C. M. Black: Eyes of an Owl
Chapter XIII: Umbridge the Inquisitor
Eyes followed through the corridors, through the halls, and down across the tables, over the heads of other students and even the occasional drifting stare of the Professors. There were stunted whispers from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, Slytherin were excited and noisy, while Gryffindor House had the decency to look uncomfortable as they discussed what was to be the new favourite theme of the week.
Slytherins of all ages turned to peer across to the Gryffindor table. Some heads were turned only a fraction, whereas others turned openly, some sneering and others laughing. Each one was judging. They were all judging, some silently, some not. Each was evaluating worth, or rather, re-evaluating in light of the most interesting news they had received to sink their teeth into since the initial glee at Harry's unfavourable title as a liar and his incident with the delightful Professor Umbridge. Their eyes were fixed on Cassy. Their words were of her mother.
Cassy did not flinch. In fact, she was not paying the slightest bit of attention to their stares. One hand was fixed on the morning newspaper and the other was slowly spooning porridge into her mouth as she scoured the page from top to bottom. Despite wanting to sigh and scowl deeply at the lines of drivel the Ministry had promoted, she could not in the fear someone would mistake it for irritation at another source; the last thing she wanted to do was to accidentally give a sign of weakness to the students. It would be honed in on, pulled into view, used to pull her apart from the inside out as with all apparent flaws. Her position as a Black was stopping the teasing. She had too much money, too rich from Alphard's inheritance and the money landed to her from the title of the last named Black free and alive. She was too smart too. Too smart and with too much money for many to think to tease her quite as mercilessly as she knew they wanted to.
Cassy was weak though. Despite the power, she had glaring weaknesses and she knew it was only a matter of time before everyone fell onto one side or another about them. She was not of age, she had no family to pitch her case to those influential people, and she was close to Harry Potter, who the newly instated Professor loathed openly. She had weaknesses, but Cassy was not going to let them show; not now.
From the depths of the pages of the Daily Prophet, Cassy glanced up. Straight away, as if sensing him there, her deep blue eyes met with Draco Malfoy's sharp grey. They held each other's gaze for a few seconds. Suddenly, Cassy's back straightened, her head was held a little higher, prouder, and more confident despite not having him there for the first time in her life. She had lost her Slytherin immunity, but somehow she felt taller for it. She turned away first, a smiled pulled at her lips although the words that followed did not quite match the expression. Malfoy did not need to know that.
'The Ministry must be quite proud of themselves,' she said and tapped the newspaper with her long fingers.
'"Ministry seeks educational reform – Dolores Umbridge appointed first ever High Inquisitor",' said Hermione as she re-read the title of the front page. 'How ridiculous. I can't believe they've done this. I mean, I can - but really! That woman of all people! Then again, Fudge is hardly a shining star.'
'It's terrible, isn't it?' said Cassy, her eyebrows raised shortly in resignation.
Hermione shook her head fiercely. 'It's outrageous.'
Cassy re-read the first paragraph, her chin resting on her hand lazily.
In a surprising move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"The Minister has been growing uneasy about going-ons at Hogwarts for some time," said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. "He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve of."
'Well, they got a Weasley's name right in the paper for the first time,' commented Cassy blandly.
'The one time I would rather not be associated,' grumbled Ginny beside her.
'I don't know who they're kidding saying "This is not the first time in recent weeks that the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, has used new laws to effect improvements at the wizarding school",' said Seamus down the table. 'I mean, what improvements have there been? '
Cassy moved her eyes to where they were reading.
As recently as 30th August, Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current Headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person.
'Considering it's followed by: "That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed", I don't see any improvement,' said Harry grimly.
The fifth-year Gryffindors sniggered up and down the table, but they all held worry in their smiles. The article did not end on the notice of new laws, but rather what the law was. It came into effect immediately and Cassy was not surprised to see Professor Umbridge merrily eating breakfast at the head table. As High Inquisitor, Professor Umbridge was granted powers to inspect other classes to ensure high-quality teaching. It was her judgement if the staff stayed or went.
