ROOM OF REQUIREMENTS AND THE INQUISITORIAL SQUAD

Finally, a few days later, after Neville had found the Room of Requirements, they all gathered around with more trusted students, they were mostly Gryffindors, and some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. It was only Cassiopeia who wore a green tie with a snake on it.

Students stand as Harry stood in the middle of the room, between Hermione and Ron.

"All right...so... I was thinking the first thing we should practice is disarming charms..." started Harry.

"Isn't that sort of...basic?" A boy questioned.

"It saved my life last year," said Harry, simply. There was an impressed murmur, and Cassiopeia gave Harry a thumbs up, he grinned at her.

A dummy stood in the middle of the room, its arms extended, one hand holding a fake wand. Uneasy students stand in a line before it--Neville first.

He stares up at the Death Eater--takes a deep breath--"Expelliarmus!"

Neville's wand goes spinning out of his hand in a shower of sparks and students duck as it shoots over their heads and smashes against the wall. Harry frowns--this is going to be harder than he thought. Neville sags in despair.

"I'm hopeless," he muttered, Cassiopeia stood next to Hermione.

Harry hesitates--then, with determination: "No you're not. You're just flourishing your wand too much. Here, try it like this..."

Harry demonstrates with a sharp flick of his wrist...as just beyond, Hermione and Cassiopeia exchange an impressed smile...

°°°

Filch's rheumy eyes narrow in kind as he peers around a corner--spots a group of students down the corridor, looking around to make sure they're not being watched...

Panting, Filch silently stalks them--quickly ducking behind a suit of armour when Cho hears footsteps--waiting--then high-stepping it to hug the adjacent wall. He peers slyly around the corner...just in time to see the Filigreed door melting into stone. Filch smiles a curdled smile.

"Stunning is one of the most useful spells in your arsenal..." The class has formed an elongated circle. Harry stands towards one end. His confidence has clearly grown, and Cassiopeia was happy that it did. "....it's sort of a wizard's bread and butter, really."

Harry turns to see he's squared off against, it's the small boy Nigel, he looked very nervous.

Harry smiles encouragingly, "It's all right, Nigel. Take your best shot,"

Nigel takes a deep breath, then shouts:
"STUPEFY!"

A jet of red light leaps from Nigel's wand, sending Harry flying twenty feet through the air, and the little boy goes sprawling back too. Harry and an awed Nigel blink at each other from across the floor--Harry grins.

"Not bad. Next--" Harry said, Cassiopeia stood in the middle of the room, Harry was about to go, but she stopped the boy.

"I'd like to practice with you," she said, a smirk on her face, Harry gave her the look of determination, and agreed. They both stood away from each other, they held their wands.

"Scared, Potter?" she taunts, he narrowed his eyes remembering the same exact words that Draco said to him in his second year.

"1--2--!" Hermione counted.

"STUPEFY!" yelled Harry, before Hermione could finish.

Cassiopeia blocked the spell, and Harry was impressed she knew how to. He gaped at her, and she shouted: "Stupefy!"

Harry went soared through the air, he slammed on the floor with an 'oof' and he looked at her, impressed. She chuckled, walking over to him and giving him her hand.

"You got a bit distracted there," she chuckled as she pulled the boy up, she saw Harry flush red.

Both of them walked to the side, giving space for the next students. Harry turned to the girl, who was tying her hair.

"Since when did you know how to block?" He asked the girl.

"Beauxbatons," she replied, turning to him. "They're very advance,"

"Then it'd be great if you could help me teach some students," he nudged her, Cassiopeia rolled her silver blue eyes and nodded.

"Would love to,"

°°°

Cassiopeia sat in front of Umbridge, who smiled at her. Cassiopeia sent her a very obvious fake grin.

She was there because a new decree was hammered into the wall, saying all students must go to questioning.

"Would you like some tea, darling?" asked Umbridge, tilting her head. Cassiopeia looked around her office, everywhere is pink, and plates of cats were hung on the walls.

"No, thank you, Professor," said Cassiopeia.

"Well then, water? Coffee?" She pushed, making Cassiopeia suspicious. The blonde haired girl shook her head.

"You must really love...cats, Professor," Cassiopeia gave her a smile that did not reach her eyes.

