A/N- I'm soooooooo sorry this chapter is late. It's the end of school, and exams are this week and next, so I have been studying my butt off every single day. I wish I had more time to write :(. Thanks again to all my reviewers, favorites, and followers who support me every day! Love you all!

Chapter 3- The Discovery of Her

Cassie's POV

I hate the color gold. Its flashy and ostentatious, attracts the attention of the wealthy and aspiring. It draws the eye like a proud beacon, glittering like the facets of so many gems. And worse, it follows me around mockingly every day of my life.

My hair is gold. Well, I suppose it's not the brazen color of spun gold thread but a shining blonde that gleams annoyingly wherever I go, soaring behind my head like a damn gilded flag. It is so wondrously mesmerizing that I have taken to casting a strong Forget-Me-Not charm on it the first Monday of every month. I mean, really? Golden hair? What the hell?

The Forget-Me-Not charm, despite its oh-so-clever name, is actually the most useful spell I know. It causes the diminishing of recollections of a specific object; in this case, me. The memories fade faster over time than they normally would. The less memorable or startling an encounter, the faster they dwindle. I just have to be careful not to be too noticeable. Or, preferably, not noticeable in the slightest.

I originally wasn't sure how the charm would work when concerning Gideon and Fabian. I half-hoped they might forget me all together, and I could resume living alone in safety. But, alas, my arrival at their house was seemingly utterly life-changing, for, despite the charm, I appear to always be on their minds. Apparently I am now a part of their quintessential "family." Merlin, how lucky am I? And I mean that with the utmost sincerity, of course.

Today started as a perfect day. It is Saturday, lovely, ingenious Saturday, the one day of the week I get up on time if only to take a run around the Black Lake. I love running. It clears my head and makes me feel as if I can do anything as I push myself to run harder, sprint faster, beat my last mile time. It's sort of the strictest competition in which you can only compete against yourself and your pride. And yet the more I run, the more I feel free of my own expectations and qualms.

I used to want to be a marathon runner when I was young, conquering the race one mile at a time. But I never told my parents about my aspirations; a mention of something so Muggle and I'd never be able to run again.

At the beginning of the year, I started out with the customary, short, warm-up mile until I could run it in 7 minutes flat. It's a pretty average mile time, but at least it keeps me in shape. Now, by the second month, I'm running a consistent thirty-minute, three mile run. I'd like to get it down to 25, but the more endurance I have, the longer I can run. The longer I can be free.

Gideon and/or Fabian try to join me occasionally, despite my insistence that I prefer to run alone. Besides, they never manage to keep up after the second mile or so, panting like dogs and clutching at their chests. How do they manage to be so out of shape and yet play a brilliant game of Quidditch?

This morning I ran three and a half miles, because it just felt like a good day. It was around 50° F this morning, and I didn't even need to put on long socks to keep warm. I tied my hair up in a ponytail as I stepped outside, the briskness of the air chilling and exciting me at the same time; running is always better when it's chilly out.

After I ran, I took a cold shower (hot ones make me rash), and changed into jeans and a sweater. I rather like the color of the cashmere; it's a funny shade that reminds me of eggplants or dark plums. I had been getting ready to visit the house elves in the kitchens, and I knew they would appreciate the hue very much.

I smiled broadly when Guppy greeted me at the door. Oh Merlin, how I love the house elves. They are the only friends I have and probably the only ones I ever will (excluding Gideon and Fabian, of course, because they are obligated to like me, as my guardians). I know the little elves will never divulge my secrets because they are faithful beyond insufferable pain, and for that, I am grateful. To rely on someone is something I have trouble with, because I was born into a world of betrayal and corruption. That may never change.

Guppy and I were speaking when the crash sounded. Well, Guppy was speaking; I was teasing him mercilessly about not trusting me to visit. But in the room silent except for only our voices, the tinkling of silverware on the stone floor was like the first gunshot on a battlefield. It rang through our ears and echoed off the still walls. It was my first warning.

I asked Guppy what the clanging was, and he responded eagerly that it was most likely the Marauders. When I heard there names, my breath caught. They were the last people I ever want to run into. I already know about Black's incessant searching for me, and it is not good at all. If I was spotted again, the Forget-Me-Not charm might not work altogether. This simple incident could jeopardize my life if word somehow reached Voldemort.

I made to tell Guppy I was leaving, but he had dragged me over to their table in the corner before I could escape. I could see the looks of recognition registering on Potter, Lupin, and especially Black's faces as my characterizing golden hair caught the light. I stared with my equally startling blue eyes for a moment, until promptly giving Guppy and the other elves my farewell and fleeing through the portrait. Not good, not good, not good at all.

And now, after that simply stupendous encounter, I am running again. My seemingly perfect day is ruined, and the longer I run, the longer I can avoid facing the inevitable: I'd been found. I contemplate this, wondering what choices I have. Hiding out is not an option. While other students and even teachers won't notice my absence, it will surely be registered by Gideon, Fabian, Potter, Black, and Lupin. The Marauders are some of the most determined people I've ever seen, and combined with the unfailing efforts of my new guardians, the five will stop at nothing to find me again. Not to mention, hiding will mean staying in my dorm, which will alert my other roommates to my existence. More people knowing of me, means more chances for Voldemort to find out, which means Voldemort then figures out my cover, which then translates to an early grave for me. So in short, hiding out is NOT an option.

