Disclaimer: Do not own.

A/N: My Czech translation might be absolutely terrible; I have no way of testing… So excuse my terrible language skills, please.

TRANSLATIONS:

Pitomec- idiot

Malý- little

Sestra- sister

A/N: This is a short chapter, because I'm off to the East Coast- where there will be no computer access. I'm not too happy with the second half of this chapter (the letters are okay.) Oh well, I'll be uploading quite a bit when I get back.

Chapter Three

"Your highness, when I said that you are like a stream of bat's piss, I only mean that you shine out like a shaft of gold when all around it is dark."

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Marilyn,

A lovely description of your new husband, you really are quite lucky. Thank you ever so much for sharing the whole of your sex life with me… And please, I'm not sure Allison needs to know about the significance of five orgasms in one go, no matter if they're good omens or not. So try and refrain from telling her, okay?

Enclosed is a permission slip for me to go to Hogsmeade (a little Wizarding village near the school), and I'd appreciate it if you'd sign it… You are my legal guardian, remember? Besides, I'm sure your new hubby would love to hear all about your "adventures…" Please, please sign it.

- Cassidy

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Dearest Allie,

Roses bloom, flowers wilt… I promise for you, our love is like poo.

(Yes, I know that sucked, sue me, Allison)

Thank you so much for the marshmallows and other various objects- people around here don't have access to the wonderful muggle inventions. Some of the people here are very ignorant when it comes to muggles… oh well. Hopefully I'll be able to go to this Wizarding village near the school with my friends; it's supposed to be really cute.

I've sent Marilyn a letter (by the way, please ignore whatever she tells you- she's a pitomec).

Oh yeah, you owe me five sickles. I did make friends, malý sestra. Three, actually- Fred, George, and Lee. Lee's great, you'd like him. Fred and George are twins, and they have this WILD red hair, their whole family does, I guess. All of them are really energetic and great big pranksters- different, considering who I hung out with in France… But whatever, I have friends. So, pbbbt, little sister, I'm not completely lame.

Speaking of school- how IS it? Getting good grades, staying out of trouble (or not getting caught?)? How're you faring? I really wish you could be here with me, but yeah… it just can't…

In other news, I found out who my father is. Yeah. That's kinda a shocker- my head's exploding, really. I guess the Defense against the Dark Arts professor was his friend in school, so I'm going to try and bug not-so fond memories out of him…Also, the Potions Professor is a great big jerk, but I think he knew my father too. I mean, he knows his subject and all, but his attitude leaves something to be desired…

None of your teachers are giving you trouble (unnecessarily, I mean- nothing wrong with them beating a little sense into you -…)? OH, don't roll your eyes at me, missy, I'm your older sister and I'm going to take care of you no matter if you like it or not.

It's really weird, but I shouldn't write about it in a letter, so I'll tell you over Christmas break.

Love you,

Cassie

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Ivana,

Thank you for sending the updates and paperwork for the estate, I'm glad to be kept up to date. I'm sure you can handle everything; you have been running the household for the last forty years. I'll be home for Holidays, I can't wait to see you and Allie again. I trust you'll send any important news?

I have a couple questions to ask you about mother when I get back, but I'm sure it can wait until I see you again.

Love,

Cassidy

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It was the fifteenth of October, and the weather was growing colder every day, but Cassidy was having a wonderful time. Her classes were good (Snape was a prick, but what could she do?), she was getting closer to Fred, George and Lee- even hung out with Angelina, Alicia and Katie once and awhile- and she loved exploring the castle with them.

Despite the weight of her losses, and her worries about her father, she had started to adjust nicely.

One Thursday evening, Cassidy was doing her homework with Lee, waiting for Fred and George to get in from Quidditch practice. He was bouncing around, excited about the upcoming Hogsmeade evening, Cassidy watching, amused. The twins wandered in towards them, and started chatting with Lee about what they were going to get at Zonko's.

Suddenly, Fred and George's little brother started screeching, his pre-pubescent voice drawing the four's attention to him.

"OY! GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!" It seemed that Crookshanks, Hermione Granger's cat, was attacking the boy's bag.

"Ron, don't hurt him!" Hermione yelled, stuff going everywhere as Ron tried to fling the cat off his bag, a rat flying out of it.

Fred grinned at Cassidy as Ron screamed for someone to 'catch that cat.' "Ron's pet rat, Scabbers… It used to be Percy's. Guess the bloody cat is hungry." George attempted to grab the cat, landing on his face instead. The whole house was in an uproar, except for Fred, Lee and Cassidy.

Cassidy rolled her eyes as everyone started to giggle at Ron, who was still freaking out. George wandered back to the table that his friends were sitting at, rubbing his head.

"Awww… You poor baby, did you get hurt?" Cassidy asked in a sickly sweet voice. "Did the big mean kitty cat run away from you?"

"Shut it." He said, plopping down on her lap.

"Eek, get off!" She squealed, attempting to push him off, but instead her hands slipped down and pushed between them, her fingers bending against his butt. Cassidy's cheeks were aflame as she tried to lever him off of her. "Fred, Lee, help me!"

"Uh-uh, Cass, darling. You're not getting away that easily." George leaned against her, and the other two boys just watched, laughing. Jerks.

"Fine then, you big meanie." Cassidy attempted to move around him to reach her homework, but he was a dead weight. "Goddamn't, George, at least let me do my work!" He stuck his tongue out at her as Harry Potter made his way over to them. Ron had disappeared minutes ago, and Hermione had stomped up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. Cassidy found she was glad that she didn't have to share a dorm room with the irate thirteen year-old.

Harry sighed as he sat down with them, exchanging greetings with the boys, and Cassidy gave up trying to push George off, staring at her hands instead. She had been avoiding conversation with Harry ever since the first day of classes, feeling terrible that her father was out to kill Harry- that he had destroyed the teenager's chances at a happy life before Harry had been able to walk.

She was afraid that if she spoke to him, she would blurt everything, and not only would HE hate her, but everyone else would too. Cassidy used the ruse that she was wowed by the famous boy… She really didn't care about his fame, but he fell for it. She cared much more about taking responsibility for her father's actions, even if she knew she didn't have anything to do with it.

Cassidy had long since gotten over self-pity; she did the whole 'why me?' thing, she complained and cried and screamed, and now she just wanted to deal.

Yet, Cassidy couldn't help but become overrun with angst. Especially when she looked up, and was met with Harry's scar. That wouldn't even be there if not for her father.

Talking about Quidditch seemed to entertain her male friends, but Cassidy was tired- thinking hurt- and she excused herself (after pushing George off with hard hangs; he fell on his butt) to sleep.

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Bernadette: No, I'll join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people talking about wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, drugs, night clubs, and bloody Abba!
Tick: Doesn't give us much to talk about then, does it?

-The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

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