I'm so sorry for how long it's taken me to get this posted. I moved to a new state, and had to get a new job; terrible stuff. But I'm not giving up, and I will be updating this story more often I swear. Thank you to those who have waited patiently or impatiently. Here's the new chapter!

Don't own, don't make money.

Months past and Christmas Break was upon them; Cassie and her friends kept to their routine of going to the library after dinner and to finish their homework before heading back to their common rooms.

Cassie loved visiting the Gryffindor Common Room when she could; she loved how cozy it seemed to be, how the couches nearly ate you when you sat on them; and how the fire gave the red walls a glow, making the room seem bright, even at night.

Cassie knew that Hermione liked the Ravenclaw Common Room more than her own for there was always a quiet place in the common room for you study and the bookshelves that covered the walls, but Hermione's favorite part was the ceiling. Just like in the Great Hall, Rowena Ravenclaw charmed the night sky to be shown in the common room.

Cassie had to agree that it was her favorite thing about her common room, other than the light blue and bronze that was tastefully painted on the walls.

Ron liked the common as well because there was always someone to play Wizard Chest with, and most of the time, he would win against whoever sought out to play with him. It was mostly the first years that were bored for they had already finished their homework.

Harry liked the Ravenclaw Common Room because it was peaceful, not to say that he didn't like the noise of the Gryffindor Common Room, but sometimes it was nice to go somewhere where the noise wasn't so loud that it caused his headache that he would have after Defense Against the Dark Arts to escalate to a migraine.

When the last of the classes got out, beginning Christmas Break; Ron was disappointed that he wasn't going back home for Christmas, for his parents decided to go to Romania to visit one of his older brothers. But after a few weeks of watching Harry and seeing how his good mood would turn glum once someone said something that they and their family were going to do, Ron decided that he would be around during the Christmas Break, hoping to somehow cheer up his friend.

He wasn't the only one who noticed that Harry's mood plummeted, Cassie was often seen with Harry and Ron; trying to help Harry last a little longer against Ron in playing Wizard Chest, but she didn't have to help him too much when it came to gobstones and exploring Hogwarts; trying to find the hidden passage ways that the twins have mentioned once or twice to Harry and Ron.

Every day at breakfast, either a select group of students or even the teachers themselves, were not spared from the twins pranks. Though the pranks were harmless, they did last till lunch, and having to either sing or spew bubbles whenever you talked, got a little annoying in the hours leading up to lunch.

Unknown to the teachers, it wasn't just the twins that were pulling pranks on them; it was also Cassie and her father, bonding in their mischief. Fawkes made sure though to cover their trail so that it wouldn't lead back to him and his daughter, though Fawkes was sure that Albus knew it was him and Cassie. Especially when it came to the prank they pulled on the Head Table that turned each of the Heads of House's to their respective house colors, while the Headmaster was the one that had each color of the four house spread throughout his hair and beard.

The days of the Christmas Holidays went by without trouble; well as much as any pranksters could avoid anyway; and Harry, Ron, and Cassie enjoyed their stay in Hogwarts. One day, after last night's heavy snow fall, the Headmaster decided to allow the students to have a snow ball fight, though he made sure it wasn't house against house, but students against students.

The game was soon canceled once Fred and George decided to charm their snowballs into hitting the back of Professor Quirrell's turban; once inside everyone enjoyed hot chocolate and sitting by the giant fireplace in the Great Hall.

Ron and his brothers were sitting by each other laughing together over the charmed snow balls, and surprisingly even Percy chuckled along. Cassie looked over to Harry who she was sitting by, noticing that he just kept staring into the fire, and look around the Great Hall in wonderment.

It was one of the best times that Cassie and Harry shared. They had entered the hall way before Ron, and got to see their Charms teacher cast different charm spells to decorate the trees and windows, and the air below the candles to make it look like it was snowing inside.

Having felt eyes on him, Flickwick, smiled and asked if they would like to join him in decorating the hall; sharing sparkling eyes and bright smiles, they agreed. Shortly learning the charm spells, they started helping; though once they learned the spell that summoned ribbon they started chasing each other around the hall, trying to wrap the other in different colored ribbon.

Cassie, in the spirit of the holidays, summoned red and green ribbon, while Harry summoned red and blue; Flickwick smirked and shook his head going back to decorating the trees in the hall, leaving his students to themselves.

There was a yell of surprise that made Flickwick jump, and when he looked over to where the yell had sounded from, he had to disguise his laughter with coughing, for while they were trying to wrap the ribbons around each other, Cassie and Harry had managed to hit Professor Snape while they had both ran past him, hitting him with the ribbon.

"GET OUT!" Professor Snape shouted, dismissing the ribbons from his body, glaring at Cassie and Harry.

Pale and nervous, Cassie and Harry beat a hasty retreat, snickering as they left the hall before they collapsed in laughter when they reached the moving stairs, having to lean on each other, dissolving into giggles and laughter.

Hearing Harry sigh knocked Cassie from her memory of that day and raised an eyebrow at Harry, who noticed snickered.

"What?" Cassie asked confused.

"When you do that, you kinda look like Professor Snape," Harry replied smiling, knocking his shoulder to hers, "hey, you wanna go with me to the library tomorrow?"

Cassie thought about and nodded, "When do you want to go?"

Harry thought it over, and remembered that though he was alone, Cassie wasn't. The Headmaster was her father and he would probably have plans for them for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

"I know that the Headmaster might have something planned for you for Christmas day, so how about the day after, around midnight?" Harry asked.

"Sure, though why should we wait till midnight, wouldn't be better to do it in day time?" Cassie asked a little confused why Harry wanted to wait till midnight of all things to go to the library.

"We need to go the Restricted Area of the library, and if we went during the day, Mrs. Pince would see us and turn us in, and I really don't want to be on the bad side of whoever she takes us to, and it would probably end up being your dad," Harry said, leaning against the table that was at his back, his hot chocolate beside him forgotten and cold.

Cassie thought about what he said and knew that he was right, but going to the library at night scared her. She didn't want to get into serious trouble with her dad, sure she's gotten into some doing all those pranks with her father and the twins, but he knew it was all in fun, but this, this wasn't for fun; this was trying to find out what he had hid in the school and what Professor Snape wanted with it.

Cassie heaved a sigh and looked at Harry, "Okay, we'll go at midnight, but we need a plan. We need a place to meet up, especially if I'm staying with dad, it's a floor below the library, and you have to make it all the way from the seventh floor," Cassie said in thought, trying to figure out how to get to the library and not to alert any one.

Harry thought about it too, and he realized that it seemed nearly impossible to be able to sneak into the library to search for the book they needed. He wished that Hermione was here to help them plan.

Cassie snapped her fingers as she came up with an idea, "I'll go to the library now and look up silencing spells, and that could help us," she stood up and stretched, her arms above her head as she leaned back to crack her back. With the sound of pops coming from her back, she sighed happily, and grinning over her shoulder to Harry, walked out of the Great Hall and up to the library.

Cassie looked around the aisles of books and wondered where she would find the silencing spell that Harry will need when he sneaks down from Gryffindor Tower. As she was browsing the books, her fingers running across the spines, she couldn't help but think that even though Ron and his brothers were here for the holidays, Harry was all alone.

'Maybe I can invite to stay with us, maybe dad won't mind, then Harry and I could make it to the library together,' Cassie thought as she pulled down a book that had advanced charms and was flipping through the pages; so focused into her reading that she didn't notice a dark figure approaching till he talked.

"It is passed curfew, you should be in your father's living area," Professor Snape drawled as he looked down his nose at Cassie.

Cassie jumped and looked up, startled to see Professor Snape in front of her; she wanted to snap close the book she was reading, but knew if she did that Professor Snape would be suspicious can keep a closer eye on her than what he already was doing, and reporting to her dad.

"Sorry, Professor, I didn't keep track of time, I'll make sure to do so in the future," Cassie said putting away the charms book she had found, thankfully having already memorized the silencing charm Harry and her needed.

Professor Snape raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed in front of his chest, his voice deep as he told Cassie, "I am here to escort you to your father's living courters, follow me," with that, Professor Snape turned on his heel, his cloak whipping behind him, Cassie wondered as she followed him through the castle, if Professor Snape cast a spell on his cloaks to float behind him, like it was doing now.

She dared not ask such a question to her Professor's face, not wanting to be on his bad side that she had already experienced with getting detention with him twice so far, and she didn't want to see another cauldron till the semester started again after the holidays.

Professor Snape stopped at the gargoyle that guarded her dad's office and living quarters, muttering the muggle sweet under his breath, Professor Snape stepped off to the side, jerking his head to the side for Cassie to get the hint and go before him. Cassie quickly stepped onto the steps, waiting for them to carry her forward, her Professor behind her making her slightly nervous on why he was escorting her this far.

Cassie opened the door to her dad's office, climbing the stairs seeing how her dad wasn't behind his desk and went upstairs where his living courters were.

Albus could hear his daughter walk up the stairs, glancing at his pocket watch that only he could read; he realized that his daughter was up after curfew. Chuckling to himself he wondered who sought her out to bring her back. He knew that Cassie loved the library and would lose herself in whatever book she was looking through.

"Hi dad, I'm so sorry I'm late, just got distracted in the library and forgot the time," Cassie greeted with a sheepish smile, while rubbing the back of her neck, before going over to him and giving him a hug, then heading over to her father greeting him, leaning her cheek into his caress.

Albus smiled at his daughter before turning and greeting Severus, though internally he was surprised to see it was him that escorted his daughter back.

"Ah, Severus, thank you for bringing Cassie back from the library," Albus said, gesturing to a chair across from him. Severus, took the seat, sneering at Cassie, noticing that she was still up, sitting near Fawkes.

"Headmaster—"

"Albus my dear boy," Albus said, his blue eyes twinkling in humor.

"Albus, may I enquire why Miss Dumbledore is not in bed?" Severus said, his arms crossed against his chest, a light sneer on his face as he looked toward said girl.

Cassie stomped on the urge to stick her tongue out, and stayed where she was, listening to the conversation and thinking of a way to ask her dad to have Harry stay with them.

"Come now, Severus, she's perfectly fine where she is, and I dare say that her mind is occupied at the moment. What is it that you wish to say?" Albus asked, a smile in his eyes, as he took a sip from his tea before popping in a lemon drop in his mouth.

Severus gritted his teeth and spoke through them, "Very well, As I went to get Miss Dumbledore from the library, I noticed that she was reading an advance Charms book, and was very interested to see that the spell she was looking at was a silencing spell," at this Cassie gritted her teeth in anger. She couldn't believe that he saw what she looked up.

Albus hmmed as he looked over to Cassie; 'So that's what you're up to my girl. I'll need to send Harry his father's invisibility cloak soon.' Albus thought before turning to Severus.

"I'm sure she was just curious to see what Charms can do, and I do believe she wasn't the only one who's been curious,"

Severus gave a stiff nod, knowing that Albus was right. There were always the more curious students that would look up random books to see what there were. But he knew that Cassie was up to something if she was looking up silencing spells but couldn't argue about it any further.

"It's getting late, my boy, and Cassie and I need our sleep. Join us for breakfast in the Great Hall?" Albus asked as he stood up from his chair, Severus getting up as well, following Albus to the door.

"Good night, Albus, and I must decline the offer. I have many potions that will need my attention," Severus said, giving a bow of his head to Albus, then heading out the door and starting his nightly patrol.

Albus sighed and closed the door softly, turning in the direction of his daughter's laughter, he smiled warily and shook his head, when he saw his daughter making friends with Harry and his friends, he was glad that she was getting out of her shell and making friends; but now he knew his daughter's plans to help her friends figure out what he hid in Hogwarts, he couldn't help but think that maybe hiding such a powerful object in a school full of curious children, wasn't the best idea he had.

"Dad?" Albus looked up to see that his feet had led him to Cassie and Fawkes.

"Yes, my dear?"

Cassie bit her lip, before taking a deep breath, "Can Harry stay with us the day after Christmas?"

Albus smiled and petted her head, knowing it was a part of her plan, but knowing that Cassie and most likely Harry and Ron, would sneak out anyway gave his answer.

"That sounds wonderful, my dear, and now I do believe it is time for you to go to bed," Albus chuckled warmly when Cassie threw her arms around him to hug him before heading off to bed.

Albus petted Fawkes, even though he couldn't understand Fawkes, it felt good to talk to him.

"I do believe our daughter, with your influence I might add, is most likely will be getting into trouble soon,"

Fawkes trilled shortly in retort, oh he knew that his chick was getting into trouble, but he was troubled with how much she was getting into, especially with her plan on finding more about the stone.

"Good night, Fawkes, sleep well," Albus said, leaving the room, hoping that his dreams would be peaceful and not focus on what kind of trouble his daughter will find herself in days to come.

Cassie rushed into the Great Hall, she couldn't believe she slept in so late, yes it may be Christmas Break, and the meals were there longer since there were no classes, but she wanted to talk to Harry and let him in on the good news that he could stay with her and family the day after Christmas, making their plans so much easier.

"Hey what's"

"the rush, princess?"

Cassie stumbled to a halt upon hearing the twins behind her, "Forge, Gred! Good morning!" A cheerful smile on her face as she waited for them to reach her before giving them a hug.

The twins laughed and hugged her back, wrapping their arms around her shoulders and leading her into the Great Hall, dropping her off by Ron and Harry, each taking a hand and giving her hands a kiss and bowing they left to sit beside their friend Lee Jordan, who was chuckling and shaking his head.

Cassie laughed and sat in between Harry and Ron, grimacing lightly at how Ron was eating. Taking the eggs from Harry and putting some on her plate, she let Harry know of what she had planned to get into the library in between bites.