The three girls spent the rest of summer at Lily's, gossiping and enjoying the muggle life for a change. Lily took them shopping in her favorite mall, they showed Emma what a theatre was, and they ate in a small diner. Emma was fascinated by everything about the muggle world.
They had all received their NEWT reports in the middle of August along with a list of their new school books. All of them have received passing marks in their exams, Lily had O's in Potions and Charms with the rest being E's. Emma had received an O in Herbology and the rest were E's. Casselle had received O's in Herbology and Charms, with the rest being E's.
Casselle's wounds were healing slowly but surely, with the help of Mr. Evans, there was hardly any pain and by the end of summer her bruises were gone, the only mark of her ordeal was the sling wrapped around her wounded arm.
It wasn't until the week before they were going to be heading back to Hogwarts that Casselle started to worry. She was sure that Nathaniel would have spread the news of her being a spy to the rest of the Slytherins, so what did that mean for her? How far would he go in the grounds of Hogwarts? And most importantly would Dumbledore be disappointed with her?
"Cass what is it?" Lily asked noticing Casselle nervously twisting her hair around her finger.
"Lily what am I going to do about the Slytherins? They have to know by now that I betrayed them," She asked anxiously.
"Don't worry Cass, we won't leave your side. Just don't go walking around alone and we can take them," Emma said putting her arm gingerly around Casselle's shoulders.
"Yeah, it'll be fine. We'll make sure they don't have the chance to try anything," Lily said reassuring her friend.
Casselle smiled a little, relieved to have her friends by her side. She just hoped the Slytherins weren't going to try anything that could put them in danger.
By the end of the week the girls were packed and headed to Kings Cross Station with Lily's parents. Casselle drew the hood of her coat up over her head hiding her hair and face, while Lily and Emma tried to conceal her.
"Do you see them?" Casselle asked afraid to look around.
"I don't think so," Lily whispered as they said goodbye to Lily's parents, Emma and Casselle thanked them again for letting them stay. The three hurried on to the train quickly before Casselle's parents could find them. Casselle let out a sigh of relief as she sat back in her seat. She was headed home.
Lily fiddled with the badge now pinned in a prominent position on her chest, "I have to go lead the meeting with the prefects but I'll find you guys after?"
Emma and Casselle nodded and went to find an empty compartment as Lily made her way to the front of the train.
Casselle sat back in the padded bench of their compartment fiddling with her sling. "I can't wait to go to the hospital wing and have Madame Lemoore mend this properly."
Emma nodded sympathetically, "I don't know how muggles do it, three months is far too long to mend a bone."
"I wonder who got head boy," Casselle wondered aloud gazing out the window.
Emma shrugged, "I would assume it was Remus…though the Ravenclaw prefect from last year might have got it. Remus doesn't have the best track record after all; he's constantly hanging out with James and Sirius."
Casselle nodded, "I hope it's Remus for Lily's sake, working with a Ravenclaw can be a nightmare."
"Yeah but anything's better then a Slytherin."
"Yeah especially when it would be my brother," Casselle muttered.
The girls fell into easy conversation after that gossiping about the new couples that had emerged over the summer, and those that fell apart.
"I heard Sirius dumped Sophie at King's Cross at the end of last semester," Emma confided slyly.
Casselle kept her face neutral, "That's a horrible thing to do, was it in front of everyone?"
"Yeah I guess she had a right fit right there on the platform…She was always rather dramatic though."
Casselle nodded and opened her mouth to reply but never got the chance because their compartment door was thrown open.
Casselle and Emma glanced up in alarm at the three Slytherins that were now standing in the door way to their compartment.
"Can we help you?" Casselle asked hotly her eyes flickering to each face in turn, pausing as her eyes meet her brothers.
Nathaniel stood there with Snape and Avery glaring at Casselle.
"The Dark Lord does not take kindly to traitors Casselle," Snape hissed.
Casselle sneered, "I don't give a flying fuck what the Dark Lord thinks."
Emma grinned at Casselle's reply fingering her wand in her pocket wondering if it would come to a fight.
"You would do better to watch your tongue sister," Nate spat his eyes glowing with hate, "We don't forget easily nor do we forgive. You'd do well to watch yourself. Accidents happen after all." He flicked his wand causing a long cut to appear on Casselle's cheek.
"Is there a problem here?"
Casselle eyes flickered to the form behind the Slytherins, James always had excellent timing.
"Ten points from Slytherin, each I think. Dueling in the corridors is strictly forbidden. Now I suggest you lot return to your compartment."
Nathaniel scowled and Snape looked like he was ready to blow a gasket, but they complied none the less. "We'll be seeing you later Casselle." Nathaniel called as they left the door way.
"You lot alright?" James asked entering their compartment his face a mix of concern and anger.
"Yeah," Casselle murmured wiping the blood from her cheek with her good hand. "Thanks though, did you get Remus to take the points off or something?"
