Chapter 8 – Barcelona, Tarragona and Madrid.

[Barcelona – 7th December.]

After a good night sleep in Andorra, and with everything that has been adding up she was both tired emotionally and physically, everything had gone great since she had left Britain that she felt like something was up. However, it was nice to have someone to talk to yesterday and even later today just over the phone.

Right now, she had begun her journey towards Barcelona and she could not wait to get there and maybe just do whatever she needed to get ready for her exams. No one could now interrupt her in her pursuit of knowledge.

Parting ways with Isabella and Isak was kind of hard, but it was good to have someone in her corner even if they did not know everything that has been going on in her life since the start of her life. We also thought of meeting up in the future, maybe even in Denmark a place she know had to see about visiting.

It was not long before she had made her way into Barcelona, and was now planning of places to visit but first she had to get to her small flat and then take a bath, after all she just had a couple of days here, before she had to make her way to Tarragona and then over to Madrid, as she had a meeting with someone there on the fourteenth of December.

Moreover, she knew for a fact that she will make it and do it well, both when it comes down to the magic and the muggle equivalent of her exams, though, her GCETs wouldn't be held before at the end of January.

Settling into her flat in Barcelona was easier, since she could stay here for a couple of days and begin to study somewhat everything that she would be needed to her tests, but she could also do some exploring into Barcelona's magical alley. While it was still early, she began to walk towards one of the places just some stone throws away from where she was staying to Bellesguard a place by one of the most famous artist in this part of the world – Antoni Gaudi.

The view was awesome, and the pictures more so – something she thought that her readers would love to know more about, and seeing that lately the side she had made was becoming a lot more popular in certain circles, and that she also had two curious people from Denmark that from now on will be following her journey. Making it more interesting to do this and do it good for them and even for herself.

Cassiopeia could see that there was a lot of focus on this artist, and her photographs was coming along wonderfully just because she was at the right time and place something that wasn't easy, after being here for some time she made her way up over CosmoCaixia Barcelona, a modern museum there she learned some things she hadn't known before, but nevertheless, it was great to discover places like this she may see with other people in the future – so they may learn more about the modern world outside of the British wizarding world if they don't change in the future.

It was all about having other options then the norm.

After this, she just began to walk around seeing the streets and the parks – just being content without having trouble following her or others talking down at her.

The magical part of the city was interesting to say so at least, they weren't as stingy as Britain was about labels or creatures like them back home, but she didn't stay there for long since she needed to explore more of Madrid when she came to that part of the country.

And knowing that she will stay longer in Madrid than anywhere else in the world because of everything that will be happening, didn't make this part quite as interesting at getting to a place where she would be staying longer than here.

Cassiopeia was loving the difference in every street, and in the end, tomorrow was going to be a longer day with both studying and an amusement park in the district, and hopefully the park wouldn't be disappointing.

When the days was over, she walked into abandoned street and apperiating back to her flat and started to relax with a book about Advanced Charms and Runes, she also started somewhat writing an article about her past – home life, whish she would send to the prophet before the Yule Ball. Everything was happening like she had somewhat wanted it to, but she had also thought that the people in Britain would make a big deal of her not meeting up to the first task, not just silence.

The article she was writing was easy to write, because the more she was admitting the easier it became to tell the masses what has happened to her growing up, though, what should she admit and what picture she should publish with it was the hardest part of the whole thing.

If the people wanted to contact her, they will find away to get in contact!

-POTTER-

There was some part of her that was in shock that people was reading her blog, and specially this day when she was reading the comments on the things she was writing about, and how they appreciate someone doing this and making them want to visit the places she had recommended to see.

In the days that followed, she was loving the responses she would get for every post she did and how interesting Barcelona was becoming to her, and that she wished to stay here a lot longer than she had planned, but she had been going after a schedule.

