As the term went on, Cassie grew increasingly aggravated that Ron, Harry and Hermione were continuing to avoid her, as well as be rude to her during the few interactions they shared. She was well aware that it had something to do with the fact that they weren't fond of Snape, and they knew she spent time with him, but nonetheless, she wasn't liking that her relationship with the youngest Weasley son had been impacted. They had endured their share of sibling-like spats over the years, no doubt, but nothing to this degree.
One night while in the Slytherin common room, she overheard Draco laughing and telling Crabbe about Ron's injured hand, and she went straightaway to check on him. He hadn't flat out ignored her when she entered the hospital wing, but he was rather coarse, insisting that a dog had bit him, and then calling her out for not getting back together with Charlie. She left after only a few minutes, because the stubborn preteen was glaring at her and unwilling to give her any truth as to what actually happened to his immensely swollen appendage. Before she had stepped over the threshold, he had asked her if she was going to go and see Snape, once again adding that she shouldn't trust him.
"Why, Ron? Why shouldn't I?" she had pressed. But he fell silent then. It really was vexing.
At least her rocky relationship with the first year hadn't influenced her harmony with the other Weasleys. Fred and George were always up for a laugh, which Cassie always welcomed unless it was something that would lead to detention. Percy, while his usual prude self when they crossed paths, didn't seem to hold it against her that she had rejected his older brother, remaining polite with her.
"Mother is rather disappointed, of course," Percy had told her when the subject came up one afternoon, when they were on the grounds together. "She was hoping you two would have repaired everything by now."
"Oh," Cassie replied, feeling a bit dejected, because she never wanted to disappoint Molly. "Well, sometimes, things just don't work out, you know."
"Yes, that's what I told her. She's asked me several times if it's because you're dating someone else, but I told her it's really not anyone else's business," Percy said matter-of-factually.
"No, it's not," Cassie muttered quietly.
"But either way, it seems Mother and Father are preparing for you to stay with us at the Burrow, if you'd like."
The statement was a bit jarring, because with everything that had been going on, Cassie hadn't even thought of telling the Weasleys that she wasn't planning on staying with them after graduation. She felt selfish that she hadn't, because of course Molly and Arthur would only be thinking of her well-being even after she had rejected Charlie. "Oh, Percy, that's very kind of them, but I've made other arrangements," she told him quickly.
"You're not staying with the Malfoys again, are you?" Percy asked, giving her a quizzical look. They were down by the Black Lake now, and there were students everywhere enjoying the fresh spring air and being out of the castle. "Because none of us really care that you and Charlie aren't getting back together. You can just stay in Ginny's room again."
Cassie felt a bit uncomfortable then, because there was no way in the world she was going to tell Percy, of all people, that her intention was to move to Cokeworth and into Snape's home on Spinner's End. At least, not until she was properly graduated, and the professor's job wouldn't be at stake when their relationship was out in the open.
"No, I'm not staying with the Malfoys," she said. "Just with a friend. But I'll be sure to come out for lots of visits this summer."
The conversation left her feeling whimsical and looking forward to living under the same roof as Snape. It had her picturing mornings of having tea, and her making breakfast for him, and the two of them spending countless hours in front of his fireplace, not unlike they'd done so many times in his dungeon apartments. But even as those quaint little images flashed through her mind, she started to poke holes in them with doubt that her life could ever be that simple.
But worries of the future and fantasies of domestic life aside, life at Hogwarts continued. Cassie and Snape were in an endless loop of patrolling and anticipating for the next move to be made, as they both knew it would only be a matter of time, for both the Ministry and Quirrell alike. And on the Monday of the week of exams, they were proven right.
Cassie had finally received it, the letter from Bellatrix that told her how to respond. It had started out like the others, this one reminiscing about a particular memory of the two of them feeding bread crumbs to the peacocks at Malfoy Manor, and then it spelled out very specific, cryptic instructions.
'If you can manage to sneak away and get to Hogsmeade, tonight, leave your letter under the front door of the Shrieking Shack. I have a collaborator, a friend, really, that will pick it up early in the morning before someone discovers it. It would mean the world to hear from you, lamb. I beg you, do not disappoint me.'
"Do they really think I'm that foolish?" Cassie spat, having looked over the letter for the third time, tossing it onto Dumbledore's desk as she grimaced in disgust. "That I'd just waltz into Hogsmeade in the middle of the night and into the Ministry's waiting arms?"
"Apparently so," Snape replied dully. He was seated, his arms folded neatly over his chest, but he looked just as abhorred as Cassie felt right then.
"So what then?" she said, running her hands through her hair, feeling absolutely drained. She had gotten little sleep in the last week, as she had been helping Snape tail Quirrel all through the nights, and had been trying to study for the end of year assessments every chance she had gotten. She didn't need this now, not when the NEWTs were coming up soon after. Not that dealing with it at any point would be ideal. "Obviously I'm not going to go. What happens then?"
"I suggest you focus on your exams," Dumbledore said lightly, "as there is nothing further we can do as of now."
"So we're just reacting to whatever it is Fudge does next," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not doing what they're expecting, or hoping. So I just sit here, and wait for him to do something else, but more extreme?"
"What do you propose that you do instead?" the Headmaster asked her, and she took a moment to compose herself. She hated the way he chastised her, with his mask of serenity.
"I don't know! Call him out, expose him for even trying this shit!" she spat.
"How do you think that would go, Cassie?" came Snape to Dumbledore's defense, not that she was surprised in the least bit. She shot him a glare, but let him speak, because by now, she knew that he was able to see things a lot more rationally than she was in these heated situations. "You try to bring to the light what he's attempted to do, but when he denies it, who will the rest of the Ministry believe? Who will the public believe?"
Snape was right, of course. She didn't tell him that, but she knew she didn't have to. They left Dumbledore's office not long after, as there was no point in discussing the topic any further at the moment. Snape tried to coax her into going back to his apartments to rest before she had her first exams of the day, but she had a lot negative energy to burn off now, and she took to pacing in front of the third floor corridor, almost willing Quirrell to try something right then. She would have loved to shove the Potions Master up against the wall, push her hands under his robes, and have her way with him, as that was an easy way to get her mind off of all the things that were making her feel like a lunatic lately. But the professor had a room full of second years to assess, so she was on her own.
Focusing on her exams that day was absolute hell. She was lucky that the practical parts came naturally to her, as when it came time for the written parts, her brain was not cooperating. When she was done with the last one, which was Transfiguration, she burst out of the room, disgusted with herself and the entire situation.
"I can't even focus enough to take my tests!" she said miserably when she was alone with Snape later that night. "It's not fair!"
"You'll do just fine, Cassie," he said, trying to reassure her, interrupting the pacing in front of his dining room table by taking her hands in his and pulling her to him. "It's your NEWTs that matter, anyway." He was right again, naturally. The standardized tests would be taking place next week, she would just have to get her brain put back together by then. She was trying to calm herself by repeating this fact as she nuzzled her face into his chest, inhaling his familiar masculine scent. But all she could think of was what the Ministry was doing, that they were expecting her in Hogsmeade at any moment now, with a letter for Bellatrix Lestrange in hand. That one piece of incriminating evidence they could use to deny her the career path she had been dreaming of for as long as she could remember, or perhaps lock her up and throw away the key.
"How many Aurors do you think they have waiting for me?" she asked quietly.
"What?"
"How many do you think they sent to subdue me?" she asked, forcing a smile as she looked up at him, pretending to make light of the situation even as a tear fell down her cheek.
"All of them, knowing Fudge."
A sound came out of her, a mix between laughter and a sob, and Snape bent down to place a tender, chaste kiss on her lips. He insisted that she needed a proper night's rest, especially considering that her Potions exam was the next morning, and convinced her to drink a sleeping draught after a small argument about Potter and Quirrell and the Stone. But she was sleeping in a matter of minutes, something her mind and her body desperately needed.
The next morning, Cassie awoke feeling somewhat refreshed, but as soon as the realization that the Ministry had been waiting for her at Hogsmeade the night before came rushing back, she felt restless. Nevertheless, she made it through her exams that day, finding some amusement in the fact that three of her Potions classmates were crying during their practical, that the man she loved most in the world still made near-functioning adults blubber because he was callous.
