Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Cassie ditched Lavender and Parvati at the door to the library right after dinner. They had better things to do with their evening, they protested, than hang out in a musty library. Frankly, Cassie agreed with them and even Hermione was off doing things other than studying for once, but her target was currently hidden behind a pile of books and trying to parse out his DADA essay in the library, so that's where she was headed. "Hey, Neville," Cassie smiled at her former dormmate as he looked up at her with glazed over eyes from where he'd been absorbed in a book. "How's the essay going?"

"Hi Cassie," he sighed and closed the book. "It isn't. I just don't understand how transfiguration can be used offensively in a duel. I mean defensively, I get. You can transfigure things to help block spells, but offensively, I don't really understand."

Cassie grinned wider at that and joined him at his table, pushing some of the books aside so that she could see him better. "Right…so, I've already finished this essay and am happy to help you with it. I can even show you some transfiguration spells that you can use if you would like."

"Really? That's awesome!" The teen sighed out in relief and turned grateful eyes to his new friend. "So, can I help you with your Herbology homework or something in return? You seem to already be settling into the classes surprisingly quickly."

Cassie pulled her DADA essay out of her bag and started picking through the books on the table to find the most relevant ones. "Not in return, I'm going to help you regardless. However, I could use a bit of help with something. It's not school related though…"

"I'm intrigued," Neville leaned back and smiled at the girl broadly. "What can I help Cassie Black with that isn't school related?"

Now she was a bit nervous. It was hard to explain what she needed without giving too much information away. "Well, you know I was raised in the muggle world, right?"

Neville nodded. "Yes, you said that before."

"Yeah, well, I've kind of been just tossed into this head of the Black family role and all, and I don't know much etiquette or politics or even cultural aspects of it. I've encountered a wizarding society problem that I really do need help with."

"You've come to the right person!" Neville pushed the whole tower of books and parchment aside. "I've been raised since a baby to take over the Longbottom estate and political influence from my gran. I might be rubbish at magic, but I understand politics as well as anyone. So, let's handle your problem first. I'm frankly tired of looking at this essay."

"First of all, I may have only known you for a little over a week, but I can already tell you aren't rubbish at magic," Cassie glared at him. She had basically taught her friend DADA the last year when Umbridge had taken over. Neville was actually quite good and powerful, but he was an experiential learner. He learned by doing and not by books. Hogwarts tended to push book learning in most of the classes, so Cassie could see why he sometimes struggled. "You pick up things as fast as anyone when you're able to see it and then try it. It's just the reading about it and trying to see the application you aren't as good at. Everyone learns a bit differently and that just isn't your forte."

"How in Merlin's name have you figured that out already?!" Neville shook his head and laughed. "I swear, I feel like I've known you so much longer than a week."

Cassie just cleared her throat and changed the subject. "So, yeah, erm, I need to write a letter. It's basically a formal rejection letter, and it needs to be very clear I want nothing to do with this person, but nice enough that they won't decide I'm an enemy. Is that possible?"

Neville chuckled. "Of course, there's a letter template for everything. I do need to know quite a bit more information though in order to help you with this. Like, is the letter rejecting a courting or betrothal situation…?"

"Hell no!" Cassie vehemently declared.

"Ok, business dealings…? Offer of political support…?"

Cassie finally just sighed. "Right, so you aren't going to guess it. How about I just tell you the situation?"

"Yes, I believe that would be helpful," Neville smirked at her not unkindly.

"Erm, well," now Cassie was rethinking this whole situation. She really didn't want to have to explain her relationship with Marvolo. "Right, well, it's my…for lack of a better word, father."

"Didn't he die?" Neville cut in, confused.

"Er, no the other one. Regulus was my bearer, so my other father," Cassie explained. "Anyway, he actually just learned I exist and sent me a letter. He wants to get to know me…chat over letters and all."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Neville asked, still confused. "Wouldn't you want to get to know a parent after living in an orphanage your whole life?" Neville was certain he would want to get to know either of his parents. Even though they were around, it wasn't like he could ever get to know them since their minds weren't intact.

"Not this one," Cassie grimaced. "I already knew quite a bit about him before he learned of me. He's not a nice or good person at all. So, I'd like to tell him to bugger off, but I also don't want to get him angry enough to take it out on me or anyone I care about."

