Where the Heart Is

A/N: Thank you all that are still reading. Please review. I would appreciate them so much, and I would greatly like to know what people think of the story.


Chapter Fifteen: Persuading the Light


Cassandra placed the last box of supplies in her room. She was rather glad to be back at Hogwarts, but she dreaded the next few days. She had to talk to Dumbledore about calling an Order meeting as well.

“I hope you find the room suitable,” a voice came followed by the light knock on the side paneling of the door frame.

She turned around. “Yes, Sir. It is most acceptable, especially since one door leads to the hall and the other to Severus’ living room.”

“May I sit,” Albus inquired. She nodded, and he motioned for her to sit down. “You and Severus seem to have gotten along quite well together.”

“Yes, we have,” she stated as she sat down. She wasn’t quite certain why he was bringing it up again, although a light blush had fallen on her cheeks. They had not told anyone about them. Well, with the exception of Voldemort finding out.

He nodded. He suspected that Cassandra and Severus had gotten very close. HE mainly just hoped that they would be happy together, especially for Severus’ sake. “How are things with Tom? Do you have any more news?”

She took a deep breath. “I do have news actually, but I need you to call an Order meeting. Harry needs to be there as well. It concerns him.” She noticed his concerned look. “It’s about a way to defeat Tom. I really think it can work, Professor. I SEE it.”

He sighed softly. “Very well. Harry is already at Grimmauld Place. I will call a meeting for this evening.” He stood up. “You are really sure about this plan, aren’t you?”

She stood up to show him out. “I would stake my life on it, Sir.”

He nodded. “I hope it doesn’t come quite to that. I’ll see you at the meeting at seven.”

She saw him out and worked on organizing her things while she thought out her plans to destroy Tom.

* * * * *

“Cassie!” Harry exclaimed as she entered Grimmauld Place. He gave her a warm hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek. “What are you doing here?”

“Order business actually. Didn’t Dumbledore tell you?” she inquired

“He told me that I had to sit in on the meeting, but that’s all,” he said, having wondered what Cassie had to do with the Order of the Phoenix. “Ron, Hermione, and Ginny are here too, although they aren’t allowed to go to the meeting.”

“Cassandra, we need to go in for the meeting,” Severus stated as he came up behind her.

There was a tense moment between Harry and Severus. “Come on, you two.” She walked in between them until they got to the kitchen where the meeting was supposed to be held. Set Set Severus enter first before her. They settled down around the table. Those in attendance were Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lupin, Tonks, Moody, Kinsley, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Bill Weasley, Severus, Harry, and herself. She was suddenly very nervous. The only ones who completely knew that she was a Death Eater and a spy were Severus and Dumbledore. She was also going to have to convince them of her plan.

Albus stood up and warded the room, so nothing would get out. “We were called here because Miss Black has a proposal to make that we need to consider.” He motioned for her to stand. “Cassandra?”

She took a deep breath and stood up. At this moment, she would almost rather face Tom again than these people. She looked around the table, finding the strength to do this only when her gaze fell on the last person: Severus. “During Easter break, I became a Death Eater and that same night, I became a spy for Dumbledore like Severus. Because of my gift to have visions, I’ve been working with both.” She swallowed the growing lump in her throat as she looked at the shock, surprise, hurt, and suspicion on their faces. “I have asked Dumbledore to call you here today because I have seen a plan to defeat the Dark Lord.”

“How could you do what we haven’t?” Moody asked as his magic eye was on her as well as his normal one.

“Please. Just listen,” she stated and lightly ran her tongue over her dry lips. “The plan is quite simple. During Christmas break, he will come and take over Hogwarts. There will be a ceremony of sorts and that is where he will move to kill all of you, starting with Harry. The Dark Lord will then be betrayed. Severus and I will free you. We will have the last battle and Harry will get his chance to kill the Dark Lord. To make certain he is destroyed this time, I will use Necromancy.”

They all began to talk at once, mainly stating that the idea was absurd. Albus silenced them. “One at a time, please.”

“How can we trust that she won’t turn us all over to Voldemort?” Moody blurted out, watching her suspiciously.

“I trust her,” Albus stated.

“So, you’ve just ‘seen’ this plan of yours?” Mr. Weasley piped up.

“I’ve seen parts of it. I’ve also done my research. Plus, I’ve already talked with the Dark Lord. He has agreed to the Death Eater part of the plan,” she stated calmly.

This caused another uproar, which was finally silenced. “Voldemort has always feared Albus. How can you trust him to go along with this plan of yours?” McGonagall questioned.

“Tom will do whatever I tell him to do,” Cassandra stated simply.

“And, how did you manage to do that?” Moody inquired.

She had gotten slightly frustrated, especially with Moody. She placed both hands hard on the table and leaned toward Moody. Her black eyes glared coldly at him. “Because I am his Persephone.”

“Who?” Harry inquired suddenly.

