Weeks passed, and Severus and Cassie fell into an effortless, almost domestic routine.
They spent much of their time in the solitude of the little house on Spinner's End, tucked away from the rest of the world and largely content to let it carry on without them. Both knew the peace was temporary. They knew deadlines were approaching, obligations were waiting, and dangers were gathering beyond Cokeworth's quiet streets. Perhaps that was why Cassie found herself wishing, more and more often, that summer would simply refuse to end.
Some mornings, she woke beside Severus and thought she could happily stay there forever. She would gladly have traded the uncertainty of her overseas training for another year in this house. She would gladly have postponed Severus's return to Hogwarts, the Ministry's next attempt to interfere with her life, and every other burden waiting patiently just beyond their front door.
But she knew better than to mistake a season of peace for a permanent reprieve. Eventually, they would both have to leave this little sanctuary. For now, though, she had Severus.
On the rare occasions when Cassie emerged to see someone other than her boyfriend, she usually went to the Burrow to visit the Weasleys. Sometimes Severus accompanied her, as long as he knew the visit would be brief.
Now that Harry Potter was staying with the family for the remainder of the holiday, however, the Head of Slytherin had become considerably less enthusiastic about accompanying her.
The last time he had gone along for dinner, Fred and George had made no secret that they were attempting to develop a salve that would instantly induce diarrhea and were searching for a large-nosed subject on whom to test it. Severus had endured approximately twenty minutes of the visit before announcing that he had suddenly developed an urgent need to leave. He was careful not to touch anything on his way out.
Cassie followed him out shortly after, trying unsuccessfully to coax him back inside for dessert.
"The twins are deranged," Severus had muttered. He had given her a withering look. She had suppressed giggles all the way home.
On one particularly beautiful evening, the two of them decided to walk to a restaurant within a reasonable distance of the house. Of course, they could have Apparated anywhere they pleased for dinner without giving the journey a second thought.
But Cassie liked walking. There was something almost intoxicating about strolling down an ordinary street with her arm linked through Severus's, knowing nobody knew who they were. In Cokeworth, she was simply a young woman walking beside her dark-haired beau.
She wasn't Cassiopeia Black, daughter of Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange. She wasn't the witch whose name had appeared too many times in the Daily Prophet. She wasn't a recent Hogwarts graduate, a political inconvenience, or a girl whose future seemed to have been discussed by more people than she could count.
Here, she was nobody, and she loved it.
Their destination was called the Workshop, a quaint but surprisingly lively pub tucked between two rows of aging brick buildings. Like much of Cokeworth, the establishment had clearly seen better days. The brickwork was darkened with age, and the windows were slightly hazy, their glass reflecting the yellow glow of the streetlamps outside.
Inside, however, the place was warm and bustling. Most of Cokeworth's patrons seemed to be ordinary working people enjoying an evening meal. The menu consisted largely of meat pies, stews, and other uncomplicated fare. Nothing about it was pretentious—not the food, the décor, or the people.
They were seated across from one another in a booth, and their drinks arrived shortly afterward. Cassie settled comfortably into her seat, watching the patrons around them as she sipped her drink.
She found herself wondering about them. Who were they? Where did they live? What had their lives been like before they sat down at those tables? What would they be doing tomorrow?
None of them paid her the slightest attention. She loved that even more.
As the evening progressed, Cassie's usual reserve began to loosen. The whiskey sours she had been nursing were doing their part, too, leaving her pleasantly warm and considerably more mischievous than she ordinarily allowed herself to be.
Severus was halfway through explaining his recent experimentation with Re'em blood when Cassie slowly slid her foot along his leg beneath the table. He stopped and his dark eyes locked on hers. She gave him an innocent smile.
"What is on your mind?" he drawled before taking another sip of his drink.
"Nothing," she replied. Her smile grew wider. "I'm just admiring my view." She leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm as she looked at him. "You're pretty!"
Severus blinked. The waitress happened to be setting their bill down at precisely that moment. She glanced between them, clearly entertained, before turning away with a smirk.
