Chapter 2 The Small Sacrifice

Over the next week, Barnabas was overworked. George Weasley was writing to me, and I was exchanging letters with Remus.

I still hadn't told Remus that I knew who my father was. I didn't know who I could talk to about that except for the man himself. I was waiting on a letter from Harry so that I could use Hedwig to send her off so that Barnabas could have a break.

And I knew Barnabas and Hedwig liked each other so if I gave Barnabas a break, they could see each other. I was waiting for either one of them to show up honestly. As I was waiting, I was hitting my copy of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' against my head.

My father is in Azkaban. If I send a letter I will be known as Sirius Black's daughter. I had told Dumbledore that I could handle the pressure. But if I couldn't handle a simple - not so simple - letter explaining to the man, then how was I going to handle the scrutiny?

"Cassie?" There was a knock on my door.

I stopped hitting my head and put my magic book under a regular muggle book.

"Come in." I pulled out a notebook out from under my parchment.

Charlotte poked her head in.

I lived in an orphanage and the woman who runs it was a Squib. So she took on muggle and magical people, she explained to me that she tried to have more muggles than magical so that the place wouldn't be too strange. So things like the television works with just a few hiccups of magical bursts rather than it reacting terribly to us.

"I swear I'm not trying to kick you out." Charlotte said as she sat on the bed.

"What's the matter?" I asked, putting my notebook back on my bed.

"There was an accident a few months ago, and two little boys are needing a room." She started, staring at me as she patted my knee.

"Oh no!" I stood up.

"Now I would have talked to you about it-" She sighed but she lowered her eyes to my shoulder.

"But I was in the Hospital Wing and dealing with my own things." I nodded.

"Yes. Now that Stephanie has moved out and Michael moved in, and I know it's not right for me to ask but do you think you could stay with the Weasley's for the summer?" Charlotte was nervously tapping the bed.

"I don't think I can, they're taking a trip soon." I was packing up my things and thoughts were racing as to where I should go.

"They are?" Charlotte asked in confusion after a few minutes.

"They are what?" I turned around to look at her as I started throwing my clothes in my trunk.

"The Weasley's are taking a trip?" Charlotte had scrunched her eyebrows together at me.

"Are they?" I took a moment.

For the last few years I've been saying the weirdest things and I've been right. And I haven't been paying much attention but… Just last week I mentioned to one of the other kids to watch their head, and if they hadn't they would have hit by a random falling brick as they walked home from the park. Another kid I said to watch their fingers, and they ended up knicking themselves as they cut up potatoes for dinner one night.

Little things that wouldn't mean anything if they were occasionally, but it was more often than on occasion...

"Cassie, maybe you should stay. I can put Michael in with Nickolas." Charlotte stood up and put her hands on my shoulder.

"I can stay at the Leaky Cauldron. The boys need to be moved here and if that means I have to give up my place here that's okay." I shook my head.

"I shouldn't have asked you." Charlotte sighed.

"Charlotte, I'll be fine. I'll be around other people, and when Mrs. Weasley says I can come stay I will let you know." I put my arms around her and gave her a hug.

She sighed once more and returned my hug.

"I'm so sorry I asked this of you." She said softly.

"Charlotte, I understand. I'm away most of the time anyways, it's only fair that someone who needs my room should get it." I smiled up to the woman.

I wasn't done growing, but I was still considerably short at four feet and six inches. Thank goodness I was over four feet tall though. I don't think I could be as short as the Charms professor, Flitwick.

"Thank you." Charlotte nodded to me sadly.

"What are you going to tell the Services?" I asked as I finished packing my clothes in my trunk.

I don't usually unpack for my summer holidays. I just have a few pants and shirts I wear all the time.

"That you're staying with a friend from your school. If I have to fake adoption papers… I could?" She answered thoughtfully.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." I winked at her with a laugh as I managed to shove Barnabas cage and Ariel's carrier behind my door.

I gave the room a once over and started to gather up my school items into my book bag. I would leave by tonight. I'm sure Tom wouldn't mind keeping me at the Leaky Cauldron until I could figure something else out.

"Cassie, thank you so much." Charlotte was handing me my books and parchment.

"Of course. I also think it would be best if I stay away from them. I've been wanting to look into Divination more." I mentioned quietly to her.

"Divination?" Charlotte asked in confusion.

"I've… I've been saying things and any time I say something I'll write it down." I gestured to a small journal on the bedside table.