Cassy cast a long sideways at Harry. He stared back with interest at her thoughtful, of not somewhat carefully blank face.
'Professor Umbridge is inspecting classes. She hates half-breeds,' said Cassy levelly.
It took only a second for a look of comprehension.
'Oh, she better not try and sack Hagrid,' he hissed under his breath.
'She can't just sack Hagrid, Dumbledore wouldn't let her,' said Neville with a frown.
'I don't think he has much of a say anymore,' said Hermione coolly. 'Besides, he's not here at the moment to be sacked.'
'At least she can't be as awful as usual while she's inspecting. I mean, there's no way Professor McGonagall or even Snape would let her get away with it,' Neville said, slightly brighter than the others.
'Oh, if she fires Snape it will all be worth it,' muttered Harry.
Cassy gave him a very doubtful half-smile.
The first lesson of the day was History of Magic. Professor Umbridge was not present and honestly Cassy could not see the ghost lasting through more than a minute of one before he was ousted from his post. Although, she thought as the same point was repeated for the fourth time that hour, it was not as if Professor Binns would even take notice. Another teacher could come in and he would continue as normal, speaking over them mindlessly in his usual, dull tones until they could not stand it any longer. Professor Binns would prevail, that was certain.
Another teacher Cassy was not concerned for was Professor Snape. A mixture of distaste for his existence and an unwilling belief that if anyone was to support his harsh, unchanging teaching method it would be Professor Umbridge. She would certainly loath him as a person, after all, he was a known former Death Eater only vouched for by Professor Dumbledore, but he was a teacher Cassy was sure would remain to her disappointment.
Like History of Magic, Potions was not inspected. Cassy was only partially listening to his short, drawling introduction to the task. Her mind was on Shandy, who once again had been lurking at the edge of Cassy's peripheral vision as she walked through the corridors with her friends during changeover. He had said nothing. He had simply stared, a small smile on his face. It was almost worse than his conceited conversations and his cocky strut from the year before. It was harder to tell what he wanted, if anything at all.
The lesson progressed smoothly. Neville even managed to turn in a potion for grading that had the vague colouration specified and Harry had once again outdone himself, his potion appearing perfect to Cassy's appraising eye. When she leant over to ask him what his sudden improvement was down to, he merely shrugged.
'I just think if I want to be an Auror, I need to be getting good grades,' he whispered back easily.
It was a lie, her gut told her, but she said nothing else. She resigned herself to being impressed and turned her attention back to the freshly marked homework. She turned the parchment over to see a tiny, red 'E' in the upper corner. Stomach sinking with disappointment, Cassy turned to spy Hermione's mark where she sat on the desk behind her. Quickly, the parchment was torn from view, but not before Cassy saw a flash of an 'A'.
Hermione's grade hardly made Cassy feel any better. She had wanted an 'O'. She wanted the best grade for her best subject.
Beside her, Harry tucked his homework roughly into his bag. Cassy pretended not to notice; he must have received a poor grade, but for the tiny effort he put in, he could probably not expect anything more. Despite having surprising moments in class, Harry's homework ethic was worse than ever with his constant battles with Professor Umbridge.
'Remind me to work harder,' said Harry lowly as they all rose to leave.
Cassy's mind was consumed with ways to boost her grade on their newest essay, so much that she only barely registered the Slytherins that chortled as she passed. The loudest, closest one was a friend of Shandy's, she was sure of it. She paid them no mind, listening to their jeers with only one ear. It did not matter what they said. Cassy had enough low voices in her mind to last her a lifetime. What they said aloud was hardly worse than her own thoughts.
'You all should watch out, lest she goes the way of her mother. What a mess that would be on your hands,' said a cheerful, loud voice from across the Entrance Hall.
Shandy was not being subtle at all anymore.
