𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 | f. weasley

one

CASSANDRA BLACK STOOD OUTSIDE number twelve, Grimmauld Place. She had returned to her house to collect some clothes and spare change for the rest of the summer. Since the Weasley's had hit potluck and had decided to visit Charlie in Egypt, Cassie could not have stayed with them for the summer (like she had last year). So instead, she had been travelling all over the place – she had stayed at Hermione's till they left for France, then travelled to Lupin's house only to find it locked, she then went and stayed at a little inn near Godric's Hollow (the place still gave her terrible memories so she ran off within four days) and finally decided she would lodge at the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the summer break. She had been strictly forbidden from staying at Harry's despite how much ever the boy pleaded (Harry needed to keep himself sane because the Dursley's were nothing but torture for the poor thirteen-year-old). So now she had come back to her family home to collect a few belongings and take some change for the ride to the Leaky Cauldron. Kreacher, on seeing his master's daughter return, insisted on her staying one night before she departed yet again. Much to her reluctance, she gave in to her house-elf's wishes and stayed the night. At the crack of dawn, she immediately began packing up, not wanting to stay at the house any longer, knowing all too well that the Ministry would come knocking at her doorstep considering Dumbledore was unable to remove the track on her. Although it became too late as the street outside began bustling with muggle activity, making her wait till dusk to leave for London.

When the streets were finally clear, she stepped out, heaving her suitcase on her own. She may have been only a lanky five feet and four inches but she was a lot stronger than she let on. She put her suitcase down and struck her wand out. She looked back to see Kreacher patiently waiting for her to board the bus safely. She gave him a small smile and mouthed 'It's ok, you can go to rest,' hoping that would send the elf away, and thankfully, it did. Now she sat on her suitcase as she waited for the Knight Bus to arrive and take her to the Leaky Cauldron. She sat in silence, enjoying the night. The peaceful sound of the wind blowing with the crickets chirping always calmed her, putting her in a serene mood. But her peace was suddenly disturbed by a fairly loud crack sound somewhere near her – someone had just apparated. Cassandra spun around and pulled out her wand. Even if she performed magic, the Ministry couldn't do anything to her – she was the exception. She walked to the source of the sound – the front yard bushes of number thirteen. Before she could even cast a spell, a huge black dog jumped out of the bushes. The dog – less of a dog, more of a hound – began trotting towards Cassie, it's tail wagging in glee. Cassie too inched towards the dog and stopped when she was right above it, staring at it with utmost shock. A thousand questions and statements filled her mind but all that came out of her mouth was the most dominant thought – I missed you.

The dog sat down and looked up at the Black, its eyes filled with longing. Cassie cracked a small smile before quickly regaining her senses. A distant honk pulled her back to reality, snapping her out of whatever trance she had been in a second ago. She sternly looked at the dog and began flapping her hands, as though shooing away a city pigeon from the window ledge saying, "Run along, don't just stand there! Run along!"

Puzzled at first, the dog tilted its head and continued to stand there but when it met her stern gaze, it immediately obeyed her command and ran back into the bushes. But Cassandra didn't hear another crack noise. She continued to stare at the bush before forcing herself to look away. As she turned her gaze, she got blinded by the lights of the Knight Bus as it halted in front of her.

"Are you on the run, girlie?" Stanley Shunpike, the conductor of the wizard bus asked Cassandra, making her scoff in response. She walked into the bus and handed the required sickles to Stan before taking a bed.

"What's your name eh? This is the third time you've called us in a month! I think I need to know at least something about ya," Stan pestered, struggling with Cassandra's suitcase. He dropped it with a loud thud at the foot of her bed and leaned against the window waiting for a response from the dark-haired girl.