Ablaze

Cassie was pouring herself tea when a large screech owl tapped at the kitchen window. The sudden noise in the otherwise quiet cottage startled her, especially since The Daily Prophet had already been delivered earlier that morning. With a wave of her hand, the glass became permeable and the owl jumped through, dropping a letter stamped with that unmistakable Ministry seal.

"More mail?" asked Severus as he stepped into the room. He spotted what had been delivered as Cassie was placing coins into the owl's pouch. After munching down a piece of bacon left over from breakfast, the large bird flapped back through the window and disappeared.

"It's for you," Cassie said, brandishing the letter at Severus, hoping her far-fetched statement was somehow true. Her lover sighed and took it from her. It seemed receiving mail was becoming the worse part of the couple's day. The least he could do was open it for her and prepare her for the contents within.

"Fudge is requesting a meeting with you," he told her in summary, his black eyes flitting from Umbridge's neat handwriting and up to his girlfriend. "It seems Minister Gryzlov has been hounding him about Molotov's disappearance."

Cassie nodded as she took the parchment from Severus's hands. Without saying a word, she walked to their sitting room. The fireplace roared to life as she approached it and she tossed the letter in. Severus eyed her, perplexed by her reaction.

Cassie could feel his stare. "I've had enough of dealing with magical governments," she told him, answering his silent inquiry.

"Fudge will attempt to contact you again."

"So be it," she said simply. The letter had turned to ashes.

In the following weeks, much of Severus's time was spent brewing a large quantity of Veritaserum. It was a complex potion, not one that caused many difficulties for the seasoned Potions Master, but he longed to start the Antecessoris Praesidium elixir. The knowledge that it existed had created an urgency in him to attempt it. If he failed miserably, he would have to procure at least one more heirloom from Great Aunt Moira. All of that would take time. And time was always a guaranteed uncertainty.

When the first batch of the truth serum was finished, Cassie used it to interrogate her followers. Diolinda had set extensive wards on an abandoned castle outside of Tiverton and they brought them in one by one, directing them to drink potion-spiked pumpkin juice. One wizard resisted, even after Cassie explained that she needed to know what his true intentions were when he had pledged his loyalty.

"It's either this," Cassie said, holding out the cup, "or I enter your mind."

He attempted to flee. After performing legilimency, Cassie found that he had helped countless Death Eaters hide dark objects during the first wizarding war and had only been interested in obtaining information to blackmail her. She erased his mind with little thought and handed him over to Romily.

"Where would you like me to bring 'im?"

"Anywhere far away," Cassie answered dully. She knew he would not be the first that had sinister motives, and she would rather not have to think about the fact that they would be setting people loose like stray animals.

The process went on for days that seemed unending. Cassie was grateful to be able to return home to Severus, and she tried to ignore the fact that he was working diligently on brewing her next batch of truth serum. Last night, she told herself it was a nausea tonic. Tonight, she would just pretend it was a burn cure.

"Have you decided if you're coming to Harry's birthday tomorrow?" she asked Severus sweetly when he was finally done working for the night and joined her in the sitting room.

"I am certain I have already told you the answer to that question," he answered her swiftly, "more than once."

Cassie smirked at him. "I don't recall your answer."

Severus summoned a book to him that sat on a shelf across the room. In his annoyance with her, he had called it with too much force, and it hit him in the chest instead of landing gracefully in his hand. He shot his girlfriend a glare before his eyes zeroed in on the text.

He could feel her eyes on him. Still, he kept reading, doing his best to ignore her attempt to break him. For several minutes he was successful. He would have to hold out longer than her, just continue until she got bored with her game.

In the deafening silence, her expectation of a comeback was becoming more and more apparent. That feeling of being watched didn't let up.

Severus clapped his book shut. "I'm not going to Potter's blasted party!" he declared. She was still watching him, those clear blue eyes locked onto his face.

"It might be fun."

"My presence would ruin his day, and we both know it," he growled.

