A/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER! I'm just so sad that this story is coming to an end that I kinda forgot about it for a while. Then I was like, oh yeah, that story. I think I'll have to finish that up.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter related things. I do own a few characters though.

Chapter Thirteen: The Christmas Toast

Cassandra kept a cool head as she walked toward her adoptive family. All eyes were on her, hungry eyes that waited to see how their prey would react.

Ten feet away; Cassandra gulped down her guiltiness.

Nine feet away; she clutched her trolley tighter.

Eight feet away; Esmeralda raced forward to embrace her fiancée.

Seven feet away; I can't do this! I'm so horrible! I can't do this!

Six feet away; the coolness of the station flirted softly with her neck hairs.

Five feet away; Odette ran toward her yelling, "Cassie's home! Cassie's home!" The little girl thrust herself in her "sister's" arms.

Cassandra let go of her trolley to hug the short girl. "Hello Odette. I missed you." Her voice was cautious and calm, but her heart trembled.

Odette let go of Cassandra but clasped only an instant later to her hand. They started walking again.

Four feet away; Odette hummed to an off-key tune unrecognizable.

Three feet away; Cassandra stopped. She could go no further. Slowly she raised her eyes to Eve.

The red haired smiled quietly. "Hello Cassandra, you look well."

"Hello Eve," she replied but did not smile.

An awkward silence filled the air. Milo, back from Mungo's because of false examination, played with his trunk. Odette, too young to understand, chattered to her bear. The rest of them stared at her.

Finally Esmeralda broke the silence. "Brett, I need to use the restroom. Cassandra, care to go with me. I know you must because the train's bathrooms are just nasty. Brett, take her trunk. We'll meet you in the car. Be there in a few minutes." Esmeralda linked her arm with Cassandra and steered her away to the bathrooms.

Once inside, Esmeralda let go. She walked over to a sink and wet her hands. She silently fixed her hair. As soon as she finished beautifying herself, she turned back to Cassandra. "You handled yourself very well. Though, I must say, Eve has stiffened a bit."

Cassandra bit her lip as tears appeared in the corners of her eyes.

Esmeralda enfolded the girl in a hug and stroked her hair. "There, there. I know these past few days have been hard on you. Don't you fret; I'll be there with you."

Cassandra looked up at her teacher confused.

"Didn't I say I am going to spend the break with you? No? Ah well, I'm going to spend the break with you." The older woman took her sleeve and wiped Cassandra's eyes. "Let's dry your eyes and be off. I feel like an old woman talking to you."

Cassandra giggled with tears running down her face.

Esmeralda put her fists on her hips. "Now don't start that again young lady. Go wash your face and let's be off. I'll even sit next to you in the car. That is if Brett can bear a few more hours sitting next to Odette."

The two of them laughed. Just then Cassandra knew that thing could only look up from here.

But sadly, Cassandra was wrong. Two days into break and things were already hell. It was a silent hell the creeped about.

Cassandra couldn't stand to look at Eve so she spent most of her time in the woods behind the house. The woods were her getaway. The peaceful breezes comforted her as they whispered a song upon the trees. The random critters were a reminder that she was a living being, not just an apparition examining the forest.

When Cassandra was younger, she pretended she was a forest sprite that made flower chains all day and danced with the friendly creatures by night.

As Cassandra sat under a tall pine, she wished she could be that little girl again. The little girl with little freckles sprinkled over her pale skin and no worries except what to bring Mr. Leprechaun for his birthday.

But those days were gone. Now, the little girl with freckles grew to a slender woman with a breast a little too mature for a girl of sixteen. The woman was confused about life. Her hormones confused her even more. The deaths of loved ones confused her even more. But what confused her most was why anyone, especially her own mother, would want to kill her.

Cassandra was so lost in thought that she didn't even hear the footsteps of Esmeralda until she was nearly a foot away. Cassandra looked up and saw her teacher with leaves stuck to her robes and hair in various places.

"Can I join you?" asked the older gray eyed witch.

Cassandra motioned her to sit and Esmeralda did so. They stared at the darkening sky for several minutes before Esmeralda spoke.

"I met Brett about three years ago. We decided to keep our relationship hidden incase it didn't work out. We didn't want to hurt anyone besides ourselves. Now that I think back, that was a mistake. I've missed out hanging with you. I mean, we could've had so much fun together before I was an old married woman. Now I plan to make it up to you. We haven't told anyone this but we are going to get married in the middle of January. I have these few weeks with you to have fun. I want us to become really close, no matter what happens."

"Now, why are you telling me this?" Cassandra raised and eyebrow.

"To get your mind off certain things. I've already asked Eve about it and she said it would be alright if you came to stay at my apartment until Christmas. Then we will come back here."

Cassandra raised the other eyebrow. "That was very random."

"No, if you were listening to my babbles, you might've been able to pick up a few reasons."

Cassandra smiled. "As long as I'm away from here."

Suddenly Esmeralda got up. "I'll race you back to the house and first one to pack and be by the front door gets a free loofa."

Cassandra got up.

Esmeralda got in starting position. "On the count of three. One—"

"THREE!" Cassandra sped off, leaving a very flustered teacher.

"You come back here or you'll get a detention!"

Esmeralda's apartment was amazing. Though it had a kitchen, living room, and dining room all in one, there was a nice big bedroom with a medium sized bathroom.

The bedroom was painted mint green and had a huge window with a fairly comfortable window seat. The room had one bed but it was large enough for two people. Bookcases lined the walls holding pleasure reading books, school texts, and other random knick-knacks. One book case held tons of pictures. One of them in particular caught Cassandra's eyes. It was a picture of her, Helena, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dawn, Callia, and Loofamin sitting in the Great Hall during lunch. They were all talking and laughing loudly.

Cassandra turned to question Esmeralda but saw she was busy unpacking her clothes and putting them in a beautiful oak chest. A note slid out of the pocket of one of her robes and slid across the floor to Cassandra's feet of one of her robes but she didn't notice.

The younger woman picked it up and slid it into her jeans pocket. "Er, I'm going to go unpack my toiletries."

"Ok, if you want to take a shower, go right ahead. I have an herbal shampoo you can use that is to die for."

Cassandra nodded and picked up a small bag. She walked over to the bathroom, closed and locked the door and sat down on the counter. She unfolded the note and read.

Esmeralda,

Please take care of Cassandra. She's just a child. She's been through so much. I want you to make her as happy as she can be. Please do this not for me but for Brett. I know he would want her to be happy.

----Eve

Cassandra crumpled up the paper and flushed it down the toilet. So, Eve was using Bret against Esmeralda! The bitch! Damn her to hell!

Angry, Cassandra turned on the shower (which got hot real quickly thanks to magic), stripped off her clothes and stepped in. The hot water melted her frozen heart and the normal shower noises drowned out Cassandra's crying.

Cassandra awoke to the smells of coffee and freshly baked doughnuts. She opened her eyes to stare at a light green ceiling. Confused, she sat up. Suddenly she remembered—everything.

Slowly she got out of bed and slipped on warm pants and a wool sweater. She followed her nose to Esmeralda's kitchen where the witch was reading the paper. When she walked in, their eyes met.

"I have great news for you!" Esmeralda said cheerfully, picking up her coffee cup and taking a sip.

"What?" Cassandra mumbled. She hated how perky Esmeralda was in the morning.

"Guess!"

"No,"

"Please?"

"No,"

"Pretty please?"

"NO!"

"Gosh, don't be so mean," Esmeralda muttered, taking another sip of coffee. "It says here that Bellatrix has been seriously injured but was still sent back to Azkaban."

"That's great!" Suddenly Cassandra felt just as perky as Esmeralda was.

"I know! I have an idea! Let's go shopping later today!"

"Sure, as long as I can have some coffee."

Esmeralda pouted and held her cup close. "My coffee!"

Christmas came too fast. Before she knew it, Cassandra was standing with her trunk on Eve's porch. The twilight of Christmas Eve was beautiful. If everything is this beautiful outside, things must be horrible inside.

Esmeralda gave Cassandra a quick hug and rang the doorbell. They heard someone running down the stairs, run to the door, give a brief yell, and then a clunk on the door. A few moments later, Brett opened the door, rubbing his nose. Upon seeing Esmeralda, he rushed her into a passionate kiss, dipping her back.

