"I wish I could read what she's written there. Instead, I pretend the letters are stars. The words, constellations." –Isaac Marion

***

Cassie hasn't been in the dueling game in a long time. She forgot how exhilarating it can be—needing constant vigilance, constant motion, constant concentration.

She keeps an eye on Sirius as she fights off Death Eaters. He's with Harry, and the fight he's dealing with is two on one. He should be safe. She turns quickly back to help Tonks with a particularly nasty one with deranged eyes and curly hair. She doesn't know why, but she has particular rage towards this one, as if she's done something especially atrocious that would hit Cassie right in the heart.

Suddenly, the Death Eater vanishes in her black cloud and reappears somewhere else. Tonks and Cassie look around for her, intending to follow, only to see the end.

The last thing Cassie remembers seeing is Sirius falling through the Veil. She turns to Tonks but is met with a flash of green and a slight electric jolt. After that, she can see, but she can't comprehend what she's seeing. Everything is a jumble of color—colors she's sure she's never seen before—and then it's black. Black and dark and cold and unloving.

A blast of white meets her sensitive eyes. Once her vision focuses, everywhere she looks is white. A glance at the objects around her tell her that she's at a train station.

Something of color catches her eye a few feet away. She thinks she recognizes the back of this person, but she's not sure, so she asks questioningly, "Sirius?"

The figure turns around instantly. Pure joy spreads across his face at the sight of her.

"Cas?" he asks, holding up his hand hesitantly as if he's not sure if he can touch her. She touches his hand with hers; she can feel him. Sirius interlaces their fingers and asks, "Where are we?"

Cassie shrugs. "A train station, I believe. But, we're dead, right?"

Sirius nods. "We must've died around the same time. Where are we supposed to go?"

Cassie looks around. It doesn't seem like there's a train coming anytime soon. "Where do you want to go?"

"The meadow," he answers instantly. "But how to get there..."

"Just concentrate," Cassie suggests. "Maybe we'll Apparate."

Sirius tugs her closer and does as she says. Panic follow suit. Suddenly, she can't see anything again—she's blind to every sound, feel, sight—and it's like she's dying again. Worst of all, she can't feel Sirius next to her anymore.

When she opens her eyes, she's in a sunny meadow full of life. The only dead things permitted are the ones who consider this place to be their piece of the sky.