Chapter 40: Cassie and Sirius' Visitors

It had been seven long months since Sirius went on his way to look after Harry. Sirius was troubled by Harry's letter informing him of pain with his scar. Sirius knew well that only he or Cassiopeia could go, as one of them had to look after their son, Remus or S.J. While Sirius was away, Cassiopeia took care of their son and waited for news from Sirius. Sirius was good about keeping Cassiopeia informed about what was going on with him as well as Harry. Cassiopeia did the same, keeping Sirius informed about S.J., Remus, and Tonks. Despite being in contact with Sirius, Cassiopeia worried for her husband.

Despite missing Sirius terribly, Cassiopeia managed to find comfort while her husband was away. Sirius did manage to return for S.J.'s first Christmas and gave him a stuffed lion. Cassiopeia also had some visitors during this time. Andromeda would stop by when she could. Tonks and Remus visited as well to keep Cassiopeia in good company. One day, Cassiopeia was feeding S.J. when she heard the doorbell ring repeatedly. Cassiopeia hurried to answer the door, but it was too late.

"LIARS! TRAITORS! SCUM OF THE EARTH!" shouted a serpent-like voice.

The portrait of Walburga Black, Sirius' deceased mother, had awakened. In the months following Sirius' departure, Cassiopeia had to contend with the portrait of the wicked, old woman. It did not help matters that S.J. was terrified when he saw the portrait or heard its screams. As soon as the portrait began to scream, S.J cried out. Before she answered the door, Cassiopeia faced the portrait.

"YOU!" Walburga shouted murderously. "You little viper! How dare you and your spawn pollute my house?"

Cassiopeia was incensed. "Don't you dare insult my son, you hag! SHUT IT!"

Cassiopeia waved her wand and the great black curtains that covered the portrait closed. Cassiopeia went back to the kitchen and picked up S.J and his stuffed lion from his highchair before she answered the door. Much to her surprise, Tonks was at the door.

"Nymphie!" Cassiopeia greeted.

Cassiopeia warmly embraced her cousin and pecked her cheek.

"Wotcher, Cassie," Tonks greeted. "Wotcher, S.J.! You're getting to be a big boy!"

S.J. smiled gleefully as Tonks stroked his fat cheeks. He waved his arms excitedly and reached out to Tonks as if to say "pick me up."

"I think someone misses his Auntie Nymphie," Cassiopeia commented.

Cassiopeia handed S.J. off to Tonks, who held the baby boy on her hip and bounced him slightly.

"So, how are you? How is Jason?" Cassiopeia asked.

"He and I are good. He's been really supportive of me since I became an Auror," Tonks replied. "Work has been really hard, though. I've been hunting werewolves lately, but I still can't catch Greyback. The rest of the Aurors are trying to hunt down Sirius."

Cassiopeia swallowed hard. "Don't remind me."

"Sorry," Tonks said. "Have you heard from him? Is he alright?"

"I hear from him mostly by letters and occasionally by fire when he can manage to break into a house," Cassiopeia explained.

"Break into a house?" Tonks said, confused and shocked.

"How else can he use a fireplace to talk to me?" Cassiopeia asked.

"Good point," Tonks said. "What does he say? Is Harry alright?"

"He said that Harry has completed two tasks of the Triwizard Tournament with flying colors and he has one left to go in June," Cassiopeia explained. "Harry is a bit scared, but he's alright. We are only trying to figure out who put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire in the first place. Sirius suspects that it might be Snape or Igor Karkaroff."

"What do you think?" Tonks asked.

"I know Snape can be cruel, but he wouldn't be so cruel as to send a boy to die," Cassiopeia said wisely. "I truly think Karkaroff is behind it."

"Who is Karkaroff anyway?" Tonks wanted to know.

"He was a Death Eater," Cassiopeia replied. "not exactly a loyal one, either. After Voldemort lost his powers, he went to Azkaban with me and Sirius. He got off though because he made a deal with the Ministry. He gave them names of more loyal Death Eaters in exchange for release. Now, he's Headmaster to the Durmstrang Wizarding School."

"They made a former Death Eater a Headmaster?" Tonks asked in surprise.

"He's a good actor. He had the Ministry fully convinced he'd seen the error of his ways," Cassiopeia shrugged. "I can tell you that my son will not be a Durmstrang student."

Tonks decided to change the subject. "So, have you not seen Sirius at all?"

Cassiopeia shook her head. "No, not since Christmas. He only came back because he didn't want to miss his son's first Christmas."

Tonks smiled at S.J. "What a good daddy you have, S.J.!"

S.J. cooed and played with a handful of Tonks' purple hair.

"Behave yourself, little man," Cassiopeia giggled.

"Him, behave? Cassie, he's a Black. We Blacks never behave," Tonks laughed.

"You have a point," Cassiopeia replied with a smile.

Cassiopeia and Tonks' conversation was interrupted by S.J.'s cries. Tonks took him into the kitchen to give him another bottle. Just then, Cassiopeia heard a knock on the door.

"Finally, someone learned to knock," Cassiopeia said in relief.

