Chapter 75:
AN UNSURE FAREWELL

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.•°★ CASSIOPEIA stirred on the worn leather couch in Snape’s office, her sleep restless and tormented. Her dreams twisted into visions, dark and foreboding. The room was quiet, save for the occasional crackle from the fireplace. She had fallen asleep here, seeking some semblance of peace, but her mind offered no respite.

She saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione captured, their faces filled with defiance even as they were dragged into Malfoy Manor. It was fast, and Cassiopeia could hear a faint scream of pain.

She was there too in the vision, standing in between the fight. She stared at Harry, his eyes gazing into her as she ran towards him. She could her her aunt's screech.

"Traitor!"

She awoke with a start, the images still vivid in her mind. The heavy darkness of the office seemed to press in around her, suffocating and oppressive. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering sense of dread. It felt like a bad dream, but she knew it was more than that—a warning of what was to come.

She looked up at the ceiling, her once blue eyes looked grey. Cassiopeia looked at her hands, and she wished what she had done the night before was just a nightmare. And the nightmare that seemed too real. She wished, she hoped, she prayed.

But the scene before her, her being in Snape's office, huddled up in the couch...it was real. What happened was real.

And she was finally taken by the darkness that she had let herself be around.

Her gaze drifted to the portraits on the wall, finally resting on Dumbledore’s. His eyes twinkled with a knowing sadness, and she felt a lump form in her throat. She stood up, her legs unsteady, and approached the portrait, her heart heavy with the weight of her actions and the knowledge of what lay ahead.

"I wish it was just a nightmare," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But it’s not, is it?"

Dumbledore’s portrait watched her silently for a moment before speaking. "No, it is not, Cassiopeia. But nightmares can sometimes be warnings."

She walked towards the window, seeing how foggy it is outside before burying her face in her hands. "I can’t do this anymore," she said, her voice muffled. "I’m not made for this. It’s all too much."

"You are stronger than you think," Dumbledore said gently. "It is in our darkest moments that we find our true strength."

Cassiopeia looked up, her eyes red-rimmed and filled with despair. "I killed children, Professor. Innocent children. How can I ever be strong again after that?"

Dumbledore sighed, his expression filled with compassion. "You have the power to change your path, to find redemption."

"Redemption," she echoed bitterly. "How can I ever redeem myself after what I’ve done?"

"By making the right choices from now on," Dumbledore replied. "You have a role to play, and it is not too late to change your fate. Trust in yourself, and in the goodness that still lies within you."

"You made me into this," she whispered. "You asked me to be in this path to save Harry..."

She felt the sting in her throat, and she looked towards Dumbledore's portrait. "You asked me to kill you, to become a spy! In order to save Harry!" She said, her voice becoming louder as she stomped towards Dumbledore's portrait.

"I did everything! EVERYTHING, Dumbledore!" She said, through gritted teeth. "I never wanted to be like my family." She whispered.

"I gave you this path in order to save Harry, Cassiopeia, that is what you agreed to---" Dumbledore was cut off.

"No! Because if it was the right path, I wouldn't be standing in this office, waiting for Harry to destroy all those bloody Horcruxes," she yelled. "Waiting for him. Not knowing if he is safe!"

Cassiopeia felt tears prick her eyes, "I want Harry, Professor. I want him more than anything, and what is the use of standing here acting like I'm making the wrong choices if Harry is still not safe?"

Cassiopeia stared at the floor, the weight of his words sinking in. She knew he was right, but the path ahead seemed insurmountable. The vision of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Malfoy Manor haunted her. She had to be ready, had to find the strength to make the right choice when the time came.

"I’m sorry if I’ve failed," she whispered. "I’m trying, but it’s so hard."

"You have not failed," Dumbledore said firmly. "You are on a difficult journey, one that requires great courage. But I believe in you, Cassiopeia. You must believe in yourself as well."

She shook her head slowly, the tears still falling but her resolve hardening. She had to keep going, had to find a way to fight the darkness that threatened to consume her. The vision had shown her a possible future, one she had the power to change.

"I have to leave, Dumbledore," she whispered, looking at his twinkling eyes. "I have to...stop. I'm weak, just as what Snape had said. I cannot do this."

What if she were to end up like her family? Engulfed in the darkness, the only thing that they have ever known.

Dumbledore tilted his head, and he watched as Cassiopeia inhaled a deep breath. "Then go," said Dumbledore, his voice soft. "Do what you must, Cassiopeia. Leave and save Harry."

Cassiopeia looked at Dumbledore, and she blinked. "Leave?"

"Betray the dark lord if you must," said Dumbledore. "Snape will be okay, he will be fine."

"I can't just leave Snape, Professor...I..." she opened her mouth to think of a word. "He...He is the only friend I have left...and..."

"You care about him?" Dumbledore asked Cassiopeia, she shook her head.

"He won't even tell me what drove him to do this," she said, clenching her fists as she sunk down on a chair. "Why he wants to save Harry."