How nice it must be, to worry about something so trivial as a professor being mean or looking at you cross. Her amusement quickly turned to jealousy, and she wanted to tell them that they ought to take a walk in her shoes for a moment, and worry about things like the government trying to create reasons to lock you away, or prophecies about genocide, or trying to keep deceptive teachers from killing the Boy Who Lived, all while maintaining good grades. Then they'd have proper reasons to weep.
The week went on, and with every passing moment, Cassie was expecting Fudge, and Aurors, and perhaps even her mother in chains to come bursting through the door at any time. But she finished her exams without anything of the sort happening, and was able to go outside with Alpit and Juniper when they were officially free to enjoy the sunshine.
"No more exams! No more classes!" Alpit said, stretching his arms above his head as they headed out onto the grounds. It seemed the rest of the student body had the same idea, and the three of them were trying to find an empty tree to sit by.
"Except for our NEWTs," Juniper pointed out, and Alpit groaned.
"June, you have to go and ruin everything, don't you?" the Hufflepuff groaned. "Just enjoy these next few days off, will you?"
"Next few days?" June said, sounding appalled at the suggestion. "I'm taking the afternoon off, Al, but we have to get back to studying straight away!"
"Nonsense, June! What are you going to cram into your head in that amount of time?" Al argued. "Cass, what are you going to do? Study, like this crazy Ravenclaw over here?"
But Cassie was barely listening, because she saw that Snape was crossing the grounds towards the trio, and at a rather hurried pace, his black cloak billowing out behind him. She locked eyes with him, and her heart began to race in anticipation, because he looked somber.
"Oh, God, he's come to tell me I've failed!" Juniper exclaimed, but Cassie shushed her irritably. She couldn't be bothered with these stupid things, not now.
"Professor," she said as he approached, and the two seventh years beside her took a step back as he rushed into their vicinity.
"Miss Black," he said curtly, giving her a slight nod. "Professor Dumbledore requests your presence immediately."
Cassie didn't bother to look back at her two companions. It didn't matter if they were confused, staring at her with their mouths open as she and Snape made their way quickly back towards the castle. "What is it?" she whispered.
"Fudge has requested an urgent meeting with you and Dumbledore," he replied, and Cassie started gritting her teeth. "You two are leaving for London as soon as possible." He led her to the Headmaster's office, a place she felt she was spending far too much time in as of late, but before they started to ascend the staircase, he stopped short.
"I regret that I must stay here, to keep an eye on things," he said in a hushed tone, his black eyes flitting around, checking to see that no one else was in the surrounding corridor that might see them, and then he reached for her hand, giving it what he must have intended to be a reassuring squeeze. Cassie felt like she was going to be sick, even with his tender actions. He must have seen that she was feeling rather demoralized, because he suddenly whispered, "I love you."
Pulled out of her dire state, her eyes moved up to his face to find his. "I love you, too, Severus."
The exchange gave her the motivation that she needed to make it the rest of the way to the Headmaster's office, although she could still feel her heart thudding against her rib cage, even as her gaze fell upon Dumbledore's calm form. "Miss Black," he said in greeting, giving her a tiny nod, his twinkling blue eyes looking pastoral, the calm before a storm.
"Headmaster," Cassie managed to reply. The older wizard explained that they were granted access to the Ministry by Floo Network, that they would be leaving momentarily. As she came to stand next to him in front of his grand fireplace, she turned to look at Snape one last time, the image of him watching her giving her one last boost of courage as she stepped into the emerald flames and was pulled away from him.
This time, as she stepped into the atrium of the Ministry of Magic, she felt the irony that she was getting so familiar with it that she knew right where the security desk was, that she recognized Eric without a doubt, knew the necessary protocols as he checked in her wand. But the growing intimacy with the government building was not something she was exactly welcoming as of late. As she followed Dumbledore through the crowd of workers, instantly recognizing that they were on the path to the same dungeon courtroom that she had been in the last time around, she looked for the friendly face of Arthur Weasley. Even if she just glanced upon him, she thought she might feel a bit better, but he was nowhere to be found. Likely, he had no idea that this was even taking place, or he'd be fighting to be by her side.
