Where the Heart Is

Disclaimer: Although I would love to say that I was JK Rowling and owned the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter, I can\'t. Anything that you recognize is hers.

A/N: Yes, this is my first fanfic. It just came to me, and I had to write it down. I will sometimes be slow to upload new chapters. It all depends on motivation and time and such. Also, please review! Since this is my first fanfic, I would like to know how I\'m doing. It\'ll add some happiness in my normally pathetic life.


Chapter One: Many Meetings


Cassandra Black peered over the wooden fence. She was watching a young man with unkempt black hair and the greenest eyes she had ever seen. He was lying out underneath a tree to catch some shade in the rather hot heat. She knew very well who the person was, for he was the famous Harry Potter. She had read all about him. His own godfather, Sirius Black, was her distant cousin.

Her father was John Black, a wizard like his younger cousin Sirius. John’s father had gone against his family’s strict policy on keeping it just with purebloods when he made love to a Muggle, who had his child (John). Eventually John’s father had married the woman, and both were kept off of the Black Family Tree. Like his father, John married a Muggle, and it seemed to Cassandra that her sister who was eight would also be one as well. They had left England before the battle that left Voldemort barely alive and Harry an orphan with a lightning bolt scar. She did miss America and her friends, but she oddly felt at home here in England.

Harry Potter glanced over, noticing that he was being watched. He felt like she was oddly familiar, yet he closed his eyes again as he pushed back his sweaty black hair. He opened them slightly and glanced around, noticing that none of the Dursleys were in sight. \"You know that you don’t have to just stare at me.\" he said to the girl while sitting up underneath the tree.

Cassandra’s eyes widened. \"S-so you noticed me.\"

\"It was hard not to. You are new here, correct?\"

\"Yes, we just moved from America, Harry,\" said she, easily getting over the wooden fence.

It was Harry’s turn to be surprised. \"How...how did you know my name?\" he inquired, standing up and taking a few steps toward her.

She lowered her voice so only Harry could hear. \"Everyone in ‘our’ world knows who you are, Harry Potter.\"

\"You mean that you are a witch!?!\" Harry exclaimed in a hushed whisper.

Cassandra nodded. \"I’m Cassandra—\"

\"Cassandra?\" a male voice came before she could mention her last name. Soon a head popped in view over the fence. He smiled. \"Ah, it is good to see you again, Harry. I see that you have met my daughter, Cassandra.\" He flashed his daughter a stern look before he smiled at Harry again. \"The last time I saw you, you were just a wee babe, a little younger than Cassandra.\" He noticed how confused the boy appeared. \"I’m John Black...Sirius’ cousin.\" he said this rather reverently considering how Sirius had just died a month ago.

Harry felt the familiar stab in his chest at the mention of Sirius. Suddenly, he had millions of questions flowing through his head though, considering he had not seen John’s name on the Family Tree as well as he thought Sirius was the last Black.

John looked away slightly. \"Well, Cassandra,bestbest let Harry get back to what he was doing. Now, we will see him tonight. The Dursleys invited us to dinner,\" said John, looking at Harry and disappearing from the fence.

Cassandra sighed. \"I’ll see you tonight, Harry.\" She tossed a piece of her brown hair over her shoulder and reluctantly climbed back over the fence. She gave a short wave and seemingly disappeared.

Harry stood there for a minute, wondering if he had really seen what he did. He decided that he would know for certain tonight as he went back to his thoughts and the shade of the tree.

* * * * *

\"Welcome to have you in the neighborhood,\" Mr. Dursley said as Dudley opened the door.

\"May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Black?\" Dudley asked, like a gentleman, hating the fact that he had to stay home tonight instead of causing havoc with his gang. It helped though that the girl that was coming was very pretty.

\"Oh, yes! How charming!\" Mrs. Black exclaimed as she handed him her coat.

Cassandra stifled a snicker as she entered.

\"This is my lovely daughter, Cassandra. She is around Dudley’s age, I believe. And, this is my other lovely daughter, Kara.\" John said, presenting his daughters to the Dursleys. Putting his arm around his wife, he spoke, \"This little thing is my beautiful wife, Anna.\"

\"Pleasure,\" Anna said as Mr. Dursley kissed her hand and shook Mrs. Dursley’s hand. \"It was so wonderful for you to invite us to your absolutely fabulous home.\"

A bell rang. \"Ah, dinner’s ready!\" Mrs. Dursley motioned for them to enter the dining room.

\"Where is your other son?\" inquired Anna as she sat at the table.

