Chapter 76:
MALFOY MANOR

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.•°★ THE drawing room dazzled after the darkness outside. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, more portraits against the dark purple walls. Cassiopeia played with her wand, staring outside the window. Her eyes landed on a few figures near the gates, but she ignored it.

She had a feeling in her chest that wasn't too good.

Two figures rose from chairs in front of an ornate marble fireplace as the prisoners were forced into the room by the Snatchers.

"What is this?" asked Lucius Malfoy.

"They say they've got Potter," said Narcissa's cold voice. "Draco, come here."

Harry did not dare look directly at Draco, but saw him obliquely; a figure slightly taller than he was, rising from an arm- chair, his face a pale and pointed blur beneath white-blond hair.

Greyback forced the prisoners to turn again so as to place Harry directly beneath the chandelier. "Well, boy?" rasped the werewolf.

Harry was facing a mirror over the fireplace, a great gilded thing in an intricately scrolled frame. Through the slits of his eyes he saw his own reflection for the first time since leaving Grimmauld Place.

His face was huge, shiny, and pink, every feature distorted by Hermione's jinx. His black hair reached his shoulders and there was a dark shadow around his jaw. Had he not known that it was he who stood there, he would have wondered who was wearing his glasses. He resolved not to speak, for his voice was sure to give him away; yet he still avoided eye contact with Draco as the latter approached.

"Well, Draco?" said Lucius Malfoy. He sounded avid. "Is it? Is it Harry Potter?”

"I can't I can't be sure," said Draco. He was keeping his distance from Greyback, and seemed as scared of looking at Harry as Harry was of looking at him. "But look at him carefully, look! Come closer!" Harry had never heard Lucius Malfoy so excited.
“Draco, if we are the ones who hand Potter over to the Dark Lord, everything will be forgiv—“

Cassiopeia, upstairs, felt the feeling in her chest that those figures were someone she knew. She stood up, putting her wand into her pocket as she looked back at her room. She lets out a few breaths, before exiting her room hurridly.

"Let Cassiopeia see! Lucius, call your daughter!" hissed Bellatrix. But she didn't need to.

The white-blond girl walked into the hallway, her blue eyes examining her aunt. "What's going on?" She asked, her voice quite stern and hoarse from lack of use.

"Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope Mr.Malfoy?" said Greyback menacingly.

"Of course not, of course not!" said Lucius impatiently. He approached Harry himself, came so close that Harry could see the usually languid, pale face in sharp detail even through his swollen eyes. "Cassiopeia, check! Is it Harry Potter?"

She frowned, her heart dropping as she realized who the people that the snatchers were holding. Ron, and Hermione. Which could only mean that its Harry. Her father grabbed her arm, which she yanked away from him and she glared at him.

Cassiopeia knelt down in front of Harry, instantly recognizing his eyes. Her breath hitched, but she remained silent. Her eyes glanced at Ron and Hermione, struggling at the Snatchers' grips.

"What did you do to him?" Lucius asked Greyback. "How did he get into this state?"

"That wasn't us." replied Greyback, his teeth bared.

"Looks more like a Stinging Jinx to me," said Lucius. His gray eyes raked Harry's forehead. "There's something there," he whispered. "it could be the scar, stretched tight....Cassiopeia, look properly! What do you think?"

"I don't think so," she replied, her voice soft. She stood up and she watched as Draco moved to the fireplace next to his mother

"We had better be certain, Lucius," Narcissa called to her husband in her cold, clear voice. "Completely sure that it is Potter, before we summon the Dark Lord... They say this is his”—she was looking closely at the blackthorn wand-"but it does not re- semble Ollivander's description.... If we are mistaken, if we call the Dark Lord here for nothing... Remember what he did to Rowle and Dolohov?"

"What about the Mudblood, then?" growled Greyback. Cassiopeia watched as he gripped Hermione. She met her eyes. Hermione almost glared at Cassiopeia, but there was an obvious hint of fear.

"Wait," said Narcissa sharply. "Yes—yes, she was in Madam Malkin's with Potter! I saw her picture in the Prophet! Look, Draco, isn't it the Granger girl?"

"I... maybe... yeah." replied Draco, as he did not look up. Cassiopeia remained silent as she moved back. She needed to find a way out of here, she needed to help them out. It was the exact same thing in her vision.

"But then, that's the Weasley boy!" shouted Lucius, striding around the bound prisoners to face Ron. "It's them, Potter's friends-Draco, look at him, isn't it Arthur Weasley's son, what's his name...?"

"Yeah," said Draco again, his back to the prisoners. "It could be..." Cassiopeia glared at Draco.

"That's enough," said Cassiopeia, "Enough. If you call the Dark Lord and he is not Harry Potter all of you will die." She sneered at her father and mother.

"Don't you dare---" sneered Lucius, as he walked towards her. Cassiopeia shook her head.

"Shut up, father," she hissed.

"The Dark Lord must be informed at once!" Bellatrix hissed and she dragged back her left sleeve: Cassiopeia saw the Dark Mark burned into the flesh of her arm, and knew that she was about to touch it, to summon her beloved master.

“I was about to call him!” said Lucius, and his hand actually closed upon Bellatrix's wrist, preventing her from touching the Mark. "I shall summon him, Bella. Potter has been brought to my house, and it is therefore upon my authority—“

"Your authority!" she sneered, attempting to wrench her hand from his grasp. "You lost your authority when you lost your wand, Lucius! How dare you! Take your hands off me!"

"This is nothing to do with you, you did not capture the boy—“ sneered Lucius.

"Begging your pardon, Mr. Malfoy," interjected Greyback, "but it's us that caught Potter, and it's us that'll be claiming the gold---"

"Gold!" laughed Bellatrix, still attempting to throw off her brother-in-law, her free hand groping in her pocket for her wand. "Take your gold, filthy scavenger, what do I want with gold? I seek only the honor of his-of-"

She stopped struggling, her dark eyes fixed upon something Harry could not see. Jubilant at her capitulation, Lucius threw her hand from him and ripped up his own sleeve—

"STOP!" shrieked Bellatrix, "Do not touch it, we shall all perish if the Dark Lord comes now!"

Lucius froze, his index finger hovering over his own Mark. Bellatrix strode out of Harry's limited line of vision. Cassiopeia followed her aunt's gaze and she felt her heart drop even further.

"Father," she turned to Lucius, "Enough."

"You don't have the authority to say so," said Lucius, sneering down at Cassiopeia who stood near Harry.

"I do, if you have forgotten," she snapped, and her eyes turned to Harry. He looked up at her, and she could almost read his eyes.

"What is that?" Bellatrix hissed.

"Sword," grunted a Snatcher, Cassiopeia blinked.

"Give it to me."

"It's not yours, missus, it's mine, I reckon I found it." There was a bang and a flash of red light, the Snatcher had been stunned by Bellatrix. There was a roar of anger from his fellows: Scabior drew his wand"What d’you think you're playing at, woman?”

"Stupefy!" she screamed, "Stupefy!"
They were no match for her, even thought there were four of them against one of her: She was a witch, as Harry knew, with prodigious skill and no conscience. They fell where they stood, all except Greyback, who had been forced into a kneeling position, his arms outstretched. Out of the corners of his eyes Harry saw Bellatrix bearing down upon the werewolf, the sword of Gryffindor gripped tightly in her hand, her face waxen.

"Enough, Aunt Bella---" said Cassiopeia, as she drew out her own wand.

"Where did you get this sword?" she whispered to Greyback as she pulled his wand out of his unresisting grip.

"How dare you?" he snarled, his mouth the only thing that could move as he was forced to gaze up at her. He bared his pointed teeth. "Release me, woman!"

"Where did you find this sword?" she repeated, brandishing it in his face, "Snape sent it to my vault in Gringotts!"

"It was in their tent," rasped Greyback. "Release me, I say!" She waved her wand, and the werewolf sprang to his feet, but appeared too wary to approach her. He prowled behind an armchair, his filthy curved nails clutching its back.

"Draco, move this scum outside,” said Bellatrix, indicating the unconscious men. “If you haven't got the guts to finish them, then leave them in the courtyard for me."

"Don't you dare speak to Draco like—” said Narcissa furiously, but Bellatrix screamed. Cassiopeia moved towards Ron and Hermione, slowly.

"Be quiet! The situation is graver than you can possibly imag- ine, Cissy! We have a very serious problem!"She stood, panting slightly, looking down at the sword, exam- ining its hilt. Then she turned to look at the silent prisoners.

"If it is indeed Potter, he must not be harmed," she muttered, more to herself than to the others. "The Dark Lord wishes to dispose of Potter himself.... But if he finds out... I must... I must know...."

Cassiopeia stood there, her mind racing as she stared at her family. Her heart was beating loudly, and she didn't know what to do.

Bellatrix turned back to her sister again.
"The prisoners must be placed in the cellar, while I think what to do!"

"This is my house, Bella, you don't give orders in my—“

"Do it! You have no idea of the danger we're in!" shrieked Bellatrix. She looked frightening, mad; a thin stream of fire issued from her wand and burned a hole in the carpet.

Narcissa hesitated for a moment, then addressed the werewolf. "Take these prisoners down to the cellar, Greyback."

"Wait," said Bellatrix sharply. “All except....except for the Mudblood."
Greyback gave a grunt of pleasure.

"No!" shouted Ron. "You can have me, keep me!"

Bellatrix hit him across the face: the blow echoed around the
room."If she dies under questioning, I'll take you next," she said. "Blood traitor is next to Mudblood in my book. Take them down- stairs, Greyback, and make sure they are secure, but do nothing more to them yet."

Cassiopeia shook her head grimly and she watched as her aunt threw Greyback's wand back to him, then took a short silver knife from under her robes. She cut Hermione free from the other prisoners, then dragged her by the hair into the middle of the room, while Greyback forced the rest of them to shuffle across to another door, into a dark passageway, his wand held out in front of him, projecting an invisible and irresistible force.

"Reckon she'll let me have a bit of the girl when she's finished with her?" Greyback crooned as he forced them along the corridor. "I'd say I'll get a bite or two, wouldn't you, ginger?"

Ron and Harry were dragged by Greyback into the cellar, and she tried to come up with a plan. Her eyes landed on Bellatrix, who threw Hermione on the ground. Cassiopeia took a step towards Bellatrix.

"I..." sobbed Hermione, as she looked up at Bellatrix.

"What did you take?!" yelled Bellatrix as she pinned Hermione on the ground. Hermione was sobbing. "What else did you take in my vault!"

"I didn't take anything," sobbed Hermione.

"Liar!" spat Bellatrix, Cassiopeia took a step towards them and she shook her head. She couldn't let her aunt hurt her friend.

"Aunt Bella, I think that's enough, I don't think this is necessary---" Cassiopeia spoke and she watched as Bellatrix glared at her.

"Don't stick up to this Mudblood, Cassiopeia!" She snapped, sneering up at her. Cassiopeia winced and she turned away, she had to go down to Harry.

"What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!" yelled Bellatrix, Cassiopeia winced as she ran off to tye cellar. She heard Wormtail's voice, and she push him back.

"Let me speak with them!" She hissed, moving Wormtail away as she tapped her wand on the metal door. She entered, and Ron's face sneered.

Hermione’s screams echoed through the cold, damp corridors, each one a knife to Cassiopeia’s heart. She had to act quickly, but she knew that any wrong move could mean the end for all of them.

