Such Unscrupulous Behavior

1987

"Rennervate."

Cassie's blue eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurry, and her head was pounding. For a few moments, she lived in blissful amnesia until Professor Depecor's face appeared above her. His warm eyes were filled with worry as he studied her face.

"Cassiopeia," he said softly, "I am sorry for having to hex you unconscious - "

Cassie sat straight up. It was then that she realized she had been lying on the grass, and she whipped her head around to try to figure out where they were. It was very dark, and all she could make out was the outline of trees and a large house nearby.

"You attacked me," she breathed, and she scrambled to her feet. Depecor took a few steps back. She patted her robes, growing alarmed. "Give me my wand."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. Not just yet," he said apologetically.

"When?"

"When...when Fallon decides it's time - "

"Who is Fallon?"

"Their leader."

Cassie looked at him in confusion. "Whose? What is going on, Professor?"

"I'm afraid it's difficult to explain."

"No it's not!" she snapped. "Tell me!" She walked toward the mansion, familiarity in its shape making her stomach drop. She was certain they were at the Lestrange Estate. Depecor followed her.

"If you just remain patient, dear girl, it will all be revealed momentarily," he tried to reassure her.

She raised her arm. With a quick snap of her wrist, her wand ripped a hole in the wizard's robes as it shot from his pocket and into her grip. She pointed it at his chest. "I can't Apparate. But you can. Take me back to Hogsmeade."

Depecor opened his mouth to argue, but he was interrupted by loud bangs and pops. Hooded figures appeared all around them. Cassie kept her wand raised, moving it in all directions, not sure who to focus on.

She gasped and stumbled back a few steps. One of the wizards that had just appeared was screaming in pain, being held up by two others. Depecor rushed to Cassie's side, his hands moving to her shoulders.

"Don't touch me!" she shouted. They were easing the injured man to the ground, and a witch, the first person to have her hood pushed back, knelt down to assess his wounds. In frustration, she ripped off her golden mask to see better.

"Cleaving hex," the witch said through gritted teeth. She slowly waved her wand over the patient's torso, who started to quiet.

"Auror?" a wizard next to her asked.

"No," another answered. "One of the teachers."

Cassie let out a shaky breath. She remembered Depecor approaching her and knocking her out when she was headed to the dungeons. She never dreamed the Servants of the Heredis would breach Hogwarts.

"Nevermind that," the first wizard said, his covered head turning toward Cassie. "We achieved our goal." He took a few slow steps in her direction.

"Which is what?" Cassie asked, clenching her wand. As he neared, she pointed it at him. Several of the hooded wizards pointed their own wands at her.

"Retrieving you, of course," he said. He seemed not to notice her wand directed at his masked face. "I must admit, we wouldn't have been able to do it without your Professor's assistance."

She turned to glare at Depecor. "You were with them the whole time," she snarled.

"I wasn't," Depecor said, shaking his head. "But Fallon here, he approached me a few weeks ago. I was apprehensive at first, but he helped me see. Convinced me to do what was necessary."

"To kidnap me?"

"Such a crass way of putting it," Fallon interjected, shaking his head. "Kidnap you, no. I merely wanted to speak to you, to be in your presence, to finally bask in your glory. And here you are." He dropped to his knees in front of her and took her hands in his. She immediately pulled out of his grasp.

"You're nuts!"

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "Only committed."

"To what?"

"Continuing your father's work, of course," he hissed. Cassie shoved him, knocking him backward. She took off at a run, heading to the neglected gardens. She used her wand to slash at the overgrown vines, pushing through as quickly as she could. She whimpered as she was cut on her face and arms, but kept going. She was determined to reach the other side where she could find refuge in the adjoining forest, one that she knew well from exploring in her childhood.

She heard shouting as her pursuers came into the gardens after her. Being much smaller, she was able to move through quicker, and she reached the other side successfully. She sprinted to the edge of the Lestrange estate, her heart pounding in the confidence of her escape as she neared the treeline.