In it, were moments I remembered saying from the last couple of years. I opened it up and wrote about the Weasley's making a trip and the date I said it. I left a blank spot next to it, that was to say when or even if it came true.

"Cassie-" She cut herself off.

"I don't know anything about my parents. So I was hoping to go to Diagon Alley anyways to see if they had any books about the Zwart lineage." I said after a moment of silence.

"Oh Cassie…" She sighed.

"Thank you for talking to me about those boys. I hope they'll adjust to their new situation until something can be done." I smiled up to the woman who has looked after me for the last ten years.

"This isn't a good-bye." She said in alarm.

"I think it is." I said firmly.

I don't know where that came from, but I could feel it in the back of my chest. Once I walked out that door, I wasn't going to come back. And I didn't know why.

Charlotte must have felt it to because she pulled me back in for another hug and we held onto each other for as long as I would allow.

"Okay, as soon as supper is over I'll take the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron. That way the other children won't be suspicious of my stuff." I pulled away before my eyes could start itching worse than they were.

"Okay." Charlotte nodded as she walked out of my room.

She turned around and gave it one last look and with a glance at Ariel, she left.

As soon as the door closed there was a tapping noise on my window. I opened it up and both Barnabas and Hedwig flew into my room. Barnabas hooted quietly at me and at Hedwig in greeting. I quickly pulled out his water dish and placed it near both of the owls.

Barnabas had Remus' and George's replies. Hedwig carried Harry's and Hermione's. I opened up Hermione's first.

'Dear Cassie,

I was hoping to get this to you in time because I wasn't sure if the muggle post would be fast enough. My parents have surprised me with a trip to France!'

"So it's not the Weasley's who are going to be taking a trip." I said to myself as I sat on the bed with the other letters.

'I will not be able to write as much and I do hope that will be okay. Hope everything is well!

Love, Hermione.'

I smiled as I put it down and opened Harry's letter.

'Cassie,

How is your arm doing? Both of them. I remember you performing a charm last year on your left one, the one with the scar, but I didn't get a chance to ask you about it since… Well since we were following the spiders and kind of in the middle of something else. Please tell me how your other arm is doing, even though I don't understand how I stabbed you when I clearly stabbed that book...

I'm doing fine. The Dursley's have given me Dudley's second bedroom, but I have to sneak my school work out of the broom cupboard as Uncle Vernon does not want my kind of stuff lying about the house.

Sincerely, Harry.'

"Oh!" I put my left hand to my right collar bone.

Last year, I was trapped in a book. A diary more like, and the only way I was going to get out was if something happened to the book. But no one except me, and Tom Riddle knew that. So Harry and I were both surprised when he stabbed the book, and I came out of it harmed. I figured it was a jinx Tom had added to the 'contract' we had made that I didn't think to look for.

I put his letter on top of Hermione's and started to read Remus' letter.

'Cassie,

I have decided to take the position. I'm sure you can guess which one it is, since there are rumors that it is currently jinxed. Hogwarts will be sending your letters out soon so I believe you will find out which book you'll need for my class then.

Hope all is well with you.

Remus.'

"Short and to the point. I hope he's a good Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." I said to Ariel as she stretched out a paw and purred as she slept on the bed.

I picked up George's letter and read it carefully.

'Cassie,

You're not going to believe it! The Daily Prophet has an annual Grand Prize Galleon Draw. Dad put in for it, and HE WON! Mum says we're going to take a trip to Egypt to see Bill and what he's up to for Gringott's! Everyone is so excited to go! He just got the call today so you're the first person to find out outside the family!

In other news, Fred and I have tried to put our heads together and figure out what we wanted to do after Hogwarts. We can't seem to figure it out, could you give us a few ideas?

Ginny is doing better, she still hasn't opened up to us about what happened, but she seems to be her usual cheery self. I'm glad you, Harry, and Ron were able to rescue her. And I was glad that they rescued you too.

I miss you, darling.

I hope you're doing well. I know your arm(s) haven't been given the best hand. Hahaha get it?'

I snorted.

'Fred and I are excited to go to Egypt. I'll see what I can do to bring you a mummy.

With love, George.'

I was smiling as I placed their letters in my pile and put them in my bad, I would write them back later. I pulled my journal to me and wrote down when my prediction came true.

I frowned. Most of the times when I made 'predictions' they were usually two to three minutes before they became true. I was hoping to get a head start on my Divination studies since that was the class about 'seeing into the future.'

That night, after supper, I was slowly moving my animal cages and my trunk down the stairs. I didn't want to make a whole lot of noise to get the attention to the rest of the kids in the orphanage.

