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Cassandra's first moments of awareness were peaceful. The next thing she heard was her Professor. Something in her told her she should be grateful to hear his voice, and yet ; he was screaming and shouting and swearing at the top of his lungs.. Cassandra's well honed survival instincts told her to get out of there and RUN!! Run now, as fast as she could before he turned on her. He sounded drunk, or all things, and images of Octavious floated to the surface of her memory. Why couldn't she sit up, let alone run from this place. Where was Draco? Why didn't he rescue her from their raging Head of House. She struggled against the limitations of her injured body, but gave up when she felt her cat jump up and lay down beside her.
She was certain that she had heard Draco's voice, and then had felt someone cradle her in their arms. She had assumed it was him, but had not had the strength to open her eyes. Then the shouting had started, and something deep within her called her back to the darkness as she heard the infirmary door slam. Then the real fireworks had started, and her next thoughts were only of pain and the pyrotechnics in her brain took over and she disappeared for a while. It was different than it had ever been before - very painful, and then there had been nothingness. she was floating in the darkness and suddenly there was light before her. She was neither happy nor frightened, she just WAS. Then it was gone, and the antiseptic smell of the hospital wing was in her nose. But she was so very, very tired and breathing felt near impossible. Drifting back into the darkness, she was unaware that Draco had just been attempting to gain access to her personal quarters, and was nearly killed doing so.
Then next she heard was Professor Snape raving to someone about how there must have been an illegal curse place on him yet again, and how badly he wanted some FireWhiskey and French Fries. It didn't seem to make any sense at all, until the Potions Master asked loudly "and what of Cassandra? Did she survive the attack? She spoke to me through the darkness, and I know that he is here in the castle and planning to kill her, possibly both of us".
A shiver ran through her as Cassandra realized there could be only one person who the Professor was referring to as " he". Octavious was at the school, and he would want her dead. Again she wished she could get up and run, but when she sat up the wave of nausea was so overwhelming she had to close her eyes and drop back down onto the pillow with a disgusted groan. All thoughts of leaving were quickly quelched as Madame Pomfrey came bustling over to see her.
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"Well Draco, had you paid any attention or even BOTHERED to participate in our project, you would have KNOWN that epilepsy, or STATUS EPILIPTICA, is a muggle-only affliction, and that wizards cannot "catch" or "contract" it from the muggle population. Honestly, I hope that when Professor Snape returns to class he realizes how little you bloody slytherins have contributed to our essay, its only been me and Harry the whole time.. What do you and Cassandra do all day, or should I even bother asking? Pansy has certainly been miffed at you lately!" Hermione Granger took a deep breath after lecturing Draco on his work ethic, and was shocked to realize that he had neither retaliated nor come back with a nasty slag against her.
He was stunned, and it clearly showed on his face. Muggle-born illness? NON contractable? He could only stutter out a few words.
"What about Mudbloods?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed at that and an edge came into her voice. "I assume you meant half-blooded wizards, Malfoy?"
"Yeah. Right. Whatever." He spoke disjointedly.
"Well, I know of one with diabetes, and epilepsy could be inherited so I've read.. Or it could be the result of a traumatic injury. So I would say yes, half-bloods with one muggle parent or grandparents could have it."
Draco turned and walked down the corridor towards the Slytherin common room, unable to reply. He was in a daze thinking of all they had been through, and how much he was drawn to Cassandra. Only to be devastated by this terrible news. His father would kill him. Literally. It would be nasty and painful. He loved her, and felt a connection to her he had never felt in his loveless life. They were soul mates, and anyway he looked at it, staying together with (shudder) a Mudblood would never work. There was only one way to handle this, only one solution... He sighed as he prepared to put his plan into action.
"You're bloody well welcome!" Hermione shouted down the now empty halls.
*******************************************************************
Deep within the bowels of the dungeons, a Death Eater disguised as a student was being entertained by completely destroying the workrooms of Severus Snape, chuckling gleefully waiting to drop the final death knell on his two greatest foes.
