Disclaimer: Do I really have to tell you that I don't own any of J.K. Rowling's characters?!

Another Marauder In Our Midst

chapter 1

Meet the Devoirs

"Cassandra, wake up this instant!!!" cries Marilyn Devoir, a resident of Godric's Hollow. "Keep your wand in your hand, I'm awake!" Cassandra Devoir shouted back. She flipped her feet off of her bed and pushed her long dark brown bangs behind her ears. She grabbed her glasses and placed them gingerly on her face. 'Urgh, it's morning already?' she asked herself, looking into the mirror in her bathroom. "I SAID get down here!!!!!" screamed Mrs. Devoir. "No you didn't you purist!!!!" matched Cassandra. "YOUINGRATE! I'LL HEX YOU TO KNOCKTURN ALLEY AND LET THE SCUM IN THERE HAVE YOU!" "FINE, IT'D BE BETTER THAN LIVING IN THIS GOD AWFUL PLACE!!!" then Cassandra slammed her door and changed into a plain black t-shirt and faded jeans. She threw her ordinary black robes over it all and then pulled her hair into a messy bun. Cassandra stomped down the stairs and into the kitchen. Orion Devoir glared at her, "You had better just cook breakfast right. We're going to the Blacks' par today." Marilyn placed her hands on her hips, "You won't be wearing that of course. It's bad enough that we have to take you with us, you will not be embarrasing us." "Yes mother." mutters Cassandra, serving them their breakfast, then turning on her heel and trudging back upstairs.

At 5:00, Mr. and Mrs. Devoir stood by their fireplace, tapping their feet impatiently. "Move it Cassandra, you're making us late!!!!" yelled Mrs. Devoir. Disgustedly, Cssandra walked down the stairs, wearing a white collared shirt and a black skirt that went right above the knee. Cassandra was thankful that they traveled by floo powder, so she wouldn't have to listen to her parents' nagging of how bad a witch she was going to be.par When Cassandra landed in the fireplace at number 12, Grimmauld Place, she was greeted by five people sneering at her, and one who's gaze was somewhere else. "Now don't you two touch anything, especially i youi0 ." said Mrs. Black, pointing at Cassandra. "And Regulus, do be a dear and entertain Kreacher." A small boy nodded to her, still sneering. The four adults then went into the kitchen, leaving the three children in the hallway. Then, the small boy spoke. "Haha! Mom said you can't touch anything Sirius, so you have to stay in here with a stupid girl!!!!" he cried, pointng at him, then skipping up the stairs. 'So his name is Sirius.' thinks Cassandra. "Stupid little git." mutters Sirius, who then went and sat down on a couch in the corner of the room. "You can sit down if you want." he adds. "Thanks." replies Cassandra, who went and sat down on the opposite side of the couch. For all she knew, he could be just another pureblood supporter who was just in trouble. "So why did my dear mother yell at you? That's usually on reserve for me?" asks Sirius finally. "I s'pose it's because I'm not all for the purification of the wizarding world and I also want to break family tradition by not being in Slytherin like my narrow minded ancestors and parents. Now go on, insult me." Cassandra said, rolling her eyes. Sirius gawked at her. "You don't?!" "No... did I not make that clear?..." "Wow, I thought I was the only pureblood of our kind....." he said amazedly. "Huh?" "Man, you are slow on the uptake. You're a pureblood and you don't want to be a Slytherin. I HATE Slytherin. Get it now?" "Yeah, sure. How old are you anyways to say something like that?" she asked angrily. "I'm 12." "So you'll be going to Hogwarts next week then?" "Yep. What house do you want to be in? Ravenlaw?" "NO! I'm not a brainiac, couldn't you tell? I want Gryffindor, which is pro'lly the main reason no adult my parents associate with like me." mused Cassandra, "I suppose you are in the same?" "Naturally. Most every guy wants either Gryffindor or Slytherin, and since I obviously don't like the latter, you could guess which house I'm in." "S'pose so." "Ugh, you two are talking? I suppose your addled minds agree then." says Mrs. Devoir in disgust. "I'm guessing so mother dearest." says Cassandra coldly. "Come along you impudent child. We're leaving." says Mr. Devoir angrily. 'So her name is Cassanda.' thinks Sirius, watching her step through the flames.

