Chapter 1: In the Beginning
AN: This is the prequel to Prisoner and his Love. It gives a background story on Cassie and Sirius's relationship. The idea had been in my head for a while, so I decided to start writing. Please review! By the way, I only own Cassie. The rest is owned by J.K. Rowling and such.
"CASSIOPEIA MARINA POTTER! COME HERE THIS INSTANT!" James yelled from downstairs.
"WHAT!" Cassie yelled back, grinning as she descended the stairs.
"I just figured if I yelled, you'd come down faster." James grinned as she glared at him.
"You are such a prat James!"
"Well, if he's a prat, Cassie, what am I?" James' best mate, Sirius asked, grinning alongside James. He walked into the room after hearing the lovely exchange between brother and sister.
"You are a pompous arse." Cassie stuck her tongue out at Sirius as she walked past. He winked at her and flashed his famous grin.
"Cassie! No I really needed you! Rina! Please come back!" James jumped from the stool and jogged after her. "Rina, please!!!" Cassie stopped, if James is using my nickname, he must actually need or want something. Cassie stopped and turned towards her brother.
"What's the problem oh loving brother of mine?" Cassie smiled.
James led her into the hallway, away from the prying ears of Sirius Black. "I have something I need to ask you." Cassie nodded and waited for him to ask.
"Well, with…" James paused. "With mum and dad gone, I was hoping you'd come live with Lily and me…in our house. I don't want you to have to go back to that house by yourself if you don't want to. Mum and dad left it to me until you were done with school and then we can do with it as we please."
Cassie stared at her older brother. She felt the tears begin to well in her eyes. Her parents had passed away the previous month. She had immediately gone back to school and hadn't thought about where she was going to go for the Summer Holidays. She thought that Lily wouldn't mind her here for the Christmas holidays, but summer was a long time. "Lily won't mind me being here?" she asked quietly.
"No, we discussed it. She doesn't want you to be alone. Rina, I don't want you to be alone either. You're my favorite little sister."
Cassie smiled. "James, I'm your only sister." She shook her head and laughed softly.
"That's all the more reason for you to be my favorite." He pulled her into a tight hug. "I really think it would be good for you to come back here. You can help Lily with Harry. After you graduate… we'll figure something out. If you want to stay here you can or if you want to get your own place… Well you could do that too."
"Just think about it, okay?" James smiled. "Please?"
"Okay, I'll think about it."
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Cassie continued to stare out the window even after she heard her sister-in-law come up behind her. "What ya doing Cass?" Lily asked, sitting down beside her with Harry in her arms.
"Just thinking and remembering." Cassie turned and pulled her nephew into her lap. She jiggled him up and down on her knees while Lily watched her.
"What are you remembering?"
Cassie smiled, knowing she wasn't going to get out of it too easy. "I was thinking about when James asked me to move in here with you two. I thought I'd be intruding. I doubted that you would want his little sister living with you, especially with the new baby."
"Oh Cassie!" Lily put her arms around the younger girl. "I love you like a sister! Of course I would want you to come live here! I didn't want you alone in that huge house. That's just awful!"
Cassie smiled. She was so glad to have a sister-in-law like Lily. Lily was as wonderful and understanding as she was beautiful. Cassie secretly envied her, having such a wonderful husband like James. All I have is Sirius, and I'm not even sure if I have him Cassie thought often.
"I'm so thankful to have a sister-in-law like you Lily, and to have such a wonderful godson like little Harry!" Cassie kissed her nephew's chubby cheek, he giggled.
"Are you ready to go back to school tomorrow? All packed?" Lily asked.
"Yes, I'm all set." Just as she was handing Harry back to Lily, James came in, panting and out of breath.
"Lily, we need to talk to you. Cassie, can you watch Harry?" James asked hurriedly. Sirius trailed in behind him, looking just as ragged.
"Sure. What's going on?" Cassie took Harry back from her sister-in-law and stared at her brother and best friend.
