Manaus

Severus didn't have the chance to protest the situation. McGonagall and Cassie were already crossing the room towards one another, and the Head of Gryffindor House pulled her former student into her arms for a hug. "Darling girl," McGonagall said warmly, patting Cassie's curled hair, "How wonderful it is to see you!"

"You too, Professor," Cassie said, and the older witch pulled away, holding the girl at arm's length as she examined her.

"You have graduated and have moved on to bigger things. Please call me Minerva," she insisted. Cassie was about to protest when Hagrid suddenly pulled her into the air for a rib-crushing embrace.

"When I heard you an' Professor Snape got together," he was saying as he squeezed the air out of her lungs, sniffling a little, "Well, I was so happy, I jus' had ter throw him a little celebration!" He put her back on the floor, and Cassie had to take a few deep breaths to make sure oxygen was still perfusing to her brain. But the half-giant's statement caught her attention, and she looked to Severus for confirmation. He was standing at the head of the table with his arms crossed, still looking disgruntled.

"He made cupcakes," he said dully, and Hagrid beamed.

"And there were streamers!" McGonagall added merrily. Severus let out a heavy sigh.

Much to Severus' dismay, the two of them joined the table of Hogwarts staff for drinks. Cassie sat with McGonagall to her left and Severus to her right, and she was pleased with the seating arrangement. The Potions Master, while aggravated that their romantic evening had been interrupted by this sudden turn of events, seemed even more exasperated by the fact that Lockhart was now seated directly across from him. His lips were curled into a menacing sneer as the blond wizard droned on about his increase in book sales since starting his post at Hogwarts. Cassie was dumbfounded that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was either completely oblivious to Severus' wrath or didn't care. Most people would either clam up if he looked at them like that or excuse themselves, but this wizard just kept on like they were the best of friends. Cassie placed a hand on his knee in an attempt to ease the tension, but all it got her was a stabbing glare.

"Severus, would you like another drink?" Cassie asked him sweetly, but the look she gave him was steely, silently telling him to behave.

"Perhaps we should retire to the room soon," he replied lowly. "It's been a long day."

"Oh, Severus! You can spare a few minutes for your friends!" Lockhart said merrily, ending his exclamation with a hearty chuckle. "You've had her to yourself all day!"

If looks could kill, Lockhart would be dead five times over. "Yes, and I haven't been with her at all in a month," he seethed. Lockhart shrugged, taking a drink from his butterbeer.

"Well, I think we can all agree that any extensive amount of time spent with you, my stodgy Potions Master, needs to be interlaced with some brilliant rays of sunshine like me, or she'll be running for the hills!" Lockhart said, flashing his white teeth at them. He stood then, which was a blessing. Cassie was sure that Severus would have strangled him with his bare hands if he had stayed at the table. He went to the bar to order another round of drinks.

"Oh my god," Cassie said, barking out a laugh. "He really is an idiot, isn't he?" McGonagall snorted into her glass, a small amount of foam spraying onto the surrounding table. Madam Hooch clapped a hand over her mouth, but her laughter was quite audible nonetheless.

"That's the consensus," Severus replied dryly. His black eyes were still fixed on the DADA professor, who was leaning casually against the bar as he chatted with a rather disinterested-looking Madam Rosmerta. Apparently, she had gotten over his shallow charms long ago.

"Hey," Cassie said, squeezing Severus' face and leaning into him closely. Had she been sober, she might have cared that he would feel uncomfortable displaying this level of affection in front of his colleagues. "I don't think you're stodgy."

"Hallelujah." His response dripped with sarcasm, and he hastily peeled her hand from his face and pushed it back down to her lap.

"Severus, be nice to her," McGonagall scolded him jovially, "Before she realizes what an arse you are and goes looking for a brilliant ray of sunshine!" The table erupted in laughter.

"Would you rather we snogged in front of all of you?" he replied coolly.

"As long as you seem happy, Severus, I don't care," the Deputy Headmistress told him, giving Cassie a wink. She wondered how many drinks the older witch had downed at this point. Lockhart returned to the table with more drinks, and Cassie wondered how on earth the professors were going to get Hagrid back to the school grounds if they kept going at this rate. He was already wavering in his seat, his cheeks flushed and his eyes unfocused as he looked around the pub.

