Still a HP fan in love with a Slytherin Man. Why is it I tend ot fall for
angst-ridden assholes, anyways??? Thanks for the reviews, please keep
sending them and I will keep trying to do what my characters tell me. Wait
til you read this chapter - Wow. Talk about needing therapy!
Chapter 16
She cowered behind the chair, watching as the drunken man staggered angrily into the study. Scared, alone and frozen in place, too horrified to dare risk running over to the door and out into the cool night air, Cassandra stayed there waiting, shaking, wondering how bad it would be tonite. As the navy robes swung around the edge of the desk, a cold fear clutched her heart as she realised her kitten was laying, sleeping blissfully on the chair in front of the fire, and chair she was now hiding behind. She'd seen him go after the dog before well until the dog turned on him and grabbed him by the ankle.. What would he do to her little grey ball of fur. As the thought crossed her mind, she heard him snarl. " Fucking cat! Little cretin, what're you doin in here? Little bastard, I don't want any goddamned mangy pieces of filth like you in here!! " He lurched over to grab the cat from the chair, however a small but wiry 9 yo stood in his way, neatly deflecting the inebriated wizard, sending him sprawling on the hearth. "Oh, you'd rather keep it for yourself, would ya?? You like a little blood letting know and then, eh? Or are my healing charms so advanced that you had forgotten about the last time you pissed me off? Maybe I won't do such a good job this time, leave you with something worth remembering? Or maybe, I'll just finish you off for good."
"No, No.. I haven't forgotten a thing." She whispered out loud, "Please, don't, I'll leave right now, go somewhere else…"
"But go where, Cassandra? What haven't you forgotten?" Snape asked himself inwardly, leaning over the bed in his efforts to better discern what the child was talking about.
" I… I'm sorry… Please, no…" Her hands suddenly flew up to her face, covering her nose as her mouth twisted into a silent scream. "It's broken! No, don't touch, please don't touch. It's fine, I'm sorry.."
"But who, Cassandra, who has done this to you?" Wondering whether or not he should wake the child considering the distress she was in, Severus snapped his wrist and sent out a summoning charm for the medi-witch. He needed some help, and he needed it now. Where the hell was she, any ways? He didn't think that there were any other students in the infirmary as it went. Maybe she had chased away the gang of fifth years hanging out in the castle hall waiting for him to come out with news of their classmate. A thought hit him, and in that moment Madame Pomfrey appeared.
Looking down at the distressed child in her infirmary bed (yet again), Pomfrey reached down to take her wrist, and check her vitals. On contact, the child flung her hand away violently.
"Please, no more!! I'm sorry… I won't do it again, please stop.."
Cassandra's voice dissolved into meaningless mumbles.
"Should I try and wake her, Poppy? This nightmare she is reliving, it can't be good for her. I was trying to see if I could get her to tell me who didi this to her, the past hurts… what about Veritaserum?" He asked suddenly. "Then we would at least know. I might have an inkling about the perpetrator, now that I think about it."
"Veritaserum Is just too dangerous, considering her history and the muggle medicines and such. I think we should awaken her immediately, Severus, in case this stress triggers an….. episode of sorts."
A worried look crossed Snape's normally emotionless features. "Nightmares can trigger an attack? Bring her around right now then, there is no time to waste!"
Running her wand over the child again, Pomfrey shook her head. "These are no nightmares, Severus. She's reliving past traumatic events in her life. They are as real to her now, physically, as if they were actually happening." She raised her wand to enervate the girl, but was interrupted by her terrified shrieks.
"Please don't throw him in the fire!! He's just a kitten! Just put him down, please! What are you doing? Octavious, don't!" Followed by one of the most blood-curdling screams Snape had ever heard, even for an ex- DeathEater. The child on the bed gave a strange half-shudder and then lay extremely still, her left arm and shoulder twitching madly on the sheets.
What color was in Snape's face drained away.
"For Gods sakes, Poppy this can't be normal! Bring her around now - something has happened!!"
Saying a quick prayer, Poppy flicked the wand and commanded the re- awakening charm. Nothing Happened; The door to the room burst open, and Draco came flying in.
