"All done, my Lord," Lucius said gleefully, watching as the letter was passed by many hands up to Voldemort. It was handed to him by Snape and he read through it carefully, his red eyes darting quickly across the parchment.
"Excellent work, Draco." Draco flushed and bowed his head, once again avoiding eye contact. "Most convincing."
"My Lord," a voice said from the opposite end of the table, "I've perfected the Transfiguration spell. Alecto is ready whenever she is needed."
Beside him, Alecto nodded and let out a cackle. This caused Bellatrix to throw a disdainful glance at the only other female Death Eater.
"I don't see the reason to keep waiting," Voldemort said, gazing at them all. "You have all worked together remarkably well. I am pleased. Perhaps we should set the date for…" He pondered for a second. "Two days time?"
Amycus and Alecto looked at each other and nodded. Bellatrix was sat forward in her chair, the excitement in her eyes evident. Snape and Draco sat passively, while Lucius and Narcissa nodded curtly to one another. Rodolphus was smiling; he couldn't wait to see the girl. If she was anything like the pictures, she was going to be very fun to have around the place.
"I assume you all know the plan?" The Death Eaters all nodded. "Good. Bring her to me here in two days' time. I look forward to it." Voldemort smiled wickedly.
~~~(O.O)~~~
The fat, dark owl that had just arrived in the Weasley's kitchen was the most unpleasant Cassie had ever encountered. It had bitten her twice as she untied the letter and was sat glowering at her even though she'd fed it. Cassie turned her back to it as she read through the parchment.
Dear Cassie,
How are you? I'm doing fine in case you're wondering, I'm currently at Ron's house. It's much safer there than in the Muggle world, hopefully Harry will join us soon as well. I heard from Ron that you moved in with the Weasley twins – I bet that's been a shock!
I was just wondering if you wanted to meet just outside Diagon Alley tomorrow for a catch up? I know it's only been a few weeks, but it can get a bit much with just Ron for company. How about the garden that's just beyond Diagon Alley? I don't trust the people walking around Diagon Alley these days. We could always walk somewhere else afterwards if you want. 1pm would be a good time, don't you think?
Write back soon!
Hermione
A chance to escape! Cassie felt oddly happy for a second. But why on earth did Hermione want to meet in that quiet garden? Cassie couldn't recall Hermione or herself ever visiting there. It seemed an odd choice of meeting place. Even so, she would gladly meet at a petrol station if it meant escaping the house just for an hour or two.
"Hey Cass." It was the twins, just coming up for their lunch. They both sniffed appreciatively at the same time; Cassie had been making some pizza as a treat.
"Smells good. Who's the letter from?"
"Hermione. She says she wants to meet up tomorrow." Cassie omitted the meeting place; she didn't want either one of them to worry unnecessarily.
"Haven't you only just left Hogwarts?" Fred asked, leaning against the counter with a grin.
"I know," Cassie said, also smiling, "but I've been getting a little stir-crazy in here. It'll be good for me to go out."
"Are you sure you're okay going out by yourself?" George asked, a slightly worried frown on his face.
Cassie felt a prickle of annoyance. "I'm fine, George," she replied slightly defensively. "I won't be going far." She set down the letter and turned to the oven. Apparently she was acting oddly, because George picked up the parchment quickly and read it.
"Oi! Give that back!" She tried to grab it, but George held it above his head annoyingly. Once he was done with it, Fred plucked it out of his hands and had a read.
"What was that all about?" Cassie snapped at him. He had that familiar concerned expression on his face again.
"That letter… well, don't you think it's a bit dodgy?" George questioned.
"What about it is 'dodgy'?" Cassie demanded. Trust George to be the boring one and try to spoil her fun. To her alarm, Fred also looked grave and nodded at George.
"Cass, I don't think this was from Hermione."
"Why not?" Cassie wanted to burst into tears. Why were they doing this to her?
"For one, why in the blazes would she want to meet in that garden that no-one ever goes to? And secondly, Ron never mentioned her coming round."
Cassie gaped at Fred.
"What if he forgot to tell you?" Cassie counteracted.
"I think he'd mention if Hermione had gone to stay already, doesn't she usually go back to her parents first? She's an only child, and only sees them three times a year," Fred pointed out logically. Cassie yearned to kick him.
"Cass, I can't stop you from doing anything, but I strongly advise you to not reply to that letter," George said warningly. He glanced at the owl, who glared at him.
"But…I…" For a second, she was torn. Who would pretend to be Hermione to trick her? If it was all some elaborate prank, she could just walk back to the shop. She had a wand, did she not? Cassie knew a few good hexes. And she didn't need George babying her all the time. A sudden feeling of recklessness overcame her.
