Chapter 9
Roommates
Harry and Ron picked up Cassie's trunk and carried it down the stairs for her. They exited from the door behind the gargoyle and she looked up and down the corridor. "I have absolutely no idea where I am. Is it easy to get lost here? There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the layout of the building."
Everyone laughed at what Cassie thought was a perfectly legitimate question and she understood why a little later when the four of them started trying to describe how the castle functioned. "You have to understand, Pia, that the castle is magic. You can't approach it the same way you would a regular school."
Hermione interrupted Harry, "If you three would ever read Hogwarts: A History you wouldn't have as hard of a time understanding how it is laid out. It all made sense when the founders built it. It's been added to, of course, but there is logic . . ."
"Oh, Hermione. Stop it. Pia doesn't want to read that boring old book. So, let us give her the benefit of our experience rather than your dry dusty theories. Basically, you can never count on anything being in the same place twice, although the classrooms and things do tend to stay in the general vicinity." Cassie laughed at Ron, but when no one else reacted, she realized that he was being serious. "Also, the armor moves and the statues can move, although they're less likely to unless really provoked. And you can't really count on the pictures either because they can move into different frames and sometimes . . ."
"That's absolutely insane."
Harry continued where Ron left off. "Yeah. Plus the staircases move and you sometimes come out onto a totally different corridor than you think you will. Then there are trick steps that trap you . . ."
"Okay. So, what you're telling me is that I cannot leave Ginny's side because I will undoubtedly get lost and may never be found again."
Instead of answering, though, Harry grunted as the trunk hit his shin once again as Ron shifted the weight. "Ron, be careful. I'm going to be black and blue before we even start up the steps."
"Boys?" Ginny sounded faintly amused. "Is there some particular reason you are not magicking the trunk up to Gryffindor tower? Because it looks kind of heavy and I'm thinking that since you are both wizards, there may be an easier way." The boys looked at each other and then down at the trunk. Then they both turned a quite interesting shade of red and set the trunk down. Ron grimaced and pulled his toe out from under his end.
"Locomotor trunk" Harry said as he pointed his wand at the trunk and Cassie watched with interest as the trunk rose into the air and floated ahead of their little group. She repeated the word under her breath and fingered the wand she held in her hand. She thought about the word for a minute and was about to ask a question, when Hermione interrupted.
"You can never actually get lost in Hogwarts, Pia. So you don't need to worry."
"What?" Ron was practically spluttering and Harry laughed which made his wand wiggle and the trunk took a dangerous dip toward the floor. "What are you on about, Hermione? Just last month Harry and I were lost for an hour . . ."
"Well, that's your own fault. If you'd read Hogwarts: A History years ago when I first told you to, you'd know the secret."
"What secret?"
"The secret which keeps you from getting lost, of course. Isn't that what we are talking about?" She had a rather smug little smile on her face and Cassie forced herself to keep her face impassive. It seemed to her that Hermione really enjoyed egging the boys on, but she didn't want to be in the middle of a fight, so she didn't join in the teasing. "Look, Ca . . . Pia. I think you can talk to the portraits. It seems that when you were here before you were able to."
"Yeah. I think so." Cassie wondered how those words came out of her mouth. She was just agreeing that she could talk to paintings, no, not just talk to them, but speak with them. Okay. Reality was taking a very long vacation.
"Well, watch this." Hermione approached a painting, an elderly woman who was sitting with a rather mangy-looking dog that (Cassie would have sworn) had a forked tail. "Excuse me. I've lost my way. Could you please tell me how to get to the Charms classroom?" The woman looked up squinted and stood. The dog dropped to the floor and growled rather menacingly and barked several times. Cassie backed up and vowed that she wouldn't ever approach that painting again. The dog seemed to be focusing most of its loud barking and growling her direction. But the elderly woman was speaking, now, and she listened.
"You're on the completely wrong side of the castle. But go down this hall, descend two flights of stairs . . . ." Cassie didn't understand everything the woman said, but everyone else did, apparently, because both Harry and Ron were standing there with their mouths wide open and the trunk fell with a loud thud to the floor as Harry lost concentration and lowered his wand.
"That's unbelievable. I can't believe you just did that."
