his face. "Where've you been?" Harry asked as Ron and Hermione took a seat next to him on the bed.
"Hermione dragged me into her room to check up on Cassie. You really did a number on her Harry," Ron said, "Wonderful present you gave her, a black eye for her seventeenth birthday." Harry looked at Ron stunned, Hermione looked away.
"Really?" Harry asked in disbelief. He had never hit someone before, aside from Draco Malfoy and he had to admit that the violence that erupted inside of him frightened Harry.
"Oh yeah. It's now a lovely purple, a bit of green around it. It's actually quite nasty. She's not talking to anyone either. She nearly cursed Fred's ears off, she's still pretty mad," Ron explained.
"Well she deserved it! You heard what she said about Sirius, you heard her say that he deserved to die!" Harry exclaimed his voice raising, the familiar bout of rage filling up his stomach.
Ron looked around the room uncomfortably. Ron looked at his friend stupidly not knowing what to say. He knew that giving advice and guidance was one of the many things Hermione was good for. Ron just added the comic relief and the extra 'oomph' to go out and do something dangerous. So Ron did what he did best, "Harry you're such an idiot!"
"Pardon?" Harry questioned looking at Ron with a confused look on his face.
"Didn't it occur to you that maybe she really didn't mean to say that?" Hermione questioned, finally finding her voice, "The way I see it she retaliated with the remark on Sirius deserving to die because she wanted to get a reaction out of you. Do you remember back in fourth year, when Ron got mad at you because you got into the TriWizard tournament?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and remembered when Ron had stopped speaking to him because he had found his way into the TriWizard Tournament and gotten more recognition for his achievements. "He only ignored you and said those things to you because he was jealous and being a big git."
"Gee, thanks Hermione," Ron said sarcastically.
"Not a problem," she replied with a smile.
"Well there was that and the fact that a small part inside of me was afraid of what could happen to you. You said it yourself that Cassie was pushing us away and she succeeded when she said that remark about Sirius. Now the two of you aren't on speaking terms. She's afraid of people getting to know her for who she is that and I think she's a bit jealous of you."
"Her? Jealous of me, where did you get an idea like that?"
"Well when you think about it, and mind you I had to think really hard about this because this isn't something I would normally do, Cassie's sort of been ignored by her father. I mean he didn't even show up when she nearly died at the hospital wing a few weeks ago. You on the other hand, have legions of people who look up to you and want to be there for you. That's something that Cassie's never had. Oh my god," Ron said in a fearful voice.
"What? What is it?" Harry asked. Ron seemed to have gone rigid and a look of pain waved over his face. "Ron are you okay?"
"I . I just sounded like H-H-Hermione," Ron managed to gasp out before he shook his head. "I need to stop hanging around with her so much. Need to start to cause mischief with Fred 'n George because at the rate I'm going I'm going to start talking like Hermione all the time," Ron exclaimed making Harry laugh and Hermione scoff before she gave into laughing along with her two friends.
It was near midnight when Harry was woken from his sleep. He murmured something rather thickly under his breath before a hand went over his mouth, silencing him. Harry's eyes flew open and he saw a figure standing over him. It took Harry a moment to let his eyesight become accustomed to the blackness in the room. He reached for his glasses and saw that Ron was the one who had woken him from his deep sleep.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked but Ron silenced him with a finger. Harry sat there in the dark for a moment listening to the coveting silence. He was about to tell Ron off for waking him when he heard muffled voices coming from the downstairs foyer.
Ron opened the bedroom door and poked his head out. He motioned for Harry to signal that the coast was clear and they walked out into the dark hallway, stopping short at the landing. They peered over the banister and saw Remus Lupin pacing the floor beneath them, muttering something fervently under his breath. They saw Tonks talking to Romulus Lupin in a hushed voice that was filled with a serious air. Something rather unusual for the happy-go-lucky Auror.
Moody appeared from the kitchen with a worried looking Mrs. Weasly who was clutching her apron. Harry saw that Moody was wearing a heavy cloak. It looked as if he were going outside. Harry made a sweep of the room once more and saw that all of the Aurors, even the Lupin brothers were wearing winter cloaks, all of them looking towards the front doors expectedly.
"I don't understand why would she take off like that? She knows how dangerous it is for her out there," Mrs. Weasly asked in a high pitched voice.
"Shush, Molly. You don't want to wake anyone else up. We'd have quite a field day explaining why we're up in the middle of the night, wearing heavy winter cloaks," Moody said in a grouchy voice. It seemed like he had been woken up in the middle of the night as well and he looked to not be in a very good mood. Mrs. Weasly gave a whispered apology.
"It must have been that fight she had with Harry. She wouldn't talk to me about it; she seemed down right mad about the whole episode. I'm quite worried she'll do something drastic you all know how her fa. . ." Remus began but he was cut off by a curt grunt by Tonks.
"Well we're not finding her any quicker just standing here in the middle of the night, in this hall. Let's go out there, find her as quickly as possible so I can get back to bed," Moody replied before he headed towards the front door, the rest of the Aurors and the Lupin brothers following him.
"You lot stay here in case she comes back before we do. Send an owl if she comes. She'll turn up sooner or later," Moody explained to Remus and Romulus. The twins looked like they were going to answer in protest but a serious look from Moody silenced them before they headed down to the kitchen with Molly Weasly.
"She ran away?" Ron whispered once the search party had left.
"I don't believe it. She couldn't have been that upset with me to run away," Harry whispered back. Guilt spread through him when he thought of Cassie walking down the streets of London shivering in the freezing winter night.
"Some birthday she's having," Ron remarked, "I'm going back to bed."
"We need to go look for her," Harry said as he followed Ron back to their room so he could grab his Invisibility Cloak.
"Are you mad? Moody and the others'll find her," Ron explained as he yawned loudly and sat down on his bed. "Just wait up, she couldn't have gone far. Besides, she's got about half a dozen Ministry Aurors chasing her; they'll catch up to her."
Harry paused and listened to Ron for a moment. He knew that Cassie couldn't outrun or outsmart Aurors like Moody or Kingsley Shacklebolt. But there was another part, the part that made him do extremely foolish things without thinking, telling him to go out and find her himself. "And besides," Ron explained as he stifled another yawn, "do you really think she's going to listen to you after you punched her? She'd probably try to curse you if you got to her first." Harry nodded.
"Yea I suppose you're right. I think I'll just stay up, to make sure she gets back okay." Harry said as he sat down on a chair by the desk. Ron hadn't heard him though; the red headed boy was already fast asleep, his mouth hanging open.
*~*~*~*
It was nearing three o' clock in the morning when Harry heard some activity from downstairs. He slowly got up from his seat, his legs stiff and sore from sitting in the wooden chair for almost three hours.
Harry walked out onto the landing that overlooked the foyer and the front parlor where Mrs. Black was hanging. He was just in time to see Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mad Eye Moody hurry into the front hall, a struggling figure between them. Tonks and the rest of the Aurors weren't far behind. Harry watched in a silent stupor as Tonks hurried into the kitchen to fetch Remus and Romulus Lupin. The two brothers walked out of the kitchen both of them looking extremely tired and upset. Mrs. Weasley was following behind the two men looking extremely worried.
Harry watched as Moody and Shacklebolt let the figure go and it fell to the floor with a thump. Harry heard the figure mutter something as Moody walked up to Remus and said something that Harry couldn't hear. Then, Moody, Mrs. Weasley, the rest of the Aurors, and Professor Lupin walked towards their different bedrooms leaving Remus Lupin and the figure alone in the foyer.
"You know that was an extremely stupid thing to do," Remus said his voice set in a dangerous tone. Harry could feel his stomach leap, he had never heard Sirius' friend speak in that tone of voice before.
