A/N: So the last couple chapters were introduction/prologue chapters, so now we get to focus on the main story of Cassandra! And yes, there is a time jump here, so enjoy the first year at Hogwarts.


Dear Miss Cassandra Johnson,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Cassandra smiled, running from the postbox to the inside of the flat, eager to show him the letter that had just arrived.

"I'm going to Hogwarts!" she called out as soon as she got inside, waving the letter around. "See?"

"I would if you would stop waving it around," Snape pointed out, taking the letter from her.

"Does this mean that I'll actually get to go and see everything you and Aunt Minnie always talk about?" she asked. "Wait…. Does this mean that I have to take Potions and Transfiguration with both of you now?"

"It does."

"So more of Aunt Minnie's lectures then?"

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"Depends on what the lecture is." She sighed. "Do you know what house I'll be sorted into?"

"There's a ceremony for that." He turned to the other page, seeing the list of supplies she'll need. "You'll find out once you get to Hogwarts."

"Can we go shopping now? Please? I want to see Diagon Alley!"

He chuckled. "You've seen it several times already."

"But this time I'll be seeing it as a student! Besides, I do need robes and everything, don't I? And this time I can get a wand! I've never gotten a wand before!" Her voice trailed off as something else distracted her from her excitement.

Snape eyed her. "Cassandra?"

"My arm's sore."

His eyes widened. "Which one?" he demanded.

She held her arm up and he moved her sleeve back, revealing the Dark Mark, seeing how dark it had grown against her skin.

"Come with me," he instructed, dragging her over to the fireplace.

They flooed into Riddle manor and Cassandra swallowed, seeing several tall wizards in dark robes and silver masks guarding a pair of ornately carved doors.

"The Dark Lord summoned her," Snape explained, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder.

They opened the doors and he started to walk with her only to be blocked by the Death Eaters.

"Only she may enter to see the Dark Lord," one of them explained.

"Dad?" she asked, turning around to look at him.

"It's alright," he encouraged. "I'm certain he'll only wish to speak with you."

She sighed and wrapped her fingers around the charm Remus had given her, biting her lip as she entered the room. Cassandra flinched, hearing the doors slam behind her, cutting off her connection to her father.

It was a large dining hall with an empty fireplace in one end—her father had explained that it was just decorative and therefore the other one had to be used with the floo network. Along the walls were statues of famous wizards and witches. The Dark Mark had been engraved into the floor; a reflective white carving against the cold stone floor. At the other end sat Voldemort. A small table had been brought in along with a silver tea set.

"Ah, there you are," he greeted. "Just in time for tea, Cassandra. Come, come now. I've saved you a spot."

She swallowed and walked over, doing as he instructed. Her father had told her on several occasions that it was rude to refuse an order from him; not to mention that a refusal could result in severe punishment from the Dark Lord himself. No matter how many times she had been placed in his company, she was still terrified of being with the Dark Lord. Especially as this was her first time being alone with him.

"Here you go." He poured out a cup and set it in front of her. "Sugar? Cream, perhaps?"

Cassandra shook her head.

"You needn't worry, my dear," he reassured, taking a sip of his own tea. "I wouldn't dare to poison you or anything."

She hesitated, unsure of what she ought to do. On the one hand, she always found herself looking at the dark wizard with a suspicious look. It wasn't too difficult to hear of what he or his loyal followers had done to other wizards, not to mention how many times a trip to see him meant a trip to see Bellatrix. On the other hand, he looked like any other wizard she had ever seen before. He had combed, dark hair and pale skin. He balanced the tea cup and saucer in his long fingers, each movement perfectly poised and choreographed from years of training. The only thing that was different were his eyes…. Those strange, dark red eyes…. It was always odd how much he looked like he could be any other wizard. Especially considering that he was dressed in a muggle suit jacket today instead of his usual robes.

"You're still not going to trust me?" He sighed and looked at her. "I would've thought Severus would have taught you better manners."

"What if you're lying and it's actually poisoned?"

"Then your tea will grow cold." He smiled. "But if it does make you feel more at ease…."

