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

53. Snake Suprise

Andromeda made it her mission to keep her cousins spirits up, so she brought them over to her house once a week, to ensure that they spent some time outside of 12 Grimmauld Place.
This stopped Cassiopeia and Sirius from falling into complete despair, but neither were enjoying their lives. Being trapped back in their childhood home was making them both miserable.
The pair both agreed that Harry would have more fun at Hogwarts without them, so they told him to stay there for the Christmas holidays.
Without any guests to entertain, the pair didn't even bother to decorate the house for the season, since they thought it would be too much effort.

A few days before Christmas they were both awoken from their beds by the sound of someone shouting.
Cassiopeia grabbed hold of her dressing down and stumbled out of her room in search of Sirius.
"Cass! Are you alright?" Questioned Sirius as he made his way down the hallway towards her.
"I'm fine. I wasn't the one shouting" reassured Cassiopeia.
Sirius frowned, "Well it wasn't me either".
"Then who-" Cassiopeia faltered when the strange voice called out again.
"Are you two awake or not!" Yelled a strange male voice.

Sirius groaned, "It's Phineas".
"What does he want at this time of night?" Asked Cassiopeia, as the pair began making their way towards their great grandfather's portrait.
"You mean, what does Dumbledore want at this time of night" corrected Sirius.
"Dumbledore wouldn't use Phineas to talk to us, unless something was wrong. I do hope Harry is alright"
"There is no point in stressing yourself out until we know more".

"Ah there you are. You took your time" scolded Phineas, when the siblings reached his portrait.
"What do you want Phineas?" Demanded Sirius, ignoring Phineas's teasing.
"Dumbledore has a message for you" informed Phineas.
"Well get on with it"
"Very well. Arthur Weasley has been injured while on guard at the Ministry. Dumbledore intends on sending Harry and the Weasley children here, while they wait for news on Arthur's condition".

"Arthur's been hurt?" Gasped Cassiopeia.
"That's what I said" answered Phineas nonchalantly.
"Tell Dumbledore I'll happily host the family here until we get news on Arthur" instructed Sirius.
"I am not your private messenger-" began Phineas.
"That is exactly what you are. Now get going!" Interupted Sirius.
Phineas glared at Sirius, but said nothing before marching off out of his portrait into his other one in the headmaster's study.

Cassiopeia ran back to her bedroom and quickly put on some proper clothes, so that the Weasleys didn't see her in a state of undress.
When she returned to the hallway where Sirius was waiting for her, they suddenly heard a loud crash in the kitchen, so immediately headed down there to meet their guests.
"Harry!" Exclaimed Cassiopeia as her and Sirius entered the kitchen.
"Hi Cassie" mumbled Harry, as Cassiopeia threw her arms around him.

"We were told that Arthur has been attacked. So tell us exactly what happened tonight" insisted Sirius.
"Ask Harry" Fred said coldly.
"Yeah, he's the one that saw it happen" added George.
"What do you mean?" Quizzed Cassiopeia.
"I had a vision. I saw Arthur being attacked" revealed Harry, as he stepped away from everyone.
Cassiopeia's heart skipped a beat, but she did her best not to show any emotion on her face.
She kept her mouth shut as Harry explained how he'd had a vision of a giant snake attacking Arthur at the Ministry.

"Right, now that's all explained we need to get to St Mungo's" announced George.
"You can't go to St Mungo's" Sirius said awkwardly.
"Of course we can, he's our dad" snapped Fred.
"And how are you going to explain that you knew your father was injured, only minutes after it happened, before the hospital had even informed your mother of the incident?" Asked Sirius.

"Sirius is right, we can't risk the Ministry finding out that Harry is having visions of things happening on the other side of the country. Can you imagine what someone like Fudge would do with that information? No one outside of this room can know the truth. Which is why you have to stay here until we get word from your mother" insisted Cassiopeia.
"We can't just sit here while our dad's life is on the line" countered Fred.
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice" replied Cassiopeia gently.