A sly grin spread across James's face, "Actually I took them all by myself."
Casselle's confusion was mirrored in Emma's expression.
"Erm James I hate to tell you this but only prefects and heads can take points," Emma replied.
"You haven't heard? I've been made Head Boy." James replied chuckling at their expressions.
"Bu-but you're not even a prefect! How could you be Head Boy!" Casselle exclaimed.
"Dunno got the letter over the summer. I was probably just as shocked as you lot here. Thought Moony had it for sure…"
Emma grinned wickedly, "I bet Lily loved that."
"She did yell at me when I first entered the meeting, had to show her the badge and the letter to get her to realize it wasn't a joke I had talked Remus into," James explained his grin widening.
Casselle and Emma erupted into giggles, "I bet her face was priceless," Emma managed wiping a tear out of her eye.
"Oi mate I've been looking everywhere for you have you seen Cas-" Sirius stopped as he looked around the compartment, "Erm right well I was actually wondering if I could have a word?" Sirius looked hopefully in Casselle's direction.
"Anything you have to say can be said here," Casselle replied coolly.
Sirius shifted uneasily, "Cass cant we just step out a moment please?"
"I'm famished actually, so I'm going to go find the trolley, fancy anything Emma?" James cut in giving the other Gryffindor girl a look.
"Erm," Emma replied hesitantly glancing between Sirius and Casselle. "Yeah I could go for some cauldron cakes," Emma finished jumping up and following James out of the compartment.
Sirius waited until the door had closed behind them, "Cass…I just…I messed up. You were right I should have trusted you and-and when you told me the truth I couldn't accept it because it meant I was wrong…but I was Cass, wrong I mean."
Casselle listened in silence until he was done, "You're right you were wrong and yes you should've trusted me. I just thought you knew me better than that Sirius, I expected that reaction from the others but not from you…I just thought you really knew me …"
"Cass I just…when I saw you there with them, with my family the people I'd been fighting against my whole life I just-just jumped to conclusions and you're right I was wrong and a total prat but when you didn't offer any explanation I thought it was because I was right…"
"Look Sirius I'm past being angry but I can't pretend none of it ever happened, you-you really hurt me and I just- I can't…let's-let's just agree to be friends okay? God knows Lily and James will need help copping with working together…and I just-I think we should be friends." She didn't mention that the idea of living without him in her life was unfathomable. Or how she had missed him since they broke up, or how the last couple months without him were almost unbearable.
"Friends," Sirius repeated trying to keep his voice upbeat. "I can do friends…"
"Great," Casselle replied forcing a bright tone, "friends then." She held out her hand and Sirius took it and shook.
"Are you…I mean is everything okay?" Sirius asked after an awkward pause.
Casselle smiled weakly, "I'm fine," she replied.
"You just looked…gave me and James a right fright, but I'm glad you got away Cass. You deserve better… and Cass I'm glad I was wrong."
Casselle grinned "Yeah I was pretty banged up but it was worth it. It was awful having to pretend that-that I believed in what they were saying."
Sirius nodded grimly and the pair elapsed back into an uncomfortable silence. They were soon saved by the return of Lily and soon after her Emma and James. Remus and Peter also found their way down and soon the group was talking and laughing easily together. It was as if the Spring semester had never happened.
"Look Cass we all owe you an apology…" James began.
Casselle held up her hand stopping the apology he had been about to recite, "I understand and it's okay…I know I put you guys in a tough spot and well honestly I don't know what I would have believed if the roles had been switched, so let's just forget about it okay?" She was surprised at her own words, at how fast her anger had left her. But if there was one thing her holiday had made her realize it was that the good things in her life weren't worth losing.
Remus, Peter and James nodded sheepishly and the group moved on to another topic quickly not wanting to dwell on the awkwardness associated with apologies.
The feast passed with more food then Casselle thought she could possibly consume and she was feeling content and sleepy when Dumbledore stood to say the closing words.
"Yes, welcome back to our older students and simply welcome to our new students," Dumbledore graced them all with a small smile as his ice blue eyes scanned over the students. "It saddens me to mare your return to Hogwarts with grave news, but alas the world we live in does not allow for the comforts of idle chit chat. This past summer we lost two students. Many of you knew Madison McClehan and Jeremy Spinket, both were kind promising youths with bright futures ahead of them, futures which were stolen from them by one who calls himself Voldemort."
Dumbledore paused as a ripple of uneasy flowed through the students.
"Madison and Jeremy will always be remembered here at Hogwarts. Madison was the epitome of the best qualities of the Hufflepuff house. She was a friend to all and often put others above herself. Jeremy had the best Ravenclaw qualities to offer to those around him. He was a bright pupil, one of the top in his year and his wit brought joy to those around him. I ask each of you to remember these two young lives that were ripped from us by the darkness of the world. This is a time for us to unite with each other and to stand strong against the influences of those who seek power no matter what the cost. A moments silence for Madison and Jeremy."