Harry moved to confront Shandy, his shoulders squared and his teeth barred dangerously.
'Shut up,' he hissed. 'You don't know what you're talking about.'
Ridicule of madness was hardly a concern compared to the fear of it Cassy had carried with her most of her life, she considered dully. The Slytherins telling her she had the potential to be deranged was hardly anything compared to the Boggart she saw two years ago. That felt like madness.
'Cassy, are you all right?'
Cassy looked up suddenly. Shandy was gone and Harry's bright green eyes were narrowed in concern. Blankly, she had been staring at a distant stone pillar, oblivious to the world outside of her thoughts. She frowned inwardly. Why did it matter? She would not normally care for the ridicule, but since term had begun she had felt the force of it so strongly, like a hundred nails piercing her skin with each comment and each stare. Not even just those of her mother though, anything aimed at her was suddenly offensive, but not the kind to cause anger. She just felt tired. She was always tired.
'I'm fine,' she said shortly.
'We thought you were about to get into a fist fight there, Harry,' came another disembodied voice.
Everyone turned to see Fred and George lingering on the stairs. Their eyebrows were raised, but they appeared somewhat amused none the less.
'Yeah, a good old fisticuffs,' said Fred. 'What was that all about?'
Harry hesitated and glanced down at Cassy. She sighed, the weight of everyone's eyes on her crumbling any resolve she had had to say otherwise.
'Draco has been spreading rumours about my mother,' she said levelly. 'The Slytherins find her most hilarious.'
'He's a berk,' said Fred and George together.
'There's nothing wrong with your mum being a Muggle,' said Hermione, scowling.
'That's not the issue,' said Cassy, her voice suddenly dropped very low, forcing the others to lean in close to hear. She spoke clinically. 'My mother was institutionalised after my birth because of an unsettling fear created by her exposure to the magical world during the First Wizarding War. The Slytherins took advantage of this and Draco has told them all she killed herself from it, when in reality she died from illness one winter.'
Everyone but Harry turned to gape at her. Students passed them without a single glance, but there was a sudden sensation of over-crowding and everyone shifted awkwardly where they stood. There was no apt response for what she had said, there was no comfort to share because there was no positive in what had happened. In the end, Neville was the first to speak.
'You never told me that about your mum,' he said, softly.
'You never told me about your parents,' she responded. 'There are some things that you simply do not mention freely.'
'We did wonder from last year how you were a half-blood,' said Fred.
'We thought your mum was probably a half-blood herself,' finished George, his hands tucked into his pockets.
'Full Muggle,' said Cassy. She did not turn on her heel and exit into the Great Hall as she wanted, she could see on their faces that there was something else they wanted to ask. She stared between them and let out a long, deep sigh. 'Ask then, don't just stand there.'
Everyone looked between one another for a second, before Hermione eventually asked.
'What do you mean your mother had an adverse reaction to magic?'
The relief and curiosity on everyone else's faces made it clear how much they had all wanted to ask. On the other hand, Harry stood with his jaw set tightly. He was frowning down at Hermione with an unfamiliar expression, although clearly not pleased she had asked. Cassy had told him openly and she was under the impression that if she had not done, he would never had questioned it.
With a slight shift in the weight on her feet, Cassy explained shortly what had happened to her mother. It was brief, only outlining her fear and confusion, her reluctance to allow anyone to see Cassy as a baby, her anger that Cassy was not with her father and how she considered the Blacks to evil, vile men and women. It was not nearly as extensive as it had been to Harry and Cassy did not feel she wanted it to be. She did not want to reveal her mother's deepest fears in the middle of a hall as students and staff passed around her. Her voice was as steady as a low murmur could be.
'I left and I was never to return. I last saw her when I was five and I have only two memories of her,' finished Cassy. Yet, in her mind it was as clear as day, the nervous, smiling and ever so beautiful face of her mother flicked in front of her, crouched down to meet her height in the early afternoon light; she had two memories, but they were potent and real and Cassy expected them to never fade.
With those words, Cassy did turn to enter the hall silently. Her friends sat around her, uneasily falling into another topic of conversation, all but Harry. He gave her a reassuring half-smile, but Cassy did not return it. She no longer felt like eating lunch. She picked at and moved her food, forcing herself to eat at least half before she gave in and headed to Ancient Runes early. She would leave them to talk about her mother when she was long out of earshot, she knew they wanted to, it was only natural, but she would rather leave that to her imagination than sit through another conversation. She had nothing more to say on it. She did not know her mother; she knew her even less than she knew her father and sometimes even their distant relationship played on her mind. Surely, she reasoned, she could ask her father about her mother, but then, if they were not close themselves, Cassy could not reasonably bring up such a sensitive topic. She did not want to risk her father becoming irritated with her, not now. It was easier never to think about her.
Cassy heaved a heavy sigh when her feet drew to a halt outside of the classroom. Sigh seemed to be all she did lately. Drawing the textbook from her bag, Cassy leant against the wall and flicked through its pages. Her mind became so busy absorbing and reiterating that her family was pushed to one side, back into the corner it had always been in.
Footsteps eventually sounded, they echoed down the long corridor, closer and closer until they stopped beside Cassy. She did not need to look up to know how it was who dropped their bag onto the ground beside her feet.
'I wonder if we will have Umbridge's inspection today,' said Hermione conversationally.
It took Cassy a second to reply. She had almost expected a different topic, but keen to keep it away, she merely turned her head towards her bushy-haired friend at gave a flat, unwanted stare.
'I hope not,' she said blandly. 'I am not sure I want to hear her nonsense today.'
'Fred and George said she was just in their Charms class before lunch. She just wanders around the class to ask a few questions of what students think of it and how they are getting on. She takes notes at the back of the class and talks to the Professor afterwards, apparently,' explained Hermione.
As it was, Professor Umbridge was not present in Ancient Runes that day. The lesson on Warding was uninterrupted and somewhat fascinating for Cassy, but she did not let her excitement build too much, for after Ancient Runes was Defence Against the Dark Arts with Umbridge herself.
Professor Umbridge beamed at them as usual when they entered her classroom in a thin and tidy line. Cassy, Harry, Neville, and Hermione hung back, grabbing seats farther back than they would normally sit and sat at their individual desks in a row near the back of the class. The other Gryffindor's sat in front of them to act as an unbeknownst barrier between Harry and Professor Umbridge.
'What's up with these seats?' hissed Ron as he leant back on his chair. 'Since when has Defence had individual desks?'
'Since Umbridge began to fear unity,' mumbled back Hermione.
Cassy laughed.
It was of no surprise when Professor Umbridge instructed them to begin reading Chapter two of their textbook. They had never done anything else besides take notes. The text was boring. It was not even the same kind of tedious rambling that Cassy had become accustomed to through her lessons as a child. She did not gain knowledge from it; if anything, she felt like she was losing knowledge as it fled through her skull to escape the company of the unintelligent arguments and bias narrative held within the pages.
After reading the first five sides, Cassy glanced up. If she was bored, she knew that Harry and Neville would likely be going out of their minds, and that poor Ron sat in front would likely be asleep, but when she did, she noticed that Harry was not staring blankly down at his desk, but rather with peculiar interest over in Hermione's direction. She had her hand up; her book was closed.
There was a silent battle waging between the wills of Hermione and Professor Umbridge. Hermione's hand did not waver. It remained high in the air for five minutes after Cassy had given up on the task and in that time Neville and Ron had turned to look as the latter let his head drift back to the window in longing. With his head turned, it did not take Dean and Seamus long to notice and soon the entire class was looking between Hermione and Professor Umbridge, waiting for one to crack.
As the scraping of quills stopped, Professor Umbridge looked up. She then smiled.