Umbridge nodded, "I do. Now, Miss Malfoy, I have some questions for you."

Cassiopeia nodded and Umbridge stared at the girl so long that it looked like she was staring into Cassiopeia's soul. Questions and questions were asked and Cassiopeia denied being in any Group along with Harry.

"I wouldn't dare to be near Potter," Cassiopeia spat, obviously faking it. "He's disgusting, along with the blood-traitor Weasley and that Muggle-born,"

Umbridge nodded at her proudly, glad to hear the very words Umbridge wanted to say. "Very well, Miss Malfoy, you are free to go. And if ever you see anything  suspicious with Potter and his gang, please report to me immediately,"

"Of course, Professor," Cassiopeia smiled, she quickly grabbed her bag and walked out of the room, glad she's finally away from her.

°°°

Track behind a line of students, straining mightily with trembling wands outstretched.

"Good, keep your concentration," Harry looked around the students proudly.

Younger students are floating in midair,Harry walks alongside, gently adjusting positions, wand angles.

"Little higher there...nice," He reaches Cho, struggling to hold up Nigel, his eyes pleading not to drop him. Harry gingerly puts his arms around her to adjust her wand angle.

Cassiopeia, who was behind them, glared daggers at Cho, as she pointed her wand at a boy who was scared to be dropped.

"Please don't drop me," the boy said, shaking.

"If you keep talking, I will drop you on purpose," Cassiopeia snarled, the boy blinked and nodded.

"Working hard is important...but there's something that matters even more: believing in yourself..." explained Harry, he walks through the room of practicing students.

"Accio Harry's glasses," muttered Cassiopeia, pointing her wand towards Harry, in an instant his glasses flew to her hands. Harry whirled around, surprised.

"Who did that?" He called out, everything being blurry around him.

Cassiopeia stifled a laugh, slowly approaching the boy, she placed it on the top of his nose, and she gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, didn't know it would actually work,"

Harry rolled his eyes and when Cassiopeia was about to leave, he called:
"Accio Cassiopeia's rings,"

She turned around and glared at him, "Oh this just got personal!"

The Weasley Twins watched, not being too far from them, they share a knowing look as Cassiopeia tried to grab her rings from Harry, who wore them jokingly.

"Think of it this way..." As Harry passes each student they look to him, eager for
approval--he nods warmly. "...every great wizard in history started out as nothing more than what we are now--students. If they could do it...why not you?"

Harry turns to survey the room, there are students floating in the air, some being thrown back, books flying around. The joy of learning is palpable.  Harry takes it all in, exhilarated.

Cassiopeia walked beside the boy, her arms crossed over her chest, she nudged him, and he saw a small smile playing on her lips.

°°°

"Do you want to join the Inquisitorial squad?" asked Draco as he plopped down on the couch next to Cassiopeia who is admiring the fire.

"No," she said, "I don't have time roaming around the school, or whatever the hell they do,"

"Since you're close with Potter and his gang, you'd be the first one to know all their secrets!" exclaimed Draco.

"And? Destroy their trust?" She asked, "Reporting to father is already a large task and I cant join the squad."

"Suit yourself," mumbled Draco.

The next day, Cassiopeia sat in the Library, finishing her Transfigration homework when Hermione sat down beside her.

The blonde haired girl looked up, frowned. "Hello, Hermione, what're you doing?"

"You need to join the Inquisitorial Squad!" whispered Hermione, looking around just in case someone is listening.

"What? Why?" Cassiopeia questioned, in a low voice.

"You can help mislead them, just in case you know?" She replied, "Everyone agreed thag it would be a great idea,"

"You sure?" She asked, of course to be a spy again.

"Yes, we are," Hermione nodded, just then a teacher walked pass them and Hermione grabbed Cassiopeia's book and started to read through it.

"What made you change your mind?" asked Draco as Cassiopeia walked in Umbridge's office, tiringly.

"Extra credit," she replied. Soon, Umbridge came and greeted them with a happily. It was mostly Slytherins and some Ravenclaws.

In the Slytherins there were, Pansy, Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Blaise and Cassiopeia. Umbridge placed a silver "I" on their lapels.