The hall fell silent except for some sniffling from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Casselle closed her eyes the warmth that the feast had brought had left her leaving a cold anger in its place. It wasn't fair that their lives were cut so short, that they would never grow old and watch their own children go to Hogwarts.
Lily reached over and gave Casselle's hand a squeeze.
"Now I'm sure you all want to be well rested for your lessons tomorrow."
The students recognized the dismissal and stood, "I'll meet you guys in the dorm, I have to make sure everyone knows the password, its Aconite by the way." Lily hurried off calling for first years to follow her. James followed suit and the two led a group of eleven or so scared looking students out of the hall.
"I swear we were never that little," Sirius stated falling into step next to Emma and Casselle.
"Of course you were, when you were eleven that is," Emma replied smiling at the younger students.
"They look like little midgets; I promise you I was never that short!" Sirius insisted his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Course you weren't Padfoot," Peter replied grinning at his friend.
"Well you never really did grow out of that size did you Wormy," Sirius quipped grinning back at his friend.
Peter flushed as Remus and the girls chuckled.
"Anyone know the password?" Sirius asked pausing in front of the portrait hole.
"Aconite," Casselle responded grinning as the fat lady swung open.
The group climbed in and headed for the arm chairs closest to the fire sitting and talking lazily amongst themselves.
"I'll be right back," Casselle announced standing. "I have to see Madame Lemoore about my arm."
"You shouldn't go alone," Emma replied jumping up from her spot across from Remus, the two had been playing a game of wizarding chess.
"No Emma its fine finish your game I'll be right back."
"No Emma's right you really shouldn't go alone," Sirius cut in remembering the last time Casselle had been caught alone in the corridor. "I can take you… if you want."
All eyes fell on Casselle as she deliberated, she knew it wasn't the wisest decision to wander around by herself after everything that had happened but she was almost willing to take her chances with the Slytherins to avoid another awkward conversation.
"Come on Cass, you know it's not safe for you to be wandering around by yourself after everything…"
Casselle stopped herself from uttering a bitchy response and instead sighed, "If you really want to then that's fine. Let's go." She made her way to the portrait hole opening it with her good hand and slipping out into the dark corridor.
The pair walked together in a tense silence for most of the way to the hospital wing.
"Is this how it's always going to be?" Sirius asked with a sad smile.
"I reckon this is the way it'll be for a while…but it'll get easier," Casselle responded keeping her eyes trained steadily ahead of her.
"How do you know?"
"Because it's already gotten easier," Casselle replied raising her hand to knock timidly on the hospital's patron's office door.
"Yes, yes what is it?" Madame Lemoore asked emerging from her office.
"I was wondering if you would be able to mend my arm?" Casselle asked nodding her head towards the cast.
Madame Lemoore inspected the cast tsking the entire time, "The things muggles come up with," she muttered shaking her head. "Of course I'll be able to mend it, have a seat and hold still."
Casselle eagerly complied taking a seat on the nearest hospital bed. Madame Lemoore muttered a quick charm that split the cast causing it to fall away from Casselle's now exposed arm.
"Now this part may hurt a bit," Madame Lemoore warned rolling the sleeves of her robe up.
Casselle smiled slightly at the words though they weren't particularly funny the idea of someone warning her that something would hurt was amusing, "I'm ready whenever you are."
Casselle grimaced as a painful stab traveled up her arm, but the sensation went as quickly as it came. Casselle smiled as she stretched her arm out in front of her reveling in the sensation of being able to move it freely again. "Thanks!" she replied brightly hopping off of the bed.
"You're more than welcome dear, but do try to have less accidents in the future."
Casselle smiled tightly before heading to the door with Sirius.
"So how was your holiday?" she asked after a couple painful minutes of silence.
Sirius shrugged, "It was fine…I got a loft in London so I stayed there most of the time when I wasn't visiting James or the others."
"That's great!" Casselle replied trying to ignore the fact that she could've been there with him.
"Yeah it's alright…being of age makes it easier…though my land lords a muggle and I had to lie on the papers. Some nonsense about not being eligible until I was eighteen."
Casselle nodded, "Yeah kids don't come of age until their eighteen in the muggle world…"
The silence returned and the two cast around for something to talk about.
"I take it you stayed with Evans?" Sirius asked hesitantly.
"How'd you know that?" Casselle asked glancing over at him.
"Well it makes sense since you're friends and all…" Sirius didn't mention seeing Lily in the mirror, he was unsure of how Casselle would take that.
Casselle nodded accepting his explanation easily, "Yeah I stayed there with Lily and Emma for the rest of the holiday…it was actually quiet decent. Almost as good as last ye-" She stopped herself before she could finish the sentence not wanting to remember the prior summer.
Sirius sighed wondering if they would ever be able to stop walking on egg shells around each other.