Chapter 6 A Friendly Face

The next morning I woke up with Snuffles on the bed with me. He was laying at my feet on his back and his tongue was hanging out of his mouth and he just looked so comfortable. I stretched my arms over head and yawned. When I opened my eyes Snuffles was sitting up and panting happily at me. "Good morning." I smiled at him. He licked my face in excitement. I could feel the little breeze from his tail wagging behind him. "Why are you wet?" I asked as I went to pet him. His fur was damp and he actually smelt clean? "How?" I looked at him questionably. He just wagged his tail with a happy smile on his face. He looked a lot better than he did yesterday. And from the way he was acting, he was feeling better too.

"Okay… Well I guess you don't need a shower or anything like that so I guess it's just me. When I get out we can go." I said as I got out of bed.

He gruffed at me and then laid down next to Ariel. Ariel's ears were laid back but she seemed to be okay with him next to her.

"Be nice to each other. I'll be back." I said as I took a change of clothes into the bathroom with me.

After a refreshing shower, I walked out and tapped my hair with my wand. It pulled itself into a bun and I pushed my wand through my hair. Giving one last look in the mirror I made sure to change my hair to a turquoise color, to try something new. Snuffles' panting paused for a second but resumed.

"I know, it was a shock for me too." I chuckled as we left the room and walked down into the inn.

"Good morning Cassie! Pick up another stray?" Bertha Jorkins was one of the regular customers of Tom's.

I saw her everyday and she was a nice person, but I was just uncomfortable around her. She only wanted to gossip and was usually late for work because she wanted to know what was going on in my teenage life. And there wasn't a whole lot going on anyways.

"Good morning Bertha, and yeah. I'm not sure if he's going to stick around or not though." I said sadly as I scratched his ears.

He pushed his head into my hand and licked my arm.

"Why wouldn't he stick around?" Bertha asked, sipping her cup of tea.

"I can't keep him here, and I'm not allowed a dog at Hogwarts. And I don't have a family to leave him with." The way I said the last part as dryly as I could manage.

"Oh. Right." Bertha looked away from me, shame on her eyebrows.

I took the opportunity to take Snuffles out to Tom.

"Good morning Cassie! I see Snuffles is doing good!" Tom said, leaning over the counter and looking at the dog.

"He is! I think he's feeling up to continuing on his journey. Wherever he's going." I said sadly.

"If I could, you know I would keep him here. But I don't think he'll stay with me." Tom patted my shoulder in sympathy.

"I know. I wasn't going to ask you to keep him anyways. With my luck, I'll be somewhere new for the summer." My heart grew heavy with that thought.

Tom nodded but the look he gave me told me he didn't know what I was talking about and that was okay. I hardly knew what I was talking about half the time anyways.

Snuffles looked up at me with a whimper.

"It's okay boy. I'll be fine. I don't leave for school until September first, so if you happen to be in the area just bark twice for me and I'll come get you." I knelt down to scratch his ears and give him a hug.

He wrapped a paw around me and licked my cheek.

"Go on you mangy dog." I said as I opened the door.

Snuffles gave one last bark and trotted out the door. I watched him as he walked down the street. He turned around and he barked twice before disappearing down an alleyway.

I took deep breaths to keep my eyes dry. Tom grabbed my arm and patted my hand to comfort me. I gave him a small smile and patted his hand as well.

It had been a couple of days and I was wandering around Diagon Alley out of boredom. Ariel had decided she didn't want to be locked up in the room anymore so she was wandering around with me. A bunch of friendly kids were pointing at her and she would walk up to them to be pet and they loved it.

I walked by a stand holding Daily Prophet papers and I saw a man with curly mangy hair on the front page. I picked up a copy and read the first page.

BLACK STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.

"We are doing all we can to recapture Black," said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, "and we beg the magical community to remain calm."

Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis.

"Well, really, I had to, don't you know," said an irritable Fudge. "Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it - who'd believe him if he did?"

While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.

There still has not been any comments made about Black's child.

I shook my head and put the paper back in it's stack.I don't know who I haven't made the Daily Prophet yet but I was grateful. I wasn't ready for that attention yet. I still wanted to talk to Harry and my other friends before anything else.

I walked by a couple of stores, just enjoying the day and Ariel's company.

"Harry's going to be here tonight." I said as I walked back into the Leaky Cauldron later that day.

Ariel meowed up at me as I just stood there grinning.

It was one of my predictions and I knew there was a fifty/fifty chance of it coming true but just the thought of being able to see him sooner than I expected just made me happy and I needed that moment.

"What was that dearie?" A lady asked.

"Oh sorry ma'am, I was just talking to myself." I said, smiling apologetically to her.

"Be careful, it's a sign of insanity if you're talking to yourself." She wiggled her bushy eyebrows at me.

"I will keep that in mind." I nodded slowly and picked up Ariel.

I carried my cat away from that table and to the bar area where Tom was at.

"A sandwich for you with chips, and would you like a plate of food for Ariel?" Tom smiled at me and was waving his wand at the items behind him.

"Yes please Tom!" I nodded as I placed Ariel on the stool next to me.

I ate my lunch with Tom for company and I enjoyed the rest of my day in my room. I had found a shop that sold enchantment bubble bath soaps and I tried not to buy the entire store but I had started up my collection and I was loving the smell of the mint in my bathtub.

