Cassie was still out cold when Severus burst through the hospital wing doors, having run all the way from the dungeons and nearly toppling over every student and staff member unfortunate enough to cross his path. Percy Weasley, whom Madam Pomfrey had sent to fetch the Head of Slytherin, had nearly been trampled himself in Severus's panicked rush. Regardless, decided to follow him nonetheless and managed to keep pace with the older wizard.
"Severus, thank goodness you're here!" McGonagall exclaimed as soon as she saw him, one hand pressed over her heart.
She, Sprout, and Quirrell had only just laid Cassie in one of the hospital beds, and the school nurse was already flitting about, gathering supplies to dress the large, gaping wound that was still oozing bright red blood. Her saturated robes were dripping onto the crisp white linens beneath her.
"Didn't anyone think to slow the bleeding?" Severus spat.
He rushed forward as Quirrell reached for Cassie, beginning to pull back the clothing obstructing his view of the wound. It was a perfectly logical next step in treating a patient, but Severus didn't want the other man's hands anywhere near her in this state.
"I will do it!" he snarled, pushing Quirrell aside. He began yanking Cassie's tattered robes away from her neck and chest, and instantly recognized that the lacerations had been made by magic—and deliberately so.
"W-we did, S-Severus," Quirrell replied, taking a step backward and clasping his hands beneath his chin like a lost puppy. "W-we slowed it r-right away—"
"There was a lot of blood," McGonagall said grimly.
Madam Pomfrey was already handing Severus gauze and healing elixirs, pointing and directing him with the efficiency of someone who had no intention of letting anyone waste time talking.
For several minutes, the staff worked in near silence.
Eventually, they were satisfied that Cassie's bleeding had been controlled. Only then did Severus feel calm enough to pull a chair beside her bed.
He sat silently for several moments, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the mattress, his face buried in his folded hands.
"What happened?" he finally asked. His voice was low and silky, the unmistakable sign that he was doing everything in his power not to erupt in front of everyone.
The professors who had brought Cassie back to the castle filled him in on what they knew. Then the Weasley boy spoke up. Severus had nearly forgotten he was still there.
"I'll send an owl to my parents," Percy said assuredly, as though that were the most important thing in the world at that moment. He turned to leave, but Severus snapped his fingers sharply.
"You will do no such thing!" Severus snarled. Percy stopped. "As they are not her family. And I will remind you, Weasley, that even though you are a prefect, you will not run around blabbing to the rest of your brothers about this. Do you understand me?"
"But—"
"Five points from Gryffindor! And if any other students find out, I'll blame you and take more points! Now leave!"
Percy left without another word. McGonagall turned to argue, but Severus was ready for her. "The last thing she needs is everyone flapping their gums and trying to get a look at her while she's lying here unconscious!"
"Severus, they're going to find out sooner or later. There's no need to be cruel to Percy. That entire family has always had her best interests at heart!" McGonagall said sternly.
"Regardless, the Malfoys need to be sent an owl before anyone else," Severus replied. "If the Weasleys find out before Lucius, do you realize the shitstorm he'll rain down on this place?"
"Yes, yes. Always have to keep Lucius's ego in mind," McGonagall said, rolling her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll get an owl sent straight away. Shall I send one to Andromeda and Ted Tonks as well?"
Severus knew Lucius and Narcissa would hate it, but if Cassie were awake, she would loathe the fact that they were even having to waste time thinking about them.
"Do it," he said.
The Deputy Headmistress left to do just that, while Sprout went to check on Theodore Quartermaine and make sure he had been safely returned to his common room.
That left Severus alone with Quirrell, who was now standing in the corner, staring at nothing in particular. Severus was just about to tell him off when the rigid nurse beat him to it.
"Quirinus, you aren't doing anyone any good standing there. Now leave," she said.
Quirrell nodded awkwardly at both her and Severus before quickly making his way through the double doors. Madam Pomfrey drew the privacy curtains around Cassie's bed, and Severus remained in the chair beside her for the next several hours.
