Okay so we know it's been forever but in our defense we had college finals and since we go to separate schools the weeks didn't line up so it was like two straight weeks of finals for us (sounds fun I know). Anyway the updates should be pretty regular since its summer (high schoolers out there be jealous). Enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen

The group of Gryffindors spent their first Thursday back at Hogwarts lazing around the common room in their favorite arm chairs by the fire. Lily was curled up in her favorite arm chair next to the window, her Transfigurations book open in her lap. Emma was next to her painting her nails for the third time that week, a bright shade of blue. Remus and Peter were sprawled on the floor a wizarding chess board between them. James was attempting to help Peter through the match, though judging on how often he snuck a glance at Lily he was too distracted to be any real help. Casselle and Sirius were curled together on an armchair content to just sit with each other.

Their group was interrupted when a fourth year walked up to them clearing his throat nervously. They all looked up in unison. "I uh have some letters for Sirius, James, and Lily." He said holding them out nervously.

"Thank you," Lily said kindly talking the letters and passing them to the boys.

"What is it?" Casselle asked peering over as Sirius opened it.

He shrugged his eyes scanning the pages, as he read it his face darkened. "You've got to be kidding me," he growled.

"What?" Casselle asked anxiously.

"Slughorn wants us to join the Slug club," Sirius spat tossing the letter aside.

"What's wrong with that?" She asked looking around at the others, Lily at least seemed to be pleased by the invitation, James, however, shared the same look of distain as Sirius.

"Slughorn loves you guys, I mean you can't honestly be surprised that he'd want you."

"Yeah but I'm not big on him, he looks at me like I'm a prize to be won," Sirius said disgust evident in his voice.

"Oh it can't be that bad," Casselle said taking the note from him and reading it through.

"He just wants you to go to a little get together. And besides Lily and James got invited too so it's not like you'll be alone."

"Yeah," Sirius replied slowly, but he still wasn't keen on the idea.

"It'll be fine, don't be such a baby," Casselle teased kissing him lightly on the cheek.

The next night Sirius, James and Lily left the rest of the group to head down to the dungeons for the party. Casselle sat with Emma, Remus and Peter in the Common Room playing a game of Exploding Snaps to pass the time.

About an hour later, after the cards exploded loudly in Peter's face the portrait hole burst open.

"I knew it! We shouldn't have even gone! That prick thinks just because of my name he's going to be all buddy buddy with me! Well he has another thing coming!" Sirius's voice echoed around the common room as he stormed through the portrait hole. He looked over at the group by the fire, but didn't stop instead stomping up to the boys dorm.

Casselle watched as he stormed up the stairs; a little hurt at the snub, before turning to James questioningly. "What happened?"

"As soon as we got there Slughorn pulled Pads over to Regulus and went on and on about the Black family, asking questions about their relatives and everything. I think it made him a little sick to be honest." James explained. "Anyway Slughorn let it slip that he apparently only invited me, because he knew Sirius wouldn't go if I didn't, so Sirius stormed out…"

"That's awful!" Casselle exclaimed. "Where's Lily?" She asked worriedly.

"She's still down there; Slughorn loves her, ranting about her excellent marks in potions and what not." James scoffed throwing himself into an empty chair.

Casselle studied James for a few minutes before getting up and heading to the boy's dormitory. She hesitated outside the door wondering if she should knock or not, but decided against it. The door opened silently and Casselle couldn't help but look around curiously. The room was messy, clothes and spare bits of parchment littered the floor. She glanced around wondering where Sirius was, she spotted his bed easily enough. A rueful smile graced her lips as she took in the Gryffindor banners, posters of scantily clad muggles and motorcycles that papered the wall around his bed. It was just so Sirius.

His curtains were drawn and she walked over to them quietly. "Sirius?" She called softly moving to pull the curtains back.

"This is all your fault," He said from behind them.

She frowned confused by his comment. "Excuse me?"

Sirius pulled the curtain back suddenly glaring at her. "You're the one that told me to go," he snapped adopting a shrill tone before continuing, "It won't be that bad Sirius, it will be fun Sirius. Lily and James will be there Sirius. Well guess what you were wrong." He flopped back down on the bed staring up at the ceiling.