"All the portraits are charmed to know exactly where they are in relation to anything else in the castle at all times. It's a terribly complicated process, I can assure you, but valuable. Keeps students from getting lost." Hermione pivoted on one foot and continued walking toward Gryffindor tower. "Come on. We've only got a few more minutes until curfew." The boys followed in her wake, seemingly stunned speechless by Hermione's display. Cassie glanced at her watch. It was 9:15. That wasn't particularly late, but she was very tired and thought longingly of bed. She hoped the beds here were comfortable. She wasn't too optimistic.
They seemed to have walked for miles and turned in complete circles several times before she saw anything that looked familiar and then suddenly they were stopping in front of a portrait of a very fat lady in a very ugly pink dress. Oh, yeah. They had to give some sort of password here. She remembered that last time it had been something that embarrassed Harry. She remembered suddenly and smiled to herself. They all looked at each other.
"Pia, maybe you should give the password. It'll give you some practice."
"Oh. Um. Okay. Vengeance -"
"No. That was a long time ago." Harry scowled and glared at Hermione. "I still can't believe you did that. The new password, Pia, is 'Jingle Bells.'"
"Jingle Bells?" The portrait swung open and everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The trunk went in through the hole first and then Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and finally Cassie went to swing her leg up through the wall when the Fat Lady spoke up. "Your uniform says Gryffindor yet I'm sure I do not recognize you."
"Yes. I'm new here." Cassie tried really hard to inject her voice with confidence, like she really belonged. "My name is Pia Spencer. I just started at Hogwarts and was sorted into this house. The Headmaster knows all about it, if my friends' word is not good enough evidence."
The Fat Lady looked her over carefully. "All right then. I expect I will be told of your arrival through the regular official channels eventually. But for tonight, you are welcome." Cassie slid through, gratefully, trying to keep her robe down over her legs. She wondered how Hermione and Ginny had made it look so easy. The last time she had been here she was wearing jeans and it hadn't been a problem. This skirt and robes thing was going to take some getting used to.
Cassie stood up, arranging her robes again and gripping her wand in sweaty fingers. She raised her head and looked tentatively around the room. She had been in here before, of course, and it looked the same. But this time, there were students in it and they were all looking at her very curiously. She gripped her wand tighter and tried to force her lips into a smile. Ginny and Hermione stood on either side of her and walked her over to the nearest little group of students. She was introduced, as Pia of course, and the students' names were told to her but she didn't absorb any of them. Ginny wisely didn't try to spit out the whole story, just said that Pia was her cousin and she would be attending school here from now on. Cassie thought that Ginny must have learned her skills in lying from her twin brothers, because people who are bad liars often try to give too much information at once and it is very easy to see through. No, Ginny was cool as a cucumber. Hermione didn't say anything, just let Ginny do all the introductions.
There were probably 15 kids in the common room, not counting the five of them, and "Pia" met them all. She knew, though, that if she were to meet any of them again, she would hardly even remember seeing them, much less remember their names. Harry and Ron were now sitting on a very comfortable looking couch by the fire and Ginny and Hermione led Cassie over to it. Cassie's trunk was set next to the couch, awaiting her eventual trip up to her actual room. All three girls sat down and Cassie allowed herself to relax for the first time since they had left Professor Dumbledore's office. Ginny gave her an encouraging grin and leaned back against Harry. "Well, Pia. This is the common room, obviously. You have to be here by 9:30 each night as a 6th year or you can lose house points or get a detention if you're caught by Filch."
"Filch? Who's he?"
"He's an unpleasant old squib who likes to make life as miserable as possible for the rest of us."
"And his stupid cat, too."
"Let's just say," Hermione interrupted the others' tirade. "Don't be out after curfew - well, unless you're with us, of course. Then you don't have to worry. I really wouldn't want you to get detention." The four were all silent for a few moments and Cassie had a niggling feeling of fear pass through her. What happened at detention? Did they whip you or something? All of that seemed quite a likely possibility, considering that this common room was lit with torches. But before she could ask, Ron jumped in.
"So, Hermione. Ca . . . Pia's got Snape first thing in the morning. What ideas have you got to help her pretend she can do magic?"