'Yes, dear?' she said, as if she had just noticed Hermione's high hand.
'I've read the chapter,' said Hermione.
'Then proceed to the next one,' said Professor Umbridge.
'I've read that too,' said Hermione.
Cassy angled her head so her eyes could flick easily between Hermione and Professor Umbridge. Cassy knew what was going to be said next, but it was futile. Nothing would be moved onwards from it, unless that was what Hermione was intending to prove. She was not stupid, she could not expect a change in the Professor, but she could in the students. It was clever.
'In fact, I've read the whole book,' continued Hermione. Her lips were pursed just slightly.
'Recite what Slinkhard says about counter-curses in Chapter fifteen,' demanded Professor Umbridge quickly.
'That "counter-curse" is nothing but a word used to make jinxes more acceptable,' said Hermione, 'but I disagree. They are vital in defensive situations.'
'Your opinion in this class does not matter, Miss Granger. You are neither the teacher, nor the minister who set this curriculum. Your opinion is irrelevant to this class. Five points for disruption,' stated Professor Umbridge coolly.
Hermione pursed her lips a bit farther, but she did not look nearly as upset as she would have for any other deduction. A small hiss sounded around from her fellow Gryffindors.
'The Ministry approved curriculum does not give room for students to express their opinion of matters they do not understand. Although other Professors may allow it, none, with the exception of Professor Quirrell, taught age-appropriate material,' continued Professor Umbridge. A smug smile was beginning to pull on her wide, pink mouth.
'Yeah, well, the problem with him was the fact that he had Voldemort's face sticking out the back of his head,' called Harry, so flat and sarcastic that Cassy actually wanted to laugh.
Another round of hisses, this time of shock, filled the room.
'Detention tonight, Mr Potter. Another week should do it,' snapped Professor Umbridge. 'Now, everyone, back to work. Not another word from you.'
Harry did not pick up his quill. Neither did Hermione, her head held high defiantly. Cassy sat with her arms crossed and book closed, while Neville slowly picked his quill apart strand by strand in boredom. In fact, Ron, Dean, and Pavarti sat with them, still and silent. It was only Seamus and Lavender, the only two with doubts of Voldemort's return who uneasily continued their notes. By the end of the lesson, Lavender had stopped too.
Professor Umbridge said nothing about it. When the bell rang she dismissed them and they all left in silence. They traipsed down the hall to the marble staircases when the faint bang of the classroom door shutting echoed up to them. Suddenly, they burst to life.
'I can't believe her,' snapped Ron.
'She had no right to take points. It was only an opinion,' agreed Pavarti hotly.
Cassy inclined her head to Hermione and said, 'You have stirred them. Why?'
'I didn't exactly mean to do that. I wanted to see how strict she was really going to be and see her response, to see if we could work on expanding the classes later,' muttered back Hermione. 'I know it was a stretch, but now the point's been proven and to everyone. I have a plan – an idea, really, but I'll explain after dinner.'
At dinner, the four were joined by Ginny and Luna as usual. They were eager to hear what had happened in class, having read the scathing expression on Harry's face from across the hall. He did not have long to rant; five o'clock came quickly and his detention called for him to part with his head high, unaffected by the punishment. Cassy thought of readying a cloth for his hand when he returned.
It was only after everyone had eaten that Hermione asked them all to sit with her outside. Luna pouted slightly at the thought of missing dessert, the only reason Cassy thought she turned up to meals at all, but they followed her from the hall none the less. The noise from behind began to fade, soon replaced with the gentle rusting of leaves from the mild September wind. Not a single soul was outside, the lake was calm and still, the curtains of Hagrid's hut were still drawn.
Everyone sat themselves under the willow tree beside the water's edge. Hermione shuffled and clasped her hands together.
'I've been thinking it for a while, but today made me certain we need to take action for Defence Against the Dark Arts. It can't stay like it is,' she said strongly.
