A/N: Just so there's no confusion, the italics toward the end are a memory.

Chapter 2: Twelve Years Earlier

Twelve Years Earlier…

Long before Sirius and Cassiopeia were sentenced to their cruel fate, their life was much simpler. It was a time that neither Sirius nor Cassiopeia could remember, but one that they could not forget. There was no hiding, no Dementors, no dark, dank cells. They were free in those years. They had their friends the Potters, James and Lily, as well as Remus and Peter Pettigrew. Most of all, Sirius and Cassiopeia had each other.

However, it was dark in those early years. Lord Voldemort had only just risen to power. Anyone who dared to oppose him ended up dead or worse. To combat Lord Voldemort, Professor Dumbledore created the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society dedicated to fighting back against the Dark Lord. Sirius and Cassiopeia joined this society along with their friends, James and Lily, as well as Remus and Peter Pettigrew. Despite the uncertainty, Sirius and Cassiopeia's spirits never dampened.

One New Year's Day, the Potters and Remus had come over to celebrate with their friends. Lily and James were just recently married, with Sirius being their best man. They gathered at Sirius's home in the country for some much needed cheer. They sat by the fireplace enjoying red and white wine.

"This is quite the abode, Sirius," James commented.

"It's very lovely," Lily complimented.

"Thank you, Lily," Sirius said.

"How did you afford this? I can't imagine a troublesome one such as you would hold down a job," Remus wanted to know.

"Oh, that's easy. I managed to sneak some money out of Gringotts," Sirius said with a sly smile.

James, Sirius, and Cassiopeia laughed heartily, but Remus and Lily were not in on the joke.

"That's not funny, Sirius," Remus said flatly.

"And you two shouldn't encourage him," Lily said sternly.

"Oh, come on, Lily, it's just a bit of fun," Cassiopeia said dismissively.

"Thank you, Cassie," Sirius said appreciatively.

"So, where did you really afford this house, Sirius?" Remus asked.

"If you must know, my Uncle Alphard left me a ton of money in his will," Sirius explained. "I never thought that my pure-blood maniac family would actually be useful one day."

"So who's living in your old house now?" James asked.

"My mother, dare I say it," Sirius replied, with a shadow of disgust in his eyes.

"Let's just forget Sirius's family of maniacs and enjoy ourselves," Cassiopeia said cheerfully. "Who wants more wine?"

"I love the way you think, Cassie," Sirius said, beaming.

"I know," Cassiopeia replied, grinning in return.

Cassiopeia poured some wine, and offered it to her friends.

"A toast to a new year, and to friends," Sirius said, raising his glass.

"And to the Order of the Phoenix," Cassiopeia added, beaming at the picture on the mantelpiece.

"Cheers!" said the friends as one.

Later that night, Remus turned on the radio. All that echoed from the mouth of the radio was dire news.

"There have been…numerous disappearances of late. Many witches and wizards have been murdered. Muggles have also been attacked. We suspect this is the work of one or more dark wizards. The Ministry is overseeing these attacks."

"Why doesn't the Ministry just admit that it's Lord Voldemort?" Cassiopeia asked in frustration. "Why all the secretiveness?"

"Fear makes people do terrible things, Cassie," Remus explained. "I fear Lord Voldemort will not stop until he destroys every last thing we hold dear."

"Oh, I don't think he'll destroy everything," Cassiopeia countered, sitting on Sirius's lap.

"Quite right you are, Cassie," Sirius agreed with a smile, coiling his long arms about Cassiopeia.

Cassiopeia craned her neck and kissed Sirius.

"Could you two possibly do that in another room?" Remus groaned.

As she kissed Sirius, Cassiopeia giggled helplessly.

"I kiss you, and you laugh about it!" Sirius said, amused. "I'm quite the comedian, I suppose."

"Your moustache tickles," Cassiopeia said, still giggling. "Sirius, I didn't say stop."

"Yes, Cassie," Sirius said with a devilish grin as he kissed Cassiopeia again.

"Look at you two," Remus said, exasperated, "Just the right time for you to be so cheerful."

"Well, why not?" Sirius said brightly. "I'd rather be cheerful, than grumpy like you."

"Sirius, don't tease him," Cassiopeia said. "Remus has enough on his plate already."

"Thank you, Cassie," Remus said.

"Oh, yes, like that furry little problem," Sirius said.

"Oh, I don't think that's what's bothering our Moony," James said.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus said defensively.

"James, don't start," Lily said sternly.

"Could it be the fact that he fancies my cousin?" Sirius asked in jest. "Quite the flirty one, you are."

"Shut up, Sirius," Remus said.

"Boys, please. Leave Remus alone," Cassiopeia said.

"Listen to the both of you," Lily said, shaking her head. "Making jokes as if you were schoolboys again when there is a killer on the loose."

"We need a bit of cheer in these times, Lily dear," James said.

"And they always say laughter is the best medicine," Sirius added.

"My darling, Sirius, the comedian," Cassiopeia laughed.

"And just what will you do if Voldemort comes after you?" Remus asked.

"And what if he does?" Sirius replied. "We'll be ready for him."

"Do you always like playing with danger?" James asked.

"Of course he does," Cassiopeia replied before Sirius could open his mouth. "And why not laugh in the face of danger once and a while?"

"You are truly a woman after my own heart, Cassie," Sirius jested lovingly.

"I do try, darling," Cassiopeia said with a grin.

Cassiopeia and Sirius kissed again.

Remus rolled his eyes. "I'll be in my room."

Despite the cheerfulness of Sirius, Cassiopeia, and James, the wizard world was darkening. More people were disappearing. Even worse, more people were being murdered. The Order itself experienced many casualties. One of the most tragic was the loss of Marlene McKinnon. Voldemort had not only murdered her, but also her entire family.

This news began to shake the Order. Even Sirius was reconsidering. He never let his spirit fall. However, he began to think about the impending danger. He thought of the danger it would bring to his beloved Cassiopeia.

One night, Sirius sat up awake, thinking about the danger and Cassiopeia. Just then, Cassiopeia herself entered.

"Still awake?" she asked. "You truly need your sleep. Don't think I haven't noticed those dark circles under your eyes."

"You don't miss a thing, do you, Cassie?" Sirius sighed.

"No, I certainly do not," Cassiopeia replied, "not when it comes to you anyway."

Sirius sighed and gazed wistfully at Cassiopeia.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Cassiopeia asked, perplexed.

"No," Sirius replied. "I was only thinking about the day we met. Do you remember?"

"Sirius, do I remember? I could never forget!" Cassiopeia said lovingly.

"Hey, dog girl!" cried a Slytherin.

"Filthy, half-blood!" cried another.

"I'll just show you whose filthy, Avery and Mulciber!" Cassiopeia spat. "I think I can tell who's filthy and who's not, thank you very much."

"Oooh," the Slytherins hooted.

"Dog girl has claws," Avery said.

"Or she has bark," Mulciber laughed.

"Well, you know, my bark is worse than my bite," Cassiopeia said, her eyes flashing.

"I think she just threatened us, Avery," Mulciber said, "And that wasn't very nice."

"Why don't we teach her some manners?" Avery said.

"Expellaimus!" Mulciber cried.

Cassiopeia was knocked back and landed hard. Just as she sat up, she saw a young man with an abundance of black curls. The young man had his wand drawn.

"Leave her alone, you dirty troll-boogies!" the young man said.

"Oh, look! Black's got a girlfriend," Avery laughed.

"Get away from her!" the young man threatened. "I'm not afraid of cursing you and getting expelled for it."

With that, Avery and Mulciber cowered and ran for it. The young man then tended to Cassiopeia.

"Are you alright?" he asked, helping Cassiopeia up.

"Yes," Cassiopeia said. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Those two had it coming," the young man said.

"If only they had hurt me, you would've had an excuse to curse them," Cassiopeia said. "I'd vouch for you."

"I like you already," the young man laughed. "What's your name?"

"Cassiopeia Reine," Cassiopeia replied.

"Sirius Black," the boy said, shaking Cassiopeia's hand. "May I call you Cassie?"

"You may," Cassiopeia replied.

"I saw you fight back against those Slytherin slugs," Sirius said. "You've certainly got some spirit in you. I like that."

"You know, I'm beginning to like you," Cassiopeia said earnestly.

"I'm glad to hear that," Sirius said with a devilish smile.

"I'd remember that day as if it were yesterday," Cassiopeia said wistfully, as she reclined with Sirius, listening to the steady drumming of his heart. "You were quite the hero."

"I wasn't. You were the hero," Sirius said modestly.

"You were my hero," Cassiopeia said lovingly, "and you always will be."

"And you're mine," Sirius replied, kissing Cassiopeia's head.

"So, if I may ask, what's all this nostalgia about anyway?" Cassiopeia asked, perplexed.

"I was just thinking about all the danger that's going on," Sirius said. "And I was thinking about us."

"What of us?" Cassiopeia asked.

"James and Lily are so happy," Sirius said, rising to his feet. "And you know me; I can't let James have all the fun."

Sirius then dropped to his knee, and offered a small box to Cassiopeia. "Cassiopeia Reine, will you marry me?"

Cassiopeia's heart started to drum wildly as she was filled with so much passion. Unable to contain herself, she then jumped up and threw her arms about Sirius.

"Sirius, I thought you'd never ask! Thank God for that!" Cassiopeia gasped, overjoyed as she repeatedly kissed Sirius.

"Shall I take that as a 'yes'?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, yes! A thousand times and more, yes!" Cassiopeia laughed.

Sirius then slipped the diamond ring onto Cassiopeia's finger.

"What should we do about James, Lily, and Remus?" Cassiopeia wanted to know.

"We will tell them, but not tonight," Sirius said, embracing Cassiopeia. "Tonight, is all about us."

"Yes, darling," Cassiopeia agreed. "I love you, Sirius, my future husband."

"And I love you, Cassie, my future wife," Sirius whispered.

Sirius and Cassiopeia kissed and lay together in each other's arms. For this night, it was all about them. Nothing would come between them. Not on this night. For this night, the world was right again, and they were the only ones in the world.