Chapter 808: Side Story — Cassandra 4

Cassandra felt terribly uncomfortable.

She hadn't interacted with that Potter for two whole days.

Although she suspected Potter hadn't even noticed her unreasonable behavior, she proudly told herself that she, Cassandra Voray, would never let that guy affect her mood.

Just as she was getting angry about it, she suddenly heard Pansy speaking sadly.

"Darren was taken to the Hospital Wing."

What? Why was he in the Hospital Wing again?

"I heard he was hit with the Cruciatus Curse. When I went to see him, he looked as though he might actually die."

The Cruciatus Curse? Was it the same sort of thing Betsy had done?

No way!

How could someone cast the Cruciatus Curse on him? Surely there wasn't anyone at this school who would actually go that far, was there?

"It's true. I heard Madam Pomfrey shouting. She said she couldn't guarantee that Potter would wake up without complications..."

If a healer couldn't even guarantee that her patient would wake up properly, what was the point of having her?

Useless healing!

If only they could guarantee a cure at St. Mungo's!

"You know Longbottom, right? His parents were tortured with the Cruciatus Curse by Death Eaters and ended up losing their minds... They've been staying at St. Mungo's ever since."

She seemed to have heard about that before.

Oh, right! She had heard it from that stupid guy.

He had said that Longbottom was something of a hero.

It seemed understandable that his parents had been tortured by Death Eaters.

"It's been much longer than when Betsy used the curse on him. I also heard Madam Pomfrey saying that it had been a very, very long time..."

How long was a very long time?

She hadn't given any specific time at all.

Wasn't that misleading?

"Harry Potter was taken in with him!"

Right, Harry Potter had also ended up in the Hospital Wing. At least he had managed to survive.

"Oh, don't make it so obvious! If the Voray family finds out you like that guy, I'm afraid they'll come looking for trouble, won't they?"

Pansy's voice came from behind her as she walked around to the other side.

Only then did Cassandra realize that tears had already begun streaming down her face.

"Hmph! What are you talking about?"

She wiped away her tears and lifted her chin proudly.

She was a daughter of the ancient wizarding family of Voray. How could she possibly like Harry Potter's younger brother?

It was bad enough that she hadn't laughed at him.

However, she turned to look at Pansy.

Didn't Pansy like the stupid guy, too?

Pansy ran a finger across the corner of her mouth and smiled.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten? The Voray family and the Parkinson family have both been in contact with that person. We're all enemies of his!"

Right. That was why Pansy never showed any concern for him in public outside Slytherin.

Ha! There really weren't any fools in Slytherin.

She shouldn't underestimate anyone.

Except that stupid guy...

**During the summer holidays.**

Cassandra tentatively told her mother that she liked Harry Potter's younger brother.

Her mother ignored her.

No.

Her mother gave her a mocking look instead.

"The love between a wolf and a sheep?"

Cassandra thought about it afterward and decided that wasn't quite right.

That guy wasn't a wolf.

"Oh, I mean you're the wolf. Hmm, the daughter of a Death Eater falls in love with the Saviour's brother. Forbidden love!"

Her mother laughed even harder.

Cassandra found it tiresome.

She could only pretend that she didn't care about the matter.

Nevertheless, she continued secretly following news about the stupid guy.

The stupid guy had returned to his aunt's house.

The stupid guy was doing well at his aunt's house.

Better than Harry Potter, at least.

Hmph! She had said all along that Harry Potter and Darren Potter had been given the wrong names.

How was Harry Potter anything like a saviour?

Huh? Harry Potter had been warned for using magic in front of Muggles?

How miserable!

Cassandra smiled sadly.

Why hadn't they expelled him from school?

Harry Potter and his brother had moved into the Weasley family's house.

Cassandra pursed her lips in disgust.

The Weasleys didn't even have a toilet in their house, did they? She suspected they didn't.

Pansy came to visit her during the summer holidays.

"Well? You didn't try to fight for him again? Unbelievable!"

Pansy looked as though she were enjoying a joke at her expense.

Naturally, Cassandra didn't tell her what she had learned from testing the waters. Instead, she lifted her chin proudly.

"I simply took a wrong turn for a little while. I know what I want now!"

"Tch, stop pretending. Aunt Voray came to my house and asked my mother about it. Weather Darren has cast some kind of spell on you. She thinks you've gone crazy!"

Pansy said disdainfully.

Cassandra suddenly realized that her mother hadn't paid any attention to what she'd said.

"And what did your mother say?"

Thinking about it, she became a little anxious about her mother's decision.

"Mother said I should decide for myself. Playing both sides is a common tactic among us pure-blood nobles. She just doesn't want me to show my interest too openly."

Was that so?

As expected, Slytherin was full of clever people.

"But my mother..."

"Then I don't know. You'll have to ask your mother yourself. It seems she's always been convinced that Darren drugged you."

"But it's already been more than half the summer holidays. I don't think Aunt Voray will keep believing that forever, will she?"

How long did the effects of a love potion last?

Cassandra thought the same thing, but her mother never brought the matter up with her again.

She sighed.

Then, a few days later, news broke that the stupid guy had developed an improved version of an antidote, and it appeared on the front page of the *Daily Prophet*.

What an antidote!

No one had managed to improve it for years, yet a first-year student had done it. No, he was about to become a second-year student!

Her father finally paid attention to the matter.

Only then did he remember that Cassandra liked Darren.

"You really like him?"

Her father looked at her as though he couldn't believe it.

Apparently, he shared her mother's opinion. How could Cassandra possibly like Darren Potter?

It was truly difficult to understand.

"I know! You haven't been affected by a love potion. I know my own daughter!"

Mr. Voray stood up and declared solemnly.

Cassandra's eyes grew a little red.

She had wondered herself whether she'd been affected by a love potion, but she really did like him so much. What was she supposed to do about it?

"If this had happened before, I would never have agreed to it. Even if we were playing both sides, I wouldn't have chosen Darren Potter.

"You know he's Harry Potter's younger brother... He could die at any moment. There's no way I would want my only daughter to fall for someone like that.

"But... you should be grateful to him for developing that antidote. If Nicolas Flamel adopts him as his heir, perhaps his chances of surviving will improve considerably...

"That said, what I really want to tell you, Miss Voray, is that you may need to become stronger.

"Wanting to be with Darren Potter means you'll have to face a great deal of trouble. If you aren't strong yourself, how will you ever be able to stay by his side?

"By the way, what did he say? Surely he wouldn't just leave you to face all this alone, would he?"

For once, Cassandra blushed.

"He... he doesn't know..."

He didn't know?

Mr. Voray's handsome face displayed a rare expression of utter bewilderment...