Where the Heart Is

A/N: There are two major WARNINGS in this chapter: attempted rape and a character death. These are fairly serious issues, so if you are easily offended by these things, I suggest that you don\'t read this chapter. You have been warned. Now, for those that will read this, it is actually an important chapter to the story where a few things will be played in during the last few chapters. There are actually only four chapters left, which will be dark chapters with light parts intermingled. Do please read and review though. It\'s hard to know what people think of these chapters and the story without people reviewing. It only takes a couple of moments, and any reviews are acceptable as long as they are not flamers. I do not take kindly to flamers. I will say this to those that might and do to other stories as well. It is fiction. It is fanfiction. It is the author\'s take and the author\'s story. Also, if you are warned at the beginning, then you have no fault for yourself, except your own for reading it. Now, with that said, I do hope you read and enjoy it as much as you can despite the seriousness of certain parts of it. Also, you can find more about updates for all of my fanfics and my general life at http://www.deadjournal.com/users/snapesdream/


Chapter Seventeen: Don’t Betray Your Own


A little over two months had passed at Hogwarts from the beginning of the school year. They were on their way into November as the pressures of the dark and light were closing in. Things had appeared relatively calm on both sides, but it was the calm before the storm as tensions were running high and the battle plans were coming together.

Cassandra had taken well to teaching the first and second years. The second years had tried to give her some trouble during the first week of school, figuring that she would be easier since she was young, a former Gryffindor, and not Snape. They couldn’t have been more wrong, actually, since she ran a tight ship and took no foolishness from them. It was a potions classroom, and she knew they had to be alert and pay attention or someone could get seriously injured.

Today’s class went fairly well with very few troubles. It could have been because they had a test today. She decided that she needed a little break from teaching. The past couple of weeks had been extremely hard on her, since she had to be gone most of the night going over plans with Voldemort. had had barely been able to see Severus. Well, except for last night, she thought, remembering that she still had the marks from their latest lovemaking.

After class was over, she carried the papers she had graded and the tests into her office. She was about to sit down and grade them, but after glancing at the time, she decided that they could wait. She was so tired lately, and she thought a small nap sounlovelovely.

She left the office and the classroom, locking them with a couple of heavy, complex charms. Walking along the stone floor, she paused as she suddenly got a flash of a vision. In it, she was being held down. Reaching into her robes, she pulled out her wand. Something hard hit her hand, causing her wand to fly across the hall. “Acc-“

“Silencio!” a cold voice called out. Her voice was silenced as rough hands grabbed her arms tightly.

She tried to call out to no avail and struggled to get free. Then, she clearly sho who was there. “Draco,” she mouthed, although no sound escaped her lips. She glanced back, noticing that Crabbe and Goyle were tightly holding onto her arms.

Draco stood in front of her and smirked. “Wouldn’t the Dark Lord love to see his most prized servant now? I thought you would be more challenging. I guess not.” His hand went to cupped one of her breasts, weighing it. “Quite nice for the little dark ice princess.” He noticed that her eyes had widened and that she squirmed more in Goyle and Crabbe’s grasp. “I plan to play with you. I’ve heard that you are untouchable, and I’m curious to see if you are.” He leaned in to forcibly kiss her, but suddenly, he was kneeling over from where she had kneed him in the groin. “You bitch!” he moaned out.

She brought her foot up and kicked him. She then struggled lose from Goyle and Crabbe who were fairly slow and had relaxed their grip just enough when Draco had bent over. She began to run, knowing that she had to find someone to help her, especially since she had no voice to call for help. She did not get far though when she was tackled around the legs and brought down hard onto the floor. She tried to scramble away, but Draco was just too strong and had forced her down.
Draco grabbed hold of her. “Grab her arms,” he instructed to Goyle and Crabbe who promptly responded this time and held her down. He raised his hand and back handed her a couple of times. “Bitch, you are not getting away that easily.” He sat on her in such a way where she couldn’t move her legs much. His hands were free as he ran them over her upper torso, particularly fondling her breasts through the fabric. He seemed satisfied with what she had. He then leaned down close to her. “I’m going to fuck you hard, bitch,” he whispered into her ear as he pressed his erection against her upper thigh.

