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

31. Fear Of The Moon

Cassiopeia stared at Remus as his body grew into that of a full grown werewolf, and he broke free of the rope tying him to Peter.
She was gripped with fear, as she had been the first time she'd seen his werewolf form. Back then she had been a child, but Remus's werewolf form was just as terrifying to see now that she was an adult.
Consumed by terror, she didn't notice Peter reaching for Remus's fallen wand until it was too late.
Peter grabbed the wand and Stunned Ron before transforming back into a rat and scurrying off into the night.

The children's screams brought Cassiopeia back to the present and encouraged her to leap into action.
"Get back here you coward!" Harry yelled at Peter, as he attempted to run after him
"Harry, get back! Run back to the castle, you'll be safe there!" Ordered Cassiopeia, as she tried to push Harry back.
"No, I'm not leaving Ron and Hermione" insisted Harry.
Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, knowing that like James, Harry would never leave his friends if they were in trouble.
So she had no choice but to run towards a werewolf, with nothing but her wits to protect her.

Sirius had already transformed into Padfoot, and was doing his best to pull the wolf away from the kids, without causing any harm to his old lover.
But unfortunately Remus was not showing him the same curtesy, as he had no control over his actions. The two slashed at each other with their claws, covering the grass around them in blood.
Then suddenly Remus threw Sirius into the ground with such force, that he cried out in pain.
Remus then turned his attention back to the children, who were stood trembling beside Ron and Snape's unconscious bodies.

Without thinking things through, Cassiopeia jumped in front of them, screaming as Remus's claws sliced across her back.
"Cassiopeia!" Harry cried out, as he pulled her backwards away from the wolf.
Cassiopeia's cries prompted Sirius to act, so he leapt up and sank his teeth into Remus's neck, pulling him away from the others.
Remus then used one of his large arms to grab hold of Sirius, and throw him against a large rock.
Sirius fell against the ground and didn't get back up.

With his opponent defeated, Remus turned his attention back to the humans.
Cassiopeia was prepared to take another attack from the wolf, but before Remus could swipe her, a loud howl erupted from the Forbbiden Forest.
Remus immediately howled back in reply, and then ran off into the woods in pursuit of the howler.

Once Cassiopeia was certain that Remus was not coming back, she looked over at Sirius, who had turned back into a human and begun limping towards the Black Lake.
Despite the pain she was in, Cassiopeia pushed herself up into a standing position and dragged herself over to her brother.
When she reached him she immediately collapsed onto her knees at his side.
"Are you OK Cass?" Whispered Sirius.
"Never better" winced Cassiopeia.
She couldn't see her own injuries, but after looked at Sirius's, she assumed hers looked similar.

At the sound of footsteps approaching, Cassiopeia looked up and saw Hermione and Harry running towards her.
"Jesus Christ... We need to get you both to Madam Pomfrey" instructed Harry.
Cassiopeia was going to reply that if they did that she'd be arrested, but before she could, she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of dread.
She felt cold down to her bones, despite the warm month, which made no sense.
All of her worst memories suddenly hit her like a tonne of bricks and she was unable to move.

"Dementors! Quick everyone, cast a Patronus! Expecto Patronum!" Shouted Harry.
Cassiopeia saw a feeble light exit Harry's wand, and she knew it wasn't going to be enough to save them.
One by one the people around her collapsed, leaving her the only one still conscious.
She mustered up all the strength that she could and began to crawl away from the lake, hoping that the Dementors would let her go as she was just a Squib and they couldn't sense any magic around her.

Cassiopeia had just one thought in her mind that pushed her on, and that was to get to the castle.
She didn't care if she had to shout and scream once she reached Hogwarts, for she would do whatever was necessary to get help.
Even if her and Sirius ended up in Azkaban, she knew it would be worth if it Harry was OK.
Harry needed a Healer, and someone to stop the Dementors from killing him, and Cassiopeia would do anything to get him that help.

