TASTE OF POISON

☆☆☆

As the echoes of Christmas break faded away, Hogwarts buzzed with the energy of returning students. Among them were Harry, Ron, and Hermione, their faces drawn with weariness and sorrow, their hearts heavy with the weight of recent tragedy.

Cassiopeia's heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of Harry, his familiar form approaching her beneath the leafless branches of a winter-bare tree. Despite the somberness of their surroundings, a sense of warmth filled her as he drew near, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of relief and longing.

"Harry," Cassiopeia whispered, her voice barely above a breath as she reached out to him.

Harry's arms enveloped her in a gentle embrace, his touch a balm to her weary soul. "Cass," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so glad to see you."

They sat together beneath the tree, the cool night air wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Harry's words spilled forth in a torrent of grief and anger as he recounted the attack on the Burrow, the flames that had consumed the Weasley family home, and the senseless loss that had left them all reeling.

Cassiopeia listened in stunned silence, her heart breaking with each word that fell from Harry's lips. The thought of the Weasley family's suffering filled her with a deep sense of sorrow, yet she found solace in the knowledge that they were together, united in their grief and their determination to fight against the darkness that threatened to consume them.

"You're lucky no one was killed," she said, furrowing her eyebrows as she looked at Harry. "Bold move trying to go after Bellatrix."

Harry pursed his lips, staring into the black lake. "I want her dead." He said, his voice low.

Cassiopeia looked at him silently, before she took his hand. It felt great to have Harry again, after weeks of him not being there. He was after all, the only reason why she is still here.

She looked at him, caressing his hand as she sighed. "You have to realize who you are, Harry."

"I know who I am, Cassiopeia, alright?" He said sharply, but he sighed afterwards, not meaning for that tone.

"Tell me what Arthur Weasley said," she said, frowning. 

"If Dumbledore’s traveling places, it’s news to the Ministry," he explained. "Dobby tells me that Draco's been up to something, have you noticed?"

Cassiopeia pursed her lips, lying. "I have. Though, I don't care enough to wonder."

Cassiopeia watched as Harry lets out a breath. "He looks ill, don't you think?"

"Who could tell the difference?" She asked, biting the insides of her cheeks. She knew damn well she too, looked as ill as Draco...but she knew Harry wouldn't quite notice that.

She looked at Harry, and she lets out a small breath. "I missed you, you know." Cassiopeia tried changing the subject.

In the quiet moments that followed, Cassiopeia found herself lost in the depths of Harry's gaze, her fears and doubts melting away in the warmth of his presence.

"You act as though I was gone for years," he laughed, smiling as he looked at her.

Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, and she scoffed. She feigned a hurt look, putting her hand on her chest. "Oh dear! I am afraid! I lost you! You were gone for years and I missed you so ever dearly, Mr Potter!"

She rolled her eyes, smacking his shoulder playfully as she shook her head. "Don't play games with me, Potter."

Harry laughed, and he rolled his eyes at comment. He massaged the smack, and he shook his head.

"Whatever, Cass," he said.

She laughed, "Say you miss me too, Potter. Don't leave me hanging."

"And if I don't?" He challenged.

"Then you shall face the wrath of Cassiopeia Malfoy," she replied, giggling.

He laughed, before taking her hand. "Alright. Alright. I miss you."

"Say it properly. With emotions."

"Oh! I miss you, my sweet love!" He said, in a high pitched voice. Cassiopeia rolled her eyes and she shrugged.

"Good enough," she said, smirking.

"Oh! How I long for a kiss, your sweet, sweet lips on mine---" he said, before he laughed, leaning in and their nose were touching. Harry pushed her hair behind her ear, and he smiled at her.

"A kiss?" She asked, glancing at his lips. "Really?"

"Yes," replied Harry. He took her hand, pulling her closer, his lips close.

"You've got quite the nerve, Harry." She smirked, she looked at his lips before she kissed him fully.

In that fleeting moment of peace, Cassiopeia found hope amidst the darkness, a beacon to guide them through the trials that lay ahead.

°°°

Cassiopeia approached Snape's office with a mixture of trepidation and amusement, knowing all too well the icy reception that awaited her. Snape, the ever enigmatic potions master, exuded an aura of disdain that seemed to chill the air around him, yet Cassiopeia couldn't resist the opportunity to engage in their usual game of verbal sparring.

Knocking firmly on the door, Cassiopeia braced herself for Snape's inevitable scowl as the door swung open, revealing the dimly lit confines of his office. She stepped inside, her gaze meeting Snape's with a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes.

"Professor," Cassiopeia greeted with mock formality, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "I trust you're not too busy brewing potions to entertain a visitor? Or maybe plotting anything?"

Snape's lip curled into a faint sneer, his dark eyes flashing with thinly veiled annoyance. "Miss Malfoy," he replied curtly, his tone dripping with disdain. "To what do I owe the displeasure of your company?"

Ignoring Snape's frosty demeanor, Cassiopeia launched into her inquiry with practiced ease. "I came to ask about Dumbledore," she began, her voice tinged with genuine concern. "Has he returned from his latest sojourn, or is he off on another mysterious adventure?"

Snape's expression darkened at the mention of Dumbledore, his jaw tightening with frustration. "The headmaster is...indisposed," he muttered cryptically, his gaze flickering towards the door as if willing Cassiopeia to leave.

But Cassiopeia was undeterred, her wit as sharp as ever as she pressed on. "Ah, the life of a headmaster," she quipped, her tone light but tinged with sarcasm. "Always off on some secret mission, leaving us here to...pick up on his dirt."

Snape's features remained impassive, his steely gaze fixed on Cassiopeia with unwavering intensity. "And yet, Hogwarts continues to function," he remarked coolly, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness. "Despite the headmaster's frequent absences."

Their conversation shifted to more serious matters, and Snape's demeanor softened slightly as he broached the topic of the Vanishing Cabinet. "How is your progress with the cabinet, Malfoy?" he inquired, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.

Cassiopeia's eyes sparkled with mischief as she replied, "Oh, you know me, Professor. Always one step ahead of the game." She flashed him a coy smile, knowing full well the irritation her teasing would elicit.

Snape's expression remained stoic, but Cassiopeia could detect a flicker of annoyance in his dark eyes. "I expect nothing less from a Malfoy," he muttered, his tone grudgingly acknowledging her cleverness.

°°°

That was it, she knew how troubled she was after seeing Ron in the Hospital Wing. She silently stood next to Harry, watching as Professor McGonagall, Snape, the Headmaster, and Slughorn stood.

"Quick thinking on your part, Harry. Using a Bezoar," said Dumbledore. Cassiopeia glanced at him and then at Snape. "Must be very proud of your student, eh, Horace?"

Slughorn still seemed to be in shock. "Hm? Oh. Yes...very proud."

"I think we all agree that Mr. Potter’s actions were heroic," said McGonagall. "The  question is: Why were they
necessary."

Cassiopeia noticed Snape's glance, and she bit the insides of her cheek before she looked at Ron, who groggily moved. Harry next to her, in worry.

"Why indeed," voiced Dumbledore. He takes the half-empty bottle of mead, still bearing a bit of giftwrap. "This appears to be a gift, Horace. You don’t by chance remember who gave you this bottle, do you -- which by the way possesses
remarkably subtle hints of  licorice and cherry when not polluted with poison."

"Actually I had intended to give it as a gift myself," said Slughorn, who was quite nervous.

"To whim might I ask?" asked Dumbledore, curiously.

Cassiopeia knew the answer to that.

"You, Headmaster," said Slughorn. Cassiopeia felt the air become heavy, and everyone's attention moved to the doors when Lavender Brown entered, looking all worried. Cassiopeia pursed her lips.

Just as Lavender went on about to Ron's weak state, Cassiopeia could feel the burning look of Snape. She looked at him, and watched as the Professor nodded his head towards the door.

She squeezed Harry's hand before walking out with Snape, and they walked until they reached his office. The entire time, Snape silent, she knew he was furious.

When the door shut, Cassiopeia was going to open her mouth to say something.

"I---" she started, but was cut off.

"What an idiotic move, Malfoy," growled Snape, moving in and sneering at her. She rolled her blue eyes, scoffing.

"It was---" she started again, but was interrupted once more.

"Do you have any idea what that mead could have cost?" He asked, furious. "A life of your own friend! Or someone for that matter!"

He was almost yelling, but Cassiopeia stood there, with narrowed eyes.

"As if it were me who did all that!" She scoffed, she took the mead from Snape's hands sniffing it and grimacing. "It was Draco. He planned it, and did it all by himself.

"And you let him?!"

"We don't speak," she narrowed her eyes. "We don't converse unless necessary."

He remained quiet, and he looked at her with narrowed eyes...one very dangerous. "Need I remind you, Malfoy, that this---"

"This is a dangerous task---yes you have, Snape." She said, scowling. "I don't need reminders."

Cassiopeia looked at him, before she walked out of his office, now she was furious at Draco. For almost ruining her plans, and almost killing Ron in the process. Its getting terrible. Cassiopeia felt like she was going to burst in any minute.