Author's Notes: Just wanted to let those of you who've been to my web page know that I have finally gotten it all updated. I have two pictures of Cassie in the Harry Potter Fanart section under Fan Characters. A few of you have noticed that I'm not updating as quickly as I was. Part of that is because my beta reader has asked for a break from editing for personal reasons, so I want to make the material that she has edited last. This way you'll get at least a chapter a week and you won't be going three to four weeks without a chapter. The other part is I have tendonitis and have been forced to limit my time on the computer. I promise though that you will at least get a chapter a week from me until the story is finished. In the mean time, you can check out my drawings on my web page or read the first two stories in this arc, "Much Ado About Nothing" and "A Winter's Tale". Thanks for all the comments so far.
Chapter 22
They'd returned to Hogwarts empty handed. After four hours of flying they'd had to turn back. It was getting late and they needed to report to Dumbledore. Besides Draco looked bad. Ron didn't know when he'd last slept, but there were circles under his eyes. The moron wouldn't give up! He refused to quit, pushing himself to the point of exhaustion. Whatever had been taken was extremely valuable. Not monetary valuable, but personally valuable.
Sitting down, they ate slowly and sipped the water. Cautiously, Ron watched Draco eat then carefully stack the glass on top of the plate. He set them down on Dumbledore's desk, and then turned his weary eyes back to the window. Ron stuffed the last bit of sandwich in his mouth unaware that he was staring dumbfounded at Draco.
That simply task seemed to take up all of his concentration, Ron thought. This isn't the Draco Malfoy I knew. He'd never say thank you to me.He was at a loss as to what to do with this man.
Suddenly the door opened and Dumbledore entered carrying a letter. Swinging their gazes over, the young men watched him come to the middle of the room and stop.
"I just got this from Remus Lupin," Dumbledore began carrying the stationary out in front of him. "This may be of some importance to us. Apparently he found a girl who claims to be from New Zealand. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it?" He asked turning to Draco.Broom in hand, Draco was already heading out the door before the headmaster finished the question. New Zealand meant only one thing to him, Cassie. Where ever Lupin's home was he needed to get there now.
"I'll take that as a yes. Ron, you better show him the way." Dumbledore concluded staring after the young wizard. Ron picked up his own broom and tore off Draco.
"Malfoy, wait! You don't know where you're going!" He yelled. "Arrogant, headstrong...""Are you going to grumble or get on your broom?" Draco snapped waiting on the staircase for him. Glowering, Ron passed by and headed down the stairs. Moments later they were in the air and heading for the Scottish English border."So you know the girl?" Ron asked as they flew. "New Zealand is a long ways away.""Less talk, more flying," Draco snarled leaning forward so that he was almost parallel to the broom. Forced to do the same to keep up, Ron noticed the hard look of determination on his face. This was the precious thing that had been stolen, a girlfriend or wife. Which was it? Ron couldn't wait to find out.They made it to Lupin's in twenty minutes. Ron landed first. Bolting towards the cottage as Draco settled on the ground, he knocked on the door. He wanted to see the girl that Draco loved, the one he risked complete exhaustion for. Lupin opened the door and smiled."Ron Weasley. It's good to see you," he said. Behind him something moved."Dumbledore sent us to retrieve the...""DADDY!" Something small and fast zipped past him and out the door."Daddy?" Ron did a one-eighty and faced Draco. He was off his broom, kneeling on the ground and had his arms around a little girl. "Daddy?" He repeated."Cassiopeia, thank Merlin you're all right. You aren't injured, they didn't do anything to you?" Draco cradled his daughter refusing to let her go."They made me sleep, but then I woke up. They all had masks and black cloaks except one. He kinda looked like you, except he had long hair and wrinkles. I knew they were bad people, except the guy that looked like you. He tried to trick me. But then he told me his name and I recognized it as one of the bad names so I cursed him!" Cassie quickly recounted. Draco was so relieved to hear that she hadn't been harmed. Tears of relief slid down his cheeks forcing him to wipe his eyes."You're braids are coming undone. I'll have to redo them," he said, beginning to fuss over her."Daddy, you didn't let me finish my story!" She exclaimed, sounding frustrated."I'm sorry Snapdragon, it's just that I was so worried. I flew here as fast as I could." He started to unbraid her hair but she wouldn't let him."DADDY. I haven't finished my story!" Cassie said firmly wriggling in an attempt to free herself. Draco ignored her. Instead he hugged her once more, squishing her against his chest. "Daddy, I can't breathe.""I'm sorry," he replied letting her go.Ron, Lupin and Sirius just stared. This was not what they'd expected. Ron kept looking from Draco to Cassie and back again. When exactly had Draco become Daddy? This made no sense to him.Sirius was the first to break free from his shock. Trotting over while Draco was braiding Cassie's hair, he barked and wagged his tail. She smiled."Daddy, he saved me. I was hiding in the forest from the bad people and he came along and brought me here." She grinned broadly. "His name is Sirius." Reaching over she gave the dog a pat on the head."That's an unusual name." Draco said slowly wondering why anyone would name their dog after an infamous criminal."Ah, yes," Lupin began. It took him a minute to place the young man. There was no mistaking the Malfoy looks though. "Would you like to come in? You must be exhausted."
