A/N: Once again, thank you to my lovely readers as well as Roza Anne. You make writing this story fun. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: Wonderful Escape

The news of the werewolf attack at Hogwarts on Tonks dampened Sirius and Cassiopeia's spirits. They had not thought of anything but this terrible accident for days. They worried about Tonks and Remus as well. These thoughts did not help them very much against the Dementors.

"You don't think Tonks knows, do you?" Cassiopeia asked anxiously.

"I can only hope she doesn't," Sirius said.

"It would be so awful if she found out," Cassiopeia said, her lip quivering.

"Tonks knows that Remus would never hurt her," Sirius said.

"Yes, but she doesn't know Remus wasn't himself. She doesn't know he hurt her anyway," Cassiopeia said wisely.

"I don't think it matters. I think Tonks will remember he loves her anyway," Sirius said confidently.

"Why did she go into the forest anyway?" Cassiopeia asked.

"You know Tonks is from the Black family. She's going to be quite the mischievous one," Sirius said wisely.

"Be that as it may, I think Tonks is smart enough not to go gambling her life," Cassiopeia replied.

"You know Tonks and Remus. They've been madly in love since she was seven," Sirius said with a half-smile.

"Sirius," Cassiopeia scolded.

"Well, it's true," Sirius argued. "The point is, she was always trailing after her Uncle Remus as a little girl. It doesn't surprise me that she would follow him off the end of the world."

"That is a valid point," Cassiopeia agreed. "Tonks was never far from Remus before. She clung to him as if she had a Permanent Sticking Charm to him."

"Yes. Remember when Harry was born? She came in holding his hand so tight," Sirius said.

"She must've only followed him that night as she normally did," Cassiopeia reasoned. "She must have been excited that he was studying to be a teacher at Hogwarts. It doesn't surprise me either that she would follow him around all the time."

"I only wish we were there," Sirius sighed.

"Do you think she remembers us?" Cassiopeia asked.

"What are you talking about?" Sirius asked, perplexed.

"It's already been three years," Cassiopeia answered. "Everyone believes we killed Lily, James, and Peter. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone just forgot about us."

"No, don't talk like that," Sirius soothed. "I don't believe everyone thinks we did it. I'm sure our friends will believe us."

"I miss them, Sirius," Cassiopeia said ruefully. "Lily, James, Remus, all of them. They hate us now."

"No, my darling," Sirius comforted, clasping Cassiopeia's face. "No one hates us. Our friends will remain loyal to us. You'll see."

"I wish I could see them again," Cassiopeia said.

"We will, Cassie," Sirius promised. "We're not going to be here forever."

Meanwhile, Tonks had been released from the hospital. Though, she could not remember exactly why she was there. She had been plagued by flashes of memories, but nothing solid. She decided that if she was going to get answers, she would ask her parents.

"Mummy, did I get attacked by a werewolf?" Tonks asked.

"Yes, darling, but you don't have to worry," Andromeda comforted. "That werewolf will never hurt you again."

"Was the werewolf's name Greyback?" Tonks asked.

"I don't know, Dora," Ted replied. "How do you know that name?"

"I heard it on the news," Tonks replied. "He's a werewolf, and he likes to hurt kids. I think he attacked me."

"You might be right, Dora," Ted said.

"It doesn't matter, darling," Andromeda said, embracing Tonks. "The werewolf will never hurt you again."

"I don't remember too much from that night," Tonks replied.

"You did hit your head pretty hard," Ted said, concern in his voice.

"I know," Andromeda said brightly. "We'll have Remus come to visit you."

"Who?" Tonks asked.

Tonks tried to process where she had heard that name before. It sounded so familiar. She felt as if she should know who this Remus was. Alas, nothing came to mind.

"Very funny, Dora," Ted snorted. "I don't think you could forget your Uncle Remus."

"Not after he's taken care of you after all this time," Andromeda added.

Tonks didn't know what to say. She tried to remember Remus, but nothing came to mind. She felt ashamed that she did not know Remus after all he had supposedly done for her.

"Oh, yeah, I was only joking," Tonks laughed, her jest betraying her feelings.

Tonks did not know what Remus had done. As Remus intended, she forgot about the horrible attack. However, she had lost her best memories of Remus. It would be years before she would have her memories back.

Time went by ever so slowly in Azkaban. Sirius and Cassiopeia spent the next eight, long years languishing in their horrid prison. They had spent a total of twelve, painful years locked away from the world. The years had begun to take their toll on both of them. Finally, in that summer, a miracle occurred.

Sirius and Cassiopeia heard voices coming from their cell.

"Sirius, what is it?" Cassiopeia asked.

"It's Cornelius Fudge," Sirius replied.

Fudge had made an appointed visit. Once again, he passed by Sirius and Cassiopeia's cell. Fudge was astounded by Sirius and Cassiopeia's manner. He couldn't believe neither of them had gone mad in Azkaban like the other prisoners.

Sirius called through the bars. "Mr. Fudge, may I have the newspaper? I miss doing the crosswords."

