Chapter 14 Day 7

I woke up alone. Ginny must have left at some point, but she left the pamphlet of grief on my table. She also had a glass of water next to it.

I drank it in a few gulps and got up for the day.

I took a shower, brushed my teeth, curled my hair, and got dressed.

Then I started packing everything. I decided to leave my family heirlooms in a drawer in my dresser as I didn't want to risk Voldemort possibly recognizing the locket as a horcrux as I didn't have proof it was a horcrux.

After everything was packed away, I sat on my bed. I was debating on what to do with Ariel when there was a knock on my door.

"Come in." I answered.

Remus walked in.

"Hey, Treasure." He said softly and went to sit at my desk chair.

"Hey, pa." I greeted him.

"Sirius told me what happened last night." He said slowly.

I nodded.

Partners tell each other everything, and I wasn't surprised that Sirius would tell Remus.

"Are you sure you want to go back if being put under the Cruciatus Curse is a possibility?" Remus asked.

"Pa. Who can give me permission to stay here?"

Remus opened his mouth and then closed it.

"For adults you sure are acting like teenagers." I sighed.

"Narcissa is my legal guardian according to adoption laws. She is the one who technically had to give permission to let me come here for a week. Voldemort just made her do it. Now, Voldemort is telling her to give me permission to stay for another week.

Now, as I told dad. I am a Seer first, a teenager second. There are Seer things at play here that I cannot, and will not I guess, tell you about. To continue doing my Seer things, I need to go back to the Manor." I explained.

Remus nodded, a mixture of emotions on his face.

"I remember having similar conversations with Karen, when she was going through a time when she was saying that she was a Seer first and then herself second.

I told her that if she didn't have to be a Seer first, what would she do? And she did take some time to think about it."

He paused.

I waited for him to say some more but when he didn't, I responded.

"She wasn't under the care of a Dark Lord wanting to take control of the Wizarding World."

Remus closed his eyes and his nostrils flared.

"Pa, it is no one's fault of the situation I'm in. And quite honestly, I'm getting annoyed with the run-around we're doing. I am going back to the Manor. I'm going to be in the same building as the Dark Lord. I am going. I am going because you did not adopt me. I am going because Sirius cannot safely take care of me. I am going and there is nothing you can do about it.

Now, instead of making this the worst day of my life and making sure I never want to come back ever again, can we just have a good day so that I can have happy memories? Please?"

Remus's eyes had started to tear up.

"Yeah. Yeah okay," he nodded and stood up.

"I don't want a hug right now. I just want to eat. We can try for happy memories after I'm done eating breakfast."

I pushed past him and carried Ariel out of my room with me.

I just wanted to leave with the sad 'I'm sorry you're leaving' tears. Not the, 'you're going back to an evil man and we're afraid!' tears.

But today was going to be a day of fighting.

I stumbled on the stairs and let out a quiet curse.

"Everything okay?" Fred's voice asked behind me.

"I had a Seer thought and I disliked it." I told him.

"Gotcha. What was the Seer thought?" He asked.

I felt him press the back of his hand on my back and grab some of my shirt to keep me from falling forward.

"Today is a day of fighting." I said with exasperation.

"I see, well if you want a break from the fighting you can always find me and George and we'll keep you company."

"Thank you."

We walked down the stairs in silence.

I did hear George behind him, but he was silent as well. Which I was grateful for, I didn't know what I would say.

The kitchen was silent when I walked in. I had to take a moment to breathe and tell myself it was okay, they were just upset to see me go.

"Cassie," Ginny patted the seat next to her.

I nodded my thanks and sat next to her, making sure not to hit Ariel's head on the table.

Nothing else was really said as silverware clanked on dishes.

"Um," I spoke up.

Everyone turned to face me, which was disconcerting for me.

"I don't trust Ariel to be around the Manor, because Voldemort has his snake roaming around the area. Can I leave her here?" I asked.

Harry made a face and attacked his plate with new vigor.

"Of course," It was Molly who spoke up.

"Thank you," I nodded to her and went back to eating.

The silence was deafening.

"I hate that you're going back." Harry muttered into his food.

"I hate that I'm going back too." I admitted.

"Then why go back?" Hermione asked.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I need to check in with Draco, and I feel like I need to go." I answered.

"Malfoy would understand if you don't go back, wouldn't he?" Remus asked.

I closed my eyes and took another deep breath.

"So you mean to tell me, that none of you respect my decision and you would rather try to convince me to do what you want, and not just, oh I don't know, support my decision?" I asked through gritted teeth and closed eyes.

I didn't see their reactions but it was still silent.

"I am going back. And rather than fight every single one of you on the matter, I would like to spend my last time playing Exploding Snap, or chess, or just hanging out with my friends." I opened my eyes and looked around the table.

"Also, something that no one else seems to be taking into consideration - Voldemort gave me the option to stay another week. Who's to say that he won't let me come back before the start of term?" I asked.

That actually got through to them.

Remus and Sirius shared a look.

"Hell, maybe we can go to Diagon Alley and go shopping together if that's permitted?" I looked at Molly because she would be the final decision maker on that.

There was that familiar cotton ball on my brain.

