Authors note: I DO NOT own most of the characters in this story - unfortunately the astounding JK Rowling has thorough control of them. The things I do own are the characters (Cassie, Libby, Ionie, Kaden, Maeve and Professor Obine) and also the plot.
'Good morning.' Cassie stared, looking for the man whose voice this came from. It was redeeming and melodious as he spoke, giving her a tingle over her body, telling her that no one can harm her while he is there. 'I take it we're all ready to eat.' Gold plates, shimmering so brightly that it lashed in Cassie's eyes, as if she was being whipped, suddenly appeared on the tables. There were servings of food…no…a feast, on each plate, big enough to fill even 30 giants, still leaving leftovers.
'Who is that man at the teachers table?' Cassie wondered whether she had met him before as this tingling feeling was not new to her, she had felt it somewhere before, still unknown to her.
'That's Professor Albus Dumbledore, our headmaster. He's one of the greatest wizards of this century.' She looked back at Dumbledore, and noticed that he was unlike any of the other wizards. He had long sweeping silver hair and beard, that glimmered in the candlelight and half moon shaped glasses, which sat nearly on the tip of his nose crooked nose.
As she was turning back to face Libby, she realised it wasn't her friend that had spoken, it was a boy. 'I'm Ionie. What's your name?' His golden hair looked like it had so much gel on that not even a chainsaw would be able to cut a single strand, and his chestnut eyes stared longingly into Cassie's, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. The tingling feeling that she had, had been swept away by Ionie's gaze.
'Cassie…and this is…'
'May I have your attention please. I would like to introduce our new teacher of the dark arts…Professor Obine. Hopefully he will stay with us a lot longer than the teachers in our previous years.' Prof. Obine raised himself up so that he was level with Dumbledore. He was fairly small in height, as was Dumbledore, with the most unusual hair, which stood on end to the very tip of each carrot-coloured strand. His eyes were a piercing green, with similar shape to those of a cat. Cassie began to realise that there was an empty seat at the table, and the only person missing was Prof. Snape…what was he up to and did she really have to keep her distance from him to find her true course? And also, what was her true course? These questions began to muddle around, in twists and chains, confusing Cassie a lot.
'Also I'd like to welcome back a former Hogwarts student, who will be assisting Professor Obine throughout the year…Mr Harry Potter'
Total silence surged from every corner in the room. The only sound Cassie could here were her own thoughts, all the words still inextricable in her mind.
'As we all know, Mr Potter has been through many ordeals recently to do with Voldemort…' gasps, most of which were from the students, mimicked themselves on every wall, at the sound of that name, but Prof. Dumbledore carried on talking, as if he hadn't heard these sounds of disbelief. '…so I hope that everyone will treat him with respect by not asking any questions about his past.' Dumbledore sat down and continued his discussions with Prof. Obine.
'I noticed you yesterday, entering our common room. I already know your friend, Libby. Her sister, Maeve, in 7th year, is on the Gryffindore quidditch team…'
'Quidditch? What's Quidditch?'
'Erm…It's a sport…sort of…you'll see. The quidditch matches start in two months, and Gryffindor needs a new seeker…never mind, you'll understand soon enough. Are you coming?' Ionie stared at her, waiting for an answer. He could tell that Cassie obviously didn't have a clue what he was talking about, by the look on her face.
'Potions class…with Professor Snape.' He spoke in a negligent tone, to make sure she understood this time. A muffled groan was heard from Cassie as she stood up from the table. Out of all the classes to have first, why his? She began to collect her things from the table, when she noticed the letter she had received. Abruptly, she concealed it in her robes, hidden from view.
Finding her way to potions wasn't too difficult, if you don't count walking into the wrong classroom once or twice or knocking over a meagre amount of antiquated armour. Outside the potions room, a boy, who was equitably tall, started too approach them. 'Hi Ionie, who's your girlfriends?' Cassie uncontrollably gazed towards this boy, not taking her emerald eyes off him once, longing for him…but she was only 11 years old. She stopped staring at him with this, wondering what had come over her.
'Hi Kaden. This is Libby and Cassie, they're in Gryffindor with me, and they're not my girlfriends. We only met today!'
'Whatever…I'm Kaden…' he looked at Libby and Cassie at this point, 'I'm in Slytherin.' Suddenly he looked up, above Cassie's head, 'Hello Professor. How are you today? We didn't see you at breakfast this morning.' His tone was more formal than when he had spoken to Libby, Cassie and Ionie. Then Cassie realised…Professor? She turned around very slowly to find Professor Snape breathing coldly down her neck. Her whole body went numb, so stiff that she felt fear surging up and down her.
'Get out of my way, and get in that classroom! NOW!' He marched off, vibes radiating and intensifying from his body of hatred. Then she remembered. When she arrived at Hogwarts, while in conversation with Snape, he had had the look of hatred in his eye, as if something was haunting him. Then he mentioned Potter…Harry Potter? But she was nothing like Harry Potter. She might have lived in the muggle world all her life, but it didn't stop her reading up about Lord Voldemort and 'the famous Harry Potter' and so she knew everything about him. Is that why he is upset, because Harry Potter has returned?
'Quick Cassie, before he tells us off again.' She took her baby steps again, as she had done on arriving at Hogwarts, scared of what she might find in the dungeon. She turned the door handle cautiously…then everything went black.
Whether it was a really dark room that she had entered or whether she had her eyes shut, she did not know. Desperately trying to find some source of light, she rummaged through her bag for her wand, or what she guessed was her bag anyway. 'Right, come on Cassie think…' Without anyone to talk to she resorted to mumbling to herself. Her wand was held in front of her, she remembered when she waved it frantically without knowing what to do, and yet, made something happen. Maybe if she did that again, she might have a source of light this time. But before she got chance to move, a thin beam of light became visible ahead of her. Her feet started to move, speeding towards the light, her body following. Anxiously, she held tightly onto her wand, not wanting to let it go in case of danger, but then again, what would she do if she faced it? Cassie stopped next to the light. Realising it was an opening, and the only way that was possibly the way out, she reached towards the opening, and walked round the moss-covered wood, which, unmistakably, was once a door.
She began to feel cold, numb again, like she had when Prof. Snape was standing behind her. Her hands were shaking, was it fear, or just the fact that she was inconsiderably cold? She felt pain, so much pain, shooting through her as if sharp daggers were stabbing her from head to toe. Then the pain calmed and only focused on one point…her forehead. She fell on her knees with her hands thrusted against her head so hard, almost stopping her circulation. The pain died and Cassie collapsed in exhaustion.
She tried to focus on something obscure in the corner of her eye. Realising, that nothing could be as bad as the pain she had just suffered, her head turned to see what was there. She couldn't believe what she saw and tried to blink, thinking it was all a dream. But was it? 'It can't be…it just can't.' With this she felt ice cold tears come from her eyes, pouring down her cheek, sending shivers through her.' She went to grab her wand, but it was gone. Fear now over-powered her, as loud sounds of a man speaking - too muffled to understand what he was saying, and then…she collapsed.
