Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
Thanks for the reviews! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"Now, what is the rule about the forest?" Draco asked as they approached the forest's entrance.
"If I see a bat flying around, don't try and eat it," Cassius replied with a smirk.
Draco hid a grin. Cheeky brat. "Try again or we're going back to our quarters."
"I'm never, ever allowed in there without you," Cassius answered obediently. "I'm also never allowed to transform without you."
"Correct," Draco said as he led him in. "And you stick with me. I don't want you going to deep inside. It's not safe for either of us."
"Okay," Cassius said a little impatiently. "Can I transform now?"
Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Please? I'll follow the rules," Cassius said in a more polite tone.
Draco nodded. After making sure his brother had safely transformed into a cub, he followed suit and transformed into a panther.
Cassius ran around, sniffing the ground, bushes and trees. He batted at an insect that flew by him. He saw a squirrel run by and pounced. He missed the squirrel by a mile and heard Draco give a snort. He decided to attack his brother. He got down low, tail swishing back and forth and then sprung with growl. Draco playfully batted at him and then they both rolled around the ground. Suddenly Cassius felt like he was being watched and looked up. A bat flew by him. Uncle Sev! Cassius chased after him but Snape flew up too high for him to catch. With a huff, Cassius sat down and stared up at him. Honestly, he was sure that Snape was smirking at him.
Cassius felt his tail being tugged and turned to find Draco pulling it with his teeth. Cassius once again pounced and the two panthers pretend fought while the bat hung on a tree branch above them, watching with amusement. Suddenly Draco stiffened and with his paw, pushed Cassius behind him. Cassius could hear something coming towards them, panting. It was...Fang!
Cassius eagerly went to greet the hound but Draco kept pushing him back. With a huff, Cassius went around his brother and bounded towards Fang. The hound's eyes widened at the sight of a panther cub running towards him and at first he gave a growl, then turned to run, only to smack right into Hagrid.
"Fang, what's wrong with yer?" Hagrid chuckled. "Oh, hi Draco." he looked up into the tree. "Professor," he greeted. His eyes warmed when Cassius began to gnaw on his boot. "Well, hello Cassius. Yeh make a cute cub."
Cassius preened and pranced around the giant.
"Now Fang, you know Cassius," Hagrid said to his dog, who was still growing. "It takes him a minute, you know what a big scaredy cat he is." He told Cassius with an eye roll.
Fang eyed Cassius suspiciously and then sniffed him carefully. Then he relaxed and let out a happy bark. Cassius had a great time, running around and playing, pouncing and chasing. After a while, Hagrid said goodnight and he and Fang left. Then Draco changed back into himself. Snape flew down and did the same.
"Cassius, time to go," Draco said to the little cub.
Cassius tilted his head and mewled. But he was having fun!
"Cassius," Draco said, in a firmer voice. "Change back."
Cassius mewled again.
Snape frowned at him. "Change back right now, young man."
Cassius huffed.
"Stubborn cub," Snape remarked.
"Tell me about it," Draco said, shaking his head. With a stern tone he addressed his cub. "Cassius, change back right now or I will take your broom away for the rest of the year!"
Cassius gave a pitiful whine and then transformed. He pouted at his brother. "That's not fair! I can't help it that I want to stay a cub once I transform." he argued.
"The threat worked, didn't it?" Draco shrugged.
Cassius tried to scowl but when his brother ruffled his hair, he broke into a grin. "That was so fun!"
"It was," Draco agreed.
"Hey, how come you tried to block me from Fang?"
"Instinct to protect you when another animal comes around. Plus Fang hadn't met you as a cub yet, I wasn't sure how he would react," Draco explained. He frowned. "And if I am trying to prevent you from getting too close to an animal, you better heed me." he warned.
"But it was just Fang!"
"I don't care. Next time you follow my lead," Draco said as they walked back to the castle. They paused when they noticed people flying in the Quidditch pitch.
"Well, isn't this interesting," Snape said in a dark voice. "Students violating curfew and night flying without permission."
"Can we join them?" Cassius asked, running ahead to get a better look at who was flying. He wasn't surprised to find it was Ron, Dean and Seamus.
"No." Draco answered him.
Cassius watched wistfully as his former friends flew, remembering all the times he had snuck out for night flying. Then he watched with amusement as Snape began yelling at the seventh years, ordering them to stop flying. He took fifty points from each and assigned them a week of detention with Filch.
"But we have to have time to study!" Ron protested.
"That is your problem, Mr. Weasley," Snape replied coolly. "Perhaps something you should have thought of when you decided to break the rules tonight."
"They're out after curfew," Dean said, pointing at Cassius and Draco with a glare.
"Yes, with their Head of House's permission," Snape smirked. "Do you have Professor Lupin's permission to fly tonight?"
