The Marauders Era

12 Grimmaulde Place

"Please, Cassie, come with me. You don't belong here. Neither of us does." Silence fell through the dark green room that was decorated with the colors of red and gold. On the wall hang multiple pictures taken with a wizard camera and some that looked to be taken with a muggle one. Most of them consisted of five people smiling and looked as if they had won a million galleons. Some of the pictures were occupied by two boys, one with glasses and rather messy hair while the other boy had dark curly hair.

However, there were also many pictures of the curly-haired boy and another boy with sandy blonde hair. One could tell that they were all great friends in the way they looked standing next to each other. However, one particular picture stood out the most. There were two children, with hair as dark as night and both with elegant curls. They were almost an exact copy of each other and couldn't have been more than six years old. The boy looked up and smiled a big mischievous smile that showed a few missing teeth, while the girl was making a funny face at the camera before giving a big smile.

"I remember that day. Andy wouldn't stop taking pictures because we looked so cute." A slight laugh escaped the younger twin. "Mother was furious, saying that was no way for a young lady and gentleman to behave." A look of longing lighted up her eyes, as of trying to relive the memory. "Cassie... "

She turned around and looked at her brother. It felt like someone was stabbing her heart with a knife. "Sirius, I can't. You know that, go and live with James. I'll visit if I can, but I have to stay here." Silence filled the room for a moment as she took hold of his hand and squeezed it gently. "He needs me, and I know no matter how much you want to leave, the thought of leaving him is hurting you. "

A small smile appeared on his face. It sometimes surprised him how well she knew him. She could look at him once and see that something was bothering him, there were times where he hated it, but he couldn't help but secretly love it. It was unbelievable how much his sister had grown over the years, from the little girl who used to follow him around all the time to a strong independable woman who would do anything for the people she loved. Including letting their parents marry her off to someone she didn't know, so they would let her brothers be. However, what worried him the most, was that now that he left, his sister's engagement would happen sooner than planned to cover the fact that the oldest child of the black family was disowned.

He told her that she could always do the same as Andy did and marry for love. But she said that this was the only way she could make sure that their brother would be safe. Sirius hoped for his sister that whoever she ended up marrying would treat her with the respect she deserves.

"I'll be fine. Besides, mother is dying to finally show off her wonderful pure-blood Slytherin son-in-law, so until they find the poor bloke, I'll be okay." Cassie smiled at her older brother before giving him a tight hug. She pulled away from her brother and smiled at him. "Promise you'll write to me?" A chuckle filled the room. " Of course, even I can only take so much of Prongs rambling about Evans."

He picked up his bags and gave her a smile before walking out of his bedroom. Cassie could hear his footsteps echoing down the stairs, and then a loud shriek filled the house. She listened to her mother and her brother yelling at each other before suddenly a loud noise was heard, and the front door was slammed shut. Tears started gathering in her eyes, and unwillingly the first one fell. Sitting down on her brother's bed, she took his pillow and hugged it close.

"CASSIOPEIA!!!" Her mother's voice echoed through the halls.

Cassie dried her tears and walked out of the room towards the staircase. On the way down, she met Kreacher's eyes and gave him a soft smile, he bowed his head, but a little smile could be seen. Even though they didn't share the same views on blood status, they still cared for one another. Reaching the end of the stairs, she walked through the narrow hallway before reaching the parlor.