Disclaimer: Just like anyone else on the site, I don't own Harry Potter.
The character of Cassie is mine, though, and so are Laura, Kenya and Beryl! I also claim full credit/blame for the writing and elements of the plot.
A/N: Many, many apologies, everyone, for the REALLY long wait between chapters. I know, it's unforgivable. Feel free to send Howlers. I've just been really busy and also – it's really hard to write present-giving occasions. I've no idea how I'm going to top this next year, either. Anyway, here's the last chapter of Little Bat from the Dungeons (volume one!). I hope you enjoy it and, since it's the last chapter, I'd love some reviews.
Testing Times
Twice a year, for the next several years, I will be faced with the ultimate question, Cassie mused as she flicked absent-mindedly through a third-year textbook in the library. What do you get for the Slytherin who has everything? She was supposed to be revising Herbology, but she was struggling to get her head around the idea that Venomous Tentacula could be trained not to bite by refusing them food, while other plants would simply die, and had turned to a higher level text for a more detailed explanation. Curiosity satisfied, however, her mind had turned to a more practical problem. The end-of-year exams were to start in two weeks' time, but the day after their last exam was Draco's birthday. Merlin knows what I'm going to get him. I only know when his birthday is because he's listed in 'Who's Who in the Wizarding World', or I'd have even less notice. At that moment, she became aware of someone standing behind her. Spinning round, she found herself face-to-face with the very boy she'd been thinking about. "Problem, Malfoy?" He looked surprised at her imitation of his usual superior drawl, but quickly recovered. "It's my birthday in three weeks. I expect we'll have some sort of gathering at the Manor after term ends." He threw himself into the seat next to hers. "Coming?"
After a fifteen-minute argument about whether or not Draco had any idea of the proper way to invite someone to a party – a bit of light-hearted banter that took them all the way back to the dungeons – Cassie agreed to ask her cousin's permission to attend. However, she still had no idea what to buy her friend… Perhaps that was the answer. Draco was continually showered with all the things money could buy – so perhaps she should try to find something money couldn't buy for him. For now, though, it was time to get to grips with the theory behind the Transfigurations she'd been performing all year.
--
Anybody there?
Fortunately, just me. Can I help you with something? How did your first couple of exams go?
I think Herbology went alright. As for Potions, your guess is much better than mine. Whose cauldron was it that was hissing?
Nott's. It looks like he didn't clean it properly before the exam.
Oops. Is that going to cost him marks?
Not many, no. So, did you just want to discuss hissing cauldrons, or…?
Oh. No… I was wondering if you could help me to think of something I can give Draco for his birthday – it's coming up soon and, well… you know he has almost everything he could want.
Well… do you have any ideas to start from?
Nothing specific, but I thought that since his parents more or less buy him everything he shows a passing interest in – and you know that's true – I should try to get him something money can't buy instead.
Yes, that sounds like a very sensible plan. I'll talk to you about it tomorrow, when I've got the second- and third-year exams out of the way. Now, it's time for dinner. Off you go!
Yes, sir! No arguments here.
I thought not.
--
Severus wandered along his bookshelves, looking for a volume that might help him. The ultimate challenge, he mused to himself. Not a potion or a charm, but satisfying the wishes of an eleven-year-old boy. He couldn't think of anything that he or Cassie could give Draco that Lucius couldn't. None of the potions in his books suited… His cousin's knock on the door sent him rushing back to his seat, where he attempted to look casual as he called her in.
"No ideas, then." Cassie had taken one look at his face and read him like the very books he had just been staring at. "I'm afraid not. The problem is, I don't know what Draco would like for his birthday. Do you…?" She thought hard for a second. "There's nothing I can get him that his father couldn't - oh! Wait!" Indeed, he had to wait, as she had leapt from her chair and run off somewhere.
A few minutes later, she was back, with a dog-eared little book in hand. She handed it over, look excited and very pleased with herself. He glanced at the title, embossed in gold on the front; ADDRESSES. "It was my mother's. She knew all sorts of people – she never saw them much and she wasn't really close to anyone…" She stopped to compose herself for a second. "…But some of the people in here are quite famous in their fields" Severus raised an eyebrow. "So you want to introduce Draco to one or more of these celebrities?"