He picked up his wand and waved it. Her cup floated over to his reach and he took a sip before sending it back to her. "Now I've drank the poison myself, so if there is any, we can both die together."

"You need more practice with how to talk to people," she pointed out, going to pick up the cup to take a sip. She made a face and set it down. "Can I still have some sugar?"

"Help yourself."

She reached over and poured some into the cup. "Why did you summon me here? Without my dad?"

"You're almost eleven years old now, Cassandra. I suspect you'll soon be going to Diagon Alley to get your own wand?"

She nodded. "I just got my acceptance letter today too."

"Wonderful news." Voldemort clasped his hands together. "You're growing up quite fast now, aren't you? Seems like it was just the other day your father was bringing you here for the first time and you received that little Dark Mark there. How quickly time seems to pass…."

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"You didn't just invite me here for tea and a chat, did you?"

"What would make you think that?"

"My dad said that you never do anything without wanting something. I mean, isn't that how most Slytherins do things?"

"You always were a clever girl. More clever than some of my Death Eaters." He sighed and set the tea down, steepling his fingers to gaze at her over them. "Such a pity that is. But in answer to your question, I did summon you here for a reason. I suspect you know who the headmaster is at Hogwarts?"

"Albus Dumbledore. My dad complains about him a lot."

"Correct. He seems to have a different view of things than I do."

"You mean that you want only purebloods and he wants to protect the muggle-borns?" she guessed.

"What I want, my dear, is to let our kind out into the world. Muggles have taken over things, have forced us into hiding. Not to mention how many of them will sneer at our kind and force us away with so much hatred and prejudice. Dumbledore, however, doesn't see things quite that way. So therefore he wishes to stop me."

"What's that got to do with me going to Hogwarts?"

"I have a feeling that Dumbledore may try to recruit you for his cause. He'll try to use you as a way to defeat myself and end our petty little feud."

"A feud that has killed?"

"Sadly, yes. Now, don't get me wrong. Death is something I would rather like to avoid, but alas, every little thing we do has its consequences. Your mother knew that better than anyone."

"Dad says that you had a Death Eater kill her when I was a baby."

"She knew the risks of a betrayal. If it wasn't for her betrayal, she may have still been alive. But, sadly, we can't go back and change the past, now can we?"

Cassandra sighed and shook her head.

"Good girl." Voldemort smiled. "Chin up now. You're father is waiting for you to take you shopping. You have a wand to buy, after all. I'll summon you again before you're off to Hogwarts. Do have a fun time. I want to hear all about it, understand?"

"Yes, sir."


Voldemort glanced up as the doors opened to admit Bellatrix Lestrange into the room. She paused, bowed, and walked over to stand before him. She was certainly one of his more ruthless and devoted Death Eaters—though even he had to admit that her complete and utter devotion to him was a bit odd, to say the least.

"I trust you have a reason for disturbing my tea, Bellatrix?"

"Are you sure it's a good idea to be trusting that little witch so much, my lord? That is the third time she's been here this past year!"

"You expect me to have tea with Crabbe or Goyle? Lucius, perhaps?"

"What I am saying is that the girl may be better off dead! You once had a suspicion that she could be the Chosen One!"

"Once," he emphasized. "She hasn't shown signs of being the Chosen One."

"But she could be! The moment you turn your back on her she'll kill you stone-dead!"

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "You're acting like a child, Bella. Very undeserving of your pureblood status."

Bellatrix opened her mouth to say something before deciding that it may be better if she didn't speak. Voldemort allowed himself a small smile. Insulting her blood status was always the quickest way to get Bellatrix to be quiet.

"Also, the next time threatening her comes across your mind, I would suggest thinking otherwise. Cassandra Johnson is under my protection and any Death Eater who harms her will have to answer to me and me alone. Understood?"

She nodded. "Yes, my lord."

"Good. Now be a dear and clean up, would you? I have no further need for these things. And tell them to prepare a bed in the spare room. We'll soon have a guest and I want her to be as comfortable as possible."


Cassandra walked with Snape into Diagon Alley. She hung onto the sleeve of his shirt, turning her head every way to look at all the shops. She had been there plenty of times before, but this time they were actually going to get her a wand and school robes!

