Forever Young

What am I doing posting so early you ask? Well I got off of school early today because of impending storms! SCORE! I literally was not feeling the whole school thing today. Plus I was like dying on my bedroom floor this morning because I have a stomach ache. So I hope you enjoy this chapter. Chapter's 27 and 28 are currently finished and chapter 29 will be going into the works after I finish some homework. Enjoy!

Chapter 26: I am Fierce

Cassidy's POV:

We apparated to the outskirts of the cemetery and began to walk over to the section my father was buried our feet crunching in the snow that had fallen over the past few days. We finally made it to his and my mother's headstone and stood in silence.

"Do you want me to stay here?" Sirius asked placing a hand on my arm. "I could go somewhere else for a minute or two."

"It's fine," I said. "You can stay." I leaned down and kneeled on the grown. I set the flowers in between the two headstones. I thought of what to say and then spoke.

"Uh hey guys," I started out awkwardly. "Sorry I haven't been by to visit in a while, I've been a bit busy. Spencer's doing good I guess. The healers said he could leave on Christmas so that's a plus. My umm...my birthday is tomorrow, I'm going to be 18 a real adult I guess. It's kind of scary now that I think of it but I'll manage."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"I really miss you guys," I admitted. "It's hard not having you here for such important things. You won't be there when I graduate, or get a job, or get engaged and married. You won't be able to meet your grandchildren. It makes me sad and upset, especially with you dad. You didn't have to leave but you did, you took your own life just so you wouldn't suffer. And now because of that I'm suffering.

"I'm not blaming you I'm just mad and pissed that I can't have the same things other girls can have. I'm jealous of them. But I'm glad that I had the great parents I had, I wouldn't be the person I am today without you guys," I could feel tears starting to slip down my cheeks. "What I' trying to say is I love you guys." I smiled and patted the two headstones before standing up and huddling next to Sirius for warmth

"That was nice," Sirius said wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Thanks," I said wiping away the tears on my cheek. "I can be a touching person when I want."

"I figured," he laughed. I giggled and leaned into his side while we stood there staring at my parents graves. We then heard crunching in the snow behind us. I turned my head and my eyes nearly fell out of my head at what I saw.

"What is it," Sirius asked looking over his shoulder as well.

"Is it me or does that person look exactly like Ellie," I whispered. He squinted and then his eyes widened.

"That is Ellie," he whispered back to me. I started walking towards the road that separated us from her. I hid behind a large headstone near the road and peered around it. Sirius was hiding behind a stone next to me.

"Isn't she supposed to be back at the castle with Peter," Sirius hissed at me. I nodded my head and kept my eyes on Ellie. She was dressed in all black and she held white roses in her hand.

"What are you up to," I whispered to myself. She set the flowers down and it looked like she was saying something. She didn't look particularly upset either. She then placed the flowers on the ground in front of the headstone and took out her wand. Sirius and I gave each other curious looks then we stared back at Ellie. She spoke a word and then flames shot out at the headstone.

I let out a small squeak but immediately placed my hand over my mouth and sat back against the large headstone and closed my eyes cursing myself for making a noise.

"Hello? Is someone there," Ellies voice called out. I kept a hand over my mouth and tried to slow my breathing.

"Ellie come on," another voice whined. "We have to get back before someone realizes we're gone."

I looked over to Sirius who was leaning against his rock two his eyes were wide. He looked over at me and mouthed one word.

'Peter,'

I nodded my head and bit my lip and closed my eyes.

"Don't be such a baby Peter," she snapped at him. We then heard a sharp crack and things were silent once more. I looked over top of the headstone and then stood up when I realized they were gone.

"What the bloody hell was that," Sirius snapped. I didn't say anything. I just adjusted my bag on my shoulder and started making my way across the road and to the headstone Ellie was at. I looked in front of each one until I found the one with scorched flowers.

"Cassidy what are you doing," Sirius asked racing after me. "Be careful."

"Calm down Sirius," I said annoyed. "I'm just looking to see whose grave this is." I banished the flowers with my wand so I could read the name and dates.

Wendell Carlisle

1910 – 1971

"He who is healthy has hope, and he who has hope has everything"

"Who is this guy," Sirius asked crouching in front of the grave stone.

"No idea," I admitted.

"Sounds like he's a wizard, and he knew Ellie by the looks of it," he said standing up. "'He who has hope has everything.' What is that from?"

"It's an ancient Arabian proverb," I told him. "I read something about this in a book I found in the library, people use it in times of war and struggle." He nodded.

"His death date is the year we started Hogwarts," Sirius observed.

"The year the war officially started," I realized. The sky then began to rumble. "We should get out of here."

"Yeah come on," he grabbed my arm and led me back down to the woods we apparated into the Leaky Cauldron. He led me out the door and into the streets of London. We went down the street to a small café neither one of us talking. We ordered coffee and sat down at a table still not talking. I took out some of my homework and began to work on it. Finally Sirius let out a sigh and spoke.

