Chapter 2: Cassie
"Gryffindor!" blared the Sorting Hat after having just been placed on a new first year. "Great," I thought, "Only 2 more to go." The hat was placed on yet another first year. "Slytherin!" screamed the Hat. The Great Hall immediately erupted into applause and cheering. When compared to the other houses, Slytherin clearly had more and in my mind, I was glad that I would be joining them. "Hufflepuff," said, and I mean said, the Hat. I almost felt bad for those in Hufflepuff. I remember reading about them back during the days of Harry Potter and his friends. I mean, even during the Second Wizarding War, the Hufflepuffs had the most students stay and fight! They didn't deserve this kind of resentment or insult.
Finally, it was my turn. I was met with a sort of shocking stare from all the houses and professors alike. Granted, it isn't everyday an 18 year old gets sorted into a house for the first time considering he should have been there since the beginning. I guess a lot has changed.
"Hmmm, well I haven't had one such as yourself for some time now," the sorting hat whispered. This intrigued me. "Yes yes, you seem to have a fire inside you. A dark passion for coming out on top. It only feels right to place you in Slytherin but no, no that would not be right. I see intelligence and the will to learn very prevalent in you. You would do well in….Ravenclaw!"
Shortly after hearing this, the heads of the Ravenclaw students snapped in my direction. It was apparent that they didn't want someone with Slytherin traits in their house. But slowly, one by one, they went back to what they were doing, accepting my placement in their house as something they had no control over. I made my way over to my new "family" as it would be, finding a seat where I could. As our headmaster spoke, I couldn't help but think on what the Sorting Hat said about me. What did it mean by a dark passion? Could it have been referring to my family? My parents perhaps? I didn't think anything of it. I just dismissed it as something that the Sorting Hat had maybe said to many would-be Slytherins to goad them into choosing Slytherin as their house.
The evening ended with me enjoying a wonderful meal consisting of chicken wings, mashed potatoes, green beans and a round of Firewhiskey that I had brought with me. I mostly kept to myself. I felt too new. Too faceless to the many around me and I can honestly say I was grateful for that. There was however, this one girl, a Slytherin. I was making eye contact with her throughout the night and man was she beautiful. Dark brown eyes that made you think they were black, curly brown hair and well-tanned skin. Of course, leave it to me to get lost in that trance that all men fall into once they take sight of such beauty. I went and spilled my Firewhiskey all over myself. "Great. Now wasn't that attractive! She probably thinks I'm some kind of fool," I thought. To my surprise, there she was! Standing right in front of me with a towel. "Hey there!" she said whilst giggling. "Looks like you might need this," she said as she handed me the towel. "Heh, thanks. You got over here pretty quickly," I said as I was wiping myself down. I was a total mess. Hell, I'm still surprised she came over! If I were her, I would have just let the poor bastard take care of himself, but I digress. "Hehe, yep! We kept on looking at each other all night and since you didn't make a move towards me, I figured I'd come over to you!" It was giggle after giggle with this girl! "Heh, yeah I would have but I didn't think it'd be a good idea. I thought you were just staring at me in a disgusted way or something. It's rather hard being new you know? Oh, I'm Sanz by the way. Mike Sanz, but I really just go by my last name. It's a pleasure to meet you." I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself. Why not try to make a friend right? "Hehe, my name is Cassiopeia but everyone just calls me Cassie! It's nice to meet you too Sanzie!" Again, giggling like a giddy school girl! Maybe she liked me or something and was actually trying to show me that. I'd honestly consider myself lucky if that were the case. But, would she still feel the same way if she knew what I was? I doubt it but I didn't want to blow this. I was actually having a good time talking to her.
Anyhow, time passes and as we talk, she tells me she's a muggle-born which eats at me a little. I mean, here I have this lovely witch who I just so happen to like, and she turns out to be what I've been raised to hate and, on occasion, kill. I daze off into thought as she talks about her parents' lives as muggles and I continue to try and find a way to make this work. "….I said, would you like to go to the lake? Sanz? Hey! Snap out of it!" she exclaimed whilst shaking me. "Gah! Sorry! I was just…uh….lost in your beauty!" What better way to get out of not paying attention to a girl than to comment on her appearance am I right? Worked like a charm! "Awwww Sanzie! You're so sweet! Come on! Come with me!" She grabbed me by the hand and ran out of the Great Hall, across the grounds, and to the lake. Man if I didn't know any better, I'd say she was a marathon runner! I fell to the floor, out of breath, and closed my eyes. As a reward, I received a kick in the ribs along with a "Hey! No sleeping! We've got swimming to do!" from Cassie. I watched as she changed instantly into a blue bikini and tried my best not to let my jaw drop. She had to be doing this all on purpose. Clever girl! She ran into the water, and dove straight down. I was still sitting on the shore, kind of shyly. I mean, I guess she had better people skills than I did. She probably meets people all the time which is great! I wish I could do that but with me, it's better not to get too attached. Those I care about just end up dead eventually. I'd hate to such a great person die…. No, not her. I wouldn't let it happen. I'd protect her no matter what. But why? Why would I go against years of tradition, training and instinct for a girl I just met not but 5 minutes ago? I guess now wasn't the time to find out.
After finally kicking myself out of my stupid trance, I stood up getting ready to change. As I was doing so, Cassie resurfaced and the way the moon shone on her made me stare. So much that I wound up tripping on my shorts and falling. "Smoooooooooooooth!" She laughs and dives under the water again. "Oh yeah, she's absolutely perfect," I thought. I dove in after her and, oddly enough, we came up together, right in front of each other. Her eyes widened as did mine. I began to mutter "Oh..uh..sorr-" but I was interrupted by a kiss. After about 10 seconds, she pulled away from me, slowly of course, and giggled, winked and said "I gotta get going. I've got a bunch of classes tomorrow! I'll cya later Sanzie!" She kissed me once more and made for the shore and after, the castle. I couldn't believe what just happened! Why me? She's been there for god knows how long and me, the new guy, just LOOKS at her and this is what happens? Maybe I just know how to win a girls heart. I laughed and just let the thought slip away. I dried myself off and made my way to my dorm for the evening. Damn good night I gotta say. Too bad that everything goes downhill from here.