Her breathing came in short spurts as she began to struggle against her captors. She had to get free. She couldn’t let this happen to her.

Crabbe suddenly spoke up. “Are you sure about this? We can get into a lot of trouble, Draco?”

Draco glared at Crabbe. “Quite sure.” He looked down at Cassandra. “You see, I think it would behoove her to not tell about this. Surely she wouldn’t want the Dark Lord to find out.” He lightly ran his hand against her cheek. “Besides, she never did technically say ‘no.’” He smirked and began to pull her robes up.

She looked to Crabbe and Goyle. She noticed that neither one of them looked too pleased to be partaking in this, although they still did not release their grip either. Her eyes fell on Draco, and she tried to get away, but he was just too strong. “No, no, no, no, no,” she began to mouth over and over again as she felt the cold dungeon air and floor against her exposed legs.

He brought the robes up to her hips, exposing her panties. He slipped his fingers underneath the silky fabric. “Oh, this won’t hurt too much,” he said to her with a smirk as he ripped them off of her and tossed them aside. His fingers brushed against her dark curls. He moved his hands to her inner thighs to push them open. He paused and stared at her inner thigh, noticing the bite mark. His finger traced the mark as she shivered. “Well, well, well. It appears the little ice princess isn’t as untouchable as she appears,” he hissed Suddenly, he stuck his finger inside of her, noticing that she was quite dry from lack of arousal. He watched hquirquirm and smirked. “No one’s going to save you now, especially not the one who gave you such marks.” He leaned down and forcibly kissed her for a moment until he was suddenly holding his bleeding lip where she had managed to nip him. “Bitch,” he said loudly as he hit her hard against the side of the face.

She saw stars dance in front of her eyes when he hit her. She continued to squirm, trying to get free despite the fact that she wanted to slip into the darkness at least for a little bit.

He was getting tired of this and wanted release as well. He positioned himself in front of her and brought his hands to his crotch to undo it and take herht tht there on the cold, stone floor. He didn’t have a chance to do more than unbutton the top button when he was grabbed roughly by the collar and forcibly held against the wall. He saw a livid Snape, holding his wand right against his cheek.

Severus had finished what he was doing and decided to go check in on Cassandra. He was surprised not to find her in her office and suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He just knew something had happened to He He checked in their quarters, finding that she was not there either. He knew that she would have told him if the Dark Lord had called her. He walked down the hall when he heard someone say “Bitch.” He quickly followed the sound and saw Draco Malfoy reaching for his pants and a girl being held down by Crabbe and Goyle. He was about to tell him that he should do his more carnal pursuits elsewhere, figuring that this was some twisted fun that they were having when his eyes fell on Cassandra. He then saw nothing but red for a moment, until he realized that he was holding Malfoy up and wanting to give him every hex and curse he knew. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you,” he hissed menacingly. He then pointed his wand at Crabbe and Goyle who were trying to sneak off. “Stay where you are,” he said coldly as Crabbe and Goyle completely froze in their places.

Draco was shivering slightly from fear and rage that his plans had been thwarted. “Because you are a professor,” he managed to say. He had never seen Snape this angry before. He was beginning to notice that Snape wasn’t going to kill him, although he had no doubt that he wanted to. “We just wanted to play with her. Did you know that someone has already been playing with ”
”

Severus smirked suddenly and glared dangerously at Draco. “Yes, I do know that someone else has been playing with her, and I suggest that you leave MY property alone.” He shoved Draco against the wall, loving the fact of seeing the boy’s complete and utter surprise at this little revelation. “I will see you expelled for this, Malfoy. All three of you.” He then threw him down on the ground, still pointing his wand at him. He cast a spell which bound the three together with ropes as he collected their wands. Only once he was sure that they were not getting away, he went over to Cassandra. He noticed that the side of her face was bruising and bleeding slightly. “Are you okay?” he inquired with complete concern as he gently touched her.

