Cassandra and Harry continued to exchange letters during the weeks leading to Hogwarts. By the time September 1st arrived, Cassandra felt as though she had known Harry her entire life. She felt a kin-menship with the scrawny Savior. Neither of them previously wanted by the people who were supposed to care for them. Though something odd did happen the day after Cassandra and the Pendragon's had gotten back from Diagon Alley.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Flashback ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cassandra was playing with her new cat, Aria, a beautiful calico kitten her 'parents' had gotten her the day. Cassandra was absolutely smitten with the feline. Little Aria had her mistress wrapped her tiny claw and she knew it. She heard a small 'pop' and looked up to see the family elf, Gypsy. The elf had raised her and treated her as her own. Cassandra would do anything for the elf.

"Mistress Cassie, Master and Mistress would like to see yous in Master's study."

Cassandra sighed and got to her feet.

"Thank you, Gypsy. Let them know I'm on my way."

Gypsy bowed before disappearing with another 'pop'. Aria mewled pitifully, causing Cassandra to gather the little kitten in her arms and coo.

"You can come with me, little one." she crooned. The kitten's sandpaper tongue poked out of her mouth and licked the hand scratching her raw as Cassie walked through the Manor to the study. She knocked on the oak door and waited until she heard her 'father's' soft 'enter'. She opened the door and slipped inside, closing the door behind her. Lord and Lady Pendragon sat on the love seat to the left of Lord Pendragon's desk. She stepped further into the room.

"You wished to see me, my Lord and Lady?" she asked respectfully. She saw them wince and frowned briefly before wiping the expression from her face. Lord Pendragon nodded and gestured to the arm chair in front of them. A chair that was usually behind his desk.

"Take a seat, Cassandra, we need to talk."

Puzzled, she did as she was told.

"Talk?"

Lady Pendragon nodded.

"Yes, talk. Cassandra, we haven't been the best parents to you - we know that. We've been horrible, and for that we apologize. I know it isn't enough, but we would like to make the past ten years up to you. We'd like become the parents we should have been all along. That is- if you'll let us?" she asked hesitantly. Cassandra stared at the two in shock. They wanted to care for her now of all times? After ten years of telling how they should never have taken her in? Telling her that she would one day be just like her mother? That she should never have been born? Why? Why now? Then she remembered the letter she had sent to Lady Longbottom. Had they seen it? Maybe that was the cause of this sudden change in attitude? She blanked her face.

"Did you see my letter? Is that why you're doing this?" she demanded. Lady Pendragon frowned.

"What letter, Cassandra?"

"The letter I sent to Lady Longbottom, asking if she would accept an Oath of loyalty and servitude as a way to make amends for why my parents did to her son and daughter-in-law." Cassandra answered quietly. Lord Pendragon was immediately on his feet, stopping and kneeling before her. He took her chin gently and forced her to meet his eye.

"She will not accept."

The girl's face fell.

"Why not?" she whispered brokenly, her voice laced with pain. Anthony sighed.

"It's nothing to do with you, Cassandra. I'm not going to lie to you. We had the same idea a year ago. Augusta was furious. Told us we had no right forcing an innocent child into paying for her parents' actions. She was right. It was her Howler that made us see sense. The way we treated you was wrong, and we want to make up for our actions. You have done nothing wrong, yet we treated you like the Death Eater your mother was. You have become a wonderful, kind, lovely young girl that any parent would be proud of, and we know that we had no hand in it. You became the child you are today because you were determined to prove that you aren't your mother or father, but you shouldn't have. We should have raised you like the daughter we claimed you as. Cassandra - Cassie - we'd like to make it up to you. Please let us."

She bit her lip in a rare show of emotion, her eyes wide.

"I-I need to think. I don't know what to do…" she answered fearfully. Anthony nodded sadly.

"Take all the time you need, but could you do something for us?"

She cocked her head to show she was listening, staring down at Aria and scratching her ears, trying to gather her thoughts.

"I know you probably don't feel comfortable calling us 'Mum and Dad' but we would be happy if you called us Charlotte and Anthony."

She nodded, still petting her kitten, who was butting her head against her hand. She stiffened when Anthony's arms wrapped around her, but relaxed into the hug after a few minutes. When he finally released her, he whispered in her ear.

"Think about it."

She nodded and left the room quickly. She had a lot to think about.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ End Flash back ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

True to her 'father's' word, she had shortly gotten a letter politely refusing her offer and telling her that her parent's actions weren't her fault and that she didn't blame Cassandra in the slightest. Neither, apparently, did Neville, her grandson, who soon began corresponding with her as well. Then she had introduced him to Harry via owl post and now the three were pen pals and had plans to meet on the Platform so they could board the train together and Harry and Cassandra could meet Neville in person. She couldn't wait to see them. She now had to friends who knew who she was and what her parents had done and they didn't care! And one of them was the son of two of their victims! She had even agreed to give Charlotte and Anthony a chance, much to their joy. The two had spent the last month spending as much time with her as possible, calling her pet names and just getting to know the little girl they had hurt so much. As Cassandra contemplated how much her life had changed since meeting Harry, her eyes widened as she realized that she hadn't told Charlotte or Anthony about Harry and Neville. She ran downstairs, where the two were relaxing in the parlor, stopping in the door to catch her breath, she had been on the fourth floor, after all. Charlotte and Anthony looked up at the sound of their daughter's heavy breathing, Charlotte closing the book she was reading and Anthony putting away his quill.

"Cassie, sweetheart, are you okay?"

Cassandra nodded, still panting.

"Just… wanted… to tell… you something." she answered. Anthony raised a brow.

"And it was so important that you felt the need to run down here from the fourth floor?" he asked teasingly. She blushed and stuck her tongue out at him, causing him to laugh. He was glad his daughter was comfortable enough with them to act childishly around them.

"I wanted to tell you about my friends Harry and Neville." she huffed. Charlotte smiled and patted the cushion next to her. Cassie went over and sat next to her. Charlotte fought back a happy squeal when her little girl snuggled into her.

"How did you meet them, darling?" she asked warmly. Cassie smiled shyly.

"I met Harry in Flourish and Blotts'. Neville is Lady Longbottom's grandson. I haven't really met him yet, but we've exchanged letters and he doesn't care about the Lestranges!" she told them happily. The two beamed.

"That's terrific, darling!" Charlotte exclaimed, "Who is Harry?"

She bit her lip and looked down.

"Harry Potter." she admitted quietly. Charlotte and Anthony exchanged surprised looks, Charlotte hugging her daughter tightly.

"That's great news darling. It shows that he's open minded and won't judge you like everyone else has." Anthony finally said. The like we have went unsaid. Cassandra looked up in surprise, beaming when she realized that he meant it and wasn't just saying it as a platitude. Then she happily went on to tell them all about her two friends, leaving out anything she felt they wouldn't want her to tell them. Charlotte and Anthony listened gladly, thrilled to see their daughter so happy.

So, what do you think? Is she getting too close too early? Is a month enough time to become this close?