Wandering around the amusement part hadn't been great, there had been some great rides though the fastest of them weren't quite to her standard, though, it was always fun to watch the people go about their lives. 'People watching' have always been a fun hobby for her because she could learn a lot about them by just seeing them interact with others. After seeing this part, she started to just go around and taking pictures – Arc de Triomf, Poole Esponyol and Parc Gurell.

These places just had to be seen, but after having seen these places she also wondered if there was some course in cooking and creative writing where she was going next, because that would be good to have with the blog and everything.

The next night, she went to Observatory Fabra and got a crash tutorial of the sky at night, making her interested more in the sky then ever before, as it was more modern then how the whole Hogwarts experience had followed it through when it came down to teaching them about the stars.

Just seeing the historic sights weren't quite enough for her, she wanted to learn the culture – learn to dance, traditions and the food of the places she visited, because then she could actually tell people and show them the culture. That is the interesting part of visiting new places, since then she could learn something, she did not know at all about the places, something that wasn't common knowledge of the internet.

At the end of her stay in Barcelona, she had begun to study Arabic and to study up in some of the cultures in Africa and the Middle East, since she should know some of it so that she didn't horrible offend someone.

Tomorrow was yet another day that she would travel south to a town smaller than Barcelona, called Tarragona. A couple of hours car drive, where there would be just her and the roads, nothing more before she would make it to her hotel room. Being there sounded interesting, but it would not be sightseeing at all, it would be just relaxation maybe learn how to cook some of the traditional dishes of Spain or something, though, she hadn't figured out what she wanted to do there, before she had to wander to Madrid, by the help of her elves.

There was also the need to figure out her life in the muggle world, and what she wanted to become and the only thing that sounded interesting was Archaeology, maybe having a restaurant or a bakery, if her stint as the queen wouldn't take away her freedom of having her own life. Even being a history teacher had its perks, a teacher had its appeal to her since she wanted to become a better teacher than those she had been taught by.

After taking her OWL's she knew she would want to take her time learning Hieroglyphics, the ancient writing of Egyptian, maybe old English, Latin, Mandarin, or other ancient languages. It also helped her with her love of Ancient Runes, maybe even know a good deal of Norse and old Greek runes. We will see – what she wants to do in the end.

It was weird for her being only fourteen, but feeling that she was older and learning all these things, since back when she was in Hogwarts she struggled to follow up in classes and even remembering the things they where teaching, but now she learned at an advanced pace.

Then maybe that is something she need to invest her time in, making another school or another option for those that want a challenge or a program for those that want another way to learn in, but that they are still kept in the loop for everything else in the world of academia.

It's weird that those in Hogwarts don't teach us about other options we have, and even that they teach us about higher educations or if there is even a school for it – at least in the muggle world we get to know of our options if we manage the course load.

[Tarragona – 10th of December]

It took a while to get to her hotel room in the middle of Tarragona, but in the end she got there without so much of a hassle and since this was the tenth of December she has four days or so with her just being her and relaxion before everything would start up again in Madrid.

Her hotels was closer to the beach Pleya Gorda, and that was good because she knew that this time it was the beach that was calling to her with eagerness, and she would go there with a book – since she hadn't seen the point of going to course right now when she only was in this place for some few days.

The beach was wonderful place to be, and she loved it – was here every day this time, but she also went to the amusement park – PortAventura.

In the end the best part of being on the beach every day was that she was getting a tan, and started to get some colour on her pale skin, a more golden tone – something she was damn proud of since no one would defiantly not recognize her, even if she would be seen in the papers sooner or later. It would take people by surprise, and she was happy about it.

Being away from everything back home made her appreciate potion making, and herbology – making her respect both as a valuable thing to learn, but there was no love lost between things like this. Charms was still her favourite subject, because of the diversity you can make of the spells, Transfiguration was something she did not love at all – not more than a distraction if she got into a duel.

Defence Against the Dark Arts was still something she was incredibly good at, but she had no love for it, but it was wonderful to know how to defend herself if she should meet some unsavoury people on her journey.

