A big thanks to all who reviewed. I wonder who reviewer # 100 will be? I
never thought anyone other than me would even read this, let alone like it!
Thanks everyone!! My apologies for the delay in updates - too much work
and too many fics on the go. I was also contemplating where to go with
this. please don't be mad, my Slytherin friends!
36 Letters
Cassandra
I love you. I love you like I have never known love. This is how much I love you. I love you enough to die without you rather than allow my father to kill us both. He'll never know about us - I've made sure of that. Only you can read this enchanted letter. He will receive his own, and it will be rife with blame against his treatment of me, my childhood and the unending abuse. Let him rot in hell, I'll be there already waiting for him. My only regret, is I won't see you in eternity, Cass... there is only one place an angel can go, and purgatory is not its name.
I love you. Remember that I love you. I can't protect you alive, but I can take our secret to the grave and keep you safe from one Death Eater at least. I am sorry, don't cry for me, don't stop eating for me, and don't give up your life because I gave mine. It is a gift from me to you, freely given. Out of love, no strings attached. Please accept it lovingly, with understanding. I will miss you so much, if there is anything left of me after my death to remember. I pray I will remember. I love you. you have been the only light, the only joy, the only reason I have ever had in my life.
You may wonder why I had to do this to protect you, what reasons drove me to this. Muggle-borns, or Mudbloods as my father taught me to call them, are not acceptable by Malfoy standards. Even if I was to be properly disowned, it still wouldn't matter. We'd both be dead, and it would be bad. This is the only way. Running wouldn't work. you cannot hide from Lucious, let alone Voldemorte. It just wouldn't be worth the risk. So I choose the easy way out. I'm not a killer, I could never be a Death Eater, and although he would deserve it more than any, I would not be able to murder Lucious. I am sorry for this weakness, forgive me. I love you, nothing else matters.
Remember the sparks? Remember that night we spent together? Remember me that way.for I will never forget it.
I love you Cassandra, Draco
************************************************************************
Lucious:
Here is your reward. You no longer have a son to carry on the family name. You no longer have a whipping boy. You were never a father: that façade was as translucent as the ghosts which roam this castle. The entirety of the wizarding world mocks you, and it is well deserved. You are a fucking joke, and now the joke is on you. You drove me to this, all those years of abuse, hatred, broken bones and terror. Childhood? What childhood did I ever have? You are the one who deserves to die a thousand deaths for all you've done, yet I am not a coward. I will do it instead. I would rather be dead than carry the disgraceful name of Malfoy. You think me a coward, but at least I show my face and do not hide behind a blank mask.
Rot in hell, I will be there waiting for you.
Draco.
**********************************************************************
Mother
I am sorry. I am sorry to do this to you. Leave Lucious before he kills you to. Professor Snape would help you should you need it - he is well aware of our "family" situation. Thanks for taking all those hits for me, but Lucious has left me with no choice.
All my love Little Dragon
***********************************************************************
Professor Snape
I never expected to have to write this, and I hope that you will be in a state to understand these words and their meaning. I am glad we saved you from the Muggles. I can never, ever express my gratitude and appreciation, and yes, my love for how you've cared for me all these years. My time in Hogwarts has only been bearable because of you. Thanks for saving me from my Lucious' hands more times than I could count. Thanks for showing me the meaning of the word "father". Thank you for being that father I've never had. Thanks for the protection, the compassion, and the voice of reason in the storm of my life. Thank you for guidance and wisdom, patience and understanding. Thank you for being the reason why I could finally sleep at night.
I beg that you will not be disappointed in my for the path I have chosen. There is nothing that could change, and now that I know Cassandra's heritage I cannot continue our relationship, and I cannot live without her in my life. Lucious would kill her if he ever knew. He must NEVER KNOW! Malfoys and Muggle-borns don't mix, and I don't need to tell you that. It is the only way.
