I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER – JUST BORROWING
Cassi woke from her forced nap and groaned. She felt as though she had been trampled by a herd of Centaurs. Couldn't have killed him to give me a pain potion, Cassi thought ruefully. Getting up slowly, assessing the lingering effects of her injuries, she decided she would indeed live, so she made her slow way into the kitchen for some water.
"What are you doing out of bed?" her father asked from the armchair in the sitting room.
"Just thirsty. How long was I out? And did I hear you say something about internal bleeding?" Cassi asked curiously. She got a glass of water and walked into the sitting room slowly. She made to sit down on the couch but placed a pillow down first. She was taking no chances. Her father smirked.
"Tender, are we?" He said, his black eyes sparkling. Cassi grimaced at him. "Yes, there was some internal bleeding. It appears your rib broke, causing a small bleed. I've given you some skelegrow and a blood replenisher. Also, some dittany you could identify, even in your stupor. You've only been asleep for a couple of hours. I expected you to sleep longer." Her father explained.
Her father pulled out his wand, tapping his knee with it, he sighed. It was Cassi's turn to smirk. "How's the knee?" She said, smiling slightly.
Leaning over in his chair toward her, he said, "I can give you a couple more stripes to match the ones you have, you know." He raised an eyebrow, trying to look serious.
"Okay, okay," Cassi said, making placating gestures with her hands. "I'll behave myself." Sighing heavily, she said, "Okay, let me have it. How bad was I?" She squirmed slightly on her pillow. Grimacing, Cassi stood and began stretching. She was out of shape and too tight. She'd have to start running regularly again.
"It wasn't as bad as it could have been. You can hold your own when you use magic you're comfortable with. However, when you try to be clever, you get caught up. You use magic instinctively. When you stop to think, you slow down and let your guard down. This was just a first try. I expect much more next time." Her father explained.
Cassi grimaced with her back to him, stretching out her shoulders. She yelped and jumped when he sent a stinging hex at her. Rubbing the spot the hex hit, she felt the welt the broomstick left across her backside. He probably left that welt on purpose, Cassi thought, frowning.
"If you hold back next time, you'll have six of those to complain about. I'm serious. I'll not have you get yourself killed because you think you'll hurt me." He said sternly. He waved his wand and summoned a book from the shelf. "I want chapters ten through seventeen read by next Saturday, and we'll try again. I expect improvement. Am I clear?" he asked.
"Yes, Sir," Cassi answered. She flipped through the book. He wanted her to read over 400 pages and get some of it right by next Saturday. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she sighed and looked at the clock.
"I need to get cleaned up. I promised Draco I'd help him study. He's struggling a little with vanishing in transfiguration," Cassi said, moving toward the bathroom. "I can work on Professor McGonagall's essay while I'm helping him. That's the last thing I have to do before Monday. Do you know what time Madame Pomfrey is expecting me tomorrow?" Cassi said, calling over her shoulder.
"You are to report to the infirmary after breakfast. You should be free by lunch." Her father called back.
Cassi felt better after a shower. She was still sore but able to walk without cringing. She said good night to her father and went to the common room to help Draco. Draco's issue in transfiguration was easy to address. There was a slight pronunciation issue. After that, he was vanishing things without issue. Cassi finished her essay on the Inanimatus Conjurus for Professor McGonagall, then started skimming the information she'd need for Binn's class taking notes directly from the text.
Cassi's stomach rumbled. She had just realized she had skipped dinner. Looking around the common room, she realized she was alone. Pulling out her wand, she concentrated hard, making a plate of sandwiches appear before her. Conjuring a cup, she filled it with water from her wand. Cassi sat there happily eating the sandwiches and began reading the book her father gave her, Offensive Spell Work. It was ridiculously dull, but she managed to get through a couple of chapters before admitting defeat and heading to bed.
Cassi woke the next morning, dressed, and headed up to breakfast alone. She had just finished and was leaving the hall when the rest of her dorm entered the Great Hall. "Where are you going so early?" Millicent asked curiously.
Smiling at them all, Cassi said, "I'm heading to the Hospital Wing to train with Madame Pomfrey today. See you later."
She made her solitary way to the Hospital Wing. She had to admit that she was looking forward to learning all the matron had to teach her. She entered the hospital wing and headed for the matron's office in the back. She knocked and was told to enter. She did so, closing the door behind her.
"Good morning, Madame Pomfrey. Thank you for taking on this internship. I really appreciate it." Cassi said with a smile.
