Squib On The Run (sequel to Squib In The basement)

43. The Division

Everyone in the room was looking at Cassiopeia as if she had just announced she wanted to have afternoon tea at Madam Puddifoots with Lord Voldemort.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?" Demanded Cassiopeia.
"Why do you want to talk to Draco Malfoy?" Questioned Dumbledore.
"Because I want to get to him before his father. I want to put him on the right path, before he goes home for the holidays and gets corrupted by Lucius" explained Cassiopeia.
"Draco is already too far gone, you cannot help him. He is just like his father" said Sirius.
Cassiopeia shook her head, "Not yet he's not. And I need to remind him that there is still good inside him".

"There is no good inside Draco Malfoy" murmered Harry.
"That's where you and I differ Harry, because I believe there is a great deal of good inside him" countered Cassiopeia.
"Why do you care about him anyway?" Asked Harry.
"It's complicated" sighed Cassiopeia.
"Wait a minute... He's your other godson isn't he? You told me you had two godchildren, but you wouldn't tell me who the other one was. You said you were related to Draco's mother, so it's Draco isn't it, he's your other godson?".

"Yes, he is. I didn't see the point in telling either of you, since you are so often at each others throats. It's been difficult for me to pick sides, since you both hate each other, and I care for you both deeply" admitted Cassiopeia.
"Speaking of sides, you must know that I cannot allow you to talk to Draco Malfoy. You are a member of my Order of the Phoenix, and Draco's father is a death eater. You cannot mix with both sides" informed Dumbledore.
"I know that. I remember during the first war that I had to pick a side. I had to choose your army over my cousins. If I'm being honest, I may have stood more in the middle ground back then. But things cannot happen the same way twice. I pick the good side this time, as I've lost too much to choose otherwise. So, this might be my last chance to talk to Draco, until the war is over. I need to remind him that I will be here for him if he needs me, and I will look out for him if he chooses good over evil. Please, let me convince him to choose our side" begged Cassiopeia.

Dumbledore stood in silence for a few moments, thinking over Cassiopeia's words.
"Very well. You may talk to him, but be as quick as you can" said Dumbledore.
"Thank you" replied Cassiopeia.
She then turned back to Harry, who was still looking perturbed that she was also Draco's godmother.
"Hey, I love you just as much as before. I am still your godmother. Nothing has changed" insisted Cassiopeia.
"I guess" mumbled Harry.

Cassiopeia squeezed Harry tight, "I will see you again during the summer I promise. But right now, me and Sirius have a job to do".
"Yeah, I know" sighed Harry.
Cassiopeia kissed his head, before releasing him and heading towards Snape.
"I'll meet you by Hagrid's hut, so we can travel to the Shrieking Shack together, and then down the mountain to get Buckbeak" said Sirius.
Cassiopeia nodded, "See you there".
Sirius ruffled Harry's hair affectionately, before turing into Padfoot and heading out the room.

Cassiopeia then followed Snape through the school, down towards the dungeons where the Slytherin common room was.
She was a little on edge since Dumbledore had not put the enchantment back on her. But Snape felt sure that they were unlikely to bump into anyone at that time of night.
As they approached the area, Snape ushered Cassiopeia into an empty potions classroom, before heading off to collect Draco.
After several nerve-wracking minutes, Cassiopeia saw the door reopen and Draco stepped inside, wrapped in a green dressing gown.
Instead of running to hug her like he normally did, Draco frowned when he saw her.
"Where in Merlin's name have you been?" He demanded.
"It's complicated" admitted Cassiopeia.

"No, I deserve a proper answer. One day you are there, and the next you disappear and I don't see you for over a year. What happened to you?" Questioned Draco.
"I ended up on the run, but I can't explain why. I wrote you a couple of letters though, so you knew I was alive" replied Cassiopeia.
"If you are meant to be on the run, what are you doing at Hogwarts? And how do you know Professor Snape?"
"I came here to watch the final task of the Triwizard Tournament. And to answer your second question, I don't really know Snape, I hadn't even spoken to him before today. But I needed to talk to you, so Snape agreed to fetch you for me".