So that you would know, one of the nurses in the hospital said that Cassandra's blood was the reason you survived. they needed it to save you, and it was a direct match.I had told that nurse that she was my sister and you were our father, in order to find you there. She had replied that was logical as only direct family could have such a match. I wanted to tell you myself, but it appears that things are spinning out of my hands. It would have been great to have had you as my REAL family, a father-in-law. Not meant to be, but a comforting thought. Cassandra knows none of this, please let her know. You don't know what having family will mean to her, especially after I finalize my plan. What you've been to me: Father Mentor Counselor Advisor Coach Confidant Friend
Thank you 'father', for all you've been to me Love and Gratitude, Draco
************************************************************************
Headmaster Dumbledore
Thank you for providing me with a fine education. I apologize for sullying the reputation of your school with my actions here tonight. Please embrace my fellow Slytherins.
Draco Malfoy
************************************************************************
As the last envelope was addressed and sealed, Draco enchanted them so that only the addressee could read them. Opening her trunk with a quick "Alohamora", he burrowed down into the bottom of Cassandra's trunk and pulled out the two vials she had kept hidden there since that night they had spent together. She had told him about their professor's kindness in giving her the two potions, and how surprised she was that he trusted her with them both. She had said that they were lethal when taken together. The blue headache Elixir he had never seen before, but Draco recognized the purple Sleeping Potion instantly. He decided it would be more logical to take the headache mixture first, and then the sleeping potion.. He didn't want to fall asleep halfway through his task. That would simply not do at all. Sitting down on her bed, pleased that the house elves had tidied it up since the break-in, he jumped a bit when Wisp jumped up onto his shoulder and merped in his ear.
Pleased that he would not be alone in his final task, Draco reached up and rubbed the tiny creature behind the ears.
"I thought you were in the infirmary with Cassandra?" he asked, but got no reply. "Take care of her for me."
The cat merely sat on his shoulder, and Draco surveyed the vials in his hand. Reaching over and removing the stoppers from both, he took a deep breath, and downed them each in one gulp. For a moment there was nothing, and then the glass smashed to the ground as he collapsed back onto the bed, sending the cat leaping.
36 Letters
Cassandra
I love you. I love you like I have never known love. This is how much I love you. I love you enough to die without you rather than allow my father to kill us both. He'll never know about us - I've made sure of that. Only you can read this enchanted letter. He will receive his own, and it will be rife with blame against his treatment of me, my childhood and the unending abuse. Let him rot in hell, I'll be there already waiting for him. My only regret, is I won't see you in eternity, Cass... there is only one place an angel can go, and purgatory is not its name.
I love you. Remember that I love you. I can't protect you alive, but I can take our secret to the grave and keep you safe from one Death Eater at least. I am sorry, don't cry for me, don't stop eating for me, and don't give up your life because I gave mine. It is a gift from me to you, freely given. Out of love, no strings attached. Please accept it lovingly, with understanding. I will miss you so much, if there is anything left of me after my death to remember. I pray I will remember. I love you. you have been the only light, the only joy, the only reason I have ever had in my life.
You may wonder why I had to do this to protect you, what reasons drove me to this. Muggle-borns, or Mudbloods as my father taught me to call them, are not acceptable by Malfoy standards. Even if I was to be properly disowned, it still wouldn't matter. We'd both be dead, and it would be bad. This is the only way. Running wouldn't work. you cannot hide from Lucious, let alone Voldemorte. It just wouldn't be worth the risk. So I choose the easy way out. I'm not a killer, I could never be a Death Eater, and although he would deserve it more than any, I would not be able to murder Lucious. I am sorry for this weakness, forgive me. I love you, nothing else matters.
Remember the sparks? Remember that night we spent together? Remember me that way.for I will never forget it.