"Yes, we need to keep our minds active," Cassiopeia added.

Again, without a word, Fudge handed over his copy of The Daily Prophet. What happened next set the miracle in motion. Sirius and Cassiopeia read the headline: Winners! Vacation to Egypt! There was a picture of a very large family. All of them had bright red hair.

"Sirius, who is that?" Cassiopeia asked.

"It's Arthur and Molly Weasley," Sirius replied.

"Your cousins?" Cassiopeia asked.

"Yes," Sirius answered. "It seems that they have quite the brood."

"Hopefully we might have that luck someday soon," Cassiopeia jested.

Sirius did not laugh, nor did he smile. His eyes were glassy, as if he were hypnotized or under a spell as he gazed at the newspaper. His hands began to shake as if a slow rage was building up in him.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Cassiopeia asked, concerned.

"That rat is not what it seems to be," Sirius said, still shaking the paper.

"Peter Pettigrew," Cassiopeia gasped.

"He must've warmed his way to someone who will protect him," Sirius said coldly.

"I don't think it'll do him much good," Cassiopeia said determinedly.

"He's going to need to do better than hide behind my cousins to escape me," Sirius said fiercely.

"He should've picked a better disguise," Cassiopeia added. "Does it say where he's going?"

"He's going to Hogwarts," Sirius replied.

For the next week, Cassiopeia had begun to act strange. Usually, she let Sirius have what meager food they were given by the Dementors. Sirius had to practically beg her to eat. All of that changed during this week. Whenever the Dementors brought them food, Sirius didn't have to beg Cassiopeia to eat. In fact, whenever their food came, Cassiopeia devoured it. It was as if she would never see food again. In addition to intense hunger, Cassiopeia began to look ill. She complained of stabbing pains in her belly. Sirius was apprehensive and clueless. He only hoped it was nothing bad.

"Cassie, are you alright?" he asked apprehensively.

"Fine, darling," Cassiopeia replied. "Why?"

"Cassie, darling, you've been looking dreadful all week. You're not fine," Sirius argued.

"It's nothing. I promise," Cassiopeia said dismissively.

"Alright, only because you promised," Sirius sighed.

In addition, Sirius slept and moaned the same words in his sleep. "He's at Hogwarts…He's at Hogwarts…"

This alarmed the guards somewhat. To Sirius and Cassiopeia, it gave them a new strength. They knew where the man that betrayed them as well as Lily and James was going. Because it wasn't a happy thought, the Dementors could never take it from them. It drove Sirius and Cassiopeia on that entire week.

"We've got to get out of here," Sirius said firmly.

"But how? There are Dementors everywhere," Cassiopeia wanted to know.

"If we can manage here in our Animagus forms, we can use that to get out of here," Sirius answered wisely.

Cassiopeia's eyes widened. "We could slip out the door when the Dementors bring our food."

"Exactly," Sirius replied.

"That's clever, Sirius," Cassiopeia gasped.

"Wait until tonight. We'll slip out when the Dementors bring us dinner," Sirius told her.

That night, Sirius and Cassiopeia put their plan in motion. They had already transformed into their Animagi. As expected, the Dementors opened the cell to bring their food. Sirius and Cassiopeia were able to slip out together through the bars. The Dementors were blind, and they could not see the false dogs slipping out. Sirius and Cassiopeia then made it down to the gates where they were met with the sea. They swam with all of their might to the mainland. Finally, at long last, they reached land. Exhausted, they transformed back into humans.

"We did it," Sirius gasped wearily. "We're free."

Cassiopeia said nothing, but simply sat up. She clutched her stomach, as if she had a pain there.

"I'm hungry," Cassiopeia whispered.

"Cassie, are you alright?" Sirius asked. "You're acting quite strange. Aren't you happy to be out of there?"

"Now more than ever," Cassiopeia said, beaming.

"Cassie, you're scaring me," Sirius said. "You've been acting so weird all week. I'm beginning to think you're bewitched or something."

"Sorry, darling," Cassiopeia said.

"What is going on with you?" Sirius wanted to know.

"Something wonderful has happened, Sirius," Cassiopeia whispered, a smile as bright as the sun on her face.

"I know," Sirius sighed. "I promised you we wouldn't be stuck in there forever. I'm glad I kept my promise."

"I wasn't talking about that, Sirius," Cassiopeia said softly.

"Come again?" Sirius asked in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"I was talking about me," Cassiopeia replied with a smile still on her face. "Actually, I was talking about us."

"I don't follow," Sirius said, confused.

Cassiopeia gently took Sirius's hand. Sirius watched where Cassiopeia guided his hand. As gingerly as ever, Cassiopeia led Sirius's hand to her belly.

Sirius's eyes widened. "You're not-"

"I am," Cassiopeia whispered gleefully. "Sirius, I'm pregnant."

A/N: I hope I'm not asking to much of you to believe this. I do apologize if this seems unlikely. I hope you enjoy what I have next.