I know we left it at a cliff hanger, but here you go. No more cliffhanger! Also we do not own Harry Potter no matter how much we wish, it just won't happen. So enjoy this lovely chapter!

Chapter six

"Casselle, hurry up." Casselle's mother scolded as she grabbed the trunks out of the back of the car.

"Yeah, Casselle better hurry," Nathaniel drawled as he got out of the car.

His voice always caused a pang of anger to shot through her, especially since the incident with Millie over the summer. She opened the door, and walked around to grab her trunk along with her owl's cages. She retrieved her things and as she was walking past her brother, she felt her foot catch on something causing her bird cage to rattled to the floor along with her trunk while she steadied herself.

"Casselle!" Her mother called angrily. "Watch where you're going! And control that owl; it's making a scene, honestly!"

Casselle looked over at Nathaniel, who was smirking at her, rage shaking through her body. "Why you-" Casselle started.

"Casselle! Did you not hear your mother!" Her father yelled.

Casselle hurried to pick up Aurora's cage hating the fear that shot through her at her father's anger. She had spent the last month of summer locked in her room while her bruises and cuts healed. As she looked up she saw Sirius Black looking over at her from a car a few spots down.

"Hurry up! You're going to be late." Her mother said.

Casselle hesitated hoping they would go ahead without her. Luck didn't seem to be on her side that day as she felt a sharp pain in her arm. "Ow!" She cried out in surprise trying to pry her arm out of her father's tight grip. The struggling only made him grip harder his fingers digging cruelly into her skin.

"Your mother said hurry up." He said dragging her along.

"I was going." Casselle pleaded with him, hoping he would let her go.

"It didn't look like that."

"Dad can you please let go of me." Casselle said softly, hoping she wouldn't enrage him more.

"Hey Cass!" She heard someone call. She turned to see Sirius walk up to her. As Sirius approached her father let go of her, and Casselle groaned inwardly. She hadn't talked to Sirius in half a year and she had liked it that way.

"Hi Sirius." Casselle said awkwardly. "Dad I'll catch up with you guys at the train," She said. Her dad narrowed his eyes slightly but luckily left. "So what do you want?" She asked after her father had walked away.

"It just looked like you were having family problems and needed an excuse to get away," he replied shrugging.

"Well thanks, but I'm fine." Casselle said turning away from him and walking over to platform 9 ¾.

"Hey wait!" He called catching up to her. "Can we just forget about everything that happened last year?" He asked softly.

Casselle stopped and stared at him. "What?"

"Can we just forget about everything, and go back to hating each other or whatever? I'm sick of this awkward thing going on between us and honestly its tiring ignoring each other during lessons, especially when we're meant to be working together."

"Well I am sorry I made last year so awkward, because of course it is all my fault," Casselle seethed.

"Will you stop? I am not trying to start an argument here. I just want this thing to stop," Sirius replied his own irritation building.

"Fine, no more awkwardness. Are you happy now?" She asked.

"Casselle!" Her father called from the entrance to platform 9 ¾.

"I've got to go," She said hurrying off to meet her father.

Her father glared at her as she approached him, "Who was that boy?"

"No one just a classmate."

"I will not have my daughter sneaking around with boys. You are at school to be the top of your class not to go around acting like a little slut," her father spat.

"It's not like that!" she hissed glancing around her to see if anyone could hear them.

"Then it better stay that way, your brother shall be keeping me informed and if you put one toe out of line I will personally drag you back home."

Casselle clenched her jaw resisting the urge to snap back at him. "Understood," she muttered.

Luckily the whistle sounded and Casselle bounded up onto the train dragging her trunk behind her.

She found an empty compartment halfway down and slumped into one of the padded seats. She rubbed at the spot where her father grabbed her, rolling up her sleeve and looking at the ugly purple bruise that matched her father's finger prints.

"That looks like it hurts."

"What are you stalking me now?" Casselle demanded hastily pulling down her sleeve.

Sirius shrugged, "Just looking for Prongs…you haven't seen him have you?"

"Nope you better try somewhere else."

Sirius grinned, "You're just determined to hate me aren't you Dawson?"

"Well you do make it rather easy Black now if you don't mind," she gestured towards the hall hoping he would take the hint.

The thing about hoping with Sirius, however, is that he rarely did what you wanted. He plopped down into the seat across from her.

"Have a good holiday?"

She shrugged staring out the window trying to ignore him.

"Well you're certainly looking fit, been working out?" He teased hoping to at least get a rise out of her.

"Ugh you're such a prat," she snapped glaring at him.

"Ah now there's the fire I know and love," he smirked at her.

"Why are you even here, it's not like we've ever been friendly."

It was Sirius's turn to shrug, truth was he didn't even know why he was there. She was right they had never been friends and yet here he was. "Bored I guess."

The pair relapsed into an awkward silence and Sirius cast around for something to talk about.

"So your dad seems like a real charmer," Sirius commented.

Casselle snorted, "Yea he's definitely Mr. Congeniality….though from the stories I've heard about your family I've got nothing to complain about," She chanced a glance at him truly curious.

A shadow passed over Sirius's face, he rarely talked about his family. "Well…everything you've heard is probably true and then some," he replied. 'Though I reckon my mum and your dad would get on all right if he wasn't a muggle."

Casselle managed a small smile.

"Oi Padfoot we've been looking everywhere for you!" James exclaimed ripping the compartment door open.

Casselle glanced away from Sirius and back out the window.

"Erm are we interrupting something?" Peter asked glancing between the pair.

"Of course not, I'm actually going to go and find Emma. See you guys at the feast!" Casselle replied brightly leaving the compartment.

"I thought you two hated each other?" James asked plopping down in the seat Casselle had just vacated.

Sirius shrugged, "We agreed to have a truce I guess."

James grinned, "I give it forty-eight hours before Cass puts him in the hospital wing."

Sirius rolled his eyes ignoring the comment, "Where's Moony?"

"Oh you didn't hear? Moony went and got himself the prefect badge," James replied with a grin.

"You cant be serious!" Sirius exclaimed with a laugh. "A marauder a prefect? What a joke."

"Well Moony's always been the best behaved out of all of us," Peter reasoned.

"I suppose you right," Sirius replied. "But still a prefect!"

James and Peter laughed.

For the first few weeks of school, everything seemed to be back to normal, Casselle and Sirius were back to hexing each other whenever possible, though it seemed to be less hateful than in past years.

"Are you sure nothing is going on with you?" James asked Sirius one night as they were getting ready for bed.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked his brows furrowing. "Why would you think something's wrong?" Sirius asked.

James shifted uncomfortably, "I don't know something just seems different about you. Especially when you're around Casselle…" James replied knowingly turning to study his friend's reaction.

Sirius laughed, "No I'm not, we just agreed t it was tiring hating each other all the time. It's not a big deal. I'm not any different with her then I am with Thompson or Evans"

"Really? When was the last time you talked to Thompson or Evans one on one?" Remus challenged looking up from the book he was reading.

"Guys, drop it. There's nothing going on with me and Dawson okay? I treat her just like everyone else. I'd be more than happy to hex her tomorrow if it'll get you to shut it," Sirius replied climbing into his bed.

"Whatever you say, Padfoot," James muttered pulling his curtains closed.

"Casselle I'm telling you, something weird is going on with you and Sirius and I'm going to figure it out," Emma threatened as the girls lounged by the lake. It was a beautiful autumn day, and the girls had decided to spend it out on the grounds. Warm weather would soon be a rarity at Hogwarts and they intended on making the most of it.

"Em, I can promise you nothing is going on," Casselle replied annoyed, Emma had been bothering her ever since they got back to school.

"Last year you were both out for blood, and then you didn't talk at all, now when we get back from summer during, which neither of you saw or talked to each other I might add, you both have this flirty school ground children thing going on. I mean sure you hex each other but it's not the same!" Emma said scrutinizing her friend.

"Maybe Black is growing up?" Lily suggested picking at the grass.

The other girls looked to their friend before laughing. "Black grow up?" Casselle asked in disbelief. "That's a good one!"

The sound of a throat clearing caused the girls to look up to see Jonathon Smith a very handsome sixth year Gryffindor, with floppy brown hair and eyes almost as vivid a green as Lily's, standing over them. "Hi, Casselle I was wondering if I could have a word?"

Casselle sat shocked for a second, "Uhm sure," Casselle replied standing and walking a couple of paces from Emma and Lily who stared after them in shock.

Once they were a sufficient distance Jonathon stopped and turned to face her "I was wondering if you'd fancy going to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?" He asked with an easy smile.

Casselle's eyes widened in shock for a moment but she quickly found her composure, "I'd love to," she replied returning his smile shyly.

"Excellent, I'll meet you in the common room at noon on Saturday then," He replied before walking back to his friends.

Casselle watched him walk away smiling before returning to her own friends.

"Jonathon just asked you out!" Emma exclaimed. "He is so bloody cute! And he's a prefect so Lily will approve!" Emma said with a smile as they looked over at Lily who was polishing her own badge on the edge of her robe.

Lily had been so excited to receive her letter naming her the prefect for Gryffindor. She couldn't help but glance down at it every so often; still amazed that she had been chosen. "Hey! I still would've approved even if he wasn't a prefect!" Lily said indignantly. "So are you excited for Saturday?"

"Of course I am! How couldn't I be?" Casselle said smiling widely. "Jonathon really is a catch."

"He really is, I would totally shag him!" Emma said enthusiastically causing them all to burst into laughter.

Friday night before her date with Jonathon Casselle sat by the fire trying to finish all her homework so she didn't have to worry about it during the rest of the weekend.

"Hey Dawson," Sirius said sitting down next to her.

"What do you want Black? I'm busy," Casselle said not even looking up.

"I hear you're going on a date with Smith tomorrow," He said offhandedly.

"Did you now?" She asked.

"Yes as a matter of fact I did, so is it true?"

"As a matter of fact it is," Casselle replied glancing up from her parchment. "Not that it's really any of your business."

"You could do better than that git," Sirius scoffed.

Casselle studied Sirius's face for a moment, "For your information he is a prefect, almost top of his class, and I believe he's on the Quidditch team with James."

"So that only proves he knows how to stay on a broom. He's still a prat."

"Well then it's a good thing you're not going out with him, and I am," Casselle said closing her book and folding her half finished essay standing to leave. Maybe she could find some peace and quiet in the dorm.

"Wait," Sirius said grabbing her arm.

She looked back at him sliding back into her seat. "Yes?"

"Just tell me why you're going out with him?" Sirius asked.

"Well it's really none of your business, but he asked me and I like him. It's not a hard concept, why is it so hard for you to grasp?" She asked. "Why do you care so much anyway?"

Sirius shrugged, "Just wondering, have fun on your date," He said with a smirk.

Casselle narrowed her eyes at him for a second before leaving.

Sirius watched her leave with a mixture of amusement and something he couldn't identify, he couldn't explain the feeling in his gut but he didn't like it, and it only became worse when people talked about Casselle and Jonathon going out. He shook his head in agitation, what was he thinking this was Dawson he was talking about, she meant nothing to him.

Saturday morning Casselle sat at her vanity nervously twirling her hair as Lily fixed her make up. "Casselle if you keep doing that your hair is going to fall out," Lily reprimanded.

"I can't help it," Casselle said reaching for her hair again, but Lily smacked her hand away.

"Stop worrying it will be fine," Lily said finishing up her make up. "There all done," Lily said smiling at her handy work.

Casselle opened her eyes, "Lily you are a genius!" Casselle gushed admiring the silver and black eye shadow that accentuated her blue eyes. Together with Lily and Emma she had decided on a light blue sweater that hugged her slim figure and tight blue jeans for her date. The color of the sweater and silvery tones of her makeup set off her blue eyes making them sparkle. Her long dark hair hung in waves framing her face making her white skin that much more noticeable.

"Of course I am," Lily replied. "Now stop fidgeting you look brilliant!"

"Cass it will be fine, worst case he's a bore and you come back early," Emma added adding the finishing touches to her own makeup.

Casselle nodded and stopped pulling at the hem of her sweater, "Are you sure you don't want to go to the village? You could come along with us-"

Lily shook her head cutting her off, "I've got plenty to do here now go, or you'll be late!" She stood and pushed Casselle towards the door.

"Yes, I want to see the look on Jonathon's face before I meet Eric," Emma added following the pair out.

Casselle and Emma walked down to the common room, but Jonathon wasn't there yet. Emma agreed to stay and wait with her before she went to meet Eric in the Great Hall.

"Really Em, you don't have to wait I don't want you to be late meeting Eric."

Her reply was cut off by Sirius who emerged from the boys staircase looking pleased with himself. "Well you are looking especially fit today Dawson," He said with a smirk.

Casselle glared at him, "What do you want Black?"

"A guy can't give a girl a complement these days? Geez fine forget I said anything," Sirius said walking off.

"I'm telling you he is acting very weird lately," Emma said watching Sirius leave.

"Oh Emma drop it and go find Eric," Casselle said rolling her eyes.

"I think I will," Emma said with a smile before walking off to the portrait hole.

"Casselle you look great!" Someone called from behind her.

She turned smiling up as Jonathon walked down the stairs. "Thanks."