Ariel was purring on the rug next to the tub and I was playing with my bracelet Harry had told Ron to get me for Christmas our first year. I only had two charms on it though. I had a broomstick from when Harry and I had our first game together. I also had a little stone with a fire emblem on to represent the Sorcerer's Stone Adventure we had in our first year.

I sighed as I magicked my arm to show the scar I have gotten from the fire protecting the stone. It was a really awesome scar. It didn't look like the scar tissue on my left collar bone, it just looked like my skin had been dyed black. But it did burn. Snape had shown me a charm that would temporarily give me relief, but there will never be a permanent solution to my arm.

There was a sound outside my room and both Hedwig and Barnabas came into the bathroom.

"Welcome back!" I said to Hedwig.

She shook her feathers out and blinked happily at me.

"Harry's going to be here at some point tonight so you're more than welcome to stay. I'm just waiting until the water gets cold." I said to her as Barnabas settled as gently as he could on my knee.

"Hello Barnabas." I grinned at my barn owl.

He hooted at me as he preened his feathers. His claws were digging into my knee but I know he was just giving Hedwig the owl perch on the sink. And I didn't mind the little pain because that's just how I feel animal owners should be like.

I put my arm over the tub and scratched Ariel's ears. Her purrs filled the bathroom.

Hedwig had slipped out of the room at some point during the night. Barnabas had woken me up by hopping on the bed. Ariel was stretched out on my pillow and she was glaring at Barnabas as he hopped about.

"I'm up." I patted at the bed to get Barnabas to stop moving.

He hooted before nipping at my finger and flying up to settle on the wardrobe.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes to get the sleep out of them.

"Harry's here!" I shot out of bed and was quick to put some clothes on.

Barnabas shook his feathers in annoyance as I put my shoes on and hurried out the door. Walking down the stairs, Tom must have been waiting for me because he waved me over and leaned over the counter.

"Mr. Potter is in Diagon Alley." He said quietly.

"Thank you Tom!" I said as I hurried out.

I was so excited to see Harry. I couldn't wait fast enough for the brick wall to open up. And then I was met with a busy street. Looking both ways, I figured if I cover one side of the street we would cross paths.

'Off I go.' I thought to myself as I walked up towards Gringott's bank.

I spent all day looking for him. As the sun was setting I was kicking a rock down the street towards the Leaky Cauldron.

"Cassie?" I heard Harry's voice.

I turned around and there he was. His hair was just as messy as it was the last day I saw him. He had also grown just a bit taller and I was looking at his chin before I looked up.

"Harry!" I grinned at my best friend.

"Cassie!" He grinned back and we both hugged each other.

"It's so good to see you!" I said to him as we pulled away.

"I have so much I have to tell you!" He said at the same time.

We both laughed.

"Let's go get something to eat and you can tell me about your summer. I haven't heard anything since your last letter before your birthday!" I said as I laced my arm through his.

"Sounds like a good plan!" Harry had the biggest grin on his face as we walked into the Leaky Cauldron.

He told me about what he had gotten for his birthday from everyone. Then he explained about his Aunt Marge and the deal he made with his Uncle Vernon. I gasped when he told me about his accidental magic and blowing his aunt up.

"Wicked! You're not expelled are you?" I asked, concerned.

"Oh no!" He shook his head.

The Minister of Magic was waiting for him at the Leaky Cauldron last night. Harry told me about how he did try to get him to sign his permission form for Hogsmeade, but he wouldn't.

"Oh that's a shame. I haven't sent mine off to Charlotte yet." I said with sympathy.

"You should get that done, that way you can go." Harry sighed when he said it.

"Why? I can just spend those weekends with you at Hogwarts instead." I smiled at him.

His lips twitched and he gave me a grateful smile.

"Cassie, while the Minister was visiting me last night." He paused.

"While the Minister was visiting you last night?" I prodded, taking a sip of my water.

"He said that I had to be careful with the company I keep, specifically your company." Harry said slowly.

"The Ministry knows about me being Black's daughter." I shrugged, keeping my eyes on Harry.

Harry's emerald eyes widened, and his mouth opened.

I waited a few moments for him to get his tongue to work again.

"You're Black's daughter?" He asked slowly.

"Yes. Fudge was probably trying to warn you, because it's still a hush hush subject, to stay away from me. The problem is, I still don't know if Black got my letter." I hissed the last part as quietly as I could.

I was hurt that no one would tell me. It wasn't killing me inside like it had the first couple of days, but I just wanted to know if Black was okay with me or not.

"It's going to take a lot more than a serial killer on the loose to keep you from being my friend." Harry patted my hand.

"That means a lot to me, Harry." I patted his hand back.

"You wrote Black a letter?" Harry asked.

"Yes. I wanted to reach out, and talk to him, but..." I trailed off.

Harry nodded in understanding.

Harry knows! Well he knows who her father is, and that was a really hard part to write let me be honest. As much as I have enjoyed writing about Cassie and her adventures with her friends, she's about to embark on a journey where she'll need to discover a whole lot of truth's about herself.

Shout out to Pamela Hutchins for leaving a review!

Pamela Hutchins: Thank you!

Shout out to ance59 for following the first story!

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