I walked out of the Great Hall with my head held up high. I was relieved that I managed to keep the worst my past a secret , but I am worried that I wouldn't be able to keep it that way for long. With my feet slapping the floor I began to skip down the hall in the direction I hoped the green houses were for Herbology. I got strange looks for skipping bare foot through the halls but I didn't hear the whispers that followed so I didn't mind.
"Cassie?" Stefanie's voice called to me.
"Hmm?" I paused in the hallway, turning around to the see the seventh year to my left.
"What are you doing barefoot?" She asked me.
"I couldn't find my shoes." I shrugged as I walked over to her.
"Do you need a pair of shoes?" One of the boys she was with asked, already unlacing his shoes.
"No, but thank you." I smiled kindly to him, putting a hand on his arm to stop him.
"What's wrong with your face?" A tall boy asked, crossing his arms and looking down at me.
"It's called a scar, I woke up with it one morning." I glared at him, also crossing my arms.
"Hector be nice." Stefanie nudged him with her elbow.
"My name's Cedric Diggory." The boy who offered me his shoes held his hand out to me.
"Cassie Zwart." I shook it, giving him a smile.
"Are you lost, Cassie?" He asked, lacing his shoes.
"I don't think so. I'm looking for the green houses." I held my piece of paper out to him.
McGonagall tapped it and my schedule had showed up when she handed it to me.
"Oh that's behind the school. I can take you there, I have a free period." Stefanie said, taking a look at the time table.
"I would really appreciate it." I smiled at her.
"Smiling makes your face uglier than normal." Hector stated, sniffing at me.
Stefanie gasped and slapped his face. I could only stare at him.
"You can consider whatever we had going on, done." Stefanie snarled.
I was in to much shock to fight her as she led me away from him.
"I'm ugly?" I asked quietly.
"Cassie. Don't you dare listen to him. He doesn't know what he's talking about." She gripped my arm as we walked out to the side of Hogwarts.
I touched my scar, not believing her.
"Is it fine that I'm here? I mean, things were better at Charlotte's." I whispered to myself.
Stefanie stopped our journey and kneeled in front of me.
"The first week is always the hardest." Stefanie put a finger under my chin and raised my head to look at her brown eyes.
"But-" I started.
"Hector is just one person in school of so many others. You're friends with Harry Potter for goodness sake! Shouldn't that say something about your life here?" She smiled at me.
I couldn't bring myself to smile back, I was taking Hector's comment to hard. Stefanie seemed to notice because she gave me a hug.
"You are beautiful Cassiopeia." She whispered in my ear.
I hugged her back, and I'm sure she felt my nod.
"Chin up, I won't let him bother you again." She pulled away and nudged me to the green houses.
"Thank you Stefanie." I tried to smile to her.
She nodded as I walked on the soft grass to my class. Walking in, I saw Neville already there and he was waving to me. Taking my first step into the green house, I shivered at the cold water under my feet. The sensational was quickly forgotten when I took a look around me. There was green everywhere, potted plants were hanging from the ceiling and vines were attaching them. Flowers with hues of purple, pink, blue, yellow, orange, and so many others lined the walls. In the center of the room was one long table, it was wide enough though to fit many pots on it though.
Walking over to Neville I felt the wet soil that had fallen to the ground, it wasn't unpleasant. But the feeling could grow on me, I guess. Neville moved over for me to stand next to him. First year Hufflepuff's came in after me; the green house began to fill up. Harry and Ron came scrambling in, Neville and I moved over for them to stand next to us while a small plump woman came in with a smile on her face.
"Hello first years! Welcome to Green House One, today you will be learning what properties the plant Foxglove has. Get your parchment and take notes!" She came in and started pointing her wand at a purple flower in the shape of a bell.
"It's a pretty color." I stated, focusing on the color and I knew I succeed when I heard a gasp from the girl across from me.
I grinned up to Susan the girl in Hufflepuff, she blushed and looked away. I felt a slight tug on the back of my hair and when I turned I saw that Neville was looking at my hair in his hand.
"Do you see how it changes?" I whispered, not wanting to let Sprout know that we were talking about my hair and not the assignment.
"S-so-sorry!" Neville stuttered, jumping a meter in the air.
"Is something the matter back there Mr. Longbottom?" Sprout's voice called from the front of the house.
"No! No! Um, uhhh..." Neville stuttered.
"He was apologizing because we missed the last thing you said and he was trying to ask if you could repeat that." I lied to her, sending Neville a friendly wink.
He blushed a deep red and gave a hesitant nod.
"If I'm speaking to fast don't be afraid to say something then." Sprout smiled at us.
Smiling back at her and then at Neville, we finally took notes. Looking at Ron's his were messy, and Harry just looked confused at everything. Hermione was scribbling down everything Sprout said as fast as she could keep up. Neville's notes were impressive, they were organized and labeled and everything my parchment wasn't.
Every now and then I would interrupt Professor Sprout and have her repeat some stuff because I honestly would miss it, but also to keep the boys from being embarrassed for asking. Hermione and I earned about thirty points all together in this one class. Me mostly for 'not being afraid to ask questions' and Hermione 'for being prepared and then some.'
Neville had an incredible knack for Herbology, he even earned us five points for planting the Foxglove seeds perfectly in his plant! He ended up helping me and we both earned a point each. Me for not being afraid to ask for help and him for being nice and helping me. We were quite happy when we walked out, Ron and Harry patted Neville on the back and his turned red but he was happy.
"Hey scar face!" Hector's voice called out.
I stiffened up but turned to face him.
"Yes?" I asked.
"You ruined my relationship with Stefanie." He snarled at me.
"You ruined it yourself. Besides I knew Stefanie first." I shrugged, trying to look like I was calm.
"She was mine! I was going to ask her to Hogsmeade the weekend we were allowed but your ugly face showed up and ruined everything!" He stood over me.
I'm sure it was my imagination but he seemed to get bigger.
"Leave her alone." Harry pulled me away and behind him.
"And who are you?" Hector turned his sights on Harry, anger flashing in his eyes.
"I'm Harry Potter." He stated.
"H-H-H-Harry P-P-P-Po-Potter?" He stuttered, actually taking a few steps back.
"What is going on out here?" Professor Sprout demanded from behind me.
"Professor Sprout! This girl intentionally ruined what could have been the most spectacular relationship to happen to me!" Hector pointed a finger to me.
"Professor?" I asked timidly.
"Yes Zwart?" She turned to face me.
"He called me ugly." I whispered.
"FIFTY POINTS FROM HUFFLEPUFF! I WILL NOT EXCUSE BULLYING! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL A STUDENT THEY ARE UGLY! I AM TAKING YOU STRAIGHT TO ALBUS!" Professor Sprout was screaming and even though she was much shorter than Hector, she had a hold of his ear and was dragging him after her.
"That was exciting." Harry deadpanned.
"Cassiopeia dear, would you come with me? I think Albus should hear your side as well." Sprout turned around at the door to the school.
"Looks like I better go." I slumped.
"We'll see you in Charms?" Ron said, patting my shoulder awkwardly.
"Oh Defense Against the Dark Arts." Harry shrugged.
"I'll see you later." I nodded, giving them a wave.
Neville had to be lead by Harry and Ron he was so dumbfounded and shocked that his face was like a fish. I gave a quiet giggle and followed Sprout through the halls getting looks from the other students. I was walking with my head held high and was starting to get nervous when we got closer.
"Cassiopeia, where are your shoes?" Sprout asked.
"I lost them." I shrugged.
"Would like me to get you a new pair of shoes?" She asked me, walking towards a gargoyle statue.
"No it's fine, I like being barefoot anyways." I gave her a small smile.
"Well if you need shoes before winter sets in, don't be afraid to ask." She smiled as we paused in front of the statue.
"Mars Bars." Sprout said, and the gargoyle stepped to the side to reveal a staircase.
"I love this school." I whispered, earning a chuckle from Sprout as we walked up the staircase.
It seemed to take us forever to get the staircase and to a huge wooden door. Sprout knocked and we heard an "enter" so we did. I gaped at the many books and knick knacks around the room. There were even portraits of people on the walls. Some of them were sleeping, but I'm pretty sure several of them opened an eye to see who we were; before going back to sleep.
"Ah, Pomona what a lovely surprise!" Dumbledore said from his seat.
There was a beautiful bird behind him. It had red feathers and beady black eyes.
"That's a phoenix."
"Yes, yes it is. This is Fawkes." Dumbledore chuckled.
I blushed and I know my hair turned pink at that. I didn't realize I said that aloud.
"Albus, Hector Smith here was bullying miss Cassiopeia Zwart." Professor Sprout pulled Hector forward.
"Really? Mr. Smith, why would you do such a thing?" Dumbledore asked, gesturing to me to have a seat on the chair that wasn't there before.
I offered it to Professor Sprout who gave me a smile and sat on it. I chose to sit on the floor at her feet. Everyone gave me a strange look but Hector quickly turned back to glaring at me.
"Sir, I was going to ask Stefanie Glazer to go with me to the upcoming Hogsmeade trip but Zwart," he said my last name with so much malice that I actually flinched. "Showed up and ruined any chances I had with her."
"Ms. Zwart?" Dumbledore looked to me from across his desk, his twinkling blue eyes looking over his half-moon spectacles.
"Stefanie was asking me where my shoes went. Cedric Diggory offered his shoes to me, he's a nice boy, and Stefanie asked me where I was headed when Hector asked what happened to my face. I answered as Stefanie elbowed him and told him to be nice. Cedric formally introduced himself as Stefanie was looking at scheldule and offered to take me to the green houses for Herbology since she had a free period. When I smiled to her Hector said that smiling makes my face uglier," that earned a gasp from Sprout and she put her calloused on my shoulder.
"Stefanie slapped him and told him that whatever they had going on he could consider it done and stormed with me out to the yard. I was heartbroken that someone would say I was ugly so Stefanie tried to comfort me but it didn't really work. When I got into Green House One, Neville Longbottom had saved me a spot and we waved Harry Potter and Ron Weasley over to where we were and Nevillie helped me and I helped Harry and Ron."
I took a breath.
"When we left Harry, Ron and I were patting Neville on the back because he had earned us some points on the first day of classes and we were proud of him. During that time Hector called me 'Scarface' and started going off about how I ruined his plans to ask Stefanie to Hogsmeade," Sprout's hand tightened on my shoulder but relaxed soon enough.
"He called me ugly face and Harry stepped in. He stood up for me and when Hector tried to back away Professor Sprout came and when we told her the situation she took fifty points from Hufflepuff and brought us both here." I finished, my voice breaking several times but I did not let the tears fall.
"I see..." Dumbledore nodded, looking at me for an uncomfortable amount of time.
I held his stare. He was blurry for a while but my tears finally dried up before they could spill. He then turned to Hector who started to fidget even before Dumbledore looked at him.
"I will be taking an addition twenty points from Hufflepuff," Hector's head shot up and rage was in his eyes as he opened his mouth.
"For you to learn that not only do actions, but words also have consequences," Dumbledore continued, raising a hand to stop him.
Hector shut his mouth but he was still glaring.
"You will also have a weeks worth of detention with Mr. Filch and you are banned from the first two Hogsmeade trips." Dumbledore finished.
"Yes sir." Hector nodded and turned around to leave.
"If I hear that you have bullied Ms. Zwart or anyone else, I will have no choice but to expel you." Dumbledore said softly.
Hector gave a stiff nod and walked out of the office. Professor Sprout patted my shoulder and stood up.
"Would you like to stay Ponoma?" Dumbledore asked kindly.
"Thank you Albus, but I must get back to my class. I didn't ask anyone to cover for me." She smiled before waddling out of the room.
I stood up and gave my legs a little shake.
"Ms. Zwart, would you like some tea?" He offered, when I looked at the desk there was a pot and two tea cups with a bowl of sugar cubes and a little pitcher of milk.
"Oh please?" I asked, sitting into the chair as it moved forward.
"How many sugars?" He asked, waving his wand to the tea pot.
"One sugar, and some milk please." I requested, settling down and pulling my feet into the chair.
I pulled my skirt over so that he wouldn't see anything inappropriate.
"You seem to have a knack for attracting bullies." He stated, mixing my tea as I requested.
"I noticed." I nodded, accepting the teacup and saucer as they floated to me.
"Any idea why?" He made his own cup of tea.
"Maybe because of this," I gestured to my scar. "Or maybe my ability to do this." I shrugged changing my skin color to a purple color and then back to my tan complexion.
Dumbledore chuckled as he took a sip of his tea. I smiled and took a sip of my own.
"I do apologize that your first day has not started out to well. I would like to promise that it would get better, but even I cannot see into the future." He said after a moment of silence.
"It's not your fault, you can't handle every little thing your students do." I shrugged.
"You have an understanding of the world that you shouldn't have." He raised an eyebrow at me.
"When you get bullied as you grow up, you begin to realize just how the world works." I finished off my tea in a gulp.
Dumbledore gave a solemn nod and waved to the tea pot with his hand.
"No thanks, but thank you." I let go of the saucer and the teacup and watched as they floated to the little tray.
"I'm going to reward Gryffindor twenty points." Dumbledore said as soon as he finished his own tea.
"Why?" I asked, tilting my head.
"You were brave enough to tell me the truth. And you should be awarded for it." His eyes twinkled.
"Thank you sir." I nodded, a small grin on my face.
He nodded and we sat there in a comfortable silence for awhile.
"May I ask you a question?" I asked, putting my feet on the ground.
"You may." He nodded, sitting back in his seat.
"Do you know who my father is?"
