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 and Kenya! I also claim full credit/blame for the writing and elements of the plot.
A/N: Please remember as the story progresses that it is set in an AU and I am going to take it off on tangents at points! Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter – if you do, please review!
Sorry this is a short one, but it's just a filler chapter really. Enjoy!
To Cassie's surprise, a hand attached to a Gryffindor-robed arm immediately caught hers and pulled her into the next classroom along the corridor.
"What's going on?"
"Sorry about that. I just didn't want to be laughed at for talking to a Slytherin; nobody likes me as it is. Hermione Granger, by the way." Cassie shook the hand she was offered. "I remember you from Charms; first in the class to manage Wingardium Leviosa, weren't you? I'm Cassie Prince – I think I have the record for the most destructive use of that spell in one lesson." Hermione giggled. "That might be true. It was a pretty good casting, though – Professor Flitwick must be quite a bit heavier than a feather!" Cassie smiled at her and they continued to chat for a few minutes.
--
"Anyone seen Cassie?" Draco asked his ever-present henchmen. Crabbe and Goyle shrugged. Draco wondered whether he'd done something to upset his friend. She had been acting a little oddly lately. Perhaps she was missing female companionship; lately she had been hanging out exclusively with the three boys and Draco had even noticed a growing tolerance of Pansy and her gang since Kenya's departure nearly a month ago. For some reason, the new girl didn't seem to sleep in the dorms with the other girls. He wandered casually over and sat next to her as she read in the common room.
--
"So, why did you kidnap me anyway?" Cassie joked. "Oh, I wondered how you'd got all those spells working for you so well, and I really just wanted to ask how you convinced Malfoy to do the duel properly rather than at midnight… I was trying to convince Harry and Ron and it didn't go so well." The Slytherin groaned. "I know. Boys… they never seem to think of the sensible option, do they?" Shaking their heads in despair, the two girls parted, promising to meet in the library the next day. Cassie headed back to the Slytherin common room, her brain finally registering that she had done the unthinkable and had a civil conversation with a Gryffindor. She decided not to mention it to Draco.
--
"Where- oh! There you are." Cassie plonked herself into an armchair by the fire, next to Malfoy and his new friend. "Hi, um… Laura?" The girl looked up from her book and smiled. "Hey, Cassie." Cassie blushed, ashamed that the other girl knew her name while she was still guessing. "What are you reading? Anything good?" Laura gave her a wry smile. "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, still. I've been reading it since the start of term. It's not very interesting, but I don't want to fall behind…" Cassie laughed. "Did you see the plant called the Hare-faced Pox-gobbler yet?" Laura chuckled and held out the book for Cassie to show her the page.
Draco slipped away to the boys' dormitory five minutes later, leaving the two girls deeply engrossed in conversation.