By the time it was well into the evening and the school nurse had retired to her rooms, Cassie finally began to stir.
At first, she seemed disoriented. Small moans escaped her as she shifted restlessly beneath the blankets.
"Cassie," Severus said softly, taking one of her hands in his and leaning toward her. "Cassie, you're in the hospital wing at Hogwarts."
"What—" Her blue eyes fluttered open, taking several moments to focus on the face hovering above her. When she realized who it was, tears immediately began to form. "Severus," she whispered. "Severus, I'm so sorry—"
"Don't," he said, a little too harshly.
Cassie immediately began to cry. Sobs shook her entire body, and Severus wasn't certain whether it was his harsh tone, the pain of the deep cuts covering her body, or the memory of four grown adults trying to murder her for no reason at all that had broken through her composure.
At that moment, he didn't care. Rather than alert Madam Pomfrey that Cassie was awake, as he had promised, he decided to keep these moments between the two of them private.
He gently nudged her over, making room for himself in the narrow hospital bed, and pulled her against his chest.
She continued to sob, and he wrapped his long arms around her, holding her as securely as he could. He couldn't undo what had happened. He couldn't erase the memory.
But he could make sure she didn't have to feel alone while she dealt with it.
Eventually, he coaxed some food into her and made her drink several elixirs to help replenish the blood she had lost. Finally, he got up to inform Madam Pomfrey that her patient had awakened.
The nurse wanted to give Cassie a Dreamless Sleep Potion so she could keep resting. Cassie agreed only after Severus reassured her that he was going to speak with Dumbledore and would come straight back. He remained beside her until he was certain she was asleep again before finally making his way toward the Headmaster's office.
When Severus entered, Dumbledore appeared to have been expecting him. The Headmaster sat calmly behind his desk, watching him with interest as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"You've been informed of what's happened, I presume?" Severus opened with. He didn't sit. Instead, he began to pace. He had kept himself subdued in the hospital wing, but he was accustomed to allowing his full range of emotions to show in this office. And he had some energy to release now.
"I've been communicating back and forth with the Ministry ever since Miss Black was brought back to the castle," Dumbledore replied evenly.
"The Ministry?" Severus asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "What have they got to do with anything?"
"It seems Fudge is requesting an emergency hearing the day after tomorrow."
"A hearing? For what?"
Dumbledore studied Severus for several moments before answering, seemingly weighing his choice of words. "To determine whether or not Miss Black bears any guilt in this situation."
Severus could feel his heart pounding steadily against his chest. His blood seemed to reach a boiling point at the mere thought. "Guilt?!" His voice rose. "GUILT!" He spun around, grabbed the nearest knickknack he could find—which happened to be a large bronze bowl full of some teeth-rotting Muggle candy—and hurled it across the room. The crash it made gave him very little satisfaction. "She nearly gets her throat sliced open by a group of incompetent aspiring vigilantes, and she has to be put on trial in front of a bunch of mouth-breathing, fear-mongering politicians?!"
"Severus, all four of her attackers are currently in St. Mungo's. Much of the community already fears what she could do if she chooses. I don't have to point out to you that there doesn't have to be much fuel added to the fire before panic breaks loose."
"They fail to realize that she held back! With the raw power she possesses, she could have incapacitated them without a second thought!"
"Unfortunately, for most people, that is not a comforting thought," Dumbledore replied with a small sigh. "The Ministry very well might decide that she used too much force. That she didn't need to defend herself to that degree."
"So they're the victims in this!" Severus snarled. "They should be rotting in Azkaban! Better yet—" This time, when he threw a gray mortar, it flew so close to Fawkes's cage that the phoenix squawked indignantly. "I'D LIKE TO SEE THEIR HEADS ON SPIKES!"
Dumbledore, having seen Severus in this state numerous times over the years, remained silent and allowed him to simmer. He calmly popped a lemon drop into his mouth.
