Short Author's note
Hi, this is a fanfiction I started awhile ago with a friend, but she had to bail and I forgot about it. I'm going to try to update once in awhile. Please review, I would really like some feedback.
Cassandra's POV
"Did you get a copy of the Year of the Yeti?" I asked my cousin Chris as she was walking towards Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
"Yeah, I don't see why we need this many books for one class though, especially since they're all written by the same guy," Chris replied, her light brown curls bouncing as she quickened her pace, eager to leave Flourish and Blotts.
"It is kinda suspicious, besides Gilderoy Lockhart looks like too much of a pretty boy to have done all the things he's said he's done," I said as I watched Lockhart flash a blinding smile and wave from the back photo of Wanderings with Werewolves.
"I guess. Anyways let's hurry to Madame Malkins, I want to get our robes fitted so we can check out Eeylops Owl Emporium afterwards." Chris hurriedly replied, not really paying attention as she broke into a much faster pace and I had to jog to keep up with her.
"Wait for me!" I shouted. "I want to go there too, but I want to get all of our supplies for school first." At this point Chris slowed down to a walk again as the robe shop was only a few yards away.
"Whatever, I just want to get a pet, like your cat Riddle." Chris retorted. She was probably unhappy that I had mentioned school as it reminded her how we only had a few days left of freedom here before we'd head off to Hogwarts.
"You should get an owl or some type of bird so that we can send letters to our family back in America," I said as I checked over my supplies list one last time to make sure we had everything. Satisfied, I put my list away and walked into Madame Malkins with Chris. Both of us stood still as Madame Malkin poked and pricked us while fitting our robes. I voiced my concern that everyone would look the same wearing the same robes but Chris stated that the different houses as well as the wide age range would set everybody apart. When Madame Malkin finished, the sun was already starting to set. We paid for the robes and headed back to our room in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Sorry we couldn't get your pet today," I tentatively said to Chris, afraid that she was disappointed.
"It's fine, it just means we can spend all of tomorrow browsing through pets." Chris replied brightly.
I sighed in relief, "Yeah just remember we can only get one pet and we only have two more days until we have to go to King's Cross and we need to save some money for a taxi." I said stroking Riddle's soft spotted fur earning her purr of appreciation.
"I know, only two more days," Chris said gazing at the ceiling. "What do you think it'll be like, I mean learning in a classroom full of people as opposed to learning from our parents. And what house do you think you'll be in? Do you think we'll be in the same house?"
"I think learning in a class will be like muggle school, just with magic and a lot more dangerous," I replied. Chris looked at me skeptically with an eyebrow raised.
"I mean, I think there still will be the same types of people. The teacher's pets, the quiet ones, the loud ones, the kiss-ups, the troublemakers, and everybody else." I said, brushing my side-swept light cocoa brown bangs out of my eyes.
"As for what house we'll be in I'm not sure about myself but I definitely think you'll be in Gryffindor." I continued, slightly concerned that we probably wouldn't end up in the same house.
"Really? What's Gryffindor like that makes you think that I belong there?" Chris asked, as she rolled over, a spark of excitement dancing in her blue, with a tinge of gray, eyes.
"Well, all those in Gryffindor are supposedly brave." I said with a slight gleam in my eyes. "So if we translate brave as incredibly reckless, you're a perfect fit."
"Hey, I take offense to that!" Chris replied good naturally, elbowing me in the ribs. I started giggling which soon turned into full blown laughter which Chris joined. Eventually we stopped to catch our breath.
"We should go to bed so that we can get up tomorrow and go get your pet before the shop gets busy," I said breathlessly still recovering from my fits of laughter.
Chris sighed, "Always the voice of reason, you're no fun Cassandra."
I looked up offended, but it disappeared when I saw Chris grinning.
"Yes, I exist to suck all of the fun out of your life Chris." I replied sarcastically. Chris just rolled her eyes. After that we both got ready for bed and said our good-nights.
The next morning we both got up early, had a quick breakfast, and headed to the emporium. After an entire hour of searching Chris finally found what she wanted.
"A bald eagle? I admit it's pretty cool and American but it's really expensive," I said uncertainly. "How are you going to pay for it?" Chris looked at me with pleading eyes.
"No way, I still want to buy some more books from Flourish and Blotts. This will cost all of our spending money combined," I said emphasizing the combined as I shook my head, causing my straight waist-long hair to swish around.
"Pleeeeease! I'll never ask for anything again as long as I live," Chris pleaded. "Besides you already got an expensive copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard."
"You know how I love books," I protested. I then sighed, "Fine, I'll give you my spending money but don't expect a Christmas present from me."
Chris practically leaped for joy. She hugged and thanked me then hurried to the counter to buy her bald eagle. It turned out to be a boy eagle and she named it Merik. Happily she left the emporium with me trailing behind her gloomily.
"Tomorrow we're spending the whole day at Flourish and Blotts," I said sternly.
"What!? Why? It's not like you can buy anything anyway," Chris asked.
"I can browse, plus I'm a fast reader." I said proudly. "I can probably read a couple of books there in a day. Besides, you owe me."
"Fine, I'm sure I can find something interesting to read anyway. I mean they're books about magic." Chris conceded.
We then spent the rest of the day wandering around Diagon Alley, although Chris refused to go to Flourish and Blotts because "We'll be spending all day tomorrow there!" We went into the Apothecary which smelled nasty but had enough interesting potion ingredients to make up for it. I loved potions and it was my best subject so Chris had to practically drag me away from the expensive silver unicorn horns.
"But think of all the potions I could make," I whined as she dragged me away.
"No way, besides we don't have any spending money left, just some Galleons for food and some British muggle money for transportation." Chris said. "And it's twenty-one Galleons a pop. It's not worth it."
"I know," I sighed. "Let's go back and catch a quick bite before going to bed. And you should finish packing all your school supplies. We only have one day left."
"Fine," Chris replied. We both returned to the Leaky Cauldron together and retired for the night. The next day we spent the entire time browsing Flourish and Blotts. While browsing through potion books I found a book on Dark Magic. I curiously opened it and was shocked to discover that European wizards consider Parseltongue to be a sign of a dark wizard. I was a Parselmouth myself, a trait I had inherited through my father's Indian heritage. In India Parseltongue was considered a gift so I was surprised that it was so feared here. I privately decided to keep my ability to myself. As it grew dark we finally left the bookstore and went back to the Leaky Cauldron and started getting ready for bed.
"Hey Chris?" I asked hesitantly while we were getting ready to go to bed.
"Hmm? What?" Chris replied taking her toothbrush out of her mouth.
"Don't mention to anybody that I'm a Parselmouth, it's considered Dark Magic here," I said.
"Really? That's dumb. You can't help being a Parselmouth, you were born like that." Chris replied. She hated it when people were judged by the circumstances of their birth or anything but their actions. "I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks," I replied, relieved. Afterwards we both got into bed and turned off the lights. Eventually I heard Chris's breath even out as she fell asleep. Unfortunately, I lay awake worrying about tomorrow. I fell asleep at some point though, because the next thing I felt was Chris shaking me.
"Ugh, what time is it?" I asked groggily, rubbing sleep out of my dark brown eyes. I was usually the one to get up first, so I was surprised to see Chis dressed and ready to go.
"It's 10 o'clock and it takes 45 minutes to get to King's Cross from here! Hurry up and get dressed, I put Riddle in her cat carrier for you but the taxi is waiting outside. You've got five minutes." Chris replied looking at the clock with concern.
"Oh my god," I exclaimed as adrenaline rushed through me. I got dressed, brushed my teeth, and brushed my hair in record time. "Why didn't you wake me sooner?"
"I tried! God knows that I didn't want to put Riddle in her cat carrier," Chris replied rubbing her arms that had fresh scratches all over them. "But you sleep like one of the dead."
"Sorry," I said guiltily, knowing I had stayed up too late. "Well, let's go." We both rushed downstairs, I skipping breakfast to get into a taxi with a very unhappy taxi driver. As soon as we got in he sped off scaring the animals. It took ten minutes to calm down Riddle and Merik. The taxi driver just looked at us in the rear-view mirror and hissed Americans under his breath. We finally got to King's Cross and stood in between platform 9 and 10 with only ten minutes left.
"What are we going to do!?" i practically wailed, pulling on my hair. "We only have ten minutes left and nobody told us how to get to platform 9 3/4!"
"Are you guys new?" a strange voice broke me out of my despair. A girl our age with bushy brown hair looked at us warmly.
"Yes, we're from America and have never been to Hogwarts before. We're staring as second years but we don't' know how to get onto the platform. Can you help us?" I asked.
"Sure, I had the same problem when I came here last year," the girl replied. "Just walk straight through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. I'll show you." The girl then strode into the barrier, at the last second she turned and said, "My name's Hermione by the way!" and disappeared.
Chris and I shared a look. Then Chris backed up and said "Well here goes nothing." She then ran into the barrier and I ran after her, closing my eyes shut as I passed through.