Even though Dumbledore greatly aggravated her at times, she would have readily admitted that she was incredibly pleased to have him with her as she walked through the building. For when you were making your way through a congregation of witches and wizards, not one of them would pay attention to Albus Dumbledore's companion, because you would be far less interesting than him. She almost felt invisible, which was a welcome feeling. Unfortunately, that came to an abrupt halt as soon as they entered the courtroom, for she was instructed to sit in the same chair as last time, with the chains poised to restrain her. The group of Wizengamot members in their plum robes and snooty expressions were looking down upon her yet again, very much making it feel like she was entering a recurring nightmare.
She spotted Lucius Malfoy seated near the back of the benches, and it took her by surprise for a moment, but then a nasty feeling started to wash over her as she observed him. He had the familiar smug, pleased look on his face as his silver eyes gazed upon her, his hands folded neatly on the snake staff that he liked to keep with him. In that moment, she felt like she was certain of what he was doing. He was fluffing his feathers, convinced that he had won, somehow, and trying to communicate that he was in charge now. But Cassie didn't need this extravagant display, this courtroom full of Ministry officials to know that he had likely pulled the strings to get her to this point. Like she had suspected far too late in the game, her Christmas Eve visit to the Manor had been a test, and she had failed, miserably. And now he was trying to get a leg up on her, show her that his political ties were far too powerful to be trifled with, that if she ever attempted to a point finger at him, she would be the one who would pay the price.
"Cornelius," came Dumbledore's voice, and Cassie had to hide a smirk, because she knew it would highly perturb the Minister that the Headmaster dared to address him first, and without the formalities, in a setting like this. "To what do Miss Black and I owe this pleasure, and on such a busy day like today? My students at Hogwarts have only just finished their end of year exams this afternoon."
"Dumbledore," Fudge said through clenched teeth, peering down at the Headmaster from up high, his beady eyes squinting in anger, "I highly suggest that you have a seat in the benches, as this matter concerns the accused, and not you."
"Seeming as you have not yet spoken of what you are accusing my student of having done, I think it is quite appropriate to remain at her side," Dumbledore replied, and he placed a calm hand on Cassie's shoulder. Murmuring started among the plum robes. Cassie was quickly losing patience. She glanced around the room, noting that there seemed to be a larger number of unknown faces this time, likely Aurors she had never met, as they seemed to be strategically and evenly spaced throughout the chamber. Moody was there, but no Tonks to offer her silent support or a warm smile. Cassie hoped she hadn't been banned from the room for losing her temper.
"Fine," Fudge snapped. "I don't feel the need to waste anyone else's time further. The reason she is here, Dumbledore, is because your student, seems to have been keeping a rather large, very dangerous secret, something you ought to know!"
"Really?" Dumbledore said, giving her shoulder a squeeze, and she knew that was him telling her to remain quiet for the time being. "Please, Cornelius, enlighten me. I'm sure all of us are curious now." There was more murmuring, and when it fell silent, the Minister of Magic continued.
"Our intelligence informs me, Dumbledore, that Cassiopeia Black has been receiving communications from her mother, in Azkaban!" and he paused for dramatic effect. There was more hissing, whispering, as if the members of the Wizengamot didn't already know what was about to happen. Perhaps they didn't, and Fudge had wanted their genuine surprise for dramatic purposes. "And numerous letters, Dumbledore, not just one!"
"That is a crime?" Dumbledore asked, looking quite puzzled, "To receive letters?"
"To hide something of that nature, Dumbledore, is surely perilous! The girl cannot be trusted to have such dark influences in her life, and to keep it a secret! Does it not worry you?" Fudge said, and then he turned to the side, looking at the rest of the courtroom, whose members were looking quite panicked. "Does it not worry all of you?"
"Not at all," Dumbledore said then, and he had nonchalantly popped a lemon drop that he had pulled from his robes into his mouth, "As she has not kept it a secret. She has been showing the letters to her Head of House, and to me, the entire time."
If the courtroom was loud between their bantering, it was boisterous now; apparently, the Wizengamot members had not been anticipating this revelation at all. Fudge looked absolutely revolted at Dumbledore's words, and once again, Cassie was having to keep from cracking a smile as she observed the chaos around her. She glanced back up at Lucius, who was not looking nearly as pompous as he had at the beginning, his eyes narrowed to slits as he glared down at her.
