Well, it's a few days late, but it's here! Chapter 7! The one you've all been waiting for (probably)! And it's my longest chapter yet ..
Thank you to hottieanimegurl and Guest for your reviews! :)
Enjoy!
Chapter 7
By the time Cassandra reached the tall wooden entry doors, she'd completely dried off and the sun was peeking over the horizon. The doors were closed, which wasn't surprising, given how early it was.
Blinking with confusion, she saw a strange lack of door knobs on the wood before her.
'What?' she mumbled. Cassandra swore she could remember there being door knobs here. 'Huh. I guess something has changed.'
She knocked hesitantly and waited. No one answered.
She knocked again. Same result.
Everyone's asleep, she thought to herself.
Reluctantly, the witch gave a door a light push, but it didn't budge. She tried again with more force, and still the doors stayed resiliently closed.
Irritated, she glanced around to make sure no one was watching her, and then slammed her shoulder into the wood as hard as she could. Nothing happened.
'Ow!' she cried, cradling her injured shoulder and glaring at the door. 'What the hell?'
With a growl, the girl whipped out her wand to use the Unlocking Charm, when her brain screamed at her to stop.
Slow down, girl. This is Hogwarts' front door, not a locked broom closet. There'll be protective charms everywhere to defend against people trying to enter the school uninvited. Like you. Remember, you're not a student at this Hogwarts.
Taking a deep calming breath, she slid her wand back into her robes.
Cass supposed she could wait for classes to commence. The doors would surely be unlocked by then. But by the look of the sun, it had to be around 6:00am. She'd be sitting here for hours.
She lifted her fist to knock once more, just in case, when the door swung inward so abruptly it threw Cassandra off-balance.
Standing just inside was a short, podgy boy wearing thick-framed glasses. Cass assumed he was a First Year. His greasy brown hair hung in curls around his plump face. When he saw her, his mouth fell open in shock.
''re you a Muggle?' The boy asked warily with a loud Cockney accent.
'N-' The boy interrupted her.
''Cos if you're a Muggle, I'll 'ave to stun you, won' I?' His hand slipped into his pocket, as if preparing to attack her.
'I'm not a Muggle,' she said quickly.
'Oh,' his hand reappeared without his wand. He squinted at her suspiciously. 'oo are you, then?'
'I'm Cassandra Al-'she stopped herself. Perhaps she should give a false name? Something more nondescript? 'Maxwell. Cassandra Maxwell.'
'I'm Ernie Prang. First Year.' Ernie puffed out his chest proudly.
'Well, Ernie, suppose you could take me to Headmaster Dumbledore?'
''eadmaster? Only 'eadmaster at 'ogwarts is 'eadmaster Dippet. I reckon you meant Professor Dumbledore?'
Cass gasped inwardly. Of course! Albus Dumbledore wasn't the Headmaster in this decade! Before him, Armando Dippet had been Headmaster.
The witch shook her head as if to clear it and gave Ernie her most convincing fake smile. With an air of desperation in her voice, she said, 'How silly of me! I meant Professor Dumbledore, of course. So … could you take me to him?'
The boy frowned and his nose wrinkled as he thought for a few seconds. 'Hmm … I suppose I could.'
With a sudden grin, he offered her his arm. 'Just take my arm, ma'am, and we'll be there in a flash.'
Cass smiled and hesitantly obliged. He led her off down a corridor, their arms linked.
On the way they passed bleary-eyed students who gawked at Cassandra with confusion and shock. People began whispering among themselves. Cassandra shrunk down a little with self-consciousness.
Ernie patted her hand. 'Don't mind 'em, now. Nosy folks, tha's all they are.'
Turning a corner, they were very nearly trampled over by the apparently all-male Gryffindor Quidditch team. A deep chorus of 'Ernie!' rang out and, tall and rowdy, a few of them heartily slapped the First Year on the back.
'You coming to watch the game, Ern?' A pretty-faced, golden-haired boy asked, pausing to let his team pass.
'You bet, Sammy.'
'Good,' the guy replied cheerfully. His eyes moved to Cass and lingered. 'I hope you're coming as well.'
Before she could reply, Sammy's teammates called out for him. He gave Cass a cheeky wink before catching up with the others and disappearing around a corner.
'They're good fun.' Ernie laughed, his portly cheeks glowing red with glee.
Blushing fiercely, the witch stared down at her shoes and murmured, 'I'm sure they are.'
A little lost in her thoughts, Cassandra didn't notice someone turning into the corridor ahead of them.
It was only when she heard urgent footsteps approaching did she finally glance up.
A tall, broad-shouldered boy was hurrying towards them, his well-fitted black robes billowing out behind him. Even from a distance he was gorgeous.
For just a second, the witch felt slightly bitter. Where were all the good-looking boys at her Hogwarts?
As he grew closer, Cass had a better view of his face. Strong-jawed, with a straight nose, piercingly dark eyes and short black hair styled into waves, he was intimidatingly attractive.
'Ernie,' the boy called in a deep, authoritative voice, 'who is this?'
Cass gulped when his eyes moved coolly to hers.
'This 'ere's Cassandra Maxwell.' The boy chirped, lifting his chin proudly, as if bragging.
'And what is she doing here?'
'Well, she was knocking away at the front doors, so I thought to meself, I'd be'er go answer 'er before she bloody well puts a dent in the wood . . .' As Ernie blabbered on, the boy studied Cassandra, sizing her up, as if she could be some sort of danger to the school.
Cass almost laughed.
Glancing up, she met his penetrating gaze head on for a full second before losing her nerve. Staring anywhere but his face, she noticed a prefect badge in the Slytherin colours adorning his chest.
'Ernest.' The boy finally interrupted his endless chatter. Dipping his head to meet Ernie's eyes, he said in a grave tone. 'You should never have let her in.'
Ernie's whole body seemed to shrink down a size. 'I-I'm sorry.'
The boy sighed and patted Ernie's shoulder reassuringly. 'It can't be helped now. Run along, breakfast will be soon.'
The scolded boy gave Cassandra a sheepish smile before scurrying away like a mouse caught in a kitchen. Alone together, the other wizard directed his voice at her.
'Miss Maxwell, I will escort you to the Headmaster, if you don't mind.' His tone indicated that she didn't have a choice in the matter.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled her voice and said, 'I really must speak to Professor Dumbledore at once.'
For a fraction of a second, Cass thought she saw resentment flicker across his face. But then he shot her an easy smile and her thoughts disappeared. With an arm hovering behind her shoulders, he herded her forward. 'Perhaps Headmaster Dippet will organise a meeting.'
'Of course. T-thank you.'
This walk was much less cheerful than the one with Ernie, and she was struggling to keep up with the boy's long-legged stride.
Hogwarts was really coming to life by then. Students were beginning to swarm through the halls, some running errands but most in search of food. The students looked slightly different than they did in her time period. The boys were far better groomed and the girls almost exclusively had their hair carefully styled. At least now most people were staring at her escort rather than her.
Cassandra and the boy entered the courtyard. Her eyes flew up to the clock tower, which remained unchanged. The rising sun glinted off the giant Roman numerals.
How could she have been up there half an hour ago and yet be down here now, decades before then? She couldn't wrap her head around it all.
Her thoughts were shattered by a mob of girls flocking towards them in a frenzy of giggles and stylishly curled hair.
'Sweetheart, there you are!' A statuesque girl with glossy black ringlets and a strong New York accent swept up beside the boy, practically shoving Cass away. Pressing the front of her body against his side, she rested her cheek on his shoulder. 'You're sitting with me for breakfast, aren'cha, doll?'
'Maybe, Caroline. I have to take care of something first.' Gently separating himself from Caroline's close embrace, he gestured to Cass with his head. The girl's cat-like green eyes scanned over Cass and promptly slid away, clearly dismissing her as 'not a threat'.
'Sure thing, Tommy. See ya' later.' She strutted away, posse in tow, somehow transforming the shapeless grey Hogwarts uniform into something form-flattering. With a glamorous hair flick, she shot him a sultry smouldering look over her shoulder.
Your name is Tommy, huh? Cass pondered, looking at the boy from the corner of her eye. She instantly rolled her eyes.
Tommy seemed utterly enamoured in Caroline's retreating figure. The uncomfortable girl loudly cleared her throat and the bewitched boy awoke from his hormonal stupor. His cool demeanour instantly returned.
Reluctant to return to the awkward silence, Cass desperately attempted to break the ice as they resumed walking.
'Your girlfriend seems lovely. Caroline, was it?'
His eyes forward and posture uncomfortably rigid, he replied, 'Yes. She is lovely.'
He clearly didn't appreciate the small-talk.
And so the silence returned.
'This is the Headmaster's office,' Tommy informed Cass. They were standing before the daunting wooden door and the witch's mind was racing.
What would Headmaster Dippet be like? Would he be wise and comforting like Dumbledore? Or would he be stern and cold? Would he kick her straight out of Hogwarts without hearing her cause? What if she never got a chance to speak to Dumbledore at all?
Cassandra's breathing hiked. She felt panic closing in on all sides, like a pack of snarling wolves, creeping ever closer.
Get a grip on yourself, Cass! Panicking now is only going to make things worse.
She clamped down on the fear and locked it away in the back of her mind.
'Not now,' she muttered.
'Beg your pardon?' Tommy asked, leaning slightly towards her. She felt her face flush red, and took a miniscule step back.
'O-oh, nothing.'
Cass sucked in a deep, calming breath; she was about to meet the man that could make or break her entire mission. As Tommy knocked on the solid wood, the witch sent a quick prayer up to the universe.
The door swung in almost immediately and a soft but clear voice summoned the pair in. 'Please enter, Miss Aldaine and Mr Riddle.'
Cassandra's heart skipped a beat. Riddle? No, it can't be.
Her companion strode into the room ahead of her, oblivious.
'T-Tom Riddle?'
'Yes?' The Dark Lord's head turned and those intelligent dark eyes flashed in the dim glow of candles.
Oooh, boy! Please leave a review and any ideas for the plot because I haven't quite planned the next chapters out yet .. :/ Woops.