A/N: Yeah, an update!
Disclaimer: Even if I claimed to have something, you wouldn't believe me.
Saxifrage: Thank you very much. I feel the love flowing this way.
Before anyone reads: Just so there is no confusion: it has been a few days since the party.
Chapter Eight: Sorry Just Isn't Enough
"Shit." Malfoy repeated. Then he muttered something almost unintelligible. "I am going to kill Father." His arm that was around Cassandra's waist and pulled her, awkwardly, into a one armed hug.
"How could this happen? Isn't Azkaban supposed to be a top notch prison?" Cassandra asked as she placed her head upon his shoulder, forgetting how he had treated her friends in the past. He suddenly seemed…normal?
Malfoy sighed.
Cassandra sighed.
It seemed to her the whole castle was sighing.
"Duos Lestrange Escape!" Cassandra read the headlines of the Daily Prophet for what seemed about the sixteenth millionth time in the past nanosecond. Then she read the first few sentences out loud. "Bellatrix Lestrange and Rodolphus Lestrange escaped November 5 at 9:03 at night when most people were headed home. Dementors couldn't seem to catch these two for reasons unknown…" Cassandra stopped reading. She wormed her way out of Malfoy's grasp and stood before him. "They escaped last night."
He stared into her eyes and she stared back into his cool gray orbs. They were filled with… fear?
Malfoy pointed to a spot on the paper. "Look at the bottom."
Cassandra looked down and gasped. "It says the Dark Mark was seen somewhere near London. Yikes."
"But it also says that no one was killed. Only one witch was slightly wounded." He added.
"Yes, but it also says that worker at the Ministry of Magic are expecting an attack soon by Death Eaters." Cassandra put one hand on her hip and stuck her nose slightly in the air.
"True, but it also says that it is a one out of three chance." Malfoy mocked her.
"Then why are they expecting it?"
"Because Death Eaters are unpredictable." Malfoy stated.
Cassandra started to giggle.
"What?" Malfoy asked stupidly. The late bell sounded and both students ignored it.
"The Ministry of Magic is predicting the unpredictable." Cassandra smiled.
Malfoy let a small smile escape from his lips. "I must say that they are completely mad."
"Like you?"
"Hey, I resent that!" Malfoy gave her a playful slap.
What is wrong with him? Why is he in such a good mood? He's acting like a… I have no idea. Cassandra thought. She regained her composure. "You are mad."
"Only on Wednesdays!" he said in defense, humorously. "At least I'm saner than some people I know."
Cassandra's brow furrowed in defensive superstition at his tone. "If you are implying about Harry, Hermione, Ron or any of that lot, I shall personally hurt you." Cassandra said and Malfoy's smile dropped.
"I wasn't. I was thinking of someone else." Malfoy looked past her, thinking hard. "Come on." He grabbed her hand. "I wanna show you something."
"What?"
He didn't answer. He just covered her eyes and pulled at her arm.
Cassandra smiled slightly. His hand smelled good! No Cassandra! Bad thoughts! He's bad. But oh-so hot!
Cassandra, undecided about her emotions, let him pull her along.
Before Cassandra could even open her eyes she knew where she was.
It was a place of peace, kindness, love, hate, anger, frustration, and basically any other emotion. The air was damp and chilly but in a comforting sort of way. Cassandra knew where she was.
"Er Malfoy? Why are we in the Astronomy Tower?" Cassandra asked, eyes still covered.
"How did you know? Are you peeking?" Malfoy drops his hands from her eyes.
"No, but I was right."
"What are you, a clairvoyant?"
"Such high vocabulary, Malfoy. Did you know it's dangerous to use all one's vocabulary in one sentence?"
"Shut up."
"It's true."
Malfoy crossed his arms dramatically. "You didn't answer my question."
"Sorry, I was distracted by shiny stuff." Cassandra replied sarcastically. "What was it you asked me? Did you just ask me if I was a chariot?"
"Yes, I asked if you were a golden chariot." Malfoy rolled his eyes. "You wombat, I asked if you were a clairvoyant."
"What's that?" Cassandra asked innocently.
"And you were making fun of MY vocabulary. Clairvoyant means seer or mystic."
Oh, well, I AM a witch. No, sadly, I am not a seer. But the Sight does run in my family. Or at least, my adoptive family." Instantly, the thought that she had been wondering ever since the night when she found out the truth struck Cassandra: Where is my real family?
"Are they related to Trelawney? You know, she's a little….touched." Malfoy smirked.
"No, I'm not related to her. Thank Merlin! But I soon will be adoptively related to Blackwood."
Malfoy raised a brow. "Care to explain?"
"No." she answered shortly. Then she laughed. "My adoptive brother, Brett, is engaged to Professor Esmeralda Blackwood."
"That's going to be interesting I bet." Malfoy joined her in her laughter.
"You'd defiantly win that stake."
Suddenly they heard a great whooshing noise above them. They looked up and a brown owl, holding a letter, hooted her greetings.
"Sharmaine!" Cassandra squealed. She held out her right arm for Sharmaine to land on. She winced as the owl's claws clasped her skin through her robes.
The owl dropped the letter into her owner's hands and flew off into the morning sun.
Ignoring the letter in her hands, Cassandra smiled brightly. "I want a loofa dog." Cassandra said randomly.
Malfoy's smile grew larger. "Loofa Dog - This laid back pooch is the most stylish, squeaky, soft and shaggy toy around. Just right for those quiet nights in."
"Or maybe a loofa on a stick!" Cassandra squealed and started jumping up and down in excitement while clapping her hands.
"How about a pink loofa with angel wings?"
Cassandra pouted childishly. "Me no like pink! Much with the pink frilly death!"
"Um, that's interesting."
"You're a silly goose." Cassandra said again in random.
"I learned all my teachings from that American movie, Legally Blonde."
"Did you know I secretly stared in that movie as the main character?"
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "I bet you did."
"But they had to replace me for someone more blonde." Cassandra picked at her black hair.
"Oh, you're not blonde enough?" Malfoy snickered.
"You gotta believe me!" Cassandra pleaded. She started to pout and give Malfoy puppy dog eyes.
"I don't gotta believe nothing."
"I feel so…brunette." Cassandra said sadly.
Malfoy and Cassandra burst into laughter, forgetting the unopened letter in Cassandra's hands.
"That was a strange conversation." Draco smiled.
"Yes, but I still don't like pink!" Cassandra smiled. "I remember when Brett and I caught Dawn in the kitchen knitting with pink and purple. That was a few weeks before—." She stopped herself. Before I found out. She finished silently. What am I going to do?
"Cass?" Malfoy asked pulling her out of her thoughts. "What's that letter you got?"
"Huh?" Cassandra looked at the letter in her hand. "Oh yeah. I forgot about this." She tore unfamiliar wax seal, and pulled out the letter. She unfolded it and gazed at it quickly.
Her eyes pricked with tears. She read the letter.
'Dear Miss Cassandra Sanderson:
We have received information regarding the attack made by Death Eaters Bellatrix Lestrange and Rodolphus Lestrange. During that attack, one person was severely hurt and on the verge of dying. This person was moved to St. Mungo's Hospital and there was treated.
Unfortunately this person died early this morning from blood loss and infection. The Healers did everything in their power to help this person.
The Ministry of Magic believes that this person was a young girl by the name of Arabella Marie Sanderson. We know she is you sister by adoption and was close to you.
It seems that her family decided to take a walk in London. Soon they were attacked for reasons unknown.
We are sorry for your loss. If you have any troubles please feel free to contact any of us at the Ministry of Magic.
Sincerely,
Amarantha Lansbury
Ministry of Magic
Department of Deaths and Other Misfortunes.'
Cassandra looked at Malfoy and bit her lip. Her face looked between troubled and about to throw up.
Malfoy stared at Cassandra not knowing what to do. Should I give her a hug? He asked himself. Remember, you want her to like you and trust you.
Malfoy pulled Cassandra close. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her into a hug.
Cassandra didn't react. Her eyes were dry of tears but her face was pale like moonlight. Her green eyes shone with enough venom to kill a heard of hippogriffs just by looking at them.
Malfoy stroked her back. "I'm sorry Cass." Those were the only words he could find.
Cassandra pulled away from him and balled up the paper in her hand. Then she dropped it. She silently walked out of the room, leaving a very confused teenager.
Malfoy threw up his arms. "What did I do?"
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Cassandra stared at the ceiling. It was plain white with a brown spot of something that looked familiar to her. It looked like a potato.
A sudden memory struck her.
Eve, Arabella and Cassandra were shopping in a Muggle market. Cassandra was thirteen and Arabella was still a baby sitting in a stroller. Eve had shorter hair so it made her look like a walking torch.
Arabella was crying frantically. Eve was digging through a diaper bag for a bottle to shut the baby up. Cassandra was looking at different types of potatoes.
Suddenly Eve dropped the bag and its contents spewed everywhere. Arabella continued crying.
Cassandra covered her ears to get rid of the noise. It seemed to get louder.
She couldn't take it any longer. She grabbed a small potato and shoved it in Arabella's mouth. They baby stopped crying. Cassandra smiled at her cleverness and stroked Arabella's tiny head.
Cassandra shook the memory from her head. It was too much to handle. She sighed.
She had decided to skip classes for that day and just lay on her bed doing nothing. Maybe for the rest of the year.
Cassandra stared at the brown spot for a long time. Soon she fell into a dreamless sleep.
It was dinner and Hermione was surrounded by a group of about ten first and second years from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. They were all wearing big buttons that read "H.A.G.F.C."
One second year with dark brown hair and brown eyes had a button that read "H.A.G.F.C. President"
Hermione shivered. "Why are you all here?"
"My Lady, if it pleases you, my name is Johnny Depth and I am president of the Hermione Ann Granger Fan Club." The black haired boy bowed. He was wearing Gryffindor clothes.
"I'm vice-president, My Lady. My name is Bernadette Peterson." A girl with curly red hair said with a toothy grin. She was wearing Gryffindor robes, too.
"My Lady, I am the H.A.G.F.C. secretary, Huck Finn." A boy with shaggy blonde hair grumbled. Huck was wearing a Hufflepuff badge on his robes.
"My name is Azure Sky, My Lady. I am the organizer for almost everything we do." Azure had a deep tan and almond round brown eyes. She was wearing Ravenclaw.
"Nice to meet all of you. Not being rude but why are you here?" Hermione said in an annoyed voice.
"We have come to serve you, My Lady." Azure answered then bowed deeply.
"How do you know my middle name?" Hermione asked.
"We know everything about you." The group of ten chorused.
Hermione looked about her small fans. She spotted Loofamin near the back. Then she saw Helena come into view and start laughing.
"Holy smokes Batman!" Helena cried when she squeezed down on the bench next to Hermione. "It seems you have gathered a group of villainous villains. Or are they some circus freaks you picked up?"
"Nah, I bet they're just random llamas, loofas and wombats." Harry added, laughing, as she sat next to Helena.
Ron came and sat next to Hermione on her on other side. "Why are they hear any ways?"
"My Lord," Johnny started. "If it pleases you, my name is Johnny Depth and—."
Hermione interrupted him. "They are my fan club peoples."
"That's interesting." Ron said, slightly shocked.
"Do they do any other tricks?" Harry asked.
Hermione glared at him. Then she turned to the ten younger students. "I don't need anything at the moment. I'll call for you if I do."
Bernadette smiled. "My Lady, I am to be at your service for most of the hours of the day."
"As am I, My Lady." Johnny bowed.
"I want a servant. How come I don't get one? I don't get anything!" Harry complained.
"I will be your servant if it pleases you." Loofamin said in a thin voice. His big blue eyes were empty of emotions.
"Awesomeness! This has got to be the weirdest day ever!" Harry said happily. "First, we haven't gotten ANY homework. The teachers must not be feeling well. The probably should go see Poppy and have her torture them with icky medicines and stuff. Second, we haven't seen Malfoy or Cassandra all day! Isn't that weird?"
Ron's face paled at Harry's words.
Johnny dismissed everyone in his group except for himself, Loofamin and Bernadette.
"Harry, did you just say Malfoy and Cassandra have been missing all day long?" Helena asked while her jaw dropped.
"Harry, don't make me poke you with a spork. Tell me you're joking." Ron pleaded with pain in his voice.
"Sorry, mate. I'm dead serious." Harry said with an apologetic smile.
"If you were dead serious, you'd be dead with a serious look on your face." Helena said, trying to lighten the mood, which had quickly turned uneasy.
"Isn't there something about child labor laws?" Hermione interrupted suddenly as she eyed her new 'servants'
"I think it's illegal. I like to think of it as being an individual with an individual partner that does things for me." Harry said as her patted Loofamin's head.
"Individuality… Great in everything except police line-ups." Helena sniggered. The others laughed.
As it faded, Harry wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh ho! That was funny!"
"I found it lame." Hermione said flatly.
"That's why you were laughing, right?"
"Of course!"
Harry and Hermione laughed. Helena was silent in thought while Ron eyed her suspiciously.
"Where's Cassandra?" Helena asked in a whisper.
"I have no idea. Shut up you two." Ron said threateningly.
Hermione shut up instantly. She shot a glare at Harry who was still laughing. She shoved him off the bench. Then she turned innocently to Helena. "What was that?"
"I said, or rather asked, where Cassandra was. Do you know?"
"I don't know. It's not my turn to baby-sit her." Ron replied.
"No, I haven't seen her since breakfast." Hermione said.
"She could be in the Hospital Wing because someone pushed her off a bench too much." Harry suggested as he climbed back onto his seat.
Hermione shoved him off again.
He landed with a large thunk when his back hit and a thwack when his head it.
"Oops. Silly me. I should be more careful." Hermione said as she twirled her thumbs and smiled innocently.
"Ouch! Mione! Stop doing that!" Harry grumbled as her climbed back onto his seat. He started rubbing his head and moaning. "I think I cracked my skull."
"Sorry mate but it was already cracked." Ron said jokingly.
"That's why you're failing your classes." Hermione said. "Now shut up and listen to Helena."
"Yes Mistress of Evil." Ron and Harry chorused.
Hermione shot them and evil flare to prove her title was true then turned her attention back to purple eyed witch. "What do you suggest we do?"
"I think we should go look for her."
"Where do we start?" Ron asked.
"No 'we'. We're not going together." Helena corrected. "We're going to split up in groups." There was a silent pause.
"I call Ron." Harry yelled. He grabbed Ron's sleeve. "He's mine!"
"Interesting." Hermione said flatly.
"I'll go with you, My Lady." Bernadette offered to Hermione.
"As will I, My Lady." Johnny said as he bowed.
"Er, all right."
"I guess that leaves me with…" Helena stopped as she looked at Loofamin.
His blue eyes were cold and dark. His hair was slightly messy; almost with a Harry touch to it. His facial expression was empty.
"Ok, Ron and I will take the Gryffindor common room and stuff." Harry stated declared. "Let's go Ronnie Boy."
He and Ron left the group.
"Should I check the grounds?" Hermione asked.
Helena nodded. When they left, she turned to Loofamin. "I guess that leaved us with the classrooms. That includes the dungeons and Astronomy Tower."
Loofamin nodded gravely.
Helena sighed and walked away with Loofamin trailing behind.
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Cassandra yawned. She did a cat-like stretch and looked out the window.
The sky was many different shades of blue; starting from pale azure to deep, almost black sapphire. Stars decorated the sky like twinkling diamonds in a vast sea of night.
She got out of bed and rubbed her eyes. She briefly glanced at her watch and found it was almost seven. She had missed dinner.
Oh well. She thought to herself. It's not like I can eat anything.
Cassandra walked over sluggishly to her trunk and opened it. The first thing she saw was a photograph of her 'family'. She picked it up and examined it.
They were in order of smallest to tallest. Milo and Brett were arguing about something and Arabella was crying.
Arabella! A sliver of emotion crossed Cassandra's face but only for a millisecond. It vanished and, once again, Cassandra's face was blank of all emotions. Arabella is NOT dead. She is with Eve and Odette. She's probably making cookies right now. Or she is being read a bedtime story. Yes, she is being read a story. She is falling rapidly into sleep.
Her face looks so pale… She looks…dead…
Cassandra threw the picture of the floor so the glass covering it shattered. The wooden frame around it also broke.
Cassandra walked over to the window with clenched fists. She looked out to see the dark grounds surrounding Hogwarts. She needed to get away from Hogwarts. She needed to escape.
She needed to escape herself and the reality she was refusing to believe.
Cassandra looked underneath her bed and smiled slightly. She reached under and pulled out her broom. It was an old Cleansweep, but it would do.
Cassandra walked back to the window and opened it. An icy breeze sent shivers up her spine. Winter was coming early it seems.
She looked over to her opened trunk and debated on wearing warmer clothes. She decided against it. She shivered once through her thin school robes as she walked over to the window once more.
"Cassandra, are you up there?" came the shout of Harry.
Cassandra ignored him.
She got up on the ledge and mounted her broom, not thinking of her last experience on a broom. She leaned down and flew out the window into the ocean of darkness.
Hermione shivered as she walked outside. Immediately Bernadette had her right arm looped through hers and Johnny had her left arm looped around his.
Hermione smiled gratefully at the two younger students. "Thanks guys."