Cassie looked up in surprise as she felt Dumbledore's hand around her arm then, and he was nodding his head, intending for her to get up. She scrambled out of the chair quickly, and then she nearly gasped like everyone else in the room as Dumbledore smoothly plopped himself into the chained chair, looking like he was settling himself into the comfiest piece of furniture he had ever discovered. Cassie was left to stand awkwardly by her Headmaster's side as Ministry officials started to stand, point, yell.
"So if keeping secrets is what we're putting on trial," Dumbledore said, his usual soft voice now magically booming over the overreacting group, "Then by all means, let's begin."
"Dumbledore, this is madness!" one of the Wizengamot witches said shrilly, but his collected demeanor was starting to slip a bit.
"For once, I agree with one of you," he said smoothly, openly staring up at the plum-robed people above him now. "Now, I find it rather rude of me, but I do find it in all our best interests to remind you, that I am a very busy individual. Are you going to put me on trial for keeping Miss Black's letters a secret, or not?"
Fudge was grimacing, his mouth opening, and closing, and opening again, and then he finally managed to speak. "No, Dumbledore, that won't be necessary!"
"Alright, then," Dumbledore said, standing up, and brushing off the bottom of his robes. "Then my parting words will be this, ladies and gentlemen of the Wizengamot: you may be trying to place blame on Miss Black, for fears that you cannot reasonably explain. But I must also remind you, that in order for Bellatrix Lestrange to send those letters in the first place, someone among you had to have helped her - "
"Dumbledore! That is absolutely ludicrous!" Fudge was bellowing, but Dumbledore kept speaking, having won the attention of the rest of the room now.
"- Helped her, and planned this entire thing, for reasons I will leave all of you to deduce." In the anarchy that ensued, Dumbledore pointed his wand to his throat, so that the volume of his voice reduced to a normal level again, and then he turned to Cassie. "Let's head back, shall we?"
Never in her young life had she been so thankful to have Dumbledore on her side. They were out the door of the chamber, and she was certain that they would just be able to leave, when suddenly, a figure stepped in front of them.
"Cassie," hissed Lucius Malfoy, and she was a little impressed that he was daring enough to stop Dumbledore in his path, be this blatant with his true intentions. "Don't think that this is over, just because your Headmaster was here to save your little hide!"
"Mister Malfoy," Dumbledore said in a polite tone, "I suggest that you step aside, as I intend to get Miss Black back to Hogwarts in a timely manner."
"Oh, I won't keep her long, Dumbledore," Lucius said, looking past him and turning to glare at Cassie again. She returned his intensity as she looked at him, because now she knew he was behind all of this, his inability to control himself right now confirming it.
"Was all of this just to make sure you wouldn't have an Auror in the family, Uncle?" she asked quietly. "Because you're afraid I'd turn you in once I had some pull with the Ministry?"
"I'm not afraid," he spat at her. "The Minister would never believe you over me."
"Yes, I think you've proved that, haven't you?" Cassie said, and she pushed past him, leaving him to stand there in his fury, because Dumbledore started walking again. They made their way to the row of fireplaces, and soon they were in back in Dumbledore's office. Cassie knew she had some reason to feel celebratory, because she had gotten out of that situation without a blemish, but she had to believe her disconcerted uncle. This wasn't over.
Cassie was about to speak with Dumbledore, perhaps pick his brain on what he thought might happen next, but he merely said, "Stay here, will you, Cassiopeia?" while looking rather distracted, and was heading towards the door. She called after him, asking what was wrong, but he didn't answer, leaving her alone in the large oval room.
She had half a mind to just leave, because now all she wanted to do was find Snape, tell him what had happened, lie in his arms for a bit and then go to sleep. But she knew she owed the Headmaster more respect than that, with everything he had done for her that day. So she stayed in the office like he had told her to do, sitting there, waiting for some unknown reason and for an unknown amount of time. She was in there for what seemed like only an hour, but it had been a rather trying day, and she was growing quite sleepy as she sat in the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. The only sounds around her were Fawkes preening his feathers, and the tick of a grandfather clock that stood in the corner, and she was being lulled to sleep in her solitude.