Madame Pomfrey smiled back at her. "I thought today you could learn some basic diagnostic spells. Judging from how you appeared here at the end of last year, you know some basic first aid spells, which will be useful, especially here. I have a diagnostic dummy all set up for you." Madame Pomfrey got up from her desk, gesturing for Cassi to follow her, and she left her office. Cassi followed her to the other side of the ward, where a dummy lay on a bed waiting for her.
"This is Al. Trainee healers use the same dummy basic diagnostics." The Matron explained. When she caught sight of Cassi's expression, she explained further, "Al is bewitched to say standard phrases in order to help new healers diagnose properly." Cassi nodded
"The incantation for diagnostics is Egritudo." She said. Cassi repeated the incantation a few times to ensure she had the correct pronunciation. "Give it a try," Madame Pomfrey encouraged.
"Egritudo," Cassi said with confidence. A series of different colors showed themselves all over the dummy's body.
"Well done," Madame Pomfrey said. She began pointing to different parts of the dummy that glowed different colors. "Dark red means internal bleeding. The yellow there on his arm signifies a break. That would be any break, even a cracked skull. The red around the yellow means the break is bleeding but should heal after the break is mended. The purple is bruising, and the green is infection. The infection could be internal or external. White is for burns, chemical or otherwise, orange is inflammation and regular red; see the difference in the colors there," she pointed to the dark red and the bright red colors, "Red indicates a cut or laceration. Overall blue means electrolyte imbalance or malnutrition. Given how the patient looks at the time, you can tell if it's malnutrition or not."
"Why can't I see it when someone does a diagnostic spell on me?" Cassi asked curiously.
"Only the caster can see it, normally. Since Al here is meant to train, everyone can see it when he indicates injury." The Matron said. Cassi nodded her understanding. "Your father wants you to be able to cast wordlessly. I suggest you practice the diagnostic spell until you can do it without fail. The colors and patterns will change every time, so don't be alarmed. It's part of the training."
"Yes, Madame, thank you," Cassi said as she watched Madame Pomfrey bustle away. Cassi practiced. By her seventh try, she was able to do the spell wordlessly. She practiced it wordlessly until she could do it without fail. Twenty-five tries later, Cassi was confident she'd be able to do it whenever needed. She was just about to knock on the matron's office door when the ward door burst open, and her father came in, floating in a student on a stretcher. Cassi knocked quickly on the office door and ran to greet them.
"Put him here," Cassi said with authority. "What happened?" she asked as she performed a diagnostic charm over the unconscious student. Madame Pomfrey just joined them.
"Mr. Barkley, here is part of my NEWT study group. They were a little heavy-handed with the snake fang, and the cauldron exploded. He was blasted back against the wall." Her father said.
"Madame, he has a cracked skull and what looks like a brain bleed and burns to his chest, face, and hands," Cassi said. Madame Pomfrey performed the spell quickly herself.
"Well done. What do we need?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"Burn healing paste, bandages, skelegrow, pain potion, and an anti-inflammatory potion." Cassi rattled off.
"Why do we need an anti-inflammatory?" Madame Pomfrey questioned.
"For his head injury and for his burns," Cassi said without hesitation.
"Well done, off you go," Madame Pomfrey shooed her off to get the ingredients with a warm smile. She overheard the matron talking to her father about her abilities. The words 'quite talented' and 'knows potions' and 'make a good healer' drifted through the ward to her ears. She swelled with pride as she gathered the pastes and potions.
Bringing them back to the bedside quickly, Madame Pomfrey administered the potions. She asked Professor Snape to step aside so they could put up the privacy screens to undress him from the waist up. Madame Pomfrey showed Cassi how to apply the burn paste while she spelled bandages around his head. Madame Pomfrey applied bandages to the boy's hands and chest.
"Go ahead and rerun the diagnostic. Let me know what you find." Madame Pomfrey said.
"The burn colors are more subtle. I'm guessing that's because of the treatment? The paste works on contact, so the burns should be less severe already." Cassi mused. "Also, his skull is no longer cracked, but a small amount of blood is still present. Which, if I'm not mistaken, should also subside on its own." Cassi explained.
"Well done," Madame Pomfrey said. "I think we'll leave it here for today. I'll see you next Sunday."
Cassi smiled at the matron and left the Hospital wing with her father, feeling very happy with herself. When they returned to his quarters, a package was waiting for her.
