IV

The house in front of Cassiopeia and Dumbledore looked exactly like any other house in the street, with a car – a thing she only knew existed because George had shown her the one his father owned – that looked exactly like any other else in front of the other houses, but the master seemed to know exactly where he was going when he stepped in to knock on the door.

The man who opened it was probably the fattest Cassiopeia had seen so far in her short life, enough that he had no neck, but Dumbledore's presence was apparently enough to shut him up, and he didn't say anything while the two of them entered the place.

"Mr Dursley, you probably have never heard about my student, Miss Cassiopeia Malfoy."

Cas looked the muggle man from head to toe, noting quickly how his face was red and ready to explode. Somehow, that made this very pleasant for her.

"Good evening, sir," she said politely. "Thank you for having me in your home."

"I'm gonna suppose Harry hasn't warned you about my visit," Dumbledore noticed. "Come here, Harry. Let's see, come down. And you must be Petunia."

Moving her eyes away, Cas looked at the woman in just a robe and rubber gloves, looking like she'd just seen a headless ghost for the first time.

"And Dudley. Good evening, good evening. This is Miss Malfoy, we're here to talk to Harry."

Cassiopeia nodded to the two of them. The boy was a copy of his father when it came to his size, although with his mother's hair and eyes.

"Let's sit down, Cassiopeia."

Cas complied silently, and soon he was serving all six of them with hydromel.

"Aren't we leaving, professor?" Potter looked between the two wizards, clearly eager to get out of the house.

"No, not yet. There's something that requires the attention of the two of you, some difficulty you might say."

Cassiopeia frowned. Was it something to do with Sirius? It was the only thing she and Harry had in common legally speaking.

"You see, we found Sirius' testament last week, and he left everything for the two of you, to share in equal parts."

The blonde girl and the young boy exchanged looks. It was quite a surprise; Cassiopeia expected Harry to be left with everything and Sirius to leave her maybe some family portraits, but all of his belongings to share?

"The Order had installed itself for a long time now, but we still need the authorisation of the owner to remain inside," he explained, and she was ready to cut in when he continued. "We also fear that it might have a spell that only allows a pure-blood person to own the house."

They both turned to her at that moment, and the muggle family reflected on it just as well.

"Well," Cassiopeia hesitated. "If that is, it's okay. I mean… I don't mind, the Order can continue occupying the house, doesn't matter if it's fully mine or just…"

But Potter's voice interrupted her.

"I don't want it," he said emphatically. "You can have it. I don't want the house."

Cassiopeia frowned. That was a very quick decision.

"You certainly, don't mean…"

"I do," he insisted. "Your family lived there for centuries, he clearly wanted you to keep it."

She shook her head, making blonde-white strands falls onto her cheeks briefly before being pushed back behind her ears again.

"But he wanted you to have it just as well."

Potter didn't give up, though.

"I insist."

Cassiopeia was ready to argue, but Dumbledore interrupted the two quickly.

"Well, if that's it. Do both you still allow the Order to stay in the house, then?"

"Yes," she affirmed, this time simultaneously with Potter.

The headmaster nodded.

"Well… Owning the house also includes Kraster."

Cassiopeia squeezed her eyes for a moment. Kraster. Oh, Merlin, that elf was the living definition of a pain in the ass.

With a movement of Dumbledore's wand, he showed up in front of the two of her, instantly falling on his knees the carpet.

"Kraster doesn't want Potter, Kraster doesn't want him. Kraster wants Miss Malfoy," he clung onto her feet.

Everyone's eyes once again fell on her.

"Does that mean one of us has to stay with him?" she looked at Potter.

If he was insisting on her taking the house, she'd certainly not keep the elf around.

"You can do whatever you want with him," Dumbledore explained. "My suggestion is sending him to Hogwarts, the other elves can watch him."

Both the teens agreed quickly.

"Kraster, I want you to work with the other elves at the kitchens in Hogwarts."

Cassiopeia left out a clear relaxed sigh when he was gone, and the professor continued.

"Now, we need to decide what will happen to Buckbeak," he pointed out. "He's staying with Hagrid for the moment, we have renamed as Witherwings to keep him safe. Do you have any wish to change his living?"

The boy by her side looked at the slightly older girl, and she just shook her head. She had no attachment to the animal what so ever, his fate wasn't hers to decide.

"Hagrid can keep him, Buckbeak really likes him."

The professor confirmed.

"Well, then we are done. Go pick up your bags. Miss Malfoy, are you able to go to the burrow on your own?"

The girl confirmed, and he watched her after dispatching the boy's baggage.

"I will feel safer if you allow George to accompany you home tonight," the old wizard instructed. "It's rather late. Just tell Molly and Andromeda I asked, and they'll probably let him stay the night."

Cassiopeia felt her face a bit warm as pink tinted her cheeks, and pulled her wand.

"Goodbye," she said politely, disapparating.

When she arrived at the back of the house everything was completely silent, but Mrs Weasley showed up quickly after hearing the noise of her showing up.

"Cassiopeia?" she frowned. "What are you doing here? Everyone is asleep."

The girl shifted uncomfortably on her spot.

"Professor Dumbledore sent me here and told me to ask you to tell George to escort me home. He said you wouldn't mind if he spent the night, it's too dangerous for anyone to be alone outside at this hour and my aunt is probably waiting up for me, the Burrow is close enough but her house is far away."

Andromeda never slept when Cassiopeia or Tonks weren't both home, and she didn't want to leave her waiting.

The redhead woman frowned a bit but gave her a soft nod.

"Of course, dear. Let me just get him up and get some clothes."

So she waited, and the woman showed up with a sleepy George by her side soon enough.

"Hey," the blonde looked up at her boyfriend and offered him the jacket that was still in her arms. "That's yours."

He yawned, and she took his arm with a shy smile.

"Goodnight, ma'am."

Her boyfriend's mother gave the two a strange look but didn't protest or change her mind.

"Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow."