I hope you all enjoy this super fast update, me (Morgan) and Meranda are finally in the same geological location so it's easier to update and write! I know some of you were sad about the whole Casselle Sirius back to square one thing but its normal for these things to happen in relationships! Though we've never thought a friend was spying on us for an evil wizard (maybe you have because you have cooler friends then we do) but we imagine it would take its toll. Hopefully this chapter makes up for it! Enjoy!
Casselle was right; things did get easier with Sirius. By the end of October the pair were able to be around each other with minimal awkwardness and could even hang out alone sometimes. Though the ache in Casselle's chest never got any easier, every time she looked at him her heart would twinge a little.
Compared to the previous year lessons felt easier to Casselle. It seemed like the pressure of NEWTS had left and all the students had to worry about was sitting through normal exams administered by their own professors. Not that the faculty of Hogwarts were easing up on the work load they administered to the seventh years.
Sirius had taken to sneaking peaks in the mirror every now and then. She must have placed it on her nightstand because he could just make her out some nights as she slept, though the image was always smaller than it should have been. In an odd way it comforted him to see her looking so peaceful, the way she looked at night.
"I'm boreddddd," Emma moaned one Saturday night in the common room flinging herself down on the couch.
"Go do some homework," Casselle suggested turning the page of the novel she was reading.
"Casselle Maria Dawson you better have been joking!" Emma hissed throwing Casselle a dirty look.
"Go find one of the boys then, they'll be able to keep you entertained."
"What about the boys?" Sirius asked plopping down on the armchair closest to Casselle.
"Emma's bored and needs some entertainment," Casselle replied amusement apparent in her voice.
Sirius grinned glancing over at Emma who was sulking on the couch, "Why don't we all play a game then?"
Emma perked up and sprung off the couch, "I knew I like you for some reason Black, let me run and round up the others!" She practically skipped up the stairs of the dorm to fetch Lily.
Casselle scowled, "You did that because you knew I was at a good part didn't you?" she teased sliding a bookmark in place before closing her novel.
"What can I say I have excellent timing," he teased smirking at her.
Casselle laughed and Emma emerged with a very disgruntled Lily following in her wake, "Are James and them in the dorm?" She called over to Sirius pausing at the boy's staircase.
"I think so," Sirius replied grinning as Emma bounded up the stairs. "I hope she walks in on Peter changing," he teased his grin widening at the thought.
Casselle giggled and even Lily cracked a grin as she sat on the now vacant couch. "What's Emma on about this time? Something about a game…"
Casselle shrugged, "You know how she is, can't sit still for more than five seconds."
"I heard that," Emma shrieked emerging from the boy's dorm with Peter, James and Remus in tow.
"I meant for you to," Casselle teased grinning at her friend.
"So what's this about a game then?" James asked sitting next to Lily a competitive spark already alighting his voice.
"Oh erm…well what do you guys want to play?" Emma asked losing a little bit of steam as she realized she didn't have a game in mind.
"I've got one actually," Lily replied with a grin. "It was my favorite growing up. It's called hide and seek…and well as you can probably guess one person is 'it' and everyone else hides and the 'it' person tries to find them…though we should probably have two seekers since this place is huge. And after you've been caught you join the seekers in looking for everyone else. Last one found is it for the next round."
"Perfect!" Casselle replied grinning. "Though we probably need some ground rules….No one can use a magical means of detecting anyone. Also no one is allowed to go into secret passageways that would require a password to enter or the girl's dorm since the boys can't get up there. And no one can use an invisibility cloak or disillusionment charms. Oh and we have to stay inside the castle."
The group nodded their agreement to the terms, "But how do we decide whose it?" Peter asked.
Lily smiled again, "We can do it the muggle way everyone put a fist in."
The group mimicked her action placing their fists in a circle, Lily proceeded to do Eenie Meenie Minie Moe, to the immense amusement of Casselle. Being the only other member of the group with muggle blood she was more familiar with children's customs. The joke however was lost on everyone else.
Finally it was decided that Remus and Emma were the seekers and everyone else would be hiding.
"Here," James chimed in pulling out his wand and pointing it at each of them individually. "That will let us know when someone's been found so we know how many people are left in the game."
"Count to one-hundred!" Lily called as they all scurried out of the portrait hole and down the corridor.
Casselle laughed as she sprinted down the hallway, quickly making her way to the stairwell and climbing. She figured if she went to the upper floors the climb would work to her advantage. She was out of breath by the sixth floor and slowed her pace to a walk confident that she had enough of a head start to slow down. She glanced along the corridor trying to pick out a good place to hide herself. She rounded a corner and was startled by a flaming red four that appeared in front of her. Someone must have been found.
