By breakfast the next morning, everyone knew.
Ron's big mouth made sure every single person knew of his walking cri to anyone who'd co within earshot.
Rumors had wings at Hogwarts — faster than broomsticks, sharper than a slytherins tongue.
By the ti Cassius reached his seat, even first-years from Beauxbatons all the way in france had already heard about the student at hogwarts raising a dragon.
So were arguing about it not being a dragon but just a lizard, others claid to have already seen it flying high in the sky over the castle.
Only house draconis honestly knew the truth, Cassius had introduced Norberta to the two girls after his return to the common room where he received a lecture about staying out late, along with his loss of points, at least till he reminded them that points ant nothing to Draconis.
At least the one good thing that ca out of the night was that upon eting the two, Norberta called them Mother, while Cassius managed to shift his own na to Papa, of course he never bothered informing anyone of what the baby was actually saying.
But Lady Draconis got a good fit of giggles going across the room.
~
Cassius ignored the stares and whispers, idly buttering his toast as Norberta's tiny head poked out of his sleeve to attempt snatching a bit of bacon, only to be rebuffed by Cassius and provided a sort of babybottle full of chicken blood mixed with brandy.
That evening after class while Hermione and Cho were off to read more from the archives, Cassius approached Lady Draconis who looked like she wanted to speak with him
"So," she began, voice like silk drawn over steel, "you've acquired a dragon."
Cassius inclined his head. "A Norwegian Ridgeback, Lady Draconis. Female."
Her crimson eyes glimred faintly. "A charming creature, no doubt. But hardly a true dragon. More… reptilian pet than kin."
Norberta hissed from his shoulder.
Cassius stroked her neck absentmindedly.
"She disagrees."
The Lady's lips curved slightly.
"She would. Dragons are prideful by nature. But tell , Cassius — do you intend to raise it properly?"
He hesitated. "I… wasn't planning on keeping her permanently."
"Nonsense," she said lightly. "Fate seldom asks for consent."
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a pair of tos from the air.
The bindings glead — black scaled leather, embossed with silver draconic script.
"These," she continued, "are from the Draconis archives. The Symbiosis of Fla and On the Leash of Fire. They contain thods long forgotten by the Ministry for controlling and bonding with dragonkind. The first teaches command, the second — restraint."
Cassius accepted the books carefully.
"Restraint?"
"You'll need it," she said. "Even a hatchling Ridgeback will quickly grow to the point you wont be able to get her out of the common room anymore."
She paused, watching his expression.
"I'll also teach you the runic sigils to control its size. A simple modification of the Engorgent and Reducing charms, woven together with a draconic seal. You can keep her small… except when she must be seen and used in battle."
Cassius's eyes glead faintly. "Thank you, Lady Draconis."
"Don't thank ," she murmured, turning toward the fire. "Thank her."
Cassius frowned. "Norberta?"
"No," said Lady Draconis softly. "Of course you dear boy who else would i an?"
He said nothing.
The Lady's gaze lingered a mont longer, and then she vanished into shadow — leaving behind the faint scent of smoke and old parchnt.
~
By Friday, the gossip had lost its shine.
The students' attention shifted toward Quidditch practice, Herbology grades, and Filch's announcent that certain students would be serving detention in the Forbidden Forest that weekend.
"Bliy," Ron muttered miserably as he read the notice. "Why's it always us?"
Draco, who'd been caught out of bed for snitching on the other three, looked equally displeased.
Cassius only humd.
He knew what was coming — or rather, who.
The night was cold and clear when Filch herded the four of them toward the edge of the Forest.
His lantern threw long, twitching shadows across the trees.
"It such a pity they let the old punishnts die, have you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeon... god i miss the screaming." Filch muttered gleefully. "You lot get to simply stroll around the forest instead..."
Draco recoiled a bit thinking this a joke.
At least until they reached Hagrids hut and seeing the giant brandishing a crossbow it beca real, they really were about to wander into the forbidden forest after dark with nothing to protect them other than Hagrid with his crossbow, and Fang the bloodhoud looking lazy dog.
"Evenin', lads!" the half-giant bood. "Got ourselves a right bit o' business tonight — sothin's been hurtin' the unicorns, poor things. Gotta see what's done it."
Draco blanched.
"Unicorns? In that?" He gestured at the looming darkness of the forest. "You expect us to just walk in?"
"Course I do," Hagrid said cheerfully. "Ain't nothin' in there'll bother yeh if yeh keep close."
Cassius's expression didn't change. "Except the thing killing unicorns."
Hagrid waved a hand. "Don't be daft. We'll stick in pairs. Ron, you're with . Draco, you too. Cassius — you an' Harry go that way. If yeh find anythin', start yelling an i'll co runnin."
Draco looked affronted.
"Why am I with him?"
"'Cause you're the most scared, that's why," Ron muttered.
"Oi! What does that make you then!"
Hagrid started stomping off, lantern swinging even as Ron and Draco's arguent reached fevered pitch, leaving Cassius and Harry in the dim spill of moonlight.
The forest swallowed them whole.
The air was damp and heavy with the scent of moss.
Branches creaked like old bones.
Sowhere distant, sothing howled — long, mournful, inhuman.
"Nice night for a stroll," Harry muttered.
Cassius didn't reply.
His senses stretched outward — the faint hum of life, the pulse of magical auras all around.
They moved carefully through the underbrush, following a faint silver trail that shimred against the dark soil.
"Is that—"
"Unicorn blood," Cassius confird, crouching to touch the glowing liquid.
It was cold — unnaturally so.
"Fresh."
Harry's throat bobbed.
"Then whatever hurt it is nearby."
A twig snapped ahead.
They froze.
From the shadows erged a shape — pale, sinuous, gliding low across the ground.
The body of a unicorn lay nearby, breathless and still, its silver mane matted with blood.
Over it hunched a figure, cloaked and skeletal, its mouth pressed to the wound.
The sound was wet and slow — like soone drinking through a cracked reed.
Harry gasped.
The figure turned.
Its face — or what remained of it — was pale and twisted, eyes gleaming red beneath the hood.
The air itself seed to recoil from it.
Cassius straightened slowly.
Harry's voice trembled.
"Wh-what is that?"
Cassius didn't answer.
He already knew.
Voldemort.
The cloaked thing hissed softly, the sound dragging like nails through silk.
Harry scread, tripping backward into the ferns.
Cassius just simply stared on as Harry lost to his fear bolted outright leaving his companion behind.
As he ran screaming out of earshot, Cassius simply did sothing completly unexpected.
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