XXVII

" A return to basic principles," Cassiopeia read on the board.

Umbridge's approach to Defense Against the Dark Arts was a 'return to basic principles'. A bloody return to basic principles?! For Merlin's sake, how old did she think they all were? Eleven?!

Her father had once asked why she studied Defence Against the Dark Arts, and she didn't really have an answer for it. She wasn't aiming for any type of job that needed her to be a graduate in the subject. Up until lately, she didn't enjoy having free time. It made her antsy. Also, Cassiopeia had entered the class when younger, and she never left anything unfinished, but this… this was stretching it too much. That with Umbridge was fucking torture.

" I'm out," Cassiopeia said to Eleanor, grabbing her stuff just as the woman opened the book in front of her.

Before she could call her name, the blonde girl was out of the room.

Cassiopeia used the free time to finish her Transfiguration homework and catch up with charms, hoping her decision in Umbridge's class didn't come back to haunt her. To no surprise, it did, and rather quickly.

" Good afternoon, ma'am."

Just as Cassiopeia was getting ready to leave for lunch, Umbridge made a turn in the corridor and locked eyes with her.

Amazing.

" Miss Malfoy," she said with a smile that only sent bad shivers all over her spine. "Just the young woman I wanted to see."

Cassiopeia tried to mirror the same smile, holding it on her face.

" I can't help but notice you walked away from my class this morning. Was there any problem with it?"

The teen's eyebrows shot right up for a moment, but she soon fixed her posture.

" No, ma'am. Quite the contrary."

She waited silently for what the girl had to say in her own defence, and Cassiopeia cleared her throat.

" I just realised that my plans for the future do not require a deep understanding of defensive magic, and the time could be used for further studying other subjects," she said slowly. "Insisting on the class would be a waste of not only time but resources, not only mine but especially yours."

The last word made her expression change to surprised.

" You have so much stuff to do, ma'am, so many responsibilities. I don't want to be another one of them."

Cassiopeia didn't know if the answer was satisfactory, but she couldn't bear to be around the professor. A whole school year with her was hell .

" Of course, you're right. It's good to know you're focused on your future, Cassiopeia, dear."

The way she said her name almost made her cringe again .

" Of course, ma'am. There's nothing more important that it. Now, if you'll excuse me."

. . .

Professor Snape was doing an amazing job at ignoring the woman behind him writing down whatever she thought was important about his class, and Cassiopeia was trying to do the same.

" Are you gonna put someone's hair in that?" she heard someone whispering by her side, making the girl turn her head to her side before covering the cauldron with the amortentia they were all brewing in the week's class. "Or blood."

By her side, Roger Davies was standing with a smile that was supposed to be flirtatious but didn't do more annoy her.

" No."

He took a breath, seemingly discouraged for a moment, but followed her to her cauldron – which happened to be beside his.

" So, Cassiopeia ," he watched as the blonde girl check the temperature of the elixir in front of her. "I heard Honeydukes has some new special editions pasties, I think they are made of mint and chocolate."

" I'll sure check them out when I have the time. Thank you."

" Actually, I thought we could…"

The Malfoy raised her hand when her eyes locked with Snape's, and he turned his body fully to her direction.

" Yes, Miss Malfoy?"

" I believe I'm finished, sir."

Umbridge followed the potions master silently and merely glanced at an embarrassed Davies while her work was carefully analysed.

" Amazing success, Miss," Snape announced, and the woman behind him approached the cauldron to give it a look. "You can bottle it up and leave."

" Thank you," Cassiopeia nodded politely, turning to Davies. "If you'll excuse me now."

" Of course."