Once Severus had gotten them off of her, she had pulled her clothes down to cover herself and grabbed her panties, sticking them in her pocket. She hadn’t even realized she was bleeding until she touched her bruised cheek and saw the blood. She looked at him, and all she wanted to do was curl up in his arms and cry, but she knew that she couldn’t do that. She still had a reputation to uphold. She pointed to her throat and tried to speak. He quickly said, “Finite Incantatem.” She was glad that she could talk again. “I’m fine,” she said rather coldly as she slowly stood up, despite the fact that she was shaking slightly. “We need to go to Dumbledore’s office.”

Severus lightly placed a hand on her back and pointed his wand at the three. “Walk,” he commanded coldly and gave them a hard glare as he then handed Cassandra her wand back.

The group went slowly to Dumbledore’s office. Severus had given her a handkerchief to use on her cut, which she was dabbing at the slowly clotting blood. She was glad when they arrived at his office. She sank into the chair as she heard Severus explain what he saw to the headmaster.

Albus listened to the gravity of the situation. He got up and brought out an unused Pensieve. “I would like you to place your memories of the event in here, Cassandra.”

Cassandra took out her wand and extracted the memories, knowing that they would have to be looked at for the expulsion.

Severus glared at the Draco, Goyle, and Crabbe. “I demand that all three of them are expelled for this.”
Cassandra slowly looked at Crabbe and Goyle and reached out, lightly touched Severus’ arm. “I think Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle should get a different sentence. They were obviously acting under orders and did not want to participate. Surely, they must have felt that they had little choice. I suggest that they get a month of detentions with you, Severus. I suggest that they are put under house arrest during that time as well, only allowed out of their common room during meals and classes. I think fifty points a piece should be taken from Slytherin too from their behavior.” She then looked to Draco. “Mr. Malfoy needs to be expelled though,” she said as she glared at him coldly.

“Is this plan acceptable to you, Severus?” Albus inquired, feeling that it was fair.

Severus thought about it and nodded. “Yes, it is.”

“So be it.” Albus then sent a floo message to Hagrid for him to escort the three back down to the Slytherin Common Room and then to escort Malfoy off Hogwarts grounds. “You two are dismissed. I will finish talking care of this,” he told Severus and Cassandra.

“Thank you, Sir,” Severus said, waiting for Cassandra to stand up. The two then walked down to the dungeons in silence. Once they got to their quarters, Cassandra sank down on the couch and curled up, beginning to cry softly. Severus went into his private stocks and came back out with a potion to help with the pain from the bruise and reduce the swelling. “Drink this, darling,” he said softly as he knelt down before her.

She raised her head and slowly reached over, taking the potion and drinking it down. She then handed the empty vial back to him. “I’ve made a mess of things,” she said softly.

He took her hands in his. “This is not your fault. Malfoy was the one who did this to you.”

“I should have been quicker to stop him. I saw it happening too late.” A few more tears fell down her cheeks. “He’s going to tell Tom. It could ruin everything if Tom stops trusting me.”

He gently wiped away the tears with his thumb. “Things will work out. He would be foolish to tell. Tom’s going to be absolutely furious about this.”

She looked him in the eyes and then slowly nodded. Draco would be foolish to tell Tom, considering she was his favorite. She wrapped her arms around him, needing him to be close to her. “Let’s go take a shower,” she suggested softly.

He nodded and picked her up, carrying her into the bathroom. He sat her down on the edge of the bathtub and began to undress her, which she allowed him to do. After she was completely undressed, he leaned over and turned on the water. She swung her legs over the side and stup, up, letting the warm water pool at her feet as she waited for him to join her. He stepped inside of the shower after undressing and turned the shower nozzles on.

She sighed, feeling the water pouring her her head. It felt nice and rather comforting. Her eyes closed again, and she let the tears intermingle with the water.

