A/N:
This is the rewritten first chapter of Danae's gift. I wanted to give her mother a little bit more attention and I may have gotten away with myself. I would love it if you would review because it makes my day. It was actually someone who had recently reviewed the original chapter that got me back on the story.
If you look up Wander's Lullaby by adrisaurus on YouTube, it's both Cassandra's lullaby to Danae and Cassandra's character theme. I literally spent my entire time writing this listening to the song. It's absolutely beautiful.
Cassandra Lee Prewett was a strange witch. She never liked to follow the rules and often got into trouble for wandering off as a child. She always had a sense of wanderlust within her and the girl just hated to be in the same place for too long. She longed to travel the world and see all that it had to offer. Her parents were mot impressed with such a dream and often lamented how she wasn't like her younger sister Molly. Before even getting her wand she was already ostracized and considered a louse by her family. Molly, the wonderful little girl, never noticed their parents favoritism or the rest of the family's snide remarks and Cassandra preferred it that way. She held no grudge against Molly, whom in the eyes of every Prewett could do no wrong, because she loved her sister too much. So Cassandra accepted her fate to playing second fiddle to her sister and ignored everything that the others said. The more they denied her dream the more she wanted to make it come true.
Later when she entered Hogwarts and was sorted into Slytherin Cassandra became even more of a black sheep. After all, who would want to be associated with someone from the same House as the newly rising Dark Lord? Rumors said that he was recruiting his followers from that very House. Molly always got mad when hearing this and would lecture the gossiper until she was blue in the face. She refused to believe that her sister was evil, the Sorting Hat just had to have got it wrong! Cassandra would laugh and ruffle young Molly's hair, never correcting the girl. The Hat didn't get it wrong. She knew there was no way she'd fit in with the other Gryffindors. She knew that if she cared about something enough, she would do anything it took to keep it alive. Morals be damned. So she let Molly call her a Slytherin with a Gryffindor heart. Cassandra knew the truth.
While believing that she was in the right House, Cassandra found herself an outcast among her classmates as well. She did not care for their blood purity thinking; and while she knew there had to be others who thought the same it was too dangerous to seek them out. So she ignored them and they ignored her for the most part. If she overheard a fellow talk about how his family was on the brink of joining the Dark Lord she did nothing. Just as if that same fellow saw her reading from books that came from the restricted section he would say nothing. Such was the way in the Pit of Snakes. Often she wondered if there was a time when her House was different, but it seemed too fantastical of an idea to hold even for her.
So time passed and Cassandra learned her magic (both the legal and illegal spells) and the Dark Lord gained power. She was in her fifth year when her chance arrived. She had been slowly over the years gathering the funds it would take to leave England and travel to where her heart desired. She saved her allowance money given to her each year from her parents for the trip to Hogsmead and would do the homework for the new students at a hefty price. Eventually enough time had passed to where she had enough. So, on the beginning of her fifth year she entered King's Cross with her family and said her goodbyes hastily and quickly made way for the train. To them it seemed as if she was in a hurry to go back to the school, but in reality she waited until the crowd gave her enough of a cover to flee from the station. That was the start of her freedom.
Cassandra traveled the world like she always dreamed she would. She never stayed in one place too long and was constantly on the move. The only regret she had was leaving her dear sister behind. Cassandra knew that Molly would be worried sick, but anytime she thought of going back her heart panged with bitter resentment as she knew that her parents would not welcome her back. Molly would; Cassandra knew because the young girl had such a large heart. But their parents were not Molly and they were not as forgiving. So instead she collected trinkets that she thought her sister might like in her journeys. Maybe one day Cassandra would return and tell Molly of all the adventures she was had.
It was while she was the market looking at a necklace that would have been perfect for Molly some years later when she met him. He was a bit on the short side, only a couple of inches taller than her mere 5'4 stature. He had curly brown hair that looked to be as soft as a dove's feather and the most radiant blue eyes that she ever did see. He came up beside her at the stall and smiled down at the necklace in her hands.
"A beautiful piece for a beautiful woman." He said with a deep voice that sent chills of pleasure down her spine. Cassandra felt a smile curl on her face as she paid the vendor for the necklace. The vendor happily took her money and immediately began to wrap the gift.
"That would be why I am getting it for my sister." She replied, carefully not taking her eyes off the vendor as he wrapped the necklace. The man chuckled and she saw his shoulders dip in a shrug from the corner of her eye.
"Well, it is a very good choice." The vendor handed the necklace back to Cassandra and the witch thanked him before slipping it into her satchel. just as she was closing the satchel a hand reached out and grabbed her left arm in a strong grip. Cassandra looked up at him as blue eyes focused onto her wrist where a silver bracelet in the form of a snake was wrapped.
"Interesting," He murmured, rubbing a thumb over the snake's head. "I didn't think that these were in style anymore, you just never see them you know. Tell me, just wherever did you find it?" Time seemed to freeze as his blue eyes lifted and he caught her eyes. Cassandra felt her breath shorten and her lips dry at his hypnotic gaze.
"Well I had come across it in Belgium a few months back at a flea market. As for its style, I don't keep up with the latest fashions." Cassandra explained as she slipped her arm out of His grasp. He chuckled and scratched the side of His head, all signs of the serious intensity from before had vanished. Cassandra began to walk away and He followed along at her elbow.
"Yeah well I can understand that. I have a sister that's really into that stuff. Though, if you don't mind telling me, what made you get it?" He asked as they walked down the street. Cassandra tucked her hair behind her ears and watched as one of the ruby eyes on the snake glinted in the sunlight.
"It reminded me of home."
Cassandra stayed in Greece longer than she ever did anywhere else. Most of her time was spent with him and many nights found her in his bed. His name was Henry, a name that she did not think suited him well. It was too plain while he seemed like the greatest man in the world. Cassandra grew to love Henry and for a while she thought that she could stay there. Yet, once again she felt the need to leave and find somewhere new. So one morning found her rolling out of bed and saying her goodbyes. Surprisingly he took it better than she expected. She once again left behind a loved one on her journey. Greece would always hold bittersweet memories for her.
It wasn't until she was in France that she heard news of what was happening in England. Normally Cassandra would avoid any and all magical communities and stick to the Muggle world. However, lately she had been getting sick and would have the strangest of cravings. On one particular day she just had to have a butterbeer so she helped herself to a pub called the Witch's Broom. While there she saw a stray paper that was detailing the Dark Lord and his reign of terror that was making its way through Europe. Molly instantly came to mind and Cassandra wondering if her younger sister was safe. Maybe it was time to find her way back home.
Finding Molly was not easy. Cassandra's childhood home was gone, and there was no listing for her sister or her family. Eventually she found herself heading to Hogwarts to ask Headmaster Dumbledore for help. Surely he would know what direction to lead her in. Luckily the headmaster did know where Molly was and he helpfully took Cassandra to Molly's new home. The younger sister was pleasantly surprised at Cassandra's return. Just as Cassandra was surprised to find her sister pregnant.
"Come, come!" Molly hustled both Cassandra and the Headmaster inside with a vigor that only rivaled that of Grandmama. Molly's once long hair was cut short and pulled into a curly bun. It suited her well, but Cassandra missed the long locks of hair her sister once had. Just as Cassandra began to say hello a loud banging came above their heads. All three adults looked up curiously as a cloud of dust fell from the ceiling. Another loud crash resounded followed by high pitched shouting. Molly sighed deeply and turned around and walked to a set of stairs.
"YOU TWO COME STOP THAT THIS INSTANT AND COME DOWN HERE! WE'VE GOT VISITORS!" She bellowed at the top of her lungs. The voices from above stopped and was replaced with the sound of little feet running across the floorboards. Soon two little boys came running downstairs, each with the most vibrant red hair that matched Molly's. The two stopped at the base of the stairs and looked on curiously at Cassandra and Dumbledore as their mother lectured them. Cassandra suspected that they wouldn't remember a word of what was said.
It would seem that she has missed out on a lot since she's left.
After all the introductions were said and all the tea was drank the Headmaster left to go back to the school. Molly sent her boys upstairs to clean up the mess they surely made from all the ruckus earlier. This left Molly and Cassandra on their own. An awkward silence began to fill the room and Cassandra was at a loss as to what to do.