"No," Ron muttered. When he walked by Cassius, he hissed, "Harry Potter would have used his influence to get us out of trouble."
"I'm not Harry Potter," Cassius shot back. "Have fun cleaning toilets for Filch." he muttered.
"You little brat!" Ron said, turning and glaring at Cassius. When Snape and Draco stood in front of him protectively, wands pointed at Ron, the red-head backed off with a scowl.
"Get to your Tower before you lose even more points for your house," Snape threatened.
"I can't wait until they graduate," Draco let out his breath. He glanced at his brother. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Cassius said, leaning into Draco as they walked. He smiled as his older brother put his arm around him. "Ron hates me. There's nothing I can do about it." he sighed.
"It's his loss," Draco said quietly. "He lost out on a great friend."
"It's probably too hard to be seventeen and be best friends with a twelve year old," Cassius said sadly.
"No, it's not. You're my best friend," Draco said honestly.
Cassius beamed. "You're mine too, Dray."
/
Draco was grabbing his books for class when he got a message from Snape. He read it and a scowl formed. He called Cassius over to him. "Cass, Rita Skeeter is lurking about the grounds. If she corners you at all, you say nothing. Understand? No matter what, just say nothing," Draco instructed. "If she enters any of your classes, just ignore her. Do not respond to anything she says."
"Why is she here?" Cassius asked in an irritated voice.
"To cause trouble. I'll deal with it." Draco said. "Just do your best to stay away from her and if she approaches you, ignore her. Say nothing."
"Okay." Cassius said as he adjusted his book bag. You'd think Skeeter would find someone else to bother.
"I'm serious," Draco continued. He knew with Cass's temper and his dislike of Skeeter it would be hard for him to keep silent around her but he needed him to. He had a plan to get rid of Skeeter and show her what a bad idea it was to bother his little brother but he needed Cass to keep his cool.
"Geez, I said okay," Cassius muttered. His eyes widened when Draco spun him around and stared hard at him. "I won't say anything to her." He insisted.
Draco stared at him for a moment longer before giving a brisk nod. "Okay, let's go."
/
After History of Magic, Cassius, Enzo and Jason were accosted by Skeeter and her photographer.
"I'm not answering any of your questions," Cassius snapped as his eyes sought out Hermione, who was to walk him to his next class.
"Come, now. Just a few questions?" Rita pushed up her glasses and got out her quill. "Now, are you angry that you are not the real Harry Potter? Do wish the truth had never come out? Are you ashamed at being a Malfoy? Do you and Draco Malfoy still hate each other?"
Forgetting what Draco had said about ignoring her, Cassius began shouting. "How could you even ask that, you cow!"
"Well, really," Rita sniffed. "Harry Potter was polite. Cassius Malfoy, on the other hand..."
"Sod off," Cassius snapped. He felt hands grab his shoulders and he looked up to see Draco glaring at him.
"Apologize," Draco said quietly.
"No. She's being -"
Draco spun his brother around and took his chin in his hand, forcing Cass to make eye contact. "I know what she is doing. I also know I gave you instructions to say nothing. Now apologize." he ordered.
Cassius looked at him defiantly. When Draco's eyes darkened, he muttered a quick apology for his rudeness. He then jerked himself from Draco's hands and ran.
Draco watched him go, grateful Hermione was following him. He turned back to Skeeter. "You have no business trying to interview a minor without a guardian or parents permission." he said coldly.
"I simply asked one little question and he flew off the handle," Rita said with fake sweetness. "He does have a temper, doesn't he?"
"You didn't ask one little question!" Enzo burst out. He and Jason were still standing there.
"Yeah, she asked four rude ones!" Jason glared at her. "Like if you and Cass still hate each other."
Draco's hands formed into fists as he fought to keep his temper. He glanced at Cass's friends. "Thank you for letting me know. Go on to class." After they walked away, he glared at Skeeter. "I will contacting your boss about your conduct." He said.
"Now, is that really necessary -"
"Ah, your escort is here." Draco said smugly. McGonagall was heading towards them, with a furious look on her face. Snape was with her, as well Hagrid.
"Hagrid, please see this person off Hogwarts property," McGonagall said frostily.
"It looks like your boss will have more complaints about you than just mine," Draco said in a satisfied voice.
Rita protested loudly as Hagrid approached her. Her eyes widened and she turned and began walking briskly away, her photographer and Hagrid following her.
"I will make sure she publishes nothing," McGonagall said.
"Thank you," Draco nodded.
/
Draco had gone to Cassius's Charms class to check on him but found that his brother wasn't there. With a scowl, he got out the Marauders Map that he kept in his pocket and saw that Cass was in their quarters. He stomped to the dungeons and saw Hermione leaning against the wall.