His eyes raked over her, noticing the various other bruises that had marked her from the event. His temper flared again as he realized how close he had come to killing a student. He just wanted to protect her, and he had almost completely failed in doing that. Slowly, he picked up the soapy sponge and began to run it over her body.

She opened her eyes and watched him clean her. Finally their eyes met, and she suddenly pounced on him, locking her arms around his neck. She pressed her body against his and kissed him deeply. “I need you,” she whispered into his mouth. She grabbed his hands and pressed them against her body. She wanted to feel him and only him. She wanted to forget Draco’s touch and know only Severus’. “Please,” she begged.

Severus did not need to be told again. He ran his hands over her body, finally placing them right under her buttocks as he picked her up with her help. She wrapped her legs around his waist and looked at him. “I love you,” she whispered as she pressed down, inserting his erect cock inside of her. He moaned into the kiss, unable to give more of a response than that at the moment. She began to move up and down as he held onto her and kept his balance. They both cried out as their orgasms struck in unison.

Slowly, he let her back down on her feet, making sure that she didn’t fall over. They washed each other, paying rather close attention to particular areas. Finally, they stepped out and dried off. Without putting clothes on, he went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I love you too,” he said softly against her neck as he placed light kisses along it.

She smiled and took his hand, taking him to the bedroom. “Can you just hold me?” she asked in a small, almost childlike voice.

He nodded and sat down on the bed, gently pulling her down with him. She draped herself over him and snuggled her head against his chest. Safe. He made her feel safe, and that was what she needed right now after almost being raped by Draco Malfoy. Her eyes fluttered closed after a moment as she drifted off to sleep in his arms. Severus lightly pulled her in closer and stroked her hair, watching her sleep. He loved her, and he vowed to not let anything like this ever happen again.

Their peace did not last long. A few hours after they had gone down there and had rested, Severus felt a burning on his left arm. Seconds after that, Cassandra opened her eyes, feeling it too. “It’s begun,” she said softly, knowing that they had to go and now. He simply nodded and took his wand, casting his clothes and hers on them. “Albus,” he called out through the floo. “We have to go.”

Albus was not surprised to hear this. “Go and be careful,” he called out to them.

Severus turned back to Cassandra. “Let’s go.” As they quickly walked out to the apparition border, he was mentally trying to prepare himself for this. It could not go well, and he only hoped that Voldemort would trust Cassandra in this. A lot truly was riding on her plan and the trust that Voldemort had for her. The two of them apparated to the Death Eater Meeting. A mass of wizards in hooded-cloaks were there. Severus and Cassandra bowed before the Dark Lord as they appeared.

A thin, bony hand shot out as Cassandra bowed and grabbed hold of her, pulling her close. “Enough of the formalities. Is it true that Draco Malfoy was allowed to get close enough to you? Even with your gift?” Voldemort squeezed her wrist even tighter as his red eyes glared at her.
She slightly bit down on the bottom of her lip to keep from wincing as his hand closed on her wrist. He was hitting a bruise from that afternoon, which made the pain even worse. “Yes, my Lord, it is true, but my gift is not to fault. I saw the attack, but I’ve been worn down these past few weeks with very little rest, my Lord. I couldn’t react quickly enough.”

Draco stepped forth from the Death Eaters. “I did what I had to do, my Dark Lord, to show that she is not ready for such a worthy position. Her gift couldn’t even stop me. She was too slow, and it shows that her plans are faulty. She’ll lead us to failure, and she must suffer for her betrayal.”

Severus suddenly stood up. “My Dark Lord, if I may, Cassandra’s gifts are not faulty. She could take on any of us and defeat us. Allow her to prove herself if you will before you chose.” He wasn’t certain about this, but he couldn’t let the Dark Lord think that she was a betrayer. He knew what happened to Death Eaters who were betrayers and it was not pretty to say the least.

