Chapter 72:
THE SILVER DOE

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.•°★ THE forest was still, the darkness only punctuated by the occasional creak of a branch or the distant hoot of an owl. Cassiopeia and Snape moved silently through the trees, their breath visible in the cold air. The silence was oppressive, the snow crunching softly beneath their boots.

Snape led the way, his eyes fixed ahead as he carried the Sword of Gryffindor. Cassiopeia followed closely, her mind racing with questions. She glanced at the glinting sword, wondering what Snape’s plan was and how they would get the sword to Harry.

"And your plan is?" she finally asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Snape didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stopped by a frozen lake, the surface glistening under the moonlight. He turned to her, his expression serious.

"The sword must be taken under conditions of need and valour," he said quietly. "We cannot simply give it to Potter. He must earn it."

Cassiopeia nodded, understanding dawning on her. "So, we place it here, and hope he finds it?"

"Not hope," Snape corrected, his voice firm. "We will ensure he finds it. But it must be his choice to take it, and he must show the courage to do so."

She watched as Snape knelt by the edge of the lake, his wand raised. He muttered a spell, and the ice cracked open, revealing dark, icy water beneath. Gently, he lowered the sword into the lake, the hilt just visible beneath the surface.

Cassiopeia shivered, both from the cold and the weight of their mission. They stood together, their cloaks dragging in the snow, the eerie quiet of the forest surrounding them.

"We should look around," Snape said, breaking the silence. "Make sure there are no threats nearby."

Cassiopeia nodded, drawing her wand as they moved through the trees, their eyes scanning the shadows. The forest felt almost alive, the stillness amplifying every sound. She could feel the tension in the air, a reminder of the dangers that lurked in every corner.

They moved cautiously, their steps slow and deliberate. Cassiopeia's mind wandered to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She hoped they were safe, that they would find the sword and use it to destroy the Horcruxes. The weight of their mission pressed heavily on her, but she knew she had to stay focused.

As they circled back towards the lake, Snape paused, his eyes narrowing as he looked into the darkness.

They stood by the lake, the silence enveloping them once more. Cassiopeia's thoughts drifted to Harry, her heart aching with worry and longing. She glanced at Snape, wondering what was going through his mind.

"Do you think he'll come?" she asked softly, her breath visible in the cold air.

"I need you to conjure your Patronus," said Snape, as he looked at her. "Lure him to the Lake. It's the only way he shall find it."

Cassiopeia's eyes widened. "You want me to conjure a Patronus?" She felt a pang of anxiety. The events of the past few months had drained her, and she wasn't sure if she could summon the strength.

Cassiopeia swallowed hard, focusing on the happiest memory she could muster. She closed her eyes, trying to push away the darkness that had settled over her heart. She tried to think of her happy memories, the one where she had her first kiss with Harry while they danced...

But it only lead to hurt.

"Expecto Patronum," she muttered, but nothing happened. The memory flickered and faded, and the light she sought did not come.

Maybe her first memory of Hogwarts?

"Expecto Patronum," she said, her eyes closed. She easily conjured a Patronus in the cafe, why can't she do it now? Snape frowned as he watched her.

How about the memory of her shared laughter with Harry in the library?

Nothing left her wand.
It was heartbreaking.

"I... I can't," she whispered, frustration and despair mingling in her voice.

Snape's gaze softened for a brief moment, then he stepped forward. "Let me," he said, raising his own wand.

"No!" She said, "I'm bloody useless after all, let me do this." She held her wand out again.

The dance in the room of requirement...
Christmas at Grimmauld Place with Harry...Their kiss...

"Expecto Patronum." She said again, and as she opened her eyes, a brilliant silver doe had erupted from the end of her wand. She lets out a breath, and another came. She paused, frowning, and her head turned to Snape to see his patronus, a silver doe erupting from the tip of Snape's wand, its ethereal light cutting through the darkness. Both of the doe's pranced lightly over the frozen ground, heading toward the distant camp where Harry would be hidden.

Cassiopeia watched in awe as the Patronus glided away. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, determined not to let her emotions overwhelm her.

"Your...patronus is a doe." She stated, quite shock. Why would it be a doe? Snape didn't reply.

After what felt like an eternity, they saw movement. Harry emerged from the trees, drawn by the glow of the Patronuses. He looked exhausted, his face gaunt and his clothes tattered, but there was a glimmer of determination in his eyes.

Cassiopeia's breath caught in her throat as she watched him approach the lake. Her heart ached with the desire to run to him, to embrace him and tell him everything. She took a step forward, but Snape's hand shot out, grabbing her arm.

"Don't," he hissed, his grip firm. "We cannot interfere."

Cassiopeia bit her lip, tears stinging her eyes as she watched Harry kneel by the edge of the frozen lake. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then he began to break the ice, his breath coming in short, visible puffs in the cold air.

Snape's grip on her arm tightened. "We have to go," he said urgently.

"But—" Cassiopeia began, her eyes still fixed on Harry.

"Now," Snape insisted, pulling her away from the scene.

As they walked, Cassiopeia couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest. She couldn't conjure a Patronus for a few moments, and it terrified her. What if the longer she had to keep this face, the weaker her happy memories become? What if Dementors were to attack her and she can't produce a Patronus? But the uncertainty of the future loomed over her.

Questions flooded her mind as they went back to Hogwarts, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders.

Why was Snape's patronus a doe?

Would Harry be alright?

He is a Gryffindor after all, one of the bravest that Cassiopeia had met. She knew that, but she felt uncertain. Maybe he could be like her, the weight heavy on his shoulders too...

She lets out a breath as she took off the Gryffindor scarf around her neck, and she shoved it into the pockets of her cloak. She followed Snape up in his office after they Aparated into the castle, after all, Snape is Headmaster and he could lift the enchantment now.

As Snape told Dumbledore that he had successfully given the sword to Harry, Cassiopeia stood there in the side, blinking. "Why is your patronus a doe?" She asked, looking up at Snape. They had the same Patronus.

Snape's expression hardened immediately, his jaw tightening as he looked straight ahead. "That's none of your business," he replied coldly.

Cassiopeia felt a spark of frustration ignite within her. "I know it's not my business," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "But we've been working together for months now. I see you every day. Don't you think I deserve to know something about you?"

Snape stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His dark eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and something else she couldn't quite place. "You deserve to know nothing about me," he snapped. "Your curiosity will get you nowhere."

Cassiopeia opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, a voice interrupted them. "Severus, you might consider that she asks out of genuine concern," said the portrait of Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling as he watched the scene unfold.

Snape shot the portrait a glare. "Stay out of this, Albus," he growled.

Dumbledore merely smiled serenely, turning his gaze to Cassiopeia. "Sometimes, Severus, it is the sharing of our burdens that lightens the load."

Cassiopeia took a deep breath, her frustration bubbling over. "Fine!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "I'm sorry I asked! I thought that maybe, just maybe, since we're working together, I should know something about the person I'm risking my life with!"

Snape's eyes flashed with anger. "You presume too much, Malfoy," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Your job is to follow orders, not to pry into my personal affairs."

Cassiopeia felt her cheeks flush with anger and embarrassment. She wanted to yell, to demand answers, but she knew it would get her nowhere. Instead, she took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine," she repeated, her voice much quieter now. "I'll drop it."

Snape turned away from her, his cloak billowing behind him as he walked to his desk. "See that you do," he muttered, as he shut the door behind him.

Cassiopeia stood there for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced up at Dumbledore's portrait, and he gave her a sympathetic look. "Patience, my dear," he said softly. "Severus has his reasons."

She nodded, feeling a mixture of anger and sadness. "I just thought..." she began, but trailed off, not sure how to finish her sentence.

Dumbledore nodded, his eyes kind. "I understand. But some secrets are not ours to tell."

Cassiopeia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Thank you, Professor," she said quietly. "I just... I thought maybe if I understood him better, it would be easier."

Dumbledore's smile was gentle. "Understanding often comes with time and patience. For now, focus on what you can do. The rest will come."

Cassiopeia nodded, feeling a little better, but still frustrated. She turned and walked out of the office, her mind racing with thoughts and questions. She knew that she had to focus on their mission, but the mystery of Snape's Patronus and the secrets he kept were like an itch she couldn't scratch.

As she made her way back to her private dorm room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of isolation. The castle was nearly empty, the students having gone home for the holidays. The silence was both a relief and a reminder of how alone she felt.

She reached her room, sitting by the window. Her thoughts drifted back to the argument with Snape. She knew she had pushed too hard, but she couldn't help it. There was so much she didn't understand, so much that weighed on her mind. She sighed, resting her forehead on her knees.

For now, she had to focus on the task at hand. She had to be strong, to keep fighting, even when it felt like the darkness was closing in around her. She closed her eyes, letting the silence of the castle wash over her, and promised herself that she would keep pushing forward, no matter what.

As the night wore on, Cassiopeia stayed by the window, her thoughts a tangled mess of worry and determination. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it. With or without answers, she would keep fighting for what was right.