It was another night, and Cassiopeia found solace in her own company in front of the fire at the Common Room. The calm of the night, with everyone asleep, provided the perfect atmosphere for her studies.
Her future as a Potions teacher, a path Dumbledore had agreed to after her graduation, drove her to study harder than ever. Cassiopeia craved knowledge and the discovery of new things, much like Tom did in the Dark Arts.
Tom Marvolo Riddle.
He was the boy who had entered her life uninvited, making a thousand empty promises, bringing happiness and a sense of being blessed, and then ultimately leaving her alone. His physical absence was one thing, but he had left an unfillable void in her heart.
Sometimes, that emptiness screamed for her to find a real partner in life. But it wasn't that simple. Her mind and heart were already committed to one person. Despite Tom's broken promises, she had vowed never to leave him. Though they were separated physically, she yearned for him to find happiness in his newfound chance at life. Even though dark plans loomed in his mind, she believed he would eventually let go of them.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs to the boys' dormitory interrupted her thoughts. She furrowed her brows and glanced at the entrance, wondering who might be awake at this late hour.
Draco Malfoy appeared at the dormitory entrance, dressed in all black and looking unusually handsome. Cassiopeia couldn't help but wonder why he was awake at this hour in such a stylish outfit.
"What are you doing here?" Draco asked as soon as he saw her.
"I could ask you the same," Cassiopeia raised an eyebrow. "I was reading a book, but what about you?"
"I couldn't sleep, just felt like going for a walk," he approached her. "You should get some rest."
"Well, I want to come for a walk too," Cassiopeia yawned, placing her book on the couch after closing it. "I gue—"
"I need some time alone," Draco cut her off, his expression troubled and uncertain. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Alright, then," Cassiopeia sighed. "Good night, Draco."
He gave a small smile, nodded, and left the room. Cassiopeia stood up, heading towards her dormitory, but her steps faltered as a troubling thought crossed her mind.
Tom wanted Draco to kill Dumbledore...
Was he...?
Her eyes widened, and she scolded herself for her momentary lapse in judgment. She couldn't believe she had forgotten for even a brief second. Determined to ensure Draco's safety, she quickened her pace, running out of the Common Room. She didn't care that she was wearing just a nightgown with a cardigan over it. All she wanted was to keep her promise to her uncle and aunt.
"Draco, don't do anything reckless," she muttered as she made her way through the corridors. Her first destination was the Gargoyle corridor, but she soon spotted Draco heading towards the Astronomy Tower.
Wait, didn't he really go to kill Dumbledore?
Cassiopeia couldn't help but tail after him to know what was in his mind. She didn't want to hear tomorrow that a student had jumped off the tower due to distress. She knew how hard it could be for him since he didn't share it with anyone.
She hid behind walls, watching him climb the stairs to the towers. As soon as he did, she stepped where he had been until she saw him facing both Dumbledore and Harry.
Seriously? How did he know Dumbledore was here? Of course, now she saw why he was called Mr. Outstanding.
Draco pointed his wand at Dumbledore with shaky hands, clearly showing his fear. When Cassiopeia tried to approach him, Dumbledore spoke.
"Good evening, Draco," he greeted, though his voice was weak. "What brings you here on this fine spring evening?"
"What are you doing, Malfoy?" Harry spat in disbelief, considering their recent friendship. Draco's betrayal must have sunk in Harry's head.
"Just stay there, Potter," Draco's face was becoming paler. When Harry was about to raise his wand, Draco was quick enough, "Expelliarmus."
Dumbledore looked at Harry and gave a small nod, as if to say, "Stop being impatient; I can handle it." Then he turned to Draco with kind eyes.
"Draco... you are no assassin," Dumbledore stated with complete calm.
"How do you know what I am?" Draco's voice was desperate, as if he had no choice. "I've done things that would shock you."
"Like cursing Katie Bell and hoping that, in return, she'd bear a cursed necklace to me?" Without breaking the calmness in his voice, Dumbledore continued, "Replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison? Forgive me, Draco. I cannot help feeling these actions are so weak your heart can't really have been in them."
Cassiopeia covered her mouth in disbelief at what she had heard. She didn't know how to express these feelings, the fact that Draco had tried twice to kill him and came by himself to do it.
