Chapter 21

It was warm outside, too warm to be nearly winter. Cassie awoke feeling tired and achy. She was still under the bush, pressed tightly against the trunk. Listening, she didn't hear anything. That didn't mean that the bad people weren't still there. The sun beat down through the forest canopy creating shadows around her. Everything was quiet though. The temperature was rising. She was sweltering in her clothes, but it had been cold when she'd gone out to play. Where had the bad people taken her? This looked a bit like New Zealand, sort of. Maybe they'd taken her to Australia, the desert there was always hot. But this wasn't a desert. Pushing up her long sleeves, Cassie wondered where she was.

As she sat pondering, she heard something. Someone was moving in the underbrush. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she slowed her breathing and prayed that whatever it was would pass by. Leaves crunched and a twig snapped. It was moving closer.

No. No more bad men! I want Daddy! Cassie shut her eyes tightly and held extremely still. The branches around her moved and she felt a cold nose on her hand. Opening her eyes she found herself looking at a huge black dog.

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Sirius Black had spent most of the day spying on the Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor. There seemed to be some sort of trouble, but he couldn't tell what. Sticking close to the brush, he'd hoped to learn what it was. In his dog form, it was easy to keep an eye on them as long as Peter Pettigrew wasn't around.

Rat bastardthought Sirius, turning around and heading home. When I get my hands on him, I'll put a dagger through his little rodent heart.

Making his way back through the woods, he knew he should report in with Remus Lupin. His friend did worry if he was gone too long. As he crept along a small breeze picked up, carrying with it a new scent. It was peculiar, almost familiar, but not quite. Trailing it for several meters, he finally found the source, a small bush. Lying down on his stomach, he crawled forward, dodging the low hanging foliage. One twig caught his nose and snapped back, hitting him in eyes. Shaking his head, he blinked several times waiting for his eyes to readjust. It was only then did he see the child.

She couldn't be more than five or six, black hair, baggy pants and a coat. What was she doing out here by herself? Cold dread ran down Sirius' back. Is this what the they're looking for? He wriggled the rest of his body underneath and tried to stand. Branches snapped around him as he did, forcing him to stop halfway. He leaned forward and touched his muzzle to her hand. Her eyes snapped open.

Gray eyes, she had the largest gray eyes he'd seen. For a moment they just looked at each other then she spoke, her voice barely audible.

"Shush puppy. I don't want them to find me." Sirius closed his eyes. Shit. She is what they're looking for. He didn't know if she was Muggle or not, but it didn't matter. Whatever the Death Eaters wanted her for, she'd escaped and he planned on taking her far away from them.

Cassie saw the dog come forward. He licked her face and she tried not to giggle. She had to stay quiet.

"Puppy, no," she scolded. "They'll find me. I have to wait until Daddy finds me."

But Daddy may not know where you are, Sirius wanted to tell her, but he couldn't transform in front of her. That might scare her even more and if she was a Muggle, the results could be disastrous. Reaching forward, he grabbed one pants leg in his teeth and gently pulled.

"Puppy, stop. Do you want me to get caught?" Cassie hissed tucking her leg back up against her.

No, but you can't stay here! Sirius let go and licked her face. Come on kid, understand. Again he took a hold of her pants. When she kicked him off, he realized he needed a different plan. Darting out, he barked softly then wriggled back under, once more he licking her face. He repeated this a few times before Cassie got the hint. Cautiously she crawled out from her hiding spot, her eyes darting around as she did. As soon as she was away from the bush, Sirius ran around behind her and dropped down. Pushing his way between her legs, she gave a little cry as he bullied his way under her. The fastest way out of here was on his back and he was a big dog, big enough to carry a small child.

Standing up, Sirius felt Cassie grab a hold of him with her legs. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. Hoping that she was secure enough, he took off at a fast walk out of the forest. Once they were in the open they'd be home free and Sirius hoped he could break into a trot. It would get him to Remus' quicker.

Cassie had never ridden a dog before. Her father and Gran had taught her how to fly a broom though. Both had the same concept. Stay on. She grabbed a hold of the loose fur and skin around Sirius' neck. This would help keep her on, but laying across his back like this hurt. As soon as she could, she'd straighten up. Once they cleared the woods and entered a field, she sat up. Taking this as a good sign, Sirius picked up the pace. Amazingly the little girl hung on. A couple times he thought she might fall off, forcing him to slow down. It was late afternoon by the time they reached Remus' home.

Sirius walked up to the door of the cottage and scratched. He could hear his friend inside get off the couch to answer the door. Boy will he be surprised by what I brought home,Sirius thought as the door opened. I wonder if he'll let me keep her? he joked.