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Cassandra's first moments of awareness were peaceful. The next thing she heard was her Professor. Something in her told her she should be grateful to hear his voice, and yet ; he was screaming and shouting and swearing at the top of his lungs.. Cassandra's well honed survival instincts told her to get out of there and RUN!! Run now, as fast as she could before he turned on her. He sounded drunk, or all things, and images of Octavious floated to the surface of her memory. Why couldn't she sit up, let alone run from this place. Where was Draco? Why didn't he rescue her from their raging Head of House. She struggled against the limitations of her injured body, but gave up when she felt her cat jump up and lay down beside her.
She was certain that she had heard Draco's voice, and then had felt someone cradle her in their arms. She had assumed it was him, but had not had the strength to open her eyes. Then the shouting had started, and something deep within her called her back to the darkness as she heard the infirmary door slam. Then the real fireworks had started, and her next thoughts were only of pain and the pyrotechnics in her brain took over and she disappeared for a while. It was different than it had ever been before - very painful, and then there had been nothingness. she was floating in the darkness and suddenly there was light before her. She was neither happy nor frightened, she just WAS. Then it was gone, and the antiseptic smell of the hospital wing was in her nose. But she was so very, very tired and breathing felt near impossible. Drifting back into the darkness, she was unaware that Draco had just been attempting to gain access to her personal quarters, and was nearly killed doing so.
Then next she heard was Professor Snape raving to someone about how there must have been an illegal curse place on him yet again, and how badly he wanted some FireWhiskey and French Fries. It didn't seem to make any sense at all, until the Potions Master asked loudly "and what of Cassandra? Did she survive the attack? She spoke to me through the darkness, and I know that he is here in the castle and planning to kill her, possibly both of us".
A shiver ran through her as Cassandra realized there could be only one person who the Professor was referring to as " he". Octavious was at the school, and he would want her dead. Again she wished she could get up and run, but when she sat up the wave of nausea was so overwhelming she had to close her eyes and drop back down onto the pillow with a disgusted groan. All thoughts of leaving were quickly quelched as Madame Pomfrey came bustling over to see her.
**************************************************************
"Well Draco, had you paid any attention or even BOTHERED to participate in our project, you would have KNOWN that epilepsy, or STATUS EPILIPTICA, is a muggle-only affliction, and that wizards cannot "catch" or "contract" it from the muggle population. Honestly, I hope that when Professor Snape returns to class he realizes how little you bloody slytherins have contributed to our essay, its only been me and Harry the whole time.. What do you and Cassandra do all day, or should I even bother asking? Pansy has certainly been miffed at you lately!" Hermione Granger took a deep breath after lecturing Draco on his work ethic, and was shocked to realize that he had neither retaliated nor come back with a nasty slag against her.
He was stunned, and it clearly showed on his face. Muggle-born illness? NON contractable? He could only stutter out a few words.
"What about Mudbloods?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed at that and an edge came into her voice. "I assume you meant half-blooded wizards, Malfoy?"
"Yeah. Right. Whatever." He spoke disjointedly.
"Well, I know of one with diabetes, and epilepsy could be inherited so I've read.. Or it could be the result of a traumatic injury. So I would say yes, half-bloods with one muggle parent or grandparents could have it."
Draco turned and walked down the corridor towards the Slytherin common room, unable to reply. He was in a daze thinking of all they had been through, and how much he was drawn to Cassandra. Only to be devastated by this terrible news. His father would kill him. Literally. It would be nasty and painful. He loved her, and felt a connection to her he had never felt in his loveless life. They were soul mates, and anyway he looked at it, staying together with (shudder) a Mudblood would never work. There was only one way to handle this, only one solution... He sighed as he prepared to put his plan into action.
"You're bloody well welcome!" Hermione shouted down the now empty halls.
*******************************************************************
Deep within the bowels of the dungeons, a Death Eater disguised as a student was being entertained by completely destroying the workrooms of Severus Snape, chuckling gleefully waiting to drop the final death knell on his two greatest foes.