"I don't want to tell you about them right now. I'm going to the library in a minute to look up a few things. Harry, can I use your cloak?" Harry nodded and Hermione continued. "But I am wondering, Ron. Remember that sampler pack the twins sent you at the beginning of the year?" Now Ron nodded. "Have you still got it, because I think some of those items could be very helpful." Ron's eyes lit up with an interesting light that Cassie didn't want to analyze. It was almost scary.
"Yeah. I've got it. Only used a few things so far. I'm sure they'd send another."
"Don't ask them to. I'll purchase you a new one myself." Cassie interrupted then, curious.
"What's in the sampler pack?"
"Oh, all sorts of stuff. See, the twins . . ." Cassie hated to even think it, but Hermione sounded just a little condescending, like she couldn't possibly understand the complexity of the twins' magic.
"I know George and Fred. I've actually spent time in their store and I've seen quite a few of their products. So I'm not completely ignorant." Hermione looked a little taken aback at the vehemence of Cassie's statement.
"I didn't know you knew them."
Cassie was about to explain about how she had come to know them when the portrait hole opened and another student slipped into the common room. He looked vaguely familiar although Cassie couldn't put a name to his face. Harry called out to him. "Hey, Neville. Come here. We want to introduce you to someone." The boy was pleasant looking, round faced and smiling. Neville. Okay. Maybe she could remember that at least. The introductions were made and Cassie stood up to shake his hand.
He grinned engagingly at her and Cassie smiled back. "So, you're going to be in sixth year, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe we'll have some classes together. And if you need any help with anything, I'd be happy to help you." Cassie tried to extricate her hand from his but he seemed to grip it even tighter. She definitely would not need tutoring but she didn't know how to tell him that.
"Thanks, um, Neville. I appreciate it. I'll keep it in mind." The boy smiled shyly at her. He left quickly a moment later. All five of them sat quietly for a second. Then, Hermione filled the silence.
"Um, Pia? Don't ask anyone to help you in your classes, okay?" Cassie couldn't help it. She giggled.
"No worries there. I'd be in serious trouble, wouldn't I?" That seemed to break up the tense mood and they all stood, ready to go up to bed. Cassie followed the other two girls and she was halfway to the staircase when Harry called her back.
"Pia. Come here for a second, would you?" Cassie was a little unsure what he had to say to her. She stepped back to Harry. "You forgot two things." He held out his hand and Cassie saw her wand. "That's the first." He pointed down at her trunk. "There's the second."
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Ginny had stepped up behind her.
"Ooh. That could be bad. You've got to keep that with you all the time." Her voice was low but intense. Hermione, sensing that something more was happening, walked back over to the little knot of people.
"What's going on?"
"Pia forgot her wand on the couch."
"Oh. You've got to keep that with you. No real witch would leave her wand, ever."
"But where do I keep it? I . . . It seems awkward."
"There are two small pockets in your robes. One here and one here." Hermione indicated two narrow deep pockets in the robe that Cassie had not even noticed. One was inside the front of the robe, accessible if the buttons at the top of the robe were undone. The second was inside the left sleeve, designed so that it could be pulled out with the student's right hand at a moment's notice. Cassie slipped her wand into the pocket in the sleeve, pleased at how easy it was.
"Oh. That's ingenious. That makes it a lot easier."
"If you're not wearing your robes, you can just keep it in a pocket or something." Cassie smirked at that comment.
"Yeah. Or in the front of your pants, if that's the best you can do."
Harry laughed, rather loudly, and was shushed by Hermione as the remaining students in the room turned to look at them curiously.
"Come on. Let's get to bed. Pia's got to be exhausted." She was, actually, and the thought of bed was very enticing. The two couples kissed briefly while Cassie stared into the fire, feeling her face flame a little as she thought of Ginny and Harry kissing. She had seen them before, of course, and been happy for it. But this was different. She would be watching them for the next few days at least and since several months had passed they would probably be much more physical than they had been those first few tentative touches that she had seen when she had been at Hogwarts in June. It wasn't that she was jealous, not really. It was just sort of strange. To see a boy she had kissed so passionately now kissing someone else. She hoped that Ginny would not be threatened by her. That might make things sort of difficult. She stood for a while, almost afraid to turn around. Then Harry stepped behind her. She knew it was him because he smelled . . . like Harry, familiar and comforting in this new place. His hands were on her shoulders then and he turned her to face him. She looked up into his concerned expression. She didn't wait for him to speak.
