Responsibility

"This was all meant for me," Cassie muttered under her breath. Even in her hushed tone, the words seemed to echo all around the chamber. No one had said anything for a long time, as they were in awe that something this massive below the castle could have gone undetected for so long. For several minutes the only background noises to their unhurried investigation were the sound of their footsteps on damp stone and the occasional gasp of wonder.

"It's incredible to think about, isn't it?" McGonagall chimed in as she examined one of the pillars, her hand running over a snake that was carved into the surface.

"It's unsettling," replied Cassie as she fought back the urge to retch. The idea that her ancestor from a thousand years ago had crafted this place with the intent for his descendant - her - to murder Muggle-borns solely for existing was making her head spin.

Along with McGonagall, Severus and Dumbledore had accompanied Cassie down to the Chamber of Secrets that evening. It was the first day of summer break, and Hogwarts was void of all its students. It was something that Cassie was immensely grateful for, knowing she wouldn't have to face any of them after they left this slimy, sinister place. With each passing minute, she felt more and more like its existence only proved her inherent wickedness. It was something she had continued to struggle with since her showdown with Sombria, and no matter how many well-intended arguments Severus had with her trying to convince her otherwise, she couldn't be convinced.

Sensing her inner turmoil, Severus intertwined his hand with hers. The gesture momentarily pulled her attention away from the gigantic statue of Salazar Slytherin that loomed ahead of them at the end of the chamber. She gave him an appreciative smile.

"We searched the castle dozens of times," Dumbledore said as he glanced at the couple's joined hands. Had Cassie been watching the Headmaster more carefully, she might have noticed the grin threatening to form on his lips. "Harry and Ron must be truly precocious to have found it." Severus snorted, and Cassie rewarded him with an elbow in his side. One side of Dumbledore's mouth curled up the tiniest bit when the Head of Slytherin grunted with discomfort.

"He's right, you know," said McGonagall as she slowly approached the impossibly large stone feet. "We can all agree that Gilderoy Lockhart was not the mastermind behind this operation!" Cassie stifled a giggle. Even though she couldn't shake the disquiet that plagued her, she appreciated the professor's light-hearted attitude as they searched the chamber. The Head of Gryffindor must truly despise Lockhart if she was making jokes at his expense. He was currently lying in St. Mungo's without a single one of his memories left in his head.

"I was here for seven years. Why didn't I sense anything?" Cassie pondered aloud.

"Perhaps Slytherin designed it that way, knowing that his heir might not agree with his views," Dumbledore answered her calmly, bending down to retrieve one of Fawke's feathers from the ground. He examined it closely as he spoke. "You wouldn't have used his heirloom how he had intended, after all."

"Of course not," Cassie replied firmly.

"The Dark Lord spent most of his years at Hogwarts researching the Chamber's existence and then finding it," Severus said lowly. "Slytherin wanted whoever was going to use his basilisk to earn it."

"Maybe," Cassie muttered. The Head of Slytherin House squeezed her hand. Her thoughts were of Harry and Ginny at that moment, of what it must have been like to face Tom Riddle and the giant serpent. One thing was for certain: they definitely belonged in Gryffindor. "But I'm sensing something now that we're down here."

"Perhaps it's that," McGonagall said, gesturing to the corpse of the basilisk that lay partially submerged in murky water. Cassie had avoided looking at the serpent too closely. When she had seen its gouged eyes and the blood that had dried on its scaled face, she had felt a twinge of pity for the manipulated, mistreated creature. She feared if any of them had known, they might disapprove.

"I thought that at first, but I don't think that's it," she said quietly. Something was drawing her closer to Slytherin's massive carving, and without thinking about it, she started to slowly make her way there with Severus beside her. When they were only feet away from it, he let go of her hand, watching her in wonder as she continued hesitantly, her eyes drawn up to Salazar's bearded face.

"Cassie," Severus murmured, "What is it?"

She didn't answer him, as she was concentrating on the instinctive feeling that was spreading through her core. Her eyes closed as she focused on it. Then, without knowing why, she hissed in Parseltongue, "Awaken." Whatever feeling that was drawing her to the statue had become significantly stronger after she had stated the command. Without knowing for sure, she had a hunch as to what was going on. "I need all of you to turn around and keep your eyes closed until I tell you otherwise."

McGonagall looked astonished, while Severus' face paled significantly. Dumbledore, however, looked delighted. Without a word, all three of them obeyed her request. Then, Cassie said, "Come." She watched as Slytherin's mouth opened, a great black hole forming to let the creature inside out of its confinement. As the sound of scales moving across smooth stone grew closer to the opening, she turned around as well.