She smiled, being led over to the changing rooms by a happy-looking witch to get her measurements for the robes.

"You're here too?" Draco called out once she was finished.

She looked over at the blonde boy with gray eyes and a smug smirk on his face. "Yes. I'm in the same year as you are, you know. And everyone does have to shop for robes, Draco."

"Well that doesn't mean you can hog the line." He walked past her. "Some of us have more important things to do!"

"Of course. Whatever you say. See you on the train?"

"Only if you promise to be in Slytherin after the Sorting!"

Cassandra sighed and shook her head, returning to Snape's side. "Are all Malfoys that arrogant and determined to be in Slytherin?"

"Slytherin has a preference toward purebloods, so it is only natural to assume that they would end up there."

"But you and mom were in Slytherin and you're not purebloods."

He smiled. "Rare occasion. Now you go on and get your wand. I have something else to see to first."

She nodded. "Okay."

Cassandra smiled and turned in the direction of the one shop they had walked by so many times before but had never entered. She stood in front of the doors, seeing the faded gold letters across the top.

Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.

She sighed and opened the door, hearing the little bell announce her as a new customer. She walked over to the counter, seeing the shelves with boxes of wands stacked on top one another, crammed so full that she didn't know if any more could be added.

An old man walked out from amongst the shelves. He had strange, silvery eyes, and white hair that looked to have been well-kept after. He seemed a relatively old wizard—by muggle standards at least, if not by wizard standards—yet he moved with a youthful spring in his step as soon as he laid eyes upon her.

"Welcome to Ollivander's," he introduced. "I trust you're here to get your first wand?"

She nodded.

"Ah, excellent. Excellent." He frowned and eyed her. "You seem to be a rather peculiar witch. Just who might your parents be, hm?"

"My mom's name was Elaine. Elaine Johnson. My dad's is Severus Snape."

"Ah. Of course. I remember when they came in for their wands. Your mother showed great promise then. I was so very sad to hear of her passing. I wonder if you'll show the same…. Let me see what I have here."

He vanished amongst the shelves and reappeared with a long, narrow box. "Try this one."

He handed it to her and she opened the lid, seeing the wand that was inside. She took it out and looked at it.

"Go on! Wave it around a bit! Wands weren't made just be to looked at."

She flicked her wrist and jumped, hearing something crash from the back of the store.

"Not that one then. What about one similar to your father's, eh?" He went back to the shelves and reappeared again, taking the wand out of the box before handing it to her. "Try this one on for size."

Cassandra reached to take it, only to recoil back, sucking her finger where the wand had tried to burn her.

"Not that either." He frowned and set the wand back in its box. "What is that thing around your neck, my dear?"

"This?" She held up the stone so he could see. "My godfather gave it to me a long time ago. He said my magic was really hard to control then, so I needed help."

"Would you be so kind as to take it off?"

She eyed the old wizard before removing the cord, the turquoise stone fading to an amber color.

"Now, perhaps we may be able to better find you a wand. Better to do this when the wand can fully sense all of your potential…."

His voice trailed off as something made a clattering noise. Ollivander walked over to the shelves and she stepped around the counter, watching as he searched the boxes for the source. He dug around for a bit before straightening, holding an old box in his hands.

"It would seem this one would like to be chosen." He brought it over to her with a smile. "Shall we?"

He opened the lid and held it out toward her. She glanced at the wand. It had a dark color to it, yet the polish seemed to make it shine with hidden colors. Cassandra slowly reached out and took the wand from the box, lifting it into her hands.

"Go on, my dear," Ollivander encouraged.

She nodded and flicked her wrist. A stream of sparks shot out of the tip, whizzing up toward the ceiling before bursting into colorful drops of light, lighting up the entire shop. Cassandra smiled, laughing despite herself as she reached a hand up to touch the light, giggling as it burst at the touch into even more sparks.

"Curious," Ollivander murmured as the lights began to fade away. "Very curious."

"What do you mean?"

"That wand happens to be a yew wand," he explained. "Ten and three-quarters of an inch in length, slightly yielding flexibility, with a dragon heartstring core. A powerful wand indeed, but most yew wands have unfortunately fallen into the hands of several dark wizards. Including He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named amongst others. Even your wand core is one of the most powerful that can be made. With that combination alone, I have a feeling that you'll turn out to be a very powerful witch."

"You think so?"

"It is a powerful wand. And the wand always chooses the wizard."


"And what wand did he say this was again?" Voldemort asked, inspecting hers.

"A yew wand. With dragon heartstring."

He smiled. "An interesting choice. My own happens to be made of yew, but with a phoenix core instead of a dragon's." He handed it back to her. "I am grateful that you were able to accept the invitation to stay at the manor."

"My dad didn't seem to happy about it though. He's probably going to be worried sick when he has to pick me up for the train."

"Of course." He sighed and stood. "Come. I don't believe you've ever had a chance to properly see the manor."

She followed him out the doors and down to the grand entryway. Voldemort flicked his wand and the doors opened to allow them to step out onto the grand lawn in front of the old manor. Cassandra frowned though, seeing what looked like a small muggle town below them.

"Something wrong, my dear girl?"

"It's just…. Isn't it wrong to have a house so close to so many muggles? Especially one that has magic in it? What if they see us? I mean, this used to be your family's manor, right? That's why it's called Riddle Manor, isn't it?"

"I do still regret that day you overheard a conversation you shouldn't have," he muttered, holding his hand out in front of him. An invisible barrier rippled at his touch, travelling all around the manor. "To any muggle out there, this just looks like an abandoned manor. No one would suspect there to be any Death Eaters nearby. And if they did come for a look, well, that poor muggle would certainly get more than he had bargained for." He chuckled at the look she gave him and placed a hand on her shoulder to guide her back. "Let's just say that there are a few boggarts I've never been able to get rid of."

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you ever tell any of the others where we really are? I mean, it's not like they would ever make the connection. There's no blood ward or any other wards like the ones that would be on a real wizard family manor."

"Things are a bit better if I keep the ties to my muggle father one of the lesser known subjects," he explained. "You'll find one of these days that Dumbledore has a nasty habit of picking through everyone's life history. The less information he has, the better things will be. For all of us."

"Then why not obliviate me? Make me forget?"

"You're too clever of a girl for that charm to work properly. Besides, I find that you are one of the more trustworthy witches I've known. You wouldn't dare give my secrets to Dumbledore, would you?"

"No, sir." She shook her head and smiled. "I'd even tell him that you're really a boggart and that Bellatrix Lestrange is the real Dark Lord. And I'd lie just as well as Malfoy does."

He smiled. "I would certainly like to see Dumbledore's face if you did. Shall we go back inside now?"

Voldemort led her back inside and she followed him up the staircase, eyeing the other Death Eaters who had moved into the manor. She shrunk away from a few of them, seeing the looks they gave her before quickly bowing their heads to continue with whatever they had been doing.

"Undetectable extension charm allows for more rooms," he added. "Though a few of them are sealed off except to their owners. Hopefully you won't find yourself too lost while you're here."

"About that…. Why am I here? I mean, I've normally spent summers with my dad. But now I'm spending the rest of this one with you? At your manor? Surrounded by Death Eaters? Seems a bit much. I mean, I may have the Dark Mark, but it's not like I'm actual Death Eater, right?" She looked up at him and blinked in surprise at the small smile he gave her. "Merlin, I am."

"Language, Cassandra."

"You say it all the time, sir."

"Doesn't make it right." He stopped in front of a room and opened the door for her. "And this is where you'll be staying."

"Wow." She stepped inside, seeing the ornate wardrobe, the standing mirror, the bathroom suite, the four-poster canopy bed, and her trunk already sitting at the foot along with a suitcase of her things.

"I hope miss likes it," a house elf squeaked at her.

"Keesy will be assisting you with whatever you may need," Voldemort explained. "Everything and anything." He gave her a nod. "I'll expect you downstairs for dinner."

He turned and closed the door after himself, leaving Cassandra alone with the house elf.

