Chapter 2
Our Table
"Now, do you have everything you need? Did you make sure to feed Sierra before you put her in her cage? Did you get all the things you have on your list? Did you bring your broomstick? Did you get your wand?"
A million questions were being fired at Cadence as she began to pack up her things and get onto the platform. She would soon be getting on the train that would take her to Hogwarts.
Her grandmother was firing off her questions to make sure she was prepared as she led her through the train station.
"I think I've got a handle on it, Grandma," Cadence said, a roll of her eyes and a wide smile on her face. She couldn't handle her excitement. It was boiling and ready to culminate. She turned to her grandmother. "This is it," she sighed happily, staring at her.
Her grandmother gave her a small smile and shook her head. "I know it's silly to be crying at a time like this, but you're going off to Hogwarts... just like your mother..." she said with a sigh, wiping her eyes. "Now you remember how to get on the Platform, don't you?"
Cadence nodded, her blonde hair flying in her eyes while she did so. "I'll be okay, Grandma, I think I've got a handle on things."
Her grandmother nodded and touched her shoulder gently. "Of course you will be. Your mother was, as well," she said, and wrapped her arms lovingly around the younger girl. She held her tightly and cried onto her shoulder. "This is silly," her grandmother sighed. "You're coming back in the winter and I'll be sending you mail all the time."
Cadence smiled at her, gave her a kiss goodbye, and pushed her trolley toward the platforms between nine and ten. Already standing there was a large family of redheads, including a tall, dark haired boy in glasses, and a pretty girl with dark, bushy hair and masses of books on her trolley. She carefully pushed her trolley up behind the large herd and waited patiently for what they were going to do.
Cadence looked at the clock and saw that they only had five minutes to board the train. They had to get to the train, load all their stuff on, and find a good seat before it departed. Two of the redheaded family went on. They were a tall, awkward teenager and a much younger looking redheaded girl. They disappeared through the barrier and the last to go on was the dark haired boy. The plump woman, who appeared to be the mother of all the redheads turned toward Cadence and smiled brightly.
"Getting on the platform, dear?" she asked in her southern English accent.
"Yes," Cadence said, smiling cheekily.
"I'm Molly Weasley, and this is my husband Arthur," she said, gesturing toward the tall, balding redheaded man behind her. "We can't stand around getting acquainted right now, can we? Why don't you get on the platform with Hermione there?"
Cadence smiled at her and then turned to the girl who had been waiting patiently with her trolley.
"Hermione?" Cadence asked.
"Yes, we can meet and greet on the platform," Hermione said, smiling sweetly at her.
Cadence nodded and ran toward the wall with Hermione, pushing her cart alongside her. They ran through the wall and onto the platform, where a large scarlet train was gearing up to take off to Hogwarts.
Cadenced looked at everything in complete awe. She had never seen anything so magnificent in all her life. Other witch and wizard students were scattered around the platform, loading their belongings and luggage onto the train, and stepping on to find their seats.
"Hermione Granger," said the female voice right behind her. She whirled around and faced the girl she had gotten onto the platform with. She extended her hand and Cadence took it. "I'm a sixth year, are you a first?"
"Cadence Cartwright," she said, and Hermione's expression changed. "I'm a fifth year."
"You're Cadence?" Hermione asked, her jaw dropping. "I thought you were dead!"
"DEAD?" Cadence yelled suddenly. "I'm not..." and it all came flooding back to her. She stared at Hermione for a couple of seconds. "Does... everyone know?"
Hermione shrugged. "I know."
Cadence stared after the girl as she walked toward the train to get her baggage taken care of. She followed her after a moment of hesitation and allowed them to handle all of her things. Hermione turned toward her and smiled sympathetically. "This way!" she called.
Cadence followed again, still staring at the Platform in awe. She couldn't believe how wonderful it all looked. She stepped onto the train and followed Hermione into the back car of the train. It was empty.
"Seems that Ron and Harry haven't found their way back here yet," she commented, sitting herself down and making herself comfortable.
"Who?" Cadence asked, sitting down across from her and managing to settle into the seat.
Hermione opened her mouth to respond and was cut off when she heard the stomping footsteps and loud cackles of the two boys Cadence recognized from the barrier.
A tall, slim redheaded boy with bright blue eyes sat down next to Hermione and they exchanged a glance that made Cadence melt all over. The boy who had arrived with the redhead was standing outside, talking to someone and then the curtain opened and he stepped in.
He was tall, a bit shorter than the redhead and not quite as lanky. He was wearing beat up jeans and a red sweater. His jet-black hair was untidy to the point of being adorable, whereas others would have perceived it to be disgusting. His bright green eyes were not concealed, but brought out by the thin, wire rimmed glasses sitting atop his nose. He stared at Cadence as well she stared at him.
He gazed at the new, unfamiliar face he saw sitting across from Ron and Hermione. She had long, light blonde hair that framed her sweet, heart shaped face. Her brown eyes twinkled as she stared back at him. Her full, pink lips turned up in a warm, inviting smile.
"Hello," she whispered in a tinkling voice.
His lips spread apart to reveal a full white-toothed smile and Cadence felt her knees go weak. He walked toward her and sat down, not removing the gaze he held with her eyes.
"Your name, love?" he asked.
"Cadence Cartwright."
"Harry Potter."
Cadence recognized the name immediately. "Oh wow... I've heard that name..." she said and he only smiled and snickered.
"Who hasn't?"
They exchanged glances. She extended her hand to him and was shocked to see it shaking. "Nice to meet you... Harry Potter."
Harry couldn't help noticing her hand shaking, and felt his tremble as he lifted it to shake hers. He also couldn't help thinking that he had heard her name as well. "Nice to meet you, too... Cadence Cartwright."
Ron and Hermione looked up after a while and stared at the two across the car from them. They didn't miss the look they were giving each other or the fact that neither of them was speaking at all. They also hadn't missed the fact that after shaking hands, their clasped fingers hadn't parted from each other.
Ron suddenly broke the silence of the car and leaned over toward Cadence. "I'm Ron Weasley, by the way. I didn't catch your name."
Cadence broke her stare from Harry and looked at Ron. "Cadence Cartwright," she answered, allowing her hand to break from Harry's and shaking Ron's.
Harry recognized the look on Ron's face as the exact same one he had given him when he found out he was Harry Potter. "Cadence... Cartwright. Wow."
Cadence looked at Ron uneasily. "What do you mean. wow?"
"I mean. you're Cadence Cartwright. Wow."
Hermione gave Ron a jab to his arm and he shot her a glare. "What?"
She cleared her throat and he shrugged his shoulders, looking back down at his lap.
Harry and Cadence turned back and gazed at each other for a few more minutes before their stare and an intruder broke in Ron and Hermione's conversation.
"Who is this Potter? Your new girlfriend? What ever happened to the little Weasley girl?"
Cadence suddenly felt her skin crawl just hearing the voice that penetrated the room that next second. She looked up in the doorway to see a tall, pale boy with blond hair and dim blue eyes. He had a sharp, pointed chin and his robes were different from Ron, Hermione's, and Harry's. Instead of a Gryffindor patch, he wore a Slytherin one. She glared at him, knowing from the depths of her soul that he was not a good person.
Harry turned around and shot daggers at the boy standing in the door. "Go away, Malfoy."
The boy acted as though he hadn't heard Harry, now advancing in the room toward Cadence. "Don't you mingle with the likes of them, my dear. Potter here is nothing but a chauvinist who flaunts his fame more than his wizardry," he said, sneering at Harry. He turned toward the two behind him and then back to Cadence. "And a Weasley? You'd dare consort with the likes of a simple peasant?" the boy shook his head and glared at her, stepping forward. "I won't even mention the Mudblood."
Ron jumped up, infuriated by the word he had just called Hermione. "That's it, Malfoy! One more word and I'll."
Malfoy turned, glaring at Ron. "And you'll what? Zap yourself and vomit slugs again?"