Casselle blew out a deep breath before sitting down next to him, letting the mocking tone he used to mimic her go knowing he was really upset. "Sirius I'm sorry, tell me what happened," She said grabbing his hand and rubbing soothing circles with her thumb.

Sirius sat up and pulled Casselle onto his lap. "It was dreadful, first I walk in and Slughorn is practically fawning over Reg, then he drags me over into the conversation where I had to pretend like I knew what was going on in Reg's life even though I haven't seen him outside of Hogwarts in almost a year. Slughorn just went on about how we looked so much alike, and we really had the excellent Black bone structure." His hands tightened into fists as he wrapped his arms around Casselle leaning his head against her shoulder.

"He hardly talked to anyone in the whole hour, when I finally got away from his brown nosing he followed me to where Lily and James were sitting and whispered something in James's ear before turning to Lily and gushing about what an excellent student she was. James looked pissed so when I asked him what the great git had said and he told me, Slughorn was glad James could make it because I wouldn't have come without him. That's when I stormed out of there. Using me and my friends he has some nerve," Sirius growled.

Casselle turned around in his lap, "I'm sorry," She said laying a hand on his cheek to make him look at her.

Sirius caught her eye before leaning down and planting his lips to hers softly. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer. Sirius eased her back onto his bed covering her body with his as he trailed soft kisses down her jaw to her neck causing Casselle's head to roll back as she moaned.

He was inching up her shirt as the door opened, "Oi mate, you okay in here? You've been up here for a while?" James's voice called from the door.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Sirius called trying to catch his breath.

Casselle blushed as she moved his hand out of her shirt and sat up fixing her clothes. "What's going on?" James asked pulling the curtain back. He stopped when he saw Casselle sitting up blushing and Sirius leaning against his bed nonchalantly.

"Nothing, we're just talking mate," Sirius said with his lopsided grin.

"I think it's time you two came downstairs now," James snapped before closing the curtain and stomping out of the room again.

Casselle rolled her eyes, "Come on, let's go back downstairs, I want to know if Lily had a better time at this Slug Club or not." Casselle said getting off his bed. Sirius groaned before standing up beside her and following her down to the common room.

Their class work was steadily increasing as the semester went on, Sirius and James gradually got over their disgust with Slughorn, treating him with the same indifference they had for years though they both refused to go to any more meetings.

The professors seemed hell bent on smothering any effort to have fun, in homework. Casselle was working through a particularly difficult Transfigurations essay for McGonagall when Sirius slipped into the seat across from her.

"Hey," he greeted slinging an arm around her.

"Hi," she greeted distractedly as she flipped through her textbook trying to find the different stages of becoming an animagius.

"Fancy a stroll?"

Casselle looked up from her book shooting Sirius a look, "Sirius you know I'm busy, why don't you go do something with James?"

"He's at Quidditch, come on Cass you've been doing homework all night," Sirius complained.

"I told you I had to get this essay done, especially since I let you talk me into spending our free period together yesterday. Now leave me alone," she snapped returning her attention to her essay.

"Fine if you'd rather sit here with your school books," he muttered standing and making his way over to Remus.

Casselle scowled at his retreating form before continuing her essay.

"There done, finally." She groaned putting her quill down and flexing her fingers two hours later. In an infinitely better mood she stood and made her way over to Sirius who was sitting with James and Peter near the fire, their heads were bent together as they talked in hushed tones.

"Hey," she greeted smiling at him, she felt bad for snapping at him earlier. "You still up for that walk?"

"Oh erm, I actually can't…something came up…" His eyes glanced nervously to the others before his eyes returned to her.

"Why not?" Casselle asked, the boys all seemed bent on avoiding her eye instead staring at the ground or the wall.

"I just can't okay?"

"Are you angry about earlier?" Casselle pressed.

"No listen I can't tell you okay, I just have something I need to do tonight." Sirius insisted.

