Chapter 6

A/N: Hello all :) Another update and I am proud of myself for keeping up on it ! :) Let me know what you think, any reviews make my days ten times brighter.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter.

"Look what I dug out!" Lily exclaimed, throwing down a thick, dusty book onto the kitchen table. The Marauders jolted with her sudden presence, snapped their heads up from the table surface. Sirius going as far as falling off his chair and onto the cold ground of the Burrow.

The Marauders roared with laughter, causing Sirius to give them all dirty looks.

"Very funny, and you call yourself my mates." Sirius grumbled, forcing himself to finish off his cold tea with a grimace.

James laughed him off before turning his attention back to his beautiful girlfriend.

"What do you got there, Lilylove?" James asked lovingly, grabbing her hips and moving her closer. Lily giggled her away out of his embrace and took the spot beside Remus.

"Enough of that James, I found my old yearbook from fourth year! Check it out, I can't believe we didn't see it before!" Lily exclaimed, whipping through the pages of the book. Lily stopped when she reached a certain page and turned it around for the others to see. There under Morris, Cassie, was Cas' old self staring back unsure at them.

The girl in the picture was someone familiar but a stranger to the group. She had short, curly brown hair and dark bags under her eyes. You could see that this picture was taken after the Christmas ball incident due to her red and watery eyes. Sirius looked away, stomach full of guilt and started to pick at his nails. He couldn't understand why he did what he did when he was younger, she had literally done nothing to him.

Remus stared in pity and felt Sirius stiffen beside him. The Marauders were silent as they gazed upon the girl they continually tortured in school. Their shame was shown greatly in their silence and Lily felt herself swell with pride of her boys. Sure, they were bullies in school, too arrogant to see the mistake in their ways. But the men in front of her today are not the same boys who bullied people back at Hogwarts. These boys had grown into respectable and kind men that anyone would love to know.

"You know, I was thinking of bringing back that hair cut. What do you guys think?" Cas joked from the door frame. Their heads snapped up and Cas smirked before grabbing the yearbook from them. An awkward moment followed as Cas looked at her former self, her quote making her smile.

'What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us - Henry Haskins.' Cas smiled and nodded along with it, still agreeing with the quote chosen. Cas suddenly became aware to the awkward silence around her and she quickly flipped to a picture of the marauders lounging by the lake.

"Now, I don't want to start anything here. But damn, Remus your hair here rivals mine." Cas joked, putting the yearbook back on the table, making the group laugh along.

"Whoa, low blow. We can't all have your mushroom cut Cas. That alone is your forte." Remus joked, pushing away the picture of his flat locks.

Cas smiled and nodded.

"It is true, it is one of my many, many talents." Cas smiled, moving toward the kitchen. Molly was there and had started to pull food out of the fridge to make breakfast.

"Need any help Molly?" Cas asked nicely, grabbing the eggs from Molly's full arms.

"If you don't mind dear, that would be great! We have a large crowd this morning, best be prepared for more than less!" Molly tittered, causing Cas to smile.

Cas started on the eggs while Molly fried the bacon in silence. As she waited for the eggs to start crackling Cas eyed the paper beside her.

"I think I'm going to start looking for a new place." Cas stated, flipping to the real estate section of the Prophet.

"Not enjoying your stay here Cassie?" Molly joked, flipping the bacon over. The smell and sound of sizzling bacon made Cas' stomach growl loudly.

"Of course not. I just can't keep mooching off of you and your hospitality! A new place would be good for me Molly, you know that." Cas reminded her, turning her attention back to the eggs.

"You know we don't mind. But I suppose you're right, I would want my own privacy too. If it wasn't for Arthur I'd still be in my cozy one bedroom apartment in London." Molly smiled and I laughed, finding it hard to picture Molly without her Arthur.

"Yeah well, I look forward to having my own space again. Especially since I won't be undercover for once and can actually put personal items in the place!" Cas laughed, causing Molly to nod her head in agreement. The eggs were done so Cas slid them on a larger plate and started on the toast.

"So anyone in particular in your love life Cassie?" Molly started, making Cas choke on her own saliva.

