I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER – JUST BORROWING

After dinner, Cassi quickly wrote some letters to the apothecaries she knew of to see if she could get her hands on some murtlap tentacles and ran up to the owlery before heading off to the library so she could send her letters.

She had situated herself at the farthest corner at the back of the library. Hopefully, she'd have some peace there. She was just finishing her Moonstone essay for Potions when she saw Hermione approaching out of the corner of her eye.

Cassi glanced toward the far corner of the table. She hoped Hermione would get the hint. Gratefully she did and settled herself there. Hermione glanced at Cassi. She looked at her essay and pretended to proofread, and put her finger to her mouth. Cassi wordlessly put a silencing charm around them so they'd be able to talk briefly in quiet.

"We only have a moment. Too many people are watching me. Tell me quickly, what happened with Potter and Umbridge in class that day?" Cassi whispered urgently. "And for heaven's sake, make it look like you're reading." She added as Hermione looked directly at her about to speak.

She knew there would be Slytherins in the library, and she didn't want to be questioned. She also didn't put it past her father to track her movements. Shit, he'd send an elf. Shit! Why hadn't she thought of that before? Trying to listen to Hermione and concentrate at the same time, Cassi sent her magic out to attempt to detect any other beings around her. Her eyes snapped open, looking directly into the darkest corner.

"Hermione shut up," Cassi said harshly. She had just begun the part where Potter stood up and began shouting at Umbridge about Cedric when she stopped talking and looked affronted.

Cassi canceled the silencing spell and called out to the corner. "I know you're there. I can feel you. Show yourself." Cassi had a feeling she knew which face she would see appear out of the corner. A tiny figure appeared in the corner.

"Good evening, Meg," Cassi said, smiling at the little elf. She was furious at her father for resorting to such shady tactics. But in truth, she was very happy to see the little elf. "Come over here. I'd like to introduce you to someone," Cassi said, gesturing to Hermione. Meg walked a little closer. "Meg, this is Hermione. She's helping me study. Hermione, this is my father's house elf, Meg."

Turning back toward the house elf, Cassi asked, "Meg, did father send you to see if I was all right? Is he worried about me?" she pushed a little for answers. She knew legilimacy would be useless on a house elf.

"Yes, miss. Your father is worried about yous. He is asking Meg to come and follow miss to make sure miss is safe." Meg said fearfully.

"Come here, Meg." Meg walked over to Cassi, her large eyes fearful, wringing her hands as she went.

Cassi scooped the elf up into a hug. "I'm so happy to see you. I've missed you so much. How have you been? Meg returned the hug gratefully.

"Yes, miss, Meg is well. Meg is missing her young mistress and Master very much. Meg is happy to be called upon by Master to make sure miss is safe. It gives Meg a chance to see her family," Meg replied happily.

Cassi smiled down at the little elf. "Tell you what, Meg. Why don't you go tell my father where I am and that I'm studying? I'll be down in his quarters in just a few minutes. I just need to finish this essay. Then maybe you and I could have some tea together. I can tell you all about Hogwarts, and you can tell me what you've been up to since I left. Does that sound okay?" Cassi asked hopefully.

Meg smiled and nodded her head, making her ears flap. Cassi felt like an ass for manipulating Meg, but it was necessary to finish her conversation with Hermione. Meg disappeared with a small pop. Before continuing to talk to Hermione, Cassi sent her magic out again to see if she could sense anyone or anything else. Gratefully, there was no one close.

"Okay, Hermione, continue. I'm sorry about my father," Cassi said apologetically.

"How did you know Meg was there?" Hermione asked interestedly.

Cassi looked thoughtful. "I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's like exhaling, but instead of air, I'm sending magic. Then when my magic touches something alive, I can feel them. My mother was teaching me how to do it before she was killed," Cassi said bluntly.

"You had a house elf before, right? Benny or something?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, Bailey. He died saving me. I miss him so much. He was my best friend. He was so much more than that." Tears welled up in Cassi's eyes. "I thought I'd have to search for a place to lay him to rest. Elves aren't supposed to be in crypts with wizards and witches. But my father snuck him into my mother's casket. They're resting together." Cassi said quietly. Her chest tightened. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it all down. Now was not the time.

