The excitement of the Quidditch Cup wore off quickly as the school settled into the final weeks of the term. The weather seemed to be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice.

But they couldn't. Exams were nearly upon them, and instead of lazing around outside, the students were forced to remain inside the castle, trying to bully their brains into concentrating while enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through the windows.

The Slytherin common room was uncharacteristically quiet, the usual buzz of conversation replaced by the rustle of parchment and the soft murmur of spells being practiced. The silence was broken only by the occasional frustrated sigh or the sound of a quill scratching furiously against parchment as students tried to hammer in the material at the last minute. 

Draco spent alarmingly large amounts of time in the library. According to Pansy and Blaise, who had taken to spying on him during their breaks, he was often seen helping a pretty Ravenclaw second year with her studies.

Cassiopeia, too, had resigned herself to the grind, sitting by the fireplace with her nose buried in a book. The flickering flames cast a warm glow on her face as she flipped through the pages. She missed Theo, though she would never admit it. Since that day in the Room of Requirement, Theo had barely spoken to her,

Theo, on the other hand, rarely left his dormitory. He spent most of his time there, his curtains drawn tightly around his bed.

**********************

**********************

It was almost midnight, and the common room was completely empty except for the curly-haired witch beside the fireplace, curled up on the armchair and almost asleep.

Crack!

Cassiopeia jerked awake, her hands searching for her wand.

"Miss Cassie, it's me," came a croaky voice.

"Kreacher?" Cassie rubbed her eyes, squinting at the old house-elf crouching before her. "What happened? Is Dad fine?" Cassie immediately asked, 

"Master is fine," Kreacher croaked.

"So?" Cassie asked, yawning.

"Miss, you haven't been replying to Master's letters. So Master sent me to check if everything is alright."

Cassie fumbled. She hadn't been replying to him because she didn't know what to say.

"Everything is fine, Kreacher. Tell him exams are coming up, so I won't be communicating much," Cassie said, trying to sound casual.

Kreacher tilted his head, looking unconvinced.

"Who are you talking to?"

Cassie spun around, her heart skipping a beat. Theo stood at the top of the stairs leading to the common room.

"Oh shit," Cassie muttered. She immediately pushed Kreacher behind her chair, trying to shield him from view. "Hide," she instructed urgently.

"Who are you talking to?" Theo repeated, his eyes narrowing.

"What's it to you?" Cassie scoffed, trying to sound nonchalant.

Theo raised his brow "Oh so thats a secret too?"

 "I don't owe you an explanation."

"Oh, right. it's like one of the many secrets you're hiding? Something to do with a certain Hogsmeade trip?"

"What do you think I was doing, Theo?" Cassie snapped

"Searching for your father," Theo replied, 

"He is not my father," Cassie spat, her voice filled with venom. "And no, I wasn't."

Theo narrowed his eyes. "You're lying. Your eyes, they're flickering. You're fiddling with your wand."

Cassie immediately stopped, her fingers freezing on her wand. She forced herself to look directly into his eyes. "It's none of your business, Theo."

Theo looked at her, hurt flashing across his face. Without another word, he turned and walked back upstairs, leaving Cassie feeling a pang of guilt as she watched him go.

'll go back to Master now," Kreacher said before disappearing with a crack.

The silence was heavy, the only sound being the fire crackling softly in the fireplace. Cassie gazed at the yellow-orange flames, lost in thought.

Cassie sighed and placed her books on the table. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes still drawn to the mesmerizing flames.

As she continued to stare into the fire, the flames shifted and flickered strangely. She blinked, thinking it was just her imagination. But then, her heart skipped a beat. In the center of the flames, a face began to take shape

Cassie jumped, her breath catching in her throat. Regulus's head was sitting in the fire

"Dad!" She hoarsely whispered

"Hello, little star," Regulus said, his grey eyes sparkling, his black hair framing his face.

 "Dad, we talked about this—this is dangerous," Cassie hissed, glancing around the empty common room as if someone might appear at any moment.

 Regulus sighed,  "I thought we also talked about not wandering off on your own."

 Cassie huffed, folding her arms. "So that's what Kreacher's been doing? Spying on me?"

Regulus shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "He's looking out for you, Cassiopeia. And you haven't been replying to my letters. I was worried."

"I was studying," Cassie muttered, her gaze shifting to the floor.Regulus raised an eyebrow, his smile fading.

"You are lying—your eyes are flickering, and you're fiddling with your wand."