"Dobby," she whispered, hoping the elf could be summoned. "Dungeons. Meet me...Dobby..." she prayed that he'd hear.

She reached the bottom and saw the imprisoned figures of Harry, Ron, Luna, Griphook, and Ollivander. The sight of Harry’s disfigured face made her stomach churn with guilt and fear. But she had to push those feelings aside. She needed to be strong now.

Ron lunged at her the moment he saw her, his eyes wild with rage. “You traitor! You’ll pay for what you’ve done!”

Cassiopeia stumbled back, feeling Ron’s hands tighten around her throat.  Before she could react, Harry grabbed Ron and pulled him away, forcing him to release his grip.

Cassiopeia coughed, "I'm not here to bloody hurt you. But I will if you give me a reason to!"

“Ron, stop!” Harry shouted, his voice hoarse but commanding. “We don’t have time for this!”

Ron, still seething, glared at Cassiopeia. “How can you defend her after everything? She’s one of them! She's a liar! She's a traitor!"

Harry’s eyes, cold and wary, turned to Cassiopeia. “What are you doing here? Why should we trust you?”

Cassiopeia took a deep, shaky breath, rubbing her sore neck. “I want to help you escape,” she said, her voice trembling but resolute. “I can’t let this go on. Hermione—” Her voice broke as another scream echoed from upstairs. “We need to get her out of here.”

Luna, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. “We have to try. We don’t have any other options.”

Griphook and Ollivander exchanged uncertain looks but remained silent.

Ron’s face twisted in anguish as he listened to Hermione’s screams. “If you’re really here to help,” he spat, “then do something! Get her out of there!”

"I---" Cassiopiea spoke before Harry stopped her from speaking, and he moved towards Griphook.

Harry dashed across the cellar to where Griphook was huddled on the floor.
"Griphook," he whispered into the goblin's pointed ear, "you must tell them that sword's a fake, they mustn't know it's the real one, Griphook, please—“

Cassiopeia could hear someone scuttling own the cellar steps; next moment, Draco's shaking voice spoke from behind the door.

"Stand back. Line up against the back wall. Don't try anything, or I'll kill you!" His eyes landed on Draco and Cassiopeia watched as the prisoners did as they were bidden; as the lock turned, Ron clicked the Deluminator and the lights whisked back into his pocket, restoring the cellar's darkness.

The door flew open; Draco marched inside, wand held out in front of him, pale and determined. He seized the little goblin by the arm and backed out again, dragging Griphook with him.

"What are you doing here? Let's go then!" said Draco, as he gripped Griphook. She shook her head.

"I need to see if it's really Potter, Draco---" she said, as her eyebrows furrowed.

"Don't go all soft now," said Draco before the door slammed shut and at the same moment a loud crack echoed inside the cellar.

Ron clicked the Deluminator. Three balls of light flew back into the air from his pocket, revealing Dobby the house-elf, who had just Apparated into their midst.

"Dobby!" said Cassiopeia.

"DOB-!"

Harry hit Ron on the arm to stop him shouting, and Ron looked terrified at his mistake. Footsteps crossed the ceiling overhead: Draco marching Griphook to Bellatrix.

Dobby's enormous, tennis-ball shaped eyes were wide; he was trembling from his feet to the tips of his ears. He was back in the home of his old masters, and it was clear that he was petrified.

"Miss Malfoy" he squeaked in the tiniest quiver of a voice, "Dobby has come! What does Miss Malfoy need?"

Cassiopeia lets out a breath, and she looked at Dobby. He wore the sweater that she gave him, and it softened her heart. But there was no time.

"You called him?" asked Harry, Cassiopeia ignored him.

"I need you to take them," she said, as she looked at Luna and Ollivander. "Take them out of here...take them to---"

"Bill and Fleur's," said Ron. "Shell Cottage on the outskirts of Tinworth!"

The elf nodded before his eyes landed on Harry. "Harry Potter, Dobby is glad to see you..."

