(sorry I forgot to add this the first time I posted.) Transcripts taken from OOTP Ch24 pages 2287-2291

I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER – JUST BORROWING

Cassi woke the morning after Christmas determined not to let her father know he had hurt her. He had made it clear, had he not, that he would not save her from the Dark Lord, that she was a commodity. She would not allow herself to get wrapped up in compliments or endearments in the future. He had made it perfectly clear how he felt about her.

She downed a small vial of invigoration draught and spent a few extra minutes in the bathroom applying cold water to her eyes to ensure they neither looked red nor puffy. She hummed to herself as she made her way to the kitchen for breakfast. She could see her father and Meg in the kitchen as she approached. Cassi was pleased to see Meg was still wearing her festive tea towel.

"Good morning, Meg," Cassi said brightly as she took her seat at the kitchen table.

"Good morning, Mistress. Is hope yous is sleeping well last night."

"Yes, Meg. Very well. Thank you," she paused to ensure she didn't inadvertently insult Meg. "Meg, I just want to make sure you knew you didn't have to wear the towel if you do not wish to. I will not be upset or feel insulted."

"No, Mistress. I's be liking it very much. Meg is very lucky to have such a good Mistress," she said, her eyes filling with tears again.

Cassi smiled at her as she served her breakfast. "Thank you, Meg. This looks lovely." She poured herself a cup of coffee and brought it to her nose, breathing in the aroma. She took a small sip before saying, "Good morning, Father."

"Yes, I was wondering when you would notice I was sitting here," he said cooly.

"Someone's dramatic this morning," Cassi said with a slight smirk. "There is no way one could fail to notice you, Father. You have quite the presence." She ignored the look he was giving her and dug into her breakfast with gusto. As usual, it was delicious. She even asked for seconds. Meg was overjoyed.

"Father, do you have a list for me today, or will you leave me to languish in boredom?" Cassi said as she laid down her napkin. Maybe she was laying it on a bit thick, but as her mother used to say, 'fake it till you feel it.'

Snape pulled out his wand and gave it a wave. A piece of parchment with a list of chores appeared before her. She glanced down at it, noting that there was very little brewing and quite a bit more preparation of ingredients. "Have you gotten a fresh shipment of ingredients?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the list.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. The barrels are in the laboratory. I would suggest you begin with the potions. Some on that list need to stew for a few hours. Be mindful of your time," he said in a very businesslike way.

The remainder of the holiday went on in the same fashion. Cheerful breakfast, work all day, a possible break for lunch and dinner. They spoke very little. Working sometimes in tandem without speaking, just knowing what step the other was on. Maybe she was more like her father than she initially thought. She didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

The last day of the holiday arrived with a flurry of excitement. She was going to get to go to Grimmauld Place and see everyone. Cassi was thrilled. She made sure to pack up all of their gifts and a few potions she wanted to bring for her Uncle. When she made it down to breakfast, her father looked to be in a foul mood. She thought she understood why. He was never happy to be in Sirius's presence. Unless, of course, he had the upper hand.

After an entirely silent breakfast, she readied herself to go. She stored her packages in her 'go bag,' which she had brought from America. The tiny bag had an undetectable extension charm placed inside so all the presents fit easily. She entered the upstairs hallway just as her father left the upstairs landing. 'Good,' she thought to herself. At least she wouldn't have to wait for him.

He strode directly out into the backyard to their apparition point. She followed him and took his arm. Cassi spun with him on the spot. When light and air finally reappeared, they were on the top step of Grimmauld Place. Cassi looked around, shocked. She never would have thought of it herself. Perhaps she had more to learn than she once thought.

"Call the elf, so we need not knock or ring the bell. I don't want that portrait to begin wailing and snarling," Snape said

"Kreacher, open the door, please. We are on the stoop," Cassi said quietly. A moment later, they heard the locks clicking, and the door swung open. Kreacher stood aside for them to enter, then made Cassi a long low bow.

"Mistress Cassiopeia. So good to have you home," Kreacher croaked in his bullfrog's voice.

"This is not her home," Snape spat so viciously at the elf that he flinched back, hiding his face in his hands. He turned to Cassi, "Go, find the Weasleys. Give them your gifts, then come down to the kitchen. Do not linger overlong." He turned and strode from the hall toward the kitchen.

"Kreacher, find somewhere to hide until we leave. I don't want you getting stuck in something that has nothing to do with you. Please, don't come out unless you're called," Cassi said soothingly to the frightened elf. He bowed and left with a small crack. Cassi took a breath and sped up the stairs as quickly and quietly as possible.

