DRACO'S CONFRONTATION

°°°

"I'd say, Harry," Cassiopeia said, sitting down next to him in the library. "It's quite surprising that you're here in the library at this time of night."

Harry shot up from his position, not expecting Cassiopeia. "What're you doing here?"

"To study, I've been behind on my defence against the dark arts," she lets out a sigh.

"Would you like my help?" He asked.

Cassiopeia lifted a brow, "you? Help me?"

"For your information, Malfoy, I did amazing in my OWLS." He boasted.

"So did I, Potter." She said, flipping open her book. Harry watched as she took out her quill and ink. Then his eyes travelled to her face, it was looking quite sunken. Eyebags under her eyes were dark, her skin paler than usual, and her hair a bit messier.

"Are you okay, Cass?" He asked, worridly.

Cassiopeia looked at him, frowning. "Yeah, why?"

"You look a bit sick," he pursed his lips.

"Oh yeah, I can never sleep much," she answered, truthfully.

"Why's that?"

"Nightmares," answered Cassiopeia. She flipped through the pages of her defence against the dark arts book as Harry opened a small bar of chocolate that he took from his bag.

"Would you like some?" He asked, handing her the chocolate. The boy didn't know what else to say, he remembered what happened during his fifth year, how all those nightmares about Voldemort would make him not want to go back to sleep.

"Put that away before you get killed by---"

"What are you doing, boy?!" came the yell of Madam Pince. Cassiopeia grimaced. "Why are you eating in the library?! Out! Get out! Both of you!"

Harry winced, stood up and grabbed his books, Cassiopeia groaned, and did the same. She quickly placed her ink and quill back inside her bag before rushing out of the library.

As the library door closed, Cassiopeia sent Harry a glare. "Thanks a lot, Harry! I haven't written a single letter on my essay!"

"I'm sorry!" He bit his lip, "I forgot!"

Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, "well then, let's get back to our dorms."

"Yeah, I'll walk you to yours," he said. "It's the least I could do."

Cassiopeia shook her head, and they both chatted their way down to the dungeons. They passed by some Aurors who guarded the doors of the Great Hall, and the outsides of the castle which was all covered with snow.

"Everything feels so much darker these days," Cassiopeia said, shivering from the cold air.

"Voldemort's back," stated Harry. "And everything's just getting started."

"Yeah," nodded Cassiopeia as pursed her lips.

When they both reached the dungeons, they stopped in front of the gargoyle. Cassiopeia turned towards the boy.

"Well then," she started, "Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight, Cass. Get some sleep, you really need it." He said.

"After I do my bloody essay," she lets out an annoyed sigh before smiling at him. She got closer to him, placed her hand on his cheek. "I like it when you're cold. Your cheeks are red."

Harry rolled his eyes, and Cassiopeia chuckled. She stared at his green eyes before placing her lips on his. Harry kissed her back, pushing her closer to him.

Cassiopeia parted after a few seconds, "nuh uh, Potter. Goodnight. I love you."

Harry chuckled, "whatever. Goodnight, I love you too."

As they waved goodbye, Cassiopeia entered her common room after saying the password. Harry walked away, his footsteps slowly disappearing.

From the corner, a boy with platinum blonde hair stood with narrowed eyes and a scowl etched upon his face. Draco Malfoy had just seen them.

°°°

Cassiopeia's fork played with the peas on her plate. She didn't have any appetite at all.

The cheering next to her was loud. It was the Slytherin Quidditch Team, laughing as they cheer each other on. Cassiopeia looked up from her plate, seeing Draco who also looked like he hasn't slept in decades.

Her eyes averted from Draco to the Gryffindor table. Harry wore his gryffindor quidditch sweater along with Ron. Some Slytherins making fun of the redhead as well.

"What are you going to do today?" asked Draco, his voice low. He didn't look at her.

"I'm going to fix it, and you'll make up a plan for...you know." She placed her fork down on the plate, not even taking a bite. Cassiopeia pushed her plate away, biting the insides of her cheek.

Draco did not answer her, he just merely nodded taking a bite out of his food. Harry stood up from his chair, Cassiopeia followed.

As Harry walked away, Cassiopeia called out for him.

"Harry!"

He turned around, smiling. "Hey, Cass...are you okay? Have you slept at all?"

"I haven't slept, I was doing my essay last night." She answered, quickly changing the subject. "Listen, I won't be able to come to your match today."

"It's alright," said Harry. "Detention with Snape?"

"I would skip it if I can." She groaned, "he's making me clean his office without magic!"