\"Other son?\" Mr. Dursley shifted uncomfortably in his chair. \"We don’t have another son. Only Duddlikins.\"

\"I saw another boy. Black hair. Green eyes. He was trying to manage with the heat underneath that tree in your backyard.\" John commented.

\"Oh, him...he’s our nephew. He’s shy around people. He’s up in his room.\" Mr. Dursley stuttered out, not wanting to make much of it.

\"Perhaps he wouldn’t mind joining us for dinner. We’re not vampires! We don’t bite!\" Cassandra giggled. \"I could ask him.\" She gave her most adorable smile.

\"Well...er...I guess.\" Mrs. Dursley reluctantly stuttered out, telling Cassandra where Harry’s room was. \"I don’t think he will come though,\" she added, hurriedly.

Cassandra got up and went to Harry’s room. \"Harry? They said you could come down.\"

Harry looked up from his History of Magic book. \"Really?\"

\"Yes!\"

Harry came out. \"How did you change their minds?\"

\"Magic!\" Cassandra giggled as they went down the stairs.

\"Cassandra, would you like to sit next to Dudley?\"

\"Of course, Mr. Dursley.\" Cassandra said as she sat down beside of him.

Harry went to sit on the other side of Cassandra, but, with a stern look from Mr. Dursley, he sat down next to Dudley.


The chat was light and the dinner was good.


The adults were chatting in the living room while Dudley was showing Cassandra around the house. \"Why don’t you go back to your room, Harry?\" Dudley sneered.

\"Oh, Dudley, Harry can come along. Would you like a jellybean?\" Cassandra took out a bag of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

Dudley gave a pudgy grin. \"I would love one!\"

She winked at Harry and pulled out a vomit-flavoured one. \"Here you go, Dudley.\"

Dudley took it and popped it in his mouth. Then, his face scrunched up, and he raced to the bathroom.

Harry laughed and grabbed her hand, pulling her into his room.

Cassandra giggled. \"His face was priceless!! I never knew someone of his stature could run so fast!\" she exclaimed between giggles. Then, she saw Hedwig. \"Oh, she’s beautiful!\"

Harry smiled. \"Her name is Hedwig.\"

\"I have a gray owl. His name is Merlin.\" Cassandra had an idea. \"We could send letters back and forth before we have to be at Hogwarts.\" She sat down on the corner of his bed and gazed out the window as the moonlight filtered in. \"Sirius had kept contact with us for a little while before it was too dangerous to do so. He and my father met when they were in school together. They were never too close, but since Sirius wasn’t like the rest of his family, they did keep in touch for a while. We came here as soon as we had heard what had happened from Lupin. He wanted us to keep an eye on you, especially now.\"

Harry sat down beside her. It was painful to hear someone talk about Sirius, but he pushed the pain down, not wanting to feel it any more. \"So you know all that happened?\" he finally managed to say.

\"No, not all of it. Only what my father chooses to let me know and what I can concur from his actions.\" She sighed softly and looked at him. \"I knew all along that Sirius was innocent. Father knew too. I know that father has been talking to them: the Order of the Phoenix. I think he might be part of them, but I’m not sure. He avoids my questions most of the time. At least the Ministry finally believes that he is back though.\"

\"I saw him when he came back into form last year and then just a month ago too…\" Harry unconsciously touched his scar.

She nodded, knowing this fact. \"Then, there are the Muggles to think about. Voldemort is as much of a threat to them as he is to our world. No one is supposed to really know about us, but we can’t keep it a secret forever, especially with Voldemort on a rampage! I know we are safe here and at Hogwarts, but I can’t help but think about everyone else.\"

Harry agreed. He had known that with Dumbledore’s protections and the ancient magic bond of love between him and his mother as well as his aunt had kept him safe here; Hogwarts was always safe though, especially with Dumbledore around. It had taken a while to get over his anger of Dumbledore, but he was now actually sorry that he had wrecked his office. \"It will be great to getk tok to Hogwarts.\"

\"I will miss my school in America, but I know Hogwarts will be wonderful! I hope to get into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff wouldn’t be too bad. I think I would rather die than be in Slytherin!\"

\"I’m in Gryffindor. It’s the best!\" Harry agreed.


Ministry of Magic. Muggles. Voldemort. Hogwarts. Gryffindor. Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff. Slytherin. Dudley had these words running through his mind as he ran down the stairs. He went into the living room, breathless and sweaty. \"Wizard! She’s a wizard! Go to that school like Harry!\" Dudley sputtered out and collapsed on the ground, shaking the floor.

