C. M. Black: Eyes of an Owl

Chapter XX: Potter's possession

'I couldn't wake him up,' admitted Neville fretfully as he jogged to keep the hurried pace Cassy and Hermione had set. 'He kept screaming and thrashing, but I couldn't wake him.'

The halls were clear of students. The Sun outside had not yet risen, the ground a murky grey from the dim light and old snow. The portraits yawned as they passed, stretching their painted limbs and echoing requests for the time which none of them answered in their determined stride. The time was most likely only a few minutes passed seven, too early for anyone to be willingly out of bed, but Cassy was more alert than she had been in many months. The tiredness had vanished from her eyes the moment she spied Neville fidgeting in a scarlet armchair by the fire. Her feet had hardly touched the decorative mat in the common room when she was already demanding to know if he was all right. It was when he had turned his brown-eyes to her, his cheeks pink and his blond-hair scruffy from sleep, that she knew something was in fact very wrong.

'Ron, Dean, and Seamus all tried to help me, but when he woke he grabbed Ron and said something had happened to his dad,' continued Neville.

Cassy had heard an abridged version of events earlier as Neville wrung his hands by the fire. It had only taken the mention of a vision and the Weasleys retreat to Professor McGonagall's office for Cassy to sprint upstairs, dress, and collect a disorientated Hermione along the way.

'Voldemort's attacked Mr Weasley?' squeaked Hermione. 'Is he all right?'

Neville shrugged hopelessly. 'Harry says he thought he was still alive, but he wasn't really sure. He said he was the snake of something. Mr Weasley was bitten three times, blood everywhere, he said.'

'Oh, no,' breathed Hermione.

'Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George all went to Dumbledore's office and they didn't come back. I waited up in case they did,' said Neville.

Cassy halted suddenly and knocked heavily on Professor McGonagall's office door. She ignored the groans of the portraits nearby and knocked again. There was no reply. With pursed lips, she shot off in the opposite direction.

'Where are you going?' called Neville as he and Hermione chased after her.

'If Professor McGonagall is not in, then the next call is to the Headmaster, surely,' reasoned Cassy.

Up a flight of stairs and along to the Headmaster's tower, there was no slowing of pace. If they had not returned, it was obvious something had been found and that Harry's vision had been seen to with the uppermost severity. Mr Weasley must have been on shift for the Order, but where was another question entirely that she hoped to learn as quickly as possible. Podmore's arrest in the Ministry, beside a locked door no less, had played on her mind for some time. Doors at the Ministry were not commonly locked. Lucius Malfoy had once said it was for ease of communication; the departments were to flow and cooperate. If one was locked, it meant whatever was behind it was not meant for civilian eyes and Cassy could not help but find it to suspicious that Podmore should be lured there as easily as Ron suggested if the Order had not had interest in what was on the other side. If Mr Weasley was attacked when in the Ministry, especially so early in the morning, then Cassy knew something was there. It might even be the weapon her father had spoken of.

Between the three of them, they fired two-dozen brands of sweet names at the gargoyle that guarded Professor Dumbledore's office. It took time, but eventually it shifted backwards and revealed the winding stone staircase. With a clatter of eager footsteps and a demanding knock of the door, the ever placid voice of the headmaster called them to enter, a knowing smile on his aged lips.

'Good morning,' he greeted them, his hands linked on top of his desk.

Professor McGonagall sat in front and also appeared unsurprised by their sudden entrance.

'Good morning,' responded Cassy, Neville, and Hermione with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

'I understand by now you have all heard what happened early this morning?' asked Professor Dumbledore. 'Harry and the Weasleys have gone to visit Arthur in the hospital and will not return until the holidays are over, if that is what you are here to ask.'

'Is he okay then? Mr Weasley?' sighed Neville in relief.

'He is alive,' was all he replied.

'When can we go and see him?' asked Hermione.

'Not until the end of term now. I think it would be best for all to give the Weasley's some time with their loved one to manage together as a family. Dare I say if I were to send you all home, there would be some questions asked,' he said.

'How is Harry? His visions always unnerve him,' asked Cassy. Her voice ripped through the easing atmosphere, tearing it apart and setting her friends back on edge quickly. There was a change in the faces of their two professors, a sharpness in their eyes that matched Cassy's own.