Harry felt quite disappointed, it was his first match of the year! And Cassiopeia couldn't watch. He shrugged it off, knowing that if she did have a chance, she would. He knew she would.

And Cassiopeia didn't know where that lie came from.

"It's all right, love." He smiled. Cassiopeia gave him an apologetic smile in return.

"Well then, good luck with your match," she kissed his cheek. "I think you'll win this time...unfortunately."

"Excuse me?" He questioned, "unfortunately?"

"You're playing against my house, Potter," she answered. "but I think I know we'll still lose...I mean, the Gryffindors have you as their captain!"

"What're you doing?" He lifted a brow.

"Cheering for my boyfriend since I can't go to your match!" Cassiopeia smirked. "Good luck!"

"Thank you," Harry paused, before giving the girl a look of pity. "You too."

"Dear god, you know I'll need that a lot more," she groaned. "Very well, you should get going. I love you!"

Cassiopeia rushed away, Harry chuckling as he walked back to Ron, who seemed to be in deep thought.

Cassiopeia lets out a small breath before walking up to the seventh floor. She knew nobody would be here right now It's the perfect time. She really felt bad for lying about not being able to attend Harry's match, but this was more important right now.

As Cassiopeia was about to turn the corner, she jumped. The girl lets out a small squeal. She clutched her chest, she lets out a sigh of relief when she realised who it was.

Dobby the House Elf stood in front of her, smiling widely.

"Hello Miss Malfoy!" He greeted, "Dobby didn't mean to scare you!"

"It's okay, Dobby," she shook her head. "What are you doing here?"

"Dobby works at the kitchens!" He answered, "have I never told you, Miss?"

"What! No!" She chuckled, "You've never. How's everything?"

"Good, Miss! Dobby wanted to tell Miss something!" He smiled, but his long fingers were fidgeting around.

"Yes?"

"Dobby thinks something is wrong with Draco Malfoy, Miss! He is odd, very odd." He gulped.

Cassiopeia frowned, "odd? What do you mean?"

"Mister Harry Potter had asked Dobby to keep an eye out for Draco Malfoy! He thinks something is going on with him." Dobby shrugged, "Dobby just wanted to inform you too, Miss."

"Wait, Dobby, what do you mean by odd?" She asked, "what is Draco doing?"

"Dobby doesn't know, Miss! Draco Malfoy cries a lot in bathrooms, Miss. He talks to the ghost of Myrtle, says he is tired!" He answered, "but Dobby noticed he's been really quiet. Never sleeping. It is odd, isn't it Miss?"

"When did Harry ask you to spy on him?" She questioned, biting her tongue.

"Only a few days ago, Miss Malfoy!" He answered.

Cassiopeia nodded. So, Dobby's keeping an eye on Draco which meant everything is very hard to hide.

"Dobby, listen to me," she bent down to Dobby's level, the elf nodded. "Whatever you do, do not enter the room of requirements, no matter what happens, okay? I heard Draco's doing really dangerous things there for elves, I'll investigate, and I will tell you whatever happens if I see something. Okay?"

"Are you sure, Miss? Dobby doesn't want Miss Malfoy to get hurt," he looked at her worridly.

"Yes, positive. Don't worry about me, Dobby. Just please keep that promise?" She held out her hand for Dobby to shake. "A promise for a friend."

"Yes, Miss Malfoy!" He smiled.

It was wrong lying to Dobby like this. It was wrong to lie to everyone. But if she could get out of this situation, she would do anything. In the end, if any one of them finds out they'll all turn against her. Its the consequence. Thats why she doesn't have any more choice.

When Dobby said goodbye, Cassiopeia quickly ran up to the room of requirements. She couldn't risk going anywhere where Draco is now. Dobby would see.

Evening came. Lots of books laid open on the floor of the room of requirements, Cassiopeia, who had her wand on her hand. She kept placing things in it, opening and closing. But they would end up either cut in half, or broken. The other half of it might be in the other cabinet at Borgin and Burkes.

She closed the book that was on the table before placing her wand inside her pocket. The candle she lit has already melted, and wax was on the table. Cassiopeia shivered, and she finally felt hunger after a few hours of trying to fix the cabinet.

Just then, a large bang of the large doors were heard. Cassiopeia jumped, and her hand went to her wand. She waited for a moment, listening to the footsteps. But she lets out a small breath when she noticed that it was Draco's.

"It's about time." said Cassiopeia, rolling her eyes as she sat down on the chair. Draco narrowed his eyes.

"I thought you'd be celebrating with the Gryffindors," said Draco, his voice low. He avoided eye contact as he placed some books down the table.

Cassiopeia didn't answer, "where have you been all this time?" She changed the subject.