Draco knew he probably looked like hell at this point. Sitting down for a few minutes sounded good to his tired body. Letting go of his daughter at last, Draco stood up. She grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the cottage. Quickly snagging his broom, he allowed her to lead him a few paces before she dropped his hand.
Cassie trotted ahead of him, Sirius trailing after her. When she reached Ron she stopped. Studying him, she cocked her head left then right. Finally recognition spread across her face.
"He's a Weasley, isn't he Daddy?" Cassie looked so proud of herself. Draco half smiled. "All Weasley's have red hair, freckles and more children than they know what to do with."Draco bit his bottom lip. He didn't know when she'd over heard that particular phrase, but he hadn't used it a long time. Her memory was better than he thought. Ron turned red.
"Um, yes Cassie." Draco tried not to laugh. It would be impolite after Ron had helped him find Cassie. Skipping into the cottage, Cassie completely missed the evil glare Ron had fixed on her father. Draco was attempting to remain neutral, but as he glanced sideways at the dog, he could've sworn the canine was laughing at them."I don't know where she heard that one. I haven't referred to you as that in years." He commented coming up beside the red head. Ron's look could've melted metal.
"Oh, she's a Malfoy. No one can mistake that," he snarled. My mistake was thinking you might have a decent bone in your body.They seated themselves in what served as Lupin's sitting room. Cassie crawled into Draco's lap, snuggling up against him. Running his hands over her shoulders, Draco frowned at a tear in her coat. A little thread would fix it, but he didn't know if Lupin had any. After hiding amongst Muggles for five years, Draco never used magic for simple things such as this. Normally Heather did the sewing, but he'd picked up enough to repair a tear. Cassie was hard on her clothes; he couldn't be buying new shirts just because they had a small rip."So Mr. Malfoy, this is your daughter?" Lupin asked trying to start a conversation to break up the awkward silence."Yes, Cassiopeia Malfoy." Draco replied as Cassie leaned back against him."Cassie's my nickname," she said as she stared at Ron. "What's your name Mr. Weasley?""Ron, Ron Weasley." Ron regarded the pair sitting in a chair across from him. If it weren't for the gray eyes, he wouldn't have known she was Draco's daughter. He wondered who her mother was. Who at Hogwarts had had black hair? As he pondered this, silence once more enveloped the room until Lupin got up off the sofa."Would you like some tea, Ron, Mr. Malfoy?" He glanced down at Sirius. "Water Sirius?" The dog glared at him."Tea sounds nice, thank you," Draco replied.
"Can I have tea Daddy?" Cassie asked. He arched an eyebrow."Are you sure?" He asked wearily. "It's what Gran and Daddy drink with breakfast. You didn't like it the last time you tried it.""I was four," Cassie pointed out. "I'm five now." He sighed. If she were determined to have it, he'd let her have it. Draco glanced up at Lupin."Just add a lot of sugar to hers along with some cream. If it has sugar in it, she'll drink it." Lupin nodded, then turned his attention to Ron."Sure, tea sounds nice after the flight. I'd like lemon with mine," he replied folding his hands in his lap. Walking to the kitchen, Lupin mentally ran over the orders to make sure he had them straight. He was almost there when there came a knock on the door. Curious as to whom it was, he trotted over to open it.A person dressed completely in black with a white mask covering their face stood on the stoop. A Death Eater! He took a step back into the room just as Cassie spied the figure.She screamed. In one flowing movement Draco threw his daughter beside the chair, leapt to his feet and drew his wand.
"Takoto Papatahi!" The curse slammed into the Death Eater before anyone else could react. The figure was thrown back away from the door and slammed into the ground some seven yards away from the house.