Ron turned almost as red as his hair. He pulled out his wand and muttered, "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction."
"No?" Malfoy asked, advancing on Ron, pulling out his own wand.
"Ron." Hermione growled in a low tone of warning behind him.
He ignored her and continued to stand up for himself against Malfoy. "I will not have you speaking to Hermione that way."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Must we go over this again, Weasley? Sticking up for that Mudblood-"
But before Malfoy could even answer, Ron had screamed out 'Averte stets!' and had sent Malfoy flying into the back wall.
"RON!" Hermione screamed, jumping up. "What are you doing?" she screamed. "You can't do magic on the train! You'll get us into trouble!"
Ron stared at Malfoy, who had been knocked into the wall so hard he had dropped his wand and had been knocked unconscious. He whipped around toward Hermione. "You heard him, Hermione! He called you a truly heinous name! A foul name indeed!"
Hermione half smiled at Ron, pleased that he had stuck up for her, but upset about what he had done to Malfoy. "Well, I suppose we can just wake him up and get him out of here. The sooner he's gone the better."
Once Ron and Hermione had revived Malfoy, he had uttered a few curse words, and left, giving Cadence an odd glance before leaving.
She stared out the doorway he had left and then saw that Ron was still fuming. Hermione took Ron's hand in an effort to calm him down.
"Who was that?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the doorway.
"Draco Malfoy," Harry answered, his voice dripping with loathing and disrespect. "No one for you to care about."
"He seems downright evil to me. No wonder he's in Slytherin," she muttered.
Harry smiled at her, allowing himself to gaze at her a bit before asking, "If you're a fifth year, how is it that I've never seen you before? I'd like to think I know just about everyone here at Hogwarts."
Cadence smirked, avoiding the gaze of Harry's bright, green eyes. "It's not much, really. I've just. well. transferred."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance. They had heard the uneasy tone in Cadence's voice.
"Transferred?" Harry frowned and then looked over at Ron and Hermione. They were giving him a stare that told him not to push. He sat back and allowed himself to relax against the seat. Once Cadence found that he was at ease, she allowed peace to come over her as well. The conversation between the two on the other side of the train car continued quietly and Harry remained silent. Cadence shifted in her seat and put her head on the window.
"Anything off the trolley?" came the voice outside their car. The four heads shifted quickly toward the door, and an old witch with a trolley cart full of goods stood outside, smiling brightly.
"No thank you," Ron and Hermione chimed at the exact same time. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"I'll take something," Harry said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a few Sickles. He took some things, handed the money to the witch, and sat back down.
She looked in and smiled sweetly at Cadence. "Anything for you, dear?"
Cadence dug into her pocket and found nothing. She looked down, embarrassed, and answered, "No thank you."
The trolley rolled away and Harry sat next to her, letting his treats fall from his arms. "Cadence?" he whispered.
She looked up and Harry noticed that she hastily wiped a tear from her face. "Yes?" she answered.
He thought nothing of it, knowing she probably wouldn't say anything if he asked. "Would you like something?"
She looked down at the piles of candy goods, and knew that one mere boy couldn't possibly eat all of it. She looked back up at him and smiled. "I'll take some chocolate, if you have it."
Harry handed her a box of his chocolate and watched as she ate it in haste and pleasure. "Thank you," she whispered, avoiding Harry's sparkling eyes and looking back out the window.
The train stopped not too long later, and the students all filed off one by one. Cadence looked down at her feet as she walked off by herself. She had been told that she would have to go on the boats with Hagrid and the other first years, so she could be sorted with them.
Hermione stepped up beside Cadence and whispered, "There's nothing to be worried about. We don't bite, honestly."
Harry smiled as Cadence looked up and laughed. The entire ride on the train he hadn't seen her fully smile, and now that he had, he felt almost weak. She looked so beautiful when she opened her mouth and exposed her wide, wonderful smile. She looked completely happy, like nothing could ever hurt her or spoil her mood. She appeared to be in high spirits.
