'You don't have to watch me day and night you know,' Draco looked up. Cassie was rubbing her eyes sleepily.

'What do you mean?' Draco asked.

'You and Harry, one of you is always in here watching me, I am not in any fit state to run away or anything,' Cassie replied and sat up slowly. A week had passed since Cassie had woken up. A week which she had spent mostly sleeping and trying to eat the meals that Mrs Weasley kept sending for her and was looking slightly better. She had been formally introduced to everyone else although she hadn't been able to spend much time with anyone as she had to rest.

'We are just worried about you.'

'Well, I am fine now.' Draco raised his eyebrows at this, Cassie certainly did look better but she was still unnaturally pale and even though she wouldn't admit it Draco could tell that she was in pain practically every time she moved.

'Don't look at me like that I am, maybe I am not completely better but I am feeling strong enough to venture downstairs,' Cassie said as she swung her legs carefully over the side of the bed.

'I don't think that is such a good idea,' Draco said quickly.

'That's a shame as I think it is a good idea. I have been stuck in this room, lovely though it is, I am slowly going insane in here. I am also desperate to see the rest of this house.'

'Cassie…' Draco started but was interrupted.

'Draco, I am going to have a shower, get dressed and then head downstairs and I would appreciate it if you didn't try and stop me.'

'But Cassie…'

'Please, Draco.'

Draco stared at Cassie and then offered out his hand to help her stand up. He knew from experience to not argue with his sister when she looked as determined as she did now.

'Thanks,' Cassie took his hand and slowly stood up. When she wobbled he reached out and held her other arm.

'Alright there?'

'I think so,' Cassie replied quietly. 'I've missed you, you know.' She wrapped her arms gently around his neck. At first Draco felt awkward but he relaxed into the hug and drew her closer to him and stroked her back.

'It's so good to see you again,' Cassie said as she gently pulled away. 'Right, I need to have a shower and put some clean clothes on.'

'Do you have any?'

'Yes, Ginny gave me some clothes I could borrow.'

About ten minutes later Cassie emerged from the shower.

'You have no idea how much better that feels,' she said smiling as she towelled dried her hair before combing it into a plait. 'Right let's go.'

Draco led the way downstairs. They walked together to the kitchen where they heard the sound of voices coming through the slightly ajar door.

'I just can't believe that Draco has had a sister all this time but there is no denying the resemblance between the two of them. Mum did you know Draco was a twin?' Ginny asked. Cassie put her hand on Draco chest to stop him entering the kitchen as she wanted to know the answer.

'Yes, I did, although I thought she died just before she got to go to Hogwarts. There was a funeral and everything,' came Mrs Weasley's voice.

'So they have been pretending that she is dead all this time,' Harry said quietly. 'I wonder why.'

Draco looked at Cassie, he had been meaning to ask her why she hadn't explained the truth to Harry but had decided to wait until she was better.

'Draco seems different though with her around. He obviously cares deeply about Cassie and I didn't think it was possible for him to feel like that about anyone but himself. He hasn't made fun of any of us since he got here. I haven't heard him say one mud-blood comment to Hermione.'

Cassie looked at Draco in confusion. Draco looked down at the floor shamefully.

'Yes, I have noticed that.'

Draco tried to stop Cassie entering the kitchen but she pushed him aside. Harry was the first to notice her arrive.

'Cassie, it is so good to see you up,' he hugged her but pulled away when she didn't return the hug.

'What does mud-blood mean?' She asked quietly.

'Mud-blood?' Harry asked and found it hard to look in Cassie's eyes.

'Yes, mud-blood. It doesn't sound very nice.'

'No, it isn't but you must know what it means, being from a pure-blooded family,' Ginny said.

'What does it mean, Draco?' Cassie turned to him, her eyes stared at him intently.

'It doesn't matter Cassie,' Draco answered quickly and quietly, his heart sinking as he knew his sister wouldn't let this go.

'Yes it does, tell me, what does it mean?' Draco shook his head unable to answer.

'It's a nasty name for a witch or wizard who is muggle-born,' Ginny spoke up.

'Why would you call someone that?' Cassie asked, Draco could see tears were forming in her eyes.

'Isn't that obvious? Hermione's parents are both muggles, and some think that means people like Hermione shouldn't be allowed to mix with pure-bloods those with magical parents like you. I'm surprised you don't know this,' Ginny shook her head in disbelief as she finished her explanation.

