FourHey everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who has followed, favourited and reviewed. I love reading your feedback, please continue to let me know what you think.Chapter Four
I didn't really get a chance to speak to Hermione the rest of the day but news had spread of my fight with Umbridge and I had people trying to high five me all day as I walked past them in corridors . My glare was enough to chase them all away from me and it wasn't until I walked back into the dorms that evening I found her lying in her bed.
"Why have you been avoiding me all day Hermione? Have I done something wrong?" She shook her head before turning to face me. I lifted my pyjamas out and smiled at her, I knew she didn't want to but reluctantly a small smile appeared on her own face.
"Good, let me change we need to talk." I went into our bathroom to get ready for bed and once I came in she had changed positions to sitting facing my own four poster. She has been nothing but trusting of me which I am have been grateful for and yet terrified of.
"Why did you stand up to her today? She could have seriously hurt you." I quirked my eyebrow at her before going to sit on my own mattress across from her.
"Because she is a bully and a bigot and the most odeous woman alive. She is using blood quills on students. I am going to study independently myself and because I am emancipated Headmaster Dumbledore let me." She looked envious for a second before she handed me a coin that looked like a galleon.
"I have been given permission to give you this? We have a defense club and its to try and teach each other how to survive." I smiled at her and came over to sit beside her and whispered in her ear.
"It this where you teach me the secret handshake?" She hit me with her pillow before I hugged her in a way that was not characteristic of me. We sat in silence and she threaded her hand in my own, sparks erupted up my shoulder and I felt like a new woman. This is my new start and if I can help save, turn or protect people along the way then even better.
The next day of classes went better than before and after dinner Hermione took me by the hand and we crept up to the seventh floor corridor where Ron was pacing. Soon the wall began to morph into a door and I was ushered to it.
"Welcome to the Room of Requirement." As I looked around I saw what looked like a small battlefield and everyone was busy looking around and putting their schoolbags against the wall before Harry stood at the top of the room with Hermione and Ron.
"Ok, so you all know we have a new recruit and she will be joining us for the forseeable future. Now who wants to volunteer a duel just to see where you are Cass?" I nodded and Seamus looked smug before he stood in front of me. Oh this was going to be too easy.
"Expelliarmus!" His technique was slow and sloppy and I easily deflected, I let him get a few more shots in before throwing the a silent tickling hex and and Expelliarmus of my own and his wand flew away from him.
"I think I need a bigger challenge Harry." Hermione smirked at me before standing in front of me and taking the offense stance. I threw a silent stinging hex at her to which she dove away and vollyed her own Protego, she was good her technique was better than Seamus and she lasted ten minutes before I tripped her up and stole her wand. As I helped her up that same electric shock ran through my arm and I loved the fact that she seemed to feel it too. Everyone was gaping at me including the twins who just kept wiggling their eyebrows.
"So Mr Potter, are you feeling brave." I could feel his power eminating in waves and it was not something to dick around about. He was a very powerful wizard but as I stood up in front of him I knew he would feel my own power also.We played with each other throwing soft hexes here and there, it seemed he was happy to have someone on the same level as him. Granted I was holding back a good bit and he knew it.
"Come on Cass, stop fooling around. Full speed ahead." I nodded my head and the spells were flying all around the room some of the spells I was flying at him he easily dodged and relayed back to me. He made a mistake and I threw a quick cutting hex and it cut his cheek to which we stopped.
"Wow! That was like watching foreplay." I turned to glare at The twins in that moment before rolling my eyes.
"You do know I fancy women right?" That seemed to be news to quite a few of them, some of the boys looked shocked and interested even more. Some of the girls seemed confused and a little uncomfortable around me but Hermione, Ginny and my roommates stood and smiled at me.
"Alright lets call it a day shall we." They all started to filter out before Harry turned his glare on me.
"Why did you only shield Umbridges spells the other day, you could have fought back." Silly little Gryffindor.
"Yes and then I would have probably been expelled on my first day." He shrugged his shoulder at me and hugged me tight.
"I would have missed you but it would have been worth it." All four of us laughed when Harry turned serious.
"What else can you do?" I just shrugged my shoulders and tapped my nose.
"Get better at your occlumency and maybe I will tell you." He looked shocked at me for a second before scrutinising me and it was like an idea popped into his head.
"You know, Occlumency?" I nodded my head at him and he held onto my arm
"Please, please, please can you take over from Snape." I immediately shrugged out of his hands and shook my head at him.
"Oh no I am not getting in between Snape and you your on your own." I could see Hermione looking at me before we all decided to leave the room. We were met halfway by Umbridge who looked between the four of us and glared.