"None of your business." He snapped.

Cassiopeia narrowed her eyes at him, before standing up and grabbing a book from the floor.

"You've probably already told him, have you Cassiopeia?" said Draco.

Frowning, Cassiopeia placed the book back on the table. "What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, sister." He started, he faced Cassiopeia. "I saw you and Potter last night."

"You've got a problem with that?" asked Cassiopeia, looking at him with a lifted brow.

"Yes!" He scowled, "when father---"

Cassiopeia lets out a bitter laugh, "What's he going to do about it? Father's in Azkaban, mother's busy sobbing her eyes out because of that. They won't even know, nor would care."

"I hope you do remember, we're doing this for them!" He yelled. "Our family is going to die, Cassiopeia! You're being selfish!"

"Call me selfish all you want, but if I wasn't  dragged into this mess, I would've left our family a long time ago!" She screamed.

Draco looked at her in utter betrayal. "Then go ahead! Leave! Either way we're still going to die! You're so self-centered, you don't even care that we will die---"

Cassiopeia stepped closer towards Draco, pushing him back in anger. "You have no right for calling me selfish when all these years you've been sticking up for our selfish father who didn't even love us!"

"He loved me, not you!" shouted Draco, the book in his hand flying across the room when he threw it aggressively. Cassiopeia didn't flinch, her hand went over to her wand instead.

"You think he loved you?" chuckled Cassiopeia, "he never did. He never loved us."

Draco looked like he was on the verge of tears, if it wasn't too dark Cassiopeia would've seen his tears. His fist was shaking, and Cassiopeia's lips was trembling.

"Father loves me." Draco said.

"Keep telling yourself that, Draco. We both know its never true." Cassiopeia spat.

"I hope you die along with your pathetic boyfriend!" Draco shouted.

Cassiopeia didn't answer. She stepped back, and nodded. That was too far for her. Her brother wished death upon her.

She turned around, and ran out of the room of requirements. Tears slowly started to blur her vision but she wiped it away quickly.

Their relationship has finally snapped. Her twin brother, the person she was with all her life, is no longer her brother. She doesn't want to call him her brother anymore.

Cassiopeia didn't know where her legs were taking her. The snow outside was falling and it was very cold outside. She didn't grab her jacket from the chair back in the room of requirements.

The next moment she knew she was sitting down on some stairs in one hallway. She hugged herself as her lips trembled.

When a tear fell down, the others followed. Her hand covered her face as she lets out small sobs. Cassiopeia couldn't help but feel like a part of her was gone. She was always with her brother, she grew up with him.

But now she felt like it's nothing anymore.

Footsteps were echoing, and she looked up. Cassiopeia sniffled brfore frowning. Harry was there, he looked utterly confused as she did.

"What're you doing here?" She asked, wiping her tears.

"I was looking for Hermione---" Harry slowly approached her. "Are you okay?"

Cassiopeia looked away, letting out a shaky breath as more tears started to fall. "I'm... fine."

Harry sat down next to her, but he didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. Cassiopeia didn't even look at him.

She didn't like this, she didn't like this at all. Showing emotions was something Cassiopeia did not like. It made her feel so week, and she didn't want to cry over her stupid brother.

"Cass, what happened?"

She shook her head, "it's just Draco. He--he said something."

Harry didn't know what to do, he was horrible at this.

"It's okay, you don't have to say anything..." she wiped away her tears.

Harry nodded, only leaning closer to her. She placed her head on his shoulder as silent tears fell down her face.

This was embarrassing, this was horrible. It's not normal for her to show this much emotions, not when she's been holding it in for that long. It was like everything she had bottled up inside of her had burst.

Harry hugged her closer as she sobbed into his shoulder even more.

Everything had seemed to come out. Her stress, her fear of failing Voldemort's request, her fear of having to die when that happens, and her fear of whatever is going to happen to Harry in the future.

"I'm sorry," sobbed Cassiopeia.

"For what?" asked Harry, frowning at the question.

"For crying into your shoulder," she said, her voice cracking.

"You don't have to be sorry for that," he said.

Cassiopeia nodded. She wanted to tell him the truth, the truth that hid under her left forearm. But she couldn't do it. Harry would hate her, he wouldn't help her.

"Harry," she said, " whatever happens in the future, promise you'll never leave me."

"Of course, I promise." He smiled. Cassiopeia lifted her head, her blue eyes staring into his emerald ones.

She returned his smile, although it did not reach her eyes. Cassiopeia placed her head back on his shoulder, but no tears fell down this time. Her right hand touched her left forearm, and she swallowed the lump on her throat.