This chapter is just an intro to get a bit of background.
I sat on the end of my bed. It was my seventeenth birthday, the birthday I'd been looking forward to for as long as I could remember. But a tear streaked down my cheek. I looked down at the letter in my hands, rereading it in disbelief.
Dear Cassiopeia,
When you were very young your marriage was arranged between yourself and Draco Malfoy. It was agreed that you would be told when you turned seventeen, however, as Draco is younger than you you must wait faithfully until he becomes of age.
As I will be dead by the time you read this, I trust that you will fulfil your role and please note that Lucius Malfoy will be sure to house you until such time that you will be legally tied to their family. I hope you will be a good wife.
Your mother,
Walburga Black.
Draco Malfoy. My first cousin once removed. I knew I'd be expected to marry a pure blood, maybe even some relation of mine. But I at least thought I'd be allowed to choose.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I looked over to the source of the noise and saw a daily prophet owl tapping on my window.
Sighing, I walked over to let it in, fumbling around in my pockets for some knuts.
Having payed the owl and retrieved my newspaper I glanced down at the front page.
I thought my day couldn't get any worse but when I saw the person on the front cover my face fell even further:
Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban.
My murderer of a brother. When I knew him I thought he was different. Being a gryffindor was the most obvious difference but the fact that he was kind made me like him. But I only met him occasionally, usually when my mother was locked up in her room crying over my father's death and he'd sneak in and bring me a chocolate frog or a handful of fizzing whizbees. I was young but even then I could tell he was different and looking back I'd never suspect him to blow up a whole street of muggles.
But what should I know. After all in just some stupid girl who's not even allowed to decide who she marries.
"Cassie, have you packed your trunk. We won't have much time tomorrow I have some business in the ministry I need to attend to before I can take you to Kings Cross." Barty Crouch shouted up the stairs.
"Yes, have a nice day at work." I replied, hearing the door slam shut behind him as I finished my sentence.
When my mother died I was taken in by Mr Crouch. I don't know why, he never seemed the type to take in an orphan but he just came out of the blue and said he'd look after me. Not that he really does. He just leaves me with the house elf. He is some distant relation of mine though, a third cousin I think. Pretty much any pure blood wizard is though.
Every year I started packing my trunk at least a week in advance and my final year at hogwarts was no exception.
I've had a pretty rubbish birthday so far. I'm used to not getting a present off Mr Crouch, he never remembers until I tell him and then I'll get sent a new quill or something a couple of days into term, but today's birthday takes the biscuit for the worst. A letter telling you your engaged to your cousin isn't exactly a brilliant gift.
