Another Hogwarts Mystery

Chapter 17 - Of Love and War

"Severus" whispered Casandra weakly. Her arms were no longer able to hold her, so she sank to the ground. She needed to get up. Somehow and soon. She needed to help him. Snape couldn't fight her parents and Handerson all by himself. Three on one. That would be impossible. Casandra's body felt slit open, her insides were aching as if they were torn apart. She felt the cold sweat on her skin. Her whole body was twitching in pain. With all her might, she kept her eyes open and stayed conscious.

"Severus," she heard her mother saying "what a pleasure it is to see you again." "Save your breath, Gwendolyn. I've never been fond of your hypocrisy." responded Snape coolly, still having his wand pointed at them. "Now, now. Severus, where are your manners then?" retorted Gwendolyn Clark. "Manners? You are talking about manners? Given the fact that you have killed your own son, abducted a student of Hogwarts and just tortured your own daughter, to what kind of manners are you referring to?" Gwendolyn Clark burst out laughing madly. She was almost losing it, when she got herself back together. "Oh Severus. You are speaking like my daughter already. You two fit very well together indeed." she commented. "Speaking of it" she paused and at a moment's notice, her face changed into an utterly cold and emotionless expression. It was like watching a psychopath giving a speech. "How dare you seducing my daughter?!" she bellowed. Her eyes were glowing, almost burning. This was the part of her mother, Casandra feared the most. She knew what was about to come but she couldn't move. All of a sudden, Gwendolyn Clark pointed her wand at Snape and cried "Crucio!"

Snape immediately sank to his knees, howling in pain. Professor Handerson and her father were too distracted by the scene of Snape being tortured. Therefore, Casandra sniffed her chance. With the last of her strength, Casandra got up and rushed upon Professor Handerson, pushing her over. It all occurred extremely fast. However, it felt as if it was happening in slow motion. Professor Handerson tried her best to fight back but with a massive punch straight into her face, Casandra knocked her out. She reached for her wand, turned around, shielded herself from a curse from her father, and stunned him. His body flew back several metres, twisting in the air. Caused by the shock, her mother let go of Snape. His howling eased off and shifted into panting. Casandra stood up, holding her wand up and pointed it at her mother. She turned around and faced Casandra. Her eyes were wide open in shock. "Leave him alone!" shouted Casandra. "What did you do?!" cried her mother, still pointing her wand at Snape. "I said," yelled Casandra "LEAVE HIM ALONE! This is between you and me." "Cute, my dear daughter. Indeed, it is very nice of you how you want to protect your filthy lover. It's no good though" hissed Gwendolyn Clark, wearing a mocking smile. "You sicken me" she added with a deep sigh and with a swift move, she pointed her wand at her daughter, shooting a curse at her. A flash of bright red light erupted from it, flashing towards Casandra. This is exactly what I want, she thought. It was all about distraction. Since her father and Professor Handerson were both unconscious, she needed to take advantage of the situation. At that very moment, it was just her mother against Snape and her. This was the only circumstance where they would have a chance. With a quick move, Casandra conjured a protection spell and made her mother's curse rebound. It directly shot back and only missed her about centimetres. "You filthy little—" but her mother couldn't finish. Snape shot another curse at her. Now, Gwendolyn Clark was attacked from both sides. "Get Miss Kettleburn!" shouted Snape "I take care of Gwendolyn!"

Immediately, Casandra rushed to Sabrina, eluding her mother's curses. Snape shot more hexes at Gwendolyn Clark. Soon, a massive battle was happening. It was so loud and sounded like striking lightnings. With a rapid flick of her wand, Casandra cut Sabrina free. She shook her slightly. "Sabrina, please. Wake up...please wake up!" Sabrina, however, did not wake up. "Fuck!" whispered Casandra. "I hope that one's strong enough" She pointed her wand at Sabrina and cried "Wingardium Leviosa!" Immediately, Sabrina rose from the ground. With another flick of her wand, Casandra directed Sabrina's flight. She pulled her behind her as if she was dragging her with an invisible robe.

Snape and her mother were still fighting. Casandra felt her heart almost juming out of her chest. She had never been so scared in her whole life before. Not even as she was about to be killed. The thought of losing Snape, watching him being killed – just like Benjamin – made her knees buckle. A feeling, more intense than anything she had ever experienced, rose in her. It gave her a strength she had never felt before. Before she could stop herself, she noticed herself running from behind the trees, pointing her wand at her mother and shouted "Sectumsempra!". The curse hit her mother on her left forearm. Instantly, the battle stopped. It was a scream louder than the screams of hell. Her mother fell on her knees, twitching in indescribable pain. Snape turned around, facing Casandra with his mouth wide open. Slowly, Casandra forced her eyes to regard the mess she had created. She looked at her mother. It was a scenario she never wanted to see again. At once, Casandra felt the contents of her stomach rising and threw up. Her mother was on her knees, wincing and holding what was left of her arm. Gwendolyn Clark's left forearm laid next to her. Casandra's curse had cut it off. Her blood was pouring in every directing.

Snape had the presence of mind to do what he was doing. With a quick move of his wand he shouted "Expelliarmus!" At once, Gwendolyn Clark's wand flew towards him. "You..." she groaned in pain "my... own ... daughter" As if she was controlled by someone else, Casandra made her way slowly to her mother. She starred at her whilst making her way to her. "Casandra," cried Snape "we need to stop her bleeding. We don't want her to die before the aurors are here." Casandra didn't answer. She fixed her mother's eyes. Suddenly, Gwedolyn Clark's painful expression turned into a triumphant smile. "You still can't close your mind" she panted. "What if I don't want to. What if I want you to read it" retorted Casandra. Her mother's smile increased. "Spit it out, my dear daughter. You don't care. You would let me die, here and now. You'd be glad to witness my death. To be the reason for it" she gasped proudly. "Casandra, love. Get away from her. Come here" instructed Snape worriedly. With her eyes still fixed on her mother, Casandra turned around. "Casandra Elisabeth," her mother whispered "I knew it." "You knew what?" Casandra turned back around, looking at her mother in confusion. "I knew you could do it. I know what you're capable of. You can't deny it. Deep down, you are just like us." her mother laughed hysterically, losing more blood. Casandra's eyes widened in pure horror. She stumbled backwards, still fixing her mother's eyes.

"It's alright. Don't listen to her. Come here!" Snape reached out for Casandra's arm, pulling her away from her mother. From a distance, they heard voices coming nearer. The aurors were on their way. Snape grabbed Casandra gently and turned her towards him, making her look at him. Casandra's eyes were full of tears. "Don't listen to her! Don't believe a word she says!" he said, shaking her slightly. Casandra was paralysed. She didn't know what to say. Her mother's words kept ringing in her ears. Was it true? Was she actually like her parents and not a whit better? Snape shook her again. "Listen, Casandra. I am terribly sorry," he breathed "I don't know what I would have done if they had hurt you. Or worse: killed you." Slowly, teardrops were running down Snape's face, dropping on Casandra's arm. He pulled her closer and kissed her with all his vigour. "I love you, Casandra. Please, never believe anything else!" Snape panted.