She shook her head, laughing. "Oh, no – think of the havoc he could wreak! There was one, though, who I thought… well, perhaps we could get him something no other kid will have for a few months." At a raised eyebrow from her cousin, she continued, "Turn to 'N'. You'll see her, straight away." He obeyed, and sure enough, his eye was immediately drawn to one name. Beryl Nimra.
"Aunt Meredith knew Buzz Nimra? The Buzz Nimra?" Cassie nodded. "She was like an aunt to me, growing up – no offence to your mum, of course – and she even came to the funeral, but undercover. The attention wouldn't have been right for the occasion." Severus gaped at it uncharacteristically for a moment. "This could be good…" That was when Cassie passed across the piece of parchment she'd also brought from the dorms.
--
June the 5th dawned warm, clear and bright – just as Cassie had hoped. Glancing out of the enchanted window in her dorm, she wasted no time in getting dressed and rushing to check in with Severus in his office. "She's still coming?" Severus nodded at her. "She's coming, and I spoke to Dumbledore, and all the strings have been pulled that you asked me to pull here at Hogwarts, and nobody needs to know I had any part in it, so yes, Cassie, everything is fine. Go to breakfast!"
Now that exams were over, there were no classes to worry about for the first years, and the majority decamped to the lawns to enjoy the sun. As the Slytherin first-years dragged themselves out of bed, Cassie could barely contain her excitement, and at ten o'clock she finally lost patience and dragged Laura and Draco out to the Quidditch pitch, toast and all. "But why the Quidditch pitch, of all places?" Laura complained as they made their way across the grounds. "The stands are perfect for sunbathing in." Cassie replied distractedly, ignoring Draco's mutterings about his 'fair complexion' until, as they passed through the gates and into the stands, she shut him up by calling him a girl. "Hey, it's my birthday, don't be mean!"
At this, Laura pulled an expression of mock surprise. "Oh no, I forgot it was your birthday!" She immediately proved herself to be lying, however, by pulling out a small, brightly-wrapped package and handing it to him. "It's not much, but I hope you like it." Draco grinned and ripped off the wrapping paper to reveal a Pet Wrock. The packaging described it as 'The pet for people who can't have pets. It needs no food or water, just leave it on a windowsill and it'll live forever. It may seem like an ordinary pebble, but just tap it three times with the wrong end of a wand-' Draco was one of those people who did things as he read about them, and tapped the Wrock three times. Sure enough, the innocuous-looking thing sprouted legs and eyes and grinned up at them all before scurrying onto Draco's hand and up his arm, finally perching on his shoulder. "It's great, Laura. My parents won't let me have pets, they say they'd mess the Manor up. Thank you." He leant across to give her an awkward hug – Slytherins they may be, but nobody was watching – and then turned to Cassie expectantly. "You didn't forget, right?"
She looked at the floor and his face fell. "Never mind; you've been busy with exams and everything…" That was when the broom plummeted out of the sky.
--
Wind whistling through her hair, Beryl 'Buzz' Nimra couldn't help but remember the old days of playing on this pitch as a girl. She was so lost in thought that she almost forgot to allow for the extra baggage strapped underneath her broom and had to pull up in a hurry to avoid crushing it into the ground. Pulling up into a loop, she performed a couple of aerobatic tricks just to reassure herself that she was still the woman who had captained the Holyhead Harpies for three years and played Quidditch for England before retiring and founding her own successful business. Touching down, she caught sight of three students gawping from the stands. Not very Slytherin expressions, she chuckled to herself before waving. "Draco Malfoy?"
The three first-years slowly made their way onto the pitch, Cassie beaming, Laura puzzled and Draco… well, Draco wasn't sure whether to be amazed or terrified that Buzz Nimra had just called his name. "That's… that's me." He drew himself up to his full height – not much, but never mind – and tried to continue in a dignified manner befitting a Malfoy. Unfortunately, what came out was a rather high-pitched "You're Buzz Nimra!" She laughed. "Am I, now? Thanks for reminding me, Mr Malfoy; I'm never quite sure who I am, right after a dive like that. Anyway, your friend Cassie asked me to help her out. I understand it's your birthday?" He nodded. "I've got something for you."
