Chapter 78:
SHELL COTTAGE

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.•°★ CASSIOPEIA pulled her hair to the other side of her shoulders as she looked outside the window of the small room she is staying at. She hasn't spoken to Hermione, Ron or Bill at all, merely a few glances and thats all. She swallowed hard, her eyes watching the waves crashing to the shore.

Cassiopeia had spoken to Fleur, and she realised that it had been a long time. The last time they spoke was at the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts. Earlier, she greeted Fleur and she gave her a soft smile as Fleur handed her more comfortable clothes to change to.

The Dark Mark on her left forearm was hurting terribly, and sometimes she would grunt at the pain. Voldemort has been calling his Death Eaters, and she knew that the news of her betrayal have reached everyone. She was as wanted as muggle-borns now.

Her eyes landed on the far part of the hill, where Dobby's headstone was quite visible from where she sat. She was given a private room, it was small, but she was alone. Cassiopeia always heard the constant whispering, and when she would enter the room it'd turn quiet. Obviously, Bill Weasley is part of the Order, and must have notfied some of them that she was there.

Harry on the other hand, kept sending her glances which she did not return. Despite the talk they had, it was not convincing enough for Cassiopeia.

She tore her gaze away from Dobby's headstone, and her eyes landed on the dark mark. She wanted nothing more than to tear it away, remove it, scratch it, carve it out. But she knew that it was impossible. She hated it more than anything.

Outside, Luna Lovegood stood near the window, her eyes glancing at the decorations of the cottage. Harry, Ron and Hermione emerged, in hushed conversations as they sat down at the empty sitting room, Fleur and Bill probably outside

Harry stood by the fireplace, his face set with determination. Ron paced back and forth, while Hermione sat on the couch, her brow furrowed in thought.

"I trust Cassiopeia," Harry said firmly, breaking the silence, though quietly. "She's risked everything to help us. She saved us from the Malfoy Manor, saved us at the cafe...and---"

Ron stopped pacing and looked at Harry, his face a mix of frustration and confusion. "But how can you be so sure, mate? I mean, she was a Death Eater. She was with them."

Hermione nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with concern. "Harry, we can't just ignore her past. She was part of You-Know-Who's inner circle. We don't know what her true intentions are."

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know it's hard to believe, but I can feel it. She's different. She's not like them. She's...she's trying to make things right."

Luna looked up, her dreamy voice breaking the tension, the others turned to her. "Cassiopeia was kind to me in the dungeons. She brought me food and comfort when I needed it most. She looked after Mr. Ollivander too. She's not like the others."

Hermione turned to Luna, her expression softening slightly. "I know she's been kind to you, Luna, but that doesn't erase everything else she's done."

"But people can change," Luna said simply. "And I think Cassiopeia is trying to change."

Ron let out a frustrated sigh. "This is just so complicated. We have enough to worry about without adding another potential threat."

Harry took a step closer to Ron and Hermione, his voice earnest. "I get it. I really do. But think about it. Why would she go through all this trouble just to betray us now? She's had plenty of opportunities to turn us in, but she didn't. She saved us."

Hermione bit her lip, her eyes flickering with doubt. "I just...I want to believe you, Harry. But we can't afford to take any chances."

"That's why we need to keep an eye on her," Harry said. "But we also need to give her a chance. If we push her away, she might think there's no way out for her."

Luna nodded in agreement, she fidgeted with an ornament hanging by the window. "Sometimes, people need a second chance. And maybe, just maybe, Cassiopeia needs ours."

Ron groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Fine, but I'm still keeping my wand close. One wrong move, and she's out."

Hermione sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Alright, we'll give her a chance. But we have to be careful, Harry."

Harry smiled, grateful for their support. "That's all I'm asking for. Thank you."

Back in her room, Cassiopeia couldn't hear the specifics of the conversation, but she could sense the tension and the doubt. She hugged her knees to her chest, feeling a pang of guilt and uncertainty. She knew she had a lot to prove, and that trust was something she would have to earn.

A few hours later, a soft knock on the door broke her reverie. Harry stepped inside, his face etched with concern. "Cassiopeia, everyone's gathering for dinner. Would you like to join us?"

She shook her head, not turning to face him. "I'm not hungry."

Harry frowned and approached her, sitting down next to her on the bed. He glanced at her, noticing the weariness in her eyes. "You need to eat something. It's important to keep your strength up."

Cassiopeia let out a sigh, her gaze still fixed on the horizon. "It's not about the food. It's...everything. The weight of it all."

Harry nodded, understanding her unspoken words. He remained silent, giving her the space to open up.

After a moment, Cassiopeia turned to him, her eyes reflecting a mix of determination and sorrow. "I know aboy the Horcruxes."

Confused with the sudden confession, Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "What? How?" Only Hermione, Ron and him knew.

"Dumbledore told me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Before he died, he confided in me about the Horcruxes. He told me how the dark lord split his soul into pieces and hid them in objects. I didn't understand why he told me then, but now...I think he wanted me to help you."

She decided against in telling him that she was a part of giving him the sword of Gryffindor, it was a long story which could be spoken about soon enough. Harry's expression turned serious. "Do you know where they are?"

Cassiopeia nodded slowly. "I know about a few. The diary, the ring, the locket... But there's more. I had a vision, Harry. Just now."

Harry leaned closer, his interest piqued. "What did you see?" He totally forgot that Cassiopeia is a seer, and he frowned slightly.

