Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
Cassius woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs. Wondering why Draco was making breakfast instead of going to the Great Hall, he quickly showered and dressed in his school uniform. "Morning."
"Good morning," Draco put a pitcher of pumpkin juice on the table.
"Why are we eating here? Did classes get canceled for today?" Cassius asked hopefully.
"Nope. Sorry cub." Draco chuckled. "I wanted to talk to you about something so I thought we could eat here."
"Oh," Cassius sat down and poured himself some juice. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I wanted to ask how Transfiguration is going."
Cassius gave his brother a confused look. "It's fine. We only just started," he reminded his brother.
"True. But you lost points already so I just wanted to check in with you," Draco said.
"Mckinnon told you that?"
"Professor Mckinnon and yes. I know she is just the substitute and you really like Professor Weasley but you need to pay attention to her just as you would him," Draco said.
"I did! She took points just because I responded to Enzo when he -"
"Cass, I'm not scolding you. I just want to remind you that you need to pay attention and ask for help if you need it," Draco said calmly.
"I didn't deserve to lose points." Cassius said, raising his voice. "She implied -"
"Calm down, I'm not telling you off," Draco said with a frown. "And you need to make sure you aren't talking to your friends in class."
"I wasn't! Enzo had just made a comment because she -" Cassius wanted to tell him that McKinnon had implied he had had Draco do his homework for him.
"Like I said, you need to not respond to your friends even if they are talking to you," Draco said. "And I want you to be respectful of her like you would Professor Weasley."
"But Draco -" Cassius was getting more upset. His brother wasn't even let him explain!
"Cassius, I'm just reminding you -"
"You're not listening to me!" Cassius snapped, standing up.
Draco narrowed his eyes. "Back at you. And sit down and finish your breakfast."
"No."
Draco pinched the bridge of his nose. "I was not wanting to start an argument and I wasn't mad," he said slowly. "But that can change if you throw a tantrum."
"I'm not throwing a tantrum! You won't even listen to me," Cassius stomped away from the table.
"Cassius, get back here!"
"Sod off!" Cassius grabbed his book bag and headed to the door. Draco quickly caught up with him and and grabbed his arm, turning him to the side and applying a sound slap to his backside.
"Ouch!" Cassius yelled, glaring at Draco.
"Talking to me like that is only going to result in you nursing a sore backside while you stand in the corner," Draco hissed in his ear. "You know not to talk to me like that."
Cassius looked at him with tears in his eyes. "You're being unfair. You wouldn't hear my side of it."
Draco took a deep breath. "All right, what is your side of it?"
Cassius knew he was just being stubborn but he didn't want to tell Draco now. Actually, he wasn't in the mood to talk to his brother at all. He adjusted his book bag. "I would like to go now, Professor." He said in exaggerated politeness.
Draco sighed. "Cassius, don't do this. Talk to me." When Cass didn't respond, he shook his head. "Fine. Be that way. Go finish your breakfast and then we'll go."
Cassius returned to the kitchen and sat at the table but he didn't really eat. He wasn't hungry at all. He played with his food while Draco watched him with a disapproving look.
"You're acting very mature today," Draco said sarcastically. "Come on. I'll walk you to your first class."
"Thank you, Professor Malfoy," Cassius continued with the fake politeness He ignored his brother's scowl.
/
"Who can tell me what an Animagus is?" McKinnon asked her class. She called on a Hufflepuff.
"It means you can turn into an animal."
"Correct. It is a learned skill one can acquire to transform into an animal." McKinnon said. "Learning this skill can be very dangerous if you are not careful, which is why you must be an adult to become an Animagus. Well, usually. Unfortunately there are sometimes disobedient children who try to become one. It is dangerous sand foolish to do so." She looked at Cassius. "Isn't it, Mr. Malfoy?"
Cassius paled. Did she know? "Yes Professor." he answered.
"There is a spell to find out what animal you will be," McKinnon continued. "However, even just the spell is very complex and can drain your magic if done wrong. And the potion can kill you if you make even the tiniest mistake." She again looked at Cassius.
"Does she know?" Sadie whispered worriedly.
"Seems like it," Cassius whispered back.
"Five points for talking, Mr. Malfoy," McKinnon said with a slight smirk. "I would think you understand why this lesson is so important."
Cassius sunk down in his seat, aware he was being stared at. It was official. McKinnon didn't like him and the feeling was completely mutual. He seethed while she continued her lecture and then he pretended to read the chapter she instructed them to study. He couldn't concentrate and as soon as class was over, he bolted from the room. He didn't wait for his friends, nor did he wait for his escort. He just wanted to be alone.
