Tʜᴇ Dᴀʀᴋ Lᴏʀᴅ's Aɴɢᴇʟ | Tom Riddle √

20: The Dark Return

Cassiopeia's eyes opened, and a joyful grin spread across her face. She had seen him again in her dreams. The happiness lingered, and she couldn't help but smile, covering her eyes with her hand as the mesmerizing sensation coursed through her body.

Pansy called her name, sounding suspicious. Cassiopeia uncovered her eyes and sat up, quickly bundling her hair into a bun. "Why are you smiling?"

Cassiopeia nodded and hummed in response, her gaze still filled with the lingering joy. "A dream, a happy one," she explained.

Pansy settled down next to her on the bed, looking at her with concern. She took Cassiopeia's hand in hers. Pansy's face showed an unusual level of sensitivity, a far cry from her usual mocking demeanor, especially when dealing with Draco. It was evident that she cared deeply about Cassiopeia and worried for her.

"You called his name again," Pansy said with a sigh, her eyes brimming with tears. Cassiopeia couldn't understand why this worried Pansy so much. "Don't you understand, Cassiopeia? He's dead. He won't come back."

Pansy squeezed Cassiopeia's hand tightly, as if seeking reassurance. Cassiopeia responded by squeezing her hand back, offering a comforting gesture. "Don't worry, I'm alright," she assured Pansy with a small smile, hoping that her words would be enough to alleviate the concern. "I just can't erase those memories, that's all."

Pansy continued, her tone filled with sympathy, "You're in denial, Cassie. You're setting yourself up for heartbreak."

Cassiopeia sighed, realizing that Pansy was right. She knew that the pain would come eventually, and it might be more unbearable than she had imagined. "I'm aware of that, Pansy," she admitted. "But I can't stop it."

A few moments of silence fell between them as they contemplated the situation, not sure what to say next. Pansy's concern was genuine, but Cassiopeia had made her choice.

"Get ready; today's the third task," Pansy changed the subject, attempting to lighten the mood. "At least you'll come for this, right?"

Cassiopeia had little interest in the task, as she knew her mind would be preoccupied with deciphering her dreams. She hesitated before starting, "Actually, I have—"

"—some work to do," Pansy finished, rolling her eyes. Cassiopeia chuckled at her friend's reaction. Pansy voiced her frustration, and Cassiopeia explained that she would be there but might arrive late. After a bit of back-and-forth, Pansy agreed, insisting that Cassiopeia should at least be present before the task was over.

As the day passed, Cassiopeia could hear the cheers and the sound of instruments from the event, even though she was alone in her dorm room. She took out her diary, a book that had remained empty of her life's experiences until now. She had never been one to keep a diary, finding the act of writing about her life every day rather tedious. However, today was different, and she felt compelled to record every detail of her dreams.

She turned to the blank pages and took out her quill, ready to write:

Cassiopeia Lestrange

- Twin of Lestrange

- Pure Blood

- Ability of healing

- Good in Potions

- Killed by an Unforgivable Curse

- Murderer not found (mystery)

- Tom Riddle's girlfriend

Cassiopeia read over the points several times before her quill touched the page again:

Cassiopeia Black