Cassiopeia answered the door and smiled. "Remus!" Cassiopeia gasped. "Long time no see, stranger!"

Cassiopeia hugged Remus and kissed his cheek. Cassiopeia led Remus into the living room and sat down on the couch with him.

"Cassie, I came to see how you were. Are you alright?" Remus said.

"Oh, we're fine. It's just Sirius I'm worried about," Cassiopeia said anxiously. "He won't come back until Harry is finished with this Triwizard Tournament nonsense."

"I have read about that in the Daily Prophet. I can't believe Dumbledore is letting Harry compete. It's an odd move for him," Remus said.

"I usually do not question Dumbledore, but this is too foolish. I know the risks involved in this tournament. If my godson dies, that old man will have to answer to me," Cassiopeia said crossly. "I want to know who put Harry's name in that bloody Goblet of Fire. Whoever it was, he or she will make a murderer out of me."

"Now, now, Cassie. Harry is perfectly fine," Remus said calmly. "What about Sirius? Have you heard from him?"

"By letters and occasionally by the fire, when he can," Cassiopeia replied. "I just want this Triwizard Tournament to be over so that I can breathe easier knowing my husband and my godson are safe."

"This will be over before you know it," Remus comforted.

Just then, Tonks came into the living room carrying S.J. Tonks smiled at Remus. "Wotcher, Remus."

Remus did not smile back. Instead, he looked pale, as if he was going to be sick. He sprang to his feet from the couch.

"I'm sorry, Cassie. I really must be going," Remus said hesitantly.

"What's your hurry, Remus?" Cassiopeia asked, bewildered.

"I, uh, really must be going. I just came to see how you were. Goodbye, Cassie, Tonks," Remus stammered.

Remus darted out the door, trying his hardest not to look at Tonks. Cassiopeia and Tonks stared open-mouthed at each other.

"Merlin's Beard, Nymphie! What did you do to poor Remus?" Cassiopeia gasped, aghast.

"I have no idea," Tonks replied, dumbfounded. "He looked at me like he was going to vomit. He's so uncomfortable around me. He won't even look at me, let alone touch me. I think he's trying to avoid me, but I don't know why."

"He adores you. I assure you he does," Cassiopeia said confidently.

"Well I have Jason," Tonks replied. "I feel like I've known Remus my entire life. I just wish I could remember."

"Don't worry. You'll remember someday," Cassiopeia said optimistically. Meanwhile, Sirius was successfully roaming around Hogsmeade disguised as a dog. Sirius managed to send a letter to Harry asking him to meet him at the caves just outside Hogsmeade and to bring food. One March morning, Harry did just that. Harry carried a basket of food as he and his friends followed a disguised Sirius into the caves. Sirius was carrying a copy of the Daily Prophet in his mouth. Once they were safely inside the caves, Sirius changed back and dropped the paper. Sirius took the basket from Harry and his eyes glazed over when he saw the chicken and bread inside.

"Chicken!" he said excitedly. "Thanks. I've been living off rats, mostly. Can't steal too much food from Hogsmeade; I'd draw attention to myself."

Sirius tore into the chicken and bread without a second thought. Sirius chewed one drumstick after another and tossed away the bones to Buckbeak.

"What are you doing here, Sirius? And where's Cassie?" Harry asked.

"Cassie is at home. As for me, I'm fulfilling my duties as a godfather," Sirius replied. "Don't worry about it, I'm pretending to be a lovable stray."

Sirius then was more grave with Harry. "I want to be on the spot. Your last letter...well, let's just say things are getting fishier. I've been stealing the paper every time someone throws one out, and by the looks of things, I'm not the only one who's getting worried. Cassie's worried sick about you."

Sirius threw down the paper, but Harry did not look at it.

"What if they catch you? What if you're seen?" Harry asked worriedly.

"That's just what Cassie said. You three and Dumbledore are the only ones around here who know I'm an Animagus," Sirius reassured him.

Harry nodded and read over the story in the paper. The story was a report on the sudden illness of Barty Crouch Senior.

"My brother's Crouch's personal assistant. He says Crouch's suffering from overwork," Ron said.

"He did look ill, last time I saw him up close. The night my name came out of the goblet," Harry added.

"Getting his comeuppance for sacking Winky, isn't he?" Hermione sneered.

Sirius stopped gnawing on the chicken and bread. "Crouch sacked his house-elf?"

"Yeah, at the Quidditch World Cup," Harry replied.

Harry then went on to explain the terrible attack by the Death Eaters and how Winky, the hapless house-elf, was found with Harry's wand after a Dark Mark had been conjured.

Sirius paced up and down, thinking hard. "Let me get this straight: You saw the elf in the Top Box. She was saving Crouch a seat, right?"

"Right," replied the three friends.

"But Crouch didn't show up?"

"No. I think he said he was too busy," Harry replied.

"Harry, did you check your pockets for your wand after you left the Top Box?" Sirius asked.

Harry paused for a long moment. "No," he replied at last. I didn't need to use it in the forest. And then I put my hand in my pocket and all that was there were my Omnioculars. Are you saying whoever conjured the Dark Mark was in the Top Box?"