"What have you done to her, what's happened?" He rushed past the medi- witch straight over to the bed.
"Holy fuck!" Was all he could say, the pale boys pinched features getting tighter. "What's done this to her?"
Snape placed a firm arm on the boys shoulder. " Now is not the time, Draco. I suggest you go back to the Slytherin Common room, or maybe to the kitchens for a bite to eat. And should you tell anyone about this…" There was a warning gleam in yhe professors eye.
It was met by and equally outraged look from the young Malfoy.
":What do you think I am? Some kind of a backstabbing asshole? WE have a connection, Cassandra and I. There are things about us that we share, things only people like us can know and feel. We've bonded - you must have seen the spark in class today - you can't deny that! We have something you would never understand." Looking back at the dark form on the bed, and then glancing back at the potions master with an enlightened look on his face, Draco continued. " Or, maybe you would understand, after all. I'll leave, but you better come tell me later. And don't you dare hurt her!" He shot back to Pomfrey, as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Ten points. " Snape muttered under his breath, and went back to help the medi-witch in any way he could.
The smell of smoke and of fire. The smell if whisky and blood. Curled up on the floor, hands cradling a blood encrusted pulp of what used to be her nose, She fought down the bile that was pushing at the back of her throat. It would only make it worse. She didn't dare open her eyes, until she heard the frantic mewling of her kitten. "Wisp" she called out. "Maybe this will teach you!" Looking up through blurred eyes, she saw the towering man poised, ready to throw her cat.. throw him where? Oh my god, the fire. "Please, don't" He looked at her menacingly. "Fine then", he flung the cat over to the wall, where the little grey creature slid down harmlessly and bolted out of the door. Turning back around, the man reached down and grabbed the girl by the back of her robes. " Let's trade places then, if you love your kitty so very much!" Without another word, he swung her down head first against the brick and mortar of the fireplace, and in a burst of extreme color and pain, she knew no more
"Poppy, what the hell has happened?" Snape asked in a hushed voice. "If they are just memories, how do they have this power over her, this power to hurt her and paralyze her like this?" It reminded him frighteningly of the night he had found her in the bathrooms.
"The mind works in strange ways, Severus. When she wakes up, she will be just fine physically, though I am not sure mentally or emotionally where she'll be at. At this point she is in some kind of catatonic state, caused by whatever experience she was just experiencing.. What was the last thing she said?"
"Something about a cat and a fire, and she said a name… Oh Gods, …. She said Octavious. That Ignoble lout was the visitor that came to my classroom today, from the Education Ministry! Poppy, please summon Dumbledore immediately. I can't bear to leave her side after I failed to protect her in my own class."
Bustling over to the fire, Pomfrey threw in some floo powder and summoned a sleepy Dumbledore.
"Just a small post-lunch nap, nothing to worry about Poppy. What's the matter, are you alright? It's not Potter, is it? I just had the strangest dream about a Death eater being in the castle."
Wincing, the medi witch simply told him to come up right away, it was urgent regarding Severus. In a twinkling, the headmaster stepped out of the fireplace and over to the bedside.
"Oh, you're alright then, Severus? I was worried that something had happened to you… Dreams of Death Eaters and such, I am getting paranoid."
"There WAS a Death Eater in the school, Albus…" Snape began to recount the mornings events.
"SO, you're saying that you think she knew him? Or rather, that he knew of her? "
"Indeed. And it triggered such a dramatic reaction from the girl - I had thought Potter had placed some unknown hex on her ! I wouldn't put it past him you know, he hates all the students in my house." The professor sat down on the edge of the bed, grumbling to himself. "How do I best deal with this Albus? I feel I have a debt of revenge to pay out for the girl, after everything he's done to her. The abuse - Poppy found a variety of old injuries, many of them which never healed properly. And look at her now! Look at what he has done! He's not even here and he holds such power over her. It's now right, it's got to stop, she's just and innocent girl. I might be able to get at him through the meetings. And I wonder… You had said that her mother was killed in one of Voldemort's attacks? I think that Ignoble might have been behind that one. It was over the summer, right? Probably thought he could get the girl while she was on vacation, deal with his rejection from her mother and hatred for Cassandra all in one blow. He must be punished!" Breathless and trembling with rage, Snape stood up and began pacing the room.