A week later, Cassandra sat alone in a compartment in the back of the Hogwarts Express, staring out the window contentedly watching the scenery go by. Her compartment door swung open and a boy with messy black hair and hazel eyes peeked his head in. "Hey, everywhere else is full. Mind if me and my friends sit here?" he asks. Cassnadra raises an eyebrow. "And you are?" "Name's James. So, can we sit here?" She sighs. "Sure. How many of you are there?" "There are four including me. Thanks" he answers. He reappears a few minutes later with three other boys, one of which, she recognized as Sirius. "Oh. Hey Cassandra." says Sirius, sitting down across from her. "Padfoot, you know this chick?" asks James surprisedly. She narrows her eyes. "I'm not a chick. I have a name, it's Cassandra. Please use it." "Eesh, what a way to speek to a second year! So, Padfoot, do you know.... b Cassandrab0 ?" "yeah. Her parents and mine are best mates." James backed away. "Future Slytherin! We need to move before too much is revealed to the enemy!!!" Cassandra felt a cold dread. She thought that she might actually have some friends, but if they thought her the enemy then..... "Prongs man! She feels the same about her parents as I do mine." says Sirius, who had remained seated. Cassandra raises her hand. "Um yeah, I'm right here." she says. "Y'know, this kid has an atitude. Quite cheeky for a first year isn't she? Well, I guess we could trust a future Ravenclaw-" "Who said anything about Ravenclaw?! I want Gryffindor!!!!!!! First Sirius and now you! Do I i look like a genius?!" "Well um no, quite the opposite actually." muttered James. Cassandra's eyes narrowed. "Who are you two? I didn't catch your names." she sad, turning towards the other two boys. "Oh. I'm Remus Lupin. Nice to meet you." answered a boy with sandy blond hair. "Peter Pettigrew." said a timid looking kid. "Nice to meet you both. And James, your last name is Potter, is it not?" "Yeah, but how would you know that?" he asks. "I live on the same street as you in Godric's Hollow. You t-peed my house 2 years ago on Halloween." she said, recalling the occurence, "and then I had to clean it up the next morning." James flushed pink. "Sorry about that." he said sheepishly. "It's fine." she said, "But if you ever do it again I'll wring your neck." James raised his right hand. "Scout's honor. But again with this cheek? I might just have to hex you kid." Cassandra rolls her eyes. "Peachy. I'm going to change into my robes now." Cassandra got up and walked out of the compartment. "Do you think you can trust her?" asked James as soon as he was sure she was gone. "I dunno mate. She seemed ok last week, and she seems ok now." says Sirius. "She seems really nice." points out Remus. "And she was really pretty." adds Peter, blushing. James raises an eyebrow. "Ok, so we trust her. Oh and Peter, go for it if you think she's cute." "Who does he think is cute?" asks Cassandra, standing in the doorway, dressed in Hogwarts robes. "Nobody important." answered Remus quickly. "Riiiiight." answered Cassandra. "Now, if you're going to hang out with us, you need a name." says James. "Um, I've got a name. It's Cassandra, remember?" she said hesitantly. "You are definately not a Ravenclaw. A nickname. Like we are Padfoot, Prongs, Moony and Wormtail."said Sirius, "Catch my drift?" "Yep. They pertain to your personality, oh! And your animagus forms right?" she asked nonchalantly. The four boys gawked at her. "Oh accept for you Remus, you're a lycanthrope, correct?" she asked. He nodded slowly. "B-but, how do you? We never- how do you know about what we are?!" cried Peter. "SHHHHHHH! Would you like the rest of the train to know as well?" she hissed. He shook his head. "Then don't yell! NOW, how about a fun game of I share, you share, ok?" she suggested. The boys agreed. "Ok. I know that you are animagi because I i sort of have a psychic connection. Not like a seer, but sometimes I just know things that haven't been told to me. Besides, Sirius, you keepng snuffling. James, you're face s very straight, even when you laugh, like a stag, and Peter, your nose twitches. As for you Remus, your fingers and hairy hands give you away. Now, James." Remus looked at his fingers and again saw his long middle fingers and the hairiness of them. "Well, um, I like Lily Evans. Sirius?" said James. "Well duh Prongs. Everybody knows that. Um. I'm afraid of thestrals. Peter?" said Sirius. "Um, I um, I don't know what to say." admitted Peter. "Why don't you tell us who you thought was cute?" suggested Cassandra. Remus's eyes went wide and Sirius burst out laughing. "Um, I think you're pretty, Remus." said Peter quickly. Sirius laughed harder. "Sorry Wormtail, I don't swing that way man. Hm. My parents are getting divorced, since my dad seems to think I'm going to kill him while he sleeps and my mum thinks 'm just special." says Remus. "Aw, I'm sorry Remus." said Cassandra, leaning over and giving him a hug. "Um, it's ok. But um, are you an animagus? I mean, you kind of smell like a fox..." said Remus nervously. "Dude, that is the worst pick-up line I've ever heard." comments James. "Oh! I still need a nickname!" pointed out Cassandra. "How about Cassy? It's easy." suggests Peter. "NO! That's my mum's name!" cried Cassandra. 'I thought her mum's name was Marilyn..' thought Sirius. "Well, doesn't your name mean death and destruction?" asked Remus. "Yeah, it does. How is it that I was named death and destruction and yet, Sirius's parents don't like him either, but they named him after a big, bright star?"asked Cassandra. "Lucky I guess." says Sirius. "Hmmm, how about Grim?" asks James. "It's brilliant." says Cassandra, grinning. 'Hm, maybe I will have friends this year after all.' she thought as they went off to change.

