THIRTY-THREE | year 5
IT'S NOT OVER YET
"Cassiopeia, what are you doing here?!" shouted Lucius, furiously. Harry blinked, a slight tint of fear in his eyes.
"Followed them," Cassiopeia lied, quickly, "I heard they wanted to go here, I followed them,"
"Then why is it that I didn't see you?" snarled Lucius.
"I'm great at hiding," she said, confidently, "will you let me go, Dolohov?"
Dolohov glared at her before letting go of her arm. Bellatrix chuckled, making Cassiopeia turn her head towards her. "You've grown up, Cassiopeia. Lovely to see you,"
"Thanks, Aunt Bella, lovely to see you...umm...too," she smiled.
"Lucius," hissed Bellatrix, her tone back to a much more serious one. "Let your daughter get the Prophecy, go on. Let her give it to The Dark Lord,"
Her father narrowed his eyes at her, before walking next to her, motioning towards Harry, who stood there with his eyebrows knitted together.
Cassiopeia nodded, stared back at Harry before slowly approaching him. She gave him a subtle nod, "Come on, Potter. Give it to me,"
"Don't!" yelled Ginny. Neville and Ginny looked at Cassiopeia, feeling betrayed. But Ron, Hermione and Luna knew that she was doing it to spare them some time.
"Don't be afraid, it'll be in good hands," she held her hand out, though her words seemed like she was doing it in a manipulative way, Harry had caught the sincerity in her voice, "trust me, Potter,"
He saw Cassiopeia give him a nod as she raised her eyebrows, Harry steps forward and hands Cassiopeia the Prophecy. She took a step back and handed the Prophecy to her father.
A white light behind her father caught her eyes, before she could drop it on his hand, Lucius turned and saw Sirius Black.
"Get away from my Godson," sneered Sirius, and with that, he punched Lucius in the face, he falls over accidentally hitting Cassiopeia's arm. She gasped when the Prophecy fell on the floor, she tried to catch it but it slipped.
Her father stared in stunned disbelief as the Prophecy smashed on the stone floor. "No..." he said.
Cassiopeia turned to Sirius who grinned at her, she grinned back though it did not reach her eyes.
Then the Order came, slowly what seemed to be white mist started to fall and then Tonks was there, then Moody, then Lupin...Cassiopeia didn't see who else was there when Harry grabbed her shoulders and made her turn to him.
"Get down, be safe okay---" said Harry, hurriedly.
"I'll be fine, you go!" She pushed him back just before a spell had hit them. "Go!"
She ran towards the closest stone wall, she hid behind them and watched as the Order and the Death Eaters started to battle. Her Aunt's laugh echoed through the place, the sounds of crashing and whooshing.
Suddenly, the white fog appeared in front of her. She watched as Mad-Eye Moody appeared, he held his wand in front of her with eyes full of fury.
"Hi! Hello! It's me Cassiopeia---" said Cassiopeia holding her hands up.
"What're you doing lurking in the shadows?! You get over there with your friends, it's too dangerous here!" shouted Moody, when suddenly his eyes started to spin around. He whirled around, yelled a spell.
"You stay away from my niece!" shrieked Bellatrix to Mad-Eye, they started to fight, Cassiopeia made her way away from them. She ducked just in time when a spell had hit the stone wall, but she could not run away fast.
The stones on the wall crumbled down, and it had hit her arm. She winced in pain as she used her wand to deflect the other stones. She ran away quickly.
Cassiopeia and Hermione locked eyes and she mouthed the words "are you okay?"
Cassiopeia nodded, walking away from them. She watched fearfully, afraid of what else might come from her vision earlier. She spotted Sirius and her father duelling each other, she wanted to stop them. Her father might be the one who could kill Sirius.
Harry and Sirius looked cheerful, they were enjoying fighting alongside together.
"Sirius, look out!" Cassiopeia heard Harry shout. She held her injured arm, watching as the others battle.
Cassiopeia could do something and change it, she saw this exact moment happen. But she didn't know who had sent the spell.