Cassie hit the invisible barrier, its magic flinging her through the air and onto her back. By the time she was able to catch her breath, someone had bound her with a carefully aimed charm.

"You have proven to be a tricky little witch," Fallon said through his delighted laughter. Cassie struggled against her ropes, coughing as the one around her neck started to tighten.

"Fallon," Depecor said in alarm. "You promised me she wouldn't be hurt!"

"She is tougher than you realize," Fallon said. He waved his wand, and Cassie was pulled upright. "She doesn't need delicacy. She needs to see what she is truly capable of." The hooded figures had caught up. Cassie hadn't realized how many of them were until now. There had to be more than a hundred, and they were all watching her. "Look at what we have done for you, Heir of the Dark One. Craven, my most loyal lieutenant, almost died tonight in our mission. We only wish to serve you, to do your bidding. I only ask that you consider accepting our undying loyalty."

"And if I don't?" Cassie wheezed.

Fallon tilted his head, considering her question. "I will give you ample time to change your mind. I am nothing if not persuasive."

A large crack pierced through the air. The shield surrounding the estate lit up and started to shatter into little pieces. As the ground tremored under their feet, Fallon pointed to his group of followers. "The barrier has fallen! Prepare for battle, and remember what is most important: keeping the Heir in our possession!"

After Dumbledore had tracked the Servants of the Heredis, Severus had warned his colleagues that the Lestrange would be a fortress. He had spent enough time there in his Death Eater days to know its deadly intricacies, from the hidden guillotine positioned just above the main staircase that somehow recognized intruders, and the sitting room floor that would dissolve into a tar pit and trap anyone standing on it if one merely pushed the right cookbook in the kitchen. If the Servants figured any of these snares out, they would have to tread carefully to retrieve Cassie. He was delighted when they found Cassie and the entirety of the abductors still out on the grounds. It would be much easier to subdue them out in the open.

Many of them Disapparated on the spot. The Headmaster stunned five, six at a time with little effort. Severus, on the other hand, was feeling much more hostility than his older colleague. He slashed his wand through the air, inflicting pain on those he overpowered. His anger grew tenfold when he finally spotted Cassie hanging in the air, bound by ropes and helpless. Severus released her with a flick of his wand, and she folded to the ground in a heap. A witch charged him before he could attend to her.

He cursed her. She writhed on the ground, shrieking in agony before passing out cold. Severus turned back to Cassie, thankful to see that Hagrid had scooped her up. There were few places safer than in the half-giant's arms.

The battle didn't last long. Severus wasn't surprised to find that this group was largely incompetent, at least in comparison to the Hogwarts professors. The one that gave them the most trouble was their leader, who had burned McGonagall's temple and ear. He was bound now, much as Cassie had been not much earlier.

Aurors had arrived. They were Disapparating with the captured Servants two at a time. Fallon was on his knees before Dumbledore, who had ripped his golden mask from his face. The wizard was younger than Severus expected, perhaps even younger than him.

"This is not the end of it," the young leader was saying loudly, tilting his pale face up to glare at the Headmaster. "There are more of us, committed to helping her realize her full potential and take the Dark Lord's place!"

"I'm afraid it is the end," Dumbledore said gently. "At least for you."

Cassie was at Severus's side. Without warning her, he grabbed onto her shoulder and turned on the spot. He hoped he had Apparated them quickly enough that she didn't see Dumbledore perform the Killing Curse, although there was no mistaking that telltale shade of emerald green as it lit up the air. Cassie had seen it enough times in her young life to recognize it.

When they were safely back in the castle, Severus escorted her immediately to the hospital wing. She was tucked safely in bed, having drunk a Dreamless Sleep Elixir, and he was intent on heading to the Headmaster's office. Heading to the doors to leave, he was caught off guard when she asked, "Is Professor Depecor okay?"

Normally, he would be angry at her innocence. Tonight, it broke him. Instead of going to find Dumbledore, he went back to the dungeons to drink alone.

1994

Cassie had expected to be thrown into a dungeon cell while she awaited whatever consequence would befall her. Instead, the two massive wizards that had escorted her away from Vitaly had locked her in a small, regally decorated room that rivaled the grandeur of the rest of the Magical Duma. The walls were emerald green and crowned with gold. She even had a comfortable, cushy armchair to sit in while she contemplated her stupidity. If Severus could see her now, the sneer of disdain on his face would be something to behold...and yet, when she noticed the smear of Vitaly's blood on her knuckles, she smiled.

The door handle started to turn, and she stood. They might have taken her wand, but she was far from unarmed. She would let them see that she felt anything but intimidated.

A wizard she recognized from lunch swiftly entered the room, and much to Cassie's surprise, he was alone. He had sharp, familiar features, ones she recognized in Vitaly that instantly set her on edge. But his eyes were notably softer.

"Hello, Miss Cassiopeia Black," he said, gesturing for her to sit. Cassie eyed him cautiously. As though he didn't notice her apprehension, he conjured a chair for himself with a quick flick of his wand and settled into it. "I am Yuri Pavlischev - "

"Vitaly's father," she blurted before she could help herself.

A warm, wide smile spread on the older wizard's face. "Yes, you are correct. He is in the hospital ward having his face tended to." Cassie nodded curtly. "You are pacing. Please, have a seat - "

"I'm fine," she snapped.

"You are like a caged Kamchatka," Yuri noted kindly. "You should know that I am not angry with you, Miss Cassiopeia Black."

Cassie glanced at him in surprise. "You aren't?"

"My son can be, how shall I phrase this...devastatingly irksome."

"That's an understatement."

Yuri wheezed out a laugh. "He is very talented, yes. At times he lets that get to his head. I had hoped that attending Master Machado's training would center him, yet it seems nothing can break my son's spirit. He takes after his mother, you see." He gestured to the empty chair again, and this time, Cassie sat.

"So I'm free to go?" she asked. Yuri reached into his robes and proffered her wand to her, which she accepted immediately.

"I ask that you refrain from assaulting him again. I can only convince my wife to let it be this one time, I fear," he said. Cassie nodded, feeling reassured, but then Yuri cleared his throat. "I only wish to discuss one thing with you." Cassie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, there was something else. "Have you heard of the Krasnota?"

"I believe they were mentioned in my sixth-year Defense Against the Dark Arts course," she replied carefully. She remembered a small paragraph in her textbook about a radical group that was still actively terrorizing magical Russia, but not much else.

"Then you must know that they are a thorn in my minister's side," Yuri said. "They have been responsible for much chaos since long before his rule. The things that they have been doing lately - kidnappings, destroying the Magical Duma's property, stealing resources meant for Koldovstoretz students - my minister wishes to remedy this."

Cassie leaned back in her chair, folding her arms over her chest while she studied Yuri's stark change in demeanor. "I would ask why you're telling me this, but I think I know the answer."

All traces of a smile were gone from the older wizard's face. His brown eyes were still warm and almost pleading with her. "The Magical Duma's vaults of gold are endless. We could pay you a hefty amount."

"I've already told Gryzlov that I am not a mercenary."

"Albus Dumbledore pays you an adequate amount as a lowly professor's assistant?" Yuri countered with an eyebrow cocked.

Cassie stood. "I'm finished with this conversation."

"We are in private, Miss Cassiopeia. You do not need to pretend that he does not have you do...other tasks for him. My minister would pay you double - triple, what Dumbledore does - "

The door slammed open with a swift wave of her wand. She entered the commotion of the busy corridor, not caring that Yuri was still speaking when she had left the room.

She returned to the guest apartments in a sour mood. Hoping to have a bit of solitude before the forum began, she was unpleasantly surprised to find that the common area was full when she crossed the threshold. Fudge's nose was buried deep in a pile of notes while his undersecretaries buzzed around him. Everyone else was lounging about with goblets full of alcohol in their hands.

"Where have you been?" Narcissa hissed as she followed her niece across the bronze-tiled floor.

"It doesn't concern you," Cassie said dully.

"It does!" her aunt snapped. "I told you to be careful, and instead you were out wandering alone - "

Cassie stopped in her tracks, turning her body fully to face the older witch. Narcissa looked startled as she came to an abrupt halt, her elf-made wine sloshing over the sides of the intricate silver goblet in her hand. "Do you understand who you are addressing, Aunt Cissy?"

Narcissa's blue eyes searched Cassie's face for a moment as she regathered her poise. "How dare you speak to me in this manner - "

"How is it that you still do not see that I am not some misguided preteen girl? That it has been a long time since I have desperately sought your approval?"

Narcissa drew in a sharp breath. "I am only trying to help you."

"Help me? With what?" Cassie asked, barking out a laugh. "Or would you like me to spare you from the embarrassment of causing any scenes?" Her aunt opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again without responding.

"Would you two refrain from squabbling," Lucius seethed as he grabbed Cassie's elbow. She twisted out of his grip so quickly that he looked at her in stunned silence.

"Do not," she said lowly, "touch me again."

Tonks, thankfully, was in their room. She listened to Cassie's saga of searching for Romily and instead, finding Vitaly. She snorted in laughter when Cassie got to the part of punching him in the face. "You're mad!" she declared.

"Perhaps."

"Well," Tonks said, scrunching her nose as she examined herself in the mirror. Her hair quickly grew in length and turned a deep purple shade. "If anything, this forum should be much more interesting now."

"I hope not."

Shortly before it was to begin, all occupants of the guest quarters were escorted by wizards in teal to a large chamber. It held hundreds of elevated seats, far too many for the witches and wizards that were to be attending that evening. The floor was made of glistening white marble swirled with bronze, and an enormous crystal chandelier hung high above their heads. Similar to the meal they had attended earlier that day, they waited in their seats until Minister Gryzlov decided to make his grand entrance.

Fudge was seated with Umbridge and Paisley on either side of him. The rest of his accompaniments were in the row of seats behind, while Kingsley and Tonks stood in the next row back. Much to her dismay, Cassie had been instructed to sit too close to the Malfoys for her liking, with only one jittery-looking junior secretary between her and Lucius.

The members of the Magical Duma were all the way across the chamber, so far away that Cassie could hardly tell where Gryzlov was seated. They had to use a charm to increase the volume of their voices to speak to the other side. When Gryzlov spoke, his voice boomed so loud that the chandelier shuddered.

Cassie sighed and leaned back in her seat as the ministers exchanged excessively loud thoughts about the international Acromantula venom trade. Lucius eyed her with distaste.

"Is this not enthralling enough for you, niece?"

"I'd rather we not speak."

Lucius pretended as if the poor junior undersecretary wasn't there as he leaned across him to sneer at Cassie. "Cornelius is expecting you to act like you're on official ministry business, not like some bored teenager that was dragged along," he spat.

Cassie shot him a sarcastic smile. "If the shoe fits." Lucius unleashed another tirade of ridicule at her, most of which she couldn't make out because Fudge's voice was loudly declaring that his ministry would not be held responsible for damage done by the giants that had been relocated from Ireland to Siberia.

Her eyes landed on where Vitaly and Romily sat a few rows behind Gryzlov. She was too far away to see their expressions, but they were close, and it looked like they were turning toward each other frequently to talk. It made her stomach turn.

"They are angry!" Gryzlov thundered. "Angry that your officials did not check up on them or bring them the supplies that were promised when they were brought to the Sayan Mountains. Now, they destroy villages, steal food from ne-magiya and force us to perform memory cleanses!"

"They are your wards now," Fudge sputtered, his voice not carrying nearly as much authority as Grzylov's just had. "They are in your territory, yours to look after, as we agreed when we gave you more dragon scale than you could possibly know what to do with - "

"Not nearly enough!" one of Gryzlov's secretaries butted in. "You promised enough for making dozens of cauldrons worth of invisibility draught, and we have already used it all."

"Now that's just absurd," Umbridge croaked. "Either you are lying, or you are trading it to another source! If that is the case, you are breaking decree number fix-six-seven point two - "

A furry of charmed voices filled the chamber, trying to be heard over each other as they argued. Cassie could feel a headache coming on.

Not being able to sit any longer, she started to walk down the rows of seats. Their voices were just as loud, but at least she could distract herself with a slight change of scenery.

As she neared the bottom of the stadium, a figure near the large double doors caught her attention. It was clad in dark robes, a hood covering any traces of a recognizable face. The familiarity of the situation struck Cassie like a bolt of lightning.

"Hey, Cass!" Tonks called as Cassie moved toward the mysterious person. Her normal voice was nearly lost in the bickering of the politicians. "Where are you going?"

Cassie threw up her hand, indicating that she heard her cousin. She tried to get a glimpse of the face under that dark hood as she neared, gripping her wand in her pocket as she increased her pace. The figure snuck through the doors like they were made of smoke.

"Merlin's arse!" she swore under her breath. She punched the doors open and burst into the hall. The thunder of voices disappeared the instant the doors slammed shut behind her. The sudden silence left a deafening ringing in her ears.

She headed back to the chamber full of arguing politicians minutes later, her short chase after the phantom having been in vain. Distracted, she startled when she nearly smashed into Romily as she went through the double doors.

"Cassie," said Romily, seeming just as caught off guard.

"Mily, hey - " The words behind Cassie's lips died when she noticed Vitaly was only a few steps behind the beautiful brunette witch.

"They will be breaking for dinner and drinks soon," Vitaly said. He snaked his arms around Romily's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, all the while watching Cassie with a predatory stare. "Romy and I are going to make sure things are in order...and maybe find a nice place to screw."

A grimace flashed across Romily's face at the crude remark. "I told you, Vitaly. You must be respectful in front of your parents," she scolded as she pulled herself from Vitaly's arms.

He looked crestfallen as Romily stepped away from him. Cassie couldn't hide her glee. "I see they were able to fix your face," she said with a bite of sarcasm, as his eyes still had rings of dark purple under them and his nose was pink with healing erythema. Cassie noticed the trace of a smirk that her old friend tried to stifle.

Vitaly sneered at her, grabbing Romily's hand and leading her into the hallway. If they were dating as he claimed they were, it wasn't going all that well. But Cassie was still bewildered as to why Romily was there in the first place.

Dinner was as tense as the earlier meal had been. The two ministers spoke to one another under the guise of friendship, when in fact they were slinging poorly hidden jabs at each other. Fudge was becoming increasingly agitated, throwing back multiple tumblers of fire whiskey and balking when Gryzlov offered him peppered vodka instead.

"It is not poisonous, Fudge. It is brewed right here in my ministry, under the scrutinous eyes of house elves," Gryzlov barked, swallowing another shot of alcohol and pointing a long finger across the table. "You should not be so paranoid!"

"It is just that I prefer a drink from home," Fudge responded thickly.

"But you are not home, are you? You are here, in my home, in the grand Russian Federation!"

Cassie tuned out their slurred bantering as the minutes ticked on. As bellies filled with rich food and diners moved on solely to drinks, people left their seats to mingle.

"Is this considered to be going well?" Cassie asked Tonks, who was surveying the entire room from the corner and sipping on a sparkling cranberry juice.

"It seems tense."

"Maybe they'll calm down as they drink more."

"We have a few hours of the forum left tonight. As far as I'm concerned they can leave the alcohol for after," Tonks replied dully. She nodded, ever-so-slightly, over to where Romily and Vitaly stood with his mother. Vitaly placed a hand on his female companion's lower back. She reached behind her and pushed the offending hand back to its owner as she laughed at something the Pavlischev matriarch had just said. "Been watching those two. Seems a bit strained, yeah?"

"I thought so, too."

"Has she explained why she came with him?"

"Haven't had a chance to ask," Cassie admitted.

Their conversation was interrupted when one of Fudge's undersecretaries stumbled trying to retrieve a glass of champagne from a floating tray. Tonks caught her in her arms, shooting Cassie an annoyed look.

"Maybe it's time to switch to water. Whatya think, Karissa?" Tonks said as she heaved the witch into a chair. Umbridge was watching them with an obvious air of disapproval.

Umbridge's demeanor quickly morphed to feigned delight when Fudge ambled up to her. His face was rosy and he held onto her shoulder for balance as he spoke, but the wide smile plastered on her face never faltered. Cassie's eyes flitted over to the minister's empty spot. It was occupied by her uncle, and her stomach turned when she saw that Gryzlov was so engrossed by what he was saying that he was leaning across the table to hear him better.

It was past nine o'clock when Yuri announced that discussions were to resume and everyone needed to return to the stadium. "He is relentless," Fudge was complaining to Umbridge as they walked together. He let out a long yawn. "I think things would be much more productive after a night's rest."

"Keep your wits about you," Kingsley said quietly to Tonks beside him, and then made a point to look back at Cassie to be sure that she had also heard him.

"Something up?" his younger colleague asked.

The experienced Auror nodded toward Gryzlov, who was surrounded by a group of officials in teal robes. "The Russian minister seems to be in a much more zealous mood than when we started dinner. There has to be a reason for it."

Cassie kept Kingley's words in the back of her mind as the forum carried on. They were arguing for rights to bargain with the Estonian Ministry for sapphire sea mud, and she found herself on the brink of tuning everything out for her sanity's sake.

"If you train a handful of Healers at St. Mungo's for us," Gryzlov was saying when Cassie started listening again, "I would guarantee that my most seasoned duelist at Koldovstoretz would be able to whip some of your Aurors into shape."

"My Aurors are perfectly capable in the shape that they are in, I assure you," Fudge retorted.

Gryzlov chuckled lowly. The menacing sound filled the chamber and surrounded them in all directions. "Forgive me, Cornelius. For some reason, I feel that what you say is just not true." Silence followed. Kingsley and Tonks exchanged a knowing glance. All eyes were on one of the two ministers, waiting for the next move to be made. "Tell me, then. What can I offer in exchange for training my subjects as Healers?"

Umbridge pointed her wand at her throat to volumize her voice. "I must point out, Minister Gryzlov, that when we agreed to educate Healers for you five years ago, the results were quite disastrous."

"What happened?" Cassie whispered to Tonks.

"They broke into the Janus Thickey Ward and tried to kidnap some residents. Wanted to do experiments on them," her cousin whispered back. "Stole some rare healing ingredients that couldn't be replaced, too."

When Cassie looked back at Fudge, she could tell that the minister was strained. He was pale as a ghost and his eyes were bugged out. He was looking around the room as if he were searching for someone to save him.

"No reason to be nervous, Cornelius," Gryzlov drawled, sitting back in his seat. The witch in the cream-colored robes lit a cigar and handed it to him. The Russian minister took a few long puffs before continuing. "We are all friends here. Do you not agree?"

"Yes. Of - of course," Fudge replied.

"Then I find it highly perplexing why you cannot do me this favor."

Fudge looked at Umbridge, then at Paisley. Neither of them offered him any help. Finally, he turned back to face his Russian counterpart. "The answer is no, Sergey."

Gryzlov inhaled on his cigar. When he exhaled, the smoke formed into the shape of a dragon. It flew across the stadium and circled around Fudge, snapping its fangs before disappearing in a cloud of grey. "Here is an idea. How about a duel to settle the matter?"

"A - a duel?" Fudge stammered as he repeated Gryzlov's request. "I hardly think a matter this trivial warrants - "

"If I win, you will train my subjects without question. If you win, I will cease this demand, and we can all go sleep in our comfy beds and resume these talks in the morning. What do you say?" Gryzlov's smug gaze traveled from Fudge to Cassie. She held his stare easily.

Fudge looked to his undersecretaries again.

"It would resolve the issue in question," Umbridge said curtly. The others around her nodded enthusiastically.

"If I may interrupt, Minister," Lucius said, leaning toward the officials. "But I feel strongly that it would be most dishonorable to deny Minister Gryzlov's request."

"Of course, it would. I had just hoped it was not going to escalate to this point," Fudge muttered in reply, seeming to have regained some composure. "What I wouldn't give to wipe that priggish look off his face!" The minister charmed his vocal cords once again to shakily announce his acceptance.

Cassie stifled the laugh that was threatening to bubble from her chest. She had never seen Cornelius Fudge in wand-to-wand combat, but she was certain that whatever skills he possessed were not going to be enough to take on Gryzlov. The Russian minister oozed concealed truculence, and Fudge was not exactly looking confident.

"Splendid," Gryzlov growled, narrowing his eyes. "Will ten minutes be adequate time to prepare your chosen duellist?"

"Yes," replied Fudge, and several things seemed to happen at once. The realization that Fudge would not, in fact, be participating in his own fight hit Cassie, and she felt rather foolish for even thinking it in the first place. Ministry workers on both sides stood up and were buzzing around their ministers. Cassie, still seated with her legs crossed under her, noticed that Gryzlov had his cruel eyes locked on her from all the way across the chamber. She wasn't expecting someone to grasp her upper arm at that moment, and she jumped slightly.

"Cass," Tonks said, looking alarmed. Cassie didn't have time to figure out the cause behind her cousin's concern just then.

"Hem, hem," said Umbridge, who was now standing in front of her. "You may want to perk up, Miss Black."

Cassie narrowed her blue eyes at the short witch in pink robes. "Why?" She uncrossed her legs and sat up. Umbridge took a step back.

"Cornelius has bestowed upon you the honor of dueling for him," she announced importantly. All of Fudge's employees were staring at her. Fudge had a lop-sided, strained grin plastered on his face.

"I don't recall being asked," Cassie snapped.

"That is because you aren't being asked," Umbridge responded swiftly.

Cassie huffed annoyedly. "I don't know how many times I have to explain that I am not an Auror, nor am I on the ministry's payroll in any form."

"You are right," Fudge said, all traces of his goofy smile gone. "But you are here under agreed-upon terms. And I am the one who will decide if you have fulfilled your commitment properly."

Lucius's silver gaze was fixed on her. He was probably hoping she would refuse Fudge's demands so he could finally have Buckbeak executed. Cassie imagined he had a spot picked out in his study for the poor hippogriff's head to be mounted.

Her blood boiled. She didn't verbally respond to Fudge's threat, but her body language was enough to convey her infuriation as she stood and pulled her wand from her robes.

"Miss Cassiopeia Black will be dueling on behalf of Minister Cornelius Fudge," Paisley announced as Cassie descended the amphitheater's steep stairs.

"Ludis Molotov," one of Gryzlov's auror's boomed. Cassie had reached the pit, but so far she was alone. "Decorated militant, undefeated champion, having fought for the grand minister Sergey Gryzlov no less than seventeen times." The double doors slammed open and an imposing figure strode into the arena. The mammoth-sized wizard was shirtless, likely to show off his large muscles. The only hair on his head was bushy black eyebrows that nearly obstructed his beady eyes.

Cassie stood with her arms crossed over her chest as Molotov surveyed the arena around him. He drew in a deep breath as if he were savoring the moment, and then his attention drifted to the young witch standing in front of him.

He dissolved into laughter. Cassie stood steadfast, growing increasingly annoyed as the wizard continued to snicker as he gaped at her.

"Is something funny?" she asked dryly.

"This?" Molotov barked between guffaws, looking back toward his minister as he pointed at her. "This is my opponent? You are making a joke!"

"Ludis," Yuri called, "settle yourself, please."

"Are you even out of diapers?" Molotov asked Cassie, pulling his crooked brown wand out of his pants pocket.

"Let's get this over with." She dropped her arms to her sides, spinning her wand in her hand in anticipation.