History, Astronomy, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy subjects she absolutely had a love for, and she always strove to get better in these classes, because nothing else other than Charms beat these classes in how much she loved them!

[Madrid – 14th of December]

Even she had a blast on the beaches of Tarragona, it was now time for her elves to get me to Madrid because of her meeting with someone in the Spanish Ministry of Magic, a meeting the goblins had set up for her.

Also, she finally knew when she would be taking her OWLS, and that would be on the 2nd of January, enough time for her to freshen up everything she would be needing to know and get time for everything else that sure enough will be happening by that time.

Though, Ragnarök hadn't told her who she would be meeting there, so she would be going in blind, nevertheless with that said, she would have on her a somewhat formal clothes and just wonder who it could be that would be meeting her.

While she also where here in Madrid she would make sure to buy some communication journals, she would give as a gift to one of her friends or allies, if they will be contacting her in the coming days.

In the end, Cassiopeia found her way to the ministry – "Welcome to the Spanish Ministry of magic, who are you? Who are you meeting?" A man who guarded the door ordered her to stop, though, he was way more polite than Britain sure enough was, as he looked her over.

"I'm Lady Cassiopeia Luci Potter-Black, and I don't know who exactly I am meeting." Cassiopeia greeted back politely in Spanish, wondering what was happening and who she was supposed o meet here.

"Sandri, I will take over this as she has a meeting with me!" a gigantic looking man came over to where they were standing and spoke. The man was taller than normal, and bald, though, his eyes was kind and looked like he was important to the people around here.

"Minister." The now named man Sandri said surprised over that their own minister had taken the time and route up her for his meeting with this unknown woman in front of him.

Cassiopeia was shocked over meeting someone like this without knowing about it beforehand, this was the minister of a foreign country, and why was she meeting him today of all the people she could have met, after all, could this just be a curiosity meeting or was it something else?

"Pleasure to meet you, Lady Potter-Black!" The minister greeted her politely, "The Goblin King, Ragnarök talks about you very fondly."

"The pleasure is mine, though, I didn't know that I was meeting you, Minister…" Cassiopeia told him quite put out over meeting him like this without being prepared for it. Why hadn't the goblin king told her this?

"Didn't the Goblins tell you?" asked the minister mischievously.

"No, they didn't." "They only told me that I was supposed to meet someone." Cassiopeia smiled, and looked up at the guy who was leasing them deeper into the ministry, and sure enough they soon came to his office, knowing that this will be in the Spanish speaking papers in the morning.

"Let's get down to why I asked you here!" The minister told her, as they walked into his office and got comfortable by talking about something quite normal, before going over to whatever it was that needed to be told.

"Okay, then!"

"There has always been something fundamental changes in how each ministry are run, especially because of Britain, a country that don't quite follow the norm of the other European countries. Here in Spain, we have a close cooperation with the Goblin nations, maybe that is why they directed you towards this country as we don't discriminate between creatures, as you sure have seen you will find all kinds of creatures milling about." Said the Spanish minister with seriousness, knowing that this young lady would not create any problems with any of their citizen.

"So, you are here to sign under on some papers – one of them a permission slip you will give to your examiners giving you access to our facilities, it will also give a certain amount of privacy her in our community – duration of your stay here in Spain."

"Why?" Cassiopeia had to ask him, because it all sounded quite to convenient that there had to be something more to it, and she kind of had to somewhat trust the minister in front of her not to lead her into something that couldn't be left alone.

"Even here we have heard great things about you, and you have to say that your circumstance is quite unique, but we understand why you chose to go on a trip and get away from the place keeping you locked up. Why did you decide to travel?" The minister asked the Lady because he was curious over why she had chosen this path.

"You see… I felt stifled, trapped like I didn't belong there amongst them, I wanted to get away from my name, and the fame I got from loosing my parents. I have found out that I study better on my own – so why can't I study and discover the world?" Cassiopeia told him truthfully, because it was the best answer, she could give him – there were not any other answer!

