A/N: i know i have been gone a while but taking 6 courses at university will do that to a person. i now have time so i want to write out as much as i can, while i can. thank to all those who reviewed last time and hope i get more. hint... hint
HOGWARTS…. 1 YEAR EARLIER
The dark halls of Hogwarts which were once alive with laughter and the patter of feet were silent. The darkness prevailing through hall, the only source of light beamed through the windows from the full moon a figure was traveling down the halls was held in front of her. As the figure passed by one of the moonlit windows her features were displayed with striking beauty. Her waist length curly ebony hair swayed by the breeze, her milky white skin took upon a earthier hue, her grey eyes sprinkle with green sparkled in the light making her look lie an angel. Suddenly another figure stepped from the shadows.
"Hello." The young girl, startled, turned quickly as if electrified. Seeing a familiar face her startled expression transformed into one of familiarity. Stepping towards the figure she slightly tapped the arm of her best-friend. Xander Valipor was a sixth year Ravenclaw, it was a shock to the school when the Slytherin and Ravenclaw became friends but then Cassandra was never really viewed as conventional.
"Hello yourself…. I missed you today in class you missed one great lesson. Snape kept torturing the Gryffindors again you would think with all that bravery they would learn to use common sense." Cassandra remarked turning around motioning for her friend to help her patrol.
"Really? But again what else is new? We always knew they were pretty dull. Well I missed you to… so how are you doing with Lucius and his proposition? Xander remarked quietly not wanting to run the risk of exposing his friend but it was difficult he was worried for her. She had become some what of a sister to him and knew Lucius only viewed her as a mean to an end. She was top of her class, beautiful and deadly a perfect Deatheater.
"I keep trying to avoid him but I can't hide forever eventually I will have to go home and then it will be too late." Cassandra whispered to her friend. She was terrified at the prospect of becoming a Deatheater, a monster. She wanted to become more, she even talked to the headmaster gave subtle hints but he just ignored her. The golden boy walked into the room and she was forgotten. Her plight was insignificant to the bigger picture; that was the message she received from his actions. She was alone.
"What about your boyfriend?" This caught Cassandra off guard. She quickly whirled around to stare at the earnest face of her friend.
"What I don't have a…" she attempted to explain but was quickly cut off.
Shaking his head Xander stared into the grey/Green eyes he was fond of. "Cut the shit I know your secret and I don't care as long as you are happy that is all that matters."
Shocked at his admittance she bowed her head softly and whispered. "Thanks" she never knew how relieved those words from his mouth could make her feel. They walked in silence for a while, comfortable with each other until Xander broke the silence.
"So have you asked him maybe he could help you?" The truth was that for a moment she did think of revealing all her secrets to the man that captured her heart but she was afraid; afraid that he would leave her when he found her plight. She knew that it was an irrational fear but it always lurked in the back of her mind hindering almost everything they did together.
"I don't know, I really like him and don't want to involve him but…" Suddenly she was interrupted by giggles coming from a normally unused brook closet. The duo finally sensing some entertainment crept silently to the doors.
"Great back to prefect duty so what so you think it is a Gryff, Ravenclaw of Hufflepuff?" Xander whispered glad to have something other then his best friends impending doomed future.
"Open area, easily caught must be a Gryffindor." Cassandra reasoned while walking towards the door. Turning to each other they gripped one door a piece and swiftly threw it open intending to catch the couple off guard but was caught with a nasty surprise of her own.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!"
Later the next day Cassandra found herself hiding between the stacks of the library dreadfully hoping to avoid a certain someone…actually an entire house all together. Her anger had not dissipated and she felt as if she was about to slaughter every student whom proudly supported the red and gold tie. Deciding to take her anger and frustration out on her coursework she found herself rivaling that of a Ravenclaw, never looking up studying her books with a great fervor. Some might mistake it for wanting to improve her grades but one student knew better.
He walked in the Library desperately looking for a girl with curly black hair. He could not believe he was so careless last night. He knew she was on duty and still he did that he did. Feeling instantly ashamed he knew he deserved that black eye she gave him last night but had a hell of a time explaining to Angelina why a Slytherin prefect cared so much. Spotting her wedged in the stacks closest to Defense against the Dark arts he was partially glad she was secluded. Walking slowly as if he was on his way to the executioner he stopped a few feet behind the beautiful girl.
"George I thought I told you to just leave me alone." A young girl no more then sixteen said to the darkness instantly knowing who was there. She spent so much time sneaking around with him she knew him instantly by the sound of his footsteps alone. His was more pronounced then his brothers, one of the things that truly made him unique.
"Cassandra I just wanted to talk." George said quietly crouching down next to the girl hoping to alleviate the tension.
"Well I don't." Cassandra said shortly never removing her eyes from her textbook. She did not want to talk to this man let alone see him what made him that that she was going to go peacefully.
"I'm sorry…." They young man called out to her as she quickly packed up her things. Feeling as if she was suffocating she needed to get out of there as soon as she could.
"Sorry? Your sorry…Ha yeah right this is just what you wanted all along." She snapped back. "was this just a game… let me guess you and your brother thought how fun it would be to screw with the female Malfoy right. No don't worry, I get that shit all the time I just thought you were different; that maybe, just maybe you actually liked me for me." She finished looking at the young boy with hurt filled eyes.
"No I promise I really wanted to be with you but then when I was with Angelina tonight after Quidditch practice things just progressed, and any way it is not like anything could ever have truly happened between us you are a Slytherin… a Malfoy our families hate each other!" George tried to reason but immediately realized his reasoning was lacking. She was not her family, she was not a Malfoy hell the fact that she dated a Gryffindor...a Weasley... was enough to convince anyone she was different.
"What does my family have to do with this? I am not my family! Just because I hold the same last name as Lucius does not make me evil and you know that I am not really his daughter." She pleaded trying to make the young man see reason. She couldn't believe he was doing this. He was her only lifeline, besides Xander, that held her away from the dark lord. Without those people she would have no one. Her mother was dead, her father was a criminal, her uncle was a deatheater and her 'little brother' was a git and future deatheater. She had no real friends only Xander.
"But I can't tell anyone that can I!" George exclaimed getting upset.
"You know why." Cassandra whispered softly staring at the boy. He knew why she had to keep it a secret. If her uncle found out about them it would create a very big problem for her. He didn't know the full extent but she hoped he would understand.
"I'm sorry but I can't, what if my brothers found out. I can't lose them…I'm sorry." George told the girl as he slowly backed away feeling his resolve weaken with every one of her tears.
"Fine… Fine leave be with Johnston or Spinnet, Hell why don't you just go jump that mudblood your brother fancies." Cassandra snarled angrily. She didn't have a problem with Granger… Quite the opposite she thought that she was the cleverest witch in the year and silently rooted for her to beat Draco at grades every year, hoping that one day her cousin would finally realize that not all muggle-borns were bad but every year that hope died a little more.
"Don't call Hermione that she…" George tried to defend but was quickly cut off by the angered girl.
"Don't you dare lecture me, don't you dare…. You are worse then any of the Slytherins I meet. God I thought you would be different but you are just like them." She moved towards him shoving him in the chest with her hands.
"Now come on that is not fair. I do care about you I just can't keep lying to everyone." He gripped her hands quickly before she could do anymore damage. "I just can't" He whispered.
"I never wanted to lie you know it was your idea. Were you ashamed of me of what we had? Where is that Gryffindor bravery I always heard so much about? Or are you really just a hufflepuff at heart?" Cassandra laughed harshly shoving him away from her. Turning her tear stained face to meet the young man in front of her she looked into the eyes of someone she thought would love her for her and not her name, or in many cases hate her because of her name.
"Cass please…" George took a few tentative steps forward seeing the hurt he placed in the young girls face.
"Leave George. Just leave." She said softly as she turned her back and left the stack. If she would have looked back she would have seen man who now looked as if he was a lost boy. George slowly crouched down leaning against the stacks as he placed his head in his hands and wonder not for the first time, and definitely not the last, if he did the right thing. He did care for Cassandra… hell he would go as far as saying he loved her but now with the war going the way things were he couldn't do it. He couldn't risk exposing his family and friends to the Malfoys. If anything happened and he needed to leave he didn't want to lie to her. But all he could think about was the day he hastily decided that the war did not apply to them.
6 MONTHS PRIOR
Footsteps could be heard lumbering down the dark cold halls of Hogwarts as Cassandra Malfoy attempted to rid her mind of her adopted father and his new demands. Cassandra never hated the man up until this moment. He knew she never wanted to do this but still was forcing her hand.
"Damn Lucius why can't he just leave me alone he isn't even my father, not that he would be any better either." She mused to herself unaware that she was speaking it aloud for the whole world to hear.
But he is not a deatheater. You know this you saw Pettigrew just a few weeks ago.
"I don't care if he is innocent or not." Cassandra mumbled to herself as she stopped for a moment to catch her breath, unaware of a pair of familiar eyes staring at her from the shadows.
"You do realize talking to yourself is just the warning signs for insanity." A voice called from the dark. Cassandra spun around quickly attempting to pinpoint the sound but failing. All around her were suits of armor shining in the candle light.
"Who is there! Spying on people is not polite." She called to the darkness hoping that it wasn't another Slytherin or worse a Deatheater, hell maybe both.
"Aw… but I thought that Slytherins were impossible to sneak up on and aren't you just the perfect Slytherin" The voice taunted moving closer to the girl. Finally Cassandra saw a shape forming in the shadows.
"Hardly" She replied staring at the now visible form. "What are you doing here aren't you a little far from the towers?"
"Ask me no questions I will tell no lies." Was the cryptic response she received from one of the Weasley twins. Most could not tell them apart but for some reason she could. It was in the attitude, the walk and the facial features. Also Fred never had a decent conversation with her in all her years at Hogwarts while George was quite cordial to her when they were required to work together.
"What the bloody hell does that mean?" she replied quirking an eyebrow at the redhead.
George shrugged his shoulders smiling slightly.
"You are so infuriating just leave go back to your little tower and joke about torturing first years." She turned quickly and began to continue down the hall temporarily thanking the fact that for a few seconds she forgot what her 'father' wanted her to do.
"I always knew that you were really related to that git Malfoy." He called after the girl, she stopped suddenly, a sudden fear gripped her as she realized he heard her ranting. Scared at the content he heard she turned to look at him.
Shit why did I have to say that Lucius will kill me if her finds out and what will everyone else do if they find out that I am the daughter of a psychotic mass murderer?
"I don't know what you are talking about." was her quick response wanting to take back everything she had just said about her family.
"I heard you. You know you can't deny it you didn't know I was there." George smirked at her discomfort. He didn't dislike her quite the contrary he felt as if she was an angel. She was so unlike her family that it startled him all those years ago.
"I am related to Draco, I am his sister." was the cold and quick reply.
"No you aren't" George pushed himself from against the wall moving closer to the prone girl. Gently touching her hand Cassandra was startled at the sudden contact.
"What are you doing." She jumped but was too enthralled to move. She didn't know what to do. She always had a soft spot for the Weasley but never thought it was possible for him to look past her family name.
"You are different from them I always knew that from the first time I saw you on the train in first year." He was getting closer a he closed what little space was left between them.
"No I am not I am the perfect Slytherin… remember" she said softly moving her face forward an inch but that was enough.
"No you aren't a real slytherin would not let me talk to them this long or be civil." He whispered back gazing at her face with rapt attention. He never saw something so beautiful in all his life and it was in his arms.
"I could always hex you right now."
"But you won't" he quickly replied smiling at the girl in his arms.
"How do you know that?" she whispered back her lips almost grazing his at their closeness.
"Because you would never hex me"
"What makes you think…" but she was cut off as a pair of determined lips crashed down upon her. She had kissed many boys in her years but none felt like this, this was… well … amazing. Wrapping her arms around his neck she returned the kiss with great fervor. They stayed in that position for what felt like hours unaware of the world around them. Suddenly a giggle alerted them to their surroundings. Breaking apart softly Cassandra stared into the blue eyes of her companion startled to see him staring at her intently. Giggles were heard again louder. It was coming from down the hall adjacent to theirs.
"What" but she was quieted as George placed a finger on her swollen lips. "Shhh." He never removed his hand from her hips as they looked down the hall hoping that they would remain unnoticed. Staying quite they hears footsteps approach and then moved quickly away leaving the duo untouched.
"That was close." George said quietly as he placed his forehead on hers. Feeling himself falling into her grey/green eyes.
"We can't do this." She replied suddenly looking down avoiding his eyes. She didn't want to do this it was wrong, but felt so right.
"Why not." He urged. He needed this he waited for so long and no he was here and she was pulling away. This was not how he imagined this would turnout.
"Many reasons" She whispered still avoiding his eyes. George placed a hand on her chin and forcing her to state at him.
"I don't care about any of them. I have liked you for years and now I have you in my hands and never letting go." He whispered pulling her closer and resting his head on her shoulder, inhaling her sweet scent. A scent that was impossible for a Slytherin to posses.
"What about our families." She replied attempting to find a fault for them to continue this.
"Screw them" was his short muffled response.
"But…"
"No. Cassandra for once in your life just do what feels right not what they want." He moved her face away from the crook of her shoulder and look at her earnestly. He wanted her to see how much he cared. After a moment of fear, on George's part Cassandra broke the silence.
"Alright" she whispered unable to keep the smile from her face.
"Meet me here tomorrow same time." George whispered once again as they shared another kiss. Breaking apart he held her hand and walked her towards the Dungeon. Stopping a few corridors down he held her hand to his lips.
"This is where I leave you madam… maybe one day I might be able to walk you to your picture." He mused not meaning anything by it.
"Maybe.." was her cryptic response as they broke apart going their separate ways. Both happy at the turn of events but unaware that things were going to change quickly and drastically.