Disclaimer: We in no way shape or form own anything that JK has created; we are simply borrowing it for our own enjoyment. Also if any of you are curious about the necklace Casselle received last chapter this is what it looks like: .com/imgres?q=sapphire+pendant+necklace&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1W1SKPT_enUS404&biw=784&bih=390&tbm=isch&tbnid=Zi2Qg_0_GdMTQM:&imgrefurl=.&docid=P4I83r0WalrVEM&imgurl=.com/wsphoto/v0/451808630_&w=735&h=495&ei=yc-dTuccxOGIAof7-JQK&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=135&sig=111447004023547448313&page=16&tbnh=166&tbnw=221&start=54&ndsp=3&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:54&tx=126&ty=45
Anyways enjoy!
Chapter Five
Lessons resumed on Monday and Casselle reverted back to ignoring Sirius throughout her classes. This, of course, made potions and Divinations rather awkward especially since both classes required a lot of group work. But they somehow managed.
Time seemed to fly by in a jumble of essays and classes and soon the month of January was long gone. February always proved an interesting month at Hogwarts. The gossip mill was spinning full time about who was doing what with whom for Valentine's Day, much to the annoyance of Casselle.
"Don't people have anything better to talk about?" She whined to Lily and Emma the morning of the accursed holiday. "I swear if I hear one more thing about Walter Berry and Emily Trinket's plans to lose their virginity together tonight I'm going to vomit."
"Don't be bitter Cass," Emma teased laughing as she dodged the swat Casselle aimed at her.
"I'm far from bitter," Casselle retorted. "I just don't understand what makes one random day in February more special than any other day."
"Date envy," Emma murmured to Lily and both girls erupted in laughter while Casselle glared at them.
"You can't honestly say you like Valentine's Day?" Casselle challenged.
Lily shrugged, "While I find the holiday a little silly I do like how people go all out for it. Some people do really sweet things for each other…"
Casselle shook her head, leave it to Lily to be the hopeless romantic.
"People are just over excited because it finally falls on a Hogsmeade weekend this year," Emma reasoned.
"Speaking of which do you guys want to venture into the village today or stay here and enjoy the peace and quiet for once?" Lily asked.
"Ugh I don't think I can handle all the 'love' that will be in Hogsmeade. Let's stay here," Casselle replied making a face.
Emma and Lily nodded their agreement, "We can try out some of the new incantations in my Witch Weekly?" Emma suggested.
"Well I really should finish my Transfigurations essay…"
Emma and Casselle both gave Lily a look.
"Just kidding," she replied grinning as they stood and left the Great Hall.
The girls spent the day doing facial treatments, hair charms and makeovers glad to be free of the Hogwarts gossip and enjoying each other's company.
"You know what would make this night perfect?" Casselle asked.
"What?"
"A break to the kitchens," Casselle announced standing up. "I'm craving something chocolate."
"You mean break curfew?" Lily asked a little uncertainly.
"Relax Lil, we won't get caught," Casselle assured.
"I'll hold you to that," Lily muttered as she followed the two girls out of the room.
"Oi look who it is Prongs!" Sirius exclaimed as Casselle, Emma and Lily emerged from the girl's dormitory.
"Evans!" James greeted struggling to his feet. "Will you be my Valentine?"
Lily scowled staring at the two boys in disgust, "Are you drunk!"
Sirius and James both broke out into a fit of laughter, "Shhhhh," Sirius slurred, "wouldn't want the prefects to hear."
Emma raised her eyebrows at Remus and Peter who were sitting on the couch looking like he'd rather be in bed. "What's going on with these two?"
"James and Sirius got the brilliant idea that since its Sirius's birthday and all that they should pilfer some firewhiskey to commemorate the occasion and since Peter and I chose not to partake they finished the entire bottle themselves."
Casselle's lip curled in disgust, "You're both such bloody idiots!"
The words didn't seem to faze either of the boys however; instead James sauntered over to Lily and slung his arm around her shoulder.
"Evans when are you going to realize that you're desperately in love with me?" He asked gracefully burping in her face halfway through the question.
"Get off!" She exclaimed giving him a shove that sent him tumbling.
In his attempt to keep his balance he grabbed onto Sirius who in turn grabbed Casselle sending them all to the ground.
Casselle let out a soft moan of pain as her head connected with the ground. Sirius's elbow rammed into her stomach as he landed on her leaving her breathless and hurting.