Neville nodded after some thought, coming to a conclusion of his own. To his mind, it made sense that if Cassie's father was Regulus Black, a known Death Eater, then he was probably in a relationship with another Death Eater. He could understand why Cassie might not want to get to know that person. "Right, so we're going to have to be very careful in our wording. Mitsy!" He called out, causing Cassie to jump as a well-dressed house elf with the Longbottom family crest sewn on to her floral toga appeared.

"How can Mitsy helps Master Neville?" She grinned indulgently at the boy.

"Could you please get me my formal parchment and the ink well with my best quality ink please?" He asked kindly.

"Of course, master," Mitsy popped away.

"You have a house elf?" Cassie raised an eyebrow in surprise. How had she not known this in the five years she had lived with him?

Neville just shrugged. "Mitsy comes and goes between here and home. She's only here a few days a week to make sure I have everything I need and get anything from home that I might have left behind. I don't normally call her if I'm around anyone in the dorm. Having a house elf in Gryffindor isn't the status symbol that it is in Slytherin. I saw your house elf with the Black crest on his uniform though when I went to see Mitsy in the kitchens, so I'm less concerned you're going to think I'm a pureblood prat."

"Never," Cassie laughed and shook her head. She never would have guessed that Neville was so concerned about how his dormmates saw him. He wasn't the most self-assured person, but he did tend to do what he wanted even if that was against peer pressure. "Kreacher was the one that insisted he come with me to Hogwarts, by the way. My elf is more like my master than me his some days."

"I know that feeling," Neville nodded his head in agreement as Mitsy popped back in and set the parchment and ink on the table.

"Anything else you needs, Master Neville?"

"No thank you, Mitsy."

Mitsy turned and studied Cassie for a minute. The teen wasn't sure what she was looking for, but after a short nod of approval, the elf popped away again. "I think I've just been judged," Cassie winced dramatically to her friend.

"Don't worry about Mitsy. She's quite stern and protective, but she's a sweetheart. She basically raised me when Gran was busy," Neville explained as he pushed the parchment and ink over to the girl. "Right, so start with a formal salutation. Does your father have any titles or anything?"

"Er…" Cassie thought about that. Technically the man was Lord Slytherin, but she couldn't really call him that on paper…and she definitely wasn't going to put his self-stylized name. "He said to call him Marvolo Riddle in his letter. Can I just put that?"

Cassie watched Neville closely to see if he recognized the name. She was positive that he wouldn't, but she couldn't be absolutely sure. Neville though just seemed to think about it and nod. He actually hadn't ever heard the name before. "Yes, if he said to call him that then just write: Dear Marvolo Riddle."

"Ok…then…?" Cassie wrote as neatly as possible on the thick, formal parchment.

"Well, especially when you are writing a rejection letter, you want to start with the positives or even flatter a person," Neville explained. "Is there anything he's done for you or anything you can thank him for?"

Cassie held in both a snort and an eye roll. "Not according to any sane person, but knowing this arsehole, he thinks he did me a favor. I guess I could acknowledge that."

"Just don't overdo it if you don't want him to try to use that as leverage in the future," Neville warned, really curious about Cassie's father now.

She actually did snort at that one. Voldemort was definitely going to use Snape as leverage in the future. He had almost promised that through the snake. She had told him to man up and kill her himself if he wanted her dead though…so maybe she had been a little aggressive. Regardless, she'd definitely take Neville's advice. "What else?"

"Well, then we get to the hard part," the teen grinned at her. "Try, with as little emotion as possible, to lay out logically why contact is unwanted and unnecessary. That's going to be a bit of a stretch, but it's the best way to handle something like this."

"Sooo…I can't tell him to go screw himself and take a flying leap off the tallest bridge he encounters?" Cassie asked with a pout.

Neville's eyes widened and he slowly shook his head. "You have such a messed-up relationship…and no."

"You have no idea, mate," she chuckled and wrote out a few sentences. "How do I end this thing?"

"Thank him for contacting you even though it needn't continue in the future, and wish him a good life," Neville said, trying to get a look at the parchment and read upside down.

Cassie finished the letter with a flourish of a signature. "Right, so this is what I have:

Dear Marvolo Riddle,

Thank you for your letter and the favor you granted me. As someone who has had very few people care in my life, I appreciate you allowing me one who does. Your interest flatters me, but I am not in need of a parental figure or guardian at this time. I have also no need or desire to be your heir. I believe our political views diverge enough to render sustained contact unreasonable and unwelcome to both of our lives.