"I'm all right, Harry. I am. Don't worry." But, of course, he would. Because that was the Harry thing to do. She smiled up at him. "I'd hug you, but people might think that was rather strange . . . if we'd just met today, I mean." He nodded.
"You'd better get up to bed before you simply fall over. Tomorrow . . . will be difficult, I imagine. You need your rest." This was spoken in a quiet voice, one that did not carry beyond her. Then he took two steps back and spoke loudly enough that everyone in the room who cared to listen could hear him. "It's nice to meet you, Pia. I hope that you have as great of a time here at Hogwarts as we have always had. Don't hesitate to ask for help from anyone in Gryffindor." She smiled broadly, in case anyone was looking although she didn't think anyone was.
"Thanks. I appreciate it." She glanced down at her trunk. She wasn't sure what to do now. Hermione stood next to her for a minute, and took a deep breath.
"Showtime." Ginny smiled faintly.
"I'm ready."
"Okay. Point your wand at the trunk and say 'Locomotor trunk.' Then start walking toward the stairs, slowly and keep your wand pointed at the trunk. We'll take care of the rest." Cassie removed her wand from her sleeve and did as Hermione said. She blinked in vague surprise as the trunk rose from the floor and proceeded ahead of them, just as it had in the corridor - once Harry and Ron remembered that they could use magic in front of her now. She knew that she really was not moving that trunk, but the illusion was so complete that she was almost tempted to wiggle her wand and see if the trunk responded. She resisted. Ginny had her hand in the pocket of her robe and Cassie knew without being told that it was Ginny doing the magic. Hermione was talking, about nothing in particular, waving her wand around in rather grand circles, as though to prove to anyone who happened to be looking at their little parade that it was not her doing this particular spell.
They continued up the stairs, slowly, but without fear. They were the only three on the stairs at this moment and though Ginny continued moving the trunk and Cassie kept her wand pointed at it, their conversation was light and Hermione had stopped waving her wand at all. "Let's meet before breakfast, Ginny. I'll go over the ideas I've got then. Maybe not all of them, but at least how I think you can get through potions." Ginny nodded and Cassie was awfully grateful that she had Hermione on her side. Harry had said she was the most clever witch at Hogwarts and Cassie hoped this was true, because the next few days would certainly require a lot of work from all of them. Cassie's leg muscles were burning by the time they reached the sixth-year floor. They really needed to invent some sort of lift. Maybe broomsticks or something. When she had been here before, the sign had said fifth years, but Cassie knew it was the same room. Ginny opened the door and the trunk floated through it and was set down at the foot of a bed. Cassie assumed that Ginny would know which bed was going to be hers, so she lifted her wand and slipped it into the pocket in her sleeve like she had done that 100 times a day for years. Ginny winked.
"Great. The bed looks comfortable." Cassie glanced around the room. It looked a lot different than it did the last time she had been here because the girls were here. There were a number of posters around the room, including one of a unicorn that reminded Cassie of the one that hung in her own room. Of course, this one moved and was obviously a real photograph. There were also some pictures of good-looking guys smiling and waving, with flashy wizard robes open enough to allow Cassie a glimpse of their bare chests. She wondered vaguely if these were rock stars or something.
Ginny watched Cassie look around and didn't interrupt. Finally their eyes met again and Cassie flushed at Ginny's knowing look. "Let me introduce you to my roommates, well, your roommates, too, now I guess." Cassie looked around again at the other beds. There were five beds in the room, and three of them had girls sitting on them, looking at both her and Ginny with undisguised curiosity. "Girls, this is Pia Spencer. She's my cousin and she'll be attending school with us here starting tomorrow. She's a sixth year and I hope you'll all welcome her. Pia, these are your new roommates. That's Saffron Nightscall, Elspeth McCrae, and Rhiannon Bowen." Ginny indicated the three girls in turn, each of whom smiled and raised their hand in greeting until she got to Rhiannon, who smiled broadly but didn't wave.
"We knew someone new was coming. The bed was here tonight when we came up an hour ago or so." Cassie didn't understand what she meant but she didn't ask. Rhiannon was busy doing something on the surface of her bed. I'm painting my nails, Gin. I want you to do that charm on them for Saturday's Quidditch match."
"Oh, sure. But not tonight, certainly. It's too noisy for class."
"Yes, do them tonight. It'll drive all the teachers nuts, but I've got double Charms tomorrow with the Hufflepuffs and it'll bother them even more." All of the girls laughed.
"What charm is she doing?" Cassie got brave and asked, figuring it would be natural to find out.
"She's putting a Gryffindor lion on each nail. Watch. It's really incredible." The girl waved her wand over her bright red nails, using one hand and then the other, drying them instantly Cassie surmised as she screwed the top back on the small bottle of polish without the usual stiff-fingered, afraid-I'll-smudge-this maneuvers that Cassie had to do when she painted her fingernails and replaced the top. Ginny stepped close to the girl, smiling, evidently agreeing with her that this would be very funny.
She pulled her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at the Gryffindor lion on the badge of the girl's robes. She muttered a word that Cassie couldn't catch and then pointed down at the first red surface. Suddenly, a small copy of the lion appeared on the nail. Ginny did it nine more times. Rhiannon looked critically at the nails. "That looks really good. You're so great at that. You really need to help me practice. Mine always look sloppy."
"You rush too fast. That's the problem. Are you sure you really want to do this tonight? You might get detention."
"Yes. Do it. I can always silence it if I need to."
"Ennervate, then." The wand waved and suddenly there was a muted roaring. Cassie's eyes grew huge and she blinked, trying to hide her obvious surprise. The lions were now moving and roaring, all in sync, but she thought she had never seen anything that incredible. The other girls inspected the nails and Cassie got to look really closely at them.
"Let's all do it. We can paint them tonight and get the transfers even if we just leave them silent until Saturday morning," the girl named Saffron suggested and was met with enthusiastic agreement. Even Cassie, who a few minutes before had been longing for nothing more than to slip under the covers of her new bed, found herself caught in the excitement. She had no bright red nail polish but all the other girls did and they shared with her happily, telling her that she'd have to get some soon as it was a requirement for all the Gryffindor girls but Ginny just smiled and said Pia could use hers.
As they painted, they talked and Cassie came to the conclusion that girls were girls, no matter where they were or what they were. Questions like "So, Pia. What brings you to Hogwarts in the middle of the year?" soon gave way to "Have you met any boys here yet?" Cassie laughed, saying that she had only been here for a little more than three hours and some of that was spent in Dumbledore's office. "And he's a little old for me." That was met with loud guffaws and Cassie felt quite pleased that she had made them laugh.
"But seriously . . ." Saffron asked, looking carefully at her nails as Ginny worked doing the transferring.
"No. Well, I met someone named Neville. And Harry Potter."
"And Ron, then?"
"Well, Ron's my cousin. I've met him before." Cassie congratulated herself on how casual she sounded in this lie.
"Ooh, yeah. I forgot. I guess you won't be chasing him then." Cassie was kind of surprised. Certainly they knew about Ron and Hermione.
"I think Ron's already been caught. Same with Harry Potter." She smiled over at Ginny. "I wouldn't dream of stealing my cousin's boyfriend out from under her nose. Bad for family reunions. Are there any cute boys around here, who aren't already spoken for, I mean?"
Ginny was now standing in front of her, discreetly waving her wand to dry the nails before she began the laborious process of copying the lion.
"Well, Neville's not bad. Dean Thomas is cute."
"I think he's dating Pavarti."
"It's not serious, though. Pia could make a move."
"Colin Creevey is cute." Cassie started a little. She had met him. He was the photographer whose pictures she had looked at now for so many months. He was cute but this comment had been made with quite a touch of wistfulness by Elspeth, who was laying back on her bed with her lion-tipped fingers crossed over her stomach.
"Yes, he is." Saffron agreed. "But he's Muggle-born. Your parents would have a fit if you even thought about dating him."
"Maybe. But I don't have to worry. I don't think he knows I'm alive."
Saffron looked rather slyly out the corner of her eye at Pia. "Would your parents let you date a Muggle-born?"
"Uh, the question's never come up. I don't think they'd worry too much about it, though." That was true.
"So what are you anyway?" Cassie stared at the girl with the black hair and bright black eyes. Had she missed something?
"What?"
"What are you - blood wise?"
"She's pure-blood, of course, Saffron. And you know it since she's my cousin. Stop baiting her and embarrassing her." Ginny had finished and Cassie stared unseeingly at the 10 beautiful miniature lions that now graced her red nails. Hermione had been right about people asking. She wondered what these girls would think if they knew she was actually a Muggle. She doubted that they would be smiling and teasing her gently about which boys she wanted to date.
"Well that's good, then. You can have the pick of any boy you want. There are some cute ones in Slytherin but they only date pure-bloods. Of course, you're a Weasley, which may -"
"Saffron! Enough!" Ginny's face was almost as red as her fingernails. "Pia's tired. I'm exhausted. I'm going to get ready for bed. I've got potions first thing in the morning and I really don't want to fall asleep. Snape would give me detention for a month." There was a low chuckle through the room and the momentary tension that had been there dissolved. Ginny opened her trunk and pulled out - Cassie couldn't believe it - a once-bright green shirt that looked like it had seen many a washing. It had been months and she was still wearing Harry's shirt. She smiled to herself but then followed Ginny's lead and opened her trunk to find her flannel nightgown. She felt a little self-conscious stripping off her clothes in front of these strangers, but the other three girls were involved in their own talking and weren't looking at her at all. She hurriedly grabbed her wand and put it on the bedside table like Ginny had done. Then she hurriedly removed her robes and started unbuttoning her blouse. She had it all the way off and was about to start on her bra when she looked up and one of the wizard posters on the wall caught her eye. He was a good-looking man, she thought idly, though he'd be even cuter with bright red hair. Then he winked and gave a sly smile at her and Cassie jumped about a mile. She grabbed her blouse and held it instinctively in front of her, trying hard not to yell, and backing carefully over to Ginny.
"He winked at me! He can see me! How am I supposed to undress in here?" Ginny looked momentarily confused at her panicked whisper. Then realization dawned as she followed Cassie's gaze over at the wall.
"Oh, don't worry. Anything in a bedroom has to be specially charmed."
"Charmed? How charmed?"
"They can't look any lower than your face. Don't worry."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Go on." The other three girls had stopped their conversation and were staring with curiosity at Pia.
"Is something wrong, Pia?"
"No. I just remembered that I told my mum I'd owl her once I got here and I forgot. But I think I'll just do it in the morning. I'm beat." She shuffled back over to where she had left her nightgown and bravely dropped her shirt, removed her bra, and slipped the flannel nightgown over her head before she removed her skirt and socks. She braved a look at the poster again, but he just winked one more time and she shuddered. This was going to take some getting used to.
Ginny spoke suddenly before Cassie could ask the next obvious question. "Just put them on the floor by your trunk. The elves will take care of them tonight." Cassie didn't know what she meant but then saw Ginny putting her dirty clothes into a small pile at the foot of her bed and followed suit. Cassie slid gratefully into the bed a few moments later, after Ginny had taken her to the toilet where Cassie brushed her teeth and washed her face. She was grateful when she entered the toilet that it looked perfectly normal and that no magic seemed to be required to take care of this sort of thing. That could have been extremely awkward. There were regular handles and faucets on the sinks, too. Plus, she could see herself in the mirror. She seemed to vaguely remember that sometimes something magical couldn't see themselves in a mirror but she was too tired now to remember what it was.
Despite her rather dire predictions, the bed was actually extremely comfortable and the sheets felt soft against her skin. They were cool but warmed quickly once she was in them. Ginny showed her how to draw the hangings around the bed to block out the light from the others' lamps and a moment later Cassie was lying in the silent darkness. She looked up at the canopy over her four-poster bed and thought for a minute about everything she had seen and done already. It was not going to be a boring few days, that was certain. Then she couldn't help it and she didn't want to fight it anymore. She was just too tired to even try. She curled up in a small ball in the corner of her bed and cried herself to sleep.
