Chapter 5 Family Connections

'Are you sure about this? There is a really lovely cafe just over the road,' Andie paused before entering the pub which was the doorway to Diagon Alley.

'But, it won't sell butterbeer will it?' Harry couldn't help but smile to himself. It had taken some persuasion and numerous text messages to get Andie to agree to meet up with him again. He had observed her carefully as she had approached for signs of trouble but she appeared to be the same as the last time they had met up two weeks ago. It was a lovely late summer day and as the schools had gone back last week London was slightly less hectic than during the summer holidays. Harry had learned that Andie didn't go to school anymore having left after taking her GSCEs. She had seemed reluctant to talk about it when the subject had come up and had just said that she hadn't really liked her school all that much and was considering going to a college in order to gain further qualifications and had changed the subject in her text message. Andie didn't work so seemed to be from a relatively well-off family as she was always well dressed. Harry's questions about her family had always gone unanswered so he had stopped asking.

'Oh, ok fair enough though I am not sure that butterbeer is worth all this effort,' Andie said and followed Harry into the pub.

'You have had butterbeer before then?' Harry asked.

'A couple of times, I think I prefer a cup of tea though but I will join you in a butterbeer if you insist.'

'You really think a cup of tea is better than a butterbeer? Well I think we shall have to agree to disagree.'

Harry ordered two butterbeers and they sat down in a booth in a corner. The pub was relatively busy with groups of wizards and witches huddled in the different corners or taking to the landlord. Andie looked uncomfortable and Harry could tell that for some reason she was nervous. He couldn't help but find her curious. He knew next to nothing about her but there was something about her that made him want to know more. It wasn't just that she had helped him out and he wanted to return the favour in trying to help her. There was something else.

'Have you done anything about the thing in the woods?' Andie asked quietly.

Harry was about to ask what on earth she was talking about before he realised that she was subtlety asking about the horcrux, 'no, not yet. Hermione, one of my best friends, has been researching about the cup to see if we can learn anything about when you-know-who may have created it. Have you got any more information?'

'No, I have tried although I need to be more careful now especially when you act upon the information,' Andie said quietly and looked into her butterbeer.

'I'm worried about you, why don't you come back with me? We will make sure that you are safe,' Harry gently placed his hand over Andie's hand. She flinched her hand away.

'You know that is not possible, I am fine at the moment and I will be careful. You don't know anything about me Harry, how do you know you can trust me?' She looked briefly into Harry's eyes before looking back down at the table.

'I can't explain it, I just do trust you,' Harry said quietly before looking up as someone new entered the pub.

He couldn't hide his disbelief and asked aloud, 'What the hell is he doing here?'

'Harry, what? Who?' Andie asked anxiously turning around in her seat to see who had caused such a reaction.

'Malfoy, he's here, bold as brass, after what he did last year,' Harry stood up, shaking with anger and pulled his wand from his trousers. Andie stood up and tried to stop him confronting Draco Malfoy who was ordering a drink at the bar.

'Harry… look just ignore him. That's probably why he is here. Let's just go, let's not cause a scene. Please Harry.' Andie pleaded with Harry but it was almost as if Harry couldn't hear her and he stormed over to Draco and roughly tapped him on the shoulder.

'MALFOY,' he shouted.

'Why if it isn't Potter? Long term no see,' Draco said with a smirk. His eyes betrayed for a split second the fear and surprise that he was obviously feeling before he composed himself. He drew his wand as well. He looked round to where Andie was still sat with her back to them.

'Oh who is your girlfriend? Can't be Weasley – not red hair, can't be Granger - not frizzy hair,' Draco walked towards Andie and she got up to leave. Draco grabbed her arm.

'Oh no don't leave we haven't been formally introduced.'

'Let go of her Malfoy,' Harry said angrily trying to step in between Andie and Draco but he was pushed away by Draco.

'Cassie? Well I never,' Draco exclaimed, his hand moving to his face in surprise. Andie, unable to move due to Draco's arm, looked down at the floor. Tears seemed to be forming in her eyes.

'You know each other!' Harry managed to say.

'You could say that – you obviously have not been properly introduced this is Cassandra Jane Malfoy, my twin sister,' Draco smirked.

'Malfoy? Andie what is he talking about?' Harry directed the question at Andie but she didn't answer and looked away from both Harry and Draco.

'Andie? Who is Andie? Oh I get it from the other part of Cassandra – clever Cassie,' Andie looked at Draco, a tear escaped and she batted it away impatiently.

Draco turned to Harry and tutted, 'thought you were cleverer than this Potter, can't you see the family resemblance? Don't tell me you were fooled by some hair dye.' He said a spell under his breath and Harry tensed the hand on his wand but all that happened to Andie was her dark brown hair was turned to a light blonde. A few shades darker than Draco's. 'Does that make everything clearer?' Draco asked as he lowered his wand.

Andie ran out of the pub and Draco quickly followed.

'I can't believe you are doing this, betraying our family like this,' Draco called out.

'What family?' Cassie stopped and turned to face Draco. He caught up with her.

'What family? Makes it easy for you then to betray us, I guess, if you deny our existence at all.'

'Like my existence has been denied for all these years,' Cassie said before turning away from him.

'Don't walk away from me, Cassandra,' Draco ordered.

'I think we have finished here,' she said her back still to him. She started to walk away but he grabbed her shoulders and turned her back towards him.

'We haven't finished until I say we have finished,' he said firmly.

'Let go of me.'

'Cassie...' Draco started.

'Don't Draco, just let me be,' her tone was pleaded and her eyes seemed to be willing Draco to obey her. But he couldn't.

'Let you be? I should just let you carry on with getting all friendly with Potter then and telling him all the family secrets? You know what Father would do to you if he found out, don't you?'

'He would kill me,' Cassie said simply and calmly.

'Maybe that is what I should do,' Draco said without really thinking.

'Go on then,' she dared.

Draco turned away. Her challenge disgusted him.

'Oh I forgot you must be the only death-eater who hasn't actually killed someone. Come on Draco, I don't think it is that hard, just one spell, a flash of green and it will all be over,' Cassie said. 'Mind you, do you count as a death-eater anymore? Didn't they have to cast you out as you disobeyed the direct orders of the Dark Lord? You failed the test. Snape had to rescue you.'

'How do you know about that?' Draco asked in surprise and turned back.

'Draco, you were going to kill Professor Dumbledore! Besides, I overhead Father talking, or rather shouting, at Mother about it. He blames her by the way for being too soft on you.'

'The Dark Lord would have killed us all even you. No one can hide from him.' Draco said urgently.

'Wouldn't that have been better? To have been killed innocent?' Cassie asked quietly.

He shook his head, 'you don't know what pressure I was under. You know nothing of what I have been through since then.'

'Of course I don't, I have never been an outcast, expected to be someone I couldn't possibly be, hidden away, someone to be ashamed off.' Cassie started walking back in the direction of the pub.

'Where are you going?' he asked.

'To try and explain to Harry as I don't expect I will get the chance otherwise now that you know. It won't be long before Father knows.'

'I won't tell him Cassie,' Draco looked deep into her eyes which were full of fear.

She shook her head, 'don't lie Draco, it will a perfect opportunity to get back into his good books. You must be missing the luxury that awaits you at the Manor.'

'Cassie...'

'Just give me enough time to try and talk to Harry, that's all I ask for, and then well I shall return home. I am not stupid enough to try and run away. He would find me anyway.' Cassie said quietly.

'I won't tell him,' Draco couldn't explain why, even to himself, he was promising this to his wayward sister. She was right that it would be a way of trying to get back his father's favour but deep down he wasn't completely sure that he wanted it back. The last month or so had been difficult to say the least but he had survived and had taken the time to reconsider pretty much everything. He had been more than surprised to see Cassie outside of the Manor. Draco couldn't remember exactly the last time he had seen her, she had changed and not just in appearance. She was taller then he remembered but also had this look of determination and defiance. He wasn't sure what she was doing meeting Harry but he knew that it wouldn't just be to say hello. Draco wondered if she was passing on information even though it was putting herself at an enormous risk of being found out. She seemed to know that though and was doing it anyway.

Meanwhile, Harry found himself unable to move in the pub. He couldn't remember ever feeling so betrayed. He was surprised at Andie's return a few minutes after she had ran out. He looked at her in disgust before gathering his jacket and making to leave.

'Harry, wait, please, I'm sorry, let me explain,' she said desperately.

'I can't believe I had been so stupid, but seeing the two of you together it seems so obvious,' Harry spat out. She tried to say something but he continued, 'I trusted you Andie or should I say Cassie, which is it by the way?'

'Cassie, I suppose. Harry, look, please let me explain,' Cassie pleaded.

'What more lies? I really don't want to hear anymore. The only thing I want to hear is that you aren't a Malfoy and this whole thing is some ridiculous joke. Well?' Harry raised an eyebrow.

Cassie shook her head, 'I'm sorry but I can't say that. I am who I am. Please, though, hear what I have to say. It's how I heard about the horcrux, it's why I am in a difficult situation.' Cassie swallowed and looked around.

'Why do you look so worried? Oh I see, you have failed in your plan. Daddy won't be very happy will he?' Harry headed for the door and stepped out onto the street.

'Harry, it isn't like that, you can trust me,' she gently touched his shoulder.

'LEAVE ME ALONE,' Harry shouted and pushed Cassie hard out of the way and walked away without looking back.

A/N - so now you know! I have had part of this chapter (the confrontation of Cassie and Draco) written for years so was good to finally write the rest of the chapter around it. Please review :D