Where the Heart Is

A/N: Please read and review. I would greatly appreciate it. Smut should be here in next chapter or two. I haven\'t decided which yet. I can be persuaded by reviews though.


Chapter Ten: Graduation Brings a Choice


Cassandra felt the painful burning on her left arm. “Not again,” she groaned as she sat her book down. Voldemort had been calling for her every night since she had finished taking her N.E.W.T.s. With a wave of her wand, she had transfigured her jeans and t-shirt into a black dress and fastened the metal silver snake belt around her waist. She put on her school robes over it, knowing that she would have to transfigure them into female Death Eater robes once she got off of Hogwarts’ grounds. She paused briefly at Dumbledore’s office to say the password. “Come in, Cassandra,” she heard the elder wizard’s voice. She stepped inside. “He has called for me again, Sir.” She was surprised not to see Professor Snape there yet.

“I figured as much. Do be careful, Cassandra.” Albus stated sincerely.

“I will be and will report when I get back.” She glanced around, wondering where Snape could be. Her mark burned more insistently. “I have to go,” she said as she turned and left.

Once she was outside Hogwarts’ grounds, she transfigured her robes into Death Eater robes and her shoes into black high heels. Then, she apparated, landing in a kneeling position in front of Voldemort. “Your servant arrives, my Dark Lord,” she said in a sweet tone as she brushed her lips against the bottom of his robes.

“Rise, my dear.” Voldemort instructed firmly. After she had stood up, he cast his gaze over her body, lingering on her cleavage and the high slit in her dress on her left thigh. “Magnificent,” he breathed.

“Master, if I may be so bold to ask. Where is Professor Snape?” she inquired.

“My dear, your Professor Snape has not been called this evening. I wanted you all to myself.” She suppressed an urge to shiver. It was the first time she had been called in these two months without Severus there, and she found out that she missed his comforting presence. “I thought that you could use a break from him. I wish to discuss your future.” he stated as he motioned for her to take a seat.

She gave him a questioning look and sat down. “My future?”

“Yes, I would like to know what my Death Eaters are doing and where they are going to be. How were your N.E.W.T.s?” he inquired as he sat down in a chair across from her.

“The N.E.W.T.s were fine. I expect to get all O’s and graduated with the top wizard and witches in my class.” she told him. He had an almost fatherly appearance about him. She quickly suppressed that sickening thought. “I haven’t decided what I would like to do. Several universities have written me: both in England and America. I would like to continue working on my potions studies.” She, having a rather lost gaze, looked at him. “I really don’t know what I’m going to do.” she said honestly.

Voldemort gave her a hint of a surprised look. She was a brilliant young woman who could do whatever she wanted. He also remembered though that she was an orphan by his own Death Eaters. “If it is a question of money….”

She shook her head. “No, Master, I do have the funds.” She bowed her head in thought. Frankly, she didn’t want to leave the safety of Hogwarts. She wasn’t ready to be on her own. Glancing up, she blushed slightly, realizing that she had completely missed what he had said. “What?”

He gave her an annoyed look, not liking to have to repeat himself. “I said that I want you to stay around here.” He leaned in closer to her. “I think you would make a great spy on Dumbledore and Hogwarts. Better than Severus even, since you are a Gryffindor.”

Her eyes lit up slightly as the edges of an idea began to appear. “I’m also a friend of Harry Potter.” She gave him a sly smile. “Perhaps, I can manage to attach myself with Severus and to stay around Hogwarts to continue gather information for you. With Severus and I working together to gather information for you, you will be able to complete your plans, Master.”

He smirked at her enthusiasm as well as noted that she had used Snape’s first name. Yes, he did like the idea of the two of them working together. “Excellent. Tell Severus that he will be working with you quite a bit as well as that he must help you to stay at Hogwarts. You are free to go.”

She nodded, stood up, and then kneeled down in front of him. “Thank you, Master.” She then rose and apparated back to Hogwarts. She transfigured her Death Eater robes back to her school robes as she went straight to Professor Dumbledore’s office. She entered, surprised to see Severus there waiting for her with Dumbledore. Wait a second! When did she start thinking of him as Severus? sat sat down and transfigured her heels back to sneakers.

“Well, are you okay?” Severus inquired, annoyed that she hadn’t said anything yet.

After putting her wand away, she answered, “I’m fine. He just wanted to discuss my future.”

“And?” Severus insisted.

She looked at him and then at Professor Dumbledore. “He thinks with my connections to Harry as well as being a Gryffindor that I should manage to stay here at Hogwarts to be his spy. He wants me to work closely with Professor Snape.”

“WHAT?! I don’t want to have to be your babysitter.” Severus stated in protest.

She glared at him. “For your information, I don’t need a babysitter. I’m not a child. By tomorrow, I will have my N.E.W.T. scores as well as have graduated.”

“I think it’s a good idea,” Albus stated.

“You do?” they asked in unison.

