Chapter 55 The Beginning of the End

The night before we left Hogwarts, I walked down with my friends to the Great Hall.

Ginny had been a surprising comfort, always there to stand by my side when I was on the outside of the line. She never said anything, just laced her arm through mine and just walked with me.

So when we walked into the Great Hall, I was glad she was with me.

Instead of the usual winning House colors, black drapes hung on the wall behind the teachers' table. Harry and I shared a look.

The real Mad-Eye was at the staff table now, his wooden leg and his magical eye back in place. He was extremely twitchy, jumping every time someone spoke to him. I couldn't blame him, whatever paranoia he had before had increased since being imprisoned in his trunk for ten months.

Karkaroff's chair was empty. I wasn't surprised that he had run, after the information Harry shared with us about what he did to stay out of Azkaban.

Madame Maxime was still here. She was sitting next to Hagrid, and they were talking quietly with each other.

When we had sat down, Dumbledore stood up. The Great Hall, which had already been pretty quiet, became silent.

"The end," Dumbledore started, "of another year."

He paused, and looked to the Slytherin table. They had been the most subdued at the beginning of the feast.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured toward the Slytherin table, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cassius Warrington."

We did it, all of us; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, raised our goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low rumbling voice, "Cassius Warrington."

I felt the tears start to fall down my face. I wiped them away but Harry still put his arm around my shoulder.

We all sat down.

"Cassius was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Slytherin House," Dumbledore continued. "He was an ambitious man who had the ability to lead, a resourceful young man. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."

Harry raised his head and looked at Dumbledore.

"Cassius Warrington was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief and horror. Dumbledore looked perfectly calm as he watched the Hall mutter themselves into silence.

"The Ministry of Magic, does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cassius died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory.

"There is somebody who must be mentioned in connection with Cassius's death," Dumbledore went on. "I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."

A ripple effect of heads turning crossed the Great Hall, a few heads turned to look at Harry and look back at Dumbledore.

"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort, he risked his own life to return Cassius' body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."

Dumbledore turned gravely to Harry and raised his goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit. They murmured his name, and they had murmured Cassius', and drank to him.

Through a gap, I saw Pansy Parkinson had stayed sitting, along with Vincent Crabbe and several others I didn't recognize.

Dumbledore continued his speech after we all sat down again.

"The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemort's return - such ties are more important than ever before."

Dumbledore looked at each guest.

"Every guest in this Hall," Dumbledore lingered on the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

"It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst.

"Remember Cassius. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cassius Warrington."

I kept an eye out for the strange creatures that pulled the carriages. We were leaving Hogwarts and I was trying my hardest to not be scared of the way back.

" 'Arry!"

We turned around. Fleur Delacour was hurrying up the stone steps into the castle.

"We will see each buzzer again, I 'ope," said Fleur as she reached him, holding out her hand. "I am 'oping to get a job 'ere, to improve my Eenglish."

"It's very good already," Ron's voice was strangled.

"I hope you find a decent tutor." I smiled at her.

Fleur smiled back at me, and I knew Hermione was scowling.

"Good-bye, 'Arry," Fleur said, turning to go. "It 'az been a pleasure meeting you!"

Harry looked to be in higher spirits as Fleur walked away.

"Wonder how the Durmstrang students are getting back," Ron said. "D'you reckon they can steer that ship without Karkaroff?"

"Karkaroff did not steer," said a gruff voice. "He stayed in his cabin and let us do the vork."

Viktor had come to say good-by to Hermione.

"Could I have a vord?" he asked her.

"Oh… yes… all right," Hermione looked flustered and followed Krum through the crowd.

"You better hurry up!" Ron called after her. "The carriages'll be here any minute!"

I elbowed him hard in the ribcage, making him wince.

That didn't stop him from looking over the crowd to try and spot them as Harry and I kept an eye out for the carriages."

Viktor and Hermione returned quickly.

"I liked Warrington," Viktor said abruptly to Harry. "He vos alvays polite to me. Alvays. Even though I vos from Durmstrang - with Karkaroff," he added, scowling.

"Have you got a new headmaster yet?" Harry asked.

Viktor shrugged and held his hand out to Harry, and then Ron.

Ron looked as though he was suffering from some sort of painful internal struggle.

Viktor turned to me.

"I am sorry for your loss." He turned to me.

"Thank you." I nodded to him.

"If you ever have a need to talk, you can alvays vite to me." He said, and held his hand out for me.

