Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his wonderful world does not belong to me.

Chapter nine

or

A letter and an Absence

The day after Mcgonagall had confronted the Gryffindor students, Cassie woke up in the Gryffindor Common Room surrounded by whispering first years. Cassie snatched herself up and left, to the sound of the children's gossip.

The next day, she woke by little Sylvia Manning shaking her. Sitting up, she saw Sylvia with three other small girls, all giggling. "We were wanting to know if you would sign our autograph," giggled Sylvia. Cassie shook her head, and stumbled out of the room.

So it continued. Cassie almost didn't want to sleep, but she always fell asleep at nine, whether she wanted to or not. Her life had been turned around, all because of her strange condition.

All the Gryffindors except for Ron, Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and the twins (who thought it was a great joke) avoided Cassie. Even Seamus and Dean had ceased talking to her. They were not sure how to treat her – they were all worried that it might not just be her condition. To the majority of the Gryffindors it looked like she had a condition where she could appear in their common room at will.

Strangely enough, Cassie did not mind that much. She had lived so long without friends, that it felt wonderful to have some. Even the few that she had made her happy. She had come to wish that she had let the Sorting Hat put her in Gryffindor, instead of begging to be put in Slytherin. Hadn't the Hat said that Gryffindor would be a much better fit? Yet she had insisted, and now she was stuck in a house that she didn't belong in.

But Cassie had to remind herself that it was really her fault that she didnn't have any friends in her house. When she was in first year she had pushed away all of their advances, and now she was stuck on the outside looking in on friendships. There was no way to fix it – it was too late now – but Cassida told herself that she didn't care. She had friends in Gryffindor now.

However, Cassie saw them rarely. They were mostly in different classes, and in free time they all had studying to do. She didn't see Hermione at all that week. Ginny told her that she was in the library, trying to find out why Cassie looked so much like Ron. Cassie had merely rolled her eyes. Hermione was getting a bit ridiculous.

At breakfast on Saturday morning, Old Hunger dropped an envelope on her plate. She slit it open, and started to read.

My Dearest Cassie,
When you wrote about this condition that you have,
I must confess, I was immediately terrified. Are you
sure you're okay? Sleep Disapparation does sound
horrible. What a fright you must have had the first
time! I do pray that the specialist will be able to
help you, and without too much money involved.
I am so, so glad that you have a partner for the ball!
I knew someone would ask you eventually; you just
had to give him time. What does he look like? What
are you going to wear? You wrote that your grandmama would
handle it – but I do hope that you get to pick the dress.
My dear, you wrote that you have finally made some
friends. Do tell me – what are their names? What
houses are they in? I hope they are not in Gryffindor.
How I wish that your grandparents had agreed to send
you to a school that doesn't have a Gryffindor. Wouldn't
that be splendid? Ah well. I am still talking to the lawyer -
it looks like he will be able to help me, thankfully. One day,
Cassie Dear, one day you and I will live together happily
and in peace! I love you. Thank you for understanding.
I hope that your appointment with the specialist will
go well. I know it will.
Love you to the moon and back,
Your Mother.

Cassie wiped away a tear, and carefully folded the letter. She would reply to it later. She was interrupted from her thoughts by Pansy Parkinson. "Whatever can you be reading that affects you so?" asked Pansy.

Cassie was about to reply, when she was interrupted by Daphne Greengrass, who was sitting next to her. "Oh leave her alone, Pansy, you get letters too you know."

Pansy glared at Daphne. The two of them had been friends when they were younger, but Daphne had soon recognised Pansy's violent tendencies and had moved apart. The two were now on not very nice terms, to say the least, and were a pain to share a dorm with. "Oh so I'm not allowed to be polite and ask why the poor redhead is crying?" said Pansy coldly.

"Because whatever the reason is, it's none of your business, and knowing you you'll just tease her about it!" cried Daphne.

Pansy was suitably squelched, and Cassida squeezed Daphne's hand and whispered thanks.

"No problem," said Daphne. "She's such a bully, it really gets to me sometimes."

\\\

"Soooooo... what are you two going to wear for the ball?" asked Ginny on Sunday afternoon.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Will I ever get away from this question? Do you know how many times Lavender has asked me that?"

"I'm not sure yet," smiled Cassie. "Aunt Sybill said she'll send me something."

"Yeah, mum will send me an old thing through by Tuesday," said Ginny. "I'm not going to buy something new, dress robes are soooo expensive. But Angelina promised that she will help me to change mum's robe up a bit."

"That will be nice," said Hermione.

"Well?" said Ginny.

"Well what?" said Hermione.

"What are you wearing?"

Hermione sighed. "I picked out a nice dress robe in the catalogue and ordered it. I'll take the ribbons off though – they are so awfully daggy."

"Do you have any idea what your aunt will send you?" Ginny asked Cassie.

Cassie shook her head.

"Don't worry," smiled Hermione. "If you don't like it, I'm sure Angelina will help you change it. I think a nice green would suit you lovely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some research to do." Hermione waved the two goodbye, and left the Great Hall in the direction of the library.

Ginny waved her off. "She really does think we're related," she grinned.

Cassie smiled. "Just cause we look alike."

Ginny tilted her head, and inspected Cassie. "We do look alike, so I can see why she would think that. But... we're not related. Sorry."

The two giggled, then left the hall for the lake, where the twins had told them that they were going to hold a swimming race. It was obviously rigged, but it would still be fun to watch.

\\\

On Monday, Cassida was excused from her afternoon classes, as Madam Pomfrey was taking her to St Mungos for an appointment. They traveled by floo, as Madam Pomfrey was not comfortable allowing Cassie to disapparate with her.

When she returned later that day, she was immediately sought out by Hermione, Harry, and Ron. "How did the appointment go?" they all wanted to know.

Cassida just shrugged. "Well enough, I suppose."

"What did the healer say?" Hermione prompted.

"He said that I do have Sleep Disapparation. And that it will cost 2000 Galleons to have it fixed."

Ron and Harry gaped at her. "2000 Galleons!"

Hermione was downcast. "I feared as much. It's so ridiculous – what if someone can't afford it?"

Cassie sighed. "I don't know. It just means that my grandparents will have to pay for it – which means that that's yet another reason why I can't live with my mum."

"Wait – why don't you live with your mum?" asked Ron.

"Well, I live with my grandparents," explained Cassie. "They don't even want me to see mum. Mum's trying to get a lawyer and fight for us but it's not going so well, to be honest."

"Why don't they want you to see your mother?" asked Harry.

Cassie shrugged. "It doesn't matter anyway. Have you boys ordered dress robes yet?"

Her attempt to change the subject worked, as Harry suddenly remembered that he had yet to order his robes. Ron and Hermione both advised him to simply transfigure his nicest robes that he owned. "It's the only thing you can do," said Hermione. "It's too late to order any now, and I hear Ned Baker's a whiz at transfiguration. Get him to help you."

Harry nodded, and looked nervous. Ginny was not going to be pleased if he went to the ball dressed in school robes, but it was the only thing he could do.

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