"Only the girl can exact her own, revenge, Severus. And I personally feel it would be better handled in Wizards Court, not out on the street. What were you thinking of doing, challenging him to a duel?? I know you are among the best, however… We must let logic prevail, however chivalrous your intentions might be. The judicial system does not deal kindly with child abusers. " Looking down at the girl on the bed, the Headmaster raised his eyebrow. "Did she have another seizure? Why hasn't Poppy given her anything?"
"I can't Albus. She's not in a proper seizure. It's more of a memory of an event… Even though I believe her body is clearly telling us that whatever it is she's reliving, it involved a serious brain injury. And to the right side of the skull, frontal lobe from the way her arms going." Poppy ran her wand over the girls head, and nodded slowly. " Yes, right temple, eye socket and cheekbone. I'm really not sure how she would have survived such a thing."
"Poppy, do you believe whatever she's reliving could this be the event that caused such injuries?" Snape stopped for a moment to ask the question, then continued wringing his hands and pacing. " What if her epilepsy was brought on by, by , that piece of…."
"Severus!" Poppy spoke sharply. " This is an infirmary, after all. Language, please! And yes, I do agree with you. If she had repressed all these memories, intentionally or not, she wouldn't have been able to tell us about the events. I now wonder if …. " she paused. " If only we could use the veritaserum, I would better know how to help her."
"Do you not think that he might have placed a memory charm on the girl?? To save his own skin? He must have realized the magnitude of what he did… Tried to fix it himself, like he did with the bones, and her arms…" Severus voice was cut off.
" Mom? Where are you? Mom?" The girl's voice was strange and hig - very thin, as if she had suddenly lost 5 years, lost all her maturity. Her eyes still closed, it was clear she was not fully conscious yet.
"Cassandra! It's alright dear, I'm right here " Soothed Mdm Pomfrey. Looking at the two men, she simply said " Maybe we will get some answers now. She might respond better than if she were awake. Sometimes people are less guarded, like talking in you sleep."
Indeed the twitching had disappeared, and the girls color had improved. She had removed her hands from her face, and was stirring softly in the bed. Snape held his breath.
"Will she remember now, Poppy?"
"With some luck, she might be willing to speak.. Cassandra, can you hear me, honey? I want to talk with you about what happened."
"I don't want to. He'll know I told you, he'll, he'll come back, and he'll finish… He'll kill me, he'll kill you… he told me that if he ever had to see me again, if I ever told…" Panic entered the small voice, making it sound very shrill in the silent ward.
Dumbledore walked closer to the head of the bed, and leaned over, speaking in his kindest, most genuine tone.
"I guarantee you now, Cassandra. You are safe under my protection. Nothing will come to hurt you. You can tell us the truth now, we will take care of you, and keep you free from harm. Who hurt you?"
" He was going to hurt Wisp…"
Poppy and Albus both raised their eyebrows questioningly at Slytherin's head of house, and he mouthed the word "cat' back at them. Nodding, Madame Pomfrey reached down and squeezed the girls hand. " And…."
The girl heaved a huge sob, curling up around the Matron's hand.
"And then, I begged him. He threw the little guy, but he seemed ok. Then I went to try and escape , to crawl away, but he grabbed me. Was lifting me up, higher, higher…. Over his head. Had a crazy look in his eye. So angry, hated me so much… I never knew what I did everytime… And then.. he, he…"
The words were cut off by her choking sobs. The three adults present in the room were all unsure as to what they would hear next, but they all had a very uncomfortable, queasy feeling to their stomachs. Snape put a hand on her sleek hair, and ever so quietly spoke.
"We're at Hogwarts now, Cassandra. Its all over, I swear that to you upon Merlins Beard. I want to protect you, and help you heal. Please tell me what happened next, and then it will be all over."
The little girl took a deep breath, still not fully conscious yet, she spoke in a flat tone.
" He flung me headfirst into the marble mantle. I only remember waking up in my Mom's bedroom days after that."