'You think this Draco?' A tear escaped from one of her eyes as Cassie looked desperately at Draco.

'Let me explain..' Draco started although he wasn't sure how he was going to explain exactly.

'I can't believe you believed all that rubbish mother and father told us,' Cassie interrupted and turned away from him.

'Cassie,' Draco said quietly.

'What?' She turned angrily around to face him.

'Please..'

'What do you think of me then? Hey, because in your little hierarchy I am right at the bottom aren't I? Being a muggle and everything, the lowest of the low, that's right Draco isn't it?'

'No... well technically you are a squib anyway,' Draco searched his mind trying to think of something to stop the pain that Cassie was obviously feeling.

'Squib, muggle same difference really. Except it is more acceptable to be a muggle with muggle parents than a squib with magical parents especially in a pure-blood family. I can't believe you let them brainwash you. Let them make you believe that their behaviour towards me was justified.'

'Cassie I didn't...'

'Seems like that to me, every time you called Hermione a mud-blood you were confirming it.' She ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

'Cassie..' Draco ran up the stairs after her.

'Just leave me alone, at the moment I can't even bear to look at you,' Cassie shouted and slammed the door to her room.

Draco rubbed his face with his hands. He thought about following her into the room but knew that she wouldn't appreciate that and walked to his room instead. He walked around for a few minutes not sure what to do before he grabbed his bag from under the bed and started stuffing his clothes into it. He was so intent on this task that he didn't hear the door knock and then open and so was startled by another voice in the room.

'Draco, are you ok?' Ginny asked softly.

'I'm fine, thank you,' Draco lied. He could hardly tell the truth that he felt like the worst person alive.

'What are you doing?'

'Packing,' he gestured to his bag. He was almost done in fact. He travelled lightly these days.

'Why?'

'I was only here to help Cassie get better which she is. She will be much safer here than she was at the Manor with my father knowing.'

'So you are just going to run away again when things get tough like you did at the end of last year after Professor Dumbledore was killed.' Draco flinched at the mention of the former Hogwarts head teacher.

'I don't belong here,' he said simply.

'Cassie needs you,' Ginny's voice was quiet and Draco could tell she was trying to reassure him.

'No, she doesn't,' he turned back to his bag and having placed the last item in it fastened it shut.

'She would have died if you hadn't have helped Harry rescue her. He couldn't have done it without you and we wouldn't have been able to have done anything to help lift the curses which I don't think I am mistaken in thinking that would have killed her.'

'Well if it wasn't for my father then she would never have been in that state.'

'Nevertheless she does need you, Draco,' Ginny touched his arm gently.

He shrugged it away, 'didn't you see the way she looked at me? She hates me.'

'Maybe she does right now but she deserves an explanation. You can't just leave things the way they are.'

'She shouldn't even be here, she shouldn't have got involved. She's a a...' Draco found himself unable to say the word and sat down on the bed.

'Muggle.'Ginny sat down next to him.

'Yes, a muggle.'

'Doesn't make her any less of a person.'

'I know, I know she's a better person then me despite everything.'

'I don't understand. If you know that then why did you pick on Hermione so much at school?' Ginny looked puzzled.

Draco thought carefully before trying to explain, 'you have no idea how ashamed I feel about that. I just had to keep up this act, how I was expected to behave. I know it doesn't excuse my behaviour.'

'You need to explain this to Cassie.'

'If she will listen to me.' Draco wasn't sure that Cassie would listen to him and he was worried about losing his sister all over again.

'I can't believe you are a muggle,' Harry spoke quickly. He had found himself following Cassie and Draco out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He had been surprised that Draco hadn't followed Cassie into her room and instead retreated to his own room. He was still in shock at finding out that Cassie was a muggle. It was so unexpected in lots of ways although in another way it did make sense. It explained why she didn't come to Hogwarts, why she had seemed so trapped at home and partly why her parents had pretended she was dead. She had seemed so hurt by the revelation that Draco had called Hermione a mud-blood. He had walked into her room and spoke without really thinking.

'Why does it bother you as much as it bothers everyone else?' Cassie spat out, she seemed to be shaking with the effort it was taking to hold it together and not break down in tears.

'No.'

'Sorry, Harry,' Cassie tucked her fringe behind her ear as she sat down on her bed with a sigh. She spoke quietly, 'I don't know what to do Harry, I don't know how to put things right between us.'

Harry sat down next to her. Part of him felt so angry at her but another larger part wanted to listen to her story, 'I don't know if you can. You lied to me Cassie, twice. I have told you so much, personal stuff and you have just lied to me.'

'I had to,' she whispered.

'No one has to lie, pretend to be someone else they aren't.'

'Don't they? Then you would have believed me if I had told you that I am a muggle? Sure you would have,' Cassie turned away from him and looked at the wall.

'Yes, I think I would have.'

'Well, I wasn't so sure about that.'

'I can understand more you keeping the fact that you and Draco are siblings a secret.'

'Ah, I had no choice in that,' she turned back to face him.

'What do you mean?' Harry asked in confusion.

'I can't say who I am, that I am a Ma….' Cassie clenched her fists and closed her eyes unable to finish the word.

'See its some kind of spell, can't say it out loud. You don't believe me do you? Mind you why should you, I am just a stupid muggle, what would I know about anything?' She stood up and walked over to the window.

'You are not stupid. I am just finding it hard to take this all in,' it was true. It had been enough coming to terms with Andie really being Cassie and a Malfoy. This added another dimension.

'I should have found a way to tell you but I didn't want to especially when you found out that I was who I was. I really liked the fact that you liked me for who I really was, the person who I am underneath everything and I didn't want to do or say anything to change that,' Cassie rubbed a tear away.

'You are still Cassie.'

'Ummm.'

'You don't have much faith in me being able to look beyond the fact that you are a muggle and a Malfoy.' Despite everything, Harry found himself wanting to comfort Cassie.

'Why should you? No one else ever has,' she shook her head.

'Your parents?' Harry asked even though he expected that he knew the answer.

'Ummmm,' she looked away as another tear tickled down her face.

'When did they find out?'

'That I was a muggle?'

Harry nodded.

'I think that deep down they always had their suspicions. Draco had showed signs of being magical from an early age, whereas I on the other hand didn't. But I think that they just pushed their doubts to one side and the first eleven years of my life were really happy. Draco and I didn't want for anything. Everything was great until, until I didn't get my letter from Hogwarts and Draco did. At first we all thought it was a mistake or something. It had to be a mistake, my family have been wizards and witches for generations and generations. I remember my father dragging us all up to Hogwarts before school started and we had a meeting with Professor Dumbledore. I remember him offering us some sweets and then he said softy something like he knew it would be hard for everyone to accept but I was a muggle and hence had no place at Hogwarts. He was so kind,' Cassie paused as she wiped a tear away impatiently.

'Dad was so cross, he demanded and then begged Professor Dumbledore to just let me come anyway. I would be this big disgrace you see, a scandal that would threaten my family's position in society which was rather fragile given my father's close connections with the Dark Lord. But Professor Dumbledore refused. So that left Mum and Dad with a big problem – what to do with me?'

'So they tried to kill you,' Harry turned round to see that Draco had crept into the room.

'Draco,' Cassie protested.

'Yes, it was. You nearly died,' Draco said.

Cassie took a breath which seemed to compose her slightly before continuing, 'they faked a funeral and everything.'

'Which was nearly real and happened when you were hidden away fighting for your life.'

'Draco,' Cassie voice was unsteady now as tears began to run down her face.

'Tell the truth, Cassie. Harry deserves to know everything,' Draco reached out for Cassie's hand.

'That bit isn't important,' Cassie spoke so quietly that Harry could only just hear her.

'I think it is, they nearly killed you.'

Cassie, pulled her hand away, 'fine, I think we all have the message now. yes, my parents did nearly try and kill me but they just wanted it to look like I was seriously ill.'

'Which you were.'

She interrupted, 'I know, I know. Look can we just leave it at that?'

'Why don't you like talking about it?'

'Because it makes me feel like a freak – who has parents that would do that to them? And... maybe it would have been better if I had died.' Cassie looked at the floor as she said this.

'You can't seriously think that,' Draco reached out for Cassie's arm but she stepped back.

'No course I don't, has never even crossed my mind. That maybe if my parents preferred the idea of me being dead so much that maybe it would have been better if I actually did die. It would have solved a lot of problems and prevented a lot of heartache.'

'Cassie..'

'I thought I had tell the truth.' Cassie and Draco looked intently at each other. Harry allowed them to carry on, it was like he wasn't in the room.

'And you think that even now,' Draco's eyes remained locked on Cassie.

'Maybe even more so. Don't look at me like that I am not suicidal or anything. I wouldn't want all the work you put into making me well again to go to waste after...Father.'

'Has he hurt you like that before?' Harry asked.

Cassie looked surprised at the question and seemed reluctant to answer. Harry stared at her until she nodded, 'yes, not often, but yes he has physically hurt me.'

'Magically? Not including recently?' Draco asked.

Cassie sighed before looking at the floor, 'yes, again not often.'

'I had no idea...' Draco shook his head.

'It wasn't every day or anything far from it. Only if he saw me when he hadn't asked to see me, find one of my belongings, or if I came into contact with Mother or you.'

'You were very brave contacting me,' Harry said his admiration for Cassie showing. The Dursley's had been far from kind to him but there had always been this line that they didn't seem prepared to cross. Cassie's eyes showed the fear that she had obviously felt and still felt when it came to her Father. A Father that should have loved her unconditionally whoever she was. He was beginning to realise how hard it must have been for Cassie to grow up in that atmosphere. She had had to fend for herself and come to terms with being the one thing that a Malfoy simply couldn't be – a muggle.

Cassie replied quietly, 'I had to do something, it seemed like fate that I had overheard the conversation when I was sneaking to the library. Things couldn't have gone on like they were for much longer. I couldn't take it much longer.'

'I just didn't know you were that unhappy,' Draco said.

'I'm not unhappy, ok well not all the time just feel out of place, like I don't belong anywhere. I definitely didn't belong at the Manor.'

'What about at the muggle school Dumbledore suggested you went to?' Draco turned to Harry, 'he was furious when he found out what had happened. He threatened to reveal everything if they didn't take care of her, prevent me from going to Hogwarts. Didn't you belong there?'

'What with my own kind?' Cassie turned away.

'Cassie,' Draco said apologetically.

'Ok, I'm sorry. I didn't belong there, I don't belong anywhere.'

'Is that why you left?' Harry asked

'You left school?' Draco asked.

'Yes after 5th year.'

'How come Harry knew this and I didn't?'

'Because he asked. He wondered why I wasn't at school.'

'But you belonged there.'

'No I didn't, I hated it. Everyone hated me. Do you know what they thought I was? You have to laugh at this, it is so ironic. They thought I was a witch. Ha! As if! No, I was most certainly not a witch even though that the one thing that I wanted most in the world. I didn't fit in you see I didn't care about the same things as they did.'

'So you left.'

'Yes.'

'What have you been doing since then?'

'Stuff,' Cassie shrugged her shoulders.

'Stuff? Draco raised his eyebrow.

'Yes.'

'In other words you have just been moping around at home, doing nothing,' Draco shook his head disapprovingly.

'What else do you expect me to do?' Cassie lifted her hands in frustration.

'Get a job or study somewhere else, something.'

'I don't exist.'

'What do you mean you don't exist? It looks like you are existing to me, you are standing right in front of me unless my eyes deceive me. Maybe you are a ghost,' Draco reached out and touched Cassie on the arm, 'oh no, you are real then.'

'Clever! I have no identity, I am no one. I don't exist on any records. Father made sure of that after I left school,' she shrugged his arm off hers.

'Why?'

'It traps me, without an identity I am dependent on Father, I have to do what he says.'

'You should have stopped him.'

'How exactly was I supposed to do that?' Cassie was sounding increasingly frustrated.

'Well you should have told me,' Draco pointed to himself.

'When Draco? I have hardly seen you for the last six years.'

'That's not true,' he shook his head.

'Oh, so you haven't avoided me every time you were home from school.'

'I I I… But Cassie, there must have been something you could have done. Contacted Dumbledore?'

Cassie shook her head, 'I didn't want to make things worse than they already were. It seemed trivial compared to whatever else he must have been dealing with. I'm just a muggle.'

'You are not just a muggle, you...' Draco said.

'You know, I really don't want to hear any more,' Cassie turned away from them. She wrapped her arms around herself. Her breathing seemed unsteady and Harry thought she was trying desperately not to cry.

'But...'

'No, Draco. I am hurting so much right now and I don't think I can take any more,' a tear rolled down her face.

Draco moved to comfort her, but she stood up, stepped away and put her hands out to stop him.

'Cassie, I care about you more than anyone else in the world. I hate to see you like this. I hate to see what they, what I have done to you, Cassie I'm sorry and I know that isn't nearly enough but I don't know what else to say. I wish I could go back and change things, to spend every minute of the holidays with you because that's what I really wanted to do, to have made sure that you were ok. You are an incredible person and I feel privileged to even know you let alone to be able to call you my sister.'

Cassie seemed unable to hold back the tears any longer as they streamed down her face, 'please, I want to be on my own for a bit.'

Draco started to argue but Harry gestured at him towards the door. He could understand that Cassie wanted some time on her own. Explaining it all to him had probably brought everything back to her and the memories by the sound of it were far from happy.

Draco watched as Harry walked down the stairs. He thought about following but found himself looking back at the closed door of Cassie's room. He wondered about trying to go back in there. There was so much more that he felt he needed to say.

'Draco, she needs to be on her own,' Draco turned round to see Ginny behind him.

'She's crying,' the sound of Cassie sobbing was affecting him in a way that he didn't think was possible.

'Just leave her Draco,' Ginny gently placed her hand on his arm.

'But I want to stop her hurting,' Draco said this without really thinking about what he was saying. He meant it though, at this moment in time he would do anything to stop the pain that Cassie was obviously feeling. She had been so brave, probably always been brave. She had had to be strong.

'I know you do but I think she needs to let it all out now.'

Draco sighed and sat down at the top of the stairs, 'what have I done? She will never forgive me for this.' He placed his head in his hands as Ginny sat down next to him.

'Don't be so sure of that. I think she is just trying to come to terms with everything, I don't think it is just down to you.'

'Well she shouldn't forgive me not for the way I have treated her, for the way I let my parents treated her.'

'You were eleven, you were just following their example, their behaviour.'

'I didn't realise how much I cared about her until Harry asked me to help him rescue her. You should have seen the mess her room was in. She nearly died.'

'I know, but you saved her.'

'Not soon enough, I could kick myself for letting him do it to her again. I should have protected her. She means so much to me, and I didn't even see that until it was too late. I have lost her now,' Draco covered his face with his hands. He felt close to tears.

'Draco, maybe everything will work out for the best,' Ginny said soothingly.

'How can you be so sure?'

'Well maybe I just like the change in you since she has been around and don't want it to go away.'

'Change?' Draco looked up questioningly.

'You can actually see some warmth in your eyes now. I didn't even think you were capable of loving anyone.'

'I suppose I just shut myself off from everyone, I didn't want to get hurt.'

They all left Cassie alone in her room. Draco knew that she would come out or allow someone in when she was ready. He made his excuses from the others and went up to bed early. He didn't think he would be able to sleep so instead laid on top of his bed and tried unsuccessfully to read a book. He was about to give up when he heard a soft knock on the door.

'Come in,' he said.

The door opened and he was surprised to see Cassie. Her eyes were red but she smiled at him, 'hey, can I come in? I haven't woken you up or anything.'

'No, no.' Draco stood up and walked towards her. They stood close to each other for a few moments before Cassie pulled him into a tight embrace.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered.

'You have nothing to apologise for.'

'I think I do, it was just well hearing all of that, saying it all like that, all my life laid bare like that.'

Draco rubbed her shoulders, 'I think I am beginning to realise how tough it must have been for you.'

Cassie bit her lip, 'it hasn't been easy.' She looked around the room and noticed Draco's packed bag by the side of his bed. 'Are you leaving?' Her eyes widened as she asked the question. She sat down on the bed and sighed.

'Do you want me to leave?' Draco sat down beside her.

'No, but then I would understand if you wanted to leave.'

'I have done what I came to do, you are well now.'

Cassie smiled, 'I suppose I ought to think about what to do now.'

'I think you should stay here, for the time being at least.'

'Ummmm.'

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Cassie turned to face Draco, 'Draco?'

'Yes.'

'Would you stay here for the time being as well?'

Draco nodded.

'Does it scare you? The thought of what could be going to happen next?'

He wrapped his arm around her waist and she leant her head against shoulder. He whispered, 'don't tell anyone else but it terrifies me sometimes.'

A/N - A much more 'meaty' chapter which I hope you enjoyed. Why don't you leave a review? :)