'We can't exactly just ask Umbridge to change. She doesn't seem the type to listen,' said Neville and shrugged his shoulders weakly in futility.
'We're not going to ask,' said Hermione.
'Then what are we to do?' said Cassy when it became apparent Hermione was waiting for the prompt.
'If we want to learn how to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort,' she stuttered, 'then we have to take matters into our own hands. I think Harry should teach us Defence.'
'That's a great idea,' said Ginny immediately. 'He'll be great. When he fought that Basilisk...'
'Umbridge won't let that get past her, will she though? She's not going to like it,' asked Neville.
'She's not going to know,' said Hermione. 'It will be a secret.'
'Will it just be us?' asked Luna curiously.
Hermione hesitated. 'Well, I thought given the circumstances, we should probably open it up to anyone who wants to join.'
'I think that'll be great. I mean, everyone's always complaining about her, so I think we would get a lot of interest. That's what we need now, isn't it? To be able to defend ourselves if V-Voldemort is coming for us,' said Neville, his voice alight with excitement.
'I hope so,' said Hermione, relieved her idea what gone well. She then turned to the last member of their group. 'You haven't said anything, Cassy.'
Sat crossed-legged on the hard ground, her chin on the palm of her left hand and her thin fingers curled in front of her mouth, Cassy had been silent through the entire conversation. She did not shift in thought as her friends grew more excited, but rather her face remained carefully blank. It was always worse, Neville had told her, when she did that because everyone knew something was not necessarily wrong, but something was not quite right either and she made it impossible to tell. Cassy wanted to frown, but it hardly seemed worth the movement. She would not persuade them otherwise and in many senses, she did not want to try either.
When all eyes rested on her eagerly, Cassy did move, straightening her back and cast an unconcerned stare towards Hermione.
'Harry is all ready behind on his work in what might be his most important year. His mood is plummeting more and more sporadically as the days past, his temper flaring at everyone for anything, I cannot imagine he will want to teach such a class. He is struggling, although he does not want to show it.
'That said, I know he is an excellent teacher. He taught me the Patronus Charm when he was patient and kind. I would like to learn Defence from him, I believe it is the only way we will pass this year, let alone be prepared for Voldemort when he makes his move. If anything, the classes might make him lighten up, give him a sense of rebellion, the heroic purpose he likes to have, but I am not sure Harry will agree to teach us with the way things are,' said Cassy. She did not mention Harry's self-esteem issues. There is no way he would believe himself capable of training anyone, he rarely thought himself worth much at all when it came to it.
'Then we'll have to persuade him,' said Luna, as though it would be easy.
'How do we do that though? Harry's nothing if not stubborn,' asked Neville.
'We'll ask and take it from there,' said Hermione. 'I'll explain everything and if he says no, I'll try again in a few days when he might have thought about it.'
'Failing that, we just send Cassy to ask him,' said Ginny brightly.
'What difference would that make?' asked Cassy with one eyebrow raised.
'Don't pretend you don't notice,' snorted Ginny. 'He'll always agree if you ask.'
Cassy blinked owlishly. 'That aside, I think you will be faced with a large "no" for the future.'
'He'll come around, I'm just worried about his initial response,' said Neville. He looked towards Hermione, who had her face set in a resolution all ready, just as Cassy had suspected. Her mind had been made up long before she had approached them of it and Cassy inwardly hoped Hermione could persuade Harry to teach them classes. If anyone could do it, if anyone could make them successful and give them a chance of survival it was him. If he refused, Cassy lightly thought after she had stood, she would teach herself, even if it would not be as easy. She might as well put some of her reading into practise.
Cassy departed from the group and left the four sitting on the yellowed grass from the summer sun. Her mind had begun to wander once again, although not as severely as it had in the past weeks. The thought of illegal, underground classes made her restless; she was all ready eager to get a move on, to learn to be better, great, if she could, her current level of knowledge was not enough, but more than that she was not even sure she could cast half the spells she could identify. While Madam Pince would haul her to Professor McGonagall if she caught her trying to cast any sort of charm in the library, Cassy was certain there would be at least half a dozen books she could find to take out anyway.