Lupin looked to the unmoving figure back to Draco. His eyes were narrowed slits of pure hatred. Cassie was whimpering, clinging onto the arm of the chair, repeating no over and over again. Blinking, Lupin had a sinking feeling. There was a Death Eater that knew the way to his home."Oh Merlin," he whispered then bolted out the door. Ron stood up coming to the same conclusion."I hope you didn't kill him." Ron said as Cassie began to ease her fingers out of chair."What do you mean?" Draco growled. Silver eyes flashed a challenge one Ron didn't want to accept, especially after what he'd just seen. There was something frightening about how fast Draco had moved. Like it was a well-practiced maneuver."Because I think that was our spy," Ron replied looking away."You're what?" The blond snarled."Severus? Are you all right?" Lupin called as he ran towards the fallen Potions teacher. "Severus?"A small whimper escaped Snape's lips as he opened his eyes. Inside the house, Draco cringed as Ron told him who the spy was. He could hear a rude oath followed by a small child chastising her father for swearing. Moments later Draco walked out of the house."Professor Snape?" He asked timidly."You learned a few new curses," Snape said through gritted teeth. He was pinned to the ground by an incredible force. It was so powerful that he was having problems breathing. Draco would have to teach him this one and the one that Cassie had used on Lucius."You can take it off right?" Lupin inquired hovering worriedly above Snape."Yes," Draco said waving his wand. "Tu Ake."Snape felt the force vanish allowing him to breathe again."Why don't you come in and rest Severus," Lupin offered as Draco took a step back."Thank you, but I think I'll lay here until my body is no longer in pain." His former student winced extremely glad that he wasn't in school anymore. Draco could almost hear the points being taken away from Slytherin."Before you come in Professor. Could you please remove the mask? Cassie's afraid of anyone in a mask." Draco moved away and fled back towards the house. He'd left her curled up in the chair holding her wand and preparing to curse the next person to walk through the door. He needed to get back before she accidentally spelled Ron.
Sirius had moved so that he was between Cassie and the door by the time Draco reentered. The canine had seemed to take a liking to his daughter and was standing guard while he'd been away."Cassie, you can put your wand away. It's okay now. He wasn't really a bad man." Draco said softly while Sirius moved off to the side.Looking down at her wand then back up at him, Cassie nodded and stuffed it back into her pocket."He looked like a bad man," she stated, a cross look settling upon her face."I thought so too, but he was actually in disguise." He admitted squatting down in front of the chair so that he was looking her in the eyes. "He was pretending. It's the only way he could fool the bad guys.""He's a spy," Ron interjected. The odd look on the little girl's face told him that she didn't understand what he meant."Cassie, you remember in your cartoons how sometimes the superhero must dress up like the villain's goons?" Draco asked knowing that she'd understand this analogy. She nodded. "They do this so they can find out the secret plan to take over the world." Again she nodded. "Well, Professor Snape is like that. He has to dress up to fool the bad guys so he can find out their secret plan." Ron snickered."Oh. I get it!" She chirped. "He's a superhero!""Not quite, but he works for the good guys," Draco corrected as the red head finally lost all composure and burst out laughing."Snape a superhero. That has GOT to be the funniest thing I've heard of!" Ron managed to blurt out before succumbing to another fit of laughter. Even the dog seemed to snickering."She's five," Draco stated. "Spy is too complicated a notion for her to understand at this time." He stood back up, lifted her off the chair, sat down and put her back on his lap. Choosing to ignore Ron's fit of hysterics, he wrapped his arms around Cassie and held her. Soon this'll be over and we can go back to New Zealand. But how can I continue as I have? Maybe Nash and Trina have some ideas. Their families are some of the strongest magic users in the area and they have connections. But that would be too much to ask of them. I shouldn't involve them anymore than I have already, he thought miserably."Daddy?" Cassie poked his hands."Yes Snapdragon?""Mr. Weasley won't tell me what's so funny. He keeps laughing and laughing." She said as Ron slid off his chair and landed on the floor. Looking up, Draco noticed both Lupin and Snape had come in. Lupin closed the door while Snape glared at Ron."I don't see what's so funny about being cursed, Mr. Weasley," he snarled."It wasn't that Professor." The young wizard managed at last."Then pray tell what was it?" Snape folded his arms across his chest. That action made him wince and he quickly uncrossed them."You don't want to know," Draco said before Ron could tell him. Thankfully Snape had taken his advice and removed his mask. Now as he sat down on Lupin's sofa, Draco could feel Cassie tense up."It's okay Snapdragon. Remember what I told you. He's a good guy. This is Professor Snape, one of Daddy's teachers at Hogwarts," he whispered, hoping that she would relax. She did, in fact she studied Snape as much as he was studying her."Well, this has certainly been an interesting afternoon," Lupin said after a few moments of silence interrupted by Ron's occasional snickering. "Severus would you like some tea?""Yes," he answered not taking his eyes of Draco and Cassie. His student had changed quite a bit since he'd left. Snape was interested in how much and where he'd learned those curses."Sirius would you care for anything?" Lupin asked.Deciding that he was tired of being a dog and that since everyone in the room except the Malfoys knew who he was, he might as well tell