A/N: Sorry it's short. Please review, I really appreciate the support!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter series, or industry. Hogwarts and the characters are J.K.'s but Cassie is mine! But I am one of the sorry sops who sign her paychecks. Why does the series have to be so good!

And the Sun Set Forth the First Bud

Cassandra descended the stairs of the girl's dormitories looking like a calm sea to a weary sailor. She spotted her cousin by the door and flashed him a quick smile. For the entire world, it seemed like the hurricane of the night before had never disturbed their quiet sea. She walked straight towards Peter, who was silently observing James and Sirius's wizard chess game. "Good morning, Peter," the boy's face expressed the shock that she was paying him attention that Remus had felt the night before. She seated herself opposite him on a stool.

"H-Hello, Cassandra," he looked up perplexedly at Lupin who had been watching the scene from behind a book in the opposite corner of the common room. Lupin quickly shifted his gaze to his book so that Peter could not catch his eye.

"How are you? I'm starved. Would you like to come down to breakfast?"

Peter looked a bit shell-shocked by her barrage of conversation, "Sure." Sirius looked up at Cassie, having just won the chess game.

"Did I hear breakfast? I'm coming too," he rose and stretched. "You coming, Moony?" Remus nodded.

"I am going to wait for Lily, I'll see you later" James offered. Sirius smiled wickedly.

"Must have our morning snog, mustn't we James?" James looked at his hand.

"Now, Padfoot, try to not burst with jealousy because you can't keep a girl as long as I can."

Sirius guffawed as he stepped through the portrait hole.

Cassandra was seated across from Peter at the Gryffindor table in the great hall. A few seats down Remus and Sirius were in a deep discussion on Quiditch strategy. "So, Peter, how are you?" Cassandra searched to find common ground so she could converse with the boy, and it was proving to be quite a task.

"Fine," he said and relief dawned on his face as he looked just over her shoulder. Cassandra looked behind her to try and spot what Peter was looking at. A bunch of Ravenclaws laughing at a joke just told by a lanky chestnut haired sixth year; a Slytherin boy strode past, a group of Hufflepuff first years giggled as they mobbed by.

"Peter," the crisp voice flowed from the lips of the fifth year Slytherin boy. He did not stop, but kept striding by, as if he had not said anything to the Gryffindor boy at all.

"R-Regulus," What was this? Why would a Slytherin greet a Gryffindor like this? It was like to a cat purring and coddling a hatchling. And Peter was very like a hatchling, small and defenseless, always seeking under the shelter of the eagles of their flock, James, Sirius, and Remus.

"Who was that Slytherin, Peter?" Cassandra questioned.

"Regulus, he's a fi-fifth year," and, unexpectedly, he added, " I'm going to the library this afternoon, you can come if you like," Cassandra was slightly taken aback, but she had accomplished her goal. She had suddenly seemed to be able to form some sort of bridge to connect her with the older boy.

"Sure, I need to work on my transfiguration essay," she said, favoring him with the warmth of her smile. Peter felt his own lips twitch into a small grin. Somewhere inside his soul she had shed some small warmth; there he felt a bud begin to unfold.

Review!

Sorry it is short, I have been bad and not updating so I thought I had better give you that. I promise chapter three will have more!