“And then come back,” said Harry. "Can you do that, Dobby?”

"Of course, Harry Potter," whispered the little elf. "Anything to save Miss Malfoy and her friends."

He hurried over to Mr. Ollivander, who appeared to be barely conscious. He took one of the wandmaker's hands in his own, then held out the other to Luna and, neither of whom moved.

“Harry, we want to help you!” Luna whispered.

"Go, both of you! We'll see you at Bill and Fleur's." Harry spoke, wincing a bit.

"Cassiopeia---?" Luna spoke, but Cassiopeia shook her head.

"Luna, go." She said, as she looked at Dobby. "Dobby go. Go!"

"Go! We'll follow!" said Ron, as he looked up at the cellar, listening to Hermione's voice.

"Meet me at the top of the staircase in 10 seconds," said Dobby, before he disappeared with a crack. Cassiopeia lets out a breath as she glanced at Harry and Ron.

"I have to stop Bellatrix," she said, as she opened the door. Ron and Harry glanced at each other before following Cassiopeia behind, but she shut the door behind her. "Stay here." She said, hurridly walking up. Wormtail was following down.

Hermione was laying on the floor, and she was sobbing. Cassiopeia could see blood on her forearm. Bellatrix was looking down at Griphook, who was holding Gryffindor's sword in his long-fingered hands. Hermione was lying at Bellatrix's feet. She was barely stirring.

"Well?" Bellatrix said to Griphook. "Is it the true sword?"

"No," said Griphook. "It is a fake."

Cassiopeia gripped her wand tightly, she glared at Greyback then at her father who stood almost huddled with her mother and brother. She knew what will happen tonight, it was the night that she will finally leave this house.

"Are you sure?" panted Bellatrix. "Quite sure?"

"Yes," said the goblin.Relief broke across her face, all tension drained from it.

“Good,” she said, and with a casual flick of her wand she slashed another deep cut into the goblin's face, and he dropped with a yell at her feet. She kicked him aside. "And now," she said in a voice that burst with triumph, “we call the Dark Lord!”

And she pushed back her sleeve and moved her forefinger to the Dark Mark. Cassiopeia stopped her aunt.

"Aunt Bella," said Cassiopeia, walking towards her and stopping her. "I don't think it's Harry Potter down at the dungeons."

"What makes you think so?" spat Bellatrix, Cassiopeia glanced at Hermione before looking at Bellatrix.

"He doesn't look like him, I know Potter the most," she spoke, her voice stern. "If we call the dark lord, he will kill us all."

“And I think,” said Bellatrix's voice, “we can dispose of the Mudblood. Greyback, take her if you want her."

"NOOOO!"  Ron had burst into the drawing room; Bellatrix looked around, shocked; she turned her wand to face Ron instead.

"Expelliarmus!" he roared, pointing Wormtail's wand at Bellatrix, and hers flew into the air and was caught by Harry, who had sprinted after Ron.

Lucius, Narcissa, Draco and Greyback wheeled about; Harry yelled, "Stupefy!" and Lucius Malfoy collapsed onto the hearth. Jets of light flew from Draco's, Narcissa's, and Greyback's wands. Cassiopeia was disarmed by Ron, and she cursed to herself as she searched frantically for her wand. And she spotted it, a few feet away.

"STOP OR SHE DIES!" Bellatrix was supporting Hermione, who seemed to be unconscious, and was holding her short silver knife to Hermione's throat.

“Drop your wands,” she whispered. “Drop them, or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is!"

Ron stood rigid, clutching Wormtail's wand. Harry straightened up, still holding Bellatrix's.

"I said, drop them!" she screeched, pressing the blade into Hermione's throat: Cassiopeia saw beads of blood appear there.

"All right!" Harry shouted, and he dropped Bellatrix's wand onto the floor at his feet, Ron did the same with Wormtail's. Both raised their hands to shoulder height.

