( December '96 )

Jack and Cassandra were conversating when Jack stopped talking all of a sudden. Sirius and Brooklyn just walked through the front door of the Burrow. They were engulfed in hugs with Molly and Arthur.

"So nice to see you, Molls." Brooklyn said.

She turned into the kitchen and stopped talking once she saw Jack. The two stared at each other, not saying anything. Cassandra and Sirius watched the two, awkwardly. They waited for someone to say something.

"Heyyyyy, Jack." Sirius said, breaking the tension.

"Hi Sirius." Jack said, not very happily.

"Jack." Brooklyn breathed.

"Brooklyn Potter." Jack said.

"I'm sorry." Brooklyn said, looking down at her hands.

"Sorry?" Jack said. "Yeah you better be sorry. You left Remus and I for fifteen years. You could've come back sooner. You chose to stay in America. I know, I checked your whereabouts once you came here. You stayed there for four more years than you needed to. They stopped tracking you because they were captured and put into Azkaban."

"I really am sorry." Brooklyn said. "I panicked while I was there. My powers were out of control. I couldn't just come back. I was in a cave for those four years, learning more of my powers. That's when I had the vision about Sirius. I knew I had to teleport here."

"Yeah, because you love Sirius more than you love the rest of us." Jack said. "You love him more than you love your nephew and niece. More than you love your best friends."

"Of course I do, Jack!" Brooklyn said. "I wouldn't expect you to know what it is like to fall in love."

"I was in love!" Jack yelled. "And he died! He died, Brooklyn. Yet I was still there for you. I have always been there for you. But you left when I needed you most and you only came back for him. By the way, Sirius, I don't blame you."

"Who were you in love with?" Brooklyn said. "You never told me, Jack."

"Regulus Black." Jack said. "But he was in love with you."

"Hey!" Cassandra said, looking offended. "You never told me that when you were explaining the lore."

"How do you two know each other?" Brooklyn asked.

"Jack came here for the Triwizard Tournament in my fourth year." Cassandra said. "And ever since then he's had a position at Hogwarts where he is Cassandra Snape's, sorry Potter, personal assistant."

"Personal assistant my ass." Jack snorted.

"Hey! You used a bad word!" Cassandra said. "You said I couldn't use those but now you used one."

"I'm an adult, Cassie." Jack laughed. He turned to Brooklyn. "I forgive you Brooke but never will I forget."

Harry walked into the room.

"Hey, Harry, I have a question." Cassandra said. "Why was Dean Thomas playing chaser and Katie Bell was in the announcer's box last game?"

"Katie didn't feel like playing that day." Harry replied. "She wanted to do the announcements because McGonagall offered it to her. We might have to have Dean as a permanent chaser, honestly."

"Oh okay." Cassandra said. "That makes sense. I was so confused when I heard her announcing things."

~~

The next couple of hours were spent having dinner, talking, and laughing. But it all ceased when a noise came from outside. Everyone got up besides Molly and Tonks. They headed outside to notice Death Eaters out there. They had put a ring of fire around the house.

Cassandra felt anxious and on edge.

"I killed Sirius Black!" Bellatrix laughed, running into the tall grass. "I killed Sirius Black."

Even though she didn't kill Sirius, she knew how to bait Harry and Cassandra so that they would be alone. Harry, Cassandra and Ginny ran after Bellatrix, desperate to catch her. Brooklyn Potter chased the children until they reached a little mound of sand with water surrounding it.

"Stay behind me, children." Brooklyn said.

She put her hands out, ready to use her powers when directed to. Arthur and Remus soon joined the four.

"Remus." Brooklyn breathed. "Arthur, thank goodness you two are here."

Cassandra turned her head and noticed the house was on fire.

"Guys the house is on fire!" Cassandra shouted.

"Molly! Tonks!" Arthur yelled, running towards the house.

Cassandra ran after him desperate to help. By the time she reached the house, Molly and Tonks were outside.

"Oh thank goodness you two are okay." Cassandra said, pulling them both into a hug.

The fire was soon extinguished and Cassandra headed into the house to see what survived. She searched for Hedwig and Fluffy. She entered what was left of Ron's room and saw Hedwig, perfectly fine, in her cage.

"Hello girl." Cassandra said. "Let's get you out of here."

She unlatched the door to the cage and Hedwig flew off. She walked to Ginny's room and noticed Fluffy's carrier was a bit burnt. She opened up the carrier, noticing a perfectly okay Fluffy. She scooped up Fluffy into her arms.

Cassandra went back outside to her friends and chosen family.

"How bad is it?" Molly asked.

"Our trunks are fine since they're fireproof." Cassandra said. "The walls took most of the damage. The pets were fine. Upstairs was definitely better than downstairs. I am so sorry Molly and Arthur."

"It isn't your fault, Cassie." Molly said.

Cassandra leaned into Jack, who was right there next to her. Jack had been Cassandra's comfort person. Harry has Sirius and Cassandra has Jack and Remus.

"Cassie, I'm going to be training those powers of yours once we get back to Hogwarts, okay?" Jack asked.

"Oh boy." Cassandra said. "Okay. I'm nervous though."

"And that is perfectly okay." Brooklyn interjected. "These powers, they're scary. Often unpredictable. But you are in safe hands. Jack is the best one besides myself to help with these powers. Once you learn these powers and master them, my powers go away and I can live a normal life. You will be The Scarlet Witch."