Enemies Working Together

4

Cassiopeia's fourth year passes both too quickly and not quick enough. Fred, George, and Ginny all keep their word and don't mention the soul bonding incident that happened between Ron and Cassiopeia. George and Ginny both glare at her with a burning hatred that if looks could kill, Cassiopeia would be dead about a hundred times a day. With the end of the school year comes their exams which as always, stress Cassiopeia out. Ron constantly, out of the view of everyone, reassures her that she is going to do fine on her exams and that is extremely talented.

Mid-way through the year, Ron and Cassiopeia start secretly dating. And Cassiopeia learns how to brew the headache cure so she can supply herself and Ron with some for the summer until they can get close enough to each other that the distance won't hurt them.

The third task brings the Triwizard Tournament to a shocking end with the death of Cedric Diggory and the return of Lord Voldemort. Cassiopeia worries what that will mean for her plans for the summer.

The night before they leave Hogwarts, Ron and Cassiopeia meet at the Astronomy Tower and for the first hour, they just sit in silence, holding hands.

"Here." Cassiopeia says, holding out a dark red pouch to Ron, who takes it with a confused look.

"What is it?" He asks, peering inside to see a whole bunch of vials.

"Headache cures. I don't know exactly when I will do it so we need to be prepared for the headaches. I have my own. Try not to use them all up within the first week or so." She says, turning to look out at the night sky.

"You're worried." Ron says, studying her expression.

"Things could go so wrong with our plan and that fact scares me more than I will ever admit to anyone other than you. It's kinda hard to hide that from you, when you can literally read my mind." Both of them chuckle softly.

"You know that my father is one of them right?" Cassiopeia hesistantly says, still not meeting Ron's eyes.

"Yeah I do. But that doesn't change the fact that you are not your father, Cass." Ron tilts her chin to look at him. Cassiopeia scans his face for any signs that he is lying to her. She doesn't find any on his face or in his mind.

"I know but it still scares me that you could change your mind and resent me for the rest of our lives." Cass says softly, looking at him with a sad smile.

"Why would I resent you?"

"Cause you're stuck with me for eternatity. That could make someone potentially resent the other. I don't want that to happen to us." Ron doesn't answer but tucks a blonde strand of hair behind her ear and kisses her softly. The two pull apart and Cassiopeia rests her head on Ron's shoulder and Ron wraps his arm around her shoulders. The two sit there for a little while longer before they leave and head to their seperate common rooms.

The next morning, Cassiopeia feels like she is going to her death but tries to banish the thoughts before Ron can find out about them. Every bite of food taste like ash to her and she forces herself not to think of it. Instead she imagines hitting Pansy repeatedly in the head with a golden plate, which amuses Ron greatly. As all the students gather at Hogsmede Train Station, Ron and Cassiopeia lock eyes.

'You'll be fine, Cass. I won't settle for any less.' Ron thinks.

'Thanks, love.' She thinks back, which causes a small blush to spread across the boy's face. Cassiopeia boards the train with Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Daphene, and Pansy.

Luckily her brother chose a compartment not far from where the Golden Trio is sitting so Ron and Cassiopeia don't have to worry about using their limited supply of headache cure. About halfway through the train ride, Draco leaves with Crabbe and Goyle and Cassiopeia pretends to be sleeping so Pansy and Daphene don't try to talk to her.

'Stupid Malfoy.' Cassiopeia hears Ron think.

'You better not be thinking that about me, love.' She thinks, knowing full well that Ron was thinking it about her twin brother.

'No! Your brother who constantly bothers me and Mione and Harry.'

'Yeah I know. I was just teasing you. Draco can be pretty stupid sometimes.'

After that, Cassiopeia actually falls asleep and is shaken awake by Draco who has been hexed by the Weasley twins, Harry and Ron. They go home with their parents and Lucuius talks about potentially sending Cassiopeia away to a finishing school after she takes her O.W.Ls. Cassiopeia doesn't externally react, keeping her face in a cool, indifferent expression. Internally she is panicking because the finishing school won't be anywhere near Hogwarts and that does not bode well for the bonded pair.

The next morning, she has a blinding headache and is monterally confused and then remembers the distance between Malfoy Manor and the Burrow. She quickly drinks the headache cure and it takes a couple minutes to clear to a dull ache that she can ignore. Cassiopeia starts to plan out how she is going to do this and fast because waking up daily with a blinding headache is not something she want to do all summer.

She eats breakfast with her parents and twin while still planning out her escape. It takes her two weeks to have the courage to leave but she doesn't have the courage to flat out tell her father the thing that would get her disowned. Instead she leaves a note on her pillow and leaves under the cover of dark with a bag she charmed at school to carry all of her stuff. The note reads

Dear Mother and Father,

I cannot pretend to be someone I am not anymore. I am not your perfect little pureblood princess. I do not agree with the purist mindset that our families have upheld for generations. Muggles are human, just as much as we are and it is unfair to treat them any differently as we treat our pureblood friends. Muggle-borns deserve to learn magic just as much as purebloods.

I know this makes me a blood-traitor and I am sorry to disappoint you but this is who I am truly am. So to make the shame lessen on you, so you do not have to live in the same house as a blood-traitor, I am leaving. I will not be returning.

Your daughter,

Cassiopeia Narcissia Malfoy

Cassiopeia very carefully opens her window and scales the vines outside it and sprints across the lawn and once she is far enough away, she summons the Knight Bus to take her to her aunt's and uncle's.