✧BURNING TEA CUP✧

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Cassiopeia was currently celebrating her ninth birthday, however she and her brother were sporting rather fake smiles. Of course Cassi adored her gifts, but there was sick feeling twisting about them.

His sister had witnessed one of the worst possible beatings Sirius had ever gotten. And to top it all off, he was locked in the Elf's room all night without dinner. Regulus had taken the job of sleeping with his sister to calm her nerves and Sirius was thankful for that.

His neck, on the other hand, wasn't.

Throughout the day he managed to roll his shoulders and yawn, always making his sister frown. Whenever someone wished her a 'Happy Birthday' she would give them a polite kiss on the cheek and thank them. But she was still fearful to what happened to her brother, Regulus had told his brother about the fact that she was crying for most of the night wanting to get him out of there.

She didn't know what he had done, he said that Muggle-borns were still witches and wizards and that sort of discussion nowhere near one another. It enraged not only his mother, but his father as well.

The boy had overheard a few conversations, about death, murder and whatever else. But it didn't occur that it was true, and this act was the first to come and he'd retaliate in more than one way while his parent would do the same. The Noble House of Black had a lot of secrets, and this was the biggest one they were going to hold.

"Cissy is looking for you." He dwelled, drinking a fresh glass of cider as he looked down to his sister. She had stuck close to him since his departure from the elf's closet room and she hadn't left his side.

Walburg didn't want to endorse anything more, but it had been such a culture shock to Aurora to see that they hadn't gotten a word out of her unless in the presence of another person.

Rabastan had distracted her but only for a little while as she had been taken by her cousins to lead to another bout of distraction. Sirius was happy to see that she was at least enjoying herself a little bit, but his mind was speaking a mile a minute as he started to think of what else his parents had been wrong about.

The doubts coming in further and further.

It was almost like the glares of his mother and father weren't enough at the event, it seemed like Andy caught, as did his Uncle Alfred. Because his words were: 'your thoughts are your own' and continued off. His mother wasn't much in consideration for her own brother as he didn't support nor defend the views he himself grew up with.

If he had, he would've had children.

By the time the Black's returned home, Cassiopeia was exhausted at a long sleepless night prior to a while day of seeing everyone out and about. So her father walked her on upstairs, tucking her in a sharing his pride. As well as a warning not to speak out like her brother had.

Even when she was half asleep.

She agreed to everything, because she didn't know half the words he was saying. Part of Orion knew that, and perhaps even if she was awake she wouldn't have known what it meant anyhow.

Sirius had snuck into her room, an act neither of them had done since they were VERY little. He sat at the end of her bed for a moment to see her peaceful. Clutching something that Cissy had given her as she was far too excited at the wolf.

He closed his eyes. He never wanted his sister to something like that. Nor does he want her to fear that happening to her. To him his sister was everything, she was sweet, kind and her giggles were his favorite part.

Next to her devious smirk.

"Rory?" He questioned out, and she hummed so tiredly but it was enough for him to valid him coming to crawl into her bed too. Pulling his arms around her and she smiled into his chest.

"I love you Rory...I'll make sure nothing ever happens to you." There was no response this time around as he was sure she really fell to sleep this time. So he kissed her temple and attempt to sleep himself. But it was a failed one at that, lying awake staring at the ceiling.

Something was wrong. He could feel it.

Regulus was the one to wake them up the next morning and Cassiopeia was sort of glad that Sirius had joined her last night as she was struggling to come to terms to find out the worst thing of her parents. She knew Sirius wasn't a saint but honestly? What that was terrible in and of itself?

Almost unforgivable in her eyes.

Luckily their parents had errands, their father was home but they managed to stay out of side and out of mind. Staying in the likes of Rory's room as she read aloud a story, Regulus was enjoying the attention as the two of them always were up to something without him or off on an errand with their parents.

She managed to rig up the solar system machine that Andromeda had specifically wanted to give her cousin. The girl adored the solar system and after going to Hogwarts for already a given few years, it sparked an even further interest for the little girl to enjoy.

The house owl had screeched in wait, and Reg ran as his dad had ordered that a package was meant to come. However he returned with the letter for Cassi as she took it into her hand and opened it. Sirius assumed it was one relative that couldn't come yesterday. But the pale look on her face sparked interest, especially as the girl darted out of the room.

Her feet carried her quicker than her mind could process as she stood in front of her father's study. She swallowed, he had said if there was an emergency or a need they could interrupt and she looked to the note in her trembling.

What was she to do?

She couldn't understand how this happened, she squeezed her eyes shut and brought her fist to the door before her. Hearing an earnest gesture before peeking her head. 

"Daddy?" She questioned out, and he popped his eyes up from behind his glasses. Usually her voice was well spoken out and evening so this disturbed him.

"Have your brothers done something they shouldn't?" Cassi came in further and closed the door, shaking her head as she made her way towards her father.

He didn't like the view of her crying the way she was, however she offered him up a letter. It had been addressed to her as the envelope suggested, but as he read the beginning introduction his eyes grew.

Salem School of Witchcraft

She did not like how her father's brow narrowed as it continued, there were words of a further package and it caused the poor girl to look down to her shoes. Merlin was she nervous.

And it didn't help the fact that Orion had read it through three times. He couldn't bloody believe it. Looking down at his daughter he too couldn't understand why she was miserable. So he picked her on up and onto his lap, taking his glasses off to get a better look. 

"Cassi, what is it darling?" She didn't look up, still some resentment from the day prior and he couldn't fault her for that.

"I-is it because of my magic?... I didn't mean to break the vase." He sighed, knowing that it was a bit of underage magic, but it was quiet alright considering Sirius had a few mishaps. If anything, he was pleased that they weren't squibs.

"Of course not my lil one, this is a blessing...An honor. The first Black to be accepted, just wait until your mother when she comes home." He tickles her stomach and she's confused.

"It-it's not a bad thing?" The father shook his name and removed his tears. "Of bloody course not, it means that you are brilliant and they want you." Why would a school want her? She's only ever had homeschool with a tutor a few times a week as well as the piano and manners classes.

"But daddy, that means I have to go—" 

"To the states, hmm, that is why we'll talk to your mother and see what the end result is...Go play with your brothers." She shuttered at being dismissed, but the second she was out in the hallway she looked to see her brothers and their curiosity.

What happens if she leaves?

She went off to the balcony and didn't return until Reg himself ventured to tell her that mother was home and that they all needed to talk as a family.

She pulled her brother into a hug, he was the shining example their parents adored but she felt like her choice is the matter was defused by the adults in her life.

However, when she returned Sirius was utterly confused and their mother had the widest smile on her face. So Sirius came forward and took his sister's hand. "What was the letter?" She leaned in closer and huffed. "School." It almost sent her into a smile as he narrowed his brows the same their father had.

Sirius knew that they would get their Hogwarts letter when they turn eleven. But they were nine. She was barely nine if that, where was his letter?

"Cassi?" Their father called out, leaning a rather annoying ring in Sirius' ear. It was Aurora, he hated when she was called Cassie, almost as much as his cousin disliked her own name. Rather responding to Andy.

The girl followed the sound of the voice to the living room to where their mother tried to hide her satisfied grin only for all the children to be cautious. "It seems like your dear sister has been blessed with an invitation to the school of witchcraft in Salem." Walburg digressed, it almost came as an obvious sign. Cassiopeia was always caught reading, learning and wanting to ask questions. So this? This was almost a given.

"Just witchcraft?" His father's hum rang deep, but Sirius had a given flash of his father's true nature and looked passed him to the wall. If Cassiopeia was set to leave, then he wanted to know it here and now.

"Yes, the history Salem has is rather brutal. The Salem witch trials still plague the land, it's a very fine institution...The package came and it's a heavy read Cassi." Aurora looked to the book, taking it carefully from her father as she sat back and looked through the book. It didn't offer much text, more pictures until the very back.

"It says 200 were accused for witchcraft and twenty were executed. And with those numbers, they offer this to only twenty a year..." Walburg offered a gentle nod and the young girl bit her lip. Shaking as Sirius looked further into the book.

The fancy brochure screamed into his ear, jealousy but also rage fueled him. She was leaving and for the better life, he supposed.

"I-I'd come home for Holidays?" 

"Hm, yes the States have a few interesting holidays as well. Thanksgiving for one, the summer of course, Christmas, easter...It will act as schooling until it's time to go to Hogwarts with Sirius." She looked in hesitation to her brother. They had never been separated for more than a day, even the thought of Hogwarts was odd. To be separated by a dorm?

"What would I learn?" 

"Everything, it's to brighten your young mind darling..." Their father offered, coming over towards the lot of them and Regulus himself was silent through it all.

He knew, even at the age of five. That Sirius was going to lose his bloody sanity if she was leaving, and it was already too obvious to see that Rory was his stabling rock. "Rory, I don't want you to leave!" He was the voice of reason, the voice of all three children combined into one.

But Walburg shushed Regulus, for once he wasn't the star child and was brutally silenced. Something he hasn't been confirmed to.

"Cassiopeia, this is an honor of the highest ordeals. You are given a chance to take our family's name to the states. To make connections and learn prior to that of Hogwarts." Rory  wanted to say yes so badly, but she looked back to the book.

"May I think about it?" The question left both of her parents shocked, but her father was the first to smirk. 

"Reading before signing, not even a wonder of why they chose you." He kissed the top of her head before ordering Kreacher to start dinner. Sirius on the other hand stormed to his room and slammed the door, while Walburg went about to attempt to cool her own anger.

Orion had worried that what his little Cassi had saw would be too brutal for her eyes to witness.

Yet she had taken her usual spoke while Regulus had stationed himself beside her, his voice opinion was ringing in her ear. But as he was reading, he knew that Rory would want to go. He cuddled beside her further, and little did ether of them know. That Sirius was listening in, sobbing his own disagreement.

"You want to go...Don't you?" He mumbled into her hold, and her head dropped to land onto his. "I don't know Reg, I don't know...But Mum and Dad aren't going to let me say no either." Sirius looked to his own ceiling, knowing she was stating the obvious.

"You could say that there's a lot of muggles, I'm sure that will make them resend everything," Regulus suggested, and that had Sirius' fist turn pale at how hard he was struggling to keep his calm.

"The states are full of them, it's an isolated school like Hogwarts. And they wouldn't let muggle-borns in anyhow, they're designed to be pureblooded." She didn't say it in any disgust, making his mouth taste like literal ash.

"A-a-are you going to m-miss—" The eldest could only imagine that Aurora tackled him with a hug. "Reg I will miss you every day, you and Siri...Of course I'll miss you, and I'll be home a-and I'll write." It was enough to settle Regulus' childish nerves, but Sirius' were a bit more rigid.

His sister, in a whole other country. Where he can't protect her, but then a positive popped up, in the midst of it all.

She'll be away from all of this.

Perhaps they'd teach her about blood purity, but it wasn't like they could issue abuse. Not with their mother or father had anything to say about it. So somewhere deep down did he feel somewhat relieved that he wouldn't have to worry about his sister seeing any sort of punishment.

He rather sleep in the elf closet for a month than have her see that again. The pleading screams, her cries, then on top of it all their mother dragging her by the hair out of the room. Oh they apologized as Regulus had mentioned, but she didn't hear any word they said.

So that's what this was then? Their parents getting rid of her the first chance they could get, they claimed it was an honor. A whole twenty underage witches would be sanctioned in for the given years before they would either go to Ilvermory or elsewhere.

At least she knew at Hogwarts that Sirius would be there, that he would have her back. That Rabastan and Rosier and all the others would be able. Even Cissy and her boyfriend Lucius would've been present for their last year.

She swallowed her gulp and let out another cry. "Where's Siri?" Rory whispered, and Reg squeezed her once more before going to their brother's room. They needed to discuss this as children, to make a plan.

Sirius reluctantly came out of his room after he told his brother he needed a moment. Seeing Sirius cry had been an eye opener, but the second their eyes connected she bit her lip. 

"Siri I—" He rushed over and held her oh so very close, just standing in the center of her little reading nook.

"They're not going to let you say no Rory, even if you didn't want to go...But you should, get away from all this bloody mess." He growled, but the second he felt his sister start to shake he squeezed her tighter.

"But you won't be there." Sirius let a sad smile grow out as he held onto her limbs and kneed down before her. His parents always scolded him for being the worst of any so-called influence among the siblings, in front of Orion's eyes as he peeked through the small creek Sirius had left open a smile erupted.

"I won't be. But why would you want your annoying brother around anyhow?" She pouted once more, and Orion knew that this was more or less a big step for his daughter. Even with a good amount of time with the summer, would it be enough for her to mature all on her own?

"Father and mother are right you know, the books you read aren't enough for you...You need more." Now it sounded as though they were convincing one another, but that mere thought rushed out and over the father's head as he returned to his wife smiling oh so brightly.

The mother was writing to her sister, as well as anyone would just bare the thought. Orion had a bit of a moment as his arms wrapped around Mrs.Black. "You were right, my wife, Cassiopeia is gifted." Walburg had to bite her tongue as the mere thought of attempting to teach the young girl simple things such as table manners...But then she seemed to further it as  passing judgment to what the girl will be in the future, the wife could only smile up to her husband.

"What will the Dark Lord think?" Orion held his smile, but was sick in the pit of his stomach. Perhaps it would be prudent to seek advise from him. 

"That you have the makings of a seer, and Cassi is on her way to being a bright Slytherin." Neither wanted to even think of the concept of her entering another house, even if it was Ravenclaw.

So there from there did Orion explain how Sirius had upped his stakes and proved to be the wise elder brother, especially when Cassiopeia came down that evening during supper and nodded to her father that she would be delighted to go and attend Salem.

However, by midday tomorrow did the letters of congratulations and another celebration occurred, the Lestranges were in an uproar. Although neither Rabastan nor Cassi knew at that moment that they have marriage contract all the more signed, however, it was sort of a sight to see them interact, to see him personally gift her a necklace. She took the offering and promised to wear it every day when she was gone.

Sirius had gotten her something as well, although it was upstairs and he wanted to give it to her closer to her leaving.

And that day, unfortunately, came far too early.

"Rory?" She turned her head to her little brother as he clung to the side. The girl knew she was the glue between the boys and she offered a smile to him. "Reg?" She whispered back, Sirius had been quite silent the entire day and Cassi knew it was merely nerves.

"Will you teach us what you learned?" That question took her off guard and she smiled, leaning further into Regulus to leave Sirius without much warmth to himself. They had all agreed to sneak into her room the final night.

"Of course, whatever you want...My textbooks are all yours." The only sound that Rory heard from her brother now was his breathing, his arm was around her and the other just silently itching the fabric of his shirt.

"And your wand, does father still have it?" She swallowed and nodded along, they had managed to go to Diagon Alley sometime in the previous week to get her a wand. Oliver was surprised, but the mere mention of Salem had him bustling about, as well as the mentioning of their surname.

Their father had given her a strong smile, and all too fitting that she was granted a Phoenix Feather. It earned her another smile from her father as he was all too eager to bring her to get some ice cream for a treat.

She remembered how sick she felt afterward, just wanting to go home and get this venturing over with. Since she wasn't on Salem property she wasn't allowed to have it in her possession until father dropped her off.

"Bet father was proud of the Phoenix Feather...Heard mother bragging to Cissy and Bella." He spoke, his voice monotoned as ever.

"I'll be back in November Sirius, thanksgiving remember?" He smiled, something in all honesty that he had almost forgotten. Thankful for the oddest bit of American holiday did he hug her tighter. Mention the idea of sleep did she lean into his side a bit further as he kissed her forehead.

It was the last night for the three of them for a while...

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Date Posted: 01-08-19

Time: 11:09

Words: 3650