"So, Cassie," Lockhart said, handing her a firewhiskey as he sat back down. She hid her grimace as she caught his eyes momentarily flitting down to her cleavage. Severus must have noticed, as his wand was pointed at her shoulders within a few seconds, a large black shawl being produced from thin air and wrapping around her. Lockhart cleared his throat and kept talking. "You must have a lot of interesting stories to share, being in South America."

"Not particularly," she told him. "I spend a lot of my time in the same place with the same people."

He nodded like what she said was enthralling, his golden waves bouncing. "And if I may ask, where exactly do you spend most of your time?"

"I can't say," Cassie said. "Our training area is only known to our master and the students."

"But you must have had harrowing encounters with magical creatures and the like," Lockhart said, sounding insistent. "Have you fought any hags, or ghouls, or demons? I'm sure there are things there most of us have never heard of!"

"On the market for a new book idea, Lockhart?" Severus cut in.

"Precisely," the new professor said, winking at the Head of Slytherin. Cassie's nostrils were flaring as she stifled her laughter.

"Then go to South America," Severus suggested, a hint of eagerness in his baritone voice. "I'm sure something nasty will find you."

"Ah, a lovely idea, Severus, but who would teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to the youngsters? My adventures will have to wait until the summer holiday," Lockhart replied. "I'll trust that Cassie will keep me informed if anything of interest comes her way."

She wanted to say, No chance in hell, but she was still on the verge of bursting into a fit of laughter. All she managed to squeak out was, "Maybe!" before she downed the rest of her drink.

It was getting later into the night, and Severus and Cassie announced that they would be retiring to their room. While Cassie went through a round of hugs and goodbyes, Severus stood off to the side. As soon as the Hogwarts professors started to make their way out of the pub, Severus offered his arm so he could help her up the stairs.

"I'm not that tipsy," she stated, just as she stumbled a bit in her stilettos. As they started to ascend slowly, he looked at her with concern.

"Did Hagrid hurt your bruises when he hugged you?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter," Cassie said. He frowned at her. "Severus, I'm fine. But it's cute when you're worried about me."

"My motives aren't entirely altruistic." They reached the landing, and Cassie caught the sultry look in his eyes.

"Oh, I don't know, Sev," she said, stretching her arms above her head and feigning a yawn. "It's getting pretty late, and I'm sure you're very tired - "

He pushed her against the door of their room, one hand on her face as he kissed her roughly, the other fidgeting with the doorknob. When he managed to twist it open, the two of them stumbled forward, nearly losing their balance. Somehow, they managed to stay upright, but only long enough to make it to the bed. Cassie closed the door and locked it with a flick of her wrist, as Severus pushed her dress up over her hips.

"You look amazing, my dear," he murmured, his voice smooth like rich chocolate as it reached her ears. "I wanted to take this bloody thing off you all night." As he slowly pushed up the black fabric to reveal her porcelain stomach, he planted soft kisses there. She entwined her fingers in his hair, gently massaging his scalp as he inched upwards, continuing to move the dress up. His movements were deliberate and loving, his dark eyes watching her for every little reaction as he worshipped her. With every intimate session, they became more in tune with each other. It allowed him to play her like an instrument, like a masterful musician plucking just the right strings to bring forth the most exquisite harmonies.

He did not require such intricacies in return. All he needed from her was passion and her attention, and his heart would burst with devotion. As he continued to inch across her body, he would search her eyes, finding that they were locked on his, and he was fulfilled. Every time she would gasp his name, he knew his soul was on the verge of being healed after a lifetime of torment.

"Severus?" she asked softly after they were done. The room was dark, the candles having had burned down long ago. She was draped across him, her face pressed into his pale chest as she listened to the steady beat of his heart.

"Hmm."

"You'll wait for me, won't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"This long-distance thing," she elaborated, lightly dragging her finger down his arm as she spoke. "Are you willing to keep doing it for me?"