The figure jumped to his feet and Harry realized that it was Cassandra. Even though Ron had been right that Cassie wouldn't have been able to outrun or outsmart the Ministry's top Aurors, she had put up one heck of a fight. The girl had scratches on her face and her black eye was bruised even more, her eye almost swelled shut. She had a large gash on her forehead and her bare arms were scratched and bruised as well.
"I had to get out," was Cassie's simple reply.
"What do I have to do to make you understand Cassandra? This isn't a game anymore! You're not taking this. . .this thing very seriously and everyone is getting fed up with you!" Lupin explained his voice rising slightly.
"I do understand! I understand everything completely and I know it isn't a game! Not when people's lives are on the line! I'm not stupid Remus, I wasn't born yesterday! Just let me deal with this in my own way,"
"Running away doesn't solve anything Cassie. If something had happened to you. . ."
"Nothing can happen to me Remus!" Cassie said loudly before she gave a feeble laugh.
"Yes! Things can happen to you Cassie. You saw what happened when you dueled my brother a month ago. You saw what could happen to you if you aren't careful!"
"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you!"
"Why did you run away Cass?" Remus asked as he tried to stop their rising argument.
"I had to get away from here. You have no idea what it feels like. The pain's getting worse, you know what that means," Cassie said her voice somber.
"If you keep drinking that potion it'll help!" Remus explained, "You've been taking it haven't you because you know that Severus is the only person who can make it."
"Yes I know and I have been drinking the potion. But. . .even that isn't helping me. I figured if I ran far away from here, the pain would stop and I wouldn't have to worry about anything again. But it isn't working nothing's working." Cassie said, "God why did he do this to me?" She said in a whisper.
"He didn't know Cassie. None of us knew." Remus said in a sympathetic voice. He moved in to his daughter his arm going around her shoulder in an awkward hug.
"I JUST WANT IT TO STOP!" Cassie sobbed loudly as she threw his arm off. She bolted towards the stairs and Harry sprang to his feet and ran to his room just as Cassie started to thunder up the stairs. He finally reached the confines of his room just as Cassie hurried past.
*~*~*~*
Cassie spent the rest of the holiday break in seclusion. Harry and his friends only saw her during meals and when she was there, she never spoke to anyone. If Tonks or her father asked her questions she would merely grunt in response before she took her dinner up to her room.
Harry had told Ron and Hermione about her argument with Remus the night she ran away and both of them were at a loss for words. Hermione, for once in her life, looked genuinely confused. Not even books or writings could help figure out the inner workings of Cassandra Lupin's mind.
Hermione had informed the two boys that Cassie had taken her things out of the room she shared with Hermione and Ginny. Instead, the girl opted for the drawing room where she conjured a sort of cot and squishy pillows and blankets for her to sleep on.
The New Year was celebrated quietly, Cassie skipping out on the celebration in the kitchen entirely. Harry saw Remus and Romulus head upstairs a bit after midnight, probably offering the girl a bit of New Year Cheer before the start of term. Harry could hear yelling coming from upstairs and moments later Remus and Romulus came back downstairs both of them looking extremely dazed and confused. The two of them spent the rest of the night sitting in a corner in the kitchen, heads bent together in a serious conversation.
*~*~*~*
Thankfully the last day of the Winter Holiday dawned bright and sunny. Harry and the rest of the students had packed their school things with them the night before and they were ready to go back on the train to take them back for a new term of school.
Harry got dressed and lugged his trunk downstairs towards the front hall where Hermione and Ginny were placing their trunks, Cassie nowhere to be seen. "Hello Harry," Ginny said with a smile as she picked up Crookshanks and patted the cat's head.
"Hey, Ginny," he said returning his smile, "Where is everybody?"
"Mum's flooing the Knight Bus headquarters, they're taking us to the station again. Everyone from the Order is coming with us to the station. I find it a bit funny if you ask me," Ginny said with a shrug before she headed into the kitchen.
"Have you seen Cassie?" Hermione asked as Ginny disappeared into the kitchen.
"No. And I really could care less where she is," Harry said coldly as he placed his trunk next to Hermione's, Hedwig's cage firmly placed on top. He couldn't help but still feel mad at the girl. It had been almost a week since their fight but he kept thinking back to what she said about his godfather and he wanted to hit her all over again.
"Oh, Harry. You really need to stop this. Cassie's just miserable and everyone around the house is just as bad. Professor Lupin and Remus were arguing earlier this morning about her. . ."
"Look, we're going back to Hogwarts today and I really don't want to worry about her. If you ask me, she's being selfish and she's making everybody miserable because she can't be happy," Harry explained but Hermione wasn't listening. Harry noticed that Hermione was looking at the staircase; a surprised look on her face.
Harry turned around and saw Cassie standing at the base of the stairs. She was wearing jeans and a long sleeved red sweater, her long black hair hanging down, trying to shield her bruised eye. Harry knew Cassie had heard everything he had said judging by the look on her face.
"Hi Cassie," Hermione said with a comforting smile. Harry looked to see what Cassie's response would be, anger seething in him even when he looked at her. Cassie didn't say a word; she looked straight towards the large front oak doors, her trunk dragging behind her. Cassie dropped her trunk next to Harry's before she turned around and without one word, walked straight back up the stairs again, Ron descending the stairs, trunk in tow. He gave Cassie a strange look as she shot him a nasty look before disappearing on the second floor.
"What was that about?" Ron asked as he dropped his trunk on top of Ginny's looking up after Cassie. Harry shrugged and Hermione gave him a skeptical look. The group ate breakfast downstairs, not surprised in the least bit that Cassie didn't join them. The cluster ate in silence, Hermione looking perfectly pleased that she would be returning to school. Professor Lupin and Remus were extremely curt to each other during breakfast and Mrs. Weasley tried to strike up a conversation between the two. Nothing worked.
With a sigh, Mrs. Weasley checked her watch and let out an outcry of surprise, "Oh my stars! Hurry up you lot, hurry up! The Knight Bus will be here in minutes! Get your things outside, go on hurry up!" Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were pushed out of the kitchen by a frantic Mrs. Weasley. Once they got to the front hall, they noticed that the entire assembly from the Order was in the hallway, all of them had heavy winter cloaks on and they were looking upstairs expectantly.
"I'll get her," Remus explained to the Order before he started up the stairs and walked into the depths of the Black House. Harry noticed that Mrs. Black was awake in her portrait, the curtains flinging back. Tonks flinched, waiting the blow from Mrs. Black but nothing came. Harry could tell the portrait was about to tell everybody in the hall off, the large woman was taking a sharp intake of breath but she was cut short when she saw Remus Lupin walk down the stairs, a grumpy Cassie following him.
"You. . .GET OUT! GET OUT NOW! LEAVE YOU FILTH! NEVER POSION THIS HOUSE WITH YOUR PRESENCE AGAIN! NEVER BRING THAT-THAT THING OF GREAT PERIL IN THIS HOME AGAIN! YOU WILL NEVER BE WELCOMED HERE AGAIN! BLOOD TRAITOR OF A B." Mrs. Black screamed. It was the loudest Harry had ever heard the portrait scream in his entire time spent at the Black House and it looked as if the rant was directed towards Cassandra.
"WOULD SOMEONE SHUT HER UP?" Moody bellowed loudly as he lunged towards the portrait, Mrs. Black giving up a tremendous fight to get her last word out. It took nearly half of the Order to shut the curtains over Mrs. Black, Kreacher dancing at their feet, cursing their names and yelling words of encouragement to his mistress.
Harry looked back over towards Cassie and saw that she hadn't moved a muscle. The girl hadn't even twitched. She was standing at the base of the stairs, Lupin turning around to see what she was doing. Harry noticed the two were exchanging a sort of silent conversation, he noticed Cassie's eyes grow hard with anger, Lupin's eyes warm and pleading.
"Hurry up! The Knight Bus will leave us if we don't hurry!" Mrs. Weasley yelled from the front door. The woman opened the front door, Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie carrying out all the school trunks to the end of the street. "Ah.nine thirty, should be here any moment," Mrs. Weasley muttered to herself. And sure enough, at exactly nine thirty there was a loud BANG! And a large, three Decker purple bus appeared in front of Number 12.
The conductor got out of the Knight Bus, and Harry was happy to see that Stan Shunpike was not conducting this particular run. He didn't want to talk to Stan about his recent tryst in the Ministry of Magic. Talking about it made Sirius' death seem real.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took a few seats near the front of the bus, Ginny sitting with her four older brothers. Harry saw Cassie take a seat near the end of the bus, away from all the activity. Harry noticed that all of the Order seemed to move over towards Cassie and he saw the girl give a heavy sigh before she stared out the window.
"Wonder why the Order had to come with us," Ron said as the bus took off with another loud BANG!
"They're obviously watching Cassie; they probably don't want her running off again. She nearly escaped them the last time she tried it," Hermione muttered to Harry and Ron.
*~*~*~*
The Knight Bus safely arrived at King's Cross Station at ten o' clock. Remus paid the conductor and they got the school trunks unloaded. Harry walked with Ron and Hermione watching in wonder as Cassie was flanked by her Order guards. Harry knew he would die in embarrassment if he was forced to be followed by a large guard to a train. Cassie seemed unfazed though although she seemed like she would have rather been swallowed by a hole than be escorted to the train by half a dozen of the Ministry's Aurors.
They crossed the barriers to the Platform and Harry and his friends found a compartment in the middle of the train. Ginny said goodbye to them and headed off to find some of her other year mates. Harry looked out onto the platform and saw that Remus was talking to Cassie who was about to board the train. The Aurors were standing back against the wall, trying to look inconspicuous but it proved difficult when Tonks kept changing her appearance.
"Be careful, you don't know what could happen," Harry heard Remus say to his daughter, "And don't let up on your studies because of. . .well, don't let up Cassie alright?" Remus asked. He tried to hug his daughter but Cassie stepped up onto the train just as the whistle started to sound. Remus stepped back, a hurt look on his face as the train started to hurtle forward.
Harry watched as all of the adults Disapparated out of sight just as the last car of the train pulled out of the station. "Just think, in a few months we'll have finals," Ron said a dismayed tone in his voice. Hermione looked elated.
"At least we'll have Quidditch," Harry said and he saw that Ron's mood lifted a bit.
Harry and his friends were visited by some of their friends who had gone home for the holidays. Seamus and Dean stopped by for a quick moment, both of them sitting down for a spell.
"Have you seen Cassie?" Seamus asked them before he exchanged a curious look with Seamus.
"Since she's been on the train?"
"No, have you seen her face? It's all cut up and bruised. She went to spend the holidays with you three, what happened?" Dean asked excitedly. Harry looked at Ron who just shrugged. It was best not to explain everything that happened and both Ron and Harry looked towards Hermione for some sort of explanation that could save them from explaining the real origins of Cassie's wounds.
"She had a rather bad run in with a Filibuster Firework," Hermione said rather dismissively which told the two boys to drop the subject. Harry let out a breath of relief; thank God for Hermione. Both Seamus and Dean looked crestfallen.
"Oh," Seamus began, "well, we'll see you later," and with that the two left the compartment in search of Lavender and Parvati.
"Where is Cassie?" Ron asked after a few minutes of silence. Hermione had left a few minutes earlier to go change into her Hogwarts robes even though they were a few hours from arriving. She was also patrolling the corridors to make sure everyone was behaving themselves and she was just returning to their compartment when Ron imposed the question.
"I saw her near the front of the train. She's sitting with some Gryffindor first years. I heard her yelling at them earlier for letting a bunch of Fred and George's Snapping Snakes off in the compartment. I haven't heard a peep from that compartment during my watch. She'd make a better prefect than Draco that's for sure," Hermione explained as she took a seat next to Crookshanks, the cat purring loudly.
"I'm guessing she's in a bad mood then," Ron said, "After all, she did give Fred and George that idea about the Snapping Snakes and that's one of their best selling products right now."
"Can we please not talk about Cassie?" Harry snapped as he opened up a box of Chocolate Frogs.
"Oh Harry! This needs to stop! Everyone is going to be miserable if you two are going to continue to have this enormous rift between the two of you! Just make up would you?" Hermione ridiculed. Crookshanks leapt into the air, a tuft of cat fur clutched in Hermione's hand, "Oh! I'm sorry Crookshanks!" Hermione exclaimed. The cat had gone over to the other side of the compartment and curled up next to Ron an angry look settled onto the cat's squashed face.
"No. You heard what she said about Sirius and I'm not apologizing until she takes back what she said," Harry said a stubborn edge creeping around his voice.
"You're acting like a kid Harry! This is so stupid; can't you two handle this in an adult manner?"
Harry didn't say anything. Harry knew he was acting childish but he needed someone to blame right now. He was on his nerve's end and if something else happened he would lose it. Having someone to blame for all his dreams, all his bad memories, and all his grief was somewhat comforting to him and he didn't care if he was acting like a child! It was better to just blame someone else for something than to try and figure out the source of his problems. Besides, Cassie deserved her exile. She had crossed the line when she had mentioned Sirius and he didn't care how many people were upset with him or her. She had tainted Sirius' memory and he would make sure she would never forget it.
"Harry?"
"What?" Harry snapped back, his temper starting to get the better of him. Hermione looked a bit hurt and she quickly buried her face in an enormous book on advanced charms. Harry sighed and sat back in his seat looking out the enormous window at the rolling hills and the darkening day sky. He couldn't wait for the train ride to be over.
*~*~*~*
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station a little bit after six o' clock that evening. Harry, Ron, and Hermione got their things unloaded and found themselves a carriage that they shared with Ginny and Neville. Harry saw Cassie hurry into a carriage with Katie Bell and some other Gryffindor seventh years. Harry could tell that Katie and Cassie were talking about Quidditch; he could just make out the Gryffindor captain's energetic face as they talked about some new maneuvers they were going to try for the start up of the season.
"We have the first game against Ravenclaw," Katie explained to Cassie as they stepped up into a carriage, "it's this weekend actually so we're starting practices tomorrow after classes. Could you tell Harry and Ron for me?"
"Tell them yourself, I'm not speaking to them," Harry heard Cassie mutter before Hermione and Ron bickered for him to get inside the carriage. The carriages started off at a rickety pace through the still and silent night, Ginny and Neville comparing their winter holidays and the gifts they received for Christmas.
They finally got into the castle where Peeves greeted them with frozen icicles, throwing them around at students. Professor McGonagall hurried out into the foyer of the school, her face a plum color, her eyes shining with malice. "PEEVES! Stop that this instant or I'll find the Bloody Baron!" McGonagall bellowed. Peeves responded by blowing her a wet raspberry before he flew off through one of the walls, cackling madly as he went. "Miss Lupin I would like to speak to you for a moment," the Transfiguration professor announced to the students in the Great Hall. Cassie made her way up to the teacher the woman's lips pursed together in an unsatisfied smile.
The rest of the students looked at Professor McGonagall expectantly, looking for a bit of direction, "What are you all standing around here for? Get into the Great Hall you lot. . . all of you," McGonagall scolded. All of the students save the Slytherins winced before they shoved off towards the Great Hall.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their usual seats at the Gryffindor Table in the Great Hall. Dumbledore gave his welcoming speech before he spoke a few magic words and the food popped up from the bottom of the table and onto their plates, Harry's stomach growling profusely.
