'Harry, we need to talk,' Hermione hesitantly opened the door to Ron and Harry's room.

'Well, I don't want to.' Harry turned away and looked out of the window. Since returning from the disastrous meeting with Cassie a week ago he had stayed out of everyone's way as much as possible without causing suspicion. He hadn't revealed anything important to Cassie such as the location of the headquarters so the Order really didn't need to know. All he had told her was the name of the horcrux which she may have already known anyway and that wasn't crucial. Whenever he could he retreated to his room to reflect on how stupid he had been. He felt embarrassed but also betrayed. Harry didn't feel like talking about it and knew it would be a while, if ever, he would trust like he had again.

'Harry...' Hermione's voice was cautious.

'What? Hermione! Do you want to gloat that you were right? I should have been more careful. Well, thanks but I don't really want to hear what an idiot I have been when I am already quite aware of it. I won't be making the same mistake again.' Harry said passionately, the frustration of the last week beginning to show.

'It's not that Harry,' Harry raised his eyebrow before Hermione continued. 'Well, not exactly.'

'Relax, Hermione you were right there was something wrong about her.'

'I am sure there is an explanation for what she did.'

'I think I have heard enough of her lies.'

'She probably had good reasons.'

'What that she is a Malfoy?' Harry spat out the name.

'Exactly, I expect she is still living at home. Hence, where she overheard the conversation about the horcrux...'

'Which is probably a trap,' he interrupted.

'We don't know that.'

'Well, let's just go right now, shall we?' Harry almost shouted in frustration.

'As I was saying she probably is still at home and could be in great danger especially is she is found out. There is nothing to stop Draco telling his father and I think we both know what could happen if her father finds out.' Hermione said quietly.

'You are under the illusion that her family don't know exactly what she is doing.'

'I think you should at least hear her out. Find out more about her anyway like why she didn't go to Hogwarts like Draco? What made her contact you? Harry, I don't believe this is some plan to get at you. It just doesn't seem like how Voldemort would work.'

Harry sat down on his bed and put his head in his hands. Hermione sat down next to him.

'Has she been in contact?' Hermione gently asked.

'I don't know, I turned the stupid thing off.'

There was a few moments of awkward silence, before Hermione gently asked, 'Why don't I have a look?'

'Be my guest,' Harry passed her the phone from his sock drawer.

Hermione turned it on. Harry stood up and walked to the door. He paused as she called out.

'There's a message, no three messages.'

Unable to help himself Harry snatched the phone off Hermione. He opened the first message.

I know that I am probably the last person you want to hear from at the moment. I am so sorry that I had to lie to you. You wouldn't have met up with me if you knew the truth. I wish though you hadn't found out the way you did. Please reply.

Harry, please. I had to lie. I had to tell you what I knew. I had to help you. I am on your side. Please reply.

I'm sorry that I am who I am. I more than anyone wish I was someone else. Take care of yourself Harry. Thank you for your time.

Harry threw the phone on the bed, 'I need some air.' He practically ran down the stairs and into the garden. He took some deep breaths once outside. He really didn't know what to think. He slumped down onto the ground and placed his head in his hands. Cassie was right, there was no way that he would have met up with a Malfoy so he could understand why she had lied he just wished that she didn't have to – that she was someone else. It sounded like she was giving up on contacting him by the tone of her last message, Harry wasn't sure whether he should feel relieved or disappointed.

A few minutes later he heard Hermione shouting, 'Harry! Where are you? The phone, it's ringing, it's Cassie. Harry!'

Harry ran up to her and without thinking took the phone, 'hello?'

'Harry? Is that you? I didn't think you would answer,' Cassie's voice was faint and sounded far away.

'What do you want?' Harry had to stop himself from shouting.

'I promised myself that I wouldn't contact you again... but... I'm in trouble,' came a wobbly reply.

'Are you ok?'

'Yes, but I need your help, please,' her tone was pleading.

'Ok,' Harry said quickly.

'Thanks,' Cassie sighed in relief.

'How?'

'Draco will know, he will know where I am. I can't think of another way. I can't leave here at the moment. Oh I have to go.'

The phone went dead. Hermione looked expectantly at Harry who relayed the conversation.

'That doesn't sound good, Harry. I guess her Father found out.' Hermione pointed out.

'I know, and Draco probably told him.'

'We don't know that for certain. We need to help her.'

'Thanks for pointing out the obvious Hermione. I know that she is in this situation because she passed the information onto me.' Hermione looked upset so Harry quickly continued, 'sorry Hermione. I just really don't want to contact Draco but there doesn't seem to be another way. We don't know where the Manor is, even if we did we probably wouldn't get in, not without help.' He walked quickly away.

