So we know it's been practically forever since we updated but we'll try to be quicker now that summer is here! Thanks for sticking with us!
Casselle was dreading the welcome home feast for the first time in her life, because she knew what that feast would bring. She sat down between Lily and Sirius staring glumly down at the table. She grabbed Sirius's hand squeezing hard, as she watched Dumbledore stand. He glanced over at her before squeezing her hand back comfortingly.
"Welcome back everyone, I hate to delay our feast but I have some grave news to tell you all." Dumbledore started. "It is with great sadness that I inform you one of our own students, Emma Thompson, and her family were murdered by Lord Voldemort over break." He paused as gasps of horror ran through the hall.
Lily sucked in a breath as she tried to hold in her tears, James put his arm around her and she leaned into him gratefully. Casselle just focused her eyes on her headmaster while Sirius rubbed circles on her hand with his thumb.
"The Thompson's were a great wizard family who was targeted because of their acceptance of muggles and muggleborns. Ms. Thompson would have grown into a great witch but her life was cut short." Dumbledore's voice was soft but determined as he looked out at the students. "Voldemort is becoming a risk to us all and it is you at this time who will suffer the most if he is not stopped. You all must make a choice to fight against Voldemort or with him. Sadly there is no in between. I hope you all chose wisely." Dumbledore finished solemnly his voice trailing over each and every one of the students.
Casselle looked around as well, her eyes falling upon her brother who was staring at her with a knowing smirk. Casselle made a noise very similar to a snarl, tightening her hold on Sirius causing him to wince and follow her gaze. His eyes narrowed as he noticed none of the Slytherins were paying attention to Dumbledore.
"Now please let us have a moment of silence for Emma Thompson," he said bowing his head, as he did most of the students followed. A tear slid down Casselle's cheek as the thought of Emma washed over her. "We will have a funeral for the Thompson family tomorrow for any who would like to attend. Let the rest of this year bring happiness," Dumbledore said waving his hand allowing the food to appear before them.
The students ate mostly in silence the mood in the Great Hall unusually somber.
The Gryffindors made their way to their common room silently. They settled down by the fire Casselle curled up in Sirius's lap and Lily did the same with James. Remus sat in silence staring off into the fire. As time passed the warmth of the fire and the soothing circles Sirius rubbed into her back was lulling Casselle to sleep.
"Love you're falling asleep," Sirius whispered.
Casselle opened her eyes slowly to see Lily falling asleep as well. She stretched and moaned sleepily. "I guess we should go to bed."
Lily opened her eyes and caught Casselle's gaze they both knew what they were thinking. There would be one bed empty when they entered that dormitory. Casselle leaned up and kissed Sirius before standing up. "You ready Lil?" Casselle asked softly.
Lily turned from James and nodded before following Casselle to the dorm. They opened the door slowly and walked in trying to avoid the empty bed to their right.
"Cass?" Lily called quietly from behind her.
"Lil we can get through this together," Casselle said tears building in her eyes.
They crawled into bed drawing their curtains to block out the image of their friends empty bed.
Casselle fell asleep to dreams of Emma, she watched as her smiling face turned stone cold and terrified in front of her. A flash of green light flashed across her vision and Casselle jerked awake panting, a cold sweat covering her body.
"Casselle?" Lily called.
"Yeah," she asked pulling her curtains away to see Lily still awake with tears in her eyes.
"I can't sleep here Cass, not without her."
Casselle got up and moved over to Lily. "I know Lil," She said hugging her. "I know where we can go," Casselle said pulling her up. "Come on."
They crept into the boy's dormitory to the sound of soft snores. Casselle walked over to Sirius's bed as Lily stopped at James's.
"Sirius?" She called gently nudging him.
Sirius opened his eyes sleepily, "Cass?" he croaked. "What's going on?"
"We can't sleep in there, I can't do it," Casselle said as tears slid down her face.
Sirius sat up and pulled her down to him. "Shh, it'll be okay. You can sleep here, lie down." he said pulling the blanket over her.
They fell asleep in each other's arms and when Casselle awoke the next morning she smiled feeling Sirius's strong arms wrapped around her, for a second she allowed herself to forget what day it was and just imagines that everyone was alive and happy.
A few minutes later Sirius stretched and opened his eyes to smile down at Casselle, "Morning love," He greeted softly rubbing her arm.