"Let me help you, Draco," when Dumbledore tried to raise his wand, Draco took a quick step, disarming the wizard, who was impressed.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Draco....," Dumbledore called nonchalantly. "Years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices... Please let me help you."
Cassiopeia was relieved to see how calmly Dumbledore was acting, trying to help the boy.
"I don't want your help, Don't you understand?" Draco's voice became weaker and more sorrowful with each word. "I have to do this. I have to kill you, or he's going to kill me and my mother."
At that moment, Cassiopeia knew he was about to break down. She couldn't wait any longer to enter the situation.
She apparated opposite of Draco, with Dumbledore standing behind her.
"Don't do this," Cassiopeia pleaded as Draco shook his head. Draco wasn't surprised when she appeared, as he solely focused on the man behind him. "I know everything, don't let him ruin you, Draco, when you're trying to become a better person."
"Let him do it, Cassiopeia," the headmaster spoke as Cassiopeia stepped aside to look at him. He didn't meet her eyes but fixed his gaze on her helpless cousin.
Suddenly, footsteps interrupted the whole scene, distracting Draco. Cassiopeia raised her wand to disarm Draco when his head turned towards the sound.
But her raised wand automatically slipped from her fingers when she met those dark brown eyes she had fallen for. His appearance had changed to his original form, with the same black curly hair and chocolate brown eyes, wearing black attire just like Draco.
A smirk played on his lips as he stood behind Draco.
"Do it, Draco," Tom hissed at Draco's ear. But Cassiopeia was too distracted by the sudden appearance and also Harry.
"How are you, Tom?" Dumbledore spoke to his old student, who had chosen the dark side, breaking all the rules of the wizarding world. "It's quite surprising to see the boy I taught years back standing exactly the same, while I'm getting older."
"We didn't come for a tea party, Albus," a fake pout crept over Tom's face. "It's either you two or me?" He paused, leaning to Draco's ear. "Do it or your—"
"Avada Kedavra."
Everything happened so quickly. Cassiopeia didn't have time to think but blocked the curse before it hit Dumbledore. She had never wanted to make Draco a killer, even though he was an arrogant boy.
The green light shot towards her chest as she looked at Draco with wide eyes. For a moment, she felt relieved since she had given her word to Narcissa and Lucius that she would never let Draco kill Dumbledore.
However, Cassiopeia was still trying to process why nothing had happened to her. Normally, it was just green light and then pitch black. It was a coincidence that she was hit by the same spell from the Malfoys.
With wide eyes, she was still looking at Draco, watching his wand slip from his hand.
"Cass," he said, still looking at her, as well as Tom. He didn't even panic. Instantly, Cassiopeia felt something liquid flowing from her nostrils.
"Cassiopeia, are you alright?" she heard Dumbledore's disbelieving voice as his hand rested on her shoulder. She nodded, slowly reaching her fingers to her philtrum.
She gasped, seeing the dark, reddish-black on her fingertips. But more than that, she saw her veins becoming visible, black against her tan skin.
"Something is wrong with me, Professor," Cassiopeia turned around to show her forearm. "What's happ—"
Before she could even complete her sentence, her head became dizzy, causing her to collapse onto the ground. Someone quickly caught her before she hit the ground.
Cassiopeia raised her head to see Draco, whose eyes were watering.
"I'm sorry, Cassie," his paler face looked more miserable before her vision became blurry. "Sir, wa—why does she have dark lines on her skin?"
Cassiopeia closed her eyes for a brief moment, attempting to feel the rhythm of her own breath. The looming threat of a killing curse weighed heavily on her, a curse that was typically associated with only one name – Harry Potter.
As she focused on her breathing, she suddenly felt her breath slowing, as if she needed more air to survive. Paralyzed and unable to move, she sensed a hand placed gently on her pulse.
"Do something," Tom's voice urgently pleaded beside her. "Do something, Dumbledore, or I will unleash destruction upon the world."
Cassiopeia felt as if she were on the brink of exhaling her final breath. It was a destiny she had never envisioned –willingly embracing death. Yet, in that moment, it felt like she had no other choice. She had protected a monster, and now, it seemed that karma was swiftly closing in on her.