Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize as anyone else's. I don't own most of the Sorting Hat's song. I borrowed it from the 5th book. But some of it's my own.
A Note about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix IS IT JUST ME! Or did anyone else realize that if Dumbledore would have just found a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher then Fudge wouldn't have appointed Umbridge and Sirius may still be alive! He should have just taken the job himself if it came down to it. Geez.
"I still don't know why you wouldn't let me go on their honeymoon with them," said Cati for about the millionth time.
Cadance and Charlie would be returning from their honeymoon any minute now. It was August 31st, and that means that the students would be returning the next day and another year would begin.
"Cati, sometimes I worry about you," said Mr. Weasley.
"Yeah, just be happy I'm not your problem," said Cati casting a sideways glance at her uncle. Cati was sitting in the Great Hall with the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Sirius, Remus, and the entire Hogwarts teaching staff. They were eating a pancake breakfast.
"What time are they supposed to come back?" asked Cati as she started pacing behind the Head Table, ignoring pancakes for the first time ever.
"Any minute now," said Mr. Weasley. Cati began hopping from one foot to another.
"Cati, it looks like you're doing a potty dance," said Bill.
"I'm bored," said Cati. "And I'm anxious."
"Sit down, Catalin," said Snape.
"Sorry, can't," said Cati as she continued pacing.
"Catalin," said Snape in his I-really-mean-it voice.
"Uncle Severus, I didn't even listen to you when you used that voice when I was a kid. What makes you think I'm going to listen now that I'm an adult?" asked Catalin.
Just then Cadance and Charlie came into the Great Hall, hand in hand and smiling. Cati hopped over the Head Table, knocking over two glasses of orange juice, a plate of eggs, and a plate of bacon, and ran up to Cadance and Charlie. She hugged them, knocking them over.
"Cati!" exclaimed Bill. "Get off of them!"
"I missed you!" exclaimed Cati.
"We missed you, too, Cati," said Cadance. "Now get off of me."
"Yeah, Cati," said Charlie pushing her off and getting up. He helped Cadance off the ground.
"Okay, let's go, I need details," said Cati trying to drag Cadance back out of the Great Hall.
"Hold on a second, Cati," said Cadance taking Charlie's hand and walking to the Head Table.
"Hello Mom, Dad," said Charlie leaning over the table to kiss him mother on the cheek as Cadance kissed her uncle and winked at her sister.
"Hello, dears," said Mrs. Weasley.
"How was the Honeymoon?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Great, thanks," said Cadance.
"Any Wedding Night jitters?" asked Bill.
"BILL WEASLEY!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley whacking him on his head. "What kind of comment was that?"
"Uncle Severus, you should probably thank him for saying it, because if he didn't I probably would have," said Cati.
"Cadance, dear, Arabella wants you to go down to Hogsmeade later to visit her. She wanted to be here this morning but she was on duty late last night," said Dumbledore.
"First she has to come and talk to me," said Cati hopping up and down.
"Hold on a second, Cati," said Cadance.
"Fine then," said Cati turning her back to Cadance. "I see how it is. You went and got married and now I'm second to Charlie. I'll get over it. One day in the distant future I'll recover and not before then, but, yes, I shall be fine."
Cadance sighed. "Cati, would you like to go talk now?" she said sympathetically.
Cati turned around with a huge smile on her face. "Yes please," she said. She grabbed Cadance's hand and skipped out of the Great Hall with Cadance in tow.
"So," said Cati once they were situated on Cadance's bed. "What now? What are you and Charlie going to do?"
"Well, first we're planning on moving out of here and into our own room," said Cadance. "I talked to Minerva and she said she's already planning on using my room as a library and she'll still have the empty bedroom. You know, the one you stayed in last year. Well, we'll get our own Common Room down the hall behind that picture of Merlin. My uncle said he was going to get the house elves on it, but I told him to wait until after school started because it's not quite as important as preparing for the start of school. And then Charlie is going to Apparate to Romania every day for work. And we're keeping my house in Godric's Hollow."
"What about during the summer?" asked Cati. "And you're not going to quit working here or anything are you? And what about—" Cadance cut her off.
"Cati, I don't know what's going to happen," said Cadance. "During the summer we're going to live in Godric's Hollow and during the school year we're going to live here. And what will happen will happen, and we'll just have to meet it when it comes."
Cati looked Cadance in the eyes for a few minutes. "I see fear in your eyes," said Cati. "What are you worrying about?"
"It's nothing," said Cadance hurriedly. "Nothing at all."
"I know you better than that," said Cati. "And even if I didn't, I have the same powers as you. I read emotions."
"Yes, I know," said Cadance. "It's just that I'm scared, Cati."
"Scared of what?" asked Cati.
"There are demons out there, Cati; Demons who are more powerful than I am. Upper-Level demons. The Source of All Evil. These demons are beginning to figure out who I am. That I'm the—," Cadance got cut off by Cati.
"Shhh! We've been over this, Cadance. Always assume we're being followed and we're being eavesdropped on. That way you'll never say what you were about to say for someone to overhear. Cadance, nobody can know the truth. It's not safe for you, and it's not safe for Jen, and now it's not safe for Charlie," said Cati.
"Right," said Cadance. "Well, demons are beginning to figure it out, Cati. While I was on my honeymoon I was attacked by an Upper-Level Demon. Cati, I've never taken on an Upper-Level Demon before without help before."
"Are you okay? What happened? Did you vanquish the demon?" asked Cati.
"Yes, but it wasn't easy," said Cadance. "I think I may have won by sheer luck. It flung an Energy Ball at me but it hit the mirror instead. It flew back at him and hit him and while he had his guard down, I blew him up."
"Are you okay?" asked Cati.
"Well, you're going to find out anyway," said Cadance. She lifted the sleeve of her robes up. Right above the elbow her arm was wrapped. "He had a knife with him."
"Oh, Cadance," said Cati. "I'd be scared of demons too after that. What did Charlie have to say?"
"No, Cati, I'm not scared of the demons. I'm afraid that they'll hurt Charlie to hurt me. And Death Eaters could do the same thing. And Charlie doesn't know about this," said Cadance. "The attack was just last night and when it happened he was at the front desk of the hotel picking up food that we ordered."
"You can't keep it a secret, Cadance," said Cati. "What if another one shows up and tries to get Jen? She won't be prepared unless you tell her."
"That's just it, Cati," said Cadance. "I don't think they will attack, Jen. Her powers are too new to her. They can't sense them."
"You have to tell Charlie," said Cati.
Cadance didn't respond right away. After a few moments of silence she said, "Once last year, Charlie made me promise to run away just once in my life and not stay and fight. Just one time, and that's all he wanted." She was silent again for a little bit. Then she began speaking again. "Cati, you have to promise me you won't say anything about this to anyone else. Promise me your most excellent promise, like when we were kids."
"Cadance, when we were kids we promised we wouldn't tell each other's uncles that we were the ones who blew up the hallways and that we would never tell what we said about the other people in the school. This is different," said Cati.
"Cati," said Cadance. "Your most excellent promise."
"My most excellent promise," repeated Cati.
"Good, thank you," said Cadance.
"Now you have to promise me that you'll let me clean up your arm," said Cati.
"Yes, please," said Cadance. "But let's talk about something else while you're doing it."
"Okay," said Cati as she began to take the bandage off Cadance's arm.
"Cati?" asked Cadance. "At my wedding, you clicked your heels and traveled somewhere. Where did you go?"
"South Fayette, Pennsylvania in the USA," said Cati. "I showed up in the auditorium of some High School there."
"What happened?" asked Cadance.
"Well, there I was in my little Dorothy costume complete with ruby slippers," said Cati. "And then I heard this lady calling to me. Apparently she was the director of the musicals there and she pushed me on stage and told me to start memorizing my lines. I had no clue what she was talking about. I looked over the edge of the stage and there's this hole. Apparently it's called an orchestra pit. Well, there was this guy in there and he said 'Hey, you're not Roxy!' and I said 'No, I'm Catalin'. Well, I think that he thought that the lady had made a cast change and that the lady thought that he had made a cast change."
"Why do you think that?" asked Cadance.
"I heard them talking a while after," said Cati. "Now don't interrupt and sit still. You're making it awfully hard to fix up your arm when you're moving around. So anyway, the lady told everyone on stage to take a short break and judging by the reactions of everyone on stage I don't think that she did that very often. I took the opportunity to talk to two girls. They told me that the lady's name was Mrs. Mackey but they called her The Mackey. And the man in the orchestra pit's name was Mr. Maurer but for some reason he's known as the Kickin' Muchacho. Well, it didn't take me long to figure out that the play they were doing was The Wizard of Oz, because there were these big green doors that said 'Oz' on them. It was then that I realized how the Mackey and the Kickin' Muchacho thought that I was in the play. I was dressed like Dorothy. It was then that the real Dorothy came on stage. She apologized to the Mackey for being late. Then the Mackey told her that if she was ever late for her musical practice because she was backstage making out with the Scarecrow again she would pull her from the show. Well, I took that as my cue to leave so I clicked my heels and got myself out of there."
"So you had fun then?" asked Cadance.
"Yeah," said Cati. "Well, you're all done. It's not as good as Madame Pomphrey could do I'm afraid."
Cadance looked at her arm. The deep gash had turned into no more than a cut that was about three inches long. "Thank you, Cati," said Cadance.
"You're welcome," said Cati. "You'd better go and visit Arabella now. She's expecting you."
"Are you coming with me?" asked Cadance.
"No, that's okay," said Cati. "I'm going to stay here."
"You sure?" asked Cadance.
"Yeah, I'm sure," said Cati.
"Cati," said Cadance. "Remember you gave me your most excellent promise."
"I know, Cadance," said Cati. "Just don't go taking on any more Upper-Level Demons on your own, okay?"
"I won't," said Cadance.
"Promise your most excellent promise," said Cati.
"I promise my most excellent promise," said Cadance as she and Cati locked pinkies.
About half an hour later, Cadance was sitting in Arabella's living room. Cadance's godmother smiled warmly at her. "Cadance, I'm so happy for you," said Arabella. "You found yourself a good man."
"Yeah," said Cadance. "You know, I was beginning to wonder if there were any good men out there. In the past few years I've dated about 10 or 15 demons before figuring out that they were demons."
"Minerva and I," began Arabella. "We never worried about it for a second. We knew you'd find the right guy. And he was right under your nose for all of these years." She gave her a motherly smile, which Cadance returned. "But you and I both know that I didn't have you come down here to talk about you and Charlie."
"I figured," said Cadance. "Arabella, you always put business first."
"Yes, I know," said Arabella. "But this is important."
"What is it?" asked Cadance.
"Harry," said Arabella.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Cadance.
"He's a full-grown wizard," said Arabella. "We have to tell him the truth."
"What truth?" asked Cadance. "He knows that he's the heir of Gryffindor."
"Courtesy of you," said Arabella.
"He knows about the Crystal of Gryffindor," said Cadance.
"Courtesy of you," said Arabella.
"He knows that you were protecting him on Privet Drive," said Cadance.
"Courtesy of you," said Arabella.
"No, actually, it was my uncle who told him that," said Cadance. "Okay, so he doesn't know how to work the Crystal of Gryffindor, but we're not even sure how to work it so we can't help him with that and we're not even sure if there is anything to working it. For all we know you don't need to work it and it just works on its own."
"Cadance, stop rambling," said Arabella. "I mean he needs to know about the prophecy."
"The prophecy," repeated Cadance. "Why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you be telling my uncle, or Sirius, or someone who's more involved in making decisions for him, which by the way I think that's wrong."
"Cadance, your uncle won't listen," said Arabella. "I was hoping that you could persuade him."
"Persuade him?"
"Yes, don't even pretend that he's not wrapped around your little finger," said Arabella. "He'd listen to every word you'd say to him."
"Arabella, you want to use me to get my uncle to tell Harry something that he obviously doesn't think Harry is prepared for," said Cadance.
"He's prepared for it," said Arabella. "Cadance, I feel this is the only way for Harry to rise to his full potential as a wizard."
"You mean as a Dark Lord fighter," retorted Cadance.
"If that's what his destiny is, then that's what his destiny is," said Arabella.
"Who are we to say what his destiny is?" asked Cadance.
"Cadance, you have to see reason," said Arabella. "You have to realize that he must know what is expected of him!"
"He is expected to fight the Dark Lord or die trying! I know! But I hardly think that's fair!" exclaimed Cadance. "All because some crazy lady predicted it one day years ago! I mean, she's a complete fraud anyway!"
"Cadance, if he doesn't know he can't prepare himself," said Arabella keeping a calm that Cadance had discarded. "I have watched him grow up. I watched him as his Aunt and Uncle and cousin made his life on Privet Drive a virtual hell. I watched him as he left for Hogwarts. I watched him, from afar, as he came back from the fourth task of the Triwizard Tournament. I will not watch him die at the hands of the Dark Lord."
Perhaps Cadance was touched by her godmother's telling off, or perhaps she was scared that the woman would hex her into next week. But in any event, she said, "I'll see what I can do about my uncle, Arabella, but I can't make any promises."
"That's all I ask," said Arabella. "Now that business is out of the way, tell me about your honeymoon. Did you have a good time?"
Cadance paused. She probably should tell Arabella about the demon. After all, that's what godmother's are there for. On the other hand, she was sure that it was just the fears of a new wife. Albeit, they were unusual fears for most other new wives, but for Cadance demons were a part of everyday life and a very real threat. "It was wonderful, Arabella," said Cadance putting on a fake smile and pushing her fears out of her head. "Charlie and I had a wonderful—" She stopped short of finishing her sentence. Suddenly fear gripped her heart as she was suddenly overcome with the mental picture of Charlie on the floor dead.
Cadance could hear Arabella calling her name. She took a few deep breaths. She knew she had to get a grip. She had had a premonition; there was no question about that. But premonitions could be changed. She had to change this one. She took a few more deep breathes. Her heart was practically in her throat. She opened her eyes.
"Cadance?" asked Arabella. "What did you see?"
"Charlie," said Cadance once she had found her voice. "I have to go." She got up and started for the door.
"Cadance! Use the fireplace!" called Arabella.
Cadance shook her head. "There's no time for me to go looking for an open grate." She rushed out the door of the apartment building and into the streets of Hogsmeade. There was an almost silent 'Pop!' and Cadance turned into a Phoenix. She flew up to the school in less than 10 seconds. She swooped into an open window and transformed. She hit the ground on all fours.
"Cadance?"
Cadance looked up and saw that she was in Professor McGonagall's office. She picked herself up.
"Cadance, what are you doing?" asked McGonagall. But Cadance was already whisking herself out of the door and down the hallway.
"Think, Cadance, think!" exclaimed the little nagging voice inside Cadance's head. "Where was Charlie in the premonition?"
"The dungeons," said the other little nagging voice. "It could only have been the dungeons."
"But what if it wasn't?" asked the first nagging voice. This was the one who usually takes the side of reason during her arguments with herself. Cadance always thought it sounded like Professor McGonagall.
"Of course he's there! That's the only place it could have been!" exclaimed the second nagging voice. This was the voice of impulse. It sounded remarkably like Cati.
"Both of you shut up so I can go save my husband!" Cadance said inwardly to the both of them.
"Sorry."
But which way to go? McGonagall had never steered Cadance wrong, but Cati had offered her her opinion on where she thought she should look, and Cadance couldn't think of any other place to look. She knew that it definitely wasn't in the Gryffindor Common Room. She would have recognized that right away. Even though Cadance knew she should probably think about other places Charlie could be, she knew she had to check the dungeons.
Cadance ran for about 5 minutes until she was deep in the dungeons, around Snape's classroom. It seemed as if she had run for an eternity. She turned into a corridor and heard a faint sound. She stopped. Charlie was lying in the middle of the corridor. Cadance ran up to him. She fell to her knees and lifted his head into her lap. She tried looking for a pulse, but could find none. "No," she whispered as tears flowed down her cheeks. "Charlie. Charlie, wake up, baby."
Cati was sitting quietly in her uncle's classroom. Snape was currently doing lesson plans. He looked up. "Don't just sit there," he said. "Talk. Walk around. Do some lesson plans. Do something." Cati just shook her head. "Okay what's wrong?" he asked.
Cati shook her head again. "I promised my most excellent promise," she said stubbornly.
"Okay, what's wrong with Cadance?" asked Snape recognizing Cadance and Cati's childhood lingo.
"I just told you, I can't tell you," said Cati. Snape shrugged. Cati lifted her head up a little. "Someone's coming down the hallway. Can you hear it?"
Snape stopped and looked toward the door. "Who would be coming down here? I'm the only one with a classroom down here." Cati shrugged. They both stared at the open door, waiting to see who would pass. They watched as the headmaster passed by. "What's Dumbledore doing down here?"
"I don't know," said Snape as he stood up and started out with Cati following him.
Dumbledore had chosen a more direct path to where Cadance was than Cadance had herself. A little bit past Snape's classroom he noticed that he had company. He didn't say anything as Snape and Cati fell into step next to him and they didn't say a word either. When they turned into the far corridor they saw Cadance sobbing hysterically over the still form of Charlie. Cati was about to rush forward to Cadance when Dumbledore put his arm out to stop her. Cati stopped and looked at him. Dumbledore walked up to Cadance.
"Cadance, get up," said Dumbledore. Cadance gave no sign of noticing him though Dumbledore knew she had heard him. "Cadance, you foresaw this even before you had the premonition. You had a feeling, but you passed it off as just a fear. But because you were scared, you let it linger inside your mind. You let it evolve into your greatest fear. It weakened you, Cadance." At this Cadance looked up at him. "And because it was your greatest fear swimming around inside your mind, you had your premonition. And even as we speak evil is playing on your weakness." Cadance began sobbing louder and Dumbledore had to raise his voice for him to be heard. "Cadance, you will succumb to evil if you don't become stronger than this."
"Professor Dumbledore, I don't think—" began Cati, but Dumbledore help up his hand to silence her.
"Cadance, it has become quite obvious that your powers, your senses, and your instincts have become weakened," said Dumbledore. "Because this was your greatest fear, you cut off the premonition before finishing. If you hadn't let fear rule then you would know that what you are sobbing over right now—"
"Uncle Albus," said Cadance her voice quavering and tears flowing. "Shut up."
"What you are sobbing over right now," continued Dumbledore, "is a Boggart." Cadance looked up at her uncle. "If you look more closely you can tell."
"Cadance?" said a voice from the behind Cati and Snape. Cadance turned around to see Charlie standing there. She got up and ran to him, crying again. He held her close while she cried. "It's okay. I'm okay."
Cati stepped forward. Boggart Charlie turned into a decapitated Mickey Mouse. "Riddikulus!" exclaimed Cati and Mickey Mouse's head popped back on and he vanished. Dumbledore and Snape were staring at her. "What?" she asked as if was normal for someone's greatest fear is that someone decapitated Mickey Mouse. "What!" she repeated.
"Follow me, you two," said Dumbledore to Cadance and Charlie. "Cati, perhaps you should come, too. And, Severus, will you please go and fetch Minerva and Jennifer." Bring them to my office." And without waiting for a reply from anyone, Dumbledore started walking in the direction of his office. Everyone else fell into step behind him, nobody saying anything. Cadance was still crying, only quieter now. Charlie walked next to Cadance with his arm around her waist and her head on his shoulder. Snape broke off to go find McGonagall and Jen. When they got into Dumbledore's office, Cadance, Charlie, and Cati all sat in chairs in front of his desk.
"I think it's time we all have a little chat," said Dumbledore. His statement was punctuated by a sniffle from Cadance. Dumbledore opened a drawer of his desk and pulled out a box of tissues. He handed them to Cadance. "Here. Pull yourself together, Cadance. We definitely need to talk. First of all, Cadance, I'm afraid that I have to tell you that one of your worst fears have come true. Upper-level demons are going to start attacking. So the feeling that you've been having wasn't just a fear. It's a sort of a premonition. You see, the bond of matrimony that you and Charlie now have is a powerful magic of its own. Powerful enough, I'm afraid, to alert more demons to your presence in the world. These demons will sense not you, but who you are, if you get my meaning. Most of these Upper-Level are working for Voldemort. They must not be allowed to report back to him. If you fail to vanquish just one, Cadance, you and Jen will have to run. Voldemort will know who you two truly are and you will have to flee."
"What about you?" asked Cadance. "I won't leave you here to fend off Voldemort on your own. In case you haven't noticed, you're one of us, too."
"I cannot leave the school defenseless," said Dumbledore.
"If you die, the Timponium Charm is worthless," said Cadance. "You'd have to come with us if we left."
"The Timponium Charm is now worthless anyway," said Dumbledore. "The Timponium Charm was disabled the moment he turned 17 and was no longer an under-aged wizard."
"Oh dear," said Cadance. "I forgot about that."
"So you better vanquish any demons that come along," said Dumbledore. "It would be very bad if a demon sensed our power and when he got here he discovered that it's us that he sensed and then reported back to Voldemort. Voldemort would have a field day."
"I understand," said Cadance. "Don't worry."
"Next, Cadance, before Jen gets here, you cannot tell her the truth just yet. You cannot tell her who we three are. If she doesn't know, she is that much more protected," said Dumbledore firmly.
It was then that McGonagall and Jen came in followed by Snape. "Ah, good, you're here," said Dumbledore. "Take a seat you three," said Dumbledore as he flicked his wand and three more chairs appeared. Snape however stood standing in the back by the door. Slytherins; who can figure them? "Let's get right down to business. I'm afraid that the school is going to be overrun by Upper-Level Demons."
"What? Why?" asked Jen. "What do they want?"
"Well," began Dumbledore. He paused.
Cadance came to his rescue with a brilliant cover-up story. "Well, they're working for Voldemort, aren't they? What else do you suppose they're here for?"
"Yes, well," said Dumbledore taking up his cue and nodding his thanks at Cadance. "The point isn't why they're here. The point is that they must not be allowed to report back to Voldemort. They all must die."
Cadance seemed to have perked up at the thought of the total obliteration of some demons and the twinkle in her eye returned. Isn't it odd how death and destruction can perk up a person?
"Now," said Dumbledore looking at Cadance, Cati, Jen, and McGonagall. "You four are our resident sorceresses and demon-vanquishing experts. Your powers are more in tune than mine are, so it will be up to you to do most of the vanquishing. I'll help out where I can but my defensive powers are a bit rusty."
"Just leave it to us," said Cati.
"Severus, I am counting on you to help them out with their potion needs," said Dumbledore.
"Trust me, Headmaster, I am aware of their potion-making skills, or lack there of. You can count on me," said Snape.
"Thank you for your vote of confidence in us, Uncle Severus," said Cati. "And we weren't that bad at potions. We passed, in any event."
"And Charlie," said Dumbledore. "We're going to need you to keep your father posted on anything that goes on around here when Cadance is too busy vanquishing demons to do it herself. He must know everything that goes on around here. We lose everything if we lose the support of the Ministry. Your father needs to keep them posted and if they don't get information from us, they may become suspicious that we're not doing what we're supposed to. And you can't blame them. Times are growing worse. Voldemort's supporters could be anyone, anywhere."
"Cati! Behind you!" exclaimed Jen. She had come to the front doors, where Cati was currently keeping post, to report to Cati that Cadance had just vanquished a demon and, also, that lunch was ready. The students were due to arrive today.
A demon blinked in behind Cati. When Jen called to her, Cati whipped around and faced the demon. "Jen! Go get Cadance!" exclaimed Cati as she began throwing fireballs at the demon who in turn tried to deflect them. Jen was halfway down the hallway when she heard Cati scream, "Never mind!" Jen rolled her eyes and backtracked to where Cati was. "Pure luck on our part just killed that demon," said Cati. "Another one showed up and they killed each other."
"I was supposed to report to you that Cadance just vanquished a demon and that lunch is ready," said Jen.
"Good, I'm starving," replied Cati.
Luckily there were no more demonic attacks that day. When the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, the students got out and filtered into the Great Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had left and Fred, George and Bill had decided to leave as well. The Hogwarts Aurors were positioned at the Head Table as they had been at the start-of-term and end-of-term feast for the past few years. Charlie was sitting by Cadance and they were talking together in hushed voices.
Professor McGonagall led the first years in for the Sorting.
(By the way, I don't care what the 5th book says; Ravenclaw and Gryffindor DO NOT rhyme. And there are large parts of this taken from the 5th Harry Potter book. I don't own it!)
In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted
They met one day when hope was thin
And wizards and witches not plentiful
They united right then and there
And opened our dear Hogwarts school
Those great powerful founders four
Each prized certain traits
And thus they looked for them
When picking those they wanted to rate
To Gryffindor went the bold and brave
To Hufflepuff went those loyal and true
To Ravenclaw went the wise and scholarly
To Slytherin went the cunning through and through
At first they worked in harmony
And the students got along quite well
But argument between Slytherin and Gryffindor
Turned the school into a war-like hell
Slytherin then left the school
And the other three were sad
To see him go was a great loss
Especially with the students all gone mad
You see there sprung a rivalry
Between the four houses after the fight
The remaining founders realized their mistake
But the students had not realized what was right
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end
Because where there once had been camaraderie
There now was a clash of friend and friend
Though the fighting died out
Before the other Founders from this world departed
The state of the school right now
Leaves me quite downhearted
For never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been untied
As they were once meant to be
So take it from someone who was there
And who knows the score
I take good care of your fate
For that is what I'm for
I'll take a peak inside your head
And sort through your mind
And put you where you belong
With others of your kind
But now I must warn you
That division may cause the end
Of what was started long ago
By those four good friends
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong
So before I sort you I must say
I hope you have listened to my song.
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether dividing
May bring the end I fear
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you…
Let the sorting now begin!