"Want some help?" Charlotte had taken my carrier and owl cage.

"Oh thank you." I breathed to her as I picked up my trunk and carried it down the rest of the stairs and out the front door.

"Please write when you can." She said as she set my carrier and cage down on the sidewalk.

"Of course Charlotte. Thank you again." I went in for a hug this time.

It took her by surprise.

"I'll see you next year." She whispered as she hugged me back.

I nodded into her shoulder. I didn't want to remind her that I wasn't going to be coming back. If my room was needed for kids who were going to stay for the entire year, than I was going to be the one to give it to them.

I pulled out my journal from the front pocket of my book bag. I wrote in it the feeling I had and that I had it twice. I put a star next to them. Hoping that it would mean something later. With one last glance behind me to look at the orphanage, I put my wand out and with a bang the Knight Bus was in front of me again.

" 'Ello! Leaky Cauldron again?" Stan Shunpike stepped out of the bus and picked up my trunk.

"Yes please Stan." I smiled to him as I picked up my animal cages.

I also decided to change my hair from brown to sunrise pink. I had just a tint of orange to make it more realistic. Stan smiled gleefully at the magic and tapped on the window once I was settled in.

" 'Ow are ya doing?" Stan asked.

"Good. There was an accident in the muggle world and a couple of kids needed a room so I offered mine up." I answered.

Ariel hissed as the bus took off.

"You are a sweetheart." Stan tried to give me a smolder.

Stan was not attractive. Granted, I did enjoy the attention a little bit so I never told him about George. But since this more than likely my last ride in the Knight Bus, I figured it wouldn't hurt if he didn't know.

"Thank you." I smiled up to him.

We got to the center of London fairly quickly, only being a few miles away since I lived in the suburbs part anyways.

"Can I come visit ya?" Stan asked as he unloaded my trunk.

"If you can find me." I winked at him and walked into the Leaky Cauldron.

Stan was laughing behind me. I closed the door and gave an internal sigh.

'I should probably not flirt with strangers.' I thought to myself.

"Miss Cassie!" Tom called from the bar.

"Hello Tom!" I greeted him as I walked over to him.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, concern in his face as he looked at my trunk.

"Oh yeah, there was an accident in the muggle world and I volunteered my room for a couple of kids who needed it more than I." I explained.

"Ah, so you'll be needing a room here then?" He asked, pulling out a book from under the bar.

"Yes please." I nodded as he opened it up.

"You'll be in room thirteen, and you can pay me in the morning since I'm sure Gringott's is closed." Tom wrote down the information and with a flick of his wand summoned a key with the number thirteen dangling off a circle next to it.

"Thanks Tom!" I said as I grabbed the key and started up the stairs.

"Be respectful after midnight!" He called after me.

I waved my acknowledgment to him as I walked down a hallway. Even numbers were on the left, and odd numbers were on the right. I got into my musty room and let Ariel out of her cage first. There was a tapping on the window and I let Barnabas in. Hedwig had left earlier that day to go back to Harry once she had delivered his letter to me. I was going to send Barnabas off but didn't want him to be going in four different directions by himself.

I started to unpack the rest of my clothes I would need for the summer. Once they were put away in the dresser the room offered I shoved my trunk under the bed and pulled out my parchment.

Tom had given me a room with a desk, so I set up my school work and letters on the desk. But rather than start working on my assignments, I pulled out a few crumpled notes from the bottom of my book bag. Each of them was addressed to the same man, Sirius Black.

I have a hard time sleeping in a new environment so I knew I wouldn't be sleeping tonight. I figured I may as well try and write this letter to inform him that he had a daughter who was interested in having a relationship with him.

This was a whole lot longer than I expected it to be! I want to apologize in advance, I will be going out of state this upcoming week and even though I plan on bringing my handy-dandy laptop, I am not sure if I will be updating on time or earlier or later. But chapter three will be up! And yes, I've started to name the chapters, it helps me when I'm drafting to even out the story. Some chapters are going to be longer and some are going to be shorter. It all depends on how I feel that chapter is going.

Shout out to NightLover123 for add the first story to your favorite list!

Shout out to Punkbunnnn for adding the second and the third story to your favorite list!

Shout out to horsegirl1994 for leaving a review!

Horsegirl1994: I'm so glad you're loving it!

Shout out to MoonlitWinter for adding this story to your following and favorite lists and for review too!

MoonlitWinter: I was wondering when you were going to review! I've got a lot in store for this one now that we're in their third year!