I love you Cassandra, Draco
************************************************************************
Lucious:
Here is your reward. You no longer have a son to carry on the family name. You no longer have a whipping boy. You were never a father: that façade was as translucent as the ghosts which roam this castle. The entirety of the wizarding world mocks you, and it is well deserved. You are a fucking joke, and now the joke is on you. You drove me to this, all those years of abuse, hatred, broken bones and terror. Childhood? What childhood did I ever have? You are the one who deserves to die a thousand deaths for all you've done, yet I am not a coward. I will do it instead. I would rather be dead than carry the disgraceful name of Malfoy. You think me a coward, but at least I show my face and do not hide behind a blank mask.
Rot in hell, I will be there waiting for you.
Draco.
**********************************************************************
Mother
I am sorry. I am sorry to do this to you. Leave Lucious before he kills you to. Professor Snape would help you should you need it - he is well aware of our "family" situation. Thanks for taking all those hits for me, but Lucious has left me with no choice.
All my love Little Dragon
***********************************************************************
Professor Snape
I never expected to have to write this, and I hope that you will be in a state to understand these words and their meaning. I am glad we saved you from the Muggles. I can never, ever express my gratitude and appreciation, and yes, my love for how you've cared for me all these years. My time in Hogwarts has only been bearable because of you. Thanks for saving me from my Lucious' hands more times than I could count. Thanks for showing me the meaning of the word "father". Thank you for being that father I've never had. Thanks for the protection, the compassion, and the voice of reason in the storm of my life. Thank you for guidance and wisdom, patience and understanding. Thank you for being the reason why I could finally sleep at night.
I beg that you will not be disappointed in my for the path I have chosen. There is nothing that could change, and now that I know Cassandra's heritage I cannot continue our relationship, and I cannot live without her in my life. Lucious would kill her if he ever knew. He must NEVER KNOW! Malfoys and Muggle-borns don't mix, and I don't need to tell you that. It is the only way.
So that you would know, one of the nurses in the hospital said that Cassandra's blood was the reason you survived. they needed it to save you, and it was a direct match.I had told that nurse that she was my sister and you were our father, in order to find you there. She had replied that was logical as only direct family could have such a match. I wanted to tell you myself, but it appears that things are spinning out of my hands. It would have been great to have had you as my REAL family, a father-in-law. Not meant to be, but a comforting thought. Cassandra knows none of this, please let her know. You don't know what having family will mean to her, especially after I finalize my plan. What you've been to me: Father Mentor Counselor Advisor Coach Confidant Friend
Thank you 'father', for all you've been to me Love and Gratitude, Draco
************************************************************************
Headmaster Dumbledore
Thank you for providing me with a fine education. I apologize for sullying the reputation of your school with my actions here tonight. Please embrace my fellow Slytherins.
Draco Malfoy
************************************************************************
As the last envelope was addressed and sealed, Draco enchanted them so that only the addressee could read them. Opening her trunk with a quick "Alohamora", he burrowed down into the bottom of Cassandra's trunk and pulled out the two vials she had kept hidden there since that night they had spent together. She had told him about their professor's kindness in giving her the two potions, and how surprised she was that he trusted her with them both. She had said that they were lethal when taken together. The blue headache Elixir he had never seen before, but Draco recognized the purple Sleeping Potion instantly. He decided it would be more logical to take the headache mixture first, and then the sleeping potion.. He didn't want to fall asleep halfway through his task. That would simply not do at all. Sitting down on her bed, pleased that the house elves had tidied it up since the break-in, he jumped a bit when Wisp jumped up onto his shoulder and merped in his ear.
Pleased that he would not be alone in his final task, Draco reached up and rubbed the tiny creature behind the ears.
"I thought you were in the infirmary with Cassandra?" he asked, but got no reply. "Take care of her for me."
The cat merely sat on his shoulder, and Draco surveyed the vials in his hand. Reaching over and removing the stoppers from both, he took a deep breath, and downed them each in one gulp. For a moment there was nothing, and then the glass smashed to the ground as he collapsed back onto the bed, sending the cat leaping.