"You are very welcome, My Lady." The two chorused.
Hermione looked up at the nighttime sky. It was a dark blue, almost black. The stars dotted the sky. They looked like tiny eyes looking down her; protecting her.
Suddenly a black shadow flew across her vision. She blinked twice. It flew into the darkness of the Forbidden Forest. "Did you see that?" she asked the two youngsters.
"What was that, My Lady?" Johnny asked.
"Did you see something flying up there?" She pointed to the sky.
"No, My Lady. It must've been a bird." Bernadette said as she looked towards the Forest.
"Why would whatever it was go into the Forest?" Johnny asked.
"I don't know." Hermione shuddered thinking about the things that lived there. "I think it's time we go inside. She's obviously not here,"
The others nodded in agreement.
Helena and Loofamin checked the dungeons and all of the normal classrooms to find Cassandra nowhere. The last place on their search was the Astronomy Tower.
The twosome walked in silence the whole time. When they reached the door Helena couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm sorry!" she said a little too loud.
Loofamin jumped.
"I'm sorry. There I said it. I have no clue what I did but I'm sorry."
"Sorry just isn't enough." Loofamin said flatly.
"Listen Loofa—."
"I'd appreciate to be called my full name."
"—min, could you at least tell me what I did wrong?"
"You hurt me."
"How?"
"When you kissed Harry."
Helena shook her head. "How did that hurt you?"
"I was in love with you." He said looking away, hoping she wouldn't see his blush.
"You? And me?" Helena laughed nervously. "Loofa, I'm sorry but I like Harry. I like him a lot. It just wouldn't work between us."
Loofamin hung his head sadly.
Suddenly Helena had an idea. "Loofa, what do you think about Cassandra's cousin, Dawn?"
"I think she's very pretty. I like her red hair."
"I thought you were obsessed with Hermione."
"That was only to get my mind off you."
"Ok, I was just wondering." A smile crept on her face. "Would you accept my apologies?"
Loofamin sighed and looked at her. "I suppose so."
"Can we have a fresh start?" Helena held out her hand.
Loofamin shook it. "Deal."
Let's go inside and have a look around." Helena pushed the door open.
The two of them stepped inside and looked around the dark room.
"Lumos." Helena whispered. Her wand alighted and the room grew lighter.
The stone room was empty save for telescopes, three chairs and a piece of crumpled paper on the floor.
Helena bent over and picked it up. She un-crumpled it and scanned over it. She gasped.
"What is it?" Loofamin asked.
"Cassandra's little sister, Arabella died. Cassandra does not take bad news well. I'd not be surprised if she's committing suicide right now."
Loofamin's eyes grew wide with fright. "Would she really?"
"No, but she would find a way to avoid the truth."
"Where is she then?"
"In trouble." Helena said sadly.
Cassandra stared at her broom. What's happening? Why am I headed to the Forbidden Forest?
Suddenly her broom launched forward, heading towards the ground.
Cassandra shut her eyes waiting for the impact, but none came. She opened her eyes to find the broom had changed its course and she was being pulled by a strange force towards a clearing.
Her broom stopped and she got off. She tried surveyed the patch but it was too dark to see clearly.
All of the sudden a twig snapped behind her. She spun around and gasped.
"What have we here?"
A/N: Shorter chapter but that's okay. A lot of important things happened in this chapter and I bet you have lots and lots of questions to ask me so make sure to review.
Reviewers:
Saxifrage: Gretchen! LOL! Ok, so I hope I answered a question of yours. The Asian mob leader is so cool! Oh and I have some names you might like that are considered "different" Psellia, Fyora, Maelstra, Fuhnah, Iyana, Nereid, Taelia, and Zandra. I really like Zandra but that's just me. I can probably guess what you're thinking. You: What the hell was little Rena thinking? She's gone crazy.
But Sexy Saxi, I must say, I enjoy looking for names. It's really cool to see how many different names are out there. Did you know that someone names their kid Harry James Potter (their last name was Potter). It's kind of creepy but really cool. How did you figure out all the words to the Llama Song? Did you like sit there for hours on end writing down the words? Did I tell you about that guy in English? No, I didn't think so. Anyways, he started singing the Llama Song randomly. It was so funny! Mrs. Kelly, being herself, didn't even realize it! Ok, I'd write more but I have to go to church!
Everyone else: you better review!
S.S.
P.S.: Happy Mother's Day! (Even though I believe it is just a way for the card companies to make money…)