She watches fearfully as a jet of light has hit Sirius on his chest, Cassiopeia turned to see her Aunt smiling. Sirius' smile fades, and he turns to Harry. Terror lights in Harry's eyes.
Sirius flies backwards, through the ragged veil and vanishes. Cassiopeia's eyes widened, she took a step forward. Everyone had gone quiet, except for Bellatrix's laugh that echoed.
"Sirius?" breathed Harry, he started to move towards the veil, but Lupin held him back. He tried to move, he tried to fight his grasp. "SIRIUS! NO!"
Harry's painful scream of denial made Cassiopeia wince, she wanted to run to him and help Lupin to hold him back. She was about to, but her father had appeared in front of her.
"After your school, you and I need to have a word," he hissed.
How could he say that when someone right in front of them just lost their loved one?
She scowled, pushed past him and she spotted her Aunt smirking as she walked out of the room. Cassiopeia spotted Harry pulling free of Lupin and raced after her.
Cassiopeia tried to run after him, but it took her almost eight minutes to run across the large room as she dodged the spells that would hit her. She could hear her father yell her name, but she ignored him. If he asks, she could just say she went after her Aunt, not Harry.
But she wasn't able to run towards the door on time, her father appeared in front of her.
"Where do you think you're going?!" He asked, angrily.
"To aunt Bella!" She growled, "now leave me be, just go!"
"You crushed the Prophecy, do you have any idea what The Dark Lord would do to you?!" He had grabbed her injured arm, and he led her behind another stone wall, "he'll kill you!"
"And? You'd be happy if he did!" She shouted, inhaling a sharp breath from the pain. "I didn't break it, you hit me and it was your fault!"
"Don't you dare speak to me like that, you rat," he scowled, grabbing her injured arm on purpose, making Cassiopeia whimper from the sudden pain, "you weren't going to see your aunt, you were going to go after Potter! What? Had he made you soft?!"
"You gave me a task to befriend them, and I did! I did exactly as you told me," she hissed, "now you're asking me that? If anything this is your fault! All of it is!"
Lucius was about to open his mouth to talk but a large boom was heard, Moody had crushed the wall and had stunned her father.
"Thank you, Mad-Eye!" She smiled, gratefully. He gave her a nod before she went out the door.
Hermione, Ron and the others stood watching as their friend lay on the floor, sand circling him. Cassiopeia tried to run towards him, but Ron held her back.
"I need to get to him!" She tried to push Ron's arm back, but he was too strong since he wasn't too injured.
"You can't, not now, Cassiopeia," said Hermione, also holding her back.
"He knows the truth, Dumbledore," said Harry, smiling. "I am too strong,"
"Don't fight him, Harry! You can't win, not on his term," said Dumbledore.
Harry draws his gaze beyond Dumbledore, his eyes locking with Cassiopeia who is breathless and in fear.
Then his eyes went Ron and Hermione, who was also looking back at Harry, worriedly.
"You're not strong. You're weak," whispered Harry, he looks back at Cassiopeia, Ron and Hermione. Harry looks back with the last of his strength, "You'll never know friendship, or love, or real happiness---and I--feel--sorry for--you!"
Cassiopeia had broken free of Hermione and Ron's grip, she ran towards Harry, sitting next to Dumbledore when he held his hand out to stop Cassiopeia from going further.
Voldemort had appeared in front of him, like a dark shadow. But his expression betrays no anger or weakness. Instead, it shows an almost humane sadness. He stood before Harry, who still lie on the floor.
"You're a fool, Harry Potter," he leans closer, "And you will lose everything,"
The fireplaces started to sound, more and more whooshes. Loud voices echo all over the Atrium, as Fudge enters, the stops, dumbstruck.
Voldemort looks evenly at Harry, and with another blast of wind he twirls up into the air and vanishes.
"He's back," said Fudge, gaping.
"Yeah, no shit!" yelled Cassiopeia before pushing Dumbledore's hand away and kneeling in front of Harry. She gently touches his face, as Harry shivered. He stared up into her eyes, his hand making its way towards hers that was on his cheek.
"Hey, Harry," she whispered, "It's--It's okay, just close your eyes.
And he did, Harry passed out in her arms.
°°°
They've made their way back to Hogwarts, everyone was silent. No one dared to talk after what had happened, especially Harry, who only held Cassiopeia's hand, afraid that if he let go he might lose her too.
They all entered the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomphrey muttering all sorts of rubbish as to why they all got themselves to trouble again.
"Every year, it's always you and your silly gang Potter!" huffed Madame Pomphrey.
Cassiopeia led Harry to one of the beds, before sitting down next to him. She managed to bandage her wound, Harry still looking down at the floor, no emotion in his eyes.
When her arm was all bandaged up, she excused herself and walked out of the Hospital Wing. Harry laid on the Hospital bed, still staring at nothing in deep thought.
Capacity made her way up to Dumbledore's Office, right as she was about to mutter the password, Snape had emerged from the statue.
"You look horrible," stated Snape, Cassiopeia pursed her lips.
"I don't want to talk to you right now, Snape, move," she then walked into the statue and made her way up the stairs.
She knocked on Dumbledore's office, and she opened it. Dumbledore sat on his chair, his half-moon spectacles on top of his tall nose and his arms in front of him on the desk as if he expected her.
"Cassiopeia," sais Dumbledore, she sat in front of him. "Can I help you?"
"My father saw me back at the Ministry, he'd kill me. I-I broke the Prophecy, and maybe Voldemort would kill me too!" She burst, "I don't know what to do, I just...I just. I'm lost,"
"I understand your feeling, Cassiopeia," said Dumbledore, softly, "you were selfless enough to fight alongside Harry and your friends when it is a risk for you,"
"I had to,"
"Nothing horrible will happen to you, you're a bright witch," stated Dumbledore, he watches as Cassiopeia lets out a heavy sigh, "Perhaps you are not ready for the task I assigned you? You are here to say something about that aren't you?"
"I am," Cassiopeia nodded.
"Well?"
"I just want to know," she paused before looking up at Dumbledore, "am I your right choice?"
Dumbledore gave her a weary smile, "Cassiopeia, you have shown me that you are my right choice earlier,"
"But what if you've made a mistake?" She questioned, "because when Snape taught me Occlumency, it took me almost three months---"
"My choice is not about how long it is for you to learn, Cassiopeia," Dumbledore cuts her off before she could finish her sentence, "it's about how you are brave enough to do what you did. You fought against your father to do the right thing,"
Cassiopeia crossed her arms, and pursed her lips, "but that'd lead me to a horrible consequence when I get home tomorrow,"
"That will not happen," said Dumbledore, "I will not let it. I will ask Snape to help you."
The girl gloomily nods her head, "thank you, Professor. I should get going now,"
"I'll see you soon, Cassiopeia," he nodded as Cassiopeia walked out of his office.
Cassiopeia walked past the hospital wing, but she could not see Harry. She decided she'll just speak with him tomorrow.
She felt tired, and she was glad that nobody was inside the Common Room when she entered. She just plopped down her bed, closing her eyes and deciding that she can worry about what her father might say to her tomorrow.
The next day, Cassiopeia waited in front of the entrance of the Gryffindor Common Room. She stood tapping her foot, waiting impatiently for Harry.
The feast was about to start, and she wanted to walk with Harry to the feast. Just then, Hermione and Ron walked out of the portrait.
"Hey," said Cassiopeia, "Where's Harry?"
"He won't go to the feast," said Ron, "said he wasn't hungry,"
Cassiopeia lets out an exasperated sigh, "all right, thanks Ron,"
"You can go and talk to him if you want," said Hermione, "I know you want to,"
"Are you sure?" questioned Cassiopeia.
"Yeah, the boy's dorm is on the left and our room's the second door," said Ron, he muttered the password and nodded towards it with a small smile on his lips, "Go on."
"Thank you, both of you," she smiled. She did as she was instructed to. Nobody was inside the Common Room, and Cassiopeia looked around at how small it is.
She pushed away from her judgemental thoughts about the Gryffindor Common Room, and she walked up to the Boys' dorm. Cassiopeia stopped when she spotted Harry, sitting down on his bed, his back facing the door.