Severus watched her for a moment, then turned his attention back to Cassie. "And on that note," he said, placing several bills on the table, "I think I'd better get you home."
"Not yet, Sev." Cassie pushed out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. "I'm having fun."
"Yes, I can see that."
"Let's find a bar," she said excitedly. He sighed, but took her hand as they stood. She followed him toward the door, still grinning. Just before they stepped outside, Cassie reached over and gave his backside a sharp pinch.
He didn't react immediately. It wasn't until they were outside that he suddenly turned on her. One hand caught the side of her face while the other settled against her collarbone, pressing her gently but firmly against the brick wall.
"Miss Black," he growled, his face inches from hers, "you are being exceptionally devilish tonight." She could smell the bourbon on his breath.
Cassie's smile widened. "'Miss Black'?" Her voice was deliberately provocative. She slid a hand down his chest. "Am I in trouble?"
His breath caught, and the reaction pleased her immensely. She was always quite proud of the response she could draw from the indomitable man.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Severus's expression changed. "You will be," he murmured, "if you keep this ridiculousness up."
And with that, he stepped away. He started down the pavement without waiting for her. Cassie stared after him, momentarily offended.
"Severus!" she called, but he continued walking. She hurried after him. "This isn't the way home, is it?"
"You wanted to go to a bar. That's where we're headed."
Cassie caught up and slipped her hand into his again. "Thank you, Sev."
He finally glanced down at her. The look in his eyes was enough to make her forget what she had been about to say. It was devious, dangerously so. "I know how you can thank me, silly witch."
Cassie's stomach fluttered. Whatever he had planned, she suddenly found herself very eager to find out.
The bar wasn't far. Cassie could hear the pounding music before they reached it, and soon the flashing sign above the entrance came into view.
CUCKWORTH.
She barely had time to read it before Severus guided her past the entrance and into the adjacent alley.
"Sev?" He turned. The next moment, his hands were on her face, and his mouth was on hers. The kiss was heated enough to leave her breathless when he finally pulled away.
She blinked up at him. "You brought me here so no one would see us making out?"
One telltale black eyebrow rose. His hand slipped into his pocket, and he withdrew his wand. The music thudded against the walls around them. Severus cast several discreet, non-verbal charms, concealing them from the casual notice of anyone who might wander into the alley. Cassie watched him with growing realization.
"I was assuming," he purred, "that we could partake in more than that."
With his wand stuffed safely back in his pocket, Severus swiftly unbuttoned Cassie's jeans. He pushed them, along with her panties, down and out of the way. It wasn't long before he had her braced up against the side of the building, holding her up as he fervently thrust into her.
The pedestrians on the bordering sidewalk were completely ignorant of what was going on mere feet from them.
A short while later, they emerged from the alley looking considerably more disheveled than when they entered. Cassie straightened her shirt, trying unsuccessfully to suppress her grin. Severus adjusted his clothing with considerably more dignity.
"You are insufferable," he muttered.
She kissed his cheek. "You love me."
He shot her a knowing glance. "Of course."
By the time they entered the bar, Cassie was flushed and giggling considerably more than she normally did. Fortunately, no one seemed particularly interested in them. That suited her perfectly.
She settled onto a stool and ordered another drink, determined to reclaim the pleasant buzz she had started developing earlier. The bar was much like the restaurant—unpretentious, somewhat shabby, and populated by people who seemed content to mind their own business. Cassie watched them with fascination.
A group of girls around her age sat huddled around a small table, repeatedly glancing toward two young men at the bar. Cassie imagined they were debating whether either man was attractive enough to approach or whether they should wait for someone better to arrive.
Nearby, several middle-aged couples sat together without saying much to one another. Nobody appeared particularly interested in anyone else's business. That was, until Severus noticed something.
He leaned closer. "I think those two over there are trying to determine whether you're with me."
Cassie followed his gaze. Sure enough, the two young men at the bar were looking in their direction.
"Well," she said, "I know how to remedy that." She placed a hand on Severus's thigh and leaned over to kiss the side of his neck. He immediately stiffened. Cassie continued for another few seconds, just long enough to make her point. When she settled back onto her stool, the two young men had turned away. "Problem solved."
The look on Severus's face was hard for even her to decipher. It was a mix between exasperation and satisfaction. "You are enjoying this far too much."
"Perhaps." She took another sip of her drink. "You don't have to be so rigid, you know. We don't have to keep us a secret anymore."
"It's going to take some getting used to." His voice was quieter now. "Sometimes it still feels as though Peeves is going to jump out from behind a curtain and start singing about it."
Cassie snorted. "We just fucked in an alley. You're worried about your colleagues finding out?"
His eyes widened. "Not so loud, you daft girl!"
She laughed. "You're nonsensical at times, my love." She slid off her stool. "I have to pee." Severus watched her disappear down the narrow hallway.
It wasn't until she was several minutes into her search for the bathroom that Cassie realized just how drunk she had become. The hallway twisted around several corners, past the kitchen, where mingled odors of cooking grease, stale food, and something that smelled distinctly like it had been left to rot hung in the air.
She finally found the loo. When she emerged, she was looking down at the floor as she adjusted her clothing and nearly collided with someone. "Excuse me," she said.
She assumed it was one of the workers. The man was tall and lanky, wearing an apron that might once have been white but was now covered in tan stains. His hands were long and unkempt.
She had barely registered him before one of those hands gripped her throat. He shoved her backward into the corner. "Whatchya doing, pretty thing?" he rasped. His breath smelled foul, and his beady brown eyes traveled over her face. "Hanging around a wanker like that?"
"Get off me." She wasn't frightened, not really. Intoxicated or not, she knew exactly where her wand was. Her hand slipped into her pocket, fingers curling securely around its handle.
The man grinned. "Whatever he's paying you, I'll give ya double." His crooked yellow teeth were inches from her face.
Cassie's patience snapped. She drove her knee upward, and the man howled and immediately released her.
Cassie shoved away from him and straightened herself. For half a second, she considered walking away. If he genuinely believed she was a prostitute, perhaps he was simply an ignorant bastard.
Then again, simple ignorant bastards didn't usually lurk in dark hallways and grab women by the throat.
She turned to leave.
"Bitch!" he snarled. She stopped. "If I see you here again, I'll bust that pretty little face in!"
Cassie slowly turned her head. "Loud and clear." The man disappeared into the kitchen.
She waited until he was out of sight, then drew her wand. A small, satisfied smile crossed her face. She'd used the hex before. Harrison Babbs had spent two miserable days recovering from it, with Madam Pomfrey's assistance.
This man had no Madam Pomfrey to help him.
Cassie returned to the bar and caught Severus's eye almost immediately. "We should go."
His brow furrowed. "Cassie—"
A loud bellow erupted from the kitchen. Several patrons turned toward the sound.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"I'll tell you outside."
They left quickly. The moment the door closed behind them, Cassie explained. Severus listened in silence. The longer she spoke, the darker his expression became. When she finished, however, his first words weren't what she expected.
"You cannot go around hexing Muggles, Cassie!"
"I can, and I did."
"Cassie—"
"Think of those other girls in there!" She stopped walking and turned toward him. "What's to stop him from doing the same thing to one of them? At least now he won't be eager to use his dick!"
Severus looked exasperated. "There is a reason we don't interfere with Muggle affairs. If we tried to solve everything with magic, there would be no end in sight."
"Fine." She folded her arms. "Next time I'll conjure a knife and castrate him like a pig. I won't apologize for what I did."
"No, you never have hesitated to dispense retribution." His words were sharp enough that she looked at him.
"Is that a bad thing? Would you rather I had sat there and let him assault me? Or waited for him to grab another woman?"
"The man deserved considerably more than what you gave him," he intoned.
"Then what is your objection?"
Severus fell silent. They continued walking home.
The house was dark when they entered. Severus waved his wand, and the lamps came to life one by one, filling the entryway with a warm golden glow.
Only when they were seated across from each other in the living room did Severus continue. "I just don't want it getting to your head."
"What is that supposed to mean? What getting to my head?" she asked. He looked sober as his black eyes fell on her, weighing what he was going to say next to the increasingly agitated woman before him.
"You are immensely powerful," he began carefully. "And I fear that one day, you may begin to believe that you have the authority to decide the fate of everyone around you."
Cassie stared at him. The meaning landed heavily. "So you're afraid I'll turn into my father."
"Cassie, that isn't what I said."
"But it's what you're alluding to! You just told me you're afraid I'll decide I have the right to punish people."
"I told you I am afraid you might eventually confuse power with authority."
Her jaw tightened. "Why are we having this conversation?"
"Because tonight was not Hogwarts." His voice hardened. "You aren't a student anymore. There is no Dumbledore standing nearby. No professors will intervene when you make a foolish decision. You are an adult now, Cassie, and soon you will be on another continent undergoing training that neither of us fully understands." He bowed his head. "I won't be there. If you start going down the wrong path, it's going to be that much harder for me to guide you." That last sentence was quieter, and he looked away as he said it. "I know what you're capable of. I've seen what happens when you are angry, frightened, or pushed beyond your limits. I also know what sort of people you may encounter during your training." His eyes returned to hers. "If something goes wrong, I won't be there to stop you from making a decision you cannot undo."
Cassie's anger shifted. It didn't disappear, but something else came beneath it. Understanding. "You don't trust me," she said quietly.
"I trust your intentions."
"That's not the same thing."
"No," he admitted.
The honesty of the answer stung.
"I'm terrified about going," she admitted. Severus's expression changed. "I don't want to go. But you and Dumbledore spent months convincing me that this was the best course. That it would make me stronger. That I needed the experience. So I'm trying. I'm trying to be brave enough to go through with it." Her voice trembled slightly. "And what I need from you is support."
Severus's shoulders lowered. "I'm sorry."
"Don't." She said it maybe too quickly. "I don't want an apology. What I want is for you to understand something. I am powerful. I am capable. And if I come across some disgusting, good-for-nothing scumbag that needs to be taught a lesson so he doesn't hurt me or anyone else, then you bet your arse that I'm going to do whatever it is I want, Muggle or not." Severus's expression remained unreadable. "I won't stand there helplessly because I'm afraid of what my ability to defend myself might say about me."
Silence settled between them. Cassie could almost see the thoughts moving behind his eyes.
She knew he hadn't meant to insult her. That wasn't what hurt. What hurt was realizing that somewhere inside him, a quiet fear had taken root: that her power might eventually become something monstrous.
And she wasn't sure whether she could blame him for that fear. But she wasn't willing to accept it, either.
She stood and turned toward the staircase. "Good night, Severus."
"Cassie."
She paused. For a moment, she considered turning around. Then she climbed the stairs in silence, leaving him alone in the sitting room.
And despite the small part of her that felt guilty for how sharply she had spoken to him, another part of her felt strangely satisfied. She had finally recognized something that had bothered her longer than she cared to admit.
Everyone seemed to want to be her conscience. Even Severus, despite loving her more fiercely than anyone she had ever known.
Everyone had an opinion about what Cassiopeia Black should do with her power. What she should become and what lines she should draw. What she should tolerate and forgive. For years, she had listened.
That night, for the first time, Cassie wondered whether she was done.
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Receiving the post by owl was one of the few connections to the magical world Severus and Cassie maintained while living on Spinner's End.
So far, the sight of owls appearing at his windows in the early hours of the morning had apparently attracted no attention from the neighbors. As long as the Muggles continued to mind their own business, Severus saw no reason to abandon a tradition that had become second nature to him.
One morning in late July, he went outside to retrieve the small wad of envelopes that had arrived and returned to the kitchen, where Cassie was finishing breakfast. Their morning had been expected to be uneventful, the way they preferred.
"Note from the Weasleys," Severus muttered, tossing an envelope into Cassie's lap. She tore it open immediately while he kept sorting through the rest of the post. "You have a letter from Brazil."
Cassie's hands stopped. She looked up from Arthur's letter, which contained an invitation to join the family and Harry at the cinema later in the week. There was no question she would go.
The last time Arthur had taken them to a cinema, he had been so fascinated by every aspect of the experience that Cassie had spent nearly as much time watching him as she had the actual film. His amazement at the moving pictures, the enormous screen, and the absurd amount of food available to purchase had been thoroughly infectious.
But the mention of Brazil immediately dampened her enthusiasm.
Cassie slowly accepted the envelope from Severus. Across the front, ACADEMIA DE LUTA gleamed in large, elegant gold lettering. She stared at it silently.
"What does it say?" Severus asked.
His voice seemed to reanimate her. Cassie opened the letter and scanned it. "Nothing particularly interesting. It just says the term begins on August twenty-fourth and lists what I need to bring. Wand. Comfortable clothing. Basic personal belongings." She folded the parchment slightly between her fingers. "That's really it."
"And Dumbledore?"
"I assume he'll be the one arranging transportation," she said. "He said he was planning on accompanying me. Apparently he wants to see his old friend Martese Machado." The thought of the journey suddenly seemed much more real. August twenty-fourth. Only a few weeks away.
"No doubt by Portkey," Severus said. "Assuming the Ministry doesn't stick its nose into it." The remark was intended as a joke, but neither of them laughed. They both knew exactly how easily Cornelius Fudge could turn something as simple as a foreign training program into a bureaucratic nightmare if he caught wind of it.
Severus apparently decided the subject had become sufficiently unpleasant. "Speaking of the Ministry..." He dropped another stack of papers into Cassie's lap.
She stared at them. "No."
"You don't even know what they are."
"I don't care."
"You don't want to know what you earned on your NEWTs?"
She picked up the papers and promptly shoved them back across the table. "You can have a look if it tickles your pickle. The examiners probably doctored the results anyway." She reached for Arthur's letter again. "And the academy already accepted me."
Severus gave her a long look. Then, unable to resist, he picked up her results.
Cassie deliberately returned her attention to Arthur's letter. She tried to focus on his cheerful description of the cinema and the children's excitement about going. It worked for approximately thirty seconds.
"They must have tampered with your results after all," he intoned.
Cassie looked up. "Why?" She said it a little too quickly. The smallest smile tugged at the corner of Severus's mouth.
"You received an 'Exceeds Expectations' in Potions." He held the parchment up. "There's no way you achieved that on your own."
Cassie's mouth dropped open in exaggerated offense. "Professor Snape!" She placed a hand dramatically against her chest. "Will you always have so little faith in my brewing?"
"Miss Black, shall we count the number of cauldrons you melted during your school career?" He looked down at the results again. "Or perhaps the number of fires I was forced to extinguish on your behalf?"
"I got better in the later years."
"Debatable."
"Shall we go down to the cellar? I'll whip up whatever you'd like and prove you wrong." Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Severus's attention shifted from the parchment to her face. He slowly set the results down. Then he moved around the table and leaned over her chair. "Now that you've said the word whip, my dear..." He bent to kiss her. "...I think I'd rather head upstairs."
Cassie laughed against his mouth.
Their quiet morning rapidly took a rather different direction. Neither of them complained. They had no firm plans for the day, after all.
Much to Cassie's delight, Severus seemed particularly inclined to indulge his more dominant tendencies that morning. By the time they were finished, Cassie was flushed, breathless, and wearing the smug expression of someone who had thoroughly enjoyed getting exactly the reaction she wanted from her boyfriend.
Later, as she dressed, she glanced toward the windows. "We really should have cast a few more Quieting Charms." Severus pulled an oversized black shirt over his head and gave her a sidelong glance. "What will the neighbors think if they heard?"
He didn't answer. The satisfied expression on his face was answer enough.
Eventually, they made their way outside. Cassie had accumulated a modest collection of plants in the small front garden and was determined to keep every last one alive. Severus generally accompanied her when she watered and weeded, but not because he intended to help.
They had a running wager. Cassie had insisted she was perfectly capable of maintaining the garden without magic. Severus had informed her that she was certainly going to kill half of it.
So far, he was winning. He stood nearby with his arms folded, watching her suspiciously whenever her hand drifted too close to her pocket.
"I wasn't reaching for my wand," she said without prompting. "I was scratching my leg."
"With your wand?" he drawled. She glared at him.
Usually, this was also the time when their young neighbor, Todd, would appear. The boy had developed a fondness for visiting them, usually with an endless supply of chatter about toys, food, and his little sister, Mary. Cassie had taken to keeping sweets in her pockets specifically for him, just as Severus did.
She enjoyed the way his entire face lit up when she gave him something. It had become a little routine between them.
Ordinarily, it took Todd about ten minutes to realize they were outside and then he would run down the street to them. That morning, however, he burst out of the house beside theirs. "Morning, Mister Snape! Morning, Miss Cassie!"
Cassie looked up in surprise. She hadn't expected to see him emerge from that particular house. At least he looked like he'd recently bathed.
"Good morning, Todd," Severus replied. His gaze shifted toward the doorway. "Are you spending time with Miss Thompson today?"
The elderly neighbor appeared behind the boy. She was holding a sniffling toddler on her hip. Cassie hadn't met little Mary yet, but she assumed this must be her. "Todd!" the woman snapped. "Come back inside, boy!"
"Mum brought us here last night," Todd explained, suddenly looking rather churlish. "Pop was at the pub too long."
"Boy, come here!"
Todd turned obediently. Cassie couldn't help noticing the way the little boy's shoulders drooped. "He's not disturbing anyone," she said lightly. She reached into her pocket for the fruit snacks she had brought. Todd had already started toward the house when Cassie caught him gently by the sleeve.
His expression immediately brightened as she handed him the treat. "Thanks, Miss Cassie!"
"You're welcome."
Todd hurried back toward the doorway. Miss Thompson watched the exchange with narrowed eyes. Her hand settled protectively on Todd's head. "I suggest you mind your own business, little harlot," she hissed.
Cassie blinked. Miss Thompson slammed the door behind them.
There was a brief silence.
"Well," Cassie said, looking at Severus, "she seems pleasant."
Severus didn't answer. His attention was fixed on the street.
Cassie followed his gaze to a woman walking toward them. She appeared to be in her early thirties, with long, curly blonde hair. Even from half a block away, Cassie could tell she was strikingly beautiful.
But Severus wasn't watching her for that reason. Cassie could see it immediately. The woman's arms were folded tightly across her chest as though she were trying to hold herself together. Her head was bowed, and her steps were slow.
"Hello, Severus," the blonde woman said. Her voice was so quiet that Cassie almost didn't hear it. The woman stopped in front of Miss Thompson's house. Then she looked up.
Cassie had to suppress a gasp. A large black eye surrounded one side of the woman's face, and her bottom lip was split. There was already bruising beginning to spread along her cheek.
"Andrea," Severus said. He gave a slight nod. "You're here to collect the children?"
"Yeah." Her voice was barely audible. "Benjamin wasn't feeling well last night. He just needed a good night's rest, is all."
Severus studied her, but he didn't speak. The longer the silence lasted, the more Andrea seemed to shrink beneath his gaze.
Cassie wanted to demand an explanation. She wanted to ask who had done this to her. She wanted to tell Andrea that she didn't need to be ashamed of something that wasn't her fault. But something stopped her.
Severus had known Andrea for years. She would let him take the lead for this delicate interaction.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Andrea?" Severus asked gently.
Andrea shook her head. "No. No, I'm all right." She attempted a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Her gaze shifted toward Cassie. "Todd talks about you all the time. Says you're real nice."
"He's a sweet boy," Cassie replied. Andrea nodded. Then she hurried toward Mrs. Thompson's house.
Severus waited until she disappeared inside, then gently guided Cassie to their front door. The moment they were inside, Cassie turned on him. "What the hell is going on?" Severus closed the door. "Benjamin is her husband, right?"
