There was a collective gasp within Diagon Ally at what Cassandra said. She recognized Lucius' hair that day her life completely changed. Lucius Malfoy stared at the Muggle with extreme hatred. How dare this Muggle bitch try to blow his cover, he thought. Being a pureblood, he held his chin up high and would make her embarrass herself. A lump grew in Harry's throat. He loved Cassandra's boldness but he didn't want anything tragic to happen. He heard Lucius' voice.
"I have no idea what you are on about."
"Liar, you know damn well what I'm talking about!"
"Harry, I suggest you tell your Muggle to know her place before she will regret it." Cassandra heard Pansy snigger in the background.
"Draco, tell your little pit bull to quiet down."
"You little Muggle bitch!" Pansy was running towards her when Lucius stopped her.
"C'mon over here and get your ass beat again." Cassandra was daring Pansy to try to fight her. She's been in plenty of fights in her high school days in Atlanta.
Harry liked the fact that Cassandra was not like many Muggle girl he's dated. She was fearless but Harry could tell she was terrified. Cassandra stood her ground as she saw the very man who tried to kill her and her husband flat out deny his involvement. Ron and Hermione shared cautionary glances in case Lucius or Draco tried anything. Hermione supported Harry's marriage with Cassandra, but she should talk to him about Cassandra's outspokenness.
"Now, now Pansy. No need wasting your energy on this lying Muggle whore."
"That's it? That's all you can call me? Yes, we all established I'm a Muggle by now. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia…I get called worse things by the Klu Klux Klan. Come to think of it…Death Eaters and the KKK have a lot in common…."
"Enough!" Lucius' voice boomed with anger. He had all he could take from Harry's bitch. He pulled out his wand. Her eyes grew wide with fear.
"Touch her and I swear I'll murder you!" Ron had to hold Harry back.
"Is that a threat?" he locked eyes with Harry. He could tell Harry meant every word so he placed his wand back in his cane. "Come along, Draco."
After Draco and Pansy walked on with Lucius, the crowd stood still with mouths agape at the scene that laid before them. Cassandra could hear the whispers of the crowd and she knew it was about her. Hermione knew the crowd were a mix of pureblood, half-blood, and Muggle-born wizards. She knew all eyes were on Cassandra. Suddenly, she saw Ginny standing in the crowd.
"Hey!" everyone was shocked to hear Ginny magnify her voice. "Leave her alone! Are the lot of you just going to stand there or are you going to move on?" with that said everybody in the crowd dispersed. Ginny walked towards Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Cassandra.
"Thanks, Ginny." Hermione said while clasping a hand on Ginny's shoulder. It took a minute for Cassandra to recover from almost being cursed.
"Yeah…thank you."
"You're either the bravest or the stupidest Muggle I have ever met."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"
"Look, I'm not happy that you're married to Harry…but it took courage for a Muggle to say things even the most experienced of Wizards are afraid to say."
"Thanks…I think."
"Just don't make a habit of snogging Harry in front of me. Harry was my first love and always will be…." she walked off. Cassandra had to shrug at Ginny for that comment. She turned to Harry who walked up to her.
"You take the girl out of Atlanta…but you can't take the Atlanta out of the girl."
"What happened here?" Molly joined everybody in the middle of the street.
"Um…I sort of said that Lucius is a Death Eater…."
"Oh dear…Harry, can I talk to you for a bit?" she grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. "Are you bloody mad? Why didn't you stop Cassandra from yelling that out in the street!"
"What? I didn't know Lucius Malfoy was going to show up. It was Draco's fault anyways."
"What happened?"
"Cassandra accidentally bumped into Draco. He thought it was just a random person…then he saw me. He was going on about how Cassandra was my pet because she's a Muggle and…."
"Harry, you don't have to explain what happened. Mrs. Weasley it's all my fault. I overreacted but I think I was in good reason. I haven't really gotten used to people calling me a Muggle all the time. I snapped."
"Molly, don't be angry with Cassandra." Harry pleaded. Hermione listened to the conversation and she had to intervene.
"Harry, Mrs. Weasley is right. Though I'm glad someone had to say it…Cassandra might be a target for not only Mr. Malfoy but for you-know-who as well…."
Those words were sobering for Harry. Cassandra looked at his worried expression and quickly didn't feel too confident like she did a few minutes ago. Molly had agreed that everyone should head back to their homes. They went back to the Leaky Cauldron only to use Floo Powder once more. Once there, Cassandra was too afraid to talk to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Hermione said a couple of spells and charms and in an instant dinner was made. Cassandra didn't want to eat so she trudged upstairs. Harry glanced at Hermione and she nodded to him to follow her.
"Cassandra, are you okay?"
"No. Harry, I fucked up didn't I?"
"Cassandra…Hermione and Mrs. Weasley are right. I'm not saying that I am not proud of you…but…we aren't in Atlanta anymore."
"You don't think I don't know that? I am constantly reminded that I'm a damn outsider! You never even considered the fact that I might just miss being in Atlanta! At least there I won't be fucking stared at for not wearing a cloak."
"I know you miss being in Atlanta, but we can't go back there…not now at least."
"Why? You can run away from people you knew…I can't." with those words said Cassandra knew it hurt him. "Harry…I'm so sorry…."
"No, it's alright. I'm the bloody coward that chose to leave…for fuck's sake I went to another country. I know it is hard for you to adjust, and I'm not asking you to abandon your life and friends there…."
"But…."
"But it is too risky to go back unless I know, for sure, that Voldemort is dead. I promise if we both make it out alive I promise you that vacation we originally planned."
"You better…." she started to smile. "So, are you gonna make it up to me now with a foot massage? Those cobble stones are not ideal for stiletto heels."
"Fine…."
Cassandra sat on the bed and pulled off her shoes. She was telling Harry the truth. Her feet screamed in pain. Harry chuckled at her face as she looked at her damaged feet. He pulled a chair close to the bed and grabbed her foot. He gently massaged her foot hearing Cassandra sigh in relief. Harry started rubbing her ankles and working his way up her legs. She threw her head back with a moan and sank down on the bed. Suddenly, she heard a noise outside the window. Harry turned around and saw that it was an owl carrying a letter. The owl dropped the letter on a desk and flew away. Cassandra's eyes grew wide as she saw the letter form into a face:
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are here to inform you that you, along with your significant other, to report to the Ministry of Magic for the violation of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. This states that you performed magic in front of an unsuspecting Muggle. Please report to the ministry at 9:00am sharp tomorrow morning.
Thanks and salutations,
M.o.M
"Harry, we heard a noise." Hermione and Ron rushed up to the bedroom.
"I got a letter from the Ministry of Magic. They want me and Cassandra to be there at 9:00 tomorrow morning."
"For what?"
"Using magic in front of Cassandra."