AN-Sorry for the giant delay in chapters. I blame school, 2 jobs and 3 kids! Again I have no beta, so I apologize in advance.

Thank you to all the amazing people who reviewed my story so far. I am sorry I can't name you all individually. Just know your reviews put a smile on my face. (Unless they are mean then I stick my tongue out!)

Oh yes, my name is Mel not Jk Rowling, so I sadly own nothing

Happy Reading!

The bass thumping from the music outside was enough to make her windows rattle. She was of age today. 17 was a big deal in the wizarding world, and the fact that she survived it said a lot. Hermione and Reginald Granger were no more, but Cassie and Regulus Black were back on the wizarding scene with a vengeance. Cassie hadn't seen her Uncle for over a month, he left claiming unfinished business but promised he would be back tonight.

She had birthday parties in the past, but this was unlike any party she had ever imagined. Between her father and Cissa the back yard was filled with close to 100 people, most of which weren't her friends or even Harry's for that matter. So she was staying hidden as long as possible. The attic was plethora of items she had yet to explore. Among them was a trunk with the initials NJS. Once opened she realized it was indeed her mothers.

By the time Sirius found her she was sitting on the floor with a photo album in her hands. She was donning a cut up Rolling Stones T-Shirt and short cut off denims. "You really do favor her you know." Sirius said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "We went to a huge music festival for her 17th birthday, her dad about killed her for that outfit." He plops down next to her looking at what page she was on. "We had amazing seats of course, and I remember looking at her dancing without a care in the world and realizing that I honestly couldn't live without her. I proposed about thirty seconds later and we came back from that weekend married."

"You really think I do?" Cassie says with a smile

"Oh I know you do." He says standing up holding out his hand to her "Now c'mon, the faster you get out there the faster the masses will leave and the fun part of the party can start!" Before she knows it she is tossed over his shoulder and carried down into the back yard.

Ron Weasley and tact were two words that didn't ever seem to go together. Cassie knew this, it was part of his charm. It was one of the reasons he was one of her best friends. It was the reason when he asked her to be his girlfriend she said yes. She knew he didn't deal with change well, so when she hadn't seen him for a month she had just assumed he was processing all the changes. The crowd was singing happy birthday when she finally saw him. A smile formed on her face until she realized he was standing next to Lavender Brown, not only that but she was holding his hand.

She knew they weren't the best fit. So when she saw it it didn't really hurt the way it should. She always assumed she would be broken hearted if the day ever come, but what actually broke her heart was the way he had just casually thrown aside their friendship. "He is a prat. A tool, a complete waste of oxygen" Ginny whispers in her ear "Take the drink from Draco and lets so my brother what he is really missing!"

Harry was never really the party type. He liked to people watch. For example while Ron was partying acting like nothing had changed, Lavender was watching Cassie dance with Seamus with something akin to jealously. He knew they were never a good fit. He knew that he would have given up the world to have the chance Ron had blown, but honestly only two people knew how he felt. "Potter, are you really gonna let Finnegan feel her up like that?" Draco says interrupting his thoughts.

"As long as she is happy" He says holding up a beer

"Potter the DJ is going home and most everyone is leaving. It's your party too, just get out there and take what you want!"

Harry knew her, he knew every inch of her, has seen every scar. She was his best friend. She was the woman he had been in love with since third year. But since the change, he had been studying her a lot more. Her skin was a perfect shade of mocha while her previously untamable hair was perfectly done in micro braids that went down the small of her back. Her curves were unending, but the biggest change was her now blue grey eyes. The Black eyes, the just popped and often when he met them he couldn't help himself and was unable to look away.

As he stepped behind her, Seamus moved away giving him a knowing smile. The song changes and Cassie pushes her back farther against him. His hands automatically move to her hips and her hands reach behind her and wrap around his neck making a show of slowly moving her hips against his.

Cassie knew the minute Seamus left and Harry took his place. Where Seamus was grabby and methodical with his moves, Harry was soft and careful. She had several shots in her, and was going to feign ignorance to the situation. She had spent the past six years watching Harry develop into the man he was now. The chosen one to her swotness. So out of her league that she took whatever chance she had and ran with it. She let her nails run down the back of his neck and felt him shiver as he pulled her closer to him.

Draco and Ginny watched the situation unfold. Granted, Harry was her ex. But it was a crush, once they actually got to know each other they were perfect as friends. Ginny Weasley was not letting her friends miss what was clearly there in their faces, and what they didn't know is Ginny and Draco had enlisted help.

By the time Ginny made her way over, people were starting to watch. Harry was rubbing circles on Cassie's hips, and was taking a deep breath moving his lips to the side of her throat when Ginny jumps on Harry's back. "The masses have left, the real party is happening down by the lake. C'mon you two!" With that she grabs Cassie's hand and pulls her behind her giving her one last chance to turn around and glance at Harry.

Once they get down to the lake Cassie notices Fred, George, Seamus, Dean, Blaise, Theo, Ron, Neville, Luna, and Pansy sitting in a circle around the fire next to the lake. "The game is verasatum or dare!" Ginny yells with a smirk as Harry sits down beside me "Everyone pass around the bottle and take a shot, as an added bonus Neville brought green so that is going around too. You can only refuse 1 dare, so choose wisely! " With that Cassie was handed the bottle before taking a deep breath and taking her shot. The warmth of the alcohol was starting to kick in when Ginny handed her the blunt. She hit it hard letting her lungs burn much to the shock of Neville

"What Nev did you think I didn't have a life outside of school?" Cassie says with a smirk as she hands the blunt to Harry who looks at it with a confused look on his face. "What's wrong Harry" she says trying to get his attention

"I've never done this before, and I don't know how." He whispers looking down. He doesn't notice Cassie's smile as she takes the blunt from his hand

"Do you trust me?" She whispers

"With my life"

"When I give you the signal I want you to kiss me" she says her eyes never leaving his as she licks her lips and hits the blunt again. She leans in and he presses his lips to hers reveling in the softness as she opens her mouth and pushes the smoke into his, their lips pausing against each other's. She feels her skin warm up and can tell even in the dark that she blushing.

"Fuck, if that's all it takes I'm in!" Blaise says with a laugh taking another shot of whiskey loosening up the entire group.

"Ok, senor slut Mr. Zabini goes first. Truth or dare?" Ginny asks smugly

"Truth"

"Who was your first crush?"

"Dracosmom" He mutters under his breath

"Repeat that" Draco says with a smirk "I didn't quite hear you"

"Your mom!" He yells glaring at his smirking best friend. Before turning to face Ron "Truth or dare"

Ron looks uncomfortable as he hints the blunt again and says "Truth"

"You are all sissys, each and every one of you" Blaise laughs "Now Weasel, rumor has it that you had one girlfriend but showed up to this party with a completely different girl. True or false?"

"True" He says quickly before hurrying to defend himself "You have to understand, she wasn't Mione anymore. I loved Mione, not some pureblooded sacred 28 heir to the house of Black. Plus she's well black, and I really don't go for black chic's" Cassie's eyes widen before evening out and showing zero emotion. "I figure I didn't come around for over a month, she kind of got the hint."

"So what you're saying" Cassie interrupts before hitting the blunt and taking another shot "Is that you are so insecure that you have to be the better one, you have to feel superior. First with the filthy mudblood, she quits existing so you run back to your now half-blood werewolf ex without even having the balls to respect me enough to say it to my face. My friendship clearly meant shit to you, so now just know that I am the sole heir to the houses of Shacklebolt and Black and you aren't worth the dragon dung on the bottom of my shoe." One more shot and she sits back down between Harry and Ginny.

Harry is wide eyed trying to adjust himself so she doesn't see how she affects him. "Harry, truth or dare" Ron says trying to change the subject

"Dare" Harry mutters knowing at this point truth isn't even a little safe.

Ron knew that Harry was desperately hung up on Cho since fourth year, so he knew exactly what he needed to do to redeem himself. "Harry, I dare you to walk up to your crush and confess your feelings. I don't think that counts though considering we would have to wait until September 1st."

"It counts!" Draco and Ginny yell in unison

Harry's face is beet red as he gets handed the bottle again. One giant swig later he turns to Cassie who is smiling brightly at him. "You're the only person who has never left my side, never faltered and has always been true. Third year even after I turned my back on you, you still gave McGonagall the broom Sirius sent me. Fourth year when the entire school turned their back on me you stayed by my side. In fifth year even when everyone thought I was crazy you found a way to get us to the ministry. I have loved you since we were 11 and I have been in love with you since I was 14 and you hugged me in the champion's tent."

Cassie's eyes widen as Harry takes her hand in his. "I saw the way he looked at you though. He was my best friend and I wasn't going to be that guy! Only he is a bloody ponce if he thinks that your glamour's coming off changes anything about you. I fell in love with Hermione Granger, I watched as she grew and became Cassiopeia Black who took the things I loved the most about Hermione and made her more than I ever imagined. I love you Cass, am in love with you. I refuse to live in a world where you are not by my side."

"Good thing I swore on that train when we were 11 that I would never leave your side" Cassie says honestly with a smile before whispering low enough for only Harry to hear "I'd like you to kiss me now" and with he leans in slowly and presses his lips to hers. There was definitely no way he could ever live without her at this point.