"You're probably right." She had a mischievous look on her face, but it did little to quell his exasperation.

"Then why must you insist on pestering me?"

Cassie stood from her spot on the loveseat and came to him. The young witch straddled his hips and the sudden change in proximity was enough to ease Severus's tense mood. Now, a new fire was brewing elsewhere inside him and burned only for her.

"Would you have it any other way, Sev?" she asked, her lips just brushing his as she spoke.

He grabbed the back of Cassie's neck and pulled her closer, eliciting a delightful moan from her as he greedily pressed his mouth to hers. She had been impudent enough to seek his attention by irritating him, and now she would have to pay. He had been through this charade enough times to know it was what she wanted. Who was he to deny her?

"You - are -, " Severus said between placing kisses on her jaw and neck, "the most insolent little witch!" He brushed her hair aside and nibbled on her earlobe. He could feel the warmth radiating from her core as she ground on his clothed thigh. He found himself cursing the very invention of pants as he sucked her earlobe between his teeth.

Cassie's hands were inside his unbuttoned shirt and gliding over his chest when the doorbell rang.

"Who dares to come at this hour!" Severus nearly shouted as Cassie reluctantly climbed off his lap and straightened her shirt. She had a beautiful blush on her cheeks as she smiled at him.

"Sev, it's seven o'clock."

"Far too late," he muttered as he buttoned his shirt. Cassie left the room to answer the door.

"Percy!" Cassie exclaimed in surprise. She threw her arms around the tall Weasley, but she didn't receive a warm response in return. He seemed to shrug her off as he took a step back.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I'm here on official Ministry business," he said importantly, puffing out his chest.

Cassie took a step out her front door and looked around, expecting to see another official or maybe even an Auror. Percy seemed to be alone. "You are?"

"Yes. Mister Crouch sent me on the minister's behalf. He is, after all, the Head of the Department of International Magical Co-operation."

"Oh." Cassie felt rather deflated. Severus appeared at her side.

"Professor Snape, good to see you," Percy said with a small nod. "May I come in?"

"You're on Ministry business. No, you may not," Cassie answered evenly.

Percy was caught off guard. "Cassiopeia, this is of utmost importance and cannot be overheard - "

"You can say what you need to say out here, or not at all," she said.

Percy looked from her to Severus. After meeting his former professor's cold gaze, he cleared his throat again. "We have sent three letters now, have you read them?" Cassie folded her arms over her chest, and Percy continued, although a bit shakily. "Minister Fudge is insisting that you come to his office for a meeting - "

"I do not answer to Fudge," Cassie snapped. "I have made that perfectly clear. Anything else?"

"Barty sent me," Percy said quietly, "hoping to appeal to your reasonable side. His next attempt might not be so charitable."

Cassie gestured him to come closer to her, and he obliged reluctantly. She spoke to him in a whisper. "If Barty is going to make threats, tell him to come in person next time."

When Percy left, Cassie and Severus updated their protective spells. They would have to tell Arthur that he needed to send an owl before he came over so they could temporarily dismantle the wards. After that night, anyone who worked for the Ministry of Magic that stepped within twenty feet of their property would be instantly transported back to London, Percy included.

Cassie's interrogations were put on hold the following day so she could attend Harry's birthday. She Apparated to Seaton alone, leaving Severus to work on the Veritaserum and Remus's next batch of Wolfsbane. The Potions Master seemed more than delighted to have the day to brew in peace, not that Cassie was the least bit surprised. So far, the summer break had been filled with regular visits from people that he would have rather not had in his home. At least today, the Weasleys would be occupied elsewhere.

Sirius and Remus's small house was full of people and chatter and decorations. Everyone was so occupied with the celebration that Cassie sneaked in almost undetected until Molly spotted her. The Weasley matriarch snatched her up into her arms and squealed in delight as if they hadn't seen each other in eons. Arthur scooped her up into a hug next, and then Fred and George were chattering to her about these new charmed candies they were testing out that made your eyes swell and ooze pus after you ate them. Cassie made a mental note not to eat any sweets that day.