I ask nothing from you except what you have already granted. I appreciate your letter and request to learn more about me and my past; however, I do not believe a relationship is in either of our interests. I wish you well in your life.

Cassiopeia Regina Black

So, what do you think?" Cassie asked as she looked up at her friend questioningly.

"Well, it's definitely clear and to the point but not overly aggressive," Neville concluded with a nod. "For what it is, I think that's probably the best you can do. You'll have to wait and see if he responds back, I guess."

Cassie groaned, really hoping he didn't, but knowing he probably would. "Sure, I guess I'll handle that when it happens then. Now, pull that essay back out and let me show you some good uses for transfiguration." Now it was time for Neville to groan as he sadly pulled the pile of books back over to himself.

"Hattie!" Cassie called out into the owlery as Hedwig flew down to her with a glare. "I know you don't like the name, but you just have to live with it for now, ok? Look, I have a letter for you to deliver."

Hedwig preened and stood taller on Cassie's shoulder. "Right, so this is going to Marvolo Riddle, do you know who that is?" Cassie asked with a significant raise of her eyebrow. "It's the Dark Berk who would be my father."

Hedwig hooted in the affirmative, fluffing up her feathers in supportive irritation at the man. "Good, so, you drop off the letter and fly out as quickly as possible. You don't wait for a response. He's dangerous," Cassie warned. "Actually, if you want, I can get a school owl to do this. Would that be better?"

Cassie got a death glare for that suggestion. "Right, so just drop it and fly away," she chuckled as Hedwig snapped the letter out of her hand with her beak. "Be safe!" She called out as her owl flew off into the night, worry lining her face.

Having helped Cassie with her letter, Neville got to thinking he should probably write to his grandmother since he hadn't since school had started. He would usually have written her after just a few days back to assure her he was doing alright, but it had almost been a week this time. He pulled his second-best parchment, one step below formal, over to write out a letter.

Dear Gran,

How are you doing? And how are the kneazle kittens? I really hope they aren't keeping you up at night. The first week of classes went well. Professor Sprout says that, should I try for my mastery in Herbology, she would love to take me on as an apprentice. I'm very much considering it for after graduation. You will also be happy to note that my new wand has been serving me exceptionally well. Charms has been much easier as well as DADA this term in the practical work already.

The only new development to note is that I've made a new friend. She has agreed to help me with DADA, and I'm helping her with a project as well as Herbology. She's a new Gryffindor that transferred this year from Beauxbatons. Speaking of, is there any way for you to reach out to your contacts at Beauxbatons to check on Harry Potter? I tried sending him an owl, but it came back to me. Ron Weasley said he's heard from Harry and he's fine, but I thought he would have written me by now. I know we were not exceptionally close, but I thought we were close enough he would write anyway. I'm just a little concerned is all.

I also have an odd question about something I recently encountered. Have you ever heard the name Marvolo Riddle before? I think he might be a Death Eater. It's not anything very important, just something I'm curious about that came up in a conversation. Thanks Gran. Take care of yourself.

Your grandson,

Neville

Neville sealed the letter and planned to drop it off at the owlery the next morning. He smiled over to where Ron Weasley was just climbing into bed. With a frown of concern and one last look back at Harry's empty bed, Neville climbed into his four-poster bed to go to sleep for the night.

Two days after sending her letter, Cassie was surprised as a large box landed beside her plate at breakfast, delivered by a standard post owl. She stared at the box. Her first thought was that Voldemort must have sent her something illegal/disgusting/cursed. After a quick check for curses and opening the letter though, Cassie just smiled. Tonks's warning in her letter to not open the box at the breakfast table made it very clear what it contained.

"What's in the box?" Ron asked, head emerging from his breakfast to ask curiously.

Now, Cassie had only been a girl for a little over two months and didn't feel quite the cultural pressure of what she should and shouldn't think and do as a girl. Therefore, messing with Ron was much higher on her list than any level of appropriateness. "Open it if you want," she pushed it over to her friend with a grin.

Lavender and Hermione both looked over as Ron happily tore off the packing tape to the box. Cassie glanced up to the head table to see Professor Haria, aka Tonks, watching them and shaking her head with a smile on her lips. "What's this? Candy?" Ron asked as he pulled a small, pink wrapped tube from inside the box and immediately started to open it.

