( August '97 )

"Morning." George chorused.

Harry and Ginny flushed a deep shade of crimson. They left the room, leaving a proud smirk on George's face.

"Why are you smirking?" Cassandra asked, walking into the kitchen. "What have you been up to?"

"Ginny and Harry were kissing." George said. "I scared them. You should've seen their faces."

"Why the heck do you have a toothbrush sticking out of your ear?" Cassandra asked.

"Dunno." George smiled.

"Cassandra." Hermione said, out of breath. "The Minister of Magic is here."

Cassandra sat down on the couch next to Hermione, facing the Minister of Magic.

"Minister, what are you doing here?" Harry asked.

"Albus Dumbledore left you all in his will." Rufus said. "I am here to give you these items he wished for you to have. For Hermione Granger, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. In hopes that she will find it entertaining and instructive. For Ronald Weasley, I give him the Deluminator. He would have not wanted Ron to make the same mistake – of making the wrong choice, of abandoning those that needed him most. To Harry Potter, the first golden snitch that he ever caught. It will reveal things that are only meant for Harry. For Cassandra Potter, I give you Fawkes to remember that tears can heal."

The four of them looked at the four items laid out in front of them. Fawkes was transfigured into an orange feather. The sad reality that Dumbledore was dead sank into Cassandra. She had a hard time believing someone as powerful as Dumbledore was actually dead. She missed him dearly, although she knew he could've been better to her and Harry.

~~

After Bill and Fleur's vows, there was a reception in the tent that the Weasley men set up. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. Cassandra didn't expect anything less from them. Fleur looked stunning and Cassandra didn't doubt that for a minute. Cassandra also thought Bill looked rather dashing, a compliment she extended to him.

Hagrid arrived with Madame Maxine. He was all tidied up for once. He looked very happy with Madame Maxine, something that made Cassandra happy as well. Mr. Lovegood and Luna were dancing, oddly, but that was just how they were.

Hermione walked into the tent. She looked stunning. She was in a red dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Ron was looking at her like she was the only person in the room. Cassandra noticed that Viktor Krum was also at the reception. She wondered if Hermione and Viktor would end up talking or maybe even dancing.

"Hello, Harry and Cassandra." Luna said. "I've interrupted a deep thought, haven't I? I can see it growing smaller in your eyes."

"Of course not." Harry said. "How are you Luna?"

"Very well." Luna replied. "Got bitten by a garden gnome only minutes ago."

"Gnome saliva is very beneficial." Xenophilius Lovegood said. "Xenophilius Lovegood. We live just over the hill. It's nice to see you again Cassandra."

"Pleasure is mine, Mr. Lovegood." Cassandra said.

"Pleasure to meet you sir." Harry said.

"I trust you know, that we at the Quibbler, unlike those toadies at the Daily Prophet, fully supported Dumbledore in his lifetime and in his death." Xenophilius said. "We support you two just as fully."

"Thank you." The twins chorused.

"Come daddy." Luna said. "Harry and Cassie don't want to talk to us right now. They're just too polite to say so."

Remus walked over to Harry and Cassandra.

"I have a very special offer." Remus said. "You are only obligated to take it if you want it."

"What's up?" Cassandra asked.

"I was wondering if you two would be Teddy's godparents." Remus said.

"Of course!" The twins exclaimed.

The two looked at each other and smiled. They were happy to be blessed with this opportunity. Remus smiled and walked away to go tell Tonks. Cassandra stole a glance at Hermione, who was dancing with Viktor Krum. Ron's nostrils were flaring. It was painfully obvious that he was jealous. A loud bang rang out across the tent, causing people to scream. The new uninvited guests that had arrived were death eaters. Harry and Cassandra scrambled for their wands.

Hermione, Ron, Cassandra, and Harry interlocked arms and apparated to London.

~~

After the four changed out of their dress clothes, they sat down in a little cafe not too far from where they arrived.

"What about all the people at the wedding?" Harry asked. "Do you think we should go back?"

"They're after you two mate." Ron said. "We'd put everyone in danger if we went back."

"Ron's right." Hermione said.

A brown haired lady came over to the four and asked for their order.

"Coffee?" The lady asked.

"A cappuccino please." Hermione said.

"You?" The lady asked Ron.

"What she said." Ron answered.

Cassandra and Harry also got cappuccinos.

"So where do we go from here?" Ron asked. "Leaky Cauldron?"

"It's too dangerous." Cassandra said. "If Voldemort really has taken over the Ministry, then none of our old places are safe. Everyone from the wedding would've gone underground, into hiding."

"My rucksack with all my things, I left it at the Burrow." Harry said.

Two people entered the cafe.

"You're joking." Ron said in response to Harry.

"Cassandra and I have all the essentials packed for days. Just in case." Hermione said.

"By the way, these jeans are not my favorite." Harry said.

"Duck!" Cassandra yelled.

A spell blasted past Cassandra's head – narrowly missing her and her friends.

"Stupefy!" Cassandra shouted.

She knocked the death eater backwards and he flipped over the counter. The waitress came out, in complete and utter shock, and Hermione instructed her to leave.

"Lock the door and get the lights." Cassandra instructed.

Ron did so.

"You two are better at spells than me. What shall we use?" Harry asked.

"We should wipe their memory." Cassandra replied.

"Do your thing then." Ron said.

Hermione wiped the death eaters' memories.

"How was it that they knew we were there?" Harry asked.

"Maybe you still have the trace on you." Hermione answered.

"It can't be." Ron said. "The trace breaks at seventeen. It's a Wizarding law."

Hermione abruptly stopped and gasped.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"We forgot to celebrate your birthday." Hermione said, turning to Cassandra and Harry.

"No, we played Quidditch, remember?" Cassandra said.

"But, Ginny and I, we made a cake." Hermione said. "We were going to bring it out at the end of the wedding since we forgot yesterday."

"Hermione, we appreciate the thought." Harry said. "But really, given the fact that we were almost killed by death eaters a few minutes ago."

"Right. Perspective." Hermione said.

"We've got to get off the streets." Ron said. "Somewhere safe."

The first place they thought of was Twelve Grimmauld Place. They stood from the street watching as the place opened up.

As soon as Cassandra closed the door, lights came on. A mist appeared in front of Harry and Cassandra, taking form of a human and reaching its hand out. Hermione screamed.

"Sorry about that." Sirius said, stepping out. "It was Moody's idea for a defensive mechanism."