CHAPTER NINE

Draco became impossible to live with after that night. The blond asked Cassian if he was in fact the one who opened the chamber. Did he petrify that mangy cat, Mrs. Norris? At Cassian's cold look and firm answer in the negative, Draco looked as if he hadn't believed him. At least the other Slytherins, even if they didn't believe him, kept their distance and their silence.

The Red headed Gryffindore friend of Neville's proceeded to use this latest incident as proof of what he'd been saying all along. Ron believed Cassian was indeed at fault and wouldn't hear anything against it. He bought into the rumors circulating that Cassian was the heir the message indicated.

Draco intent on aggravating the weasel, overheard him talking to a group of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindores. "....I mean if that's not proof enough, look at his eyes! You ever see a normal person with eyes that color?"

Oh, Draco was going to enjoy humiliating the weasel. Only he was allowed to bad mouth and torment his cousin, if he so chose. No one else was allowed to, especially that Blood-traitor weasel. This would make picking on the weasel so much more satisfying. Normally he liked to aggravate both the weasel and Longbottom since it was so much fun. However, he had toned down on his hazing of Longbottom as Cassian had made it clear the Gryffindore was a friend.

Actually, after that first disastrous day in Potions, Longbottom had become less of a walking disaster. Yes, Draco was resentful of the fact that his cousin chose to associate with Longbottom and the others over him, but he would not begrudge the other boy other friends. Only if they were worthy of being his friends of course. And Granger was definitely not worthy. Draco still burned with humiliation and uncertainty over her comment that he'd only gotten on the Slytherin Quidditch Team because his father had bought him a place, rather than earning it by showing his worth.

The night the message appeared and the Squib's cat was petrified, Draco had wrote to his father. He'd told him about what happened and Cassian being suspected of the crime. Cassian's denial, the 'friends' he'd been keeping. Draco also begged his father to tell him if his cousin was lying. All he got was a continued warning to not draw attention to himself and befriend Cassian. He also wrote that he would be coming up to watch the quidditch game and Draco had best not disgrace himself or his team.

0o0o0o0o0o

Ron was convinced Cassian was the heir of Slytherin. He was more thoroughly convinced of it in a History of Magic class. The boring class had been interrupted when one of the girls raised her hand and asked the ghost about the Chamber of Secrets. Everyone listened intently as Professor Binns told them about the founding of Hogwarts. The dissension between Slytherin and the other three founders. The rumors o f the Chamber and how it had never been proven.

Seamus pointed out that no one would be able to find it if they weren't Slytherin's true heir. Then Parvarti saying they'd probably have to use Dark Magic to open it. Binns stated that even if one doesn't use Dark Magic, didn't mean that he couldn't. Then the class went back to being boring.

Similar conversations were going on in other classrooms. The Hufflepuffs were in Double Potions with the Ravenclaws. Hermione was actually brave enough to face Snape's wrath to ask about it. The Slytherins were in Trasfiguration. Theo was the one to ask about the Chamber. Cassian just scowled wishing they could just get on with transfiguring their animal into water goblets. He'd had a crappy day so far and it didn't look like it was going to get any better.

First thing in the morning he had gotten another letter from Lucius. The man letting him know he was disgracing the family by having no proper wizarding feeling. He was told in no uncertain terms he was to cease his association with Mudbloods. Cassian had been so angry of being told what to do and the man calling Dudley and Hermione that foul word, he tore the letter to tiny pieces. He then glared at Draco over the breakfast table knowing full well the blond was reporting his behavior to Lucius.

He'd quietly hissed, "Have you ever stopped to think for yourself instead of spouting all that rhetoric full of lies you've been spoonfed your entire life?"

Then in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Lockhart was reenacting his so called 'acts of bravery'. Cassian ignored him preferring to use the period to do his homework. Double Potions was next where he was held back after class. Snape wanted to know if he was drinking his potions like he was saposed to. When he said yes, Snape told him he expected him to actually eat at all three meals. He even went as far as to threaten to restrain Cassian to the Hospital wing if he didn't gain any weight.

Now it was Transfiguring and everyone was asking about the Chamber. He caught a few of his classmates looking at him when the subject was brought up. Cassian ignored them and continued to practice the wand motions McGonagall showed them. He also mouthed the words Vera Verto as he did so. All conversations stopped when Daphne who was sitting beside him congradulated him when he turned his lizard into a water goblet. McGonagall congradulated him as well and awarded him points.

After class he quickly grabbed his bag and tried to leave but Daphne stopped him by hesitatingly callinghis name, "Um...Cassian?"

Inwardly groaning, he turned bracing himself for her to ask if he was Slytherin's Heir as well. He'd seen how the others were looking at him when they were told the story. Instead, she gave him a shy smile. "Thanks for talking to me the other night. About Cleoptra."

