Chapter 12: The Werewolf

Cassie returned to her flat after dinner with Remus and fell back into her usual routine: wake up, go to work, come home, and sleep. She soon realized she was lonely and tired so she immediately wrote to Remus. He offered for her to stay at Hogwarts with him until the end of the term. Once the term was over, he would return to London and stay with Cassie in her flat, until the next school term started. The term was over in a few days, so Cassie eagerly accepted.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

A few days before the exam results came out, Cassie was walking down the corridor to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

"Ms. Potter." A voice said sourly from behind her. Cassie spun around, knowing she recognized the voice.

"Severus. Don't you have some place important to be? Rather than harassing me?"

"It's a shame you're not surrounded by the usual group of Marauders. That's right, two are dead, one's an escaped convict and the other…sadly will be indisposed tonight."

Cassie glared at him, "you always were a pompous arse. How dare you speak about my brother or Remus! You have no right! You of all people!" Cassie turned away from him and entered the classroom, shaking with anger.

"Cassie. Are you alright? Why are you shaking?" asked Remus when she entered the classroom. He moved over to her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Snivellius" She spat angrily. She was flushed and still shaking.

"Ah. Yes, he does have that effect on you." Remus smiled and pulled her further into the room. "Come; see what I confiscated from Harry a few months ago." He walked over to his desk and held up an old, blank piece of parchment. "Remember this?"

"Oh Merlin! Where did he find that? Didn't Filch confiscate that from the infamous Marauders years ago?"

"Yes, he did and I'm still not sure how Harry got a hold of it." Remus tapped at the parchment and murmured, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Remus and Cassie looked on as the map unfolded in front of them. The weary looking man stared at it, watching the tiny dots move about the page. Cassie looked over his shoulder curiously. She had just started to focus on the small dots when suddenly, he shut the map, stared at it, and then opened it again.

"No, it can't be." Remus began to pace behind his desk. "It can't be."

"Can't be what? What are you talking about?" She tried to move over, to look at the map and make sense of the dots and the small banners.

"Cassie, I need you to go back to my room. Stay there. Do not come out, do you understand me?" Cassie stared at her friend, his eyes wide with what looked like fear. He took her arm and started to pull her towards the door.

"Yes, yes. I'll stay. What is going on? Why are you like this?" She was nervous, scared.

"I can't tell you now. Go, Cassie, Go!" Remus grabbed her hand and stormed out of the room. He pulled her into the hallway and let go of her hand. He walked swiftly down the hallway and out of sight. Cassie pondered following him, but decided he would be extremely upset if she followed. I've only see Remus angry once, and that was when he found out I visited Sirius in Azkaban. Not something I'd like to see again. She turned and walked swiftly down the hallway towards his room.

Cassie gave the password and walked into Remus' room. She sat down and waited. She waited until a little after eight.

Cassie began pacing. She kept looking out the window, trying to see if she could see her only remaining friend outside on the lawn. She had no idea where he went and he should be back here. He hadn't… Cassie stopped. "He didn't take his potion!" She grabbed her sweater and flew out the door. Cassie never ran so fast in her life. She ran out the main door and out onto the grounds.

She thought she heard a scream from over by the Whomping Willow. Hurrying over, she saw someone ducking into the tunnel. I didn't know anyone else knew about that tunnel. She gasped. It must be Moony! Cassie ran to the entrance to the tunnel, startled by the face that the branches were not trying to wallop her. She ducked down, trying not to bump her head on the low ceiling.

"Hello" she whispered. "Moony, are you in here?" She crept quietly down the narrow hallway. She reached a doorway, hearing voices arguing within.

"THAT'S NOT TRUE! HE KILLED THEM!!" she heard someone yell. That sounds like Harry! She took a deep breathe and opened the door slightly. Looking into the room, she was met with five startled glares.

"Cassie? I told you to stay in my room!" exclaimed Remus, his mouth open in confusion.

"Rina, what are you doing here?" asked Sirius, his pale grey eyes alight with happiness.

"Aunt Cassie" Harry wondered aloud, a look of confusion plain on his face.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here" asked Ron, wincing in pain.

Hermione just stared.

"What is going on?" Cassie asked, once she had taken a good look around. She looked from Sirius to Remus, trying to determine who to go to. "Sirius, why are you here? What is Snape doing in the corner?"

"He's here Cass. He's right there!" Sirius lifted a hand and pointed a finger towards the spot where Ron was seated. He completely ignored the question about Snape.

"What are you talking about? I'm Ron. Nutters he is!" Ron tried to move, but winced in pain again.

"No not you, your rat!" Sirius moved forward.