"As in dating? Well Molly, I think now is not the time to get involved. Wouldn't it seem crazy to start dating when the world around us is falling apart?" Cas questioned, zapping her hand on the toaster in front of her. Cas sucked on her finger to try and calm the burning sensation as Molly tsked at her.

"Wouldn't that make you want someone special even more? Knowing that today could be your last day on earth?" Molly asked, before sliding the bacon onto a plate and setting it on the table for the meeting.

Cas sighed and pushed herself against the counter. She supposed that Molly was right in a sense, was it really that foolish to want love when you're surrounded by death. Cas wiped her face roughly and started to fill a glass of water, she raised the cold side to her face and sighed as it cooled her pulse.

Now was not the time to be thinking of dating, or even sex. Although she did find herself feeling lonely now that she was done with undercover work. But there was still a war out there and people that needed to be defeated. That wouldn't be accomplished with her throwing her cat around to everyone.

Cas smirked at her choice of words and joined the rest for the meeting, bringing the plate of eggs to the table. Cas slid in beside Remus who gave her the reassuring nod she needed before they launched into the information they found the other night.

Dumbledore stood after Cas was done and thanked her. Cas nodded stiffly at him and shifted her gaze to the table in front of her, clenching her hands tightly to avoid giving him attitude.

"Disturbing news indeed, thank you Cas and Remus for putting your life at risk for the Order." Dumbledore continued, making Cas cringe at the thought. Her head snapped up but after a warning glance from Moody she bit her tongue and continued staring at her hands. Remus patted them once, causing her to freeze and stare up at him. He nodded and she finally let go of the breath she was holding.

"Now, according to your information the first task that is demanded upon these pureblooded children is suppose to take place in two weeks. I will need you all to be on the case, to insure no one is injured on our side. We cannot afford to lose any of you or any muggles. I expect all of you to be on your best behaviour and to keep each other and yourself safe." Dumbledore concluded, as we were all about to rise, Moody spoke up roughly.

"Ye hear that? That means no one is to play the hero." Moody grumbled sternly, staring directly at me.

Two Weeks Later

CAS POV

"CAS! STOP BEING THE BLOODY HERO AND WATCH YER BACK!" Moody roared, stunning the Death Eater that was sneaking up behind me. I flinched and turned my attention back to the fight, stunning two Death Eaters as I ran.

The plan had slipped up somehow and everything was chaos. We were all trying to evacuate the muggles, but the uncertainty of the new Death Eaters was proving harder to counter than expected. Mostly since their actions were unknown and random. I sighed in frustration, crouching behind a crumbled roof as I searched for more of the Order, there had to be more than just Moody and I out here.

I spotted Lily's red hair flash behind a building and I started racing after her, dodging flashes as I went. I sent back a couple stunners and smirked as I heard the collapse of their bodies. I sprinted to where Lily was last seen and saw her cornered by four other Death Eaters. They were raising their wands as I stepped into the alley, I coughed politely and as soon as they turned towards me I started firing spells, ducking as they shot spells back. The distraction was enough to allow Lily to fire back a couple and we laughed as the Death Eaters dropped around us, their bodies bounded tightly by leather cord.

"Good job Ging!" I joked, the smile soon slid off my face as Lily's body fell and started to convulse on the ground. Her screams split the night and I whipped around to see a hooded figure, using the Cruciatus curse on her. A sound rippled from my mouth in anger an I tackled the Death Eater out of the alley way, feeling relief as I heard Lily's screams stop. I straddled the Death Eater and started to punch the living daylights out of him, my wand forgotten on the ground beside me.

I heard people shouting my name, but all I saw was red. I laid all my problems into this Death Eater's face and refused to stop. It wasn't until large arms gripped me under the arms and roughly dragged me off the Death Eater did I realize I was in trouble.

"Cas! They need to be alive to be questioned!" Moody barked, pushing me back against the wall, just as a curse flew past the spot where I had previously been.

"Stop trying to do it all, you won't make it out alive that way!" Moody muttered, before pushing off me and hobbling away. I sighed and pushed away from the wall, joining the battle at full force.

"LUPIN, CLEAR OUT THAT CAFE! CHECK THE BACK KITCHEN FOR MUGGLES!" I barked in a very Moody like fashion before pushing forward to the centre of the town square. Lights flashing left and right, the battle increasing as each person fell. I looked around and saw Peter quivering by one of the shops' doors. I crept towards him and laid a hand on his shoulder, making Peter flip around and let out a cry of anguish. I smirked and stopped his shaking hand.