But Cassiopeia was tired.
She hadn't eaten or slept properly in weeks. And she was losing blood at a rapid pace from the wounds on her back.
Determination could only take a person so far, and as the castle came into view, Cassiopeia realised that she couldn't pull herself any further.
With all of the energy gone from her body she took one last deep breath before her eyes fluttered closed.

****

Cassiopeia could hear someone shouting her name, but she couldn't tell who it was.
And a few moments later someone began violently shaking her body, forcing her to open her eyes to see who was attacking her.
"Cass! Thank Merlin you're still alive!" Exclaimed Sirius, as he pulled her body into his arms.
Cassiopeia frowned as she saw that Sirius looked a lot better than the last time she had seen him.
"What happened to you? Why don't you look as shit as me?" Mumbled Cassiopeia.
"It's a long story, and it involves time travel. I'll explain everything later once I've gotten you out of here" promised Sirius, as he laid her back onto the ground.

"It's too late for me. I'm not going to make it" Cassiopeia said quietly.
"Don't be silly. You'll be alright once I've got you fixed up" insisted Sirius.
"Not this time" replied Cassiopeia.
"You've lived through worse. You're a fighter Cassie, remember. You're not going to let yourself be beaten by a simple werewolf scratch are you?"
"I'm tired Siri. I'm tired of fighting. Life is too hard... But I can die happily, now that I've seen you and Harry again"
"No! You are not dying on my watch, not when I've just gotten you back".

"I think I know a few basic healing spells that could help her".
Cassiopeia turned her head and saw Hermione stood on her right, with Harry beside her.
"Hermione is really smart, she'll be able to heal you" reassured Harry, as he bent down and took hold of Cassiopeia's hand.
"My life is in your hands" murmered Cassiopeia.
Sirius gently rolled Cassiopeia onto her side and then lifted up the back of her top so that they could asses the damage.
Cassiopeia heard Hermione gasp loudly.
"Is it that bad?" Asked Cassiopeia.
"It's not that... You have a lot of scars on your back" commented Hermione.

"Oh, yeah. My mother made those... Such a delightful woman she was" admitted Cassiopeia, as her eyes rolled back in her head.
"Whatever you are going to do, you've got to do it now" insisted Harry.
Hermione nodded her head and pointed her wand at the deep lacerations in Cassiopeia's back.
She used the healing incantation that she had read about, and watched as Cassiopeia's skin began to pull itself back together, leaving a thick red scar behind.

"That's the best I can do. Wounds caused by werewolves can never be properly healed" Hermione admitted awkwardly.
"I know. And thank you for what you've done" replied Sirius.
"You're welcome" smiled Hermione.
Sirius pulled Cassiopeia's shirt back down and pulled her up into a sitting position.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
"Groggy" mumbled Cassiopeia as her eyes reopened.
"Do you think you're well enough to ride, because we've got to fly out of here on that" revealed Sirius, as he pointed to the creature behind him.

"Am I hallucinating, or is that a Hippogriff?" Questioned Cassiopeia.
"It is indeed" answered Sirius.
"Where in Merlin's name did you get a Hippogriff from?" Quizzed Cassiopeia.
"I'll explain later. Right now, we have to get out of here. Fudge has summoned the Dementors back, and they are on their way to administer the Dementors kiss on me"
"Lets skedaddle then".

Sirius placed his arms around Cassiopeia and lifted her into the air, carrying her over to Buckbeak the Hippogriff, before placing her onto his back.
"Is she really going to be OK?" Whispered Harry.
"She'll be fine. Like I said, she's survived worse. I'll send word once we are safely away" promised Sirius, as he jumped up onto Buckbeak behind Cassiopeia.
"It's just not fair. I've only just met you and now I'm losing you and Cassiopeia in one day" Harry said sadly.
"The ones who love us, never really leave us Harry, remember that. Besides, you'll see us again soon"
"Promise?"
"I promise. Nothing could keep us away".
Sirius squeezed his legs together, causing Buckbeak to fly up into the night's sky, carrying him and his sister to safety.
He had no destination in mind, just somewhere far away, so that him and Cassiopeia could be free.