“I do. Normally, I don’t agree with Tom, but I think that you two should work together. I would feel better about you being spies together, so you can watch each other’s backs.” He looked at Cassandra and then at Severus. “You could use a potions assistant, Severus. It’ll give you more time to work on private research. She could even take over teaching the first and second years. I believe that she is quite capable.”

Severus looked at her and then back at Dumbledore and sighed. “There is no getting out of this, is there?” He already knew that answer. “Fine, fine.” He looked straight at Cassandra. “If we are going to work together, then you are going to have to follow my lead and be willing to work.”

“Yes, Master,” she smirked slightly as she rolled her eyes. “Oh, wait! Since when have I been wearing your mark?”

He glared at her. “You know what I mean, Miss Black.”

“Yes, I do. Can I go now? It is rather late.” she asked, rather annoyed at the moment. Albus nodded. “Thank you.” She got up and cast one more glare to Severus and left.

Severus crossed his arms and stared at Dumbledore. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you and the Dark Lord are ganging up against me.”

“Now, now, Severus, don’t pout. She’ll do you some good. Now, go on to bed. Tomorrow’s a rather busy day with the students leaving and graduations.” he told the younger wizard.

Severus nodded and left as well, still grumbling about having to work closely with Cassandra. She wasn’t completely bad. She could actually be good for conversations, and she was quite intelligent, but she was annoying. He shook his head, hoping that this wouldn’t last long.

* * * * *

Cassandra woke up to a knock on her door. “Cassie, wake up! Your N.E.W.T.s scores are in!” a male voice called out. She pushed herself to a sitting position. “You sound more excited about them than I do, Harry.” She got up and quickly got dressed in a simple sundress that she was going to wear underneath her graduation robes. “Where are they?” she asked as she opened the door.

“Down at the Great Hall. We got our exam scores. Hermione is still top of our class.” Harry said.

She smiled. “Figures. How did you and Ron do?”

“Not too bad. I managed to actually be sixth in the class. Ron’s not too far behind me either.” He said with a smile as he walked with her to the Great Hall.

“Wonderful, Harry! I told you that you would do well.” she said.

“I couldn’t have done as well if you and Hermione didn’t help me with my potions work.” he admitted.

“You’re welcome.” She went over to where the exams and N.E.W.T. scores were being handed out. She got hers and opened it. Slowly, she smiled brightly. “All O’s.” She also noticed something else. She had gotten the top scores on her exams, which meant that she was the top of the class. She just barely beat out the Head Boy and Girl. “I’m the top of my class.”

He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “That’s so great, Cassie.”

She nodded and then gazed down as her smile faded away. “I wish my dad could have been here. He would have been so happy and proud of me, I think.”

He pulled her even closer. “He would be proud of you. I know he would be.”

“Thank you, Harry.” She brushed away a few tears that had fallen down her cheeks. Her dark eyes met his green ones. He had been such a wonderful friend. She hadn’t even had the courage to tell him that she had become a Death Eater. He had no clue. She sighed. “I better finish getting ready.” He nodded and let her go, knowing that she had to graduate. He was already going to miss her friendship and having her here at Hogwarts.

* * * * *

Graduation came. The Head Boy and Girl made speeches to the class and the remaining students. It was a nice ceremony, and Cassandra was glad to have graduated now. Dumbledore got in front of them and began to speak, “Congratulations Class of ’97. I trust that whatever endeavors you may undertake will bring you success in the years to come. Also, I would like to introduce our newest faculty member who will be an Assistant Potions Mistress to our Professor Snape…Cassandra Black.” He motioned for her to stand up. She was surprised that he already made the announcement and stood up politely. “Please come up here to the Head Table,” he instructed. She did and took her place beside of Severus. She was lost in her thoughts as Dumbledore closed out the school year. She needed to hurry up and say goodbye to her friends and kept the congratulations of her new position to a minimum, which the professors quite understood.

“Why didn’t you tell us!?” Harry complained as soon as she got to them.

“I didn’t find out until last night. The good news is that I’ll be back here next year.” She smiled, hoping that they found that to be good news.

Ginny smiled. “I think it’s wonderful! Except you have to work with Snape. Poor you!”

Hermione looked at Cassandra with envy. “I wish I could have the school library at my disposal.”

“’Mione, you practically have all the books in the library already memorized!” Ron exclaimed with a groan.

Cassandra laughed. “I don’t think I’ll have too much time to just spend in the library. I’m going to be rather busy and you four better hurry up and go before the train leaves you behind.”

“Yes, Professor Black,” Harry said with a grin as he gave her another hug. She laughed, giving them all hugs and watched Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron board the train. After seeing them off, she sighed softly. She had to move her things to her new quarters. She was also expecting Voldemort to call her and Severus tonight for a full Death Eater meeting. She looked up at the castle. She was glad that graduation was over with, although she did wish that her parents could have been there. She felt utterly alone at that moment, since her friends had also left. With a sigh, she entered Hogwarts, thinking about her choices. She truly was glad that she was staying at Hogwarts and found that she didn’t mind the idea of working with Severus at all.


A/N: Now that you have read, please review. It only takes a moment!