Safer in the Forest (A Sirius Black Fanfic)

Chapter 9: Reticulum

"Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars." –J.R.R. Tolkien

***

Blindly, Cassie stumbles out of the common room despite the lateness. She needs to get away from that paper. If her parents are out of Azkaban, that means they might come looking for her. They got into Azkaban at the same time she was freed; what if they want her to join?

Cassie had thrown the paper in the fire. It's bad enough she'll see it tomorrow, and everyone will ridicule her again. She doesn't know if she can take it. She needs to talk to someone; she needs someone to tell her it's okay because sometimes, telling yourself just isn't enough.

Cassie goes upstairs first, but upon finding Lily fast asleep, she bolts outside instead. She wants to find Sirius. He's the only other one she can talk to about this. Even James or Remus or Peter, just somebody.

Somehow, she makes it out the front doors without encountering any teachers. It's only three in the morning, but she figures Filch would have to be around somewhere. It's cold, and she didn't bring a jacket. She runs to the Whomping Willow, using a stunning spell to stop the branches from killing her.

Cassie finds the passage and starts following it. It's dark and cold, the walls are stone, and there's water dripping from the ceiling. She pulls her sleeves down over her hands in an attempt to preserve warmth. The passage seems to go on forever. Soon she's inside a creaky old house. She sees the light of someone's wand, following the sight up the stairs and down a hallway.

Approaching carefully (there's a werewolf in there), Cassie sees that Peter is the only one in human form. He's holding his wand. Cassie hasn't even entered the room before Remus jumps towards her with a growl, nearly giving her a heart attack. Everything happens at once: Cassie stumbles backwards; James, in stag form, restrains Remus, while Sirius hastily turns back into a human and pushes Cassie down the rest of the hall and into another room, shutting the door and not speaking until Remus' howls and cries die down. It's quiet; their breath is visible in the cold; all Sirius is wearing is a fluffy, maroon, velvet robe-type coat that reaches his feet.

"What the hell are you doing here, Cassie?" Sirius demands. "I thought I could trust you once I told you everything—"

"You can!" Cassie cries, feeling tears well up in her eyes. "I just needed to talk to someone."

Sirius notices her glassy eyes even in the dim light. "What's wrong, Cas?"

Cassie moves away from him, running her hands though her hair in distress, trying not to cry. "My parents. Voldemort broke them out of Azkaban and recruited them."

Sirius pales. "How'd you find out?"

"It was in the paper."

"Oh my God, Cas." Sirius pulls her in as she finally allows the tears to flow. "It's okay, Cas, I promise. I've got you."

"What am I going to do?" she whispers. "You know they'll want me."

"Well, you know what?" Sirius pulls back and cups her face, wiping her tears away. "They can't have you. They'll have to go through me first. And before you rub it in that it would be easy, remember that I'm a giant dog."

Cassie grins at him. His gray eyes shine with honesty and hope, everything she needs right now. "That's not true, you're a fantastic wizard, Sirius."

"C'mere." He hugs her again, stroking her hair until she calms down.

After she's stopped crying and feels her heart rate regulate, Cassie pulls away. "You'd better get back in there."