ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ ᵇˡᵒᵒᵈ ; ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

022 - U Padfoot

She watched as the countryside passed her by, the green, rolling hills, lush fields, and occasional forest in the ever vibrant sunlight filling her with a warmth that seemed so entirely opposite from the last time she'd seen such sights upon the Hogwarts Express. She was alone once more, preferring to witness the beauty of the Scottish realm without the chattering noises of her fellow students, yet she didn't feel lonely this time; not in the very least.

But her solitude wasn't meant to be, as the compartment door slid open, and she expected to hear something concerning sweets and treats, yet no such query came, and Cassiopeia found herself wondering if it was instead a student who hadn't quite found a space to sit, a strange idea considering the Hogwarts Express had been traveling for the better part of an hour thus far.

Whilst she desired no company, and especially no conversation, she didn't mind the idea of sharing her quiet space, nor would she deny some pitiful student a spot to sit if they were in such need.

"You may sit with me. I don't mind," she softly murmured, sending a gentle smile towards a particularly beautiful hill that she silently wished to sit upon.

"I didn't know you could smile like that," a familiar voice said, one she hadn't been expecting in the least.

Turning, her soft expression becoming a hard scowl as she did, she found Potter sitting in front of her, a gentle grin firmly upon his scarred features.

"It...suits you, Black," he quietly continued, glancing out the window as he pulled a letter from his pocket. "So, how has the ride been for you?"

"Fine, Potter," she coolly answered, giving the grinning boy a deadpan stare, as she knew he wasn't before her to make small talk. "Is there something you need?"

He turned back to her, showing her an even brighter grin, which she, once more, scowled at, which, in turn, seemed to increase his amusement.

"This is for you," he mirthfully replied, handing her the letter he'd pulled from his pocket.

"You wrote me a letter, Potter? How very...thoughtful of you," she snarkily said, delicately taking the item from his hand, finding her name neatly written upon its face.

"Aren't I?" he playfully replied, which caused the girl to send him another scowl, which, of course, did nothing to dissuade his grin. "It was sent to me, but it has your name on it, so..."

"And why, precisely, was a letter addressed to me sent to you, Potter?" she suspiciously asked, raising a fine eyebrow in disbelief.

"Who knows," he mirthfully replied, shrugging his shoulders in a hapless display, which caused her lips to purse in further disbelief.

"I...thank you," she politely murmured, glancing back down at the letter in mild curiosity.

"You're welcome," he quietly returned, and out of her peripheral, she watched him stand and make his way towards the compartment door, but before he opened it and took his leave, he had one final thing to say to her.

"Don't be such a stranger next year...Cassie," he said, his tone light, and glancing up at him, so too was his smile.

She parted her lips to ask what he meant by such a vague, strange statement, only for her mind to catch up to something she'd very nearly missed.

"What...did you...call me?!" she bemusedly queried, certain she'd misheard the boy, as neither were on friendly terms; not in the very, tiniest least.

But he didn't answer her. He simply grinned a little more and left, leaving her baffled by his bizarre behavior. With a soft sigh, she glanced down at the letter, deciding then and there was as good a time as any to read its contents. Opening it with her pedicured nails, a task made easy by their slightly above-average length, she began to read.

Dear Cassiopeia, what a dreadful name you have.

"I beg your pardon?!" she asked with a snarl, only just restraining herself from shredding the rude letter for the insult towards her beautiful name, although, silently, she would admit that she preferred Draco's nickname over her full name so long as formality and relation allowed it.

And what dreadful parents you must have to give you such a name.

Cassiopeia debated, very, very hard, on shredding the loathsome parchment within her grasp, but her curiosity managed, and only just, to keep her pride in check.

'Who is this from and how dare they offer such offense so brazenly?!' she angrily thought to herself, planning, internally, on seeking Potter out once the letter was through to ask him precisely that.

I jest, dear Cassiopeia. Your name is quite beautiful, and your parents must love you very much to give you such a wonderful name.

She blinked once, then twice, and then a third time in pleasant surprise, having not expected such a drastic change of the letter's contents or the writer's bland sense of humour, which Cassiopeia did not share.

I know you must feel very confused to receive this letter from me, but I wanted to say something to you. Something vitally important that cannot be said enough.

'What?' she silently wondered to herself, eager to read what the unknown author wanted to say, and endlessly curious as to who they happened to be.

Thanks again for the biscuits. Yours truly, U. Padfoot.

"I...beg your pardon?!" she loudly, bemusedly asked to no one in particular, perplexed beyond measure.

"Thanks for the biscuits."

'It's...him!' she silently, suddenly realized, hearing the words Sirius Black had said to her that night echoing throughout her mind. 'But I didn't give him-'

Before she could even finish the thought, something occurred to her; something that had been said as a rumor in the days post capture and escape; something concerning the man being an animagus. And then, just like that, something else occurred to the girl; something concerning a lakeside picnic and big black dog.

'Surely not...' she told herself, certain it couldn't be true; certain that she hadn't fed and relaxed next to the mosted wanted criminal within the wizarding world. 'Surely not...'

Cassiopeia reread the letter, then she reread it again, and what the man had said to her that night echoed within her mind with every word she perused, confirming what she could barely believe.

'What...a strange year this has been...' she silently mused, placing the letter back into its envelope, intent on focusing upon the rolling hills and lush plains beyond her window's transparent surface in hopes of ignoring what she now knew and what would never be acknowledged aloud.

"Cassie..."

'What a strange, strange year indeed...'