HP: The Unchosen One-(Malfoy SI)

Chapter 26

CASSIUS MALFOY

The Hogwarts Stations was once more filled with students as the train left once more, to taken them away for the Christmas Vacations. Cassius had boarded this very train for two years, but this year he was here only to accompany his brother who was ready to depart.

"Are you sure you are coming?" asked Draco for the hundredth time, and Cassius nodded as he shrugged.

"I am sure. I have a lot of work to catch up on back here," he made an excuse, and he could see that Draco was not convinced.

"You are lying," and he was, but he could not tell him the truth.

"I am not lying. We also have that huge final with your team coming up soon after the vacation. I must make preparations if I am ever going to have a chance at beating you," and that riled up his brother.

"Then it's useless, because with me having a Firebolt, you are never beating me," he challenged, as Cassius raised a brow, wrapping his arm around his twin's head.

"Is that a challenge, dear brother?" and Draco did not back down as he nodded.

"You can take it as one," and Cassius nodded seriously.

"Then it is on. I am going to show you that a broom is not everything. The real talent difference between us lies right here," and he pointed at his head, as Draco scowled and made to kick him, anticipating his next words even before they left his mouth.

"And we all know which one of us is the smarter one." Cassius jumped back just in time to avoid his lunge as Draco cursed at him.

"I will miss you," Draco said, perhaps understanding that there was more to his absence that he did not wish to share with him.

"I will miss you too," and with a simple shake of their hands, they turned away as Cassius headed to greet his friends, all of whom were leaving the castle as well.

These few weeks had changed Draco, as he saw the futility of their family name. Friends, and people he had relied on, people who had hung after his words had suddenly changed their tones the second the news about their father had come up.

It was impossible for one to go through all that and not change, and though his brother did not show it, this whole experience had somewhat mellowed him out, and now he could only hope that the change would last.

Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione stood there ready to depart as well, each of them whispering to one another as he cut in.

"So what plots are you three witches hatching?" he asked dramatically, as Daphne rolled her eyes at his antics.

"Nothing you would be interested in," and he narrowed his eyes.

"Such secrecy. I am intrigued," he added as they continued their own small talk before it was time for them to leave.

Daphne and Tracey left early, leaving him alone with Hermione for some time, as the girl asked him.

"So, you are not coming?" she asked, speaking of her offer to join her family for Christmas.

And he had considered it, but in the end, had decided against it given that he was finally making progress in his quest of becoming a Parselmouth, and this Christmas would be the perfect opportunity for him to work with no distractions.

"I am afraid it won't be possible this time. Perhaps, later," he said to her as he nodded.

"Do enjoy your Christmas, and keep an eye out on your mail for me would you," he added as she frowned.

"Why?" she asked.

"Just do as I say," and with that, they parted ways as Cassius headed back to the castle. It was his first Christmas away from home in more than a decade, and so it felt a bit strange.

He made his way to the common room and found Luna sitting there, beside a fire all by herself.

He plopped down beside her as she waved at him dreamily, as she suddenly closed her book and turned up at him.

"You are sad," she added, and he was surprised at her words as he shook his head.

"I am not," and she tilted her head.

"It's ok. I won't tell anyone. It must be strange for you to be here like this while all your friends are away," and he was not really bothered about it.

"Not all my friends are away," he retorted looking at her and she smiled.

"Yes, I am still here. But still, I needed to tell you that the wrackspurts told me something last night," and he perked up at those words, for as much as her words did not make sense, the truth was that Luna Lovegood had some uncanny abilities as a Seer.

"You do not have much time," and the words made him still.

"About what?" he asked, and she simply shrugged.

"I do not know, but the wrackspurts have been growing much tense around you," and it could be nothing. Or it could be a warning.

"Can you tell...." and yet before he could finish, an animal flew in through the windows, one which he recognised rather easily, as it circled the room, uttering the first words he had taught it all those years ago.

"Death. Death," and it was no owl, with its dark feathers and long beak.

No, this was a raven. A black raven. His raven.

"R-2," he called out, and the bird in question flew down at his command, landing on his shoulder as it dropped a letter in his lap.

"Death. Death," it continued to utter, as Luna waved at the bird.

"Hello, R-2," she called out to the bird, waving at him as Cassius frowned, for it did not make sense for him to be here.

It should be back home, with his mother.

He hoped that the answer lay in the letter, so he reached for it, unfurled the letter, and saw that it was from his mother.

And as soon as he read the first words, he stilled, his dread only growing as he read more and more of it until he reached the end.

"Shit!"

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SEVERUS SNAPE

With the Christmas Break starting, he had hoped to focus his attention towards more rewarding aspects. Classes were trimmed down, as most students left to celebrate the holiday with their families, and it allowed him some respite from the usual babblings of the idiots that now traversed the Halls of Hogwarts.

The Wizarding World as a whole was in much distress after the discovery of Peter Pettigrew's treachery, and it still irked him to think that the real traitor had been infront of him all his life, yet he had bene but blind to it all.

The traitor. The one whose betrayal had put Lily's life in danger had been roaming the Halls of Hogwarts for years, fooling them all with his death and yet none of them had enough foresight to see through his lies.

None of them except a child.

Though, even he would be hard pressed to call Cassius Malfoy a normal child. He had seen the boy grow up infront of his eyes and had always been shocked by the boys unnatural maturity and acuity.

Dumbledore was certain that this entire thing was his doing, and to this day Severus had found no evidence to the contrary. Lucius's son had always held views antagonistic to his father, not believing in the pure blood dogma that was fed to others around him.