"If you're going to avoid me you could at least come up with a valid reason Black," she replied hotly crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm not avoiding you Cass, I just have plans right now. Just like you did when you were doing homework earlier," he replied agitation clear in his voice.

"But at least I told you what I was doing. You're just playing some petty little game. What Black did it hurt your feelings that I'm not available to you at your every beck and call?" She sneered.

Sirius flushed with anger, "If that's the kind of person you think I am then you obviously don't know me very well Dawson."

"Yeah well I guess I don't," she shot back "Have fun with whatever it is your doing Black." And with that she stormed off to the girl's dormitory.

Casselle slumped on the ledge of the window staring at the sunwhich was setting behind the forbidden forest giving way to a full moon. She felt miserable for the first time since she had started seeing Sirius. She had assumed that their relationship would be different, that he wouldn't treat her as something to do when his friends weren't around, but hadn't he only came to her earlier because James was busy? The truth of the realization set in and she fought the tears that pressed against her eyes. She had been stupid to assume that this time would be different, that she was different. Isn't that what all the other girls had said?

She wiped at her eyes in frustration glad that she was the only one in the dorm; these were the last tears she ever planned on crying over Sirius Black.

Casselle made her way down to breakfast with Lily and Emma the next morning, sitting as far away from the marauders as she could ignoring the look Sirius was giving her.

"So are you going to tell us what happened?" Lily asked pouring herself some pumpkin juice.

Casselle shrugged picking at a piece of toast absently, "I guess I just came to my senses…"

"And what brought on this revelation?" Emma pressed.

"I realized that I was simply a distraction for when he didn't have a better offer," Casselle replied staring at her plate.

Emma and Lily shared a look, "What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"He only wants to hang out with me when his friends aren't around and I refuse to be a backup plan."

"What makes you think you're a backup plan?"

"He wanted me to do something with him last night while I was doing homework, but I told him I had to finish but after I was done I went to find him but he was already with James and Peter and said he couldn't because he had some mysterious thing to do."

Emma and Lily shared another look that didn't go unnoticed by Casselle, "What?" She demanded.

"Well I mean it is possible that Sirius really did have plans with his friends for the night," Lily started reasonably.

"And you know how secretive they are with stuff like that," Emma chimed in. "I mean if you had plans with us that we were all trying to keep a secret you wouldn't have told him would you?"

Casselle stared at her two friends stunned by the realization. "I've been completely unreasonable haven't I?"

Lily laughed, "No I still think that he should have at least given you a vague explanation of his plans or said male bonding or something…I mean I understand how you think he was just trying to get rid of you."

Casselle groaned, "Does this mean I have to apologize?"

Emma and Lily giggled, if there was one thing Casselle was particularly bad at it was apologizing. "Yes I would say that you should apologize," Emma replied grinning at her friend. "And it looks like you'll get your chance soon he's coming over here."

"Cass, can I have a word please?" Sirius asked approaching the girls awkwardly.

"Yeah," Casselle mumbled grabbing her bag and following Sirius out of the Great Hall.

He led her into an empty classroom flicking his wand to shut the door behind them.

"Look Casselle…" he began but she quickly cut him off.

"I'm sorry."

"Let me fin…wait what?"

"I'm sorry. I was wrong to yell at you like that."

Sirius stared at her for a moment, "Well that was um unexpected."

A small smile graced Casselle's lips, "Well don't get to used to it."

"But last night you were so angry I thought…"

Casselle glanced away uncomfortably, "I was, really angry I mean. I thought you only wanted to hang out with me when you didn't have a better offer. I've seen how it works when your ex-girlfriends are around, the way they always seemed to be an afterthought..."

Sirius placed a hand under her chin making her eyes meet his, "Cass you're nothing like those other girls."

Casselle smiled weakly and nodded though she still had her own doubts.

Sirius read the doubt in her eyes and tried to make her understand, "Cass, with those others it was all-all about well sex and with you it's…different."

Casselle grinned, "Because we aren't having sex?" she teased.

Sirius grinned, "No because you're special," he replied wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly.