"Thank you, Viktor." I shook his hand.

He had started to walk away when finally Ron burst out, "Can I have your autograph?"

Hermione and I shared a smile as the carriages came up.

I looked at the strange creatures as I passed them.

The weather was beautiful as we left.

The four of us had managed to get a compartment to ourselves and I was enjoying watching the trees pass.

Pigwidgeon was under Ron's dress robes, Hedwig and Barnabas were dozing together, Crookshanks and Ariel were curled up next to me, purring.

Something about leaving Hogwarts had made Harry a little more talkative, since he, Ron and Hermione were talking about what actions Dumbledore might be taking.

I was too focused on what would happen when I got to the Malfoy manor.

When the lunch trolley arrived I came back to my friends and got myself something to. When Hermione came back in she pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet that she had been carrying in her school bag.

Harry was hesitant to look at it.

"There's nothing in there. You can look for yourself, but there's nothing at all. I've been checking every day. Just a small piece the day after the third task saying you won the tournament. They didn't even mention Cassius." She looked quickly in my direction. "Nothing about any of it. If you ask me, Fudge is forcing them to keep quiet."

"He'll never keep Rita quiet, not on a story like this." Harry said.

"Oh, Rita hasn't written anything at all since the third task," Hermione and I shared a little smile.

"As a matter of fact," I said.

"Rita Skeeter isn't going to be writing anything at all for a while. Not unless she wants me to spill the beans on her."

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"Cassie and I figured out how she was listening in on private conversations when she wasn't supposed to be coming onto the grounds," Hermione said in a rush.

"How was she doing it?" Harry asked at once.

"Who did you find out?" Ron asked, staring at her.

"Well, it was you, really, who gave me the idea Harry." Hermione said.

"I had to convince her that not everyone follows the rules, especially a woman like Rita Skeeter." I added.

"Yeah," Hermione blushed.

"Did I?" Harry asked, "How?"

"Bugging," Hermione said happily.

"But you said they didn't work -"

"Oh not electronic bugs. No, you see… Rita Skeeter" - Hermione's voice trembled with triumph - "is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn -"

Hermione pulled out a small sealed glass jar out of her bag.

"- into a beetle."

"You're kidding," Ron said, looking at the jar. "You haven't… she's not…"

"Oh yes she is," said Hermione happily, brandishing the jar.

Inside were a few twigs and leaves and one large, fat beetle.

"That's never - you're kidding -" Ron whispered, lifting the jar to his eyes.

"Cassie, were you able to -?" Harry started to ask.

"The jar is not soundproof." Hermione said quickly.

Harry nodded in understanding and the beetle in the jar let out an angry buzzing sound.

"Look very closely, and you'll notice the markings around her antennae are exactly like those foul glasses she wears." Hermione said as Ron passed the jar to Harry.

"There was a beetle on the statue the night we heard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime about his mum!" Harry said.

"Exactly," said Hermione. "And Viktor pulled a beetle out of my hair after we'd had our conversation by the lake. And unless I'm very much mistaken, Rita was perched on the windowsill of the Divination class the day your scar hurt. She's been buzzing around for stories all year."

"When we saw Parkinson under that tree…" Ron said slowly.

"She was talking to Skeeter, in her hand. "She knew of course. That's how she's been getting all those nice little interviews with the Slytherins. They wouldn't care that she was doing something illegal, as long as they were giving her horrible stuff about us and Hagrid."

Hermione took the jar back from Ron, Skeeter still buzzing angrily in it.

"I've told her I'll let her out when we get back to London. I've put an Unbreakable Charm on the jar, you see, so she can't transform. And I've told her she's to keep her quill to herself for a whole year. See if she can't break the habit of writing horrible lies about people."

Hermione put the jar back inside her bag, and the door of the compartment slid open.

"Very clever, Granger." Parkinson said with a sniff.

"Oh get out." I rolled my eyes at her.

"So," Parkinson ignored me. "You caught some pathetic reporter, and Potter's Dumbledore's favorite boy again. Big deal."

"Parkinson." Another voice joined us.

Astrid had Leo with her.

Parkinson paled and then glared at them.

"What?" She asked.

"Get out, and leave them alone." Leo said, his low voice almost growling.

Parkinson sneered at me and then left.

"Thank you." I told them.

"We can't do much to protect you, but we saw them coming down here and figured we can try something." Leo said as they walked away.

"Everything alright in here?"

George and Fred had poked their heads in.

"Everything's fine now." Harry said.

