I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER - JUST BORROWING
The next morning Madame Pomfrey made it known she was apparently livid. Cassi escaped the safety of the hospital wing. She insisted on rerunning all her diagnostic spells and prescribing more potions. She stood over Cassi, arms crossed, while she took her potions. Cassi knew better than to complain.
A house elf appeared with a large breakfast at her bedside. Madame Pomfrey bustled over, "You will eat every bite," she said almost menacingly. "I'll not have you wasting away." She must have snuck an appetite enhancer into her morning potions. Cassi was starving.
Cassi had to literally beg Madame Pomfrey to shower as though she thought showering was a dangerous activity. Finally, she relented but insisted on putting a crystal in the shower that would allow Cassi to call for help if she needed it.
Listening to the chatter and bustle of the castle was hard. She really wanted to see what was happening outside of the ward doors. But every time she made to get up, Madame Pomfrey cleared her throat, glowering at her and pointing at the bed. It had only been a couple of hours since she woke up, but she was bored out of her mind.
Cassi dug through her bag, which was on her bedside table. Her diary was not in there. She supposed her father had laid the bag there after she fell asleep. Which means at some point, he had come to check on her. An odd little smile flitted across her face at that notion.
Finally finding something suitable to read, she settled down in the cozy bed to wait for her sentence to be over. When the clock tower struck one in the afternoon, her father came through the door, robes billowing, a rather intimidating sight.
Frowning down at her, he asked, "Why are you not dressed?" For an answer, she pointed at Madame Pomfrey. "She's kept me practically tied to this bed, fattening me up like a Christmas goose." Cassi pouted. He cuffed her on the back of the head with the parchment he was holding.
"Stop making excuses and get changed. We have an appointment at the ministry in 10 minutes, and I do not wish to be late." He said, shooing her off the bed toward the bathroom.
Cassi dug some robes out quickly and performed a freshening charm to smooth out wrinkles. The robes were rather formal, but better to look overdressed than under. Putting her mother's combs in her hair, she checked her reflection in the mirror. She still looked a little peaky and tired from her ordeals but acceptable.
Fishing her wand holster out of her bag, she surveyed it. She attached her wand holster to her wrist and placed her wand within it. It just felt prudent to have her wand at the ready.
Scurrying out of the bathroom, she stood in front of Snape, arms slightly out, mutely asking for approval. He looked slightly surprised for a moment but then nodded curtly and swept out of the infirmary. Cassi assumed she should follow, so she did.
They went directly up to Dumbledore's office and used his floo to get to the ministry. He expected her to floo with him. Was she five? Rolling her eyes, she stepped into the floo with him. When Cassi asked questions about who they were to meet, he just glared at her to keep quiet and mind her manners. Not wanting to cause him further stress, she tried to obey. Throwing a handful of floo powder into the grate, Snape clearly said, "The Ministry of Magic, Entrance Hall."
Sliding out of the floo gracefully, Cassi found herself in a bustling corridor full of witches and wizards going about their day. It was a high-ceilinged corridor not unlike a tunnel with lark dark tiles. Her footsteps echoed as she walked, neck craning to see all that there was to see. Snape impatiently grabbed her wrist and dragged her along to the elevator.
Cassi had never been in an elevator before. This one did not just go up and down like in the muggle stories she had read. This one went left, right, up, and down and Cassi even swore it went diagonal. Cassi was quite sure she didn't like the elevator very much.
The first stop was the Department of International Magical Cooperation on the fifth floor to apply for a residential visa. The secretary, a red frizzy-haired witch, with tortoiseshell glasses, handed Cassi and her father a large stack of parchment that needed to be filled out. Cassi also enquired what she would have to do to bring her mother's body back for a proper burial. This question earned her another small stack of parchment. Cassi's hand was cramping long before she was done.
From there, they went back to the elevator. On level one, where administration worked, there was a conference room the Board of Governors would be meeting in that day. Finding the room, Snape gave the receptionist his name and the purpose of his visit. They sat waiting for a few minutes before being called in.
"Good afternoon, Professor Snape. Her father held out his hand, the man hesitated a moment before grasping his hand and shaking quickly.
"I'm here to see about a transfer student enrolling in Hogwarts, Mr. Phelps," Snape said, gesturing to Cassi. Mr. Phelps looked over at Cassi, eyebrows slightly raised, a pleasant expression on his face.
"Ah, excellent," Mr. Phelps said genially. Snape motioned for Cassi to come join them.
Trying to remember everything her mother taught her about polite society, Cassi walked over in what she hoped was a graceful fashion and held her hand out, knuckles up, for the man to take. "Good afternoon, Sir. A pleasure to meet you. My name is Cassiopeia Black."
