Chapter 63;
THE SEVEN POTTERS

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.•°★ "YOU have done well, haven't you, Cassiopeia?" said a voice, as Cassiopeia was going to follow Snape out of the Manor. Voldemort had gone again, so most of the Death Eaters are leaving to do their own thing.

Cassiopeia turned and she saw her father, his face looking as sunken as a skull. She narrowed her eyes at him, and she didn't reply. Snape had gone off, and she sighed. He was supposed to wait for her.

The blond haired girl watched as her father strode towards her, his face pale. "Did you hear me?" He asked, in a not-so polite tone. Cassiopeia examined him with her eyes before she scoffed.

"Had a pleasant holiday in Azkaban, father?" She asked, as she was going to go out the large doors. Lucius scowled, though he did not give a retort.

"The dark lord favors you," he stated, as he followed, Cassiopeia stopped and she turned to look at him. "To let you sit on his side."

"Pity, he doesn’t seem to like you at all, father," she said, narrowing her eyes. "After what you did."

Lucius sneered and he was going to grab Cassiopeia, not letting her leave but she stood her ground. Snape had appeared and he lifted a brow at Lucius.

"Lucius," said Snape, "Cassiopeia and I best be going, we have tasks that need to be done."

Lucius snared at Snape, and he looked at Cassiopeia. "I believe she is my daughter, Snape. She is to tell me what tasks she is ought to finish for the dark lord---"

"Now you consider me as a daughter?" She questioned, narrowing her eyes. Cassiopeia scoffed and she looked at Snape, her eyes caught Draco who seemed to be out of words after what they had just saw.

Cassiopeia turned to Snape and she nodded, and the two marched away, leaving her father to look at her, stunned. He must've known that Cassiopeia hadn't come back home in a while.

°°°

Harry stood in his bedroom at Number 4, Privet Drive, the space feeling more confined than ever. He was packing his belongings into his rucksack, the familiar items of his life at Hogwarts now seeming to weigh heavily upon him.

He paused, his hand hovering over the serpent ring that lay on his bedside table. It was a simple, elegant piece of jewelry that Cassiopeia had given him, and it shimmered slightly in the dim light. He picked it up, feeling the cool metal against his skin, and a flood of memories washed over him.

Cassiopeia. Her name alone brought a storm of emotions that he struggled to control. How could someone he loved so deeply, someone he had trusted, betray him so utterly? The questions gnawed at him, each one more painful than the last.

Why had she done it? What had driven her to join the Death Eaters, to deceive him and everyone at Hogwarts? Harry’s anger flared, a hot, searing emotion that mixed with his deep sense of hurt and confusion. He had stood up for her, defended her when others doubted. And yet, she had lied to him, played him for a fool.

He turned the ring over in his hand, the serpent’s eyes glinting as if mocking him. Despite everything, he still wore the ring. He slid it onto his finger, the weight of it a constant reminder of her. Was it because he hoped there was an explanation, a reason that could make sense of the betrayal?

Harry’s chest tightened as he thought of their last encounter. Her words, her tears, the way she had looked at him with such sorrow and regret. He clenched his fist, the ring digging into his skin. How could she claim to love him and then do this? How could she put him in such danger?

He remembered her pleading eyes, her desperate whisper: “I had no choice, Harry…”

“Damn it, Cassiopeia!” he muttered under his breath, frustration boiling over. He threw a book into his rucksack with more force than necessary, feeling the tears sting his eyes. “You always had a choice. We all do.”

The room felt stifling, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. He sank onto the edge of his bed, burying his face in his hands. The fear, the betrayal, the love—all of it crashed over him like a relentless wave. How could he reconcile the Cassiopeia he knew with the one who had lied to him?

He took a deep breath, standing up and closing his trunk that he had started to clean up. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. There were so many questions left unanswered, so many wounds left unhealed. And amidst it all, the ghost of Cassiopeia Malfoy lingered in his mind, her presence a bittersweet torment that he couldn't escape.

°°°

Cassiopeia heart pounded as she adjusted the dark mask over her face, the cold metal pressing against her skin. She mounted her broom, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped the handle. The night sky was clear, a deep, inky blue that seemed to stretch into infinity. Tonight, the Death Eaters would strike, and she would be among them, chasing the many Harry Potters through the sky. Snape beside her, he sent a look before he too, mounted on his broom. They were waiting, some in the sky already, the others, such as Snape and Cassiopeia, were waiting near the roofs of the houses near Privet Drive.

As she rose into the air, the familiar rush of wind against her face was both a comfort and a reminder of the danger ahead. Cassiopeia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had to stay focused. Her mission was clear: appear loyal to Voldemort while ensuring Harry's safety.

The signal was given, and the Death Eaters surged forward, a dark cloud of malevolence streaking across the sky. Cassiopeia flew alongside them, her eyes scanning the horizon. She spotted the first group of Harrys, each accompanied by a protector. The Polyjuice Potion had done its work well; it was impossible to tell which was the real Harry Potter.