The Hall began to applaud but it lacked the usual enthusiasm that it usually did. The same thought was on all of the students' minds. The Sorting Hat had warned them of turning against each other. It had told them to stand united. Professor McGonagall started calling out names to be sorted, but Harry didn't hear them. He was thinking about the Sorting Hat's message. He thought of Malfoy. Malfoy's father was a Death Eater, eluding the Ministry for the past year. But was Malfoy following in his father's footsteps? He thought of all the times that he and Malfoy had fought over the years. None of the reasons for fighting seemed justified now. Now, Harry was Head Boy (Hermione, of course, was Head Girl) and he felt as if his new responsibilities took precedent over old feelings of hatred. Suddenly applause broke through Harry's thoughts.
The Sorting was over. Harry felt himself getting up and walking towards the other end of the room before he even realized what he was doing. Halfway across the room he stopped and he realized that there was someone in front of him. Malfoy was standing there. They stared at each other for a few seconds. They were directly in front of McGonagall and Snape at the Head Table. They both looked confused. The Hall started growing quieter as they all started to look at the two 7th Years standing there in front of them all.
They were both staring each other in the eyes. Then suddenly they began shaking hands and before anyone said a word they were walking back to their seats. Students began turning around in their chairs to smile or wave at the other students at other tables. The Hall was absolutely silent for a few seconds before Cadance jumped out of her chair, a look of pure confusion on her face. "Whoa! Wait a minute! You mean to tell me that you told me that I was cruel and unusual at the end of last year when I tried to teach you the exact same lesson, but now 3 months later you choose to listen to THE HAT!" Nobody said anything. "It's a bloody hat! You didn't get the message when I gave it to you, but the Sorting Hat says it and all of a sudden you see the light! Is that what you're telling me!"
"Maybe you should try singing it," offered Jen.
"Cadance, sit down," whispered Charlie. "You're causing a scene."
"I'll cause a scene if I damn well want to cause a scene, Charlie!"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and Cadance looked at him. She sat down. Dumbledore stood up. "Right. Well, that was interesting. A few things before we get to eating the delicious feast the House Elves worked hard on."
"I'll tell you what! I bet you any amount of money that this peace will only last until Quidditch season and then we'll see if you're not fighting then!" interrupted Cadance.
"Thank you for that interjection," said Dumbledore. "Now can we please get on with it? Thank you. As I was saying, I have a few announcements before we start on the feast. First, Professor Cadance Dumbledore has undergone a name change, more commonly known as marriage, this summer and is now Professor Weasley. This will help in the confusion that was brought about in trying to figure out whether it was her or I being addressed when someone said 'Professor Dumbledore'." Cadance snorted. Most of the Gryffindors called her Cadance anyway. Dumbledore continued, "Secondly, 7th Years will be given career advice this year in the presence of our Deputy Headmistress and one other Professor, depending on who is available at the time, and not with a Ministry Representative as we have done in other years. I promise you will still receive excellent advice. Also, Mr. Filch would like it known that everything that can be bought from Weasley Wizard Wheezes, formerly Zonko's Joke Shop, has been added to the list of objects forbidden in the corridors. And now with that said, let the feast begin."
The students plunged into the food like ravenous monsters that had not been fed for centuries. At the Head Table Cadance and McGonagall were talking about what had just happened. "I don't get it. I don't get it at all," said Cadance.
"There're lots of things you don't get," said Professor McGonagall.
"And don't you think it's odd that those two particular students were the ones who decided to make the first move?" asked Cadance.
"Like Potions," said McGonagall.
"You don't think that my Uncle used Jedi Mind Powers, do you?" asked Cadance.
"And Divination," said McGonagall who was beginning to count on her fingers.
"Cadance use the right terminology," said Cati. "They aren't Jedi Mind Powers. It's telekinesis. And your uncle wouldn't do that."
"Do you think that maybe that hat has telekinetic powers?" asked Cadance.
"And you were never particularly fond of Ancient Runes," said McGonagall.
"Minerva, I think we should tell Harry about the prophecy," said Cadance.
"And that you're not supposed to wear white after Labor Day," said McGonagall.
"Minerva, are you listening to me?" asked Cadance.
"What?" asked McGonagall.
"Never mind," said Cadance.
"Cadance, that came out of nowhere," said Cati.
"Not really, but I'll bring it up again later," said Cadance.
"Okay," said Cati who had too busy a day fighting demons to care about what Cadance had just said.
"That's it!" exclaimed Cadance after vanquishing another demon. "Cati! Get your cloak! We're going to Tipsy's!"
It was a week into the school year and Cadance was wearing herself out trying to vanquish demons. Many of them screamed "You? Won't Voldemort be surprised!" upon finding her. It was really getting old. On the other hand, she was getting quite good at hitting her mark every time when knife-throwing.
"Tipsy's! I love Tipsy's!" exclaimed Cati.
Cadance sprinted down the hallway with Cati at her heels. She burst into Professor McGonagall's classroom. "Minerva! Cati and I are going to Tipsy's Tavern to see if we can find out what the heck is up with all of these demons. Will you please tell Charlie where I am when he gets back from work?"
"Cadance," said McGonagall nodding to her side.
Cadance turned her head and saw an astonished class looking back at her. "Uhhhhh, hi," said Cadance.
"You just got ahead, Cadance," said McGonagall. "Try to be back before dinner."
"Thanks," said Cadance as she walked out of the classroom. Cati was waiting outside the classroom door holding two cloaks. She handed one to Cadance. They walked down to Hogsmeade and Apparated to Tipsy's Tavern. They went in the front doors. "KALAAAAAAAAA!" exclaimed Cadance, making a beeline for the bar. "Kala!"
"Cadance?" called Kala as she stood on tiptoe to look over the heads of the demons at the bar. "Cati? Is that you? How was your honeymoon, Cadance?"
Several of the demons turned around. "I sense—," began one.
"I sense it too," said another. They all jumped up and armed themselves with energy balls, fireballs, knives, etc.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know," said Cadance. "You're going to try and take me out because of my position so that the Source of All Evil promotes you to an Upper-Level Demon. Sorry, but not today." She waved her arms and all the demons sitting at the bar blew up.
"Cadance!" exclaimed Kala. "You just vanquished some of my best customers!"
"Sorry, Kala," said Cadance.
"She had to do it," said Cati as she and Cadance took a seat at the bar.
"But, Cadance, you can get yourselves in trouble. They were being monitored by the Ministry. What's going to happen when their Probation Officers send someone here looking for whoever killed them? You'll be brought in for questioning!"
"Calm down, Kala," said Cadance. "We came to look at your Ministry Reference Books." She and Cati filled her in about the current demon situation.