"Firs' years this way! Firs' years over here!" called a gruff voice. "Well, see ya inside." said Cassandra, getting into a boat. The boys went to a carriage of their own. She sat silently the whole way to the school. Once they reached the front doors, a tall woman wearing a tall black hat came out. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Before you go inside, you will need to be sorted. As you may know, there are four houses. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw." she said. The hat sang its song and then the woman stepped up again. "When I call your name, sit on the stool and I will place the hat on your head. Bullstrode, Brandy." a tiny girl walked up and sat on the stool. The hat was not placed upon her head when it yelled, "SLYTHERIN" The list went on until the woman called "Devoir, Cassandra." She heard the boys cheering for her. She giggled and sat on the chair. When the hat went on her head, it slipped over her eyes. 'hmmmm, another Devoir huh? Do your friends know the truth about that?' 'no' 'Oh well. You should tell them. I see that you are very brave. You are loyal as well, like your father, maybe Hufflepuff?' 'NO! Gryffindor, with my friends! Please' 'Well, if you are sure.' "GRYFFINDOR!" yelled the hat. It was taken from her head and she grinned as an uproar of applause occured as she walked to the Gryffindor table. She sat down next to Sirius. When the sortng was finally over, Dumbledore stood up. "I have a few words for all of you. Hogwarts is awsome! Now tuck in!" The food magically appeared on the tables and students began eating. Afer the feast, Dumbledore stood up again. "As usual, the dark forest is forbdden, 3rd floor corrdor is forbidden and for a list of items banned fromhallways, please go to Mr. Filch's office where a list of some 200 items is hung on the door. Now off to bed!" he said. "First years come with me." said a prefect. Cassandra followed hm with the other first year Gryffindors to the common room. They finally reached a portrait of an abnormally fat woman. "Password?" she asked. "Thestral." answered the prefect. 'Oh I bet Sirius loves that.' thought Cassandra, stepping through the portrait hole. A few minutes later, the four boys walked throught the portrait. "Ok, to bed everybody!" called the prefect who led the first years to the common room. "Well, goodnight guys!" called Cassandra, walking up the staircase to the girls dormitories. "G'night Grim!" they called after her. A girl that looked a lot older than her came up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Um, there was no more room in the first year dormitory for you, so you were placed with the second year girls. It is the next door up." The girl strolled up to the seventh door, and Cassandra assumed that she was either head girl or a prefect. She walked up to the second door and stepped inside. She spotted her owl, Stormie, sitting on her trunk and went over to the last bed, which was next to the window. "Hi!" said a cheery voice from behind her. Cassandra turned around to face a second year with long red hair and bright green eyes. "I'm Lily. Who are you? You're the first year, right?" "Yes, I'm Cassandra, I'm the first year." she replied. "Cool! I'm in the bed right next to you. Are you friends with those four boys? I think James is cute! Do you like any of them?" she asked. Cassandra laughed. "Nope. But James? Bit of a fat head, that one is." "Yeah, he is, but that doesn't mean he isn't cute!!!!! I'll see you tomorrow, 'cause I'm tired." announced Lily. She then climbed into bed and shut her curtain. "Goodnight then." replied Cassandra, heading off to the lavatories to change into her tank top and sleep boxers.