"Never mind that now. Hermione, this is important. I need you to finish telling me about Umbridge and Potter's fight in class." Cassi said urgently.

"Well, when he stood up, he said, 'Cedric just dropped dead,' and Umbridge said, 'it was just a tragic accident,' and then Harry shouted, 'it was murder.' Then she had him come to the front of the class and gave him a note to take to Professor McGonagall. She gave him a week's worth of detention. He said she was having him do lines. Listen, why are you so interested in this?" Hermione said suspiciously.

She couldn't tell Hermione the truth. It wasn't her secret to share. So, she went with, "I'm trying to get information on Umbridge. I don't trust her. There's something off there, you know?" Cassi said, trying to be convincing.

"Oh, and I wanted to ask, did you question her about not using magic in class? Because I went to ask her about it, she had all the answers ready and cut me off mid-sentence." She asked Hermione, hoping to get her off the subject of why she wanted to know about Harry.

"Yes, I did. It's ridiculous that we're not learning any defense. Especially with You-know-who, out there right now." Hermione said hotly.

"Hmm – Maybe Potter can teach you what he knows. He had to get through that tournament last year and get away from the Dark Lord. He must know something useful about defense." Cassi said offhandedly, trying to finish the conclusion of her essay. "Listen, thanks, Hermione. I appreciate you coming to talk to me. I've missed talking to you a lot. Tell the twins and Ginny I say hi, okay?"

With that, Cassi packed up her books, rolled up her essay, and dashed out of the library. She had to get back down to her father's quarters before he got suspicious and sent Meg out looking for her again. Cassi walked quickly through the corridors, not stopping until she reached her father's quarters. She entered to see Meg happily cleaning. Her father was nowhere to be seen.

"Hello, Meg," Cassi said with a smile. "Where's father?" she asked the elf.

"Master is in his office, miss. Would miss like some tea?" Meg asked hopefully.

"Yes, Meg, I would. But why don't you let me make it? It would be a nice change, don't you think?" Cassi said. Meg looked uncomfortable but agreed.

Cassi knocked on her father's office door. "Enter," she heard him call. Cassi opened the door and strode into the office with all the confidence she could muster. "Good evening, Father. Care to explain why you're having elves spy on me?"

"Because I cannot have variables. I've discussed this with you already." Snape said shortly.

"Yes, you have. And you're using it as an excuse. I've jumped through all your hoops. Done everything you've asked, even at personal risk. And still, STILL, have not earned your trust," Cassi all but shouted. Snape looked back coldly, silently. "Nothing to say?" Cassi said, her eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "Fine. I have no further need of your company. Good night, Professor." Cassi said acidly. Snape stared after her.

Clearly, she was on her own. Well, this was a predicament she hadn't foreseen. She knew he was complex and untrusting of others. But this was getting ridiculous. Calming herself in the presence of Meg, she sat at the table in the kitchen. She looked at the tiny elf who had laid out the tea service. Cassi took out her wand and filled the pot. She placed a few spoons of tea in the pot, then tapped it to heat the water. Letting Meg pour her a cup, she accepted gratefully and took a sip.

Cassi sat and chatted happily with the elf. She let Meg fill her in with all the little important things she does throughout the day. She nodded when Meg gave her details. Sitting here with Meg made her miss Bailey so much more. It was Cassi's turn. She told Meg about the beautiful common room and about some of her classes. After a few minutes, her father came out of his office. Cassi didn't look at him.

"All right, Meg, I should be getting to bed. Thank you so much for having tea with me." Cassi reached across the table and placed her hand on the elf's own. Meg smiled at her. She stood up to leave when her father cleared his throat. She ignored him. She began walking to the door when he caught her by the arm. She froze but did not turn. Speaking to the wall, she said, "You don't get to treat me like a resource. I'm not a tool for you to use. I am your family, your daughter. It's about time you started treating me like I am." Cassi was still facing the wall, still allowing her father to keep hold of her arm, allowing the silence to stretch.