Professor Dumbledore thatched his fingers together and rested his chin on top. He was silent for a moment, simply staring. 'Do you know how often these dreams occur?'

Cassy was also silent for a time before she tilted her head to one side and said, 'He saw flashes of Voldemort's movements last year. This year he had mainly just seen a corridor, one with many locked doors, he mentions then every one to two weeks, sometimes more frequently lately. They make his scar hurt, but you would not know that, Professor, because you are incapable of even looking at him let alone listening.'

'Miss Black!' screeched Professor McGonagall. 'Twenty-points from Gryffindor for such blatant disrespect!'

Neville and Hermione had gasped too, but Cassy did not pay attention to them. She was focused on the Headmaster.

'Harry was taken by a madman, he saw a friend killed and he was almost murdered. The most anyone tried to do for him was lock him away in the same hell he has been in for the last fourteen-years. Now he sees a snake killing his friends' father and if it was anything else I honestly believe he would not have told you about it; he is losing faith in your trust in him, Professor, and he needs you to believe him more than anyone,' said Cassy coolly.

Professor McGonagall looked as though she was about to deduct more points, perhaps even give a detention, but Professor Dumbledore spoke first.

'This is not the first time you have reprimanded me, Miss Black. Just as passionate as last time and no less loyal in your reasoning, but I assure you I do what I believe is best for Harry. Forgive me, I am an old man, my ways can seem questionable, maybe. Yet, I have never meant to make Harry doubt himself and I will act accordingly. Rest assured, Miss Black, that I intend to ensure you do not find need to scold me again so soon,' he said. There was almost a hint of sadness, regret, perhaps, in his tone. His words were solemn and thoughtful, as if it was something he had all ready realised himself.

Cassy would say it again and again until he actually grasped the idea that his behaviour needed to change.

'Be that as it may, Headmaster, it is hardly appropriate for a student to speak to you in such a manner,' cried Professor McGonagall.

'Professor,' interrupted Cassy again. 'Can these visions of his go both ways?'

There was a deafening silence. For all the things she had said that day, it seemed that that was the most outrageous of them all. No one moved or said a word for a long time, until Professor Dumbledore shifted in his seat and turned to Professor McGonagall.

'I think emotions are high today, that is all. Perhaps it is time for breakfast?' he offered.

Well aware that she deserved a detention, Cassy took the opportunity to slip from the room with Neville and Hermione before anyone changed their minds. Neville and Hermione stared at her, aghast, all the way to the hall, but she did not spare the time to feel guilty for her snide comments. They were all true and until she saw him taking a more proactive part in Harry's school life then she would not stop thinking such things either; something was clearly wrong.

'Yes, yes,' she said as she batted away Hermione's concern. 'I wish for you both to think about something though. Voldemort has targeted Harry since he was one-years-old. He lured him into the Chamber of Secrets at twelve to kill him. He tried to murder him last summer. Harry can see into Voldemort's mind. He feels what he feels and he can see what he sees. Why is that?'

The noise of the Great Hall roared around them and no one seemed to notice the three Gryffindors huddled at the far end of the table. Hermione shook her head fiercely.

'I don't know what you're suggesting, Cassy – ' she began.

'Yes, you do,' interjected Cassy. 'You know exactly what I mean. Why is Voldemort targeting him and why are Harry and he connected so?'

'A grudge?' offered Neville.

'Harry did stop him at the height of his power. It's perfectly plausible someone like Voldemort would want revenge!' insisted Hermione.

'Harry did tell us the reason he is a Parselmouth is because V-Voldemort transferred some of his powers to him as a baby accidentally. Isn't that what he told us Dumbledore said in second year?' continued Neville.

Cassy drew back from them, gently shaking her head. It was more than that. It had to be more than that, because a transfer of power would not create a mental connection, not one that allowed Harry to feel anger, or happiness when Voldemort did. He should not be able to see inside his head at all and certainly not at such a distance. Professor Dumbledore's silence had said a lot about her theory and she reckoned the question was the only reason she did not have detention; she had startled him and raised possibilities he did not want them to consider.

