Tʜᴇ Dᴀʀᴋ Lᴏʀᴅ's Aɴɢᴇʟ | Tom Riddle √

56: The Interrogation

"Caught this one trying to help the Weasley girl."

Cassiopeia watched with a heavy heart as Draco forcefully dragged Neville into Umbridge's office while she was gripped by Crabbe, who seemed just as brutish as ever. Despite being in such a tense situation, Draco never met her gaze. It was as if he regarded her as a stranger, a feeling that stung.

In her darkest moments, Cassiopeia had often wished for Draco's presence by her side. Her recent struggles and the scars on her hand had only made her yearn for his support, but now he seemed distant and aloof.

Harry, bound to a chair, was under Umbridge's watchful eye. The rage etched onto the woman's face was palpable, as if she were a ticking time bomb ready to explode.

As they were led into this troubling situation, Crabbe leaned in close to Cassiopeia, whispering seductively in her ear. "You were saved because of Filch, remember." The mention of Filch's intervention served as a grim reminder of her recent detention. Cassiopeia couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude toward the cantankerous caretaker. "If he wasn't there, I would probably be the one taking your dignity, pretty."

His words were enough to make her blood boil with anger. "I'm not a virgin, you idiot," she hissed back, her patience wearing thin.

However, it seemed that Draco and Neville overheard the exchange, though they didn't react as expected. While Neville appeared indifferent, to her surprise, Draco frowned at her, his gaze intense. Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, deciding not to give him any attention when he had been ignoring her for so long.

Umbridge's harsh voice cut through the tense atmosphere. "You were going to Dumbledore, weren't you?"

Harry, the focus of Umbridge's ire, denied her accusations confidently. "No," he retorted, holding her gaze.

Her response was swift and brutal. She slapped Harry across the face, sending shockwaves through Cassiopeia. She couldn't help but flinch at the act, fearing the pain Harry must have endured.

"You sent for me, headmistress?" Snape's sudden appearance at the doorway puzzled Cassiopeia. What was he doing here, and would he support Umbridge's cause?

Umbridge's reply didn't ease her concerns. "The time has come for answers, whether he wants to give them to me or not. Have you brought the Veritaserum?"

The mention of Veritaserum sent shivers down Cassiopeia's spine. She couldn't bear the thought of becoming its victim, especially after witnessing Harry's ordeal.

"I'm afraid you've used up all my stores interrogating students," Snape replied calmly. "The last of it on Miss Chang."

Cassiopeia's heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. She knew how dangerous Veritaserum could be, and she hoped beyond hope that she wouldn't be subjected to it. Harry's gaze shifted to Hermione, a silent acknowledgment of the sacrifices Cho had made. Cassiopeia regretted how they had all but ignored Cho, a casualty of their attempts to fight Umbridge.

Then, Harry dropped a bombshell, "He's got Padfoot. He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."

Cassiopeia's heart skipped a beat. "Padfoot". She recognized the name from Moody's conversations. It was the nickname for her uncle Sirius. But who had him? The room was filled with confusion and questions.

The tension in the room increased as Snape slowly turned around to leave. Cassiopeia couldn't decipher his expression, but she sensed that he had understood Harry's message.

Umbridge, however, was left in the dark. "Padfoot? What is Padfoot? Where is it hidden?" She questioned Snape, her curiosity evident. "What is he talking about, Snape?"

Snape's response was cryptic. "No idea," he said before departing.

Umbridge, determined to get answers, took a breath and retrieved her wand. "Very well. You give me no choice, Potter."

She turned her attention to Harry and made a chilling declaration. "As this is an issue of Ministry security, you leave me with no alternative." She retrieved her wand, her voice calm but determined. "The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."

"You cannot do that!" Cassiopeia snapped angrily as Crabbe tightened her hands, backing her.

"That's illegal," Hermione added, echoing Cassiopeia's protest.

"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," Umbridge retorted, turning a photo frame on her table to its backside.

"Tell her, Harry!" Hermione urged, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her confidence.

"Tell me what?" Umbridge inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Harry appeared dumbfounded, and Cassiopeia couldn't help but think that Hermione was playing some sort of clever trick.

"Damn it! This girl is a genius, really!" Cassiopeia thought.

"Well, if you won't tell her where it is, I will," Hermione stated with a smug look on her face, further frustrating Umbridge.

"Where what is?" Umbridge asked again, clearly annoyed with the incoherent information Hermione was providing.

"Dumbledore's secret weapon," Hermione answered, her expression confident and unyielding.

Umbridge was trapped, and Cassiopeia eagerly anticipated how this confrontation would play out.

In the next moment, Umbridge followed Harry and Hermione out of the room, leaving the rest of them alone with Cassiopeia's housemates.

"Crabbe, get Longbottom, I need to talk with her," Draco gestured to Cassiopeia with his eyes.

Finally, Crabbe let go of Cassiopeia's hand. She turned to him and unleashed her frustration with a punch to his nose, causing it to bleed.

"Do not mess with me, you idiot," she barked at him as he covered his bloodied nose with both hands.

Draco then pushed Neville toward Crabbe and dragged Cassiopeia out of the room.

"What do you have to talk about with a blood traitor, Draco?" Cassiopeia asked sarcastically as he pushed her into an empty corridor, looking around to ensure no one was eavesdropping.

"What the hell is going on with you, Cassiopeia?" Draco exclaimed, locking eyes with her.

"I should ask the same thing, you idiot," Cassiopeia yelled, raising her hands in the air. "Just because I was with Harry for some time, you forgot who I am and all the bond we had. Plus, you just stood there silently when those two idiots called me names and insulted my parents. Where were you at that time, Malfoy?"

Draco was taken aback by the intensity of her words.

"Now, why do you care about me, you selfish git? You're only thinking about your pride. You could have defended me, but you didn't. That dumbass tried to do something to me when I was in the lavatory. If Mr. Filch hadn't come, who knows what would have happened to me?"

"Cass, I'm—"

"No, I'm the one who's talking now," Cassiopeia cut him off, displaying the back of her hand. "See what happened to me? Are you happy now? You've just ruined the bond between us, and I don't want you as a stranger either. You hurt me and broke me more than you think."

Draco looked at her with regret in his eyes.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Ron's voice rang out, and the boy standing in front of Cassiopeia fell to the floor, completely immobilized.

Cassiopeia then saw Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna standing nearby.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked Cassiopeia, who nodded.

"Let's find Harry and Hermione," he suggested, and they set off in search of their friends.