Yet it wasn't something that she felt.
A large man with bushy black hair and a long black beard held up a lantern, yelling in a deep, booming voice, "Alrigh then, firs years! This way! C'mon now, don' be shy!"
Cadence watched as the small, scared looking first years walked over toward the large man (which she could only think to be Rubeus Hagrid) and she started to walk toward him.
Harry saw how she fearfully stepped over, as Ron and Hermione waited for Harry to join them in going to the carriages that would take them to the castle.
He looked back at his two friends, smiled, and walked over to Cadence. He took her hand and she looked up at him in surprise.
"Like Hermione said, no one's going to bite you," Harry whispered in her ear, leading her toward Hagrid.
"Firs years!" he kept yelling, and suddenly looked down, a smile appearing on his weathered face. "Hi there, Harry, aren ya s'posed to be goin in the carriages?"
"Yes, Hagrid," Harry answered. "But I wanted you to meet my friend Cadence Cartwright. She's new and a bit nervous."
Hagrid looked down at the girl, who caught his eye maybe twice.
"Oh hi there, Cadence," Hagrid said, extending a large palm toward the small girl. "Rubeus Hagrid. I'm a teacher 'ere," he said boastfully, obviously very happy about this. "I've 'eard all 'bout ya, don' worry. Nothing 'ere gonna 'arm ya."
Cadence nodded, looking back down. Harry gave her hand a squeeze and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry about this. It's nothing. I'll be at the table, cheering you on."
She smiled at him and then looked back down.
He grabbed her chin and made her look up. "And stop looking down! I'm not impressed at all with it."
A larger smile suddenly crept to her face and she stared into Harry's wide green eyes. Impressed? Why should I have to impress him? she thought wildly to herself.
He stared into her large, wondering brown eyes and knew that whoever this girl really was, she was in desperate need of love and assistance in her newly acquired life at Hogwarts.
"I'll be waiting at our table," he said, whispering, and with one last hand squeeze, he was gone.
"Our table?"
Our Table
"Now, do you have everything you need? Did you make sure to feed Sierra before you put her in her cage? Did you get all the things you have on your list? Did you bring your broomstick? Did you get your wand?"
A million questions were being fired at Cadence as she began to pack up her things and get onto the platform. She would soon be getting on the train that would take her to Hogwarts.
Her grandmother was firing off her questions to make sure she was prepared as she led her through the train station.
"I think I've got a handle on it, Grandma," Cadence said, a roll of her eyes and a wide smile on her face. She couldn't handle her excitement. It was boiling and ready to culminate. She turned to her grandmother. "This is it," she sighed happily, staring at her.
Her grandmother gave her a small smile and shook her head. "I know it's silly to be crying at a time like this, but you're going off to Hogwarts... just like your mother..." she said with a sigh, wiping her eyes. "Now you remember how to get on the Platform, don't you?"
Cadence nodded, her blonde hair flying in her eyes while she did so. "I'll be okay, Grandma, I think I've got a handle on things."
Her grandmother nodded and touched her shoulder gently. "Of course you will be. Your mother was, as well," she said, and wrapped her arms lovingly around the younger girl. She held her tightly and cried onto her shoulder. "This is silly," her grandmother sighed. "You're coming back in the winter and I'll be sending you mail all the time."
Cadence smiled at her, gave her a kiss goodbye, and pushed her trolley toward the platforms between nine and ten. Already standing there was a large family of redheads, including a tall, dark haired boy in glasses, and a pretty girl with dark, bushy hair and masses of books on her trolley. She carefully pushed her trolley up behind the large herd and waited patiently for what they were going to do.
Cadence looked at the clock and saw that they only had five minutes to board the train. They had to get to the train, load all their stuff on, and find a good seat before it departed. Two of the redheaded family went on. They were a tall, awkward teenager and a much younger looking redheaded girl. They disappeared through the barrier and the last to go on was the dark haired boy. The plump woman, who appeared to be the mother of all the redheads turned toward Cadence and smiled brightly.