Cassi sighed. She was about to open her mouth to speak when her father yanked her back into him. Crushing her to his chest, he held her. There was desperation in the hug—a longing for something that had never existed. Cassi knew of his homelife, knew how he was raised. She had seen in her mother's memories the scars his father left behind. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed hard. She listened to his heartbeat as he held her. Neither of them spoke. He stood there holding her to him like she was something lost he had just discovered.

He finally let her go, holding her at arm's length, staring into her face. No words needed to be said. She understood. The thought of losing her after just discovering her terrified him. But that was the game they were playing. She had to ensure she did everything possible to win the game. He kissed her forehead and said softly, "Good night, my child." A tear escaped Cassi's eye as she turned to leave.

There would be a Hogsmeade trip soon. She would get supplies and rebuild her stores. She needed some books too. She'd have to contact Gringotts to find out the status of her bank account. Maybe make some investments. She'd also have to designate a beneficiary.

The next morning at breakfast, the school barn owl delivered confirmation that Pippin's apothecary in Hogsmeade did indeed have the murtlap Cassi needed. She had nearly forgotten about the murtlap. She returned the letter and the vault number in Gringotts, the shop could pull the gold from. She asked that it be delivered at their earliest convenience.

"Who was that from?" Pansy and Draco asked simultaneously. She could see her father watching her from the staff table.

"Pippin's apothecary. I need an ingredient for a balm I'm working on, and there wasn't any in the school stores. It's just some murtlap, nothing exciting," Cassi said with a shrug.

"Don't you ever have any fun?" Draco asked incredulously.

"I think this is fun. Creating something from nothing. Especially something useful. It makes me happy," Cassi said, shrugging again. "Come on, let's go to class."

Friday passed quickly enough. Cassi spent her time in History of Magic reviewing calculations for the murtlap solution she was creating. She listened just enough to copy down names and dates so she could read about them later. It was much better than listening to Binns drone on. It was bad enough that she was having to spend the entirety of DADA class reading the assigned text. If Umbridge didn't prowl between the desks, ensuring everyone was reading Wilbert Slinkhard's useless drivel about Defensive Magical Theory, she would have been doing calculations in her class too.

During dinner, she received another note from her father. It read simply My office tomorrow, 7:30 am. She opened the note and smiled. She had been looking forward to this. She finally got to duel him.

"What now?" Draco asked. For an answer, Cassi passed him the note. It was vague enough.

"When are you going to find time to help me in transfiguration?" Draco whined.

"When is quidditch practice? Isn't it tomorrow afternoon? Want to study tomorrow night. Sunday, I have to go to the Hospital wing and intern with Madame Pomfrey," Cassi reminded him.

"Tomorrow night sounds okay. Have you done your astronomy essay yet?" Draco asked, hopefully.

"Sure, I did it in Binns' class today. It's not like I can concentrate on anything he says. I just copied down some names and dates. I'm going to get a repeating quill in Hogsmeade when we go next month." Cassi said.

The others gaped at her. Cassi looked into Goyle's confused face and burst out laughing. She explained slowly what a repeating quill was and how it worked. It took a few tries, but they finally got there.

The following day, she entered her father's office. She was not wearing school robes but her own. She needed to be ready if this was what she thought it would be. "Good morning, father," Cassi said cheerfully.

"It's father again, is it?" He said with a smirk. "Come, we have a lot to do today, and you're going to need time to recover," he said without explanation. But she thought she already knew what they were up to. He had said they were going to duel this weekend. Excitement flooded through her.

He led her out of his office and down a few levels to what looked like an unused part of the castle. The rooms were cavernous and echoing—rough stone walls lit by plain torches in iron brackets. "I've brought you down here to practice dueling. You will get hurt today. The only curse we won't be using is the killing curse. But you need to know what a real dark wizard can do. It's important you understand. I don't want to hurt you, but I feel this is the only way to teach you. Books will only take you so far. When you are ready, take out your wand," her father said, his face grave.

Cassi considered the look on his face. She knew he wasn't boasting. He could kill her with a flick of his wand if he wanted to. She took a moment to tie up her hair before taking a deep breath and pulling out her wand.

It happened immediately. She was blasted off her feet. Cassi flew roughly 12 feet and slammed into the wall. The breath was knocked out of her. Little lights popped in front of her eyes as she tried to stand. Before she could take a proper breath, she was flung to the other side of the room, skidding across the dusty floor, and slammed into the opposite wall. Coughing, trying to get air into her lungs, Cassi tried desperately to focus her eyes. She couldn't see him. She didn't know which direction the fire would come from next. She was just getting to her feet when the pain hit her. It was pain beyond anything she had ever experienced. She was screaming. Her very skin was on fire. Just as quickly as it began, it was over.

Adrenaline kicked in. Survival was the only thing she could think about now. Hyperaware of any sounds, she heard the sound of dirt crunching under a boot and fired. "STUPEFY!" Cassi bellowed. The spell illuminated his features. He was all concentration. He blocked the stunner easily. But at least she knew where he was. She felt the spell coming toward her and blocked it, sending it back toward her attacker. She sent a volley of spells like a machine gun toward him. She saw his eyes widen slightly as he worked to protect himself.

She flicked her wand again, and ropes burst out of it toward Snape. He blocked it easily. But at least she was on the offensive now and not being thrown against walls. She needed to keep him busy if she was going to survive. She needed to find a weak spot.

Their wands flashed, moving so quickly at times they were blurs. She made a whip-like movement with her wand. The spell caught his ankle, flinging him to the ground. Another volley of spells from her wand, which he blocked, even while on the ground. He flicked his wand, and something struck her hard on the back of the legs. She shrieked and wheeled around. What looked to be a broken broomstick took another swing at her. She managed to duck this swing but lost sight of it. It swung around behind her and cracked her hard across the backside. Anger burst inside her. He was messing with her.

"You Son of a Bitch!" She yelled angrily. The broomstick swung at her again, and she caught it, setting fire to it wordlessly. Tossing the burning stick aside, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.
"Bombarda!" She screamed. The pillar he was ducking around burst apart. Rocks and rubble flying everywhere.

She saw him fly out from behind the pillar, hitting the opposite wall. Pointing her wand at the rubble, she sent it flying at him. She sent another couple of stunning spells at him. The blasted holes in the wall next to his face forcing him to stay still and be pummeled by the rubble. She flicked her wand at him again. Orange flames shot from her wand and tried to encircle him. He blocked it.

Pain again. Pure blinding burning pain engulfed her. She couldn't breathe or see. She screamed and screamed. It was going to kill her. This is how she was going to die. Then again, just as suddenly as it started it was over. Her body was screaming in protest with every movement. Rolling behind a pillar, she tried to take a breath.

He was over her before she knew what happened. Cassi kicked out hard and connected with his knee. She heard a crack and he fell to the ground with a yell. She took a breath to command a spell, when everything went black.

The next thing she knew, she was lying on a cold stone floor. Every bone in her body was aching. Her eyes flew open, her mind catching up with her senses. She sat up quickly, startled, then yelped, clutching her backside. Somewhere in the darkness, he heard her father laugh. It was that lovely full laugh she had heard before. "Ass," Cassi mumbled under her breath. "It's not funny!" She shouted as he continued to laugh at her rubbing her sore backside. Looking around to ensure that the stick truly was burnt to a cinder, she smiled ruefully as he continued to chuckle. "How's your knee, old man?" Cassi asked, a little snark in her voice. His laughter died. It was Cassi's turn to laugh.

"Very funny. Same rules. Take out your wand when you're ready," he said from somewhere in the darkness. Shit! They were continuing. She felt inside her robes and found her wand. She stretched briefly, taking a deep breath. She was listening hard to try and find his location.

Taking another deep breath, she sent out her magic, trying to get a location. Thinking maybe she had him, she plunged her hand into her robes and whipped out her wand. She felt the spell coming from behind her. Wheeling around, she blocked it and sent a volley of spells toward him. A jet of silver light came out of the darkness. She just dodged it. She conjured water, then froze it under his feet. Flinging more spells at him randomly, he tried to dodge while shielding and lost his balance on the ice. She shot stunning spell after stunning spell at him. Finally, managing to subdue him. She approached him to ensure he was okay when his eyes snapped open, and blackness overtook her again.

