XVI

Cassiopeia glanced at George from across the platform, waving very discreetly in his direction before entering the train. She hadn't had many opportunities to be alone with him since the end of the Triwizard Tournament, and the diaries had proven to be the perfect objects for communication.

He was just as worried as her after what had happened and the heavy feeling of loss and fear was shared by every other student. Something was in the air and she wasn't the only one who felt it.

"Can we sit together today?" she questioned Draco in a low whisper, stopping right at the door of her brother's cabin.

He looked at Cassiopeia for a moment, surprised, but barely hesitating after it.

"Of course," he moved, giving his sister space to sit beside the window.

The first thing Cassiopeia did after doing so was cling to him, resting her head on his shoulder. They had received a letter from their parents, something filled with vague words but with hidden meanings and threats.

There were important guests in the Malfoy Mansion, friends of the family who were visiting and wanted a peaceful and quiet experience. The two would be picked up by Narcissa in the station, and as she had woken up with a terrible mood, conversation wasn't encouraged.

Don't ask questions or talk to anyone about it.

"Are you okay?" Draco whispered.

"I'll be fine," his sister affirmed. "Don't worry about me."

. . .

Cassiopeia stepped carefully into her room, surprised by how she hadn't seen anyone upon their arrival but still as tense as the moment they left the school.

One of the house elves was already organising her things and gave a half surprised half scared look when she snatched the scarf George had given her from his hands.

"Be careful with this. It's worth more than any other thing in my luggage," the girl warned him.

"Why?" she heard behind herself and pulled her wand quickly, aiming it at whoever it was.

Runcorn.

He gave a wicked smile.

"Miss Malfoy. Cassiopeia," he seemed pleased. "Nice reflexes."

"Thank you," she lowered it slowly, although her heart was still racing in her chest.

He was, supposedly, her father's friend. They worked in the ministry together and he'd had dinner with the family once or twice while they were there, but she had never felt comfortable around him. Narcissa herself had always kept her and Draco away from him and people like him, like Macnair and Avery.

"What's so important about the scarf? Looks very ordinary to me."

Cassiopeia tried to think quickly.

"It was knitted in the Amazon forest by a single native Indian," she lied. "The wool was also tinted in a different way, you wouldn't understand."

He chuckled.

"Of course. Women and fashion, right?"

"Yes, Mr Runcorn."

The blonde girl just waited silently for him to leave and when that didn't happen, she shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

What was he still doing in her room?

"Why don't you put it on?" he stepped closer. "I'm sure it looks amazing to you."

Her eyes widened at his motion, and both of them jumped when another voice rose up behind him.

"Runcorn," Lucius said his name slowly. "I think you knocked on the wrong door."

The man turned around to face him, and Cassiopeia could see a sly smile forming on his face that overflowed with bad intentions.

"I was just admiring your daughter's..."

"My daughter's room isn't open for guests," he interrupted Runcorn before the man could finish his justification. "I believe I made myself very clear."

The man's smile died and he glanced at the blue-eyed girl before nodding.

"Of course," he nodded and fully turned to her for the last time. "It was a pleasure, Miss Malfoy."

She didn't answer and her father waited until his said friend had left to direct his eyes to her, laying them on the girl's hand. Just then she realised she was still clenching her wand tightly in her fingers.

"I assume you had a pleasant trip back?"

"It could have been better," she finally put her wand down. "I assume I'll be encouraged to spend most of the day at external activities."

He looked at her with some solemnity on his face.

"You know your mother and I always encourage you to enjoy your summer."

Lucius walked to his daughter slowly and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, moving a lock of white-blonde hair to behind her ear.

"It's good to have you back."

Cassiopeia wasn't blind or dumb.

For the last 15 years, the two Malfoys had been waiting for the moment the dark lord would rise again. They were Death Eaters – most of their friends were – and even taught her many things she had to question when she was mature enough to understand the implications.

In response to the affection, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. She could now put her head under his chin, tall enough that he had to raise it a bit to be able to keep the embrace. With parents as tall as Narcissa and Lucius, it wasn't a surprise that she was just as tall as Draco was now.

When she let go of him, Lucious glanced down at her face.

"He is back, right?" she questioned. "The dark lord. That's why everyone is here."

He nodded.

"Yes, Cassiopeia," he confirmed. "If you so wish, we can arrange..."

"I don't wanna join you," she interrupted him before he could even suggest the idea. "Thank you for the offer."

He just gave her another nod.

"I'll make sure no one will come to this area of the mansion again," he assured her.

"Thank you, dad."