It seemed like everyone at the Gryffindor Table was talking about Cassie's mysterious injuries she obtained over Winter Break, all of them looking over at Harry, Ron, or Hermione as if expecting some sort of explanation. It wasn't until the end of dinner was nearing that Harry realized that Cassie hadn't even shown up for the welcome back feast and it wasn't like her to miss meals. 'She might have gone up to the Common Room. She probably doesn't want people asking her all sorts of questions,' Harry thought to himself as he and the rest of his fellow Gryffindors headed up to Gryffindor Tower.
Ron and Hermione had already been instructed to give out the password to the rest of the Gryffindors (Perveus Naess) and Hermione said the password loudly in case anyone had forgotten the password since they had been told five minutes previous.
The Fat Lady swung open and they were greeted with angry screams and the crashing of heavy objects in the common room. For a split second, Harry thought that some Slytherins had found the password to Gryffindor Tower and were ransacking the place and as he, Ron, and Hermione surged forward ahead of the crowd they saw that the situation was a completely different circumstance.
Cassandra Lupin was standing in the middle of the common room, a demolished chair at her side. The girl seemed to be consumed with rage as she let out a gnarled scream and threw one of the chair legs at a portrait of one of the old Gryffindor Head of Houses. The old man gasped out in shock and he dove out of the way just as the heavy roll of wood slammed into the side of the portrait, causing the glass to crack.
"What's going on?" Hermione demanded as she hurried forward and grabbed Cassie's arm, restraining the girl from throwing another chair leg at a portrait of McGonagall. "Cassie you need to stop this or I'll be forced to give you a detention!"
"Buzz off Hermione!" Cassie growled. Harry could feel a wave of Gryffindors pressing behind him, all of them trying to get a glimpse of what was going on in their common room. Ron and Harry tried to control the crowd while trying to listen to Cassie's excuse at the same time.
"What's wrong with you?" Hermione asked as she ripped the chair leg from Cassie's grasp.
"They're making me quit Quidditch that's what they're doing!" Cassie bellowed in rage as she snatched the chair leg back and hurled it into the fireplace.
"Cassie listen to me, you need to calm down or I'll be forced to get McGonagall, you wouldn't want any points taken off from Gryffindor would you?" Hermione asked her voice soothing.
"She already took one hundred points from Gryffindor," Cassie snapped back rudely before she turned around and headed towards the Girls' dormitory without acknowledging the rest of her housemates.
Hermione shook her head and Harry and Ron finally allowed the rest of the Gryffindors to enter the common room. Hermione cleaned up the mess in the common room with a few flicks of her wand before she sat down in an armchair, clearly exhausted from the day's events.
Ginny came back down from the girl's dormitory a few minutes later an abrasive growl escaping her lips. "Where were you?" Ron asked his sister as she sat down next to him on one of the couches.
"I just got back from talking to Cassie. Apparently she's mad at you too Hermione, for stopping her little tirade," Ginny explained.
"Figures," Hermione replied before she rolled her eyes and looked into the fire, a far away look settling on her eyes.
"What got her riled up like that?" Ron asked as he looked cautiously over towards the girl's dormitories half expecting Cassie to be listening in on their conversation.
"She had a talk with McGonagall. She said that she shouldn't play Quidditch anymore because of her behavior over winter break and the injuries she sustained during Christmas holiday," Ginny elucidated. Ron's mouth fell open and Harry looked just as surprised.
"But McGonagall can't just sack her because of what she did over Christmas holiday! That isn't fair!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, apparently, Remus Lupin sent Professor McGonagall a note while we were on our way to Hogwarts. Seems that he doesn't want her playing Quidditch anymore, and neither does Professor Lupin." Ron whistled lowly before he looked outside towards the Quidditch pitch. It was snowing a bit and Harry knew that it was going to be a very cold practice tomorrow.
"Who's her replacement?"
"They're using Seamus as an alternate Beater. I think McGonagall offered Cassie the commentator position but from what Cassie told me, she told McGonagall she could take the microphone and shove it up her arse," Ginny explained.
Even Hermione snapped out of her trance looking at Ginny as if she had said something much worse, "You've got to be pulling our leg. She didn't really say that to McGonagall did she?" Hermione asked in awe. Ginny nodded before she continued.
"That's why she took off one hundred points from Gryffindor, because Cassie disrespected her. I'll tell you one thing though, I have a feeling Cassie isn't going to be a happy camper during this week."
*~*~*~*
Ginny didn't know how true her statement was until they got a load of Cassie the next morning at breakfast. The girl seemed to have developed a permanent scowl on her face and she didn't even acknowledge her uncle when he said good morning to her when she entered the Great Hall.
Cassie's bad mood increased once the sixth year Gryffindors entered their afternoon Transfiguration class. They were sharing their class with the Slytherins that day and Harry and his friends stayed as far away from Malfoy as possible.
Malfoy was elated at the fact that Cassie was kicked off the Gryffindor team but he didn't express his happiness. Harry knew that Draco wasn't stupid, the boy knew about Cassie's temper and to cross her while she was in an extremely bad mood was suicide.
Cassie took a seat near Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan, both of them looking at Cassie as if she were about to attack them. McGonagall entered through a door that obviously lead to her office. She looked extremely irked and when she shot Cassandra a wicked glance, Harry had a feeling that the two were going to butt heads an awful lot.
That particular day, the sixth year students were transfiguring their text books into math books made for muggle students. "Remember that you need to think about the mathematical equations very clearly in your mind or you'll screw the book up," McGonagall instructed as Hermione turned her text into an enormous muggle math book.
Harry looked over at Cassie and saw that she had transfigured her book successfully but he could see swear words and nasty phrases scrolling across the top of her book. At that exact same moment, Professor McGonagall came over to her desk and looked down at Cassie's book, "What are you doing Miss Lupin?" McGonagall demanded as Cassie leaned back in her seat a pleased expression on her face, "Wipe off those words this instant!" Harry could tell that the professor was losing her patience, her face was becoming blotchy and she was swelling up like a puffer fish.
Cassie paid no heed at the professor's words and she whispered an incantation and the book started to yell out its bawdy messages, McGonagall going red in the face. "This is unacceptable Miss Lupin! Stop this instant!" she cried, but the book only started to scream louder and Harry could hear several different doors from other classrooms being opened up. Professor McGonagall was shaking and Harry knew that Cassandra had crossed the line. McGonagall was shaking so badly that her hair was coming out of its perfect bun, strands falling across her beet red face. Harry could hear Malfoy and his cronies laughing quietly as the professor transfigured the book back into its quiet, original form. Harry shrank in his seat, waiting for the full blow.
"THREE HUNDRED FIFTY POITNS FROM GRYFFINDOR, MISS LUPIN! A MONTH'S DETENTION AND A PERMANENT BANISHMENT FROM QUIDDITCH!" The professor screamed finally loosing her composure. Cassie sat in her seat, still as a stone as McGonagall went off on her tirade. Harry saw Hermione cover her ears and look away wincing as the professor gave her sentence. "Do not come back to my classroom until you are adult enough to attend it," she told Cassie. The scowl still on her face, Cassie packed her things and walked silently from the classroom, Malfoy turning red as he tried to hold in his laughter.
*~*~*
Sorry that took so long to get up! I'm sorry I was so late and I hope I didn't lose any readers over my lack of updating! I'm going to start working on seventeen sometime this week and maybe get it posted by the end of this weekend *hopefully* Anyway..review, review, review! (
16
"Harry? You alright mate?" Ron asked, poking his head into the room, Hermione directly behind him. It had been over three hours since Harry and Cassie's fight and at the moment, Harry was lying on his bed staring at the wall across from him. Harry heard Ron close the door and he could hear his friends' footsteps on the hardwood floor. Harry blinked rapidly and sat up in his bed.
Even though the fight was long over, Hermione still looked a bit shaken up. She still had color to regain and Harry could see that she was shaking a bit. Ron looked to be in a state of shock his face pale, freckles jumping off his face. "Where've you been?" Harry asked as Ron and Hermione took a seat next to him on the bed.
"Hermione dragged me into her room to check up on Cassie. You really did a number on her Harry," Ron said, "Wonderful present you gave her, a black eye for her seventeenth birthday." Harry looked at Ron stunned, Hermione looked away.
"Really?" Harry asked in disbelief. He had never hit someone before, aside from Draco Malfoy and he had to admit that the violence that erupted inside of him frightened Harry.
"Oh yeah. It's now a lovely purple, a bit of green around it. It's actually quite nasty. She's not talking to anyone either. She nearly cursed Fred's ears off, she's still pretty mad," Ron explained.
"Well she deserved it! You heard what she said about Sirius, you heard her say that he deserved to die!" Harry exclaimed his voice raising, the familiar bout of rage filling up his stomach.
Ron looked around the room uncomfortably. Ron looked at his friend stupidly not knowing what to say. He knew that giving advice and guidance was one of the many things Hermione was good for. Ron just added the comic relief and the extra 'oomph' to go out and do something dangerous. So Ron did what he did best, "Harry you're such an idiot!"
"Pardon?" Harry questioned looking at Ron with a confused look on his face.
"Didn't it occur to you that maybe she really didn't mean to say that?" Hermione questioned, finally finding her voice, "The way I see it she retaliated with the remark on Sirius deserving to die because she wanted to get a reaction out of you. Do you remember back in fourth year, when Ron got mad at you because you got into the TriWizard tournament?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and remembered when Ron had stopped speaking to him because he had found his way into the TriWizard Tournament and gotten more recognition for his achievements. "He only ignored you and said those things to you because he was jealous and being a big git."
"Gee, thanks Hermione," Ron said sarcastically.
"Not a problem," she replied with a smile.
"Well there was that and the fact that a small part inside of me was afraid of what could happen to you. You said it yourself that Cassie was pushing us away and she succeeded when she said that remark about Sirius. Now the two of you aren't on speaking terms. She's afraid of people getting to know her for who she is that and I think she's a bit jealous of you."
"Her? Jealous of me, where did you get an idea like that?"
"Well when you think about it, and mind you I had to think really hard about this because this isn't something I would normally do, Cassie's sort of been ignored by her father. I mean he didn't even show up when she nearly died at the hospital wing a few weeks ago. You on the other hand, have legions of people who look up to you and want to be there for you. That's something that Cassie's never had. Oh my god," Ron said in a fearful voice.
"What? What is it?" Harry asked. Ron seemed to have gone rigid and a look of pain waved over his face. "Ron are you okay?"
"I . I just sounded like H-H-Hermione," Ron managed to gasp out before he shook his head. "I need to stop hanging around with her so much. Need to start to cause mischief with Fred 'n George because at the rate I'm going I'm going to start talking like Hermione all the time," Ron exclaimed making Harry laugh and Hermione scoff before she gave into laughing along with her two friends.
It was near midnight when Harry was woken from his sleep. He murmured something rather thickly under his breath before a hand went over his mouth, silencing him. Harry's eyes flew open and he saw a figure standing over him. It took Harry a moment to let his eyesight become accustomed to the blackness in the room. He reached for his glasses and saw that Ron was the one who had woken him from his deep sleep.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked but Ron silenced him with a finger. Harry sat there in the dark for a moment listening to the coveting silence. He was about to tell Ron off for waking him when he heard muffled voices coming from the downstairs foyer.
Ron opened the bedroom door and poked his head out. He motioned for Harry to signal that the coast was clear and they walked out into the dark hallway, stopping short at the landing. They peered over the banister and saw Remus Lupin pacing the floor beneath them, muttering something fervently under his breath. They saw Tonks talking to Romulus Lupin in a hushed voice that was filled with a serious air. Something rather unusual for the happy-go-lucky Auror.
Moody appeared from the kitchen with a worried looking Mrs. Weasly who was clutching her apron. Harry saw that Moody was wearing a heavy cloak. It looked as if he were going outside. Harry made a sweep of the room once more and saw that all of the Aurors, even the Lupin brothers were wearing winter cloaks, all of them looking towards the front doors expectedly.
"I don't understand why would she take off like that? She knows how dangerous it is for her out there," Mrs. Weasly asked in a high pitched voice.
"Shush, Molly. You don't want to wake anyone else up. We'd have quite a field day explaining why we're up in the middle of the night, wearing heavy winter cloaks," Moody said in a grouchy voice. It seemed like he had been woken up in the middle of the night as well and he looked to not be in a very good mood. Mrs. Weasly gave a whispered apology.
"It must have been that fight she had with Harry. She wouldn't talk to me about it; she seemed down right mad about the whole episode. I'm quite worried she'll do something drastic you all know how her fa. . ." Remus began but he was cut off by a curt grunt by Tonks.
"Well we're not finding her any quicker just standing here in the middle of the night, in this hall. Let's go out there, find her as quickly as possible so I can get back to bed," Moody replied before he headed towards the front door, the rest of the Aurors and the Lupin brothers following him.
"You lot stay here in case she comes back before we do. Send an owl if she comes. She'll turn up sooner or later," Moody explained to Remus and Romulus. The twins looked like they were going to answer in protest but a serious look from Moody silenced them before they headed down to the kitchen with Molly Weasly.
"She ran away?" Ron whispered once the search party had left.
"I don't believe it. She couldn't have been that upset with me to run away," Harry whispered back. Guilt spread through him when he thought of Cassie walking down the streets of London shivering in the freezing winter night.
"Some birthday she's having," Ron remarked, "I'm going back to bed."
"We need to go look for her," Harry said as he followed Ron back to their room so he could grab his Invisibility Cloak.
"Are you mad? Moody and the others'll find her," Ron explained as he yawned loudly and sat down on his bed. "Just wait up, she couldn't have gone far. Besides, she's got about half a dozen Ministry Aurors chasing her; they'll catch up to her."
Harry paused and listened to Ron for a moment. He knew that Cassie couldn't outrun or outsmart Aurors like Moody or Kingsley Shacklebolt. But there was another part, the part that made him do extremely foolish things without thinking, telling him to go out and find her himself. "And besides," Ron explained as he stifled another yawn, "do you really think she's going to listen to you after you punched her? She'd probably try to curse you if you got to her first." Harry nodded.
"Yea I suppose you're right. I think I'll just stay up, to make sure she gets back okay." Harry said as he sat down on a chair by the desk. Ron hadn't heard him though; the red headed boy was already fast asleep, his mouth hanging open.
*~*~*~*
It was nearing three o' clock in the morning when Harry heard some activity from downstairs. He slowly got up from his seat, his legs stiff and sore from sitting in the wooden chair for almost three hours.
Harry walked out onto the landing that overlooked the foyer and the front parlor where Mrs. Black was hanging. He was just in time to see Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mad Eye Moody hurry into the front hall, a struggling figure between them. Tonks and the rest of the Aurors weren't far behind. Harry watched in a silent stupor as Tonks hurried into the kitchen to fetch Remus and Romulus Lupin. The two brothers walked out of the kitchen both of them looking extremely tired and upset. Mrs. Weasley was following behind the two men looking extremely worried.
Harry watched as Moody and Shacklebolt let the figure go and it fell to the floor with a thump. Harry heard the figure mutter something as Moody walked up to Remus and said something that Harry couldn't hear. Then, Moody, Mrs. Weasley, the rest of the Aurors, and Professor Lupin walked towards their different bedrooms leaving Remus Lupin and the figure alone in the foyer.
"You know that was an extremely stupid thing to do," Remus said his voice set in a dangerous tone. Harry could feel his stomach leap, he had never heard Sirius' friend speak in that tone of voice before.
The figure jumped to his feet and Harry realized that it was Cassandra. Even though Ron had been right that Cassie wouldn't have been able to outrun or outsmart the Ministry's top Aurors, she had put up one heck of a fight. The girl had scratches on her face and her black eye was bruised even more, her eye almost swelled shut. She had a large gash on her forehead and her bare arms were scratched and bruised as well.
"I had to get out," was Cassie's simple reply.
"What do I have to do to make you understand Cassandra? This isn't a game anymore! You're not taking this. . .this thing very seriously and everyone is getting fed up with you!" Lupin explained his voice rising slightly.
"I do understand! I understand everything completely and I know it isn't a game! Not when people's lives are on the line! I'm not stupid Remus, I wasn't born yesterday! Just let me deal with this in my own way,"
"Running away doesn't solve anything Cassie. If something had happened to you. . ."
"Nothing can happen to me Remus!" Cassie said loudly before she gave a feeble laugh.
"Yes! Things can happen to you Cassie. You saw what happened when you dueled my brother a month ago. You saw what could happen to you if you aren't careful!"
"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you!"
"Why did you run away Cass?" Remus asked as he tried to stop their rising argument.
"I had to get away from here. You have no idea what it feels like. The pain's getting worse, you know what that means," Cassie said her voice somber.
"If you keep drinking that potion it'll help!" Remus explained, "You've been taking it haven't you because you know that Severus is the only person who can make it."
"Yes I know and I have been drinking the potion. But. . .even that isn't helping me. I figured if I ran far away from here, the pain would stop and I wouldn't have to worry about anything again. But it isn't working nothing's working." Cassie said, "God why did he do this to me?" She said in a whisper.
"He didn't know Cassie. None of us knew." Remus said in a sympathetic voice. He moved in to his daughter his arm going around her shoulder in an awkward hug.
"I JUST WANT IT TO STOP!" Cassie sobbed loudly as she threw his arm off. She bolted towards the stairs and Harry sprang to his feet and ran to his room just as Cassie started to thunder up the stairs. He finally reached the confines of his room just as Cassie hurried past.
*~*~*~*
Cassie spent the rest of the holiday break in seclusion. Harry and his friends only saw her during meals and when she was there, she never spoke to anyone. If Tonks or her father asked her questions she would merely grunt in response before she took her dinner up to her room.
Harry had told Ron and Hermione about her argument with Remus the night she ran away and both of them were at a loss for words. Hermione, for once in her life, looked genuinely confused. Not even books or writings could help figure out the inner workings of Cassandra Lupin's mind.
Hermione had informed the two boys that Cassie had taken her things out of the room she shared with Hermione and Ginny. Instead, the girl opted for the drawing room where she conjured a sort of cot and squishy pillows and blankets for her to sleep on.
The New Year was celebrated quietly, Cassie skipping out on the celebration in the kitchen entirely. Harry saw Remus and Romulus head upstairs a bit after midnight, probably offering the girl a bit of New Year Cheer before the start of term. Harry could hear yelling coming from upstairs and moments later Remus and Romulus came back downstairs both of them looking extremely dazed and confused. The two of them spent the rest of the night sitting in a corner in the kitchen, heads bent together in a serious conversation.
*~*~*~*
Thankfully the last day of the Winter Holiday dawned bright and sunny. Harry and the rest of the students had packed their school things with them the night before and they were ready to go back on the train to take them back for a new term of school.
Harry got dressed and lugged his trunk downstairs towards the front hall where Hermione and Ginny were placing their trunks, Cassie nowhere to be seen. "Hello Harry," Ginny said with a smile as she picked up Crookshanks and patted the cat's head.
"Hey, Ginny," he said returning his smile, "Where is everybody?"
"Mum's flooing the Knight Bus headquarters, they're taking us to the station again. Everyone from the Order is coming with us to the station. I find it a bit funny if you ask me," Ginny said with a shrug before she headed into the kitchen.
"Have you seen Cassie?" Hermione asked as Ginny disappeared into the kitchen.
"No. And I really could care less where she is," Harry said coldly as he placed his trunk next to Hermione's, Hedwig's cage firmly placed on top. He couldn't help but still feel mad at the girl. It had been almost a week since their fight but he kept thinking back to what she said about his godfather and he wanted to hit her all over again.
"Oh, Harry. You really need to stop this. Cassie's just miserable and everyone around the house is just as bad. Professor Lupin and Remus were arguing earlier this morning about her. . ."
"Look, we're going back to Hogwarts today and I really don't want to worry about her. If you ask me, she's being selfish and she's making everybody miserable because she can't be happy," Harry explained but Hermione wasn't listening. Harry noticed that Hermione was looking at the staircase; a surprised look on her face.
Harry turned around and saw Cassie standing at the base of the stairs. She was wearing jeans and a long sleeved red sweater, her long black hair hanging down, trying to shield her bruised eye. Harry knew Cassie had heard everything he had said judging by the look on her face.
"Hi Cassie," Hermione said with a comforting smile. Harry looked to see what Cassie's response would be, anger seething in him even when he looked at her. Cassie didn't say a word; she looked straight towards the large front oak doors, her trunk dragging behind her. Cassie dropped her trunk next to Harry's before she turned around and without one word, walked straight back up the stairs again, Ron descending the stairs, trunk in tow. He gave Cassie a strange look as she shot him a nasty look before disappearing on the second floor.
"What was that about?" Ron asked as he dropped his trunk on top of Ginny's looking up after Cassie. Harry shrugged and Hermione gave him a skeptical look. The group ate breakfast downstairs, not surprised in the least bit that Cassie didn't join them. The cluster ate in silence, Hermione looking perfectly pleased that she would be returning to school. Professor Lupin and Remus were extremely curt to each other during breakfast and Mrs. Weasley tried to strike up a conversation between the two. Nothing worked.
With a sigh, Mrs. Weasley checked her watch and let out an outcry of surprise, "Oh my stars! Hurry up you lot, hurry up! The Knight Bus will be here in minutes! Get your things outside, go on hurry up!" Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were pushed out of the kitchen by a frantic Mrs. Weasley. Once they got to the front hall, they noticed that the entire assembly from the Order was in the hallway, all of them had heavy winter cloaks on and they were looking upstairs expectantly.
"I'll get her," Remus explained to the Order before he started up the stairs and walked into the depths of the Black House. Harry noticed that Mrs. Black was awake in her portrait, the curtains flinging back. Tonks flinched, waiting the blow from Mrs. Black but nothing came. Harry could tell the portrait was about to tell everybody in the hall off, the large woman was taking a sharp intake of breath but she was cut short when she saw Remus Lupin walk down the stairs, a grumpy Cassie following him.
"You. . .GET OUT! GET OUT NOW! LEAVE YOU FILTH! NEVER POSION THIS HOUSE WITH YOUR PRESENCE AGAIN! NEVER BRING THAT-THAT THING OF GREAT PERIL IN THIS HOME AGAIN! YOU WILL NEVER BE WELCOMED HERE AGAIN! BLOOD TRAITOR OF A B." Mrs. Black screamed. It was the loudest Harry had ever heard the portrait scream in his entire time spent at the Black House and it looked as if the rant was directed towards Cassandra.
"WOULD SOMEONE SHUT HER UP?" Moody bellowed loudly as he lunged towards the portrait, Mrs. Black giving up a tremendous fight to get her last word out. It took nearly half of the Order to shut the curtains over Mrs. Black, Kreacher dancing at their feet, cursing their names and yelling words of encouragement to his mistress.
