"I could tear you apart for dessert..."

"No," Bellatrix interrupted sharply. "Touch her, and I'll use my throwing knives for target practice on you."

Fenrir had the decency to shudder and step away from Cassiopeia.

"We have orders to fulfill."

"Do it, Draco," Bella encouraged more gently.

"Hello, Bellatrix," Dumbledore greeted calmly.

"Good evening, Dumb. Feeling the wind of death?" She taunted in her husky voice.

"Let's go, Draco. Finish this," Amico insisted.

At that moment, the door to the battlements swung open again, and Snape appeared, wand in hand, his black eyes ice-cold.

"We have a problem, Snape," Amico taunted. "The boy doesn't seem capable..."

But another voice had called Snape's name softly, "Severus..." For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading, but Snape didn't respond.

He shuddered just once before pushing Draco aside. Snape stared at Dumbledore for a moment, pain and remorse in his dark eyes as he attempted to hide behind a mask.

"Severus... please..." Dumbledore implored.

Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore. "Avada Kedavra!" he said with determination, his voice slightly trembling. Draco gripped his hand tightly.

A jet of blue light shot from the tip of his wand, striking Dumbledore squarely in the chest. It was blue, not green, as if he didn't intend to kill, and he probably didn't.

Dumbledore paused briefly in midair and slowly fell backward until he disappeared from view.

"Get out of here. Go!" Snape shouted at the two of them, pushing them out of the room.

Cassiopeia grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him, running down the stairs quickly. Both had tears streaming down their cheeks.

When they reached the front of the first corridor, they saw Ron, Minerva, and Lupin, each facing a Death Eater. Further down, they saw Tonks battling a tall blond wizard who was casting spells in all directions, causing them to ricochet off the walls, crack the stone, and shatter the nearest window.

"Kitty!" Minerva exclaimed when she saw her. But then she got distracted and nearly got hit by a Death Eater, whom Cassiopeia sent flying across the room with a spell, knocking him unconscious.

Minerva was momentarily stunned, giving Cassi a grateful look before she regained her senses and hurriedly pulled Draco down the corridor. They narrowly avoided something exploding overhead, raining chunks of wall down on them. Many people were lying on the ground, many seriously injured.

Draco looked around in panic, and Cassi felt a deep sadness in her chest. They had caused this.

A Death Eater was a few meters away from Hermione. Her wand lay on the ground.

Draco was the first to shout, and the spell hit the man in the face. He let out a howl of pain, turned, stumbled, and then fell.

Hermione turned toward the two of them, her mouth hanging open in shock.

They wanted to stay, help. But Snape came running behind them, pushing them out.

Bellatrix was right behind, gripping Cassiopeia's arm as she dragged her along.

They dashed through the corridors, down the hill, and partially into the Forbidden Forest until they reached Hagrid's cabin.

Bella was laughing maniacally before setting the cabin on fire.

Cassi tried to stop her and lunged at the witch angrily, both of them rolling on the ground.

Bellatrix laughed even more, spinning them around so she was on top. One hand was around Cassi's neck as their faces drew closer.

"How wild, little witch," she sarcastically taunted. Her voice was deep, as if she was thoroughly enjoying this.

Then Harry shouted in the distance and tried to hit Snape.

"Go!" he yelled, staying behind.

Bellatrix held Cassi tightly as she pulled her out of Hogwarts grounds, grabbing Draco too as they Apparated.

When they arrived at the mansion, chaos ensued.

Narcissa and Noctua were pacing back and forth in pure apprehension in the living room.

Each rushed towards the two of them, checking if they were okay.

"It was terrible, Mother," Cassie lamented, remembering the bodies of some fallen friends in the corridors. Guilt was slowly consuming her.

Narcissa cautiously approached Cassi to do the same check she did with Draco, practically shoving Noctua aside before hugging Cassi tightly. Her face buried in her neck, her hands clutching her curls.

Her mother gave her a side glance, arms crossed impatiently.

Bellatrix stumbled over to a chair and plopped down with a huff.

"We lost some Death Eaters," she casually commented. "Draco didn't have the guts to continue. Snape was the one who killed him."

Narcissa sighed in relief. Draco wouldn't be punished.

"Can I hug my daughter?" Noctua asked irritably.

Narcissa arched an eyebrow. "Of course," she said in a tone so monotone that her lofty sarcasm couldn't even escape it.

Cassi rolled her eyes at both women as she hugged her mother properly.

"He will want to see you both. Both of you," Bellatrix commented, examining her own nails.

Noctua shuddered and held Cassiopeia tightly.

When would this nightmare end?

(...)

Cassiopeia wrote a letter to Minerva explaining everything. She described how Dumbledore had tried to recruit Draco into the Order, promising protection for Narcissa and Lucius. How he would have accepted before the Death Eaters invaded the room.

She apologized for everything, explained that they were on the right side. Hoping that Minerva would understand they were against Voldemort but had to play along with the Death Eaters.

She asked to meet when possible for a better explanation and begged her godmother to trust her.

When she finished, she entrusted the letter to Kreacher and asked him to deliver it directly into Minerva's hands, and only Minerva's.