--
A few days earlier…
Severus scanned the piece of parchment in his hands.
Dear Cassie,
I hope all is well at Hogwarts and that you haven't trashed our old common room too badly yet. Work is going very well, thank you – the new broom is almost ready to fly, and has now passed all the safety checks. As usual, the first 500 off the production line will have a limited-edition motif on the front of the handle. Even the richest people in the world have to run if they want one of those. I hear you haven't particularly taken to flying, but if you'd like one I'm happy to keep one for you.
Good luck with your exams – not that you'll need it – and I'll write again soon.
Love,
Beryl.
Cassie saw the look in his eyes and grinned. "I'll write back now then, shall I?"
--
June 5th, 11.05 am
Draco couldn't believe it. Buzz Nimra, legendary Quidditch star, had just handed him a brand-new broomstick. "Now, you kids are going to have to keep this quiet, because this won't be released until mid-July. She's called a Nimbus 2001, and she's limited edition – see the dragon on the front?" He nodded mutely, still staring between the broom and Buzz. "Isn't she a beauty? I know first-years aren't allowed, but… well, Cassie's checked with the Headmaster and since that unfortunate Potter kid's got one, he couldn't really refuse. Are you going to take her up?" Draco turned to Cassie and grinned. "Thanks, Cass." Beryl was back on her broom by this point. "Coming?"
The girls were way behind on a couple of old Shooting Stars, but Beryl and Draco were fairly dancing around the pitch. Draco couldn't believe he was flying with Buzz, or how fast they were going. It felt like… well, like flying at its best. After a couple of hours, though, Buzz headed for the ground and Draco had no choice but to follow. Once there, with the girls, she handed Draco a leaflet explaining the stats of the broom – "Oh great," muttered Laura, "Now we'll never hear the end of it," – and signed a photo of herself, at Draco's request. With a hug for Cassie and a wave for the others, she disappeared back into the sky, leaving three rather starstruck Slytherins staring into the clouds.
With a grin, Draco pulled a quivering Wrock from inside his shirt, where it had been hiding, and restored it to his shoulder. "Thanks, both of you. This is the best birthday ever!"
--
By the time the end-of-term feast was served, the dungeons were all set up for a party. Slytherin were well in the lead for the House Cup trophy, and there were rumours that Potter and his mates had taken on the DADA teacher – who'd apparently been possessed by Voldemort – and won. Unfortunately, as far as Draco was concerned, said boy had been released from the Hospital Wing shortly before the feast – but that didn't matter. He'd been out of bed after hours, broken about a hundred school rules – by Cassie's estimation, anyway – and was sure to lose Gryffindor points at the last minute.
That's why the actual events of the feast were such a blow. Not only did the Gryffindors' disobedience go unpunished, but it earned them enough points to win the Cup, knocking Slytherin back to a tantalisingly close second place. The punch set up in the common room was vanished by a quick-thinking prefect, and the whole House went to bed early. Even the train ride back to London the next day was quiet and miserable for the Slytherins. At King's Cross, Laura, Cassie and Draco said their goodbyes for the summer. "Keep in touch, OK? We should meet up soon." Cassie hugged them each in turn. Draco glanced down at the shrunken broomstick in his hand – his Wrock was sitting on it as if he belonged there – and grinned. "It's going to be a good summer." Laura was the first to wave and disappear into the crowd. Draco caught sight of his parents and followed suit with a quick goodbye to Cassie, who just stood there for a moment.
"Ready for the holidays?" Severus was blond again when he tapped her on the shoulder and took her arm. She smiled up at the unfamiliar features of her disguised cousin and let him lead her off of the platform to a Disapparition point. For someone who'd been as disappointed as his House when they'd had the Cup snatched away from them, he seemed determined to stay cheerful – and Draco was surely right.
It was going to be a good summer.
COMING SOON(ISH): Little Bat and the Chamber of Secrets! Watch this space…