Harry looked back over towards Cassie and saw that she hadn't moved a muscle. The girl hadn't even twitched. She was standing at the base of the stairs, Lupin turning around to see what she was doing. Harry noticed the two were exchanging a sort of silent conversation, he noticed Cassie's eyes grow hard with anger, Lupin's eyes warm and pleading.
"Hurry up! The Knight Bus will leave us if we don't hurry!" Mrs. Weasley yelled from the front door. The woman opened the front door, Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie carrying out all the school trunks to the end of the street. "Ah.nine thirty, should be here any moment," Mrs. Weasley muttered to herself. And sure enough, at exactly nine thirty there was a loud BANG! And a large, three Decker purple bus appeared in front of Number 12.
The conductor got out of the Knight Bus, and Harry was happy to see that Stan Shunpike was not conducting this particular run. He didn't want to talk to Stan about his recent tryst in the Ministry of Magic. Talking about it made Sirius' death seem real.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took a few seats near the front of the bus, Ginny sitting with her four older brothers. Harry saw Cassie take a seat near the end of the bus, away from all the activity. Harry noticed that all of the Order seemed to move over towards Cassie and he saw the girl give a heavy sigh before she stared out the window.
"Wonder why the Order had to come with us," Ron said as the bus took off with another loud BANG!
"They're obviously watching Cassie; they probably don't want her running off again. She nearly escaped them the last time she tried it," Hermione muttered to Harry and Ron.
*~*~*~*
The Knight Bus safely arrived at King's Cross Station at ten o' clock. Remus paid the conductor and they got the school trunks unloaded. Harry walked with Ron and Hermione watching in wonder as Cassie was flanked by her Order guards. Harry knew he would die in embarrassment if he was forced to be followed by a large guard to a train. Cassie seemed unfazed though although she seemed like she would have rather been swallowed by a hole than be escorted to the train by half a dozen of the Ministry's Aurors.
They crossed the barriers to the Platform and Harry and his friends found a compartment in the middle of the train. Ginny said goodbye to them and headed off to find some of her other year mates. Harry looked out onto the platform and saw that Remus was talking to Cassie who was about to board the train. The Aurors were standing back against the wall, trying to look inconspicuous but it proved difficult when Tonks kept changing her appearance.
"Be careful, you don't know what could happen," Harry heard Remus say to his daughter, "And don't let up on your studies because of. . .well, don't let up Cassie alright?" Remus asked. He tried to hug his daughter but Cassie stepped up onto the train just as the whistle started to sound. Remus stepped back, a hurt look on his face as the train started to hurtle forward.
Harry watched as all of the adults Disapparated out of sight just as the last car of the train pulled out of the station. "Just think, in a few months we'll have finals," Ron said a dismayed tone in his voice. Hermione looked elated.
"At least we'll have Quidditch," Harry said and he saw that Ron's mood lifted a bit.
Harry and his friends were visited by some of their friends who had gone home for the holidays. Seamus and Dean stopped by for a quick moment, both of them sitting down for a spell.
"Have you seen Cassie?" Seamus asked them before he exchanged a curious look with Seamus.
"Since she's been on the train?"
"No, have you seen her face? It's all cut up and bruised. She went to spend the holidays with you three, what happened?" Dean asked excitedly. Harry looked at Ron who just shrugged. It was best not to explain everything that happened and both Ron and Harry looked towards Hermione for some sort of explanation that could save them from explaining the real origins of Cassie's wounds.
"She had a rather bad run in with a Filibuster Firework," Hermione said rather dismissively which told the two boys to drop the subject. Harry let out a breath of relief; thank God for Hermione. Both Seamus and Dean looked crestfallen.
"Oh," Seamus began, "well, we'll see you later," and with that the two left the compartment in search of Lavender and Parvati.
"Where is Cassie?" Ron asked after a few minutes of silence. Hermione had left a few minutes earlier to go change into her Hogwarts robes even though they were a few hours from arriving. She was also patrolling the corridors to make sure everyone was behaving themselves and she was just returning to their compartment when Ron imposed the question.
"I saw her near the front of the train. She's sitting with some Gryffindor first years. I heard her yelling at them earlier for letting a bunch of Fred and George's Snapping Snakes off in the compartment. I haven't heard a peep from that compartment during my watch. She'd make a better prefect than Draco that's for sure," Hermione explained as she took a seat next to Crookshanks, the cat purring loudly.
"I'm guessing she's in a bad mood then," Ron said, "After all, she did give Fred and George that idea about the Snapping Snakes and that's one of their best selling products right now."
"Can we please not talk about Cassie?" Harry snapped as he opened up a box of Chocolate Frogs.
"Oh Harry! This needs to stop! Everyone is going to be miserable if you two are going to continue to have this enormous rift between the two of you! Just make up would you?" Hermione ridiculed. Crookshanks leapt into the air, a tuft of cat fur clutched in Hermione's hand, "Oh! I'm sorry Crookshanks!" Hermione exclaimed. The cat had gone over to the other side of the compartment and curled up next to Ron an angry look settled onto the cat's squashed face.
"No. You heard what she said about Sirius and I'm not apologizing until she takes back what she said," Harry said a stubborn edge creeping around his voice.
"You're acting like a kid Harry! This is so stupid; can't you two handle this in an adult manner?"
Harry didn't say anything. Harry knew he was acting childish but he needed someone to blame right now. He was on his nerve's end and if something else happened he would lose it. Having someone to blame for all his dreams, all his bad memories, and all his grief was somewhat comforting to him and he didn't care if he was acting like a child! It was better to just blame someone else for something than to try and figure out the source of his problems. Besides, Cassie deserved her exile. She had crossed the line when she had mentioned Sirius and he didn't care how many people were upset with him or her. She had tainted Sirius' memory and he would make sure she would never forget it.
"Harry?"
"What?" Harry snapped back, his temper starting to get the better of him. Hermione looked a bit hurt and she quickly buried her face in an enormous book on advanced charms. Harry sighed and sat back in his seat looking out the enormous window at the rolling hills and the darkening day sky. He couldn't wait for the train ride to be over.
*~*~*~*
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station a little bit after six o' clock that evening. Harry, Ron, and Hermione got their things unloaded and found themselves a carriage that they shared with Ginny and Neville. Harry saw Cassie hurry into a carriage with Katie Bell and some other Gryffindor seventh years. Harry could tell that Katie and Cassie were talking about Quidditch; he could just make out the Gryffindor captain's energetic face as they talked about some new maneuvers they were going to try for the start up of the season.
"We have the first game against Ravenclaw," Katie explained to Cassie as they stepped up into a carriage, "it's this weekend actually so we're starting practices tomorrow after classes. Could you tell Harry and Ron for me?"
"Tell them yourself, I'm not speaking to them," Harry heard Cassie mutter before Hermione and Ron bickered for him to get inside the carriage. The carriages started off at a rickety pace through the still and silent night, Ginny and Neville comparing their winter holidays and the gifts they received for Christmas.
They finally got into the castle where Peeves greeted them with frozen icicles, throwing them around at students. Professor McGonagall hurried out into the foyer of the school, her face a plum color, her eyes shining with malice. "PEEVES! Stop that this instant or I'll find the Bloody Baron!" McGonagall bellowed. Peeves responded by blowing her a wet raspberry before he flew off through one of the walls, cackling madly as he went. "Miss Lupin I would like to speak to you for a moment," the Transfiguration professor announced to the students in the Great Hall. Cassie made her way up to the teacher the woman's lips pursed together in an unsatisfied smile.
