Chapter 18

Draco woke and it took him a minute to realize he was laying on the couch in the Common Room. Stretching, he hissed in pain when Delphus'(1) claws dug into his leg to keep his perch. He glared at the cat and it yowled unhappily when he picked it up and dumped it unceremoniously on the floor. Delphus gave a squawk and stalked angrily to Draco and Cassian's shared room. The blond followed the cat, curious to see if his cousin was there.

The cat jumped up on the bed and made itself comfortable on the pillow. The bed was unslept in and still was littered with the contents of Cassian's bag. Frowning, Draco checked the time and got ready for the day. Going down to breakfast, he hoped his cousin would show up. He had asked Blaise last night where Cassian had gone off to after Ancient Runes. The other boy had given him a curious look and stated that Cassian hadn't gone to class. Draco had waited up in the Common Room, wondering what exactly his cousin was up to, and had fallen asleep while waiting.

Looking up at the Head Table he saw that Uncle Severus' scowl was deeper than it usually was. He also sent a suspicious glare at Professor Lupin who sat to the right of him. Draco frowned as he quietly asked the other Third Year Slytherins if they had seen Cassian. None of them had. The last any of them had seen Cassian was during Defense Against the Dark Arts yesterday afternoon.

Turning, Draco looked over at the other three tables. He would ask Hermione, Terry, Dursley, and Longbottom during Transfiguratoin. Maybe one of them had seen Cassian or knew where he had disappeared off to. Glancing up at the Head Table he quickly grabbed his bag and made a hasty retreat out of the Great Hall and down to the greenhouses for Herbology.

In Transfiguration, Draco sent a note when McGonagall's back was turned and she was droning on about Animagi. He first sent it to Granger who read it with a frown and looking at him shook her head. She passed it to Terry who in turn gave it to Dursley and finally to Longbottom. All four of them had replied in the negative. They hadn't seen him either.

When class was over and it was time for lunch, the five walked close together discussing their missing friend. Dudley looked a bit guilty and wondered if he was to blame. Hermione had been concerned since yesterday when Cassian hadn't shown for Ancient Runes. She knew he was rather keen on the subject, or at least, he seemed to be.

Neville who had been quiet since being told of his friend's disappearance, now stopped stock still as he recalled something. "His necklace."

"What?"

"His necklace," Neville repeated, this time louder and with more urgency.

"What about it?" Dudley wanted to know.

"Last year, when the basilisk was petrifying people. I bought a purple crystal."

Dudley remembered that. He had tried to tell Neville he was being silly when he had bought it.

"Well, Cassian told me to keep it but toss the other stuff. He told me how his dad believed in crystal magic."

Seeing the impatient look on Draco's face and the looks on his other friends' faces that clearly asked him where he was going with this, Neville hurriedly stated, "There was a coin too. I asked him about it. He said that his dad put a charm on it so he could always find him."

"A locator charm! That's brilliant! All we have to do is figure out which one Markale used. Good going, Neville!"

Neville blushed and smiled, happy to have been able to contribute. The others talked animatedly and Hermione opted out of going to lunch. She was going to go to the library and see if she could find out which charm was used. The others went to lunch hoping that Cassian would be there. If not, they had decided to join Hermione in the library if she hadn't found the correct charm by then.

Draco frowned. "That's all well and good for you and Dursley, but Longbottom and I have Potions today."

Neville paled at that. He turned wide fearful eyes at the blond Slytherin. "You don't think Professor Snape..."

"What about me, Longbottom?"

The boys' eyes went wide and they all turned to see their dreaded Potions Master standing there, his black gaze, pinning them. Neville nearly whimpered as he and the other two boys turned to the blond Slytherin. Draco had resolved to talk to his Head of House if Cassian hadn't been at lunch, but that was before Longbottom had given them the information he had. Knowing his 'uncle' the way he did though, Draco knew it was time to say something.

"We need to tell you something, Professor," Terry spoke up ignoring the looks he was getting from the other three.

Snape's brow arched. "What is it, Mr. Boot?"

"No one has seen Cassian since yesterday's Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Neville just told us how Cassian has a locator charm on his necklace. We were trying to find which charm it was in order to find him."

Snape's brows drew together before shooting a sharp glance at his Slytherin student. "Not since yesterday?"

Draco swallowed and averted his eyes.