The room swayed violently before Snape at the impact of the words, the overwhelm of painful emotions mingled with his own childhood memories flooded his sight. He just barely made a grab for the bed frame before he hit the floor.
Chapter 16
She cowered behind the chair, watching as the drunken man staggered angrily into the study. Scared, alone and frozen in place, too horrified to dare risk running over to the door and out into the cool night air, Cassandra stayed there waiting, shaking, wondering how bad it would be tonite. As the navy robes swung around the edge of the desk, a cold fear clutched her heart as she realised her kitten was laying, sleeping blissfully on the chair in front of the fire, and chair she was now hiding behind. She'd seen him go after the dog before well until the dog turned on him and grabbed him by the ankle.. What would he do to her little grey ball of fur. As the thought crossed her mind, she heard him snarl. " Fucking cat! Little cretin, what're you doin in here? Little bastard, I don't want any goddamned mangy pieces of filth like you in here!! " He lurched over to grab the cat from the chair, however a small but wiry 9 yo stood in his way, neatly deflecting the inebriated wizard, sending him sprawling on the hearth. "Oh, you'd rather keep it for yourself, would ya?? You like a little blood letting know and then, eh? Or are my healing charms so advanced that you had forgotten about the last time you pissed me off? Maybe I won't do such a good job this time, leave you with something worth remembering? Or maybe, I'll just finish you off for good."
"No, No.. I haven't forgotten a thing." She whispered out loud, "Please, don't, I'll leave right now, go somewhere else…"
"But go where, Cassandra? What haven't you forgotten?" Snape asked himself inwardly, leaning over the bed in his efforts to better discern what the child was talking about.
" I… I'm sorry… Please, no…" Her hands suddenly flew up to her face, covering her nose as her mouth twisted into a silent scream. "It's broken! No, don't touch, please don't touch. It's fine, I'm sorry.."
"But who, Cassandra, who has done this to you?" Wondering whether or not he should wake the child considering the distress she was in, Severus snapped his wrist and sent out a summoning charm for the medi-witch. He needed some help, and he needed it now. Where the hell was she, any ways? He didn't think that there were any other students in the infirmary as it went. Maybe she had chased away the gang of fifth years hanging out in the castle hall waiting for him to come out with news of their classmate. A thought hit him, and in that moment Madame Pomfrey appeared.
Looking down at the distressed child in her infirmary bed (yet again), Pomfrey reached down to take her wrist, and check her vitals. On contact, the child flung her hand away violently.
"Please, no more!! I'm sorry… I won't do it again, please stop.."
Cassandra's voice dissolved into meaningless mumbles.
"Should I try and wake her, Poppy? This nightmare she is reliving, it can't be good for her. I was trying to see if I could get her to tell me who didi this to her, the past hurts… what about Veritaserum?" He asked suddenly. "Then we would at least know. I might have an inkling about the perpetrator, now that I think about it."
"Veritaserum Is just too dangerous, considering her history and the muggle medicines and such. I think we should awaken her immediately, Severus, in case this stress triggers an….. episode of sorts."
A worried look crossed Snape's normally emotionless features. "Nightmares can trigger an attack? Bring her around right now then, there is no time to waste!"
Running her wand over the child again, Pomfrey shook her head. "These are no nightmares, Severus. She's reliving past traumatic events in her life. They are as real to her now, physically, as if they were actually happening." She raised her wand to enervate the girl, but was interrupted by her terrified shrieks.
"Please don't throw him in the fire!! He's just a kitten! Just put him down, please! What are you doing? Octavious, don't!" Followed by one of the most blood-curdling screams Snape had ever heard, even for an ex- DeathEater. The child on the bed gave a strange half-shudder and then lay extremely still, her left arm and shoulder twitching madly on the sheets.
What color was in Snape's face drained away.
"For Gods sakes, Poppy this can't be normal! Bring her around now - something has happened!!"
Saying a quick prayer, Poppy flicked the wand and commanded the re- awakening charm. Nothing Happened; The door to the room burst open, and Draco came flying in.
"What have you done to her, what's happened?" He rushed past the medi- witch straight over to the bed.
"Holy fuck!" Was all he could say, the pale boys pinched features getting tighter. "What's done this to her?"