\"Wizard? What is he talking about?\" John asked, reaching for his wand in case he needed to obliviate their memories.

All hell seemed to break loose.

Mr. Dursley’s face grew pale as he went over to his son. Mrs. Dursley got a glass of chocolate milk for Dudley. Anna grabbed Kara who was colouring, ready to get out of the house. Dudley woke up and pointed at John. \"Your daughter is a wizard!\" he yelled.

Mr. Dursley stood up. \"What is the meaning of this?\" he growled.

John shrugged. \"A wizard? Surely not! A wizard!\" He laughed. \"Your son has quite the imagination there.\"

\"My son does not have an imagination!\" Mr. Dursley got dangerously close to John.

\"Now, now. There’s nothing to worry about. My daughter is no more a wizard than your son is.\" John motioned for Anna and Kara to get ready to leave.

\"Are you calling my son a liar?\" Mr. Dursley shouted, his face growing red in anger.

Cassandra’s head shot up toward the door. \"He overheard us!\" she exclaimed, standing up. \"I must go. I’ll send an owl.\" She gave a short wave and went downstairs, seeing the light coming from the obliviate spell. She put on the coat that Anna was holding out for her.

\"Thank you for the lovely evening, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,\" John said, taking Mr. Dursley’s hand and shaking it.

\"Yes, good to have you come.\" Mr. Dursley said, smiling.

They went back to their home, and Cassandra did not have to wait long to get ‘the talk.’ She was finally sent up to her room and was staring out her windoShe She could see Harry’s window, so she got Merlin out of his cage and sent the first of many letters back and forth to Harry for the rest of the summer.

* * * * *

The summer was over, and it was the day before September 1st, the day to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With everyone on the lookout for Voldemort and Death Eaters now, Diagon Alley was actually safe for Harry and his friends to visit it as well as George and Fred’s joke shop. Cassandra was sitting back against the ice cream shop at Diagon Alley. \"The ancient Viking Runes did have some different meanings than the Celtic Runes here, Hermione.\" Cassandra plainly stated. \"I don’t know. I read about Viking Runes. All the meanings from them can be found in the Celtic Runes,\" Hermione argued. \"I went there and talked with descendants from the ancient Viking wizards.\" Cassandra explained. \"Girls! Enough of the Runes discussion!\" Ron said, exasperatedly. Harry laughed. \"Yes, please!! We don’t need to talk about school work until we actually have classes!\" Cassandra shrugged and took another lick of her rapidly melting ice cream. Suddenly, she shivered, having an oncoming feeling of dread. \"Oh, great! Malfoy’s here.\" Harry said, spotting a white-blond haired boy. Cassandra turned around and looked. \"Malfoy. The name is familiar.\" \"Should be. Dark wizards. He’s in Slytherin.\" Harry explained. She only nodded, staring at the boy. Shivering again, she stood up and explained, \"I’ll be back. I just remembered I had one last item to get.\" \"Okay, Cassandra. We’ll meet you in the inn.\" Hermione spoke, calming down over the Runes discussion. Cassandra waved and left in a hurry toward the Quidditch store.


Draco had spotted Harry and his friends as he was still fuming that his father had not managed to get out of Azkaban yet, but he knew it was just a matter of time. Suddenly a hand landed on Draco’s shoulder, and he looked up to see a cloaked Heolstor Bulstrode, Millicent’s father. He had been watching out for Narcissa and Draco since the incident at the Ministry of Magic, which ended several Death Eaters, including Lucius Malfoy into Azkaban. Draco had been in the loop of Voldemort’s activities some what since his father was indisposed at the moment. \"Our Lord has told us to watch out for Potter and this new girl, Cassandra Black. HE is very interested in her and has great plans for her.\" Heolstor told Draco before adding, \"I will follow her.\" Draco simply smirked.


As Cassandra walked to the Quidditch store, she had the sneaking suspicion that someone was following her. Her heart began to beat faster, almost pounding in her ears as she sped up a little bit more. The cobbled-stone streets of Diagon Alley were becoming more deserted as evening rapidly approached. She turned her head, catching a hint of dark cloak out of the corner of her eye. Suddenly, she ducked into the alley beside the Quidditch store, planning to go through the alley to find another way. She stopped in the darkened alley, noticing that this particular one was a dead end. She spun around, seeing a cloaked figure standing at the alley entrance. \"Imperio!\" she heard the cold man’s voice loudly. As a reflex, she pulled out her wand, commanding the first spell that came to mind. \"Confundo!\" Stunned, the cloaked figure stood its ground. Cassandra then took off in a dead run, rounded the corner, and entered the Quidditch store. Her heart was pounding so loud that she thought the whole store could hear as she went to as far of a corner as she could. Slowly, she tried to calm herself down, surprised that she had escaped the figure’s spell, since she had heard it so clearly.