'I will be in the library at lunch,' said Cassy. 'Do not wait for me.'

With classes rushing to get the last pieces of work completed on time, there was no asking after Harry or Ron. The teachers each glazed over their seats and continued with their plans before any excuse arose for the class' attention to drift away too soon in the swelling eagerness of the holidays. Professor McGonagall was determined for them to work until the last minute of the period and turned her eagle-eyed stare to anyone who dared begin packing away with five minutes to go. She was markedly cooler towards Cassy than she had been before, but Cassy chose to stay silent and out of the way lest she really did receive detention.

When finally allowed to exit to the library, Cassy found, as she had expected, nothing of any real use in the hour break. There were so many places to begin and most theories on magical connections were old tales dredged from the bottom of a child's fantasy on soulmates and heartlines, rather than anything of attempted-murder induced ties. She shuddered at the thought of Harry and the Dark Lord being soulmates – an alarming and disgruntling thought she would have to tell him when she saw him later – and left the library none the wiser than when she entered.

She did not try again after dinner and instead found herself following Luna up the winding staircase to the top of the Astronomy Tower, knitted blankets bundled in their arms and a jar of fire Hermione had handed to them tucked somewhere in there too. Yesterday evening, Luna had invited Cassy to stargaze with her, having heard of her hobby plight from Neville and although Cassy had no great inspiration from the suggestion she agreed. It had been a long time since Cassy had just sat with Luna. Not for many months had the two had the opportunity to talk freely by themselves, although Cassy was unsure that Luna ever really censored herself anyway.

They set out the blankets on the top of the tower. The Marauder's Map was pinned beneath the jar of fire and Luna flopped down roughly onto her back.

'This is what you do for fun?' asked Cassy curiously.

'Sometimes,' answered Luna. 'I usually bring something up here to do while I watch the skies, like sewing, or my beads to make jewellery with. I brought this with me today.' She pulled out a little notebook from her coat pocket. 'I like to write my own horoscopes, you see. Sometimes I send them in to Daddy's paper and he publishes them in the back. Next week will be a good week.'

'Do not let the Weasley's hear you say that. They might disagree,' said Cassy grimly.

Luna was quiet for a moment. 'I am sure Mr Weasley will be fine. Harry found him after all. Although, I did hear a story about a man who was bitten by a snake spouted wings and became a dragon once. Dreadfully painful, apparently, but at least Charlie will like him and he would be very useful too.'

'I will be sure to pass that concern on,' said Cassy, not even bothering to pretend to be surprised.

They sat in silence for a time. The sky shone brightly above them, alive with stars and clear of clouds despite the recent snowfall. Several constellations were visible, Orion's Belt as usual, but it was easy enough to pick out the familiar names of her ancestors in the stars above. Their vibrant shine caused the frost on the stones to glisten. The white sheen webbed across the railings and up to fresh icicles that hung from the sheltered roof a distance behind, beautiful, if cold.

'Mr Weasley was the second Weasley I met, you know,' said Luna suddenly. 'I met Percy first. He saw me in a field and thought I was lost when I was six or seven. I wasn't, obviously, I live just over the hill, but he took me back to the house and Mrs Weasley gave me juice and cake. That's where I met Ginny. She was awfully shy back then, she didn't really want to talk to me. I liked them though. I always wondered what it would be like to live with so many brothers.'

'I cannot imagine having seven children,' muttered Cassy.

'I can't imagine you having any,' said Luna, bluntly.

Cassy hummed, not offended at all. 'I would like two, if I were to have children. I always envisioned living my life alone as to enjoy myself as I please, a few close friends perhaps and a lifetime of accomplishment. However, if I were to meet the right person, I would have children, I suppose. Two would be it. That way they can at least socialise with each other.'

Luna nodded and sat up. Her large, protruding eyes stared out into the very distance as her quill moved rapidly with notes.

'If it is right it is right, if not then I do not see much use either. You and I are quite similar, you know,' commented Luna airily.

Cassy avoided putting too much thought into that statement.

'Cho was crying when she got back to the common room yesterday. Michael Corner tried to comfort her, but she said she only wanted to speak to Harry and then burst into more tears.'