"Mhmm you feel nice," Sirius mumbled from on top of her.
"Get off you stupid git!" she hissed pushing against his dead weight she was practically gagging off the stench of his whiskey breath.
Sirius muttered something incoherent before his body went slack; he had actually managed to fall asleep on top of her.
"Someone get him off me!" She screeched pushing against him violently.
Remus and Lily both helped lift Sirius off her frame dumping him unceremoniously onto the couch.
Casselle got to her feet sore and surging with anger, all she had wanted to do was grab a late night snack.
James had followed Sirius's lead and passed out on the rug in front of the fire.
"I hope you leave them like that, they hardly deserve a bed…or a hangover tonic for that matter," Lily scoffed.
"My thoughts exactly," Remus replied. "Are you ready to head up?" he asked Peter who nodded his agreement and after biding the girl's goodnight the two boys retreated to their dorm.
Casselle, Lily and Emma left the common room quickly, finally on their way to the kitchen. They hadn't gotten further than the portrait hole when Emma burst into a fit of giggles.
"What's so funny?" Lily asked motioning for Emma to keep her voice down.
"Black's birthday is on Valentine's Day!" She exclaimed breaking out into a renewed fit.
"And that's so entertaining why?"
"One of the biggest players in Hogwarts ….and his birthday is on probably the most romantic day in the year!"
Casselle put her hand to her mouth suppressing the urge to laugh. It was funny, in an ironic kind of way.
Lily joined Emma in her laughing fit which put Casselle over the edge and soon all the girls were on the floor with tears streaming down their face.
"That's probably why they've never publicly celebrated!" Casselle exclaimed. "He couldn't bloody live that down!"
Lily's eyes danced with mischief, "You realize that we now have something to hold over them right?"
"Absolutely, and I intend to make the most of it," Casselle replied grinning from ear to ear. "Now come on I really want something chocolate!"
The girls spent a good hour in the kitchen eating some éclairs that the house elves whipped up. Once they returned to the common room they were greeted with a symphony of snores.
Casselle sneered at the forms of the boys dead asleep in the middle of the common room. "I can't believe them sometimes."
Lily studied them thoughtfully tapping her wand against her chin, "You know as long as we're here…and as long as their practically dead to the world…"
A wicked grin spread across Casselle's face as she caught Lily's meaning. "I've got the perfect idea."
The next morning Gryffindor tower was woken up by James and Sirius yelling.
Casselle laid in bed grinning from ear to ear as she listened to them argue and then scramble around the common room. She jumped out of bed throwing on a sweater from her trunk before racing down the stair case with Lily and Emma.
James and Sirius were frantically running around the room attempting to look for their clothes. The girls weren't the only ones that had come down at the yells the common room was slowly filling with curious Gryffindors.
Last night Casselle Emma and Lily had removed everything but the boy's boxers and placed them in a rather compromising position, then of course they had taken photos but they planned on revealing that fact next time one of the boys annoyed them.
James finally extracted his pants from one of the potted plants and threw them on before shoving past the group on the boy's stair case. Sirius followed him, though he didn't manage to find his clothes. Emma had hidden them behind the curtains.
The girls roared with laughter, revenge was definitely sweet.
The school was soon buzzing with a rumor about James and Sirius and what exactly went on in the common room, though Casselle, Emma and Lily remained the only ones that knew for sure.
The snow eventually melted bringing with it the first hints of spring and an increased longing to spend time outside (on the student's part).
"Lily Evans I demand we take a break!" Casselle exclaimed one Sunday afternoon in April throwing her Transfiguration notes down on the table.
Lily glanced up from her own revision and shot Casselle an annoyed look, "Cass exams are right around the corner we can't afford a break."
"Exams are forever away Lil! Besides it's the first nice day since winter," Emma cut in, "I'm sure a change of scenery wouldn't kill us. We could even bring our notes along and study by the lake."
If Casselle had ever felt a strong desire to kiss a girl it would have been at that moment, "Yea Lil it will be good for us, vitamin D and all."
Lily finally conceded and the girls gathered their belongings and made their way down to the lake.
Emma spread a blanket out on the grass, picking a spot right next to the lake. Casselle laid down enjoying the feel of the sun on her face and Emma did the same mirroring her posture.
"Best idea ever," Casselle sighed.
Lily rolled her eyes pulling out her Transfiguration textbook and burying her nose in it.