When it appeared the younger wizard had finished throwing his possessions around, he spoke again. "Severus, why don't you have a seat?"
"No!"
"As refreshing as it is to see you care about someone this much," Dumbledore said calmly, "I'd like to remind you that we have other matters to be concerned about this term. We can't lose sight of them, even with all of this."
"Dumbledore," Severus growled, his voice taking on its familiar dangerous inflection. "Are you already trying to turn the conversation back to Potter? As though I'd forgotten somehow?"
"Yes. Potter, and the Stone, and the matter of keeping an eye on someone—"
"Enough, Dumbledore. I don't need reminders like a child!"
"Good. I only bring it up because I thought you would request to go along to the Ministry with Miss Black."
"Of course I should accompany her!" Severus spat. "You're suggesting I stay here?"
"Yes. I am requesting that you stay here, where you are needed, Severus."
Severus glared at him. "She is going to need me with her there, Dumbledore. It's for one day!"
"I will be sending the Deputy Headmistress, who is more than capable of handling the situation on her own. I'm sure Arthur Weasley will be more than happy to go along, as long as Lucius Malfoy will allow it. And Lucius himself has already expressed a strong desire to have this resolved as quickly as possible. He will be attending the meeting as well."
"You've been talking to him, but he hasn't bothered to show up here and see his niece yet?" Severus shook his head, unsurprised. "So you're going to leave this in the hands of Lucius Malfoy, who has no interest in Cassie's well-being whatsoever."
"While Lucius's motives are purely selfish, he wants her name cleared so that he won't be guilty by association. And he has the ear of the Minister. Not an ideal situation, admittedly, but he'll be granted entry to the meeting, guaranteed, and we will accomplish the same goal."
Severus let out a low growl of frustration. "She won't understand, Dumbledore," he said finally. "She's had enough people abandon her over the years."
"So explain it to her," the Headmaster replied, a twinkle in his eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cassie woke in the early hours of Sunday morning, and the first thing she did was frantically search for Severus. When she saw his sleeping form in the chair beside her bed, she immediately began to relax.
A smile broke across her pale features as she watched him. He looked so peaceful in sleep—a state she rarely saw him in.
She debated letting him rest, but simply having him nearby wasn't enough. She reached out and lightly touched his knee.
"Severus," she whispered. He stirred.
She whispered his name again, and this time he awakened fully, immediately moving to her bedside. "How do you feel?" he asked quietly, perhaps because, like her, he didn't want Madam Pomfrey disturbing their peace just yet. "Are you in pain?"
"I'm fine," Cassie said truthfully. She gestured for him to come closer. He hesitated, but only briefly.
Cassie scooted over, allowing him to squeeze his tall frame into the narrow bed once again. She rested her head against his chest and lazily draped an arm across his torso. She winced when the position put pressure on her wounds, but she didn't care.
"An owl has informed me that you'll be having some visitors this morning," Severus said. "Your aunt and uncle."
"Oh." Cassie sounded rather uninterested. At the moment, she didn't care to see anyone else. "Did you have a good night?"
"It was fine," he said quickly. She knew immediately that something was wrong.
Without further preamble, he told her about the "meeting" at the Ministry on Monday. Cassie became enraged. Severus encouraged her to remain calm, but what made her even more upset was the evenness with which he delivered the news. It made her think he wasn't bothered by the situation at all.
"Of course I'm angry as well!" he hissed into her ear, still managing to keep his voice to a whisper. "This whole situation makes me want to curse everyone involved!"
The confession made her feel a little better. That was until he told her he wouldn't be accompanying her to the hearing.
"Move!" she demanded suddenly, sitting upright in the bed. Severus gave her a surprised look.
"Cassie," he warned. He was clearly trying to keep the fact that they had been sharing the hospital bed quiet, understandably. He scrambled out rather quickly, safely returning to his chair before anyone came to investigate the sudden change in conversation. "I have reasons!"