Voldemort slowly released his grip on Cassandra’s wrist. He actually hated to hear about this. He liked her, but he had to have a way to prove that she was the most worthy. “Yes, this is quite suitable. She will go against Draco. To. The. Death.” he said, purposely punctuating those words. He motioned for the Death Eaters to make room for them and cast a spell over the area to encase their spells.

Cassandra hated Draco, yes, but she didn’t necessarily want to kill him. She knew that she had little choice to go through this though. It was either her or him.

Draco walked into the area and raised his wand, readying himself for the duel to the death. He had to win and beat her. He had to show her for what she truly was. He did not wait though. “Crucio!” he called out quickly as soon as the spell was around them to prevent their spells from harming others.

Cassandra saw it a second before he had called it out. She called out a spell to bounce his spell back. She ced ced that Draco had dodged away in time.

Neither one of them seemed quick to cast the Killing Curse. Their spells bounced back and forth between each other. “Is this the best you can do?” Draco sneered at her as he quickly cast another spell. “Oh, you mean I’m supposed to be trying?” she asked, having an air of mock innocence in her voice. Once she had gotten into her rhythm, she was finding it rather easy to counteract his spells or to just dodge them. She could hear the shouts on all sides, wanting one of them to kill the other. She suddenly felt like a gladiator in the Colosseum, and unfortunately, she knew that one of them would get the thumbs up from the Emperor. A burst of anger at him ran through her. Suddenly, she struck quickly with a Cruciatus Curse, bringing Draco to the ground. She then stood over him, placing a foot heavily on his stomach, and pointed her wand at his chest as she took his from him. She looked at Voldemort. “I think Draco has learned his lesson, my Lord. I took on him and won. I can take on anyone else you wish and win. He may still be some value to us, and I think, if it is your wish, that he should live.”

Voldemort stood up and looked at them. He saw the ease that she was toying with Draco during their duel and how suddenly she had overtaken him. Normally, he would have been inclined to let the boy live, but his attempted rape on Cassandra had angered him. “It is not my wish. When Draco attacked you and attempted to rape you, he completely went against my orders, betrayed me, you, and all the rest of my faithful Death Eaters. Show them what we do to those that betray their own.”

She looked at him, her eyes widening slightly. He wanted her to kill Draco. She wanted to show him up. She wanted to cause him some pain, but she did not want to kill him.

“Show them,” Voldemort commanded harshly.

She looked at Draco, giving him the slightly hint of compassion in her eyes. “It didn’t have to come to this,” she said softly as she raised her wand. Her eyes slowly grew cold and harsh as she had to think back to the attempted rape to even be able to do this with any ability. “Avada Kedavra,” she stated, noticing the green light shooting out of her wand and at the cold, vacant stare in Draco’s eyes. She bowed her head slightly and went over, taking her spot as Voldemort’s right hand.

“This is what happens to those who betray us. May he be an example to all of you,” Voldemort stated as he looked over them with a cold glare. “Lucius, you may do with your son as you wish now.”

Lucius broke away from the group to go over to his son. Quietly, Voldemort had dismissed Cassandra and Severus. Lucius’ cold, hard, murderous look at Cassandra was not lost on her or Severus though before they apparated back to Hogwarts.

Cassandra suddenly began to shake slightly as if she was cold once they had gotten back to Hogwarts. It was bad enough that she had almost been raped today, but now, she had just killed Draco Malfoy. She would have to be more careful than ever. Lucius clearly wanted her dead, and she didn’t exactly blame him. What almost bothered her more was the fact of why Voldemort had wanted Draco dead. Betrayal. It all went back to betrayal. She swallowed hard. If it ever came out that she was betraying Voldemort, she knew her own fate would not be so peaceful with just an Avada Kedavra. What struck her even harder was to know if Severus got caught. Her hand flew to her mouth at the sheer thought as she tried to cover a sob as she completely collapsed against Severus, not even sure when he had placed his arms around her. She could not lose him. She was just going to have to be so careful now. They could not be discovered because it meant a horrible end, and there was so much at stake, that it could not be risked.


A/N: Please review.