"Yes."
"He's beating the shit out of her!"
"I don't know that for certain."
Cassie stared at him. "Severus."
He sighed. "I have never known Benjamin to lay a hand on her before."
"That doesn't mean he hasn't started." Cassie's voice darkened. "Did you see her face?"
"I haven't suddenly been struck blind."
"Then what are we going to do about it?"
He stared at her. "What do you mean, what are we going to do about it?"
Cassie barked out a humorless laugh. "You're not seriously telling me you want to stand by and let that bastard beat his wife."
"They are Muggles."
"So?"
Severus's jaw tightened. "She is perfectly capable of leaving him."
Cassie stared at him. "That's your answer?"
"I have little sympathy for a grown woman who knowingly remains in such a situation."
"Severus—"
"Enough!" His voice echoed through the entryway. The fury in his eyes startled her. "I am not having this argument with you again, Cassie!"
"What, that we shouldn't interfere in Muggle affairs?" She followed him as he stormed toward the staircase. "This has nothing to do with them being Muggles! It has to do with someone being harmed. It has to do with right and wrong!" She followed him upstairs. "And those children! What happens if he starts hurting them?"
Severus reached the bedroom and turned on her. "And where was my gallant defender when I was growing up in this house?" His voice had changed, and something raw lay beneath the anger now. "Where was someone looking to so courageously interfere when my drunkard, piece-of-shit father was beating my mother every night?"
The words reverberated through the room. Severus's eyes were wild. For a moment, Cassie could see something beyond the man standing in front of her. A boy. A frightened, furious boy trapped in a house where nobody came to help.
He was looking at her as though he expected an answer. Cassie had none. What could she possibly say? That someone should have helped him? That he deserved better? That his parents had failed him? He already knew all of that.
So instead, Cassie stepped toward him. "All the more reason," she said slowly, "to make sure Todd and Mary don't have to go through what you did." She placed a tentative hand on his arm. Severus looked down at it, but he didn't pull away. "I can't change what happened to you," she continued quietly. "But maybe we can keep it from happening to them."
Severus said nothing. Cassie could tell by the look on his face that they weren't going to settle this argument today.
Not because he didn't care. Perhaps because he cared too much. Seeing Andrea in that condition had dragged something out of him that he had spent most of his life trying to bury. Her bruises weren't simply bruises to him.
They were memories of him and his mother. They were the essence of Spinner's End.
Cassie didn't press him further. The rest of the afternoon passed quietly as they talked about his childhood in fragments. Sometimes Severus offered a memory willingly. Other times he stopped halfway through a sentence, his eyes going distant as though he had suddenly returned to a place he had spent decades trying to escape.
Cassie listened. She didn't tell him how he should feel. She simply stayed beside him.
By evening, neither of them had any appetite for further argument. Severus poured himself a glass of wine and sat before the fire. Cassie joined him.
For a long while, neither spoke. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was simply heavy.
Cassie watched the firelight move across his face. She wondered how many times he had seen something like Andrea's bruised face and immediately been transported back to his childhood. How many times had he buried his anger when he realized that nobody was coming to save him?
She didn't know. But she knew one thing. Todd and Mary were not going to grow up believing that fear was simply another part of childhood. She refused to let the same story repeat itself.
She reached across the space between them. Severus's hand found hers, and grasped it tightly. They sat that way for a long time.
Neither of them had changed their mind. Not really. Severus still believed there were lines that should not be crossed. Cassie felt that standing by while someone was being harmed was its own kind of decision. But for the moment, neither needed to win.
The house was quiet. The fire crackled. And somewhere next door, two children were sleeping in a home that Cassie now suspected was anything but safe.
She looked toward the window and her expression hardened. There was no way she was going to allow Todd and Mary to endure the same kind of childhood that had nearly destroyed the man sitting beside her.
She didn't yet know what she was going to do. But she would find a way to help them. And no one—not Severus, not Dumbledore, not the Ministry, and certainly not Benjamin—was going to convince her otherwise.