Her eyes snapped open again. Why was she on the floor? Oh, right, Cassi thought wryly. I'm getting my ass kicked in a duel, yay. Her body hurt. Her head was hammering. It was making her slightly nauseous. "What was that last one? 2 minutes?" Her father called. He sounded annoyed. "Stop trying to be clever." Cassi mumbled something barely audible. A second later she yelped, jumped, and started rubbing her backside again. "Sorry I didn't hear you. Care to repeat that?" her father called from the Darkness.

"No, Sir," Cassi said, rubbing the place where the stinging hex hit. God, he's an ass, she thought to herself. Mom, I'm dying out here. Help me. Cassi thought desperately. She thought of her lessons with her mother. What had she always told her? DO NOT hold back. That was her most painful lesson. She had just lost a duel and caught a walloping for stopping her onslaught to check on her mother. That was probably the worst beating she had ever gotten. She failed to protect herself. She exposed herself to danger. Her mother always told her that her heart would be her undoing.

What did she need? She needed light, and she needed a location. She would probably only get one of these. She took a deep breath, noting that when she did, the ribs on her left side felt bruised. Centering herself once again, she took another deep breath and snapped her fingers, concentrating with all her might on fire. She hadn't pulled off much wandless magic, but she could do this. Fire erupted all around the perimeter of the room. Finally, she could see. A spell shattered the pillar she was standing behind, blowing her across the room.

Controlling the fall this time, Cassi wheeled around and fired stunning spells. She flicked her wand, and a gash appeared on his arm. He yelled in pain. Using the rubble from the floor, she created the same shield her mother did all those months ago. Her father's spells bounced off of it. She flicked her wand, causing him to fly back against the wall. Sending another volley of spells towards him, which he again blocked. DAMN! Cassi thought to herself.

She was hit by a spell and flipped upside down. She was suspended in midair by her ankle. Swirling her wand, she righted herself and shielded herself at the same time. Two stunners and something yellow had been deflected.

Taking a deep breath, she channeled her magic into the room. The debris, dust, dirt, and ashes from her last tantrum all started to swirl around her father like a sentient tornado, occasionally pelting him with bits of debris. She saw flashes of spells, popping lights within the eye of the dust and debris storm. The debris transformed into a giant troll with a club that began bearing down on her father. Swinging its club wildly.

Snape looked momentarily, shocked to see the thing. He swiped wildly at it with his wand. It made no difference. He made a thrusting motion, and blue flames shot from his wand straight through the club-swinging dust troll, which crumpled back into a pile of rubble. Now face to face, they were dueling in earnest. There were wands flashing, spells being redirected from shields and smashing against walls. Cassi thought for a moment that she was making some progress when she was lifted off her feet and slammed into the wall behind her. The room spun sickeningly, and then there was darkness.

The next thing she knew, her father was sitting beside her on the floor. The fire had long been distinguished. He had conjured some small flames in jars around her. He was tending to a wound on her head. "Ouch," Cassi said weakly. The room was spinning horribly. She thought she might vomit. Her father kept putting vile after vile to her lips, which she drank. Some she recognized by taste, but it didn't matter. They were making her feel better.

"That wasn't as terrible as it might have been," her father finally said. "There is definite room for improvement." He was frowning. He waved his wand over her, reading his diagnostics. You have a little internal bleeding. Nothing I can't fix. The blood replenisher I just gave you will assist until I get you back to my quarters.

He picked her off the ground and carried her back to her room in his quarters. He gave her two more potions. She knew one was a general healing draught. The other tasted like dittany.

"Dittany," she mumbled. It was becoming harder and harder to stay awake.

"Very good," He said. "That was, indeed, dittany." Smoothing her hair out of her face, he ran one last diagnostic to ensure the potions were working. He pulled off her shoes and covered her with a thin blanket. "Rest now. We'll talk when you wake." Her father said gently. She wanted to argue, but blackness was already taking her over. Her last conscious thought was, damn, when did he give me a sleeping draught?