She stopped by Fred and George's room first. She stopped just short of knocking due to the sound of minor explosions in the room. Smiling to herself, she knocked on the door. It went dead quiet in the room for a moment. Then an outbreak of furious whispering could be heard. Cassi put her face close to the door crack and whispered, "It's Cassi." She shrieked and giggled as she was ripped inside the room.

As Cassi sat on one of the beds, George was actively waving around a tee shirt to try and disperse the haze of smoke still in the room. Fred beamed at Cassi and sat across from her on the opposite bed.

"We weren't expecting to see you! What are you doing here?" Fred asked delightedly.

"I'm here delivering a little post-Christmas cheer," Cassi said as she pulled her bag out of her cloak. "Here, these are for you two," she said as she passed over two parcels. "I can't stay. I must run to Harry and Ron's room to deliver the rest. My father is waiting for me in the kitchen."

George immediately ripped off the paper on his present. "OH! Wow, thank you!" he exclaimed. "How did you know I needed these ingredients? Wait, is that a bruise paste? Healing potions?" He gave Cassi a quick hug. "Thank you so much."

"I figured these ingredients would come in handy with the things you two are inventing. And as for the bruise paste and potions. Well, Umbridge would ask too many questions if you came up injured all the time," she said.

Fred left his gift where it lay and stood at the same time as Cassi, grasping her upper arms in his hands. She put a hand on his chest. "I want to, but I cannot. It would put you and your family in more danger than you are already in," Cassi paused here, savoring the warmth of his touch. "Things are about to get serious for me. I will not burden you with that." She reached out, put a hand on his cheek, stared into his eyes for a moment, then turned and left the room. She closed the door behind her, blinking back tears, took a deep breath, wiped her eyes, and headed to the next room.

Cassi knocked on Harry and Ron's door and heard Hermione say, "Come in." She, Ginny, and Ron smiled broadly when Cassi opened the door. Hermione ran to hug her.

"Happy Belated Christmas," Cassi said as she hugged Hermione, smiling broadly. "I've brought presents. I'm sorry I can't stay. My father is expecting me in the kitchen."

"We heard. My Mum came up to get Harry a minute ago. She said Snape wanted to see him. What's it about?" Ron asked with a frown, which quickly turned into a smile when Cassi handed him his present.

"I'm leaving Harry's here for him. I need to run. I'm sure Harry will tell you all about why my father wanted to speak with him," Cassi explained as she put a small pile of presents on the bed closest to the door.

"Is that an undetectable extension charm?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Yes, it is," Cassi said, nodding. "I'm sorry I cannot stay. I miss being with you all." Cassi hugged Ginny as she exited the room and hurried down the stairs toward the kitchen. She reached the kitchen to hear Sirius ask rather aggressively, "Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry? Why you?"

Shit! Shit! Shit!

She walked into the kitchen without knocking, just in time to hear her father say, "I suppose because it is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks," said Snape silkily. "I can assure you I did not beg for the job."

Snape turned to Cassi as he finished answering her Uncle. "It took you long enough. I told you not to linger," he spat.

"I apologize, Father. I came as quickly as I could." She glanced at Harry for some indication of how the conversation was going. He grimaced and shrugged. Shit not a good sign.

"Hello, Uncle. So good to see you again," she said as Sirius pulled her into a bone-breaking hug.

"Hello, my darling. So good to have you here," Sirius said, beaming down at her. He hugged her again. When he released her, she pulled out her bag and placed a few gifts on the table. One for him and one each for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. It was nothing much, just a small token to celebrate the season.

"Happy Belated Christmas, Uncle," Cassi said brightly.

"We should take our leave. I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you are taking Remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them." Snape turned to leave, pulling Cassi by the arm.

"Wait a moment," said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair.

Snape turned back to them, sneering.

"I am rather in a hurry, Black…unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time…"

Cassi frowned up at her father.

"I'll get to the point, then," said Sirius, standing up. He was rather taller than her father. Cassi could see his fist balled in the pocket of his cloak, presumably over the handle of his wand. "If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to.

"How touching," Snape sneered. "But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?"

"Yes, I have," Sirius said proudly.

"Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him," Snape said sleekly.

"Father!" Cassi gasped.

Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table toward Snape, pulling out his wand as he went; Snape whipped out his own. They were squaring up to each other. Sirius looking livid, Snape calculating. His eyes darting from Sirius's wand-tip to his face.

"Sirius!" said Harry loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear him.

"Father! Do not do this!" Cassi hissed at him. He pushed her roughly aside.