"Well now, what a polite young woman." the man said brightly. "My name is Mr. Phelps. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Right this way, please." Mr. Phelps gestured with his hand toward the open door.
Introductions were made around the room as well as an explanation that Cassi has made an application for a visa with the Department of International Magical Cooperation due to the unforeseen passing of her only living relative in the country she was residing.
They went on to explain as vaguely as possible that Cassi, being a Black and being underage, had relatives that would look after her while she finished her education.
The Board of Governors frowned slightly at learning that she was homeschooled, institutional learning being their obvious choice. But Cassi brought a lovely picture into their minds of brewing in the back garden with freshly picked potion ingredients and learning constellations from her bedroom with a window that opened up into the heavens.
It really was a lovely way to grow up. But that was over now. A tear formed in her eye while describing her home and how she was raised. The forthcoming emotion was unmissed by the men around the table, three of which drew handkerchiefs for Cassi, Snape frowning behind her. She had these men eating out of the palm of her hand. Her application was approved in the meeting, and Mr. Phelps intimated that he would be heading down to the Department of International Magical Cooperation to insist they approve her application for a visa.
Cassi thanked each member in turn and apologized for taking up so much of their precious time. They all smiled with many "Not at alls" and "My pleasures". Cassi smiled to herself as she left the meeting, thinking it was a complete success.
Her father was eyeing her thoughtfully. Maybe there would be a use for her after all. She had pulled that off with no preparation or understanding of what the meeting would entail. Surely, he had a little Slytherin on his hands. The thought made him smile with pride.
OOOOOOOOOOO
Back at the castle, they filled Dumbledore in with all of the details. He to eyed her with much interest after it was explained that Snape did none of the talking, and all was left in Cassi's hands.
"I was wondering why I had heard from the Governors so soon," he said, holding up a scroll. "Well done, indeed," Dumbledore said, placing a hand on Cassi's shoulder. "I am sure you have much left to do. You have your quarters to see and things to unpack." Dumbledore said kindly.
"I have spoken with the staff. They will be available for your entrance testing in one month's time. That should give you plenty of time to acquaint yourself with the subjects on the syllabus. "At Dumbledore's words, Cassi's stomach flipped horribly. A month? One month? Shit!
"Well then, Severus, I give you leave to get your daughter settled," Dumbledore said, twinkling kindly at the pair of them. At the words "your daughter," her father's face tightened. Snape opened the office door and motioned for Cassi to follow them.
She followed her father through the castle. He pointed out several things on the way, like the corridor to the library, the great hall where she would eat when class was in session, and the grand staircase, which moved and changed whenever it deemed necessary.
Leading her down a smaller staircase, he explained this was the staircase to the dungeons, which is where his office, potions, and their rooms were. It was warm in the entrance hall, but as they descended the staircase to the dungeons, it got remarkably cool.
The corridors down in the dungeons were dimly lit and cold. Footsteps echoed off the walls. It wasn't a forbidding place, just darker than Cassi was used to. She was used to running around in open spaces, sunlight streaming through every window. She had to admit the darkness was intimidating.
Her father pointed down the corridor to the left. "That is where the potions classroom is. Just up from there is my office. Pray you are never sent there." He said, arching an eyebrow menacingly. Cassi just smirked at him.
"And down here?" Cassi said, pointing to the right.
"That corridor leads to the Slytherin common room. And no, before you ask, you cannot enter. We do not yet know what house you will be sorted into." Snape said, sweeping past her to the first door on the right.
Snape placed his palm on the door, and it clicked loudly, unlocking itself. "Come here," he said. He grabbed her left hand and placed it where his hand had been. Tapping the door with his wand, a warmth spread through Cassi's fingers.
"Now, take your hand off the door and replace it in the same spot," Snape said.
She did as requested, and the door locked itself, clicking loudly. "Now, unlock it," he said. She took her hand off the door and replaced it once more. It clicked again. She turned the doorknob and the door swung open, revealing a beautiful dark wood-paneled room lined with books.
There was a dark green leather sofa and a comfortable-looking dark green leather armchair. There was a small kitchen through the archway and a hallway beyond that.
She had barely taken in her surroundings when Snape said, "Your room is the second door on the left. The bathroom is the first door on the right. The last door on the left is my laboratory, you are not to enter it under any circumstances. The second door on the right is my private office. You may only enter only if called for. Have I made myself clear?"
She frowned at his formality and coldness. She had thought they were getting on better than this. Maybe even forming some kind of relationship.
"Go. Unpack your things. Then come directly back out here. We have much to discuss." Snape said harshly.
Frowning, she went to her bedroom. It wasn't large, but it was adequate. It was similar to the sitting room, with dark paneling, a dark green velvet bedspread, wardrobe with a mirror and desk. One bedside table with a lamp and another lamp on the desk.