"Don't worry little dove," he assured her. "It will be over quick."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"Feisty, are you?" he said, chuckling lowly. "It won't help you. I eat little girls like you for breakfast."

He grinned widely at her, showing off his jagged, yellow teeth. Cassie knew he meant to intimidate her, but she was feeling far from terrorized. Instead, she felt sickened by being in this wizard's presence.

"Hem, hem!" Umbridge started, the noise echoing around the chamber. "Before we begin, what are the rules?"

It was Gryzlov's turn to laugh. "Rules? I can hardly remember the last time we used any. Let us just say the duel will be finished when one of them is...incapacitated."

It was bewildering to see Molotov bow to her as gracefully as he did. His haggard appearance would never lend itself to the belief that he was capable of such elegance, and yet here he was, his body doubled over as he leered at her.

"You must reciprocate," he grumbled as he straightened back to his full height, "so we can start our duel."

"I think you curtseyed well enough for the both of us." Cassie was unable to hide her smirk when he sneered at her response.

She blocked the first limb-binding hex Molotov hurtled her way with little effort. He grunted in frustration, studying her with cold eyes as he calculated his next move. She had no problem deciphering the willowy motion of his arm when he shot a stinging hex next. It bounced off her shield, making loud pinging noises as it skipped across the chamber floor.

Molotov used an Impediment hex. Then a sleeping charm. Cassie could see the aggravation build on his face as he tried to attack her.

"You are stalling!" he snarled at her.

"I am defending myself," she snapped back. He shot three blasting curses in a row at her. The power in them accumulated so much that Cassie's feet were pushed back a few inches on the marble floor, but her shield held strong.

"Fight me!" he bellowed. Cassie didn't respond to his exasperated demand.

"This is ridiculous!" Gryzlov boomed. "Fudge, make your fighter duel!" Cassie didn't dare take her eyes off her opponent, but she could only imagine the helpless look on the minister's face.

"Black - " she heard Fudge start, but a bolt of white-hot lightning shooting past her head effectively drowned his words out. The chandelier above them shuddered from the energy.

"I will no longer hold back," Molotov growled in warning. He was pacing, like a lion readying to maul a challenger in its territory.

"You were holding back? Good, I thought this was all you had!"

He roared at her, launching a thick spiral of flames. She could feel the heat through her protective spell, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep his magic on the other side of her defenses. She only hoped that he was tiring as fast as she was.

"Fight!" he yelled. She stared at him in silence, and then he disappeared with a loud bang.

She turned on her heel, ready for him as he reappeared behind her. She blocked the thick chains that shot out of his wand, then dissolved them with a swift wave of her arm.

"You are a cowardly little bitch!" declared Molotov. As he shot more fire at her, Gryzlov stood to his feet.

"Fudge, make her fight, or I shall declare this match forfeited!"

Molotov's flames rebounded off Cassie's shield charm and shot toward the Russian side of the chamber. She bit the inside of her cheek to stifle her smile when she heard the screaming.

Molotov was only distracted for a split second. She recognized the movements in his body as he launched a Cruciatus Curse at her.

She sliced her arm through the air, stopping the Unforgivable in its tracks. Almost simultaneously, she shot a stunning hex at her adversary. He fell to the white marble floor with a thud, his body suddenly limp and lifeless. With an outstretched hand, she called his wand to her. Gryzlov and his employees were staring at her, many with their mouths agape.

The Dark Lord's daughter turned and walked toward Fudge's side of the chamber. When she got close enough, she tossed Molotov's wand to Tonks, who almost dropped it in surprise.

Cassie stood in front of Fudge. She bowed slightly, although anyone watching her knew that the look on her face conveyed mocking disrespect. Lucius looked livid, while Narcissa looked like she was going to pass out from shock.

"Consider my commitment properly fulfilled," she said. She didn't speak loudly, but it was quiet enough in the chamber that she knew every person in there heard her. She walked out of the double doors. No one dared to contest her departure.