She gritted her teeth, knowing that every curse and hex she sent would have to be precise. Her role was a delicate balance of appearing to attack while secretly aiming to hinder the Death Eaters. She couldn’t afford to slip up.

The first encounter came swiftly. Spells flashed through the air, streaks of red and green illuminating the dark sky. Cassiopeia aimed her wand, firing a stunning spell that narrowly missed a Harry and struck a Death Eater instead. She saw the masked figure jerk in surprise, tumbling from his broom.

“Damn it!” another Death Eater snarled beside her, his voice muffled by his mask. “Get Potter!”

Cassiopeia narrowed her eyes, pretending to be frustrated by her near-miss. She banked sharply, following another group. She noticed Nymphadora Tonks on a broom, one of the Harrys clinging to the broom beside her. She aimed her wand, sending a Blasting Curse that veered off course and exploded harmlessly in the distance.

“Focus!” Bellatrix Lestrange’s shrill voice pierced the chaos, filled with manic glee. Cassiopeia suppressed a shiver, knowing her aunt would show no mercy to those who failed. She tightened her grip on her broom, her resolve hardening. She had to stay in control.

The chase continued, a deadly game of cat and mouse. Cassiopeia weaved through the air, her movements fluid and practiced. She fired spell after spell, each one strategically missing its mark or aimed at a Death Eater instead. The sky was a cacophony of shouts, explosions, and the eerie whoosh of brooms slicing through the night.

Cassiopeia’s eyes darted around, constantly searching for the real Harry. She spotted another group, this one led by Hagrid on a massive motorbike. A burst of recognition flared in her chest. Harry. She was sure of it. She pushed her broom to its limits, closing the distance between them.

“Stop them!” A Death Eaters' voice, cold and commanding, echoed through the air.

She aimed her wand at him, her breath catching in her throat. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a Disarming Charm that knocked his wand from his hand. The Death Eater swore, glaring at her through his mask.

“What are you doing?” he demanded, his voice a mixture of anger and confusion.

“Misfired!” she lied smoothly, her heart pounding. “I’ll get them.”

The Death Eater didn’t have time to argue as another group of Harrys came into view, drawing his attention. Cassiopeia sighed in relief, turning her focus back to Hagrid and Harry. They were struggling, the motorbike bucking wildly as spells rained down around them. She didn't know if he was indeed the real Harry.

She flew closer, her mind racing. She had to create a distraction, something to give Harry a chance to escape. She fired a series of spells, each one aimed at the Death Eaters closest to her. She saw one fall, then another, but it wasn’t enough.

Suddenly, a burst of green light shot past her, narrowly missing her head. She turned to see a Death Eater bearing down on her, his wand raised for another attack. She twisted her broom, dodging the curse and firing back, as if to stun Harry but instad "accidentally" stunning the death eater. The Death Eater fell, his broom spiraling out of control.

Cassiopeia’s breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling with exertion. She could see the horizon beginning to lighten, the first hints of dawn breaking through the darkness. They were almost there. They just had to hold on a little longer.

Their eyes met for a brief, intense moment, as if Harry recognized who she was under the mask. She saw confusion, pain, and anger in his gaze, and her heart ached. Cassiopeia moved away as more Death Eaters came to view.

She quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand. Cassiopeia knew she couldn't afford to let her emotions show. The battle raged on, the night filled with the sounds of conflict and chaos. Cassiopeia fought with everything she had, each spell a calculated move to protect Harry and confuse the Death Eaters. She could feel her strength waning, the exhaustion creeping into her bones, but she couldn’t stop. Not now.

Suddenly, a flash of green light cut through the darkness, and Cassiopeia's heart stopped. A Harry, was hit by a spell. She saw his ear blasted off, blood spraying through the air. He screamed in pain, clutching the side of his head.

"George!" she heard Remus yell, panic and fury in his voice. The sight spurred Cassiopeia into action. She aimed her wand at the Death Eater who had cast the spell, but she realized it was Snape, whose mask had fallen off. He must've accidentally hit him.

She felt a surge of satisfaction, quickly replaced by a cold, hard resolve. She had to keep going. The battle wasn't over yet.

Bellatrix’s mad laughter echoed in her ears as she swooped down, her wand aimed directly at Remus. Cassiopeia had tried to block off the spells that Remus are throwing at her.

The battle raged on, the night filled with the sounds of conflict and chaos. Cassiopeia fought with everything she had, each spell a calculated move to protect Harry and confuse the Death Eaters. She could feel her strength waning, the exhaustion creeping into her bones, but she couldn’t stop. Not now.

Cassiopeia’s breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling with exertion.   Then, suddenly, Cassiopeia couldn't move forwards anymore, as if an invisible wall stopped her from moving forwards. Other Death Eaters might have noticed this as well, since Bellatrix let out an angry yell and Snape sighed.

The Order must have placed strong enchantments to where they would be going, and for those who bare the dark mark, it was difficult to go through.

Cassiopeia tore off her mask and she breathed heavily, gripping her broom and she turned to Snape who had turned away.

At least, she knew, none of the seven potters have died...at least that's what she hoped had happened.