Snape placed a firm arm on the boys shoulder. " Now is not the time, Draco. I suggest you go back to the Slytherin Common room, or maybe to the kitchens for a bite to eat. And should you tell anyone about this…" There was a warning gleam in yhe professors eye.
It was met by and equally outraged look from the young Malfoy.
":What do you think I am? Some kind of a backstabbing asshole? WE have a connection, Cassandra and I. There are things about us that we share, things only people like us can know and feel. We've bonded - you must have seen the spark in class today - you can't deny that! We have something you would never understand." Looking back at the dark form on the bed, and then glancing back at the potions master with an enlightened look on his face, Draco continued. " Or, maybe you would understand, after all. I'll leave, but you better come tell me later. And don't you dare hurt her!" He shot back to Pomfrey, as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Ten points. " Snape muttered under his breath, and went back to help the medi-witch in any way he could.
The smell of smoke and of fire. The smell if whisky and blood. Curled up on the floor, hands cradling a blood encrusted pulp of what used to be her nose, She fought down the bile that was pushing at the back of her throat. It would only make it worse. She didn't dare open her eyes, until she heard the frantic mewling of her kitten. "Wisp" she called out. "Maybe this will teach you!" Looking up through blurred eyes, she saw the towering man poised, ready to throw her cat.. throw him where? Oh my god, the fire. "Please, don't" He looked at her menacingly. "Fine then", he flung the cat over to the wall, where the little grey creature slid down harmlessly and bolted out of the door. Turning back around, the man reached down and grabbed the girl by the back of her robes. " Let's trade places then, if you love your kitty so very much!" Without another word, he swung her down head first against the brick and mortar of the fireplace, and in a burst of extreme color and pain, she knew no more
"Poppy, what the hell has happened?" Snape asked in a hushed voice. "If they are just memories, how do they have this power over her, this power to hurt her and paralyze her like this?" It reminded him frighteningly of the night he had found her in the bathrooms.
"The mind works in strange ways, Severus. When she wakes up, she will be just fine physically, though I am not sure mentally or emotionally where she'll be at. At this point she is in some kind of catatonic state, caused by whatever experience she was just experiencing.. What was the last thing she said?"
"Something about a cat and a fire, and she said a name… Oh Gods, …. She said Octavious. That Ignoble lout was the visitor that came to my classroom today, from the Education Ministry! Poppy, please summon Dumbledore immediately. I can't bear to leave her side after I failed to protect her in my own class."
Bustling over to the fire, Pomfrey threw in some floo powder and summoned a sleepy Dumbledore.
"Just a small post-lunch nap, nothing to worry about Poppy. What's the matter, are you alright? It's not Potter, is it? I just had the strangest dream about a Death eater being in the castle."
Wincing, the medi witch simply told him to come up right away, it was urgent regarding Severus. In a twinkling, the headmaster stepped out of the fireplace and over to the bedside.
"Oh, you're alright then, Severus? I was worried that something had happened to you… Dreams of Death Eaters and such, I am getting paranoid."
"There WAS a Death Eater in the school, Albus…" Snape began to recount the mornings events.
"SO, you're saying that you think she knew him? Or rather, that he knew of her? "
"Indeed. And it triggered such a dramatic reaction from the girl - I had thought Potter had placed some unknown hex on her ! I wouldn't put it past him you know, he hates all the students in my house." The professor sat down on the edge of the bed, grumbling to himself. "How do I best deal with this Albus? I feel I have a debt of revenge to pay out for the girl, after everything he's done to her. The abuse - Poppy found a variety of old injuries, many of them which never healed properly. And look at her now! Look at what he has done! He's not even here and he holds such power over her. It's now right, it's got to stop, she's just and innocent girl. I might be able to get at him through the meetings. And I wonder… You had said that her mother was killed in one of Voldemort's attacks? I think that Ignoble might have been behind that one. It was over the summer, right? Probably thought he could get the girl while she was on vacation, deal with his rejection from her mother and hatred for Cassandra all in one blow. He must be punished!" Breathless and trembling with rage, Snape stood up and began pacing the room.
