Duplicate {Severus Snape}

Prologue: The Muggle World

Cassie's POV

I set the tea down in front of him along with his cup before making my way across the table. I sat down watching as he gladly poured himself the drink, ignoring the huge tension that continued to build as we sat in silence. It had been two years since I last saw my Godfather, besides the constant owls he would send, and gifts on holidays. I mean, I loved it, and each owl was always returned with kinds words, and gifts as well. Still, how could I not love this old man in front of me, he saved me from a life of Pureblood supremacy, and for that I was grateful.

I shuffled in my chair as both of us did not say a word, I propped my legs up wrapping my arms around them, waiting patiently for him to tell me the bad news, cause Merlin knew good news could be easily passed through an owl, as well. However, my unfortunate life meant that I rarely got the good news, but always managed to get the bad. That was the life of a Black. It seemed that as soon as my mother died, my family went down hill, Regulus has been missing for years now, and twelve years ago I lost Sirus. That only meant that the next family to get me was my Aunt, but she was worse than my mother. In blood status, in the dark side, and I simply was frightened, who wouldnt be?

I was a twelve year old who went to Hogwarts and had many friends, was a Slytherin, top of my class, and in one week I was the schools next target. Of course, my house loved the idea of what had happened, but I didnt. I lost everything my second year, and the house I grew to love, I now loath along with the rest of the houses.

Dumbledore took me into his care, a reason I never asked the answer. Whether it was for purposes that dealt with him, someone else, or maybe he actually cared. I was glad that I would not be forced in a family that was going to push me past all limits. You see, everybody seemed to think that I had a power that pushed any regular witch. I had the power of legilimency and occlumency, both of which I had acquired before my first year. Now with the years, I have been able to push it more, making me able to read anybody no matter if they are masters of it or not. As far as my magic went, I considered myself, average, but again, why he decided to take me. I will never ask.

You see, I have only grown to love very few people in my life. Most of them are dead now, which I guess is why I like to keep it short. First, my Godfather, easy. Second, the Weasley family, and I suppose I have him to thank for that. I care for many people in this world, but love? No, love will never get anybody anywhere in this world. The people I care about I would try and protect will all my being, but the people I love, Dumbledore, the Weasleys, I would protect not try, I would.

"What is floating about in your mind?" his voice echoed as I blinked my now watery eyes back into focus.

"Nothing important. I can ask you the same question, I mean, can this not have been sent over an owl?"

He shook his head at me before pouring the tea once more into a glass, and using his wand to shift it infront of me. I look down at the cup, thanking him, then drinking it, feeling it pass through my body quickly.

"The last two years since I have seen you have been quite interesting," he said pausing on the last word, "I can only assume they have been equally are interesting, your walls have been painted again, as if you are trying to cover something up, maybe memories?" he asked pointing to the drying green paint behind me.

"More like re-decorating, the paint had been here since I moved here when I was eighteen. It needs a little change," I said trying to chuckle out the ball that was forming in my throat.

"You are not telling the truth. I can see it in your stance, in your face, and in your puffy eyes,"

I leaned back into my chair closing my eyes in response to his words. He knew me like I knew him, but this was something I did not want to discuss for a very long time. I looked back at him, smiling as if to try and change the subject, and boy did I want to.

"Well then trust me when I tell you I will be okay,"

He stood out of his chair making his way towards me. I kept my eyes on the table not wanting to look into his blue orbs, knowing that it would take that small motion for me to breakdown once again. He pulled out another chair beside me, took it, and grabbed my hand in his giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Come back to Hogwarts," he said at once.

"That will only worsen me, not help me," I said feeling any sense of sadness disappear, "I have no reason to go back to that school, and I have no intention of ever doing it,"

I let go of his hand but still managed to keep eye contact with him. I knew he was trying to help me but unless someone was dead, I was not getting anywhere near that place, let alone inside it. It made my skin quiver thinking about it.

"Molly misses you, the owls I send you, she sends me twice as many all in regards to you," he said making a small smile appear on my face, "This year, Hogwarts is in danger, more than it has been since Harry came, but I need you-"

"Send my love to Molly, Godfather, but I am not going back," I said standing to my feet in a hope to usher him out of my house.

He was quick though, he grabbed my arm gently causing me to look back to him. I was waiting. Waiting for him to finally tell me what on earth had happened that he needs me to go back to the hell I endured for six years. And he was, he had to if he was going to continue to look at me like a lost puppy.

"Sirius," he said simply.

My eyes shifted from my Godfather to the moving portrait right behind him. There incased was my last Christmas I would ever have with him, his arms wrapped around me, both of us laughing and smiling to the camera.

"He has escaped Azkaban,"

My stomach turned with that simple sentence. What a complete idiot. I would be stupid to think he escaped for me, because that was my exact thoughts I had in school when I desperately needed him. As my Godfather had just said, more danger in Hogwarts, even with Harry Potter, which only meant Sirius knew he was in that school, and in danger, so he escaped. For him.

I knew it was nothing but selfish thoughts I was having, yet I could not help but keep that grudge because I knew the truth. I knew he did not kill all those people, and no one, not the ministry, not the people, no one believed me. I could prove his innocence once and for all, and then maybe my wrecked family could heal, but I knew better than to hold on to that false hope.

I stared at my dinner table thinking of the endless things that was to follow. These were the other circumstances that he was saying, but I knew this would bring more attention to me if any. Godfather, wanted me in Hogwarts because he believed I would be safer there than here in the Muggle World. Safe from the people in ministry who were probably having a field day right now, but most importantly safe from my brother.

"You still think he killed all those people," I stated.

"I believe he tried to avenge the Potters which led to his temper unraveling-"

"I was with him if you remember, before he left to the Potters. You believe in my ability so much, but you refuse to believe what I tell you," I said grabbing the picture and handing it to him to look at, "They switched secret keepers, thats why Sirius went after Pettigrew because he knew it was him who betrayed James and Lily, and I dont believe for one second that my brother in that picture got his best friend and his wife murdered,"

He looked to me as if I was looking for more excuses, but they weren't, it was the truth. Sirius left me, and I grew without him, but I also knew more. I knew they were animagus but I would never tell my Godfather that, that has always been my secret, because I knew if Sirius was ever to escape it would be by that form, his animagus form.

"Then prove it. You now have more reason to come back to Hogwarts then ever," he spoke once more as he stood to his feet, "Think of it as a task that will have a positive outcome in the end, and say by Christmas, if you have no reason to stay, you may leave,"

I knew by his words he was trying. He was trying to get me to come back, maybe it was to protect me, or he genuinely needed help with the school, I wasn't sure. I just knew that my chance to help my brother like he never helped me was by going back, and maybe it would be a positive experience like my first year in Hogwarts, or at least thats what I tried telling myself.

"Make it thanksgiving and you got yourself a deal,"
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