She smiled returning the embrace, relishing at how wonderful it was to be back in his arms.

"So we're good?" Sirius asked tentatively.

"Yeah we're good," Casselle replied. "Just next time tell me when you have plans with the guys okay?"

Sirius nodded, "I think I can do that…come on we'd better get to Transfigurations before McGonagall kills us."

Though things with Sirius had improved after their fight things with his little fan club had only gotten worse. Casselle found herself the victim of hexes and curses in the corridors. The spells were mostly minor and she or one of her friends could reverse them without trouble but it was rather tiring to be constantly on the lookout.

"Just ignore them," Lily insisted as she turned Casselle's nose back to the proper size. "They'll tire of it eventually."

Casselle scowled wiggling her nose which was still tingling from the spell. "What do they bloody think I'll dump him and then he'll go running into their arms?" She hissed.

Lily nodded sympathetically, "I know they're not the brightest bunch are they?"

Their efforts, though annoying were relatively harmless until the weekend before Halloween. Casselle was in the common room waiting for Sirius to come down when James appeared looking anxious.

"Um Cass we have a slight problem…"

"What's wrong?"

"Well it seems like someone slipped Sirius a love potion, at least that's what it looks like. He keeps going on and on about some girl named Evelyn."

Casselle groaned, Evelyn was a seventh year Ravenclaw who had been one of her most insistent tormentors since she had started dating Sirius. "So what should we do?"

"We weren't sure, he's gotten suspicious stuff before but he's never eaten it, do you reckon the hospital wing?"

"I suppose that's the easiest option," Casselle replied, "Do you need help getting him there?"

"That would be great," James replied leading her up the stairs and into the boy's dormitory.

Sirius was sitting on the window ledge glaring accusingly at James, "That's not Evelyn," he snapped.

"You're right, I couldn't find her but Cass knows where she is don't you Cass," James nudged her.

"That's right, I was talking to her dorm mates and she's erm in the hospital wing with a erm cold, but we can go see her right now if you want."

Sirius practically flew from his perch, "What are we waiting for!"

Casselle tried to keep her irritation in check but it was hard when her boyfriend was proclaiming his love for another girl every five seconds.

"I wasn't this bad in our fourth year was I?" Casselle asked grimacing as Sirius went on and on about Evelyn's ass.

James grinned, "I reckon you were worse, but only because you're better at potions then she is," he teased nudging Sirius in the ribs. "Oi mate you need to be a little more subtly. Evelyn likes subtle guys, right Cass?"

"Right," Casselle grumbled.

After what felt like an eternity they arrived at the hospital wing.

"I'll grab Madame Lemoore," James whispered running off to find the hospitals Patron.

"Do I look okay?" Sirius asked fidgeting with his clothes and hair.

Casselle rolled her eyes, "You look fine Black." She wasn't feeling particularly kind at the moment.

James returned with Madame Lemoore who tisked over Sirius for a moment. "You were right to bring him to me, it was definitely a love potion but I'll have him back to normal in a jiffy. You may go now."

Casselle didn't need telling twice she left the hospital wing with James fuming.

"You okay?" He asked as they made their way to the Great Hall.

"They'll pay for that," was all Casselle said her mind already forming a plan for revenge. She had had enough of these silly little girls.

Casselle exacted her revenge a week later. Taking a page out of Evelyn's book she brewed a love potion putting a strong dose in half a dozen sweets. She sent them to Evelyn signing Sirius's name on the card.

The timing of the package could not have been better; Evelyn received it in the Great Hall over breakfast. Opening the package eagerly she looked as though Christmas had come early and beamed at Sirius as she popped a sweet in her mouth.

Casselle giggled as her expression shifted from pleased to cloudy and before anyone could stop her she launched herself at the Slytherin table practically attacking a very confused Snape.

The entire hall erupted in laughter as Evelyn publically declared her love for the Slytherin boy, who after he had managed to extract himself from her had taken off out of the Great Hall.

"Please tell me that was you," James choked out between laughter.

Casselle grinned, "I told you I would get them back," She replied her eyes dancing.

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