Kala began spreading her books out along the bar. Cadance and Cati spent several hours looking at them, but found nothing to keep away the Upper-Level Demons, nor did they find any clues to how they keep finding them. Finally the midnight crowd of demons came in. "Hey, Cadance," said Cati. "Let's go hustle some money." She nodded at the pool table and the demons around it.
"We're hardly dressed to hustle money," said Cadance referring to her teaching robes that bore the Hogwarts crest and Cati's Auroring robes.
Cati winked at Cadance and then snapped her fingers and she was in black pants, black boots, and a white halter top. Cadance was in black pants, black boots, and a white sleeveless, low-cut blouse. "Better?" asked Cati.
"Cati," began Cadance before Cati cut her off.
"What? And Charlie will like that top," replied Cati with a wink.
"Fill in your own Bill-ish remark here," said Cadance nodding towards Cati's top.
"Shut up," said Cati.
"Alright, let's go hustle your rent for the next month," said Cadance.
They walked up to the pool table. One demon held up his hand. He spoke with a gruff voice. "Hold up there. This table is reserved for real games of pool only. No girly games."
"That's too bad for you," said Cati. "But we may be persuaded to let you finish your girly game before we get our real game going."
"Alright, Princess, enough kidding," said another demon. "Stand aside."
"No way," said Cadance. "You see, we aim to play a game of pool."
"No girls allowed, Dolly," said the first demon.
"I think you're chicken," said Cati.
"No way," said that second demon.
"Put your money where your mouth is then," said Cadance. "Let her Royal Highness and I get in on a game."
"I like the way you think, Dolly," said Cati.
"You're asking for it," said the first demon. "Rack 'em up, Dolly, while I get better acquainted with the Princess." He put an arm around Cati's waste.
"Hey, hands off, buddy," said Cadance. "I'll call her boyfriend. He's big and mean and put a guy in the hospital for breathing too loudly."
The demon laughed then took a step away from Cati.
Eight Games Later………
"I believe we're up to 150 Galleons now, boys," said Cadance. "Pay up."
"One more game. Double or nothing," said the demon.
"No," said Cati. "It's getting close to three o'clock and we have to work in the morning. Pay up."
The first demon pulled his arm back and flung an energy ball at Cadance and Cati. They leaped out of the way. "Why, Cadance, I do believe he's trying to stiff us," said Cati.
Cadance and Cati used their telekinetic powers to throw the two demons backwards. They threw more energy balls, which Cadance and Cati had to jump behind the bar to dodge. Cati waved her arms and blew up the demons.
"While you're back there, do you want to get me two martinis?" asked Kala.
"Very funny, Kala," said Cadance and she and Cati climbed over the bar, groaning with aches and pains.
"Note to self: Jumping over bars causes butt to be sore," said Cati.
Just then, five Aurors bounded in with their badges held up in front of them. "Everyone, freeze!" shouted the one in front. "Who has been causing trouble here?" All the demons turned and pointed at Cadance and Cati. "Let's move!" They all rushed forward and surrounded Cadance and Cati, who turned to each other with raised eyebrows. Two of them moved forward and pinned Cadance and Cati's arms behind them.
"Hey, now!" exclaimed Cati. "What the hell is going on?"
"You are charged with participating in a brawl in a Ministry-supervised area. You are also being charged with the illegal vanquishing of the demons you were brawling with and are suspected in the illegal vanquishing of several demons earlier this evening," said the one in charge. "You are being taken to Azkaban and will have a court hearing at a date yet to be scheduled."
"You mean there's a right and a wrong way to vanquish demons?" asked Cadance.
"Yes, the complete list of legal and illegal ways can be found in the handbook, issued by the Department of Sorcerers and Sorceresses in the Ministry," said another Auror.
"There's a Department of Sorcerers and Sorceresses!" exclaimed Cadance.
"Alright, now, let's go," said the Auror who was in charge.
They started to lead Cadance and Cati away. "Kala, you know to bail us out, right?" said Cati.
"Of course," said Kala.
In Azkaban………
"Cati, I can't believe we were just arrested for vanquishing demons," said Cadance. Cati was in the cell next to her, and she couldn't see her because of the wall in between them, but they could hear each other because of the bars in the front.
"Damn, that was fun," said Cati. "Although, it's a good thing Kala's going to come bail us out."
"You know, Cati, it takes a good friend to bail you out of jail at three in the morning," said Cadance. "But only your best friend would be in the cell next to you saying, 'damn, that was fun'."
"Aw, thanks, Cadance," said Cati.
It was then that an Auror came up and stood so that both Cadance and Cati could see him. "Alright, you two are free to go," he said. "And I must say, Commander Dumbledore and Commander Nuperson, that I am truly sorry about the mix-up. We had no clue that you two were working undercover and had the proper papers and authorization to vanquish whatever demons you wanted to. I hope that our interference did not hinder your attempt at rank promotion."
"Rank promotion?" questioned Cati.
Just then Mr. Weasley walked into view flanked by Dumbledore, Snape, and Charlie. "Oh, don't worry, Cati, he knows everything," said Mr. Weasley. "Now why don't we get you girls back to Hogwarts since you have work tomorrow?"
"Very good, Minister," said the Auror. He took out a key and unlocked Cadance and Cati's cell doors. They stepped out.
"By the way, Sergeant," said Cadance. "It's Commander Weasley now."
"Right, of course," said the Auror. "Well, good luck."
"Thank you, Roderick," said Mr. Weasley. He led them down the hallway and into a room. In the room there was nothing but a fireplace.
Charlie pulled Cadance close and kissed her. "Okay, that is disgusting," said Snape. "Please spare us." They pulled apart. Dumbledore pulled Floo Powder out of his pocket. They used Floo Powder to travel to Dumbledore's office.
"Thanks for the help, Mr. Weasley," said Cati.
"Yeah, thanks, Dad," said Cadance
"No problem at all," said Mr. Weasley. "But you should really thank Albus and Severus here. Severus was the one that Kala got in touch with and Dumbledore was the one to make up the cover-story."
"Yes, well, we couldn't have done it if it weren't for the fact that you're the Minister of Magic," said Dumbledore.
"I've got a question," said Cadance. "Why weren't we informed that there's a handbook that we have to follow when vanquishing demons?"
"Yeah, and why weren't we informed that there's a Department of Sorcerers and Sorceresses?" added Cati.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about it if I were you," said Mr. Weasley. "The Department of Sorcerers and Sorceresses only deals with registering Sorcerers and Sorceresses and there aren't many more of you left anyway. The only other thing they've done is put out the handbook. And nobody ever follows those rules. They're out of date and could in actuality get you killed. And besides, nobody even knows if you follow them at all or not. You have to be suspected for something else before they even look into it. Like you and Cati were involved in a major brawl in Kala's bar. In a Ministry-Supervised area, that's illegal."
"Right, we'll log that away in case we ever decide to go demon-vanquishing there again," said Cadance.
"Well, off to bed with you," said Dumbledore. "You have classes to teach tomorrow, Cadance. And Cati, you have a castle to protect."
"Nobody will get by me! I'm a gargoyle!" exclaimed Cati.
"No, I'm not sending you to Disney World again," said Mr. Weasley.
"But I'm overworked and crazy!" argued Cati.
"Go to bed," said Mr. Weasley. "And make sure you thank Kala tomorrow for having the sense to call us rather than try to bail you out herself. She might have found herself thrown in jail herself for being an accessory after the fact or something."
The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione trudged to History of Magic, which was easily their most boring subject. When they got there, Professor Binns wasn't hovering by the blackboard as he was. They sat down to wait for him to enter the classroom. The door opened and, instead of Professor Binns, Cadance came bustling into the classroom. "Good morning, everyone. I will be temporarily replacing Professor Binns because he's attending a conference for ghosts somewhere in Australia or Austria or Austin or something like that. So for today, you're stuck with me for an extra class period." She went up to his desk. A folder clearly marked 'LESSON PLANS' was sitting on top of the immaculately clean desk. She reached down and tried to pick it up. Her hand went straight through it. It was then that she noticed that it was transparent. "Well, since Professor Binns prefers to keep his lesson plans in a ghostly fashion, I guess we'll have to wing it. What would you like to learn about today?"
"You mean we can pick?" asked Ron in disbelief.
"Sure," said Cadance. "I'll teach you about anything, even if it doesn't pertain to History of Magic."
"Well, I for one would like to hear of Merlin," said Hermione. "I mean the truth, not just the muggle stories."
Cadance paused for a second and then asked, "Did Cati put you up to this?"
"Pardon me?" asked Hermione.
"Never mind," said Cadance. "I won't pretend to be an expert, but I'll tell you what I know. Where to begin? Well, I guess we should start from the beginning. Merlin was an expert Sorcerer and it's said that he is also the wisest wizard to ever walk the face of the earth. His mother was the daughter of a king, and his father was a demon. After making a prediction that proved true for the British King Vortigern, Merlin became his advisor. Then he was advisor to Uther Pendragon and, more famously, Uther's son Arthur. Merlin taught the sorceress Morgana. But she in turn tried to kill him and Arthur. Merlin led Arthur to many military victories and was the one who suggested that Arthur and his Knights have a round table, so that nobody would fight over who sat at the head. Merlin's downfall was brought about when he fell in love with the sorceress Vivien, who trapped him forever in an Oak Tree. Some historians will argue that there was a conspiracy between Vivien and Morgana. Merlin's lineage was carried on by a child he created from water and sky and his own blood. The child was raised by one of Merlin's students, a young boy by the name of Thomas of Banderly. He taught the child everything that Merlin had taught him. 500 years later, the heir of the Banderly name was one of the four who founded this very school. Godric Gryffindor. And that is about all that anyone knows for sure about Merlin. There are some other speculations, but none of them have been proven. Legend has it that Merlin and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table will come again one day when they are needed." Cadance paused and looked around. She realized that no one was sleeping. "What next?"
"How about you name the 12 uses of Dragon's Blood," said Dean, looking up from his Potions homework.
"Nice try," said Cadance. "But no cigar. You'll have to do your own homework."
"Rats," said Dean.
"What about our Career Advice?" asked Parvati Patil. "What's going to happen during that?"
"Well, when I went through it, I sat down in McGonagall's office with two Ministry representatives; an Auror and a creepy old guy from the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee," said Cadance. "They said 'Hey, what do you want to do with your life' and I said 'Hey, I want to be an Auror' so they threw some pamphlets at me, looked in my folder, and yelled at me to raise my Potions grades, as if I didn't get enough of that from my uncle. But you guys are lucky; you won't have some scary random Ministry Representatives. You'll have two people you already know."
"What if you have no idea what you want to be when you go?" asked Ron.
"About a week before, they'll put pamphlets out in the Gryffindor Common Room with a bunch of the different jobs and their descriptions. If you still don't know after looking at those, then tell Professor McGonagall what some of your interests and she'll give you a list of jobs that involve your interests and recommend one." Dean Thomas raised his hand. "Dean, if you tell Professor McGonagall that you have no interests I expect she'll transfigure you into something horrible because after being here for a full 6 years you must have some interest." Dean put his hand down.
"As an Auror, how much money do you make?" asked Lavender Brown.
"Enough to live on, but not nearly enough considering what I do," said Cadance.
"Is it true that you and Commander Nuperson got arrested last night?" asked Seamus Finnigan excitedly.
"Yes," said Cadance. "Any more questions?"
"Why were you arrested?" asked Dean.
"Dean!" reprimanded Hermione.
"No, Hermione, it's okay," said Cadance. "I got arrested for doing what I was hired to do by other people who were hired to do the exact same thing." They all looked at her confusedly. She sighed. "I vanquished some demons and then some Aurors came and arrested me and Cati because we didn't do it by the book."
"You mean there are rules to vanquishing demons?" questioned Hermione.
"My reaction exactly," said Cadance. "What's next? Salem Witch Trials? Spanish Inquisition? Founding of Hogwarts? Prank Wars of 1989?"
"Prank Wars of 1989?" asked Harry.
"Me and Cati versus Fred and George Weasley," said Cadance. "Professor McGonagall gave us detention for two weeks and made us write letters of apology to all the Slytherins and half the staff."
"You're a really bad influence," said Dean Thomas.
"Yeah, and she's my sister-in-law," said Ron proudly.
By the time the first Hogsmeade visit came around Cadance, Jen, McGonagall, Cati, and Dumbledore were pretty worn out from all the demon-fighting. About five minutes after the students left, Jen was walking down the hallway. She came upon Cadance fighting a demon. "Jen, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Hogsmeade?" asked Cadance. She dodged two fireballs.
"No, I thought I'd stay behind and help you vanquish any demons that came along," said Jen, dodging a few fireballs herself. "Sorceress duties come before pleasure."
"Hold on a second," said Cadance. She turned to the demon. "Alright, that's it. You asked for it, buddy." She pulled a knife out of her robes and threw it at him. It hit its target. The demon pulled the knife out of him. Cadance pulled a piece of paper with a multi-purpose vanquishing spell that Cati had whipped up that morning out of her pocket. She read, "Demon so evil yet full of power. Let your evil gifts turn sour. With these words your soul I send. With this rhyme let you meet your end." The demon burst into flames and a few seconds later was reduced to a pile of ashes.
