Andromeda,

I trust this letter finds you well.

I know that I am the last person that you would want to hear from, but I write about Cassie.

I want to assure that Cassie is safe and seems to be adjusting to life with me. I have successfully kept the Death Eaters and the Lord from her, but I fear I might not be able to shield her forever.

She has made some discoveries about her mother and father that, although rather saddening, have given her a better understanding about them.

Keeping in regular contact with her may not be a wise idea but I can ensure any letters you do send will be given to her.

Lucius

"Are you ok, Mum?" Tonks asked, noticing how distracted her mother was as the Order members held a meeting.

Andromeda sighed. "I had a letter from Lucius."

Everyone in attendance had still at the name.

"Show me." Remus demanded. Once he had the letter in hand, he scanned the contents and despite the words, he just didn't trust Lucius. "He pretends to care for her, yet I can feel his disdain."

Remus had been forced to watch Cassie grow from a far for most of her life. She was his goddaughter and he promised Sirius that he would do what he could to protect her, but after Elizabeth's death and Sirius's imprisonment, the 2 year old had been sent to live with the Tonks family, forcing him to step back for her safety.

He made a promise to both Sirius and James that he would protect their respective children, but he had always felt like he failed to do that. He refused to see that fact that there was nothing he could have done differently. All he could see was his failure.

Tonks could feel his regret radiating from him. He couldn't see that he wasn't the only one to fail Cassie. "My love, she's not a child anymore. She's strong and she will find a find to survive."

"I know." Remus said quietly.

"We just have to tentatively trust that Lucius is trying to keep her safe." Andromeda added.

Molly glanced out of the window to see her had her third born son in the garden alone. He seemed quiet, withdrawn, and silently suffering. He spent a lot in the garden, sat on the bench that he and Cassie both sat on together many times. She made her excuses and slipped out of the meeting.

She took a seat next to him, tenderly rubbing his back. "You look down, my boy."

Percy sighed, resting his head on his mother shoulder. He needed his mother's love more than ever. "Cassie isnt coming back."

"We don't know that."

"I was going to ask her to marry me after she finished school."

"She'll come back to us. To you."

"Saw her a month ago. Lucius had his arm wrapped around her like he owned her." Percy turned to his mother; sadness etched into his face. "She's not coming back."

Molly held her son as he sobbed into her shoulder. She would be very disappointed if Cassie chose to stay married to man like Lucius Malfoy. After the things he had done, it would be a massive betrayal.


It had been a week since Lucius shared his bed with Cassie and he had barely seen her in all that time. She avoided him like he was infectious and, if he was honest with himself, it hurt.

Unfortunately, they needed to put on a front for the Malfoy's annual ball. It was the first one he had to host without Narcissa. Fortunately, he had people to do the planning for him and all he had to do was show up.

Putting Cassie in a room with people he associated with was not something that he wanted to do, but it would be worse for them both if he didn't go through with it.

He waited in this study for Cassie to arrive. He left a note on her bed with a dressed to wear and now he had to wait to see if she would appear. The door to his study opened, making him look up and here was Cassie, strolling towards him, graceful and confident.

Her light blue gown fit her perfectly and she looked stunning with her pinned up in a chignon at the back of her head.

"Will this do?"

Cassie was caught off guard when Lucius smiled at her. There was something rather beautiful about the way he smiled.

"Butterflies?" She thought. "I have actual butterflies over Lucius Malfoy!"

Lucius reached into his desk draw and pulled out a small box. "I have a gift for you. An apology."

"An apology?" Cassie asked, bemused. "Why not just apologise?"

"It is a thank you as well."

"So, open it and show me?"

Cassie nearly fell on the floor when he opened the box. "Lucius, I wasn't that angry with you."

"Just put it on. The guests will be arriving soon."

Cassie struggled to keep her smile up as she was introduced to guest after guest. Lucius had his arm wrapped around her waist to keep her close to him. That hold got tighter when the Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse stepped forward to greet them.

"Ahhh, Minister. Glad you could make it." Lucius nodded to the man before turning to Cassie. "You remember my wife, Cassie?"

Pius grinned leeringly, kissing the back of her hand. "I do hope you save a dance for me."

Cassie choked down the bile in her throat. "It would be a pleasure."

During a moment of respite from the guests, Cassie took a moment to give Lucius a warning. "If I have to dance with that man, I'll smother you with a pillow as you sleep."

"Feign an illness later." Lucius could see Bellatrix approaching and he knew Cassie wouldn't react well. "Hold onto me and don't say a word."

"Lucius…." Bellatrix drawled out as she sneered at Cassie. "There are better whores out there for your entertainment."

Lucius kept a gripped on Cassie as he felt her flinch forward briefly. "Behave. I don't want to have you thrown out."

"I'll behave when she's dead or maybe I'll just dispatch her as part of the entertainment.

Lucius grabbed Bellatrix' arm as she tried to walk away. He gripped so hard that there was a brief flicker of fear in her eyes. "Do not ever threaten my wife again."

Once Bellatrix had gone, Cassie yanked herself away from Lucius. "You didn't tell me that murderous bitch was going to be here." She hissed.

"I didn't want to invite her." He said quietly, trying not to let the guests hear. "Just stay with me or Severus."

Cassie huffed. "I'll stay for 1 hour and then I'm feigning a headache."

The party was in full swing when Cassie managed to sneak out in the gardens for some quiet time. Lucius was busy trying impress his guests and she had had enough of being shown off like a trophy wife. She had managed to keep away from Bellatrix and the minister hadn't approached her for his dance as yet. That was something she was eternally grateful for.

Cassie stilled when she heard footsteps approaching, and she kept one hand on her wand. She sighed with relief when Snape took a seat next to her. "I assume you are enjoying the party as much as I am."

"Your husband asked me to check if you were ok and you are correct."

"I didn't know you knew my mother."

Snape shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, Elizabeth was one of two friends I had at school."

"I've been reading her diaries." She let out a sad sigh. "She mentioned you and Lucius in them a few times. She also mentioned her family."

"Ah, yes. The Flints." It struck Snape at how much Cassie looked like her mother. The only difference was the hair. Elizabeth was a blonde, and Cassie obviously had her father's brown hair. "You look like your mother."

"I wouldn't know. I've never seen a picture of her."

"Never?" Snape asked surprised.

Cassie shook her head. "Dad hid all of her pictures after she died. I guess he couldn't face looking at what he lost."

"I have a picture of her holding you not long after you were born."

Shocked gripped Cassie when she saw a brief hint of a smile on his face. "I would like to see it."

"She sent it to me." Snape's head slumped down in sadness. "She sent it to me hoping she could pull me from the path I was on. I'll send it to you, to keep."

"Thank you." There was sadness in Snape's eyes, Cassie could see it. He still thought of her mother fondly. "I'm trying to get a sense of who I am, and I need to learn more about my parents."

"She was talented, kind and fierce, yet quiet and sad. Your father faded that sadness and he adored her. As much as I didn't like your father, he would have done anything to make her happy."

"It broke him when she died, dad told me that."

"I must get back to the ballroom." Snape stood up and straightened his robe. "I know Lucius isnt exactly a good man, but he does care for you."

"I care for him too." Cassie stood up and took a deep breath. "Walk me back into the ballroom."

They had barely walked back in before Bellatrix was on at Cassie.

"Look at little baby Cassie. The little thief who is always above her station." Bellatrix sneered at Cassie in a high pitch voice, mocking the younger witch."

"And what exactly did I steal?"

"The entire Black family fortune, which should have been mine."

"It was left to my father, who left it to me." Cassie tried not to rise to the bait and chose to turned her back on Bellatrix.

Lucius spotted Bellatrix following Cassie. He followed quickly behind, grabbing Bella's arm, and forcing her to turn around. "I warned you, Bella. Stay away from my wife."

"We both knew what the Dark lord has planned for her. She will die before her next birthday."

There was a feeling of panic settling in Lucius's heart as he let Bellatrix go. He had to convince Voldemort that Cassie didn't know anything about Potter's whereabouts. He had to regain his trust somehow to protect her.

After the party, Lucius retreated to his room to take of his dress robes. Cassie had disappeared from the party long before it ended, but just assumed that she had enough of pretending to be nice.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Lucius knew who it was. "Come in." He never bothered to turn around to greet his wife.

"Sorry, I didn't realise you were undressing."

"It's fine." Lucius turned to her and still at the sight before him. She stood in a floor length silk dressing gown. He could clearly see the curve of her of her hips and the swell of her breasts with pert nipples underneath.

He felt genuine sexual desire for her for the first time since they married. She was a very beautiful woman, but she also had a presence about her the made it almost impossible to ignore her.

"Do you find me attractive?"

Lucius panicked, not sure how to answer her question. "I…..err….."

"Well, do you?"

"Yes." Such a little word stumbled out of his mouth so quickly he couldn't stop it.

"Ok, well I'm off to bed. I just wanted to thank you for protecting me tonight."

Lucius stilled as she approached, and before he knew it, her lips were on his. It was a gentle kiss, and her lips so soft that he almost trick himself into thinking that she didn't kiss him at all.

"Good night." She said as she moved quickly to the bedroom door.

His fingers traced his lips where hers had been. He still felt her lips on him, and his body heated to an almost unbearable level.

He wondered just how he would sleep that night.