"Lil you've seriously read that thing like twelve times a break won't kill you," Emma teased.
"There's nothing wrong with studying!" Lily replied. "You could both do with picking up a book more often."
Casselle and Emma laughed, "I'm totally content with mediocrity," Emma replied with a grin.
Lily scowled as Emma and Casselle giggled.
The girls spent two wonderful hours outside in the sun before Lily insisted they return to the common room and revise.
"Sometimes I think she's worse than McGonagall," Casselle whispered.
Emma giggled, "Not sometimes all the time."
The two laughed and Lily fixed them with a glare as they climbed back through to portrait hole and sat down at an empty table. Casselle reluctantly pulled her transfiguration notebook out and attempted to memorize the theory for animal transfigurations.
As exams approached Casselle found that the only break she got from revising was History of Magic. She had been practicing almost every class period with her ability and could feel herself growing stronger.
She found herself able to gain access to anyone's mind with very little effort now. Instead of having to struggle against the barriers of her own mind for minutes at a time she could easily project her consciousness out of her body.
This lesson she decided to focus on Remus, he provided a unique challenge because he seemed to be able to sense her presence, but not where it was coming from. Casselle had been trying for over a week now to see if she could enter a mind that had previously been able to detect a presence without being detected. She had burned through a number of tactics with little success. Every time she touched Remus's mind he would stiffen and look around like he could feel her.
She pushed her mind out of her body and felt her way towards Remus. She refrained from fully touching his consciousness, choosing instead to study him for a moment. Each mind gave off a different vibe, almost like a color. Like all things the color was subject to change with the person's mood. Today Remus looked like a rain cloud.
Casselle pushed forward with her brow furrowed, inching towards him as slowly as she could. As soon as her mind touched his she was swarmed with images. She saw Remus as a young boy playing in his back yard. Remus doubled over in laughter with James, Sirius and Peter. Remus being handed a goblet of foul smelling potion.
Casselle tried to break free but instead she was dragged down further into Remus's consciousness. She saw Remus studying in the library. Remus tugging at his hair in frustration. Remus yelling at James and Sirius. And then she saw something peculiar, Remus being led out onto the grounds by Madame Lemoore. They stopped in front of the whomping willow.
Before Casselle could see anymore she was wrenched free of Remus's memories. She gasped taking in a mouth full of air. She felt flushed and her face was slick with sweat, her whole body was trembling. Her breathing eventually calmed and she waved off a questioning look from Emma. Shakily she pushed her hair out of her face and chanced a glance at Remus; he seemed unaware that anything had just transpired. Despite her success Casselle couldn't shake the sensation of being trapped inside Remus's head. She had felt like she was drowning in his memory being pulled further and further from her own mind.
I need to take a break, she told herself shaking her head trying to shake the feeling of dread her attempt had left her with.
Despite Emma's claim about exams being far away they seemed to creep up on the students unexpectedly. Casselle found herself buried under books until at least midnight every night. Top marks were the only expectation of her parents that she meet.
The first exam the Gryffindor fourth years sat through was the theory portion of potions. And after two hours struggling to remember what ingredients went were Casselle felt as if her head would explode.
"I think that went rather well," Lily commented as the three made their way to the Great Hall. "Though I couldn't remember if newt eyes or crushed unicorn horn went in…" She let the sentence hang as she noticed the look Emma and Casselle shot her.
Charms and Defense went much easier for Casselle, and even Transfiguration wasn't that bad (She wasn't as good as Sirius in Transfiguration, but she was better than him in Charms). Divination was a joke and Casselle had resorted to reading her examiners mind to know what she needed to say. Though she kept this fact to herself simply shrugging when Emma had asked her how it went.
The last thing that stood between Casselle and her freedom was History of Magic, possibly the most boring class Hogwarts offered.
"Ugh that was possibly the worst thing I've ever taken," Emma complained.
"I know exactly what you mean," Casselle muttered. "But on the bright side…"
"Freedom!" Emma exclaimed causing Casselle and Lily to burst into laughter.
The mood that evening for Casselle was a subdued one. Packing was always her least favorite part of the term and she would be willing to sit ten more History of Magic exams if it meant she didn't have to leave.
"Oi look what I found!" Emma called from her trunk, emerging from the pile of stuff with a collection of photographers clutched in her hand.