She brought her hand to her forehead as she straightened up. Gods, don’t people know anything! “The god of the underworld Hades fell in love with the daughter of Demeter, who was Persephone.” She sighed. “Tom fancies himself to be in love with me. Like the majority of men in love, he is gullible and will do as I say without question. He plans to make me his queen.” Severus got up after he heard this and slammed the door behind him. “Bloody hell!” she murmured, knowing she now had some explaining to do with him. She sighed and looked at them. “I know the plan is dangerous. It’s quite possible that people will die. But, you have been sitting around and still have no plan to take Voldemort out. This is war, folks. People die during a war, and, you may have to kill or be killed. But, if you just sit around, he’ll slowly pick you off one by one until there is no one left to stop him. If you have a better plan, please, do tell.” She looked at each one of them, noticing how they wouldn’t meet her gaze for long.

“Harry, Cassandra, please go outside. We have to discuss this.” Albus stated calmly.

She nodded and walked with Harry outside the kitchen and shut the door. As soon as the door closed, he turned on her. “How could you not tell me, Cassie?”

She sighed. “I’m sorry, Harry. I did want to tell you. We just thought it would be best for the fewer people to know the better. Only Severus and Dumbledore knew really.”

Obviously confused, he looked at her. “Why, Cassie? Why did you join them in the first place?”

“He was going to kill Severus. I couldn’t just let it happen,” she told him.

“Like that would have been a lost,” he said sarcastically.

She suddenly pushed him against the wall. “Don’t you dare say that about him! You don’t know him. You have no right.”

He put his hands up as a sign of defeat. “What’s your problem, Cassie? You sound like his protector or something.”

“I…I’m sorry,” she said. “I just don’t want to hear you talk like that about him.”

“Okay.”

She sighed, remembering she still had to talk to Severus.

“Cassie?”

“Yes?”

“Have you killed anyone?”
“Do you want an honest answer, Harry?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

She sighed. “Some male Muggle. I had no choice, Harry. Honestly, if there was any other way….”

“Yeah.”

“Do you believe me?”

He looked er. er. “Yes, I do.”

She gave him a gentle smile. “I have to go talk with Severus.” She then turned and left to go find him. She went into the study. He was just staring at the bookcase.

“Leave me alone,” he stated coldly.

“Severus, please. Let me explain.” She walked over and stood behind him.

“I hate to dissuade you from your illusion of men, but I am not that gullible,” he stated coldly.

She bowed her head. “I’m so sorry, Severus. I wasn’t speaking about you. I was talking about Tom.”

“Oh, yes. How long have you two been professing your love for each other? Was I not high enough in the ranks? I’m sorry I couldn’t make you queen.” His tone was bitter and coated with sarcasm.

“It’s not like that at all, Severus. I love you and only you,” she stated as she gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

He turned around suddenly and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Is it? Really?” He was clearly hurt by this. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked as he shook her slightly.

“I was worried about your reaction. It really shouldn’t matter, Severus. He knows I love you. He even agrees that it is for the best.” She was trying not to wince in pain.

He looked at her. His hard glare slowly softened. “I love you, Cassandra. I just don’t like the fact that the Dark Lord does too. I hate this game that you have to play. It’s so dangerous.” He released her from his grip and gently stroked her cheek. If the Dark Lord ever found out that she was planning such a betrayal, then he would make her pay with a slow and very painful death. He didn’t even want to think about it though. He leaned in kissed her deeply. She wrapped her arms around him while slipping her tongue inside his mouth. He turned them around and pinned her against the books. His hands slowly ran down her sides and to her back. He reached down to her buttocks and lifted her up, pinning her between himself and the bookcase as he continued to kiss her deeply. She wrapped her legs around his waist, needing him.

Albus stepped out from the kitchen, followed by the Order members. “Where’s Cassandra, Harry?”

“She went in there,” Harry stated, pointing to the study.

Albus nodded and motioned for the others to follow him. He pushed the door open and was surprised by the sight that greeted them. He cleared his throat.

“Way to go, Severus!” Tonks called out.

Severus broke the kiss and gave a quick glance over at them. He slowly let Cassandra down and quicklytonetoned a few of her buttons that had mysteriously come undone. He then turned around to face them, giving a glare at Tonks. “Yes, Sir?”

Cassandra worked at smoothing down her hair as her cheeks were a bright pink. Her lips were swollen, and her eyes were lust-filled. “Yes?” she inquired in a huskier voice than normal.

Albus stifled his own urge to chuckle at them. “We’ve come with a decision. We’re not overly thrilled with the plan, but you are right. This is war, and it’s the best plan we have. We will need to discuss the details.”

She smiled softly. “Of course, Sir.”

“Let’s continue discussing some details,” he said, motioning for them to come back to the kitchen.

Severus gently placed his hand on the small of her back as they walked with the rest of them. She gave him a grin. This was actually wng ong out. There was just the details and the actual execution of the plan. No worries, right?


A/N: Now that you have read, please review. It\'ll make my day, and it only takes a moment.