"Go ahead and-"

"I told you so," I exclaimed leaning over and pointing at him. "Sorry, to powerful." I said blushing and sitting back. "But I did tell you so."

He laughed and nodded his head. "You did didn't you? Well I guess I owe you an apology."

"No you don't," I said sipping my drink. "But you do have to help me figure this out."

"Figure what out," he questioned.

"What Ellie and Peter are up to, who this Wendell Carlisle is and what Ellie has to do with him," I listed. "There are an endless amount of things right now."

"Cassidy," he sighed rubbing his face. "This could be dangerous. We don't know who we're messing with."

"Are you for real," I said my eyebrows raised. "Have you looked at Ellie, she poses zero threat."

"Cassidy she's like 3 inches taller than you," Sirius pointed out with a raised eyebrow. I rolled my eyes and closed my Charms textbook and began packing my things into my bag.

"Where are you going?" he asked standing up as well. I sighed and looked up at him.

"'And though she be but little, she is fierce'," I quoted to him. I grabbed my coffee and pulled my bag onto my shoulder walking out of the café with my head held high.

It was about 3 o'clock that afternoon when Sirius and I got home. I set my bag on the counter and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Hey guys," James said walking into the kitchen. "What were you up to this afternoon?"

"Visited Spencer and my parents grave," I said sipping the water. He nodded and sat on a counter stool.

"How's he doing," he asked.

"Should be out in a couple of days," I told him. "I'm going back to visit tomorrow."

"But your birthday's tomorrow," James said.

"So," I questioned. "It's only my 18th birthday, nothing special."

"But you are legally an adult in the muggle world," he pointed out.

"But I live in the wizarding world," I noted. He frowned as I grabbed my bag and mad my way upstairs. I threw my bag and jacket on my armchair and I placed my boots by my bed. I scanned my bookshelf for anything that might help me find out who Wendell Carlisle is. I searched well into the evening but found nothing.

"Nothing I have found absolutely nothing on Wendell Carlisle," I groaned falling on Sirius' bed after dinner that night. James had been informed of what we had found this afternoon and was going to help us.

"The library at Hogwarts will probably have something on the guy," James suggested.

"Well that would be helpful if I was at Hogwarts," I snapped at him. I then groaned and apologized.

"I need to know what that scamming bitch is up to," I snarled. "I need to know what she's planning."

"And why Peter is helping her," Sirius spoke up from his bathroom doorway. "Do you think she used an Unforgivable on him?"

"I mean she obviously didn't use the killing curse, but one of the other two sure. Maybe even both," I agreed. "Or maybe she's threatening his family or something. But there is no way in hell he's doing this with a free will."

"You think," James asked.

I nodded my head. "I mean have you met Peter? He couldn't hurt a fly let alone a person."

"She has a point Prongs," Sirius said. We were all silent for a while silently thinking what to do when James jumped up with an idea.

"I've got it," he exclaimed. "My father's private library! It's in his office and it's full of all sorts of books about famous witches and wizards. There's bound to be something about Wendell Carlisle."

"Do you think he'd let us look," I asked hopeful. But James shook his head and frowned.

"He'd ask us why and we'd have to tell him the truth," James said. "And there is no way in hell he'll let us in with the reason we have. We are going to have to sneak in."

"Sneak in? Are you sure," I asked. He nodded and I groaned and threw my head back. I had never really snuck into anywhere and I'd probably be terrible at it.

"Fine," I heard myself saying. "Find a way in and we'll figure out when we'll do it later." They both looked at me astounded. They knew I had a goody two shoes streak.

"Welcome to the Marauders," Sirius said smirking. "I'm Sirius, and you are?"

"Insane," I smiled. "Make sure to check me into St. Mungos after we're done."

"You got it," James said.

That night I ran a bath for myself to relax for the evening. I filled it with vanilla scented bubbles and light lemon scented candles. I turned off the lights and shed my robe and slowly lowered myself into the tube. I tied my hair into a knot on top of my head so it wouldn't get wet. I laid in the tub for over an hour. I only got out because the water had grown cold.

I stepped out and dried myself with a towel before wrapping my robe tight around me. I drained the water in the tub and exited the bathroom shaking my hair from its knot. I ran my fingers through my still curly hair and yawn. I pulled pajamas from out of my dress and was about to get dressed when I heard a small tapping on my window.

Curious, I placed the pajamas on my bed and went over to the window. I pulled back the curtains and found an owl on the window sill. I pushed the window open and it flew in and dropped a note on my bed before flying out again. I close the window keeping the cold out and picked up the note it contained only five words.

Back off bitch! Or else!

Well I guess if I wasn't screwed before I am now.

So the quote on the headstone is a real Arabian proverb and the quote that Cassidy said to Sirius in the cafe is from William Shakespeare. I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I certainly enjoyed writing it. I'm really starting to get into it with all of the war stuff and what not. Have a fabulous rest of the week!

REVIEW!

XOXO,

SophieEizabeth630