---
Side story
Chapter 253 — She Didn't Know?!!
Cassandra felt awful.
She hadn't checked on that Potter for two whole days.
And honestly… it seemed like Potter hadn't even noticed she'd stopped paying attention.
Just when she was smugly telling herself that Cassandra Vole must not let some boy make her angry, she suddenly overheard Pansy's anxious whispering.
"Darren was taken to the hospital wing."
Why was he going to the hospital wing again?
"I heard someone cast the Cruciatus Curse on him. When I went to see him, he looked like he was barely alive."
Cruciatus Curse?
Betsy?
Impossible.
Who at Hogwarts would actually cast the Cruciatus Curse on him?
No one here would dare… right?
"It's true. I heard Madam Pomfrey shouting. She said she couldn't guarantee Darren Potter would wake up completely normal…"
If the school healer couldn't guarantee a proper recovery, what was she even doing?
Incompetent medicine!
If only he were at St Mungo's, he'd surely be treated properly.
"Longbottom, you know his parents became… well… the way they are, because Death Eaters tortured them with the Cruciatus Curse. They've lived in St Mungo's ever since."
Cassandra vaguely remembered that story.
Right—she'd heard that idiot talking about it before.
He'd said that Longbottom fool became a hero after that.
So it was normal, she supposed, that Death Eaters had used the Cruciatus Curse on his parents.
"It was much longer than whatever Betsy managed. I heard Madam Pomfrey say it went on for a long, long—"
How long?
Why didn't anyone give an exact time?
Suspicious.
"Harry Potter was brought in with him!"
Right. Even Harry Potter ended up in the hospital wing, yet he'd survived.
"Now don't be so obvious. If the Vole family finds out you like him, you'll be in trouble, won't you?"
Pansy circled around behind her.
Cassandra suddenly realized her eyes were wet.
"Hmph, as if I needed you to tell me that."
She quickly wiped her tears and lifted her chin, proud and cold.
She was the daughter of the ancient Vole family. How could she possibly like Harry Potter's brother?
Ridiculous.
But then she glanced back at Pansy.
She didn't like that stupid boy.
Pansy curled her lips in a sly smile. "Don't forget, the Voles and Parkinsons both had dealings with the Dark Lord. We're basically enemies with him."
Right—that was why she never showed concern for Darren outside of Slytherin. And Slytherin wasn't full of fools.
She mustn't underestimate anyone.
Except maybe that stupid boy.
Summer break came.
Cassandra tried to hint to her mother that she liked Harry Potter's brother.
Her mother ignored her.
No—worse.
Her mother gave her a mocking little smile.
"Love between a wolf and a sheep?"
Later she questioned her.
Cassandra shook her head vigorously.
That boy wasn't a wolf.
"Oh, I meant you're the wolf. Hmm… the daughter of a Death Eater falling for the brother of the Savior—how scandalous. Forbidden love!"
Her mother laughed even harder.
Cassandra was furious.
She could only pretend she didn't care.
But she secretly followed every bit of news about the stupid boy.
He had gone back to his aunt's house.
The stupid boy seemed to be doing fine there.
Better than Harry Potter, at any rate.
Well… as she always said, the stupid boy and Harry Potter should swap personalities.
Harry Potter was like a tragic hero!
Oh—Harry Potter had been warned for using magic in front of Muggles?
Pathetic!
Cassandra allowed herself a small, sad smile.
Why didn't he just drop out of school?
Harry Potter and his brother eventually stayed at the Weasleys'.
Cassandra wrinkled her nose.
The Weasley house… she suspected it didn't even have a proper bathroom.
Pansy came to visit during the summer.
"Seriously? You're not even going to fight for him? Incredible."
She was clearly enjoying the drama.
Cassandra naturally didn't mention the result of her earlier 'test.' She lifted her chin with practiced arrogance.
"I simply lost my way for a moment. I know exactly what I want."
"Oh please. Stop pretending. Aunt Vole came to my house. She asked my mum whether Darren had fed you a love potion—she thinks you've gone insane."
Pansy said this with pure disgust.
Cassandra froze.
Her mother really hadn't taken her words seriously.
"What did your mother say?"
The thought made her nervous.
"Mum said to leave me alone. She said hedging bets is normal for pure-blood families—we just don't show too much enthusiasm."
Was that really how it was?
Slytherin really did have too many clever people.
"But my mother…"
"That I don't know. Ask her yourself. But she still thinks you were drugged by Darren. Though honestly, more than half the summer has passed—Aunt Vole surely doesn't believe that anymore, right?"
Love potion effects didn't last that long.
Cassandra thought so too, but her mother never brought it up again.
She sighed.
Then a few days later, she heard that the stupid boy had developed a new version of an antidote. Front page of the Daily Prophet.
What kind of antidote…
Something no one had improved in years, and a first-year—well, second-year—had done it.
Her father finally took notice.
Only then did he remember Cassandra supposedly liked Darren Potter.
"Do you really like him?"
Her father stared at her as if the idea were unbelievable.
Apparently he agreed with her mother: how could Cassandra possibly like Darren Potter?
It made no sense.
"I know you're not under a potion. I know my daughter."
Mr. Vole stood and spoke seriously.
Cassandra's eyes burned.
She'd wondered herself whether she had been influenced by something. But she liked him—too much. What could she do?
"If it were before, I'd never accept it. Even as a political maneuver, I'd never choose Darren Potter.
You know he's Harry Potter's younger brother. He could die at any time. I would never let my only daughter like someone so dangerous.
But… you should thank him for that antidote he made. If Nicolas Flamel truly adopts him as an heir, his chances of survival might increase…
I'm telling you this, Miss Vole—if you want to be with Darren Potter, you must be strong.
Being with him means endless trouble. If you're not strong yourself, how will you stay by his side?
By the way—what did he say? He didn't leave you to face all this alone, did he?"
Cassandra's face flushed.
"H-he… he doesn't know…"
He didn't know?
Mr. Vole's handsome face showed rare, genuine shock.
---