New Day ((Charles, Pyro, anyone who knows them))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

It was a beautiful day for a funeral. Cassandra sat on the uncomfortable chair in the most ladylike manner she could. It wasn't that she didn't know how to sit properly, but the weight that had overcome her small frame was starting to weigh her down. Cass' emerald eyes looked through her black curls to see the two oak caskets before her. The funeral had been set up in a matter of days without her knowledge or supervision. She assumed some ministry official had done it, or maybe Pyro's dad. She didn't know. The pain and anger of the last few days had clouded her mind, and she hadn't answered the many owls that were now sitting on her night stand.

People were beginning to gather, many of them she did not know. In fact, she didn't want to know them. She really just wanted this day to be over with. The condolences were beginning to get hard to hear, and she was pretty sure she would yell at the next person who offered to help her in some way. Looking hopefully up the aisle, she waited to see if any of her friends were there. Even though she had been nothing but a social pariah lately, she still wanted the support of the people she held dear.

The sun glinted in her eyes as she nodded appreciation to an elderly witch who had just placed a basket of brownies beside her. The witch gave her a warm smile and walked away. A slight breeze ruffled several leaves on the ground as Cass pulled her black cloak around her. The Angelus medallion hung on the outside of her shirt, proudly displayed so everyone could see it. I bet most people are shocked to see that. A Blackfire ring and an Angelus medallion. Two pureblood families that many thought would never mix, Cass thought glumly. Hearing several excited voices behind her, she saw the many people who had come to pay their respects begin to congregate. It seemed like an eternity before the crowd parted to reveal Charles, Lust, and Pyro Blackfire looking rather haughty.

[Pyro Blackfire S5]

"I really don't see why I have to be?" Pyro hissed. Although this funeral was for his dead Aunt and older cousin he saw no reason to be here. Charles leaned low so that he could whisper low to Pyro. "You have to be here. You are to introduce me to this Cassandra." Charles said this with a snarl. Charles needed his entire family there so that it would wipe away any suspicion of his involvement in the death. Although the ministry had already written it off as an accidentally death. He wanted to be sure.

Pyro rolled his eyes and looked at his mother. She looked out of place in the family with her dark hair. He saw no help coming from her. He sighed. "Whatever." He said in agreement to his father.
Charles grinned. "Good, now which one is she?" HE said looking up into the crowd. Pyro turned and scanned the room and soon spotted Cass. He pointed at her. "That one."

Charles looked at the girl and walked over. Lust and Pyro close behind. He stepped in front of Cass and put on a fake smile. "Ah, you must be Cassandra. You do look a lot like your mother." He looked at the coffin, looking sad. "It is a shame that these events happened." As he was talking Charles scanned her body and spotted her rings. He noticed the Angulus crest and frowned. Bloodtraitors.... He thought to himself before smiling again. "I am Charles. Your fathers brother." He said with a slight bow. "This is my wife, Lust, and my son, Pyro." He said.

Lust stepped foreword. Holding back a frown at the girls choice of clothing. She offered her hand to the girl. "Pleasure." She said in a smooth voice.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass looked up at the blond man who had just presented himself as her father's brother. She looked at him with a look of disbelief. Father's Brother? Lust Blackfire? Wow, we Blackfire's sure have a tendency to think of odd names, Cass thought incredulously. The three people who stood before her seemed so cold, so heartless, and definitely the complete opposite of Cass. She looked in astonishment as the woman held her hand out to shake. She wasn't quite sure what to do. Didn't family normally try to console or help the other in times of crisis? Cass looked over at Pyro for his reaction to all this, but he seemed just as emotionless as his parents. It was literally a meeting of strangers who were forced together by bonds they did not want to share. " Hello...Uncle...," Cass said this first part hesitantly, not sure if this was the right thing to say. She took her Aunt's hand uncertainly. " Thank you. Many people say I look like my mother." Cass withdrew her hand from Lust's grip and began to rub the Angelus medallion nervously. " It's nice to meet you, ma'am."

" Pyro and I actually met last year. We got to know each other rather well," Cass left out all the other parts of their relationship last year. Even though they had drifted apart, she didn't want to cause any undue problems. Cass looked up the aisle to see if there were any new arrivals. She really wanted Liam here. If for nothing else, to see a familiar friendly face. " I'm glad that you came. I'm sure my mother and brother would of appreciated it." Cass rubbed some stray tears off her face. She had been able to keep most of the emotion hidden, but it was starting to escape as she noticed a short man dressed in black approach the podium. Even though her shoulders were still slumped over, she straightened up as much as she could in the chair. " Um, so, when will the move happen? I lost most of my things in the fire. I only have the stuff I brought to school, and the ministry brought me some kind of locked, fire proof box the other day. I'm guessing it has something important in it."

[Liam Angelus G5]

Liam wasn't sure if he should be going to Cass' families funeral. He was not sure if it was proper for him to be going when he wasn't a family member or a friend of the two Blackfire's. He had only met them once and on that occasion he had not gotten along with Craig after the way he had treated Liam. Still, Liam thought it was a good idea that he was there for Cass. As he entered the funeral home, Liam thought he saw Cass talking with a few people, one of whom Liam knew to be Pyro Blackfire.

Swallowing his hatred and pride, Liam slowly walked down the aisle toward where he saw Cass sitting surrounded by Pyro and his family. Taking a deep breath, Liam said, "Hello, Cass." Liam turned his head to face the Blackfire family before he finished speaking. "I am sorry for the lose to your family." Liam meant his last sentence more toward the rest of the Blackfire family than toward Cass, since he had already told Cass.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Making one of her nervous attempts to look up the aisle, she saw her knight in shining armor. A sad smile played on her lips as Liam Angelus came toward her and her little family. Liam addressed Pyro's family in a manner that shocked her a bit. Liam hated Slytherins, and to see him swallow his pride like that made her feel closer to him than ever. Not only had he taken the time to comfort her, but he was now accepting her family for what it was. She moved over to make room for Liam beside her.

Hesitating, she introduced Liam. " Um, this is Liam Angelus. He's, um, well my boyfriend." Cass flushed as she looked up at Liam, hoping he wouldn't refute her comment. " He's been very supportive through all this. I don't think I could of made it without him." She took his right hand into her left. " You do know of his family, Uncle. They are very prominent. Anyways, I was hoping he might be able to come over to the manor for dinner sometime. You know, so you can get to know him."

[Ginny Weasley]

Ginny walked into The Three Broomsticks relieved to be out of the wind. Taking a seat at an empty table near the middle of the pub Ginny took a sit waiting for Bill. She turned her head toward the right where she caught a glimse of her reflection in a window. Her long flaming red hair fell past her shoulders with a couple strands in braids; a typical Ginny hairstyle. She wore a long black lace dress with a black cloak that looked slight worn out but still fit. The black color was making Ginny completion look paler than usual and her brown eyes stood out more than ever. Ginny was attending her new friend Cassandra Backfire’s funeral. She had gotten an owl from the fourth year saying that her mother and brother died in a fire. Ginny didn't know the girl well but they were still friends. So Ginny had to send a letter to her mother about the situation. A day later Mrs. Weasley sent a letter back demanding that Bill must escort her to the funeral. Ginny hated that somebody had to follow her around everywhere she went. Her mother’s constant worry about her family was making Ginny’s temper rise even more. But she didn’t dare try to send a letter back to her mother saying that. Mrs. Weasley was just making sure her only daughter was safe.

An hour later Ginny had finally arrived. She could have arrived earlier but a certain somebody was late. "Stupid Fleur ERR! She doesn't deserve my brother! she thought to herself not even paying attention to her brother like he was invisible. The two had arrived by muggle car which surprised Ginny because Bill didn't even know how to drive. Looking in the direction of her brother Ginny glared at him before speaking, "Bill promise me one thing, never drive again! I don't want to be reaching my fate any time soon. And honestly do you think I need a babysitter?"

Ginny than looked ahead of her were a groups of people were standing around talking. She barely knew any of these people, in fact who were they? Noticing Cass talking in a group of people Ginny looked at her brother and continued toward the small gathering. There were two boys were looked around Cass's age and a tall man with blond hair. Ginny stared up at him than turned her attention toward her friend. "Hey Cass how are you feeling?" Ginny asked in a soothing voice before relizing that she didn't introduce her brother, "This is my older brother Bill. My mom made him escort me here." she said simply not really feeling like she belonged there.

[Bill Weasley]

Bill frowned at his reflection. He could see Fleur reaching around him, adjusting his tie. " You look better now." Bill scrutinized his appearance. " Fleur, do I really need to be this dressed up. I mean, I don't even know the girl." Fleur had already left the room and didn't hear the last comment. Pulling his hair back into a ponytail, he felt that he was finally ready to get this whole thing over with. Bill shouted through the apartment. " I still don't know how Ginny got messed up with the Blackfires. Hell, they are the worst sort of people to be around." Bill grabbed the ring of keys of his bedside table and hurried towards the front. " Fleur, I'm gone. Love you."

Opening the front door, he heard Fleur say her goodbyes. Jumping into the little red sedan that sat on the road in front of his house, he put the key into the ignition and headed to meet his sister. He really didn't want to go this funeral, but he knew that his mother would never forgive him if he let Ginny go alone. The Blackfires were rumored to be Death Eaters, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let his sister be alone with that family.

Lucky for Bill, he had discovered the charm that enchanted the Knight Bus. So, after a few moments, he found himself driving on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. Parking the car outside the city, he got his sister and they roared to the service. It was a short drive to the cemetery, but it seemed like an eternity because of Ginny's screaming. Pulling up, Bill saw many carriages but no cars. "See Ginny!" He pointed along the road. " We arrived in style! No other cars." His sister spilled out of the vehicle fuming at his driving. He couldn't help but giggle to himself as he followed her to the gathering crowd.

Most of the other wizard's there made certain not to look at the Wesleys as they walked up. Most of the people there would be ashamed to be seen around blood traitors such as the Wesleys. Expecting trouble, he put his right hand on his wand. Plowing through the crowd behind his sister, but stopped suddenly when she greeted a black haired girl that was surrounded by a crowd. Bill nodded his head in acknowledgment at the girl, but could tell that she was extremely overwhelmed by the circumstances. Looking to his left, he saw an older man with blond hair and his wife. Their smug Slytherin son stood beside them. " Ginny and I wanted to come and pay our respects. I actually knew Craig at Hogwarts. He was very liked by many."

[Pyro Blackfire S5]

Charles nodded in understanding. "Do not worry. You can come over during the Christmas break and get settled into the house. We can provide you with anything you will be needing." Charles hated the pleasant tone he had to use. For all he cared this girl was a blood traitor and now she would be living under his roof. Lust didn't feel to happy about it either. Staring down at the girl she had to fight back the disgusted sneer that was threatening to creep across her lips. The girl would need some new clothes. No way would a Blackfire walk around in the wizarding world, or the Manor for that matter, in such blatant muggle clothing.

Pyro stood in between his father and mother. Wanting nothing more than to leave the situation as fast as possible. He knew Cass and his parents all to well and knew that a small spark would set off a huge fight that he didn't feel like witnessing. Not to mention it would look a bit suspicious at this moment. Charles was still playing innocent at the death of Cass's guardians, but Pyro knew better than that.

Pyro opened his mouth and was about to try and get his parents to move on when a boy Pyro knew pretty well suddenly interrupted them. By the way Liam and Cass were looking at each other, Liam relationship to her wasn't going to be good. A groan escaped Pyro as Cass declared the Liam her boyfriend.

Charles and Lust's eyes flashed with anger for a moment. They both knew the Angelus family very well. A horrible breed of blood traitors, and now, a Blackfire was apparently dating them? Their outburst was held short as another group of hated people appeared on the scene. The two people were easily recognizable, with their fiery red hair and freckles. Ginny and Bill entered the group and quickly gave their condolences to Cass and everyone else.

Pyro cursed under his breath. The arrival of Liam and the Weasleys was probably all that Charles could take. Pyro had to get his father away before something went wrong. Pyro stomped his foot to get everyones attention and than quickly stepped foreword, purposefully bumping his fathers shoulder hard as he moved past. "Well father, I do believe you have met your niece now. I think its best that you leave now and let her be with her friends and peers." Pyro eyed his father. Charles looked like he was about to protest but after a moment he put on a fake smile and bowed and than left with Lust at his arm.

Pyro turned back and faced the group. He looked at Cass and Liam, pointedly at Liam. "So, this is news to me. Why have you never told me of your relationship before?" Pyro said in a cheerful tone. He cast a sidelong glance at the two Weasleys. "It's a surprise to see you lot here." He said in an easy tone. Surprised you still have enough wizard in you to find the place. He thought quietly in the back of his mind.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

At the arrival of the Weasleys, Cass ran and hugged her friend. " I'm so glad you came, Ginny. Thanks for the support." She looked back at her brother. " Thanks for bringing her. I know you didn't have too." Bill gave Cass a sympathetic look, even the shock of a Blackfire in Gryffindor still shook him a bit. " I'm doing okay, I guess. Under the circumstances." She made little motions toward her Aunt and Uncle. Cass actually could not believe that they had held their fake smiles and mocked concern for her this long. Honestly, who did they think were?

After a few moments of extreme tension, Pyro's parents departed the little group. However, Pyro, with his absolute nerve, had to say the one thing that would set her off. " When has it been any of your business who I date?" Cass rose from her seat in force, looking her cousin dead in the eye. "I don't have to answer to you or anyone about my relationships!" She said this comment rather loudly, and several of the lamenters turned their attention to the two Blackfires. Charles and Lust were looking daggers at the girl, angry about her little outburst.