"Are those?" Lily asked her own face breaking out into a grin as she rushed over to Emma. Casselle followed and the three girls laughed as they shuffled through the pictures of Sirius and James from Valentine's Day.
"I can't believe we forgot about these!" Casselle exclaimed staring appreciatively at the photo of James and Sirius curled up on the floor together.
"Well…we wouldn't want them to go to waste now would we? Especially after the dungbomb those two berks set off in the Great Hall this morning." Emma replied her eyes shining with mischief.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Lily replied. "Hurry up and finish packing, I think we have some redecorating to do before we go to bed tonight."
The three girls returned to their packing with renewed vigor.
The next morning the entire House of Gryffindor was treated to the photos of Sirius and James' drunken night. The girls had made copies of the photos with a clever charm Lily knew and had wall papered the common room with them.
Emma had a stroke of brilliance in using an unstickable charm so no matter how James and Sirius tried the pictures refused to move from the walls of the common room.
Emma Lily and Casselle made their way to the train, still in high spirits from their triumph over the two marauders.
Casselle's good mood quickly sobered once they were seated in a compartment on the train. Not even Lily's impression of James's voice breaking as he yelled at everyone to clear out of the Common Room could make her smile. Instead Casselle sat and stared out the window of the compartment as the other two girls chatted happily about their summer plans.
"You both must come for a visit!" Lily insisted. "I'll owl you with the details."
Casselle gave her friend a weak smile but knew she wouldn't be permitted to attend. Her parents hadn't fallen into the blood purity stuff since her father was a muggle but they would still consider Lily beneath them.
Much sooner than she would have liked she was hugging Emma and Lily goodbye and making her way towards her parents. It was going to be the longest three months of her life.
Nathaniel was already standing with her parents when Casselle found them, "Your late, we don't have time to wait for you Casselle," her father said turning to walk toward the car. She looked behind her seeing most of the children still unloading their trunks, she was one of the first off. Not that it mattered; if Nathaniel was there she should have been there too. She watched as parents held their children to them in a tight embrace and a swift pang of jealousy and hurt shot through her. She wished one day, someone would hold her like that. She turned reluctantly and hurried after her parents.
As Casselle got into the car, her father starred at her pointedly, she sighed and pulled her wand out of her pocket and handed it to him. "I'm glad you're not going to fight me on this anymore Casselle."
She lowered her gaze, she knew if she starred into those cold eyes any longer she would say something that he wouldn't like. The best way to deal with her father was silence and agreement but as she grew older it became harder for her to stay silent. It was only a matter of time before she said something that would get her locked up for the summer.
They arrived at the house, which could really almost be called a mansion. It was four stories tall, and the land around stretched farther than the eye could see. Casselle hurriedly grabbed her luggage and ran into the house, Their maid Millie was waiting for her in the foyer.
"Millie!" She cried, hugging her tightly. "I've missed you! It has been too long. You shouldn't be allowed to take holiday vacations anymore." She laughed.
"I know, it has been a while," Millie said hugging her back.
"Casselle really, that is no way to treat the staff," Her father reprimanded.
Casselle glared at him, then turned back to Millie, "Can you help me with my luggage?" She asked in a proper voice, trying to keep her hatred for her father in check.
"Yes Miss. Dawson," She said carrying her trunk up the long staircase. Casselle held her owl's cage guilt filling her body. She hated having maids and butlers.
"Millie, you don't really have to carry that, I got it." She said when they were out of sight from her family.
"It's okay Miss. Casselle, it is my job." Millie was only twenty but Casselle always thought she acted older than she really was. Casselle had quickly befriended Millie ever since she started working for her family a few years ago, to her father's disapproval.
"Millie, please?" Casselle begged, hated watching Millie struggle with the trunk. Over the years Casselle had grown used to the weight, but she knew Millie wasn't.
"Alright, Casselle." They switched, so Millie was carrying her owl Aurora, and Casselle hefted the trunk up the stairs.
"I hope they haven't treated you too badly," Casselle whispered as they finally reached the third floor landing, where Casselle and Nathaniel's rooms were.
"They aren't so bad," Millie said quietly, not liking to bad mouth her employers.
"Come on! They are terrible. I can't even imagine the things they make you do." She said reaching her room. She opened the door and let Millie in and shut it quickly.
"They aren't as bad as some people, at least they don't hit me." Millie said and then gasped, "Oh Casselle, I am sorry I didn't mean that."
