The Cassiopeia Project [George Weasley] ✓

THIRTEEN

Moonlight shone through the girl's dorm, creating a silver path between the four-posted beds in the dark room. All of them had the curtains drawn, except for one, where a red-headed girl was staring at the moon through the window bars. She was wearing an old band t-shirt and some tartan pyjama pants — which in Alicia's opinion didn't count as a pyjama —, and was physically exhausted from all the emotions she had lived in one day.

However, Cassie was unable to sleep. Her mind was constantly replaying the events of that same day; the cheering, the joy at winning the match, then the party, dancing with the girls, dancing with George...

It was the 'dancing with George' part the one she thought most about.

Careful not to wake anyone up, she slipped from her bed onto the floor, going down the stairs in her socks as to no make any noise. The common room was deserted, dimly lit with the dying fire. Remnants of the party could be seen everywhere, and with a quick glance at the clock, she saw that it had only passed one hour since it had ended.

She navigated through empty butterbeer bottles and sweet wrappers thrown on the floor until she reached her destination: the armchairs by the fire. Once there, the girl lied down in the largest one and stared at the ceiling, feeling comfortable hearing the crackling fire beside her.

A creaking sound startled Cassie not long after that. From her position by the fire, she could see the portrait hole opening. At first, she thought it may be Fred and George in one of their late-night adventures she had heard so much about, but the figure of a tall, dark-haired man vanished that idea from her mind, making her momentarily freeze in fear. He was partially hidden in the shadows and paused for a moment in the entrance of the common room, almost like hesitating. Then, he started his way towards the boys' dormitories.

With a bravery she didn't know she possessed, Cassie leapt up from the couch, facing the scary man whose name had been heard through Hogwarts multiple times.

"Sirius Black."

The serial killer stared at her, perplexed. He surely didn't expect finding anyone at that hour of the night. Cassie could see he was holding a knife in his right hand, but that didn't deter her. Hanging out with the twins so much was making her become quite bold. That, or she just lacked a self-preservation instinct.

"Move."

His voice was raspy and low, and Cassie's stomach made a backflip. It reminded her of something, a memory buried in the depths of her brain.

"I-I won't let you kill my friends." She stated, trying to keep her voice steady and looking at Black in the eyes. A silvery colour returned her stare, a colour almost the same as hers.

"Only one person will die tonight."

That was dramatic.

The girl didn't know what to do, and flinched when the fugitive stepped towards her. She mentally cursed herself for leaving her wand upstairs, in her night table, like an idiot. There was nothing she, a sixteen-year-old could do against Sirius Black with a knife.

She opened her mouth to scream. At least everyone would know, even if she died, that they were in danger. However, before a sound could be made, a large shape jumped out of nowhere and into her body, making her collapse into the ground and leaving the path free for Black to run upstairs towards the boys' dorms as she yelped in surprise.

Cassie was fighting her attacker, which was none other than Crookshanks, Hermione Granger's cat, when a loud scream could be heard from the dorms. Not even a second later, a black shape bolted through the common room and outside, the cat over her not allowing the girl to see what exactly it was.

"Sirius Black was here!"

"What's happening?"

"Black, I saw him!"

Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were the firsts ones to arrive at the common room. Cassie stood up, feeling nauseated, and looked at them. Crookshanks was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you okay?" She hurriedly asked, studying the boys carefully.

They looked shaken, but fine. Students started pouring into the common room, sleepy but interested.

"Excellent, are we carrying on?" Cassie heard Fred ask.

Percy Weasley, the twins' older brother, was beyond angry, trying to get everyone to go back upstairs, and she looked at Ron trying to convince him that Sirius Black had been there indeed.

She felt dizzy. Everything had happened so fast, and her head was throbbing, and the world was spinning.

Before anyone could notice, Cassie dropped limply to the floor.

***

"It must've been a big shock..."

"How long has she been like this?"

"A couple hours."

Cassie woke up to people whispering around her. Her head throbbed a bit, and her memory was cloudy. When she opened her eyes, three figures were standing right next to where she lied.

Albus Dumbledore looked at her gravely through his spectacles. Next to him were Professor Lupin, with worry written all over his face, and Madame Pomfrey, holding a potion in her hand.

"How are you feeling?" The Headmaster asked kindly. Cassie closed her eyes briefly and sighed, opening them again.

"Tired."

"You should rest." Madame Pomfrey suggested, depositing the potion in the bedside table. "If your head hurts too much, drink this. It'll help."

Cassie nodded and the Healer left, leaving her alone with the Headmaster and Professor Lupin.

"Has Black been caught?" She asked, a lump forming in her throat. Lupin shook his head slowly.

"The Professors are looking for him."

"Remus, if you could leave us alone for a second." Dumbledore intervened.

The teacher nodded and left the infirmary, leaving the door partially open behind him. Cassie looked questioningly at the elderly man in front of her, who smiled amiably.

"It was very brave what you did tonight." He spoke. The student looked at him astonished.

How on Earth did he know?

"I award you ten points to Gryffindor."

Cassie was straight up stunned.

"B-But." She stammered. Dumbledore held up a hand, silencing her.

"Now, rest. Mr and Mr Weasley are quite worried about you and will probably be here at the break of dawn." He said, a twinkle in his eyes. "Goodnight, Miss Moore."

The infirmary door closed behind the Headmaster, and she was left completely alone. With a swarm of questions coursing through her mind, Cassie finally fell asleep, dreaming about dogs, cats and her mother.