Sirius looked vibrant and healthy in his freedom. He was laughing heartily as he spoke to the guests in his house, eager to show off the simple things like the throw blanket that Molly had knitted or a picture of Harry flying on a broom in the Weasleys' backyard. Harry kept glancing at him in admiration as he chatted with his friends, delighted to have his Godfather nearby.

"A beautiful sight, seeing them reunited, isn't it?" Remus asked, making Cassie jump slightly as he seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "Sometimes I still think it's a dream."

"Agreed."

"Severus couldn't make it?"

"He's busy brewing," Cassie said a bit too quickly.

"Oh, I hope he didn't have to miss this because of my Wolfsbane," Remus said, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh, come on," Cassie said with a smirk. "You know he didn't want to be here in the first place."

Remus let out a heavy sigh. "I had hoped after everything that happened that we could start to make some progress - "

"My cousin!" Sirius boomed, effectively interrupting Remus's thought. "So good to see you, and without a cranky old Slytherin on your arm!" He pulled her into a hug, but Cassie had a hard time returning it. Sirius didn't seem to notice. As he moved on to greeting Ted and Andromeda, who had just arrived, Remus shot Cassie an apologetic look.

They ate Molly's cooking to the point of their stomachs nearly bursting and Harry opened gifts. Somehow, Fred and George managed to set the birthday cake on fire, but Sirius just seemed elated as he doused the flames with water produced by his wand. He grilled the twins about what spells they knew as Molly and Andromeda fussed over the ruined dessert. Hermione and Ginny looked simply unimpressed by the entire display, and soon, the two young witches opted to return to the Burrow. The girls left with Arthur and Molly, who were Apparating home with the twins as punishment for setting the cake ablaze.

"Now that Mum and Dad are gone," Sirius said with a grin, pulling out a jug of goblin-made whiskey from the cupboard. With a wave of his wand, glasses lined themselves up on the table and he began pouring a bit too much in each one. He offered one to Ted, who looked uneasy.

"Do you really find this to be a good idea, with Harry and Ron here and all?" Ted asked.

"It's a party!" Sirius declared, pushing the glass into the older wizard's hands. "And I have many missed parties to make up for."

Harry and Ron stayed busy paging through Quidditch magazines and ogling over brand-new broom supplies they could order as the evening went on. As each hour passed, the whiskey jug emptied, and it seemed that Sirius was doing the vast majority of the drinking. His voice was becoming louder with every sentence, and his cheeks were stained rosy pink. Remus was watching him with a strained smile plastered on his face.

"Ah, another dear cousin of mine!" Sirius nearly shouted when Tonks and Charlie came through the door. He smashed into her with a hug so forceful that they nearly toppled over.

"Yes, well, good to see you, Dora," Andromeda said to her daughter once Sirius had released her. "Your father and I really must be going."

"Just...keep an eye on things, will you?" Ted warned her quietly as they left. Tonks nodded in immediate understanding, watching in amusement as Sirius swayed on his feet a bit.

"We stopped at Mum and Dad's on the way here," Charlie said as Sirius took another swig of his drink. "Fred and George are going to be so upset that they missed this."

"Can you imagine trying to keep those two away from the booze? We never would have succeeded," Cassie replied, laughing.

"Ah, look at you!" Sirius said, his attention suddenly on them. "Harry told me you two used to be an item. 'S a shame, really."

"Oh Merlin," Tonks muttered under her breath. Sirius came so close to the trio that Cassie could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Sirius, I think you need to switch to water," said Cassie, wrinkling her nose.

"Don't be a wet cloak," he told her. "You would think you were forty and not twenty, the way you act. An old soul, if you will." He pointed to Remus, who was seated in a chair and looking apprehensive as Sirius continued. "A bit like old Moony. My oldest, dearest friend Moony." He went over to the werewolf and clapped him on the shoulder. He started to ramble to Remus about Prongs and Cassie's attention was pulled elsewhere when Tonks spoke.

"Why have you been avoiding Umbridge's letters?" the young Auror asked.

Cassie let out a frustrated groan. "Come on, not this again."

"What are you talking about?" Tonks pressed.

"I've just had this conversation with Percy last night - "

"Percy?" Charlie asked, astounded. "What do they have Percy doing?"

"Fudge - or Crouch, I'm not sure which one actually put him up to it - sent him to my house last night to implore that I go to the Ministry," Cassie hissed.

"Why, Cassie?" Tonks demanded. "Why is Fudge so desperate to speak to you? And why is Gryzlov breathing down his neck?" Cassie pushed past her to grab a glass of whiskey, but Tonks was on her heels. "Where were you and Romily that night?"

"We told you, we were at a Muggle club - "

"Stop lying to me!" Tonks said shrilly. Sirius stopped his rambling and every head in the room turned to stare. Exasperated, Tonks grabbed Cassie's arm and pulled her into one of the empty bedrooms. It must have been Remus's because it had the stale stench of wet dog. "Gryzlov is accusing Fudge of doing something to Ludis Molotov, and if it turns out he's right, then he'll have an excuse to start a war! Is that what you want?"

"What reason would Fudge have to do anything to Molotov?" Cassie fired back. "I won the duel, did I not? He's obviously not a threat!"

"He could be if you aren't willing to help Fudge again!"

"'Help?' Do you hear yourself speak, Dora?" Cassie spat. "Or is the problem that I won't heel on command?"

Tonks was glaring. Cassie rarely saw her cousin look that angry, and it was sobering to see it directed at her. "Do you realize how much trouble you're causing me? That it might cost me my job?"

"Might be a good thing," Cassie said coldly. She walked past her flabbergasted cousin and pulled the door open. "Don't bother coming around the house. We've got wards up."

Tonks flinched as if Cassie had slapped her. "Against me?"

"Against Fudge's employees. Sorry that you fit the bill."

They parted without saying goodbye. Tonks left the house abruptly, while Cassie returned to the party. Charlie was sitting with Harry and Ron, attempting to distract them from Sirius, who was now singing quite loudly and dancing with a mop.

"Is he going to be okay?" she asked Remus.

"Perhaps Charlie should take the boys to the Burrow for the night," he said, but Sirius had heard them. He dropped the mop and the handle clanged to the floor.

"He will do no such thing!" he declared, for the first time that night looking anything but jovial. "Harry is my Godson, and he will stay in my house!" The smile that had faltered during his outburst reappeared, and his eyes looked between Cassie and Remus. "Oh, but look at you two. You would make a better couple - "

"Sirius," Remus warned.

" - than say, you and old, greasy Snivellus."

"That's enough!" his friend attempted to interject.

"Just hear me out," Sirius said, taking Cassie's hands and attempting to look deep into her eyes, although he had a hard time focusing in his drunken state. "My dear friend Moony is a good man, a great wizard! And he fancies you, did you know that, Cousin?"

"Sirius," Remus said faintly, "Please, enough."

"What is it about Snivellus, anyways? I've thought about it long and hard, and I can't seem to come up with one - " he put his pointer finger in her face, and she smacked it away. It didn't deter him. " - one good reason why you would want to fuck him. Perhaps he is feeding you love potions? He is a Potions - " Hiccup. " - Potions Master, after all."

Cassie yanked her hands from his grasp. Swallowing down her anger, she headed to the front door. "Where are you going?" Charlie called after her.

"If Sirius won't let Harry and Ron leave, then he's going to sober up," she said through gritted teeth. As this house was not connected to the Floo Network and she had dismantled her own home's connection, she had no choice but to Apparate back to Ottery St. Catchpole. She burst through her front door in a fury, hoping she hadn't startled Severus during an important step during his brewing.