"Excellent!" Cassi exclaimed when she saw who the package was from. She turned and saw her father's raised eyebrow.
"Murtlap tentacles. I'm working on a new balm."
"Hmm," her father intoned, looking suspicious.
It was Cassi's turn to cock her eyebrow. "Tell me, father, can you think of any nefarious or dangerous potion that contains Murtlap tentacles?" she asked, a little edge to her voice. "Trust, remember?" Cassi sighed and took a deep breath. "In the interest of trust, there probably is something I need to tell you." Her father looked at her sharply. "The potion I'm making is for the students. Umbridge is making students use blood quills in detention." As she said this, anger flashed in her eyes, and the candles flared.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tell me everything." He said with a sigh.
She launched into the story of when she first noticed Potter's hand in potions. Then she started paying attention to other students' hands in class and in the Great Hall and realized everyone she's given detention to, even first years has been subject to the blood quill.
"Why have the students stayed quiet?" he asked, confused.
"Has a student ever complained about a teacher in this place? From what I understand, the lunatic posing as Professor Moody used unforgivable curses on students. Did anyone complain about him?" She paused, studying his face. "Well, anyway, that's why I'm making it." She gathered her supplies to head out the door when he grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him.
"Thank you for telling me. That is the first and last time you ever lie to me, understand?" her father said, his face stern.
"Yes, Sir," she replied.
Gathering her supplies, she left to set up her cauldron in a study potions classroom. She also brought the book her father wanted her to read so she could do that while the potion simmered. The tentacles needed to stew for a while to extract the necessary essence to make the potion work.
The potion itself was simple, just time-consuming. Gratefully she had the rest of Sunday afternoon to get her work done. While her potion stewed, she read the book her father gave her. She was relieved when she realized she knew many of the spells he wanted her to learn. There were a few that she'd never heard of before. She'd definitely have to practice those before next weekend. Cassi bottled her potion, cleaned her bench, and returned to the common room.
It was packed. Draco and his usual gang were taking up the central sofa in front of the fire. She overheard snatches of conversations about family trees. She stopped short when she heard Sirius' name. "Father was sure it was him on the platform disguised as a mangey mutt. He's tipped off the Prophet. It was in the paper this morning. It's a shame he's on our family's tapestry." Anger burst in her chest. Her mind went into overdrive. Lucius gave up Sirius' location. The Malfoys have a family tapestry. They knew she existed. They knew about her. Lucius must have told the Dark Lord about her. He must have tracked her through her mark. Rage erupted in her as she had never felt before.
She flung her things down on her bed and flung herself out of the common room door, shoving someone roughly aside. If she stayed, she'd kill Malfoy. She was so angry she couldn't see. She made it out the front door as dusk started to fall. Transfiguring her robes into something to run in, she took off around the lake. She got about halfway around when she stopped gasping for breath. Cassi was so angry she was nearly hysterical. She hunched over, gripping her hair in her fists, desperate to control herself. She could feel it building in her chest. Shit. She couldn't hold it in.
Filling her lungs, she screamed toward the trees, and a force she'd never felt before burst from her. It ripped the frontmost trees up by the roots and broke others in half. She fell to her knees, sobbing. Night had fallen before she regained control of herself. How was she supposed to go back there and smile in his face? How was she supposed to be his 'family'? She heard footsteps to her right. She turned sharply in the grass, training her wand on the noise.
The moonlight shone off the top of the man's head. It was her father. Of course, it was. How the hell did he always know? She dropped her wand in the grass, sagging under the weight of her sadness. He knelt down next to her on the damp grass. Grasping her chin in his hand, he lifted her face.
"What is it? What's happened?" he asked, his eyes boring into hers.
She explained what she overheard, how Lucius was the one who gave Sirius' position away to the ministry. She told him how he had recognized his animagus form on the platform when they came to school. How she was sure, he had also given her away. She was sure Lucius was the reason her mother was dead.
"They all knew I existed. Your name must be on the tapestry as well. They knew you had a daughter and never said anything. I thought Lucius was supposed to be your friend?" She was panting hard, her usually pale face flushed and wet with tears.
"Breath," he commanded. He took her hand and placed it on his chest. "Breath with me," he said, his eyes clamped on hers. Slowly her breathing came under control. He looked her over. "When did you change?
"I didn't. I transfigured my school robes," she said distractedly.
