Chapter One
I was sitting on my bed and staring at my arm. I had scarred it trying to get to a friend just a few weeks ago. The black flames were still hot to the touch, but it was healed enough that I could change it to match my normal skin color.
'It's a shame. I really do like that scar.' I sighed as I let my back drop down on my bed.
The motion disturbed my Turkish Van, Ariel, who growled at me.
"Sorry girl." I put my hand up to scratch her cheek.
When Harry, Hermione, Ron, and I went to find the Sorcerer's Stone and get it away from Voldemort, there were several trials we had to get through. Ron had been stuck staying behind after being knocked out by a giant chess piece. So only Harry could go through the enchanted fire to get to the Stone, I chose for Hermione to go back. And I don't know what happened to Harry, but when I heard him shouting I tried to push through the enchanted flames. Only… They were cursed black flames and now I have the scar to always remember it.
And for Snape to remember it too. He was the one who put that trial into place. And I was the idiot who tried to push through without knowing the full extent of that room. He wouldn't look at at me the rest of the year when he saw my arm was bandaged, so I'm hoping that if he doesn't see it… Well here's to hoping.
There was a tap at my window and I sat up in hopes it was Hedwig. It was Errol, but I still had the same excitement in my chest when I opened the window to let him. Mrs. Weasley and I had been writing letters to each other, along with Hermione and Ron. Harry… Harry hadn't written back, even when I sent him a birthday card just last week. I was worried about him.
Mrs. Weasley was just letting me know that she was going to pick me up the next morning and I had to let Charlotte know to keep the room with the fireplace clear of any wandering eyes. I kept Errol in my room and closed the door so no one would go in it.
I found Charlotte making dinner in the kitchen.
"Charlotte, Mrs. Weasley is coming to get me. She said to keep the room with the fireplace clear at five o'clock." I told the woman who had looked after me for twelve years.
"In the morning?" She looked at the time to see it was a quarter to five.
"Yes." I double checked the letter.
"Okay, better have your stuff packed." Charlotte smiled to me.
"Would you like help setting the table?" I asked, already grabbing a washcloth to wipe down the table.
"That would be lovely." Charlotte nodded.
I put ten spots at the table. We had gained some new faces while I was gone and one of them was going to be adopted out within the next week. It's always nice when one of us gets adopted, I was always disappointed when I wouldn't be considered but now that I know what I am.
"Cassie, you better get to bed. You have to be up early in the morning." Charlotte told me as we finished clearing the table.
"Do you need anymore help? Dishes put away? Anything cleaned up?" I asked.
"No, but thank you. Go finish packing and get some rest." Charlotte smiled at me.
Her blonde hair had started to dull over the years. I think that because I've been gone I'm finally noticing all the little changes.
"Okay, thank you." I smiled back and went upstairs.
Errol was sleeping with his head under his wing. His cooing was adorable as he snored.
"Alright Ariel, I don't know how we're going to get to the Burrow. I better get your cage ready." I said as I prepared her pet carrier I had gotten from last year.
She had grown some over the last couple months, but I think I could get another year out of the carrier before having to get a new one. I finished packing all of my clothes I would need for the school year in the trunk Charlotte had given me my first year. I wanted to get a second bag, a purse really, before the start of the term since I've started to become a mature woman.
Once I was done packing I laid on the bed and practiced changing my arm from what I wanted the world to see, to what was actually underneath. It was still painful to change but I was slowly getting use to pain. My arm was in a constant state of burning. The burn had lessened over the course of the weeks, but if you didn't know what had happened you would ask why one arm is hotter than the other.
I didn't realize I had fallen asleep when Charlotte came and woke me up. I sat up and tried to clear the sleep out of my eyes. When I looked at the time it was five ten.
"Oh no! I'm sorry." I whispered as I put Ariel in her carrier.
"Don't worry about it sweetie." Charlotte whispered back.
I carried my pet carrier and helped Charlotte with my trunk downstairs, she had a cage Errol was put in when she came to get me.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley!" I greeted the woman quietly.
"Hello dear!" Mrs. Weasley gave me a warm hug.
She tutted when she felt my left arm and gave me a look that I avoided.
"Here is Errol." Charlotte handed Errol to Mrs. Weasley.
"Thank you. Now Cassie, this will be strange for you, but we're going to travel by floo powder." Mrs. Weasley turned to me as Charlotte pulled down an urn from the mantle of the fireplace.
"Floo powder?" I asked.
"Yes, it's a way to get through the fireplaces." She nodded to me.
"Oh boy." I said as I looked at Ariel.
"She'll be fine. It's perfectly safe."
"Okay…" I was hesitant as I watched her put my trunk in the fireplace.
"I'm so sorry dear but we do have to get going. The boys were not in their beds when I left." She actually sounded worried.
"Of course." I gave a quick hug to Charlotte and a promise to write soon.
"Take care dear." Charlotte said as I took a pinch of the powder.
"Say, 'The Burrow' very clearly." Mrs. Weasley instructed.
I cleared my throat, "The Burrow!"
I was engulfed in green flames and landed in a strange house. I quickly put Ariel down on the ground and she did not look good. She was fluffed up and breathing with her mouth open. I got my trunk out of the fireplace and just in time too. Mrs Weasley appeared in a flash of green flames with Errol.
"Alright dear. Let's get you settled." She put the cage down and let Errol out.
"Would you like to try to find your boys?" I asked as the sky started to pink.
Before she could answer we heard a car driving up.
"No, I know where they are." She shook her head and I followed her out of the living room, through the kitchen, and out to the yard.
Fred, George, Ron, and Harry were getting out of a car. Ron saw us first and he turned green, then the twins noticed us. And I watched Mrs. Weasley get angry with the way she stomped her way to her kids.
