THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

☆☆☆

Cassiopeia lets out a breath as she stared at her watch, she darted out of the Common Room, back towards the seventh floor. But before she could reach the stairs, Cassiopeia met Harry, who looked like he was in a hurry as well.

"Harry?" She asked, her voice soft as she bumped into him. "Hey...where are you going?"

Harry looked into her eyes, "Cassiopeia. I need you to listen to be very carefully," said Harry, his breath heavy.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her eyebrows creasing as she looked at Harry. She placed her hand on his cheek, and she made him look into her eyes.

"I'm fine," said Harry shortly. "I haven't got much time, Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak."

Cassiopeia frowned and she watched as he took her hands in his, she was about to open her mouth to question, but Harry stopped her. "Listen..."

Quickly, Harry told him where he was going, and why. He did not pause for Cassiopeia's reply, and questions. "...so you see what this means?" Harru finished at a gallop 

"Absolutely not---" said Cassiopeia as Harry pulled her up the stairs to the Gryffindor Common Room. Hermione and Ron was there too, looking worried. Harry darted up to his room, grabbed the Marauders Map, and then a pair of balled up socks.

"Harry?" asked Hermione. Cassiopeia looked at Harry, and then at the two before she shook her head, her head spinning.

"Cassiopeia will explain," said Harry, he looked up at her. "Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so Draco's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to. No listen to me!"

Harry hissed angrily, as Cassiopeia showed every sign of interrupting. "I know it was Draco celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here---" he shoved the Marauders Map into Cassiopeia's hand. "You've got to watch your brother. And Snape, too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the DA."

Harry looked at Cassiopeia his eyes filled with panic, she shook her head before she opened her mouth again only to be interrupted by Harry.

"Hermione, those contact Galleons will still work, right? Dumbledore said he put extra precaution in the school, but if Snape's involved, he'll know what Dumbledore’s protection is, and how to avoid it..." Harry seemed so panicked that Cassiopeia shook her head, "he won't be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?"

"Harry---" Cassiopeia began.

"I haven't got time to argue," said Harry curtly. "Take this as well."

Harry thrusted the socks into Ron's hands. "Thanks..." said Ron. "Er--why do I need socks?"

"You need what's wrapped in them, its the Felix Felicis. Share it with yourselves," said Harry. "I'd better go, Dumbledore’s waiting---"

"No!" said Hermione, as Ron unwrapped the tiny little bottle of golden potion, looking awestruck. "We don't want it, you take it, who knows what you're going to be facing?"

"I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore," said Harry. "I want to know you are are OK....don't look at me like that, Hermione, I'll see you later..."

And he was off, Cassiopeia handed the map to Hermione who shouted for Cassiopeia. She pulled Harry's arm as he went up the stairs, she shook her head.

"Harry," she breathed. "I need you to listen to me..."

"I haven't got time, love, I've---" said Harry, looking back at the top of the stairs. Cassiopeia pulled his arm tighter.

"Everything that happens...It-it's all for you, do you understand?"
she whispered, looking into his emerald eyes. She knew what will happen tonight, and she wanted Harry to be safe the most. "I need you to promise me,"

Harry frowned, confused by her words. She swallowed hard, and she pulled him down a stair and she stared into his eyes. She placed a hand on his cheek, "Promise me that no matter happens you'll forgive me..."

"What?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing. "What are you---"

"Just promise me, Harry!" She said, looking into his eyes.

"I promise," he said, confused. Cassiopeia nodded her head and as Harry walked up the stairs, she grabbed his arm again, placing a long, vulnerable kiss on his lips.

"Be careful," she whispered after parting, and Harry smiled before he walked up the stairs, darting away into the halls. She knew this was the moment, she knew that it's only a matter of time that Dumbledore returns.

Cassiopeia felt a hand on her shoulder, Hermione was there, looking worried. She looked at Cassiopeia, "We need you to tell us what happened."

☆☆☆

Her thoughts were spiraling out of control, and the weight of what was about to happen pressed down on her like a physical burden. She needed the solace of the Room of Requirement, the one place where she could find a moment of peace in the chaos.

She made her way through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The castle felt different tonight, as if it sensed the impending storm. Every shadow seemed to hold a secret, every corner a potential threat. Cassiopeia's heart pounded in her chest as she reached the seventh floor and paced in front of the blank stretch of wall three times.

The door to the Room of Requirement appeared, and she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Cassiopeia entered the Room of Requirements after a few moments, she held the enchanted coin in her hand. One of which was connected to Madam Rosmerta. She frowned, and she closed the door behind her.

"Where on earth have you been?" Draco asked, his face sneering at her as he spoke.

"Dumbledore had left a few minutes ago," said Cassiopeia, holding the coin in her hand. She gave it to Draco, before she looked at the cabinet and then at him. "In an hour or two, they'll probably be back."

Cassiopeia sank into one of the chairs, burying her face in her hands. Her mind raced with the events of the past few days—the vision, the letter to Bellatrix, the confrontation between Snape and Dumbledore. She felt like she was on the edge of a precipice, about to fall into the unknown.

She couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest. They were waiting for Dumbledore to return, the final piece in their plan. According to Madam Rosmerta's enchanted coin, the headmaster had left the castle, and they had to wait until he came back.

Cassiopeia let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in the chair and staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted to Harry, his smile, his laugh, the way he looked at her with such trust and love. The guilt gnawed at her, knowing that she was keeping so much from him. But she had to—she had to protect him, even if it meant carrying this burden alone.

As the hours ticked by, the room grew colder, and the silence became almost unbearable. Cassiopeia's mind wandered to the past, to the moment she had been expelled from Beauxbatons and sent to Hogwarts with a mission to spy on Harry. She remembered the letter from her father, the sense of duty that had been instilled in her from a young age. But now, everything felt different. Her loyalties were divided, her heart torn between her family and the boy she loved.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their actions pressing down on them. Cassiopeia's mind wandered back to the vision she had seen, the image of Harry facing Voldemort, of herself torturing someone. She knew that tonight would change everything, that their actions would have far-reaching consequences.

"Draco," she said softly, breaking the silence. "Do you ever wonder if we're doing the right thing?"

Draco's expression hardened, but he didn't reply. It had been at least an hour now, a few more minutes before the clock strikes twelve. Cassiopeia swallowed hard, and she stood up.

She drew out her wand, and she faced Draco with determination in her eyes. "Make sure they enter, I will go put up the dark mark."

Draco remained silent, as much as putting the dark mark up on the sky was a good impression, he didn't want to risk it at school. He watched as Cassiopeia stormed out the room, her eyes determined and almost emotionless.

As she made her way through the castle, Cassiopeia felt a surge of determination. She had made her choice, and she would see it through. Whatever happened tonight, she would protect those she loved, even if it meant sacrificing everything.

She reached the entrance to the Astronomy Tower, the cold night air biting at her skin. Cassiopeia's heart raced as they climbed the stairs, her mind filled with a mix of fear and resolve. The fate of Hogwarts rested on her shoulders, and there was no turning back now.

Cassiopeia took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. The darkness was closing in, but she would face it with courage and determination. For Harry, for her friends, and for herself.

She lifted her wand up at the sky, her hands shaking slightly. "Morsmordre!" She yelled. Instantly, a large thunderstorm sounded and she blinked for a moment to see the skull open its mouth to reveal a serpent slithering out of it.

The night was far from over, and the storm was just beginning.