"No. He's my rat. He's been in the family for…" Ron started.

"Twelve years, right? That's a long time for a long time for a common garden rat. Did you not hear that the largest part of Peter they ever found was…?" Remus looked at the children.

"A finger." Harry responded. He looked at Ron, his wand held tightly in his hand. "Do you mean…"

"Yes, he cut it off after he blew up the street. He's the one who betrayed your parents. He's the reason!" Sirius yelled.

Cassie stared, she had a general idea what was transpiring, but was altogether confused. "What are you talking about? Surly Peter isn't the rat?"

"Cassie, he is, I saw it on the map. Please, Ron. Hand me Scabbers. If he is truly a rat, this won't hurt him a bit." Moony took Scabbers and Sirius joined him. After a few thrown spells, they managed to get the rat transformed into Peter Pettigrew.

"Peter?" Cassie said quietly. "Peter how could you?" She stared at him, moving closer to Harry.

They argued. Sirius, Remus, Peter and Cassie argued about what happened, why he did what he did.

"He has powers Sirius. Powers you couldn't dream of. What would I have gained by refusing him? What would you have done?" Peter squeaked, he had spent much too long as a rat.

"I would have died. I would have died rather than betray my friends! Just like we would have done for you!" Sirius moved closer to the rat-man. "Together do you think?"

"Yes, I do believe so." Remus said dismally.

Peter dropped to the ground and crawled to the four on-lookers. "Please. I was your pet! I made a good rat!" Ron looked at him, horrified. "I let you sleep in my bed!" He said.

"Sweet girl….you…you won't let them kill me." Hermione pulled her robes away, stepping backwards, looking at the small man horrified also.

"Oh Cassie. Please! You were always so kind to me! Please…" Cassie stared. "Peter you lost my kindness the moment you betrayed James. Step back or I'll kill you myself."

Peter moved away, towards Harry. "Please. You look so much like James..."

"Don't speak to Harry!" Sirius yelled at the same time Cassie yelled "You have no right to speak of James!"

"Peter, surely you must have realized that if Voldemort hadn't killed you, we would." Remus held his wand higher, "Good bye Peter."

The two men moved closer to the small, scared man. They drew their wands, held them up towards his face.

"NO!" Harry yelled. The men looked at the two, Harry looked at his aunt.

"Harry, this…thing is the reason you have no parents! He murdered them."

"I know. Give him to the dementors. If anyone deserves that…he does." Cassie moved back towards Harry, her arm wrapping around him.

"Oh! Oh thank you." Peter wrapped his arms around Harry. "So kind! So much…more than I deserve!"

"Get off me!" Harry pushed him away. "I don't reckon my dad would have wanted his best mates to become murders, just for you." Harry glared at Peter.

"Alright. Stand aside Harry, I'm going to tie him up, and that's all." Remus raised his wand and ropes flew out of the tip, tying Pettigrew up.

They all began their walk to the castle, through the dark tunnel and up the steps out. Cassie moved closer to Sirius, taking his hand lightly. "I missed you," she whispered, squeezing his hand. She looked up at him; his face was dirty, hair infested with insects.

"I missed you too." He smiled, a faint smiled, which was really just in his eyes. His lips barely moved.

Cassie felt him squeeze her hand in response. She smiled and blushed, looking back down to the floor. "I'll leave you to talk to Harry."

Cassie held back, waiting for Moony to catch up. When he did (with Ron and Peter alongside) she took his hand.

"I'm sorry. I know I should have stayed in your room." Cassie smiled, hoping for forgiveness.

"Yes, you should have," he smiled back. "But I know your insatiable taste for adventure. It's okay, I forgive you. Come on, let's get out of here." Cassie walked back up to where Sirius and Harry were. She listened, listening to them talk. "I understand, I just thought I'd…" she heard Sirius trail off. What are they talking about?

"Are you insane? Of course I want to leave the Dursley's! Have you got a house? When can I move in?" Harry sounded so excited. Good. We need to get him out of that place!

They all emerged from the tunnel and Cassie looked up. The moon was high in the sky. "Remus!" She called, looking back at him. "SIRIUS!" She shrieked as she looked back into the sky. "He didn't take his potion!"

Sirius glanced at her. "Run" he whispered. "Run now!" He transformed into the large, black, bear-like dog as Cassie tried to gather the children. Cassie grabbed Hermione as Peter transformed and disappeared. Sirius yelped and Cassie saw Harry run off after him.

"Harry! No!" she screamed into the darkness that had enveloped them all.

Together, Cassie, Ron and Hermione sat in the dark, waiting for something to happen.