"I've warned you, Snivellus," said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's, "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better –"

"Uncle! He's been fighting for us this whole time!" Cassi said hotly. They both ignored her.

"Oh, but why don't you tell him so?" whispered Snape. "Or are you afraid he might not take the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months very seriously?"

"Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?"

Cassi gaped at him. They were being children.

"Speaking of dogs," said Snape softly, "did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognized you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform… gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?"

Sirius raised his wand. Cassi stepped in front of her father. "Sirius, don't!" she said, placing her hand on his chest at the same time as Harry yelled, "NO!" He vaulted over the table and tried to get in between them, "Sirius, don't –"

"Are you calling me a coward?" roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge. Cassi and Harry were sandwiched between the angry wizards, who seemed bent on destroying one another.

"Yes, I suppose I am," said Snape.

"Harry – get – out – of – it!" snarled Sirius, pushing him out of the way with his free hand.

Cassi and Harry were struggling to force Sirius and Snape apart. Cassi was moments from drawing her wand when the kitchen door opened, and the entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very happy, with Mr. Weasley walking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of striped pajamas covered by a mackintosh.

"Cured!" he announced brightly to the kitchen at large. "Completely cured!"

He and the other Weasleys looked open-mouthed at the scene suspended in mid-action, both Sirius and Snape looking toward the door with their wands pointed in each other's faces and Harry and Cassi between them, trying to force them apart.

"Merlin's beard," said Mr. Weasley, the smile sliding off his face, "what's going on here?"

Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands. Harry and Cassi looked back and forth between the two. Each wore an expression of utmost contempt, yet the unexpected entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have brought them to their senses. Snape pocketed his wand and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasleys without comment. At the door, he looked back.

"Six o'clock Monday evening, Potter,"

He was gone. Sirius glared after him, his wand at his side.

"But what's been going on?" asked Mr. Weasley again.

"Nothing, Arthur," said Sirius, breathing heavily as though he had just run a long distance. "Just a friendly little chat between two old school friends..." With what looked like an enormous effort, he smiled. "So… you're cured? That's great news, really great…"

"Congratulations, Mr. Weasley! That's such great news! What was your healer's name? We should send them a bottle!" Cassi said excitedly.

"Smethwick and Pye," Mr. Weasley said, smiling at her. "I gave them a challenge. I even got to learn about some rather interesting Muggle medical techniques." Mrs. Weasley smacked his arm.

"Cassiopeia, NOW!" Snape called from the stairs.

Cassi jumped. She hugged Sirius quickly and whispered in his ear, "You're all he has. Don't let Father push you into something stupid. Stay here, stay safe. He needs you." She released Sirius and gave everyone else a smile and a hasty wave before leaving.

Cassi flew up the stairs, nearly colliding with her father, who looked livid. Grabbing her by the hair, he dragged her up the remaining stairs. When they reached the landing, he backhanded her hard across the face. Cassi fell spectacularly, holding her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Father, I was just congratulating Mr. Weasley. I didn't mean to take so long!"

"You protect HIM!" He hissed, pulling out his wand.

"I shielded you! I was protecting you!" She hissed back, desperately trying not to wake the portraits in the hall.

Snape grabbed her by the upper arm, dragged her off the floor, out the front door, and apparated her back to Spinners End. The beating that followed was a quick and brutal assault on her senses. Before she knew what happened, she was thrown into her bedroom and crashed hard onto the floor. Pain flared when the welts on her back, butt, and legs made contact with the floor.

"Do not come out of this room," Snape snarled, slamming the door behind him.

Cassi crawled off the floor. Her body was stiff and aching. She waved her wand and lit the lamps in her room, then walked over to the mirror in her wardrobe to survey the damage. There was a livid bruise on her cheek. Maybe it was anger at her father or the indignancy of the beating she received for nothing, but Cassi debated not healing the bruise. Perhaps she would let her classmates see what her father was really like. She was never much one for pity. She was too proud.

She conjured everything she needed to get washed up for bed. She changed into her softest pajamas and took a hearty swig from a bottle of pain potion before climbing into bed. She fell into an uneasy fitful sleep with vivid, angry dreams.

The following day, there was a note on her bedside table. She was to be packed and ready by 10 am. Meg would be escorting her back to Hogwarts. She sighed and got dressed to go down for breakfast. She was still incredibly sore, which made moving difficult.

10 am came, and she and Meg vanished from Spinner's End and appeared in her father's office in Hogwarts. Meg gave Snape a disgusted look, gave a slight bow, and, with a small pop, left the office.