"Oh, you do, do you?" she said haughtily. "I don't care to hear them, actually—"
"You do, you stupid girl!" he snapped back.
"Now, what is the meaning of this?" Madam Pomfrey's voice interrupted them. The matron had overheard their argument and stuck her head through the privacy curtains. "My patient is awake, and it doesn't sound like she's very relaxed. Do I need to ask her Head of House to leave?"
"Maybe you do," Cassie said.
Severus shot her a look. "No, Poppy. Everything is fine. If she doesn't calm down, I'll force-feed her a calming elixir."
"Now, Professor Snape, that's not how I do things in my ward!" the nurse scolded.
Cassie snorted, trying not to laugh, because she could now tell that Severus was trying his absolute hardest not to snap at the nurse.
"Everything's fine, Madam Pomfrey," Cassie said. "We're just having a little exchange of opinion." After one final stern look, the nurse disappeared behind the curtains again. "Fine, Severus. You have reasons. Let's hear them."
"Good reasons."
"I'll be the judge of that."
He told her about the Sorcerer's Stone, about how Dumbledore had moved it to the school to keep it safe, and about his promise to Dumbledore to help keep an eye on Harry Potter.
Those were two things he had intended to keep in the back of his mind at the start of the school year. But now, with Cassie's dream intruder, someone trying to read her mind as she moved through the castle, and the unicorn blood they had discovered, Severus told her he knew something was brewing.
"What does Dumbledore think?" she asked finally.
"He's asked me to keep an eye on Quirrell."
"I knew there was something off with him!" Cassie exclaimed. "So why even keep him here? Why not sack him?"
"Dumbledore has a certain way of doing things. If Quirrell thinks no one suspects him, then he'll be less dangerous for the time being—assuming he is the culprit."
"Okay. I still don't understand why you can't come to the hearing. Why can't the other teachers keep an eye on Potter and make sure the Stone is safe?"
"Because the other teachers don't know everything that we know."
Cassie sighed. "Am I supposed to feel privileged with this information?"
Severus was about to answer when Madam Pomfrey's face appeared through the curtains again. "Are you up for more visitors, dear?"
Cassie looked at Severus, then back at the nurse. "I suppose I don't have a say at the moment, do I?" She sat up straighter in bed, suddenly aware of how unkempt she looked. Fully expecting to see the snobbish faces of Lucius and Narcissa appear through the curtains next, she was overjoyed to see Andromeda and Ted instead.
"Aunt Dromeda! Uncle Ted!" Cassie started to stand, but her aunt immediately began to fuss.
"Don't you dare get up!" Andromeda rushed over and bent down to give her niece a big squeeze. "Oh, I'm sorry! I'm not hurting you, am I?"
"No!" Cassie said, wincing. Ted came over next and hugged her a little less enthusiastically, having noticed her expression when his wife had embraced her. "I wasn't expecting you two," Cassie said.
She was grinning from ear to ear, especially when she saw that Severus had risen from his chair and given his seat to Andromeda before pulling over another chair for Ted.
Then, without a word, he strode toward the other side of the room and suddenly found himself engaged in conversation with Madam Pomfrey. Cassie made sure to catch his eye before turning back to her aunt and uncle.
She knew he must have contacted them. There was no way the Malfoys would have thought to do it.
"Well, we couldn't stay away knowing what had happened," Andromeda said. She was sniffling, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "The audacity of it all, Cassie. I'm so sorry. We couldn't believe it!"
"No doubt those bastards will be put away in Azkaban," Ted said confidently.
Cassie wanted to believe him. Part of her wished she hadn't found out about the impending hearing just yet. "Well, actually..."
Cassie explained what Severus had told her only minutes before: that she had an appointment with the Ministry the following day, that they wanted to determine whether she had been the guilty party in the attack, and that they wanted to decide whether she was dangerous.
When she finished, her aunt and uncle stared at her in dumbfounded silence. Then Andromeda finally let her tears fall.