them. Dumbledore would probably do it anyway, so he could save him the trouble. Besides, there were a few questions he wanted to ask Draco. There was something about Cassie's scent that reminded him of someone he knew. The only way to broach the subject was to ask him himself. Relaxing, he let his form slide back into that of a man. With a puff of smoke he was back to normal."Sure, might as well." Black said hopping into an unoccupied chair."Idiot." Snape growled just as Draco brought up his wand. Then thinking better of it, Draco put it back down between him and the chair. If no one else thought it strange that the infamous criminal Sirius Black was there, then he shouldn't have to worry. He hoped."Daddy, Daddy, the puppy just turned into a man!" Cassie's eyes were wide with excitement. "Daddy. Daddy. Did you see?" "Yes, I did," Draco replied not completely trusting the man. He had saved his daughter, but he was an accused murderer."You're a wizard too, aren't you Mr. Puppyman?" Cassie asked leaning forward.Snape managed to hide a smile, Ron snickered and Lupin tried to ignore the whole thing. He wisely retreated to the kitchen. Black had gotten himself into this; he could get himself out."Yes, yes I am Cassie." Black told her. She grinned broadly having no clue he was an escaped criminal."Malfoy, relax. He's on our side and he's not the criminal that everyone thinks he is." Ron said before Draco killed Black with the look in his eyes. "He was framed by Peter Pettigrew. You remember my rat Scabbers, right?" Draco slowly nodded trying to remember the old pet rat. "He's really an Animagus. He's the one who actually killed all those people. He's also the person who told Voldemort where the Potters were the night they were murdered.""I see," he said beginning to understand. "So it wasn't you who betrayed them?" The question was aimed at Black. The older man shook his head."No. I wouldn't have done that to my best friend." The look he gave him was a mixture of anger and sorrow. Draco wondered if he'd have worn the same look if Lucius had killed Cassie. It was a thought he didn't dwell on though. She was back safely in his arms where she belonged."Daddy, can you turn into a puppy too?" Cassie asked breaking up the tension."No, that spell is really hard and takes a lot of concentration." He shook his head. Daddy's never done it."Turning to face him, she made an "oh" sound then returned her attention to the men in the room."Although your father does know some curses." Snape's cool voice interjected. "I believe he taught you a few." She bobbed her head up and down gleefully while Draco tried to hide a smug smile.Lupin returned before Snape could delve further bringing tea and sugar cubes for Cassie. The topic quickly changed from curses to how the little girl had escaped Lucius' clutches. Everyone was curious since all Black could tell them was that she was outside the manse when he found her. Snape added in his view of the situation while Lupin distributed the tea to everyone.
"From what I saw, she hit him with an interesting curse." Snape began, his earlier smugness over the predicament returning. "Lucius was stuck to the wall for almost three hours before he fell down. I was mid counter curse, so I know it was nothing I did." He concluded trying to keep the smile that was threatening to appear from doing so. Cassie grinned."I used the BIG curse." She threw out her arms to accentuate her point. "Daddy told me that Lucy-us was a bad man even if he has the same last name as us and that if I ever met him I was to use the BIG curse.""This big curse would be what?" Snape asked. Cassie pulled out her wand and Draco quickly clamped his hand over her mouth."It roughly translates to 'fly away stay away'. The curse sends the aggressor sailing through the air, landing roughly three hundred yards away. It then keeps the person pinned to the ground until the caster escapes another twenty yards. Only then does it lift." He explained, hoping she wouldn't try to give them an example of the spell when he removed his hand. That was the last thing Snape needed, to be cursed again."I take it that if there are obstacles in the flight pattern that the aggressor will be pinned to them?" Snape inquired as Black handed him a cup of tea. Draco nodded. "That would explain why Lucius was fixed to a wall. Fascinating. Obviously that wasn't the one she used on us though.""You got cursed by a little girl?" Black nearly spit his drink at this surprise. "I thought you could stop any curse thrown at you," he teased. Snape gave him a look that would make plants wilt."She was escaping. I was with two other Death Eaters as they complained about kidnapping her, when she ran up. We were frozen in place and couldn't move for several moments." He growled at the other man."I kicked one of them in the nuts." Cassie announced proudly. "He cried like baby.""Yes, well." He eyed the grinning child dubiously. "After we were freed, Lucius cried out for us. I attempted several different counter curses.""But none of them worked," Black interrupted basking in the moment."I didn't know what curse had been cast, so it was difficult to find a counter curse." Snape continued, his voice taking an icy edge to it. "Unfortunately one of them did turn Lucius upside down. Which was why he was knocked unconscious when the curse lifted. He also bruised, cracked or broke most of his ribs in the initial impact and hyper extended both shoulders.""That's Daddy's little girl!" Draco exclaimed in a sudden burst of enthusiasm and fatherly pride. He tussled Cassie's hair and congratulated her on a job well done. "I'm so proud of you!""Lucy-us screamed really loud." She told him smiling broadly. He grinned evilly and praised the child more. Ron, Black, Lupin, and Snape watched the display with growing alarm."Is anyone besides me scared now?" Ron inquired as he shrank back in the chair. Three heads bobbed up and down."Very." Muttered Black.