Cassiopeia closed her eyes, recalling the vivid images that had flashed through her mind. "I saw Gringotts. There was a vault, deep within the bank. And inside it, I saw a cup. It was glistening on a far shelf. I think...I think it's one of the Horcruxes..." She whispered.

Harry's eyes narrowed in thought. "Gringotts... That's where Bellatrix keeps her vault. It makes sense that You-Know-Who would hide something there." He said, "that's why Bellatrix was so...furious to know if Hermione took anything else..."

Harry's mind raced, processing the information. "We need to get to that vault. If the cup is there, we have to destroy it."

"Are you out of your mind?" Cassiopeia questioned, "like hell you are, Harry. Gringotts is the most heavily guarded place in the world! It's mad if you were to break in there!"

"We haven't got a choice now do we?" He asked, lifting his eyebrows as he looked at her. "You saw it, means we will get there."

Cassiopeia knew that it was true, she cleared her throat and she shook her head. She felt like her weakened self had floated away at the maddness that Harry was suggesting.

"Think again, Harry," she said, as she poked his head. "Gringotts? Really?"

Harry shot her a glare, "Griphook is with us, he'd know how to break in there."

It was true, Griphook knows Gringotts, after all that Goblin used to work there. "Bloody insane," she muttered at Harry.

"Like everything we have done in the past is not," he retorted, as he shook his head. "Look, we've got to try. We've got to."

"Much like the Malfoy vault, Harry, the Lestrange's vault is deep in Gringotts," she said, frowning. "It's protective enchantments are too difficult to go pass---"

"Griphook will know what to do," he said, as he stood up, his face determined. Cassiopeia scoffed and she crossed her arms.

"Like hell he would," said Cassiopeia, "He'd want something in return. I know Goblins, they've been a pain in the arse to wizards for centuries."

Harry pursed his lips as he watched Cassiopeia rise to her feet to, he sighed. "You saw it in your vision, Cassiopeia," he said. "And I trust that vision, you've shown how great it has been since our third year."

Cassiopeia lifted a brow as she crossed her arms, and she sighed. They might as well try. "We've gone this far," she mumbled.

Harry nodded and he gave her a soft smile, "Can I stay here for the night?" He asked, gently.

Cassiopeia looked up, and she blinked for a moment. "What?" She asked.

"Stay with you,"

"Here?"

"No, at the roof," he replied sarcastically, Harry sighed and he nodded. "Yes, love."

Love. That word rang in her ears, and the word slipped Harry's tongue like a prayer. His breath hitched for a moment and Cassiopeia gave him a soft smile.

"Sure, yeah," she nodded. Cassiopeia lets out a breath, and she turned to Harry. "Can I have my wand back?" She asked him, and he paused.

"What?" He asked, blinking.

"My wand," she said. "Back at the manor, when you caught me in your arms, you grabbed my wand and took it."

Harry blinked and he remembered, he motioned towards the door. "It's outside..." he said, sheepishly. Bellatrix's, and Draco's was there too. She shrugged.

"Tomorrow then," she replied, and Cassiopeia sat down on the bed again. She looked at Harry. "I thought you were going to eat dinner?"

"I'd rather stay here," he replied as he too, sat down next to her on the bed. Cassiopeia gave him a soft smile, and she shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

She knew he was lying, but she didn't bring it up. Cassiopeia looked at Harry's green eyes and she lets out a breath. For a moment, she thought that he was leaning in, and that they were going to kiss. But Cassiopeia turned away, and she cleared her throat.

She winced at the sudden pain on her left forearm, and Harry noticed the look on her face.

"What happened?" He asked.

"The mark," she replied, pulling her sleeve up, careful not to touch it. "It's...It's been burning since I left."

She pulled the sleeve down, and she shook her head. Cassiopeia was still ashamed. She bit the insides of her cheeks, and her hair fell over her face as her shoulders slumped down.

Harry's hand, slowly, moved her hair away, tucking the strand behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek for a moment. "You're not there anymore," he said, as he took her hand. Cassiopeia watched silently, afraid to make any moves.

She looked at him, "You get on my nerves sometimes, you know that right?" She asked, as she leaned in.

Harry smirked, and he entwined their fingers. The serpent ring she had given him glistening on his finger, she felt the cold metal hit her hand as he held it.

"I know," he replied, smiling. "Can't help it, sorry."

She scoffed, and she shook her head. Cassiopeia almost felt like they were back at Hogwarts, where they used to have these conversations. As if nothing terrible had happened, and that everything is peaceful. She glanced at his lips, and he looked at her blue eyes.

Cassiopeia sighed, and she felt his hot breath on her face, and she placed her free hand on his jaw, stroking his cheek gently with her thumb. "Did I mention you look terrible?" She asked, her tone teasing, but in a whisper.

"No, no," he said, with the same tone. "You look terrible yourself."

"Thanks," she replied, and as she stared into his eyes, she couldn't help herself. "Merlin, I missed you," she breathed as she pulled him in for a kiss.

For a moment, Harry froze and their intertwined hands did not move. But slowly, he kissed her back, his eyes shutting close as he let go of her hand to grip her waist. He pulled her closer, and slowly, Cassiopeia wrapped her arms around his neck.

She yelped when he pushed her down the bed, and their lips parted. Harry smiled, "I needed that," he whispered, as he loomed over her. Cassiopeia rolled her eyes.

"You don't miss me too?" She asked, smiling up at him.

"I do. Very much." he replied, as he captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

a/n:
I MISS THEM BOTH SO MUCH
sorry for not updating!