A/N: So. I have clearly sucked at updating. I find it hard to write, and when I force it I end of deleting everything I wrote because that's how it reads, it's forced. So I have decided to be a mature writer, and write multiple chapters a head of time, and begin posting on a semi regular basis Hope you guys enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hp.
Xx
Cas Morris liked to believe she was a careful person. This thought however, especially after that day's events, was questioned by the amount of people who told her to be careful on her mission. When Moody told her to be careful, she said she would. When Sirius told her to be careful, she again said she would. But when the rest of the Order started telling her to be careful, including PETER? She began to wonder if people believed her to be reckless. And after today's events, she would have to agree to a certain extent. But for the most part, Cas believed herself to be a fairly careful person most of the time, if not all of the time. One thing she was not, however, was a very patient woman. Over the course of her mission, this would prove to be an issue not once, but twice. The first happened on her first day of employment, although she may not have realized it at the time.
She arrived early, which was according to her initial plans, to her job interview at the Hallow pub. Now, the Hallow pub was not an ordinary pub. Not only was it a magical pub located with an almost untraceable address, it was frequented by not only wizards, but fugitives and rumour had it, werewolves. It was also rumoured that if Voldemort wanted to recruit said werewolves and fugitives, the Hallow pub would be an excellent place to send recruiters. This is what brought Remus and Cas there in the first place. On Dumbledore's and Moody's orders they were to enter the Hallow as regulars, Remus as a werewolf, a positon that wasn't too hard for him seeing as how he was already a werewolf, and Cas as a bar wrench (Sirius's words, not hers). Although Cas may have disagreed with Dumbledore's ideas in the past, she would come to realize that his gut feelings were almost always correct. Not only would she meet a recruiter from Voldemort, but said recruiter would attempt to not only recruit her but attempt to bed her as well, but more of that later on.
Now, as mentioned Cas arrived early for her job interview. What she did not account for was that very day, her first shift, she would make an enemy that would cause issues not once, but twice in the future. It all started when she was told she could have the job, or rather Eva, could have the job at the Hallow if she could survive the day. Apparently the last 'bar wrench' didn't even last an hour, at least this is the way the other 'bar wrench', Amelia, reported things.
"Better watch that one." Amelia interrupted, causing Cas to glance up from the glass she was drying.
"Oh yeah? Why is that?" Cas, or rather Eva, scoffed sizing up the new man who had just walked into the pub.
"Rumour has it, he's a werewolf." Amelia whispered, her eyes wide.
"Are you taking the micky? Are they not all werewolves?" Cas asked, causing Amelia to giggle.
No sooner had she asked that than the man in question took a seat at the bar, causing the two witches to cease their conversation.
"What's this now? Don't stop your conversations on account of little old me." The man smirked, brushing his windswept hair out of his face.
"Would never dream of it Roger." Amelia flirted, sliding a shot glass toward the man called Roger.
"What will that be then, Roger was it?" Cas asked, moving to the liquor bottles.
"Make that fire whiskey, doll." Roger winked, tracing the lip of his empty shot glass.
"The name's Eva actually, common mistake really." Cas smirked, pouring the fire whiskey into Rogers glass.
"I mean the two sound so familiar, can you really blame a bloke for mispronouncing it?" Roger smirked, causing Cas to shake her head.
"You're a wild one aren't you." Cas flirted, leaning on the bar.
"You don't know the half of it. You may want to be careful there, doll. This bar isn't made for white bread like you." Roger hinted, taking his shot.
"Haven't a clue what you're on about mate. And one could say the same about you, snowflake" Cas stated, playing oblivious.
"Oy! Wench. Better watch your words. Should've seen what good ol' Roger did to the last girl who worked here. Had her crying within the first thirty minutes of her shift!" A new voice exclaimed, followed by a man sliding into the bar stool beside Roger.
"Well, I reckon it has been a couple hours now. How's that for breaking a record. Must be going soft now Roger." Cas joked, serving the new man.
"Oy. Watch who you're talking to. We don't take kindly to strangers causing issues around here." The man muttered, suddenly aggressive.
"Noted. And you are?" Cas asked bewildered, the man had some of the worst mood swings Cas has ever seen.
"None of your business bird. Just keep your nose out of things around here and you should be just fine. I hope you last though, that arse on you. What it does to an honest man." The man whistled, craning his neck to get a better view of Cas's ass.
"Hope you don't mean yourself?" Cas retorted, unable to stop herself.
"I've had just about enough of you bird. Watch yourself." The man snapped, pushing himself away from the bar angrily.
"Well, that could've gone better." Cas muttered to herself, retreating to the back room for more butter beer, Amelia trailing closely on her heels.
"Got that right! You shouldn't be messing with Reginald like that, he is one nasty bloke. As for Roger, he is a weird cat that one. Showed up about two weeks ago, gave that old waitress a hard time, caused her to quit and hasn't left since! I've tried every shift to get him to the back rooms, but the bloke won't budge!" Amelia huffed, sitting roughly on a crate of butter beer.
"Up." Cas demanded, gesturing to the crate Amelia had just sat on.
"I am not scared of that prat, especially if his name is Reginald? The man is all talk, honestly. Blokes think they can flex some muscles, spout some aggressive bullshit and have us in the palm of their hands in no time. However, they don't actually act on it, too big of pussies for that." Cas retorted, grunting slightly as she slid the case to the front.
"Most maybe, but that Reginald. I don't know, he gives me the creeps." Amelia continued, following Cas once again.
"Doesn't seem to be too lovely right?" Cas agreed, stocking the shelf in front of her before something clicked.
"Hold on. What do you mean about the back rooms?" Cas asked, standing up to get a better view of Amelia.
Amelia blushed, looked around and then beckoned Cas closer.
"It's not technically part of the job. But if you were ever looking for a couple extra galleons, one may advise you to offer up the back room and twenty minutes to some customers. If you get what I am saying." Amelia blushed, then giggling loudly drawing the attention of all the males in the pub.
"Wait, you don't mean? Like.. Sex?" Cas whispered seriously, grabbing Amelia's wrist.
"Oy! Hands off, you prude. Don't give me that tone miss goody two shoes. I don't think of it as sex really, just giving companionship to those who are lonely." Amelia laughed, removing her arm from Cas's grip.
"Merlin." Cas breathed, allowing the news to wash over her.
"And besides, if you get the right guy out back, he may just have some connections or information for you. With, you know, the Dark Lord?" Amelia whispered, shifting her eyes around the pub to see who was listening.
"The Dark Lord? You have got to be kidding me. Why would you want any information about him?" Cas asked, her heart beating. There was no way she would get information like this so easily, it had been her first shift for Merlin's sake! No one was that good.
"Oh, just forget I said anything." Amelia smiled, shaking herself out of it. She acted like she hadn't meant to say anything, although Cas wasn't all too sure. It almost seemed like a test.
"You're a wild one, aren't you?" Cas laughed, shaking her head and returning to her duties.
As mentioned, Cas believed she was a careful witch. What she also was proud of, was the fact that she could tell when someone was trying to test her. If her gut was right, which it usually was, she was just tested to see if she had alternative motives for being a the Hallow. A test, she had hopefully passed. Amelia had returned to her work and Cas shot a look out of the corner of her eye. One thing was certain though, that Amelia was more than she let on. She clearly wasn't all smiles and giggles as she pretended to be. Cas would have to watch her back with that one, push too hard or ask the wrong question and Cas could find herself on the wrong side of a wand.
Sighing, Cas got back to work putting Reginald, the back room and Amelia out of her thoughts for the time being.
Xx
"This one here thinks she's tough shit."
Cas's head snapped up, how did she know this was about her? Looking up, she saw Reginald from earlier, accompanied by Roger and a new man.
The man in question had scruffy grey hair along with a scruffy grey beard, and piercing yellow eyes. His finger nails needed a good clean, along with the rest of his persons, and he was wearing an ugly smile on his face sizing Cas up from the opposite side of the bar.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" Cas asked, forcing her legs to walk closer to the three men.
"Yeah, how much for the backroom?" Reginald smirked, causing the other two men to laugh.
"Now! You leave her alone! You talk about Roger scaring off the last girl, but from what I heard you blokes followed her home that night and messed with her!" Amelia defended, appearing by Cas' side the moment she heard Reginald's voice.
"Oh c'mon on Amelia darling, you know we were just toying with the lady." Reginald laughed loudly, causing the bar to become silent.
"Toying with her huh? You followed her home Reg. How is that toying?" Amelia smirked, serving him a smoking glass, shaking her head as if his actions were harmless.
"She should've taken it as flattery is all I'm saying. I don't do that for just anyone." Reginald winked, cheersing the laughing men around him.
"And you wonder why you're single." Cas muttered to herself, turning to restock the bar fridge.
"What's that blondie? Think you know something about me you want to share with the class?" Reginald sneered, overhearing Cas and again showing his lack of restraint to mood swings.