"Only the girl can exact her own, revenge, Severus. And I personally feel it would be better handled in Wizards Court, not out on the street. What were you thinking of doing, challenging him to a duel?? I know you are among the best, however… We must let logic prevail, however chivalrous your intentions might be. The judicial system does not deal kindly with child abusers. " Looking down at the girl on the bed, the Headmaster raised his eyebrow. "Did she have another seizure? Why hasn't Poppy given her anything?"
"I can't Albus. She's not in a proper seizure. It's more of a memory of an event… Even though I believe her body is clearly telling us that whatever it is she's reliving, it involved a serious brain injury. And to the right side of the skull, frontal lobe from the way her arms going." Poppy ran her wand over the girls head, and nodded slowly. " Yes, right temple, eye socket and cheekbone. I'm really not sure how she would have survived such a thing."
"Poppy, do you believe whatever she's reliving could this be the event that caused such injuries?" Snape stopped for a moment to ask the question, then continued wringing his hands and pacing. " What if her epilepsy was brought on by, by , that piece of…."
"Severus!" Poppy spoke sharply. " This is an infirmary, after all. Language, please! And yes, I do agree with you. If she had repressed all these memories, intentionally or not, she wouldn't have been able to tell us about the events. I now wonder if …. " she paused. " If only we could use the veritaserum, I would better know how to help her."
"Do you not think that he might have placed a memory charm on the girl?? To save his own skin? He must have realized the magnitude of what he did… Tried to fix it himself, like he did with the bones, and her arms…" Severus voice was cut off.
" Mom? Where are you? Mom?" The girl's voice was strange and hig - very thin, as if she had suddenly lost 5 years, lost all her maturity. Her eyes still closed, it was clear she was not fully conscious yet.
"Cassandra! It's alright dear, I'm right here " Soothed Mdm Pomfrey. Looking at the two men, she simply said " Maybe we will get some answers now. She might respond better than if she were awake. Sometimes people are less guarded, like talking in you sleep."
Indeed the twitching had disappeared, and the girls color had improved. She had removed her hands from her face, and was stirring softly in the bed. Snape held his breath.
"Will she remember now, Poppy?"
"With some luck, she might be willing to speak.. Cassandra, can you hear me, honey? I want to talk with you about what happened."
"I don't want to. He'll know I told you, he'll, he'll come back, and he'll finish… He'll kill me, he'll kill you… he told me that if he ever had to see me again, if I ever told…" Panic entered the small voice, making it sound very shrill in the silent ward.
Dumbledore walked closer to the head of the bed, and leaned over, speaking in his kindest, most genuine tone.
"I guarantee you now, Cassandra. You are safe under my protection. Nothing will come to hurt you. You can tell us the truth now, we will take care of you, and keep you free from harm. Who hurt you?"
" He was going to hurt Wisp…"
Poppy and Albus both raised their eyebrows questioningly at Slytherin's head of house, and he mouthed the word "cat' back at them. Nodding, Madame Pomfrey reached down and squeezed the girls hand. " And…."
The girl heaved a huge sob, curling up around the Matron's hand.
"And then, I begged him. He threw the little guy, but he seemed ok. Then I went to try and escape , to crawl away, but he grabbed me. Was lifting me up, higher, higher…. Over his head. Had a crazy look in his eye. So angry, hated me so much… I never knew what I did everytime… And then.. he, he…"
The words were cut off by her choking sobs. The three adults present in the room were all unsure as to what they would hear next, but they all had a very uncomfortable, queasy feeling to their stomachs. Snape put a hand on her sleek hair, and ever so quietly spoke.
"We're at Hogwarts now, Cassandra. Its all over, I swear that to you upon Merlins Beard. I want to protect you, and help you heal. Please tell me what happened next, and then it will be all over."
The little girl took a deep breath, still not fully conscious yet, she spoke in a flat tone.
" He flung me headfirst into the marble mantle. I only remember waking up in my Mom's bedroom days after that."
The room swayed violently before Snape at the impact of the words, the overwhelm of painful emotions mingled with his own childhood memories flooded his sight. He just barely made a grab for the bed frame before he hit the floor.