"He ran so fast and locked himself in," Hermione said apologetically. "I know he has class but he looked really upset."
"That makes two of us," Draco said as he opened the door.
"Don't be too hard on him. Skeeter made his life pretty difficult during the tournament." Hermione said. "And also when Voldemort returned she wrote horrible articles calling him a liar."
"I know she did but I warned him not to respond to her," Draco sighed. "Thanks for keeping an eye on him."
"Anytime." Hermione gave him a sympathetic smile before leaving for her class.
"Cassius Malfoy, I should send you to the corner!" Draco snapped when he found his brother in his room.
"It's not fair! I was just defending myself!" Cassius paced his bedroom, still furious.
"By calling her a cow?" Draco asked sarcastically.
Cassius glared at him. "She deserved it."
"I don't care. I don't want my twelve year old brother talking to an adult like that. Even someone reprehensible like her. I told you not to say anything, even if she tried to provoke you." Draco said in an irritated voice. Why couldn't his brother just listen to him?
"I shouldn't have to be nice to her," Cassius said, a scowl on his face.
"Nice? No, you don't. Respectful? Yes. In fact, I insist on it. All you did was give her something to write about," Draco scolded. "The little boy who threw a tantrum and called her names."
"Don't forget telling her to sod off," Cassius said rudely. He bit back a yelp when Draco took him by the arm, turned him and slapped his backside.
"No, I didn't forget that," Draco hissed. "Nor did I forget your attitude towards me."
"She shouldn't even be at the school," Cassius said as he rubbed his backside and fought back tears. He could get attacked by a Basilisk or fall off his broom during a game and not shed a tear. One smack from his brother and he wanted to break into tears.
"I know that. That was why I was making sure the Headmistress and Uncle Sev knew she was there. I told some of the Slytherins, the ones with influential parents to write and complain about her. I'm also contacting her boss, as is the Headmistress. I was dealing with it. All I needed you to do was say nothing to her." Draco said. He didn't care what Skeeter thought, although he hoped McGonagall would be able to stop her from writing about today. But other students and professors had been standing around and he didn't like them thinking he let his brother act out, that he didn't take care of him or that he wasn't raising him right. He didn't want to risk the ministry interfering and calling him a unfit guardian or something.
"Oh," Cassius said softly, feeling his anger fade.
"Yeah, oh," Draco sighed.
"I'm sorry," Cassius offered.
"You need to listen to me, Cass," Draco said seriously. "Even if you don't like what I'm telling you, you need to trust me."
"I do. She just made me mad. She always has," Cassius said, remembering the tri-wizard tournament. "I wasn't wrong, she is a cow."
"Of course she is, but you don't say it in public like that," Draco said exasperatedly. "I don't need everyone thinking I'm raising a hooligan."
"I'm not a hooligan," Cassius protested. He paused. "Am I?"
Draco couldn't help but chuckle. "No. You are at times a cheeky little brat."
"Your cheeky brat?"
"Always."
/
"Come in."
Draco let himself into the Headmistress's office. She had summoned him to have a meeting with her after his last class. He frowned slightly when he saw Snape was there as well. He wondered what was wrong. He took a seat and looked at her expectantly.
"I have some horrible news," McGonagall said somberly.
"Is Skeeter still kicking up a fuss?" Draco asked with a smirk. She had been suspended due to the complaints and letters he had orchestrated.
"No. I wish that was all it was." McGonagall took a deep breath. "Bellatrix has escaped Azkaban."
"What?" Draco exploded, jumping out of his seat. "How did this happen?"
"She had help from Carrow, who attacked the prison." Snape spoke up, his voice tense. "The Aurors believe she was trying to free all the death eaters but only Bellatrix got away."
"The most dangerous of them all," Draco whispered. His aunt was insane. Even when his parents had acted on Voldemort's side, they had been very cautious around Bella. She enjoyed being cruel and it didn't take much to set her off even with those on her side. She had been the most devoted follower. She would want revenge.
"Carrow and Lestrange are not a good combination," Snape said, shaking his head.
"Cassius isn't leaving my sight for a second," Draco said, panic filling him. He would tether Cass to himself if he had to. If Bellatrix got his hands on him...he shuddered to think about what she would do.
"As long as he doesn't leave the castle," McGonagall began.
"But he has before," Draco murmured, thinking of his brother sneaking off to Honeydukes. It had been months since that incident but still...
"If you explain why -"
"I don't want him to worry or be scared." Draco said determinedly.
"But wouldn't it be wiser if he knows?" McGonagall asked.
"I don't want him to worry. I'll just remind him of the rules." Draco sighed. The year was almost over and he wanted it to be as normal as he could make it for his brother. Cassius deserved that, he didn't deserve to know that there was more danger out there for him. He would tell him after the semester was completed.
TBC: