A/N: Not a whole new chapter. Not even the rest of the chapter. I think. But I've actually been working on it, I promise. Anyroad, I got a review on Madison today that complimented my characterizations of the Malfoys. (Thanks so much Ambrosia2!) I don't know that the Malfoys are just like they are in Madison (AKA The Beauty of Evil), but for some reason, reading Ambrosia2's review today made me think of Cassandra Anne and I thought I should update.

Chapter 2

Draco (I have to get used to calling him that!) won't let me leave the compartment the two of us share. I finally sigh and sit down looking annoyed, though inside I'm actually kind of freaked out.

"Who are you?"

I blink. "Excuse me?"

"Who. Are. You."

"I--" Darn cracking voice. "I don't know what you mean. You know I'm Cassie Malfoy."

He squints at me, confused. I know he can see that I'm not lying, but that I am hiding something. I inherited that trait.

Okay, so I should probably tell him while I have a chance. Right? Mother did say to tell them separately . . . But will he believe me? Or will he just . . . I don't know, hex me or something? Oi . . .

"Cassandra. Just tell me what's going on. Who are you?"

"I--I am Cassandra Malfoy . . . Cassandra Anne Malfoy."

I wait for a second to see the recognition flash through his eyes. He shakes his head and looks at me, waiting.

Obviously this is going to take more work than I'd hoped.

I can't help but sigh. "Draco, I'm not . . . I'm not your cousin."

"Exactly. So who are you?"

Ooh, he's getting frustrated. Haha. No. Evil Cassie. Get to the point.

"Doesn't anything about me look familiar to you?"

"Besides your hair and eyes, n-- . . . You . . . You look just like the little weaslette . . . But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Draco . . . Ginny, she's . . . she's my mom." He blinks. "I . . . haven't technically been born yet . . ."

He blinks again, then drawls (so that's where I get that!), "Are you trying to tell me you're from the future?"

"Yeah, but it sounds so cheesy that way, Fa-- . . . ther . . ."

"Father?" he choked out.

"Yeah . . ."

"I--I don't believe you."

"I don't care; it's the truth! Look," I say, taking off my necklace.

See, my mom figured he wouldn't believe me, so she gave me her wedding ring and I put it on a chain.

He takes it from me, then stares alternately at it and me. He's kind of pale--oops . . .

"Where did you get this?"

"Mom."

"But . . . You can't be serious . . . I--I mean . . ."

"It's not impossible. You're a wizard, Draco, you know it's not impossible."

He groans. "So. Me and Ginny Weasley, eh?"

"Yup."

"Huh."

We ease into a comfortable silence. Finally I ask, "Father?"

He looks at me, eyes questioning, and I am, for once, unsure of myself.

Quietly I ask, "Would you . . .? Okay, I know this is going to sound like a total cheese and corn interview question, but . . . Would you tell me about . . . you?"

Draco's eyes widen. "A--About . . . me?"

I nod silently, averting my eyes.

"But . . . Don't you know about me? I mean, if I'm your father . . ."

I sigh. "Actually . . . I've never met you before. I only just met Mom--she sent me here."

He lets out a strangled cry of protest. "But-- . . ."

"I've lived in an orphanage all of my life, Father."

"I--But--I--Why, Cassandra?"

So I get to explain the story today after all. This is gonna take the whole ride to Hogwarts if he tells me about himself too.

|~*~|

I was right; it took the whole train ride, and there's still so much more to talk about! But Father tells me I must go with the very large man named Hagrid so I can be sorted. (He grimaces as he says this.) He says we can keep talking later.

I feel huge among these eleven year-olds, but once I see Hagrid I feel much better.

He looks at me in wonder. "Eh . . . you're Cassandra Malfoy, aren' ya?"

I nod with a grin and w ink; Hagrid chuckles. Mom told me he would know who I was—as will Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape.

We go through the routine Mom said we would, crossing the lake in small boats and waiting in the entrance hall for Professor McGonagall. When she arrives and sees me she does a double-take. Her eyes show recognition and she gives me a slight nod, which I return. She begins explaining the four houses and Hogwarts' point system, but Mom already told me everything, so I look around at the gaggle of terrified-looking first years.

They are whispering such horrendous things to each other that I have to fight back a grin. One little girl with blond, braided pigtails shivers as she whispers to the redhead beside her, "I heard you have to fight a troll!"

"Don't be stupid," says the other girl. "It's going to be much worse than that."

Boy are they in for a surprise.

"She's a Malfoy!"

"Slytherin for sure!"

"She's pretty."

"She'd hex you into oblivion! Didn't you see her and Draco Malfoy going at it this morning?"

"Yeah . . . She is something."

The corner of my mouth twitches rebelliously, but I manage to maintain my stony gaze.

"Come along," says Professor McGonagall. "They're ready for you."

I take a deep breath and follow the first years into the Great Hall, sending a wink to the boy who'd called my pretty as he passes me. He blushes and, again, I force down a chuckle.

We enter the Hall and I look up at the ceiling; Mom told me about its being enchanted and tonight the sky is clear and starry. I catch myself before I smile. I look at Father, sitting at the Slytherin table, and he gives me a knowing look and a wink. I nod to him. Then I look at the Gryffindor table and see my mother. She is avoiding eye contact, so I look for Harry instead.

He is staring at me. I raise an eyebrow at him and he—blushes! He sends me a shy smile and I can't help but let out a grin. Professor McGonagall's voice rips the two of us from our trance.

"Malfoy, Cassandra."

I walk up to the stool in front of everyone. The old sorting hat falls over my face. It almost immediately shouts out, "SLYTHERIN!"

I slip off the hat and stalk over to the Slytherin table where a seat is saved for me beside my father.

When I sit down, he chuckles. "You are a Malfoy."

"I suppose I do rather take after y—your side of the family."

He nods and I believe I see pride shining through his eyes. I smile sheepishly at him and gaze at my plate. I jump about a foot back when food suddenly appears. I would have fallen off the bench if Father hadn't caught me.

He chuckles again. "What? It's not as though you haven't grown up around magic."

"Uh . . . Right . . ."

"Cassandra? Have you . . . grown up as a . . ."

I give him a distraught look, wrinkling my nose. "Muggle."