"Don't worry Cass. We'll be right back." James said, walking Lily into the kitchen.
Sirius walked up to her and kissed her cheek. "It's okay love. You just watch our godson." He smiled at her then followed James and Lily into the kitchen.
Cassie stood, staring at the kitchen door, the cat moving around her legs, curling up against her leg. She rocked Harry back and forth, attempting to keep him calm. Quietly, she snuck up to the door and attempted to hear the conversation that was transpiring within.
"…after us. We have to…Fidelius Charm. Sirius, will… Secret Keeper?" Cassie stepped back and stared at the door. What are they talking about? Fidelius Charm? That's…oh no! Cassie quickly walked over to the couch and sat down. They're in danger! I can't lose my family!
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
"Lily, we just found out from Dumbledore, Voldemort is after us." James looked at his wife. The look on his face was terror alone.
"What do you mean, after us?" Lily asked, frightened. She had never seen James look terrified, he was always calm and collected or jovial and happy. She thought of her infant son in the arms of his aunt; her sister and worthless brother-in-law, her nephew. "What can we do?"
"Well, Prof. Dumbledore says there's the Fidelius Charm is our only shot. But we need a Secret Keeper." James said, looking towards Sirius. "Sirius, will you be our Secret Keeper?"
"Of course. I'll go into hiding myself, once the Charm has been completed." Sirius said seriously (AN: no pun intended :-D)
"Are you sure? This is awfully dangerous." Lily said, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
"I'd die before I'd let anything happen to either of you." Sirius said, placing a reassuring hand on Lily's hands. "Same thing with Cassie."
"Thanks Sirius. I supposed I should tell her so she doesn't worry." James stood and walked towards the door, the other two adults following behind.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Cassie sat there in silence until the three walked out of the kitchen.
"Hey Cassie, can I talk to you for a second?" James asked, leaning against the doorway to the kitchen.
"Sure. Here Lily, he was almost asleep" she said, handing Harry to her.
Cassie followed James into the kitchen, but not before shooting a worried look at Sirius who had taken her place on the couch. He responded by flashing his famous grin and winking at her.
"Now Cassie I know you were listening outside the door." James said shutting the kitchen door. Cassie looked up in surprise as she sat down. She saw James grinning at her. "It's exactly what I would have done, which is why I know you were there.
"Now I want you to get the facts, not some garbled version once you get to school." James sat down in a chair across from her at the table. He shuffled around the papers on the table, keeping his hands busy.
"You won't be staying here for the Christmas holidays; most likely not the Easter ones either. You can stay at school with your friends."
"But why…" Cassie started, but James held up his hand.
"Let me finish. Lily and I need to… go into hiding, I guess you could say. Lord Voldemort is coming after us." James watched Cassie gasp, but kept talking. "We're going to perform the Fidelius Charm; you remember what that is right?" Cassie nodded and he went on. "We've asked Sirius to be our Secret Keeper. We're going to perform the charm right before Halloween; it'll give us time to organize our interests. No one but Sirius will know where we are."
"James…what's…" she started but fell silent.
"You're going to stay at school. The only person Voldemort is afraid of is Dumbledore. You'll be safer at school than with us. Hopefully this whole matter will be over by the time graduation rolls around. I couldn't miss your graduation." He grinned. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. I…" Cassie started to cry and James moved next to her and put his arms around her.
"Cassie, it's okay. I trust Sirius and you should too. As soon as the Charm is performed, he's going into hiding."
"James? What about Remus? Where does he fit in?" Cassie lifted her eyes as James looked away.
"We're not sure where…" he trailed off. "We… I don't know how to answer that Rina." He frowned. "Come on, Lily'll want to get dinner started so let's get out of the kitchen. It's your last night here before your 7th year starts, what do you want to do?"
"Just be here. Nothing too spectacular." Cassie stood up and slowly walked into the living room.
"Okay that we can do." James put his arm around his younger sister and pulled her close. "It'll be okay Rina. It's all going to be okay."