Chapter 11 The Truth, Sometimes, Does Not Set You Free

Dinner was awkward. Mrs. Weasley would make snide remarks and glare at me throughout the meal. George did not make things any easier by making a show of holding my hand and sometimes kissing my knuckles when he knew she was watching us. So I was outside, in the little bricked area in front of Diagon Alley, trying to cool off my hot face.

The Ministry was giving everyone a ride to King's Cross Station. Mr. Weasley made it a point to let Mrs. Weasley know that I was included on the list. She wasn't happy about it, but since she had no real say in the matter she dropped it.

"I'm going to go take a shower, maybe that'll calm my nerves." I said to myself.

I got off the ground and quietly opened the door. As I was walking quietly I heard voices in the parlor. Out of instinct, I darkened myself and covered my nose so that my piercing wouldn't glint off any light.

"... makes no sense not to tell him." Mr. Weasley's voice was heated. "Harry's got a right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He's thirteen years old and -"

"Arthur, the truth would terrify him!" Mrs. Weasley was shrill. "Do you really want to send Harry back to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's happy not knowing!"

"I don't want to make him miserable, I want to put him on his guard!" Mr. Weasley retorted. "You know what Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves - they've ended up the Forbidden Forest twice! Added that Cassie -"

Mrs. Weasley made a sound of disgust.

"- is Black's daughter. They both deserve to know! When I think about what could have happened to him that night he ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked him up, I'm prepared to bet he would have been dead before the Ministry found him."

"But he's not dead, he's fine, so what's the point -"

"Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been three weeks, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him. Not even Cassie."

I felt him trying to get through his wife with that one sentence. But Mrs. Weasley scoffed.

"I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after-"

"But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."

"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts. Harry, and Cassie, both need to be on their guard-"

"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry-" Mrs. Weasley was really concerned about Harry.

There was a thud on wood that made me jump. Mr. Weasley must've hit the table.

"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped, The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts… She's at Hogwarts…' Black is deranged Molly, and he wants Harry dead. We don't even know what he wants with Cassie. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power, and he might want Cassie to join him. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that…"

They had a moment of silence. My heart was racing and I started to tiptoe past the parlor door. I almost screamed when I saw Harry was also listening on the conversation.

"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?" Mrs. Weasley sounded stiff.

I flashed my hair at Harry. He jumped at it but he squinted his eyes and I slowly let him see my features. He held a finger to his lips and he held a hand out for me. I hesitated before grabbing it. He squeezed my hand and I appreciated it.

"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around all the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."

"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"

"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards. Nor am I, if it comes to that...but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid."

"If they save Harry-"

"If they save Harry and Cassie then I will never say another word against them." Mr. Weasley said wearily. "It's late, Molly, we better go up…"

Harry pulled me down the passage to the bar. We ducked under the table we were at earlier. Harry grabbed a red bottle from underneath and we waited until we heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's door close.

I pulled Harry up and we both quietly walked up the stairs. I changed myself back to normal and started to chew on the inside of my cheek.

George and Fred were crouching in the shadows of the landing heaving with quiet laughter as I heard angry noises from Percy's and Ron's room.

"We've got it." Fred whispered to Harry as George showed me Percy's badge.

It read Bighead Boy.

I cracked a smile and waited for Harry to come back from Ron's room.

"Are you okay?" George asked, cupping my face.

"I'll be fine. Harry and I are just going to talk." I leaned into his hand.

"I really like that nose piercing." He placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you." I smiled up at him as Harry came out.

"I'll see you in the morning." I got on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss and followed Harry into his room.

When Harry closed his door, I hopped on his bed and he started to pace.

"It explains everything." Harry said.

"Explains what?" I asked.

"Why Fudge had been lenient about my aunt, he was relieved I was fine. He made me promise to stay in Diagon Alley because there were others who could watch me. I'm sure that's why Fudge is sending those Ministry cars tomorrow." Harry said.

"It explains why the Ministry won't tell me if he saw my letter. Because he knows we're in school together and now he wants us both. Either to kill or to turn." I answered dryly.

Harry paused.

"My chances of getting to Hogsmeade are now zero. There's no way they're going to let me leave the safety of the castle until Black is caught." Harry's comment was just as dry.

"I'm so sorry." I really was.

Harry sat down next to me and patted my hand. We sat in silence for a long time. Percy was still shouting next door.

"I am not going to be murdered." Harry suddenly said.

"That's the spirit, dear." His mirror said sleepily.

I blinked at it for a few seconds. My mirror didn't talk.