"So." Mrs. Weasley whispered.
"Morning mum." George was the first to speak.
"Have you any idea how worried I've been?" Mrs. Weasley whispered got deadlier than I imagined it could.
"Sorry mum, but see, we had too -" Ron spoke up.
"Beds empty! No note! Car gone - could have crashed - out of my mind with worry - I went and got Cassie - did you care? Never, as long as I have lived - you wait until your father gets home, we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy -"
I flinched when Percy was brought up.
"Perfect Percy." Fred muttered to his twin.
"YOU COULD DO WITH TAKING A LEAF OUT OF PERCY'S BOOK!" Mrs. Weasley poked Fred's chest.
I was confused. Why would a mother want all of her children to be alike? Percy was boring, George and Fred loved to live life on the edge and they were good! They knew when to step in and take care of their younger brother, and even though Percy was annoying, they still tried to include him on things when they saw him.
I was frowning by the time Mrs. Weasley had finally stopped lecturing the boys about how their father could have been fired and turned to Harry. I didn't notice them walking by me until Harry gave me a hug to pull me out of my thoughts.
"How's your arm?" He whispered in my ear.
"I'll tell you later." I whispered back as I pulled back.
Ron and I did a handshake since he wasn't feeling like a hug.
"Princess Cassie!" Fred bowed to me.
"Prince Fred!" I curtsied to him.
"Your Majesty!" George curtsied to me.
"Your Highness." I bowed to him.
We all laughed as we turned to walk into the Burrow. George put an arm around my shoulders and I wrapped my right arm around his back. Mrs. Weasley was shaking her head at the three of us as we entered the kitchen. I let George go and he and the rest of the boys sat down at the table.
"Cassie are you hungry?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I am, I just want to check on Ariel." I answered as I made way into the living room.
I bent down to look at her cage and Ariel was no longer fluffed up, but she was still breathing heavy and her eyes were wide.
"Mrs. Weasley, can I put Ariel somewhere not so spacious?" I asked as I grabbed her blanket out of my trunk and covered her cage up.
"In a moment, Ginny is still asleep." She said as I walked into the kitchen and sat between and Harry and Ron.
Harry took the opportunity to put his hand on my arm. I hissed at the pressure and shooed his hand away.
"Cassie, where is your scar?" Ron asked.
"Scar?" Fred, George and Mrs. Weasley turned to me.
"Thanks Ronald." I glared at the boy.
"Sorry." He mumbled as he took a bite of sausage.
I focused on my arm and released the magic holding the pigment I wanted. The black flames were slowly revealed as I twitched my eye at the pain.
"Cassie!" Mrs. Weasley gasped and started making an ice pack.
"That's wicked!" George and Fred said together.
Harry gently took my hand and when I looked at him, he had sadness in his features.
"Harry Potter. I told you not to feel sorry for me." I poked his forehead.
"I know, and I don't feel sorry for you. I feel sorry that you were in that situation." He rubbed his forehead.
"What happened to you dear?" Mrs. Weasley wrapped my arm in a cold towel with some ice in it.
I sighed in relief, "ummm Snape cursed some black flames guarding the Sorcerer's Stone and I tried to go through them?"
"Merlin's beard." Mrs. Weasley put a hand to her chest and her eyes started to water.
"It's okay! I swear! I'm fine! I've been practicing changing it so that no one else knows about it. It's our secret." I quickly explained as Harry put some sausages on my plate so that I could eat.
"Are you sure?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she scooped some eggs and buttered toast on my plate as well.
"I am. Thank you for caring though Mrs. Weasley." I nodded as George reached over and poked my wrist.
"Ow! Don't touch it!" I snapped at him.
"Sorry!" He was quick to flinch away.
"It just burns. It feels like my arm is still in that fire." I explained as I took a bite of sausage.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head with a sigh, "what was that man thinking?"
"He was thinking that a grown man would get the Sorcerer's Stone from Hogwarts to use it for evil purposes. He put the curse on the flames to prevent the man from going forward without drinking the potion to make it safely through. Why on Earth would a twelve year old go through the flames?" I snapped at her.
She pursed her lips at me but didn't say anything else about my arm. Instead she started muttering about the boys and their stunt with the car.
"Of course I don't blame you dear." Mrs. Weasley told Harry as he got more food on his plate.
"Arthur and I have been worried about you, too. Just last night we were saying we'd come and get you ourselves if you hadn't written back to Ron Friday. But really, flying an illegal car halfway across the country - anyone could have seen you -" Mrs Weasley put the dishes in the sink and they started to clean themselves with a wave of her wand.
"It was cloudy mum!" Fred tried to defend themselves.
"You keep your mouth closed while you're eating!" Mrs. Weasley pointed a finger at him.
"They were starving him, mum!" George spoke up this time.
I turned my head sharply to Harry and put a one of my sausages on his plate.
"And you!" Mrs. Weasley pointed a finger to George, but her demeanor was softer after George said that.
There was a small red head who came down the stairs.
"Ginny!" I smiled happily.
She didn't see me. She took one look at Harry, squealed in delight, and ran back up the stairs.
"She's been talking about you all summer." Ron muttered to us.
"Yeah, she'll be wanting your autograph Harry." Fred grinned up to Harry.
Mrs. Weasley glared at him and he bent his head over his plate and didn't look back up until it was cleaned.
"I am tired." Fred yawned, "I think I'll go off to bed and -"
"You will not," Mrs. Weasley snapped as she stood up and started to gather the dishes.
"It's your own fault you've been up all night. You're going to de-gnome the garden for me: they're getting completely out of hand again -"
"Oh mum -" Fred rolled his eyes.
I tried to stifle my giggle behind my hand and I turned into Harry's shoulder.
"And you two," she turned her glare to Ron and George who were quick to sit up straight.
"You can go up to bed, darlings." Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and I.
"You didn't ask them to fly that wretched car -"
"I'll help Ron. I've never seen a de-gnoming -" Harry was quick to answer.
"I need to get Ariel settled, she's still shocked from the trip." I wasn't sure I wanted to be part of the boys chore.
"That's very sweet of you dear, but it's dull work." Mrs. Weasley said as she walked over to a bookcase.
"And once I see what Lockhart's has to say about the subject, we'll take care of Ariel." Mrs. Weasley told me.
"We know how to de-gnome a garden -" George groaned.
The book Mrs. Weasley had grabbed had a giant photograph of a blonde hair, blue eye wizard. He kept winking at anyone who would look at him, I wasn't impressed at all by him.
"Oh he is marvelous." Mrs. Weasley beamed down at the picture on the book, "he knows his household pets. It's a wonderful book."
I don't know who she was trying to convince, but I wasn't convinced that's for sure.
"Mum fancies him." Fred whispered to Harry and I as he started to slowly walk towards to the stairs.
"Don't be ridiculous Fred. If you think you know better than Lockhart, you can go and get on with it, and woe betide you if there's a single gnome in that garden when I come out to inspect it." Mrs. Weasley's cheeks were rather pink.
I waved to the boys as they left the kitchen slouched, Harry was the only one who seemed to be wide awake and ready for the task at hand. I stayed sitting and rubbed my arm, the ice pack Mrs. Weasley had made was already room temperature. I had packed the healing salve from Madam Promfrey but I was almost out of it. I would need to find a new way to keep my arm cool.
"Alright dearie, let's go take care of Ariel." Mrs. Weasley stood up and walked to the living room.
I carefully picked up my arm off the table and left the ice pack where it was. Mrs. Weasley grabbed my trunk and started to pull it up the stairs. I grabbed Ariel's cage, who hissed when it was disturbed but I made a comforting shushing sound and she quieted right down. I picked up the other end of the trunk and helped Mrs. Weasley up the stairs with it. We climbed up three landing's before we made it to a room that was labeled 'Ginevra's Room'.
'This must be Ginny's room.' I thought to myself as Mrs. Weasley knocked on the door.
Ginny opened it and her eyes widened when she saw me.
"Cassie!" She opened the door wider to let us in.
"Good morning." I laughed at the girl.
"When did you get here?" She was bouncing in the corner of her room.
Mrs. Weasley put my trunk down and pushed it under the bed that looked freshly made. Ginny's room was big enough that we fit, but I assumed it was that enlarging charm that I was eager to learn. Ginny had the four walls a room usually has, and against one was her bed and a dresser. Another wall was empty except for some posters of a Quidditch team. And the third wall had the bed I was going to be using pushed against it. The door to get out of the room and a door I believed her was closet was on the fourth wall.
"About ten minutes before Harry did." I watched her face brighten and then turn red.
I laughed as I put Ariel's cage on the bed. I pulled out my trunk and pulled out a shirt that I knew smelt like me. I laid it down against the pillow and pulled off the blanket to Ariel's cage. She had her mouth slightly opened but she was looking around the room and acting a bit normal.
"Easy girl." I opened the cage and put my hand just out of her reach.
If Ariel wanted to be petted she was going to have to come to me. She sniffed at my hand and just looked around the room.
"Is she okay?" Ginny asked, sitting on her bed.
"I believe so, just shocked from the floo travel." I pulled away from her and sat on the floor against the bed frame.
"Was it her first time?" Ginny asked.
"And mine. I didn't care for it either." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Have you never traveled by floo before?"
"Nope. I live in a house with muggles at the moment." I explained.
"Is it strange?" Ginny went to her dresser and pulled out some clothes.
"No, I'm used to it." I turned to my head to give her some privacy.
"I don't think I could live with muggles." She admitted from the other side of the room.
"I don't mind it so much. I just wish I had people to call my family." I didn't mean to say it out loud, but now it was out there.
"I'm sure my mum wouldn't mind having another daughter." Ginny actually sounded excited at the prospect of having a sister.
"With how many boys she has, I'm sure she's ready for more." I laughed.
Ginny laughed with me too as we talked all morning. I heard Harry and Ron coming up the stairs, Ginny stood up and opened the door a crack. As soon as Harry passed by she clicked the door shut and her face was a bright red.
"Do you have a crush on him?" I teased.
"He Is The Boy Who Lived!" She whispered to me.
"So you like him because he's a celebrity?" I raised an eyebrow at her.
"I - I - I mean… He's cute?" She said it more as a question than a statement.
I laughed as I stood up, "I'm going to go check on them, I will be right back." I promised as I left her room.
I walked up the next flight of stairs, I walked by 'Percival's Room' and a bathroom which I was grateful to find. After the next set of stairs, I came across 'Ronald's Room.' I gave it a knock and Ron said to come in.
I opened the door and was met with bright orange. I flinched for a second and then blinked a couple of times to see all the orange was just a Quidditch team color.
"Cassie, how are you doing?" Harry made room on the bed he was on for me to sit.
"I'm doing good! What happened? I sent letters and I was worried." I sat next to him.
"Oh you're not going to believe him." Ron laid down on his bed and looked up to the ceiling.
I crossed my legs and sat facing Harry, who told me about a creature called a house-elf named Dobby who tried to stop him from coming to Hogwarts.
"What could possibly be happening at Hogwarts, that is dangerous?" I asked at the end of the story.
"I haven't a clue, but a house-elf isn't going to stop me from going home." Harry said.
"That's the spirit!" I put my hand into a fist and nudged Harry's arm.
"How was your summer?" Harry asked me and Ron sat up.
"It was boring. It's hard to plan a vacation with a bunch of kids who are still transitioning into the house, or are being adopted out." I explained.
"I forget you live in an orphanage." Ron admitted, his ears turning pink.
"It's alright." I shrugged.
The next week was possibly the best week. Ginny and I were able to have some girl talk, she talked about Harry and I talked about the rest of the boys. She was going to Hogwarts this year and I was so excited to be able to see her rather than just write letters to her.
The boys would go flying most of the time, I would sometimes join and we would take turns racing on mine and Harry's brooms. They wouldn't let Ginny join us, so at night when everyone was asleep we would sneak out and take out Harry's broom and mine. She would ride mine and I would ride Harry's.
Harry knew I was riding it, he didn't ask me why or when. I appreciated that a lot. It was one of the things Ginny enjoyed and I believed she could be an excellent quidditch player from what I saw in her flying abilities.
On Monday, I went down with Ginny and Mr. Weasley handed me a letter.
"Dumbledore must have known you and Harry were here." He said with a smile.
"Thank you!" I grinned as I took a look at what I needed.
Harry and Ron came down at that moment and also got their letters. The initial letter told us not to miss the Hogwarts Express on at King's Cross Station on September first. The book list… Was unusual
'Second-year students will require:
The Standard book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart'
"Now that's just ridiculous." I said as soon as I put my letter down.
"You've been told to get Lockhart's books too. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan - bet it's a witch." Fred said when he saw my list.
"Bet it's him." I grumbled under my breath.
"I'll wager that." George laughed.
We all quieted down when we caught Mrs. Weasley's glare.
"That lot won't come cheap," George gave a quick look to his parents when he realized everyone's list had the same thing. "Lockhart's books are really expensive…"
I shrank my shoulders into myself and I saw Harry do the same thing. I had a vault full of gold that I wanted to offer it to them, but I didn't want to embarrass the family that took me in for the rest of the summer.
"We'll manage, I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things secondhand." Mrs. Weasley said.
I internally groaned when Ginny was mentioned, I had been ignoring her all morning but anytime Harry came in the room, looked at her, or even breathed she had to do something to embarrass herself.
"Oh, are you going to Hogwarts this year?" Harry turned to the girl.
Ginny's face had turned as red as her hair and she nodded. How she managed to put her elbow in the butter dish I will never know. But thankfully Percy came down the stairs so no one noticed. Percy had on his Prefect badge pinned to his sweater vest. I rolled my eyes with George and Fred who started to angrily eat their toast.
"Morning all. Lovely day." Percy greeted.
He went to sit down in the remaining chair and leapt up immediately. He pulled a moulting Errol out from underneath him.
"Errol!" Ron stood up and took the poor thing from Percy.
"Finally - he's got Hermione's answer. I wrote to her saying we were going to try and rescue you from the Dursleys." Ron explained as he carried Errol to a perch.
Ron tried to put Errol on the perch, but the gray owl just fell straight off so Ron just laid him on the draining board instead.
"Pathetic." Ron shook his head then opened the letter.
" 'Dear Ron and Harry, if you're there.
I hope everything went alright and that Harry is okay and that you didn't do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble too. I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, but perhaps it would be better if you used a different owl, because I think another delivery might finish your one off.
I'm very busy with schoolwork, of course - How can she be?" Ron looked at us in horror. "We're on vacation! - 'and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley?
By the way, have you heard from Cassie? I wrote her a letter through the muggle post and it was sent back to me a couple days ago. I hope she's okay as well.
Let me know what's happening as soon as you can. Love from Hermione.'"
"Uh oh." I said.
"Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too. And you might want to write to her that Cassie is here, we don't want her worrying anymore than she has too." Mrs. Weasley started to clear the table.
"What're you all up to today?" Mr. Weasley asked.
The boys were planning on playing Quidditch up in the small paddock the Weasley's owned, I was invited and the only reason why I was there was because Ginny made me promise we would go out that night together.
So I was currently racing Ron on the Nimbus 2000's. We were all taking turns until Harry and I got to practicing my Seeker skills. I was told by Fred that I had improved but I wasn't sure. I wanted Wood to see what I could do now before I got too confident.
I was on Ron's Shooting Star making lazy corkscrews and just hanging upside down on it.
"Wish I knew what he was up to," Fred was frowning as we flew around, "Percy's not himself. His exam results came the day before you did; twelve O.W.L.s and he hardly gloated at all."
I flew up to Ron and Harry to join the circle.
"Ordinary Wizarding Levels," George explained when I opened my mouth. "Bill got twelve, too. If we're not careful we'll have another Head Boy in the family. I don't think I could stand the shame."
"Percy has a stick up his arse. Whatever he's got going on I don't want to know." I shrugged.
All the boys started to laugh at my choice of words and we started to fly around again. I chose to hang upside down and George flew next to me so that our heads were near each other so that we could talk.
"Dunno how mum and dad are going to afford all our school stuff this year," George said to me quietly. "Five sets of Lockhart book! And Ginny needs robes and a wand and everything…"
"Would Mrs. Weasley be offended if I offered my robes to Ginny? I believe they'll fit her, I've grown some since I last wore them." I turned the broom so I was right side up and George and I just flew in a lazy circle.
"I don't think so. She would probably appreciate it." George didn't know if he was sure.
"I'll ask before I do anything." I promised.
That night after dinner, everyone had gone off to bed and Mrs Weasley was sitting by the fire. She was rocking in her chair while the needles I had given her for Christmas the year before were magically making a sweater from the looks of it.
"Mrs. Weasley?" I stood by the staircase, looking up to make sure Ginny couldn't hear us.
"Yes Cassie?" Mrs. Weasley looked up from her book she was reading.
"I don't want to offend you, but I have my robes from last year and they no longer fit me. Would you like them for Ginny?" I shuffled on my feet, uncomfortable with the situation I had put myself in.
"Are you sure?" She asked after a moment's pause.
"Yes. I don't want to keep them since I have nowhere to put them, and I don't need to sell them if I don't have too." I explained.
"I'm sure Ginny would love them." Mrs. Weasley smiled kindly at me.
"I hope so." I smiled back in relief.
"She sees you as a sister you know." She mentioned softly.
"I see her as one too." I took a step up the stairs.
"That's good. I want to have another daughter, but I'm afraid I can't anymore." Mrs. Weasley said sadly.
I paused on my step and leaned against the rail.
"There's nothing wrong with that. Look at how many daughter-in-laws you'll get instead." Mrs. Weasley chuckled at my comment.
"I understand that there's a difference between having something that you make yours, and something that is given to you and is now yours. But this way you'll get to see how many other wonderful daughters are out there that are going to love you as their second mother." I explained, my heart filling up my throat.
Mrs. Weasley looked up at me suspiciously, "are you alright dear?"
"No. But I will be." I was honest.
"How is your arm?" She changed the subject which I was grateful for.
"It still a little hot, but I'm used to it." I shrugged.
"And how is Ariel?" Mrs. Weasley asked before I could take another step up.
"She's doing better, I don't think she likes traveling by floo powder." I giggled.
Mrs. Weasley laughed as well, "and that's understandable."
"Good night Mrs. Weasley." I said.
"Good night Cassie." She said to me and turned back to her book.
On Wednesday I was woken up by an excited Ginny.
"We're going to Diagon Alley today!" She pushed on my stomach.
"Oof!" I sat up and laughed at the girl.
"Let's get dressed and see when we're leaving." I shook my head as I stood up.
She nodded with a quiet squeal and started to pull out clothes. I quickly got out of my pajamas and put on a pair of denim trousers and a plain blue shirt. I was grateful that wizards believed in deodorant because I put some of that under my armpits as well.
I was lacing up my shoes when Ginny finally came out of her closet with a light green sweater on a denim trousers as well. I nodded to her outfit in approval and she grinned as we walked down the stairs.
Mrs. Weasley had made bacon sandwiches for breakfast and Harry was looking like he was going to throw up from eating so much food. I giggled as I sat next to him and started to eat off his plate to help him out.
When breakfast was over we put on our coats and gathered around the kitchen's fireplace.
"We're running low, Arthur." Mrs. Weasley sighed, "We'll have to buy some more today… Ah well, guests first. After you, Harry dear!"
"He's never travelled by floo powder before." I quickly put a hand on Harry's arm.
"Never?" Mr. Weasley asked, "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?"
"I went on the Underground -" Harry tried to answer.
"Really?" Mr. Weasley beamed with excitement. "Were there escapators? How exactly -"
"Now now, Arthur." Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes and I giggled, "Floo powder is a lot quicker dear, but goodness me, if you've never use it before-"
"He'll be alright mum," Fred took a step forward and took a pinch out of the flowerpot Mrs. Weasley was holding. "Watch us first, Harry."
He threw the powder down into the flames and they turned green. My stomach turned at the sight of them but I gave myself a shake as Fred shouted "Diagon Alley!" and vanished.
"You must speak clearly, dear." Mrs. Weasley told Harry as George and I both took pinches of the powder.
"Harry, I'll be on the other end. Okay?" I turned to him as George disappeared.
He nodded to me as he tried to listen to Ron and Mrs. Weasley.
'I hope he makes it through.' I thought to myself as I stepped into the fire.
"Diagon Alley!" I called out and got swept up in the green flames.
I was only it the flames for a second when I was pulled out at a grate. George had reached in and pulled me out, and not a moment to soon. Another man had stepped out of the grate and exited the shop we were in.
"I hate floo powder." I decided.
George laughed as he kept his arm around my shoulders, I looked up and realized just how tall he and Fred had gotten.
Mr. Weasley came through the grate with Percy right behind him and so did Ron, then Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.
"Where's Harry?" I asked, watching the grate.
"Did he not come through?" Mr. Weasley asked.
I shook my head as I looked around the shop we were in.
"We need to go find him, maybe he came out a different grate." Mrs. Weasley said as we exited the shop.
I looked around frantically for him, "boys you stick together, Ginny, Cassie - Cassie!" Mrs. Weasley shouted after me as I ran towards the end where the Leaky Cauldron was.
I looked around for Harry, where could he have come out of?
"Cassie!" I heard Hermione shout from behind me.
"Hermione!" I waved to her as she ran up to me.
"Are you alright?" She asked when came up to me, she had a man and a woman follow her.
"Harry got lost, we're trying to find him." I explained as I saw Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley split up.
"Oh no! I have to go to Gringotts, will you bring him there when you find him?" She asked.
"Yes, of course. I have to make a withdrawal." I said to her as George came up to me.
"Thank you, see you soon!" She waved as she walked away with who I think were her parents.
"Come on, Fred went down that way and I told mum I'd watch over you." George gently tugged on my hair.
"Thank you." I nodded to him and followed right behind as he lead me to where Fred was.
We looked around Diagon Alley for maybe fifteen minutes when Fred, George and I met up with Ron, Mr. Weasley, and Percy.
"We went inside all the shops on that side of the street and asked if they've seen Harry Potter. No one has seen him." I told Mr. Weasley.
"Same on that side." Ron gestured to where he had just looked.
"Look!" I pointed up to Gringotts.
Hagrid was standing over Hermione and Harry.
"Oh good!" Mr. Weasley gave a sigh of relief as we sprinted towards him.
I reached Harry first and gave him a quick hug.
"I was so worried!" I breathed in his ear before pulling away.
"Harry," Mr. Weasley panted behind me. "We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far …" He moped the balding spot he had. "Molly's frantic - she's coming now-" Mr. Weasley looked around for his wife as I gave Hermione a proper hello.
"Where did you come out?" Ron asked.
"Knockturn Alley." Hagrid answered grimly.
"Excellent!" George and Fred grinned to each other.
"We've never been allowed in." Ron was clearly envious of Harry.
"I should ruddy well think not." Hagrid growled.
Mrs. Weasley came galloping up the steps of Gringotts, her purse was swinging in one hand and Ginny was being pulled by the other.
"Oh, Harry - oh, my dear, - you could have been anywhere." She pulled out a large clothes brush and started to sweep off the extra soot Harry still had on his shoulders.
Mr. Weasley pulled out his wand, tapped Harry's glasses that I didn't know were broken, and fixed them right up.
"Well, gotta be off," Hagrid was trying to get his hand back from Mrs Weasley who was going off about how if he hadn't found Harry.
"See yer at Hogwarts!" He waved and walked into the packed street.
It was really easy to see him through the crowd, as his shoulders and head were well above everyone else's.
"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked us as we walked up the steps into the bank.
"Malfoy and his father." He answered himself when no one did.
"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" Mr. Weasley asked sharply behind.
"No, he was selling." Harry shook his head.
"So he's worried." Mr. Weasley gave a grim nod of satisfaction. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something…"
"You be careful Arthur," Mrs. Weasley was sharp in her tone as a goblin bowed to us when we entered the bank.
I nodded my head back to the goblin and paused for second, causing Fred to nearly knock me over if he hadn't wrapped an arm around me to prevent that.
"Easy there Princess." He snickered to me.
"Sorry." I smiled sheepishly.
I missed the rest of the conversation but Mr. Weasley noticed Hermione's parents over by a desk. He walked over to them and started a conversation while I slowly lagged behind the group.
"We'll meet you back here." Ron told to Hermione as a goblin started to escort us back to the back of Gringotts.
"Excuse me?" I tapped the goblin on the shoulder.
"Yes?" He turned to me.
"Is Ragnok here today?" I asked him.
"He is." He nodded, his hairy eyebrows furrowing together.
"May I request he take me to my vault? I would like to see him again." I asked as the Weasley's climbed into the car.
"Cassie, why don't you just come with us?" Harry asked as he climbed in next to Ron.
"Um… It's hard to explain but there's something in my vault I don't want to share if I think it's there." I tried to be nice in my explanation but I think it got them curious.
"Cassie-" Mrs. Weasley started.
"I can stay with her if that's okay?" George offered.
"I guess…" I nodded as the Goblin had gone off to find Ragnok.
Fred and George got out of the cart and joined me where I was standing. I didn't want them to see how much I had in my vault…
The goblin came back, "Ragnok will be here shortly with a cart for you miss." He climbed up into the cart and started it up.
"We'll meet you back up where the Granger's are." I told Mrs. Weasley as the cart started to move.
"Okay dear!" She called out as the cart went out of sight.
"So what is in your mysterious vault." Fred had crossed his arm.
"I don't want to answer that." I told him.
"That's suspicious." George had also crossed his arms and looked at his twin.
"Very suspicious." Fred nodded.
I rolled my eyes as Ragnok came with a cart.
"Hello Cassie." He had a small twinkle in his eye when he saw me.
"Hello Ragnok!" I greeted as George got in the cart first and turned around and offered me a hand.
"To vault number four hundred and sixty-four?" He asked behind us.
"Yes sir!" I nodded as Fred climbed in behind me.
"Alright, hold on tight." Ragnok said and we began the roller coaster to my vault.
When we arrived Fred got out and gave me a helping hand, I nodded my thanks. I handed my key to Ragnok and he opened the door to reveal my fortune lining up against the walls.
"Woah." Fred said behind me.
"I didn't want any of you to see." I admitted, my hair turning a slight pink.
"Don't be embarrassed, your parents were smart in how they did this." Fred was looking around the vault as George came in.
"Woah." He said as well.
"I will be right back, there's a table in here that's enchanted. It gave me a letter and the map last year. I don't know what it will be this year." I held my hand up hoping they would stay.
Thankfully they did as I went behind a pile of galleons to find the table in it's same spot. I did a little skip in glee when I saw there was an envelope on the table.
'Treasure' it read in beautiful cursive. I put it in my bag and grabbed a handful of galleons, two handfuls of sickles, and four handfuls of knuts. I ran out to see George and Fred muttering to each other.
"I'm done!" I smiled.
"Did you find the table?" Fred asked as we exited my vault.
"I did, and it had another letter for me." I said as Ragnok closed my vault and George helped me into the cart again.
"Are you going to read it?" George asked as we sat down.
"Later, when I have some privacy. The last one was from my mother and I'm hoping this one is too. And I'd rather keep it to myself you know?" I explained as Ragnok took us back to the top.
"Yes we do." Both boys said as George put an arm around my shoulders.
We sat in a comfortable silence until we go the platform to exit. I saw the rest of the Weasley's and Harry with the Granger's. Fred helped me off the cart and I bowed my head to Ragnok.
"It was a pleasure seeing you again, Ragnok." I told the goblin.
"And a pleasure to serve you, Cassie." He nodded to me and drove the cart away.
"How do you know that goblin?" Fred asked as we walked up to our group and exited the building.
"He took me to my vault last year." I answered as we stood at the top of the steps.
Outside the steps, Percy muttered something about needing a new quill. Fred pointed to Lee Jordan who waved at us. George and Fred both tapped me on the back and took off after him.
"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your school books," Mrs. Weasley called out to them as they seperated.
"And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" She called after the twins.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and I strolled off down the winding cobblestone street. Hermione and I linked arms together. We walked by an ice cream shop and Harry bought four strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice creams for each of us.
"Thank you." I took mine from Harry and happily ate it as we wandered through the streets.
We stopped in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies so that Ron could admire the Chudley Cannons robes. Hermione dragged us all into the store next to it to buy more ink and quills for the year. I asked if we could go to the Owl Emporium as I needed more cat food and litter for Ariel.
'I wonder if it will be alright if I get an owl?' I thought to myself as I walked by a beautiful barn owl who hooted as I passed.
"Do you think I would get in trouble for having an owl?" I asked Hermione.
"Why do you want an owl?" Hermione asked as she looked around the store.
"It's not fair to Hedwig to be going in four different directions by herself. And if I get an owl it'll be easier for us to send letters during the holidays. Also, if Hedwig is out delivering a letter, we have a second owl to use rather than using a school owl." I said as I looked at the barn owl outside the door.
"So why don't you get one?" I didn't realize Harry was standing behind me.
"What do I need?" I asked.
"Just a cage and some owl treats. Owls usually hunt for their food." He said as he walked out to get the barn owl off it's stand.
"I guess I'm getting an owl too." I shrugged as Harry carried him in.
"Hello." I bent down and poked my finger into the cage.
He nibbled gently on my finger and cooed up at me.
"Alright, thank you Harry." I nodded to him.
"Of course, I think Hedwig would appreciate another owl's company anyway." He smiled as we carried my purchases to the counter.
I paid for everything right there, my food and litter for Ariel were cheap. Especially since I had been buying from them for a while now, I was given a small discount for them. Barnabas, my owl, his cage, and his owl treats brought my total to seventeen galleons and fifty knuts.
"Owls are the most popular and easy to take care of. That's why he is cheaper." Ron explained as he helped carry my bags to Flourish and Blotts.
"If I gave you my money, could you buy my books for me?" I asked Harry as we set my stuff on the ground.
"Do you want to go in?" He asked as I handed him my money bag, he raised an eyebrow when I took out the envelope.
"Not with that crowd." I shook my head and sat down on the curb and opened up the small window in Barnabus' cage.
"I don't blame you." Ron sighed as he looked at the crowd forming outside of the shop.
' "Gilderoy Lockhart will be signing copies of his autobiography Magical Me today 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM.' " Harry read off a sign.
"We can actually meet him!" Hermione gave an excited squeal. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!"
"Have fun, I will stay out here. Away from the fans." I rolled my eyes.
Harry sighed and the look he gave me told me he wished he was staying out with me. I had sat down on the curb as they walked into the crowded bookshop. I was scratching Barnabas head when a shadow fell over me.
"Dear child, what are you doing on the street?" A tall man with long blonde hair asked as he held a hand for me.
"I don't like crowds sir," I pulled my hand out of the cage and politely took the man's hand and stood up.
"Oh, is it Gilderoy Lockhart in there?" He sniffed in the direction of the bookshop.
"Yes sir, I didn't want to go in with all of my purchases, so I decided to wait out here. My friends are in there buying my books for me. They should be out any moment." I said as I saw a familiar face coming down the street.
"Father!" Malfoy said to the man in front of me.
"Draco! Gilderoy Lockhart is inside, how wonderful." Malfoy's father said dryly as he gestured into the shop.
'Oh bollocks.' I swore to myself.
"What are you doing in his way, Zwart?" Malfoy sneered at me.
"Draco! That is no way to speak to a lady!" Mr. Malfoy actually looked shock.
"I'm Cassie Zwart, we go to school together." I explained before anything else could be said.
"Oh so you're Miss Zwart! Draco tells me your a metamorphmagus." Mr. Malfoy turned to me, his eyes were a lighter shade of grey than mine were.
"Yes sir." I grinned and I changed my hair to match his shade of blonde.
"How splendid! Do tell me, do you have any idea of your parentage?" He looked quite pleased at my demonstration.
"I just know that my name is Zwart, I don't know anything about my family. And with where I live and how busy school can get, I haven't had the time to find out much about my lineage." I shook my head while Malfoy's face just got into a deeper sneer.
"Well I'd say you're from a pureblood heritage if you have those kind of magical abilities." Mr. Malfoy was careful to take a little bit of my hair and I changed it to a light blue for him.
'A pureblood?' I thought to myself.
"I do hope you have a lovely rest of your summer, Draco and I have to get going on his school shopping. It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Zwart." Mr. Malfoy put his hand out for me.
I politely shook it and when his back was turned I stuck my tongue out at Malfoy who did the same back. I moved my stuff further down the sidewalk so that I wasn't in the way of anyone else. I sat back down and when I put my hand back in Barnabus cage he happily chirped and rubbed his cheek against my fingers.
"How do I end up with the lovers for animals?" I asked myself.
I don't know how long I was out there for, but I heard the commotion inside Flourish and Burkes. When the door opened I stood up and was surprised that Mr. Malfoy was holding his eye and his cheeks were flushed.
"You better be careful of the company you keep." He didn't threaten me, but I did hear the warning in his voice as he looked at me and walked away with his son following behind him.
"What happened in there?" I asked as Harry came out holding two bags of books.
"I'll explain later, what did he say to you?" Harry asked me.
"Nothing, just to be careful of the company I keep." I shook my head as I saw Mr. Weasley being fussed over by Mrs. Weasley.
Hagrid ducked out of the shop and saw me.
"Hello Cassie." He nodded.
"Hello Hagrid." I nodded back as I picked up my owl's cage.
"Got a new pet?" He asked as he took it from me.
"Yes, there's four of us and we all use Harry's owl. I figured I could get one as well to make things easier for Hedwig." I explained as Hagrid motioned for the other bags on the ground.
"Ah, he's is a beauty." Hagrid held the cage up to his face.
"Thank you. He is lovely." I agreed as the large group headed towards the Leaky Cauldron.
We were traveling through the fireplace again. I had everyone go ahead of me since I had the biggest purchases. Tom had offered to help load everything into the fireplace. I gave him my thanks as I dropped some powder on the wood underneath me and shouted "The Burrow."
I stumbled out of the fireplace and Mr. Weasley was quick to start removing my things from the fireplace.
"Thank you." I nodded to him.
"You're welcome Casse." He nodded back to me.
I started to head upstairs with my bag of books and cat food.
"Cassie?" Mr. Weasley was rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yes?" I paused.
"What did you and Lucius Malfoy talk about outside the store?" He asked.
"Does it really matter?" I asked, more curious to know the answer.
"It does." He nodded to me as he sat down on the chair next to Mrs. Weasley's.
"We just talked about my magical abilities, and he mentioned how I may be from a pureblood family because of it." I answered.
"That is all?" He leaned his head back with a sigh.
"Yes." I didn't stick around to answer any more questions.
I when I made it to Ginny's room I opened the door and she was quick to hide something under her pillow.
"What you got there?" I asked.
"Nothing." She answered a little too quickly.
I raised my eyebrow at her and nodded, "okay, I'll respect your privacy. Come help me with the last of this stuff please?"
She nodded and went down the stairs with me. Mr. Weasley didn't bother me when he saw Ginny was with me. Ron and Harry were passing us down the stairs.
"We're about to go flying, want to come with us?" Ron asked.
"Maybe in a little. I want to let Barnabas out and introduce him and Ariel together." I shook my head.
"Alright, we'll be out there whenever you want to join." Harry patted my shoulder and let Ginny and I pass.
I gestured to Ginny to put my things on my bed. She did and then sat on her bed. She was glancing at her pillow where she hid the thing.
"Don't worry, I have a letter from my mom I want to read. As soon as I'm done introducing Barnabas," I opened the door to my owl's cage and he flew right out and to the top of the dresser. "To Ariel, I will be out of here and you can take your secret out." I winked at her as Ariel came out from under the bed.
"Okay." Ginny nodded, her cheeks reddening as she looked guilty.
I picked Ariel up who started to purr and I lifted her so she and Barnabas could smell each other. Ariel gave a little hiss but didn't swipe at him. Barnabas just looked at her and started to preen his feathers. I put Ariel on the bed and cleared off my purchases and put them under the bed.
"Do you want to go out flying again tonight?" I asked Ginny.
"Not tonight." She shook her head.
"Alright, I'll see you at dinner." I was concerned she didn't want to go flying, I usually told her no because I was too tired.
I made sure the letter was still in my back pocket as I walked down the stairs.
"Dinner will be ready in two hours." Mrs. Weasley said to me as I walked through the kitchen.
"I'll have the boys home by then." I grinned to her.
She nodded and went back to cooking. As I walked out and passed the garden, Mr. Weasley had the hood of the car open and he was muttering under his breath with his wand in his hand. I acted like I didn't see him and I don't think he noticed me. Once I was a good distance away from the house, and not to the clearing where I knew Harry and Ron were, I pulled out my letter and opened it.
'Treasure,
You're twelve now! Oh how I wish I was with you. I bet you look like your father. You haven't found anything out about him yet, have you? I made sure even he didn't know about you. There are only two people who know who your father is. Albus Dumbledore is one of them, the other is Remus Lupin.
Don't go looking for Remus, he's gone into hiding so that he doesn't draw attention to himself. Albus… Albus won't say anything until you learn the name of your father.
I'm sorry for dragging this on. I know you're probably dying to skip to the end to learn who he is, but Treasure, you need to know he was a different man before. He and I didn't love each other, not yet anyways.
The vault was my idea. We both knew we were going to be exiled from our families so while they weren't looking we got a joint account together and put what we could into it. We… We had one night together where we made you. And I don't regret that night, but I didn't get a chance to tell him. He… Oh Treasure I can't tell you everything yet. It's not my place. I know you're a smart girl. Maybe you can decide for yourself what kind of a man he is.
Your father's name is Sirius Black.
Love, mum'
Holy moley this was a long chapter! I could have split this chapter into two but I really want to have Cassie read her mothers note in the first chapter. If this story starts to feel rushed please let me know I will try to slow it down for you guys! I do plan on trying to lengthen the chapters since I do enjoy how long this one is. The chapter itself is over 9,000 words! And that's not including my little note down here!
Shout out to MarsUltor45 for following and favoriting the story and me.
2takuya: I'm super excited for book 3 as well! SO MUCH IS GOING TO HAPPEN okay probably not a whole lot but enough to continue the story the way I see it going. And the best part about the reader knowing about Cassie's parentage is that she still doesn't know. I mean, now she has a name, but she still doesn't know what we know and I think that's what makes this so frustrating for the reader and you just have to know what her reaction is going to be. I'm just super excited for this book because it's going to set the tone for next two years with her friends. I can't wait to get the ball rolling!
Shout out to katie owl and BottleGreenFairy for following the story and katie owl to adding it to their favorites list!
katie owl: I'm actually surprised you guessed Lupin. I thought I was being super obvious with the first book who her dad is! And I'm super flattered you read my first book so many times!
I was going to wait until the New Year to post the first chapter. But I just couldn't wait any longer, and don't worry I will post every week a new chapter but instead of during the week it'll be on Sunday. It's my only 'for sure' day off and I figured I'd better utilize it. Enjoy the book!
