Him - A Harry Potter Love Story

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I knew that something was wrong the moment Harry sat down beside me.

"Harry?" I said softly, touching his arm. His eyes darted quickly to mine, filled with fear and worry. I flinched away, laying my hand back down in my lap. "Harry, what's wrong?"

"Go to Dumbledore's office when you finish," he said quietly. "I would tell you what's happening, but...he doesn't want me too."

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, panic creeping into my entire body, almost making it feel numb.

He didn't answer.

I couldn't eat. I only started at my place, playing with the fork in my hands. There was something wrong, there had to be.

I waited until most of the Great Hall had cleared out before standing up. Harry stood with me.

"I don't think he'll let me stay with you, but I want to walk you there," he said, his voice still soft and cautious. He took my hand, squeezing it comfortingly.

Harry's POV

Only minutes later, I stood by the chair Cassie sat in in front of Dumbledore's desk, one of her hands in mine. He was letting me stay...I couldn't leave her alone.

"Cassandra, you and Harry will be taking private lessons from me this year," he explained, his expression peaceful; although I knew it would soon change when he told her why she really was here. "Ones that will teach you more about Voldemort, and how Harry will defeat him."

Cassie didn't say a word as he went into detail of the second prophecy made. I couldn't break my eyes away from her face, her beautiful grey eyes. I could tell she was scared. I could tell she was angry. But she didn't say anything until he finished.

"I'm going to help Harry defeat Voldemort."

It was the first time I had ever heart her say the name without hesitating or stuttering. Her words barely carried any emotion.

"That is right, Miss Winters."

"How?"

"That, I do not know for sure, Cassandra," Dumbledore said softly, taking a moment before saying it. "You have already helped. You fought hard at the Ministry - for all we know, you having been able to fight may have saved Harry's life. But when the final fight against the Dark Lord and the Boy Who Lived takes place, you will have a part in it. Without you fighting alongside Harry, Voldemort will never die."

She nodded slowly. Her reaction was scaring me...how calm she was...

"Okay, sir."

"You are both free to go."

She stood up, her eyes only meeting mine for a moment as we walked out together.

"Cassie, say something," I begged the moment the door closed behind us. "Anything. You're scaring me."

She stopped, turning back to me. Her expression was unreadable, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"I'm glad I have a part in this," she said quietly. "Voldemort is the reason you grew up without parents. He's the reason I grew up with fake ones."

"Cassie, did you not hear what he said? You'll be put in terrible danger," I said, grabbing her hands.

"I know. As much as being at the Ministry, and actually having to face those awful people terrified me, I would do it again to make sure others don't have to go through what we have," she explained, her eyes boring into mine. "Yes, it scares me. But it doesn't scare me as much as the thought of leaving you to fight him alone."