Inwardly groaning, Cassy turned to Luna with flat eyes. She said, 'She still loves Cedric though.'

'She told everyone she tried to speak to Harry about Cedric and Harry said he had promised to meet you at the kitchens and couldn't possibly talk to her,' added Luna, turning her cloudy eyes to Cassy. 'It made her cry even more.'

Cassy stared.

'She's convinced the two of you are together.'

'Because Harry was going to meet me instead?' clarified Cassy slowly. When Luna nodded, she sighed heavily. 'It is a good job Harry is not interested in her, or he would have just made a massive mistake.'

What an awful excuse, she thought to herself wistfully. Harry was always a terrible liar and normally utterly tactless too. He and Chang would never have worked out well.

'I think she hates you now,' admitted Luna bluntly.

Cassy closed her eyes. For all the irritation she had felt at the mere sight of the other girl, all she could muster was an honest 'fair enough' in response.

While everyone trudged through the icy snow, their trunks dragged precariously behind them in a constant threat to unbalance their unsteady feet, Cassy and Hermione pulled in another direction. They waved to Neville and Luna as they dropped out of line and turned down onto the beaten track that lead directly to the village centre, far away from the remote line of the train.

Great billows of impatient smoke reared above the trees from the scarlet engine as they moved further and further from it. Hermione had turned on Cassy the night before. She no longer wanted to go skiing with her parents. She was needed in London and London would be where she went whether Cassy agreed or not. Bemused, Cassy had said she could easily force her from the house of her ancestors, with or without magic, she added, but conceded without a further fight that Hermione could spend the holidays with her. It most likely worked out better anyway, Cassy had told her, because if Hermione was there then there was no plausible manner in which Tonks could whisk her away to spend an awkward dinner with her other estranged relatives. That and Cassy would be grateful for company that would surely not brood all through the season like Harry and her father would, but she left that unsaid.

When the pair reached the road on the very outskirts of the village, Hermione held up her wand. They waited a second and she ducked down to pick Crookshanks' carrier back up just as a triple-decker purple bus popped into sight. It halted suddenly in front of them. A greasy-haired man no older than twenty popped his head out.

'Where to, ladies?' he asked.

'London, please. By Elthorne Park,' said Hermione.

He reeled them off two tickets and brought their luggage on board with a flick of his wand. The bus was mostly empty, with an exception a floor above them, so Cassy and Hermione took seats at the far end of the vehicle with a pole between them for security from the sudden jolting stops.

'Tonks' won't mind you going home this way, will she?' whispered Hermione.

Cassy had received instructions through Professor McGonagall that morning to remain with Neville for the next few days until Tonks' had sorted through Order work from Mr Weasley's recent incident. The Ministry was searching for what had attacked him with vigour, determined it was not really a snake bite and an enquiry had been launched, although they were doing their best to minimalize publicity. There was no word or even a hint of where Harry and the Weasleys were, but Cassy suspected it would be with her father. He was the closest householder to St. Mungo's and he certainly had the room.

She shook her head. 'She can be angry. What will she do?'

'I don't want her to think that I've lead you astray,' said Hermione.

Cassy turned, startled, before she chortled loudly.

'It wasn't a joke! I don't want her angry with me for dragging you half way across London.'

'Hermione, there are not many things I think you could make me do if I did not want to do them and this is certainly one of them.' Cassy gave her an amused but pointed stare. 'I do not want to go to Neville's. I want to be with everyone. Besides, Tonks may be an Auror, but she is very relaxed. I have only seen her angry at me once before.'

'What was that for?' asked Hermione curiously.

'For not doing as she had asked and wandering through London,' said Cassy.

There was a pause.

'What?' hissed Hermione.

Cassy grinned at her. 'I had a curfew that time!'

'Fine,' huffed Hermione as she rolled her eyes. 'If she asks, this was your idea.'

'Gladly noted,' said Cassy.

It was only a matter of minutes before the bus pulled to a stop. The pair lurched and quickly gathered their belongings. The bus shot away again and the two checked around them for anyone who looked remotely suspicious, but seeing no one they began the short journey to Grimmauld Place only two streets over. They peered around again as Cassy rang the heavy serpent knocker on the faded door. The house was as unwelcoming as it had been in the summer with the exception of the cleaned windows and seemingly freshly washed curtains.

There was a bustling of noise from within and a bundle of curly red-hair poked out of the crack.

'Girls!' cried Mrs Weasley. 'I wasn't expecting you! Come in.'

'Good morning, Mrs Weasley,' greeted Cassy while her face was squashed into the older woman's shoulder in a fierce hug. 'How is Mr Weasley?'

Mrs Weasley's face dropped a little bit, yet her smile continued. She nodded and hugged Hermione first before answering. 'He's okay. He is not in any immediate danger, thank Merlin, but it was touch and go for a bit. He seems in good spirits. He's been people-watching all morning.'

'That's great,' beamed Hermione.

Mrs Weasley nodded happily. 'Go upstairs, I'll make you some sandwiches. I'll bring some extra for Harry, he's been looking ill…' Her face dropped entirely.

'Why?' demanded Cassy.

'Because he's a pillock,' came a voice from the floor above.

Cassy craned her neck to see Ron leant over the banisters. Mrs Weasley took the opportunity to hurry back down to the kitchen.

'What has he done?' asked Cassy warily.

'He's only been avoiding everyone all morning. How'd you two get back so quickly anyway?'

'The Knight Bus,' said Hermione.

'You took the Knight Bus here?' asked Ron incredulously.

'Yes, Ron, we're completely stupid,' sassed Hermione.

'Back onto topic, why has he been avoiding you?' questioned Cassy.

Ron shrugged. 'He seems to think we hate him or something because he could see Dad's attack. We overheard Moody talking to Mum. He said Harry might have been… possessed.'

'Rubbish,' dismissed Hermione immediately.

Cassy was all ready half way up the staircase with a deep frown on her face by the time Ron had agreed with her. Mrs Weasley called that lunch was ready, but she did not stop. Yet before she could fling open the bedroom door, he sprung from the room. They collided harshly and Cassy sprawled back onto the ground. Her hand flew to her nose, pinching the bridge where Harry's chin had hit.

'Cassy?' he said breathlessly.

His hair was messier than normal, as though he had ran his hands through it a hundred times and his eyes were frantic and wide.

'Are you all right?' he said before she had a chance to ask him the same thing. He pulled her to her feet and she frowned at him.

'Where were you going?' she asked flatly.

'What?' he said.

She scowled and turned her eyes to the fallen trunk and Hedwig's sideways cage. His eyes followed hers and he shook his head fiercely.

'You don't understand.'

Harshly, she shoved him back into the room and locked the door.

'You saved somebody's life, so for once can you not find fault in yourself?' she growled.

'What?' he demanded. 'You didn't hear what Moody said. I could be being possessed by Voldemort! I have to get out, no one here is safe!'

'Being noble will not help anything, Potter. People will look for you and you can be assured that there are many people who will risk their lives for you if even a whisper of you being missing sounds. So sit still and let's think about this for a moment,' hissed Cassy.

She knew she should not be so angry, but she could not fathom where Harry expected himself to go. It was not like it would be if she left suddenly. Cassy knew she would be able to fend for herself, she knew enough about where to and where not to go in the Wizarding community to stay hidden and stay safe for at least a few nights, but Harry knew literally nothing outside of Hogwarts. If he used magic there would be no concessions this time and he was polarised by the public as a saviour or a demon and easily recognisable to top the list off. She had a sinking feeling about Voldemort and Harry. Something was not right, not normal, about their rivalry and Cassy would not risk it, hypothesis or not.

'She's right, you know. Being noble will not get you very far.'

Cassy and Harry's heads jerked to the fireplace. The old painting of Nigellus Black was back, stroking his beard.

Harry growled at him.

'I have a message from Dumbledore,' he said lazily. 'He wants you to stay where you are.'

'That's it? He said nothing else?' asked Harry is disbelief.

'Nothing whatsoever, but if I were you,' he drawled as he pointed at Cassy, 'I would listen to that one.'

With that, Nigellus was gone again.

Harry booted his trunk and dropped onto the closest bed, his face in his hands. Cassy watched him for a moment, before she shook her head.

'You have not been acting oddly. The wards would surely stop you apparating away and everyone saw you in bed that night. There was no way you were anywhere but in Hogwarts. This was another vision, not a possession,' she said softly.

'Then why won't Dumbledore look at me?' he queried gently.

Cassy took a seat beside him. 'I think if you wanted to know about possible possession, you should have spoken to Ginny. She would have been able to tell you immediately.'

Harry's shoulders slumped.

'As for Professor Dumbledore, I think he does not want to speak to you because he knows you will have questions about last summer and I think he does not wish to involve you any deeper than you all ready are. I think he does care and perhaps that is the problem,' she continued. 'Not that he can really avoid it anymore.'

'What do you mean?' asked Harry.

'You saved Mr Weasley's life. No one should have known he was there. If Voldemort does become aware of whatever it is going on in that head of yours, then it will be dangerous if it can go both ways. It needs to be stopped before he notices, if he has not all ready,' she admitted and tapped his scar lightly with her finger. 'However, it worked in our favour this time, so be happy that Mr Weasley is alive and not so hard on yourself for once.'

Harry sighed in relief and a joyous smile broke out across his face.

'Thanks,' he said.

'You are such a hypocrite with your advice, you know. If you try and isolate yourself again, I will smack you,' criticised Cassy, only half-jesting.

'I must have left you to make up some excuses for me when we left. I guess you were on Pink Alert all day,' he said.

'Professor Umbridge may have asked us once or ten times where you had gone,' Cassy laughed.

'It'll be the code for everything we should absolutely avoid in our lives,' he said and Cassy nodded eagerly.

Sometime later, the two went downstairs. Harry avoided eye-contact with everyone, even after Mrs Weasley gave him an encouraging smile. Ginny wasted no time scolding him, while Ron hovered behind her with the odd comment and hum of agreement, leaving Hermione to lessen the Weasley children's wrath with her sympathetic pats. Leaving Harry to the hole he dug himself, Cassy turned her attention to her father, who was all ready watching her owlishly.

'I thought you were going to be at Neville's until tomorrow?' he asked.

'Well, I decided against it and made my own way here. Although, I do seem to have picked up a stray along the way,' she said, jerking her head towards Hermione.

Sirius laughed. 'It saves Tonks a trip, I suppose. Now that you are here, you can help me put these hats and beards on the house-elf heads on the walls. Festivities and what not.'

Cassy stared and he stared back with undeterred seriousness. Slowly, a grin broke out onto both their faces and they burst into boisterous laughter. She shook her head.

'I might just hand the tinsel on the cabinets instead, if you don't mind.'

'I do mind,' he said. 'What good are the heads if they don't play the part?'

'You two are quite morbid,' muttered Ginny as she passed.

With breakfast having not long since passed for her, Cassy found herself helping her father decorate anyway. She shifted through the boxes in the uppermost landing, ignoring the spiders that fled. Her father whistled to himself merrily, oblivious to the glances his daughter had sneaked as she bit her lip in thought.

'Father,' she said suddenly, 'may I ask you a question?'

'You just did,' he said. He dropped the decorations and threw his hands up at her sideways glare. 'Sorry, sorry. Go ahead.'

'I do not mean to pry, but did my mother have any family?' she said it calmly, but immediately, not leaving any chance for her mind to convince her it was a terrible idea.

For a while, there was no sound. He watched her, his eyes unusually sharp and his face slack, void of any emotion. Then, in a way Cassy had not seen before, he straightened and rose to his full height, shoulders back and head high, as if observing her for the first time. It was reminiscent of Alphard or Lucius Malfoy, unyielding, and – if Cassy was honest – defensive.

'Yes,' he said curtly. 'A younger sister of about four years - two years younger than myself, her parents too.'

Cassy did not know if that meant her grandparents were still alive, but there was a strong possibility she still had an aunt.

'What are their names?' she asked carefully.

'Phil and Tess Lowe. Her sister was called Jessica. Why?'

'They live in London?' she assumed.

'Yes. Why?' His voice was sharper this time and Cassy busied herself collecting tinsel.