Sirius nodded. "It's possible. The elf wasn't the only one in that box. Who else was sitting behind you?"

"Some Bulgarian ministers, Fudge, the Malfoys..."Harry replied.

"The Malfoys!" Ron cried. "I bet it was Lucius Malfoy!"

"When the Dark Mark had been conjured, and the elf had been discovered holding Harry's wand, what did Crouch do?" Sirius asked.

"Went to look in the bushes, but there was no one there," Harry replied.

"Of course he'd want to pin it on anyone but his own elf and then he sacked her? Sirius said.

"Yes, he sacked her just because she hadn't stayed in her tent and let herself get trampled-" Hermione said furiously.

"Hermione, would you give it a rest!" Ron groaned.

"She's got the measure of Crouch better than you have, Ron. If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals," Sirius said wisely. "All these absences don't add up. It's not like Crouch. If he's ever taken a day off work because of illness before, I'll eat Buckbeak."

"Do you know Crouch, then?" Harry asked.

Sirius got a hateful look in his eyes and he clenched his fist. "Oh, I know Crouch alright. He was the one who gave the order for Cassie and me to be taken to Azkaban—without a trial."

Harry gaped. "You're kidding!"

"No, I'm not," Sirius said gravely. "Crouch used to be Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, didn't you know?"

All three of them shook their heads.

"He was tipped for the next Minister of Magic," Sirius explained. He's a great wizard, Barty Crouch—and power hungry. Crouch was always against the Dark Side, but well, you wouldn't understand."

"Try us!" Ron said brightly.

Sirius grinned. "Alright, I'll try you. Imagine Voldemort's powerful now. You don't know who to trust or where he might strike. People are disappearing, dying. That's how it used to be. Times like that bring out the best in some and the worst in others. Crouch started giving new orders to the Aurors to kill rather than capture and permission to use Unforgivable Curses. Cassie and I weren't the only ones to be sent to Azkaban without trial. Crouch had his supporters, mind you. When Voldemort disappeared, it looked like only a matter of time until he got the top job. But then, Crouch's own son was caught with a group of Death Eaters. Cassie and I were in Azkaban when he was brought in."

"Did Crouch try to get his son off?" Hermione asked.

"Crouch let his son off? I thought you had the measure of him, Hermione!" Sirius laughed. "Anything that would tarnish Crouch's reputation had to go, even his own son. He gave him a trial and then sent him to the Dementors. Cassie and I watched them do it from our cell."

"Is he still in Azkaban?" Harry asked.

"No, he died a year later," Sirius replied. "Many people in Azkaban go mad, and some lose the will to live. The Dementors buried him on the grounds. In the end, Crouch lost everything after word of that broke out and Fudge got the top job."

The discussion then turned to Snape and why Mad-Eye was investigating him. Hermione and Ron bickered about Snape's loyalties while Sirius listened thoughtfully.

"I think they've both got a point," Sirius said. "I always wondered why Dumbledore hired Snape. He was fascinated by Dark Arts. He knew more curses than anyone. He was part of a gang of Slytherins who all became Death Eaters. Most of them managed to avoid Azkaban and Snape is clever enough to do that. I just can't see Dumbledore letting Snape teach at Hogwarts if he was a Death Eater. As for Moody, it's like him to be suspicious. He's the best Auror there is. I am more concerned with Crouch. Ron, ask your brother if he has seen Crouch lately."

"I can try," Ron said.

"And Harry, try and find out if they have any leads on Bertha Jorkins," Sirius added.

"Ludo Bagman said they hadn't," Harry replied, bewildered.

"Yes, he said that her memory was bad, but Bertha was never forgetful," Sirius said. "She was a bit dim and only had memory for gossip. She was very nosy and very stupid. I suspect that got her into trouble. I suspect she's a liability and Bagman didn't bother to look for her long. What's the time?"

"It's half past three," replied Hermione.

"You'd better get back," Sirius said. "Just send notes to me here, you lot. If you sneak out, it might be the ideal moment for someone to attack you."

"No one's tried to, except a dragon and a few grindylows," Harry said sarcastically.

"I don't care," Sirius said grimly. "Cassie and I will breathe freely again when this tournament's over, but it isn't until June. . Oh, and don't forget, if your talking amongst yourselves about me, call me Snuffles."

"Alright," Harry replied. "If you write to Cassie, tell her I'm fine."

"I will," Sirius replied. "I will follow you to the edge of the village and see if I can find another paper."

Sirius turned back into a dog and walked with Harry to the end of Hogsmeade, tail wagging all the way. Sirius watched as Harry, Ron, and Hermione disappeared into the distance. Although Sirius was glad Harry was safe, he knew he could not breathe freely yet. Sirius would be glad when this tournament was over and he could go home to Cassiopeia and S.J. again.

A/N: Poor Sirius and Cassiopeia. They miss each other. Hopefully, they'll see each other soon. I hope you enjoyed this. Thank to my best friend Roza Anne! And thank you reviewers!