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

26. Unwanted

When Cassiopeia returned home, she found Narcissa waiting for her.
"Finally. I've been going out of my mind with worry. I was terrified that you had been arrested" admitted Narcissa as she stood to her feet.
"I'm sure there would have been a world wide celebration if Sirius or I had been caught. So, you would have known if I was in trouble" mumbled Cassiopeia, before sitting down in her favourite armchair.
Narcissa rolled her eyes at Cassiopeia's comment, before waving her wand and taking the enchantment off of Cassiopeia.
"So, how did it go with Harry?" Asked Narcissa.
Cassiopeia said nothing, but pulled her knees up to her chest, closing off her body.

"Well?" Narcissa asked again.
"Harry didn't want me" whispered Cassiopeia.
"What do you mean?" Questioned Narcissa.
"Now that he knows who I am and what I've done, he never wants to see me again" explained Cassiopeia.
"Well, can you blame him? He's a child who just found out that someone he cared about, is a murderer. He was bound to act out and push you away"
"I had hoped that since he knows me, he would believe me over the lies that the paper wrote about me".

"What did he say exactly?" Quizzed Narcissa.
"He said that if he sees me again, he's going to tell the Minister that someone is following him" answered Cassiopeia.
"He wants you arrested?" Gasped Narcissa.
"Not exactly. But since there is a mass murderer on the loose, he doesn't like the idea of anyone following him. Because he won't know if it's me or Sirius"
"Wait, why didn't you tell him that Sirius was innocent?"
"I did. But I couldn't go into detail about anything, so Harry assumes I'm just lying to protect my brother".

"You should have gone into detail. Harry deserves to know the truth" insisted Narcissa.
"I know that. But I wouldn't even know where to start. I'd have to explain about the Marauders, the animagi, the war, the prophecy, the spy, and the secret keeper. And I didn't have time to get into all that, in the middle of Diagon Alley. Besides, even if I did, Harry is likely to think that I really am crazy, once I've finished with the story. Since even I can admit that it does sound rather far fetched. Harry has no reason to believe me over everything he has read in the papers... I had hoped that there was still a part of the 11 year old Harry in him, who trusted anyone that was kind to him. But Hogwarts and the rest of the wizarding world have shown him that people are not to be trusted, as he has nearly been killed by his own teachers in the past 2 years. So Harry doesn't just blindly trust people anymore" admitted Cassiopeia.

"What are you going to do now then?" Asked Narcissa curiously.
"I don't know. But I can't just never  see Harry again. I promised James and Lily that I would look after their son if anything happened to them. And I will not let them down" insisted Cassiopeia.
"But you heard what Harry said, if you try and see him again, he will get you arrested. And I refuse to transfigure you again, just so you can go to Diagon Alley and get yourself thrown into Azkaban. Besides, Harry goes off to Hogwarts soon, so you won't be able to see him for a few months anyway. And I don't think it will be safe for you to write to him this year either. It's likely that Fudge will have someone check Harry's mail, in case Sirius tries to send him something" replied Narcissa.

"But I can't just never see him again. I care about that boy, Cissy, as if he were my own son" announced Cassiopeia.
"I know that. And I'm not saying you can never see him again. But for now it would be wise to keep your distance. Harry stays at school during the holidays, so you wouldn't be able to see him until next summer anyway. And for all we know this whole thing will have blown over by then, so you will be able to talk to him properly about everything that happened back then" Narcissa said calmly.
"What do you mean this whole thing will have blown over by then? Do you think Sirius is going to get captured by the Ministry? Do you think he will be back in Azkaban by next summer?" Snapped Cassiopeia.

"Obviously I hope that he doesn't get re-arrested, as he is my cousin and I don't want any harm to come to him. But I'm just being realistic. Fudge has the entire country looking for Sirius. Not just those with magic, but the Muggles as well. Everyone is looking for Sirius, so I don't think that he will be able to stay in hiding forever" admitted Narcissa.
"Well, I hope that you are wrong, for I do not want my brother to lose his soul, not before I have the chance to see him again" Cassiopeia said quietly.
"I don't want him to either. But we cannot know what the future holds" sighed Narcissa.

"No, we cannot... Do you think Sirius even wants to see me?" Asked Cassiopeia.
"Of course he does. Why would you even ask that?" Quizzed Narcissa.
"You said yourself that Sirius has not been spotted near any of the places where we used to hang out. So, maybe he doesn't want to see me again. Perhaps he heard what I did, and has also decided to cut me out of his life. Being unwanted is kind of the story of my life afterall. My parents didn't want me, Hogwarts didn't want me, now Harry doesn't want me, so it makes sense that Sirius doesn't want me either".

"No, I will not hear any more talk of this. Sirius loves you, and there is nothing you could do that would make him stop caring about you. He would fight a hundred battles to keep you safe, and you know that I'm right. Me and my sisters were never as close as you and your brothers, and I'm kind of envious of the relationship you three had. You would always stand by each other no matter what. Even when Regulus became a death eater, I knew that Sirius would still do anything to protect him. Which is why I know that Sirius still cares about you. The only reason he hasn't found you, is because he is in hiding. He knows what will happen to you both if you are caught, so he can't risk going anywhere that is connected to you two. But believe me, if he could be here with you now, I know he would be" informed Narcissa.

"Do you really think so?" Asked Cassiopeia.
"I know so. Which is why I want you to stop feeling so sorry for yourself, because you are most definitely wanted. Me and my son both want you very much" replied Narcissa.
"What if Draco also hates me, because of what he has read in the paper?" Questioned Cassiopeia.
"Draco is not foolish enough to believe what they print in the Daily Prophet. Besides, he has known for quite some time why you are really on the run, and he still wants you in his life. So, I am going to fetch my son, and the two of us are going to cheer you up"
"I don't know if I can be cheered up right now, as I feel so wretched, but you are welcome to try"
"Then try I shall".