I woke up. I was next to somebody on a flying motorcycle. Wait, a flying motorcycle? I stirred.

“Wha-?” I started speaking.

“Hush Cass.” A person said. I recognized the voice from somewhere but I couldn’t place it.

“Who are you?” I asked. My words slurred. I tried to move but I felt like my whole body fell asleep. It hurt.

“It’s Chrystal. From school.” Chrystal said.

“Where am I?” I asked.

“You’re in the sidecar of a flying motorcycle. Do you remember what happened?” She asked. It all came flooding back. The rape, the cuts, the pain and the lights all came back.

“Yes. What’s going on?” I asked. She explained that while she was going through the wreckage to find her charge when she heard moaning in the snow near the house. She came over to investigate and found me lying in the cold snow. She picked me up after Hagrid found the child. Harry Potter, I found out his name.

“I owe you my life. I need to get back to the house.” I said.

“Wait, how old is your charge?” Chrys asked.

“Just turned one. Yours?” I asked.

“Same. They’ll be going to Hogwarts at the same year.” She said. I nodded then apparated to the Malfoy Manor. I arrived to a bunch of people’s eyes trained on me.

“Where’s the Dark Lord?” Many people asked. I shook my head.

“He went missing.” I responded. There was uproar as soon as I said that.

“What do you mean?”

“The Dark Lord will be back by morning.”

“He’s not dead is he?”

“I mean he disappeared. He will not be back. And I don’t know if he is dead or not.” I said. Narcissa, while holding Draco, ushered me into the sitting room. She hands Draco to me. I sat down and held him.

“Tell me what happened dear.” She said. So I did. I told her everything. I began crying and she walked over to hold me. I sobbed until I couldn’t anymore.

“I’m sorry, Narcissa.” I said.

“Shh” She hushed me. I was holding Draco like he was the last thing keeping me here. That night was the worst of nights. The Carrows used me and I was up all night until everybody left the Manor. Then I did the worst thing imaginable. I cut my wrist for the first time. From that moment on, I was addicted the feeling it gave me. And because I hated myself so much that I wanted to hurt myself. Later on, I would find out that Harry Potter defeated Lord Voldemort. But for now, I had to take care of Draco. So I pulled myself up from the floor I was sitting on and went to go check on him. He was sleeping peacefully in his crib. Over the next few years I acquired many scars. I helped raise Draco and kept him out of trouble. Lucius was never helpful for me. Calling me a bitch in all senses of the word. Keeping me locked outside on some nights. It was almost like he was trying to indirectly kill me. I hated him. I hated him with a fiery passion because he was tuning Draco into him. He was giving Draco his ideals and morals and that’s not what I wanted for Draco. I couldn’t do anything lest I wanted to be given away. The years slowly passed and with each one my little dragon grew. I would take him to the park and ask to have friends of his over. I loved his little friends. They were all nice to him and they played well together. Every birthday and christmas his godfather, Severus, would come over bearing gifts. And would secretly have a gift for me. But seeing Draco so delighted was better than any gift I could ever want. His parents began to slowly step out of my way and I was able to continue my job in taking care of him. His mother stepped back and had his father step back as well. Almost too far at times but you can’t have everything.

August of 1991

I was sitting outside with eleven year old Draco and his friends. He was bragging about his Hogwarts letter to his friends when Narcissa came up to me.

“You have a visitor.” She said distantly.

“Stay with Draco for a moment while I go tell them to come back later.” I responded.

“No, go ahead. I’ll watch Draco from inside.” She said. I walked to the front of the house where the gate stood. There was an old man with a long silver beard and wore white half moon spectacles. With him was a younger woman who had graying hair and wore black spectacles.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Cassandra Black?” The woman said. I nodded.

“My name is Albus Dumbledore and this is Minerva McGonagall. I am headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Minerve is the Transfiguration professor. We are here to talk to you about a position that we have for you. We are aware that you have a child going to Hogwarts this year and we wanted to invite you to come to the school so that you can protect him but on one condition. You drink daily potions and you act as a protector or counsellor for specific houses.” Wait, what? I was just offered a position. Wait, does it pay?

“Does it pay? Like, will I be making money as I work there?” I asked.

“I think that some form of pay could be in order. How about 50 Galleons a school day?” He said.

“30 a day, everyday.” I said.

“Comprable. That works.” He said.

“I will need time to think about it and talk to Draco about it.” I said.

“We await your response no later than August 30th. Term starts on the 1st of September.” They said. I nodded and said goodbye and walked back to the yard.

“Narcissa, they offered me a job at Hogwarts during the school year.” I told Narcissa.

“That’s good. Are you going to take it?” She asked.

“I have to talk to Draco to see if he wants me to be there with him.” I responded. Draco walked over to us all poised and his head held upwards.

“Mother, may I have grilled cheese for lunch today?” He asked politely but with enough force to get what he wants.

“Of course darling. I will go make that for you and your friends. Cassie has something she wants to ask you though.” Cissa replied. I motioned for Draco to come here. I sat down on the chair and pulled Draco into my lap.

“How would you feel about me going to Hogwarts with you?” I asked. He was thoughtful for a minute.

“As my protector? I don’t like that idea very much.” He said.

“Well, I will be your protector no matter what but this job will be for everyone in my assigned house.” I said.

“Oh, will you be in my house?” He asked sounding small.

“If you want me to.” I said. He nodded. Okay, that settles that. No matter what he said, he wants me to go with him.

“Okay, I’ll owl Mr. Dumbledore tonight.” I told my little dragon. Narcissa came out then and called the kids for lunch. They all traipsed in and got washed up to eat. That night I responded to Albus and Minerva. A few weeks later saw the whole family taking a trip up to Diagon Alley for school supplies for Draco. His father went to Flourish and Blotts to get his books while his mother went to Ollivander’s to get his wand. Draco went to Madam Malkin’s for robes and I went to the Apothecary to buy his new potions supplies. His godfather bought him his first potions kit and he’s been so interested in potions since. I walked in and went up to the counter to ask about cauldrons and where I can find dragonhide gloves. I was standing behind a group of people my age. They were all talking about their charges, which clued me in that they were also protectors. One of them turned around and looked at me. I was looking at him and we made eye contact. Suddenly the whole world stopped turning. There was nobody else in the room. It was just him and I. Then it was like we were propelled into the future. I saw a future with him. And he was amazing. I saw us getting married, then having kids, and taking care of eachother. Then as sudden as it began, it stopped. We were back on planet Earth in a small shop on Diagon Alley. The rest of the group turned around. I recognized three of them. There were three others.

“Cassandra?” The girl asked. I knew her from somewhere.

“Chrystal?” I responded. I was very concerned about what she was going to say next. If she brought up that night in front of others then I could never trust her.

“Hey girl!” She said. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m buying things for Draco. What about you?” I asked. I couldn’t keep from looking at one of the other boys. He had choppy black hair and bright blue eyes.

“We’re getting things for our charges too. Figured we would have an outing. Well, for those of us who have charges.” She eyed the other three boys. I smiled.

“Let me introduce you. You know Justin and Devon from school. This is Rian, Alix and Dylin Blackbourne.” Chrys said.

“Hi, I’m Rian.” One of the boys said. He had short brown hair and light brown eyes.

“This is Alix.” He gestured to the one who had longer brown hair and bright blue eyes. “And this is Dylin.” He gestured to the one who had the choppy black hair. So Dylin. That’s his name.

“Hi, I’m Cassandra. I went to school with Chrystal, Devon and Justin.” I said. Wait, they already knew that, Idiot." Hey, I have to get my things and get back before Draco demands a search party is in order.” I said. They let me go and buy my things. But before I was able to leave, they all gave me their addresses so that we could owl. I walked back to Draco and found him sitting with his mother at Florean Fortescue’s ice cream shop. I stood behind him and took the bags of things from him and his mother. Lucius eventually came back and we all went back home. It was the 31st of August so tomorrow was Draco’s first day of school. I tucked him in and went to my spot in his room and layed down on the floor. I fell asleep after making sure he was asleep.