Cassius made his way to the Owlery to visit Hedwig and Draco's owl, Artemis. He didn't care that he would miss Defence and he didn't plan to go to the hall for lunch either. Why would McKinnon imply that he was an Animagus? Yeah, it was true but the professors who knew weren't supposed to anyone, especially the students. Yet it seemed McKinnon was going to.
"Too bad panthers can't fly, I would leave for awhile," Cassius said softly to the owls. "You guys are lucky. You can just fly away if you want to." He sat and leaned against the wall, feeling very alone.
/
Draco was finishing up his first year potions class when Remus walked into the room. "Draco," he said, his face tense.
"What happened?" Draco asked.
"Cassius didn't show for my class," Remus frowned. "His friends did but they looked upset and kept whispering to each other. I was going to question them after but they ran out before I could ask them to stay."
"Cassius was upset this morning, I talked to him about paying attention in Transfiguration," Draco said. "I can't believe he would skip a class. And what about his escort?"
"I'm sure he'll be at lunch," Remus said, relaxing. If Cassius was upset about an argument with his brother, than that was more easily handled than worrying that someone had taken him.
"He's not supposed to be alone," Draco said in irritation. He had left the Maunders Map in his quarters so he couldn't check where his brother was.
"Like I said, I'm sure he'll show up for lunch," Remus said.
Draco nodded and they walked to the Hall. Draco scanned the Slytherin table but didn't see his brother or his friends. He walked over to the Slytherin prefects. "Mr. Dawson, where is Cassius?"
The fifth year blinked. "Uh, I haven't seen him today."
"What? You were supposed to escort him to his Defence class! He didn't show up for it," Draco snapped, getting worried.
"I didn't see him so I thought Serafina had escorted him," Dawson said nervously.
"No, you were supposed to walk him," Serafina said. "I haven't seen him either, Professor Malfoy."
Draco glared at them before turning around, intending to leave and search for Cass. He saw Professor McKinnon walk in and knew Cassius had had her class before Defence. "Professor, was Cassius in your class today?"
"He was," McKinnon said. "I wanted to talk to you about him. I had to take points again and I must say, the boy does not seem to want to take my class very seriously."
"That's not like Cass," Draco said suspiciously.
McKinnon shrugged. "I just wanted to let you know. I'll have to start assigning detention if he keeps acting out."
"Cassius is not known to -" Draco stopped, his eyes filling with relief when Cassius and his friends walked into the Hall. "There he is."
"He's okay," Remus sighed. He gave Draco a rueful look. "He is thirteen, you remember the angst that comes with that."
"I will not tolerate him skipping class," Draco said darkly.
"I will talk to him about it," Remus offered. "It was my class he skipped."
"Did he?" McKinnon murmured. "Perhaps a detention with Filch will teach him responsibility." she suggested to Remus.
Remus frowned. "No, I do not believe that is needed. He can have detention with me, if I decide he needs detention. I would like to talk to him first."
"You're so sweet," McKinnon smiled. "You shouldn't be too easy on him otherwise he'll continue his bad behavior."
"Now, Marlene. Cassius doesn't show bad behavior, not that I've seen," Remus lightly admonished.
Draco ignored them and eyeing Cassius, he sternly walked up to where he was seated. "I'd like to speak to you after lunch," he said stiffly.
"Fine, Professor," Cassius turned away from him.
Draco gritted his teeth and walked up to the Head Table.
/
"How dare you skip your Defence class!" Draco scolded as they stood in back of the hall. "And you didn't have your escort! You know my rules, Cassius."
Cassius shrugged. "Sorry."
"Look at me," Draco ordered. "You do not run off, you do not skip classes. You know this. Where were you?"
"The Owlery," Cassius muttered. "Can I go? I have class."
"You have my class next!" Draco looked at his brother in frustration. "Professor McKinnon said she had trouble with you again today."
"What?" Cassius looked up at that. "I didn't do anything!"
"She said she took points," Draco said, trying to keep calm. "You need to stop acting act -"
"I'm not!" Cassius yelled.
Draco's eyes darkened. "After your last class, I will escort you to our quarters. We need to have a talk."
"No! You're just going to yell at me and you don't even know what happened!" Cassius turned and was about to run out of the hall but he ran into his godfather.
"What is going on?" Snape asked in a huff. "You two are starting to make a spectacle of yourselves."
"Draco is being a git," Cassius muttered. He quickly moved out of the way when Draco made to grab him.
"I don't know what has gotten into you, but you are going to tell me after classes are finished," Draco said through gritted teeth.
"You two need to communicate a little better," Snape told them. "Make sure you each spend time listening to other."
"Tell that to Draco." Cassius glared at his brother. "I mean, Professor Malfoy," he said in a overly polite voice.
"You are really asking for it," Draco shook his head.
"You two need to talk, not just snipe at each other," Snape said in an irritated voice. "And I expect you to do it today and fix whatever is wrong with you two."