Cassiopeia knocked on the open door, "knock knock,"
Harry turned around and saw Cassiopeia smiling at him from the door, "Cassiopeia? How did you---?"
"Ron opened the portrait, I was waiting outside for you," she answered, walking towards him and sitting down on his bed. "I'm not hungry too, I just want to talk to you. Is everything all right?"
He looked away, his eyes looking at the floor now, "it's just-- when I care and love someone, I end up losing them,"
"You still have Hermione, Ron and me," stated Cassiopeia taking his hand in hers.
"But what if I do?" He asked, inhaling a deep breath. "What if I lose you?"
"You won't," she said, cupping his face and moving his head to look at her.
He smiled, nodding gratefully. He leaned in, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Cassiopeia smiled into the kiss, placing her arm around his shoulder as he pushed her closer to him.
But Harry parted as fast as it started, making Cassiopeia lift a brow. "What's wrong?"
"Wouldn't you get in serious trouble?" He asked, frowning. "Cassiopeia, you were seen by your father, the Prophecy was knocked off your hand. Voldemort would kill you!"
"Stop panicking," she smacked his shoulder, "I don't think that matters right now, I'll be fine. I'll just think if something on the spot like I always does,"
"Voldemort wouldn't believe you," he said. "Something horrible could happen!"
"Harry Potter, look at me," she motioned towards her face. "Look at me and tell me, do I look like I give a damn about what might happen?"
"You look calm, you---"
"Indeed I am," she said, "Now shut up, and let's just go,"
Cassiopeia grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet, "Go where?"
"To the feast, love," she grinned before pulling him out of his dorm.
°°°
Cassiopeia decided its best if she stayed with her brother instead, she had hugged Harry goodbye before and she promised she will send him letters.
The train ride home was not quiet or lovely at all. It was loud and annoying. Crabbe and Goyle spent their time playing exploding snaps, and Pansy kept pouting and speaking in a high pitched voice that made Cassiopeia want to throw her off the moving train.
When Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy went out to catch the trolly lady, Cassiopeia had told Draco what had happened when she went to the Ministry. She did not mention anything about helping Harry, she only told him that she sneaked into Snape's office for the Invisibility potion and that she followed them so that she can watch whatever would happen so she can help her father soon.
And she also left off the fact that she dropped the Prophecy.
Draco didn't believe her at all, though. He said she was just making all this up, and that Voldemort isn't back.
Oh, how wrong he was.
When the twins had come home, picked up by their mother, Draco found out that everything Cassiopeia told him was true. Her mother ignored Cassiopeia as if she wasn't there, making Cassiopeia confused.
When they reached their Manor, it seemed to be even more gloomy than before. A heavy feeling inside Cassiopeia's chest told her something was wrong.
When they entered the Manor, everyone was quiet. Narcissa held Cassiopeia's shoulder and motioned her towards the empty office.
Frowning, Cassiopeia followed her mother. When Narcissa closed the door behind them, she looked at Cassiopeia with stern eyes.
"You were there?" asked her mother, in a low voice.
"Yes, I was," nodded Cassiopeia, just as Narcissa opened her mouth to talk, Cassiopeia stopped her, "before you think I helped Potter, I didn't. I just followed them because I was curious,"
"Are you sure, darling?" questioned Narcissa.
"Yes mother," answered Cassiopeia. Narcissa nodded, before bringing Cassiopeia into a tight hug.
Cassiopeia frowned, she knew her mother wanted to say something else. Her mother parted the hug, and she lets out a heavy sigh.
"Be careful, you get to sleep, there will be visitors," she said, Cassiopeia nodded, walking out of the room. She walked up the stairs and to her bedroom, but before she could reach her bedroom she had noticed that one of the rooms that were two doors away from her bedroom, was open.
Curious, she peered in, wondering who could be in their guest room that's always closed.
Then she had noticed the familiar black curly hair and the messy robes.
"Aunt Bella?" said Cassiopeia, then cursing at herself when she realized that she said it out loud.
Bellatrix whirled around, the mad glint in her eyes. She smirked, opening her arms.
"Cassiopeia! Sweetheart! How are you, dearie?" smiled Bellatrix, her yellow teeth showing.
Cassiopeia gave her a fake smile, "Splendid, wonderful. You?"
Bellatrix walked towards her, bringing her into a tight hug. It didn't seem like the usual lovely hug that anyone would give, this one seemed angry, and if Bellatrix hugged her even tighter she would pass out.
"Lovely," she giggled, her high pitched voice echoing.
"Good, I...nice seeing you again, Aunt Bella..."
"You too, sweetheart," grinned Bellatrix.
Cassiopeia shudders as she opened her bedroom room. She shuts it as soon as possible, went over to her bed and laid down.
She did not go down for dinner, her dinner was sent to her by the House Elves. She let out a heavy sigh as she looked out her window, she didn't want to leave her bedroom, she didn't even want to go to the Library.
Her father burst into her room when she was scribbling something in her notebook. She jumped and turned to him with an annoyed look on her face.
"What are you---?!" exclaimed Cassiopeia, but her father went over to her so fast she didn't even finish her sentence.
"You will say that you broke the Prophecy!" He said very fast.
"Why would I do that?" questioned Cassiopeia, lifting a brow as she took a step back from her father, "it's not true---"
"I don't care if it is!" He yelled, "you will say it was your fault or there will be consequences. Do you want to live your entire summer in the dungeon?!"
Cassiopeia scowled at her father who glared at her as his face turned red from anger, "but it was not my fault,"
"You will do as you are told or I will make you suffer, do you understand me?!" He shouted, Cassiopeia turned away.
"Fine," she huffed.
Lucius straightened up his posture, fixed his suit and nodded. He walked out of her room as if he did not just yell and threatened her.
Cassiopeia lets out a heavy sigh, swallowing a lump in her throat and sat back down on her chair.
She decided to spend her night trying to figure out what the future could be. To see what will happen, and to clear jer mind from what happened. She had yet to learn how to control her vision so she can see by command.
"Bloody hell," she muttered as she sat on the floor. She walked into her bathroom after hours of trying to figure it out, but she couldn't.
Of course, it'll probably take her weeks before she can do it.
Just as she wiped her face with her bath towel, she heard a loud knock on her door. She groaned, walking out of the toilet and to the door.
When she opened it, her brother stood with a very serious look on his face. "They want us downstairs,"
"Who?" questioned Cassiopeia, lifting a brow. She closed the door behind her and followed her brother to the long empty hallway that is only being lit by torches.
"I don't know too," said Draco, "mother just told us to go there, and I don't think it's something good."
They both walked down the stairs, and to the office that was near the living room. In the office, there's a large fireplace. The fire is the only light in the room, and in front of the fire is a seat, a large seat.
They both entered the office and Cassiopeia knew it was changed. The table was not there anymore, and so were the bookshelves.
When they entered, Cassiopeia spotted Snape sitting at the corner of the room, in the shadows. Her father stood in the middle of the room, his head looking down at the floor guiltily.
Her mother stood next to the door, and Cassiopeia spotted Peter Pettigrew whimpering next to the chair, then her Aunt Bellatrix standing next to Snape with a proud look on her face.
Cassiopeia knew something is extremely wrong with these visitors. Her mother held both of the twins on their shoulders.
Just then, a snake came hissing inside the office. Without any other explanation, Cassiopeia knew it was Voldemort and his snake. And by the look on her brother's face, he also knew it was him.
Slowly, Voldemort stood up from the chair, he turned around and faced her father.
"Lucius Malfoy, you have failed me yet again," said the very cold voice of Voldemort, he slowly turned around, his red eyes glowing.
"M-My lord, it's Harry Potter---"
"This is not about Potter!" hissed Voldemort, "this is about the Prophecy! You had one job, to get the Prophecy and to do as you were told."
Lucius stood there in silence, his hands behind his back and his eyes on the floor.
"You told me it was not you who broke the Prophecy?" asked Voldemort, his voice low.
He nodded, making Cassiopeia look at him with anger.
"Then who was it, Lucius?"
Lucius' head lifted, and he turned around. He looked at Cassiopeia with a guilty look on his face making Voldemort follow his gaze.