"Nice spell. One of Cati's?" asked Jen.
"Of course," said Cadance. "It worked, didn't it? It doesn't work on all of them. She's working on one that will, though. She thinks we need to summon the power of dead people to help, so she's combining the spell to call a spirit with some of her own work."
"There's a spell to summon a spirit?" asked Jen.
"Yeah," said Cadance.
"Then why don't we use it ever?" asked Jen.
"Because it doesn't work unless 'they' let it," said Cadance looking up towards 'them', a.k.a. The White Lighter Council, The Powers that Be, and The Ones Who Do Not Know Not To Wear White After Labor Day.
"Right," said Jen, also looking up.
"Jen, you should have gone to Hogsmeade. I could have taken care of anything that came along," said Cadance.
"It doesn't really matter to me," said Jen as she and Cadance walked into Cadance's classroom and took a seat. "There'll be other Hogsmeade trips."
"Do you know how many times I said that during my stay at Hogwarts?" asked Cadance.
"What are you talking about?" asked Jen.
"Look," said Cadance. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that you should go be a kid while you're still a kid."
"Cadance, I'm not a kid," said Jen.
"You know what I meant," said Cadance. "You're lucky, Jen. When I was your age I had to grow up way before I was ready to. Cati's and my powers weren't as developed as they are now. Now that they are, we can handle stuff. Back when I was in school, it was just me, Cati, and Minerva who really could do any vanquishing. Uncle Albus……… well, let's just say that he doesn't embrace his powers as he used to. So it was a little power doing a lot of vanquishing. Now our powers are way more developed, so you can be free to be a kid."
"I get the feeling this isn't about me missing a Hogsmeade trip anymore," said Jen.
"The point is that you don't have to miss out on some of the fun just to help vanquish demons. I did. And, really, I think that I may have compensated for having to grow up sooner by being really immature at times," said Cadance. "I just want you're free to be immature all the time."
"Uhhh, thanks, Cadance," said Jen. "I think."
"Come on, I'll walk you to Hogsmeade," said Cadance.
Just then Cati appeared in the door. "Who's going to Hogsmeade?" she asked. Then she saw Jen. "What are you doing not in Hogsmeade?"
"I'm not sure anymore," said Jen shaking her head.
"Was Cadance telling you the Bobby Bruges story?" asked Cati. "Because I heard the words "immature" and "demons"."
"No," said Cadance.
"Bobby Bruges?" asked Jen. "What's the Bobby Bruges story?"
"I'll tell you as we walk to Hogsmeade," said Cati.
"I really don't think that Jen needs to hear that story, Cati," said Cadance as they began walking out of Cadance's classroom.
"Oh, I do," said Cati. Cadance shook her head. "Bobby Bruges was the boy that Cadance fell head over heels for in our third year. In our fourth year, he asked her out. One day he asked if she wanted to go to Hogsmeade with him. Well, Cadance didn't usually go to on the Hogsmeade trips, but she said yes to him. So she met Bobby when everyone was lining up and then they went to Hogsmeade. Later though he got a little fresh………"
"Correction, Cati," interrupted Cadance. "He tried to get a little fresh."
"Right," said Cati. "He tried, but luckily Charlie was there and he punched the guy. A little after that Bobby Bruges revealed that he was a demon and Cadance vanquished his ass."
"That's right," said Charlie's voice from behind. Charlie fell into step besides Cadance and took her hand. Cadance gave his hand a squeeze. "Jen, as your brother-in-law I have to say, don't listen to anything your sister has been telling you. She's trying to live precariously through you, or something like that."
"How do you know what I'm telling her?" asked Cadance.
"I just came from your uncle's office," said Charlie. "There's very little I don't know."
"Oh," said Cadance.
And now, it's time for a massive time jump. Time jumping is good.
Halloween came and went, and soon it was Quidditch season. Gryffindor beat Ravenclaw in the first game of the season, but it was close. Since the game was so close, Harry decided that they needed more training sessions. Since all training had to be monitored, Cadance was usually the one who had to monitor it. She was usually accompanied by Charlie. Cadance wrote a letter to Oliver Wood to see how he was doing and to ask him to stop possessing Harry because Harry was training his team as hard as Oliver used to.
During one practice, Cati joined Charlie and Cadance in the stands. They had been sitting there in silence for several minutes when Cati spoke. "Cadance, do you remember our sixth year at Hogwarts?" she asked.
"How could I forget?" asked Cadance. "That was the year that the Ministry went insane and hired Fudge as the Minister who was persuaded to interfere at Hogwarts and we got that awful Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and we didn't finish that year."
"Yeah, I can't forget that year either," said Charlie. "It was my house you stayed at for those three weeks you were gone."
"Yeah, well, I was referring to how mad Oliver Wood was that we missed Quidditch games after we left," said Cati. "And how hard he worked us when he became Captain in our 7th Year."
"Oh yeah," said Cadance.
"Well, I think Harry is working them harder than Oliver worked us," said Cati.
"What was that I heard?" asked a voice from behind. They turned around and saw Jen and Hermione standing there.
"How long have you been standing there?" asked Cadance.
"Long enough," said Jen. "What happened in your Sixth Year?"
"It's a long story that I really don't feel like getting into now," said Cadance.
"I do," said Cati. "I'm still bitter about it. Your Uncle lost all respect in the Ministry. Luckily he got it back. But many Ministry Members still don't take Cadance and I seriously to this day because of the lies spread back then. And then, Cadance and I walked out on this one teacher and didn't come back."
"It's a long, long, story which one day you'll hear in full," said Cadance. "But not today."
"You know, I get the feeling that there's lots of things you haven't told me," said Jen.
"Like what?" asked Cadance as she exchanged a glance with Cati and Charlie.
"Like lots of things," said Jen. "And don't think I didn't see that glance that you exchanged with those three just now. I'm not stupid you know."
"Jen, all things you will learn in time," said Cadance.
"Should I leave?" asked Hermione.
"No, of course not," said Cadance.
"This conversation is not over," said Jen.
"I didn't expect it to be. But it is over for now," said Cadance with and air of finality.
To be continued
Well, folks, that's all for now. I'd like to tell you all to read the note at the top. No, I haven't mentioned in past chapters what Cadance's big secret is, so don't go looking for it. You'll just have to wait.
Oh, and I'm wrapping this up with the next few chapters. I need you all to vote for something. Who wants a prequel? The sequel is coming whether you want it or not. I already have ideas.
