Elation and Incompetence

Severus was losing what little confidence he had in the young ministry worker the longer they stood in her presence. The witch didn't seem to hear Cassie's question and looked panic-stricken.

"We have to move, that explosion might have gotten them through the barrier!" she said, taking a step away from them, but Cassie caught her by the robes, yanking her back to them.

"We are not rushing in there without you filling us in," Cassie hissed, her face inches from Maria's as she spoke. Severus had never seen her look so authoritative. "Where are the rest of Machado's students?"

Maria looked like she was going to start gagging on her own words. "They are in the school. We are using them as the second line of defense in case Sombria manages to get past the Ministry officers - "

"Why is Cassie the only one that will be on this side of the barrier? Machado is okay with this?" Severus demanded.

"It is only because she had to be retrieved," Maria said softly. "Or she would be with them." It was a possible explanation, but something wasn't quite adding up in his mind.

"Fine. How many of us are there? I know Viggo and Arvid went home for a visit, maybe more." Cassie didn't loosen her grip on the witch's robes. Apparently she trusted Maria as much as Severus did.

"There are six students inside."

"Are the rest being summoned?" Severus asked.

"Please, we have to get moving - "

"Answer the question, or we are going to stay here for the duration of this battle!" His words were harsh, and Maria looked like she was about to burst into tears. He didn't care in the least.

"No. Just Cassie."

Severus let out a low growl. "So we are already at a disadvantage because Cassie has less of her peers here, and now you're telling us that she won't even be fighting alongside them?"

"Severus," Cassie started, finally letting go of Maria's clothing. The Ministry witch stumbled back, eager to get away from her intense glare. "It's beyond our control at this point."

"This is idiotic!" he countered sharply. "You have trained with them extensively, you know how to communicate with one another. Do you even know all of the Ministry officers?"

"No."

"Do you understand how perilous this is? If Machado has any brains at all, he wouldn't be putting you in this danger, especially when Sombria knows you!" He was frantic. How shortsighted he was, to allow her to come. He had thought his presence alone might help protect her, but now he realized how dire of a situation they were in. He wished he could take that decision back so he could force her to stay in Cokeworth. Even if he had hexed her and bound her so she had no choice but to stay in the house, at least he would know that she was safe.

Another loud boom sounded nearby. His lover's expression was suddenly stoic and resolute, and he knew just by looking at her that there would be no convincing her to stay put. "Then it's a good thing we're here together, Severus," she said evenly.

"Cassie - " he started hopelessly.

"Severus," she interjected calmly. "Either get your wits about you or stay here where you'll be out of danger. I have to do this." She stepped up to him, roughly pulling his head down to her and giving him a firm, decisive kiss. "I love you."

He didn't want to say it back to her. It felt like it was saying their goodbyes, and he couldn't fathom that being a possibility. But he said it anyway, just in case. "I love you, too."

"Tan robes, yellow and blue masks," she reminded him. Maria started to move through the trees, and he and Cassie followed close behind.

"What does Sombria look like?"

"You'll know," Cassie told him darkly. "If she engages you, you have to get out of there."

"I told you, I can handle myself," he retorted lowly. Cassie gave him a miffed side glance. She wasn't happy with his answer, he knew.

"Just stay close to me," she said curtly. They were moving with their wands up and at the ready. Before he could reply, they were swiftly bombarded by the blinding flash of unexpected curses. Maria deflected some, but many made it past her. Severus swung his wand and a purple beam ricocheted off his counterspell, smashing into a nearby tree. He spotted his first Sombria followers, their faces covered in the yellow and blue masks that Cassie had described.

The concealed faces jolted him into recollections of time spent among the Death Eaters. It roused something inside of him in an instant and he felt murderous and unassailable. Had he been able to look at Cassie right then, as she took down two of them in a matter of seconds, he would have seen that the tenacity he felt mirrored hers. Gone were thoughts of stepping aside and hiding her to keep her safe. Now, all he wanted to do was hurt these bastards.

More Cavaleiros rushed at them, but the cover of the forest slowed them significantly. Severus and Cassie stunned and bound them with ease, and he hoped that more would keep coming at them with this much senselessness. The more they could cripple in this method, the less there would be to battle near the school.

"That's it," Cassie said breathlessly when it seemed no more were coming into the trees. "We've got to get to the temple." They inched their way to the tree line, hoping not to be spotted by more of Sombria's followers just yet.

"How does the wand feel? Is it obeying you without question?" He had to know if Bellatrix's wand was going to put her at a disadvantage, if he would need to watch her back even more.

Cassie looked down at her wand momentarily, as if she had forgotten she had it. "It's performed beautifully so far." If that fact disturbed her, now was not the time to discuss it.

Maria's startled gasp pulled both of them from worries about the wand. Severus followed her gaze. There were numerous witches and wizards in navy robes lying still on the ground, and from their distance, it was impossible to tell if they were dead or just immobilized. There were only a few Cavaleiros in the same condition.

A handful of them were lobbing relentless attacks at the magical barrier surrounding the school, the rest of them engaged in duels with the remaining Ministry members. Cassie was frantically searching the crowd.

"I don't see her," she told him quietly.

"Likely a self-preservation tactic," Severus replied.

"Probably. In Manaus, she didn't show up until it looked like her followers were going to lose." Cassie waved her wand suddenly, and a burst of white emitted from the tip, quickly organizing itself into the shape of a Runespoor. Severus raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "Sending a message to Machado," she told him, turning her attention to her Patronus. The serpent's three heads were locked on her, their tongues flicking intermittently as they waited for a command. "I'm outside. Many of the Ministry officers are dead. It won't be long before they get past the school's defenses. Be ready." She sent her charm off with the ominous message, and Maria watched it float through the trees in surprise.

"Do you intend to wait for a response?" Maria asked shrilly. The magical barrier was cracking and healing itself repeatedly as spells relentlessly hit it. A large hole appeared ten feet from the ground but sealed before the perturbed Cavaleiros could make it bigger. Caipora standing just on the other side of the shield were whooping and pumping their fists in the air.

"No," Cassie said, "I don't think we have time for that." Just as she said it, a large crack appeared where a spell landed, and a section of the charm shattered like glass. Before Severus could react, she was running out of the forest and toward the school. He cursed under his breath as he followed her.

Most of Sombria's lackeys already locked in duels, Severus stunned three before they could have a chance to turn their attention to him and Cassie. The young witch was having just as much success, her spells landing with so much precision that she was zapping them like they were nothing but bugs. Most of their navy-clad allies seemed baffled when their adversaries suddenly went down, but thankfully most of them started to help each other as soon as they realized what had happened.

"I'm going for them!" Cassie shouted to him, indicating that she was going to take out the Cavaleiros trying to bring down the barrier. "Keep freeing up the officers!" A very, very small part of him was irritated that the eighteen-year-old witch was yelling orders at him. The rest of him was immensely proud.

The followers had caught on that this battle was no longer going in their favor. The easy eliminations were coming fewer and far between as Severus fought his way through the masked assailants. Fortunately, enough of the Ministry members had been freed up so they were able to fight at his side. When he became locked in a duel with a wizard that seemed to be much more skilled than the others, he only had to concentrate on him.

Severus could see Cassie blasting her way through her targets as he fought. If they kept up this momentum, Machado and his students wouldn't be needed at all. Just as Cassie knocked her last two foes to the ground in a burst of red light, Severus bellowed, "Sectumsempra!" The proficient masked wizard grunted as cuts appeared over his torso, blood starting to seep through the tan fabric. It had been so long that Severus had used the curse that he felt immensely satisfied, especially when the wizard crumpled to the ground.

Some of the Ministry wizards started to cheer, and the caipora were shrieking in victory, jumping up and down. Severus didn't feel nearly as elated.

He ran to Cassie, grasping her shoulders as he looked her up and down. "You're all right?" he asked fervently.

"I'm fine, Severus, but they need to shut up, this can't be it!" she sputtered breathlessly.

"Agreed," he said. He turned toward the throng of Ministry officers, about to tell them off, when something white and glimmering distracted him. It was a Patronus in the shape of a toucan, and it went to float directly in front of Cassie.

"You need to get out of here! She will be coming!" came the furious voice of Martese Machado. At the loud, sinister message, many of the hollering people around them stopped, looking concerned. "You cannot allow her to take you!"

"Cassie," Severus hissed, "You need to listen to your master - "

"We can't Apparate this close to Castelobruxo now," she said. "It's a defensive plan they put in place if there was ever an attack. There's nowhere for me to go!"

"We can go back to the trees!" he implored her. She opened her mouth to argue, but whatever she had intended to voice, it was cut off by her surprise. The area around them was lit up by a blazing blue light, and suddenly, they were surrounded by a fresh horde of Cavaleiros.

"I thought they couldn't Apparate!" Maria shouted fearfully.

"They didn't," Severus spat. "They were here the whole time." Cassie looked to him solemnly, her wand ready in her hand once again. Without warning, Sombria's followers started to attack, and Severus was having to deflect and launch spells with much more fervor. But this time, he was starting off exhausted.

Cassie seemed to have a renewed sense of purpose. Her lips curled into a sneer, she sent a group of six masked wizards flying backward. But this must have been Sombria's more elite disciples, as Severus was having to fend off attacks from two assailants at once, and it didn't seem like they were going to be thwarted in only a few rounds. Cassie got to him just in time to block a nervorum resolutiones hex, and her returning curse made the wizard writhe in agony on the ground.

Another eruption of blue light blinded everyone in the vicinity that wasn't wearing a mask. When Severus' sight came back to him, he saw a witch with long, flowing black hair, her face maskless but covered in blue dashes. She had appeared near the school, and with no warning, she launched a spell so powerful at the previously unwavering shield that it hissed and then fractured. A large gap formed near the staircase and was unable to close itself back up. Caipora started to pour through it and launch attacks at the Cavaleiros, but the unmasked witch made quick work of them, many of them unmoving on the grassy earth with one spell. Her followers started to make their way up the massive staircase that led to Castelobruxo's main doors.

Cassie's words had been completely true. No one needed to tell him that this was Sauda Sombria.

"Wait!" he demanded, wanting to tell her not to rush into anything, but she didn't hear him. Her attention had snapped to the dark witch. Three followers tried to obstruct her from advancing towards Sombria, but she knocked them out of the way with ease. Cassie had almost reached her, Severus running to keep up when Sombria suddenly turned in their direction.

Cassie and Sombria lofted spells at each other simultaneously. The meeting of their magic resulted in a small eruption of light and smoke, and Severus had to produce a shield to keep from being blasted off his feet. Cassie glanced at him momentarily, looking suddenly apprehensive.

The dark witch, on the other hand, was smug. She took slow steps around Cassie, one corner of her mouth turned up in a smirk. "Garotinha," she hissed. "Feliz em vê-lo novamente!" He didn't understand what Sombria was saying, but Cassie seemed to.

"Can't say the same," Cassie replied. Severus remained silent, coming to stand next to her, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his wand.

"You will be mine," Sombria said simply. The threat made towards his love stirred something in him, and he threw a binding hex at Sombria. She deflected it, but Cassie lobbed her attacks, relentlessly launching spell after spell. She, like Severus, was trying to stun her, to paralyze her, anything to incapacitate her. He knew that she was having to hold back her power for fear of hitting the allies that were battling nearby, and it was impeding any hope of progress. Sombria's hexes were so forceful that they had to defend just as much as they were attacking.

Severus finally made contact, his blasting curse catching Sombria off guard. As she staggered on her feet in a state of shock, his raven-haired partner took the opportunity to send a bolt of white electric energy her way. It was subdued, the current much narrower than the spell that Severus had witnessed the last time she had battled Sombria. But he knew she had little choice, or risk hitting someone accidentally. The dark witch blocked the spell, and Cassie never stopped waving her wand, a ceaseless storm of aggravated magic bombarding her opponent.

The two witches hurled curses concurrently again, the power converging and causing another burst that shuddered the ground around them. When the smoke cleared, they stared at each other, frozen in contemplation. Cassie was panting from the effort of the battle, and Sombria was visibly disheveled, her eyes narrowing in disbelief as she finally took the time to size up her young adversary. Severus heaved another blasting curse, but the dark witch readily stalled it.

"Get out of here," Cassie hissed at him through gritted teeth, her blue eyes never blinking as she watched Sombria's subdued, circling steps.

"No," he retorted quickly.

"I can unleash if I don't have to worry about hitting you - "

"You won't!"

She didn't dare pull her gaze away from Sombria, but she nodded once to indicate that she heard him. Bringing her arms together forcefully, her fingers and wand pointed towards the older witch, she let loose another round of white voltage, Sombria blocking it with little effort. Cassie was still panting when a stream of black voltage was sent her way, and Severus was extremely alarmed when he had to assist her in blocking it. She was tiring, and quickly.

"Cassie, we have to leave!" he yelled.

Cassie's stare was still locked on Sombria. His heart dropped when she risked her safety to look at him, even if it was only for a second, knowing she was planning something he wouldn't like. Without warning, she brandished her empty hand at him, and he was sent flying backward thirty feet. Before he hit the ground, landing on his back and safely out of the way, she had called forth a stream of blue flames and directed them at the dark witch. The fire circled Sombria like a vine wrapping around a tree trunk, but she only laughed. Severus clamored to his feet, watching in horror as Cassie's flames were transformed into a thick, scaly creature.

The twenty-foot long, impossibly large serpent that uncoiled itself from Sombria's body turned its attention to Cassie. Its eyes were bloodred, unnatural spikes covering its obsidian face. Cassie's expression was lofty as the huge, hissing snake bore down on her.

He shouldn't have worried. She certainly didn't seem to be alarmed. Before the transfigured animal struck, Cassie hissed an unknown command to it. It slithered off without hesitation and Severus ran back to Cassie's side as it struck, its jaws clamping down on an unsuspecting masked Cavaleiros.

It killed two more of Sombria's followers before what was happening registered on Sombria's face. She pointed her wand at the serpent, but Severus shot another round of curses to keep her from dissolving her horribly chosen spell.

The triumph was short-lived. Sombria cast a hex, an ugly, spiked cord shooting out from the end of her wand, and it whipped around Cassie's neck. Sombria swung her arm back, and Cassie was pulled forcibly to the ground. Severus desperately threw a spell to break the connection as Cassie choked helplessly, being pulled toward Sombria. He was knocked down again as Cassie sent another round of wandless magic to get him out of harm's way.

"Cassie!" he bellowed as the dark witch continued to drag his lover across the ground. Feeling nothing but dread, he got to his feet again, launching curses as he ran to the witches. Sombria blocked his advances, just as Cassie lay in a sputtering heap at her feet.

"You watch," she said to him, as she gripped the cruel rope in her hand and heaved Cassie up. "She is mine." She looked quite pleased with herself as she looked in Cassie's face, now only inches away from her.

Cassie's hands clutching at the noose around her throat, she suddenly bent her neck back, and swung her head swiftly into Sombria's, catching her by surprise and causing her to release her hold. The cord disappeared in a tuft of black smoke, and Cassie landed a rather gruesome punch right in the middle of Sombria's face.

While the older witch howled, she gripped Sombria's arm, pivoting herself around her and delivering a sharp kick to the back of her knees. The dark witch landed on the ground with a gasp, and Cassie blasted her with an ice-wielding spell, covering her entire anatomy and keeping her in frozen in place. It had all happened in a matter of seconds, and Cassie was wheezing as she nearly doubled over in fatigue. As Severus came to her side, he saw that the ice was melting very quickly. He cast a binding spell, rope fastening itself tightly around Sombria's limbs and neck to keep her in a kneeling position. Just as the ice completely disappeared and Sombria opened her mouth to speak, Severus jabbed his wand into her temple, leaving her unconscious.

The transfigured serpent had just crushed the bones of another follower when it disappeared into thin air. Ministry officers were still dueling what Cavaleiros were left, but they started to realize very quickly that something had happened to their mistress. Many started to take off for the cover of the forest, and they were pursued by witches and wizards in navy robes.

"Did we get her?" Cassie asked feebly, and Severus wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tightly.

"We did," he said, pulling away so he could get a better look at her. "Are you all right?" There were numerous gouges in her neck, blood oozing onto her robes. He started to heal them with his wand.

"I'm fine," she said, her blue eyes looking at him in awe as if she had never expected this outcome. "Are you?"

"Likely bruised, from you repeatedly flinging me," he murmured, giving her a kiss when her wounds were closed.

"You do a good impression of a rag doll," she teased softly. Under normal circumstances, he might be livid that she had done that to him, that she had tried to prioritize his safety over hers. Yet the only elated thought going through his head at the moment was that they weren't dead, and a small smile formed on his lips. "I should get a message to Machado, I don't know if there are more followers in the school!" she said suddenly.

Severus looked toward the golden temple. In their victory, he hadn't thought about what was going on in the temple until now. He turned to Sombria's knocked-out body, which was being attended to by a dozen Ministry officers. Feeling that it was safe to leave the dangerous woman in their many hands, they started to head to the school, but Cassie let out a whoop of joy when Machado and a group of young wizards and witches trailed out behind him.

A brunette witch raced down the staircase, a tall young wizard with a large smile on his face following closely behind. Cassie released Severus' hand to jog to them despite her fatigue, and they all slammed together in a warm embrace. The witch was whispering something excitedly into Cassie's ear, and the wizard pulled away, his green eyes landing on Severus.

"You!" he said, laughing as he approached him, pulling him into a jovial handshake without any warning. "You're the famous Severus, aren't you?"

"I am," Severus replied curtly, not feeling quite as amiable as the stranger grinned at him.

"Cassie showed us pictures," the young man explained. "I'm Alex. Good of you to come along! I've been dying to meet you."

"What?"

Cassie and the brunette were watching the exchange, now giggling. Cassie brought her over to him. This pupil didn't seem nearly as extroverted as Alex, evident by the way she sheepishly smiled at him. "This is Romily, Severus."

"A pleasure," he said. Romily started to speak when they were interrupted by a boisterous voice.

"Cassie!" Machado said, striding toward them. He was still sporting the ugly black scar that Cassie had accidentally given him, and he was bleeding from his ears now. Concern was etched across the older wizard's kind features as he placed a hand on either side of Cassie's face. "What are you doing here, you foolish, brave girl?"

Cassie looked as astounded as Severus felt. "You didn't ask for me to come?"

"No! I wanted you to stay put, Cassie. I have told you numerous times that Sombria would target you, that we couldn't risk her taking your powers!" Machado exclaimed. "Apparently it was meant to be. I don't know that it could have ended in our favor without you and Severus."

The compliment did nothing to ease his mounting anger. "So she was manipulated by your ministry, intentionally put in harm's way when they had plenty of their own to fight this battle?" he seethed.

Machado released his hold on Cassie, looking solemn as he turned to face him. "I'm afraid so. I knew nothing of it."

He let out a perturbed growl. "This is unacceptable!"

"You have to understand, Severus, that Minister da Gama was likely only thinking of what he had to do to protect his daughter - " Machado tried to reason, but he didn't want to hear any of it.

"At the expense of Cassie's safety? Not to mention, he risked Sombria gaining a significant amount of power, to the point where she might be impossible to stop if she had succeeded!"

"I am not saying that I agree with his actions," Machado said sternly. The two wizards stared at one another, Severus wanting to take his rage out on someone, and Machado sensed it. Cassie placed a hand on Severus' arm before it could escalate further.

"Severus," she said softly. "It's not Martese's fault."

They were interrupted by one of the Ministry workers. He was just glad that it wasn't Maria, or he may have torn her to shreds with his bare hands. "Dom Machado, the Minister would like to speak with you. And Cassie, if you would care to accompany him, the Minister would like to thank you for coming - "

Cassie huffed at her. "I don't think I owe him anything," she said, shaking her head. "What I would like is a shower and a long nap." She turned to Machado, who looked unhappy with her response. "Martese, I know you don't allow outsiders into camp, but can we make an exception?"

"Of course, Cassie. I would be honored to have Severus there, after everything he has done."

Ignoring the Ministry witch's protests, Cassie took his hand and started to lead him toward the forest. "Let's go, Sev." As petty as it was, he took pleasure in the fact that she was choosing to ignore the Minister's request. And a nap didn't sound like such a bad idea, either.

They made their way through the trees with the other academy pupils. Even in his exhaustion, Severus noticed how beautiful the rainforest was. The deeper they went, the more the creatures around them were sounding, like the battle hadn't disturbed them at all. It gave him a sense of peace.

They Apparated to the camp as soon as it was possible. Cassie showed him the pattern on the specific tree that would bring them up to their huts, and he was thoroughly impressed with the set up of their living space once they were on the bridges. It was extremely well hidden, and he felt a bit better about her outdoor home, knowing that it was high off the ground and away from danger.

When they entered her hut, he expanded her mattress with a charm so it would fit the two of them. He was surprised at how sparse the room was, only containing a desk, a few books, and the photo album that she had brought with her. He supposed she had little time to spend here, anyway.

"All of us will have a meal together later," Cassie yawned as she took his hand and led him to the bungalow that contained the showers. "I'm sure everyone is too tired to think about eating at the moment." He suggested showering together, but she merely smirked, telling him that there were only communal male and female bathrooms. He rinsed off quickly, not eager to have any of the teenage wizards see him.

"Hey," came a voice just as he was wrapping a towel around his lower half. Alex was standing there, bold enough to look at him directly as he stood there half-naked. "I brought you a change of clothes," he said, handing him a set of cargo pants and a grey, long-sleeve shirt. The clothing looked very similar to the ensemble that the younger wizard was wearing.

"I will put on my previous outfit," Severus replied bluntly.

"Nah," Alex said, waving his hand. "You're one of us tonight. Might as well look the part." He turned to leave, and then stopped, looking at him again. Severus' nostrils flared as he tried to contain his disdain at the current lack of privacy. "I just wanted to say, Severus. Cassie's a special one."

"I am well aware," he replied. He was on edge, anticipating some sort of declaration of a rivalry, that this boy wanted her for himself.

"Obviously you look after her when you can, or you wouldn't have come," Alex continued, all hints of a smile gone. "Just know that we do our best to watch her back when she's here."

Severus was taken aback. He knew the proper response was to show Alex his gratitude, but the words didn't form. He nodded once in acknowledgment, and the boy gave him a small smile in return, finally stepping out of the hut. Severus reluctantly put on the outfit that Alex had borrowed him and made his way back to Cassie's hut. She was already there, using her wand to dry her thick black hair. She looked him up and down, surprised at his new look.

"Your friend Alex," he explained before she said anything. He sat down on the mattress next to her, rubbing small circles on her back as she continued with her hair. "He seems rather fond of you."

"Yes, and he was fond of you even before you two met today," she said, grinning. "He's been asking if he and Romily can come to Cokeworth for a visit."

"An overnight visit?"

"Well, yeah. Martese isn't going to arrange a Portkey for an afternoon," she told him. He let out a long sigh.

"If it will please you," he said cautiously. She laughed, and even in his exhaustion, the sound was music to his ears.

She stopped her drying charm, examining the wand in her hand briefly before setting it on the wooden end table next to her. "My mother's wand didn't disappoint. I forgot I was using it."

"We are fortunate that it obeys you as well as it does," he replied softly.

"Yeah," she said, leaning into him as he wrapped his arm around her. "I still don't like the idea of it, though."

"Perhaps you can find a wandmaker here."

"Maybe," she muttered, her eyes fluttering as she fought to stay awake. He coaxed her into lying down, and he scooted up next to her. Cassie draped an arm across his chest and lifted a leg over his, pulling herself as close to him as much as she could. "You were amazing, Severus," she whispered into his neck.

"You are amazing always," he replied quietly. Whether she heard him or not, he didn't know. Her breathing indicated that she had already fallen asleep, and it didn't take long for him to drift off into a dreamless slumber soon after.

If there was an evening meal, they were completely unaware. The two of them slept hard and through the night, and only woke up when a swift knock came at the door. Cassie pushed herself off the mattress and went to answer it, rubbing her eyes as one of the students stood there expectantly.

"Breakfast," the witch said. "Martese wants all of us there."

"Severus, too?" Cassie asked.

"Yes." She left without another word, and Severus stretched before standing up. A mattress on a wooden floor was not great for his back, he noticed.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"Miremba Wabudeya."

"Second term student, graduated from Uagadou?"

Cassie looked at him with raised eyebrows, clearly surprised. "Wow, I'm impressed, Severus."

"Don't say I don't take interest in your life," he said, and she wrapped her arms around him, standing on her tiptoes for a kiss. Their hands started to roam, but Cassie forced herself to pull away from him.

"We don't have time right now," she said slyly. "Maybe after breakfast." He obediently followed her to the central bungalow, still feeling immensely out of place among the young wizards and witches. It was a far cry from his experience being around his Hogwarts students, as these teenagers seemed excited to see him as soon as they crossed the threshold, and all of them assumed he was fine with them using his first name.

Severus and Cassie were bombarded with questions about yesterday's battle. She seemed sheepish with that much attention on her but answered their inquiries politely. They wanted all of the details and the food that had yet to be prepared lay forgotten on the counter. After a while, Cassie directed the topic away from them and to her peers' fight in the school, and they just as eager to share their experience. Overall, they seemed ecstatic to share in one another's victories, once again demonstrating to Severus that Cassie had a solid support system here in Amazonas. Yet there was one wizard that rubbed Severus the wrong way as soon as he heard him speak. Based on what Cassie had told him of her peers, he had a hunch about which one it was.

Yui was in the middle of telling everyone her story of disarming two Cavaleiros at once, when this wizard spoke lowly to get Cassie's attention.

"You redirected Sombria's transfigured snake?" he asked, raising his eyebrow. Cassie didn't bother hiding her glare, and Severus knew from the intense disdain that was now emanating from her, that this was Vitaly.

"Yes," Cassie snapped. The sudden change in demeanor seemed to catch other people's attention.

"How?" Vitaly asked, looking rather pleased with himself. Cassie glanced over to Severus. "That doesn't seem possible unless...no. It can't be possible. Not you, perfect little Cassie."

"Unless what?" Severus interjected. He wasn't used to teenagers not being intimidated by his very presence, and this one needed to be knocked down a few pegs. If only he had authority over him like he did his students.

"Perhaps she is a Parselmouth?" Vitaly suggested insidiously. Now, the entire hut had gone silent.

Cassie shifted in her seat as everyone's eyes fixed on her. "What difference does it make?"

"I just find it curious that you are the only one of us that can contend with a very dark witch," he continued. "Wouldn't it be something if you carried such a dark trait?"

"Shut the fuck up, Vitaly," Miremba started. "Why do you always have to ruin the mood?"

Vitaly was about to retort when Machado entered. Severus gave Cassie's hand a reassuring squeeze as everyone's attention went to their master, but he knew she was feeling troubled. Even though her peers hadn't flat out learned of her ability, Vitaly had successfully planted the seed of doubt in their minds.

"My wonderful students," Machado started, looking drained. "How proud I am of all of you. Because of your efforts, Fernanda da Gama and the rest of Castelobruxo remain safe." He turned to Severus then, walking up to him. "And to you, my friend. Your presence at this battle was unexpected, but without you, I fear our fates would have turned out quite differently." Severus nodded once. He knew that Machado was likely sincere, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he and Cassie had been manipulated by Brazil's ministry. It would be a long time before that fact could just be forgiven.

He heard Vitaly snort. This young wizard needed a lesson in manners.

"You would like to say something?" Machado said then, having heard Vitaly's rude exhalation as well.

"We had it under control before Cassie and her beau decided to show up," he said matter-of-factly.

"Did we?" Machado argued lightly. "Must I remind you that twenty-seven of Da Gama's officers were killed in action? They were the only people standing between us and Sombria's full brigade."

"The Ministry is weak. We are not," Vitaly said. "Had Cassie given us the chance to shine for once, you might be convinced of that as well."

Yui stood up angrily. "Vitaly, you are an ungrateful bastard. If you think you could have handled it outside the barrier, you are a moron!"

"That's enough!" Cassie interjected. Her arms were folded neatly over her chest as she commanded the attention of the room while remaining seated. "It doesn't matter who did what. What matters is that the battle was won!"

"Easy for you to say, when you are once again hailed as the golden child - " Vitaly sneered.

"If you have a problem, then take it up with me after the meeting," Cassie snapped. "Stop wasting everyone else's time. Or are you too much of a coward to talk back to me without the safety of an audience?" Severus didn't bother to hide the smirk that was forming on his lips.

"Cassie," Machado warned gently.

"I apologize, Martese," Cassie said swiftly. "Please, continue."

Machado nodded to her in thanks. "Minister Da Gama has graciously given me an update. The majority of Sombria's Cavaleiros da Floresta have either been killed or arrested." The ones that were there, at least, Severus thought to himself. He didn't have the heart to point that fact out just then. "He will continue to keep his officers at Castelobruxo until all of them have been accounted for."

"What happened to Sombria?" Alex asked, the question that all of them had wanted to ask from the start.

"She has been arrested and is being held at the Ministry's highest security cell," Machado said slowly. The room erupted into chatter then, and Cassie was the first one to let her voice be heard.

"To what end? Aren't they going to execute her?" she demanded, and her peers echoed in agreement.

Machado raised his hands, indicating for them to quiet down. "Her sentence has yet to be handed out. Our minister has been in contact with the other magical governments in South America. It seems many of them are demanding trials so they can carry out justice in their own ways."

"What difference does it make who carries it out?" Cassie's voice was growing louder despite Machado's indication to remain calm. "She's killed hundreds, if not thousands across the continent. Every day they keep her alive, the more of a chance she has to break out!"

"It is not our decision to make," Machado replied sincerely. "I'm afraid the matter is out of our hands, Cassie." The entire room was in turmoil now. Severus was the only one that remained silent, but his thought process was the same as Cassie's. The Ministry was giving Sombria every opportunity to overpower her captors.

Cassie rose then, grabbing Severus' hand. Machado was busy talking down some of the other angry students as they left the hut together. "Are all governments incompetent?" she seethed "This isn't going to end well, is it?"

"They may come to an agreement quickly," he started slowly as she yanked him toward her hut.

"And what happens when she overpowers her guards? Steals their powers?" Cassie snarled. He knew her irritation was not directed at him, and he shared every ounce of indignation she felt. "We should have killed her!"

"What else can we do at this point, Cassie?" he asked her as she shoved him in the direction of her mattress. He obeyed her unspoken wish, lying down on his back, and she straddled him, gripping his shirt in her hands as she searched his eyes wildly.

"I can learn to control my power," she said silkily, one hand of her hands letting go of his shirt so she could bury it in his hair roughly. "When I meet her again, I'll be ready."

"If you meet her again," Severus said lowly, a visceral growl leaving his throat as she tugged on his black locks and ground her hips into his. She didn't answer him, likely not willing to entertain such a naive thought. He couldn't blame her, as he didn't believe the notion either.

She smashed her lips into his, effectively chasing off any remaining concerns of the dark witch whose fate remained in limbo. His lover demanded his attention currently, and in seconds the only thought in his mind was of her.