Cassian shrugged. It was Harry that knew about cats, not him.

"I was wondering...did you want one of the kittens? You can have first pick, whichever you want."

Cassian blinked. He was not expecting this at all. Harry was bouncing with barely contained excitement. "Say yes, say yes, say yes!"

"I'd have to ask my uncle," he replied slowly. Harry immediately pouted and the boys watched as Daphne struggled to hide her disappointment.

"Oh, okay. I just thought it could be kind of like a thank you, you know? And my mother'll make me get rid of the kittens and , well....It was just, I noticed you didn't have an animal..."

"I want a kitten!" Harry loudly proclaimed causing Cassian to wince. Harry put on the most pleading look he could. "Come on, Cass! Since when have we bothered asking for permission for something anyways?"

Sighing, Cassian shot Harry a glare when the boy muttered, "Maybe if we had a cat, you wouldn't be so moody."

"Fine," he growled. When Harry gave him a dirty look, he ammended, "I would love you have a kitten. Thank you."

Daphne smiled happily and as soon as the girl had her back turned to him, his fake polite smile dropped. Looking around the classroom he saw McGonagall collecting the animals they had used and putting them back in their proper cages for the next class. Quickly walking out the door, he let his feet take him wherever they wanted to go. He was surprised however to look up and see where he was. It was the spot Mrs. Norris had been attacked.

Cassian stared up at the gleaming words Filch hadn't been able to remove. His eyes then went to the bracket the cat had been hung from. He actually missed the cat. She had given him a way to release his pent up emotions in a non violent way with their game. Without her, he really dint' have an outlet. And he felt wound tighter than ever with everyone slandering his family and believing he attacked Mrs. Norris.

Tearing his eyes away, anger coursing through him again, he looked around and spotted the out of order sign on a bathroom. Prefering solitude at the moment, he reached out to touch the knob.

"You can't go in there!" Harry said in horror. "It's the girls bathroom!"

"So? It's out of order. No one'll come in. Besides," he stated as he pushed the door open. "It's just the same as the boys, just without the urinals."

"Know from personal experience, do you?" Harry grumbled sourly. Cassian just gave him one of his smiles, and Harry groaned as he relunctantly followed the other boy. Looking around he couldn't help but comment, "Doesn't look like it's been used in awhile."

Cassian gave a noncommittal grunt as he too gazed around. Dropping his bag, he went over to one of the sinks and stared at his reflection in the dirty cracked mirror. Scowling, he savagely lashed out, punching the the mirror. He felt the cool glass break and slice into his skin. He repeated the processes a few times before he stopped, panting, clutching the sink to steady himself.

"What are you doing?"

Jerking in startlement, Cassian spun to see a ghost about his age maybe a year or two older. The suspicious look on her face turned to wide eyed one as she took in the broken mirror and his bloody hand. "Why are you doing that?"

"It makes me feel better," Cassian replied honestly. "Why are you in a bathroom?"

"This is where I died."

"In a bathroom? Not a very glamorous way to die is it?" Cassian asked falling back on his defensive mechanism whenever he was uncomfortable.

Of course that statement caused Moaning Myrtle to over react and start yelling at Cassian before diving headfirst into the nearest stall. The boys heard a distinct splash. Harry stated, "She's a bit emotional, isn't she."

"A bit?" Cassian surveyed the broken glass and with a flick of his wand, the mirror was whole once again. Then he turned on the tap and stuck his bloody hand under the running water. He hissed in pain as the water hit the cuts, but he didn't remove his hand until the blood had slowed almost to a stop. Carefully, he used a severing hex to cut an inch off the bottom of his robes. He then used it to wrap up his hand. Next, he slipped on his fingerless cloth gloves he wore specifically for purposes such as this.

"Think it'd be safe to go to Madam Pomfrey and have her heal it?"

Cassian shook his head. "I made sure to bring some salves when I collected my things from Ashwood Manor."

The injured boy went to pick up his bag a scowl on his tired face. "Come on, we'd best be off to the Great Hall. I don't want to see if Professor Snape will uphold his threat."

0o0o0o0o0o

In the library Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Dudley were arguing. Ron had come to the library knowing his friends were probably there. He tried to convince them that Cassian was Slytherin's Heir by telling them the conversation from History of Magic. Neville shocked everyone by firmly stating that Ron was wrong, that Cassian was not the heir.

"How do you know that?" he demanded.

"We asked him, more or less," replied Dudley.

"And you believe him?" Ron couldn't believe it.

"Yes," was the uninamous answer.

"We were with him when Mrs. Norris was attacked," Dudley stated.