"Sirius, you could have let..." Lupin stopped mid sentence. A set of gray eyes blinked up at him. "Um, hello. Are you lost?"

"Is this puppy yours?" She asked. Lupin nodded. "He brought me here." He glared down at the black dog. Ignoring the accusing gaze, Sirius padded into the cottage still carrying the little girl. He lay down and Cassie tumbled off. Her legs were sorer after she'd been riding for so long. She didn't think she could stand up to talk to the man with graying brown hair and confused look on his face.

"Honey, are you lost? Is there someone I can um...call to come get you?" Lupin asked, hoping to clear up this mess quickly so he could have a word or two with Sirius.

"Daddy's at work," Cassie replied sitting up. She kept her legs splayed out in front of her hoping that they'd stop hurting.

"And where does your Daddy work?" Glancing around the room, Cassie noticed a black robe hanging on a peg near the door. Her eyes narrowed as she reached into her pocket.

"At Fa'avah Landscaping. You've got a black robe."

"Yes." Lupin stepped forward. "Yes, I do." He wasn't sure what the she meant by it, but suddenly he was looking at the business end of a wand.

"You're not one of them are you? One of the bad men with the masks? If you are, I'll curse you," she warned.

Well, that cleared up my question of whether she was Muggle or not, Sirius thought as Lupin held up his hands.

"No, no I'm not. I'm not a Death Eater, little one. Did they capture you?" He hoped he looked non-threatening. Being cursed wasn't fun, even if it barely affected him. She couldn't use powerful spells yet, he hoped.

"Yes. Daddy told me if I ever met one to curse them." Cassie told him in a stern tone.

"You're Daddy's smart. You said he worked at Fa'avah Landscaping. Where is that?" Lupin edged over to his robe and promptly pulled it off the peg. Tossing it into the closet, he hoped that its disappearance would calm the child.

"Aukland." Cassie stated keeping him within her line of sight. Lupin looked confused.

"Where's Aukland? Is it on the continent?" He'd never heard of that city before. It sounded German.

Cassie shook her head still holding her wand level. "No, it's not in Australia." The man was crazy. He didn't know where Aukland was, how silly. It was a big city!

Startled by her answer, both Lupin and Sirius looked at her. Why did she think, the continent meant Australia? Slowly moving towards a stack of books on an end table, Lupin desperately hoped that one of them contained a world map. The third one he looked in thankfully did. Cassie was watching him suspiciously; she still hadn't lowered her wand.

"I'm going to come over, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want you to show me where Aukland is." Lupin got down on his knees and moved towards her, holding open the book to the map. "Point with your wand to where Aukland is so I can see, okay?" Cassie nodded and dipped her wand down to New Zealand's northern island. Sirius' jaw dropped.

"We live here," she said.

"You're not there right now," Lupin told her. "You're here." He pointed to Britain.

"That's England!" Cassie exclaimed. Suddenly she looked like she was about to cry. "I'm not supposed to be there! It's full of bad people like Lucy-us and Voldigmort! Daddy told me I was never to go there!" Her lower lip trembled as tears began to fill her eyes. Lupin reached out and pulled her towards him, hugging her gently. If she cursed him so what! She was a scared little girl and right now she needed someone to hold her. "I'm going to be in so much trouble. Daddy's gonna yell!" she wailed helplessly.

"Shush, it's not your fault. I'm sure he won't yell," Lupin soothed. "The bad Death Eaters abducted you and brought you here. It's not your fault. Can you at least tell me your name?" He wasn't sure he would get a response through the sobs, but she managed to answer.

"Cassie." She squeaked.

"Cassie, I'm Remus Lupin and this is Sirius." He nodded towards the dog that was still lying on the floor. "You'll be safe here. I won't let them hurt you." He paused waiting for her to calm down. Slowly her tears dried, but she still clung to him. "Would you like something to drink? I have some juice and milk." Cassie rubbed her eyes as he released her.

"Chocolate milk?" She turned her gaze to him.

"I can make it chocolate," he assured her.

"Okay." She sniffed a couple times then scooted backwards on the floor next to Sirius. Lupin got up and headed towards the kitchen. He had to pen a letter to Dumbledore and send it quickly. Maybe he knew what to do about the New Zealander. Giving the letter to his owl, Lupin let the bird out then went to get the milk. When he returned to the living room, Cassie was rubbing Sirius' stomach and the big lug was enjoying it. His tongue had rolled out of his mouth and he was paddling one hind leg in the air.

"Suck up," Lupin muttered under his breath. "Here you go Cassie. Chocolate milk just what you asked for." She stopped long enough to take the glass and thank him. After two quick sips, she was back to rubbing Sirius. Lupin rolled his eyes and sat down on the couch to wait for Dumbledore's response.