'I was just wondering. No one wishes to tell me about them.'

She did not look back at him and instead strode back down the stairs with the streams of colour bundled in her arms. He did not call her back, or spare her a second glance as he fiddled with the tiny conjured hats on the wrinkled, severed heads of their past servants. Fred and George were busy angling the tree to hide the branch they had accidentally set on fire and laughed at their mother as her nose scrunched at the smell.

'Has someone got the fire going all ready?'

Eventually, Cassy breathed deeply and rose from her seat on the stairs. She lingered beside her father for a moment. He showed no sign of acknowledging her. With her head inclined and her voice low, she said, 'I did not mean to be abrupt. I am just curious about them. I am sorry if I upset you.'

Sirius said nothing and Cassy turned to move away. Suddenly, he patted her shoulder heavily.

'If I had put more thought into my actions that night… you would have grown up knowing them. They are good people, Cassy, and I hope one day, if they are still alive, that you can meet them. I should have left that night, taken Harry and gone home instead of leaving you there like I did. I know it must not have been easy for you to grow up without a father, mine might as well not have been there the moment I expressed Muggle sympathies, my mother was absent as long as I can remember.'

'Don't worry about it,' said Cassy, but Sirius shook his head.

'One of us needs to worry. I can see you are emotionally stunted from a mile away,' he said nonchalantly.

Cassy blinked and then scowled. 'Oy.'

Sirius grinned. 'I can't say I am surprised. Alphard was not exactly emotionally liberal – and don't scowl. You look like Regulas when you do.'

'Better than looking like you. You snarl like a dog.'

'Part of my charm!'

When Tonks had discovered Cassy had made her own way to Grimmauld Place, and had brought a friend none-the-less, she was actually not surprised in the least. She sighed heavily and clouted Cassy lightly, but made no other remark. Her bright pink hair did not waver to red, so she assumed there were no bitter feelings. She did, however, mumble something to Sirius that had him sniggering as they glanced at her sneakily.

Hermione had a letter back from her parents by the evening. They were disappointed, she said, but they understood her reasoning, even if it had been a lie. She had told them she needed to revise for her exams and they had been instructed to if they wanted the best grades; her parents did not seem surprised by her decision at all. As she read out her letter at the table, Mrs Weasley turned expectantly to Ron and asked him if he had begun his revision yet. He stared in horror and Harry tried to slink beneath the table to avoid having the same motherly expectation passed to him.

There was still a tenseness in the air, even as the Weasleys laughed and ate. There was an unmistakable sense that something was missing and consumed the space at the back of their minds. Mr Weasley might be alive, but he was not forgotten even as spirits soared with good songs and food.

Cassy turned her own attention that night to her own family. She had turned to Tonks at the table and muttered in her ear. It was not until quite late into the night that Tonks knocked on her door and dropped a heavy paper book onto her bed with a questioning eyebrow. Cassy mulled through the pages, pencil in hand as she read through the seemingly endless list on the wafer thin paper.

The door banged open.

'Sorry, dear!' said Mrs Weasley in a loud whisper. 'I didn't mean to startle you. I was wondering if Ginny was in here. I can't seem to find her.'

Cassy's shoulders slumped back down and she tried to flatten out the crumpled pages. One hand rested across the page, obscuring the tiny words. 'The last time I saw her she was with Fred and George.'

Mrs Weasley sighed. 'Thank-you, dear. Goodnight.'

When the door shut, Cassy smoothed out the page the best she could. A short line of curling script was quickly copied onto a scrap piece of parchment and the book was put far out of sight.

I don't have much to say about this chapter. The next one introduces some new things and is mostly an original chapter and chapter 23 is a pretty big one too, so there are some things I hope you find interesting coming up. I realised this year will probably be the longest in the entire series. I have 35 chapters planned and I have begun planning next year now too, which is only thirty in the book, but because Cassy cannot see all of those events it will most likely be a few less. These chapters are quite long now and I hope it doesn't look like I'm dragging it out; there's just a lot to fit in with all the plots going on this year as it is without adding my own.

Hope you like it and thanks for all the reviews last chapter.

Thanks!