Chapter Text
Silver-grey eyes snapped open.
Cassiopeia’s eyes blinked in surprise as she clearly tried to understand what awakened her and ruined a good night’s sleep.
Everyone should know better than to interfere with her resting time.
She pinned the door with an annoyed look and threw the covers away.
Meticulously, she fastened the belt of her robes over her nightgown and summoned her wand.
The wards assured her that no one was in an imminent danger.Yet.
Good. She didn’t want to go on a killing spree before interrogating the culprit.
Slowly and painfully, of course.
She heard the unmistakable sound of someone taking the stairs three at a time and sighed.
Cassiopeia opened the door carefully and threw a ‘Petrifying Charm’ at Sirius’ back. Again.
His jaw dropped as he stared at her incredulously. Despondent worry swept over his face but he should know that Harry was safe.
Notwithstanding how capable her Apprentice was, the Black Stronghold Magic would always protect the Heir. He was never in danger to start with.
“Careful, Sirius,” she tsked. “I told you time and again to never tackle an unknown without a sound plan. You are so careless.”
With that, she freed him.
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, huffed a loud sigh and grunted with ire. “You’re seriously impossible sometimes.”
“Does that mean I’m tolerable other times?” she asked noncommittally.
He threw his hands up and whisper-screamed. “An intruder managed to break the wards. He’s probably here for Harry. Does this mean nothing to you?”
She scoffed with an unmistakable air of exasperation. “First of all, I trust in Harry’s ability to protect himself, at least until we join him. Moreover, he’s in no danger. Use your senses and listen to the wards for Merlin’s Sake. You are Lord Black.”
Sirius let out a ragged breath and his eyebrows rose more than a mere fraction.
Cassiopeia didn’t know if he was offended or if he came to his senses at last thanks to what she said but it certainly didn’t matter.
“Follow me. Soundlessly,” she ordered firmly.
“That smile on your face is bloody creeping me out,” Sirius muttered under his breath but did as she asked.
Not that he had a choice to begin with. They crept up the stairs, their wands flicked and ready.
Noise came from Harry’s room. She motioned for Sirius to follow silently and with a modified version of ‘Alohomora’, she opened the door without alerting whoever or whatever ruined her night.
Her head tilted and her gaze studied the scene unfolding in front of her trying to determine how she should act.
“Aw, Dobby,” Harry smiled widely. “You shouldn’t have sneaked in the dead of the night to rely Draco’s message. What if Lucius notices your absence?”
Sirius grunted and she nudged him.
Dobby, Draco’s personal elf, was kneeling and bawling his eyes out, tears and snot sliding down his ashen cheeks.
“Bu-But Master Harry is in d-danger!’’ His wails became earsplitting making her wince. “Ev-even if Master Draco hadn’t s-sent Dobby, Dobby would have come to w-warn Master Harry. Master Harry is so precious. Master Harry is the best.”
Harry bit his lip, failing to hide his amused smile. “You are too good to me, Dobby. I wish I could steal you from Draco. Maybe I can ask Cassi to beak the bond?”
Cassiopeia watched her Apprentice warily as he sat on the edge of the bed patting the elf’s small head. His eyes well full of fake innocence.
Wasn’t it enough that it took her a month to persuade him to let go of Cerberus promising she would bring him for random visits later?
It wasn’t as if she was equipped to raise the Guardian of the Underworld.
Moreover, wasn’t the oversized beast supposed to guard the entrance to Hades and keep the living from entering the World of the Dead?
Death was having a laugh at her expanse somewhere and she just knew it.
Now, this was quite interesting.
Lucius Malfoy was plotting something against Harry.
Cassiopeia cleared her throat and Harry shot her a cheeky wink over Dobby’s head.
The elf stood on wobbly knees and bowed until his nose grazed the carpet. “Mi-Mistress Cassi!”
Cassiopeia cringed.
Not Lucius Malfoy’s elf too!
Sirius snorted and gave her an impudent leer. “You are obviously new to being addressed by your cute nickname but the expression on your face is memorable. I‘m tempted to save it on a Pensieve.”
“Don’t push your luck.” Her eyes sparkled and the corners of her mouth twitched ever so evilly. “You don’t want me to start looking for a suitable nickname for you. Other than Padfoot, that is. My tastes are rather peculiar.”
Sirius shook his head vigorously but the glint in his eyes remained.
Even if she would never admit it loud, it pleased her to see her nephew brimming with life and buoyancy. To see him with a purpose.
She knew that Sirius had never really done anything worthwhile in his life before James and Lily’s regretful demise. He’d never had a reason to. But now, he had Harry and everything changed.
“So Dobby,” she drawled, her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m reluctant to say that while you had all good intentions for this unprompted visit, you didn’t fully realize the repercussions of breaking our wards unannounced. Unless you explain yourself thoroughly, you will have no choice but to meet my displeasure. A feat most would steer away from, I believe.”
“Cassi,” Harry pouted but she was in no mood to play his games.
Her resting time was interrupted.
Did the obtuse creature knew how hard it was for her to enjoy a full night’s sleep?
She was enjoying a rather delicious dream; discussing some lethal curses with her great grandmother Lady Elladora Black. How dare he cut in?
