DISCLAIMER:

This story is told within three arcs, continuing on from the previous. Each arc features a plot entirely devised from my own creation and takes place before the events of the books and movies. As such, minimal Harry Potter knowledge is needed. While every effort has been taken to meet canon (I'm sure the Wiki loves me), there may be diversions in order to meet a storytelling need. All characters behave in a manner that I believe they would, including character development and growth. If they appear to act out of character, I apologise.

This was originally written as an MC/self-insert book. However, I grew attached to the "assumed" MC and have decided to keep her as the book's protagonist. I hope that, despite this, you will continue to read and enjoy.

Profile:
Name: Cassandra Juniper/Fudge. Age: 27. Blood Status: Half-Blood. Patronus: Unable to Cast at present. Height: Average (British female: approx 5'5" 165cm) Hair: Medium, brown, wavy. Eye Colour: Mixture of blue and green.

Please note that this book focuses on character development. If you do not like the initial interpretation of Cassandra or Snape, do not worry. They will change over time to reflect the consequences of events that occur.

This story was originally posted on Wattpad. Unfortunately for the FFN version of Always For You, I have been unable to add the images of the character's artwork where they should be. Instead, please place this Imgur link: /a/WuFHX7t to view them. They are uploaded in the same order that they appear in the book so when you see an artist credit, please refer to the appropriate image.

(Artist Credit: juniperfawnart on Instagram)

Arc 1: Immaterial Bonds
Chapter 1: Floating Ashore

Do you ever feel sometimes that... you're destined for less? It sounds cliche but when you consider my circumstances, it's understandable why that would be the case.

As daughter to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, it has been my duty since birth to be destined for incredible things. After all, it would be shameful for the Minister's child to be any less than perfect. Only the very best wizards and witches were allowed to be a part of my curriculum and I indeed worked to the bone to be where I am.

Typically, when it is time for the Ministry to change ministers, there is a vote to decide who will take that spot. However, my father assured everyone that there would be no better person for the position after him than me. Honestly, I don't think he considered whether that was what I wanted but it's what has been decided for me. But I didn't want to merely accept the position; I wanted to earn it. Swiftly, I rose through the ranks of those who aspired for the position to where nobody could deny me.

So, because of that, my day-to-day tasks involved little more than shadowing my father. Filling his paperwork, talking to those who had negotiations, and participating in the Wizengamot... It was almost mind-numbingly dull the majority of the time. Was this really what I was destined for?

Internal desperations aside, today was a day like no other. In my office, I sat reviewing the notes for a new potential law about moderating the speed of broomsticks for underaged wizards.

"A load of nonsense..." I sighed, pressing my face into my hands and kicking the inside of my desk lightly. Without thinking, I shoved the documents into the pandemonium of already scattered sheets on my desk. The pile ungracefully fell to the carpeted floor with a thud. With a more intense sigh, I pulled out my wand and recovered the papers into a much neater Ministry-approved organisation. If only there were a way to use magic to reconstruct my brain to enjoy this.

"I could use the Obliviate charm... Wipe my memory. Forget I ever existed. Wouldn't have to work here again." I pondered before hearing a gentle knock on my door. Before I could beckon the person outside in, they marched in. Somewhat intimidatingly, I rose from my chair and placed my hands on my wooden desk. A poor intern whimpered in, looking like they were borderline trembling.

"I would've thought they would have taught you to wait to be called to enter when they hired you."

If he wasn't teary-eyed before, he certainly was now. Am I that fierce?

"I-I'm sorry, Miss Fudge, I-"

I rose my hand to interrupt him.

"Don't call me that. That isn't my name. It's Miss Juniper. There's a reason why I don't go by that name and you should know."

Understandably, he flinched at my response. One of my main principles of working at the Ministry was that I abandoned the name Fudge. While it is my legal name, it is one that I prefer not to use. It connects me to my father and makes everything I do rebound to him. Hence, I go by Cassandra Juniper.

