Happy New Year, ya'll!
So, this chapter is a bit... choppy?
I needed to get out of Year 1 and 2- because NOTHING happens during them. Not enough to make a chapter about, anyway. Some cute bits for flashbacks later on, yeah- but not full chapters.

Hence why it skips through the rest of Year 1 and skips Year 2 all together.

Cassia's 3rd year is when it allllll hits the fan and gets interesting. You'll see here, it all begins.

Enjoy?

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter- but Cassia and Rue are mine

The rest of term resumed shortly after—and before anyone knew it, the end of the year had arrived. As Cassia followed her brothers—and two best friends Rue and Dora—into the Great Hall, she groaned at the sight above. The banners were clad in Green with a Serpent insignia.

"Don' worry 'bout it too much, Cassie," Tonks elbowed her," S'only your first year. You'll get'em next time! We'll all make sure Slytherin House comes in last!"

A small smile lifted the corners of her lips at Dora's statement, giving her a nod of agreement before they all went to their House tables to prepare for the End of Year feast.

It bummed her a little bit—because not only did they lose the House Cup, but Gryffindor also lost in Quidditch this year. Their match in February against Slytherin was a loss, but they beat Ravenclaw in April. Unfortunately, Slytherin came out on top for all their matches—making them the champions that year.

"Just another thing for the Slytherin's to rub in Gryffindor's faces," Cassia thought glumly, as she took her seat. Behind her at the Green table, she heard some laughter—followed by a loud voice that caught the attention of any Gryffindor in the area.

"What'dya know? Slytherin won both cups this year!" Flint boasted.

"Yeah—and Gryffindor lost both! Just like every year," Montague chimed in, as the entire section of Slytherin table laughed.

Cassia spun around and pierced Montague with her green eyes," Just you wait! We'll win next year—and the next! You'll never win another House Cup after this one!"

The Slytherins laughter only increased, causing Cassia to ball up her fists. Bill placed a calm hand on her shoulder- turning her back around.

"Don't pay them any attention Cas. It'll only stoke their ego."

"They're like this every year," Charlie rolled his eyes.

"Well, they wont be—not next year—not if I have anything to say about it," Cassia frowned, determination sinking in.

If only she knew how wrong she was.

Exactly one year later, they sat in the same exact spots, their backs to the Slytherin table as the Great Hall was adorned in Green once again.

"At least the Quidditch Cup went to Ravenclaw this year," Cassia sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping as the Serpent table behind her was loud and lively- if only because of Gryffindors continued loss.

"Don't worry about it too much, Cassie," Bill softly smirked to his sister.

"Just let them win? Never," Cassia scoffed at the insane idea," Next year. Next year is ours. For sure!" The eldest Weasley shook his head in amusement at his sisters determination.

"Whatever you say, Cas. Whatever you say."

0o0o

A little over a month later, Cassia sat at the kitchen table with her Hogwarts letter in front of her. It was the year she could choose her electives—and she didn't know which to take.

"Divination sounds easy enough… but I've heard complaints from other students about Professor Trelawny… Ancient Runes sounds a bit more complex— but a little fun," Cassia thought, going through the list again," Charlie and Bill love Care of Magical Creatures—but the professor seems a bit… scary…"

"It's not a hard choice, Cas," Percy told her, walking past her towards the stairs," Just choose a few classes."

"But what if I don't like the class I choose?" Cassia questioned," What if the class I choose doesn't do me any good when I finally figure out what career I want to follow? Then all of it will be for nothing! This is a serious choice Perc!"

"She's right, ya know," Charlie chuckled, walking in from outside, dirt all over his clothes and smudged on his skin," The classes she chooses have to make sense for her career later on. Just as your electives do."

"Charles! You are completely filthy!" Molly accused as she walked into the kitchen and saw her son.

"Sorry Mum—I was practicing quidditch dives."

"Well—get up stairs and clean up. Suppers about done."

"Yes Mum," Charlie nodded, before looking to his sister and telling her," Listen to your heart—the class that calls to you most. If you seem to keep going back to one—or doubting one—then you know."

"Thanks Charlie," Cassia smiled, trying to duck as he passed and ruffled her hair playfully.

"Anytime kid."

"Mum—have you heard from Bill?" Percy asked.

"Not yet—but I would assume he's plenty busy. First day at Gringotts—he's got to be learning all the ins and outs, getting settled and all."

"Curse Breaker at Gringotts—pretty much what he wanted to do," Cassia noted, remembering his interest in Curse Breaking from previous years.

"I do hope he stays safe—it can be a dangerous line of work," Molly fretted, looking over at the family clock to see that Bill's hand was still pointed to work—just as Arthur's was.

"It's Bill we're talking about," Cassia told her mother," I'm sure he'll be just fine. He has to be. Oh—can you sign my Permission slip for Hogsmeade?"

"I'm sure you're right Cassie—and of course, just leave it there on the table- I'll sign it later tonight along with Percy's," Molly smiled warmly, as Cassia returned the smile and returned her attention to the parchment in front of her.

'Listen to your heart—the class that calls to you the most.'

Taking a deep breath, she makes the checks on the parchment before rolling it up and sending her response to Professor McGonagall via owl.

"What did you decide upon sweetie?" Molly asked, as Cassia turned back around—a confident smile on her face.

"Care of Magical Creatures—that and Muggle Studies."

"O—oh, that's—I'm sure you'll like it," Molly smiled to her daughter, watching as she disappeared up the steps. As soon as she was out of sight, the happiness turned to slight worry—as she remembered Minerva's words from 13 years previous.

"Her mother is muggle born. Does she know? How would she… Bill and Charlie both know—they aren't to say anything… Not until we're ready to have that talk with her… Maybe it's just coincidence? It has to be…"

The following month passed quickly- before any of them knew it, it was the day before they all left for Hogwarts once again. Arthur and Bill were away at work; Charlie, George, Fred, Ron and Ginny were all outside playing some friendly quidditch; Percy and Cassia in their respective rooms, both reading a textbook for the upcoming year.

They had all spent some time downstairs, chatting with their visiting Aunt Muriel, before going about their usual activities. Now, Muriel and Molly chatted amongst themselves in the kitchen, catching up a bit before Muriel left for home. After a couple hours, Cassia decided to head downstairs and see if Molly needed help with supper. Placing down her level three Potions book, she padded down the steps—coming to a stop at the first landing as Muriel's voice floated up towards her.

"—told her yet."

"It's none of your concern Muriel. Arthur and I fully plan on telling the girl—but when the time is right."

"The time is right? There's never a right time to tell someone the truth Molly. When will the time be right? When she's seventeen? Thirty?"

"Are they talking about… about me?" Cassia wondered, crouched down carefully to listen further. She hated it—it felt like she was eavesdropping on her mother—but her curiosity was getting the better of her.

"When Cassie doesn't have so much on her plate."

"They are talking about me," Cassia realized, listening even more so," What truth could they mean?"

"If she was my daughter—"

"Well, she's not," Molly sniped.

"She's not yours, either—and it's about time she knew that she was adopted."

Suddenly, the world around her seemed to freeze. Her heartbeat intensified. It was as if everything was flipped upside down.

"I'm… adopted? No—no that's not—"

"—careful with what you say. Bill and Charlie are the only two that know. Now, I think it's high past time you headed back home," Molly said coldly, staring at her Aunt.

"Take my word for it Molly—the sooner that girl knows the truth, the better. For everyone. What will you tell her when she wants to know about her birth family? What else will you lie about?"

"I'm-" Cassia stared at the wall across from her, her body frozen in shock. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she barely heard the commotion of the rest of the Weasleys coming in from outside. Quick as she could- Cassia took off up the stairs and raced to her room, shutting the door behind her. Sliding down to sit on the floor, she hugged her knees to her chest and stared unseeing at the other side of the room.

"My whole life…" Cassia thought, memories coming to mind of all the times she spent with each Weasley—Molly, Arthur… Bill… Charlie.

"They all four knew the truth—and never once told me…" Cassia realized, hurt bubbling up in her chest.

She was full of conflicting emotions.

Sadness.

Hurt.

Betrayal.

Then the final emotion hit her like a ton of bricks—as her green eyes narrowed.

Hate.

Anger.

"Some family," Cassia scoffed, pushing up off the floor and stalking over to her bed as Ginny walked in.

"Cassie—Mum says suppers—"

"Not hungry," Cassia bit out, flopping onto the bed and yanking the covers over her head. Her youngest sibling stood there—confused by her behavior.

"Are you okay Cassie?"

"I'm. Fine."

"Okay…" Ginny murmured uncertainly, slowly turning around and walking out of their room.

"Just fine without any of you," Cassia thought darkly, the warm tears trickling down her face.