"Arthur doesn't care much for you." Molly said suddenly. She wasn't looking at Cassandra, keeping her attention to the tea set on the table. "Think's you're a louse for leaving like you did. No note or nothin'. It broke my heart it did. Mum and Dad weren't happy either, angry as hungry dragons they were." Tears welled in Molly's eyes and Cassandra looked away as guilt filled her soul.
"They're dead now, Mum and Dad. Death Eaters burned the house down and killed them. You missed the funeral. Missed my wedding with Arthur. My name's Molly Weasley now, not Prewett. Missed my children being born and so many other things and now here you are." Cassandra gripped her skirt in her hands tightly as she heard a shaky breath being taken. She never meant to cause her younger sister so much pain.
"Just out the blue you show up at my doorstep with Headmaster Dumbledore in tow and I just don't know what to say. Welcome back? You left without so much as a goodbye and instead of smiling and being happy you're back I just want to yell at you." Molly got up from her seat and took the tea set into the kitchen, her soft voice growing harsher as she spoke. Cassandra didn't speak up, letting her sister steamroll the conversation. These were Molly's feelings that she's no doubt kept wrapped up inside for years.
"And I defend you when someone badmouths you cause your my sister and I love you; but confound it all I am so mad at you right now! I haven't been this mad at you since you broke my toy broomstick when I was four. And I'm sure you remember the tantrum I threw up back then." Cassandra couldn't help but smile at the memory. Molly had just got the toy for Christmas and Cassandra wanted to play with it.
Molly had refused and thus a tug of war ensued and Cassandra won, only for her to break the toy a mere five minutes later. Molly had blasted out a large amount of accidental magic that had Cassandra and half of the room being levitated in the air. When their mother found them she had startled Molly and everything went crashing down, breaking a few more toys and nearly opening up Cassandra's skull. Molly then thought she killed her big sister and the rest of the day just went downhill.
"And now I just want to string you up by your toes and watch you hang from the ceiling." Molly turned around to face Cassandra giving her sister a fiery glare that was the exact copy of their mother's. "But instead I am going to give you the biggest hug that you ever received and feed you up some more. Then we are going to sit down and you are going to tell me about where you've been and why you left in the first place." And then Molly did just that, and the two sisters spent the rest of the night talking until Arthur came back home.
"And who is this Molly?" He asked after kissing her cheek hello. Arthur looked deadbeat tired after his long day at work, seeming to not notice Molly as she fussed about him. Molly tsked and smacked his hand as he tried to undo his tie and set herself on doing it herself.
"Don't you recognize my sister? It's Cassandra, and she's going to stay for a while." Arthur nodded along tiredly at the introduction, showing no opinion on the matter. After a beat though, what Molly said seemed to sink in.
"Your sister Cassandra? The very same sister that left your family behind when you were thirteen and we've not heard a word from since? Why would we let her stay with us for any amount of time?" He spluttered, his previous sleepiness leaving as anger began to fill him. Molly nipped that in the bud real quick though, putting a finger to his lips. Arthur stopped speaking and went cross-eyed as he looked down at the short woman who was suddenly in his face.
"Now Arthur that is a very rude thing to say and it is not how we treat family. She will be staying. AT LEAST," she added loudly as he tried to speak up. Arthur once again went silent as she raised an unimpressed eyebrow. When seeing that he wouldn't interrupt she continued.
"At least, until her baby is born. No if ans or buts." Both Cassandra and Arthur stared at Molly in baffled silence. It was as if their minds had shut down and it took a few moments before they could completely process the information she had just said. Then, in unison they had shouted out in pure shock.
"BABY?!" Molly stepped back and eyed them curiously. More so at Cassandra than she was Arthur.
"Yes baby. Arthur I understand but why are you so jumpy? You just told me all about your morning sickness. You do know that you're pregnant right?" Molly asked. Cassandra numbly shook her head in the negative and looked down at her belly in bewilderment. Surely Molly was mistaken right? Just because she's been sick these past few weeks didn't mean she was pregnant. Right?