"Cassie -" Molly started.

"Hold that thought, sorry." I interrupted her.

There was buzzing as Ron and I walked out onto the Quidditch field.

I had McGonagall's old Quidditch ball under my arm and my Firebolt over my other shoulder. I started pointing with my chin towards the goal posts, talking to Ron about something.

He nodded his understanding and kicked off.

I didn't recognize the Nimbus 2000 he was riding. It didn't look like mine. In fact, it still looked new.

Ron and I did some warm-up laps around a set of hoops and tossed the Quaffle ball between us.

He would stumble to catch it but I didn't hear what I said with the buzzing.

"Ron!" I couldn't help my grin when I looked at him.

"What?" He asked, his eyes wide.

"Oh my God! Ron! Yes! Yes!" I couldn't stop myself from wiggling in happiness.

"What did you See?" Ron asked cautiously.

"I Saw… Oh I don't want to spoil the surprise! But yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Ariel ended up hopping off my lap because I wouldn't stop wiggling as I pulled out my journal to start writing what I just saw.

"Any idea what she's talking about?" Fred asked George.

"Not a clue." George answered.

"It had to do with Ron?" Ginny asked, using her arms to block what I was writing.

"It did. Oh I'm so bloody excited!"

I finished writing, and put it in my journal and grinned at Ron.

His ears had turned red, but he was trying to be casual.

"Now I'm curious." Molly muttered as she started to clear breakfast away.

"Molly, I'll need to talk to you about it later. Or - well…" I frowned.

I didn't know if that was this year or next year…

"Never mind, I didn't see a date when it would happen." I said glumly.

Ron's ear's turned a brighter red but he didn't draw anymore attention to himself as he finished eating.

After breakfast, I went to my room to gather my things. I was surprised to see Ron behind me.

He closed the door and glared at me.

"Hello to you too, Ron." I nodded to him and started to double check my room to make sure I had everything I was taking.

"What did you See." He asked.

I looked at him in surprise.

"Ron -"

"You were so excited to see me when you came back from your vision. I want to know why." He interrupted me.

I sighed.

"Ron, sit down." I gestured to the bed.

He sat down, looking at me expectantly.

"I saw us walking down to the Quidditch field together. I had the quaffle ball under one arm and you had a broom I didn't recognize over your shoulder and I had my Firebolt. During the vision we were tossing the quaffle as we flew together. Now I couldn't hear our conversation, but any time you made a move, I would show you how to improve it to get a faster reflex. I think you have asked me to help you practice." I told him.

He flushed and looked away from us.

"I had the thought a couple of weeks ago to try out for the Quidditch team." He finally admitted to me.

I grinned, "that's great!"

"You're not mad?" He asked, looking at me.

"I'm not mad that you want to be on the Quidditch team." I started off.

"I'm super excited for you. Quidditch is your family thing, for Harry it's a family thing, his dad being a Quidditch player as well -"

"It's a family thing for you too." Ron muttered.

"- what?"

"Remember when we had to serve detention with Filch and I was burping up slugs?" He asked.

"There you are. No magic. Get to cleaning!" Filch was short with us.

He handed us polish and rags.

"Ron, start on the left side. I'll start on the right and I'll do the big ones, just focus on the small ones. And whoever finishes up first helps the other one." I pointed to the left side of the room.

The left side of the room had most of the small trophies and I wanted to try to get through what I could. He nodded, not wanting to hiccup or anything, and we got started.

I don't know how long we were there for. But Ron was helping me clean the Quidditch cup since it was the biggest trophy, and he had a slug attack. I tried to keep my irritated sigh to myself, but Ron looked at me with guilt in his face.

"Sorry." We both said as we started to clean the Quidditch cup once again.

"I do." I nodded.

"Two of the trophies I cleaned were for the Quidditch team when Harry's dad was Seeker. Your mum, she was one of the Chasers. It's a family thing for you too." He couldn't look me in the eyes.

I sat there for a second, letting it soak in my brain that I got my Quidditch skills from my mother.

"Okay… but it's also a family thing for you. Your brothers have been playing it for as long as you can remember. Of course I would be excited to have another one of my best friends on the team!" I patted his knee.

"Yeah. I guess… I just want a new broom. But we can't afford it." He said bitterly.

I didn't dare say anything. Ron's always been touchy about money and any talk about it.

"I know, but if you really want and are okay with it, you can have Lancelot." I said softly.

He looked at me with an open mouth.

"I know, I know. But it's an offer and you don't have to say anything right now. Think about it. Take your time with it." I told him quickly.

He clenched his jaw and nodded.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't keep it to myself very well." I told him.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You just told me that you had the thought a couple weeks ago. Then I had a vision about it and now you probably feel like you can't keep anything to yourself." I admitted.

"I didn't feel that way at all. I don't know what I thought you saw, but I wasn't expecting it to be about me asking you for tips on Quidditch." Ron answered.

"Were you going to ask me?" I asked him.

He flushed and nodded.

"You are my first choice. Fred and George would make fun of me, Harry probably would've laughed at me, but I knew you would want to help me."

"Harry wouldn't have laughed at you. He'll think it's brilliant as well. But if you don't want to tell him, I won't say a thing." I responded.

He nodded and sighed.

"Do you have everything to go back?" He asked, gesturing to my small trunk and my backpack.

"I do." I nodded.

"Alright, I'll take the trunk downstairs." He stood up and walked over to my trunk and picked it up.

"Thank you, Ron." I grabbed my backpack and owl cage and walked downstairs after him.

It was a comfortable silence, thankfully.

He placed my trunk in my drawing room, Barnabus came swooping in with Hedwig right behind him. They landed on top of my trunk, hooting at me.

I looked at the cage I was holding and then looked at Ron.

He nodded at my unspoken question.

"We'll make sure it gets to you." He said.

"Thank you."

Ron and I didn't always have moments alone, but he never failed to surprise me.

"Do you want to play some chess before I go?"

His grin was contagious.

We had dinner before the Order meeting. Fred and George were still upset that they couldn't sit in the meetings but I was able to.

I decided not to say anything because I didn't want to have another fight right before I left.

I hugged everyone before they left the kitchen and the Order members started filing in.

"Write often." Ron demanded as he walked away from me.

I nodded.

"I'm going to miss you." Ginny whispered.

"I'm going to be back. I don't know when, but I'll be back." I whispered back.

"We're going to worry about you." Hermione said when it was turn.

"I know. I'm going to worry about myself, too." I told her.

She nodded and then it was Fred's turn.

"Don't be afraid to come and stay." He said pointedly.

"I won't be." I told him.

George pulled me into a hug, and my heart skipped a beat.

'No! He broke up with you! He made his choice!' I told my heart.

"Be careful over there." His low voice grumbled.

My heart skipped another beat.

'I'm screwed.' I sighed internally.

"I'm always careful."

That got him to snort and he let me go.

Harry was last.

He hugged me the longest and I didn't try to let go either.

"I know you have to go, but I don't want you to." He admitted.

"I don't either, but at the same time, I do want to go. I left something behind and I need to check on it." I told him.

"Will you tell me?" He asked, pulling away.

"When the time is right. I need another vision regarding this thing and maybe a few more correspondences. But I don't want to say anything until I know it's going to happen." I told him, not shrugging my shoulders.

He nodded and gave me another hug and then left the kitchen.

Snape then walked in with a sneer on his face.

He ignored me and went to sit down at the table that was slowly starting to fill up.

I sat next to Sirius who put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.

This meeting was about who to contact next to join our forces, and who will be taking the next two weeks of rotations during the weeknights.

At the end of the meeting Snape stood up and turned to me.

"Well?" He asked slowly.

"I'm coming with you." I stood up.

Remus and Sirius were quick to hug me and let me walk out of the kitchen without too much of a fuss.

Snape didn't say anything when I led him into my drawing room to gather my luggage.

"Your cat is not here." Snape mentioned.

"I'm leaving Ariel here. I'm leaving Barnabus's cage here as well. As a sign of good faith to this side." I looked pointedly at him.

He didn't say anything to me. Just held a hand out for my trunk and I gave it to him.

"See you soon, dear." Molly said slowly.

"I'll see you soon, too." I nodded to her.

She and Mr. Weasley exchanged a glance and Snape Apparated me away.

We were in the Malfoy study, with Voldemort waiting for me.

"Ah! I see you've come back." He greeted me, his red eyes flashing.

"Yes my lord." I bowed to him.

"Why did you decide to come back?" He gestured to the seat next to him.

Snape put my trunk down and left the room. I sat next to Voldemort. Nagini slithered on the ground and over to me, climbing into and around my lap.

I pet her scales.

"I needed a break from them." I said honestly. "They care too much and they were smothering me with 'you can't go back!' 'It's not safe!' 'Blah blah blah.' " I gestured with my hand in a circular motion.

"Do you feel it's unsafe?" Voldemort asked quietly.

"No, sir. You are here. If anything, I'm safer with you. With you gaining your most loyal followers in the coming year, I have no doubt that you'll be able to carry out your plan." I said.

I had to play into his feelings.

His eyes flashed again and he grinned.

"I did receive your letter. I am glad that you decided to share that information with me." He said.

It sounded genuine.

"It had to be shared with you. So that you can expect it and be ahead of the information curve." I nodded to him, hoping that was the right thing to say to him.

He let out a chuckle and reached over to pat my hand.

"I have missed your company." He said.

I had to repress the shivers that threatened to show.

I nodded to him, unsure of how to respond.

We sat together for a few more moments. I was in an uncomfortable silence, but he looked pretty comfortable.

"I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing Draco, I believe he is upstairs in your room waiting for you." He said, waving his hand to let me know I was dismissed.

"Thank you, sir." I stood up and had to walk slowly out of the room.

When I reached the stairs I did run up as fast as I could, my trunk hitting every step loudly.

"Cassie!" Draco greeted me when I flung my door open.

"Draco!" I dropped my trunk and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Cassie, you've got mail." Draco said when he pulled away from me.

"I figured as much." I told him.

Draco blinked at me and threw my bedspread off to reveal my bed was covered with letters and packages of all shapes and sizes.

"Oh shit."