"That's it!" she cried, grabbing her husband's hand. "I'm done with this. We can't let this keep happening to her, Ted."
Cassie looked between them, utterly confused. "Aunt Dromeda, what—?"
"The life you've lived... and we've wanted so desperately to be there for you more, sweetie. We have. But my sister and that snake of a husband..." Andromeda's voice cracked. Cassie looked toward her uncle for clarification.
"Lucius," he said quietly. "He's made threats to us over and over. Said that if we tried to become more involved with you, have me lose my job or frame me and have me sent to Azkaban."
"What?" Cassie hissed.
"And of course, we'd have you over for visits," Andromeda continued, "but then we'd get the nasty messages, and that would be the end of that. But no more. If Molly and Arthur Weasley can stand up to him, then why can't we?"
Cassie hadn't even noticed that Severus had returned to them. "What are you three discussing?" he asked in a low voice, placing a protective hand on Cassie's shoulder. "She has enough on her mind as it is. She doesn't need family drama to worry about now—"
"Oh, shut up, Severus!" Cassie snapped, looking up at him. "Like you haven't helped add to the pile of stress this morning?"
"I was offering you an explanation—"
A high-pitched squeal interrupted him. Molly and Arthur Weasley had entered the ward, and Molly was already jogging toward Cassie's bed with her arms outstretched, clearly intent on hugging her.
Cassie completely forgot about the ball of anger that had been forming in the pit of her stomach. She tried to stand again to greet the newcomers, but Severus would have none of it. His hand was still on her shoulder.
"You. Need. Your. Rest," he said through gritted teeth, firmly pushing her back down. Cassie barely registered what he had said before she was engulfed in Molly Weasley's warm embrace.
Ted and Arthur were enthusiastically shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, while Andromeda, delighted to see Cassie looking so happy, wiped tears from her now-smiling face.
Madam Pomfrey, meanwhile, had begun frantically counting heads. They had undoubtedly surpassed the maximum number of visitors allowed in her ward, and she would have none of it, thank you very much.
"Too many!" she exclaimed. No one heard her over the overlapping voices.
Just as she approached the bed to get everyone's attention, the double doors opened again. Percy, Fred, George, and Ron walked in.
"Weasley!" Cassie overheard Severus snarl. He was glaring directly at Percy.
"Wasn't me, Professor!" Percy protested. "My parents told 'em, honest!"
Severus left then, mumbling something to Cassie about a "Weasley-fest." She knew the ward had simply become far too cheerful for his taste.
She enjoyed her time with her adoptive family and her aunt and uncle, and for a solid hour, she managed to forget about the unpleasantness waiting for her the next day. That was until the doors opened again.
This time, two platinum-haired figures entered. Both stopped short almost immediately, taking a moment to survey the crowded hospital wing. Lucius, in particular, looked as though he had just smelled something particularly unpleasant. Narcissa looked as though she might be sick when her eyes fell upon her disowned sister.
Cassie wasn't sure when Narcissa and Andromeda had last been in the same room together, and now she almost felt guilty for the tension their presence had created. She wished Severus had stayed.
Even though she had a room full of people supporting her, he was still the one she instinctively looked to when she needed to find her bravery.
But when she looked at Lucius's smug expression, she reminded herself that only yesterday she had fought off four grown wizards by herself. She had found that bravery on her own.
The ward, which only seconds earlier had been full of laughter and buoyant conversation, fell silent. This time, when Cassie went to stand from the hospital bed, no one stopped her.
"I don't recall giving any of these people permission to visit you," Lucius said, his eyes traveling around the room, his nose held high in the air. "I ought to complain to the Board of Governors. Dumbledore shouldn't have allowed this to happen!"
"I'm fine, thanks for noticing," Cassie replied.
"Of course you're fine. I hear you put four people in St. Mungo's. It's all over the Daily Prophet, which is why we have a little trip to the Ministry tomorrow." Lucius took several long strides toward the bed, his cane tapping against the floor. "So you ought to address me with some respect, girl."