"When was your last cycle?" Molly asked, ignoring Arthur's cry of 'Molly!' She rolled her eyes at him and his flailing. "What? it's a simple question Arthur. I never thought you to be a prude." The two began to argue in the background as Cassandra counted back with growing horror. Dear Merlin she was preggers!
"See, I was right!" Cassandra jumped and saw that their attention turn back to her. She must have said that last bit out loud. "We can't just boot her out what with You Know Who around. It's too dangerous." Molly continued, nodding her head with the final decision. Arthur contorted his face into a painful grimace before agreeing.
"I suppose you're right Molly." And thus began Cassandra's stay at the Weasley household.
It wasn't until Cassandra was close to her eighth month of being literally larger than life when she met Henry again. It was in the middle of the night, and she was just getting ready for bed.
"You would not believe the kind of permissions I had to get to come see you." Cassandra dropped the night shirt in her hands and whirled around with her wand out and a nasty jinx on her lips. Instead of seeing a Death Eater in her room (something becoming even more likely what with Arthur being in the Order) a very familiar man was lying on her bed. Dressed in his usual nightclothes of a pair sleep pants and nothing else was her lover from Greece.
"What are you doing here?" She hissed, not moving her wand or her gaze one inch, no matter that she was naked from the waist up. Cassandra has refused to wear nightgowns this entire pregnancy no matter how much easier it would be. She was now beginning to consider the benefits of them as Henry smiled and rose from the bed. He walked forward, stopping as she raised her wand. She didn't care how much she loved the man, she was not about to just let all of her guard down. Not while England was in the dark spot it was in now. Henry chuckled and gestured to the wand with his hand.
"Can't a man come visit a woman he loves without getting zapped by a magic stick?" He asked playfully. Cassandra smiled sweetly at him and straightened her back, ignoring the pain it caused.
"Not when she never told him where she lived. Now, how did you get in and why are you here?" She repeated, prepared to fire a spell at a moment's notice. If anything, she could always scream and Molly would gather the children while Arthur would come to help. Henry sighed before snapping his fingers and all of a sudden he was gone. Vanished in mid-air. He couldn't have apperated, there was no sound.
"Now, I'm not sure I like this hostile environment." Whispered a voice at her ear. Screeching out a curse Cassandra twirled on her feet to jinx the man all the way to hell. As she did this though she had lost her footing and almost fell. Almost, because she was caught with a "Whoa there!" and found herself sitting on the floor in the arms of Henry with a red hibiscus flower in her hand instead of her wand. Cassandra stared at the flower in bafflement, numbly noting the fact that he was twirling her wand in his left hand beside her.
"It's your favorite flower right? I remembered." He said proudly, seeming unaware of the pure ridiculousness of what was happening. Cassandra dropped the flower in her lap and cover her face with her hands, leaning back in his embrace.
"This is a nightmare and I've clearly gone insane!" She moaned into her hands. His chest began to vibrate with growing laughter and Cassandra removed her hands with a growl and turned her head to look up at him.
"This is not funny Henry. I am an irritable pregnant woman who is showing her natters to a man she has not seen in months! I am not in a good mood!" She snapped. Henry's eyes twinkled with mirth and she narrowed her eyes as he snuck a peek at her chest.
"I don't know, I kinda like the view myself." Cassandra smacked his chest and refused to smile at his laughter and his poor excuse of a joke. Henry tossed her wand across the room and wrapped his arms around her chest and pulled her closer. One hand was on her rounded belly. It was warm on her skin that had cooled from the night air. She wondered how he seemed to always be so warm.
"He's going to be amazing Cassie." He whispered, resting his head on her shoulder. Cassandra scowled at the name while she covered his hand with her own.
"You got half of that right at least. I'm not having no boy though. She's going to be a wonderful little girl." She stated, smiling at her belly where her little one resided. Henry's thumb rubbed at her skin comfortably, and she could feel the smile on his face as he spoke.
"And just how do you know that the baby is going to be a girl?" He asked lightly. Cassandra snorted in derision tapping out a nonsense beat on his hand. It had been a long time since she felt this relaxed, Henry always was able to do that to her.
"Because my sister has had nothing but boys and I am tired of their foolishness. Just today Charlie had thought it be smart to see if could fly from the roof like a dragon. All because his older brother said that if he sang a little rhyme he'd grow wings a fly without a broom. Honestly." Terrified both of the sisters to death. When she heard Billy yelling from outside Cassandra walked out to see what the fuss was about and shrieked when she saw Charlie jump.
Luckily she was able to whip out her wand and catch him with a levitation charm. It was a miracle she didn't miss the boy, he'd have splattered on the ground like an egg. Those two got the lecture and the whopping of their life from Molly.
"Well, can't blame him for trying. Flying is pretty fun." Henry commented idly causing Cassandra to give him a sidelong glance filled with skepticism.
"Yes, it would be until you crash into the ground." Henry grinned with humor at her dry statement as if it didn't matter. Hmpf, guess he doesn't care about broken bones or organs or whatever else. Reckless idiot.
"So, I may have ulterior motives for showing up." Henry started, blinking in surprise at the bark of laughter that Cassandra gave. She laughed harder at the look on his face, shaking her head slightly.
"Oh really? A man I haven't seen in forever that I thought was a muggle just shows up in the middle of the night to talk about flowers and the possible gender of my child? Of course you have an ulterior motive dearie. I may be ignorant at times but I certainly am not stupid." She informed, quirking a brow at him. Henry pursed his lips thoughtfully before continuing on.
"Well, if I remember correctly you left of your own regard. I was perfectly fine with this, knowing what it's like to feel the need to travel. However, I am here to talk about our child and my family tree..." Henry, who turns out to be Hermes, then gives Cassandra a quick rundown of Greek mythology that aren't actually myths. When Cassandra thought the sex was heavenly this wasn't quite what she had in mind. She told Hermes this, sending him into a fit of laughter.
"You're taking this a bit better than I expected." He said, twirling a strand of her crimson hair around his finger. Cassandra shrugged nonchalantly as she thought all about what he had said.
"I grew up in a world where dragons and magic are real. Gods aren't that surprising dearie. Though, this could pose a problem if the Dark Lord ever found out." She frowned at the thought, knowing that her child would become a target immediately if such a thing happened. No one must find out about the truth then, she decided. Not even Molly.
"About that, I think you should leave England." Hermes said, all bouts of mirth gone from his voice. Cassandra looked up at him and was surprised to see the most serious expression she had ever seen on him. The intensity of it sent a shiver down her spine. If looks could kill indeed.
"I can understand why, what with what's been happening. But I don't see how that's possible, it's too dangerous for anyone to be out and about nowadays. Let alone a pregnant woman." She said to him. Hermes scowled and tightened his grip on her ever so slightly. It was like he was hugging her close so that she wouldn't disappear.
"I'd figure out a way. Escort you myself if I had to." He said fiercely. "It's not safe here. It won't be anywhere really; because the child will be mine monsters will try to hunt it down. There's a camp in America and-" Before he could continue Cassandra stopped him, placing her fingers over his mouth to hush him.
"I believe you just told me earlier why it was so hard to come visit me tonight. Won't those same problems make it nigh impossible to do just what you're talking about? I'd have to travel by myself and I cannot do that as I am now." Cassandra smiled softly and moved her hand to cup his face. In that moment, when his brow was furrowed with frustration at her situation Cassandra found him at his most handsome.
"After she's born I will gather the supplies needed to leave and head for America. I hear the wizarding community in Salem is wonderful nowadays. Until then I must stay here." It was unfortunate but true. Hermes sighed and took her hand and kissed the palm sweetly.
"Remind me again just how you know it's going to be a girl? I've only ever had boys, never a girl." He asked, staring at her belly with a wistful look. Cassandra smiled and squirmed in his lap to get more comfortable. Once settled she took his hands and set them on her belly, giggling when he jumped at the baby's kicking.
"Call it a mother's intuition."
Hermes had left that morning, saying he would try to find a way to get her out of England even though they both knew it would be useless. After he left she had a lot to think about, and she began to get to work. With the Dark Lord being at the height of his power and people being killed left and right it was getting more and more dangerous for the Weasley household. While Arthur wasn't the biggest hitter in the ranks of the Order he did his fair share of helping within the ministry and out in the field. It made it dangerous for those left behind though, and despite the fidelius charm Cassandra was always worried about Death Eaters showing up at the Burrow. So it was only logical that she made the will. No matter how much she could do to avoid it, there would always be a chance that she would be killed either before or right after the birth of her dear child. So it would be best to take things into her own hands.
She did it quietly and called upon a favor from a friend of Molly's who once visited the Burrow. The woman's name was Lily and she agreed to help sneak Cassandra out to Grignotts. She acted as witness to Cassandra's will stating what would happen to both her belongings and her child in the event of her death. It tore at her heart to imagine a world where she wouldn't get to see her daughter grow into a woman. Her time as a Slytherin however taught her to account for every possibility; even those where she was not the victor.
It was a very good thing she did this.
After her beautiful daughter was born (and of course she was right, no matter Hermes' skepticism) Cassandra had to go out to Diagon Alley to gather a few supplies. It was almost time for her to leave the Burrow. Molly has been planning a grand goodbye feast and Arthur has tried to act like he can't wait till she's gone but Cassandra can tell he'll miss her. Cassandra told her sister not to bother with the feast, knowing she'll be busy with her two little ones and little Percy who was only a couple months old.
She was making her way out of a store when chaos erupted and Death Eaters attacked. Moving quickly she stumbled to a back alley and hid; knowing that under different circumstances she would be fighting them off herself. Only now she has a child to think about, one that she must get out of this country. Cassandra fully planned to continue with this way of action until she saw it.
A small child, a little girl, was out in the streets crying for her mother. A Death Eater saw and a nasty grin overtook his face as he raised his arm. In that instant she didn't see just some little girl, but her little girl. Her little baby that would one day be that little girl, and the sorrow the mother would face if she were to die. The sorrow that Cassandra would face if it was her little girl in that place. She didn't think of her plan, of what the logical and most reasonable thing to do was. She did the most Gryffindorish thing she had ever done in her life.
She ran out of the alley and whipped out her wand and sent a stunning spell at the Death Eater; sending him flying before he could mutter a word. Another saw her and tried to attack but she whipped out a nasty jinx Marcy Newt taught her during second year in the girl's dormitories. Down to the ground he went screaming in pain. Cassandra let out a wolfish grin at his misfortune.
A noise behind her sent her twirling and green eyes widened at the sight of the first Death Eater. He was struggling to get up and shakily lifted his wand and screamed out the cutting curse. His aim was off though and Cassandra could tell that its trajectory would take it straight to the little girl. Cassandra ran, spitting out the killing curse at the bastard.
Cassandra died from blood loss after jumping in front of the little girl and taking the curse head on. Lying on the cobblestone ground in a pool of her own blood Cassandra smiled as the mother took the daughter away. Her vision was darkening and she found herself mentally apologizing to Hermes and to her child that she would not get to see grow up.
Cassandra Prewett welcomed Death with a smile on her face and thoughts of her much loved infant on her mind.
Molly Weasley would become hysteric when receiving the news, inconsolable no matter how much Arthur would try to calm her down. Lily and James Potter were the ones to deliver the news, being the first on the scene. While the others tried to calm the crying woman, Lily slipped away and walked up the stairs to Cassandra's room where a makeshift nursery was standing in the corner. Lily made her way to the small crib where the babe slept. Tears ran down Lily's face as she touched her fingertips to the child's cheek.
"You are loved little one. Always remember that. She loved you with all she had and more." She whispered softly. The baby's eyes blinked open and Lily saw the most beautiful emerald green eyes she ever saw. The baby gurgled happily at the attention being given and Lily found herself humming a sad tune. It was such a shame what had happened. Cassandra was bursting full with love for the baby, Lily could tell. A love that knew no bounds and would defy everything for the sake of the child. As she sang the tearful song an idea began to bloom in the young witch's mind.
For three days no owl would deliver any mail whatsoever within the British magical community. It was a strange occurrence no one would ever be able to explain.