The next morning, cassandra got up and got dressed, did her usual morning routine, then went downstairs. A half hour later, the boys were still not downstairs, and she knew breakfast was underway. Needing her morning sugar, she ran up the boys stairs, hoping she wouldn't get in trouble. She threw open the door and saw the four of them sleepng peacefully. She reached Sirius's bed first (which she knew since he had carved his name in) and threw open the curtain. He lay on his back, sucking his thumb. Rolling her eyes, and trying hard not to laugh, she started to shake him. "Leave me alone mom." he mumbled. "Yeah right Padfoot, WAKE UP!!!!!!!" she screamed in his ear. His eyes snapped open and he leapt up. "Who the he- Grim?!" he asked, bewildered. "Who were you expecting?" "Um, James...... Why are you in here?" he asked. "To get your asses up. We b areb0 in school and we have class. Have you forgotten so soon?" "No, but did you have to scream in my ear?!" Cassandra blushed. "Well nothing else was working! You called me your mother!!!" Sirius's eyes widened."I forgive you." he said quickly, hopping out of bed. "I'll get Moony, can you get the other two?" asked Cassandra. He nodded curtly, then went over to James's bed. "WAKE UP!" they cried in unison. The three boys' eyes snapped open. "Aw, were you sleeping? Sorry to interupt, but we need an eduacation!" announced Cassandra. "Now, I'll leave the ickle 2nd years to get dressed. If you aren't downstairs in 13 minutes, you'll regret it." With that, she strode out as quietly as she had come in.par Ten minutes later, the mauraders were downstairs, ready to go. James's hair was as messy as ever, but he didn't seem to mind. They were the last people there, other than a greasy haired Slytherin by the name of Severus Snape. He was always glaring and he never looked all to friendly. The only person who was nice to him was a seventh year named Lucius Malfoy. "Hm, that guy looks charming." said Cassandra sarcastically. The boys didn't catch it and stared at her aghast. "Ok, then go talk to him. I dare you." said Sirius, finally catching on. "Maybe I will!" retorted Cassandra, standing up. She walked over to the Slytherin table. "Um, hello." she said cautiosly to him. "What the hell do you want?" he demanded. "Jeez, I just wanted to say hello mr. anti-social." Cassandra glared. Snape whipped out his wand and before she could utter a word, a long gash appeared on her cheek. "You little cockroach! Feh, see if I bother, Snivellus." He shrugged and sneered. "Like I care you mudblood freak." 'How did he know?! HOW?!' she demanded herself as she stormed back to the table. "Why do you look so confused Grim? Not ul everyoneulnone wants to be your friend." said James, smirking. She shook her head, sitting down, still imersed in thought. "grim? What did he say? You look funny..." asked Remus. "H-he called me a mudblood, but I don't know how he knew..." said Casandra confusedly. The four boys stared at you. "He called you a WHAT?" yelled James as he and Sirius leapt up. "Just leave it. Don't waste getting in trouble on him." sighed Cassandra. "Aw, just one widdle iddle curse?" pleads James. Sighing again, she smirked. "Ok, but just one." He laughed, then pointed his wand at him, " scourgify " he whispered. The pink bubbles began to flow from his mouth. "I suggest we go to class?" asked Peter. The four nodded and jumped up. "SCHEDULES, you five!" called McGongall from the staff table. They ran and grabbed their schedules then ran off to class. par Cassandra's first class was history of magic, with Proffessor Binns. She could barely keep her eyes open, but she managed some notes on Emerick the Evil. She then had potions with the Slytherins and double Herbology with the Ravenclaws. She made a few friends, but she couldn't wait until lunch so she could hang out with the boys. She felt bad, since they had almost every class with Snape.