Casselle smiled sadly, "It's okay, I'm used to it. I'm glad they treat you better, you deserve it."
"But Casselle you don't deserve it, it's wrong the way they treat you," Millie said pulling Casselle into a hug.
"I know, and one day they'll regret it. When my brother has gotten himself killed, and I'll have to take care of them in their old age, and I have every intention of tossing them into the crappiest retirement home you can imagine. Then they will see their ways." Casselle said coldly, trying to push away the sadness she felt.
"CASSELLE!" She heard her father call. She hurried to the door and opened it.
"YES?" She called back.
"DINNER IS READY AND YOU NEED TO BE DOWN HERE!" He bellowed.
"I'm coming!" She hurried down the stairs, knowing if she didn't hurry he wouldn't let her eat.
"It took you long enough."
"I'm sorry, I had to freshen up." She lied hoping he would appreciate her effort for looking proper.
Nathaniel scoffed, "Doesn't look like it."
She shot him a glare but didn't dare argue with him in front of her parents, they would always side with Nathaniel.
They ate mostly in silence, only breaking it to ask for more vegetables or chicken. Casselle left at the soonest possible moment, afraid that spending too much time with her family would cause her to do something she would regret.
She sat on her bed, wishing that she could be at Lily's house or even back at Hogwarts, anywhere was better than here. She hated to admit it but she would rather even spend time with Black if it meant she was away from her family.
She looked out the window and noticed a few people walking on the sidewalk, she stared after them for a little bit before deciding to work on her power again. She closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander to a little girl that was walking her dog.
Almost immediately she could hear her thoughts, Look at that house it's huge! The child thought, images of her own house flashing back at her. I'd like to live in that house, I'd be just like a princess. Casselle pulled out not wanting to see anymore. How she hoped that little girl never had to live in a house like this.
The next day took a turn for the worst; Casselle was in her room when she heard yelling. She walked to the door cautiously as she opened it she heard Nathaniel's voice coming from downstairs. She hurried to down afraid to see what she knew was happening.
"You incompetent muggle!" Nathaniel yelled. "You shrunk my robes! How do you not know how to use a laundry machine!" Clothes were being thrown everywhere as Casselle headed toward the laundry room.
"Sir, I'm sorry. Maybe you've grown, I set it like I always do." Millie' soft voice came.
"Obviously you didn't! These are all ruined!"
Casselle entered the room just as Nathaniel was about to slap Millie. "Nate!" Casselle cried stepping in front of Millie as Nate brought down his hand making full contact with her cheek.
Casselle stood frozen holding her cheek, while Millie gasped behind her.
"Casselle get out of the way," Nate growled.
"No." She said stubbornly. "You can't treat her like that!" Casselle said pulling her hand away from her face and holding her ground.
"I'll treat her however I please, in case you forgot Casselle she works for us."
"That doesn't give you the right to treat her like that."
"Casselle!" She heard the booming voice of her father call. Casselle cringed knowing where this was leading. She walked toward his voice, where he stood in the living room.
"Yes father?" She asked softly.
"I think you should go wait for me in your room," He said coldly.
"But-" She stopped as she saw his gaze darken. "Yes father," She said hanging her head in defeat and walking back up the stairs, but not before she glanced in the laundry room and saw Millie on the ground holding her cheek tenderly. Casselle's blood boiled at the way they treated her.
It wasn't long before Casselle heard the heavy steps of her father. She stood waiting for her punishment.
He opened the door and looked down at her. "You have become more and more disobedient Casselle, and I believe we need to fix that before you get worse." He said taking a step closer to her.
Casselle tried to hold her ground, but this was her father, the man that was supposed to love her unconditionally and now he was about to beat her senseless. She cringed against her will as he rose his hand and brought it down to her already swollen cheek with such force that she fell to the ground.
"Stand up!" He yelled as she stood holding back the tears of pain that stung her eyes.
An hour later Casselle sat curled in her bed with a black eye, split lip and bruises that were still forming over her body. She had stopped asked herself 'why me,' a long time ago, all the responses her mind created only made her feel worse. The new question that plagued her was 'How long can I put up with this?' It was a question that worried her to know end, was she going to die in this house? Some days it felt like it.
We know it kinda ends on a sad note, but we promise that the next year is going to get very interesting, so hold on and enjoy the ride!
You know the drill, Read and Review!