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Shadows of an evil past	By : Werecat Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 946 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Author's notes: The Harry Potter Lexicon lists the first name of Madame Hooch as either Rolanda or Xiomara. I chose the first.

More of Cassie's past in here, discussing her 'special' powers. Feedback and reviews appreciated.

CHAPTER 5: Past and Present.

Two of Swords: stalemate.

~*~

"Arrogant Slytherin bastard!"

Cassandra cursed loudly once more, taking her rage on her bike's front wheel. He had managed to upset her, that slimy reptile. There was a Dark Wizard somewhere out there taking pleasure in torturing Muggles and she was stuck because of him. Kneeling down to check on the tire and see if it would make it all the way home, she reluctantly admitted to herself that it was not entirely his fault she was stuck. Part of it was because she had chosen a different way to approach this case, more fitting to her Muggle father than her witch mother - or, more precisely, her aunt. A voice behind her pulled her out of her thoughts.

"I don't suppose you usually address your bike as an 'arrogant Slytherin bastard', do you?" Madame Hooch appeared rather amused. "Let me guess... Dear Severus allowed you to ask your questions, following the Headmaster's instructions and then refused to answer any of them in his usual sly way." Cassandra's scowl was all the answer she needed. "I'm somewhat relieved you did not have him as a teacher, although it would be interesting to see the interaction between the two of you," she said with a grin.

Cassandra stood up, wiping her hands on her jeans.

"It's obvious his students must love him," she said in a bilious tone. "What was the Headmaster thinking? I don't seem to recall his name, though, and I'm surprised such a charming personality escaped my attention."

Hooch took the younger woman's arm and they slowly walked together for a while.

"Despite his lack of social skills, Severus is very knowledgeable when it comes to potions. I'm not surprised that you don't remember him, though. He was a senior when you were at your first year here, and returned as a teacher the year after you graduated."

"Was he in the Slytherin team?" asked Cassandra.

"Merciful Merlin, Severus in the team? You couldn't drag him out of the potions manuals no matter what," said Hooch with a chuckle. "But surely, you must remember his name being mentioned after He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named disappeared." Cassandra shook her head.

"At that time my life was in such a turmoil, that the details of the trials were more or less a blur," she replied in a lower tone. "Incidentally, Rolanda, that Divination teacher that was appointed her during my senior year, that Trelawny person, is she still at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, dear, she is," replied Hooch with a smirk. She could remember very well the way Sybill had been nudging Cassandra about her 'true gift' and the way she should explore further the Mysteries of the Inner Eye.

"Oh, brother! Promise me, Rolanda, if we run into her, keep her away from me. I've had all the excitement I can handle for the day!" Both women laughed. And then Cassandra saw that their steps had led them to the Quiddich field. And for the first time in months, she felt at home.

She closed her eyes, trying to relive the past. The air through her hair, the sunlight on her skin, the way the bludger and the bat collided just for a moment, the impact sending tremors through her body. The cheers of the crowd beneath her, the exhilarating sensation of flying fast among her team mates and opponents, it all came back with a feeling of longing she had not expected.

"Promise me you'll let me know when the next game is on," she said softly.

"Haven't you heard? They've canceled the games this season."

And then Cassandra returned back to reality, recalling the fact that they were hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year instead of the usual Quidditch games.

"That's a shame." They turned back towards the castle.

"Do you remember Angus Flint? The Captain of the Slytherin team?" asked Hooch with a sparkle in her eyes.

"I certainly do. As I remember his ugly face meeting a bludger five minutes after the game started. And I assure you it was a complete accident," she replied with a naughty smile.

"Cassie, I didn't fall for that the first time and I won't fall for it now. You did improve his face, though," she said and they both laughed. "His younger brother Marcus is the Captain of the Slytherin team now," she added. "Too bad we can't have a match. It would be a riot and I'm more than certain that Severus would be really pissed off seeing his House team players leaving for the infirmary one by one. Professor Flitwick could never overcome the fact that his House Captain was as sly as any Slytherin, but had the wits not to let it show much." She hugged the younger woman affectionately. "Will you stay for lunch?"

Cassandra shook her head.

"I have to make an early start. Returning home by road takes time," she said sadly.

"Why do you bother with that Muggle thing, Cassie? Stay for lunch, then I'll walk you down to Hogwarts where you can apparate back in London."

She smiled a. No. No one in the wizarding world could ever understand the feeling that old bike gave her. It gave her a similar sensation of playing Quidditch, although not as intense. And furthermore, it was one of the few things she had kept after her parents had died. Riding the old BMW made her feel closer to her father, as if he was riding with her.

Seeing her ready to turn the invitation down, Hooch played her last card.

"You know, Snape refereed a match once." Cassandra stared back at her.

"You are joking".

"I have pictures." Checkmate.

"So, what's for lunch?" replied Cassandra with mischief in her eyes.

~*~

Severus Snape was reaching his breaking point. The annoying Auror had stayed for dinner. She was sitting next to Hooch across the table, the two of them speaking in low voices and giggling as first-years. The coach was showing her pictures, probably holiday snapshots or something of the sort. However, they way the two of them were glancing at him, turning their eyes away when he intercepted their stares while giggling louder was becoming more annoying by the minute.

Whatever charm she possessed that had triggered a response from his loins had vanished. His thoughts around her were more of he nature of a nasty potion in her cup, by now. Which could very well apply to the pest that had taken the seat beside him. Of all days, Sybill Trelawny had to leave her tower this day and shatter his last remains of patience, babbling about 'Inner Sight' and 'wasted gifts'. As if I care, he thought. With a scowl, he deserted his unfinished dinner and hurried back to his dungeon, aware that his exit had triggered another burst of giggling from the two women.

Sybill sat finally in silence, studying the woman across the table, the woman who had avoided her presence all morning. She was a talented witch. How could she ever turn her back to the Eye? Such a thing was beyond her understanding.

~*~

Cassandra's aunt, Malvina, had been a clairvoyant. Following her sister and her family in the Muggle world, she earned her living as a fortuneteller. Her skills were not of a significant range. She could see several things in the past and present, and the Tarot cards assisted her in lifting the fog oe fue future, even though in an ambiguous way. But she had never foreseen her family's death, something she never forgave herself for. And she had never expected Cassandra's awakening to the Eye. But that was something she could help her through, attempting to atone for her lack of insight in some way.

Two nights after the death of her sister and her husband, Malvina woke up to find her fifteen-year-old niece screaming in terror in her parents' bedroom. The trauma had awaked the Eye inside her in the most frightening of ways. Cassandra had gone to her parent's bed, hoping to feel them close in her mourning, wishing to say the goodbye she had been denied. But when she sat on the old bed, her hands touched the wooden surface and her mind expanded. All the terror of her mother's death penetrated her heart.

Cassandra was a Reader. It's a form of Clairvoyance, to be able to read the memories the inanimate objects hold. For her, an empty cup of coffee still carried the memory of the brew, the hot, strong taste it had in the drinker's mouth. The wrapping of a candy still held the simple joy of the child that threw it away. A hairbrush held so many memories of anticipation, sadness, sometimes grief. And her parents' bed held the memories of their death.

She never wanted this. Following her aunt's instructions, she eventually managed to put it under a leash, calling upon it when she wished. It had been a useful tool at times, but it scared her. It was a loss of control, an invasion in her soul that she was not ready to accept. She could not see the future, just the past and in rare occasions the present. But the past held too often much grief and terror, more she could handle. She attempted to divert her talent to the Tarot cards. And it seemed to work, but not as she had hoped. The card she drew told her the truth, but she was unable to grasp the meaning until it was too late. The meaning of the card became clear only after the incident in question had come to pass. She had considered this to be a result of her lack of experience. However, as time went by it seemed to her more as a perverted sense of humor the Fates possessed.

Cassandra had attempted to harness her skills, with adequate results. She had attempted to escape her painful memories by following her father's military career, and she had failed. She finally found something she loved, other that Quidditch, and she was not ready to give it up.

She was determined to track down the Dark Wizard. If it meant that her path had to cross this of the former Death Eater, so be it.s los long as she could remain in control.
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Shadows of an evil past