"Or what?" Cassie challenged. Oh, how she wished Severus were here.
"Enough with the threats, Malfoy." Arthur stepped forward, placing himself between Lucius and Cassie.
"I don't recall speaking to you," Lucius said, raising an eyebrow. "Bothered to put on a set of clean robes, I see. A step up from what you wear when you come to work."
Molly raised her wand. Cassie immediately placed a hand on her wrist, gently lowering her arm. "It's not worth it," she murmured. Then she looked back at Lucius. "You never answered me, Uncle. Or what? If I don't treat you with respect?"
The entire room was watching Lucius now, waiting to see whether he actually had something substantial to say or was simply full of hot air. "The Minister was rather rattled by this whole incident, Cassiopeia. He's rather frightened by your abilities, I'm afraid to admit."
Ted was visibly shaking with anger. Cassie knew exactly what Lucius was doing.
He hated everyone in this room, and he was trying to get every witch and wizard riled up. If he could provoke even one of them into cursing him, he could use his political connections to get them into trouble—perhaps even have them sent to Azkaban. But she wasn't going to play his game.
"I need everyone to leave," she said. "Just so I can speak with my aunt and uncle, please." There were some quiet protests and plenty of glares aimed at the Malfoys, but everyone eventually complied, moving out into the corridor.
Madam Pomfrey retreated into her rooms, satisfied once again that the number of visitors in her ward was finally under control.
Cassie turned back to Lucius and Narcissa. "So what was that? You're going to threaten to have Fudge put me in Azkaban, Uncle?"
"Now why would you think that?" Lucius asked innocently.
Cassie scoffed. "Why are you even here?"
"We wanted to check up on you," Narcissa said, speaking for the first time. She rarely contributed to Lucius's schemes, but Cassie hated her for going along with them all the same.
"Well, I'm fine. As you can see, I've been checked up on. Maybe I should have just had Arthur send you an owl or something—"
Narcissa's demeanor had suddenly changed. "And how dare you allow my blood-traitor sister to come here, of all people!"
Cassie stared at her in surprise. Over the years, she had rarely heard her aunt speak of Andromeda at all. Hearing her speak with such venom, even knowing their history, caught Cassie completely off guard.
"How dare I?" said Cassie as she took a step toward her. "How dare you!" The look on her face must have communicated just how serious she was, because Narcissa suddenly became submissive and took a step backward. "I found out today that my aunt and uncle wanted to be in my life more, but they were threatened by you two! I don't know why I was so surprised. You really are scum, aren't you?"
"Cassie, stop now, or—" Lucius began.
Cassie turned on him. "Or what? You'll have me thrown in Azkaban, Uncle?" She laughed bitterly. "Please, try it! Maybe I'll volunteer to drink a little Veritaserum at the little meeting tomorrow. I have nothing to hide!"
Lucius visibly flinched. He hadn't expected that.
Cassie barked out a laugh. "Maybe we can share a cell, hmm?"
"You little brat," Narcissa whispered. "He is going to help you tomorrow!"
"You're right, Aunt Cissy. He is." Cassie smiled coldly. "Because he wants my name cleared so he can go on looking like Saint Lucius Malfoy, the man who rescued and somehow managed to raise Lord Voldemort's feral daughter." Lucius's expression tightened. "If they only knew that you constantly encourage me to become the next Dark Lord, wouldn't that be something?"
Lucius's eyes darted around the room, suddenly far less confident. "Stop!" he demanded.
"That's right. You'll stop." Cassie took another step toward him. "If you threaten Andromeda or Ted again, I won't give a shit if I ruin Draco's life by handing you over." Lucius and Narcissa had very little to say after that. They left the ward rather quickly. "See you tomorrow!" Cassie called after them in an exaggeratedly cheerful voice.
Then the little party with the Weasleys and the Tonkses resumed. For the moment, the only thing Cassie had to feel guilty about was stressing out Madam Pomfrey.