"Good morning, Professor," Cassi said rather stiffly. She began walking to the exit when Snape spoke.

"Just a moment," he said, standing behind his desk. He pointed to the chair before his desk and said, "Sit."

Cassi put her mask firmly in place and sat on the hard wooden chair. She groaned internally as she made contact with the chair but did not utter a sound. She would not give him the satisfaction, just like she refused to cry out or shed a tear during her punishment. Looking up at him politely, she waited for him to speak.

She saw his eyes linger on the vibrantly colored bruise on her cheek and frown slightly. He sat comfortably behind his desk, elbows resting on the arms of the chair, fingers steepled. The tips of his index fingers brushed his bottom lip. When he finally spoke, his words were measured. She saw no trace of regret in his eyes.

"You will need to be in this office tomorrow at 6 pm for Potter's lesson. I do not believe the Headmaster would appreciate it if I killed his favorite student." He paused here. He took a breath. He looked like he wanted to continue speaking but thought better of it. He picked up the piece of parchment on his desk and began reading. It was a few minutes before he spoke again. He looked at the bruise on her cheek again and said, "Make sure you heal your face. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Sir. Good afternoon, Professor," Cassi said mechanically. She got the most incredible feeling of relief, getting up from the chair. She did not look back as she steadily walked from the room and closed the door behind her.

She went to the Slytherin Common Room to put her things away. She saw no one from her year as she made her way to her dorm. Instead of healing her face, she chose to soak in a tub first. She placed soothing oils and strained and pickled murtlap in the water. She immediately felt her body relax. She was enjoying the steaming water and had almost dozed off when the door opened, and Milly gasped. At first, Cassi thought she was shocked that Cassi was naked. That was until she spoke.

"Cassi, what happened to your face?" Milly said, concerned and a little angry.

"I was punished yesterday. I did not follow directions quickly enough."

Milly got a towel for Cassi as she stood from the tub. She turned to wrap the towel around herself and heard Milly gasp again.

"Milly, I'm fine. This isn't even the worst beating I've gotten." Cassi tried to soothe her friend. "Let me put some clothes on, and we'll get lunch. You can tell me about your Holiday." She said brightly. Milly looked as though she wanted to argue but thought better of it.

Cassi dressed quickly, and she and Milly headed down for lunch. As it turned out, Milly had a lovely holiday with her family. They played games, sang carols, and had a beautiful Christmas tree. She could see the memories flowing through her friend's mind, and she spoke of them. Listening to her friend's stories made her forget about healing her face entirely.

"Miss Snape, come with me, please," a sharp female voice spoke.

Cassi looked up to see Professor McGonagall. Her eyes widened slightly. She looked at Millicent. Her eyebrows were arched in surprise, just like Cassi's.

"Milly, I'll meet you back in the common room."

Cassi got up from her seat and followed Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall, through the drafty corridors, and into her office. She opened the door for Cassi and allowed her to enter before closing the door and taking a seat behind her desk.

"I will not ask you how you received that bruise on your face. I've seen one similar to it before. I will ask, however, if you need to go to the Hospital Wing. Professor McGonagall's voice was crisp but concerned.

"No, thank you, Professor, I am quite all right. My stomach was leading the way to the Great Hall, and I did not think to stop and put on some bruise paste. I can assure you that it looks much worse than it is. I have all the necessary ingredients in my bag. If you allow, I'll apply some now so you can watch it be done."

As Cassi spoke, McGonagall's eyebrows contracted, and her face darkened. She looked quite fierce.

"You may," she said, still surveying Cassi. "Are you injured anywhere else?"

"Just my pride, Professor," Cassi answered lightly, fishing out the bruise paste from her tiny bag and applying some to her face. She hadn't realized how tender her cheek was until it wasn't anymore. Her bruise paste worked quite well. Cassi was delighted with her adaptation of the original.

"Just how often are you needing healing, Miss Snape?" McGonagall's gaze was shrewd but concerned.

"Quite often, actually. My father is a perfectionist, as I'm sure you already know. We train quite often," Cassi explained. When McGonagall continued to look unconvinced, Cassi said, "I assure you, Professor, I am well otherwise. I appreciate your concern. It does mean a great deal."

"You are very welcome, Miss Snape. Please feel free to come to me should you need anything," McGonagall said while she watched the bruise on Cassi's face fade from view. "I look forward to seeing you in class. You are quite talented."

Cassi smiled broadly and left the office, closing the door behind her. Leaning briefly against the door, she took a calming breath and left to meet Milly in the common room.