"I'm sorry, let me say it slower for you. And you wonder why you're single." Cas repeated, taking an excruciating long time to pronounce each word.
"Now you listen here bird, and you listen good. You will regret ever speaking that way to me. I'll make sure of it." Reginald snarled, standing up and pointing aggressively at Cas.
She would.
"I don't think I will. Now, if you ever speak to me that way again, I will make sure you regret ever setting eyes on me." Cas retorted, her anger getting the best of her. She has been spending way too much time with that Black.
"Better watch it Reg! She will eat you alive. You got wolf in you? Do you want to?" A man from a nearby table jeered, causing the pub to break out in laughter, successfully diffusing the tension.
"This isn't over." Reginald glared before stomping out of the pub. Roger smiled quietly before walking over to join the man who had yelled.
Cas laughed and walked into the back room where she found Amelia.
"What is wrong with you! What did I just tell you? Don't be getting on Reginald's bad side!" Amelia scolded, her face slightly pale.
"I can handle myself. The man is all talk." Cas responded, her stomach doing flip flops.
He wasn't.
Xx
"Well, you survived the shift. I suppose you can have the job if you want it." Charles, the owner of the Hallow, muttered tonelessly before walking away.
"I do!" Cas yelled, smiling slightly to herself. Step one complete. Step two, get home without being followed.
Although her and Remus were sharing a flat, they thought it best not to flaunt that they knew each other outside of the pub. To do so, they would have to be extra careful, a trait that Cas believed she had, and only apparate to the flat. Never within minutes of each other. It was for this reason that Cas had to walk a couple blocks away from the Hallow, to an alley way where it was deemed safe for apparition. Remus, having left twenty minutes before Cas, was to apparate from a different spot, as to avoid suspicion.
Later, Cas would blame her overwhelming thoughts of her day to not realize she was about to run into a large werewolf. However, the fact that she may be a bit reckless may have something to do with it instead.
Walking around the corner, Cas ran full speed into a very large man. Backing away, Cas looked up into the eyes of Roger.
"I thought you left earlier?" Cas asked sucpiously, taking a step away from Roger.
"Had to come back didn't I? You had to go and make enemies with all the men in the pub! Honestly Cas, did you really think they wouldn't try anything the moment you left? How could you be so reckless!" Roger, or rather Remus, exclaimed, clearly annoyed with Cas' earlier actions.
"Whatever Rem! That Reginald bloke is all talk, doesn't have the lady balls to follow through with shit. Why are you in my apparition spot? You're going to get us caught!" Cas scolded, pushing Remus off to the side only to be grabbed by Remus again and pushed behind a large dumpster.
"Oy! What's your prob-" Cas was silenced by Remus' hand covering her mouth.
It was just in time too, as a moment later footsteps could be heard approaching the alleyway.
"Which way did that little bitch go?" A voice asked angrily, sending a box flying.
"Reg, calm down. We will find her; she couldn't have gone too far. Let's check behind the pub!" A second voice reasoned, successfully pulling Reginald away from the alleyway.
"Just all talk ya?" Remus muttered, finally releasing Cas' mouth.
"Shove off Lupin, let's go home. I smell like butter beer, and not in the way that I want to smell like butter beer." Cas muttered before turning on the spot.
Landing in the middle of their flat, Cas had a couple seconds alone before Remus came. In those seconds she allowed herself to react to what had just happened. Wishing she had the ability to keep her mouth shut and her anger down, Cas realized the full extent of her mistakes today. Reginald, it appeared, did not take kindly to aggression or woman dominance, as the last group of death eaters Cas worked with did.
'Maybe because they weren't death eaters?' Cas thought to herself, pacing slightly. 'Maybe it is because they have no one controlling them, no Dark Daddy to keep them in line and make them vulnerable to intimidation.'
With this thought, Cas realized she had to change her tactics, this was not the same as previous missions. These men were not easily scared, they would have to be manipulated a different way. A more complex way. And Cas would have to fix her attitude if she didn't want to end up in a body bag by the end of the week.
Things would be fine too, if Cas fully followed her advice. If she was indeed a careful woman, things wouldn't turn out the way they did. But if one thing wasn't already completely obvious. Cas was not a careful woman.
Remus appeared suddenly, bringing Cas from her monologue.
"Figure your shit out then?" Remus asked, removing his Roger disguise and returning his eyes to his normal shade of kindness and green.
"I get it, I fucked up okay? I need to do something to make them think they can't mess with me." Cas muttered, thinking out loud and continuing her pacing.
