Disclaimer: Just like anyone else on the site, I don't own Harry Potter.
The character of Cassie is mine, though, and so are Laura, Kenya and any other OCs. I also claim full credit/blame for the writing and elements of the plot.
A/N: I know, I know. I can't apologise enough for how long this has taken me… I'm gonna blame personal stuff and, well, the complete lack of canon references to the Slytherins pre-Hallowe'en. I will hopefully be updating sooner this time, since I've got the bit I was blocked on out of the way. Thanks for your patience and thanks as always to everyone who reviewed last chapter. Enjoy!
"And he wouldn't answer?" Laura laughed. Draco shook his head. "No. He just went off to iron his ears as punishment for whatever it is he did to get it in there in the first place. It wasn't one of Mother's trifles, at any rate, so I don't see why it should be important." Cassie raised an eyebrow disapprovingly. "You still let him go off to get the ironing board, though, didn't you?" Draco waved a hand, unconcerned. "There would have been no stopping him. He's a very conscientious elf – centuries of obedience bred into him." Cassie shook her head and spotted something out of the corner of her eye. "What's-?"
She peered up at the sky outside the window of their compartment, but whatever she had seen was gone now. How strange – it had almost looked like a car appearing out of the clouds. She must have eaten a funny Pumpkin Pasty. "…Never mind. So, I heard your Dad got in a fight, Draco?" The blond boy glared at her – if looks could kill, Cassie would probably have caught fire there and then – but the damage was done. Laura wanted to know every detail, having apparently been out of the loop – and the country - all summer. Draco was forced to admit that yes, Lucius Malfoy had been involved in a common brawl in a bookshop "- but I saw the whole thing, and Weasley definitely started it. Father had the upper hand throughout, and was nothing but honourable, as befits a Malfoy." Cassie rolled her eyes – the letter Hermione Granger had sent her told a slightly different story - and turned her attention back to the scenery rushing past the Hogwarts Express until the conversation turned to more interesting subjects.
"Gilderoy Lockhart? My mum has a copy of all of his books – obviously, so do I now – she thinks he's dreamy." Laura's blush suggested that her mother might not be alone in this opinion. Indeed, Cassie knew that half the witches in the Wizarding World would do almost anything to get a smile from Lockhart, but she'd never seen the attraction herself. His charms seemed mostly to affect the over-40s of the female population, and probably a few wizards. She let the conversation wash over her again as Draco told Laura about all the people his family were connected to who were ever so close to Lockhart, and Laura swooned every time he drew breath. It was going to be a very long train journey, at this rate.
"…and I just can't tell you how lucky you all are that I graciously agreed to accept this role. Obviously, this level of celebrity is a new experience for Hogwarts – no offence meant, Mr Potter!" Lockhart grinned toothily at them all before he noticed the absence of said celebrity. "I say, it seems Harry has decided not to join us for the feast tonight. No doubt he felt he couldn't compete with my star quality!" Draco was still sniggering when Dumbledore finally stood up to announce the food. Cassie flicked her eyes over to the Gryffindor table and noticed that, sure enough, neither Potter or his irritating friend Weasley were present. Hermione was sitting alone, surrounded by people who were studiously ignoring her, apart from the little red-haired girl she had flagged down immediately after her Sorting. The girl was clearly angry about something, occasionally gesturing towards the front of the hall and at one point, Cassie was sure, miming putting on a hat, but Hermione was clearly just nodding along; her eyes never left the newest addition to the staff table.
Draco craned his neck around to see what she was looking at and sneered. "Oh, Granger. Pathetic, isn't it? She doesn't have any other friends, so she forces the littlest Weasel to listen to her." Cassie raised an eyebrow; Hermione wasn't even talking. "And here comes big brother Weasel, probably wants to know where the other one is." The Prefect leaning over the pair of Gryffindors did seem agitated, but when he was joined by his twin brothers, his expression went from anxious to livid in a matter of seconds. He snatched the newspaper they were waving aloft and stalked off, leaving the twins to slip into seats opposite their sister and her friend. Cassie frowned. "What's up with him?" Draco was already rummaging in his bag, not even pretending not to be interested in – albeit disdainful of – what was going on at the Gryffindor table, before triumphantly pulling out a copy of the Evening Prophet. He slammed it down on the table, Sports page up, while he sorted his bag out again. Laura dragged her eyes away from Lockhart for long enough to become confused. "How did you get that? We've been on the train all day." Draco rolled his eyes, flipping the paper over to see the front page. "I have a full subscription; it updates throughout the- oh, that's priceless. If this is what the Gryffindors were looking at, Potter's going straight home."
The other Slytherins leant over to see what had put him in such a good mood. MUGGLES SPOT FLYING CAR OVER LONDON - LUTON – COVENTRY- BIRMINGHAM – PRESTON … The name kept changing, showing town after town. "A flying car? Where would Harry Potter even get a flying car? I thought he lived with Muggles…" Laura frowned, but nothing was wiping the smirk off of Draco's face. "He probably stole their car and enchanted it himself. Either way, I'm pretty sure he won't have to bother unpacking." Sure enough, by the time the students streamed out into the corridors after the feast, there was still no sign of Potter or Weasley.
The next morning, Cassie was late to breakfast. She entered the Great Hall to see Draco glaring at a wall with a face like thunder, Laura sat beside him trying to suppress the laughter threatening to overcome her. It didn't take long to work out why he was angry; at the Gryffindor table, Hermione was once again sat with her best friends, calmly reading as they laughed at something or other. She sighed and made her way to the Slythering table.
"Guess he's not on the train home then." Draco looked up at her voice, revealing a scowl that could melt stone. "Of course not; Dumbledore's wonder boy can't get enough chances, can he? He's probably getting extra attention-seeking classes with Lockhart or something." Personally, Cassie thought that in itself would be enough punishment. "I'd seek Lockhart's attention…" Laura didn't seem to be aware that she had sighed the words out loud until Draco's scowl finally vanished to be replaced with a giggle most unbefitting a Malfoy. Cassie couldn't help but smile too, as Laura went bright red.
Just then, the post owls swept in. The small, innocent-looking red envelope which promptly exploded in Weasley's face cheered Draco up no end, and provided a welcome distraction for certain flustered young witches. "You put one more toe out of line…" Cassie couldn't imagine a situation ever arising where she could offend the Weasley matriarch but she was definitely sure she didn't want to.
A few hours later, Cassie and Hermione were sharing a lunch-time study session in the library. Honestly, Cassie shouldn't have been surprised that their secret friendship had not been exposed – Draco was never seen in the library unless marched there at wandpoint and Laura had been spending more and more time in the Owlery and other such bizarre locations. As for Hermione's friends, they'd rather be anywhere but the library, apparently.
"So, how did your mates manage to stay at Hogwarts? It was them in the flying car, wasn't it?" Hermione sighed, turning a page in the textbook she was looking at. "Yes, it was, as if you didn't hear the Howler. I have no idea. I think it probably has something to do with our Quidditch chances; doesn't everything around here?" Cassie rolled her eyes in recognition of the truth in that comment, but waited to see if the Gryffindor would continue. "Ginny was really angry that they missed her Sorting, though… Ron's little sister. She was sat with me at the feast, which is good, since nobody else would." Cassie nodded. "Is that what all this was about, then?" She mimicked the girl from the previous evening, angrily miming putting on the Sorting Hat. Her friend giggled. "Yes, that was Ginny. Then of course the twins figured out what had happened, and Percy completely lost it. Of course, the twins think it's brilliant." They laughed. "Of course. Oh, look at this charm, by the way…" Cassie passed her book across the table for Hermione to see, and the subject was closed. They stayed in the library, comparing notes and catching up on the summer's events, until it was time for afternoon classes.