I could always go on the run, but that could very well bring the same consequences. I am not ready to die just yet, unfortunately.

And so I consider not doing anything. I know this castle better than anyone, Marauders included, so if I merely avoid them, Gideon and Fabian won't know the difference, and my cover is in no way blown. The Marauders can search for me all they want, but without the help of the Prewett twins, they will never find me.

Sirius's POV

I can still envision her eyes, wide and comprehending as Guppy pulled her over to us. I will find Golden Girl. I don't know why I am so determined, but I will find her if it's the last thing I do. I like challenges; everything in life has come so easy to me that challenges are the only things that make it worthwhile.

We Marauders have devised one of the most brilliant of plans; this maintains to be one of the many things we are great at. In order to lure out Golden Girl, the four of us fashioned posters of her face to place all over the school; someone must know who she is. All we need is her name. Merlin knows the house elves weren't any help.

(Earlier that day)

"Please please please please please tell us, Guppy," I pleaded with the little elf.

He shook his head fervently. "Guppy won't tell Master Black. Mistress asked us not to tell anybody. Mistress is our friend."

James crouched next to Guppy. "Aren't we your friends too, Guppy?" He asked.

The elf stared defiantly at James. "Mistress is our greatest friend."

Remus sat down in a chair beside us and consoled him. "That's alright, Guppy. We don't want you to betray your friend." The elf relaxed a little. Remus continued, "Can you at least tell us what house she's in?"

"Mistress always says that her loyalties lie not to a single house, but what is best for Muggles and wizards alike," Guppy stated proudly.

I sighed.

I am tacking up the posters of Golden Girl in the Gryffindor common room with my wand when Gideon and Fabian Prewett appear suddenly behind me. "What's up, Marauder?" they ask.

I have always liked the Prewetts. They are pureblood as well and used to attend functions with their family when we were kids until their older sister Molly went and fell in love with Arthur "blood-traitor" Weasley. They weren't welcomed after that, not that they cared much. The twins were always more interested in pranking than in dirty blood. Now, at Hogwarts, they are both seventh year Gryffindors and sometimes even give us Marauders a run for our money, prank wise.

"Just looking for someone," I respond unenthusiastically.

They both nudge my shoulder conspiratorially. "Got a new girl you're trying to track down?" Fabian asks. Or, at least I think its Fabian.

I gesture to the poster, and they peer at it closely. They are always so in sync; it's kind of creepy. As if to prove my point, they turn sharply towards each other at the same time, their eyes wide.

"That's not . . . her, is it?" One asks the other.

The other twin responds. "Merlin's baggy trousers, I think so!"

They look at me suddenly. "You wouldn't happen to be looking for CP, would you mate?" Gideon (I think) asks.

His twin nudges him. "He'll have no idea who CP is, Gideon." Ah, so I was right; it was Gideon Prewett.

I grin excitedly. "Who's this 'CP' person?" I'm practically jumping out of my skin.

The twins stare me down harshly. "She's our daughter, so you better not make a move on her."

The shock on my face must say all, because the two brothers began to laugh hysterically. "Oh, dude!" Fabian says between gasps for breath. "You should see your face! Priceless!"

I scowl at them. "Seriously, who is she? How do you know her?" I ask grumpily.

Gideon grins slyly as an aftermath of my embarrassment. "This past summer, some Aurors dropped her off at our house after finding her in Diagon Alley. They told us that she said she had no parents, and her surname was Prewett. Molly was away on her honeymoon, so her custody went to us."

Fabian grins identically to his brother. "She's such a little squirt. Always ragging on us about only being a year older and not fit to take care of a teenage witch. We do watch over her, though. It's easy, with all three of us being Gryffindors."

I nearly spit in their faces. "She's a sixth-year Gryffindor?!"

One of the twins waves his hand nonchalantly. "Yeah, yeah. She's shares a dorm with Lily Evans, that prefect I think, and all the other sixth-year girls. How have you never seen her? She's in all your classes." They stare at me questioningly.

I shift uncomfortably.

"So what does 'CP' stand for?" I ask, effectively changing the subject.

The one that I'm pretty sure is Fabian speaks first. "Well, as far as I know its Cassie Prewett. But I think both Cassie and Prewett are short for something. Isn't that right, Fabian?"

Oh. So I got the twins mixed up. Again.

Fabian answers, "I think so. She has one of those really long first names, and then like a two or three part surname. She told us once, but I can't remember. Maybe it had something to do with a constellation?"

I rack my brain for constellations starting with "c": cancer, canis major, cepheus, cassiopeia, capricornus . . . Wait! "Is it Cassiopeia?" I ask excitedly.

Gideon (I'm pretty sure, this time) responds. "Yeah! That's it. I'd never heard her last name before though. Good luck guessing."

The Prewett twins leave the Common room as I tear down my poster. I no longer need it. Finally, a lead.

I think about Golden Girl. Cassiopeia, Cassiopeia, Cassiopeia. I chant her name in my head. There aren't any pureblood Cassiopeia's that I know of, but the constellation name is purely a pureblood right, reserved for the most elite of families in the wizarding world. Who is she?

But despite this, I smile. I'll find you, Cassie Prewett.