"You can handle this Pettigrew, you belong here. Now show me some of that Gryffindor courage and keep close to my side." I stated simply, Peter nodded and stuck to my side as I crept out from the shop and checked around the corner. Two Death Eaters torturing muggles stood there laughing and I pushed forward, my rage pouring out of my pores.

I snuck up behind them and fired two stunning spells, knocking the first Death Eater on the ground. The second turned towards me and smirked before apparating. I stood there shocked, wondering why he didn't fight back. It wasn't until I heard his bone chilling laughter that I understood. Their leader had arrived.

"Well who do we have here? A bunch of blood traitors protecting muggles, how typical." The cold voice rose up from the smoke surrounding the town square, people gripped their ears tightly but I stood there tall. I strode forward, whipping my wand out as I walked.

I walked forward until I was close enough to see the one they call "Voldemort". I ducked behind the stone bench and waited until the smoke cleared. What I saw shocked me. He had pale white skin, so white it was almost translucent. His eyes were more like slits and were scarlet red, gleaming with hatred and cockiness. A shudder of fear flew through my body and I felt vomit creep up my throat. I chocked it down and tried to stay focused.

I saw Moody across the court and nodded at him, sending hand signals to him to try and figure out our next course of action. This wasn't need when a struggling figure was brought to kneel in front of Voldemort. My body stiffen and I felt a single bead of sweat drip down my forehead. It was James.

James was pushed down by the four Death Eaters that held him and he rose his head proudly, staring at Death right in the face. I inhaled deeply, and held my breath, anticipating his next move.

"Potter I assume? Now, I will ask you once and once only. Join my Death Eaters and you will be spared, help us clean the world of such filth. Do you accept?" Voldemort's voice was a lot lighter than I expected, and it carried across the court yard. James seemed to be struggling with a sentence before he finally spat out a huge wad of spit onto Voldemort's robes.

The Death Eater to James' right punched James in the gut, causing Lily to scream and run out from protection. I growled at her stupidity and watched as she got closer to the scene.

"JAMES! Leave him alone!" Lily ordered, sending a spell at Voldemort. Voldemort easily deflected it and laughed as Lily was taken down with the Cruciatus curse. Lily's screams caused James to start to act, spelling out their relationship for Voldemort to feed off of.

I nodded at Moody and we moved in. I took down the Death Eaters on the left surrounding Voldemort in a fluent motion, causing the curse to be lifted and for Voldemort's snake like eyes to flash to me.

I rolled as he sent a curse and James tucked out of the way to rush to Lily's side. I jumped over the bodies stunned in front of me and getting closer to Voldemort.

"And who is this?" Voldemort sneered, turning his wand back on me. I stared at him and watched as Lily and James snuck up behind him. Sensing that the tables had turned on him, Voldemort let out a roar of rage. His spell blasted forward, throwing everyone back several feet. I felt my body smash against the doorframe of a local bakery and heard the crack of my ribs. I watched as Voldemort apparated and I sighed in frustration, at least we had gotten out the majority of the muggles. I laid there breathing deeply, my breath coming out in short gasps. I gripped my chest as I tried to inhale, no oxygen entered my body and I started to panic.

The world started to swirl as less and less oxygen entered my body. I collapsed and tried to get back up, but the world was pressing down on me. The pressure pushed me down further into the darkness. The warm and comforting darkness that would take all the pains of the world away from me and allow me to see my parents again. I smiled as I felt the warmness spread across my body, fully understanding where I was going next. My parents.

My eyes snapped back open at the thought. Their murderer was still alive and torturing innocent people. Ripping apart families just like mine. That thought alone gave me the strength to fight back. I heard footsteps running towards me and my name being called out. My body slumped into the form of this angel and all of a sudden everything was okay. My guardian angel had me now.

Sirius POV

"CAS. Cassie! Open your eyes, open them right now!" I jostled Cas as I ran, trying to get her to Moody as soon as possible.

