Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters except maybe the ones I make up myself!
Cassandra Lestrange ran down the long hallway of Malfoy Manor, skidded at the end and dived down the wide staircase. She was late and silently cursed the book in her hand that was the reason for her lateness. It wasn't like Cassandra was usually on time, in fact she was always late, it was just today of all days she needed to be on time.
"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late" she mumbled to herself as she skipped down the stairs two at a time.
At the bottom of the stairs, Cassandra skidded to an abrupt halt in front of a large gold edged mirror on the wall and silently appraised the image looking back at her. Her dark, almost black, hair fell in shiny ringlets down her back but gave the impression that it hadn't been brushed that morning, her large blue eyes were slightly bloodshot from staring at her book all morning, and her cheeks were flushed from running through the Manor.
"Oh don't you look lovely" the mirror sarcastically remarked.
"Shut up" Cassandra remarked distractedly as she attempted to comb her fingers through her hair and smooth the creased lines of her cloak, which until a couple of minutes ago had been in a scrumpled heap on her bedroom floor.
It wasn't that Cassandra particularly cared how she looked- in fact she thought to herself Narcissa usually made a fuss about nothing- she just couldn't bear the inevitable tide of remarks Narcissa would make if she turned up looking like she'd just been pulled through a hedge backwards…again.
Satisfied that her appearance was not going to get any better, Cassandra hurried through the hall and reached the entrance hall. Predictably she was last…and she was late.
"Where on earth have you been?" Narcissa Malfoy half shouted as she hurried across the entrance hall to meet Cassandra "and what happened to your clothes…and your hair? You can't possibly stand on platform 9 ¾ looking like that- people will think we're neglecting you!" Narcissa's tidal wave of reprimands continued as she circled Cassandra with her wand tidying Cassandra's hair and straightening her cloak. Cassandra could never quite measure up to Narcissa's impeccable personal standards; the woman was always so impossibly tidy- how could a person look so perfect all of the time?
Cassandra chanced a glance at Lucius, who was stood a couple of feet away from the scene, an amused smirk on his face. When she caught his eye he winked in response to her resigned face, and Cassandra was silently relieved, at least he wasn't mad with her too! Across the hall, her brother Scorpius was also receiving the traditional Malfoy women's telling-off from his mother Astoria, apparently he'd forgotten to pack his socks and two small house elves were hastily packing these in his trunk. His father, Draco, was stood observing the scene a bemused look on his face.
When both Narcissa and Astoria both seemed satisfied that everything was as it should be the party was ready to leave. Lucius approached Cassandra and pointed to the book still held in her hand:
"It was a good choice then Cassie? I'm assuming that's what made you late?"
Cassandra grinned back at him; the book had been a going-away present from Lucius: "I love it! I'd still be reading now if Posy hadn't told me you were all waiting."
Lucius chuckled "well I've always had impeccable taste, even if I do say so myself!"
He was right Cassie thought- it was Lucius' fondness of reading that had caused her own love of books- in fact he had taught her to read himself.
"Lucius! Please hurry up or the train will be gone and you'll still be stood there!" Narcissa admonished from her position by the fireplace.
"Calm down Narcissa, it can't possibly leave without the Malfoys" Lucius called back.
But quietly to Cassie "we really should hurry though, there won't be any reasoning with her if we miss that train."
As Scorpius disappeared in a flash of green flames, flanked by his parents and followed by Narcissa, Cassie found her feet didn't want to follow them. Her feet remained glued to the floor, even as Lucius took her hand and pulled her towards the fireplace.
"What if everyone hates me?" she blurted out suddenly "what if everyone thinks I'm just like the rest of my family and they all hate me?" This niggling fear had attached itself to Cassie and wouldn't let go- she'd managed to put it to the back of her mind but now the time had come to leave her safe haven the fear paralysed her.
"How could anyone hate you Princess?" Lucius crouched down in front of her and took her hand in his. "No one is going to hate you- you're beautiful and clever- people will be queuing up to be your friend. Anyway, no one will dare upset you, remember you're a Malfoy and a Lestrange!"
Although his words did something to dispel her fears, her stomach was still in knots. After her father was killed fighting aurors, the Malfoys had brought her up as one of their own- Draco and Astoria had even adopted her into their family. But it was Lucius who had really loved her as his own daughter and made her feel safe and it was the thought of leaving the safety of his care that made her most frightened. Cassie was no fool- feelings were still strong against the families of the former death eaters and she didn't know how other children would react to her.
Taking a huge breath in; Cassie repeated Lucius' words in her head 'you are a Malfoy and a Lestrange, a Malfoy and a Lestrange..' and determinedly walked towards the fireplace. Lucius squeezed her hand and stepped into the flames shouting "Platform 9 ¾."
A whirl of flames later and still gripping tightly to Lucius' arm with one hand and holding her book in the other, Cassie emerged onto Platform 9 ¾, where a huge steam train stood waiting at the platform. The steam billowing from the train signalled that its departure was imminent- and most of the other students were already on board the train.
"Finally! I thought you were going to miss the train!" Narcissa said whilst simultaneously pulling Cassie into her strong embrace. Astoria and Draco each kissed her on the cheek before Lucius pulled her into his arms.
"Remember Cass, you are anything but ordinary, you're special and never forget that" he whispered in her ear.
As he released her, Narcissa bundled her on board the train behind Scorpius saying "hurry! You're trunk is already on board!" Almost as soon as Cassie had climbed on board the doors closed behind her and the train began to move. She waved silently out the window, until the figures on the platform had disappeared from sight.