Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
"But why can't we?" Cassius whined to his brother, who was sitting in the kitchen studying. It had been over a week since he and Draco had played in the forest as panthers and he had been asking if they could go again. But for some reason Draco was suddenly against taking him. In fact, his brother had been acting more stressed than ever and Cassius didn't know why.
"Because I'm busy and I said no," Draco said shortly. He couldn't risk taking Cass into the forest, not now he knew Bellatrix was out there. He just couldn't risk it. "Now drop it." he went back to his essay.
"Git."
Draco's head snapped up, eyes flashing. "Excuse me? You don't talk to me like that." He scolded.
"Why can't we go for like just an hour?" Cassius persisted, even though some voice in his head said that it wasn't a good idea. He knew he was being bratty but he didn't understand why they couldn't go.
"I said no, Cass!" Draco snapped. "Now go to your room." He ordered.
Cassius's mouth dropped open. "What? Why?" Okay, he knew better than to talk to Draco rudely but geez...
"You know better than to be disrespectful to me," Draco scolded. "So you can spend the evening in your room."
"No! That's not fair!" Cassius protested.
"I think it is," Draco said curtly. "Now do as your told."
"You're such a bloody pr -"
Draco stood up and took hold of his brother, frog marching him to his room. Right before they got to the door, Cassius made the unwise decision to give his brother a mighty kick in the shin. "Blast it, Cassius!" Draco groaned, letting Cass go as he stumbled.
Cassius ran into his room and was going to shut the door but Draco limped after him and grabbing his arm, dragged him to the bed where he sat down and threw Cass over his lap. He immediately slapped his hand down on the seat of Cassius's trousers and gave him three firm swats before speaking. "How dare you kick me! What were you thinking?" He delivered two more smacks.
"I didn't mean to!" Cassius cried, squirming in a futile attempt to get his bottom out of the line of fire. Even through his trousers, those smacks stung.
"What, your leg slipped?" Draco asked exasperatedly as he brought his hand down once more. "And enough with the attitude. If I say no, then it's no. Whining at me won't get you your way. And you need to watch the way you talk to me." He delivered two more slaps wiggling bottom before letting Cass up. Cassius stood up, crying and threw himself at Draco, his face buried in his shoulder as he cried. Draco held him and soothingly rubbed his back.
"I'm sorry I kicked you," Cassius sniffled.
"Me too. It hurt," Draco said a little ruefully. He pushed Cassius back so that he could see his face. His heart clenched at the miserable look on his brother's face. He gently wiped the tears from Cass's eyes. "Remember what I told you? Even if you don't like what I'm saying, you need to listen to me." he said softly.
"I just wanted to know why we couldn't go to the forest," Cassius said softly.
"I have my reasons. You're just going to have to trust me," Draco told him.
Cassius looked at him curiously. He wondered if there was a dangerous creature that had been spotted in the forest. Maybe Hagrid had seen something and warned Draco...and his brother isn't telling him because he doesn't want him scared or something. After all, Draco was overprotective. "Okay," he sighed. With a pout, he reached back and rubbed his bottom, giving his brother a pitiful look.
"You had that coming," Draco said, although he felt guilty. It had only been eight smacks and he hadn't made them that hard, but he always did feel guilty anytime he punished his brother. He knew he had been short with his him the last several days due to the stress over Bellatrix being free. "Why don't you get ready for bed and I'll make us some hot chocolate. We'll play a game of chess." he offered. He still had homework to do, but his brother was more important. He knew Cassius didn't understand and maybe he should tell him what was going on, but he really wanted Cassius to have as a carefree semester has he could. He just wanted him to be happy.
Cassius's red rimmed eyes brightened. "Okay." He agreed. "With extra marshmallows?"
"Well," Draco pretended to hesitate before grinned. "I suppose that can be arranged."
/
Cassius was getting really confused. First he was being kept from the forest and now anytime he and Draco had Quidditch practice, his brother was super tense and kept to Cassius's side like glue. Plus, Uncle Sev now attended every practice which is something he usually didn't do. Something was going on, something serious and Cassius was being kept in the dark. Like that was anything new. He wished everyone would realize that he could handle things. He may not be a seventeen year old anymore but he could still handle any threats that were out there.
Cassius was also worried about Draco, his older brother was clearly exhausted. He rarely let Cass out of his sight, he studied all the time and hardly seemed to sleep or eat. Finally, others noticed as well and Poppy called them both to the infirmary. She ran her usual diagnostic on Cassius, who she happily said was now at a healthy weight. She then, to Draco's surprise, cast a diagnostic on him. She tsked at him. "You are completely exhausted and haven't been eating well. Honestly, N.E.W.T.s are not worth making yourself sick over." She scolded him.
