Time and love don't mix

Bonding, or something similar

Cassia hung out with her parents and her friends a lot during her first week in the past. She was able to keep up her cover story and enjoyed going to school without a life threatening disturbance. Even though her time here wouldn't be exactly calm and normal, it was a nice change.

Friday evening she went to Dumbledores office, but he hadn't found out anything new and asked her to research some things about time travel, magical hourglasses and time turners in the library.

Saturday was spent studiyng with the marauders, but they had decided to just hang out in the evening while James and Lily went on a date.

"Cassia, truth or dare?", Sirius asked. She thought for a second. Possibly standing up or possibly having to lie, when she was supposed to tell the truth. "Truth." "Wich one of us would you date, if you had to?" In the background, Remus and Marlene facepalmed, while Alice and Peter chuckled and Frank grinned.
"Not Frank, because he and Alice are too cute, Peter, I have nothing against you, but I don't think it would work out and I don't want a breakup. Now, Sirius or Remus... that is the difficult question. Remus seems to be more considerate, but he'd never pull pranks with me. Sirius on the other hand... that's a difficult desicion, actually." Marlene stifgled a laugh and Frank and Alice had a hard time keeping a straight face. Peter was quiet, taking in the conversation while Sirius and Remus looked at Cassia awaiting her answer. "Sirius, because I think Remus would be really great with a girl I know and I know she'll love him no matter what." "So... you chose me because you think we'd get along and can't think of a girl you'd like to see me with?" "Yeah, basically. Don't take it personal. You're a great and loyal friend." Sirius didn't seem happy with her answer, but didn't say anything.

"Alice, truth or dare?" "Dare."
What would be a good dare for Alice? Cassia was tempted to dare her to kiss a boy other than Frank, but decided that that would just be mean. "Leave this room and tell the first person you see that... you don't want them to leave ever again and you missed them!" Alice sighed, while the rest laughed, and got up. She opened the door of the boys dormitory and a third year boy became her victim.

After many stupid rounds of Truth or Dare, they decided to drop the game, since it got boring.

"How is your brother, Cassia? Every time you talk about him, it seems like you're really close.", Peter asked. "We are. He's a year younger than me and sometimes a bit stupid. He get's into trouble a lot but makes up for it by being his typical, heroic self. He's a bit of a rebel and the sole reason one of our teachers quit the job, but many teachers actually like him, even though he never really thinks about rules. Most of the time our friend Hermione has to keep him and his best friend Ron from being expelled, sometimes even I realise that what they're doing is stupid and help her, but most of the time I help Harry and Ron. Harry's a seeker and I'd say the best quidditch player I've ever heard of, though I am probably biased.
When we were younger I used to make up a lot of stories to entertain him and he loved it. When we started school together, that sadly stopped, but we went flying together a lot, even though I don't play Quidditch. He is a great fighter too. I bet he survived, but I really miss him. He's been in my life for as long as I remember and we were never really seperated, at least not for this long."

Even though she didn't want to, Cassia started to cry. She didn't even know if she would see Harry again. Maybe the hourglass only brought people to the past, not back to the future.
Sirius hugged her in an attempt to comfort the redhead. "Harry survived, from what you told us, he's a true fighter. He will be looking for you too. Dumbledore will find him, if he doesn't find you first. Don't worry, you will see him again and you will be reunited. If Dumbledore hasn't found him 'til Christmas, I'll look for him and I will find him and bring him back to you, I promise.", he told her calmly. Cassia forced herself to stop crying and shook her head. "I will look for Harry and I won't let anyone be harmed because of me.", she said coldly. "I am grateful for your support, Sirius, but I won't let you get hurt, trying to fix my family." Cassia wiped away her tears and smiled at her new found friends. "Thak you. All of you. I couldn't have gained better friends."

Cassia awoke early the next morning, knowing, she couldn't fall asleep again, even though she definately hadn't slept enough. The girl out of time went into the common room, surprised to find Sirius, sitting in front of the fireplace.

"Sirius? Is everything alright?", she asked carefully. The Gryffindor turned around, surprised to see her. "Y- yeah. Just... thinking." "Seems to be quite the negative thought. If you want to tell me, you can. I won't tell anything to anyone.", she offered sitting down next to him. He sighed. "I just thought about how close you and Harry are and I was wondering if Regulus and I could've had the same relationship. He's in Slytherin, like the rest of our family." At that point the man seemed bitter, but also like he felt guilty for being bitter about it. "I thought, maybe I ruined our relationship by being a Gryffindor. Maybe I missed my chance by pushing my parents away. By leaving him alone. Maybe it's my fault that he thinks You-know-who's great. Maybe everything that went wrong in our family is my fault. Maybe it's just my fault our parents never liked me. I mean, no normal parents would hate their son, just because he's in a different house than them, right? So it has to be my fault."

Cassia looked shocked at the man next to her and reassuringly took his hand. "None of that was your fault, Sirius. I know, no one wants to hear something like this, but your parents aren't good people, or even good parents. They are cruel and it is not your fault. Your brother does, what he does, because he isn't strong enough to stand up to his parents. He is scared of them and there is no fault in that, but it isn't your fault. Whatever your parents told you, you don't deserve to be treated badly by anyone. You are brave and selfless and your brother is too, but you are stronger. You, Sirius, are a true Gryffindor. And that isn't a bad thing. You've found friends, family even, that wouldn't ever push you to do anything, except being as great as you are. We care about you in a way, that your parents never did. You didn't destroy your relationship with Regulus, that were your parents. Regulus will see that you are in the right one day, and when he does, you'll know. He isn't a bad person, your parents haven't ruined him like that and you, you are a great man and a loyal, truthful friend and nothing bad in your life is your fault, but everything good you've earned, because you are a good and kind person."

After that speech Cassia's heart beat faster. She never had to deal with anything like this and hoped that she hadn't said anything wrong.

Tears were in Sirius' eyes. "Thank you, Cassia. You are truly a great friend." She hugged him reassuringly. "If you want to talk or just get someyhing off your chest, I'm here for you." "And I'll be here for you."