 Cassie looked up, her face flushing with frustration. "OH COME ON—WHY DON'T YOU GUYS TRUST ME?"

 "So, what that Theodore boy was saying was the truth?" Regulus asked, his voice calm but probing.

"Dad!" Cassie huffed indignantly. "It's not what you think.
 
 "Were you or were you not looking for Sirius?" Regulus pressed, his voice now tinged with urgency.

"I wasn't looking for him, Dad promise" Cassie said "It's complicated, okay? Theo's just... he's just upset."

"If there's something you're not telling me, it could put you in danger."

Cassie nodded slowly. "I know, Dad. It's just... there's so much happening here, and I'm trying to figure it all out. I promise I'll be careful."

"Who the fuck is talking so loudly?" a groggy voice echoed from the entrance to the common room.

"DAD, SOMEONE IS COMING, LEAVE," Cassie hissed urgently.

"But Cassie—" Regulus started, indignantly.

"NOW"

Regulus withdrew reluctantly, disappearing from the fireplace.

"Oh, it's you," Blaze mumbled, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

Cassie fake yawned. "Yeah, just going to sleep."

Blaze nodded sleepily before heading off.

******************************************

In the whirlwind of exams, Theo refrained from questioning Cassie much,

Transfiguration and Charms were a breeze for Cassie, and she even managed to brew a perfect Confusing Concoction in Potions, much to Snape's disappointment, who was hoping to take revenge after the recent prank.

Next came Astronomy, held at midnight atop the tallest tower

History of Magic on Wednesday morning, however, was a different story. Cassie struggled to recall details about witch hunts, resorting to weaving together a narrative that she hoped sounded plausible.

Wednesday afternoon meant Herbology, in thegreenhouses under a baking-hot sun; then back to the common room oncemore, with sunburnt necks

 Their second to last exam, on Thursday morning, was Defense Against theDark Arts. Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any ofthem had ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun, wherethey had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a grindylow,cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across apatch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a hinkypunk,then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new boggart

"Excellent, Cassie. Full marks," Lupin grinned as Cassie climbed out of the trunk, smirking with satisfaction.

She hung around, waiting for the others to finish.

Draco did well until he faced the hinkypunk, which tricked him into sinking waist-deep into the quagmire. Theo breezed through without a hitch, Not like cassie cared. Pansy and Blaze took their time but managed to clear the obstacles.

Amidst the post-exam chatter, Draco's incredulous voice cut through the air. "Is that the Minister?" He blurted out, spotting Cornelius Fudge in his pinstriped cloak, engaged in conversation with the trio

Fudge turned towards Draco, his expression flustered but eager. "Ah, young Malfoy," he said, hurrying forward and seemingly oblivious to the trio's indignation.

"Minister," Draco greeted smoothly, transitioning effortlessly into his pureblooded, polite demeanor, his posture impeccable and voice refined.

The others hung back while Cassie stood alongside, eyeing the minister.

"And you must be—" Fudge began, extending his hand.

"Black," Cassie interrupted, shaking his hand firmly. "Cassiopeia Black."

Fudge jumped slightly and immediately withdrew his hand.

"So, Minister, what brings you by?" Draco asked politely.

"The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation," he said hesitantly, glancing at Cassie, "I was asked to step in."

Draco looked down guiltily.

"Isn't there an appeal?" Cassie interjected sharply.

"It's scheduled for this afternoon," Fudge replied.

"So the hippogriff might get off," Cassie declared.

Before Fudge could answer, two wizards entered through the castle doors behind him. One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin black mustache.

Cassie surmised they were representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, as the very old wizard squinted toward Hagrid's cabin and said in a feeble voice, "Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this.... Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?"

The black-mustached man was fingering something on his belt; Cassie glanced and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe.

Raising her brow, Cassie walked off. Draco quickly bid farewell to the Minister before hurrying off to follow Cassie.

"Cassie!" Draco called from behind, running to catch up with her.

"They already made their decision," Cassie scoffed, not slowing down. "And I made mine."

OOHH- SO LIKE 3-4 CHAPS LEFT IN YEAR THREE

I WONDER WHAT CASSIE IS GONNA DOOO

AAHH I REALLY WANNA WRAP UP YEAR 3- BUT MY COLLEGE IS ALMOST STARTING SO I HAVE LOADS OF WORK TO DO

TILL THEN- MAKE SURE TO GIVE ME FEEDBACK

BYEII

MX RIDDLE