Casselle gave a small smile, "Morning."
"Don't worry, I'll be there every step of the way. I won't leave your side, I promise," He said tightening his hold on her. Casselle nodded not allowing herself to cry anymore.
She burrowed her face in his chest relishing in his warmth, "I love you," She whispered. Sirius kissed the top of her head, "I love you too."
The funeral was bigger than Casselle thought it would be, all of Gryffindor and most of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw sat in the seats, as well as members of Emma's family. Casselle's throat tightened as she stared upon the marble caskets that stood in front of them.
The funeral was full of tears, and members of Emma's family telling stories. Casselle felt as though the whole thing passed in a blur or tears. Sirius sat by her side holding her hand the entire time.
After the funeral Sirius and James insisted that they play a game of exploding snaps. Remus refused saying he had to study, which caused his friends to stare after him in concern. Finally Casselle and Lily smiled as the cards exploded in James's face.
"It's a good look for you prongs!" Sirius called causing everyone to laugh.
Casselle watched as Lily leaned over to pat soot off of James's face and give him a kiss, and she knew they would get through this. Emma would always be in the back of their minds, but she deserved that. They would move on and enjoy their lives because Emma wouldn't want anything less.
Over the next few days everyone seemed to fall back into their same routines, Casselle and Lily still didn't feel comfortable sleeping in their dorm, but they were sure Emma would approve of their new choice of lodgings, though Casselle did notice that Remus became more distant and quiet. She knew it wasn't a good idea but as they sat by the fire she had to see what Remus was thinking.
She pushed into his mind and gasped in surprise as images of Emma rushed at her. She took a breath and steadied herself controlling his thoughts, until she heard. It's my fault. She's gone because of me. I really am a monster.
Casselle allowed her mouth to fall open in shock as she stared at Remus. Sirius looked at her confused, "Cass what's wrong?"
She shook her head, "Nothing, uh Remus can I talk to you?" She asked standing up.
Remus looked at her confused but nodded and followed her to a back corner, as Sirius stared after them in confusion.
"Remus I know what you're thinking and you can't think like that." Casselle started.
"How- You read my mind?" He asked anxiously.
"I'm sorry, I had to. You're scaring me; you're scaring all of us." Casselle replied.
"Cass I'm sorry. She shouldn't have died…I just…" Remus whispered.
"Remus stop! You had nothing to do with Emma's death. Voldemort killed her, not you. You can't blame yourself for this." Casselle said sternly.
"But if I had just-" Remus started.
"If you had just what? You didn't do anything Remus."
"But they know, Snape knows what I am and they're punishing people who associate with half breeds just as much as muggle borns. If I wasn't a monster then she'd still be here," Remus argued.
"You are NOT a monster Remus; you are a boy who has had an awful thing happen to him and nothing more. You cannot keep blaming yourself whenever anything bad happens." Casselle insisted. "Promise me, you will let this go. You didn't cause Emma's death and she would never want you to think that."
"I cared about her Cass, I really did. I just couldn't tell her. I didn't want to lose her as a friend," He said miserably.
"I know Remus. It's okay," Casselle said putting her arms around him in a tight hug as he drew in a shaky breath. She pulled away and kept her hands on his shoulders. "Now promise me Remus. Promise me that you will not torture yourself with this."
"I promise," Remus said.
"Good, now let's go watch some cards explode in James's face," She said with a smile and pulling Remus up with her.
Sirius looked up at Casselle curiously, but she only shook her head slightly before settling down next to him with Remus in tow.
The next couple of days passed quickly, Casselle was excited for her next lesson with Dumbledore. The knowledge that she was able to do something to help defeat Voldemort was enough to get her through these hard times without Emma.
Sirius and Casselle entered Dumbledore's office that Friday evening.
"Hello Ms. Dawson, Mr. Black I know it has been a grave week for you both, so we can take it slow if you'd like." Dumbledore said ushering them into seats.
"No professor, I would like to continue my training as usual," Casselle said determinedly.
"As you wish," Dumbledore said preparing her for more focused mind reading.
They spent the next hour with Casselle flipping through Sirius's mind easily able to control what she wanted to see, as well as fight off some spells from Dumbledore.
After they were finished and Casselle sat in a chair trying to control her breathing, she looked up to her headmaster. "Professor, I know you're planning a force against Voldemort and I want to be part of it," Casselle said determinedly while Sirius dropped his jaw in shock.
Dumbledore stared at her with his piercing blue eyes, "Casselle, I am forming an army to fight against Voldemort, but students are not allowed to enter."
"But sir! I've been training for this for the last three years, I've spied on the Death Eaters and put my life on the line, I deserve the right to fight!" She said angrily.
"Casselle I know I have put a lot of responsibility on you, but this is a decision you need to think about and make when you are finally out of school." Dumbledore said calmly.
"Professor please, I need to fight." Casselle said her voice taking on a more pleading tone.
"Casselle I know the lost of Ms Thompson was devastating but you can't rush into this for revenge. It will not end well, and if that is the only reason behind your desire to fight then you need to think very carefully and take a step back, revenge is not the answer at a time like this," Dumbledore said slowly.
Casselle nodded keeping her mouth shut before she said something she would regret.
"You both may leave if you have nothing else to say," Dumbledore said. Casselle and Sirius got up and left silently.
Casselle walked with Sirius hand in hand down the corridor. Sirius debating on whether or not to talk about the conversation Casselle had had with Dumbledore. "Cass when were you going to tell me about this idea?"
Casselle sighed, "Sirius you had to have known that I've been leaning towards this."
"Yes but we should have talked about this, if we're going to have a life together, I think I have a right to know about major decisions." He said.
"Well, well if it isn't the blood traitor and his whore," A familiar voice drawled.
They both turned to see Nathaniel standing with Snape, Regulus, and Avery in the corridor behind them.
"What do you want Nate?" Casselle asked venom lacing her words.
"Just wanted to share my condolences about your dead friend," he said putting emphasis on the last two words.
Casselle's hands tightened into fists. "Say one more word and I swear I will kill you."
"I bet she begged for her life on her hands and knees. Probably offered herself up to the Death Eaters to save her own skin," He sneered a hard glint in his eyes.
She about threw herself at him ignoring the fact that she had a wand, but Sirius caught her around the waist holding her back. "DON'T YOU DARE!" She shouted struggling against him. "DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT! SHE WAS A GREAT WITCH!" Casselle screeched.
"Casselle come on, don't let him get to you!" Sirius yelled into her ear trying to be heard over her shouts.
"Do you think it was a quick death or a slow one. I can see it now the cruciatus curse until she begged for her death. And then the rewarding image of seeing the last bit of life leave her eyes. Nothing could be more inspiring, don't you think?"
She let out a scream of rage as she struggled even harder against Sirius's arms. "LET ME GO!" She shouted clawing at his arms, her mind going blank except for the thought of killing Nate. "YOU BASTARD!" She spat at him.
"Casselle let's go!" Sirius cried struggling to keep a hold on her as she drew blood from his arms. "You can't do anything right now. Just let it go." Sirius said.
She relaxed in his arms, as Nate turned to leave with the rest following him. "Great path you've chosen Regulus," She called after him causing them all to stop and stare at her including Sirius. "You could have been something great if only you had listened to your brother, but you chose to follow behind like a lost puppy. How could your parents be proud of a cowardly follower?" She asked nastily. Regulus flinched at the insult but didn't say anything.
"And you," She said glaring at Snape. "No wonder Lily picked James over you Snivellus," She sneered. His gaze narrowed at her. "You're just like Regulus allowing the others to make decisions while you follow behind hopelessly. Be a man Snivellus, or you'll never get the girl. James is twice the man you are." She said before turning back to them and walking away.
As they both turned, Snape pulled out his wand and caused three huge slashes to form on Casselle's back. She cried out in pain as she fell to the ground. Sirius looked down in horror, "CASSELLE!" He cried pulling her up, "What did you do?" He yelled over at Snape enraged. Casselle had lost consciousness from the amount of blood pooling around her. Without thinking he lifted Casselle up and without a second glance behind him, ran to the hospital wing.
"MADAME LEMOORE!" Sirius screamed for the nurse as he pushed through the doors.
"Who is calling at this hour?" She cried walking out of her office in a night gown.
"Please she's been bleeding a lot. She's been hit by a curse, I don't know what kind." Sirius rambled moving her to a bed and laying her on her stomach.
Madame Lemoore hurried over to them and examined the wound. "I have never seen this kind of curse before. It may take a while."
"She's lost a lot of blood, she doesn't have a lot of time." Sirius said frantically standing over her.