"Is it safe to be here for this?" McGonagall asked, although there was no sense of panic in the witch's voice. Rather, she sounded a bit perturbed.

"There's no escaping now," Dumbledore replied jovially. Cassie was befuddled at the Headmaster's apparent amusement.

There was a loud thud as the basilisk hit the ground, and its hissing sounded through the chamber. Cassie knew it had stopped right behind her, waiting for her next command. It took everything in her not to face it and take in the sight of the king of serpents.

"Be still," Cassie told it, and with her eyes still squeezed shut, she turned to the creature. It lowered its head to her, and she reached out slowly, her left hand touching its snout gently. She raised her right arm in the air, the ivory wand clutched in her hand glimmering even in the shadows. Moving it in a circular motion, a silvery fabric formed over the serpent's eyes, protecting her from its deadly glare.

Sensing she was safe, Cassie faced the massive snake and opened her eyes. She gasped, realizing that this creature was at least ten feet longer than the basilisk that Harry had slain. It had a tuft of scarlet plumage on the top of its head, indicating its male gender. This serpent, bred for destruction, was waiting patiently for her direction.

"It's safe," she said calmly to the three professors. "You can open your eyes and turn around."

"How can you be sure?" Severus challenged her.

"I'm staring right at him."

"Must you always be so incautious?" the Potions Master snapped as he turned around, but any harsh words he had intended to add were stolen from his mouth. He stared at the large snake, his coal-black eyes wide.

"What is it doing?" McGonagall asked, jumping slightly when the basilisk's large tongue flicked out to taste the air.

"He's waiting for me to tell him what to do," Cassie replied. Her hand was still on its snout, and it seemed to be pushing into her touch.

"It has to be disposed of," Severus started.

"No," Cassie replied swiftly. "He hasn't done anything wrong!"

"Basilisks are one of the most dangerous creatures to exist, Cassie," he countered. "It's not a pet!"

"So he deserves to be executed merely for being born? Because he could be dangerous?" said Cassie placidly. "By that logic, someone should have gotten rid of me a long time ago."

Severus opened his mouth, then closed it again without responding. He and Dumbledore exchanged a glance.

"What do you suggest, Cassiopeia?" Dumbledore asked her calmly.

"We can change him into a less dangerous form," Cassie said, her blue eyes sparkling as she looked to McGonagall. "What do you think, Professor? Do you think we can transfigure him?"

"If the four people in this room can't do it, there is no one that can," McGonagall responded determinedly.

They were about to attempt to transform the basilisk into a smaller form until Dumbledore suggested they use him to get out of the chamber and back up to the castle. Even for Cassie, it was a little nerve-wracking to climb onto the serpent's back and straddle its scaled hide, even though she had the luxury of communicating with him beforehand. She reminded herself that Severus and the other two professors must wholeheartedly trust her judgment if they were willing to ride a menacing reptile through the dark, winding tunnels in hopes that it would continue to listen to her every direction.

There was no extra space in the girls' bathroom once they reached it, the snake's body having to coil around the sinks and nearly out the door for it to fit. In Parseltongue, Cassie explained to the basilisk what they intended to do, reassuring him a few times that after they were finished, she would make sure he had something to eat.

McGonagall directed their actions, the four of them casting the same spell at once. The huge serpent shrunk down, the transformed version similar to a six-foot boa constrictor, a small bit of red plumage still on his head as a reminder of what he truly was. It reminded Cassie of the boa she had spoken to in the Amazon, the one she avoided for a while because she hated speaking Parseltongue. But she felt different about her inherited ability now, ever since Dumbledore had encouraged her to accept her abilities.

"What do we do with it now?" Severus implored as Cassie picked up the reptile, letting him slither across her shoulders. "It can't possibly live in the castle. If the spell doesn't hold - "

"It will hold," McGonagall interjected, raising her eyebrow at the younger professor in a challenging manner.

"I agree with Severus," Cassie said a bit forlornly. For some reason, she was feeling increasingly attached to this creature, possibly due to Salazar Slytherin's enchantments. "As much as I trust your spell-casting, Professor McGonagall, if he transformed back and we didn't know right away, who knows what damage could be done."

The Transfiguration teacher's expression softened as she looked from Severus to Cassie. "As I've reminded you before, it's 'Minerva', especially since we are to be colleagues in a few short months. And I'll support whatever decision you make, dear."