She grinned and picked up her pace heading for an emptier part of the castle. By the time Casselle situated herself behind a rather large statue they were down to two players. She crouched keeping her eyes trained on the corridor for any of her friends.
Fifteen minutes later Sirius's form came hurtling around the corner, he was obviously being pursued and was obviously in desperate need of a spot.
"Sirius," Casselle hissed motioning for him to join her.
He grinned and ran over skidding to a stop beside her, "Thanks," he murmured squeezing in next to her so he would be concealed by the statue.
"I guess it's just you and me left?" Casselle asked trying to ignore his proximity.
Sirius nodded, "I saw them catch Wormy and that's when I knew I needed to move, way too close to the action."
Casselle opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by a motion from Sirius. He pressed himself closer as they heard voices coming down the corridor.
Casselle's heart was pumping a million miles per hour, a mixture of the excitement of the game and of the way Sirius's body was pressed against her own.
"I swear I saw Padfoot come this way," James said his voice coming closer with each passing second.
"He could be anywhere by now," Remus replied frowning slightly. "Not to mention we haven't even caught a glimpse of Casselle."
Casselle grinned as she listened to their conversation glad she had chosen to climb the stairs in the beginning.
"Wonder if they're having any luck on the lower floors," James replied.
"We would have seen the number if one of them had been caught," Remus replied.
Their voices were impossibly close and Casselle shrunk against the statue attempting to disappear.
"Maybe the two of them snuck off together," James replied suggestively wiggling his eyebrows at Remus for emphasis.
"They're just friends, you know that James. Sirius has been complaining about it all semester. If something else was going on we would definitely know."
Sirius grimaced at the turn the conversation had taken and avoided Casselle's eye afraid to see her reaction a faint flush creeping up his cheeks.
The pair waited until James and Remus had turned a corner before distancing themselves from each other.
"They are possibly the worst finders in the entire world," Casselle stated. "They didn't even check in any of the broom closets!"
Sirius laughed, "Do you wanna move spots?"
Casselle grinned and nodded, moving around was one of her favorite parts of the game. There was something thrilling about not knowing where the seekers were and knowing you could run into them at any moment.
The two left the statue heading in the opposite direction of Remus and James. The two wandered around the castle moving spots three more times before they were finally discovered by Lily and Emma.
"Got you!" Emma exclaimed in triumph as she pulled a tapestry back revealing Sirius and Casselle.
"Took you long enough!" Casselle teased stepping out and brushing herself off, they had hidden in multiple spots that were coated with dust leaving a fine layer on her robes.
The group met at the common room for a second round, Casselle and Sirius were the seekers and everyone else hid. The seventh years spent the majority of their evening playing and after five rounds of the game were thoroughly exhausted.
"That was brilliant," James praised tiredly. "Definitely one of the top games I've ever played…besides Quidditch of course.
Casselle smiled nodding her head in agreement, "I used to play it with my nanny and Nate all the time. We'd go for hours."
Lily nodded, "Me and Tuney used to play all the time before I came here."
"Well I'm going to go attempt to wash some of the dust out of my hair…though it may take me three showers to get it all." Casselle announced standing and making her way to the dorm.
Later that night Casselle Emma and Lily were lounging around their room going through a muggle magazine that Lily's mom had sent her.
"I wish I could get my hair to do that," Emma complained pointing to a girl with perfect ringlets.
"Most girls would kill for your straight hair," Casselle replied.
"I guess it's true what they say, you'll never be happy with what you have," Emma replied.
"So you and Remus seemed to be getting on well," Lily stated throwing a look in Emma's direction.
Emma groaned rolling over to lay on her back, "I don't know sometimes I think things are going great and then... it's like a switch flips or something and he wants nothing to do with me."
Casselle and Lily shared a quick look before patting Emma sympathetically on the shoulder, "Maybe he's just too shy?" Lily suggested.
"Yeah he might not know what to say around you…" Casselle replied encouragingly. "You should just be assertive with him."
"Yeah just run up to him and plant one on him," Lily teased dodging the pillow Emma hurled at her.
"But seriously Em, he's way too polite to turn you down and I think he really likes you…he's just struggling with it."
"Ask him on the next Hogsmeade visit! Me and James set it for November fourteenth."
"Maybe…" Emma replied quietly.
"So you and James seem to be getting on swimmingly," Casselle added changing the subject and shooting a sly grin at Lily.
Lily fought the grin that threatened to spread across her face, "He's surprisingly helpful, as Head Boy I mean. We have a very professional relationship."
Casselle and Emma erupted in giggles at the word professional.
"What!" Lily demanded her cheeks glowing.
"Nothing," Emma and Casselle replied in unison causing another fit of giggles. Honestly Lily wasn't fooling anyone.
"Ten sickles they're together by the end of the month," Emma muttered to Casselle.
"I give it three week," she replied.
"It's a bet then," Emma held out her hand and Casselle took it shaking on the deal.
Fall transformed into winter and before Casselle knew it the leaves were falling from the trees leaving a barren look to the grounds. The Hogsmeade trip came and went and despite Lily and Casselle's pestering Emma had never asked Remus to go with her. Instead the girls had spent a quiet time wondering around the village.
Casselle paused at the portrait hole once they had returned to the castle, "Erm what's the password again?" She asked Lily her voice falsely innocent.
Lily sighed sick of the joke, "Jamesisthesexiestmanalive."
Casselle and Emma grinned as they followed a disgruntled Lily into the common room.
"I swear I'm never leaving it to James to set the password again," Lily fumed throwing herself onto the couch.
"You have to admit it's rather amusing, especially when the boys have to say it," Emma replied taking the seat next to Lily.
"And it's easy to remember, it's true after all," James replied taking a seat in the armchair across from them. "Have a nice time in the village?"
"Yes thank you," Casselle replied. "Where were you guys? We didn't see you the whole trip."
"Detention," James replied easily. "Apparently it's against the rules to take points from Slytherins for looking like trolls, according to McGonagall anyway."
Emma and Casselle snickered and even Lily cracked a grin despite her attempt at looking stern.
"And where would your partners in crime be?" Emma asked.
"Dunno, I assume Sirius and Remus went into the village together. Peter mentioned something about meeting someone at Hogshead today," James lifted a shoulder letting it drop.
"Ohhh Peter's got a date?" Emma asked with a grin.
James laughed, "Sounded like it. Do you guys fancy a round of exploding Snap?"
The girls joined James in three rounds of the game laughing as the cards exploded in James's face all three times.
Casselle was making her way back from a long night in the library after struggling through a difficult Transfigurations essay.
It was late and close to curfew and she quickened her pace thinking of nothing more than a long shower and sleep.
It happened suddenly; she sensed a shift in the shadows to her right but was unable to react before she was disarmed.
"Hello Casselle," a voice hissed. Nathaniel stepped out of the shadows her wand in his hand.
Casselle remained silent her heart racing, she had been stupid to be out alone so late. "Nathaniel a pleasure as always," she sneered proud of how confident she sounded.
"You've been quite the disappointment Casselle," a greasy voice sneered from somewhere behind her. She didn't have to turn to know it was Snape.
"It looks like you brought some friends brother, afraid to face me alone?" The challenge clear in her voice.
Nathaniel refused to take the bait smiling coldly instead, "You could have been great Casselle."
"I still will be," she hissed keeping her head high as she stared down the wand he had trained at her chest.
"Crucio," her brother hissed laughing as Casselle fell to the ground.
She bit her lip trying to contain a scream, she didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Her body convulsed under the spell. It felt like she was burning, like her very blood had turned to fire.
The sensation stopped as suddenly as it had started, as she rose to her feet refusing to stay on the ground before them "You'll soon learn that one does not defy the Dark Lord and live to tell about it," Avery hissed stepping in front of Nate and flicking his wand.
Casselle's form flew back and she hit the wall with a resounding crack. She couldn't hold in her cry of pain as her head connected with the rough stone of the wall. She blinked attempting to clear the black spots from her vision.
It continued in that manner, each of the Slytherins taking their turn with her. Her mind spun with the pain and she started wishing that they would just get it over with and kill her. Anything to escape the pain.
The next round of the Cruciatus cruse left her unable to stand despite her best efforts.
"What's wrong sister? Where's your valiant Dumbledore when you need him?" Nathaniel sneered raising his wand.
"Expelliarmus!" a voice bellowed and Casselle watched through half lidded eyes as Nathaniel's wand went flying from him hand. Relief spread through her body, she wasn't alone.
Casselle forced herself to stand, help had arrived but they were still outnumbered. She leaned against the corridor wall behind her for support focusing her attention on the closest Slytherin. Her mind slammed against Avery's Drop your wand she demanded forcing the thought at him.
Avery's wand dropped from his hand, Now lie down and don't get up. Her victory was short lived; Snape grazed her with his cutting curse causing a deep gash to appear on her face. She winced as the blood flowed down her face turning to face Snape her anger growing. Before she could attack with her mind his form went ridged and he fell forward. Someone had hit him with a body bind.
Casselle stood panting the adrenaline from the fight keeping her body tense.
"Cass?" Sirius asked taking a step towards her timidly.
Her eyes met his and her shoulders sagged from exhaustion, "How do you always manage to find me?"
"Lucky I suppose," he replied. "Come on let's go to the hospital wing you look pretty banged up…"
Casselle shook her head, "I don't want to go to the hospital wing jus- can we go to the dorm please?"