'Where are you going?' Hermione followed him.

'To find Hedwig, I need to send a letter to Draco straightaway.'

Harry sent Hedwig off with the following message

I have heard from C, she is in trouble, need your help.

He addressed the envelope and asked Hedwig to be as quick as possible. As Harry waiting for Hedwig's return he sent a text message to Cassie telling her that help would soon be on its way. He wasn't sure whether she would get it but he had to do something. He wasn't surprised to not get a reply back, he hoped she wasn't in more trouble.
Hedwig returned ten minutes later. Draco's reply was hastily written on the back of Harry's.

Leave it to me, I will handle it

Harry reached for a fresh piece of paper and wrote

I don't think that is a good idea for all I know you are involved. I am only contacting you because C said it was the only way. Meet me at the apparation point in South London in an hour.

Hedwig ruffled her feathers in annoyance at having to do another flight so soon but accepted the note.

Harry was anxiously pacing up and down in the garden when Hedwig reappeared. The note was once again on the back.

Some things never change do they, Potter? Have to be the Boy-Hero don't you. I am perfectly capable of handling this but will meet you if you insist – don't keep me waiting. Malfoys don't wait.

Harry could almost picture Malfoy smirking as he had written it. He passed the note to Hermione who was biting her lip anxiously.

'I'm off Hermione, only tell the Order where I am if I don't return by nightfall.'

'Harry, I don't think you should go alone.'

'I don't think Malfoy will tolerate all of us turning up. Much as I hate it, I need his help on this.'

Hermione nodded in agreement and hugged Harry tightly, 'take care.'

Harry ran down the lane and apparated as quickly as he could.

'About time, Potter,' came the voice of Malfoy. Harry blinked as his eyes readjusted to the darkness of the alleyway.

'I came as quickly as I could,' Harry couldn't help but snap back.

'You didn't need to come at all, like I said I can handle this,' Malfoy turned away from Harry and walked out of the alleyway. Harry noticed that his appearance was a little ruffled.

'Then, how come Cassie didn't contact you?'

Malfoy turned quickly round to face him. He stared icily at him but seemed unable to come up with an answer straightaway.

Draco was annoyed at himself at being unable to answer Harry but the truth is he couldn't understand it either. He knew that it would be difficult for Cassie to contact anyone especially as Father seemed to have found out about her betrayal. The reason why she had chosen to contact Harry after their last encounter rather than him was beyond him. He hadn't been completed surprised with the news that Cassie was in trouble. Truth be told he had been waiting for this to happen. She was playing a dangerous game to say the least. He hoped that she was ok.

'Let's just get on with this, shall we?' He said quietly. He was annoyed that Potter had insisted on being involved but he couldn't get away from the fact that if it wasn't for him he wouldn't know that Cassie was in trouble. He held out his arm. Harry looked puzzled. 'Side-along apparation Potter, unless you intend making your own way there.'

Draco could tell that Harry was fighting with himself as he paused before touching his arm gently. He apparated.

They arrived on the outskirts of the Manor's land. It would be quite a walk to get to the house but that wasn't where they would find Cassie.

'Where exactly are we?' Draco turned to face Harry who was looking round confused.

'This hedge,' Draco pointed to it, 'marks the boundary of the Manor's land.'

'And where is the manor?' Harry peered over the hedge.

'You can't see it from here,' Draco started to walk down the lane. He had pulled the hood of his jumper over his head. He wasn't sure how he was feeling being back home. It hadn't been home though, not since the mess that had resulted in Dumbledore's death. He closed his eyes briefly at the memory of this and pushed it to the back of his mind. As he opened them again he made himself think of how they would get Cassie out. He was hoping that his Mother and Father wouldn't be at home but knowing his luck they would be.

Harry had joined him and they walked next to each other, the only sounds being their footsteps and some birds singing.

'Why didn't Cassie come to Hogwarts?' Harry asked.

Draco was taken aback by this question, 'you don't know?'

'No, why else would I be asking you?'

Draco considered for a moment before answering, 'well, that is Cassie's story to tell.'

Harry opened his mouth in protest but obviously thought better and turned back to face the way ahead. Draco turned to the hedge and muttered to himself, 'it must be around here somewhere.'

'What are you doing?'

'Looking for a door.' Harry joined him in his search but it was Draco that found the doorknob. He looked up and down the lane to check that there wasn't anyone around before turning the handle. He pulled the door handle towards him and a doorway opened in the hedge. He stepped through the doorway and turned when Harry didn't follow immediately.

'Come on, Potter before someone sees.' Harry closed his mouth which had dropped in surprise and followed Draco who pulled the door closed behind him. Draco set off quickly through the small wood that greeted them on the other side of the hedge. He hoped that the entrance they had just passed through was still safe but knew that they had to be quick. They came to a clearing in the wood where a small cottage stood.

'I don't understand...'

'Right now, you don't need to understand.' Draco knocked on the front door and then opened it before waiting for an answer. 'Cassie? Where are you?'

Draco headed upstairs to Cassie's bedroom taking note of the mess and chaos that the cottage was in. There wasn't anything that had been left untouched, nothing that hadn't been destroyed. He instinctively pulled out his wand before opening the door to Cassie's room. Something told him though that Cassie was alone, but it paid to be prepared. Draco was surprised for a moment to see Harry do the same. In his haste to get to Cassie, he had almost forgotten that Harry was here and couldn't help but feel slightly relieved that he wasn't alone.

He opened the door, his eyes took a while to adjust to the darkness of the room which was in sharp contrast to the light of the summer's day outside. Like the rest of the cottage the room was in complete disarray. Draco remembered that Cassie had always been the tidiest out of the two of them, everything had to have its set place. They clambered over the debris to the bed where Cassie was lying. She was very pale and her skin was marked with several bruises on her face and on her arms. She was tied to the bed by thick rope on one of her wrists. Draco could tell from the redness of the skin underneath that it was very tight and had been tied by magical means. He reached out and gently touched Cassie's face. She jumped awake and moved away from them.

'No more, please, no more...' she whispered.

'It's ok, Cassie, it's Draco and Harry.'

'Really?' She asked wearily, talking was obviously a struggle.

Harry stepped forward, 'yes.'

'I didn't think you would come,' Cassie said quietly.

Draco used his wand and a spell to cut the rope. The skin was red raw underneath. Cassie sat up slowly.

'How long have you been like this?' Draco asked.

'What do you mean?' It was Harry.

'Look at her wrist, and those bruises aren't fresh.'

'Don't be silly, Cassie would have contacted someone straightaway if there was a problem,' Harry looked earnestly at Cassie who looked quickly away from them both.

'Not necessarily, she probably was unable to,' Draco passed a bottle of water from his bag to Cassie who drank it quickly.

'Cassie?' Harry asked.

'What?' she tried to look innocent.

'When did this happen?' Draco asked.

Cassie looked wearily at Draco, 'when I came home after meeting Harry... someone saw us together... saw the similarities and passed on the information to Father who wasn't best pleased... he doesn't know what I passed on... I think he just thinks it was our first meeting in preparation of me being a spy...'

'Why didn't you contact me?'

'I couldn't risk my Father discovering the phone and anyway I didn't think it would be welcomed,' she paused before continuing quietly 'anyway, I thought I could handle it.'

'Cassie, I would have helped...' Harry said.

Cassie interrupted, 'Look this really isn't important now, he isn't at the Manor right now but he could be back at any time.'

'Do you need anything?' Draco asked.

'Under that floorboard is my bag, it is all I need.' Cassie pointed to the floor.

Draco lifted the floorboard and pulled out the rucksack. Harry reached out for it and put it on his back as Draco already had a bag.

'Do you think you can walk?' Draco asked Cassie who stood up slowly. He had to reach out and catch her before she fell. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her legs and carried her out of the room.

Draco walked as quickly as he could back to the doorway in the hedge. He was conscious that Cassie was in pain and watched her wince with any sharp movements. They made it onto the lane. He gently lowered her to her feet.

'Take my arm, Cassie, we are going to apparate,' he said.

'Potter, we will go to the apparation point in South London.'

'Are you sure?'

'I know, I know, we should apparate several times to prevent detection but,' he lowered his voice 'I'm not sure Cassie will able to take that.'

Harry nodded and Draco apparated.

He felt Cassie collapse to the floor as they arrived at the apparation point. He knelt down beside her.

Harry appeared and asked concerned, 'whats wrong? Whats happened?'

'I get apparation-sick, don't you remember?' Cassie said weakly, 'just give me a minute or two.'

Harry looked at Draco who whispered, 'I have a horrible feeling that it is more than that.' He knew that his Father wouldn't have allowed Cassie to just leave like they had. He just hoped that she would make it to somewhere safe where he could do something to help.

'Ok let's go again,' Cassie stood slowly up. Draco could see that she was shaking and she didn't resist when he lifted her into his arms.

'Where now?' Harry asked.

'I am going to take her to my place.'

'I think we should go to The Burrow, where the Weasleys live, they will be able to help.'

'I don't think I will be very welcome there.'

'They will be fine, I think we need all the help we can get,' Harry said and gestured towards Cassie. Draco looked down and saw that Harry was right. She was fading by the second. He nodded and Harry offered his arm.