"And who might you be?" asked Voldemort. Cassiopeia looked around, and she took a step forward, she gulped.
"Cassiopeia Malfoy...my lord," she spoke, her voice shaking from fear. Her eyes had landed on Snape who looked at her, his finger tapping on the side of his head. She lets out a breath before closing her mind, leaving no thoughts.
"Your daughter," stated Voldemort as he approached Cassiopeia. "Did you break the Prophecy?"
Cassiopeia looked at her father, whose eyes stared at her angrily, indicating that if she says it was him, he'd probably do something horrible to her. Then, she looked back at Voldemort, to his red eyes.
"Y-Yes, my lord, I...did," she paused, "I did not mean to, it was knocked out of my hand by---"
"Do you know what happens when someone failed the task I gave to them?" questioned Voldemort, stepping closer towards Cassiopeia.
The girl shook her head, looking away from his eyes, Voldemort tilted his head.
"They get tortured," he said, simply, "but do you also know what happens when not only they failed my task, but also interfered, hence the reason why they failed?"
"No," said Cassiopeia.
"They die," Voldemort said, Narcissa took a step forward when he said that, making Draco grab his mother's arm to hold her back. Cassiopeia's heart started pounding against her chest, as she heard the sound of Nagini hissing next to Voldemort.
Voldemort had noticed Narcissa taking a step towards them, and he smirked. "Wormtail, take the others out of this room...they do not deserve to watch their loved one get killed in front of them,"
Narcissa opened her mouth to protest, but without question, Lucius went over to her and made her shut her mouth by muttering something in her ear, he did not look at Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia gave Draco a sad look, who looked away, not wanting to look at her as he held his mother's arm. Lucius and Draco dragged Narcissa out of the office, Wormtail and Bellatrix behind them. Bellatrix merely gave a glance at Cassiopeia.
She looked at Snape who watched as Cassiopeia took a step back from Voldemort.
Voldemort hissed something to Nagini, who hissed back before turning towards Cassiopeia.
She felt her heart drop as she stepped back. She was going to die in her own home, she was going to die not telling Harry or the others how grateful she was for them. She was going to die because of the mistake she did not make.
As the snake started to approach Cassiopeia, her breathing started to get heavy as she fell back, stumbling as she backed away fearfully.
Nagini's head was now at her level, and Cassiopeia held her hand in front of her face waiting for the snake to attack. It hissed, Cassiopeia shutting her eyes closed.
But before the snake could take a bite out of her, Snape walked towards Voldemort. "My lord...before you kill the girl, I must say something,"
"Nagini...wait," said Voldemort making Nagini's mouth shut close, but Cassiopeia was still holding her hand in front of her face, her eyes shut close, "what is it, Severus?"
Snape's eyes landed on Cassiopeia, before looking back at Voldemort. "Cassiopeia here is a seer, she can see the future and she will be able to see how you can defeat the Boy,"
Voldemort's head snapped towards Cassiopeia, and his brows creased. "Is that true?"
Cassiopeia lowered her hands and nodded, unable to say anything. Voldemort's eyes widened in administration.
"Do it now, show me," he said in a breathless voice, Cassiopeia stumbled up, her other hand on the wall behind her and the other on her side.
"I-I don't know if I can," she said, in a hushed voice, "I haven't done it before...I haven't done it on command,"
"You will show it to me," he hissed.
Cassiopeia lets out a heavy breath, "I can see your future if you give me your hand..."
Voldemort narrowed his eyes but did not question her. He held out his hand, and Cassiopeia was hesitant to touch it. But she placed two of her fingers on top of his hand, and she tried her best to see the future.
Usually, she would see the past of whoever she touched. But this time, she tried to see the future.
She shut her eyes closed, her finger shaking. Then, the feeling of whenever she had a vision started to fill up in her chest. It was feeling like something is pulling her out of the world.
She lets out a small gasp as the future of Voldemort plays in her head.
DUN DUN DUNNNNN
I can't wait for the angst, get your tissues cuz it's gonna be one hell of a ride!
Also pls leave a comment, I'd love to hear what you think about this chapter <3
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