"From what we've gathered, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Boot. I suggest the three of you go to the Great Hall for lunch. Mr. Malfoy, we will talk later."

"Yes, Professor."

As their professor strode away, Draco glared at Terry. "What'd you tell him that for?"

Terry was unfazed by the blond's anger. "Because, he hasn't been seen since yesterday. Black's already been in the castle once."

Dudley paled at that while Draco frowned. "What has that got to do with anything?"

"Black is a convicted murderer. We know he doesn't hesitate to kill anyone who gets in his way. What if Black got into the castle again and Cassian had crossed his path? Black would want to do away with any witnesses, wouldn't he?"

While they were talking, Severus had gone to an isolated corridor before muttering, "Situs, Cassian." (2)

A pale thin vapor like thread wound its way out of the man's wand and began snaking it's way among the halls. Severus followed it as it made it's way towards the fourth floor. It went under a door and when Severus' hand touched the handle he pulled it back with a hiss. The door was warded. More than likely the boy knew he was here now. He waited but there was no movement from within.

Narrowing his eyes, Severus flicked his wand testing the spell keeping him out. The boy knew how to construct a barrier that was for sure. The usual counter spells and charms did nothing to weaken the wards. He had even tried a blasting curse just to see what would happen to see the curse fizzled out before hitting the door. Apparently the boy had warded the walls as well as a precaution.

Recalling some of the books' nature he'd found last year in the abandoned dungeon classroom, Snape's eyes narrowed even more. Raising his wand he uttered a dark spell and felt when the spell keeping him from entering dissolved. Reaching out, he touched the door and yanked it open.

His black eyes swept the room and immediately found the prone form of his student who was occasionally twitching. Severus went and saw the boy's eyes were moving rapidly under the lids. His breathing was erratic as if he was on the edge of a panic attack. Although how that was even possible while being unconscious, Severus hadn't any idea. Quickly he flicked his wand sending for the Headmaster as well as for Pomfrey. The mediwitch should know how to sort this out.

"Idiot boy!" Severus growled as he glared at the boy. Going over to the potions, he used some vials to get samples, even though he was sure he knew what some of them were. Looking at the small cauldron of thick almost smokey colored potion, his eyes snapped back to the boy. This was the one that was most likely the culprit of the boy's current condition.

Pomfrey and Dumbledore arrived almost simultaneously. While Pomfrey cast diagnostic spells on the boy, Severus showed the vial to the Headmaster whose blue eyes became worried and lost a bit of their twinkle. While Snape told the older man what he did know and what he guessed, Pomfrey was trying to find out what was wrong with her patient. She had tried an Enervate, but there was no response to the spell.

"Professors!"

The men's heads whipped around to her. Cassian was now violently trembling, shallow fast breaths indicating someone who was terrified. Tears were streaming down his face from his closed lids. Pomfrey wanted to try and coax a Calming Draught down the boy's throat, but Severus advised against it. Both knew that they had no idea what Potion Cassian had drunk, so didn't know what side effects would be the result of combining it with any other potion.

Looking at the vial in the Potion Master's hand, Dumbledore asked him if he had any idea what it could be. Severus shook his head replying that he'd have to see if he could break down it's contents or at least try and find out some of the ingredients by what was in the room.

"It would be easier if the boy notations of what he was working on."

Which was strange, Severus thought. He would thought that he had read Ashwood correctly. And when he had sized the boy up by watching and observing him, knew that Cassian was very methodical when it came to Potions. The boy was always very careful and making notes in his books. Scanning the room he couldn't help but frown at the lack of such a book.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The door to the Potions classroom slammed causing the students to jump. Draco swallowed as the man made his way to the front of the classroom. The anger was practically radiating off of him. Neville barely contained his whimper of fear.

The class period went tensely and the Gryffindors couldn't help but be glad when class was done for the day. As Severus stood in front of the class, he dismissed the Gryffindors but held his Slytherins behind. He stood in front of the class, his black eyes swept over from one Slytherin to the next, freezing them with his glare, as he searched their eyes. As he did so he began to speak coldly.

"I'm sure you are all aware by now that one of your classmates is missing. The reason is because he did something very foolish and is now in the hospital wing. I am very aware that one o f you knows the cause of his condition. It would be prudent and in his and your best interest to come forward."

His black eyes glittered as he told them, "You will all remain here until I dismiss you."

Severus watched every tiny movement his students made. He certainly wasn't happy with them. One by one, he called his students up to his desk and spoke softly with them. Some like Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent were dismissed quickly. Others he spoke longer to like Daphne, before allowing her to leave. Soon it was only Draco and Theo left.

"Mr. Malfoy."

Swallowing, Draco stood and approached his godfather. He couldn't suppress the shiver from the cold angry gaze. Snape told him to recount his interactions with Cassian for the last week. Draco frowned but did so. The blond's brows furrowed. "He's been acting strange since Monday."

At his professor's look to elaborate, Draco recounted his cousin's behavior. Frowning, Draco sighed and told the man about the discrepancy between how Cassian reacted about personal belongings from when he was a child, to how he acted monday night. That was when he had begun to distance himself from his friends and began to eye the Slytherins with suspicion.

"What happened in your DADA class, Draco?"

"Lupin held him back. Said he wanted a word with him. Cassian didn't look like he wanted to, but he stayed." Draco told him about asking Blaise about him, then waiting up for him.

Severus' eyes were very cold as he dismissed Draco and gazed at his last remaining student. Draco swallowed and only sparing Theo a look over his shoulder, left the classroom. He was surprised to see Longbottom waiting. The Gryffindor told him that he thought they could let the others in their study group know about Cassian and visit him in hospital.

Inside the classroom. Snape strode over to his student's desk and stood intimidatingly over him. The teen shifted as he nervously gazed up at his professor. Theo had debated for the past week about confronting Cassian about the journals he found. He hadn't originally meant to be nosy. He had been in the library talking with the librarian when he'd heard his fellow Slytherin arguing with the Hufflepuff. He watched as Cassian bolted from the library and how the Hufflepuff left soon after.

Theo had gone and picked up Cassian's books to put them in his bag to return to him, when he noticed something odd about one of the books. The writing from the book that was open made his eyes hurt. It was as if the words were trying to rearrange themselves. When he blinked it was gone, but Theo wanted to know what he had seen. So, he had taken Cassian's books and bag. He had put the bag in Draco and Cassian's room but kept the books.

For the past week he'd gone over the books but had only been able to disillusion one of the books. It was Cassian's Potion Journal. Theo had been amazed at all the notations and comments. It was filled with Potions that Theo hadn't even heard of.

He'd wondered what Cassian would do when he saw the books were missing, but he hadn't done anything. He hadn't mentioned it. It was as if he knew that whomever had it, was waiting, which Theo had been. He'd been thinking like a typical Slytherin, and trying to figure out how he could best use what he'd found out.

Since he was a Slytherin, Theo knew when to cut his losses. Wordlessly he pulled out Ashwood's journals and handed them to his professor.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

It was cold. He felt as if he'd never be warm again. He shivered even with the pile of charmed blankets on him. His breathing was ragged and it hurt to breathe. Harry was looking at him worriedly from where he sat between Cassian and the wall. Cassian breathed in and moaned in pain. His fevered eyes looked around.

'Where are we?'

"We're still at the B&B.(3) Markale went to get some potion ingredients."

'Oh.' Cassian shivered and huddled in the blankets. He could feel his pajamas sticking to him from sweat, but couldn't feel the heat from the raging fire in the fireplace. He'd been sick for a few days and he wasn't getting any better.

Markale had told him he had contacted some wizard bug, and immediately bundled Cassian up and they had come here. Markale hadn't wanted to leave him at home with Lucretia. For that, Cassian would be forever grateful.

When Cassian awoke again it was because Markale was handling him roughly. Blearily he opened his eyes to see his father kept glancing at the door, window, and fireplace as if he expected to be attacked at any moment.

"Come on, Cassian. We need to leave."

Markale continued to dress Cassian, who felt really weak and as if his limbs were weighted down. Shoving a wool cap on his head, Markale picked him up. Cassian wrapped his arms around the man's neck, his legs circling Markale's waist.

"Here." Markale handed Cassian his wand and pulled out his own. "What have I always told you?"

"Be ready for anything," Cassian croakingly replied.

"That's right. And right now, you need to be alert."

Cassian wanted to ask why, what had happened, but couldn't summon up the energy to ask. He made sure that he held onto his father and not fall asleep as he so wanted to do. Markale quickly made his way out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the B&B. Cassian gazed at the owner who was gazing worriedly and confusedly after them.