She startled awake when Fawkes squawked a tiny bit, and she looked around. The office looked unchanged, and she figured she had dozed off for only a minute or two. A bit miffed that perhaps Dumbledore had forgotten about her and there was no good reason for her to be waiting in there still, she stood from the chair and turned, intending to leave. Fawkes let out a blaring screech suddenly, and Cassie gasped at the unexpected noise; all at once, the reason for the bird's alarm was apparent as the sight of a translucent, albeit familiar humanoid shape was in front of her. She stumbled back a few steps, but the phantom with serpent-like features rushed at her, and she felt overtaken, disoriented. But even in her sudden engulfed state, it didn't take more than a few seconds for her to realize who had entered her psyche.
"Cassiopeia," her father's high voice hissed, although she was hearing him in her mind, rather than perceiving him with her ears, "You've been rather disappointing!"
"Good!" she wheezed, clutching at her throat, because she felt like she was choking and drowning at the same time, doubling over as she tried to rid herself of the intruder.
"All year, I've been attempting to alienate you from corrupting influences, but it seems you've spent many years surrounding yourself with them on purpose. Dumbledore has done a number on you." She stopped clawing at her neck, because she knew it wasn't a true physical response; even in his weakened, incorporeal state, he was using his masterful skills of Legilimens to overtake her. She had to get control of her mind, push him out, like she had been practicing for. "I've seen enough of your memories to know that you enjoy being around mudbloods and blood traitors...if I didn't know any better, I'd say that you've been brainwashed!"
"On the contrary," she said, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, and she winced as he started to rifle through her memories as he had done in her sleep many months ago, "I've been lucky enough to escape your influences, Father."
"Such a pity. It would have been so much easier to have you get the Stone for me, rather than use pathetic, insignificant Quirrell. You could have gotten it for me in a matter of days, rather than wait all year to try!"
"I never would have done it!" she gasped.
"Yes, it seems that you're convinced of that," Voldemort responded, and she cried out as he continued to rip through her mind like it was nothing, like the deepest corners of her mind were ripe for the picking. She was absolutely flabbergasted that he was able to bring forth this much power, maintain this much hold on her in his depleted state. But she knew he was desperate now, without a host, with no other choice but to possess her or perish. "But no matter. Once I've gotten control of you, we'll do great things together!"
But the fear of him fully taking hold of her, of using her body and her powers for his use was what gave Cassie the final push. With one decisive, all-consuming burst of energy, she forced all of her effort into one deafening collision, envisioning her spirit as a one room house, one that would not allow this infiltrator inside any longer. She propelled him out with so much force that she was blasted backwards from the struggle, slamming into Dumbledore's desk as the crystalline form of Lord Voldemort was ripped from her being. It rushed to the fireplace with a deafening roar in an attempt to escape.
Cassie was sure that she saw the shadow of her father disappear when it entered the hearth, but in a panic to be absolutely sure, she rushed towards it on her hands and knees, and she didn't notice the rattled looking Potions Master that was standing near the door of the office.
"Cassie!" he shouted, hurrying towards her, and she was looking up into the stack now, straining to see if there was any sign of the Dark Lord.
"Is he gone?" she asked him, her voice shaking, and he squatted down, wrapping his arms around her torso. "Is he gone?" she repeated, now breaking down into sobs.
"I think so," he told her, but sounding quite unsure of himself. "Cassie, you're alright? Are you okay?"
"I don't know," she answered him, shaking her head. They were both on the floor of the office, a tangle of limbs as they held each other. Snape had just come from the hospital wing, had just helped Dumbledore get the Potter boy back to safety after he had been attacked by Quirrell and Lord Voldemort, and now witnessed this.
After several shaky, tear filled minutes, Snape helped Cassie to her feet. She had wanted to just go back to his apartments, but he knew it would be better to go to the hospital wing, as it would be likely that Dumbledore would want to question her on what had just taken place. But one thing was for certain: no matter what Poppy said, Snape was going to insist on privacy curtains, and he wasn't going to leave her side for anything, not that night.