"Our most recent retiree would be open to caring for him, I would think," Dumbledore said.

"Professor Kettleburn?" Cassie thought it over. "I suppose that would make the most sense. If he has issues, he lives close enough to Hogsmeade that I could assist him."

McGonagall volunteered to take the animal to the ex-professor almost immediately, stating that she was finally going to go home for her holiday once this mess was cleaned up. She conjured a wooden crate, and after he was settled safely inside, she left with it floating at her side.

"It is a sound plan," Dumbledore said as he, Cassie, and Severus made their way out to the entrance hall. "No doubt the basilisk is in safe hands until you need it." There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. "Now, you two get back home and start enjoying your summer holiday. We'll be seeing one another soon."

The headmaster watched the couple go through the doors, but neither of them spoke until they were walking through Hogsmeade. "Tell me how you interpret the meaning behind his words," Severus started carefully.

"Which ones?"

"The basilisk being needed in the future."

Cassie looked up at him, trying to get a read on his mood before speaking. Thankfully, he seemed calm. "He's a powerful creature that will obey my every wish. I'm sure he means for me to use that advantage in the war."

"Similar to how you commanded Sombria's transfigured serpent," her companion muttered.

"Yes."

"That's an immense amount of responsibility."

"Don't I know it," Cassie agreed quietly. With a pop, they Apparated together to the deserted river's edge and continued to slowly make their way to the house. "But it's a responsibility that was meant to be mine. I'm just not going to use it how Slytherin or my father would want."

"Indeed."

"How different this year would have been if my father had told me about the Chamber of Secrets when I was younger," she openly contemplated. "If I had known about it, the danger could have been removed years ago."

"Either he wasn't convinced of where your loyalties would lie, or he thought you were too young for the knowledge."

Cassie mulled over Severus' statement for a few moments. "How different would this year have been I had been allowed to come to Hogwarts and investigate?"

They had just the threshold of the home. The black-haired wizard closed the door, then turned to shoot her a warning look. "Cassie, we've been over this so many times this past year. Do you want to start this again?"

"I'm just saying," she said evenly, folding her arms across her chest, "It was my father behind it all yet again. If I had been there maybe he would have gone after me, it could have been figured out sooner. I could have taken control of the basilisk and none of those students would have been petrified."

"You had enough to worry yourself with," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Ginny almost died, Sev," she said, shaking her head. "She was manipulated by my father, she'll never forget that for the rest of her life - "

"It's not your fault!"

"It's not," she said, "and yet I feel all this guilt! I should have been there to protect her and the other students."

"None of us could have known that this was going to happen, Cassie. Don't add this to your list of imagined mistakes." Severus shook his head slightly, his soulful eyes searching her very being. "I can't keep watching you do this to yourself."

Cassie stepped in toward his sturdy chest, burying her face in his black robes. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." He wrapped his arms around her tightly as he rested his chin on the top of her head. "We'll be seeing Ginny and all the others in a few days. You'll be able to see how well she's doing then." She smiled as he reminded her that she would, indeed, be seeing the Weasley clan for her birthday very soon, along with Andromeda and Ted. The thought gave her a rare sense of peace.

Severus pampered her for the rest of the evening, cooking their dinner and trying his best to make sure she was relaxed. After a long bath, they settled into bed. As they were both just starting to recover from extended, stressful situations, they fell asleep quickly. Cassie's rest was interrupted only hours later when she suffered another nightmare about killing Sombria.

"Sleeping potion," Severus muttered after Cassie was fully awake and calmed down. He started to climb out of bed, but Cassie gripped his arm to stop him.

"No, Sev," she said. "Just stay with me."

"I'm right here, you silly girl," he purred soothingly. "I'm not leaving the house."

"Please," Cassie whispered meekly. "I don't need a potion. I need you." At her request, he settled back into his spot, pulling the distraught young witch against his chest and planting a kiss on the top of her head. Cassie fell asleep soon after, and she woke up in the late morning in Severus' arms, his embrace having warded off any recurring nightmares.

Cassie's birthday came. When she and Severus entered the Burrow, they were greeted enthusiastically by the Weasleys, the cozy home full of smiles and chatter. After Cassie had hugged every member of the redheaded family, she intended to have a private conversation with Ginny to make sure she was doing okay. Instead, she was cornered by Arthur and Molly, who seemed extremely concerned about her well-being.

"I'm alright," Cassie insisted after the bombardment of questions, their words coming out so quickly that she barely heard one complete sentence. "I promise. And besides, I have Severus to take care of me."

"It's just been such a whirlwind with what they're saying in the Prophet and around work," Arthur said, scratching the back of his head. "I haven't been able to go a day without someone asking me about what happened with you and that evil witch."

"Oh," Cassie said, not exactly thrilled about the situation she was creating for the Weasley patriarch. "I'm sorry."

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "That's not what I mean. I just want you to be prepared for what it's going to be like out there."

Cassie looked between him and Molly. "What?"

"Well," Molly started, looking to her husband before continuing. "The Prophet has been painting you in a good light, praising you and everything. But we've been hearing that people are worried about you taking Sombria's place."

Cassie barked out a humorless laugh just as Severus walked up behind her. "Oh, that's just great," she said with a groan.

"That's absurd!" Severus snapped, clearly having heard Molly's words.

"Of course it is," Arthur said dully. "But not that any of us are surprised, are we?"

"No, I suppose not," the younger wizard grumbled.

"Have you at least charged Lucius with something?" Cassie asked, causing Arthur to grin as he shook his head.

"Not yet, but I've certainly been trying," he said.

Molly clicked her tongue in disapproval. "I've been telling him to leave it alone, especially with how successful the Muggle Protection Act has been!"

"With what he did to Ginny?" Cassie said. "He doesn't deserve to be left alone! Being sacked as school governor isn't enough."

"It would be so much easier if we could prove that he gave Ginny that diary," Arthur said. Molly suddenly snapped her head in the direction of the kitchen, then announced that the food would be served shortly before disappearing across the threshold. "But that just isn't the case." He ushered Cassie and Severus to the next room where Fred and George were already seated at the table. Ron stumbled in just as Cassie and Severus were sitting down, and his nonchalant demeanor suddenly turned to obvious disgust when his eyes grazed over the Potions Master. Cassie was about to warn him to be nice when Ginny came in.

She looked apprehensive, but Cassie noted that she appeared well-rested, and the girl even offered the Head of Slytherin a small smile as she sat down. Cassie let out a sigh of relief when the girl started to heap her plate full of food and eat with gusto.

Andromeda and Ted joined the festivities minutes later. They were thrilled to see Cassie, making sure to ask how she was before asking about their daughter. She informed them of what she knew of Tonks' current mission, and that she and Moody would be returning to the country when the Roubando practitioner was apprehended.

The celebration was pleasant and uneventful, other than Fred and George having somehow placed water-resistant fire-crackers in Severus' slice of cake. While he went to the living room to clean the white frosting off his robes, Cassie finally had a chance to talk to Ginny while the rest of the family fought over the small explosion.

"I'm fine," Ginny reassured her over and over.

"And you'll talk to me if you're not?" Cassie asked. "Not just this summer, remember I'll be at Hogwarts if you need anything." Ginny promised to do so, and Cassie was able to leave the Burrow feeling a bit better.

"You seem distracted," Severus noted as they walked down the dirt driveway. "I thought Ginny told you she was doing well."

"She did," Cassie said, admiring the green hills surrounding them as they walked. "I'm just thinking about the Malfoys."

"Lucius will get his comeuppance someday."

"I'm sure he will," she said, reaching for his hand. As always, the feeling of his skin on hers sent pleasant shivers up her extremity. "I'm just worried about Draco, Sev. With every passing day, Lucius is corrupting him more and more."

"He spends most of his year at Hogwarts," Severus pointed out.

"Yes, and he has his horrible little friends to reinforce those viewpoints while he's there."

"You'll be able to spend more time with him when the term starts."

"If he'll allow me to," Cassie said. "I hope he does."

They kept walking, the sun beginning to set as they got closer and closer to the edge of Ottery St. Catchpole. They were only a few miles away from the Burrow, something that Cassie was thrilled about when they reached their destination. Now, they stood in front of a white two-story cottage that was surrounded by colorful plants and a worn-looking iron fence. The small homestead sat nestled in a small thatch of trees, and it seemed charmingly secluded, the closest neighbor's house so far away that Cassie could hardly make out the children that were playing in the yard.

Molly had told them that this place was recently uninhabited. While Severus hadn't yet agreed to move away from his childhood home in Cokeworth, Cassie hoped that seeing this quaint little house might convince him. "This is it," Cassie said, obvious hope in her tone. "What do you think?"

Severus, his hand still grasping hers, pulled her close to his side. Cassie looked up at him, relieved to see a small smile playing on his thin lips. "I think it looks like home."