"We found this one trying to find you." George was the one to gesture Draco inside the compartment.

"Oh!" I said in surprise.

Draco didn't think twice as he sat down in front of me.

"Mind if we join you?" Fred asked.

"Not at all," Harry said.

"We better get back." Astrid said, patting Leo on the shoulder.

"Thanks again, Hexum." I said to her.

She waved over her shoulder as she and Leo walked away.

"Any idea what's going to happen next year?" Draco asked me.

"I have an idea, but it's too soon to tell." I admitted.

"Exploding Snap, anyone?" Fred asked, pulling out a pack of cards.

We were halfway through our fifth game when Harry asked the twins a question.

"You going to tell us, then?" Harry asked George. "Who you were blackmailing?"

Draco let out a noise in the back of his throat.

"Oh," George said darkly. "That."

"It doesn't matter," Fred shook his head impatiently. "It wasn't anything important. Not now, anyway."

"We've given up," George shrugged.

"Leprechaun gold, huh?" I smirked at them.

Fred and George turned to glare at me as I let out a laugh.

"What does leprechaun gold have to do with anything?" Ron asked.

"It was Ludo Bagman," Fred finally said.

"Bagman?" Harry asked in confusion.

"What happened?" Ron asked.

Fred hesitated, then said, "You remember that bet we made with him at the Quidditch World Cup? About how Ireland would win, but Krum would get the Snitch?"

"Yeah, Cassie was the one who said it." Harry nodded.

"Well, the git paid us in leprechaun gold he'd caught from the Irish mascots."

"So?" Draco asked.

"So," Fred said impatiently, "it vanished, didn't it? By next morning it had gone!"

"But - it must've been an accident, mustn't it?" Hermione asked.

George let out a bitter laugh.

"Yeah, that's what we thought, at first. We thought if we just wrote to him, and told him he'd made a mistake, he'd cough up. But nothing worked. Ignored our letter. We kept trying to talk to him about it at Hogwarts, but he was always making some excuse to get away from us."

"In the end, he turned pretty nasty," said Fred. "Told us we were too young to gamble, and he wasn't giving us anything."

"So we asked for our money back," George was glowering.

"He didn't refuse!" Hermione gasped.

"Right in one." Fred said.

"But that was all your savings!" Ron said.

"Tell me about it," George sighed. " 'Course, we found out what was going on in the end. Lee Jordan's dad had a bit of trouble getting money off Bagman as well. Turns out, he's in big trouble with the goblins. Borrowed loads of gold off them. A gang of them cornered him in the woods after the World Cup and took all the gold he had, and it still wasn't enough to cover all his debts. They followed him all the way to Hogwarts to keep an eye on him. He's lost everything gambling. Hasn't got two Galleons to rub together. And you know how the idiot tried to pay the goblins back?"

"How?" Draco and Harry asked.

"He put a bet on you, mate," Fred said. "Put a big bet on you to win the tournament. Bet against the goblins."

"So that's why he kept trying to help me win!" Harry said. "Well - I did win, didn't I? So he can pay you your gold!"

I even shook my head.

"Nope." George shook his head. "The goblins play as dirty as him. They say you drew with Warrington, and Bagman was betting you'd win outright. So Bagman had to run for it. He did run for it after the third task."

George sighed deeply and started dealing out the cards again.

At the end of the ride, Draco helped me put Ariel back in her carrier, and took Barnabas' cage for me.

"I'll see you guys next year!" I kissed Harry and Ron on their cheeks.

"See you!" Harry said.

We shared a long lasting hug, not really wanting to let the other go.

Draco and I walked in silence to his parents, who both were looking composed.

"Draco, Cassie, we have a special guest at our house. Do be polite." Mr. Malfoy said, both cold and stiff.

Draco and I weren't given a chance to look at each other before we were Disapparated into the manor.

I don't think I was able to hide my horror when I saw him.

Othello and Alexandra were right behind him, along with Snape, and several other people who I did not recognize.

"Hello, Cassie. I have heard so much about you." Lord Voldemort whispered from across the table.

DUN. DUN. DUN!

I am working on it! I promise! However there will be a long pause since I have to work on Cassius's side story and get several chapters down before I start posting.

Also I am starting a new job up in July so once I get into the groove of that I should be fine. My fiance and I are also looking at buying a house so we have a lot of life changes happening on my end!

Shout out to everyone for following Cassie this time! I hope to see you guys in

The Treasured Order Of Pheonix !