Where the Heart Is

A/N: Well, here is chapter nineteen. There are only two more chapters after this one before it\'ll be completed. It\'s hard to believe that my first attempt at a fanfic is almost finished. I hope everyone is enjoying the story. Please read and review. Also, feedback is greatly appreciated and welcomed.


Chapter Nineteen: Finalizations


Lord Voldemort called in Cassandra and Severus for a private conversation. He glanced outside the window, noticing how the sun was rapidly leaving the sky. Tonight was the night that he would take over Hogwarts. He smirked and turned when they entered. “Are things ready?”

Cassandra brought out a piece of parchment. “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.” She smirked slightly as the map and the people were revealed of Hogwarts. “Here is where everyone is at. Severus and I will enter the castle here,” she said as she pointed to a special entrance near the dungeons. “We will then proceed to get anyone in the hallways and take out the students in their common rooms as well.” She noticed that the only remaining from the houses were Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. The rest had left. “After the students are secured in the dungeons, we will come and get you and go after the professors, saving Dumbledore for last. She then looked up at Voldemort. “If we leave soon, we can grab the students as they head to their common rooms from dinner.”

Voldemort took everything in that she said and nodded slowly and thoughtfully. “And after we have Hogwarts?”

She went over to him. “Then, we will call the rest of us there right before dawn. We will show them that you are the supreme power and greatest wizard alive. Then, we will kill Dumbledore and his ‘army.’” She lightly leaned her head against his arm. “Then, the England will be ours as well as the rest of the world,” she said in a playful, childlike voice. “No one will dare go against you when they see your power.”

He smirked and patted her lightly on the head. “Yes,” he hissed slightly. He then began to laugh his high-pitched laugh. “Go on, children, and get ready. We leave within the hour.”

She went over and took Severus’ hand, leading him up to their room. Once up there, she handed him the mirror to alert Dumbledore that they were coming shortly, so they could be informed. A pang of guilt washed through her though when she realized how the Longbottoms should have been informed. She closed her eyes and sighed as she fastened the silver belt around her and clasped the cloak on.

“Everything is ready,” Severus stated as he tucked the mirror away and pulled up his hood. He went over to her and pulled her hood up after giving her a kiss. “This will work, love. It has to.”

She nodded and grasped his gloved-hand as they walked back downstairs. Voldemort was waiting for them the the three apparated just outside Hogwarts anti-apparition boundary. “Stay here until the signal and then go to the Great Hall,” she instructed to Voldemort as she lightly touched his cheek and gave him a smile. She then took out the map again to see where everyone was located. Good. Exactly where they said to be. They went inside, quickly taking the students and placing them into the rooms in the dungeons that they had previously set up. There weren’t many left, since most were sent home except those that had refused to leave and wanted to fight and could be trusted to. She realized that they didn’t know about Neville, except that he hadn’t shown back up that morning when he was supposed to, and she didn’t offer any explanations. It wouldn’t have done much good anyways, and it may have even hurt them to know that one of theirs was already gone and so brutally. The professors took a little longer to gather, for they put up a ‘fight’ before gaining their place in the dungeons.

Then, there was only Dumbledore left. She went up to the window and showed the light, letting Voldemort know that it was time for him to come. Severus and she quickly left and went down to the Great Hall.

“Sorry we are late for dinner, Albus,” Severus said as he went on one side of the Headmaster as Cassandra went on the other side.

“It’s quite alright, Severus,” Albus responded, acting perfectly calm.

The doors blew open, causing them to hang limply from their hinges. “Ah, Dumbledore, it’s been a while,” the cold voice of Lord Voldemort sneered as his wand was drawn.

Dumbledore stood up and reached for his wand. “I don’t think so, Sir,” Cassandra hissed as she pressed her wand against his neck. Severus grabbed Dumbledore’s wand and pocketed it. The elder wizard looked at the two of them in complete surprise, and she realized that he was quite the actor.

Voldemort laughed with glee. “The great omnipotent Dumbledore didn’t even see this coming,” he stated sarcastically between the laughter. He then pointed his wand at the wizard. “I don’t want to wait. I think I’ll go ahead and destroy you now.”

“NO!” Cassandra called out, slightly getting in front of Dumbledore.

