What Was Required

Chapter 1

Cassia's heart started racing, her cheeks flushing with heat that consumed her whole body.

Was this what muggles liked?

She'd never experienced anything like this before, it was nothing like what her mother had told her about.

Before things could go any further, Cassia shut the book and threw it across the room. This was too much for her.

Leaning back in her chair she looked back at the book where it had landed. The cover looked so innocent and yet filled with such filth!

"Why would someone want to read that? " she muttered to herself

"Read what?"

Her colleague Joy asked entering the empty room with two coffees and various snacks from the vending machine down the hall. She set everything down on the desk between their workstations.

Cassia didn't have time to answer or retrieve the book before Joy quickly noticed it and snatched it up.

Joy's eyes widened as she realized what book this was, it was quite well known and very popular. This was not a book Joy would ever think Cassia would read and her expression told her as much.

"Really?" Joy said in amusement and waving the book in the air

"Didn't think this was"

Joy didn't get to finish her sentence before the shrill sound of the hotline receiving a call cut through the room.

Cassia reached for the headset signaling that she'd take the call, relieved by the interruption she clicked on the answer button.

"Safe harbor crisis line this is Cassia speaking, how can I help you tonight?"

The line was silent for a moment before she could hear a soft whimper followed by a cry

"Hello, is there someone there" a slight panic hit Cassia as she was met with no answer. "Are you injured in any way, hello?" Her hand moved the mouse arrow to the 911 icon on her computer screen in case she needed to call for more help.

"I think I ruined her life" a male voice softly cried

Cassia's chest tightened at those familiar words.

She had heard them before

"Cassia go change into the clothes your father chose for you, the Crouches will be here soon." Said Octavia as she entered the library.

Cassia looked up from her book and nodded to her mother, she got up and put the book back into one of the bookcases in the large dimly lit room.

Without another word her mother left the room, Cassia hurried out of the room as well.

The Crouch family were coming over so Cassia could get to know their son Barty jr. her father wanted them to marry when they were older.

This so that the Nott family could climb the social ladder, Cassia knew this even though it had not been spoken aloud.

She'd already attended a few similar dinners.

First were the Malfoy's who also had a son Cassia's age. But that hadn't really worked out.

Lucius Malfoy was a very handsome polite young man but Cassia had noticed that he was also very calculated and didn't seem that interested in her during the dinner.

When that fell through her father had scolded her for days, like the boy's disinterest was only her fault.

After that the Lestrange's, they had two boys Rodolphus and Rabastan.