"Cass I don't thinks that's…" He trailed off as he caught her expression. "Yeah okay, but if you start to feel worse you'll go okay?"
"Deal," she replied shakily wiping a strand of hair out of her face. "Could you grab my wand?"
Sirius nodded and went to retrieve it from Nathaniel's unconscious form returning it to her. "Can you manage the walk to the common room?" Sirius asked eyes her form doubtfully.
"Most of it was the Cruciatus so I think I can manage," she muttered. Her limbs were still shaking and her head was throbbing from the blow she had sustained. The blood had slowed from the cut on her cheek and was barley dripping now. "Just a killer headache and a little cut."
Sirius nodded more for her benefit then for anything, "If you need to stop and rest just tell me okay?"
She nodded and they started down the corridor, Casselle's legs felt like jelly but she managed it with only a little trouble.
"Cass are you sure you wouldn't rather go to the Hospital Wing? Madame Lemoore could have you fit in less than a minute."
"I'm not going to the Hospital Wing Sirius," Casselle replied her tone leaving no room for debate.
They made it to the third floor before Casselle's legs gave out and she crumpled to the floor.
Sirius rushed to her side crouching next to her, "Cass?" he asked worriedly.
"Ju-just needed a rest," she replied weakly managing a small smile.
"Bloody hell," Sirius whispered running a hand worriedly through his hair. "Look you're in no fit state to climb six flights of stairs, I'll carry you alright?"
Casselle shook her head and opened her mouth to protest but Sirius scooped her up before she could get a word out. She sighed knowing she wasn't in a fit state to make him do anything so she simply leaned into him allowing herself to revel in their close proximity. If she closed her eyes she could almost pretend that they were still happy and in love.
As it often does reality set in when they reached the common room, "Should I set you down out here?" Sirius asked uncertainly hovering outside the common room.
"Set me down," she responded, happy when her feet held her. She was starting to feel better; the shock must have started to wear off.
"Come on," Sirius murmured giving the password and climbing through the portrait hole. Luckily it was late enough on a school night for everyone else to be in their dorm. "Sit by the fire and I'll look up a healing charm."
Casselle nodded taking a seat on the couch and waiting for him.
Sirius returned a moment later carrying a charms book and his wand. "I think I've got it, hold still," he commanded sitting next to her and concentrating on the gash.
There was a moment of pain and then nothing. She opened her eyes and tentatively brought her hand up to her cheek grinning as she realized the gash was gone. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Sirius replied. "I brought you this to…it helps with the shaking," he handed her a hunk of chocolate.
Casselle accepted the sweet and nibbled on it, the food grounded her making her feel less shaky. "Thanks," she whispered again.
The two sat in silence for a moment both encompassed in their own thoughts.
"I guess I should head to the dorm…" Sirius stated glancing at her uncertainly.
Casselle met his eye suddenly feeling an intense need to be near him, "Stay? Just for a little while…please?"
Sirius nodded scooting closer to her and wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulder. "It's going to be okay Cass," he promised holding her tightly.
Casselle felt the tears she had been fighting since the incident well up and slip down her cheeks.
Sirius simply tightened his grasp on her letting her cry herself out in his arms.
"Sorry," she mumbled pulling away from him once her eyes were dry.
"There's nothing to be sorry for lo- Cass," he replied taking her hand and squeezing it.
"I thought I was going to die there," she admitted her voice small.
Sirius tightened his grip on her hand for a moment before he got control of his anger, "I would never let that happen Casselle," he replied his tone leaving no room for doubt. "We'll just be more careful in the future okay?"
"Okay," she replied smiling at him genuinely for the first time in months.
They stared at each other for a few minutes, before Casselle turned toward the fire, "I should probably head up to bed now." She said softly. She started to pull her hand out of his, but he held on tighter.
"Wait." He said surprising her. "Please stay," he pleaded not wanting her to be out of his sight.
"Sirius, it's late I should get to bed," She said hating the tug her heart gave at his words.
"You might have a concussion or something, someone should make sure you don't slip into a coma."
Casselle rolled her eyes, "I don't think I have a concussion."
"You never know, either you let me watch you, or you tell Lily about what happened," he said knowing she would hate to have to tell Lily.
Casselle blew out a sigh, "Fine, but you're sleeping over there," She said pointing to the couch across from her.
"Fair enough." Sirius said conjuring up a few blankets and settling into the couch looking over at her. "Night Cass."
"Night," She said yawning and falling to sleep almost instantly.
He stayed awake for a little while marveling at what had just happened. He watched as her face relaxed into sleep, and smiled knowing he was one step closer to her trusting him again. He fell asleep watching Casselle and making a plan to get back at those Slytherins.
Reviews are appreciated!