Her bag was on her bed. She flicked her wand, and clothing glided happily into the wardrobe, hanging or folding itself as necessary, potions and ingredients to the shelf above her desk. Her books likewise made a home along the bookshelves and parchment, quills, and ink on the desktop or in drawers. She stowed her bag in the drawer on the bedside table.
Feeling satisfied everything was where it should be, she went back out to her father. Hopefully, she would discover why he was in such a cranky mood. Smiling slightly at the look she thought might appear on his face at being proclaimed cranky, she found him sitting in the armchair in the sitting room.
"Sit," he said, pointing to the couch. Cassi sat, looking at her father curiously. "You've received a letter," Snape said shortly.
Cassi looked up at her father, alarm rising in her chest. "Who knows I'm here?" The letter may as well have been a cauldron about to explode. She eyed the letter warily.
"I have already checked that letter for traces of magic. You do not survive as long as I have in the business I am in without checking everything." He said shortly.
She looked at the letter more carefully. It was stamped with the Black family crest. No, it couldn't be. How the hell did he know she even existed? She opened it, carefully.
My Dearest Cassiopeia,
I apologize for not contacting you sooner, I have only just learned of your existence from Professor Dumbledore. I know I have no right to ask anything of you, but I would love to meet you. Maybe your father could bring you around for tea one day soon before things start to fill up around here. I look forward to your reply.
Your Uncle,
Sirius Black
"Dammit, Dumbledore!" Cassi exclaimed, launching herself off the couch.
Her father caught her arm as she tried to rush past him. "You will watch your tongue, or I will use it for potions!" He snapped at her. She wrenched her arm out of his grip and thrust the letter at him in reply.
Snape's jaw was set, his face masklike as he read Sirius' letter. Cassi knew they had history and that her father hated Sirius.
Her mother filled Cassi in about as much of her family's history as she could. "It's important to know where one comes from," she would say when Cassi would complain about being quizzed about the family tree.
She did not like feeling exposed. Her instincts to hide, to shield, to run were overwhelming. She hugged her arms around herself. She felt lost without her mother at this moment. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she turned to her father. "I suppose he should be present at the wake. He was her brother, after all. It would only be appropriate. If things go poorly, we can say that I'm overcome and need to rest."
Her father thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes. That would be acceptable." Seeing the look on his face, she sought to recognize his importance in her life. It was him she dreamed of when she was little, not her uncle.
"Father, you will be by my side, won't you? I don't think I could make it through without you." Cassi said, gazing imploringly at him.
He stood, arching one eyebrow and gazing down at her imperiously, and said, "Do not think to charm me like you did the Board of Governors."
Looking wounded, Cassi said, "Father! You think so little of me. I would never do such a thing."
"Hmm, I should hope not. Go prepare for dinner. The elves should be delivering food shortly." sending her off to wash with a soft cuff to the back of her head with her letter.
When she rejoined her father at the table, she saw it already set and a small stack of parchment next to her plate. Sitting down, she picked up the first piece. "What's this?" she said with a little confusion.
"Those are the syllabi you will need to know for the entrance test. And trust me, you will get higher than Acceptable, or there will be consequences." Snape said with a stern glare.
"Don't worry, Father, I'm extraordinary," Cassi said with a cheeky grin.
"I will not have a child with an overinflated sense of self-importance," Snape said sharply. Smirking slightly, she finished her dinner.
The next morning, she replied to her uncle, accepting his offer of tea. Her father decreed that a public wake would do nothing but cause fighting as half her family were death eaters, the other blood traitors fighting for the light. To do it correctly and keep his cover, there would have to be two. One for the dark and one for the light. As her uncle was the only one who she knew would want to be there, she expected the meeting with him to be intimate.
Rolling up her scroll, she sealed it with a tap of her wand and walked her letter up to the owlery, hoping there would be owls left to use. She found a beautiful tawny owl who obligingly took her letter.
On her way back to the dungeons, she was so deep in thought she got turned around. She believed her father to be in his office, so she used a quick locator spell to get her back to familiar ground. Wandering about the castle was enjoyable. The portraits were wonderful to look at and talk to.
The next few weeks were nothing but studying and revision interspersed with Occlumency lessons with her father. They were horrible invasions on her privacy and her mind. They left her weak and shaking. He said she was more advanced than he expected, but that only meant she had to work harder to keep him out. His assaults were intense, almost painful. She was flying through her headache cure at an alarming pace. She'd have to make more soon.
The only class she was truly worried about was History of Magic. She wasn't sure how much past Acceptable her father expected her to go, but she thought achieving an Acceptable in History of Magic might just take a miracle. It was the one subject her mother barely touched on. She was left to read the textbook at her leisure. The problem was she didn't have much leisure time.