Hermione nodded. "Not to mention he's stated he's a Half-blood. Dudley and I were there when he punched Draco for calling us that word. He said his mother was Muggle-born. If he couldn't stand for someone insulting Muggle-borns, why would he go around attacking them?"

Ron frowned. He grudgingly admitted that it wouldn't make sense. Neville smiled at his friend, glad that he was coming around to his senses. "Alright then, who do you think it is?"

"I wish I did know."

"Well, if it's not Cassian, it's gotta be Malfoy."

"Malfoy?"

Ron nodded warming up to the idea. "Think about it. He believes are all Muggle-born are scum. You heard him on Halloween. 'You'll be next, Mudbloods!'"

Dudley slowly began to agree with Ron while Hermione remained unconvinced. She did however agree that they needed to come up with a way to find out for sure who the Heir of Slytherin was. They would use Polyjuice Potion to into the Slytherin Dorms. They would be able to question Draco directly.

"We'll need to find a way to keep Cassian occupied thought," Hermione thoughtfully stated.

"Why don't we just ask him to help us?" Neville wondered curiously.

Dudley also felt they should include their Slytherin friend. "He knows Draco better than we do and he could cover any slips we make."

Hermione shook her head. "Even if they're fighting, I don't think Cassian would like what we're doing."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he has qualities from all the houses, not just Slytherin. Gryffindore and Ravenclaw especially."

Dudley raised his brow whereas Ron looked at her in disbelief. Neville stayed silent as he had thought the same. He interacted with Cassian the most and had picked up on a lot that he was sure the other boy didn't know he was broadcasting. He was also sure the Slytherin would feel betrayed that they had not trusted him enough to include him in their plans.

Hermione began to quote the Sorting Hat's song. " ' You might belong in Griffindore, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chilvary Set Gryffindore apart; You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil; Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, If you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind."

"He even looks a bit like a lion. Walks like one too."

"Come off it," Ron scoffed.

Dudley gave his longterm friend a leering grin. "Observing him mighty closely, aren't you, 'Mione?"

Hermione flushed. "He has grace, that's all."

"Uh,huh." Dudley grinned and even Neville gave a small smile.

Ron on the other hand frowned. "Don't forget the last part. 'Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make you're real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends.' The hat put him in Slytherin for a reason."

"I know that, Ronald."

Ron scowled and Dudley changed the subject. "So, what kind of distraction did you have in mind?"

0o0o0o0o0o

As the other boys headed for bed, Draco stayed in the Common Room glancing over at his cousin from time to time. Cassian had come to dinner late and when Draco asked what kept him, the other had shot him a cold look. Scathingly he'd asked, "Why? SO you can tell Lucius if I'm not being a good little boy?"

Draco frowned, not really paying attention to his Charms homework. It seemed everything he did widened the gulf between them. Looking over at Cassian again, he saw that like him, he didn't really seem to be focusing on the open book in front of him. His eyes were slightly out of focus.

Getting up, Draco went over to him and even as he approached, Cassian's eyes locked onto him. Sitting next to him he asked, "What did you mean at breakfast?"

Cassian's cold expression melted into a considering one. He shut his eyes for a brief moment to gather his thoughts. When he opened them, the considering look was still there but a searching and honest nquiring look joined it. "Why don't you first tell me why you don't like Muggleborns."

The blond opened his mouth but shut it at his cousin's look. It was the look his mother wore when she wanted him to seriously think about his answer before replying. Draco did so, out of habit.

"I don't want you to say, 'My father', either. You always say what Lucius says or thinks, but not what you think." Cassian's eyes were completely serious when he gazed at Draco. "The Draco I used to know wasn't a mindless puppet. He thought for himself. A mother's boy maybe," a teasing smile. "But not someone who would blindly take another's word without consideration."

Cassian looked into the fire and his voice lowered. "I was telling the truth when I said my mother was Muggleborn. She was also a brilliant witch who did everything she could to ensure the safety of her son. I will not let anyone to insult her memory, just as you would defend your mother."

Draco frowned as thought and realized that a lot of his opinions were clouded by what he'd been told by his father. His mother on the other hand, had always encouraged him to come to his own conclusions.

0o0o0o0o0o

A.N. - Sorry it's so short, but I wanted to get this up and I'm excited because I'm going to go see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince tomorrow!

When I update it'll usually be on a Thursday or Friday because that's when I have access to my computer for long periods of time.

I guess you all like the choices since I haven't gotten one other name as a possible pairing for Cassian.

Poll results:

Cassian X Luna – 8

Cassian X Daphne – 5

Cassian X Hermione – 3

None – 2

Next chapter: Quidditch, another attack, and the dueling club.