THE CLOCK IS TICKING

☆☆☆

It was dark, and quiet as Cassiopeia's eyes fluttered open. She looked around, blinking to clear her vision. She touched her chest, remembering what had happened to her a few hours ago. It was late, and the moon shined into the hospital wing.

Madam Pomphrey had already shut the curtains around her bed, and all she could see is the moon outside the large windows. Cassiopeia lets out a heavy sigh, as she propped up with her elbows as she tried to sit up. She remembered what had happened earlier, it all just happend so quickly.

Did she really save her stupid brother from being harmed? And did Harry really throw that spell to her brother? Was it intentional?

"Cass," said a voice, Cassiopeia frowned, turning her head to see Draco, his face paler than usual. She didn't reply, Cassiopeia looked away and laid back on the bed. "I just came to see if you were okay---"

"I'm fine, I'm alive, just leave," she replied, biting the insides of her cheek.

Draco frowned and he scoffed, he was about to open his mouth to retort, but Cassiopeia held her hand up to stop him from continuing to speak.

"It was mere instinct," she replied, narrowing her blue eyes at him. Cassiopeia knew that well, she wouldn't save Draco in all honesty if she knew that was the outcome of the spell, after what he had said to her, is he still worth saving?

"I'll continue to fix the cabinet," he said, ignoring her words. It seemed like he came just to inform her. "I've sent a letter to Borgin."

"Keep Crabbe on a look out," said Cassiopeia, glancing at him. "We don’t want anyone else following us. Do you understand?"

"You don't have the right to tell me what to do," said Draco, narrowing his eyes at Cassiopeia. She rolled her eyes before Draco turned away, his steps fading as she heard the large doors of the Hospital Wing shut behind him.

Cassiopeia lets out a heavier sigh, she looked up at the ceiling, still feeling a pang of pain on her chest. Maybe from the pain of what happened, or the pain of remembering what she still needed to do.

Tomorrow is the final match of the Gryffindors against Ravenclaw, and if the Gryffindors had a high chance of winning the Quidditch Cup. Speaking of Quidditch, she hadn't seen Harry after the incident, but she didn't want to for some reason. It was a whole shock.

Obviously Harry had mention about this to her, the spell from that Half-Blood Prince who previously owned the advance potion making book of Harry's. She knew that he probably got into some trouble again.

Morning came, and the birds have chripped loudly. Cassiopeia woke up to Madam Pomphrey waving her wand at Cassiopeia.

"If Professor Snape hadn't found you in time," said Madam Pomphrey, "You would not be here right now, my dear."

Cassiopeia frowned and she sat up as Madam Pomphrey set a tray of food next to her. She smiled at Cassiopeia before walking back to her office, shutting the door behind her. Cassiopeia was about to take a bite when she heard footsteps, fast ones, like in a hurry.

"Cassiopeia---" said a familiar voice, Cassiopeia lifted a brow and saw Hermione, her bushy hair shining as the morning sun entered the room. "Hey!"

"Hermione," said Cassiopeia, smiling gently as she placed her pancake down on the plate. "Hey..."

"How are you?" asked the girl, sitting down on the vacant bed next to Cassiopeia. "I heard what happened."

"I'm fine," said Cassiopeia, smiling a bit as she glanced at Hermione's face. "How's...umm, Harry?"

"He hasn't spoken," said Hermione, "Well...he had...but you know, he is stunned. Ron said he hadn't slept."

Cassiopeia bit her lip and she lets out a breath, "served him right." Obviously not meaning it wrong. She still had a grudge that Harry didn't come to see her after what spell he threw.

"He got detention with Snape," said Hermione, pursing her lips. "Until the end of term."

She nodded her head, smirking a bit. "Is it bad?" She asked.

"Yes," winced Hermione, she seemed to be confused as to why Cassiopeia didn't seem to be worried.

"Serves him right for following that stupid book," said Cassiopeia, finishing hee pancake, she put butter on the other pancake before she looked at Hermione.

"Serves me right?" said a voice, Harry lifted a brow as he entered. Cassiopeia not hearing him, Ron pulled back the curtains and he looked at Cassiopeia with a small smile.