A hand touched her shoulder as a warm voice said, \"Child, the store is closing soon.\"

She jumped, almost reeling her wand on the storekeeper. \"Sorry. Just startled, I guess.\" She gave a weak smile as she put her wand away. \"I’ll be just a few minutes.\" The storekeeper just looked at her, shrugged, and went back behind the counter. Cassandra went directly to the perfect gift for Harry. This gift was a snow globe, like the ones that Muggles have, except this one had an actual Quidditch game that played all the time. She picked up the gift, paying for it and having it wrapped. \"Thank you,\" she said as she clutched the package in her arms and left the store.

The street was eerily silent as she walked toward the inn. Her footsteps seemed to echo almost. In times like these, Diagon Alley was not safe at night anymore. Most witches and wizards closed shops at dusk, since the growing power of Voldemort. Darkness was slowly seeping around Cassandra as she quickened her pace. \"Would you like some eels, dearie?\" a hag asked Cassandra, putting the eel to her face. Pulling herself away and clutching the package tighter, she managed to say, \"No, thank you.\" She felt her heart pounding in her chest as she almost broke into a run. Calm down, Cassandra, she kept telling herself in her mind. Every small sound made her jump. She saw two cloaked figures that reminded her of the one that tried to curse her. She went to the other side of the street. Broken out in a cold sweat, she glanced rapidly around, losing where she was for a minute. Every ounce of her body wanted to break into a run, but she forced herself to keep to a fast walk.

\"Cassandra! Cassandra?\" a male voice called for her.

She could hear the rapid footsteps, not distinguishing the name or the voice as she broke into a run.

\"CASSANDRA!\" the male voice called again, picking up his pace to get her.

She tried to turn to look back, but she began to stumble. Suddenly, a hand was on her shoulder, steadying her before she fell. She screamed. The man turned her around. \"Cassandra, it’s your father. What’s wrong?\" John asked, concerned. She slowly realized who it was. \"Oh, dad. Hi. I….\" her voice died away.

John looked at her, knowing that something had spooked her, but this place was spooky, especially now. \"Let’s go to the inn.\" Shivering, she nodded, following him to where they were staying. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting in the dining area downstairs. \"Hi, Cassandra!\" a unison declared. She jumped slightly. \"Hello.\" she said, sighing softly and chastising herself for being such a scardy cat.

* * * * *

Cassandra was finishing packing her trunk when Hermione came behind her and lightly touched her shoulder. She jumped and turned around quickly. \"Oh, Hermione! You startled me!\" \"Well, you seem awfully jumpy since last night. Did something happen? You can tell me.\" Hermione said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Cassandra looked at her, trying to judge if she could tell her new friend what happened in Diagon Alley. Sitting down beside of Hermione, she looked at her straight on. \"I will tell you, if and only if you promise not to tell anyone else. After all, I’m sure I just overreacted, but still…. Promise?\" Hermione looked at her and stated, \"I promise. What happened?\"

Cassandra took a deep breath and explained what happened from the time she left them at the Ice Cream Shop until she met up with them at the Leaky Cauldron. \"Are you sure you heard that man correctly?\" Hermione inquired, not certain what to believe. Cassandra nodded enthusiastically. \"Yes! I don’t know how I escaped, but I know I heard it as clearly as I hear you, but you promised. You can’t tell anyone.\"

\"CASSANDRA! HERMIONE! Come ON!\" a voice called from downstairs. \"We have to go!\" Cassandra said, shoving the last of her things in the trunk and closing it up.

* * * * *

The growing night led them on toward Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Cassandra gazed out the window, spotting her new wizarding school. \"It’s wonderful!\" she breathed as the train stopped.

They got off the train. Cassandra followed shortly behind Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Harry was so glad that Hagrid was back calling for the first years this year. It truly was so wonderful be back at Hogwarts unlike last year. \"’ello, Harry, Hermione, Ron! Did yeh have a good summer?\" Hagrid said, towering over them. \"It was actually good, especially with Cassandra living nearby.\" Harry said. Cassandra smiled. \"Cassandra Black. Pleased to meet you, Hagrid.\"

Hagrid smiled. \"Ah, Cassandra! Yer supposed to come with me an’ the firs’ years, so we can get yeh sorted an’ all.\" \"Okay,\" she agreed. \"See you after I’m sorted. Cross your fingers that I get into Gryffindor.\"

She climbed into a boat with three first years, feeling quite older than them and out of place. She wished heavily that she could have arrived with her friends, but unfortunately that wish was not possible. Her fingers lightly skimmed the top of the depthless water of the lake, even daring to pet a tentacle that shot up out of the water. The three first years in her boat marveled at her bravery. \"She’ll certainly get into Gryffindor,\" she overheard one of them say. She grinned, hoping the little first year was correct. Before long, they reached the castle entrance and proceeded out of the boats and into an area where they were waiting for Professor McGonagall. Thin-lipped and wearing a disapproving scowl that told who was boss, she entered and told them to line up and enter the Great Hall where they then would be sorted into their houses. Cassandra suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach with anticipation over which house she would be sorted in and finish the rest of her schooling at Hogwarts. They walked up, single-filed through the Great Hall and up before the Professors’ table where a single stool and battered hat stood out. Cassandra gazed across the room at all the faces, spotting her friends who gave a wave of encouragement. She gave a small wave back right before the Sorting Hat burst into song. After the song, Professor McGonagall began to call out students names, starting with the A’s. \"Alan, Michael\" was the first person she called. A small eleven-year-old boy stepput tut timidly from the line and sat on the stool. The hat was placed on his head, which called out almost immediately \"HUFFLEPUFF!\" The boy then went to his house, where they were cheering happily. After a couple more A’s, Cassandra suddenly heard the name she was waiting for. \"Black, Cassandra.\" Walking as securely and surely as possible, she went over to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head, which fitted her better than the first years. Then, she began to listen to what the hat had to say.

Severus Snape was sitting at the head table, wishing the bloody sorting would be over with. He hated coming to the first feast of the year, yet he knew that as Professor and Head of Slytherin he must be there. His scowl sat even more disapprovingly than usual when no one yet had been sorted into Slytherin. About to tune out the sorting until he heard Slytherin being called from the hat, he suddenly heard a familiar last name. Black. His scowl forced itself into an even greater frown when he thought of all the torment Sirius Black had given him over the years, yet he tried not to think too ill of the dead. He looked at the girl with that last name and discovered that she wasn’t quite a young girl any more. He blinked, knowing that no eleven-year-old could look like THAT. This girl was more a woman than child, at least in appearances. He leaned over to Professor Dumbledore, who he was sitting beside. \"Professor, how old is she? She doesn’t look eleven.\"

Professor Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his moon-shaped glasses. \"Quite the observation, Severus. I’m surprised that you have finally discovered that the students do look older once they are. As to your question, she is seventeen. Miss Black is our transfer student from America. I’m sure you remember her father, and she is related to Sirius, since he was her cousin.\" Dumbledore said quietly to Professor Snape since the sorting was still taking place. Snape just nodded and continued to watch her.

\"Ah, Miss Black, a pleasure to read your mind,\" the Sorting Hat told her. Confused, Cassandra continued to listen. \"Now, let’s see here. You have quite the mind. Very intelligent. You would do very well in Ravenclaw, although there is much more here, much power and bravery too. I know what house you belong in….\" There was a pause, and Cassandra feared the worse, but suddenly she heard \"GRYFFINDOR!\" being called out followed by an explosive blast of cheering. Cassandra got off the stool and went down to the Gryffindor table, sitting beside Harry who hugged her when she got down. She grinned, gazing upon the rest of the sorting and at the professor’s table. She knew some of the professors already, yet there were a few that she was uncertain of by appearance. Professor Dumbledore was the first one that caught her eye as he smiled and nodded to her. She smiled back and continued to try to put a name with the face of what Harry, Ron, and Hermione had told her about them. Her eyes suddenly stopped on Professor Snape, who looked directly back at her. She finally knew from her friends’ descriptions that this man had to be the Potions Professor. Shifting uncomfortably in his gaze, she was finally able to unlock her stare from his and continue to put a name to all the professors.

Soon the Sorting was over, and Professor Dumbledore stood up to say a few words. \"Ah, another Sorting to this new year at Hogwarts. A few words before we begin our feast. The Forbidden Forest is off limits as usual. Students are also not allowed outside the castle past six o’clock. Now, enjoy the feast!\" With his words, food suddenly appeared on all the tables, and the students cheerfully joined in.