"...for nothing is ever so mischievous in its own place as it is out of it." –George MacDonald

***

            The year is over in the blink of an eye. Soon it's the last day of school, and Cassie can't help but feel upset. She won't see them for a whole three months.

            "Where are you staying?" Remus asks Cassie at the breakfast before departure.

            Cassie shrugs. "I'll find a place. My parents were rich, and they're not exactly using any of their money right now, so..."

            "I'd offer you a room, but with Sirius there, we really wouldn't have any room," James says apologetically.

            "I'm not asking to stay with anyone," Cassie says. "I'll be fine."

            "If you ever need anything, though, call me," Lily says with a broad smile.

            "Yeah, make sure you write us this summer, missy," Sirius adds, poking her side and making her squeal. "Or I'll track you down."

            Cassie grins. "I'll stay in touch. With all of you."

            The train ride home is full of shenanigans. James enchants the food trolley to keep rolling down the aisle. The plump witch that sells treats off of it has to chase it all the way down to the end of the train. But the fun only lasts so long, and before they know it, they're back at King's Cross Station, ready for departure. Lily's parents are there, along with a snooty looking girl who can only be her sister, Petunia. Remus' mother is there to pick him up; Peter meets with a man who must be his father. They all leave after a round of hugs.

            "Bye Cas," Sirius says, pulling her into a tight hug. "Write to me once a week, we're going to hang out at least once, and no having boys over, understand?"

            "Who are you, my mother?" she jokes. Sirius laughs. James is next to hug her, saying basically the same thing, followed by Lily and Remus and Peter. They leave, and Cassie is alone on the platform. She quickly retrieves her things, and then she Apparates to her parents' old house. She's not sure if she'll be able to stay there, but it's worth a look.

            She doesn't like what she finds.

***

            "Just admit that you're in love with her!" It's a sunny July morning in the Potter household. James is badgering Sirius about Cassie, who he hasn't shut up about all morning.

            Sirius nods. "I'm in love with her."

            "There you go. Feel better?"

            "Worse, thank you."

            "Write to her! Invite her over!"

            "What the heck would we do?"

            James smirks. "Leave that part to me."

            James then proceeded to write to both Lily and Cassie, inviting them over for a few nights. Lily responds first, saying okay as long as Cassie comes also. Cassie takes a few days to reply, but she eventually complies. They're to meet at James' house that Friday at noon.

            Cassie arrives first, punctually. Sirius has to restrain himself from tackling her into a hug. He remains calm, hugging her tightly after James, instantly reeling at her familiar scent of rosemary and mint. Once Lily is there, James leads them to the backyard.

            "What're we doing?" Cassie asks, sticking close to Sirius.

            "I have two portkeys in the back," James tells them. "One goes somewhere, another goes somewhere else. Lily and I will take one, you two take the other. At six, we'll come back and switch."

            "Can't we all go somewhere together?" Lily asks. She doesn't sound opposed to the idea; she actually seems sort of excited.

            "That'd ruin the idea, Lils," James protests. He leads them to a table on their patio; there is an old, chipped teacup and a rugged, yellow-paged book on it.

            "Where do these go?" Cassie asks.

            James shrugs. "My dad couldn't tell me."

            "We'll take the book," Sirius says. "Ready?" Cassie grips his hand and nods as he picks up the book. There's the warped feeling of Apparating and then they're standing in a small, very colorful town.

            "This is cute," Cassie says with a smile. "Let's look around."

            Sirius follows her around mostly, enjoying the fact that she hasn't let go of his hand.

            "Did you get your exam results back?" Cassie asks when they'd stopped for a Butterbeer.

            "Yeah, I nearly failed Divination, but everything else was great."

            "Me too! Divination is complete fuckery, though."

            Sirius almost chokes on his drink. "Fuckery?" He laughs a little too loudly, Cassie joining him. "Okay, that's my new favorite word." An idea pops into his mischievous brain. "I think we should just stay here all night."

            "Alright. James and Lily will be so mad," Cassie says.

"I'd be surprised if they were still only friends after tonight."

            "Really?"

            "Oh, please." Sirius smirks with a wicked look in his eye. "James did this just so he could get closer to her. He'll ask her out for real tonight."

            Cassie smirks. "Wanna bet on that?"

            Sirius' eyes twinkle as he leans closer. "Yeah, I do."

"If I win, and James doesn't ask her out, you have to take Divination again next term," Cassie says.

            Sirius seethes. "I dunno, then. Okay, wait. If I win, you have to kiss me."

            "I knew you'd say that. Deal. Just make sure none of your girlfriends see it. They'll go ballistic."

            Sirius grins, hoping that James will grow a pair and confess his feelings so that he can confess his.

*** 

            Unfortunately for Sirius, James did not ask Lily out. So, he has to take Divination next term, much to his dismay. It's alright, though, he tells himself. He'll get out of it.

            Instead of switching portkeys like James wanted to, Sirius and Cassie returned at nine to a slightly annoyed James and very amused Lily.

            "Why aren't Remus or Peter here?" Lily asks as they all lay in the backyard.

            "Remus is on vacation still, and Peter never answered my letter." James sounds annoyed about that.

            "That's weird," Sirius says. "He's usually waiting by the window for your owl."

            James laughs. "I know right?"

            Midnight rolls around, and there's only so much stargazing one can do in a night. The girls both decide to leave. Lily is going back to Cassie's for a sleepover. Apparently, she's staying in a nice apartment just a few miles from the train station. She said her old house was practically ashes. She doesn't know what happened but suspected the Ministry of Magic took precautions.

            Sirius pulls Cassie into another hug before she can Apparate away. "See you at school, Cas."

            Cassie pulls back to look at him. "You don't have to take Divination. That's cruel."

            "Really?" She nods. "Thank you so much." Cassie simply grins. She pulls him into another hug, then reaches up on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. Sirius turns his head at the last minute and manages to press a kiss to the corner of her lips.

            "Au revoir, étoiles de chien," she whispers in French, still hovering close. Sirius understands her and grins. His smile stays until she disappears.