0o0o0o0

Harry had finally been able to convince Cassian to run away. He worriedly stood guard and whispered encouragements as Cassian tried to move. Every small movement caused pain to flare throughout his small frame. Everywhere and everything hurt. Snapping his eyes open he just saw darkness all around him. Despair returned in full force as he realized he was still in the cellar that had been converted to be cells. He tried to shut his eyes so he could sink back into his dream, but was shaken roughly.

"No!" Hissed Harry urgently. "Didn't we agree that we wouldn't give that woman the satisfaction that she nearly broke you!"

Slowly, painfully, and with Harry's help, Cassian was able to climb to his feet after the fourth attempt. Carefully and quietly they made their way up the stairs, and to the front door. He set his hand on the first deadbolt and undid it. Pausing he listened, heart beating fast. Unlocking the second he stared at the doorknob in his grip. Freedom lay outside the door, and yet, he hesitated. Feeling Harry's impatience, he pulled the door open, stepped through the doorway thinking, 'Anywhere is better than here. It has to be.'

His resolve hardened and with every step he took away from the hated house and the woman that inhabited it. Taking one step then another, he trudged aided by Harry. He was battered and in pain but was beginning to feel a sense of release and lightness that he'd never felt before. He was free! He began to chuckle which turned to a full blown laughter attack. He continued to laugh maniacally until he began to cry and sob.

0o0o0o0

Dodging a curse the ten year old looked over his shoulder at the witch chasing him. The woman easily kept up with her long legged strides and she was grinning as she fired off another curse at Cassian. He stumbled as the spell hit him, but didn't go down. Instead he continued running over the uneven ground. He was breathing raggedly since he was very exhausted. He'd been running most of the day.

He wouldn't go back, ever! Snarling, he spun and fired off a particularly nasty curse. Ducking behind a tree he pulled out a vial of thick green slime. Peeking out he spotted his enemy and threw the vial into the air and watched as the witch cast a spell at the vial. A grin stole across his face as the glass broke and showed the surrounding area in the green slime. His grin broadened as the slime spread and continue to grow, consuming everything around it. It would continue to spread until it was stopped, and only Cassian knew the secret on how to do that. It was kind of funny that the only way to banish the green goop was to dump grape soda (4) on it.

Cassian watched in fascination as the woman continued to get sucked up in the goop. She was screaming and Harry was averting his eyes. Then locking eyes on him, she glared and began to scream and insult him. Some of the barbs made him flinch and he felt himself shaking. Glaring at her, he leveled his wand at her.

"Cass," Harry pleaded.

Cassian frowned. He wanted the woman to suffer. In fact, he wanted to inflict more pain on her before the goop reached her head and suffocated her. Harry on the other hand thought she had suffered enough.

Glaring at the woman he muttered to Harry, "Fine, but only because you are asking it of me." Face and voice full of hatred, Cassian waved his wand and spoke the words of the Killing Curse.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"That stupid boy brewed a banned potion!"

"How bad is it, Severus?"

Black eyes glared at the Headmaster. They were in the hospital wing with Pomfrey. "As bad as it can get. There was a reason why Pensieves were invented."

Dumbledore's eyes widened. "It was that potion?"

Snape nodded. Pomfrey looked from one to the other not understanding. Seeing this, Snape growled out, "Penseieves allow you to view memories as an unaffected observer whether it be your own memory or someone elses. The potion the brat brewed was actually makes one relive the memory as if they were experiencing it first hand all over again. The mind believes what is happening so the body responds to the mental stimuli. When the effects were documented,someone saw the potential for it. After some 'tests' it became common use to use for interrogation and torture. Until it was banned."

Pomfrey gasped. "You mean that boy will have to relive watching his father..."

Snape nodded, eyes hard. He didn't believe that was the worst the boy had experienced. Not by a long shot.

Dumbledore's voice was quiet as he instructed the mediwitch to get in contact with 's. The boy would obviously need a mind healer when he woke.

0o00o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A.N. - (1) This is the name I've decided to go with for the cat

(2) Locate Cassian

(3)Bed & Breakfast (wasn't sure if everyone knew what that was)

(4)I got this from a book I read a long time ago that I found in a bargain bin. It was a choose your own adventure story. The slime really did die when you dumped grape soda on on it.

POLL RESULTS

Daphne-27

Luna-24

None-6

Hermione-5

Other-1