If Harry had any sense, he would say yes to Hermione's proposal. Not only would it give them a fighting chance to pass the year and perhaps even survive a little longer when Voldemort makes his move, but also Cassy was certain Harry would begin to thrive in leadership. It would give him purpose, a little secretive jab towards Minister Fudge and Professor Umbridge each and every time they performed a spell outside of their strict guidelines and searching eyes. Perhaps he might even cheer up in class and force him to work as they finally began to retaliate against this unknown threat that was sure to come. Yet it might not come for years.
Cassy did not want to approach Harry about the possibility that the situation they were in might remain so for years to come. Only a few believed Voldemort to have returned, people were going missing, but no one wanted to blame him yet, there was no reason for him to reveal himself that Cassy could see. She would have built her forces, carefully selecting over a number of years before making a grand sweep to overtake when no one was expecting it. Surely even the Dark Lord could not build such a grand network in a number of months, the Order seemed to think not; they were careful and meticulous, but blatantly almost desperate with their choices of companions, Mundungus Fletcher, for example.
Yet, Harry would do what he would and Cassy would sigh and be prodded into speaking to him to convince him otherwise, but his stubbornness and righteousness were part of why she liked him so much anyway. He would do what he would and Cassy opted leave the hard thinking to Hermione as she entered through the large double-doors to the library.
She ran her hand over her scalp and down her fishtail plait, before she flicked it back over the front of her shoulder. Her eyes raked through the taken tables, eyeing many seventh and fifth-years, some of whom she had seen at dinner half-an-hour earlier, and some of whom she was sure had skipped the meal altogether. Eyeing a table further back, Cassy weaved in and out of the familiar faces, dropped her bag on the empty seat and waved her way out towards the more travelled part of the library.
Rows and rows of book stood in front of her, many had broken spines, or tattered corners from use over the years. There were old books, some Cassy could no see why any typical student would pick up let alone read, their spines in Latin and their embossed titles rubbed away. Cassy opted for something more recent, easier to study and easier to pass the knowledge on as well. Part of her was surprised that Professor Umbridge had not all ready gutted the collection, replacing it with only copies of the useless, mustard-yellow theory books she clung so tightly to.
'You've been standing in this isle for a while now, Black,' came a low, smooth voice from beside her.
'Gentlemen should not stare, Zabini, it is unbecoming,' drawled Cassy.
Despite her disinterested tone, Cassy was incredible pleased. She had obviously made a good impression on the train.
'You flatter yourself,' he said.
'Do I?' asked Cassy lightly.
For a moment, Zabini said nothing. Cassy continued to scan the books, unconcerned, and selected two from the shelf above her head. Neither spoke. If he had approached her then he could make the effort, she thought, besides, she knew he was waiting, testing to see if she pandered to be in his good graces; everyone did it. Everyone made quick conversation to gain favour, to appear interested and eager, too eager sometimes.
'My mother meant to send you a thank-you card for her flower, but she has been a bit preoccupied. I hope you understand,' said Zabini, breaking first.
'Ah, yes. Do give my condolences to her on the tragic loss of her husband,' said Cassy. She turned to him politely.
Zabini smirked. 'You would be the only one to do so.'
Cassy let the corners of her lips turn up just slightly, enough to show she was amused, but careful not to suggest she found the death humorous. It could be turned back on her. She turned back to the shelf.
'Do you know where Malfoy is? I was thinking of sharing some childhood stories of his, seeing as he likes to share mine, embellishments and all,' she said lightly.
'Oh? What kind of stories?' asked Zabini.
Cassy curled her lip and frowned, as though thoughtful. She said, 'Oh, perhaps one about a young Muggle girl, a broomstick and a lot of blushing.' There was a pause. 'He was nine.'