"Good!" she leered. "Draco, pick them up! The Dark Lord is coming, Harry Potter! Your death approaches!"

Cassiopeia sneered, as she finally gripped her wand. She stood up, moving towards the middle of the room.

“Now,” said Bellatrix softly, as Draco hurried back to her with the wands. "Cissy, I think we ought to tie these little heroes up again, while Greyback takes care of Miss Mudblood. I am sure the Dark Lord will not begrudge you the girl, Greyback, after what you have done tonight."

Bellatrix's eyes landed on Cassiopeia, who moved to the middle of the room. Her mind was racing, and she felt her heart beating against her chest. Slowly, she pointed her wand towards her aunt. "That's enough, Aunt Bella," she said, her voice stern and her eyes emotionless.

"What are you doing?" hissed Bellatrix, "Cassiopeia? What are you doing?" Narcissa watched fearfully as she held Draco who watched.

At the last word there was a peculiar grinding noise from above. All of them looked upward in time to see the crystal chandelier tremble; then, with a creak and an ominous jingling, it began to fall. Bellatrix was directly beneath it; dropping Hermione, she threw herself aside with a scream. Cassiopeia moved back, stumbling. Harry caught her, and she covered her face on his chest as the chandelier crashed to the floor in an explosion of crystal and chains, falling on top of Hermione and the goblin, who still clutched the sword of Gryffindor.

Glittering shards of crystal flew in all directions; Draco doubled over, his hands covering his bloody face.

As Ron ran to pull Hermione out of the wreckage, Cassiopeia took the chance to move away from Harry and took away the wands from Draco's grip. She looked at his horrified face.

"I'm not sorry," she whispered, Cassiopeia pointed her wand at Greyback and yelled. "Stupefy!"

The werewolf was lifted off his feet by the spell, flew up to the ceiling and then smashed to the ground.

As Narcissa dragged Draco out of the way of further harm, Bellatrix sprang to her feet, her hair flying as she brandished the silver knife; but Narcissa had directed her wand at the doorway. Cassiopeia handed the wands to Harry who took it from her.

"Dobby!" Narcissa screamed and even Bellatrix froze. "You! You dropped the chandelier-?"

The tiny elf trotted into the room, his shaking finger pointing at his old mistress. "You must not hurt Harry Potter," he squeaked.

"Cassiopeia!" shrieked Bellatrix, "How dare you! How dare you! You are the most trusted by the Dark Lord! How dare you throw that away?! How could you!"

Cassiopeia moved backwards as there was another loud crack, and Narcissa's wand too flew into the air and landed on the other side of the room. Cassiopeia looked at Bellatrix, her own wand pointed at her aunt.

"Enough is enough," she said, her breath heavy.

"YOU TRAITOR!" bellowed Bellatrix, and she glared at Dobby. "AND YOU! How dare you defy your masters?!"

"Dobby has no master!" squealed the elf. "Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Miss Malfoy and her friends!”

"CASSIOPEIA!" yelled Bellatrix, her eyes almost red with anger. Cassiopeia backed away, knowing this was the end. "YOU! TRAITOR! LIAR! SCUM! YOU WILL DIE!"

"Ron, catch-and GO!" Harry yelled, throwing one of the wands to him; then he bent down to tug Griphook out from under the chandelier. Hoisting the groaning goblin, who still clung to the sword, over one shoulder, Harry seized Dobby's hand. Cassiopeia wasn't sure if they'd take her too, but she felt fingers wrap around her wrist.

And she knew.

"Tell Voldemort I said goodbye." spat Cassiopeia, before they spun on the spot to Disapparate.

As she turned into darkness she caught one last view of the drawing room of the pale, frozen figures of Narcissa and Draco, of the streak of red that was Ron's hair, and a blue of flying silver, as Bellatrix's knife flew across the room at the place where she was vanishing.
She had disappeared into the unknown.

Finally, gone. Finally away from that place. She had betrayed Voldemort, for the greater good.