"You're right. You can't stop me." Turning her back on the twins, she quickly scribbled a reply promising to meet her at the time mentioned, and gave the bad-tempered owl the letter. It gave her one hard last peck before flying off.
Cassie ran her bleeding finger under some water, determinedly ignoring the twins. They hadn't moved at all, which suggested they weren't entirely done with her.
"Cass?" George asked hesitantly.
"Yes?" Cassie asked much more harshly than she would usually.
"It might be better if one of us came with you, you know… Just in case. What if it's that man who came in the other day?"
With a sudden horrible jolt, Cassie remembered the leather-clad, dark eyed man. Of course it was him! How could she have been so stupid? This didn't explain how he'd forged a letter so accurate to Hermione's writing style, or where he'd gotten that evil owl from… It didn't seem to matter anymore.
"George, you're right." The words came spilling out of her mouth before she could stop them; she turned and hugged him tightly, squeezing him gratefully. "It's him, I know it. I'm not going. And that's final."
George held her tightly as if to never let her go. Cassie could almost feel the relief flooding through him. Behind him, Fred breathed a quiet sigh.
~~~(O.O)~~~
Miles away, in a dark Georgian house, the two Carrow siblings sat by candlelight discussing the plan.
"Catch a good look at her, then?" Amycus asked, apparently very interested in the whole plan now he had seen what she looked like. The only women he'd seen properly for months were his sister and Bellatrix, and now there was the promise of a beautiful new girl… who would be trapped in the Malfoy's manor house, unable to escape. His limited imagination ran wild.
"I did," Alecto said, eyeing her brother hard. She recognised that expression on his face. It had been the same since they were at school together. First it had because of been Sally Jorkey, who then confided in Madam Pomfrey that she had been sexually assaulted by a strange boy. Then it had been Lacey Goodwin, who had strangely enough reported the exact same type of assault. In fact, there were too many to name. Nothing had ever been proven though.
"And? What was she like?" Amycus pressed, unaware of just how unsubtle he was being.
Alecto's podgy face twisted with envy. "Very pretty, just like the pictures. And very stupid too." She smiled suddenly, showing an equal amount of gum and teeth. "Fell for it, didn't she?"
Amycus laughed, his eyes unfocused and his expression rather dreamy. If she was as stupid as Alecto made her out to be, then she would be easily manipulated. Perhaps she would even be grateful for some positive attention, after what she was going to be put through by the Malfoy family. The three adults had plans for her, after the whole Draco scandal the previous school year. Yes, she would be pleased! Amycus smiled.
"I know that expression, you old fool," Alecto said, snapping him out of his daydream. "She won't go for you. Anyway, Rodolphus has his eye on her, and you don't want to go messing about with that man, Amycus."
"What, you think I ain't a match for Rodolphus?" Amycus asked indignantly.
Alecto leaned closer, the shadows from the candle casting terrifying shadows across her unpleasant face. "He wants her all for himself, I reckon he's going to have to fight Lucius for her. Don't get involved, mark my words."
Amycus blinked. "Am I missing something with Lucius? He's married, ain't he?"
"So's Rodolphus, fool! Haven't you noticed?" Alecto bashed the table angrily with her massive fist. "The Malfoy's are having marital problems!" Her face twisted into a bitter smile. "So I reckon that Lucius will take that little bitch for himself! And Rodolphus will try and make her his mistress!"
He sat back. Clearly things within the highest ranks were not as smooth as he thought they were. But he wasn't going to let that stop him. Amycus would be nice to her, he would be gentle, even. He had neither the looks nor the smooth charm of the other two men, but that was of little concern to Amycus. For now, at least, he could dream.
~~~(O.O)~~~
"Fools! Incompetent idiots!"
Voldemort strode up the hall, shaking with barely supressed rage. The Death Eaters cowered in their seats, each one of them praying that they weren't personally to blame.
"Scabior waited half an hour for her to turn up today, and did she turn up? No!" Voldemort exploded, turning on the table and watching them all flinch. "I want answers, and I want them now."
"I have the answer to all of your problems, m'lord," Scabior said casually, stepping out of the shadows to which he was accustomed to stalking. He held up a glass vial that everyone regarded warily. Scabior smiled.
"This," he said slowly for the added effect, "is the hair of one of them ginger twins. Found it while I was creepin' about the shop today – in disguise," Scabior added hastily. Then he smiled lazily again. "Anyone got any Polyjuice Potion?"
