AN: I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to get this written! I've rewritten this chapter twelve times! Literally! This chapter's gonna be a bit choppy and rushed, but I really need to get to the Black family gathering. Everything that happens after that is just kinda what popped into my head and I just really wanted this chapter finished. I hope you enjoy it – and that it actually makes sense!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but plot, Cassia, and Domenico. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Domenico Zabini was without a doubt Cassia's best friend. And the little shit was currently laughing his ass off at her. She threw her pillow at him, scowling.
"Shut up, Dom! It's not funny!"
He grinned at her, catching the pillow and putting it behind his back. They were sitting on her bed, like they had been for the past two hours.
"Yes, it is. You're worrying over nothing."
She grabbed the nearest stuffed animal and threw it as well. It ended up on the floor as Domenico dodged it, still grinning.
"It's not nothing!"
"You're worried as to whether or not your crush will still be your friend if you tell him you like him. I'm telling you, if he isn't in love with you, I'm a muggleborn."
She snorted.
"Be prepared to go looking for your real parents, Zabini, because I'm telling you that he sees me as nothing more than a friend!"
"The only way to find out is to ask him." Domenico said seriously. She sighed.
"I don't wanna." She pouted. He rolled his eyes and stood. She looked at him suspiciously as he took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
"What are you doing?" she demanded as she allowed him to lead her out of the room. He arched a brow.
"We're going to talk to your Gryffindor." He said firmly. She stared at him.
"What?!" she tried to take her hand back, but he held firm, "No! Dom, let me go! I can't!"
He stopped, but didn't release her, turning to glare at her.
"Yes, you can, and you will. So suck it up, Princess, and come on."
"Dom!"
"Cassie! You'll never know if you don't ask! So you're going to ask!" he snapped, tugging on her hand and dragging her down the hall. She dug her feet into the floor.
"What's going on?"
Cassia squeaked and the pair stopped, Domenico turning them to face the source of the question.
"Lupin! Just the man we were looking for! Cassie has something she'd like to tell you!"
Both boys turned to Cassia, Domenico's expression screaming 'Tell him or I will!' She sighed.
"Remus, can I speak to you privately, please?"
Frowning in concern, he nodded, allowing her to take his hand and following her down the hall.
James and Harry were running from the lone Slytherin in the house, snickering as they stumbled around the corner, only to freeze at the sight that greeted them. Remus had their sister pinned against the wall, and the pair were snogging rather enthusiastically. Harry cleared his throat, causing the two to jump apart. Cassia rolled her eyes at her brothers' stunned expressions.
"Can we help you?" she demanded irritably. James started spluttering.
"You – Remus – but – What about Sirius?"
She arched a brow.
"What about Sirius?"
Harry huffed.
"James and I had a bet going as to when you would start dating him."
Cassia stared at her twin incredulously.
"You realize that Sirius is our second cousin, don't you? Uncle Pollux is his mother's father. I am not Orion or Walburga." She told them firmly. Remus looked down at her curiously.
"Sirius' parents are second cousins." She explained. He made a face of disgust, making Cassie laugh.
"That's my thinking. Either my brothers don't agree, or they forgot how closely related we are to Sirius."
Both Potter boys shuddered. Then James shrugged.
"I hadn't thought about it to be honest."
She rolled her eyes.
"Of course you didn't, because you think it's normal. Inbreeding is how we end up with the Crabbes, Goyles, and Bulstrodes." She told him sternly. James rolled his eyes. He'd heard this speech before. She gave him a gimlet eye before changing the subject.
"And anyway, Sirius likes Aurora Sinistra."
James frowned.
"That Slytherin girl the year below us?" he asked in confusion. She nodded.
"He ran into her on the way to Astronomy once and started talking to her."
He looked at Harry.
"I thought you and she –"
He shook his head.
"I'm dating Hestia Jones."
"The black-haired Hufflepuff?"
He nodded.
"Since when?!" James demanded. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Since last year. When are you going to pluck up the courage to ask Lily out on a proper date?" He asked slyly. James turned beet red, and Remus snorted. He looked down at his girlfriend (?),
"Suddenly I am very glad to have been an only child."
She snorted herself.
"Oh, believe me, there are days I wish I were an only child – or that at least had sisters instead of brothers." She added, almost teasingly. Harry and James stuck their tongues out at her just as Domenico came 'round the corner, a furious expression on his face and wearing badly done make-up. Cassia, tried to hold back her laughter. Her friend looked like a bad drag queen.
"I was speaking to my mother, you idiots!" Domenico snarled. That immediately killed her amusement. She frowned in concern.
"What did she say?"
He sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"That I will be wearing a dress if this isn't gone by tonight."
Cassia arched a brow.
"If you go anywhere like that, you'll be a laughing-stock."
He huffed.
"I'm well aware of that, thank you. Though you you've yet to inform me as to why I am going to a Black family gathering."
Cassia grinned.
"We're allowed to bring guests. You're going as mine and Remus is going as Harry's. We would have invited Lily, but as she's muggleborn and it is a Black family gathering, we thought that would be a bad idea."
Her brothers both nodded emphatically. Then Harry snorted.
"More accurately, Mother and I thought it was a bad idea and managed to talk Father into forbidding them from inviting her. Cassia thought it would be hilarious and dad and James didn't see a reason as to why she shouldn't go. Cassia really wants to piss of Bellatrix." He added and Domenico's incredulous expression. The Italian boy nodded, shooting his friend an amused look. She was completely unrepentant. She leaned up and kissed her newly acquired boyfriend before stepping away from him and toward Domenico, grabbing his arm and leading him down the hall.
"I expect the three of you to be ready before it's time to leave, boys." She called over her shoulder as the pair disappeared from sight.
"Well, well, well, the blood traitors are here." The slightly mad drawl had most of the Potter party tensing while Cassia sighed.
"Bella, could you be any less original? I've been called far worse than that by people I feared far more than I do you – which I don't at all, so I believe that is a rather moot point." She admitted, "But the point is there, so please, come up with something new, would you? I'm bored of the same old insults." She suddenly looked contemplative, "Where is Regulus? I really am bored now."
"No." this came from Sirius, who had been preparing himself to interfere between his two cousins but now looked amused. Cassia pouted.
"Why not?" she demanded petulantly. Sirius smirked at her.
"You are not engaging my brother in a battle of wits – we'll be here all week."
The pout remained.
"But I'm bored."
"You brought Zabini and Remus – entertain yourself with one of them."
"Sirius!" the pout disappeared as her face exploded with heat as she glared at the boy. He grinned. They both knew exactly what he had meant, but none of the others did – not even Harry – and the words could be taken the wrong way. He laughed when he saw her hand twitch.
"Calm down, Shadow, you know I was joking."
"Yes, but you could have phrased it differently!"
"Why? It's not like you're dating one of – oh Merlin, you are! Which one? Is it Remus? Please tell me it's Remus!"
She snorted.
"Dear God, Sirius, are you sure you're not gay?"
He wrinkled his nose at her.
"No, it's a by-product of spending so much time with you and Lily." He replied petulantly. By now, the Potters and their guests were laughing or smiling while the Blacks all watched the exchange in bemusement. Someone cleared their throat and the pair turned to see Arcturus Black looking at them pointedly. Sirius smiled apologetically.
"My apologies, Grandfather. This is Cassia Potter, her friend Domenico Zabini, James and Harry Potter, and our mutual friend Remus Lupin – You, of course, already know Lord and Lady Potter." He added with a slight bow to the man. Arcturus smirked.
"Indeed. Is such a conversation the norm for Ms. Potter and yourself?"
"Yes." Chimed Harry, James, Remus, Domenico Regulus, Dorea, and Charlus. Cassia stuck her tongue out at them before turning to Sirius.
"Did you know that my idiot brothers had a betting pool going as to when the two of us would start dating?"
Sirius shot his friends a disturbed look.
"Really? Why on earth would you think that?"
"You act like an old married couple!" Harry declared exasperatedly. Sirius snorted.
"So do you and James, half the time, and I don't see anyone placing bets on when you'll start dating."
"We're brothers!" James protested. Sirius looked amused.
"And Cassia is my second cousin. I have no wish to date someone so closely related to me.
Cassia threw her hands up.
"Thank you! That's what I said, but James just responded with 'we're purebloods, it's normal'!" she did a poor imitation of her brother, deepening her voice exaggeratedly and putting on a stupid expression. Sirius rolled his eyes, looking at James.
"Yes, and look at Bella." He told his friend sardonically. James grinned sheepishly.
"You have a point." He admitted ruefully.
"What about Bella?" the woman in question sniffed haughtily. Cassia smirked at her.
"You're nuttier than a bloody fruit cake, darling." She drawled, looking amused, becoming even more so when the elder witch drew her wand, only to find Cassia's at her throat.
"Really?" the smirk became a vicious grin, "You want to try? It's been a while since I've had a real challenge. You'd be making my day."
"Cassia." This was Harry, who wore a stern expression as he addressed his twin. The girl sighed, putting her wand away. She turned to the Lord Black.
"My apologies, Lord Black, for behaving so rudely in your home."
Arcturus arched a brow.
"Might I inquire as to what your comment meant, Ms. Potter?"
She smirked.
"You could, but I won't promise an answer." She replied wryly. Arcturus surprised those around him by laughing. He smirked at Cassia.
"I suppose that's your final word on the subject?"
Cassia arched a brow.
"For now." She agreed. The smirk broadened.
"Then perhaps you and your brother could explain the oddity on my family tapestry."
She froze.
"Oddity?" she asked stiffly. Arcturus nodded.
"Yes. Charlus and Dorea are listed as your parents, and the month and day match public knowledge, but the year doesn't quite match up."
"Oh really?" Cassia's voice was cold now, and sharp eyes were now narrowed on her twin, who looked decidedly nervous. Arcturus looked amused.
"Really. Now, Ms. Potter, would you mind telling me why my tapestry lists you having been born in 1980?"
"Harry?" Cassia said calmly. Harry gulped.
"Yes, Cassie?"
"I believe you and Albus forgot something." She told him conversationally. Harry nodded, now looking quite afraid.
"I-it seems that way." He stuttered. She hummed.
"Yes, it seems so." She agreed. Her face suddenly contorted in anger, her eyes blazing. "Even though the two of you assured me that everything had been taken care of. That there was no way anyone could possibly find out without our telling them. And you forgot about the Black family tapestry." She turned back to Arcturus. "We'll explain but if any of what we have to say finds its way to Voldemort the only members of House Black that will be spared will be Sirius, Regulus, Andromeda and her family. I will ruin your House and obliterate the rest of its members – including yourself." She hissed. Lord Black looked her in the eyes and saw the truth there. He nodded. He turned to his family.
"Swear an oath of silence, all of you, or you'll be obliviated and sent home." He ordered tersely. Bellatrix and Walburga.
"Lord Black, surely you don't believe the girl?" Walburga demanded. Bellatrix sneered.
"She's nothing more than a little girl with delusions of power."
Cassia turned her wand on the older woman again.
"I've seen your death once, Bella, I would have no qualms being the cause a second time 'round." She hissed. Harry reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. She calmed slightly and put her wand away. He smiled apologetically at Arcturus.
"My apologies, my sister holds a grudge and Bella has engender quite a strong one."
Lord Black arched a brow.
"And how did she do that?"
Harry sighed.
"That is all part of the explanation. And just so you know, she doesn't make threats likely. If she says she's going to do something, she more than likely already has several contingencies in place to ensure your down fall and the destruction of your House in the event of her death."
Everyone looked at Cassia who shrugged.
"I had to adjust them so that Regulus was included in the exceptions a couple of years ago, but yes, I do. Everything is set up so that Sirius will inherit everything and the others will die of suspicious circumstances or some other variation. Either way, Sirius gets everything and all but he, Regulus, and Andromeda and her family suffer." She rolled her eyes, "You wouldn't believe the strings I had to pull to get some of it done. And Bagnold is completely incompetent – she's almost as bad as Fudge –"
"Cass?" Harry interrupted, amused. She looked at him.
"Hmm?"
He gestured around them and she finally registered the shocked faces of those around them. The only ones not surprised were those who knew the truth – her parents, Harry, James, and Domenico, whom she had told everything to in their second year when the pressure of keeping such a huge secret from those she cared for was starting to make her crack. She raised a brow.
"What?"
"Since when are you so Slytherin?" Sirius demanded. Remus snorted.
"She's always been like this, Padfoot. She's just taken care not show this side of herself to you – probably for fear of rejection."
"I wouldn't –"
"Sirius, Cass is literally the only reason you didn't completely dismiss your brother as soon as he was sorted into Slytherin. Now, I'd like to know exactly what she and Harry have felt that they couldn't tell us, so if you and your Grandfather could get the rest of your family moving, that would be nice."
Cassia barked a laugh at that.
"Merlin, but I love you, Remus." She chuckled. His eyes widened.
"What?"
She felt her own grow to the size of saucers as she realized what she'd said.
"I didn't mean to say that yet!"
"Yet?" now Remus looked amused. She pouted at him.
"Shut up and stop laughing at me."
He raised a brow.
"Are you going to tell me what you've been hiding?"
She nodded immediately.
"Harry and I had been planning on telling the rest of you after O.W.L.s anyway. Lord Black just sped everything up a bit. We just need to wait until this lot have finished giving their oaths or have been obliviated and sent home." She told him. He inclined his head. One of the Blacks caught their attention. He was an older man with salt-and-pepper hair – he looked to be about Arcturus' age.
"And why isn't the werewolf giving an oath?"
Cassia snarled at him.
"Because, unlike the lot of you, I trust him." She replied warningly. The man looked stunned.
"You would trust a werewolf over a wizard?"
"This werewolf? Every damn day of the week." She agreed, gesturing to Remus, who was looking at her oddly. She took him to the side.
