When Cassi woke up the next morning she found a note and flowers sitting next to her bed table. Rubbing her eyes, this caused her right one to hurt more, Cassi ripped open the note.

Cassi
Sweetheart, meet me by the lake where we first walked around noon.
All my love,
Sirius

Cassi fumbled for her watch and checked the time, the Mickey Mouse hands told her it was slightly past eleven. She pulled on a pair of jean capri pants with, despite the fact that she knew better that to risk exposing her shoulder, a halter top, threw her long platinum hair, and put on a touch of make up. When she made her way downstairs she was surprised to find only James sitting in the common room.

"Hey there!" He smiled.

"Ahh, hey there James, what's up? Where are Lily and Remus?" Cassi questioned as she fell into her favorite arm chair.

"Oh I don't know. What's that in your hand?" James asked.

"A note from Sirius," she smirked, "not that you would know anything about it."

"And what does he want?"

"I'm meeting him at the lake at noon." Cassi smiled

"Right, tell me Cassi why you are making this such a challenge for him." James inquired.

"I'm not making it challenging per say; I just want him to appreciate me for me, and realize that not every girl just falls for him. Plus I want him to sweat it out a little." Cassi smiled.

"You're evil you know that right?" James joked.

"Oh of course, you're not the first one to say that." Cassi beamed as she pulled her hair over her left shoulder, leaving her right one bare.

"What's that?" James asked as he pointed to a series of scares on Cassi right shoulder blade and back.

"Nothing James, absolutely nothing at all." Cassi stammered as she quickly pulled her hair back into place.

"They look pretty bad." James said looking concerned. "Are you sure their nothing Cassi."

"James, I didn't do that to myself, and I have had them for quite sometime. Please just let it go." Cassi implored.

"I will for now Cassi, but just because if you don't get going now you're going to be late for Sirius." James smiled.

"Thanks James, I'll see you later, and I would appreciate if you didn't mention that you saw these alright." Cassi smiled.

"Don't worry Cassi your secret is safe." James replied as Cassi made her way out.

As she crossed the courtyard and made her way to the lake Cassi ran her hand over the scars on her back; as she did a small shiver ran up her spine. Unlike other bruises, these were not battle scars; they were a horrible reminder of stupidity. The doctors and healers had told her that with time they may fade but there was no guarantee. Cassi remembered when they had told her that, after she had finally woken up after three days.

Pushing the horrible memories out of her head Cassi smiled as she walked toward the spot where Sirius was leaning against a tree, looking incredibly sexy in Cassi's opinion. Cassi tired not to look excited as she approached him, even though on the inside she was incredibly happy to see him again.

"Hey the Cas." He smiled

"Hey Sirius how's it going?" Cassi returned the smile.

"Better now that you're finally talking to me. Come on sit down."

"What are we doing Sirius?" Cassi asked as she followed orders, for the first time in her life, and sat down.

"Well, I don't know particularly, however, I did think lunch may be mildly appropriate." Sirius smiled, and looking particularly proud of himself, as he pulled out two butterbeers and sandwiches

Cassi grinned as she took a bite of the sandwich, it was better than she had expected, somehow Sirius never seemed like much of a cook to her.

"Not bad." She smiled.

"Good, so, tell me, what has been going on." He asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on Cassi, you know, what's going on between us now?"

"Sirius, you kissed someone and disappeared on our anniversary, I was hurt, really hurt." Cassi said as she bite her lip.

"Cas, Hun, you know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. Lily told you Nikki kissed me, didn't she?" Sirius replied, looking incredibly sweet.

"Ya, she did, and I believe it to Sirius, it's just it still hurt, whether you meant for it to happen or not, besides where were you that day?"

"I was out getting your anniversary present." He beamed.

"Oh, Sirius," Cassi began, she felt like shit, "I'm so sorry, I didn't think, I was jealous, oh God I'm an ass."

"Don't worry about it Cas." He grinned. "So, are you going to take me back?"

"I think I will, let's walk Sirius." She said standing up.

He took her hand as they started to walk around the lake. Cassi enjoyed the time, she felt like she could really talk to him. She felt the final connection between her and Sirius; she knew he was the one. Cassi smiled as he wrapped his arm around her waist, however silently she was afraid he'd put his arm around he shoulders and feel the scars. She leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder, it was the first time she ever believed in love; and while it sounded mushy when she thought about it, almost against her rebellious attitude, Cassi decided it was finally okay to let her defenses down and let herself be loved.

As the two of them walked hand and hand back to the castle Cassi subconsciously tossed her hair twisted it and let it fall again. As soon as she felt her hair fall against her shoulders Cassi knew she had made a mistake. She wanted to kick herself in the shins, but she knew she wasn't anywhere near that coordinated.

"Cas, what's that on your shoulder?" Sirius asked as he stopped on the stairs to the castle.

"Nothing Sirius, nothing at all, don't worry about it." Cassi stammered for the second time that day, as she tugged on Sirius's hand trying to lead him into the castle.

"Don't think so Cas, come on sit down." He commanded in a concerned voice.

"Sirius," she began as she sat down, "this is ridiculous, please let's go inside." Cassi pleaded.

"No Cassandra," he said firmly, "let me see your shoulder."

"Fine then," she shot back as she turned her back to him and pulled her hair up, "happy now?"

"How did you get these?" he asked as he ran his hand over her right shoulder and back.

"It was an accident Sirius. Please let it go. It's not a big deal." Cassi said trying to hold back the tears in her eyes.

"Cas, sweetheart, it has to be a big deal if you're crying, come on Hun, what happened?" He asked soothingly.

"Sirius, it was stupid, we were all stupid, alright?" Cassi said crying.

"Who was stupid sweetheart?" Sirius asked as he wrapped his arm around Cassi.

"All of us," she sniffled, "we were just idiots."

"What happened Cassi, what accident?" Sirius replied stroking her hair.

"My brother's accident," She cried, "all of them, gone."

"You were in the accident with your brother and his friends? What happened."

"Scott, his friends, me, and Alex my boyfriend, went to a pa-pa-rty." Cassi stammered as she wiped the tears from her face. "Last summer, we all ended up drunk, Jeff, Sc-Scott's friend, said he was okay to drive." Cassi cried as she buried her head in Sirius's chest. "He ran off the road, they all died, all of them, but me. Why did I live when they died? How is that fair, why me, why couldn't I die too? I hate it, everyday; to see my parents look at me and wish I was Scott, why couldn't I just have died too!"

"Cassi, it's okay." Sirius said as he hugged her. "It'll be okay."

"Thanks Sirius." Cassi smiled as she wiped her eyes and stood up. "Let's go in now." She finished as she took his hand and leaned in to him.

"You gonna be ok." Sirius asked as they walked up the Grand Stair case.

"I have you Sirius, of course I'll be alright." Cassi smiled.

"I love you Cassi."

"I love you too Sirius. When is our next Hogsmead trip?" Cassi beamed.

"Next weekend, why?"

"I think I need a new tattoo." Cassi smirked as they entered the common room.

"Maybe I'll get on too then." Sirius winked.

A/N: A special thank you too: Yugislittlechic, Star of the Muses, and madderthanyou for their fabulous reviews. This chapter was a little different, I really hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Much love!!!