"How can you even ask me that, you silly thing?" he responded, kissing the top of her head.

"A month is a long time," she said quietly. "It was agony for me."

"We don't have any other choice if you're to keep attending your training and I'm to keep my post at Hogwarts."

"I just don't like the idea of you being unhappy while I'm away," Cassie told him.

"I can either be unhappy between our visits or be unhappy all the time," he told her bluntly.

"You can find someone else."

"There is no one else, Cassie. There never will be. Is there someone else for you?"

"Not in a million years."

He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her face towards his, searching her eyes. "There's not some teenage dueling wunderkind that you could see yourself content with?" His question was lighthearted. She knew he was assured of her adoration for him, that he had no reason to worry. It made her love him even more.

"Those little boys couldn't hold a candle to you, Severus Snape." He kissed her deeply then. The conversation was closed, their fates sealed. They might be miserable without each other, but at least it was temporary, she reminded herself as she drifted off to sleep.

The morning came with a sense of foreboding. They were both very aware that Cassie would be leaving that evening, and Severus would have to return to Hogwarts. They moved slowly, trying to savor their time as they bathed together and got breakfast from the pub. There was no other reason to leave the room, so they didn't. Severus had brought a stack of papers along to grade, knowing that they were going to spend every last minute together that they could. Cassie sat cross-legged on the bed as he started in on them, pretending to read a book, but there was a topic she knew she had to bring up. She was debating when and how when he spoke first.

"What is it, Cassie?" he asked her, not even looking up from what he was doing at the small desk. Had he sensed her unease, or her staring at him?

She sighed wearily. "We have to talk about something, Sev."

"We didn't cover it last night?" he asked, looking up at her.

"It's not about us," she reassured him. "It's Machado. The rumbling that starts when I get angry and start to lose control...he wants me to learn to harness it."

"What?"

That was the response she had expected from him. It was why she had put off bringing it up. "He told me to think about it this weekend. If I agree to it, I'd start training when I get back - "

"That's a horrible idea!" he blurted.

"Is it?"

"Cassie," he started, throwing down his quill. "We've spent years trying to make sure you don't destroy your surroundings with it! Why would you want to let it out?"

"We don't even know what it is!" she countered lightly. "What if me learning how to control it is the difference between winning or losing the war?"

"And what if you intentionally bringing it out accidentally kills someone?" he nearly shouted. "Would you be able to come back from that?" He wasn't angry. He was genuinely anxious for her now. But the brash statement was like a slap to the face, even if he was being his usual logical self. She needed a few seconds to process his words. "Cassie, you have raw power without using...that. You don't need to be turned into some weapon capable of annihilating anything you come across!"

"Don't I?" she whispered. "Wasn't that the purpose of Dumbledore sending me there?" Her thoughts went back to the conversation she had with Dumbledore last year when he had first brought up this training. She had accused him of grooming her as a weapon, and he hadn't denied it.

"It's Sombria, isn't it?" Severus said, exasperated. "You think you'll be able to take her out if you can control this? You promised you wouldn't do anything irrational!"

"Severus, you're putting words in my mouth. I said I would try not to do anything irrational."

A rumble of aggravation left his throat then. "Why even bring this up to me, if you aren't going to heed my advice? I'd sleep a lot better not knowing any of this!"

Cassie let out a short 'hmph', feeling defeated. Of course, he was right. All she had done now was ensured that he would worry about her even more. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want there to be anything kept between us. But I still haven't decided what I'm going to do."

"You know my thoughts on the matter," he growled lowly. He picked up his quill again, looking at the abandoned essay in front of him. Cassie got off the bed, placing her hands on his tense shoulders.

"If I choose to go through with it, it will be in a controlled environment," she said softly. "In the forest, with magical barriers between me and any others besides Machado. But I'll weigh my options before I give him an answer." Severus started to scribble, but she knew he was listening to her.

The remainder of their time was somber. They made love two more times, effectively ensuring that they were exhausted and emotionally drained by the time Cassie had to leave. He accompanied her outside of the pub, giving her a long embrace and a passionate kiss before reassuring her that he loved her. She told him the same, and then it was time to use the Portkey.

Within a minute, she was back in the rainforest. Even though she had told herself she wasn't going to cry, she was quickly reduced to a sobbing mess and tried to get her emotions in check before she made her way up to camp. She didn't feel like answering questions about Severus, not when she had just left his arms.

She was able to get to her hut without running into anyone, but she was alone for about two minutes before she started crying again. To her dismay, she heard a sharp knock, and Alex and Romily came in before waiting for her to answer.

"Hey, Cass! How was your weekend - " Alex started cheerfully, and then he stopped short when he saw her tear-stained face. She was curled up on her mattress, glaring up at him.

"Oh, would you like to be alone?" Romily asked. Cassie started to nod, then quickly shook her head instead. The other witch rushed to her side, sitting next to her on the mattress, placing a comforting hand on her arm. Cassie wiped her nose on the back of her hand, and Alex conjured a handkerchief for her to use.

"He didn't break up with you, did he?" he asked, his eyes widened in concern.

"No," Cassie choked, "I just miss him, okay?"

"Haven't you been back for like, five minutes?" Alex observed.

"Clearly, you 'ave never been in love," Romily chided him. "Stop talking!"

"Okay," Alex said, throwing up his hands in defeat. He crossed over to Cassie's desk, sitting down, and started to flip through her photo album. "Mind if I look through this?"

"No," Cassie whispered. Alex started to ask her questions about each picture. At first, she assumed seeing Severus so soon would be jarring. But it made her feel better, telling her friends the stories of where the photos had been taken. Slowly, she started to get her wits about her again. She was grateful that they had barged in, or she would have spent a gloomy, sleepless night alone. It made her hope that McGonagall or Hagrid had done the same for Severus that night.

Distraction from her woes came in the form of wandless dueling the next day. It took a lot more concentration not to get her butt kicked when she was without her wand, so she had to stay focused, although she landed a lot more spells on Alex than he did on her. Nonetheless, she was sore and tired when they were done, so when Machado approached her afterward, she couldn't help but internally groan. She knew what it was going to be about.

"Cassie," the master wizard greeted her, his signature smile plastered on. "Did you have a good visit?"

"Yes, Martese," she said truthfully.

"Good, good. I trust that you will want to return next month, as well."

"Definitely." The other students were leaving the arena, and soon, she and Machado were alone.

"Have you made a decision, Cassie? About what we discussed?" he asked her. His brown eyes were sparkling with excitement, which made her even more uneasy about the entire situation.

"I've thought about it, Martese," Cassie said. "If I start and it doesn't feel right, are you going to let me stop at any point? I just feel like this has to be something I trust with my gut, you know?"

"Of course! Nothing we do here is forced upon you. You say stop, we stop. But I have rules of my own."

"Okay."

"You will only train in the arena. And you only will do it when I am present. No coming here by yourself, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Martese." It was a fair trade, in her opinion. As much as she didn't want to put someone else in harm's way, she knew she needed some sort of guidance. There were so many instances that she needed someone, mainly Severus, to talk her off a metaphorical cliff when this energy was rearing its head. There was no reason to think she could do it alone now. At least not when she was starting.

"Good. Then we will start tomorrow evening after dinner," he told her cheerily. He sounded sure of himself, but she wasn't feeling confident that she had made the right decision, as Severus' words were still echoing in her mind as they made their way back to camp.

1985

This would be the twelfth Sorting Ceremony that Snape would be sitting through, his fifth as a Hogwarts professor. As he sat at the High Table, observing the high-ceilinged room full of chattering students, he was astounded that he felt more apprehensive now than he did his first year teaching. But he didn't have to wonder why his nerves were on edge, his hands slightly clammy as he grasped the goblet in front of him to take a drink. Even as his black eyes surveyed the room, always anticipating shenanigans from the young witches and wizards, his mind was on Cassiopeia Black.

She had been put on the Hogwarts Express by the Malfoys and was making her way across the Black Lake with the other first-years. He had received no word of how the train ride went. He had no idea if the other students had been cordial to her. He didn't know if he was imagining it, but the buzz around the Great Hall seemed much more portentous this year, students whispering to each other with strained looks on their faces instead of looking excited. Usually, the ambiance on this night was one of excitement, but tonight, it felt tense, like everyone was expecting something disastrous to happen.

It was no mystery that Cassie's soon-to-be pupils had been warned by their families about her arrival. Dumbledore had informed the staff not minutes before they had entered the hall that he had been receiving angry letters all summer from parents, demanding that she be denied acceptance to Hogwarts. He also mentioned that many of last year's students would not be returning and would be home-schooled instead.

"Bless the poor soul that ends up being her Head of House," Sprout had mumbled after Dumbledore's revelations, and Snape had shot her a dirty look. "It's going to be a bloody nightmare."

"You've fallen victim to the hysteria, Pomona," Snape said through gritted teeth. "She's going to be easier to deal with than half the students we already have."

"You misunderstand, Severus," Sprout said apologetically. "I'm sure she's a lovely girl. But you know the drama surrounding her will never end."

Now as the staff sat anticipating the arrival of the Deputy Headmistress with the gaggle of new students, Sprout's words played in his mind like a broken record. He had been quick to dismiss her at first, but now he was wondering if she had been on point.

The double doors opened with a mighty creak, and McGonagall appeared, a line of eleven-year-olds filing in behind her. Before he could catch himself, Snape was frantically searching the students for a black-haired girl, just to make sure she was still in one piece. When he spotted her towards the back of the line, he relaxed a bit in his chair, internally chiding his irrationality. Of course, she was fine. Even if an older student had tried to curse her, he knew she was more than capable of defending herself.

The Great Hall had fallen eerily silent. Busy trying to catch her gaze and give her a reassuring nod, Snape noticed after Cassie had returned his silent greeting that most of the eyes in the room were now on her. She seemed to visibly shrink when she noticed it. Damnit. They should have had her skip the start of term feast all together, he was now realizing. This alone might traumatize her.

As McGonagall started the Sorting Ceremony, Snape caught Dumbledore's eye. The Headmaster gave him a knowing nod, although he wasn't quite sure what he meant by it. There were only two students that were called before Cassie, and then she was making her way towards the front of the room. The previously silent hall had now broken out in a hiss of whispers, and her blue eyes started to dart around. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head, and the girl closed her eyes. One second passed, then two. Then:

"SLYTHERIN!"

An eruption started in the Great Hall. The Slytherin table was cheering so loud that the murmurs of dread from the rest of the houses were nearly drowned out. Cassie nearly ran to her new table to get out of everyone's line of sight, and she was greeted with handshakes and wishes of welcome by her housemates. She had a small smile plastered on her features, but Snape knew her well enough to realize it was forced.

He made a point to catch her in the entrance hall after breakfast the next morning. Already, she was being followed by a collection of Slytherins. It was almost comical, as even older students were trailing her. It like she was a mother goose with her gaggle of goslings, but clearly, this was an arrangement she didn't find amusing.

"All of you, get to your classes!" he barked at her entourage when he realized they were going to wait for her to finish speaking with him.

"But Professor Snape, I was going to show her to the Charms classroom - " a third-year started.

"Go!" he demanded. When they were out of earshot, Cassie let out a long sigh.

"Thanks, Severus," she said. "I don't know what they find so interesting about me, but I haven't had a moment to myself since I got on the train yesterday."

"'Professor Snape'," he corrected her swiftly.

"Sorry."

He indicated for her to follow him. He had chased off her guide, so he would have to show her to Flitwick's classroom now. "No one has tried to harass you, Miss Black?"

"No. All it's been so far is groveling or whispering and pointing." As if on cue, two Ravenclaws that were headed in their direction looked right at her, then up at him. Their eyes going wide, they linked arms and then swiftly turned to go in another direction. Cassie scoffed. "Aren't there any secret passageways I can use?"

"You are not privy to special treatment," he told her, and she shot him a glare.

"Oh," she said softly, but he detected a flare of anger in her voice. "Sorry for assuming mine was a special circumstance, Professor Snape."

"I just mean that avoiding the situation solves nothing, Miss Black. If you set precedence now that you're just another witch completing her magical education, then the next seven years will be much easier on you."

"If you say so, Professor," she muttered. As he watched her step into the Charms classroom, he couldn't help but feel guilty. Was he asking too much of her?

The first week of classes had gone by. Many of the other professors had informed him that Cassie excelled in class, especially Transfiguration and Charms. They told him that she was pleasant and respectful, and even went out of her way to tell off other misbehaving students. McGonagall noted that it was particularly entertaining to watch her get after kids from houses other than Slytherin because they looked like they were going to soil their pants.

That Friday night, however, Snape was not pleased. He had Cassie in his office, along with Solomon Crowdus, a particularly large and menacing-looking fourth year. Cassie had hexed him outside of the library not an hour earlier, essentially sealing the young wizard's lips shut, while simultaneously locking his arms and legs together. He had fallen to the floor with an unceremonious thud, landing on his face, unable to speak. Crowdus had been freed of his magical restraints now, but he was pissed off.

"Miss Black, if you would care to explain yourself," Snape said icily.

"I had to do it," she snapped. "He's been spouting off about cursing Mudbloods and going after specific students all week - "

"She's lying!" Crowdus bellowed.

"Silence!" Snape barked. He was aggravated that it had come to this point but was not at all surprised at what Cassie had just said. This kind of behavior was not unheard of from Crowdus or his friends. His parents had been Death Eaters, after all. "You will both receive detention."

"But Professor Snape, I ain't done nothing!" Crowdus protested.

"Out," Snape hissed lowly. The fourth-year had been in his house long enough to know when to stop arguing. He left the office then, leaving Snape and Cassie alone.

"I won't apologize," she said, folding her arms over her chest defiantly. "The bastard said he was going to do some atrocious things to one of the first-year Hufflepuffs, and to impress me! It's disgusting!"

"Miss Black, then you need to come to me or one of the other professors when you hear of these things! Not take matters into your own hands," Snape implored. "Do you realize how it's going to sound to the other students, to their parents when they hear you've hexed a classmate?"

"I don't care," Cassie said. "Maybe it will stop the other wannabe-Death Eaters from acting like dogs if they know I won't stand for it."

"Next time, you will come to me before raising your wand against a peer," he reiterated. "And I have no choice but to inform Lucius and Narcissa."

"I don't care," she repeated. Her blue eyes sparkled with contempt, and whether it was towards him or the blood purist classmates, he couldn't tell. By the look on her face, he was certain this would not be the last time he would have to reprimand her for hexing other students. Professor Sprout's ominous words before the Sorting Ceremony echoed in his mind just then. Please, someone, bless his poor soul, because now he knew he was in for it.

"You will serve detention the next two evenings," he snapped at her. "Report here after dinner."

"Yes, Professor Snape."

"You may leave."

The girl started to go but hesitated. When she turned back towards him, all fire had left her features, and she looked weary. "Professor?"

"What is it, Miss Black?"

"Can I stay here until curfew? I don't want to go back to the common room."

He was still fuming, and would much rather be left to himself at the moment. But he didn't need further explanation to know that she dreaded having to face the other Slytherins so soon. So much for not giving her special treatment. "Yes, as long as you keep to yourself. I have papers to grade."

It was the first of many evenings that they would spend in each other's company while avoiding the rest of the people in the castle. Most of the time, she would just be doing homework while he graded papers or worked on lesson plans. Pride wouldn't let him tell her until years later, but the companionship she provided him through her years at Hogwarts was something he cherished deeply. It was one of the few things that got him through his irksome, otherwise lonely days.

1992

"What makes you angry?" Machado's voice reached Cassie's ears. She was seated on the ground in the middle of the arena with her eyes closed. Her master was circling her, attempting to guide her through meditation to bring her power forward.

"Right now," she said, her jaw clenched, "Not being able to do this."

They had been doing this for nearly two weeks, attempting to call this ability forth. The sessions were always after long days of dueling, or combat training, or running through the forest. Neither of them had been getting much sleep, and Cassie wasn't sure how much longer she could keep this schedule up. Regardless, Machado was rather insistent that they keep at it.

"Then it is not enough. Think of something else, Cassie," he said. Cassie inhaled deeply, keeping her eyes glued shut as she tried to do what he said. But constantly trying to recall instances of when she had been enraged was messing with her. She had a much thinner margin for losing her patience, something that her peers were quick to point out, and she wasn't finding humor in situations like she normally would.

She had been recalling the memory of Lucius encouraging her to consider following in her father's footsteps. The first time he had proposed the idea to her, she had been fourteen years old, and he had made it very clear that he would support her. But now that Machado was pointing out that it wasn't working, she was rifling through her brain for something else. Now, she was trying to remember in excruciating detail, the time that a group of seventh-year Slytherins cornered her and Charlie after learning they were a couple. They had berated her, calling her a blood traitor. It had ended in her cursing the lot of them, and a wave of satisfaction ran over her when she recalled it. No, that wasn't going to work.

It was appalling to realize how many bad situations she had endured when she was forced to think about it like this. During every session with Machado, she attempted to draw forth a new one to see if it would result in something productive. She hadn't even begun to delve into her memories as a small child, hoping desperately that she wouldn't have to. It was looking more and more like she wouldn't have a choice.

"Use a situation in which you know it resulted in the power coming through," he encouraged her quietly.

"I have," she told him. "It hasn't worked."

Machado sighed, and it sounded like he was standing in front of her. Cassie opened her eyes, unable to help herself, and saw that he looked defeated.

"What's blocking you is your fear that you won't be able to control it," he said. "I do not believe for one moment that none of these emotions will work for you."

"Well, it's difficult not to worry about it when you're standing so close to me, Martese," she retorted. "Am I not supposed to worry about hurting you?"

"I must remind you again, young witch, that I am capable of handling myself. I would be more concerned about leaving you here alone."

"Then we're at a stalemate," Cassie concluded, sighing.

"Perhaps. It's getting late. Let's head back," her master said, offering her a hand to help her to her feet. As they made their way to the camp, he reassured her that her skill would come through in time, but she wasn't buying it. Maybe it was the perpetual negativity that had sprouted since having to ruminate on all of her horrible experiences that made her doubt his words.

She entered The Middle to find some food. Alex was in a chair with Romily in his lap, and they were whispering to each other. Under normal circumstances, Cassie might have found their budding romance adorable. All it did tonight was make her want to punch them both in their grinning faces.

"Finally back from hogging all of Martese's time?" Vitaly goaded as she grabbed a leftover sandwich from the counter. Her stomach had been growling for hours, and she was grateful that someone had thought to leave her something. She had been pulling late hours for a while now and had missed a lot of the group meals.

"What's the matter, Vitaly? Looking to be teacher's pet?" she muttered, immediately heading for the door. Tonight was a good night for being alone in her hut, she was quickly discovering. Much to her dismay, the young wizard followed her out to the bridges.

"Always so crabby lately," he observed. "I think you need a good romp in the sack. Lucky for you, I am willing to offer you my cock." They had arrived in front of Cassie's door. "But only if you beg for it."

Cassie stared at him for a few moments. She was shocked at his forwardness, and her blood began to boil, but something else was bubbling up inside her. Then, all at once, laughter burst from her throat. Vitaly's smug expression quickly diminished.

"B-Beg?" Cassie spurted. "Did you think that might actually happen?"

"You are a bitch," he murmured lowly.

"Hey, thanks for the laugh," she said, going through her door. "I needed it, Vitaly!" She slammed the door in his face.

Vitaly was still sore about what had happened between them the next morning, she could tell. He glared at her from across the room as they ate breakfast. It probably didn't help that Cassie filled Alex and Romily in, causing all three of them to burst out laughing. Vitaly turned a bright shade of pink, which made Alex double over and gasp for breath.

"Quiet down, quiet down," Machado said, waving his hands as he entered the hut. He looked pleased that some of his pupils seemed to be having such grand time, but must not have had any idea what it was about. "We have an exciting day ahead of us!"