'Nine, you say,' he repeated.
Cassy could tell he was curious now, nine was old, it was close to Hogwarts age. The fact that the story might not be real was not of consequence. She hardly cared, in fact, Cassy did not feel guilty at all for proposing such a thing at all. Malfoy should not be embarrassed by fraternisation with a Muggle, and he should have known she would say something back to him. Embarrassing stories were better and Cassy had a collection she would love to share to anyone willing to listen.
I will not humiliate him, she thought, just be outlandish enough to grab his attention, to make him realise what it is he is doing. She needed to smoke him out and force him to want to speak to her because she knew he would keep his distance. He would not say what he did to her face and he was always surrounded by his friends, too protected for her to pull aside without a curse to the back.
She smiled pleasantly at Zabini.
He stared with a slight frown.
'Why are you in Gryffindor?' he asked. 'You clearly have the brains not to be.'
'Sticking to the misconception people are nothing outside of their house trait?' said Cassy in disappointment. 'The Houses are nothing more than constructs of easier management and to establish potential groups of like-minded people. Once outside of education, they do not matter at all. The greatest people of our Century come from across the houses. In fact, the most famous duo of Aurors from the 1940s, White and Cross, were from Gryffindor and Slytherin respectively. Their partnership revolutionised the system.'
Zabini was silent.
'Anyone who thinks differently I dare say has not really thought about it at all,' finished Cassy.
He continued to say nothing. An expectant quiet formed between them. They stared and considered one another for a time. Cassy traced Zabini's face, looking for a flicker of evidence to suggest how he felt. The fact he had not cursed her was good, or scoffed as she thought he might. His family had been neutral in the last war. His father, the third husband of his mother, whom always returned to his surname following the unfortunate fate of her husbands since, had been keen to keep his family from the fight and Cassy knew it was a blind stab, bold and foolish to hope that perhaps Zabini had developed some sense of indifference to all through the course of his life from such an act. Yet, if he could not cope with such thoughts now then Cassy knew she was wasting her time with him. There were other Slytherins that were just as useful to form an alliance with, although Malfoy would no doubt make that difficult with his tall tales.
'You are odd,' said Zabini shortly.
Cassy did not respond. It was almost a good sign.
'You talked of Draco and you called him "Malfoy". Tell me, do you even know where he is right now, where his parents are? How have they been all summer? Do you know?' he questioned softly.
She was suddenly less sure.
'Do you even have any useful connections anymore, or should I put you down as someone to watch as you try to climb up from the bottom rung?'
'I will get to where I want to be by myself. I will do it for myself. I will make it because I want it, because I earnt it, not because my father commands men bow at my feet. They will bow to me because they know I deserve it,' hissed Cassy.
Zabini continued to watch her for a moment, before smirking.
'We will see, I suppose,' he said, his voice deep and smooth, undisturbed by her tone.
'Yes, we will,' confirmed Cassy.
He said nothing else as he swept back out of sight. Once his back was turned, she scowled openly at him. He was ruder than she had expected.
Sorry this has been so slow to update. I have been panicking about my work and I need to get it done. I also started watching Merlin and have become quite absorbed.
Point noted that I need to be careful how I characterise speech. Sometimes it gets through the net, but I will be on the lookout for it more carefully from now on. It gets stuck in my head sometimes because of how most things are from Cassy's focus, but I'll make sure to edit the best I can from now on.
Other than that, there is not much to say about this chapter. Thank-you for the reviewers, you always remind me why I have spent so long doing this series and am still doing it. I was a bit naïve when I started to think doing seven years would not be that stressful; it is. It is time consuming too, but I do love it and I will make it to seventh year. There will be some serious rearranging to plot in that year though because of all the differences I will have made by then in the years building to it that make some of it impossible. Seventh year will be planning hell.
(Edit: Changed to the correct spelling of 'Zabini')
Thanks!