Elladora Black was as elusive as a Demiguise. She waited for months to be granted this privilege.
The elf shrunk away and his eyes bulged dramatically. He wrapped his arms around himself and started shaking like a Willow branch.
Well, not that she planned to spend the night interrogating a woefully insignificant elf.
A Malfoy House Elf who planned to convince Harry to adopt his sorry hide.
“Bad Master Lucius, he-he…” Dobby’s eyes widened. His trembling hands went to his throat before he started convulsing.
“He cannot speak against his master. He’s held by the bond,” Sirius frowned.
Cassiopeia shrugged. “You don’t need to break your master’s trust, just nod whenever I say something you want to to tell Harry.”
“But I know,’’ Harry whined.
“And we don’t,” Sirius gave his son a stern look.
The elf’s shoulders sagged in relief and he nodded.
“Lucius is planning to harm Harry this year,” she deadpanned.
Dobby blinked twice.
“He will do it when Harry is at his most vulnerable which means, unprotected by Grimmauld Place’s wards.”
Dobby blinked again.
“Hogwarts.”
She lost count of how many times the elf blinked, not that she needed to know.
‘’I am no frail weakling!” Harry gasped.
“Of course you are not,” Sirius said tenderly. His merry mood disappeared when he looked at the elf. “How dare that good for nothing peacock plot against my son? I’ll flog him, I’ll skin him alive, I’ll strangle him with his stinky entrails, I’ll—‘’
‘’You will do no such thing,” she smiled widely.
Sirius froze. “What? But Aunt Cassiopeia….”
“As I said, you will pretend that you didn’t hear Dobby’s warning. You will interact with Lucius as per usual. I know how much you despise the most un-Slytherin wizard I had the misfortune of meeting in this life, but you will do as I say,” her tone brooked no argument.
Both Harry and Sirius sobered and looked at her with interest. “That bug has been annoying me for a while. Cygnus was a fool. He should’ve never considered the Malfoy brat a good match for Narcissa. No Black maiden deserves a dreadful fate such as being married to him. He was begging for my attention for years and now, he got it. Certainly, I will congratulate him. By bringing his Lordship some much needed enlightenment.”
Harry and Sirius exchanged looks of sheer horror mixed with unmasked excitement.
“It’s so confusing when you’re so... scary and suddenly make sense,” Sirius snorted.
“Well, no one in our family is normal. Least of all, me,” she shrugged.
Harry patted Dobby’s back. “Does Draco know what his Dad is planning?”
Dobby shook his head frantically. “Master Draco is a good friend. He would never betray Master Harry. But Master Draco was upset when the Aurors ambushed Malfoy Manor looking for Dark objects. Bad Master Malfoy blames Mr Arthur Weasley.”
Dobby’s honesty was brutal and unexpected, but it should be appreciated.
As absurd as the thought seemed, Cassiopeia knew what Lucius planned to do.
Seek revenge.
The fool.
His father must be rolling in his grave.
She exchanged a meaningful look with Harry and he nodded. “Well, Dobby, you should go back. You can always warn me if something is about to happen.
“Bu-but Master Harry Potter should not go back to Hogwarts! His life will be in great danger,” Dobby said miserably.
Sirius started pacing the room like a caged tiger, fuming. She ignored him.
“Oh Dobby, but I love living on the edge. What’s life without a little risk?” Harry chuckled, unruffled by the distress on the poor elf’s face.
A flash of emotion skittered across her face and her composure wavered.
The brat…
He did it again and said the wisest thing she had ever heard.
Yes, what’s life without a little risk?
Cassiopeia Elladora Black hated many things. Well, she hated almost everything except for the few people and activities she found mildly interesting.
Cassiopeia, however, despised being looked at by people in such finite detail. It was the main reason why she avoided public places like Dementors avoided Patroni.
Today, unfortunately, she had no choice.
Thanks to silver-haired, brainless fool called Lucius Abraxas Malfoy.
They could’ve ordered Harry’s books by owl as per usual but she needed to find out what the dunderhead was up to.
She wasn’t disappointed when she glimpsed his glistening mane of hair upstairs. He was with Draco shopping for Second Year’s books.
Her eyes zeroed on Mr and Mrs Weasley. Poor souls. To have the bad luck of raising seven hellions.
She shuddered inwardly, her gaze going inadvertently to Harry.
He was smiling, seemingly listening to whatever Miss Hermione Granger was gushing about. Their friends; Mr Ron Weasley and Heir Longbottom seemed engrossed in the tale as well.
She knew that look. He wasn’t paying her rubbish any attention, his mind was elsewhere.
His eyes shot to the stairs and a predatory glint entered them when he spotted Lucius Malfoy. There was a vengeful glow in them that would have frightened her were she a lesser witch.
With the haughtiness of a king, Lucius approached the Weasleys and as expected, a brawl started.
Sweet Salazar! These men were a disgrace.
How could grown-ups act this way? They were supposed to set a good example for their offspring.
She pitied parents and children alike. Thank Merlin she was not blood-related to any of these heathens.
Lucius cautiously leaned toward Mr Weasley and whispered something. A taunt or a warning, patently.
But that wasn’t what made her itch to curse him.
It was the item he extracted with the stealth of the most seasoned thief from under his robes and slipped into little Miss Weasley’s ancient cauldron.
She needed that item.
She had been looking for it for years.
It reeked of Dark Magic, Forbidden Magic, Death Magic.
It was another Horcrux.
“Did he threaten you?” Mrs Weasley screeched and she fought the staggering need to make the Harpy just...disappear.
Witches were to act with grace and poise at all times, or at least pretend to.
“Not precisely,” Mr Weasley glared at Lucius’ retreating back. “He’s all talk. He knows that he will be cornered soon.”
Well, he will if she had any say in it.
Harry tugged at her sleeve and she looked at him with a lifted brow.
It needled her that he was almost her height now. She could no longer tower over him.
“Have you seen what he did?” he whispered, looking around.
Her chin lifted higher and her shoulders rose precipitously. “Did you, now?”
Harry had always been an energetic boy, full of mischief, but he possessed of a vengeful side she admired. He was a very attentive child. Nothing escaped his notice.
He looked at her with exasperation, his eyes screaming. ‘Are you jesting?’
“Watch her and get it,” her eyes went to his scar.
She couldn’t wait to know how would the shard react to another piece being in close vicinity.
Would it feel jealous? Threatened? Would it help Harry or rebel?
So far, it was acting like an obedient lovestruck puppy. She needed it to keep acting that way till the very and.
The shard in Harry’s scar was the weapon she was nurturing and raising with utmost care for years.
Its time would come soon.
Harry winced. "She’s another fangirl.”
She shook her head innocently. “You have to deal with it. We have no choice.”
He harrumphed. “The lengths I have to go to please you, Cassi.”
“Am I hearing a complaint here?” Her lip curled.
The brat dragged her down and kissed her on the cheek. In a bookstore full of silly onlookers.
“Never,” he whispered in her ear.
The exchange, unfortunately, caught the attention of the bright-eyed, bright-clothed clown who’d been signing books for his starry-eyed female fans.
“Harry Potter!” Gilderoy Lockhart gasped and pointed at her pupil. “Merlin! Harry Potter, come here my boy! What a coincidence, two celebrities in the same store. Let’s take some photos together for the Daily Prophet.”
Merlin’s Mercy…
Never, ever, point a finger at her or hers. It was among the things she abhorred.
“Oh boy,” Harry snorted.
“Come,” she looped an arm over his shoulder and guided him toward the front.
Lockhart strode rapidly toward them and tried to snatch Harry from her side.
The nerve of the oaf.
How dare he try to take her Harry away from her?
She raised him since he was one year old. Spent nights and years looking over him. She gave him everything from her priceless time to her undivided attention. She planned to make a proper wizard out of him.
The absolute best.
And this….ruffian…
“Old lady, I’m afraid it is Harry Potter I want. I mean no offense but….well….the readers want celebrities' photos,’’ the blond flashed another shark grin at her.
Another blond.
Another fool.
Was she cursed to deal with brainless blondes this year? She wondered what had prompted this misfortune.
Cassiopeia sunk her sharp nails in Harry’s hair and shrugged like she was talking about her favourite item on a breakfast menu.
She sensed the moment Harry cast a 'Muffiliato' around them.
Ever so attentive, her Apprentice knew her so well.
The air around them became icy as she pointed her finger at Lockhart. “Mr Gilderoy Lockhart. Other than the fact that you insulted Heir Potter-Black by misspelling his name, offending hundreds of honourable witches and wizards of Houses Potter and Black who had contributed to our country’s development and aside from the fact we don’t get involved with clowns, ever, what you are attempting to do is considered impolite and borderline suspicious since you singled out my ward and all but attacked him, interfering with his leisure time. Were you perchance stalking this minor? It’s going to take a miracle for you to convince me not to end your miserable existence—and quite frankly, I was enjoying my talk with Harry when you interrupted so rudely, so I’m very inclined to curse you to oblivion and be done with it.”
He blinked rapidly and took a step back obviously losing all ability to communicate.
“So let’s get things straight before the year starts,” she threw a saccharine smile at him as of she hadn’t just threatened to kill him. Without remorse. “I heard that Dumbledore assigned you as the new Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor. A very grave mistake if you ask me,” she tsked. “I wouldn’t use your books to clean dirt from my shoes’ soles. But well…” she faked a sigh. “Brains do come in varying sizes, some are utterly useless. The point is, this is your last warning. Never, ever stalk Harry Potter-Black. Never try to stick to him like the stinky parasite you are and never single him out.”
He shook his head. His face was going a disturbing shade of Unicorn Pelt, not that she cared.
When she was certain that he understood the gravity of her warning, she held Harry closer to her side, ignoring the satisfied gleam in his deceitful eyes and threw over her shoulder.
“For the record, I am Cassiopeia Black and I know your secret. Not that you could ever obliviate it from my mind,” she smirked coldly. “My Occlumency Shields are way out of your field of expertise.”
With that, she guided Harry back toward pink-cheeked, wide-eyes Miss Ginerva Weasley.