"We can think of something. For the meantime, add your thoughts to the pensive so we can review." Remus reassured, gesturing to the stone basin across the room, a gracious gift from Dumbledore.
"You too then. I still find this rather creepy. I don't like you in my head." Cas admitted, before adding her memories from the day into the basin.
"No one does. But you and I both know it is necessary when working in partners. You may have saw something you didn't think was important, but I may see the importance. Vice versa. Are we really going to have this argument again?" Remus asked, adding his memories into the basin sternly.
"Yes mum. Let's get on with it then." Cas responded, and the two of them did just that.
Xx
"How are you always hungry?" Cas asked, as Remus complained for the third time that he was starving.
"I am a werewolf." Was all the response she got from Remus. She finally gave up arguing and left to make them some dinner.
"This will not be a regular thing. I refuse to be your work wife Rem." Cas joked, secretly glad to be away from the couch, their notes and the 'lead' board they had set up on the opposing wall.
What is a lead board you ask? Well, Cas and Remus thought it would be a swell idea to put up their leads on the wall in the living room, tying little pieces of strings between things that were connected. Remus, being very fond of muggle crime shows, had saw this and thought it was a brilliant idea.
"You're too obsessed with that wall." Cas muttered, returning to the living room and handing Remus a butter beer.
"Shove off. You know it's cool. Beautiful really, would you just look at it? All our evidence, all up for the world to see, simply showing connections with little beautiful pieces of brightly coloured coordinated string." Remus sighed dreamily, taking a healthy swig of his beer.
"Again, you're a wild one aren't you?" Cas laughed, repeating her earlier line.
"Yah, what was that about? If I didn't know any better, I would think you were attempting, poorly mind you, to flirt with me." Remus smirked, amused with Cas' discomfort.
"Well, it worked for Amelia. But you saw the memory about the backroom! Do you think I am right about that then? She was testing me, wasn't she?" Cas asked, flopping down beside Remus on the couch.
"For sure. Amelia is more than meets the eye, and she loves it that way. Likes to back you into these mental corners, trick you into sharing information you didn't want to share. She does it with everyone in the pub, well besides me that is." Remus added, standing to stretch.
"Well, she is certainly interested in you. She made that very clear. What's wrong Rem, Dorcas doesn't want you ruffling around with Amelia in the backroom?" Cas teased, drinking her beer and observing the wall.
"I don't think Dorcas gives two shits what I do anymore. I broke things off before I left." Remus admitted, blushing slightly.
"What?! Why didn't you mention this before now? We have literally been alone, bored out of our minds for two whole weeks and you never thought to mention it?" Cas asked, dumbstruck.
"Didn't think it was relevant to the mission Morris." Remus replied, pretending to busy himself with papers on the coffee table.
"Rubbish! You have been avoiding tell me because you just didn't want a lecture, or questions or something." Cas sputtered in a very un-Cas way.
"Have not!"
"Have!"
"Have not!"
"Ha- I am not doing this. Tell me why! What happened?" Cas asked, interrupting their banter.
"It's, well, I – It just wasn't working out! And it wasn't like this was a long term relationship anyways, we both knew it wasn't forever. How can anyone have forever when I am, well when I am me?" Remus trailed off, awkwardly looking at his hands.
"I could slap you right now." Was all Cas said.
"Well think about it Cas. Think of what she would have to give up, the life she would have to live. I have to tell my employers of my condition up front, there's no way of hiding. We would live in solitude, and what if she wants kids? The children, oh Merlin, they would be cursed too." Remus ranted, he had clearly thought of this often.
SMACK
"Oy! Cas! Cut it out!" Remus yelled as Cas attacked him, beating him with her fists.
"You. Cut. That. Shit. Out. Remus. John. Lupin." Cas shouted, swatting him with her arms before tackling him to the ground.
They rolled, Cas holding back on her swings, Remus trying not to crush Cas with his weight, until they finally tired themselves out. Cas remained on top, pinning Remus' hands to his sides and still taking feeble swings to his chest.
"You are the last person on this earth who should be in solitude you daft boy you. Do you think Dorcas, or any of us think this way? Get your head out of your ass or I will do it for you. And trust me, the last thing you want is for me to be up in your ass. Speak like that again and I will actually hit you Remus, you're one of the kindest most wonderful people I have ever had the fortune of meeting, and it is about damn time you start acting like it." Cas huffed angrily before pushing herself off Remus and walking into the kitchen.
"Men." Cas huffed, taking two more butter beers out of the fridge.