"And you're not going to the other side." Harry pointed at me.

"I know I'm not, but Mrs. Weasley's-"

"Mrs. Weasley is just overreacting. She'll come to her senses." Harry interrupted me.

I woke up in my room with Ariel kneading my chest.

"I'm up." I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

Harry had sent me off to bed and I still felt horrible for something I couldn't control. My father was coming after the both of us and there was nothing we could do to stop it.

Once I got done getting ready, there was a knock on my door.

"It's open!" I was looking over my Monster Book.

"Are you ready?" It was Hermione who opened my door.

"Just about." As I put my book in my trunk, my hand brushed against its spine and it gave a shiver before trying to escape its bindings again.

'Odd.' I blinked twice before closing my trunk.

Hermione and I got our things downstairs. I sat away from Mrs. Weasley, but Ginny and Hermione made an effort to sit next to me. Mrs. Weasley wasn't pleased about it but she started to tell Hermione and Ginny about love potions.

They were rather giggly about it when Harry and Ron came down the stairs for breakfast. Harry gave me a smile and that helped me feel much better about today. I smiled back.

The rush to get to King's Cross wasn't as crazy as it was last year. Mr. Weasley was kind enough to help my load my stuff in the car. He even let me in first much to the disdain of Mrs. Weasley, but she sat in the second car while Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Percy, sat in the first car with Mr. Weasley and I.

We got to King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare. The workers got all of our luggage onto trolleys and they tipped their hats to Mr. Weasley and were gone. Mr. Weasley kept close to Harry and I as we made our way to the hidden platform for our train.

"Right then," Mr. Weasley glanced around us. "Let's do this in pairs, however I'll go through first with Harry and Cassie."

Mr. Weasley pushed us into the barrier casually and I was relieved to see the scarlet steam engine of the Hogwarts express.

I didn't pay any more attention to who was coming in after us, I just wanted to get away from Mrs. Weasley.

As we said our goodbye's Mrs. Weasley kissed her kids, and Hermione and Harry. We shared a glare before I turned my back on her.

"Harry, Cassie," Mr. Weasley said quietly, "come over here for a moment."

He had waited until his wife was busy handing out lunch to take us to the side.

"There's something I've got to tell you before you leave-" Mr. Weasley started.

"It's all right, Mr. Weasley, we already know." Harry said.

"You know? How could you know?" Mr. Weasley looked taken aback.

"I - er - we heard you and Mrs. Weasley talking last night. I couldn't help hearing. Sorry." Harry answered.

"I was coming in from breathing. I definitely meant to hear you." I shrugged.

"That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out." Mr. Weasley looked anxious.

"No - honestly, it's okay. This way, you haven't broken your word to Fudge and we know what's going on." Harry answered.

"You must be very scared-"

"I'm more annoyed." I sighed.

"I'm not." Harry answered.

Mr. Weasley looked at us in exasperation.

"Really," Harry gave me a small glare. "I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than Voldemort, can he?"

"I'm not going to be easily turned against my best friends just because daddy dearest is out." I shrugged, seeing Mr. Weasley was distressed.

"Harry, Cassie, I knew you were, well, made of stronger stuff than Fudge seems to think, and I'm obviously pleased that you're not scared, but - "

"Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley called. "Arthur what are you doing? It's about to go!"

"They're coming Molly!" Mr. Weasley called back.

He turned to us but sounded worried, "listen I want you to give me your word -"

"- that we'll be good children and stay in the castle?" I interjected.

"Not entirely." Mr. Weasley shook his head. "Swear to me you won't go looking for Black."

Harry took a minute. But I understood what he was trying to get out.

"What?" Harry asked.

The whistle blew.

"I won't go looking for Black." I said as I headed towards the train.

Mr. Weasley let me go but stayed with Harry.

I just really wanted to get on the train and go home.

And here we are. Mrs. Weasley is acting irrationally as we all know. But Mr. Weasley seems to have his head on straight! And Cassie is just ready to be home. Just a heads up, if she doesn't seem to be acting like you expect, just give her some time (me a few more chapters).

Shout out to katie owl and Pamela Hutchins for leaving a review!

katie owl: I've been avoiding reading other stories lately. I don't want to accidentally take another writer's idea and incorporate it into mine. But I feel the frustration! And thank you!

Pamela Hutchins: YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE DEAR! I'll be honest, you have some great ideas and I may run with some or I may not. We'll just have to see!

Shout out to Jensbertino for adding the first and second story to their favorites list!

Shout out to vampireharrypretty for adding this story to your favorites list!