"Getting on the platform, dear?" she asked in her southern English accent.
"Yes," Cadence said, smiling cheekily.
"I'm Molly Weasley, and this is my husband Arthur," she said, gesturing toward the tall, balding redheaded man behind her. "We can't stand around getting acquainted right now, can we? Why don't you get on the platform with Hermione there?"
Cadence smiled at her and then turned to the girl who had been waiting patiently with her trolley.
"Hermione?" Cadence asked.
"Yes, we can meet and greet on the platform," Hermione said, smiling sweetly at her.
Cadence nodded and ran toward the wall with Hermione, pushing her cart alongside her. They ran through the wall and onto the platform, where a large scarlet train was gearing up to take off to Hogwarts.
Cadenced looked at everything in complete awe. She had never seen anything so magnificent in all her life. Other witch and wizard students were scattered around the platform, loading their belongings and luggage onto the train, and stepping on to find their seats.
"Hermione Granger," said the female voice right behind her. She whirled around and faced the girl she had gotten onto the platform with. She extended her hand and Cadence took it. "I'm a sixth year, are you a first?"
"Cadence Cartwright," she said, and Hermione's expression changed. "I'm a fifth year."
"You're Cadence?" Hermione asked, her jaw dropping. "I thought you were dead!"
"DEAD?" Cadence yelled suddenly. "I'm not..." and it all came flooding back to her. She stared at Hermione for a couple of seconds. "Does... everyone know?"
Hermione shrugged. "I know."
Cadence stared after the girl as she walked toward the train to get her baggage taken care of. She followed her after a moment of hesitation and allowed them to handle all of her things. Hermione turned toward her and smiled sympathetically. "This way!" she called.
Cadence followed again, still staring at the Platform in awe. She couldn't believe how wonderful it all looked. She stepped onto the train and followed Hermione into the back car of the train. It was empty.
"Seems that Ron and Harry haven't found their way back here yet," she commented, sitting herself down and making herself comfortable.
"Who?" Cadence asked, sitting down across from her and managing to settle into the seat.
Hermione opened her mouth to respond and was cut off when she heard the stomping footsteps and loud cackles of the two boys Cadence recognized from the barrier.
A tall, slim redheaded boy with bright blue eyes sat down next to Hermione and they exchanged a glance that made Cadence melt all over. The boy who had arrived with the redhead was standing outside, talking to someone and then the curtain opened and he stepped in.
He was tall, a bit shorter than the redhead and not quite as lanky. He was wearing beat up jeans and a red sweater. His jet-black hair was untidy to the point of being adorable, whereas others would have perceived it to be disgusting. His bright green eyes were not concealed, but brought out by the thin, wire rimmed glasses sitting atop his nose. He stared at Cadence as well she stared at him.
He gazed at the new, unfamiliar face he saw sitting across from Ron and Hermione. She had long, light blonde hair that framed her sweet, heart shaped face. Her brown eyes twinkled as she stared back at him. Her full, pink lips turned up in a warm, inviting smile.
"Hello," she whispered in a tinkling voice.
His lips spread apart to reveal a full white-toothed smile and Cadence felt her knees go weak. He walked toward her and sat down, not removing the gaze he held with her eyes.
"Your name, love?" he asked.
"Cadence Cartwright."
"Harry Potter."
Cadence recognized the name immediately. "Oh wow... I've heard that name..." she said and he only smiled and snickered.
"Who hasn't?"
They exchanged glances. She extended her hand to him and was shocked to see it shaking. "Nice to meet you... Harry Potter."
Harry couldn't help noticing her hand shaking, and felt his tremble as he lifted it to shake hers. He also couldn't help thinking that he had heard her name as well. "Nice to meet you, too... Cadence Cartwright."
Ron and Hermione looked up after a while and stared at the two across the car from them. They didn't miss the look they were giving each other or the fact that neither of them was speaking at all. They also hadn't missed the fact that after shaking hands, their clasped fingers hadn't parted from each other.
Ron suddenly broke the silence of the car and leaned over toward Cadence. "I'm Ron Weasley, by the way. I didn't catch your name."
Cadence broke her stare from Harry and looked at Ron. "Cadence Cartwright," she answered, allowing her hand to break from Harry's and shaking Ron's.
Harry recognized the look on Ron's face as the exact same one he had given him when he found out he was Harry Potter. "Cadence... Cartwright. Wow."
Cadence looked at Ron uneasily. "What do you mean. wow?"
"I mean. you're Cadence Cartwright. Wow."
Hermione gave Ron a jab to his arm and he shot her a glare. "What?"
She cleared her throat and he shrugged his shoulders, looking back down at his lap.
Harry and Cadence turned back and gazed at each other for a few more minutes before their stare and an intruder broke in Ron and Hermione's conversation.
"Who is this Potter? Your new girlfriend? What ever happened to the little Weasley girl?"
Cadence suddenly felt her skin crawl just hearing the voice that penetrated the room that next second. She looked up in the doorway to see a tall, pale boy with blond hair and dim blue eyes. He had a sharp, pointed chin and his robes were different from Ron, Hermione's, and Harry's. Instead of a Gryffindor patch, he wore a Slytherin one. She glared at him, knowing from the depths of her soul that he was not a good person.
Harry turned around and shot daggers at the boy standing in the door. "Go away, Malfoy."
The boy acted as though he hadn't heard Harry, now advancing in the room toward Cadence. "Don't you mingle with the likes of them, my dear. Potter here is nothing but a chauvinist who flaunts his fame more than his wizardry," he said, sneering at Harry. He turned toward the two behind him and then back to Cadence. "And a Weasley? You'd dare consort with the likes of a simple peasant?" the boy shook his head and glared at her, stepping forward. "I won't even mention the Mudblood."
Ron jumped up, infuriated by the word he had just called Hermione. "That's it, Malfoy! One more word and I'll."
Malfoy turned, glaring at Ron. "And you'll what? Zap yourself and vomit slugs again?"
Ron turned almost as red as his hair. He pulled out his wand and muttered, "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction."
"No?" Malfoy asked, advancing on Ron, pulling out his own wand.
"Ron." Hermione growled in a low tone of warning behind him.
He ignored her and continued to stand up for himself against Malfoy. "I will not have you speaking to Hermione that way."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Must we go over this again, Weasley? Sticking up for that Mudblood-"
But before Malfoy could even answer, Ron had screamed out 'Averte stets!' and had sent Malfoy flying into the back wall.
"RON!" Hermione screamed, jumping up. "What are you doing?" she screamed. "You can't do magic on the train! You'll get us into trouble!"
Ron stared at Malfoy, who had been knocked into the wall so hard he had dropped his wand and had been knocked unconscious. He whipped around toward Hermione. "You heard him, Hermione! He called you a truly heinous name! A foul name indeed!"
Hermione half smiled at Ron, pleased that he had stuck up for her, but upset about what he had done to Malfoy. "Well, I suppose we can just wake him up and get him out of here. The sooner he's gone the better."
Once Ron and Hermione had revived Malfoy, he had uttered a few curse words, and left, giving Cadence an odd glance before leaving.
She stared out the doorway he had left and then saw that Ron was still fuming. Hermione took Ron's hand in an effort to calm him down.
"Who was that?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the doorway.
"Draco Malfoy," Harry answered, his voice dripping with loathing and disrespect. "No one for you to care about."
"He seems downright evil to me. No wonder he's in Slytherin," she muttered.
Harry smiled at her, allowing himself to gaze at her a bit before asking, "If you're a fifth year, how is it that I've never seen you before? I'd like to think I know just about everyone here at Hogwarts."
Cadence smirked, avoiding the gaze of Harry's bright, green eyes. "It's not much, really. I've just. well. transferred."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance. They had heard the uneasy tone in Cadence's voice.
"Transferred?" Harry frowned and then looked over at Ron and Hermione. They were giving him a stare that told him not to push. He sat back and allowed himself to relax against the seat. Once Cadence found that he was at ease, she allowed peace to come over her as well. The conversation between the two on the other side of the train car continued quietly and Harry remained silent. Cadence shifted in her seat and put her head on the window.
"Anything off the trolley?" came the voice outside their car. The four heads shifted quickly toward the door, and an old witch with a trolley cart full of goods stood outside, smiling brightly.
"No thank you," Ron and Hermione chimed at the exact same time. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"I'll take something," Harry said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a few Sickles. He took some things, handed the money to the witch, and sat back down.
She looked in and smiled sweetly at Cadence. "Anything for you, dear?"
Cadence dug into her pocket and found nothing. She looked down, embarrassed, and answered, "No thank you."
The trolley rolled away and Harry sat next to her, letting his treats fall from his arms. "Cadence?" he whispered.
She looked up and Harry noticed that she hastily wiped a tear from her face. "Yes?" she answered.
He thought nothing of it, knowing she probably wouldn't say anything if he asked. "Would you like something?"
She looked down at the piles of candy goods, and knew that one mere boy couldn't possibly eat all of it. She looked back up at him and smiled. "I'll take some chocolate, if you have it."
Harry handed her a box of his chocolate and watched as she ate it in haste and pleasure. "Thank you," she whispered, avoiding Harry's sparkling eyes and looking back out the window.
The train stopped not too long later, and the students all filed off one by one. Cadence looked down at her feet as she walked off by herself. She had been told that she would have to go on the boats with Hagrid and the other first years, so she could be sorted with them.
Hermione stepped up beside Cadence and whispered, "There's nothing to be worried about. We don't bite, honestly."
Harry smiled as Cadence looked up and laughed. The entire ride on the train he hadn't seen her fully smile, and now that he had, he felt almost weak. She looked so beautiful when she opened her mouth and exposed her wide, wonderful smile. She looked completely happy, like nothing could ever hurt her or spoil her mood. She appeared to be in high spirits.
Yet it wasn't something that she felt.
A large man with bushy black hair and a long black beard held up a lantern, yelling in a deep, booming voice, "Alrigh then, firs years! This way! C'mon now, don' be shy!"
Cadence watched as the small, scared looking first years walked over toward the large man (which she could only think to be Rubeus Hagrid) and she started to walk toward him.
Harry saw how she fearfully stepped over, as Ron and Hermione waited for Harry to join them in going to the carriages that would take them to the castle.
He looked back at his two friends, smiled, and walked over to Cadence. He took her hand and she looked up at him in surprise.
"Like Hermione said, no one's going to bite you," Harry whispered in her ear, leading her toward Hagrid.
"Firs years!" he kept yelling, and suddenly looked down, a smile appearing on his weathered face. "Hi there, Harry, aren ya s'posed to be goin in the carriages?"
"Yes, Hagrid," Harry answered. "But I wanted you to meet my friend Cadence Cartwright. She's new and a bit nervous."
Hagrid looked down at the girl, who caught his eye maybe twice.
"Oh hi there, Cadence," Hagrid said, extending a large palm toward the small girl. "Rubeus Hagrid. I'm a teacher 'ere," he said boastfully, obviously very happy about this. "I've 'eard all 'bout ya, don' worry. Nothing 'ere gonna 'arm ya."
Cadence nodded, looking back down. Harry gave her hand a squeeze and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry about this. It's nothing. I'll be at the table, cheering you on."
She smiled at him and then looked back down.
He grabbed her chin and made her look up. "And stop looking down! I'm not impressed at all with it."
A larger smile suddenly crept to her face and she stared into Harry's wide green eyes. Impressed? Why should I have to impress him? she thought wildly to herself.
He stared into her large, wondering brown eyes and knew that whoever this girl really was, she was in desperate need of love and assistance in her newly acquired life at Hogwarts.
"I'll be waiting at our table," he said, whispering, and with one last hand squeeze, he was gone.
"Our table?"