(A/N: Back to Cassie's POV)

Yesterday was definitely a crazy day, but oh boy was today going to be another. 

I was fine, except for a small head-ache, which either came from yesterday's potion thing, or from the change in weather. 

I went down for breakfast; not knowing that I would be hit by two surprises today. 

I was eating my breakfast with one hand, while the other held Annalise' potion's notes. She was telling the points that I was sure she knew well, over and over again. 

"Anne why are you so stressed?"

"Today there's a potions test for us, 20% of the total potions grade."

"You're gonna ace it." I assured her.

"Ah ah." she refused. "It's theory! You know, I'm not that good in potions."

"But you got an Exceeds Expectations in the last test."

"Yes, but- but that was diff-"

"It's gonna be the same. If you know how to do the practical, you can do the theory."

"I'm not good at words like you."

"I'm not that good."

"Comparatively. You have a flair with words. Whatever that means."

"Ms. Smith." I heard someone call me from behind.

"I hope I wasn't disturbing anything." said Professor Slughorn. 

"Oh. Not at all sir." I said. 

"I wanted you to consider an idea. Would you like to join the slug club? A late member, but an exceptional one."

"Sorry Sir. But me?"

"Yes. The youngest member of the order, now that's something great. We have a meeting tomorrow at 7pm in my office. Hope to see you there." he said and left the table. 

"So... you going?" asked Anne.

"I don't know. I was never a fan of Slughorn."

"It's your wish. But are you really the youngest? What about the Potters, and Sirius and Remus? Weren't they in school too?"

"True. But I joined last year. When I was 16."

Her face showed realization, and she went back to reading the notes. 

It's once in a lifetime thing. Maybe I would go?

A owl landed near me, dropped a piece of paper on my plate, and swooped away loudly. Looks like a wild and untrained bird. 

I opened it, but understood nothing. 

⠠⠞⠓⠊⠝⠛⠎ ⠁⠗⠑ ⠛⠕⠊⠝⠛ ⠙⠕⠺⠝. ⠠⠏⠑⠕⠏⠇⠑ ⠁⠗⠑⠝⠄⠞ ⠺⠓⠕ ⠺⠑ ⠞⠓⠊⠝⠅ ⠞⠓⠑⠽ ⠁⠗⠑. ⠤ ⠠⠗.⠠⠇

Just a series of dots. "What's that?" asked Anne. I shrugged. I tried taking Anne's pencil and joining the dots. But it made no sense too. 

"I'm not sure. But it look like Braille."

"Braille?"

"You know. For blin-"

"I know what braille is. But who would send me a note in braille?"

"I don't know."

"How do we decode this?"

"The library? It must have a book with Braille letters right?"

"Hopefully."

"Okay then. That's where we go after classes."

----- 

Today was weird for another reason. Draco was avoiding me. Whenever we were going in the same direction, or met in the halls, he lowered his head and hurried away. As if scared. 

I needed to know why. Was he in trouble? So as we passed by, on an empty corridor, I decided to ask. 

"Draco. Stop right there."

He didn't in fact, and walked forward. I went in front of him. "What do you want Smith?" he asked annoyingly. 

"You tell me Malfoy."

"What?"

"You're avoiding me. Without a reason."

"I-I wasn't avoiding you."

"Then I must be invisible. You won't  even look at me."

"Is it true that you're part of the order?"

So is that what was bothering him? "Yes."

"That's the problem."

"So you think you'll be in trouble?"

"I-I'm just scared." He admitted. "I'm scared you'll rat me out. I mean I trust you. But.."

"I'll never rat you out Draco. I know you well. More than you think I do. We both are the same in a way. We both never wanted this, but wanted this at the same time. You wanted to be here in a position this high, to make your parents proud. But you never wanted the dark mark, or do your task. I wanted to come here. I wanted to be in the Wizarding world. But never did I want all these problems."

"That's true..."

"And besides you're good. You're not vial or cruel. You did it for love. Love for your family. It was either you all die, or you get the mark."

"I guess.... So I can trust you?"

"With all your heart. I'll never leave you stranded."

"Thanks for the reassurance. I thought it was some mission of yours to follow me and find out stuff."

"Nope. Even if I do get something like that, I ain't doin' it."

"On a more serious note though. I think you may get in huge trouble."

"Why?"

"I wasn't allowed in, but I heard the dark lord and a few other death eaters talking. They were talking about you. And how you won't expect it and stuff. Just be careful Cassie."

"I will. Thank you for informing." I said with a smile. I looked at my watch, said goodbye and walked off to the library where me and Anne were trying to crack the code.

"Wait! Ok... let's see. That is an A....." We started decoding. But the message didn't make us happy. 

Things are going down. People aren't who we think they are.
-R.L

"R.L?" asked Anne.

"As in Remus Lupin?"

"I don't know Cass. Why would he write in braille? Does he even know braille?"

"I don' think he knows braille. And whoever wrote it is writing it for the first time. By the way they wrote it, it's kinda noticeable."

"Who else do you know with a name that starts with R?"

"Well there is Terrance's friend Roger. But his last name is McKay."

"Any other 'R's?"

"Nope."

"It could be Mr. Lupin. But why like this?"

"Kinda strange. Even the owl. It wasn't a tamed one. It's almost like the person who sent it wasn't even sure if it would reach me."

"And the person seems to be in danger. Like in hiding. Why else would they use a wild owl?"

"Right. Mysteries after mysteries."

"We'll find the answer. Together." assured Anne. I have her a smile. She was a great person to be  with. 

But really. Who was R.L? What secret did they know?