"Another day of battle formations with the caipora?" Bogdan asked, absently rubbing his backside. They sometimes practiced with the Castelobruxo guardians, and he had taken an arrow to the bum yesterday. Apparently, the memory of it still stung.

"No," Machado said, "Today, we are going into Manaus."

"The state capital?" Bwanbale asked. "What for?"

"I have a friend there that works with the non-magics," Machado explained, "O médico. We will go there to practice healing and memory charms by extension, of course."

Cassie, along with the rest of the first term students, was surprised at this announcement. She had never dreamed they would be leaving the forest to go into the large city. It was a jarring change of scenery, to Apparate from the middle of the trees to go to a modern, busy, Muggle city. They had transfigured their wardrobes into scrubs so they would fit in, and soon they were making their way up the sidewalk towards Hospital Rio Amazonas.

Machado, wearing a crisp white lab coat, led the pupils into the busy emergency department. This must have been something he did every term because he and the second-terms seemed at ease as they moved about the sterile-looking room. Without any direction, the older students started to move towards patient beds.

"Draw the curtain," Machado urged Cassie and Romily, who were both frozen in place, as a man was shrieking in pain not ten feet away from them, "heal them with magic, whatever seems necessary. Use your memory charms after. Trust me, whatever you do will be more efficient than what these Muggles can offer."

Cassie gulped. This was not something she pictured herself having to do, but here she was. Romily had latched onto her arm, and they slowly made their way to the screaming man. Romily drew the curtain, and just as Cassie wondered how they were going to know what was wrong with him, as they probably didn't speak the same language, she saw that his injury was obvious. His left leg was jutted out at an unnatural ninety-degree angle. There was no need to ask him what hurt.

"Está bem!," Romily murmured slowly towards the man, then shrugged at Cassie. It seemed to not affect the man. "I 'eard one of the nurses saying it to someone!"

"Okay," Cassie said, shaking her head. "Let's just help him." They took out their wands, which the patient didn't even seem to notice, and they made quick work of his broken limb. Soon, his leg looked like an actual leg, although it still seemed quite swollen. At least he had stopped bellowing in pain.

As the day went on, Cassie started enjoying herself. Healing Muggle ailments was a simple matter with the use of magic, and she was already skilled in the use of memory charms, so she was confident that she wasn't erasing too much from their minds. She felt like she was actually doing some good.

For her eleventh patient, she was expecting another broken bone, or perhaps a burn. But the old woman she examined was writhing in pain, her skin covered in beads of sweat, and at first, Cassie was puzzled. The woman was grasping at her chest, and when Cassie lifted her shirt, she gasped in surprise. There was a purple, swirling mark above the woman's sternum, and she knew instantly that this was no Muggle injury.

"Romily," she hissed, gesturing for her friend to come over, "Look!"

"Oh," Romily gasped. "That's an infarcire curse!"

"Get Martese," Cassie told her. As Romily flew across the room to get Machado, she tried every spell she could think of to help the woman, but even as she muttered and waved her wand, she knew it was hopeless. This curse was sluggish but deadly.

By the time Machado got over to Cassie, the woman was dead. He had been distracted by Miremba requesting his assistance, as a teenage boy had just been wheeled in, and the skin on his chest had been peeled away so neatly, that they knew it had been done by magical means. Machado had been unable to do anything except leave the boy mercifully unconsciousness, and now the Muggle team of doctors was working on him.

"Martese," Cassie whispered. "What's happening?" Two more people were being wheeled into the emergency department. She recognized within seconds that they had been killed using contractura hexes. Their bodies were twisted up like corkscrews. As a child, she had seen Death Eaters use the spell to torture Muggles, and she could almost hear the screaming that those poor souls had made as they died, so many years ago.

A large explosion outside shook the entire hospital, and it didn't sound very far away. Everyone inside started to scream, except for the students. All of them looked grim, their eyes fixed on Machado, waiting for further instruction.

"Sauda Sombria." There was no hint of his normal smile on his face now. "She's here."