Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Cassandra Lestrange read her acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry expressionlessly. She glanced up briefly at her adoptive parents - who had always treated her coldly - and saw that they were watching her anxiously. She snorted mentally. They really can't wait to be shot of me, can they? She thought bitterly. She new what her biological parents had done her guardians had never kept it a secret, but that didn't make her evil. She was - had been - an innocent child when they had tortured and killed all those people. Her foster parents had taken great pleasure in describing, in detail, what Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange had done to all those nameless witches and wizards - including the now insane Lord and Lady of the House of Longbottom. Especially the Longbottoms. She still had nightmares about what they had told her. However, she was leaving for a year - longer if her offer was accepted - and if she could even manage to get it.

"You'll have to take me Diagon Alley soon to get my supplies." she informed them coolly, looking back down at the letter, therefore missing her 'parents' wince. Anthony and Charlotte Pendragon knew very well what they were doing to their adoptive daughter, but they had come to regret it too late. It wasn't until they had received a scalding letter from Augusta Longbottom in response to their offer of giving her family the girl as a slave that they realized what exactly they had done: alienate and emotionally and mentally abuse an innocent child. Cassandra had been ten at the time and a year was hardly enough time to make up for nine years of wrong doings. It was too late, however, to apologize, and all they could do now was try to somehow make it up to her. They didn't have their hopes high. They looked up when she began speaking again.

"May I get a cat, Lord and Lady Pendragon?" she asked them formally. Charlotte wanted to cry at the eleven-years-old's formality. She hadn't called them 'Mum and Dad' since she was five and had realized that her adoptive family hated her. Charlotte and Anthony didn't know it, but she had cried herself to sleep for years with that knowledge. Anthony nodded, trying to speak around the lump in his throat.

"Of course. We'll be taking you this evening, so go get dressed."

She curtsied and left the room with a clipped 'Yes m'Lord.' Anthony sighed and watched her go. Once she was outside of the kitchen's wards, Charlotte gave into her tears and sobbed. Anthony put his arms around her, giving her what comfort he could, but he knew as well as she did that there would be no fixing this mistake. They had gone too far.

Cassandra blushed and looked up, apologizing profusely when she bumped into someone on her way to pay for her school books in Flourish and Blott's. She caught sight of a small, messy haired, green-eyed boy catching his balance, she reached out to steady him, her apologies almost indecipherable now. The boy laughed and waved her off.

"It's fine, neither of us was hurt. Besides, it was my fault as well. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going either." he grinned and held out his hand. "Harry Potter."

She smiled shyly back and hesitantly shook his hand, worried about his reaction to her name. She knew who he was - who didn't? - and she was sure he wouldn't want to be friend's with the spawn of two Death Eaters.

"Cassandra Lestrange."

To say she was surprised when he didn't drop her hand in disgust would have been an understatement. For a moment, she allowed herself to hope she could make a friend. However, that hope died as soon as she heard a loud, booming voice say,

"Harry, get away from 'er! You don't want to associate with the likes o' her!"

Cassandra dropped her hand as though she had been burned and started to turn away, hurt that yet another person was judging her by her parents' actions. She started to turn away, but Harry had seen the hurt flash across her face and cried "Wait!"

She turned back, surprise dominating her features. Harry turned to Hagrid and frowned.

"Why wouldn't I want to be friends with Cassandra? She seems nice."

"She's the daughter o' Death Eaters 'Arry!"

The frown deepened and the Savior's brow furrowed.

"What?"

"Followers of Voldemort." Cassandra answered quietly. Harry looked at her speculatively and asked,

"Do you follow him?"

"No!" she denied vehemently, shaking her head.

"Do you agree with what your parents did?"

"Of course not!" she huffed indignantly. She was surprised when Harry smiled at her,

"Then would you like to be my friend?"

She stared at him in shock for a moment before grinning hugely, nodding her head eagerly.

"That would be great! You'd be my first friend ever!"

Harry frowned again,

"Why?"

She looked down, suddenly finding her shoes very interesting.

"They hear my surname and avoid me like the plague." she told him sadly. Harry glared at Hagrid, who had the decency to look ashamed of himself.

"Well, we'll be each other's first friends. Okay?"

Cassandra nodded shyly, looking up at him curiously. He grinned sheepishly.

"My cousin Dudley bullied people into steering clear of me. No one would talk to me because they were afraid that Dudley and his gang would beat them up."

She growled.

"I don't like your cousin." she told her knew friend matter-of-factly. Harry laughed.

"I don't either." he looked at Hagrid hesitantly, "I-I've got to go - see you at Hogwarts, yeah?"

She nodded, smiling happily.

"Definitely! I'll see you later Harry!" she chirped, hugging him impulsively before dashing off. Harry stared after her in surprise, then shook his head and followed Hagrid to get his wand.

Cassandra squealed mentally. She had a friend!