Squib On The Run (sequel to Squib In The basement)

52. Rebels Unite

Dumbledore was furious when he found out that both Cassiopeia and Sirius had left the safety of Grimmauld Place, to escourt Harry to King's Cross. And he forbade them from leaving again.
His fears for their safety were not irrational, for that same week the Daily Prophet printed an article about how they thought Sirius was hiding in London, when they previously thought he was abroad.
Because of this article, Harry told them he didn't want them coming up to Hogsmeade to visit him during his weekends off, for he thought it was too risky.

Not being able to see Harry made Cassiopeia and Sirius very miserable.
They couldn't even write proper letters to each other, as the mail at Hogwarts was being checked, so they had to write in code.
The fireplaces at the school were also being policed by the Ministry official posted there, who was posing as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
One evening the siblings were almost caught using the fireplace network by Dolores Umbridge, meaning that from then on it was no longer safe to use this as a method of communication.
This teacher was also making Harry's life a misery, from what little he told them in his letters.
So all three of them were down in the dumps throughout autumn.

"Do you think I could get up to Hogwarts without being spotted?" Asked Cassiopeia one evening.
The pair were sitting in the living room, surrounded by empty butterbeer bottles. Contemplating how their lives had gone so wrong.
"Probably. Why?" Questioned Sirius.
"I was wondering about whether I could get all the way up there, murder Umbridge, and get back without being caught. I'd probably use the Knight Bus to get to Hogsmeade, and then walk up to the castle on foot. But I don't know whether I could get back on the bus and home, before anyone realised what I'd done" explained Cassiopeia.

"How would you kill her?" Sirius Quizzed curiously.
"I'd like to stab her with a knife, or punch her to death, to get some of my anger out. But I'm quite good with poisons, so I could just poison her food and drink. Although there is always the chance that someone else would get caught in the crossfire if I used poisons again" admitted Cassiopeia.
"I see. Well, you could definitely get there just fine, as you could just use Kreacher as a mode of transport, but you might have trouble getting back, as the entire Ministry would be after you" replied Sirius.
"I was thinking that the Hogwarts students would protect me and get me out of the castle safely, since they hate her as well. And the Ministry would have no idea that I was the one who killed her, since she has so many enemies".

"Umbridge may be a bitch, who's made it almost impossible for Remus to get a job because of her stupid new legislation, but at Hogwarts she is just a puppet. Fudge is the one pulling the strings, and he would just replace Umbridge if anything happened to her. He wants a Ministry official posted at Hogwarts, he doesn't care who it is" sighed Sirius.
"You're right" groaned Cassiopeia.
"But if you do want to kill her, I won't stop you" informed Sirius.
"Hmm, it is tempting, but Harry doesn't want me doing anything that could get me arrested. I think that murdering his teacher would fall under that category"
"I think it would".

The door suddenly swung open, and the siblings lept to their feet, taking up defensive positions, as they hadn't been expecting anyone that evening.
"Andy!" Gasped Cassiopeia.
"What in Merlin's name has been going on in here?" Demanded Andromeda.
"Nothing" murmered Sirius, as he kicked an empty bottle under his seat.
"Dora told me that you both have been sinking into dispair these past few months, and that you look worse at every Order meeting. I am determined to fix that" announced Andromeda.

"You're not supposed to be here, since you're not a member of the Order" Cassiopeia said awkwardly.
"I was a member of the Black family, wasn't I? And if the head of the house allows it, I can enter any Black home" reminded Andromeda, as she looked over at Sirius.
"You can come in if you want. I'm not going to stop you" shrugged Sirius.
"Good" replied Andromeda.
"I didn't think that you'd want to come back here again" admitted Cassiopeia.
"This was your family home, not mine. It doesn't hold as many bad memories for me as it does for you, unlike the Black Manor... Anyway, I'm not staying here, I am only stopping by for long enough to collect you two" revealed Andromeda.

"What do you mean, collect us?" Questioned Cassiopeia.
"I am here to escout you to my house for dinner" explained Andromeda.
"But me and Sirius aren't allowed to leave the house. And Dumbledore would be mad if he found out we'd disobeyed him again. Besides, I don't want to put you, Ted, and Dora in danger, by having fugitives in your house" replied Cassiopeia.
"You've been over before, and nothing bad happened. I will apparate you straight to my house, and all you have to do is have Sirius apparate you straight back here. We're not going for a night on the town, just a quiet family dinner at my place. You will be just as safe at my house, as you are here".

"I don't know Andy, Dumbledore's instructions were pretty strict" sighed Sirius.
"And you always do what you're told, do you?" Quizzed Andromeda.
"Well, no-" began Sirius.
"Exactly. We are the rebels of the family afterall. Now look, I'm not taking no for an answer. You've been cooped up in this hell hole for months, and I'm not allowing it to happen any longer. You didn't escape Azkaban to spend your days trapped in another prison. Being locked in this place is doing nothing good for your fragile mental health, and I'm not going to let you both become shells of yourselves. Now, go up and get changed into something nice for dinner, I'll be here waiting when you're done" announced Andromeda.

Sirius and Cassiopeia locked eyes, to see if the other had the same thought that they did. And they grinned when they realised that they both wanted to break the rules.
"Right away Andy" said Sirius as he looked back at his cousin.
"Good. Nothing too fancy, just put on a clean shirt and trousers" instructed Andromeda, wrinkling her nose up at what he was currently wearing.
Cassiopeia looked down at her own outfit that she had worn for multiple days in a row, and agreed that a change of clothes would be nice.

"I'll put on a nice dress" promised Cassiopeia.
"Good girl" smiled Andromeda.
"And while I am usually one for breaking the rules, lets not tell Dumbledore about this little excursion. Because if he doesn't find out, then he can't stop us from doing it again in the future" admitted Cassiopeia.
"Sounds good to me. Now hurry up and get changed, or the food will have burned before we get back. I left Ted in charge, but Merlin knows what state dinner will be in when we return".

Sirius ran off out the room, and Cassiopeia turned to follow. But before she did she threw her arms around Andromeda and hugged her tight.
"Thank you Andy" whispered Cassiopeia.
"You're welcome" replied Andromeda.
Cassiopeia squeezed Andromeda one last time before running off upstairs after her brother, to put on a new outfit for dinner.