He was amongst the few competent students, who saw magic for what it was and appreciated its majesty. While others contended themselves with homework and assignments, the boy reminded him much of himself.

No. Not himself, but a friend. An old friend.

Regulus. Yes, Cassius shared much similarity with his uncle rather than him, with his intrigue and intellect. His desire to tear down the norms and push boundaries was shared by his uncle as well, who never truly had the opportunity to show himself off as he found himself overshadowed by the looming presence of his bull-headed brother.

And so, he woke in the morning planning to focus his available time in the pursuit of perfection, when suddenly he was disturbed in his work by a very distressed letter.

And so, now he found himself walking through the familiar streets of Spinner's End, and it had been years since he had traversed these streets, and yet he knew of no place safer than this for a conversation.

And so, he turned right and entered the House, one which remained oblivious to Muggle Eyes, and it was just as he had left it this Summer, except that it was not.

No, there was someone here. The very person who had written to him in distress.

As he entered the lounge, he found her sitting there, clad in her favourite color. Her mismatched hair matched the white of the walls and the black of her dress as she looked up at him.

"You are here," and her voice was thin and frail, though his focus was more on her face.

Her eyes were red, and her face hidden hints of red and swelling that had been hastily healed. He did not miss the tremor in her hand.

"I am," he answered, not commenting on any of what he saw, as she jumped to her feet.

"Sit," he said softly, and there was relief in her eyes at his sight, much to his surprise.

"What happened?" he asked, and though he knew of some of her troubles, but this was not normal.

Otherwise, she would not have reached out to him with such secrecy and haste.

"I know that Lucius has asked you to look into the person responsible for uncovering the Peter Pettigrew plot," and of course, she did.

"He has," he did not deny it.

"I am afraid that time has passed," and that made him narrow his eyes, as it began to click together. Her haste. The need for secrecy.

It could not be.

"He already knows," and his guess was right. He was surprised at the insinuation.

"And who is it?" he asked, acting as nonchalant as always, for in comparison to lying to the Dark Lord, they were nothing.

The Dark Lord was so powerful and potent that he could sift through the truth and the lies with but one gaze, and as much as the Blacks and the Malfoys praised themselves, they were nothing in comparison to these red orbs and that piercing gaze.

"Do not act like you do not already know," and her voice shook as she said those words, looking into his eyes.

And yet he remained silent, and the silence lingered as her brows furrowed.

"My son! It was Cassius!" she raged, jumping to her feet and it was unlike her to lose her composure like this.

"How?" he asked and saw the tears well up in her eyes as she began to pace.

"It was my mistake. Mine," she answered after a few seconds, and that explained her erratic behavior.

"It was all my mistake. And now he knows, and I have no idea what he plans to do with. If it comes out that this was Cassius's doing, his life would be over. They wo..."

"They..." he picked up, raising.

"This means that Lucius is back in the country, and he is not alone." She realised her mistake, but it was too late now.

"I cannot say," she argued, and he raised a brow, not pushing more.

"So, if he knows already, why have you called for me?" he began.

"I had no one else to go to," she said, stepping closer until she was inches from him. Looking into his eyes, she pleaded softly.

"Protect him. Protect my son," and her worry was genuine. If Lucius let it out that Cassius had helped uncover one of the Dark Lord's followers, his followers would all come for him.

"I beg you," she added, and he wet his lips.

"And why should I do that?" he asked.

"Because, I am begging you," and he wished to deny it, but he had no choice.

"Then I must know more. I must know where Lucius is and who is with him," for if the Death Eaters were gathering once more, it was not for a picnic.

They were planning something.

And he must know what.

"You know I cannot...."

"Tell me what you can," he added, and she bit her lip, as she turned her head to the side.

"I cannot say where, but he is back. And he is not alone. There are others with him," and that much was obvious.

"Who?" he asked, knowing that Dumbledore could easily pass some of these on to DMLE.

"I do not know, but there was one amongst them I recognised." That was not optimal, but still.

"Greyback," and the mention of that name stilled him.

"Fenrir Greyback?" he confirmed as she nodded.

"Will that be enough?" she asked, and he gave her a subtle nod.

"I will see what I can do," he assured her, as she gave him a brittle smile before she reached into her pocket and took out a key.

"Would you pass it along to him. This is the key to his personal vault at Gringotts. I have transferred as much money as I could without alerting Lucius to it. It will last him for quite some time," and he took it with a frown.

"Why would he need a personal vault?" he asked.

"Because Lucius has removed his name from the family." That was drastic, and a tear fell down her face as she said those words.

"He has taken his name from him, and this was the best I could do," and he pocketed the key.

"I will pass it on to the boy," and she glanced at the clock with that.

"I must go now," and she picked up her bag from the table and moved towards the door.

"You could go to the Ministry," he added, without turning back as he heard the door open.

"If you care so much about your son, you could protect him yourself by turning in Lucius," he suggested, and she did not utter anything until she did.

"I made my choices years ago. It is too late to change them...." and with that, the door closed, and he was left alone in his home once more.

And he waited for a few seconds, thinking of all that had transpired, before he closed his eyes, and reassembled all the wards with a twist of his wand, and vanished from there with a pop.

.

.

.

Some minutes later, he found himself in the Headmaster's solar, standing opposite to a worried Headmaster as he uttered the very words that Narcissa Malfoy.

"Lucius Malfoy knows....."

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