"I'm fine," Draco said, clearly irritated with her.
"Think of your brother. What kind of role model are you being right now?" Poppy asked with a huff.
"We'll go to our quarters and I'll take a rest," Draco said, eager to get away from her. She was right, he wasn't taking care of himself very well but it was difficult to sleep and eat when he was so worried. Between studying, teaching, and keeping an eye on Cass, he was exhausted. Sleeping was rare as when he tried to sleep, nightmares of Bellatrix getting her hands on his brother haunted him.
"Oh, you'll take a rest alright." Poppy spelled a sleeping draught into him and caught him before he fell. She moved him to a bed and laid him down. She then also spelled a nutritive potion into him. "He'll feel much better when he wakes up." she said in satisfaction.
"Uh, I don't think he's going to be very happy with you when he wakes," Cassius remarked as he looked at his sleeping brother worriedly. In fact, if knew Draco, his brother was going to be angry. He didn't think it was right of Pomfrey to do that without Draco's okay, although he could admit that he was concerned about his brother. He had dark shadows under his eyes, his skin was pale in a unhealthy way. He was glad his brother would get some sleep but Merlin, Draco was going to be furious!
"Oh, he'll get over it," Poppy said dismissively.
"Well, maybe I should go and get some of my school books and bring them back here," Cassius said. "So I can sit with him." It was the least he could do, Draco always stayed with him when he was in the infirmary.
"That's sweet, but he will sleep for several hours. You may as well go back to your quarters," Poppy said. "The professors are all in a staff meeting but I can still summon Professor Snape to come and get you."
"No, that's okay," Cassius said, heading towards the exit. "I'll just wait in -"
"You can't walk around without someone with you," Poppy frowned.
"Right. Um, can you summon Hermione?"
Five minutes later, Hermione came into the infirmary. "What happened?" She asked when she saw Draco in one of the beds.
"Pomfrey spelled a sleeping draught into Draco. He's going to go mental!" Cassius said.
"Madame Pomfrey," Hermione said absently as she looked at Draco, asleep on one of the beds. "Wait. You spelled it into him without his permission?" She asked incredulously.
"He was beyond exhausted," Poppy defended herself. "He has not been taking care of himself at all. He's been too busy studying and worrying about Bellatrix being free -"
"What?" Cassius paled. Bellatrix was free?
Hermione glared at Poppy, who looked sheepish. "You weren't supposed to know that." Poppy told Cassius reluctantly. "Bellatrix escaped prison."
"Why didn't I know this? Doesn't Draco trust me?" Cassius asked in a hurt tone. No wonder Draco and Uncle Sev had been keeping such a close eye on him! Now not being allowed to play in the forest made sense! He wished Draco would have just explained, then Cassius would have understood.
"Of course he does. He didn't want you to worry," Hermione consoled him. "He wanted you to end your year without worrying about her. He hates that you had to know Carrow was still out there, he just wanted you to feel like a normal student, as much as you can."
"He still should have told me," Cassius said, though he couldn't find it in him to be too mad. Draco hadn't told him because he didn't want Cass to be scared or worried. No wonder his brother had been so stressed out. He really is the best, Cassius thought with a fond look at his sleeping brother. Draco was always looking out for him.
"Well, do you have homework to do?" Hermione asked. "I have more studying to do myself -" she saw Poppy start to run a diagnostic on her. "Don't you dare!" she snapped.
"Well, soon you'll be as bad off as Mr. Malfoy if you don't relax," Poppy said. "Obsessing about studying is not good for you."
"Hermione's always been that way," Cassius teased. "Remember your Boggart?"
Hermione winced. "Yes. That was horrible."
"Hang out with me in my quarters, take a break from studying," Cassius coaxed her.
Hermione hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "I do need a break," she admitted. "Let's go. I'll bring you back here in a few hours to see if Draco is awake."
"Brilliant!" Cassius said happily.
/
"So we could play chess or exploding snap -" Cassius said as they walked down the hallway.
Pop!
"Twitchy!" Cassius glared. "What does Dumbledore want now?"
Twitchy just gave a mean smile.
"You are not welcome here," Hermione said as she pulled out her wand.
Twitchy waved his hand and Hermione went flying. She crashed into the wall and crumbled on the ground with a moan.
"Mione!" Cassius yelled. He started to go to her but Twitchy grabbed his arm and apparated them away.
/
Draco woke up, feeling a little confused. He didn't remember going to bed. And then he realized he was in the infirmary and...he sat up and looked around. "Cass?"
"Mr. Malfoy," Poppy approached him, guilt clear in her eyes.
"Did you drug me?" Draco demanded, his eyes narrowing.
"I thought I was helping," Poppy said regretfully. "You really needed to sleep."
Draco stood up and realized Snape, McGonagall, Remus were in the room along with -
"Dumbledore! Why is he here?" Draco snarled. He glanced around. "Where is Cass?" A feeling of dread filled him. Where was his cub?
Snape approached his godson, tension in his features and worry in his eyes. "Draco, we don't know where Cass is." He said quietly.
Draco felt like his legs were going to give out. "What?"
"Miss Granger was taking Cassius to your quarters. She was going to stay with him until you woke up," Snape said. "They were stopped by Twitchy. He got Miss Granger out of the way and took Cass."
Fury filled Draco and he launched himself at Dumbledore. "Where is he? Where is my brother?"
Snape held him back. "He doesn't know, Draco."
"Of course he does. His elf took him!" Draco shouted.
"I did not know Twitchy was going to show up here or take Cassius," Dumbledore said, a serious look in his eyes. "He did not take him on my order."
"Do you believe him?" Draco asked Snape.
Snape nodded. "After questioning him, yes."
Draco clenched his fists. He still didn't trust Dumbledore. He turned and glared at Poppy. "I would have been with him if you hadn't spelled a potion into me!" he shouted. "How dare you!"
Poppy winced.
"No, you probably would be in one of the beds here like Miss Granger," Remus said seriously. "Or worse, considering how Twitchy feels about you."
Draco suddenly noticed Hermione laying on one of the beds and he looked at her in concern.
"She was found on the floor, unconscious," Remus said. "She's still knocked out but will be fine. A portrait nearby saw what happened along with one of the ghosts."
"What do we know?" Draco demanded. He wanted his brother and he wanted him now.
"Nearly Headless Nick saw Twitchy Apparate away with Cassius," McGonagall said. "We've alerted the Aurors."
Draco stared at Dumbledore. "Where would Twitchy take him?"
"I don't know, I don't understand why he has done this," Dumbledore said gravely. "I've called him but he won't answer my summons. It doesn't make sense."
"Of course it does. Twitchy hates my family and he feels Cassius has betrayed the great Dumbledore by being angry at you," Draco said angrily. "So he obviously wants Cass to pay for what he considers a betrayal. Where would he take him?"
"Maybe it's not about where he would take Cassius. It's to who he would take Cassius," Remus said slowly, alarm spreading on his face.
"Bellatrix," Draco paled. "Oh, Merlin. Cass." he whispered in horror.
/
"I have brought the traitor," Twitchy said as he apparated them into a dark, small house.
Cassius pulled is arm away from him with a glare on his face. "I am not a traitor!"
"If you do not respect Albus Dumbledore, then you are!" Twitchy snarled.
"Well, well," Bellatrix emerged from the shadows. "My...nephew," Distaste crossed her features. Behind her Carrow cackled.
"You brought me to her? She supported Voldemort!" Cassius yelled. "You think she respects Dumbledore?"
"No. But you is a Malfoy, you belong with her. Twitchy cares not for what she does to you," Twitchy spat.
Bellatrix burst out laughing. "Isn't that nice?" She asked sweetly before pulling her wand on Twitchy. "Avada Kedavra!" Twitchy fell down dead instantly. She twirled around happily.
Cassius gasped, looking from the fallen elf to Bellatrix.
Bellatrix gave him a twisted smile. "Anything to say to your auntie?" she asked sweetly.
"Believe me, I'd rather Petunia was my real aunt rather than you," Cassius said. "And that's saying something, considering how much I never liked her."
"You'd rather be related to a muggle than to me?" Bellatrix looked so offended Cassius almost started laughing.
"I'd rather be related to a Troll than you." Cassius spat out.
"Crucio!"
Cassius writhed on the ground, gasping with pain. Merlin, this hurt. He'd forgotten how much. He looked around. He didn't know where they were, but he had to try and escape. He had to try and get back to Draco. He really wanted his brother.
"Can we kill him now?" Carrow asked eagerly.
Bellatrix smirked. "He hasn't suffered enough." She walked around him. "Do you know how embarrassing it is to know that my own nephew is the one who caused the dark lord's death? As if it wasn't humiliating enough when I found out my sister and her husband were traitors!"
"They were brave!" Cassius said panting from the pain.
"Ha! Crucio!" Bellatrix laughed. "Feeling brave?" She taunted him.
Cassius pushed himself up, still gasping from the curse. "Is that all you got?" he taunted back. It was a bad idea as Bellatrix struck him down with the Crucio again. He groaned in pain as she lifted the curse.
"I would be a tad more respectful, if I were you!" Bellatrix snapped.
Not sure what to do, Cassius transformed into his Animagus form. He had the element of surprise on his side as he lunged at Bellatrix. She shrieked in surprise as he knocked her down, picking up her wand with his teeth and then taking off running.
TBC: