Chapter 64:

THE MINISTRY HAS FALLEN

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.•°★ VOLDEMORT was furious that Harry escaped him once again. After he visited Ollivander and took him into the dungeons of the Malfoy Manor, Voldemort tortured the poor man after Ollivander had said to use a different wand to fight Harry. Cassiopeia could hear the faint screams of Ollivander in the dungeons, and she stood in the living room, her death eater mask on her hand.

She was lucky that no one at the Order had hurt her too bad, a few hexes thrown at her, but they weren't too bad. Mostly for her to be thrown off the broom, which she managed to clutch for dear life.

Cassiopeia looked at Draco and her father, who was also, listening to the screams of the poor wand maker in their dungeons. Cassiopeia was waiting for Snape who sat in the drawing room, waiting for Voldemort to come back.

The girl had put the hood of her cloak down, and she held her mask in her hands as she examined it. The gold and white features seemed to glisten as the fire place's fire reflected on the mask.

She was exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to sleep and rest. It was only a few more weeks until the start of term at Hogwarts, and she did not look forward to it at all.

Her mother walked pass Cassiopeia, sending her a soft look before she joined Lucius and Draco. Cassiopeia huffed, and with a flick of her cloak she headed towards her bedroom, to get some things.

When she opened it, it was just as how she left it a few days ago. Though, shattered objects from her breakdown were still present, as she did not have the motivation to clean them up. She opened her drawer, and she took her Sneakoscope and placed it inside her pocket. She shut the door behind her once again, and she went back to the hall where she spotted Yaxley entering the Manor.

"Malfoy," he greeted, with a small nod. She did not reply, she was about to walk away when he spoke again. "In all honesty, Malfoy, I did not expect you to become...well, like this..."

"Like what, Yaxley?" She questioned, as she turned to glare at the man.

"A trusted death eater," said Yaxley, as he followed her into the hall. "When I saw you and Potter in Diagon Alley, I was sure that you were a traitor...hm, I was wrong."

He had recalled the moment of their last meeting in Diagon Alley a year ago, she scoffed and Cassiopeia walked away, not uttering a word. Voldemort had gone back up to the drawing room, his snake slithering right behind him. Cassiopeia looked at it before she looked back at Snape. She could only see the back of his head, and Voldemort sitting near the fireplace. She could barely hear what they were saying since the opened crack on the door. She sighed, before turning to her mother.

She didn't keep track of the days, but she knew it had passed. Cassiopeia didn't remember falling asleep though, the weight of the day's events had finally taken its toll, and she had collapsed onto Snape's couch, exhaustion overwhelming her.

As she slept, her mind was anything but restful. Images flickered through her dreams, blending reality with visions of the future. The nightmares came in waves, vivid and terrifying.

She stood in the middle of a darkened corridor at Hogwarts. The walls, once adorned with tapestries and portraits, were blackened and charred. Flames licked at the stone, casting eerie shadows that danced and flickered. The smell of smoke and burning wood filled her nostrils, choking her.

Screams echoed down the hallways, mingling with the clash of spells and the roars of monstrous creatures. She saw students and teachers alike, their faces twisted in fear and pain, running in all directions, trying to escape the inferno.

Cassiopeia's heart pounded in her chest as she stumbled forward. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the Great Hall engulfed in flames. The enchanted ceiling, once showing the serene night sky, now mirrored the chaos below, storm clouds swirling with lightning and fire.

She saw figures moving through the smoke-Death Eaters, their masks glinting in the firelight, casting spells that tore through the ancient stone walls. The castle itself seemed to cry out in agony, its very foundations shaking.

In the midst of the chaos, she spotted familiar faces. Hermione, her hair wild and eyes wide with terror, was desperately trying to shield a group of younger students. Ron, bloodied but determined, was fending off two Death Eaters with everything he had. And Harry-Harry was in the center of it all, his face grim and resolute, deflecting spells with fierce determination.

Cassiopeia tried to move towards them, to help, but her feet felt like lead. She was rooted to the spot, unable to do anything but watch. She saw Draco, his face pale and drawn, fighting alongside their enemies. His eyes met hers for a brief moment, filled with confusion and fear.

Then the vision shifted. She was in the Astronomy Tower, standing on the edge. Below her, the castle was burning, the grounds littered with bodies. The screams of the dying and the wounded echoed in her ears. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Dumbledore? His face as unreadable as ever.

"This is what it comes to," he said, his voice a low murmur. "The choices we make, the sides we choose. It all leads to this."

Cassiopeia opened her mouth to speak, to ask him what they could do, but no words came out. She felt herself falling, the ground rushing up to meet her. The flames engulfed her, the heat searing her skin, and she screamed-

Cassiopeia jolted awake, her heart pounding, drenched in sweat. She looked around wildly, disoriented. The familiar dark wood paneling of Snape's study slowly came into focus. She was on his couch, a blanket draped over her. The room was dimly lit, the fire in the hearth reduced to glowing embers.

She sat up, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The vividness of the nightmare clung to her, the smell of smoke and the screams still echoing in her ears. She buried her face in her hands, trying to calm her racing heart.

The door to the study creaked open, and Snape entered, his expression unreadable. "You're awake," he said quietly, closing the door behind him.

Cassiopeia nodded, unable to trust her voice. She felt tears prick at her eyes, but she blinked them away, not wanting to show weakness.

Snape crossed the room and sat in the armchair opposite her. He studied her for a moment before speaking. "Another vision?" he asked, his tone gentle but probing, as he held the Daily Prophet in his hands.

She nodded again, finally finding her voice. "Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Hogwarts... it was burning. There were screams... so many screams."

Snape's expression darkened. "Visions of the future are rarely clear. They show possibilities, not certainties."

"You don't know that," said Cassiopeia. "All my visions always become true."

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The evening was heavy with an eerie stillness. Cassiopeia woke to an unsettling sense of dread. She knew something was wrong even before she felt the sharp, searing pain on her forearm. Her Dark Mark burned terribly, and she winced, clutching her arm. The summons was urgent.

She hurried out of Snape's study, finding him already awake and alert. His expression was more grim than usual, and that alone was enough to confirm her fears.

"The Ministry has fallen," Snape said quietly. "Scrimgeour is dead."

Cassiopeia's heart sank. The weight of the war had just intensified, and the Dark Lord's power was spreading like a dark plague. She nodded, her face set in determination. "We need to go."

Together, they Apparated to Malfoy Manor. The air crackled with a sinister energy as they arrived. Death Eaters gathered in clusters, their faces twisted in glee. The atmosphere was one of triumph, a celebration of their recent victory.

Cassiopeia's eyes swept the room, landing on Fenrir. "The Dark Lord has new plans for us," Fenrir sneered, his eyes glinting with madness. "We're to strike at the Burrow next."

Cassiopeia felt her heart clench. The Burrow. Where Harry would undoubtedly be. She forced herself to remain composed as she donned her Death Eater mask, the familiar weight settling over her face, a mask not just of metal but of the role she played in this deadly game.

"Prepare yourselves," said Yaxley's voice cut through the chatter. "We leave immediately."

In a whirl of dark robes and a rush of adrenaline, they Apparated to the Burrow. The scene they arrived to was chaotic. The air was filled with shouts and screams, the sound of spells being cast and deflected. The wedding of Bill and Fleur had been turned into a battleground.

Cassiopeia moved with purpose, her wand at the ready. The familiar faces of her fellow Death Eaters moved around her, each intent on their own targets. She advanced through the chaos, her eyes scanning for one person.

Then she saw him. Harry. He was moving hurriedly, trying to get others to safety. His face was a mask of concentration and fear. Cassiopeia's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

Their eyes met across the melee, and time seemed to stand still. Harry froze, his eyes widening in shock. Cassiopeia felt a pang of guilt and sorrow as she looked at him, remembering the trust they once shared, the love that had blossomed despite the odds.

She raised her wand, pointing it directly at him. Harry's eyes filled with confusion and betrayal. But just as quickly, Cassiopeia shifted her focus. A Death Eater behind Harry was about to cast a spell.

"Protego!" she shouted, her protective shield forming just in time to deflect the curse aimed at Harry's back. The Death Eater behind Harry stumbled, caught off guard by her intervention.

Harry's eyes never left hers, and she saw the mix of emotions swirling in their depths-anger, hurt, and an unspoken question. Why?

Cassiopeia couldn't answer him, not here, not now. The cacophony of the battle around them resumed its place in her awareness, and she knew she had to act quickly.

"Move!" she yelled at Harry, her voice barely recognizable under the mask. "Get out of here!"

Harry hesitated for a split second, understanding flashing in his eyes. He turned and bolted towards Hermione and Ron, and they disappeared in an instant.

Cassiopeia's heart pounded as she lowered her wand, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed her act of defiance.

Cassiopeia took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. The Burrow was in flames, a symbol of the war's reach and the destruction that came with it. She moved back into the fray, casting spells and deflecting curses, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

She knew the consequences of her actions. Helping Harry, even in the smallest way, could mean her death. But she couldn't help it. The love she still felt for him, the memories of their time together, were too strong to ignore.

But for now, she had done what she could. She had given Harry a chance, a fleeting moment of protection amidst the storm. And that, for now, was enough.