Cassandra scowled. "You guys make me sick. Get a room!"

Brett went up for air. "Go upstairs, squirt!" Then he went back to sucking Cassandra's teacher's face.

She stuck out her tongue and walked inside and went to her room, dragging her trunk with her.

She kicked open the door and noticed a very large box in the middle of the floor. She cautiously opened it and screamed when something jumped out at her.

It was Helena! She was dressed in a beautiful grey ballroom gown with her hair styled.

"Helena! Oh my freaking gosh! I missed you so much!" The two girls shrieked, embraced, swapped stories, gossiped, shrieked and hugged some more.

"We have to get you ready!" Helena said as she pulled a deep green ball gown from the box she was in.

"For what? What is this?" Cassandra fingered the dress. It was silk.

"I'm not supposed to tell you. Put this on and let me do your hair and stuff."

After two hours of drama, Cassandra looked like a queen. The dress had a low V neckline with gold trim. She wore gold ear-bobs and necklace with tiny emeralds in them. Her black mane was half put up. She even had gold gloves!

"Now, wasn't that fun?" Helena said as she pulled on a pair of black gloves that went up to her elbow.

"Yes, but what is this all for?" Cassandra asked, brushing her hair once more.

Taking the brush from her, Helena said, "You'll see. Now come with me." She grabbed Cassandra's arm and pushed her out the door.

Cassandra sensed the changed immediately. Their regular staircase was a grand staircase draped with garland and red bows. The whole house transformed into a Christmas mansion. Everything was greater and merrier. There even was a crystal chandelier.

A hand tapped her on the shoulder. A young man with wild red hair offered his arm. "May I have the honor of escorting such an enchanting lady as you?"

"RON!" Cassandra wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head into his shoulder. "Oh, Ron!" She brought her head up and kissed him on the mouth.

Startled at first, Ron was unsure but then kissed her back.

Laughter, catcalls, and whistles came from behind them.

"Heck yes!" Harry shouted. "This is so grand! Oh Helena, don't they make the cutest couple?"

"Oh yes, Harry dear. Divine," Helena replied in a snobbish voice. "Simply enchanting. Harry, I'm simply parched. Let us go and get something to drink."

Cassandra tore her mouth away, blushing fiercely. Ron was no better. There eyes met and Cassandra giggled. "You know, it is improper to leave a lady unescorted."

"Oh and your behavior was so lady-like, eh?" Brett said as he and Esmeralda walked arm in arm into the room.

"They probably got it from us." Esmeralda winked at Cassandra, who winked back.

Cassandra and Ron walked down the staircase and onto the dance floor.

"Did Eve do this?" Ron asked, looking around.

"I don't know. I was at Esmeralda's apartment."

Ron looked slightly confused and Cassandra laughed.

"Sorry, Professor Blackwood."

"That would make sense."

Cassandra tweaked his ear. "Oh Ron, you're so cute." She kissed on the cheek, careful not to leave lipstick smudges.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

As the night grew, many more guests appeared. Some were Brett's friends; some were Esmeralda's friends and family, even Dawn had Callia and Loofamin and their families, but most were Eve's friends.

When it was time to feast, Cassandra sat with Helena, Ron, Harry, and Hermione, who had shown up late, at the head table along with Eve, Brett and Esmeralda.

The talk was light and cheerful, as it should always be at Christmastime.

When the main course came, Eve stood and held up her wine glass. "Excuse me, if I could have your attention. Thank you. I would like to propose a toast to Cassandra, who has been the most wonderful daughter I could ever ask for. She has been strong even through recent events. I only wish I could've been there for her. To Cassandra!"

"To Cassandra!" the guests cheered.

The sound of glasses clinking got on her nerves. Cassandra clutched Ron's hand under the table as she looked at her adoptive mother. Her eyes filled with tears. The tears were filled with hate for herself and towards Eve. How could Eve be so sweet after what she had done to her? How? Why?

I don't belong here, Cassandra thought sadly. Where do I belong? Who am I?

A/N: Woo hoo! Another chapter completed! I'm sorry to say but this was the second to last chapter. Don't be sad.