Chapter One

The sun rose over the clear blue lake in the grounds of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, casting little rays of sunlight down into the Slytherin dormitory and little lines of white light to dance across the ceiling. The dormitory, which was set underneath the lake of which the giant squid inhabited, gave it its relaxing, comforting atmosphere. The sensation of looking out the windows at the green water, gave the feeling of supposed, immortality. And the Slytherin common room, with its black leather arm chairs and mahogany tables, gave a very warm, welcoming feeling. It really was Cassies favourite place to return to, after the holidays.

Cassie Coldkiss lay in her four poster bed, the hangings drawn, her eyes open, she was wide awake, even though it was 5 o'clock according to her watch. She turned, looking out of the window next to her bed and watched the tentacles of the giant squid floating slowly in rhythm with the gentle currents. She sighed and turned again, looking through the parting in the hangings in the square dormitory. She looked at the sleeping faces of her friends Mallory and Larissa Corwin, twin girls, both with dark blonde hair and a very pale complexion. Then at Pansy Parkinson, who was perhaps more of a nuisance to Cassie, she always got the impression from Pansy that she was never wanted, as whenever Pansy made eye contact with Cassie, she always seemed to do so with an ugly smug expression on her face. And finally she turned to her best friend, Pandora Quinn. Pandora, with her bright blue eyes and shiny brown hair and pale skin, was perhaps the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, Pandora also had the same personality at Cassie. She was calm and slightly self centred, but not so much to be considered vain, and treated everyone she knew with respect if they treated her with respect.

Cassie couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Pandora. Cassie was very slim, with waist length dark brown wavy hair, pale green eyes and a very thin face. She had to witness Pandora not being able to walk down a corridor without boy's eyes following her, some with their mouths hanging open as if she was part vela. Although Pandora was her friend, Cassie couldn't help the feelings of dislike sometimes come into her head. She hated the essence she gave off whenever she saw Draco. She simpered sickeningly, strutting down the corridor whenever she passed the tall blonde figure, fluttering her eyelashes and tossing her hair. As far as Cassie had witnessed, Draco Malfoy had only looked at Pandora just like she was any other girl in the school, in fact he looked slightly put out, as if she was making him feel quite uncomfortable. Although Cassie couldn't blame her for taking a fancy to Draco, with his blonde hair, blue eyes and tall thin structure. She'd thought, or maybe imagined, him looking at her in potions, with a slight sparkle in those beautiful eyes. It made her heart skip a beat whenever she remembered this perfect moment. But Cassie had given up hoping of any chances of her and Draco coming together, she knew he'd go for Pandora, as she was so much prettier than her. But she wished she could have Pandora's confidence. Then maybe they would have been brought together at some point in the past.