"You got me here," said Cassiopeia, "stupid enough to follow my brother into that bathroom."

Harry looked guilty, and he looked down at the floor. Hermione and Ron took it as a sign to stand up and walk away, leaving the two alone. He cleared his throat, and he opened his mouth to say something.

"Why on earth would you do something like that?" asked Cassiopeia, her voice not furious at all, but confused. She watched as Harry sat down, his green eyes avoiding hers.

"I didn't know," said Harry, looking up at Cassiopeia. "I'm sorry, Cass, I really---"

"You had suspicions about my brother," said Cassiopeia, lifting a brow, her eyes a bit stern as she didn't want any of their secret to spill out. The last thing Cassiopeia wanted was for Harry to find out. "You didn't ask me? Me? His sister?"

Harry remained silent, his eyes looking down on the ground as he heard Cassiopeia's voice. She lets out a heavy breath, and she shook her head.

"Are you afraid of him being a death eater?" asked Cassiopeia, lifting her eyebrows. "Harry---"

"I just want to...to corner him. Cassiopeia, I know something is going on with Draco," he said, looking at her with vulnerable eyes. "He has sent Crabbe and Goyle to keep a lookout, what would that mean?"

Cassiopeia's heart seemed to have sunk when she heard Harry say that. She ignored it, shaking her head. Harry continued.

"You were there when you heard his conversation with Snape," said Harry, telling everything now. "I just don't want harm done."

"So you think Draco would be the right option to be given a task?" She asked, frowning at Harry. "Harry, I'd know the most. I'd know. If Draco were to be given a task, then I do not understand why I'm not."

Harry remained silent as he let her words sink in, she sighed and she took his hand. "Look, I just need you to drop it, Harry."

Harry intertwined his fingers with hers, before he sighed. "I just..."

"Or harm on other people would come," she said, "Just like what happened to me."

"I didn't know about what the spell could do," he said, putting a strand of Cassiopeia's hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you..."

"I understand," she replied, nodding her head. "You getting detention with Snape until the end of term is enough for me." She smirked playfully. Although she looked pale, like she hadn't slept in weeks (which she hadn't) her eyes seemed to brighten up when she is with Harry.

"Looks like Gryffindor's taking the fourth place....pity," she smirked, teasing Harry, as he stood up to place a soft kiss on her head. He rolled his eyes, and he smiled at her.

"I trust my team," he said.

Harry was right, Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup without Harry playing, since he had detention with Snape. He had visited Cassiopeia a few times, along with Hermione and Ron.

It was Sunday evening, Cassiopeia was finally discharged from the hospital wing, and she looked around the seventh floor before entering the room of requirements. The aftermath of the Sectumsempra spell left her scars on her chest. She lets out a heavy breath, her eyes glancing at the large amount of books that towered.

There were winged catapults and Fanged Frisbees, some still with enough life in them to hover half-heartedly over the mountains of other forbidden items. She hurried forward into the many alleyways of many objects, and she finally reached the Vanishing Cabinet.

Draco was already there, his hands on his hips as he looked at the cabinet. She placed her bag down, and she took the letter that was placed on the table.

Borgin had sent the letter earlier, and it seemed to her that it'll take just one more spell in order to finish it. And the cabinet would work.

"When?" asked Draco, not bothering to look back at his sister. Cassiopeia lifted a brow before she placed the letter down, her eyes gazing at the cabinet.

"We'll give it a go tonight, and we'll send the letter to Borgin as soon as possible." She said, looking at Draco. "After that, I'll put the dark mark up the sky in order to corner Dumbledore in the Astronomy Tower."

Cassiopeia had that plan in her head for a while now, and as she turned away, she grabbed onto a nearby chair, grunting as she felt her head become light and her whole body weaken.

She had a vision. A bad one.

"Kill him..." the voice of Bellatrix hissed in her right ear. Cassiopeia swallowed a lump on her throat as she held her wand in her shaking hand, pointing it towards her Headmaster.

"Cassiopeia...please..." said Dumbledore.

Cassiopeia lets out a grunt, holding onto her head as her left hand held onto the chair. She shook her head.

The clock is ticking, and she knew that day is coming closer.

a/n:
oh my gawd. hello! new chapter later i promise 😘