"You alright?"
He nodded.
"How did he know?" he asked quietly. She sighed.
"Any pureblood worth their salt can identify a werewolf upon sight, Remus. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if half the school knows and just hasn't said anything. You haven't bitten anyone and no one sees you on the full moon, so they probably don't care. But, hey, the rest of us love you and we'll kick the ass of anyone who tries to get you removed from the school."
He gave her a strained smile and she kissed him.
"Relax, Rem. We won't let anything happen to you." She promised him. He chuckled at that and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you."
She shrugged.
"I love you." She said in explanation. His smile became more genuine.
"And I you."
She grinned.
"Good. That way you won't leave me after all this is done."
He shook his head.
"It can't be that bad."
She hummed.
"We'll see."
And they did. Several hours later after everyone had given their oaths and sworn on their magic not to breathe a word to anyone, or been obliviated and sent home in some cases, Cassia and Harry were wrapping up their story.
"And then Dad called Mum in and the two decided to adopt us. The rest of it is pretty much just a normal childhood." Cassia finished, Harry nodding alongside her. Arcturus drew their attention.
"And the two of you plan to kill the Dark Lord?" he asked, a strange light in his eyes. Harry shrugged.
"We've done it before."
"The Dark Lord is a half-blood?" Bellatrix demanded incredulously. Both teens nodded, and Bella's face twisted into a snarl.
"That filthy little mudblood has lied to all of us, saying he is the Heir of Slytherin and promoting blood purity…"
"No, he is the Heir of Slytherin, his mother just so happened to have been barely more than a squib and his father was a muggle." Cassia explained calmly.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" drawled Lucius Malfoy. Cassia arched a brow, pulling out her wand for the third time that day.
"I, Cassia Artemis Potter, do hereby swear on my life and magic that everything my brother and I have said here this evening is the truth. So mote it be. Lumos." Her wand lit, showing that the oath had taken and that she was, in fact, telling the truth.
"Why do you dislike Bella so much?" Sirius asked curiously. She sighed, and looked him dead in the eye.
"I watched her kill you. You were dueling, and you weren't taking it seriously, and she killed you. I don't merely dislike Bella, I bloody hate her – I hated you too, for a while, because you were playing with her instead of actually fighting. You were reckless and Harry and I lost you." She told him grimly. He stared at her for a moment, stunned. Then he bowed his head.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly. It was her turn to be surprised.
"What?"
"I'm sorry." He repeated, slightly louder than before.
"Why?" she asked curiously. He looked at her incredulously.
"I left you when you needed me, because of my own carelessness. You and Harry both needed me and I got myself killed because I underestimated my cousin in a duel. I failed you both, and I know an apology doesn't cover it, but I am sorry."
Harry shook his head.
"Don't, Sirius. It was a long time ago. We've gotten over it, and we've forgiven you." He grinned slightly, "Besides, you haven't done it yet. We still have time to stop you from being stupid."
Sirius barked a laugh.
"I suppose you do."
Lord Black drew their attention.
"Is there any way the House of Black can aide you?"
Cassia bit her lip.
"We need Lucius and Bellatrix to remain Death Eaters for the time being, and Regulus, unfortunately, will need to join after he graduates."
Regulus frowned.
"Why?"
She sighed and outlined the plan she and Harry had come up with.
"Unfortunately, the only person who can actually summon the soul fragments is the one who made them, and I highly doubt Voldemort would just hand them over. We'll need to get them as soon as he gives them to you – or, in Reg's case, after he returns Kreacher to you. It's the only way to get rid of them unfortunately. We've already got the diadem and the ring, we just need the cup, the diary, and the locket. The other two haven't been created yet."
The three nodded.
"We'll do it." They agreed. Neither Lucius nor Bellatrix could believe that they had been bowing and scraping at the feet of a half-blood. Cassia smiled wanly.
"Thank you. Now, it is getting late and I would like to go home. We can continue this conversation at a later date." The others nodded and the Potters, Remus, and Domenico got ready to leave. Regulus and Sirius stopped them. Harry and Cassia watched their three friends nervously.
"Are we okay?" Harry asked them. Sirius snorted.
"We're not ditching you, if that's what you're asking. This changes nothing between us, Harry. It just means that we know what's going on now and can help you more. Are you going to tell Lily?"
They both nodded.
"Once we get back to school." Cassia told them. The three nodded, Remus slipping his arm around her waist. She smiled at them.
"I guess I'll see the two of you at school then."
The two Blacks nodded.
"Of course. See you on the train." Sirius assured her. With that, the Potter party Flooed back to the Manor.
Okay, I'm ending this here. Let me know what you think, and again, I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter out.