Yes, I know that I had no creativity what. So. Ever. When it comes to this chapter.
And I also hope that I'm not making Fred seem terribly OOC in this chapter (The little he's in it.)
I, sadly, don't own Harry Potter. Because if I did, Fred, Dobby & Sirius would have never died. NEVER.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Cassie felt relieved when she heard the name of the house she would be in. She handed the hat to the professor and ran over to the table to take a seat next to Harry.
One of Ron's brothers turned to her, "Well, aren't you a pretty little thing, eh, Fred?" He asked his twin.
"Never seen anyone of the like, George." He answered and she felt her face go red.
She ducked down her face to hide the blush and heard Harry laugh next to her.
"Your attention please." Professor McGonagall called and Dumbledore stood up, "Let the feast begin." He said and immediately all kinds of food appeared on the tables, shocking Harry and Cassie slightly.
One of Ron's brothers, who had introduced himself as Percy, turned to Cassie, "Did they say your last-name was Vergo?" He asked, "Are you somehow related to Estelle Vergo?"
Cassie nodded her head, "She was my mother." She answered timidly without looking up.
The feast passed by quickly and Cassie noted, with a small smile, that Harry seemed to have made quick friends with Ron, and she herself was well on the way of becoming friends with Hermione.
She also noticed that one of the twins had been staring at her for quite some time now, and it was making her feel very self-conscious.
She looked at him, "Do I have something on my face…?" She asked shyly.
He seemed to blush, embarrassed at having been caught staring, "No, no….it's just… is that your real eye color?" He finally choked out.
She felt her cheeks heat up once again, and answered with a timid; "Yes." Seemingly pleased with the answer he turned to his twin again.
Hermione turned to her, "Is that really your eye color?"
Cassie nodded, "Yes, it's a bit strange but there's nothing I can do about it, is there? And besides, I kinda like it. It is actually my favorite color."
Hermione smiled, "They are very pretty." She said.
She saw Ron reach for something and then quickly let out a yelp of surprise when a head came up through the table.
"Hello." The man said, 'He must be a ghost', Cassie thought, "How are you? Welcome to Gryffindor." The ghost continued and surfaced from the table.
He had very old looking clothes, 'Very medieval ', she thought. He had very curly hair as well as a goatee and a small moustache. To sum it up, he was very pleasant looking.
Cassie looked around and noticed that there was about twenty, or so, more ghosts flying around the hall.
They all had very out-dated clothing but all of them had the same somewhat shimmery silvery color to them.
"Hello, Sir Nicholas." Percy said, "Have a nice summer?" He asked politely.
The ghost, Sir Nicholas, turned to Percy, "Dismal. Once again, my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied."
"I know you," Ron said, "You're Nearly Headless Nick." He said and Cassie almost wanted to face-palm at his lack of tact.
"I prefer Sir Nicholas, if you don't mind." He said with a slight bite to his tone.
"Nearly headless?" Hermione began, "How can you be nearly headless?" She asked and the ghosted grabbed his head and tilted it to the side.
"Like this." He said and Cassie shuddered, his head was, as he said, hanging onto a small piece of skin making him, as they'd called it, ''Nearly'' headless.
They soon finished eating and started following Percy up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Tower.
"Gryffindors, follow me please. Keep up. Thank you." He said as he hurried up the stairs, making those at the end of the line have to run slightly to keep up with his pace.
He stopped in front of a staircase, "This is the most direct path to our dormitories." He said, "Oh, and keep an eye on the staircases. They like to change." He added as an after-thought.
He started walking up the staircase, "Keep up, please, and follow me. Quickly, come on. Come on." He said impatiently.
He stopped in front of a painting of a rather fat lady, dressed in a long dress, "Password?" She asked.
"Caput Draconis." He said confidently and led them inside once the portrait had slid open.
The room was decorated in mostly gold and red, 'That must be our House colors.' Cassie thought.
"Follow me, everyone. Keep up. Quickly, come on."
"Gather around here," They stopped in front of Percy and he began to speak; "Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Boys' dormitory is upstairs to the left. Girls, the same to your right. You'll find all of your belongings have already been brought up."
Hermione grabbed Cassie's hand and started dragging her up the stairs.
They entered the room, which had theirs and some other girls' names on the door. It was a quite large room, five desks stood against the walls and there was a door that seemed to lead into a bathroom. The five beds looked really comfortable and had thick drapes, in a rich red color, surrounding them.
Cassie saw Zane sitting in his cage and her trunk was sitting at the end of the bed.
"This must be mine." She said quietly and walked up to it.
Their uniforms were lying on the chairs next to the beds.
Cassie put on her pajamas and turned to Hermione, "Good night, 'Mione." She said and climbed into the bed.
"Mione?" She asked.
"Uhm… yes. Can I call you that?" Cassie asked shyly.
Hermione smiled, "Of course you can!"
-
Hermione and Cassie were making their way to their first transfiguration class, talking quietly amongst themselves.
"I hope we do well," Hermione said, "What if they think we're horrible and throw us out?" She asked anxiously.
Cassie hooked her arm in hers, "We're going to be fine, Mione. Besides, I'll be there with you."
Hermione smiled at her and walked inside the classroom.
The class had been going on for a while and Professor McGonagall had just demonstrated her Animagus transformation, when the door burst open and Harry, followed by Ron, ran in.
Hermione looked at Cassie and rolled her eyes.
"Phew, made it." Ron said, "Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?"
'He shouldn't have said that,' Cassie thought.
The cat jumped off the desk and transformed in mid-air, making Harry and Ron's jaws drop.
"That was bloody brilliant." Ron said.
"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley. But perhaps it would be more useful if I transfigured Mr. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch. That way one of you might be on time." She said, looking down at them sternly.
"We got lost." Harry said and Cassie wanted to face-palm.
"Then, perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats." She walked back to her desk and Harry sat down next to Ron at their place.
"It was very rude of them." Hermione said.
Cassie turned to her, "What?"
"Being that late to class, of course. That's gonna end up on their record you know." She said and continued writing.
Hermione and Cassie sat at a tabled in the Potions room when the doors burst open and a man, who kind of looked like an overgrown bat, stalked up to the front of the room.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class." He said and turned to the class, "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few…who possess the predisposition…. I can teach you how to bewitch the mind….and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death."
'Even though he scares the hell out of me,' Cassie thought, 'I think I'll actually like this class, he seems like a really good teacher.'
"Then again," He continued, "Maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts with abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not pay attention." He sneered out, glaring at Harry.
He walked up to Harry's desk, "Mr. Potter. Our new celebrity." The disgust and hatred in his voice confuses Cassie.
'Harry's never met him before, has he?'
"Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" He asked him.
Hermione's hand shot straight up while Harry just looked confused and shook his head.
"You don't know? Let's try again. Where, Mr. Potter, would you look if I asked you to find a bezoar?"
Harry once again shook his head, "I don't know, sir." He said and Hermione's hand stayed firmly up in the air.
"What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
"I don't know sir." Harry repeated.
"Pity. Clearly, fame isn't everything. Is it, Mr. Potter?"
Cassie felt the energy start to crackle around her hands and Snape's eyes shot to her, surprise in them.
"Can you tell me then, Ms. Vergo? Same questions as Mr. Potter."
He didn't even bother repeating them and Cassie took a deep breath, "If you added asphodel to wormwood you would get the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar can be found in the stomach of a goat and there isn't a difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane. They are the same thing." She said, trying to channel some confidence into her voice.
Snape sneered, "Very well."
"Eye of rabbit, harp string hum. Turn this water into rum." Seamus could be heard chanting further down the table from where Cassie sat.
Harry turned to Ron, "What's Seamus trying to do to that glass of water?"
"Turn it to rum. He actually managed a weak tea yesterday, before-" He was cut-off by a loud 'BOOM!' "That." He finished.
Hermione and Cassie put their hands over their mouths to try and stop the giggles from escaping.
They looked at each other and rolled their eyes then whispered at the same time, "Boys."
A chirp could be heard from above them and Cassie heard Ron say, "Ah, mail's here."
Owls, of different colors and sizes, flew into the hall, dropping off packages at the tables.
"Hey guys, look." She heard Dean say, "Neville's got a Remembrall."
"I've read about those," Hermione began, "When the smoke turns red, it means you've forgotten something." Which it did straight away.
"The only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten." Neville said and Cassie let out a small laugh.
Harry turned to Ron, "Hey, Ron, listen. Somebody broke into Gringotts. 'Believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches… Gringotts goblins, while acknowledging the breach, insist nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 713, had in fact been emptied earlier that very same day." Cassie's head whipped around to look at Harry.
"Isn't that the vault we went to with Hagrid?"
Harry nodded, "It sure is."
-
Hermione and Cassie walked down to the Quidditch pitch, with their hands linked, to take their flying lessons.
"I'm kind of scared, Cass." She said, "I don't deal that well with heights."
Cassie gave her hand a squeeze, "It'll be fine, Mione. Besides, I don't think we'll go that high anyway."
They quickly chose their places, taking two that were next to each other, and waited for their teacher.
A woman dressed in a black flying-robe complete with gloves and glasses, walked out to the field.
Her cat-like yellow eyes looked over the students gathered there, "Good afternoon, class." She said.
"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch." The class echoed and she came to a stop at the end of the lines.
"Welcome, to your first flying lesson. Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone, step up to the left side of your broomstick. Come on, now. Hurry up. Stick your right hand over the broom and say; 'Up.'"
Cassie put her hand over it and before she could say anything, the broom flew up to her hand.
Hermione turned to her, shocked, "How did you do that?" She asked, puzzled.
Cassie just stared at the broom with wide eyes and shrugged her shoulders.
"Now, once you've got a hold of your broom, I want you to mount it." Cassie did that and waited for more instructions, "Grip it tight. You don't wanna be sliding of the end. When I blow my whistle, I want you to kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your broom steady, hover for a moment…then lean forward slightly and touch back down." Madam Hooch said and grabbed the whistle that was hanging around her neck.
"On my whistle. Three, two…" She raised it to her mouth and just as she was going to blow, Neville shot off the ground.
"Mr. Longbottom….. M-Mr. Longbottom." She repeated, trying to get Neville down again.
"Down, down!" He shouted with panic in his voice.
He flew off, the broom wobbling and diving up and down.
"Come back down this instant!" Madam Hooch called.
And come back down he did, not just the way they wanted him to.
The broom seemed to pick up speed and was wobbling even more now. It went straight at one of the walls and Neville was thrown into it, falling towards the ground and landing harshly.
Madam Hooch and the rest of the students ran over to him.
She sat down next to Neville, "Oh, dear. It's a broken wrist. Poor boy. Come on now, up you get." She stood up and turned to the class, "Everyone keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing." She said and started leading Neville away, "Understand? If I see a single broom in the air…the one riding it will find themselves expelled before they can say Quidditch."
"Did you see his face?" Cassie heard Draco say behind her, "Maybe if the fat nub had given this a squeeze ha would have remembered to fall on his fat arse." He said arrogantly, holding up Neville's Remembrall.
Harry stepped forward, "Give it here, Malfoy." He said angrily.
"No. I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." He said and mounted his broom, "How about on the roof?" He said and started flying upwards.
He looked down at Harry, "What's the matter, Potter? Bit beyond your reach?" He taunted and before Cassie could grab onto him he mounted his own broom and flew off towards Draco.
Draco seemed surprised that he actually went after him, let alone was such a natural at flying,
"Give it here, Malfoy, or I'll knock you of your broom!" Harry threatened.
Draco seemed unfazed, "Is that so?"
Harry shot of straight at him but Draco dodged him, "Have it your way then." He said and threw the Remembrall in a straight line towards a wall.
Harry quickly flew after it, catching it just before it hit the wall.
He flew towards the ground again and landed without a problem.
The group ran over to him and started congratulating him;
"Nice going, Harry!"
"That was wicked, Harry!"
"Well done, Harry!"
"Harry Potter!" Someone called from behind them.
They turned around and froze when they saw Professor McGonagall standing there.
"Follow me." She said and they walked off.
-
"He shouldn't have done that." Hermione said as she and Cassie were walking back to the common room.
"There wouldn't have been any use in telling him no, Mione. I know Harry. Once he's decided to do something or help someone there's no use telling him no. He's very stubborn."
Hermione linked her arm with Cassie's, "You know each other very well, don't you?"
Cassie nodded, "We live with his aunt and uncle, and let's just say that they aren't the nicest people in the world. I mean, our room, that Harry and I share, is a small cupboard underthe stairs."
Hermione's jaw dropped, "UNDER the stairs?"
"Yeah, and the weird thing is, they actually like me better than Harry."
"That is kind of weird."
Harry, Cassie, Hermione and Ron were walking to their next class when Harry dropped the bomb; "I've been made the Gryffindor seeker." He stated proudly.
"Seeker? But first years never make the house teams! You must be the youngest Quidditch player in a-" Harry cut him of.
"A century, according to McGonagall."
"Hey! Well done Harry." They heard someone from behind them, "Wood's just told us." The voice continued and they saw Fred and George walk up next to them.
"Fred and George are on the team too. Beaters." Ron said and Cassie felt, Fred?, throw an arm over her shoulders.
"Our job is to make sure you don't get bloodied up too bad." The other twin said, 'Probably George', Cassie thought, 'I need to learn how to tell them apart.'
"Can't make any promises, of course. Rough game, Quidditch." He continued.
"Brutal, but no one's died in years. Someone will vanish occasionally, but they'll turn up in a month or two." They said and with a wink to Cassie from Fred they walked off.
Hermione turned to her and saw that her cheeks were tomato red, "Do you fancy him?" She teased her and started laughing when she saw her cheeks go even redder.
"Uh… I-I don't know." Cassie stammered out, "Maybe?" She squeaked and Hermione laughed.
They turned to the boys, "But I never even played Quidditch. What if I make a fool of myself?" They heard Harry say.
"You won't make a fool of yourself; it's in your blood." Hermione said and upon their confused looks started dragging them towards an corridor.
She stopped in front of a cabinet and pointed towards a small gold plate.
"Whoa, Harry, you never told me your father was a seeker too." Ron said.
Harry shook his head, "I didn't know."
They were walking back to the common room and had just gotten to the staircases, "I'm telling you, it's spooky. She knows more about you than you do." Cassie heard Ron whisper and she grabbed onto Hermione's hand when she saw her face fall.
"Don't listen to him, Mione." She said quietly.
Suddenly, the staircase flew out from the wall and started heading towards another.
"What's happening?" Harry asked.
"The staircases change, remember?" Hermione said.
"Let's go this way." Harry said.
"Before the staircase moves again." Ron added.
They hurried up the rest of the staircase and came to a stop in front of a large wooden door, Harry opened the door and they walked in.
"Does anybody feel like, we shouldn't be here?" He asked.
"We're not supposed to be here." Hermione said, "This is the third floor. It's forbidden."
A torch lit up and Harry turned around, "Let's go!" He said but quickly came to a stop when they heard meowing from below them and saw a cat with disturbingly red eyes looking up at them.
"It's Filch's cat!" Hermione said.
"Run!" Harry shouted and they took off after him.
They ran along a long dark corridor filled with dust and cobwebs until they could see another wooden door at the end.
"Quick! Let's hide through that door!" Harry shouted and tried to open it, "It's locked!" He exclaimed angrily.
"That's it. We're done for it." Ron said anxiously.
"Oh, move over!" Hermione said and pushed them out of the way. She pointed her wand at the door and said; "Alohomora."
The door opened and they slipped in quickly.
"Alohomora?" Ron questioned.
"Standard Book of Spells, chapter seven." Cassie answered.
Hermione looked through a small gap in the door and said; "Filch's gone."
"He thinks this door is locked." Ron said and looked around.
"It was locked."
"And for good reason." Cassie squeaked out.
They turned around quickly and came face-to-face with a giant three-headed dog. It looked at them and growled loudly.
They screamed and quickly ran back through the door, having to push it close as the dog was trying to push one of its heads through.
They ran back down the corridor and out to the staircases, "What do they think they're doing? Keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?" Ron exclaimed once they'd entered the Common Room.
"You didn't see what it was standing on?" Hermione asked him.
"I wasn't looking at its feet! I was a bit preoccupied with its heads!" He said, "Or maybe you didn't notice? There were three!"
"It was standing on a trap door. Which means it wasn't there by accident." Hermione shot back, "It's guarding something." She said as she stopped in front of the door to the girls' dormitories.
"Guarding something?" Harry asked.
"That's right. Now, if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed." She turned to Cassie, "Are you coming?" Cassie nodded and gave Harry a quick hug before following Hermione through the door.
Please R&R!
Insert Spooky voice~ And thanks to my Beta Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape... And please read her story Changed By A Letter!
Sorry guys had to do it. ~ Mira