Remus remained lying on the ground, his chest dully aching and his face flushed. He wouldn't admit it, but he liked Cas being so close. He could still smell her shampoo and it was starting to do things to his body, things that should not be happening from his best mate's girl.
"Oy." Cas called, getting his attention.
Remus looked up, blushing once again and hoping she couldn't see. He looked up to see Cas offering a hand, taking it and accepting the butter beer the two began to work on their notes in front of them, neither of them acting like anything had just happened.
Remus hoped whatever it was, would go away on its own. How very wrong he was.
Xx
"Spoke to Sirius yet?" Remus called from the next room over.
"Not exactly. He is still out on his own mission I believe, things have been a tad tricky.. even with the mirrors." Cas responded, putting on her new work uniform for the day.
"Well you still have twenty minutes until your shift starts, why not give him a call?" Remus yelled, shifting something large in his room.
"What the hell are you doing?" Cas asked, curiosity getting the best of her and barging into his room.
The sight before her was a strange one indeed. Remus, half naked mind you, was attempting to move his bed across the room to face the wall instead of the window.
"Merlin! Put on some clothes Rem!" Cas exclaimed, shielding her eyes.
"Oy! Ever heard of knocking Morris? A man could've hand his privates out and you would've got a lucky eyeful." Remus joked, blush creeping up the side of his face despite his laid back attitude.
"That. Was a Sirius comment, not a Remus comment. You have got to stop hanging around him, he is a bad influence!" Cas demanded, part of her shocked at the very Sirius-ness of Remus that morning.
With that Cas left his room, thinking on what he had said. In reality, she had lied to Remus. She knew Sirius had come back from his mission yesterday, but the fact remained that Sirius had yet to mirror her. Despite previous promises. Not wanting to be the needy one in this already unstable relationship, Cas refused to contact Sirius. However, she was starting to break on that refusal. After all, they were in a relationship. Therefore, Cas had to have some right to contact him first without being automatically declared clingy. Right?
Cas huffed, walking angrily over to the mirror Sirius had given to her. She picked it up off the bedside and stared at her reflection. How had the great Cas Morris come to this? To angrily staring at a mirror, waiting anxiously for a boy, Sirius Black of all people, to ring her. She huffed again and began to shake it, hoping it resulted in her boyfriend not being a complete twat.
"You know, shaking it won't do anything. It's not a magic eight ball." Remus commented from the door way.
"Shove off Lupin. Blame your twat of a best friend for my stupidity. The bloke is driving me crazy." Cas sighed, forgetting the mirror and flopping lazily on her bed.
"He got back yesterday, didn't he." Remus asked after a minute.
Cas nodded slightly, but that was enough to answer Remus' question.
"Just call him, honestly. Stop being a child." Remus decided, leaving the room quite suddenly.
Remus wasn't too sure on his feelings right now. He was shaking, and if he was correct, which he usually was, it was from anger. Anger. But directed at who? He noted he didn't like being compared to Sirius, so was he angry at Cas? No, that didn't feel right. This was a whole different level of anger. It felt like, well… it felt like jealously, if he wasn't mistaken.
'Well, this is new." Remus thought to himself, but even as he thought it he knew it wasn't new, these feelings of jealously had popped up numerous times before. Times where Cas and Sirius had been involved.
Xx
Lily & James
Lily believed she was a very patient woman. Now, like Cas, this was countered by the comments and general concerns from her friends. They claimed, due to her fiery red hair, she had quite the explosive temper. To her defence, she had to put up with James freaking Potter for the better of two years now, could anyone really blame her.
Now, her patience was tempted on this fine day. Not because of her fiery red hair. But because of James freaking Potter. It began as normal as any day, a light sleep in to start a busy Sunday. James had stayed over at her place since he was in the middle of showing the Potter manor to potential buyers. The choice to sell the Potter manor after the passing of his mother seemed obvious to only him. He could no longer face the idea of living in the house where not only his mother, but his father as well had passed. Thinking the home could bring better luck to a new family, James had found some spare time to sell it.
Today, however, was not one of those days. So James spent the day sleeping in with his beloved Lily. Lily awoke first, or so it seemed. She felt James behind her and smiled in her groggy state. She loved waking up to him and could not wait to spend the rest of her life doing just that. She snugged into him slightly, seeing as how he was close enough to touch. But something felt off. Lily ignored it at first for two reasons, the first being her comfortable position and the second being the bliss she was experiencing from her ignorance to James' actions.