"Exactly what we thought, here are the papers you will have to sign and while you read those I will send for some refreshment, coffee or tea?"

"Tea, please." Cassiopeia said, and delicately accepted the papers from the minister of magic, while he walked out of the office to order something, she began to read everything that was written on them as throughoutlly as possible, seeing that there was no dangerous loopholes or restrictions, she signed them with a flourish.

"There you, go." The minister told her and gave her the cup that had tea in it and then sorted out the papers, he had let her read and sign.

"Thank you." Cassiopeia thanked him grateful for the thoughtfulness of the gesture.

"Having temporary citizenship, you will be somewhat protected from the press, so, you don't need to be afraid for that the papers will give your location away to those in Britain." Said the minister as an afterthought, because being famous here in this country had some kind of protection and if she didn't want to be found then lets that be that. "It practically law here to protect people from the press at this point." "I also hope that you will ace the test!"

"I hope so to, and I will do my best!" Cassiopeia told him humbly, for her it was still hard to accept compliments from people, but she had been working on it, also, it was weird to have the goblins praising her to other people, as she was used to them acting gruffly to wizards in general.

"Here are the classes you will be tested in; you will use the whole first week in January for both the written part and the practical part." Said the minister, and thereafter handed the girl the paper where it was written what she had to study for. "Are there something you are wondering about?"

"What kind of relation do you have with the muggle government? I also notice the difference in how Spain does it, then how Britain do." Cassiopeia asked him curiously, but even if she somewhat already knew what needed to be known, she still wanted to hear what he thought about it.

"Don't they teach you this in your political classes at Hogwarts?"

"They don't have political classes!" sighed Cassiopeia, not surprised over that other countries teaches such and important class to the masses.

"You do know that you will be tested about?" asked the minister worriedly, sipping on his coffee he had in his hand.

"I do! But I wonder about what you have to say about it." Cassiopeia asked him, defending her own point of view, she was not stupid enough to not know something like this.

"I understand!" The minister smiled, now he understood, and the girl was a scholar, and could see things in a way that will help her in the future, and at fourteen years of age, younger than his own daughter, he could not help but want to mother hen her – a little bit. "It's not really widely known, we should have a comfortable understanding between each of our offices and even be comfortable in that we have an understanding – however, you will also have to talk to someone in the British government for their opinion. Do you know why you guys doesn't have classes in politics?"

"No, I don't." Cassiopeia said to him confused, "though, when we have a ghost as the history professor everything can happen1" she smirked wickedly when she saw the mirth in his eyes.

"Okay then, you will get your papers in your post box, wit the papers, before you go there will be a masquerade ball on the 25th of December, and I am inviting you to come." The minister said, though, invited her to the ball.

"I will be there, so, thank you for meeting me minister." Cassiopeia told him politely and agreed to meet up on the ball they were having, and it would be fun to take the time out of her studying and exploring of the Spanish capital for something like this.

"The pleasure is mine, though, call me Martinique." The minister told her sheepishly because he had forgotten to tell her his name.

"Okay, then. Goodbye Martinique." Cassiopeia smiled and took the trip back up on her own and surfaced quietly onto a busy street of Madrid without anyone seeing her, and then asked for Dobby to take me back to her place of stay here in Madrid.

Her villa in Madrid was not big, but it had its perks and privacy that no one could see her and what she was doing for the rest of time if she wanted to. The ball she had been invited to will be interesting, even if she could not at all dance yet – it would still be interesting to interact with people of all ages, maybe even learn a couple of dances when she was at it.

The place she was going to live in here in Madrid was spacious, but she loved it as it was cheery but had a dark theme of green, silver and blues, that was incredibly better than pink.

Also, now she could get some genuine good British tea, while she went through the list of classes she now had to study too take her tests.

OWLS

Healing – Here you need to know the basic of everything, bonuses for both muggle and magical ways.
Potions: Know the difference, know what can go wrong …
Herbology: …
Wizarding World History: …
British History: …
Spanish History: …
Transfiguration: …
Charms: …
Enchanting: …
Warding: …
Ancient Runes: …
Arithmancy: …

Politics: …
Law: …

Defence: …
Care of Magical Creature: …
Astronomy: …

If you fail some of them or want to take them again you must wait two years from the day you receive you results.

There were some classes here, she really had to study for because it something new, not completely but she really had to read up on it again after all this time. Enchanting, Warding and Spanish History was tree of the classes she had to see to more so than any other classes it seemed but even then, she would hopefully get great grades.

Then in all of this she had to get a dress, she wanted to have a creative dress and accessories that would make her shine, to make her have an unforgettable time in all of it.

Now, time would tell if she would pass her test, but now she had to get to sleep.

[15th – 22nd December]

As the days went by her quickly the more, she became sure of herself, and that she knew her subjects and that in the end of the day everything would be great and she loved the capital.

The Capital of Spain was wonderfully open to everything that was out of the norm, everything that did not and did have a perceived notion became interesting for her, and it was good to be at one place for more than a few days.

In the days leading up to Yule, she started going around to see the Real Madrid and the more touristy places to discover, with her also watching a couple of shows and going to the movies but also trying out new restaurants and other dishes that sounded both interesting and strange.

Palacio Real, Cathedral de la Almudena, Campo del Moro, Parque de Atenas and Sabatini Gardens – she visited all of these places because it was close to one another and it was castles belonging to the royal family of Spain and it was interesting to write about it and all the wonderfully done pictures she had taken.

There again some days after this, she began her visit to Plaza Mayor, Chocolatería San Ginés – this became a place where she loved to hang out since everything went smoothly and the pastries was to die for.

Plaza de España, Temple of Debod, Plaza del Dos de Mayo, Mercado San Antón and Stop Madrid – everywhere she visited had its appeal, and as always writing about them became something that she could always get behind.

[23rd of December]

This was the day, a day she had the feeling would create something great – however, things needed to be good as she only had three days before the Masquerade Ball Spain had invited her too.

It was also, a day she got some interesting letters out form her post box, letters from people she would not have normally gotten from anyone if she had stayed. Letters from Malfoy Jr. and Sr. Snape, Pansy and even Ron.

Potter.

I do not know if I either want to give you a detention or give you points for managing to get away from the hounds here in Britain, and I hope you managed to get completely out of Britain by now, if not – go!

Its quite funny to see them run around like headless chickens when you never met up for your first task but let me tell you everything went to hell when Madeye Moody lost his magic, and it was found that it was him that placed your name in the goblet.

I am proud of you, do not let me tell you this again! I hope also that you aren't slacking in your lessons.

Professor Severus Snape.

Cassiopeia had to smile, because reading it made her realise the bat of the dungeon was a teacher and that he really cared about her studies, but it shocked her that it had been her defence professor that had fallen over for his involvement.

How could that be? Wasn't he and Dumbledore close friends – ah, that is why? Did Dumbledore ask him to do this for him? This was question she may never know the answers to, but she wanted them so badly.

Lady Potter

I write to you here, because I have learned a thing or two about you from my son, and something tells me that you have finally begun to think for yourself instead of taking what the headmaster are telling you.

I have always been curious about you, and wonder who you hide underneath your mask.

Who are you?

There have always been some signs for me that you have a different perspective than anyone else in the wizarding world at large right now, and I wonder.

How did you manage to kill the dark lord? And what are your real thoughts of what is happening and about Dumbledore?

Humour me!

Sincerely
Lord Lucius Abaraxus Malfoy

This was interesting, as it sounded like someone wanted to dig into what she means in things that was happening, it was also interesting to see that he was curious about what was happening.

However, she herself had questions about him and his side of the politics and about the dark side, so, he will get a letter back from her, where she definitely asks him about these things.

Draco and Parkinson's letters were the usual support letters, but they had also an unique way to see things, because they had even talked to Ron because of some changes they had seen in him in the later times. Nevertheless, she still could not believe that Draco's father had even written to her, and it was unbelievable that she even wanted to write back to him in the first place.

Blame it on her curiosity – if you will have someone to blame it on!

The letter she had gotten from Ron was something completely different than she had thought he would send, but as expected and not, it seemed that this whole experience had matured him somewhat unexpectedly.

Hi, Cassie!

I know, I am not good with words, but I must try for my own sake and for yours.

I cannot say that I am incredibly surprised over your disappearance, have not told anyone, but Hermione has been so much more annoying lately because of it – always saying that you should come back and listen to the adults around you to anyone that is listening to her.

Also, lately I am beginning to think clearly about the way I am behaving around people in general, and I kind of hate the way I have been treating everyone around me- driving them away. Can you believe it Malfoy has even begun to talk to me!

Everything that he has told me have somewhat helped me see even clearer what has been going on all around, and it's making me question what is real and what isn't.

Nevertheless, Draco is a Slytherin, so, I am giving him the benefit of doubt.

I will not ask for your forgiveness, but maybe for a chance to prove to you that I have changed.

Sincerely, your old friend
Ronald Weasley.

Reading the letter, a couple of times, made it clear for her that something else was at foot in the school when it came down to the people in it or around it. It was also kind of sweet of him to write to her like this.

At least, he deserves a response saying that she would think about it and maybe he should check himself for compulsion spells or potions, just like she had done.

-POTTER-

In the days leading up to Christmas and the Yule Ball here in Spain, was spent corresponding with an interesting Lord, and careful orchestrated letters to Weasley.

Cassiopeia could be said to be in her element with practising spells and getting in shape for the ball, it was also the fact that she was in a shopping spree for the ball, and for gifts for her allies back in Britain.

The whole magical district in Madrid, was a lot more organised then their counter parts in both Britain and France, but maybe that is why they kept themselves away from paying closer attention to both countries in the big picture of all things holy.

At the end of one of the days she had spent around their magical district, she had found herself a perfect gown, a one shoulder black elegant, sophisticated gown, where the black went smoothly into a red, orange colour – around the waist you could see a band of diamonds placed in a wonderful sequence, that you also could see placed one the one strap that was over the shoulder. She also found a mask, that made her look elegant.

The closer it got to the ball, the more she hoped it would become a great time and also the fact that she would be getting to know other people was also exciting even if we had on our masks. It would also allow her to take it as it comes, and the fact that she could also be herself without any problem appealed to her like nothing else.

Exchanging gifts with back home, sending Lucius one of the two-way journals so that we still could keep in contact though safer, and it was fun to just talk without any problems, and not even their past would keep them from learning everything there is to know about one another.

[25th of December – After the ministry's Masquerade Yule Ball]

The whole day had been wonderful, and the ball had been one of a kind great experience because it had been her first look into how the whole world worked alongside one another, because Hogwarts was only one part of a whole society.

Cassiopeia could not either believe that she had managed to dance with a couple of guys, without stepping on someone toes. The whole ballroom had been decorated tastefully and not as flashy as she had first believed it to become because of how her experience with the people of Britain.

In the end things had been great, talked to a great guy bit it meant nothing because her paranoia was flashing warning signs all over the place when she did, and she had always taken her instinct seriously – and that this man meant nothing good for her or for anyone really. He was too good to be true.

All intention with being here the whole night dissapeared out of the window, so she only stayed there for a while before she managed to get back to her home safe and sound.

Home, she loved the sound of that because this was home at least for now, so, she manged to quickly take on some relaxing clothes, took her journal with her and plopped down on her comfortable couch, and began to read whatever Lucius had to tell her of what was happening, if he had gotten the gift and had the knowledge of what it did even.

I cannot tank you enough for this gift!

You do not have to thank me.

Where have you been? and I loved to irritate you.

With that whole sentence out there, she knew that they would be spending a lot of time irritating one another just like they did in their letters.

So, she started to tell him of her time at the ball…

TBC…