/
Tension could be felt in the potion's classroom as Draco gathered their homework. He slammed the papers on his desk and flicked his wand at the board. Instructions for the Boil Cure Potion appeared. "Work by yourself, and work silently," Draco said. He waited for a moment. "Is there a reason no one is getting their ingredients?" He snapped.
Cassius felt guilty, it was his fault Draco was in such a foul mood. Actually, it was McKinnon's fault. He did his work, being careful to follow the instructions exactly. He sliced his Pungous Onions finely before adding them to his cauldron.
"Your brother is in a mood," Enzo commented quietly.
"It's going around," Cassius grumbled. By the end of class, his potion had turned the correct shade of blue. He filled his vial and waited until everyone else had turned in their potions before heading up to Draco's desk. "Here you go, Professor," he said, handing Draco his vial.
Draco inspected it. "You did a good job," he said, eyeing his brother.
Cassius couldn't help but smile, praise from his brother always made him smile. "Thanks."
"Cass," Draco began, his anger fading.
"I'm sorry!" Cassius blurted out. He hated fighting with Draco, absolutely hated it. "You're not the one I'm mad at."
"Then who is, Cassius? Talk to me," Draco coaxed. "I promise I will listen."
Cassius took a deep breath and told him how McKinnon had implied he hadn't done his summer essay by himself, how she took points when he'd barely said anything, how she implied he was an Animagus in front of the class. "She doesn't like me," he insisted when he was finished.
Draco frowned. "How would she even know about you being an Animagus? Most of the professors are aware you tried the potion but I never verified that you had succeeded. Only the Headmistress, Hagrid, Uncle Sev and Remus know. Ah, Remus." he realized.
"He told her?" Cassius felt a little hurt at that. It was supposed to be a secret. Not even his friends knew.
"I'll find out," Draco promised. "And I'll make she knows that you did all your homework yourself. As for losing the points, she may just be really strict so even if your friends make a comment, just ignore it. Unfortunately, she does have the right to take or give points as she sees fit."
Cassius's face fell. He looked up when his brother nudged him. "Ten points for a well done potion." Draco winked.
Cassius grinned.
/
"Professor McKinnon, Professor Lupin," Draco said as he entered the teacher's lounge. "I would like to speak with both of you."
"Yes?" Remus asked.
"Your lecture on Animagi seemed directed at my brother, is there a reason for that?" Draco asked McKinnon bluntly.
McKinnon nodded. "Yes. I know what he did and I must say, he should have been expelled or at least suspended for -"
"So you told her?" Draco interrupted her, turning to Remus.
Remus paled slightly. "I did." he admitted. "I'm so sorry. It slipped out when we were talking." he frowned at McKinnon. "No one is supposed to know about that, why would you direct the lecture at Cassius?"
McKinnon widened her eyes. "I wasn't trying to tell on him or anything, I just thought he should understand how dangerous what he and his friends did was. I haven't told anyone, Remus."
"And you better not," Draco said warningly. "You aren't even supposed to know. Also, Cassius did his summer homework on his own, I did not do it for him as you indicated."
"Marlene," Remus admonished.
Marlene took a step back. "I apologize if it came out that way." she said stiffly. "I am new to teaching, I'm doing my best."
"Just stop targeting my brother," Draco said.
"He shouldn't get away with bad behavior just because he is your brother," Marlene protested.
"I doubt he's shown you any true bad behavior," Draco shot back. "Professor Weasley had none of these complaints about my brother nor did the Headmistress when she taught him. What does that tell you?"
"Marlene, perhaps you are focusing on him because of his fame," Remus said gently. "You need to be fair to him. Cassius is a good student and a good kid."
"Of course," Marlene said, averting her eyes. "I will try to be more patient."
"And you will not speak about his being an Animagus to anyone," Draco eyed her and Remus both. "Cassius has learned from that incident, it is not your place to lecture him about it." he said to McKinnon.
"My apologies," McKinnon said stiffly before excusing herself and walking out of the lounge.
Draco glanced at Remus. "Cass is hurt that you told her." he said quietly. "He hasn't even told any of his friends."
Remus's face fell. "I'm sorry. I'll apologize to him. I didn't meant to tell and I never thought Marlene would bring it up, especially in front of the class."
"Cassius doesn't think she likes him," Draco said.
Remus frowned. "I don't understand why she wouldn't. Cass is a great kid, I'm always bragging on him to her."
"Maybe she is one the people who can't accept that Harry Potter was really Cassius Malfoy," Draco said quietly.
Remus didn't look happy but nodded slowly. He sighed. "I'm sorry I let it slip about Cass being an Animagus. I hope he will forgive me." he said worriedly.
"He will," Draco smiled fondly. "Cass has the most forgiving heart of anyone I know."
TBC: