Since Cassiopeia had found the necklace that the dark lord had given her in her wardrobe her moods had started becoming more erratic. The smallest things were setting her off into breakdowns and the only one in the Malfoy house hold that seemed to care was Draco.

Draco could tell the signs before Cassie herself could. Her eyes were what gave her away first they'd go almost dead whilst she dissociated, then her cheeks would flush red telling him that her magic was starting to burn her from the inside. Sometimes he swore that he could see sparks coming from her fingertips being held back by the cuff that was sealed to her wrist. When she started to hyperventilate that's when he knew he had to act.

When they were home it was easier to deal with as he had gotten into the routine of running a cold bath and waiting outside whilst she got it under control. But as time went on he knew it was going to happen when they didn't have the luxury of being behind their own four walls. They were at Pansy's a week after her birthday the first time it happened outside. Both Pansy and Theo panicked and tried to take her to St Mungos, it made Draco feel proud that he was good at dealing with it and Cassie was subsequently dunked into the lake they'd ice skated on.

"What if it happens while we're at hogwarts and I can't get to you" Draco pouted as his aunt entered the room having just gotten out another cold bath.

"I'll be fine, I know the basics of what I need and we can tell Pansy what you do to help too so she can copy you if it's necessary" cassie nodded.

"I just worry about you" he sighed.

"Draco I'm older than you I can handle my self" she lied earning a raised eyebrow from her nephew.

"Come on mum says dinners ready" he shook his head and dragged her out the door.

The four of them sat at the table eating whilst Lucius droned on and on about 'blood traitors who should not be working at the ministry'. Cassie and Draco both rolled their eyes in unison and let out quiet laughs too which Lucius thought would be a good idea to send a curse over the table at his son.

"You'll have more respect for your father boy" he boasted as he went back to eating his roast beef.

"LUCIUS!" Narcissa gave her husband a demeaning look and going to comfort Draco.

"What, a father needs to strike his child when they think they can grow up too be arrogant fools" he half laughed. "Don't act like your father was any better"

To this Cassie couldn't help herself and burst out laughing in a manic way.

"And just what are you laughing at girl" Lucius set his knife and fork down.

"Narcissa was the perfect child or are you forgetting that" she leant her chin on her hand and raised her brows at her brother in law.

"Would you stop it" Narcissa stood bringing Draco with her.

"It's the truth though" cassie shrugged.

"No father should bring harm to their child" she fumed.

"Mhm, sure thing sister your definitely not just saying that because it's your son getting hurt" she rolled her eyes.

Narcissa stood in front of her son like a shield with one hand on his shoulder.

"That's enough Cassiopeia!" Narcissa warned.

"Whatever I'm going to bed" cassie flung her chair back and walked out of the room.

She knew it was wrong to pick on her sister for not protecting her from their father and it was wrong to be jealous that Draco had his mothers undying affection that she could have had if she had not killed her own mother.

She lay in bed awake until she heard a quiet knock on the door belonging to Draco.

"Sorry for my outburst" she told him.

"Don't apologise" he smiled. "I just wanted to remind you that she's taking us to the park tomorrow and I'd rather have you both in good moods" he shrugged climbing onto her bed.

"She's my sister, we might argue but we still love each other. We'll be fine by morning I promise."

"Good" he said already half asleep.

"You staying here then I guess?" Cassie sank back into her pillow.

"I know you've been having trouble sleeping I can hear you pacing from my room now lie down and go too sleep. Your safe with me here"

"Thank you Draco"

———————————————————————

Narcissa thought it would be good for Draco and Cassiopeia to go and get the last of the summer sun before they were off to hogwarts in September so she'd packed them some snacks and they headed to the park. Cassie tried to keep up her angry persona but the second they got to the park it melted away.

Draco had convinced Cassie that climbing one of the biggest trees in the park would be a good idea. So before they knew it they were racing up the tree, leaving Narcissa down below in the shade.

"Will you two be careful, I don't want to be carrying you home in a pair of body bags." Narcissa called up the tree at them.

"Don't worry Cissy" Cassie shouted losing her grip on the branch she was holding and falling off her perch she held on to the branch for dear life.

"Your so clumsy Cass wait there I'll get you" Draco called as he climbed from quite a bit higher up.

"I can hardly go anywhere, for Salazar's sake just help me" she whined.

Just as Draco reached out to her he lost his own grip falling directly on top of her knocking them both to the floor with a crash and the sound of a branch snapping. No not a branch, Cassie looked to her left and blood was pouring from Draco's arm and a bone was sticking right out of his flesh. The young girl paled and let out a squeal of disgust.

"Draco, oh sweetie I told you to be careful" Narcissa rushed to her sons side and cradled his head as he cried. "It's okay it's a clean break I can fix it when we get home" she used her wand to put his arm in a sort of splint.

"Oh my merlin, was that bone" Cassie said with wide eyes.

"Shhh it's okay draco" the older witch ignored her sisters comment. "Cassie I have to apperate home with him so i can heal this quickly, our port key isn't due for another hour and a half will you be okay" Narcissa rushed.

"Oh uhm, yeah I suppose"

"Thank you, okay see you at home" then the familiar crack of apperation and she was alone again.

One thing Cassiopeia loved about her magic being the way it was now, was for the fact she could tell when she was about to have a breakdown. She sought the only thing she could think off that would calm her, she stormed straight to the lake that was just a bit away from where she was climbing trees with her nephew. Water. Water was the thing that grounded her.

Without a second thought she kicked of her sandals and lay down behind some bushes on the bank of the lake, putting her Legs into the cool water. Her magic was already bubbling away behind her stomach and there was nothing she could do to stop the tears from coming as they shot down her face leaving salty streaks.

"I can't deal with this anymore" she shouted into her hands to muffle the cries.

The water was giving Cassie's magic a place to focus as the water rippled angrily probably disturbing fish, it took her a full 25 minutes to calm herself enough to settle and take her legs out of the water but the tears still flowed. Suddenly her trance was broken as someone's sweet sounding voice cut in.

"I could see you from across the lake and I was just wondering if you were okay?" A small boy with a tuff of dark fluffy hair said as he made his way through the bushes.

"For merlins sake people can see me" Cassie cried.

"I only noticed because of the magic in the water don't worry no one can see you" the boy smiled and sat down next to her.

"Sorry I- I hate it when people see me like this... I'm not weak" she said trying to compose herself.

"I don't think your weak. My gran says it's brave to show your emotions. Do you want to talk about what made you upset, if not I can just keep you company if you'd like" he had a polite manner that oozed out of him that felt like a sort of safety measure.

"I don't even know you, oh fuck it I probably won't see you again..." she said in between sniffles. "Do you ever just think that maybe sometimes your just not enough" she paused.

The boy let out a choked sigh, he nodded as he gestured for her to carry on.

"I see people around me all the time who are so deeply loved, I mean I know I have people who love me but I just want someone to love me like a mother and father are supposed to, I just want to be cared for like a child for once" she sighed as she cried into this strange little boys shoulder baring her heart out.

"Now that I get, no parents then?" He said sounding quite used to it.

She shook her head no, "I killed my mum when I was born, dad hated me until the day he died, that was my fault too. What about you" she wiped her nose and looked up at the boy.

"Not dead, they don't know who I am tho, they both ended up permanent residents of st Mungo's before I could actually form memories. I mean at least I can still see them but they're like shells now" he shrugged and leaned out his hand to pat Cassiopeia's.

"I think that's even worse" she said bluntly.

"Well I think now that that's out the way you should probably know my name" he laughed.

"Yeah that would be nice" she looked at him properly for the first time taking in his slightly pink cheeks and the litter of freckles across the bridge of his nose.

"I'm Neville, it's lovely to meet you" he gave a shy smile and held out his hand.

"It's lovely to meet you too Neville I'm Cassiopeia" she took his hand gently.

"Could I call you Cass that sounds too hard for me to pronounce?" He had a confused look on his face.

"Of course, only if I can call you Nev. I can pronounce Neville but I just want to even the field." She smiled.

"My gran give me a few galleons to get out of her hair while she's shopping do you want to go and get some ice cream?" He nervously asked.

"I have an hour to kill before my portkeys ready so I'd love to get an ice cream with you" Cassie smiled.

As Cassie went to get up she slipped on some wet mud and took Neville down with her and they both ended up in a pile of rocks. Cassie looked to her hand and noticed blood leaking out of a cut right across her palm.

"Merlins beard this day just keeps on giving" she threw her head back with a sadistic laugh.

"Snap" Neville laughed from next to her holding up his own blood covered hand with an identical slice on his palm.

"We may as well go and get matching tattoos at this rate" she giggled.

"Well now we're practically sharing blood here" he studied both of her hands.

Like they both came to an agreement in their heads they locked eyes and shook hands again letting the blood join. Once they separated they both burst out laughing.

"Do you think the ice cream shop will have a first aid kit I'd hate for gran to lock me up for the rest of my life for being reckless" Neville spoke as they walked towards the small setting of shops near the park's entrance.

"Oh let me try something" Cassie practically jumped grabbing ahold of his hand.

She held both of their hands together and closed her eyes, Neville eyed her curiously but instinctively trusted her. Cassie imagined it in her head and seen the two cuts sewing shut in her head and she muttered a spell that she'd heard Narcissa use a million times. Neville almost stepped back in surprise as he felt warmth tingling the cut.

"Let me see" she called as she opened her eyes.

He held out his hand and she did the same revealing a silvery scar that was quite jagged.

"What the..." Neville went to speak.

"It's not as neat as I'd hoped but it's the best I can do" she smiled.

"Did you just actually do that. Wait how old are you?" He said in shock.

"I'm 11 how old are you" she asked confused.

"I just turned 11 a few weeks ago" he smiled then turned back to her, "how did you do that were not supposed to use magic yet."

"The ministry tried to help me to contain my magic it didn't go well so now I have to wear this cuff" she showed him the thick bracelet around her wrist, "it's best for me to just get it out of my system but this helps it not go out of control" she shrugged.

"Good enough for me, I'm getting pistachio what flavour do you want?" Neville asked forgetting the conversation as they reached the ice cream shop.

"It's like you read my mind, pistachio is my favourite" she beamed.

They both enjoyed there pistachio cones and talked about the upcoming September as they figured out they would both be attending hogwarts at the same time, immediately Cassie took Neville's address and promised to write to him as soon as she had returned home so they could arrange to meet up before they boarded the train. Eventually Neville walked Cassie back to her portkey spot and Neville was pleasantly surprised when she wrapped her arms around the boy and said thank you before disappearing before him.