"I've never met a house elf before." She walked over to the bed and sat down, her legs dangling over the edge as she looked at the creature.

Keesy had a small body, which made her head seem even larger. She also had a long nose, large brown eyes, and ears that were as large as her face. She looked up at Cassandra, almost as if waiting for an order while she tugged at the pillowcase she wore.

"Are there others in the manor? Other house elves like you?"

"Yes, miss," she squeaked. "We are all bound to serve the Dark Lord. He owns this manor, and we are his servants. We do as he orders and Keesy is ordered to serve you, miss."

"So I'm guessing you know a bit about what he's like then, huh?"

"Keesy is bound to keep the master's secrets."

"Right." She sighed and looked at the strange creature. "Sorry. It's just that I've never really had the chance to properly meet one before. Don't you normally serve pureblood families? Or at least the richest ones?"

"Yes, miss."

She glanced over at the empty wooden chair sitting in one of the corners. "Why don't you bring that one over, Keesy? It's a bit easier to talk to someone when I don't have to look down all the time."

"You want-you want Keesy to sit down? Like an equal?"

"Yeah?"

The little house elf's eyes went wide with surprise at the statement and she hurriedly brought the chair over, looking at Cassandra as she climbed into it to sit down. "No one's ever asked Keesy to sit before. This is a huge honor, miss!"

"And you can stop calling me 'miss'. Cassandra works just fine. I mean, it is my name, after all. If I'm to spend a long time here, you might as well."

"Miss Cassandra is very nice. It is an honor to serve you while you are here at the manor! It is a great honor indeed!"

"Do you play any games, Keesy?"

"Games, miss?"

"Yeah. Do you play any?"

"Keesy doesn't know how to play games. Keesy is always busy working."

"Well come on, then." She stood and nodded for the elf to follow. "There's bound to be at least one game around someplace that we can play before dinner starts."


Voldemort stood outside the manor, waiting for her to join him. The doors opened and she hurriedly ran to where he was.

"Sorry," she apologized. "We got lost."

" 'We'?"

"Keesy and I."

"Punctuality is a very important thing," he gently scolded as they began to walk. "Best keep that in mind, Cassandra. You wouldn't want to be late to any of your classes, now would you?"

"No, sir."

"Speaking of which, have you given any consideration as to which house you hope to be sorted into once you get to Hogwarts?"

"I haven't really given it much thought. I mean, my parents were both Slytherin, but my godfather and Aunt Minnie were both Gryffindors, so…." She shrugged. "What house were you in?"

"Slytherin, obviously. The house of my own ancestor. Salazar Slytherin."

"You're descended from one of the founders?"

He nodded. "How else do you think I can talk with snakes?"

"I thought you just made a bunch of sounds or something to scare the Death Eaters."

Voldemort smiled and chuckled. "Careful now, Cassandra. You can't go revealing all my secrets, now can you?"

"Do you know how to scare Bellatrix, sir?"

"Why would you ask such a thing?"

"She seems like she would be the hardest to scare. And she does have a way of scaring everyone else."

"Well, everyone has something they're afraid of."

"Even you, sir?"

"Even me." He shot her a look. "But don't expect me to tell you what that is. I'd sooner let you see Bella's than mine."

She shivered and folded her arms. Voldemort waved his wand and a heavy cloak appeared on her shoulders, magically fastening itself to stay in place. A dark green hat also plopped itself onto her head and she smiled, adjust it to look up at him.

"What are we doing out here, sir?" she asked. "I mean, it's dark and there's no real reason to be out here, is there?"

"You're going to Hogwarts tomorrow," he pointed out. "I thought us spending some time together would be a nice little thing to do. I trust you've enjoyed your stay?"

"Yes, sir." Cassandra nodded. "I've liked it very much."

"Good. I'm happy to hear that."

"Sir? Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything."

"When I get to Hogwarts…. What'll happen? I mean, if I'm sorted into a house that I don't like…."

He glanced down at the eleven year-old and smiled, coming to a stop. "The Sorting Hat knows best, Cassandra. It will place you in whatever house it believes you'll do well in."