Where the Heart Is

A/N: Well, there isn\'t too much left in this story (only five more chapters). I plan to work on my other ones as well (Doubts and Desires, Pursuing a Flower, and I\'ll Forget You). Also, if you want to hear about updates and my general life, please go to my deadjournal at: http://www.deadjournal.com/users/snapesdream/


Chapter Sixteen: Beginning Ceremonies


The ceiling of the Great Hall displayed the brilliant star-filled night as the students in the Great Hall quieted down for the Sorting Ceremony. A group of nervous first years entered the hall. McGonagall called out the first name and a small boy with dusty blonde hair timidly walked to the stool and sat down, soon to be sorted into Hufflepuff.

Cassandra thought back to her own sorting. Had it really been just a year ago? She felt like she had lived a thousand lifetimes in the past year alone. Her eyes flickered over to Severus. He was definitely a welcomed surprise. She closed her eyes briefly, remembering how her eyes had met with his that night. She moved her leg over and brushed it lightly against his while giving him a lustful glance. He glared at her although there was the slight hint of amusement in his eyes.

Severus thought to her sorting as his eyes glanced over her. She had been through a lot this past year. A weaker person would have completely broken down, bhe ehe emerged from the rubble stronger. He knew she still had her weak moments, her doubts. She didn’t speak them, but he saw it in her eyes. She may have that burst of confidence when she discussed her plans with the Order members or the plans with Voldemort, but he knew how she poured over the books she had and made her notes with the worried expression in her eyes. He reached briefly under the table and patted her leg.

She gave him a flicker of a smile and watched the rest of the sorting.

Albus stood up and said his few words, reminding the students of the general rules about the forest and such. They then began to eat their dinner. “I need to speak briefly with the two of you after dinner,” he whispered to Cassandra and Severus.

They both nodded. Cassandra wondered what this was going to be about. The worry shown in her eyes as she mentally began to go through the plans as her food sat on her plate virtually untouched.


Albus motioned for the two to sit down as he went around his desk to sit. “I’ve heard about the Death Eater initiations this weekend. How many do you think will join Tom?”

Severus spoke up. “There are usually between five and ten in the mass initiations. A few always change their minds and are obliviated and sent away.”

Cassandra nodded. “Tom’s mentioned that he suspects Draco will join him this time. He’s the only one that I’ve heard from here.”

Albus nodded. “I suspected as much.” He glanced at them. “How are the plans going on your end of things?”

“As well as can be expected. Tom has no clue and still plans to do exactly what I say,” she said. Everything was going as scheduled, but she was still incredibly worried.

Albus nodded again. “Keep me updated. You two are dismissed.”

Severus stood up and offered his hand to Cassandra, which she quickly accepted. They walked down to the dungeons. He left her briefly to check on the Slytherins as she got ready for bed. She began to read over her notes again. After a bit, she felt warm, strong hands on her shoulders. “Come to bed, Cassandra.”

She looked up at him. “In a little bit. I need to look at some other things.”

He gave her his professor’s glare and went over, shutting the book. He grabbed her and picked her up despite her protests. He tossed her lightly on the bed and glared at her again. “You are going to bed, young lady. You have looked over those notes enough. They’re not going to change.” He crawled over and straddled her, giving her a bruise-crushing kiss. “You worry too much.” He ran his hands down her sides. “Everything will be fine. You are brilliant. Has your visions changed?”

Cassandra was melting against him. “They haven’t changed. It’s just so dangerous. So many could die if I’m wrong.”

“You won’t be,” he said as he ran his hand through her long, silky hair.

“I hope you are right,” she stated as she wrapped her arms around him. “I hope you are.”

* * * * *

The weekend came too soon for Severus and Cassandra as they simultaneously brought up their hoods and apparated to the meeting place. Severus bowed lowly, getting on all fours in front of the Dark Lord and lightly touching the hem of the wizard’s robes to his lips as a sign of respect and servitude. Cassandra nodded briefly to Tom and took the place by his side. “Rise, Severus,” Lord Voldemort hissed and motioned for him to file into the ranks with the other Death Eaters present for the initiation. Severus went over and stood beside of Lucius Malfoy and glanced back to Cassandra and the Dark Lord. Voldemort gave a brief hint of a smile toward Cassandra before he looked out. “File in,” he commanded.

The heavy iron doors opened to allow the Initiates enter. They followed behind one of the Death Eaters into the torch-lit room. There were seven of them, fully cloaked. Their faces were currently hidden by their hoods. The seven of them stood in front of the Dark Lord quietly, waiting for their further instructions, and Voldemort was not patient to instruct them. He raised his hand. “Bow before me,” he commanded. All seven fell to their faces to bow before him, having little choice in the matter. He stood before them as his red eyes fell, searching them as only he could. “So, you seven have chosen this path to my realm where purebloods shall reign supreme. I suggest that you do not enter into this decision lightly. Those who betray me are exterminated as I deem fit. If you have any doubts about your decision to join the Death Eaters and follow me, now is your chance to leave.”

An eerie silence fell over the room as all eyes fell to the seven bowed Initiates. The tension began to build in the small, stone room to see if any of them would leave. One of them suddenly shot up. “I would like to leave, Sir” came the small, quivering voice. The man was shaking in complete terror so much so that his hood fell off a bit, revealing red hair.