Cassie held in a laugh as Hermione started to turn a bit pink. Ron just pulled the tampon out of the wrapper and then pushed the cotton from out of the applicator. "This isn't candy…what is it? Is it for something having to do with Potions?"

"Honestly, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed in disbelief as Cassie just busted out laughing, causing Ron to look at them both in confusion.

Lavender reached across Cassie to grab the tampon out of Ron's hand as he was now trying to sniff it and threw it back into the box. "Potions?! Really?! You have a mother and a sister Ronald Weasley!" She took the box from him and shot a glare over to Cassie who was just laughing harder at Ron's face as he tried to figure out what it was.

"Your face!" She laughed, pointing. "You sniffed it! Why? That's so weird! It's a tampon, you idiot."

Ron still looked confused as Lavender looked in the box. "Hey, these are really nice. Who sent them to you?" She asked Cassie.

"A friend of mine. They're muggle products," Cassie finally answered between giggles.

"You think your friend would sent along some for me too if I paid her with some interest?" Lavender asked as she rifled through the products. "These are much better than what's available at Hogsmeade. Wizarding towns can be a bit behind the times."

Parvati looked over Lavender's shoulder and wrinkled her nose. "I think I'll stick to what I'm used to myself."

"Er…actually me too, if you don't mind asking," Hermione blushed as she registered the contents of the box.

Cassie was still laughing since Ron still hadn't gotten it yet. She eventually nodded though. "I'll ask. I'm sure she'll be fine with it though."

"Period products, mate," Seamus finally cut in with a shake of his head to put Ron out of his misery.

"Oh!" His eyes went wide and he looked completely scandalized. "Ew!"

"Heavens, Ron, it's just natural bodily functions," Lavender laughed and handed the box back to Cassie who stowed it under the bench.

The group hadn't noticed as Neville opened a letter from his gran on the other side of Seamus while all this was going on. His face paled and he frowned in concentration as he read the letter.

Neville,

Great Merlin! Where did you hear that name?! Never say it or write it again! I cannot believe someone would use it after all this time. At least you didn't write You-Know-Who's first name. He's killed for much less. Yes, the person you asked about is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I heard him called that many times when we were in school together. Whoever said that name to you, do not associate with them! They have knowledge they should not and lack the brains to keep their mouths shut at the very least. I never want to hear or read anything about this from you again. You hear me?! I only want you safe.

Now, I'm happy to hear about your wand and your new friend. Keep up with your schoolwork and call for Mitsy if you need anything. I will reach out to Madam Maxime and see if I can check on Harry Potter for you. Stay safe and study hard.

Gran

Neville looked over the letter at where Cassie was laughing with Lavender and Ron was turning red. He studied his new friend with a questioning eye. He hadn't known the new girl for long now, but he felt like he'd known her for years. He had no idea why that was the case. He was comfortable around her though, and that was saying a lot as new people tended to make him nervous.

Should he be suspicious? It was the question that ran through Neville's mind. His gran sure thought he should be. Cassie hadn't done anything to be suspicious of though. So, what if her father was the Dark Lord? She obviously didn't like him or want to associate with him at all, judging by the letter he'd helped her write. His eyes widened in shock. Merlin! Had he helped her write a letter basically telling the Dark Lord to bugger off (in as nice of a way as possible)?!

Cassie shoved some box under her bench that she'd gotten in the mail as everyone started to calm down from whatever embarrassing thing Ron had done. Neville slowly shook the dark thoughts out of his head. He'd been trying to step out of Frank Longbottom's shadow his entire life and make his gran see that he wasn't his father and never would be. He figured he owed another person that same courtesy to prove they were different from their parents. She'd already showed that in the little time he'd known her.

Making a decision, Neville held the letter over the candle that was under the eggs to keep them warm. He watched as the paper caught fire and he dropped it on his plate to finish turning to soot. "Hey, Nev," Cassie looked over at his flaming letter. "I know a spell to turn letters to dust without having to burn them. Remind me and I'll teach you when we practice for DADA during the free period," she told him, never asking what was in the letter. Neville just smiled at her and agreed to take her up on that.

"I feel like I see you more now than when I actually had class with you," Cassie remarked as she entered Snape's office for their Potions lesson after dinner.

"Then you'll see less of me once you pass your placement exam and join my class," the man drawled as he lit the flame under a cauldron in the small potions lab he had in the corner of his office.

"When are we going to start Occlumency?" Cassie asked, really hoping the answer was never.

