A/N: I wanted to begin this chapter with a thank you to all the people who have liked my story. And thank you to my friend, Roza Anne. I'm so glad you're enjoying this. Here's the chapter!
Chapter 6: Peter's Trap
Blackness. That was the last thing Cassiopeia knew. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Cassiopeia felt a slight pain in her neck, and she remembered what had happened. Lily and James were dead. Cassiopeia did not know Harry's fate. She shuddered if Voldemort had murdered her godson. Then, there was Peter Pettigrew. The man she thought was a friend. He wounded her that night. Not only did Peter physically hurt her, but he led to the murder of her friends. Cassiopeia was determined to make him pay. She looked around as she awoke. Cassiopeia did not know where she was, but it was clear she was on a street in the Muggle world. Why would Peter bring her here?
"Ah, Cassie, you're awake," Peter greeted.
"Don't you dare speak my name, you pathetic excuse of life!" Cassiopeia spat.
"Now, Cassie, that wasn't very nice," Peter simpered.
"Good, my husband is rubbing off on me," Cassiopeia said defiantly. "And what was that you did to Lily and James? What about their boy?"
"I didn't want to hurt them!" Peter said, his voice almost a whine. "You have no idea what The Dark Lord would've done to me!"
"I do," Cassiopeia replied. "He would've killed you."
"He would've killed me, Cassie!" Peter whined.
"Then he should've killed you!" Cassiopeia shouted. "If you died, then Lily and James would be alive. You should've died for them, Peter!"
"What was to be gained by that?" Peter questioned.
"The life of Lily and James and their son!" Cassiopeia said. "We would've died for you, and you should've died for them!"
"But what would you have done, Cassie? You and Sirius?" Peter asked.
"We would be dead! We'd rather be dead than betray Lily and James!" Cassiopeia screamed.
"Forgive me, Cassie," Peter said pitifully.
"It's too late for that," Cassiopeia said unsympathetically. "You should've thought of that before the Dark Lord bought you."
Peter brought his hands to his mouth, as if in terror.
"Why have you brought me here? If you're going to kill me, please be bold and do it now," Cassiopeia demanded.
"I am not going to kill you, Cassie," Peter answered.
"Why? Don't have the stomach for it?" Cassiopeia taunted.
"My master is gone," Peter explained. "They will be coming after me."
"Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?" Cassiopeia asked.
"They won't get me," Peter said. "They don't know that I was the Secret-Keeper."
"Did you think that you'll be dead before anyone finds you? Sirius will come after me, and we'll kill you," Cassiopeia said, her tone like stone.
"I am hoping he does," Peter said, a smile crossing his rat-like face. "I shall be gone, and you will fall for me as friends do."
Cassiopeia got the idea instantly. "You set us up, didn't you?"
"You said you'd die for me, so you will," Peter replied.
"Not if I warn Sirius first," Cassiopeia said wisely.
In a flash, Cassiopeia jumped to her feet. She tried to run for it, but alas, she didn't make it. Peter had sent a spell from behind her. Crack! The spell hit Cassiopeia in her right leg, shattering the bone. Cassiopeia shrieked only once; she did not want Peter to have that satisfaction. She crumpled to the ground, clutching her broken leg. With Cassiopeia unable to move, Peter wasted no time. He sent another spell that sent cords wrapping around Cassiopeia's wrists.
"Now you cannot run," Peter said triumphantly. "Now you will be a good friend to me."
"You are a worthless coward, Peter," Cassiopeia spat. "You will pay for what you've done."
"Not today," Peter said. "I do believe I hear Sirius coming right now."
"He will not fall for your trap, Peter," Cassiopeia said firmly.
"Oh, I think he will," Peter said. "You see, I let Sirius know where I was going. I sent a Patronus telling him where I was."
"You're a monster, Peter," Cassiopeia said, glowering at him. "I hope Sirius makes you pay."
Meanwhile, Sirius, crazed by Peter's betrayal, had been searching for him. He needed to get Cassiopeia back before it was too late. He did not know where Cassiopeia was, and he didn't know where to look. Sirius was in utter despair. He felt as if he failed his friends, and now his wife. Just as Sirius lost all hope, he saw a Patronus appear in front of him. It was Peter.
"Hello, Padfoot. I have your precious Cassie here with me. If you wish for her to be alive, then come to King's Cross Road."
"You bet I will, Peter," Sirius said, the fury in his voice.
On Peter's word, Sirius Apparated to King's Cross Road, determined to save Cassiopeia and have his revenge.
Once he arrived, Sirius did not see anyone, except for Muggles. Warily, Sirius drew his wand.
"Peter? Cassie?" he called. "Show yourself, Peter! Be a man for once!"
"Sirius!" a voice shouted.
"Cassie!" Sirius shouted, his voice filled with relief.
He found Cassiopeia in an alley near the street. She was sitting with her hands bound behind her.
Sirius's heart leapt. "Cassie!"
"Sirius, no!" Cassiopeia shouted. "Sirius, get out of here!"
"I'm not leaving you," Sirius said firmly.
"Sirius, get out of here now! It's a trap! It's a trap!" Cassiopeia cried.
Cassiopeia was too late. From behind Sirius, Peter came. Peter brought his fist down on the back of Sirius's neck. Sirius stumbled and fell next to Cassiopeia.
"You treacherous little rat!" Sirius shouted. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you for what you've done to them!"
"Sirius, how could you?" Peter squeaked in terror.
"Easy. All I have to do is kill you," Sirius replied, the hate flowing out of him.
"Lily and James, Sirius! How could you!" Peter cried.
"You will die for what you've done!" Sirius screamed.
Peter backed up into the street as if to run. Sirius drew his wand, ready to kill. Suddenly, BOOM! the entire street blew apart. The ground cracked beneath them, sending the Muggles scrambling. The street was filled with screams from the Muggles as the road separated. Sirius saw Peter with a knife. Without warning, Peter had taken off one of his fingers. The blood splashed, landing on Sirius's robes. Then, with a squeaky cackle, Peter was gone. Sirius barely saw the rat scurrying away.
"You coward, Peter!" he shouted.
Knowing that Peter was long gone, Sirius focused on Cassiopeia.
"Sirius!" Cassiopeia cried in relief.
"Cassie, Thank God!" Sirius gasped, kissing Cassiopeia as if his life depended on it. "I thought I lost you."
"They're dead…Lily and James. I tried to save them," Cassiopeia whispered, her voice trembling.
"I know. I know," Sirius soothed. "It's alright. Come on. Let's get you out of here."
Sirius untied Cassiopeia and she tried to stand. Cassiopeia fell back down with a groan of pain.
"What is it, Cassie?" Sirius asked. "Can you walk?"
"No, I can't," Cassiopeia said weakly. "He didn't want me to run. He broke my leg."
Sirius slowly pulled up Cassiopeia's pant leg. Her leg was bloodied and mangled.
"Sweetheart, I can help you," Sirius said gently. "I know the spell that will help, but it will hurt."
"Just do it," Cassiopeia said.
Sirius sighed. Cassiopeia gripped his hand tightly. It was not a gesture of fear, Sirius noticed. She gripped his hand to reassure him.
With another apprehensive sigh, Sirius pointed his wand at Cassiopeia's broken leg. "Episkey!"
Cassiopeia screamed, but the spell had worked. Instantly, Cassiopeia's bones snapped back into place. Her mangled leg was as good as new in seconds.
"Come on. We have to go," Sirius beckoned.
"Sirius, you should not have come," Cassiopeia said, her voice filled with fear.
"Of course I should have," Sirius said stubbornly.
"No, you don't understand," Cassiopeia said, the fear rising in her voice.
"What's going on?" Sirius wanted to know.
"He said we were going to take the fall for him," Cassiopeia explained, her lip quivering. "He set us up. He wanted you to come after me."
Sirius's eyes widened. "He wants everyone to think he's dead. That's why he did this."
"You shouldn't have come!" Cassiopeia cried, tears trickling from her eyes.
Sirius clasped Cassiopeia's face, stroking her hair. "I should have. I don't care what happens to me. I had to save you."
Sirius and Cassiopeia gazed at what was once a street on King's Cross Road. The road had been reduced to nothing more than a giant crater. The sound of Muggles screaming could be heard anywhere. Sirens mixed with the sound of the screams. The scene was utter chaos.
"He set us up," Sirius said.
Suddenly, Sirius broke into an absurd laughter. The betrayal by Peter had unhinged him. He could not believe Peter would be this clever at deception.
What happened next was tragic. The Magical Law Enforcement had been alerted of the destruction on King's Cross Road. Much to Cassiopeia's horror, they arrived at the scene. Sirius and Cassiopeia shuddered as they saw Barty Crouch Sr. interviewing some Muggles.
"It's Barty Crouch," Sirius whispered.
"Oh no," Cassiopeia whispered, shaking.
Barty Crouch then approached Sirius and Cassiopeia. "Sirius and Cassiopeia Black, you are under arrest and charged with the murder of twelve Muggles as well as the murder of Lily and James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. Take them away!"
In a flash, at least twenty of the Magical Law Enforcement swarmed Sirius and Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia clung to Sirius as tight as she could. The enforcers pried her away from Sirius. Sirius and Cassiopeia were held tight as the law enforcers fastened shackles around their wrists and ankles.
"Sirius!" Cassiopeia cried, struggling wildly against her bindings and captors. "No, no, no! Get away from me! Get away! Sirius!"
Sirius fought against his bindings as well. "Cassie! Leave her alone! Get away from her!"
All of Sirius and Cassiopeia's struggles were for naught. They were securely bound and surrounded. They knew there was no escape. All hope had gone. They were quickly Apparated to the most horrible place in the world: Azkaban Prison.
Azkaban was a lonely, terrible fortress located on a small island somewhere in the English Channel. It was only one large castle surrounded by crashing waves. At every entrance of Azkaban were the foul Dementors. The Dementors served as guards of Azkaban and made it a horrible place. Dementors are the foulest creatures ever created. They feed on happiness, leaving their victims with nothing more than their worst memories. Not only do they feed on happiness, but souls as well. When a Dementor takes a victim's soul, it is called the Dementor's Kiss. It is so called because the Dementors will clamp its mouth over that of the victim. The Dementors were the reason that most of the prisoners had lost their minds.
It was Sirius and Cassiopeia's fate to be locked away in such a terrible place. When they reached Azkaban, Sirius and Cassiopeia's spirits lifted. Dumbledore was waiting there. When they arrived, it was apparent that Dumbledore had just finished speaking to Barty Crouch.
"Dumbledore!" Sirius gasped.
"Dumbledore, Thank God!" Cassiopeia sighed.
"Good evening, Sirius, Cassiopeia," Dumbledore greeted tonelessly.
"Dumbledore, please. Tell them we didn't do this. Tell them," Cassiopeia pleaded.
"Tell them to take me. I deserve it," Sirius begged. "If anyone is guilty here, it's me. Let Cassiopeia go, please."
"Sirius, no!" Cassiopeia shrieked.
"I'm sorry to the both of you," Dumbledore said grimly. "but I cannot help you."
"Dumbledore, please," Sirius begged.
"I have already told Barty that you have been Lily and James's Secret-Keeper," Dumbledore explained. "The Muggles they interviewed said they saw your wand drawn when the street blew up and Peter died, Sirius. Cassiopeia is charged as an accomplice."
Crouch then spoke in a tone as cold as ice. "Sirius and Cassiopeia Black, you have been found guilty of the murders of twelve Muggles and Peter Pettigrew. In addition, you are found guilty of the murder of James and Lily Potter. You are sentenced to life in Azkaban."
"No, no! Please!" Cassiopeia pleaded hopelessly.
"Dumbledore, Dumbledore!" Sirius called in vain.
Sirius and Cassiopeia were dragged away by the Dementors. Their clothes were taken away and replaced by gray, striped robes. They were forced to stand with a number as their picture was taken. In the next moment, they were dragged into their cell. With a SLAM! the iron door of their cell was shut, sealing their fate.
Cassiopeia was still weeping as she and Sirius were locked up.
"Cassie," Sirius whispered.
"Why did you rescue me?" Cassiopeia asked coldly. "Why didn't you stay away?"
"I had to rescue you. I couldn't leave you," Sirius whispered.
"I told you that you shouldn't have kept this a secret from Dumbledore!" Cassiopeia cried. "You should have told him!"
"I was trying to protect Lily and James," Sirius whispered. "I was trying to protect you."
"Well, it looks as if you failed to protect me, didn't you?" Cassiopeia shouted.
"I have," Sirius admitted. "I'm not sorry that I went after you, and I'm not sorry for keeping my secret. I had my reason to."
"Are you that thick, Sirius?" Cassiopeia demanded. "You're not sorry for anything. You should be. This is your fault! You thought it was a good idea deceiving Dumbledore. Well, look where your deception has brought us! If you had only been Lily and James's Secret-Keeper, they'd still be alive. If you hadn't lied to Dumbledore, we wouldn't be here!"
Sirius remained silent. He knew Cassiopeia was right. He knew that keeping a secret from Dumbledore was wrong. All of his efforts to protect those he loved had failed. Now, the one he truly loved was paying for his mistakes.
Back in London, Remus had to fly Tonks home. Little Tonks was still terrified after her ordeal in Godric's Hollow. Remus did not know how to explain it to her. Remus and Tonks entered to see Andromeda sitting on the couch, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Andromeda, what's the matter?" Remus asked.
"What is it, Mummy?" Tonks asked.
"The paper for tomorrow," Andromeda said, her hands shaking as she handed Remus The Daily Prophet.
The title of the paper made Remus's heart sink. The paper read Sirius Black: Murderer.
"What is it, Uncle Remus?" Tonks asked apprehensively. "Where are Uncle Sirius and Aunt Cassie?"
Remus sighed and took Tonks's tiny hand. "Tonks, sweetheart, Uncle Sirius and Aunt Cassie are not coming back."
"But they promised!" Tonks cried.
"I'm afraid that they have been sent to Azkaban Prison, and they'll never get out," Remus explained.
"Why?" Tonks asked, tears streaming down her eyes.
"Uncle Sirius and Aunt Cassie have…killed people," Remus said, the words breaking his own heart. "He was the one that led Voldemort to Aunt Lily and Uncle James's house. He killed Peter Pettigrew. Now they're never coming back."
"Uncle Sirius and Aunt Cassie would never do that!" Tonks argued. "They would never hurt anyone! They can't be in Azkaban."
"I'm afraid they are, sweetheart," Remus said sadly.
"But they can't stay in Azkaban forever! They have to come back!" Tonks exclaimed, a fountain of tears streaming down her cheeks.
Remus was heartbroken watching Tonks cry. He wrapped his arms around her, as if he were a blanket.
"It's going to be alright, Tonks, sweetheart," Remus comforted, kissing Tonks's head. "I'm sure Uncle Sirius and Aunt Cassie didn't do this. I'm sure they won't be in Azkaban forever."
"Promise?" Tonks asked dubiously.
"I promise," Remus whispered.
Remus hugged Tonks tightly. He could not believe all that had happened. His friends were dead, and his best friends were now locked up in Azkaban. He could not believe that Sirius or Cassiopeia would do such a terrible thing. A part of him, like Tonks, wanted to believe they were innocent. Remus only hoped that he would get to keep his promise.
A/N: I wasn't sure if Episkey works on all bones. If it does not, forgive me. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.