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

24. Most Wanted

Cassiopeia had a nice few days, with Harry visiting her frequently. But when he disappeared again, Cassiopeia was sent into a panicked frenzy.
Once again she relied on Narcissa for information, and she was able to find out that Harry had used underage magic at Privet Drive, before running away and being found by the Minister.
Harry was now staying at a room in the Leaky Cauldron, as he wasn't welcome at the Dursleys, since he accidentally blew up Aunt Marge like a balloon.

"It's like that boy is trying to give me a heartattack" admitted Cassiopeia, after Narcissa told her the news Lucius had discovered about Harry.
"He does seem to have a knack for trouble that boy. But at least you know he is safe" replied Narcissa.
"Yes... And look, I know it's risky, but I have to go and check on him. No one is actively looking for me, so it should be safe enough for me to sneak into Diagon Alley, if I keep my face covered"
"No! You can't!".

Narcissa's extreme reaction confused Cassiopeia.
"I've snuck onto Platform 9 and ¾ before, so sneaking into Diagon Alley shouldn't be that hard" reassured Cassiopeia.
Narcissa sighed and began rummaging around inside her handbag, before producing a stack of newspapers.
"I was trying to put this off for as long as possible, but it seems like it's time you knew the truth" admitted Narcissa, before handing the pile of Daily Prophet's to Cassiopeia.

"What truth?" Frowned Cassiopeia.
"You'll see" sighed Narcissa.
Cassiopeia looked down at the first paper on the pile, and her jaw dropped as she read the headline.
"Mass murderer Sirius Black escapes Azkaban" recited Cassiopeia.
"Yes. Sirius has escaped prison" replied Narcissa.
"How? How has he done this?"
"I don't know. No one does. The papers are reporting that he used dark magic to escape. Powerful magic that only the loyalist followers of the dark lord knew about"
"Well that's rubbish, you and I both know that Sirius is not a death eater".

"We might know that, but no one else does. The rest of the wizarding world believe that he killed 13 people, and betrayed the Potters. The Ministry believe he was a devoted death eater, and the dark lord's right hand man" reminded Narcissa.
"A Black may have been his right hand man, but it wasn't my brother" Cassiopeia said coldly.
"But the Ministry don't know that Bella was the one closest to the dark lord, they think it was Sirius. They think a dangerous dark wizard is now on the run, and they've got everyone with a wand out looking for him" revealed Narcissa.

"Then I've got to find him, before he gets captured. He's likely to try and find me, and if he goes to our house, he'll get caught" said Cassiopeia.
"Sirius isn't stupid enough to go somewhere he knows the Ministry will look for him" replied Narcissa.
"He can be stupid if he's trying to protect me. So, he might go to our home to find me" countered Cassiopeia.
"Sirius has been on the run for days, and there have been several sightings of him, but he's not been spotted anywhere near your old house. He's smart, and he probably knows that the Ministry have the place surrounded. He knows that if he wants to stay free, he needs to stay hidden, and not go anywhere connected to him".

"You're right... These papers say that if he's caught the Dementors are going to perform the Kiss on him. They are going to take out his soul" Cassiopeia trembled.
"Yes, the Minister thinks that Sirius is too dangerous to be left intact. So, if he is recaptured, they are going to perform the Dementors Kiss on him" replied Narcissa sadly.
"Why would Sirius do this now? Why would he risk everything? After 12 years of being in Azkaban, why did he decide that now was the time to escape?" Questioned Cassiopeia.
"I don't know. Maybe there is a reason, or maybe he just got tired of serving out the sentence for a crime he didn't commit".

Cassiopeia slammed the papers down onto the table beside her and jumped to her feet, "I've got to find him".
"Half of the Ministry is out looking for him, so what makes you think you will be able to track him down?" Quizzed Narcissa.
"He's my brother. I know him better than anyone else, so I'm sure that I can find him" insisted Cassiopeia.
"No, it's too dangerous"
"I'll be fine. I'm not the one on the front cover of all these Daily Prophets. Everyone is searching for Sirius, not me".

Narcissa sighed and removed a paper from the back of the pile, before handing it to Cassiopeia.
"You should see the one from today" she said quietly.
Cassiopeia took the newspaper from Narcissa, and her eyes began to quickly scan the page.
She almost dropped the paper in shock, when she saw her own face staring back at her beside Sirius's.
The photograph on the front cover was from James and Lily's wedding day, as it was one of the last public photos of the siblings together.
"They're after me too" whispered Cassiopeia timidly.

"Yes, they are... The article doesn't say that you're a confirmed death eater, but since both of your brothers, and one of your cousins was a death eater, they suspect that you were too. They also remind the public that you are a dangerous Squib with limited intelligence, who killed her own mother and baby brother" informed Narcissa.
"Why? Why would they bring all this up? What I did, had nothing to do with Voldemort. I am not a death eater. I have never worked with people like your husband. I am not evil. I only killed my mother so that I could be free, and I never meant to kill Alfie" insisted Cassiopeia.

"I know that, but that is not the story that the Ministry have told the world. And now that Sirius has escaped Azkaban, they suspect that he is going to try to reconnect with you, as everyone knows how close you were. The Ministry assume that he is going to find you, so if they can capture you first, then they might be able to lure him to them" admitted Narcissa.
"They want to use me as bait?" Questioned Cassiopeia.

"I mean, they want to capture you anyway, because you are a dangerous criminal in their eyes. But if using you as bait will help them to recapture Sirius, then you know they are going to do it. Which is why you can't go out anymore, you've got to stay in here, because I know that you'd hate to be the reason that Sirius got sent back to Azkaban. It will be too dangerous for you to even visit the Manor, since you and I are cousins, and the Ministry might suspect me of helping you. I will still visit you here, with Draco, but you can't come to see us, until things settle down" informed Narcissa.

"What about Harry?" Asked Cassiopeia.
"You will have to stay away from him as well, because you can't just go strolling into Diagon Alley when there is a 50 galleon reward on your head" answered Narcissa.
Cassiopeia suddenly gasped and pulled her hands up to her mouth.
"What is it?" Frowned Narcissa.
"Harry, he didn't know" mumbled Cassiopeia.
"Didn't know what?" Quizzed Narcissa.
"He didn't know my real name, or why I have been living on the run"
"Ah, well I expect he knows now, because everyone at the Leaky Cauldron and in Diagon Alley, will be talking about you and Sirius".

"I have to talk to him" announced Cassiopeia.
"Didn't you just hear what I said? It's too dangerous for you to go outside into a wizarding area" reminded Narcissa.
"I don't care about the risk, I have to do this. I have to explain everything to Harry, otherwise he is going to hate me forever, and I will never be able to see him again" replied Cassiopeia.
"What about Sirius?"
"Sirius is a grown man, he can take care of himself. If he's smart enough to get out of Azkaban prison, he's smart enough to evade the Ministry".

"And what if you are captured and Sirius is forced to hand himself over to the Ministry to protect you?" Questioned Narcissa.
"Harry is Sirius's godson as well, and we both agreed a long time ago, that Harry comes first. So, if we get caught because of Harry, then Sirius will understand" insisted Cassiopeia.
"There really is nothing I can say that will stop you from doing this, is there?" Sighed Narcissa.
"No, there is not. I don't expect you to understand why, but this is something I have to do"
"Fine. On your head be it".