"Next time. I'm still recovering a bit from the mark," Snape explained with a glare assuring her that they would actually be starting it up again.

"While I chop all this…" Cassie motioned to the copious ingredients set out for her. "Will you tell me something about Dad?" She asked hopefully.

"As fine as you can get this," Snape instructed, handing her the beetroot. "Your father…he was always so full of life when we were young. He was a year younger than I but was ahead of me and even Lily Evans at Charms. Like you, he excelled at DADA as well."

"Really?" Cassie smiled broadly as she cut the beetroot just as small as she possibly could, not wanting the man to stop talking to have to correct her.

"I think things got really bad for him at home once Sirius left to live with Potter before our sixth year," Snape sat in the armchair and watched her though his eyes seemed to be seeing into the past. "Not that he would ever blame anything on his brother. He looked up to Sirius even when the mutt least deserved it."

"When did he become friends with Lily?" Cassie asked.

"Hm, not until he switched sides and was pregnant with you," Snape turned his dark eyes on her. "I had been friends with Lily growing up until we had a falling out in our fifth year. When Regulus switched sides, he went right to this brother who took him directly to Potter. He never really did get very close to Potter, thank Merlin, but Lily and he hit it off immediately. I got pulled along until Lily and I made up. Reg was persistent. It was probably one of his strongest traits."

"Why did you switch sides, if you don't mind me asking?" Cassie asked tentatively, not wanting to make him angry.

Snape hummed and stood to look at the beetroot. "I could answer that, but the answer would not be satisfactory. I believe my memory potion may change my perception on that memory as well since I have conflicting thoughts on the matter at present. Now, enough for today…we will be turning this beetroot into your nutrition potion, so chop these next." Snape pushed over a large pile of ingredients while Cassie let out an amused huff and took up the knife once more.

Malfoy's eagle owl rudely dropped a letter in Cassie's eggs again four days after she had initially sent her response to the Dark Lord. Cassie glared at the owl as he turned and flew off, narrowly missing hitting her in the face with one of his massive wings. "That bird's a menace!" She grumbled as she cast a few spells to check the letter for curses.

Ron and Hermione were in some kind of argument over a study schedule, whether they should have one already in the second week of classes really, and Lavender and Parvati hadn't made it down to breakfast yet. So, it was just Cassie and Neville, who was watching her cast detection spells at the letter in interest. "I'm guessing that's your response back from the letter I helped you write?" He asked with a curious raise of his eyebrow.

"Bloody hell," she groaned as she read through the letter, harsher swears muttered under her breath the whole time. "Yes, Neville. It seems it didn't do any good."

"What does that mean?" Neville asked in concern, now that he had a guess as to who she was corresponding with.

"Just that he's not going to let me get away that easily," she studied the letter, looking for a way out of it.

Cassiopeia,

I appreciate your acknowledgement of the favor and my position on the matter. You must realize that the situation is conditional though. Your little pet is mine and I can do with him as I please. I only please to keep him alive as he serves a purpose and the potential to harm an adversary of mine. The condition is that you remain in regular communication with myself.

My letter was not an offer or a request. You are my daughter, and you will do as I say. Now, tell me, what subjects are you taking this year? Which OWLs did you pass? I was surprised to hear you are in sixth year. I had assumed you would be in fifth.

Your father,

Marvolo Riddle

"He's asking what classes I'm taking and how OWLs went," Cassie laughed in bewildered shock. It was just so…strange and weird. She did not want to talk to the Dark Lord about her grades and classes!

"Er…ok," Neville looked at her in disbelief. Maybe he was wrong about who her father was… "That doesn't seem so bad."

"Yeah, I have to write him regularly or he'll kill my godfather," Cassie grumbled darkly but as she pulled out a piece of clean parchment to write back, this time not bothering to use the nice parchment.

Neville gasped in shock and stared at her. "Yeah, so…bad then," was all he could get out, now positive his gran was right about who it was.

"I saw your look. You figured he was a Death Eater when I told you I didn't want to associate with him," Cassie raised an eyebrow as she thought about what to put in the letter. "That's why you didn't ask about him."

Neville slowly nodded knowing she was only telling a partial truth. "Right…so there's a template for this type of letter as well. You want the good parchment?"

"Seriously?" She sputtered as Neville looked at her in complete seriousness. "Fine, no to the nice parchment, but what do I need to say in this one…?"

Up next: Quidditch and Dumbledore meddles...