At the end of the week, the boys sat by the lake while Cassandra was on the other side with Lily. "So, do you think she likes me back?!" asked Peter excitedly. James's smile faltered. "Sorry mate. If Grim likes any of us, it's Padfoot over here." "But you still stand a good chance!" added Remus quickly. "WAIT! Don't I get a say in this?! Why me?! Why would she like me?!" asked Sirius worriedlyl staring at her from across the lake. She had her hair down today and the way her bangs fell over her eyes...- Sirius shook his head to clear it of such thoughts. "But what did she mean on Monday? We still didn't ask her... Why did she call herself a- a i mudbloodi0 ?!" Sirius spat the last word. "Who knows? Aren't the Devoirs pure bloods?" asked Remus. "Yeah, otherwise my parents wouldn't associate with them. We can ask Grim what she meant tonight, after Lily goes to sleep." suggested Sirius. "Hey, Peter, come with me, I think I see the giant squid over there!" said Remus hurriedly, being able to tell that his two best friends needed a private talk. Peter agreed and the two went off to another part of the lake.

"So Padfoot. Do you like her?"asked James. "Well I don't know. She's really pretty and just about as smart, and she loves pranking as much as we do. She's like one of us in a girl's body!" said Sirius confusedly, just saying what came to mind. "Well, considering that you are already in love with yourself, I'd say that you do like her, and if she likes you back, you stand a much better chance then little Wormtail." said James.

Across the lake "So. Do you like any of them Cas?" asked Lily. "I dunno." said Cassandra, gazing across the lake at the four boys, "They are all realy nice to me..." "It seems like Peter likes you a lot, but Sirius has been looking over here an awful lot and he looks anxious about something. Maybe he is worried about how you feel about him?" suggests Lily, a grin plastered on her face. "Yeah right. Sirius doesn't like me that way Lil, we're just friends. Besides. ul NOBODYulnone likes me that way, except Peter, and as nice of a guy that he is, he just is NOT my type." said Cassandra quickly. "And what of James? Has he shown any interest in me lately?" asked Lily excitedly. "Are you kidding me? Lately, it's been 'Lily this' and 'Lily that'. It's sickening really. He'd better make a move soon, because if not I'm going to be playing matchmaker." said Cassandra earnestly.

That night, the six of them sat in the common room, chatting, but James and Sirius were acting funny. It seemed like James actually wanted Lily to lave, and it was confusing Cassanda a lot. Finally, at midnight, Lily got up and went to bed. "Jeeze, I thought that she would NEVER leave!" said James gladly as the girls' dormitory door closed. "Yeah! We can finally ask her!" said Peter excitedly. Cassandra became even more confused than before. "Yes, why did you call yourself, that name , on Moday?" asked Remus. Finally, Cassandra understood, but she was crestfallen. "Look, I'm not really big on spreading this around, but you guys are my friends, so I'll tell you once. If you forget oh well. Don't ask anyone else, because they won't know. Snivellus called me a mudblood, because, well, I am one. Marilyn and Orion adopted me." The boys looked at each other as if waiting for them to say something. Cassandra's heart began to race 'Oh no. They don't like me anymore because I'm a mudblood. Oh man, why didn't I make something up?' she thought. "Who would have guessed? You're great at magic and all..." said Sirius finally. "And mudbloods are bad at magic?" asked Cassandra quietly. 'I shouldn't habe told them.' she thought sadly. "NO! That isn't what he meant! He just meant that you are really good at magic is all, even better than some purebloods!" said Remus anxiously, shooting Sirius a glare. Sirius looked down, "Sorry." he murmered. "It's ok. I wouldn't expect you to understand. You're at the other end of the spectrum. Now, was there something else other than a quaint discussion of my bloodline?" asked Cassandra, yawning. "Well, yes. We wanted to discuss Moony's condition with you." said James in a very business like fashion.