Sighing, Lily decided to finally roll over, giving into James shenanigans. Rolling over, Lily let out a loud shriek, for beside her there was a giant white stag.
Lily jumped out of her bed just as the stag transformed into a laughing James.
"You, you, YOU'RE AN ABSOLUTE PRAT JAMES POTTER!" Lily yelled, her shock turning into anger.
James was at a loss for words, choking over his fit of laughter. He was clutching his sides, eyes brimmed with tears as he tried to calm his girlfriend down. This was a difficult task indeed, seeing as how every time he looked at said girlfriend he burst out in another fit of giggles. This only angered Lily more causing her to launch an attack on him.
Jumping over the bed, Lily grabbed his pillow and began to violently beat James with it, chasing him from the room and down into the kitchen.
"You think you're so clever, huh James? How clever do you feel now?" Lily charged, swinging the pillow madly above her head before bringing down her ginger powers upon James' head.
"Ow! Lils! Quit it! Flower, I am sorry!" James sputtered out in between hits, trying to catch Lily's wrists.
"Oh, you're sorry are you? Oh, okay! That obviously makes everything better." Lily responded sarcastically. However, her anger was subdued. She had begun to laugh at the situation.
Collapsing into giggles herself, she could barely breathe. Clutching the kitchen table, she attempted to calm her laughter, only to be interrupted by the arrival of Sirius.
"What the bloody hell is going on here? Can't a bloke sleep around here?" Sirius exclaimed, popping up from the couch in the next room.
"Oh! So sorry Sirius, to bug you in MY home. Why in the name of Merlin are you even here?" Lily asked, finally composing herself.
"Well, that is a funny story really. Okay, stop with the glares it isn't that funny. James wasn't at home, so I came here." Sirius stated, hands raised in defence after seeing Lily's glares.
"And why couldn't you go to your OWN flat?" Lily questioned, moving toward Sirius.
"That is a personal matter." Sirius stated.
"Ok, ok! It is weird being there without Cas, ok? Is that enough?" Sirius added, noticing the glare Lily was giving him.
"Oh, well. I'm sorry hun. Let me go put on something more appropriate." Lily softened, before going upstairs to change out of her sleep wear.
In the meantime, James had scooped Sirius into a rather 'manly' hug, both holding on to each other while patting each other on the back.
"Happy to see your safe mate!" James exclaimed, releasing Sirius.
"Likewise, with that fiery maiden who knows what sort of torture she may expose you to." Sirius responded, gesturing to the staircase Lily had disappeared up.
"Only the best kind of torture." James hinted with a wink, walking to the fridge to start breakfast. "Fry up?" James asked as he dug around in Lily's fridge.
"You know it mate." Sirius replied, rubbing his empty stomach. He hadn't had a real meal in ages. Being on the road with Kingsley for the past two weeks had some serious downsides.
"How was your mission?" James asked, not prying into specifics.
"We got the job done. Not as luxurious as I had hoped though. Not even an ounce of eternal glory. What is the point of going on dangerous missions if you don't even get a trophy or a medal? Some beautiful women or something would have been appreciated." Sirius joked, sitting at the kitchen table while James prepared breakfast with a flick of his wand.
"Speaking of women, speak to Cas yet?" James asked cautiously, not knowing how the past two weeks had gone.
"Not yet, been meaning to mirror her. I was just trying to get some rest first." Sirius grumbled awkwardly, feeling guilty for not contacting her earlier.
"Any reason for the delay?" James asked casually, placing plates for three.
"I don't know mate, it's weird. Distance is weird. I don't want to over step or crowd her. Or worse, ruin the mission. What if she is in the middle of something important for the Order and I mirror her and ruin everything. I know she is good at this whole 'under cover' business, but hearing my voice out of her butt pocket would raise some questions." Sirius explained, not being fully honest.
"I am sure she has made some precautions for just that scenario. It is not her first mission mate, stop stressing. Now, tell me the real reason before Lils comes back down." James demanded, sitting across from Sirius.
Sirius chuckled before anxiously glancing at the staircase. It was his best mate; he should be able to tell him.
"I just, well .. I just don't want her to be done. You know? We haven't spoked for two weeks, what if that is enough for her to realize she is done with me for good?" Sirius muttered quietly, his face blushing (manly blushing of course) slightly at his words.
"Mate, you better not be worrying about that. The bird is obsessed with you for some reason. Contact her before you get her angry, I am guessing she knew you got in yesterday?" James quipped, digging into his sausages.
"I am guessing you are right. I'm probably already in trouble for waiting this long. You reckon I'm being daft then?" Sirius asked, attacking the bacon before him.