"Sorry I'm late, couldn't find my shoe, it somehow got under a first years bed, but we're all good now so if you're ready?" He asked with a friendly smile.

Casselle nodded and the two started towards the portrait hole but before they climbed out a yell from the stairs caused them to stop.

"EVANS!" James called up the girls staircase. "Come on just go with me to Hogsmeade? No one else is even staying here."

"Potter I wouldn't go with you if you were the last person here!" Came Lily's faint reply.

"But you're just going to sit here studying! What is the point?" James complained.

"Potter if you ask me one more time I will hex you!" Lily yelled angrily.

"You wouldn't there's a prefect here!" James said smugly.

"Come on Jonathon, let's leave them to their thing," Casselle said with a wink.

Casselle and Jonathon walked through the streets of Hogsmeade. "So where would you like to go?" Jonathon asked.

"I don't care, anywhere is fine," Casselle said.

"How about-" But before he could finish they heard loud barking from behind them.

They turned to see a large black dog running in the streets happily chasing a rat. Casselle laughed as she watched the dog happily snap at the rat's tail.

"Would you like to go into Madame Puddifoots?" Jonathon finished.

"Yeah sounds great," she replied allowing Jonathon to take her hand and lead her deeper into the village. They stopped in front of a tiny tea shop Casselle had never noticed before but as they were opening the door the black dog barreled into Jonathon knocking him to the ground with a thump.

"Jonathon are you okay?" Casselle asked trying not to smile as the dog stopped and nudged her.

"Yeah," Jonathon groaned sitting up. "I'm fine. What's with that dog?" He asked noticing that it was dancing around Casselle.

Casselle laughed as she patted the dog's head whose tail wagged rapidly. "I don't know," Casselle said as the dog ran off towards James and Remus who were bent over laughing.

"Oh aren't you a good boy!" James called rubbing the dogs face.

Casselle shook her head before turning to Jonathon, "Are you sure you're okay?" She asked helping him up.

"Yeah I'm fine," He replied opening the door to the tea shop for her. Casselle smiled as she stepped through.

"Have you ever been here?" Jonathon asked leading her to a small table in the corner of the crowded tea house.

"Oh erm no I haven't actually," Casselle muttered gazing around in mild horror. The Tea House had to be the most ridiculous thing she'd ever seen.

Everything inside the shop was painted an obnoxious shade of pink; confetti covered every table so much that you couldn't even see the white table cloth beneath. Casselle brushed her chair off before taking her seat.

"Do you come here often?" She asked fighting to keep her voice neutral. Some ungodly music was playing throughout the shop making a conversation hard to come by. Not that most couples in the tea house looked like they were interested in conversation.

Jonathon shrugged a little sheepishly, "Actually no, only once or twice before this."

A waitress in a shockingly colorful uniform came by and took their order. Casselle had just ordered the same thing Jonathon had; she had never been much of a tea drinker.

"Well it's certainly erm interesting," Casselle said attempting a polite tone as her eyes wandered to the fat cherubs hanging from the ceiling.

Jonathon cracked a smile, "You hate it don't you?"

Casselle began to shake her head but stopped as Jonathon raised his eyebrows, "Well maybe hate is too strong of a word but it really doesn't compare to the Three Broomsticks," she admitted.

Jonathon put some money down on the table and then stood and offered her his hand, "I must admit I'm a little relieved to hear you say that. Fancy a Butterbeer?"

Casselle laughed and took his hand and the two Gryffindors left the cozy tea shop and headed towards the Three Broomsticks.

"So if you don't like Madame Puddifoots why did you suggest going there?" Casselle asked taking a swig of her Butterbeer.

Jonathon ran a hand through his hair looking a little uncomfortable as he answered, "Well most girls kind of expect it…it's a pretty popular place for dates to go. I assumed you were expecting it to."

Casselle laughed, "Hardly, I'd never even heard of it before today. But I appreciate the gesture all the same." She shot him a shy smile.

Jonathon grinned back at her, "I can't say I'm disappointed you weren't impressed, the place is pretty gaudy."

The pair spent the next two hours in the Three Broomsticks swapping stories and laughing together. Casselle felt a small pang of disappointment when she glanced at her watch and realized it was time to head back to the castle.

"I suppose we better get going," she stated with a sigh.

Jonathon nodded and the pair left the pub together.

"So," Jonathon started, "if I promise to never take you to Madame Puddifoot's could we do this again?"

Casselle fought against the huge grin that was threatening to break out on her face, "I would love to."

Jonathon gave her a small smile before taking her hand in his and resuming the walk back to the castle.

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