Moody was erasing the memories of the ones Cas had saved earlier when I found him. One look at me carrying Cas made his eyes bulge before taking over as the protective father. He grabbed her from me and apparated the moment she left my arms. My body slumped when he left, the sound of the previous battle still booming in my ears.

My body was still in shock of the realness of the muggle raid, people were dying out there and it was our job to stop them. Really, I don't know how the Order had managed before Cas. She literally ran the show today and it made me feel completely useless. I continued Moody's job of altering the muggles' memory before apparating back to the Burrow to report on the raid.

I staggered a bit when I landed, still pretty rough from the battle. Molly came rushing towards me and held me steady as I caught my balance.

"Thanks Molls, I'm a tad bit knackered from earlier." I admitted, sitting down on the nearest chair. The image of Cas' broken frame still dancing in my mind.

"Where is everyone? Only Remus and Peter are here!" Molly asked worried. She grabbed me a glass of gin and slid it toward me on the counter. I grabbed it and nodded my thanks before taking a large gulp, finishing off the glass. Molly topped it off and waited for me to finish to hear the news.

"I am guessing James' took Lily to St. Mungos, since Lily was put under the Cruciatus curse for a bit. The rest are just cleaning up the town and returning the buildings back to their normal state and Moody took Cas to St. Mungos as well since she was knocked out pretty bad." I stated casually, trying not to think of any damage done to my friends. Or whatever Cas was.

"Dear Merlin. I hope they pull out of this alright. The lasting effects of the Cruciatus curse is more mental than physical." Molly stated sadly, shaking her head. Molly started cleaning an already clean table as she stroked her belly softly with the back of her hand.

"They'll be alright loves. Daddy will be home soon." Molly murmured, directing the conversation to her overgrown belly. Molly smiled once more as the kicking of her babies calmed her down.

I looked on with slight jealously. Molly and Arthur were soul mates and although I've never wanted that kind of relationship I did envy their support. I sighed and rubbed my face, messing up my sweaty hair, wondering how Cas and Lily were doing.

General POV

A Day Later

Sirius paced the house waiting for more news on Cas. Lily was released today and was back at the Burrow, resting in one of the spare bedrooms. But Cas was still unconscious. Finally he couldn't take it anymore and apparated to St. Mungos. He snuck past the front desk and strode through the side doors with purpose. Moody had visited earlier and told the Order what section of St. Mungos Cas was in, now it was all about finding the right room.

Finding the right room wasn't as hard as Sirius thought, especially since Cas seemed to be awake and arguing quite loudly with Moody. Sirius crept up and was able to catch the end of their conversation,

"I'M A GROWN WOMAN NOW MOODY, I DON'T NEED YOU BABYING ME! I can handle myself!" Cas roared, throwing one of her pillows at Moody. Moody pushed it off to the side and stepped forward, coming back with just as much aggression.

"There you go again, the fight is just proof of it! Biting off more than you can chew!" Moody yelled, sending shivers of fear through my body. When Moody yelled, pain was known to come. Sirius has learnt this the hard way back in training camp for the Auror program.

"I got everyone out! I thought that's what the Order is all about? Or do we not need members anymore?" Cas snapped back, her voice lowering so Sirius had to press his ear to the door to hear what Moody said next.

"You don't need to save everyone Cassie. Saving them won't bring back Evelyn." Moody muttered in a voice that Sirius has never heard out of Moody's mouth, a voice of kindness.

Sirius froze as he waited for her to explain who Evelyn is, but no such explanation came. He heard sniffling and looked through the door to see Cas wiping her face as more tears fell down.

"I froze, that was the first and last time I will ever feel weak again. I could've saved her." Cas muttered, shaking her head in disbelief, her left hand fingering her locket.

Moody sighed and moved to sit on the edge of her bed, the bed squeaked from the impact and all was silent. Sirius continued to watch as Moody grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.

"I forgave you and myself long ago, it is time for you to forgive yourself." Moody grumbled, causing Cas to cry harder.

Sirius crept away from the room, feeling like he was hearing something he wasn't suppose to know. Sirius shook his head, trying to understand what he was feeling. On the one hand he was happy that Cas was safe, but on the other he was curious. Who was Evelyn and why did it effect Cas and Moody so intensely?

A/N: Well there it is! :) Let me know what you think ! Reviews please!