"Mr. Black if you want me to help her you need to step back so I can work properly." She said summoning several potions towards her. She started muttering spells moving her wand over the wounds the blood started to slow.
Sirius moved back a few feet but watched on anxiously. He didn't know what to think, he couldn't lose Casselle. She had to be okay.
"Will she be okay?" Sirius asked nervously.
"Mr. Black you are not helping by being here. You should be in bed!" She cried trying to stop the bleeding completely so she could heal the wounds. But when she thought the bleeding had stopped it just started again. "Black get Dumbledore!" She screamed at him.
Sirius stared at her in shock as blood continued to flow out of Casselle's back. "NOW!"
He turned and hurried out of the doors. He ran as fast as he could back to Dumbledore's office. He yelled the password at the statue and ran up the stairs pounding on the door.
"PROFESSOR! PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE!" he yelled.
Dumbledore opened the door, "Mr. Black what is going on? What happened?" He asked staring down at the blood on his robes.
"It's Casselle, she's been hit with a curse and she won't stop bleeding, Madame Lemoore said to come get you," He said half out of breath and rambling as Dumbledore hurried him down the stairs and they ran off to the hospital wing.
"Evelyn, how is she?" He asked hurrying over to her.
"I don't know Albus, the bleeding keeps going, and every time it stops it just begins again." She said not looking up from Casselle's body.
"Let me see," He said looking it over. He examined the gashes quickly. "This was done by a curse?"
"Yes, I think it was Severus Snape, but I couldn't be sure," Sirius said peering around them trying to get a view of Casselle.
Dumbledore nodded, before he offered a few spells waving his wand over the wounds, finally the blood began to stop, and Madame Lemoore hurried to try and close the wounds.
After another twenty minutes Casselle's wounds were healed but she was still unconscious and completely pale. They moved her to a new bed where she laid while Sirius sat at the side of her bed holding her hand staring at her while her chest moved slowly.
"Mr. Black, Ms Dawson needs rest and so do you. You are not doing anyone any help by sitting their covered in blood. Why don't you go take a shower, change and come back in the morning." Madame Lemoore suggested.
"I'm not leaving her," Sirius said defiantly.
"Mr. Black you are going to put her into shock if she sees you like that, do you really want to cause her more problems?" She asked. "Now at least go change, now!"
Sirius looked up and nodded slowly. He stood and kissed Casselle softly on the forehead before letting go of her hand and walking out of the hospital wing.
He entered the common room by sheer luck, he wasn't paying attention to anything as he walked through the castle. He entered his dormitory to find James sitting on his bed with Lily.
James hurried up, "Sirius! What the hell happened?" He asked and stopped upon seeing the blood. "Is-is that blood? Who's is it? Where's Casselle?" He asked worry causing his voice to shake.
"Yes, it's Casselle's. Snape hit her with a curse after we left Dumbledore's office. She's in the hospital wing, I have to change before I can go back there." Sirius said exhaustion obvious in his slow tone. He moved to his trunk without a second glance at James and Lily searching for a new shirt and jeans. He tossed them on, and moved to walk back out of the door but James stood in his way.
"You just expect me to let you leave looking like that? You look like you're about to pass out, and why did Snivellus attack Casselle?" He asked angrily, as he remembered Lily coming to his dorm a while ago in a panic that Casselle hadn't come back yet. "You still have blood on your hands."
"James I don't have time for this. Casselle is lying unconscious in the hospital wing and if I'm not there when she wakes up there will be hell to pay." Sirius said his voice turning to steel before he walked off to the bathroom to scrub the blood from his hands and arms, tiny scratches covered them from where Casselle had clawed at him.
He reentered the room to find James dressed, "We're coming with you," James said.
Sirius only shrugged and walked out with them following behind him. He hurried back to the hospital wing with them close behind. When they entered Madame Lemoore glared at them.
"I tell you to go rest, and you end up bringing more people?" She hissed.
Sirius ignored her moving back to his chair by Casselle's bed and grabbed her hand again resting his forehead against their closed hands. While Lily and James stood behind James's arm around Lily's waist as she buried her face in his chest.
Sirius didn't sleep at all that night, Casselle hadn't woken up and it terrified him. Madame Lemoore said that she had lost a great amount of blood and that her body just needed rest, she would wake up on her own time.