"Like usual. Contact her or she is going to think you're being a twat." James responded before greeting the fully dressed Lily with a slobbery kiss.
Sirius ate quietly to himself. He reckoned James was right. After all, he didn't want Cas thinking he was a twat.
Xx
'He is such a twat.' Cas thought angrily, serving the customers in front of her.
She had given Sirius until noon today to wake up and contact her. It was now 2:30 p.m and still nothing. She huffed as she returned the customer change, receiving odd looks in the process. Not like she actually cared what they thought. Except, she had to. Since the mission was relying on her getting on with the folks in the Hallow she would have to be extra nice. Something she was not good at.
"Next one is on me mate!" Cas exclaimed, flashing one of her 'charming' smiles, although today her charming smile may be a bit strained.
"Thanks beautiful. Tell me, are you available for the back room." The man asked, accepting his whiskey from Cas.
"Sorry love, not today." Cas winked, inwardly cringing at the grime of the place.
"But I am sweetie, you want an hour?" Amelia asked, scooping Cas' customer up like a hawk.
"No offence darlin', but I will stick with this one today." The man corrected, shooing Amelia off awkwardly while flashing Cas a smile.
"They are sure loving you today." Amelia grunted, clearly frustrated with the situation.
"Not like I want them to. I have no desire for back room activities." Cas responded half lying. Sure, she wasn't down for the sexual part but she really wanted in on the private information sessions that Amelia had been hinting at. Afraid she was still being tested, Cas kept that last part to herself.
"You will change your mind though. I was just like you when I started. Thought I was above the back room I did, now look at me!" Amelia posed, trying to get a laugh out of Cas while simultaneously drawing the attention from the males in the bar.
"Yes, look at you now." Cas winked, before walking over to 'Roger'.
"Alright hot stuff, you going to order anything or are you just going to stare at me all afternoon?" Cas flirted, twirling a piece of her hair at Remus.
"Fire whiskey love." Roger purred, earning a couple of smiles from the men beside him.
"Sure thing." Cas quipped, pouring Roger his shot.
"I've been hearing some things about you lass." Roger started, watching Cas pour his shot.
"Oh yeah? And what's that?" Cas smiled, pushing the glass toward Roger.
"This and that. Can't give away all my secrets up front, am I right boys?" Roger prompted, drawing in the men around him.
Cas had to smile to herself, for all that it was worth Remus was fairly decent at playing the sleazy pub rat, or in this case wolf. He had been unsure at the start, not knowing if he could fully play the part. But with some practice and his 'persona' Roger taking over, an outsider would have a hell of a time trying to weasel him out as a rat.
"Oh c'mon love, what have you heard?" Cas asked, feigning interest, leaning on the bar casually.
"Well, a couple boys have heard you have a fine eye for darts. Now, me and the guys here were thinking of starting a little tournament. Care to take part? There may be some sickles or something else in it for you." Roger winked, the guys around him nodding eagerly.
"Darts huh? Well, I don't know about that. You lot seem to be professionals from what I have seen.." Cas lied, playing into Remus' plan.
"We will go easy on you." The man to Remus' left winked, trying to gain Cas' attention.
"Well, alright then. But don't be sore losers if I win." Cas smiled, hopping over the bar to join the group of werewolves.
Xx
"I can't believe you won! A woman with looks and skills? Someone slap me." A man stated, staring at Cas in awe as she collected her prize of 10 galleons.
Another bloke slapped him straight across the face, causing a bit of a tussle in the middle of the pub.
"Now boys. What did I say about sore losers? Now come on up to the bar! If you're lucky, I may just use my winnings on free drinks for the lot of you." Cas winked, swaying her hips as she made her way to the bar, a group of men eagerly following her.
It had been their 'genius' plan from this morning. They had been thinking of a way to make Cas likeable with the majority of the pub, Reginald not included. They figured he was a lost case. The rest of the plan seemed to go by nicely, Cas bought the lot free drinks and flirted with them for the remainder of the night. They were banking on the majority liking her enough to not support Reginald's revenge schemes and to slowly start sharing some information on Voldemort.
Cas smiled to herself near the end of the night. She was retelling some made up story about herself stumbling upon some vampires in Egypt to a group of keen men, each one of them hanging off her every word. She thought the plan had gone swimmingly. She felt Reginald before she saw him. When he had entered the pub, she wasn't sure. But now that she saw him, she thought herself a fool for not noticing before. His presence was heavy, his glare loathing. If there was one man she didn't win over that night, it was Reginald. Little did she know, that was just the man she needed to win over.
