Chapter Two: Why You?
It was a week before vacation. Casy strode up the isle between the table to the head table. She walked up to Professor Twit. "Thank you for the book." She returned an old book to the teacher. She smiled back at Casy.
"You're welcome, Casy. I-" The doors burst open and everyone turned to look. A dozen wizards in the ministry uniform stood in the doorway. They had wands drawn and pointed at the head table. Casy took a few steps forward. The wizards followed her movements with their wands. She stopped and stared at them. Dumbledore moved between Casy and the wizards with a smile.
"Hello. Is there something I can help you with?" His voice was falsely sweet with an edge to it. Not a tone people were used to hearing from him. One wizard stepped forward.
"We are here to arrest her and take her to the ministry, then to Azkaban."
"There is no legal reason to do so. She has done nothing wrong."
"She's…. she's…. Dumbledore! You know who she is!" Dumbledore's eyes became very cold.
"So, the ministry will arrest a child because of her parents. Casy's mother is dead and she only sees her father once or twice a year, if that!" The man cowered a moment.
"But,.. But she's still his daughter!" Dumbledore's eyes flashed and his voice raised.
"Her opinion of her father is a well known fact!"
"Her name…….." He trailed off as Casy walked forward. She stepped in front of the man and he shook visibly. She examined her nails.
"So, you are going to arrest me?"
"You're name…:
"Yes, I could be called Casy Voldermort. Is there a problem with that?" There were gasps all around the room. People began to look at her in fear. She leaned forward and everyone was silent. "I am half way to being an orphan by my father's hand. And someday, I'll be a real orphan…… by my own hand. I will kill my father." She turned and walked back to her seat. Dumbledore looked at the ministry wizards with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, if you consult the Minister, I believe you will find that she has been admitted to Hogwarts by his own hand. So, if you will please come with e, I will escort you out." He lead them out of the hall. The only sounds were their footsteps and utensils hitting plates. When everyone was done, they hurried to their common rooms to talk. Casy hung behind not wanting to hear the new gossip about her.
She walked up to the astronomy tower and sat on the wall, her feet hanging over the edge. It was a quiet place she could go to get away from the ridiculous students and the annoying teachers. She looked up at the moon; a crescent. Casy sighed in boredom and a little annoyance.
"If you are going to stay then take a seat. Don't just hover behind me." Serverus sat down on the wall beside her facing the opposite way. She pulled her feet up and hugged her knees to her, laying her head on her arms. "So I see your interest in me hasn't faltered from the new piece of gossip."
"No, it only makes things more interesting." He studied her. They had talked more in the past few days than in the rest of time since she came. It was startling. She looked almost vulnerable by the way she was sitting.
"Everyone holds it against me. It's not like I could choose my family, I just got it." Serverus looked down understanding. "Well, at least I don't care what people think. I know what I want to do and that's all that matters to me."
Serverus looked her over again. What was this? This side of her? He'd never seen it before. New things normally unsettled him, but this didn't. It made him glad and it felt normal, as if it was right. He shook his head. What the hell was he thinking?
Casy just looked out at the forbidden forest. It was strange. Why was she talking to him? Never had she spoken so much. Most people were convinced she was mute. And yet, it made her relax which in turn made her wary. A never ending cycle that wore her out. Yet telling him this felt right, and she felt like he truly understood her. No, she thought, I don't care what other people think of me.
The bell for bed rang and they left together in silence.
But for some odd reason that I can't explain. I care about how you see me.