"Get to your dorm it is almost curfew." I rolled my eyes and threw my arms over Hermione and Harrys shoulders just to piss her off.
"Of course Madame Umbridge." Harry sniggered, Ron smiled and Hermione looked livid at me. The closer and closer we got to our Common room the more pissed off Hermione seemed to get. She ignored everyone and went on up to our dorm in a huff.
"You will get used to her moodswings Cass." I nodded and just spent twenty minutes with everyone before I went to walk to my dorm, I couldn't see Hermione and knew she was probably in the bathroom. As gently as I could I knocked on the door, a quiet come in was uttered and I walked through the doorway.She stood with her hair still wet and trying to battle the hairbrush through it, she had on a white long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of skinny fit bottoms.
"I have something for that you know." She stopped what she was doing before walking out of the room and handed me the brush on the way. She took a seat on my bed and left enough room for me to shuffle behind her. I stopped at my small trunk and pulled out the tonic Bella put in my bag that she uses on hers.
"You really shouldn't antagonise her you know, I dont trust her." I nodded and sat behind her and placed a small pump of the tonic on my hands before spreading it through her hair.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I just don't like the woman. I am letting it show its ridiculous." I ran the brush gently through her curls before using my wand and styling each individual one with it. Instead of the adorable birds nest that she usually had it sat in perfect ringlets around her head and down her back to sit at the bottom of her ribs.
"I have been fighting a losing battle with my hair for sixteen years and you make it look amazing in five minutes. Is there anything you can't do." I smiled and pressed my head to her shoulders and shook my head.
"Apparently get you to forgive me." She turned and hugged me and I found I enjoyed the little witches arms wrapped around me. The fear in that moment was too much to comprehend and I extracted myself from her.
"I have been excused from her class anyway so, you don't have to worry about me killing her. Unless she hurts you... my friend." I must have made a strange face because she cocked her head to the side and I just smiled at her.
"That is still a bit strange to hear." She, smirked at me before I too grabbed my night clothes and went into the bathroom to get changed. It only took me ten minutes but I came out to see her engrossed in a book under her covers.
"What are you reading?" She jumped and smiled before closing the cover but kept her thumb in between the pages.
"Robert Frost." I had tried to get into Poetry but I dont think I have the temperment for it. I pulled my covers back and sat down before laying on my side to face her.
"Read to me." She flushed bright red before looking around the room. We were alone and that seemed to comfort her, her thumb slid across a page as she opened it again. She cleared her throat after her first word came out as a croak before eventually the words flowed through her like water on a rock.
--Poem--
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
--End of Poem--
"In my opinion, not his best works but its good." I turned my head to look at her and smiled.
"Keep going." She blushed and kept reading, she read right through for another hour until our dorm mates came back in. We all said a quick goodnight and with one last look at each other we closed our eyes and fell asleep.
The next three weeks had passed and before I knew it Valentines day was upon us. Multiple boys tried to ask me to go with them and I politely declined every single one of them.Hermione and I decided to go together and keep each other company. Harry had his first date with Cho Chang today and Ron got accosted by Lavender Brown of all people.
The past three weeks went by in similar fashion, classes, dinner and evening reading sessions or hair braiding with Hermione. We had been through the full book of Robert Frost and had moved onto short stories now. We learned the mistake of getting out a magical text because it always ended up in a debate which continued on to the wee hours of the morning.
I had been having chatting sessions with Severus instead of actual classes. Usually I helped him with his brewing whilst he marked some essays. Umbridge was getting worse as time was going on.
"Hey, you ready?" I nodded at Hermione and grabbed my bag and wand before throwing my coat on. Harry was fidgeting and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him. Another reason I wanted to go to Hogsmeade today was because Draco was meeting with Remus Lupin today.I had encouraged Draco to reach out to Remus and actually get talking to him. I wanted to be around incase it didn't go well. Before we could reach the entrance hall Draco appeared and stopped in front of me.
"Potter, Granger and Weasley, of course you are all together. I am going to have to steal my cousin away for some family business." Seeing Harry and Ron glare at me I knew, I forgot something. I didn't tell them we were related.
"Cousin?" I winced and looked around at their betrayed face.
"Oh get over it Harry, yes Draco is my cousin. Don't worry its distant and I didn't inherit the hot headedness." Looking at my son in that moment he knew to leave it alone, at least I thought he did.
"I dont know, it wasn't me picking fights with Umbridge." I lightly tapped him in the arm and turned apologetic to Hermione. I didn't want to leave but if Draco was inviting me to his meeting , I had to be there for him. It seemed Hermione already answered for me.
"It's ok go on ahead and come find me after." I nodded and hugged her before punching Harry on the arm.
"Good luck on your date. Remember if she kisses you keep your tongue in your mouth." He smiled nervously as Ron gaffawed at me and I grabbed a stunned Draco by the arm and walked away.It took my son a solid three minutes to even look at me. He looked horrified before opening his mouth and then changing his mind and facing the front and just kept walking.
"I honestly don't know what the hell I just watched but I think I need therapy." I shook my head at my dramatic son before changing the subject .
"So I am invited? I thought you wanted to do this, alone." He nodded and gripped my hand tighter before looking vulnerable at me.
"I did too but it seems I need my mother with me. Even if she is my cousin , as is usually the way with our family." He was nervous, and it filled me with pride that my little boy still needed his mummy.
"What's going on with you and Granger? You seem awfully close." I shook my head and attempted to change the subject but he pulled me to a stop.
"I'm sorry, I am just teasing." We didn't speak much and once we arrived at the three broomsticks I saw Renus duck into the private room ahead of us and Draco made a beeline practically dragging me across the floor.Crossing the threshold seemed even more difficult though as he came to a standstill. It was all I could do not to wrap him in my arms tell him it was going to be ok. I leant close to his ear and softly touched his hand.
"It's ok Dragon." He nodded and steeled his nerves before heading into the room and I slowly went in after him. Remus Lupin turned upon hearing us enter and although still a handsome man, the years had not been overly kind to him.Draco stood staring at him for a, second before he held his hand out for the older man to shake.
"Thank You for meeting me Professor Lupin." I couldn't help but feel sorry for Draco at having to do this.
"I'm not your Professor anymore Draco, I think you can call me Remus." He then held his hand out for me too shake. Maybe in another life I could have gotten together with Remus Lupin and we would have had a good life together but circumstances did not allow it.
"This is my cousin Cassiopea LeFevre, a cousin on my mothers side." He nodded his head in greeting before nodding to the table.
"You are the young lady who put Delores Umbridge in her place and duelled her on your first day." I nodded and sat down before looking uo at him.
"Unfortunately we can't see eye to eye." He smiled and I noticed three butterbeers on the table.
"On the contrary, I told my friend about it and he practically lost his mind." In translation, he told Sirius, it would be nice to see my dorky cousin again.
"So I assume you have a reason to invite me here, what can I do for you Draco." He nodded his head and steeled his nerves before lifting out a letter from me which I did actually write for Draco on the event of my death.
"My mother past away recently, this was delivered to me and I felt like you had a right to know." He couldn't bring himself to say anymore and just handed Remus the letter. I didn't know what way this was going to go. I could only hope it went ok and Remus did not break my sons heart.
Sirius tries to get me to stay in the house today and blow Draco Malfoy off but there was something in the letter he sent me which made me want to go and see him. I remember seeing Narcissa had died in the Daily Prophet and Sirius was a mess, it seems she wasnt the wicked witch he always said she was.Its not everyday you lose your virginity and I remember Narcissa even to this day as a sweet, innocent girl whose future was being robbed from her. Reading her words filled me with sadness and most importantly anger.
My Darling Draco,
If you are reading this it means I am no longer with you. There is a secret I have carried for too long and you deserve to know.
When I was Seventeen I was forced into a marraige with Lucius, the only thing I can do is apologise to you for keeping this secret.
I always knew it was a possibility that Lucius was not your father but it wasn't until you were born and I looked into those gorgeous green eyes and sandy brown hair that I knew exactly who your father was.
I need you to seek out Remus John Lupin, the Goblins will help you and my sister Andromeda will also helo you. I am so sorry my Dragon, maybe in another life we could have all been happy as a family but if anyone found out we would all be slaughtered.
Please Forgive me and know the last thing I wanted to do is hurt either one of you. Please tell Remus I am so very sorry. I love you.
Your mother
I glanced up at both students who were clinging to each other. Draco looked terrified and it was in that moment it hit me. I have a son. Dracos cousin lifted her wand and waved it infront of his face and soon his features morphed to match mine.
"I still have to look like this for now because if Lucius found out I would be so dead just like my mother." It hit me what he said, did Lucius kill his wife? We talked for a while before his cousin went to excuse herself. There was something about the girl and the way she carried herself but I cant out my finger on what.
"It was a pleasure to meet you." He nodded his head at me and I watched them both interact.
"Have fun with Granger." I then remembered the girl was a Gryffindor and would be the one coming to stay with Sirius over the summer. She waved at us both leaving me to talk to my son. I have a son.
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