The rest of the students looked at Professor McGonagall expectantly, looking for a bit of direction, "What are you all standing around here for? Get into the Great Hall you lot. . . all of you," McGonagall scolded. All of the students save the Slytherins winced before they shoved off towards the Great Hall.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their usual seats at the Gryffindor Table in the Great Hall. Dumbledore gave his welcoming speech before he spoke a few magic words and the food popped up from the bottom of the table and onto their plates, Harry's stomach growling profusely.
It seemed like everyone at the Gryffindor Table was talking about Cassie's mysterious injuries she obtained over Winter Break, all of them looking over at Harry, Ron, or Hermione as if expecting some sort of explanation. It wasn't until the end of dinner was nearing that Harry realized that Cassie hadn't even shown up for the welcome back feast and it wasn't like her to miss meals. 'She might have gone up to the Common Room. She probably doesn't want people asking her all sorts of questions,' Harry thought to himself as he and the rest of his fellow Gryffindors headed up to Gryffindor Tower.
Ron and Hermione had already been instructed to give out the password to the rest of the Gryffindors (Perveus Naess) and Hermione said the password loudly in case anyone had forgotten the password since they had been told five minutes previous.
The Fat Lady swung open and they were greeted with angry screams and the crashing of heavy objects in the common room. For a split second, Harry thought that some Slytherins had found the password to Gryffindor Tower and were ransacking the place and as he, Ron, and Hermione surged forward ahead of the crowd they saw that the situation was a completely different circumstance.
Cassandra Lupin was standing in the middle of the common room, a demolished chair at her side. The girl seemed to be consumed with rage as she let out a gnarled scream and threw one of the chair legs at a portrait of one of the old Gryffindor Head of Houses. The old man gasped out in shock and he dove out of the way just as the heavy roll of wood slammed into the side of the portrait, causing the glass to crack.
"What's going on?" Hermione demanded as she hurried forward and grabbed Cassie's arm, restraining the girl from throwing another chair leg at a portrait of McGonagall. "Cassie you need to stop this or I'll be forced to give you a detention!"
"Buzz off Hermione!" Cassie growled. Harry could feel a wave of Gryffindors pressing behind him, all of them trying to get a glimpse of what was going on in their common room. Ron and Harry tried to control the crowd while trying to listen to Cassie's excuse at the same time.
"What's wrong with you?" Hermione asked as she ripped the chair leg from Cassie's grasp.
"They're making me quit Quidditch that's what they're doing!" Cassie bellowed in rage as she snatched the chair leg back and hurled it into the fireplace.
"Cassie listen to me, you need to calm down or I'll be forced to get McGonagall, you wouldn't want any points taken off from Gryffindor would you?" Hermione asked her voice soothing.
"She already took one hundred points from Gryffindor," Cassie snapped back rudely before she turned around and headed towards the Girls' dormitory without acknowledging the rest of her housemates.
Hermione shook her head and Harry and Ron finally allowed the rest of the Gryffindors to enter the common room. Hermione cleaned up the mess in the common room with a few flicks of her wand before she sat down in an armchair, clearly exhausted from the day's events.
Ginny came back down from the girl's dormitory a few minutes later an abrasive growl escaping her lips. "Where were you?" Ron asked his sister as she sat down next to him on one of the couches.
"I just got back from talking to Cassie. Apparently she's mad at you too Hermione, for stopping her little tirade," Ginny explained.
"Figures," Hermione replied before she rolled her eyes and looked into the fire, a far away look settling on her eyes.
"What got her riled up like that?" Ron asked as he looked cautiously over towards the girl's dormitories half expecting Cassie to be listening in on their conversation.
"She had a talk with McGonagall. She said that she shouldn't play Quidditch anymore because of her behavior over winter break and the injuries she sustained during Christmas holiday," Ginny elucidated. Ron's mouth fell open and Harry looked just as surprised.
"But McGonagall can't just sack her because of what she did over Christmas holiday! That isn't fair!" Ron exclaimed.
"Well, apparently, Remus Lupin sent Professor McGonagall a note while we were on our way to Hogwarts. Seems that he doesn't want her playing Quidditch anymore, and neither does Professor Lupin." Ron whistled lowly before he looked outside towards the Quidditch pitch. It was snowing a bit and Harry knew that it was going to be a very cold practice tomorrow.
"Who's her replacement?"
"They're using Seamus as an alternate Beater. I think McGonagall offered Cassie the commentator position but from what Cassie told me, she told McGonagall she could take the microphone and shove it up her arse," Ginny explained.
Even Hermione snapped out of her trance looking at Ginny as if she had said something much worse, "You've got to be pulling our leg. She didn't really say that to McGonagall did she?" Hermione asked in awe. Ginny nodded before she continued.
"That's why she took off one hundred points from Gryffindor, because Cassie disrespected her. I'll tell you one thing though, I have a feeling Cassie isn't going to be a happy camper during this week."
*~*~*~*
Ginny didn't know how true her statement was until they got a load of Cassie the next morning at breakfast. The girl seemed to have developed a permanent scowl on her face and she didn't even acknowledge her uncle when he said good morning to her when she entered the Great Hall.
Cassie's bad mood increased once the sixth year Gryffindors entered their afternoon Transfiguration class. They were sharing their class with the Slytherins that day and Harry and his friends stayed as far away from Malfoy as possible.
Malfoy was elated at the fact that Cassie was kicked off the Gryffindor team but he didn't express his happiness. Harry knew that Draco wasn't stupid, the boy knew about Cassie's temper and to cross her while she was in an extremely bad mood was suicide.
Cassie took a seat near Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan, both of them looking at Cassie as if she were about to attack them. McGonagall entered through a door that obviously lead to her office. She looked extremely irked and when she shot Cassandra a wicked glance, Harry had a feeling that the two were going to butt heads an awful lot.
That particular day, the sixth year students were transfiguring their text books into math books made for muggle students. "Remember that you need to think about the mathematical equations very clearly in your mind or you'll screw the book up," McGonagall instructed as Hermione turned her text into an enormous muggle math book.
Harry looked over at Cassie and saw that she had transfigured her book successfully but he could see swear words and nasty phrases scrolling across the top of her book. At that exact same moment, Professor McGonagall came over to her desk and looked down at Cassie's book, "What are you doing Miss Lupin?" McGonagall demanded as Cassie leaned back in her seat a pleased expression on her face, "Wipe off those words this instant!" Harry could tell that the professor was losing her patience, her face was becoming blotchy and she was swelling up like a puffer fish.
Cassie paid no heed at the professor's words and she whispered an incantation and the book started to yell out its bawdy messages, McGonagall going red in the face. "This is unacceptable Miss Lupin! Stop this instant!" she cried, but the book only started to scream louder and Harry could hear several different doors from other classrooms being opened up. Professor McGonagall was shaking and Harry knew that Cassandra had crossed the line. McGonagall was shaking so badly that her hair was coming out of its perfect bun, strands falling across her beet red face. Harry could hear Malfoy and his cronies laughing quietly as the professor transfigured the book back into its quiet, original form. Harry shrank in his seat, waiting for the full blow.
"THREE HUNDRED FIFTY POITNS FROM GRYFFINDOR, MISS LUPIN! A MONTH'S DETENTION AND A PERMANENT BANISHMENT FROM QUIDDITCH!" The professor screamed finally loosing her composure. Cassie sat in her seat, still as a stone as McGonagall went off on her tirade. Harry saw Hermione cover her ears and look away wincing as the professor gave her sentence. "Do not come back to my classroom until you are adult enough to attend it," she told Cassie. The scowl still on her face, Cassie packed her things and walked silently from the classroom, Malfoy turning red as he tried to hold in his laughter.
*~*~*
Sorry that took so long to get up! I'm sorry I was so late and I hope I didn't lose any readers over my lack of updating! I'm going to start working on seventeen sometime this week and maybe get it posted by the end of this weekend *hopefully* Anyway..review, review, review! (