Lily and James slept for a little bit before dawn, when they woke Madame Lemoore demanded they leave to get breakfast, but again Sirius refused. He hadn't even looked up from Casselle's face to tell her no. James and Lily said they would go and bring him back something, even though he told them he wasn't hungry.
Sirius didn't leave the entire day, even though his friends had come to persuade him to sleep or at least eat. He ate a few bites of the dinner that Lily had brought back but besides that he just held Casselle's hand begging her to wake up.
As the sun started shining in through the windows Sirius's eyes wouldn't allow him to open them after he blinked so he fell asleep laying his head on the side of Casselle's cot.
Casselle woke late in the morning with a small gasp of pain that shot through her back. She looked around to see where she was and saw the surroundings of the hospital wing. She turned to see Sirius holding her hand with his head laying on the edge of her bed while he sat in a chair. She smiled as she ran a hand through his soft hair. She also noticed Lily and James curled on a cot together fast asleep.
She moved to sit up but let out a whimper as more pain shot through her back, the noise caused Sirius to jerk awake and blink up at her.
"Cass?" He asked quietly hoping this wasn't a dream.
He looked awful he must not have slept long at all. "Hey," she said softly.
He let out a strangled cry as he stood up and threw his arms around her, causing her to grimace a little but held in the pain enjoying his arms holding her. "I was so scared. There was so much blood." He whispered stroking her hair as he sat down on the edge of her cot.
"What happened?" She asked her brain still fuzzy.
"You don't remember?" He asked pulling away from her.
She shook her head, "The last thing I remember was yelling at Nate and then everything kind of goes black."
"You said some pretty nasty things to Regulus and Snape not that they didn't deserve it. What you said was brilliant, you should have seen their faces. Any way after you made some remarks about Lily and James you turned to leave but Snape apparently wasn't finished so he threw that wretched curse he created at you. There were huge gashes all along your back. Madame Lemoore didn't know how to cure it, and finally Dumbledore was able to stop the bleeding. But when she was healing the wounds it was rather tricky and she couldn't heal them properly." He said falling silent.
"Properly? What do you mean?" She asked confused.
"The wound wouldn't mend together smoothly, so they…well they left scars along your back."
Casselle sat silently not entirely sure what to say.
"Cass," he said breaking her out of her reverie, he laid his hand on her cheek and she leaned into it. "I'm so glad you're okay, I was so afraid I was going to lose you. I didn't know what to do. You've been unconscious for a day and a half now."
"Really? It feels like I've only been asleep for a few hours…" She said thinking about it, but smiled up at him, "Don't worry, you can't get rid of me that easily."
Sirius smiled softly, leaning in to give her a kiss.
"Alright Mr. Black I allowed you to stay for the night, but now I insist you leave and eat something." Madame Lemoore demanded as she walked out of her office. "She needs rest and she isn't going to get any with you here pestering her.
Sirius stood up reluctantly, "I'll be back later I promise." He said before kissing her
He sat down next to Remus and Peter at the Gryffindor table; they looked up almost immediately, "How is she?" Remus asked watching Sirius pile his plate with food.
"She's fine, a little disoriented but she's awake and talking." Sirius said between bites not only was he starved, he also didn't want to leave Casselle alone for too long.
He had finished eating a few minutes later and stood up quickly gathering a few pieces of toast. "I'm going to get this to Cass, I'll see you guys later," Sirius said leaving before anyone could say anything.
Casselle had been trying to fall back asleep but she just couldn't, her mind was still racing from the events a few nights ago. Snape had almost killed her with that curse, where would he have learned something like that? While she stared at the ceiling contemplating the answers she heard the doors to the hospital wing open and her face brightened as Sirius hurried over to her.
"Hey long time no see," She said a smile spreading across her face.
Before Sirius said anything he leaned in kissing her quickly on the lips still grateful that she was awake. "I brought you some toast," Sirius said brandishing the food from behind his back.
"Yum," She said taking the toast thankfully. "I'm starved; Lemoore has just been feeding me potions to regain my strength and blood count. They're disgusting." She said taking a huge bite out of the toast.
Madame Lemoore wouldn't let Casselle leave until the end of the day, insisting that she needed the rest. Sirius stayed by her side the entire time, refusing to even acknowledge Madame Lemoore when she yelled at him to leave.
Finally around eight at night Casselle made her way back to the common room with Sirius. He held her hand tightly not wanting to let her go.
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