Xx
"Sirius Black" Cas muttered into the mirror, her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
She had given him the whole day to contact her, and when he didn't Cas decided to take things into her own hands. Remus was out with his new werewolf buds as Roger, so she finally had the apartment to herself and privacy she needed for this conversation.
"Cas?" Sirius' voice broke through, echoing in the empty room.
Embarrassed, Cas realized tears had come to her eyes at the sound of his voice. Shaking her head and clearing her eyes away from the mirror, Cas prepared herself to see her boyfriend.
"Cas." Sirius breathed, finally able to see his girlfriend's face in the small, rectangle mirror.
"Black." Cas nodded, suddenly irritated.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry." Sirius started before Cas cut him off.
"How was the mission?" Cas asked, irritated with herself on how easy she had forgiven Sirius. She had planned to be a bitch, a huge raging bitch about him being a twat. But, seeing him, hearing the sound of his voice. She couldn't hold onto the anger, especially with what was happening at the pub with Reginald. She didn't realize so much comfort could be given in a voice, or the way he said her name.
"It was alright, pretty boring. Kingsley is not a very lively man, shocking I know. I basically spent the whole time watching a house and dreaming of my beautiful girlfriend." Sirius winked, not fully believing Cas was not angry with him.
"I am so happy you're safe." Cas breathed, knowing the real reason for her anger. She had no idea if he was safe or not, and that terrified her. Which also brought more anger. She hated feeling so mundane, so basic. She didn't want her mood to rely on the actions of someone else, to be constantly worried about so many people.
"I didn't mean to worry you love. I couldn't bring myself to mirror right away, I don't know how to do this sort of thing." Sirius admitted, referencing them dating and the distance.
"And you think I do? Merlin Sirius, what did you think was going to happen? Two weeks and I am done? I thought you knew how I felt about you." Cas scoffed.
"I do. I just didn't know it would be this hard." Sirius muttered darkly.
"Well, let's just make it as easy as possible. The mirror is just like we are together, so let's treat it like it is. So how was your day." Cas smiled, leaning casually on her hand, the other propping the mirror up.
"You will never guess what James did to Lily today.."
Xx
"There he is!" Amelia gasped, pointing to a hooded figure who had entered the pub.
Cas' head snapped up to observe the man before he noticed them staring. It was the same man who had been coming in every day for the past week. He didn't say anything or order anything. He just sat with his hood up and observed everyone, seated in the corner of the pub. He had even been immune to Amelia's charm, avoiding any questions and simply leaving before she could reach his table.
Today was different. The man had approached a table with a single man at it and had sat down across from him. The two conversed until the man in the hood glanced Cas' way, feeling her gaze. Cas smiled nicely, before going back to drying the glasses.
Remus was also in the pub, trying to watch the hooded man without being obvious. He was playing darts with a couple blokes on the opposite side of the pub, trying to over hear their private conversation.
After a while the two got up and approached the bar. The man in the hood didn't speak nor remove his hood, leaving the talking to the other man, a regular at the Hallow named Stan.
"Is there any rooms available out back?" Stan asked.
"Want one with me hunny?" Amelia asked, bouncing forward at the words 'room' and 'back'.
"Not today Amelia, this will be a private booth." Stan answered, side glancing at the stranger beside him.
"There sure are, let me take you to room number four." Cas piped up, jumping at her chance to be alone with the two men.
Giving them no time to answer and ignoring Amelia's glare, Cas grabbed the keys for room four and walked around the bar to reach the back rooms. Before she turned the corner Cas' eyes caught Remus' across the room, concerned written on his face. Cas nodded slightly, trying to reassure him she was fine.
"Here you go boys, room number four." Cas purred, gesturing to the now open door, a crooked four was hung on the wooden door.
"Thanks love." Stand said, walking in.
The hooded man paused as he walked through the door way. He seemed to be debating something with himself before nodding and turning slightly towards Cas.
"What did you say your name was?" The voice was rough and abrupt, the type of voice Cas would assume a hooded figure would have.
"Eva." Cas answered nervously, her palms slightly sweaty.
"See you around then, Eva" The man nodded before closing the door between him and Cas.
Xx
A/N: Well there it is! Hope you guys liked it. There will probably only be 1- 1 ½ more chapters on this mission. So if you're hating the mission idea fear not – it is almost over. I will also be including more Jily within this fic, as I find it severely lacking in that department.
Reviews are for puppy lovers
Xo.
Haley