"Sev!" she called as she stormed closer to his laboratory, "It's me!" He was right where she had left him, only his cauldrons were bubbling with potions that were much closer to being finished.

"Cass," he implored, only allowing himself a momentary glance at her while he poured carrow spider ichor into a hissing vial, "may I ask why you are rummaging through my stores?"

She was reckless in her assumption that he was fine with her searching through his bottles of finished potions, she knew. But Sirius's words - and the connotation that Severus would hypnotize her with love potions for three entire years - were keeping her blood boiling in anger and driving her rashness.

"I need sobering elixirs," she told him.

"Second shelf, pink bottles," he told her. "You need them for the twins, I presume?"

Cassie snatched up three bottles and stuffed them into her robes. "No."

Severus stirred three times, finally unoccupied enough to study his girlfriend more closely. "Not Potter and Weasley?"

"No." Her eyes were suddenly unable to meet his. Alarm bells started to ring in his head.

"You are not taking those elixirs until you tell me who they are intended for," he said silkily.

Cassie's eyes snapped up to meet his. His words had elicited an instant reaction, but he could tell it was emotion on top of anger that had already been there. "They're for Sirius."

She could see the array of reactions that ran across Severus's face. He went from confounded to worried to enraged in a matter of a few seconds, and she knew if didn't stop him, Sirius was in immediate danger of being cursed. "I'm coming with you," he said, his voice quiet and even.

"Of course, you aren't, you're in the middle of brewing potions - "

"They are at satisfactory points in which stasis charms can be cast." He did just that, and then Cassie was Apparating to Seaton for the second time that day, this time with the Head of Slytherin's arm linked with hers.

Charlie and Remus were in the kitchen with Sirius when Cassie and Severus crossed the threshold.

"The boys are upstairs in Harry's room," Charlie reassured them when Cassie raised an inquisitive eyebrow at him.

"Yes, yes," Sirius slurred, "the children are safe from dangerous old Sirius Black! Better lock your windows and barricade the doors! Wouldn't want anyone to have fun around here, would we?" He noticed that Cassie had arrived and his face broke into an uneven grin. "Cousin! Have you reconsidered what I said?"

"Sirius, shut up," she warned him, pulling the pink bottles from her pocket. "Drink these."

"What are - " Hiccup. " - they?"

"Bubblegum rum," she lied. Sirius eyed her warily. It was then that he noticed Severus beside her.

"Oh no," he said, chuckling. "Oh no, no, no, this just won't do!"

Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. "What won't do, Padfoot?" he asked. He sounded very tired.

"Snivellus is here!" Sirius exclaimed as if it was the most scandalous news of the year. "He's come to ruin my setting you up with my cousin - "

"That's enough," Remus said, taking one of the bottles from Cassie and shoving it in his friend's face. "Padfoot, you need to sober up, and this is going to help. Please, just drink this."

"A potion?" Sirius asked, rounding on Severus. "Did you make it, Snivellus?"

Severus matched the other wizard's sneer as whiskey-scented breath was exhaled in his face. "Perhaps I should have brought poison with me, as well."

"Always a charmer, aren't you, you ugly git?" Sirius shot back.

Severus didn't have a chance for a rebuttal. Cassie, who was entirely done with this nonsensical drunken conversation, had slammed Sirius up against the table with a small flick of her wand. He grunted as he fought against his magical constraints for a few seconds, and then his upper body fell backward. Cassie caught Severus's smirk as the back of his head made a loud "thunk" against the table.

Cassie stepped over to Sirius so he could see her. "You can either drink the elixir voluntarily, or we're going to make you," she told him. After a few seconds of studying her face, Sirius opened his mouth. Charlie wasted no time in uncorking the first bottle and dumping it in, and Remus followed swiftly with the second.

"If he drinks the third, he will sober up more quickly, but his hangover will be atrocious," Severus said to Cassie with a telltale glint in his black eyes.

She snorted. "Give it to him."

Thirty minutes was all it took for the elixirs to take effect. Sirius was now sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor and holding his head in his hands, moaning about the pounding headache that had started. Charlie went back upstairs to check on Harry and Ron while Remus tried to convince Sirius to sip some water. Severus and Cassie stood next to each other, leaning against the countertop as they watched Sirius's misery continue to compound.

"Are you back in the land of the sober?" Cassie asked as Sirius finally agreed to try to stand up. Remus was having to hold most of the other wizard's weight.

"No talking," he replied hoarsely, wincing like her voice had caused him physical pain.

"Never again," Cassie continued anyway, "Do you hear me?"

"Stop, would you?" Sirius said, trying to wave her away like an annoying insect. "It's all in good fun - "

"Yes, mountains of fun," Severus interjected icily. "No doubt Potter will brag about this celebration for years to come. It was the first year that he supposedly had a real parent, and you got so drunk that he spent most of his birthday hiding away in his room in embarrassment."

Sirius narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't talk about Harry to me, you meddling greasy git - "

"You are unstable," Severus hissed as he stepped closer, "And you are incapable of caring for a child!"

"Let's just take a minute," Remus said, his arm still slung around Sirius to keep him steady. "This is not the time to try to have a rational conversation."

Sirius suddenly puked, driving home Remus's point. Severus stepped back, his nose wrinkled in disgust, as he had barely avoided getting alcohol-laced vomit on his shoes. As Remus pulled a retching Sirius to the washroom, Cassie and Severus decided that the argument would have to continue at a later time.

Cassie had to reassure Severus more than once that Charlie was capable of tending to Ron and Harry. Severus was hard to console even as they headed back to Ottery St. Catchpole. He stalked about their little cottage, ranting about Sirius's behavior for the better part of an hour before he finally quieted. Cassie was awakened several times through the night as her lover tossed and turned, and by morning, both of them were exhausted.

The couple spent their next morning with Arthur and Molly. Horrified by how the party turned out after they had left, they agreed to speak with Sirius and Remus about what had transpired. Severus wasn't eager to relinquish control of the matter, but Cassie felt sure that the Weasley parents would have it all sorted out by supper. She was also sure that sitting Severus and Sirius down for a productive conversation would not be in the cards in the foreseeable future.

Cassie had been sending letters to Lucius and Narcissa since the beginning of summer break. In the second week of August, she finally received word via owl that yes, Draco could come to Ottery St. Catchpole for a visit. It was a victory, and Cassie was grateful that she would be able to see her younger cousin at least once before term started, but she couldn't help but feel like Lucius had some ulterior motive. Nonetheless, it was satisfying to inform her aunt and uncle that Lucius should not accompany his son or risk being transported to London against his will.

A house-elf chaperoned Draco on the morning of his visit, quickly Disapparating as soon as Cassie opened the front door. She felt a sense of relief in not having to see Lucius or Narcissa.

"This is where you live?" Draco asked snidely as he stepped inside. "Father described your house to me, but I didn't imagine it being this small."

"It's all we need," Cassie told him, rolling her eyes.

"Father said you have a lot of gold sitting in Gringotts, enough for your own mansion."

"It's from the Lestrange estate."

"So?"

Cassie sighed. "So, it's tainted. I only use it if I absolutely need to."

"Looks like it's needed," Draco quipped.

They bantered back and forth as Cassie led him into the quaint little kitchen and made breakfast. Severus stepped out from his potions lab to investigate the commotion and ended up scolding them for interrupting his previously-quiet work time. Draco, his ears turning red, apologized.

"Nothing like getting an earful from your Head of House during summer break," Cassie taunted as she set a plate of eggs in front of her younger cousin.

"Father said - "

"I don't want to hear another syllable that your father told you," she snapped. Severus looked rather displeased at her knee-jerk reaction at the repeated mention of Lucius. In an attempt to backpedal, she added, "Can't we talk about something else? Have you been practicing your flying?"

The question did the trick. Like Harry, Draco loved discussing all things Quidditch. As they ate, he told her about moves he had been perfecting and how much he had been on his broom every day that summer. It set the tone for the rest of the morning, and the two cousins were able to get along well enough to enjoy each other's company. Draco stopped taking digs at their choice of home, and Cassie made a point not to insult her aunt and uncle as they walked around the garden and down the dirt road.

They returned to the cottage for lemonade around noon. Severus was still brewing, and when a high-pitched pinging informed Cassie that their wards had been crossed, she headed to the foyer.

She was a few steps away from the front door when someone knocked twice. Before she had a chance to reach the knob, the door flew open and three red-headed boys crossed the threshold.

"Hey, Cass!" Ron greeted her. "Mum wanted us to drop off these dittany seedlings." He pushed two small pots into Cassie's hands and walked past her.

"Plus, we wanted to get out of chores," Fred added.

"Have to de-gnome the garden again," said George.

"Thanks, guys," Cassie started, walking after them, "But now isn't a good time."

"Why? Have a steamy day date?" asked George with a smirk.

"Need some alone time with the professor?" his twin continued.

The Weasley boys, who were used to heading to the kitchen first to see if there was anything good to eat, had spotted Draco. All chatter had come to a momentary standstill, and Cassie pushed past the unexpected intruders. "I have company, as you can see," she said, putting the pots on the counter.

"Ah, but you have fresh lemonade," Fred said nonchalantly, helping himself to glasses in the cupboard as George grabbed the pitcher, which had been sitting in front of Draco.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron asked, clearly unimpressed.

"I would ask you the same," his Slytherin counterpart sneered, "but it's clear that you and your brothers have come here to leech off my cousin. No food in the house as usual, eh Weasley?"

Ron was enraged. His face was turning bright red, and his hand went into his pocket. When he pulled out his wand, Draco stood up.

"Boys," Cassie warned, "enough - "

"You really going to try to pick a fight?" George asked with a sardonic smile, taking a sip of lemonade. "It's three on one."

"Besides," added Fred. "No need to get all riled up. We come here all the time. She might be your cousin, but she's our..."

"Cassie," George finished.

"No comparison," Fred added.

"I bet your entire family was jumping for joy when she moved here," Draco said smugly. "How often does she feed you? Enough for your lazy father to finally quit working his useless job at the Ministry?"

Ron hissed some obscenities and Cassie ripped his wand from his grip. A shouting match started, and Severus stormed from his lab looking quite annoyed to have been disrupted for the second time that day. He had a large brown leather apron on and it was covered in purple splotches of a sticky substance, and his wide eyes made him look quite maddened.

"Out!" he shouted, not bothering to ask why the Weasleys were suddenly in his house for the hundredth time that summer. "I don't care if you decapitate each other with butter knives, just do it outside!"

The familiar high-pitched pinging sounded, adding to the chaos. Cassie was trying to calm all of the worked-up males in her small kitchen as the spell kept sounding, and she finally ripped herself away from the commotion to silence at least that. She opened the door to find Romily standing there.

Cassie's stomach lurched in concern as she studied her friend's face. She was pale and her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been crying. "Cassie," Romily said, her voice shaking, "we 'ave to go, right now - "

"Mily," Cassie said, stepping outside and closing the door so she could hear her over the argument that was taking place in her cottage. "What is it, what's happened?"

"It's Bianca," Romily sniffed, "she's been tortured, she's almost been killed!"

Cassie gasped and then tried to compose herself. "Is she in Brazil? We'll have to get a Portkey approved - "

"Yes, whatever we 'ave to do."

"I just need to tell Severus what's going on," Cassie said, turning to go back inside for a few moments. She stopped when Romily suddenly gripped her hand.

"Bianca is in such 'orrible shape that she won't speak," she said ominously, "she can't say anything, except your name."