Squib On The Run (sequel to Squib In The basement)

7. Baby Snake

Cassiopeia had never once owned her own home.
She had grown up in 12 Grimmauld Place with her parents, before moving in with her Uncle Alphard, then her cousin Andromeda, before finally finding a home with her brother Sirius. None of those places had belonged to her.
After living on the streets for so many years, Cassiopeia was finally happy to have somewhere at last to call home. But as usual, it was not a home that she owned herself, as Narcissa was the one who was paying for it.

Since Cassiopeia didn't want to be dependent on her cousin forever, she got a part time, cash in hand job, as a Muggle cleaner, so that she would have some of her own money.
This also gave her something to do during the day, as she no longer had Harry to watch over, since he was safe at Hogwarts.
Once a week, when she wasn't working, Narcissa would join her for a catch up, and once a month Hedwig would find her, carrying a letter from Harry for her to reply to. And Cassiopeia began to enjoy the routine she had fallen into.

In no time at all, Christmas had arrived, and Narcissa was determined to make Cassiopeia's Christmas, a special one. To make up for all the bad ones in the past.
On Christmas Eve, Narcissa turned up at Cassiopeia's cottage as planned, but this time, she had not come alone.
Cassiopeia's jaw dropped when she opened her front door and found Narcissa standing there with her son Draco beside her.

After ushering them both inside, Cassiopeia quickly pulled Narcissa into the kitchen, leaving Draco alone in the living room.
"What in Merlin's name are you playing at?" Hissed Cassiopeia.
"What do you mean? I thought you would be excited to see your godson again" replied Narcissa.
"Of course I'd love to see him again, since I haven't had contact with him, since he was a baby. But you are forgetting one very big thing here. I am a criminal. I'm currently on the run for killing my mother and my son" reminded Cassiopeia.
"Draco isn't some silly little boy, he knows how to keep a secret. He's not going to tell anyone that he met Cassiopeia Black during his Christmas holidays"
"He is still a kid! He is too young to be involved in any of this".

"I know that he is still a child. And I haven't told him everything about you, hardly anything at all in fact. All he knows is that you are the one who's been sending him knitted clothes every Christmas, and you also happen to be a member of my family and his godmother" informed Narcissa.
"But he knows I'm a criminal, right? He knows why he can't tell anyone that he's met me?" Questioned Cassiopeia.
"He knows you are in hiding from the Ministry, but I did not tell him what crime you committed" admitted Narcissa.
"Good. Let's try and keep it that way".

"He also knows that he can't tell anyone about this meeting, including his father" said Narcissa.
"Let's hope that his devotion to you is stronger than his desire to please his father" sighed Cassiopeia.
"Draco will not break his promise to me, you have my word...So, can we go in and rejoin my son now?" Asked Narcissa.
"I don't see that we have any other options, since you've already brought him with you. So, it is too late for me to stop this encounter. I had mapped out a hundred other ways that I wanted to do this, in my mind, but all of that has been thrown out the window now".

"I thought that springing it on you like this was the best thing to do, as it stopped you from overthinking everything, and needlessly worrying, for days" explained Narcissa.
"You might see it that way, but I just see it as someone else making decisions for me, on my behalf. Which is something I thought I had put behind me. I thought now that I'm an adult, I would finally be able to make my own choices for once. But as usual, I was wrong" replied Cassiopeia.
"I'm sorry you see it that way, I didn't mean to hurt you, or take away your right to choose what you want" apologised Narcissa.
"I know... Come on then, let's get this uncomfortable reunion underway" sighed Cassiopeia.

Draco was standing awkwardly in the middle of the living room when Cassiopeia and Narcissa entered.
Cassiopeia found it hard to look at the boy, as he looked so much like his father. And it hurt her to see the face that tormented her dreams each night, staring back at her through her innocent godson.
"Well Draco, as promised, here is your early Christmas present. This is your godmother; Cassiopeia Black. My cousin, and the creator of all of your mysterious home made gifts, which you have been recieving for years" introduced Narcissa.

"Hi there Draco" Cassiopeia said awkwardly.
"Good evening, Cassiopeia" replied Draco.
"You can call me Cass if you like, or Cassie, since I know my name is a bit of a mouthful. Everyone that I'm close to, calls me by one of my nicknames. And since you are my godson, you are allowed to use my nicknames, if you like" informed Cassiopeia.

"Are you really my godmother then?" Quizzed Draco curiously.
"I'm afraid so. I was one of the people at the Blood Ceremony who took part, and swore to protect and care for you" answered Cassiopeia.
"You mean, I have other godparents?" Questioned Draco.
"You have one other, a godfather; Barty Crouch Jr. But he died in Azkaban many years ago. So, I'm all you've got left"
"Why was he in Azkaban?"
"He was a death eater, and he got caught using the Cruciatus Curse on two aurors"
"Oh".

"I'm probably one of the only people in our family who has never been accused of being a death eater, as most of our family is pretty messed up" admitted Cassiopeia.
"Cass!" Scolded Narcissa.
Cassiopeia shrugged, "It's true, and you can't deny it".
"Our family is a little, different to the norm, I admit" replied Narcissa.
Cassiopeia scoffed, "Different, that's one way of putting it".

"So, Cass, you're not wanted by the Ministry for being a death eater then?" Asked Draco.
"Absolutely not. I never supported He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" insisted Cassiopeia.
"Then what was your crime? Why are you on the run?" Questioned Draco.
"You are too young to hear about such things... All I am going to say about what happened, is that I was so desperate to leave our family, that I was prepared to kill to do so".

"You killed someone?" Grinned Draco.
"I did. I'm not proud of my actions, but it is too late for me to take back what I did. Killing should always be a last resort, and it is not someone that you should ever be rewarded or praised for doing. Murder destroys many lives, and it doesn't just hurt your intended victim. It effects more people than you realise. But by the time you realise how much damage you have done, it is too late to go back and undo it. You have to live with those consequences for the rest of your life. And trust me, it is not worth it" warned Cassiopeia.
If Draco's parents hadn't taught him the real difference between right and wrong, then Cassiopeia was going to make sure that she did, so that Draco didn't end up like his father. She just hoped that she hadn't returned to his life, too late to change the path that she could see he was already starting to go down.

"Now that you know my name, and you know that I'm a murderer, I expect that you want to do some research on me. But I beg of you not to do so. While it's true that you will find me in old Daily Prophet articles, I implore you not to read them. Newspapers only tell half a story, and in my case they don't tell the truth. I need you to trust that I will tell you my story, when you are old enough to fully understand it. So please, don't try and find the information out yourself, I beg you" continued Cassiopeia.
Draco paused for a moment before replying.
"Alright, I promise" he announced.
"Thank you. I swear that in the end, your patience will be rewarded" reassured Cassiopeia.
"Then, I will look forward to that day" replied Draco.