"Come," he said, simply getting to his feet. Taking her hand, he helped her up. They began walking back to the castle together. He looked over his shoulder at the damage she did to the forest. "You'll stay the night in my quarters. Have you eaten?" he asked.
"I'm not hungry," she mumbled.
"That's not what I asked. I asked if you'd eaten. I'm gathering from your answer that you haven't. I'll have the elves send something up." Cassi nodded in response but didn't comment.
They made their way back to the castle and into his quarters. He led her straight to the kitchen table and plunked her into a chair. He tapped the table with his wand, and a warm bowl of stew appeared with buttered bread and a cold glass of milk.
"Eat. I'll be back in a moment," he said, squeezing her shoulder before turning to leave the room. She imagined he was going to talk to Dumbledore. He would need to know that Sirius was identified on the platform. She picked up the spoon and began to eat. She hadn't realized until this moment how hungry she was. Her father returned before she was finished.
"How's Professor Dumbledore?" she asked. He smirked at her. Then looking thoughtful, she asked him, "It's not safe to use the floo anymore, is it?"
"Not at present, no. It wouldn't be prudent. Too easy to eavesdrop." He was staring at her. She smiled at him.
"Mum used to say my instincts were good. I'm guessing by the look on your face you might agree," she said, still smiling at him. She finished her dinner.
"How can you do this? How can you spy and not be overwhelmed by everything you know?" Cassi asked, desperation in her voice.
"It's never been easy. But it's a debt I owe. Therefore, I must," he said after a moment. She didn't press him for more. She thought she understood. "Go, shower. Then bed. You have classes in the morning," he said.
She didn't argue. She got up from the table, kissed him on the top of his head, then went off to shower. The warm water felt wonderful on her skin. She toweled off and dried her hair with her wand before putting on her pajamas and heading to bed. Her father came in shortly after to say goodnight. He saw her wand under her pillow but didn't say anything. He smoothed the hair away from her face, and she gave him a sleepy smile.
"I'll see you in the morning. I want you to eat breakfast with your house," at this pronouncement, her face darkened. "I know. Believe me, I know. This is our job. We fight from the inside, others from the outside. It's how we will end this for good. It's how we will be free," he said, his voice full of conviction. Cassi nodded. "Sleep, child. I'll see you in the morning." He squeezed her arm and left the room, extinguishing the lamp with his wand.
The next morning, Cassi hopped out of bed and dressed. After brushing her hair and teeth and washing her face, she returned to her dormitory to get her bag and the potion still lying on her bed. She examined the wax seal. It did not appear to be damaged. Placing it in her bag, she went to breakfast.
Millicent and Daphne welcomed her and told her she was missed last night. Pansy was deep in conversation with Nott about something. Draco was nowhere to be seen.
"Milly said she saw you being led into your father's quarters last night. She said you looked upset. Are you all right?" Daphne asked solicitously, Millicent next to her, listening hard.
"Yes, fine. My father and I had words. He made me stay with him last night," Cassi grimaced. Daphne looked sympathetic, and Milly grimaced. They finished their breakfast and then headed to Charms.
Professor Flitwick had no sooner collected their essays than assigned them another. Well, Cassi thought, something to do in History of Magic. After break, they went to Potions. She took her regular spot at the table with Granger and Longbottom. She wondered why he always looked like her father was going to murder him. When it was time to collect ingredients, she gave Hermione a significant look. She hung back for a moment, pretending to dig in her bag for something. Cassi circled around the back of the table and slipped Hermione the potion along with a small note explaining what it was and how to use it. She hissed, "Later," so Hermione wouldn't be tempted to look at it before class was over.
She walked past Hermione to the student cupboard to get her ingredients for the day's potion. She was grateful that Longbottom hadn't tried to blow them up today, but it was a close thing. She grabbed his hand before he added too many lionfish spines to his potion.
"Longbottom, I don't know what happened in this class before I arrived. I can assure you, however, that Professor Snape will not actually kill nor disembowel you. Please do try to concentrate. I would like to make it to end of term with all my appendages intact." Cassi said, exasperated.
After potions, she went to lunch. Draco sat next to her, smiling. She smiled back, picturing horrible things happening to him. She knew it wasn't his fault his father was a backstabbing bastard, but he didn't have to parrot his beliefs. The rest of the day passed without incident. She was getting better at shoving her feelings down and employing her occlumency.
This was going to be her life now. This is how she was going to survive until the Dark Lord was finished. She could do it. She had to.
