𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 | f. weasley

nine

IT HAD BEEN A WEEK since Sirius Black had attacked the Fat Lady's painting. All fingers had been pointed at Cassandra due to her relation to the man in question and she had immediately been taken for interrogation despite her continuous pleas of innocence. Dumbledore, Harry (since she had been with him the entire time during the attack including his visit to Remus), and Fred (only Fred, not George) were the only ones who believed her. Not even Ron and Hermione, who immediately took Harry away from Cassie worried for his safety. Cassie had no idea why Fred believed her, but she was glad that he did. Right now, she was seated in Fudge's office for the fourth time in her life – the first when her father was taken to Azkaban, the second was after she was accidentally attacked by a dementor and the third when she was going to be made the exception – and like all those times, she wasn't the least bit nervous.

"Cassandra Euphemia Regulus Black" Fudge called out as he entered his office. Cassandra had been seated in the empty office for half an hour now and needless to say, she was growing tired. On hearing her name, she straightened herself and stood up from her seat.

"Minister," she greeted politely, turning around to watch him walk towards him.

"Like always, you're back here because of your father," Fudge explained, taking a seat.

"Like always, I'm well aware," Cassandra replied earning a humourless chuckle from the minister.

"As much I miss your cheekiness, this is a serious matter. Harry Potter is in danger," Fudge said with a straight face, emphasising greatly on her friend's name.

"I understand. He is my best friend," Cassandra began, when Fudge waved his hand to make her stop.

"I am well aware of your . . . relations with the boy but right now, I am forced not to trust you," Fudge exclaimed.

"Whatever ever do you mean by 'forced not to trust you' minister? You are the person in charge, you are the one who is supposed to pull the cards and maintain decorum. What do you mean by forced?" Cassandra exclaimed, surprised by his statement.

"The Council doesn't trust you," he murmured in response, sighing in defeat.

"Why doesn't it? I've always been well within the line of the law! I've never misused my privileges. Why now?" Cassandra said, trying her best to remain calm.

"Well, your record in school is not that clean," he reasoned weakly.

"What happens in Hogwarts is not something the Ministry can take into account! Especially when it comes to behaviours. Those can only be taken into consideration by Professor Dumbledore and if my memory is correct, which it always is, you or the council aren't him." Cassandra said sternly. She was breathing heavily.

"Cassandra, I need you to calm down," Fudge pleaded.

"Why should I Cornelius?" she exclaimed. Fudge didn't feel surprised when she referred to him by his first name. They had done it before, and that time too, Cassandra had become angry about her restrictions. "Why should I? You tell me. I've been watched by strangers, every single move of mine, being noted down. That is extremely uncomfortable, but I never raised a sound because I accepted it as one of the things, I would have to face for being the exception. But this behaviour, this accusation is crossing the limit. I'm not able to live my life, Cornelius! And why on earth would you even think to imagine I would want to help Sirius Black into my school to help kill my best friend!"

"I empathise with your situation Cassandra, and I do not doubt you," Fudge responded in a soft voice.

"Doesn't seem like it!" Cassandra huffed, pushing her chair back and walking around the room.