The week before her test, she received her second owl, this time from the Ministry, stating they had procured her mother's remains and Bailey's as well. They had stasis charms placed upon them when MACUSA came upon the wreckage of the home the morning after the attack.
She was required to sign for the caskets upon arrival, and then she'd be able to bury them in the family crypt. She informed her father of the date of arrival. He in turn, informed the headmaster. Her father took care of creating formal invitations. The majority of her family still held to the old ways of propriety and tradition. This was not going to be fun. She'd be on edge the entire time, waiting for an attack.
She was left to write to Sirius and explain it would be impromptu and informal, but he would have a chance to mourn his sister. He responded, saying it wouldn't matter as long as he got to spend some time with her. I guess breaking out of prison to find out everyone you knew and loved was gone was a harsh reality.
Cassi was not looking forward to this. She did not want to bury her mother. She did not want to be surrounded by a room full of death eaters. She was sure they would be sizing her up to see if she was worthy of being among them.
She was equally sure they'd be sizing her up to see if she was marriage material. Good pure blood stock was in short supply. She groaned inwardly, thinking about it. She did not want to curtsey and simper and dab her eyes like a proper lady. She wanted to rail and scream and fight and make them all pay.
But she would have to shove it all down. She would have to apply every Occlumency shield at her disposal to get through this horrid event. She knew the Dark Lord was back. She wondered what that meant for her and how she would be allowed to wander about in 'polite company' without being carted off to a meeting with the Dark Lord. Would she be forced to take the mark?
These thoughts kept swirling around her mind. All of a sudden, she felt trapped in the little dungeon room. It felt claustrophobic. She needed air. Leaving her bed, not even thinking of the time, she left the quarters in search of fresh air and open space.
Cassi raced through the dark, deserted corridors in search of the night sky and fresh air. She was gasping when she finally found an open courtyard. Falling to her hands and knees, she gripped the cold ground feeling as though the earth could fall away from her if she didn't hold it as tightly as possible.
The stress of the last few weeks, her grief, and the terror of what's to come crashed over her like a tidal wave. Sobs wracked her body. How was this her life? She missed her home, her mother, and her elf Bailey. How could her mother have sent her back to a life she ran from? "Damn her!" Cassi thought viciously.
Her head swam with emotion the air around her crackled. Unknown to Cassi, a small eddy formed in the courtyard. It was swelling with every explosion of emotion she was feeling. Picking up dust and debris as it traveled across the courtyard. Before she knew it, the eddy was a tornado, pulling shingles off the overhang and nearly decapitating a gargoyle.
Snape, realizing she was gone, used a locator spell to find her. He got to her in time to witness the near decapitation of the gargoyle and was about to run to her aid when he saw her stand. Comprehension dawned across Snape's face. She was causing this. Cassi closed her eyes and seemed to draw the small tornado toward herself. Reaching her hands out to it, the spinning slowed, and debris began falling back to the ground.
When the tornado had dissipated, she seemed to crackle with electricity. Snape approached her slowly, gently, like she was a wild animal he was hoping to trap. "Cassi," He called. His voice was low, wary. "Cassiopeia?" He called again.
He kept walking around her, keeping his distance, calling her name in his deep voice. He was standing directly in front of her now. He could feel the power radiating off her. "Cassiopeia," he called again a little more sharply. He could see her eyes were unfocused.
The last time Cassi had a bout of accidental magic, she was nine. That her mother taught her a way to come back to herself. "Breathe," she would say. "Feel your toes on the ground, wiggle them. Let the feeling spread through your feet and up your legs. Breath. That's right, in through your nose and out through your mouth," her mother encouraged. "Now, your fingers, that's right. Keep breathing."
Remembering this lesson somewhere in the back of her mind, Cassi began breathing slowly, in through her nose and out through her mouth. When she got to her fingers, they twitched. Snape was watching her closely. He saw her finger twitch. He was prepared for more accidental magic to burst out of her. It didn't come.
Slowly her eyes slid back into focus. The first thing she saw was her father looking wary. "Did I hurt you?" she asked him softly.
"No," he managed.
Cassi turned and surveyed the damage. "Shit," she muttered under her breath. Drawing her wand, she said "Reparo," commandingly. The gargoyle repaired itself, shingles flew back to their spots, and pottery was repaired. She turned back to her father. "I'm sorry, I haven't lost control in a long time. It won't happen again." Snape nodded, motioning her back inside. He was looking at her like he'd never truly seen her.
Unknown to either of them, Dumbledore had also seen her and the power she was able to wield. She should be drained. She should be exhausted. She should not have been able to summon the power to repair the courtyard. Yet she did and was able to walk away. He would have to keep an eye on her.