Dumbledore studied her for a moment before speaking. "Severus Snape once fell in love," he began, his tone gentle. "It was a love that consumed him, and he made many mistakes because of it. But when he lost her, he was left with a profound sense of regret and a desire to make things right. His love for Lily Potter is what drives him to protect Harry, even at great personal risk."

Cassiopeia's eyes widened in shock. That explains it. The doe. "Lily Potter? But she was a Muggle-born... and Snape... he was..."

"A Death Eater," Dumbledore finished for her. "Yes, he was. But love can be a powerful motivator, capable of changing even the hardest of hearts. Severus made a vow to protect Harry, and he has kept that vow, even if it means playing a dangerous double game."

Cassiopeia was silent, absorbing this revelation. She had never imagined that Snape's motivations ran so deep, or that they were rooted in love and loss. It made her view him in a different light, and she felt a pang of empathy for the man who had become her reluctant ally.

"Just like you, Cassiopeia," said Dumbledore. "It is your love for Harry that keeps you strong. It can relate to your situation," Dumbledore continued, his voice soft. "We all make mistakes, and we all have the capacity to seek redemption. The choices you make now can help to right the wrongs of the past. You have the strength within you to do what is right, even if it means making difficult decisions."

Cassiopeia looked down, her mind racing. "But how? How can I possibly make up for everything I've done?"

"By making the right choices from now on," Dumbledore replied. "Leave if you must, I do not want you to tread longer in this path."

She took a deep breath, the weight of his words settling on her shoulders. She knew he was right, but the path ahead seemed daunting and fraught with peril. Yet, she couldn't ignore the flicker of hope that his words had ignited within her.

"I don't know if I can do it," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"You can," Dumbledore said firmly. "And you must. For yourself, for those you care about, and for the greater good."

Cassiopeia nodded slowly, a sense of resolve beginning to take root. She would find a way to make things right, to fight against the darkness that threatened to consume her. She would honor the memory of those she had lost, and she would seek redemption, no matter the cost.

"Thank you, Professor," she said softly, her eyes meeting his. "I will try to do better."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with a mix of sadness and hope. "That is all anyone can ask of you, my dear. Remember, it is never too late to do the right thing."

As Cassiopeia left Snape's office, the vision of her future still lingered in her mind. She knew the path ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it. She would not let the darkness claim her, nor would she let Voldemort's tyranny go unchallenged.

She would be ready when the time came, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice if necessary. For now, she had to stay strong, to find the courage to keep going. And with Dumbledore's words echoing in her mind, she felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, she could find redemption after all.

Cassiopeia walked through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, her heart heavy with the decisions she knew she had to make. Dumbledore’s words echoed in her mind, giving her a sense of purpose but also a deep sense of sorrow. She knew what she had to do, but it meant leaving behind everything she had known, including the only person who had been a constant in her life these past months—Severus Snape.

As she approached the entrance to the dungeons, she saw Snape striding towards her, his robes billowing behind him in the familiar way that always made her think of a menacing bat. He looked up, his black eyes narrowing when he saw her.

"Malfoy," he said, his voice its usual cold drawl. "What are you doing here?"

She hesitated, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. "I... I needed to talk to you, Snape."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "About what?"

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "I just wanted to say goodbye."

Snape’s eyes narrowed further, suspicion and confusion mingling in his gaze. "Goodbye? What are you talking about?"

"I can't stay here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have to leave."

His expression hardened, a flicker of something unidentifiable in his eyes. "Leave? Why? What foolishness is this?"

Cassiopeia looked away, unable to meet his piercing gaze. "There are things I need to do, things I can't explain. Please, just understand that I have to go." She sighed, "A vision..."

"You owe me an explanation, Cassiopeia," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You can't just abandon everything we've been working towards."

She bit her lip, feeling the sting of his words. "I know. And I’m sorry. But I have to do this."

Snape's eyes bored into hers, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of concern beneath his cold exterior. "You’re making a mistake," he said, his voice softer but no less intense. "You don’t know what you’re walking into."

"I have to try," she replied, her voice firm despite the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "I have to."

He stood silent for a long moment, his expression inscrutable. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Do what you must. But know this, Cassiopeia: once you leave, there is no coming back."

"I know," she whispered, the finality of his words settling over her like a shroud.

Without another word, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. She didn’t look back, afraid that if she did, she might lose the resolve she had gathered.

Snape watched her go, his face a mask of stoic indifference, but inside, he felt a pang of something he couldn't quite name. He had grown used to her presence, her resilience, and now, her sudden departure left a void he hadn't anticipated.

She felt a mixture of fear and determination. She didn’t know what lay ahead, but she was ready to face it, armed with the knowledge that she was making the right choice, no matter how difficult it was.

Snape remained in the corridor for a few moments longer, staring at the spot where she had disappeared. His mind raced with unspoken thoughts and emotions, but he pushed them aside, returning to the task at hand. There was still much to be done, and he couldn’t afford to be distracted by sentiments he had long since buried.

Yet, as he walked back to his office, he couldn’t help but wonder if he would ever see her again, and if she would find what she was looking for.

Cassiopeia had appeared back at the Malfoy Manor, her eyes staring at the metal gates, emotionless.