“Leave,” Voldemort commanded. One of the Death Eaters pulled out his wand. “Obliviate,” the Death Eater stated and ushered the young man out of the ceremony and back to the edge between Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley. Voldemort looked back at the remaining six. None of them had moved. “You six have chosen wisely. You shall learn great things while in my service,” he promised. “Come and kneel before me,” he stated as he motioned for the first one to do it.

A tall, rather bulky man walked up and knelt clumsily before the Dark Lord. Voldemort brought out a hand and pushed the hood back, revealing who it was to him and to Cassandra particularly. He then grabbed the man’s left arm, holding his wand above it and casting the Dark Mark onto his left arm. The man winced at the pain and made a slight sound of whimpering noises. “When I call, you will come,” Voldemort told him, letting his red eyes meet the man’s brown ones. He dismissed that one and called for the next one.

Five were initiated and the last one remained. The wizard rose up easily and went before the Dark Lord, kneeling in front of him. Voldemort pushed his hood back, revealing the white-blonde hair of Draco Malfoy. “Nice to see you join my flock. Your father speaks highly of your value to me,” he said quietly to Draco as he raised the wand over Draco’s left arm and cast the Dark Mark upon it. Only the young man’s eyes showed the pain of the Dark Mark leaving its permanent mark.

The six new Death Eaters stood before the Dark Lord. “You will follow my orders or those of the Dark Lady.” He motioned for Cassandra to reveal her face.

Cassandra had remained a passive onlooker for the ceremony, although she was very aware of what was going on. She had noticed the one who left, wondering if he could be on of the Weasleys with that red hair. Personally, she was thankful that one of them had left. With six new Death Eaters, she had to make sure her plans could accommodate for them. Inwardly, she had shuddered slightly at the comment about betrayal, knowing that her fate would be worse than death, if she had been discovered. It came to the end when she was supposed to reveal herself to these six. Slowly, she moved the hood away and gave each one of them a cold, authoritative glare. She allowed her eyes to linger onco Mco Malfoy, knowing that she was going to have to be especially careful around him. She would also have to tell Harry to do the same. “You are now free to join amongst the other Death Eaters here,” she commanded harshly and then turned as Voldemort went to talk to her briefly about his new recruits.

“What do you think of them, my dear?” Tom inquired almost with a childlike enthusiasm as he got her away privately.

“I believe they show great promise, Tom. They will need to be watched, of course, but they should be loyal.” Cassandra could tell that at least five of them would be loyal. Personally, she had her doubts about Draco and figured that the main reason he was joining is because daddy insisted.

Tom reached up and gently touched her cheek. “You and Severus are free to leave now.” He then gave her an uncharacteristic kiss on the forehead that was very paternal in nature. “My dear child….” He then motioned for her to go away and be with Severus.

Cassandra bowed her head to him and went off to find Severus amongst the Death Eaters milling around in the room talking. She was disturbed by the fatherly display that Tom had shown her, and she felt a strange since of guilt wash over her for a brief moment. She shook it away and found Severus near Lucius and Draco. “We are free to leave now,” she told Severus and gave a glancing nod to Lucius and Draco.

Lucius bowed to her. “My Dark Lady, pleasure to be in your presence.”

“Likewise, Lucius,” she replied while trying not to roll her eyes. She knew that Lucius was the type to speak flattery to your face and then stab you in the back. She trusted him least of all the other Death Eaters, well, except for Bellatrix Lestrange, who made a point to taunt her when Tom was not around. Her cousin obviously was not fond of the fact that she was the Dark Lord’s new female favorite or the fact that she was the favorite. Period. She then looked back to Severus. “Let’s go, Severus.” She gave a brief nod to Lucius and Draco and then apparated back to Hogwarts.

Severus turned to Draco. “I suggest that you get back into the Slytherin Common Room soon.” He then apparated. He was worried about Cassandra, particularly since she was so high in the ranks as well as the fact that he had overheard Draco and Lucius talking about her. He couldn’t hear much of the conversation, but it did worry him as he appeared beside of her.

Taking her arm, they walked to Dumbledore’s office and quickly let in to tell him the news of the Initiations.

Albus motioned for them to sit and leaned forward over his desk, anxious to hear how many were inducted. Severus spoke first, listing the names of the ones that he knew, which included Nott’s brother-in-law and MacNair’s cousin. He paused and then told Albus about Draco Malfoy joining. “There was also one of the Weasleys, I believe, but he left before he could be initiated. I think it was Percy.”

Albus was not pleased that so many had joined, since it meant that there were six more against them. At least one had changed his mind, and he hoped that if Percy was the one that he would now come to their side instead, especially for Arthur and Molly’s sakes. “How does this fit in with the plans, Cassandra?”

“There are a few minor adjustments that I will have to make for these six, but everything is still going as planned, Sir,” she stated rather confidently.

“Good, good. Is there anything else?” he asked, looking each one of them in the eye. Neither one said anything more although both did have their own individual concerns. He then nodded and dismissed them so they could get some rest.

Once they got back downstairs and into their private quarters, Severus turned to her. “I want you to be especially careful here, darling. I don’t trust Draco Malfoy.”

She smiled at him and leaned up, kissing him on the lips. She was pleased with his concern over her, but she had already planned to be more careful, especially in the places Draco might be. No one can trust a Malfoy, after all. “I will be. I have my gift, after all. Nothing can happen.”


A/N: Please review! Pretty please!!