Voldemort’s eyes blazed in fury. “Why not?” he questioned like a child who had just been told that he couldn’t go over to a friend’s house to play.

“Please, Tom. If you wait, the reward will be greater. You have to take him out amongst all the others. Have patience, my Lord,” she answered quickly, still not moving from her spot.

“Very well,” he said, pouting slightly. “Go and take him with the others. I want to redecorate.”

She bowed her head in respect to him as she and Severus took Dumbledore down to the dungeons. “I’m so sorry about this, Sir,” she whispered as she locked him in.

Severus had collected all of their wands and gave them back to their owners as the fake wands were put into the bag. “Keep the wands hidden until you are released in the Great Hall,” he instructed in his professorial tone.

Cassandra knew that they had to get the others as well. “Stay here with them, Severus, while I get the rest of our prisoners.” She left, glancing into the Great Hall as she passed it and noticed how the tables had been blown to pieces and how he was working on creating a dais and throne fit for a king. “It will all be over soon,” she quietly reminded herself as she left Hogwarts to go back to Voldemort’s headquarters.

She gathered their prisoners together and looked at them. They all knew what they were getting in to as well as the plan. She took out the portkey that was supposed to transport them all to Hogwarts dungeons when she felt danger. She took out her wand when she was grabbed roughly by the neck and flung against the wall. “Lucius,” she hissed as she pointed her wand at him.

Lucius had his own wand drawn on her. “Where do you think you are going with the prisoners?”

“It’s none of your damn business, Lucius. You will find out when you are summoned later. I’m acting on the Dark Lord’s orders,” she said, glaring at him.

“I know that you are going to betray us all. The Dark Lord has been blinded by your womanly wiles, and I plan to inform him of your betrayal,” he hissed.

She felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. “You have no proof, and you know what the Dark Lord will do, if he finds out about this.”

“I have no proof yet, but I will find it.” His voice grew very cold and harsh. “You killed my son.”

“Your son tried to rape me, and I had no choice but to kill him. It was what the Dark Lord wanted,” she stated loudly, hating that all these good wizards and witches were learning of her dirty secrets. She managed to get amongst the others and used the portkey to take them to Hogwarts just as she saw Lucius lunge toward them and miss.

“What happened?” Severus asked immediately as he took the others and did what he did before.

“I had a run in with Lucius.”

He stopped what he was doing and went over to her. “Did he hurt you?” She shook her head as he lightly ran his hands over her. He paused when he felt the knot at the base of her head and heard her hiss in pain. “He did.” He wrapped his arms protectively around her. “After tomorrow, he will never be able to harm you again.”

She looked up at him as her dark eyes became brighter with unshed tears. “No, after tomorrow, he won’t.” She leaned up and kissed him deeply, not caring that the others were watching. She then reluctantly parted. “I need to go and keep Tom in line. There’s only a few more hours until morning.”

She left him and slowly walked up to the Great Hall with a very heavy heart.

“Cassandra, my dear girl, what do you think of the place?” Voldemort said gleefully as he looked at his handiwork.

She raised her head and looked. “A throne room fit for a king,” she said with a small smile.

He motioned for her to come up there with him, and she conceded. “Yes, for a king and his princess.” Once she stood before him, he revealed her throne beside of him. “Sit, my dear.” She sat down in the seat and looked out at the Great Hall. It was hardly recognizable without the tables, and it distinctly reminded her of a true throne room from a medieval castle. Well, they were in a castle, after all. He looked at her and reached over, taking her hand and kissing it lightly. “I’m sorry about what had to be done to your parents all those months ago. Do you forgive me?”

She turned, remembering the reason that she had even come here. Her eyes darkened as she pushed down the anger and pain. “I…forgive you,” she said softly and hesitantly, knowing that he had to hear this.

He smiled and raised her chin to look at him. “My daughter,” he said as he leaned over and gave her a fatherly kiss on the forehead. “Stay with me until morning comes.”

She nodded in agreement and gazed out the window, noticing how it would not be too much longer before morning came. A soft sigh left her lips. It would be over soon. Her eyes closed as she remembered the vision she had had. They were going to win. It had to come to pass. Yet, the last that she had seen troubled her. Her father had told her that she was going home after this, and she was beginning to realize that she didn’t want to leave Hogwarts or Severus. Especially Severus.


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