warning: mention of miscarriage
November 20, 1974 - Hogwarts
Althaia wasn't in her portrait. Damnit.
Cassie peered closer to the painting, wondering whether there was a way to call her; or even how she had left. From what she could see, there were no doorways or passages leading outside of Althaia's room. How did paintings even move between their frames?
A glimmer of gold caught her eye; a thick, beautifully decorated book spine sticking out of the enormous bookshelf on the east wall.
Cassie shook her head, disappointed that she wouldn't get to talk to the woman today. Well, it wasn't even that important. Later, then.
Professor McGonagall was clearly agitated as she opened the door. Her hair, usually in a tight bun at the back of her head, was down, in a way Cassie had never seen before; and her eyes scanned over her wildly, finally registering who she was, seconds later.
"Oh, dear," she said, pulling Cassie into a shaky hug. "Oh my dear girl."
She pulled away a second or two later, the slightest tint of red rising to her cheeks. "Would you like to come inside?"
"O-Okay," Cassie stuttered, incredulous at what she had just seen. First a hug, and then blushing? From Professor McGonagall? The world must be ending. She certainly hadn't expected such a response.
"Sit down," the Professor instructed softly, settling herself on the armchair next to hers. She looked deeply unsettled, and she ran a hand through her hair unconsciously, messing it up even further.
"I got Albus to tell me...It took some time because he kept trying to find out how I knew… I didn't tell him, don't worry," she paused. "He's really not getting punished," she spoke incredulously, seemingly to herself.
Cassie nodded, unnerved at seeing her favorite professor so… not like herself.
"I can't believe…" she trailed off. "I didn't know. This can't have been– has he done things like this before? I've reprimanded him - once? twice? - but I didn't see anything–"
The younger girl nodded again, her lips twisting in a small grimace. "He has. He and McKinnon. But I don't get the worst of it, Severus does."
McGonagall frowned slightly, seemingly trying to recall something. "Except for this incident, I've always thought he was the one provoking Mr. Black."
"He wasn't!" Cassie exclaimed instinctually, cringing back at her loudness. "Black's always cursing him in the hallways, or taunting him. Or playing pranks. And that's completely ignoring the poisoning incident–"
"What?"
Cassie frowned. "Ah– I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Black only received one detention for that."
"Miss - Cassiopeia - Mr. Black poisoned Mr. Snape?"
"Y-Yes," she replied, her heart picking up speed. Nobody would know that she'd told, would they?
McGonagall stood, her expression furious. "I can't believe… twice! And Albus said nothing," she said, seemingly to herself. "I thought–"
The professor broke off, in a split-second shifting into her feline form. For a few seconds, the tabby cat simply stood there; and Cassie, bewildered, observed it.
Professor McGonagall appeared again, looking considerably less enraged than previously.
"I apologise for my loss of composure, Miss Nazyalensky. It simply angered me, that I was not made aware of these incidents."
"Of course," Cassie replied cautiously. "Why–?"
"Did I turn into a cat?" the professor finished, a slight smirk curling around her lips as she took a seat. "That is– a complicated question," she sighed, brushing away a hair or two still present on her robes. "For one, I've often found that emotions are...easier, in my feline form. They're simpler."
The Professor must have noticed her longing look, for she observed Cassie with a tilted head. "You could do it, you know. It's not easy, never has been, but you certainly have the talent for it."
Cassie blushed. "Really? Thank you, professor."
McGonagall waved her hand casually. "No need to be modest, dear. You're the best student I've had in a long time. Certainly, if you're interested, I would be willing to teach you."
She wanted to say yes. So badly. But– "Could you teach Severus too?"
The professor's eyes softened, and she smiled gently. "You really care about that boy, don't you? Very well."
September 19, 1974 - Hogwarts
Severus ran a hand through his hair, marveling in its softness. He's abstained from brewing, these past two days, wanting his hair to be as nice as possible; and it had certainly paid off.
He almost called for Cassie to come and see, before remembering exactly how awkward that would be.
Especially before a date, his mind added.
Exactly. He smoothed his hands over his new robes, courtesy of Lucius. He's hit a bit of a growth spurt, these past few months, and all of his older clothing was completely unwearable.
He couldn't imagine how he'd be made fun of, had he had to wear them. And Black's insults... He shivered. That would be unbearable.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," he called. "Aug–"
Well, that certainly wasn't Augustus.
"Hey, Severus," Cassie said shyly, closing the door behind her. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure," he replied, turning slightly away from her. He busied himself with putting away his clothes, knowing that were he to look towards Cassie, she would notice his wildly blushing face.
He heard the bed dip as Cassie sat down; a rustling of the covers as she tugged at them with her fingers. What was she so nervous about? Did she want to talk about–
"I don't know what to do, Sev'rus," she started off hesitatingly. "Do you remember that girl that discovered us, Dory?"
Severus breathed a silent sigh of relief. "Umbridge? Yes. Did something happen?"
"I overheard Black talking to–"
Severus whipped his head towards Cassie, causing her to lean away from him. "Yes?"
"W-Well, I overheard him talking to McKinnon–"
Severus chastised himself for being stupid, thinking that Black and Lily had been together again.
"–about what he's planning to do to her."
What?
Cassiopeia wrung her hands, looking pleadingly towards him. "Sev'rus– it's horrible. He's planning to date her, and then tell her it was all a lie in front of the entire school! How– how can he even think to do that?"
Imagining Lily doing something like that to him, Severus shuddered internally. He'd be utterly humiliated; would probably leave the school and never come back.
Glancing up, he was shocked to see Cassie's eyes filling with tears. "What's wrong?"
Apparently, that was not the thing to say, because his friend burst into tears.
"Cassie?" he asked, standing up and moving towards her. What was he supposed to do?
"S–Sorry," she said softly, her voice muffled by the hands covering her face, and her hitching breath. Cassie's voice stabbed Severus in the chest; and he sat down on the bed next to her, encircling her body with his arms.
"It's okay. It's okay," he murmured, awkwardly patting Cassie's back. She turned her face into his neck, and he felt her tears wet his skin. "What's wrong?"
"I– I don't know. I'm just– I don't know," Cassie whispered, frustrated with her inability to answer him.
"That's okay," he answered, holding her even closer. "You're okay, Cassie."
"Cassie?" Narcissa called, greeting the younger girl with a warm smile and a hug. "How are you doing, love?"
The other patrons of the Three Broomsticks bustled around them; all bundled up in warm clothes and chattering mindlessly. And loudly.
"I'm fine, Cissa," Cassie replied, smiling into the blonde girl's chest. "It's nice to see you."
"Oh, love, I've missed you so much. Letters just aren't the same," Narcissa said, pulling away to observe Cassie for a second. "You've grown, haven't you?"
The raven-haired girl nodded, blushing.
"You should have said!" Narcissa exclaimed with a grin, pushing Cassie down onto a bench, and sitting down herself. "I'll send you a catalogue tomorrow; you can pick whatever you want."
"Thanks, Cissa."
"Of course, love," the blonde woman replied, smiling fondly. "Well, why don't you tell me how life is going?"
Er. Can't tell her about that. "It's okay… Professor McGonagall's promised to teach me how to become an Animagus."
"Oh, how wonderful!" Narcissa exclaimed. "You know, the transformation has always fascinated me. Of course, I never attempted it myself; but I'd love to see yours. Have you thought about what animal you might be?"
Cassie stayed silent for a second, both contemplating the question, and overwhelmed by Narcissa's intense curiosity. "I'm…. not sure. Maybe an–"
"Excuse me," Madam Rosmerta called, walking up to them. A notepad floated in the air in front of her, a quill poised at the top ready to record their orders. "Can I get anything for you two?"
She glanced towards Narcissa out of the corner of her eye; seeming slightly uncomfortable with the Malfoy lady's presence in her bar. Or was it because of something else?
Fortunately, Cissa didn't seem to notice it, simply smiling pleasantly. "Cassie?"
"Butterbeer, please." She'd grown to enjoy the intense sweetness at the end of third year; whereas before she had found it almost unbearable.
Narcissa nodded. "Just water for me."
The bartender walked away with a nod, moving perhaps a little faster than usual. However, that fact barely registered with Cassie, her mind more interested in a pointed glance at her older friend's stomach. She knew well that Cissa enjoyed at least a small glass of the bar's famous drink.
"I'm not," Cissa said quietly, a sad smile replacing the previous excitement in her face. Cassiopeia glanced up at her tone, her lips twisting in sympathy.
"You're trying, though?" she asked, blushing faintly.
"We are, love," Narcissa answered, one hand rising to touch her stomach briefly. "Unfortunately, with my family history it seems unlikely that anything will happen soon."
"Your family history?" Cassie asked curiously.
"Yes… My mother suffered many lost children before she gave birth to us, and even then, she was unable to have more. She never got the male heir she desired," Narcissa replied, her tone sad and slightly bitter. "I presume her problems with fertility were passed down to me."
"I'm sorry," Cassie frowned; wondering whether she would be breaking down in tears twice today, even as her eyes started to burn. "I can't imagine how that must feel."
"Oh, love, don't cry," Narcissa said, rising out of her seat and moving to sit next to Cassie. "We're trying some new things; potions and the like; and Lucius' being so understanding. I'm sure it'll happen someday."
November 25, 1974 - Hogwarts
"Have you read this, Severus?" Cassie asked, perusing the freshly materialized article in front of her. "Professor Dumbledore's trying to institute flying lessons for the first years."
"And how is that news-worthy?" Severus asked, still breathing hard from their training session.
"Er…" Cassie read further. "They're making it into some big political battle. Purebloods versus Muggleborns. Apparently, it's unfair that the wizarding kids get to come to school with flying knowledge, while the Muggleborns don't have a way to learn, and as a result almost never make the teams."
"That seems… reasonable, I guess."
Cassie hummed. "It does, but the other side has some serious supporters. Almost all of the noble families; Nott, Malfoy, Rosier– Speaking of…"
The girl pulled out a letter from her robe-pocket, placing it in front of Severus to read. "I discussed it with Narcissa when we met in Hogsmeade, and she told me that the best strategy right now is to find the Head of a noble house to speak for me. Of course, Lucius' da would never–"
"A proposal?" Severus asked incredulously, having finished reading. "From Rosier? You don't even know each other."
Cassie blushed. "Well, it's not really a proposal, just inquiring. But see, I don't know how to handle this on my own. And apparently, it also looks bad for me to correspond with all these adults myself - it's improper. If ma was still here, she would be the one doing all of the politicking and answering inquiries as Head, but since she's not, I should find somebody to do it for her. Which brings me to this– Severus, what do you know about your grandparents?"
"I'm fairly sure they're dead," Severus replied. "And even if they're not– Cassie, they kicked my mum out."
"Well– you see, they're not. And I may have owled them…" his friend said cautiously. "They replied very quickly; said that they really wanted to speak to your Ma again–"
"–You're not terribly angry, are you?" she asked quietly, her sudden burst of confidence gone.
"I– no? I don't think so?" he replied, watching his friend's expression melt into one of relief. "If you're really serious about this–" he sighed as she nodded. "I'm gonna go owl my mum."