August 18th 1992
"Letters from school," Mr Weasley said, passing out the identical envelopes. "Harry, Hope, yours are here too."
All of the children went quiet as they read their letters. Fred had just finished reading his when he peers over at Harry's letter. "You've been told to get all of Lockhart's books, too?" he commented. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan - bet it's a witch."
Astrid smiles amused knowing exactly who the new teacher was. She knows that they won't like it but what else was to be expected, the position was cursed.
"That lot won't come cheap," George commented, with a quick glance at his parents. "Lockhart's books are really expensive…."
"Well, we'll manage," Molly replied, sharing a worried look with Arthur. Cassie and Astrid share a look, they've offered to help them out but Molly and Arthur always refuse, they don't like borrowing off other people even when they need it, they always feel bad about it. "I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things second-hand."
"Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?" Harry asks Ginny.
She nods as she blushes, her face almost matching her hair. Cassie, Hope and Astrid, being the only ones that saw, smirk at the sight knowing that the young girl has a bit of a crush on Harry.
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After breakfast, Harry, Ron, Hope, Cassie, Fred and George were all climbing up a hill which lead to a small paddock that the Weasleys owned. As long as they didn't fly too high they could practice Quidditch out there.
"Wish I knew what he was up to," Fred complained with a frown as they discussed what Percy could be up to as they had only really seen him at meal-times. "He's not himself. His exam results came the other day, twelve O. and he's hardly gloated at all."
"Ordinary Wizarding Levels," Hope explained, seeing her brother's puzzled face.
"Bill got twelve, too. If we're not careful, we'll have another Head Boy in the family. I don't think I could stand the shame," George commented. Cassie snorts knowing the Twins would never have made Head Boy. Neither her nor Hope definitely wouldn't make Head Girl.
Bill was the oldest Weasley brother. He and Charlie had already left Hogwarts. Charlie was in Romania studying dragons while Bill was in Egypt working for Gringotts. Unlike Cassie, Hope had only met the two a handful of times since they were usually away when she was there.
"Dunno how Mum and Dad are going to afford all our school stuff this year," George mentions. "Five sets of Lockhart books! And Ginny needs robes and a want and everything else."
"You know my Mum wouldn't mind helping get them all," Cassie reminded him.
"Yeah, but you know Mum and Dad. They don't like to borrow money," George replied.
"Yeah, we know," Cassie sighs. "I think I might start hiding coins in their pockets. They'd have no choice but to take it."
Fred snorts amused, "they'd know. They always know. They'd give it back."
August 19th 1992
After an early morning wake up, the group had arrived in Diagon Alley. All but Harry. As it turns out he'd ended up in Knockturn Alley. Definitely not the best place to end up. Thankfully he came back in one piece.
"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked as the group climb the steps of Gringotts bank. "Malfoy and his father."
"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" Arthur Weasley asked sharply.
"No, he was selling."
"So he's worried," Arthur replied with grim satisfaction. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something…."
"You be careful, Arthur," Molly told him sharply as they entered the bank. "That family's trouble, don't go biting off more than you can chew."
"So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?" Arthur said before he was distracted by the sight of Hermione's parents who were standing nervously at the counter. Hope and Cassie share an amused smile as Arthur gets excited over the two muggles.
"Can you imagine what he'd be like if he spent a few hours in the Muggle world?" Hope asked amused. Cassie and the twins snorted a laugh knowing that he would most likely act like an excited child on christmas day.
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Shortly after getting some money from the vault at Gringotts, the group split up. Cassie, Hope, the twins and Astrid all went off together. It was about an hour later before they all headed for Flourish and Blotts, which was extremely busy for once. The crowd was spilling out onto the streets as people tried to push their way in through the door. The group shared a look after seeing the banner announcing Gilderoy Lockhart's book signing. They slowly pushed their way into the store with a huff. Inside they found Hermione, Ron and Harry waiting with the rest of the Weasley's.
"Bloody hell. I don't think I've seen this place so busy," Cassie commented looking around the packed store as they waited.
Finally Lockhart appeared as the photographer rudely pushed Ron out of the way to take a picture. Ron mumbled irritatedly at the photographer. Lockhart heard him. He looked up, he saw Ron - and then he saw Harry. He stared before leaping up to his feet causing Hope to take a step behind the twins. "It can't be Harry Potter?"
The crowd parted as they whispered excitedly. Lockhart dove forward seizing Harry's arm and pulling him to the front. Smoke exploded in the faces of the others. "I should feel sorry for him," Hope comments, amused as they watch Harry at the front with Lockhart. "I don't. It's too funny."
Astrid and Cassie snort at the confession. The Potters were famous, especially Harry. There was no avoiding this, it was bound to happen at some point.
Soon enough Harry was released from Lockhart's grip, but only after Lockhart had announced that he was becoming the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and giving Harry his school books for free. The books he gave to Ginny and bought his own. Astrid and Hope couldn't help but smile at his kindness.
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" a voice calls, a voice that Harry, Hope and Cassie recognise all too well. They all turn to see Draco Malfoy behind them. "Famous Harry Potter," he sneers. "Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."
Cassie and Hope exchange a look, rolling their eyes. They found Draco's taunting annoying and pathetic. Astrid shook her head silently, thinking about how familiar Draco's attitude was. He certainly was Lucius' son.
"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that," Ginny blurts out in defence causing Astrid to look at her surprised. Ginny hadn't quite been able to talk in front of Harry until now.
"Look, Potter," Draco drawled out snarkily. "You've got yourself a girlfriend."
"Now, now, Draco, play nicely," the voice of Lucius Malfoy drawls. "Mr. Potter. Lucius Malfoy. We meet at last," he adds with a small smirk. "Forgive me. Your scar is legend. As, of course, is the wizard who gave it to you."
"Voldemort killed my parents," Harry replied bluntly, making Hope smile as she takes a step forward, placing a hand on her brother's shoulder. "He was nothing more than a murderer."
"You must be very brave to mention his name. Or very foolish."
"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," Hermione pipes up smartly.
"And you must be Miss Granger," the older Malfoy spits out. "Yes, Draco has told me all about you. And your parents. Muggles, aren't they?" Without waiting for an answer his eyes move onto the sea of redheaded children. "Let me see. Red hair, vacant expressions...tatty, secondhand book. You must be the Weasleys."
"Lucius, must you always be such a prat?" Astrid steps in just as Arthur and Molly reappear from wherever they'd been.
"Astrid," he spits distastefully as his eyes glance around. "You must be Cassandra."
Cassie rolls her eyes not giving Lucius the satisfaction of seeing her anger.
"Lucius, creating trouble as always?" a voice calls from behind the Malfoy's. Astrid's eyes flicker to see someone she had once known a long time ago.
"Cassiopeia, it's been a while," Lucius replies in a much less hostile tone.
"That it has," she replies before ushering the Malfoy's towards the door. The two blondes leave but not before sending a nasty glare towards the group. Astrid nods subtly in greeting when Cassiopeia and a younger girl, her daughter, Ophelia walk past them.
Cassiopeia Johnson, previously Cassiopeia Black, twin sister to Sirius Black had not been seen in quite some time by Astrid. It had been years. Her and Sirius may have been twins but they certainly did not get along, just like most of the Black family, she had been a Slytherin and a faithful servant to the Dark Lord. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why they did not get along.