"So-Sorry, Miss Juniper. The Minister is ask-asking for you. He says it's ur-ur-gent."

"And he didn't tell you what exactly it was?" I asked sternly.

The intern shook his head. Must be some important upcoming Wizengamot trial. No matter. With a flourish, I left the room and made it towards the Minister's office. I do wish he wouldn't waste my time with such matters.

After a long elevator ride, I arrived outside the Minister's office and knocked. Immediately, he responded proudly with a "come in, come in!".

Of course, I did so. Thousands of possible things he could want flashed through my head. Why couldn't that intern have asked so I wasn't going in blind? Through the doors sat my father at his desk. Like mine, it was also scattered in papers but much neater and methodical. Hearing my footsteps, the Minister looked up keenly and met my gaze. Naturally, he was wearing his green striped suit. He probably had an interview with the Daily Prophet. Always has to look his best, doesn't he...

"Ah, Cassandra! There you are. Just who I wanted to see." he gleamed, flashing his typical "I'm important" smile.

I wanted to sigh but this was still the Minister. "Yes. I'm here." I responded curtly. "What is it you need?" It was obvious he was going to ask something of me. That's all he ever brought me up here for.

"Isn't it so much that I want to see my daughter? We've hardly spoken lately."

My fists clenched hard and my nails dug painfully into my skin. That bastard. He knows why we haven't been speaking outside of Ministry business. It's always work-first-family-second for that man.

"Maybe if you spent less time focusing on how to one-up everyone in the Ministry then we'd have something to talk about." is what I wanted to say. Instead, I gave a weak "neh" and sat down on one of the leather chairs opposite his desk. It creaked slightly as it held my weight; it had withstood the years of countless others before me.

Father let out a sigh, knowing that I hadn't fallen for his ruse. Did he always have to try to trick me? I would've thought after years of playing in this role, he would realise it sooner that it didn't work.

"I wanted to talk to you about something that has been going on that now has Ministry concern. It's to do with an issue at Hogwarts. I'm sure you are familiar?"

All I did was nod. I wish I had gone to Hogwarts but Father never let me. The Minister's daughter can't go to any public school. She must have the best wizards and witches for her private education!

"Dumbledore, the headmaster, is asking for assistance. Before the end of the last term, several students had gone missing. Four, if my memory serves right. He needs someone to solve this mystery before any other students go missing."

"What does this have to do with me? You know I don't do things like this. Send someone from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures or the Department of Magical Law Enforcement-"

"Because I have every faith in you to solve this mystery before it becomes a crisis."

He did not just... I bit my tongue to hold in my words. He always did this. Always. When he says "I have every faith in you", what he is saying is he already said yes on my behalf. That if I don't go now, it'll embarrass him and the Ministry. It's never about making me feel confident so I decide to go for myself; it's about guilting me into going to save himself.

I stood up, muttered an almost inaudible "okay" and went to open the handle of the door. My actions didn't seem to phase him at all. If anything, he seemed practically relieved that I didn't make a scene.

"Thank you, Cassandra. Dumbledore will be waiting for you when you arrive. He says that you should take the Hogwarts Express to get there so you have a chance to interact with some of the students. The train leaves tomorrow."

The next morning, I felt somewhat giddy at my future prospects. Yes, I was doing this purely for Father but... at least it was getting me out of the office. An investigation should prove stimulating for my brain too. Carrying my suitcase behind me, I arrived promptly at Platform 9 3/4 and boarded the Hogwarts Express which was still waiting for the last arrivals. The sounds of children of all ages blasted through my ears from each of the carriages. In another life, it could've been me in there. Bustling around, cheering, raving about what they hoped to learn... It would be inappropriate for me to go and sit in a carriage filled with students, wouldn't it?

It didn't take long for me to get to the end of the train. As expected, every single carriage was occupied apart from... Through the window of the last carriage, I saw a black figure sitting on one side of the green seats. They gazed soullessly out of the window deep in thought. With a gentle tap on the window, I slid the door open and stepped inside. They did not look pleased to see me.

"Room for one more?" I asked politely, though I had already loaded my suitcase on top of the metal bars above the seats and sat down opposite them, making my question redundant.

"...If you must." was all they replied. Their voice was raspy and harsh. Alright, so it's going to be that sort of journey. Too late to turn back now. Though initially uninterested, they quickly took in who I was. I wasn't some naive student; I was an adult woman they had never seen before.

Before they could say anything dismissive, I held out my hand towards them.

"Cassandra Juniper. Next Minister for the Ministry of Magic." It sounded rehearsed but that was how it had to be. They looked blankly at my hand and then stared deeply into my soul.

"And what does the Ministry think they are doing at Hogwarts? I thought," and he emphasised that word quite clearly, "that you were leaving us alone to our own affairs."

Oooh, this man is going to rile me up. Who does he think he, is challenging me of all people? One look at him should tell you that he doesn't have anything it takes. That thick greasy black hair that conformed to his facial shape... That crooked nose made him look more like a beast than a human... And those black robes that covered his entire body and made him look like some vampire... What an abomination of a person.

"I'll have you know that I was personally requested by Dumbledore to come to investigate the disappearances which you have been so negligent in figuring out for yourselves." I retorted, withdrawing my hand and folding one leg over the other as I took my seat.

"I'm surprised. I would have thought Dumbledore would have asked for someone more..." and he gestured to my overall appearance, "diligent."

Alright, he's in for it.

"I've done far more than you have in your life! I've made laws! I've sent wizards to Azkaban! I've-" I wasn't able to finish that sentence. Another woman appeared on the other side of the glass door and seemed to have heard everything we were discussing. She dragged a large cart decorated everywhere with different sweets and candies.

"Hello, dears... Did you want anything from the cart?"

The man opposite merely gave a dismissive "no, thank you".

And here was my dilemma. In my rush to get ready, I may or may not have forgotten to get breakfast. Would it be wrong for a Ministry worker to buy sweets? I mean, it can't be that scandalous and that man would be the only one who knows- My fingers wiggled through my pockets and only came across a ball of fluff. Despite the sound of the train's wheels on the tracks, my stomach audibly growled. My money was stored in my suitcase...

"Uhm, right, yes, I'd- uh..." I stumbled on my words. Damn it. She was looking at me expectantly. It was too late. I'm looking like a fool-

"Give her a Chocolate Frog."

"What?" I exclaimed.

The man in black reached over and passed a sum of money to the lady. She then handed me a packaged Chocolate Frog and left promptly. As she moved away, the sounds of students cheering as the cart arrived grew faded away.

He looked at me with a smug look on his lips. He knew he had outsmarted me and all it took was sweets. So much for trying to be the dominant one in this dynamic. In all honesty, I was dumbfounded and it wasn't made better when my stomach growled once again as I was staring at the frog.

"Eat." he calmly demanded. The smugness on his face had already turned back to his original blank slate. Not wanting it to go to waste, I began to nibble at it. It tasted amazing and the chocolate melted onto my tongue. Even after I had finished, we continued to sit in silence, not saying a single word and refusing to make eye contact.

"..."

"..."

"Thanks."

"Mm."

Guess that was the end of that discussion. What is wrong with this man? I don't know his name and I'm already despising him... There must be better, nicer people at Hogwarts than him. Speaking of which, why is he on this train? I don't remember seeing any other teachers aboard.

"Because Dumbledore asked that a teacher be here. In case something devious happened." he spoke unprompted.

How did he know that I was thinking that-

"You were staring."

"Oh. That makes sense why. It's clever, actually."

Is this it? Are we having a conversation?

And before I finished that thought, he turned away and began to look out the window again. Pastures, trees and mountains flew by. Before long, the end platform was finally in sight...

My mission begins.