Author's Notes: This chapter would've been up sooner, except I needed a small break. Thanks to everyone who has commented so far. For those of you who haven't read them, the first two stories in this series are up. There will be references to them in this story, so you might want to read them (otherwise you might miss some of the jokes).

Chapter 19

Severus Snape, double agent for Dumbledore, had left Lucius along with the other two Death Eaters. As they walked away from the study, he listened to their grousing with much interest.

"That kid put up a fight. She bit my hand," one complained, holding up the afflicted appendage.

"At least you didn't get kicked in the groin," the other one growled.

"Is she really the younger Malfoy's child?" The first asked rubbing his hand.

"That's what Malfoy implied when I informed him that we'd found his son in New Zealand," the second confirmed.

"She doesn't look anything like him. Are we sure we grabbed the right girl?" The first glared at his newly applied bandage.

"Yes, I saw his son hug her before he left in a Muggle automobile. It's the right child." The second assured them.

Odd, thought Severus. I wonder what he was doing with Muggles. It was known by the Death Eaters that Lucius had banished Draco from Malfoy Manor, but no one knew why. A child out of wedlock with the wrong person would do it, Severus reasoned as the other two continued to complain.

Suddenly a loud commanding shout echoed down the hall, causing the three Death Eaters to start. They stopped, turned, and found themselves facing a fleeing child. She'd escaped Lucius, but how? Cassie slammed to a halt, eyed the strangers for a split second before throwing a jinx at them. Severus felt his limbs grow cold and immobile. The other two twisted trying to stop the sensation, but to no avail. Satisfied they weren't going to snag her, Cassie hurtled past them and disappeared into the interior of the manor.

Amazed, Severus stared down the empty hallway telling himself that he would go after the girl as soon as he could feel his fingers again. The jinx evaporated just as Lucius' voice rang out again. Plans of going after the child would have to wait until after he put in his performance with Lucius. Severus had to maintain some face, less he blow his cover. There were already rumors amongst the Death Eaters about him; anything mores suspicious and his life would be over.

Following the other two sprinting men, Severus hurried to the study. She'd probably cursed Lucius too and he couldn't move. It would be easy enough for him to undo. He thought wrong.

Suspended ten feet off the ground, Lucuis was plastered against the wall. Taking one look at his predicament, Severus had to admire the child and her father. Draco had obviously picked up a curse or two while in New Zealand.

"Severus. Get me down," Lucius growled. "You two, go after her. And get that wand."

"Yes sir!" They chorused, doing an about face and running out the door. Glancing up at him, Severus managed to contain his delight at Malfoy's misery. He wasn't found of Lucius and seeing him suffer at his own grandchild's curse just tickled him.

"Quick gawking and recite the counter curse," Lucius said through gritted teeth.

"I will as soon as you tell me which curse she used." Severus replied coolly.

"I don't know. I couldn't understand it," he confessed, glaring down.

Severus frowned. "This may take some time then." The look Lucius shot him would have made a lesser man cower, but he muttered the first counter curse that came to mind. It didn't work. "Hm. Let me try another." The second didn't work either. Severus may have had a vast knowledge of curses, but right now he couldn't think of one that a child could use that pinned a man as powerful as Lucius Malfoy against a wall. "I will get you down. Are you certain you can't remember anything about it."

"YES."

Perfect. Hopefully this will give the girl a chance to escape,he thought as Lucius ground his teeth.

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She didn't have much time. The curse she'd thrown at the three Death Eaters would only hold for a few minutes. If she were older, she could perform the big curses like Daddy could. The house was a maze. She couldn't find a door out, but there was an open window in one room. Stuffing her wand in her pocket she ran to it. Climbing up on the sill, Cassie noticed that she was on the second floor. She had two options, find a broom or climb down the ivy that was growing along the side of the house. Since there wasn't a broom in sight and the bad people would be after her soon, she grabbed the ivy. Swinging out, she put her feet against the outside wall and began to climb down like Lisa had showed her when they had explored the ravine in the woods. Daddy didn't know about it, which was good. She would've been in big trouble if he knew she'd gone out that far. He didn't like her leaving the sight of the house.

Mercifully the ivy held as she worked her way down. It'd been growing there for decades and was strong enough to support a small child. Once her feet hit solid ground she ran for the trees beyond the manor. She could hide there until her father came.

Cassie had just reached the edge when she heard shouts. The people in black were loose. She had to find a hiding place quickly. Most of the trees didn't have branches low enough for her to climb up on, so she moved deeper into the forest. There were plenty of bushes she could hide under. She just had to find the right one. Stopping to catch her breath, Cassie knew she couldn't go much farther. Her limbs ached from the constant running.

"I need to sit down, but they'll find me. Gotta find a good spot," she told herself. Lisa said she was good at hide and go seek because she always found the best place. Now Cassie had to put her skills to the test. Scanning the surrounding area, she chose a small bush full of green leaves. Crawling on her stomach, she slithered under the low branches as no to disturb them. Reaching the trunk, she pulled herself into a ball and slowed her breathing. Time to show them how good at this game she was.