By the time Sunday arrived, all of the houses had been notified of the schedule for the D.A. meetings. Harry waited in the room of requirement talking with his friends as they waited for everyone to arrive. Most of the sixth and seventh years he was used to seeing in the class, but there were enough new ones to justify his decision to split into the three classes. It would enable him to concentrate on come of the more advanced forms of magic with the older groups anyway.
Every head in the room turned to see Cassidy Silverwood walk into the door. It wasn't a real surprise to most of them since it had become fairly normal to see her mingling with the rest of the houses. The thing that surprised them was that she was followed by eight more girls in Slytherin robes.
Harry could sense the tension that had just formed in the room, and knowing that it was his job as the teacher to attempt to alleviate that tension, he walked over to Cassidy and said, "Welcome to the class. It's nice to see you all here. We're just waiting for a few more people to arrive before we get started."
"Thanks, Harry," Cassidy said smoothly. "Didn't I tell you that there would be other people in Slytherin who would like to come?"
"I'm glad to see that there are," Harry said. "I always wished there would be some, but I never thought any of you would want to come to a class that I taught."
"Not all of us feel the same way about you that Malfoy does, Harry," Cassidy said making Ginny cringe a bit at the way she said it.
"I hope there will be others that come to the other classes," Harry said.
"Quite a few seemed interested," Cassidy said. "I may have to come with them to get them here the first few times, but there is definitely an interest."
"Great," Harry said with a smile.
Once everyone was there, Harry started the class and told them that he would be starting out with some new attack and defensive spells. He explained the spells in great detail and asked the class to pair up to practice the spells individually. Most everyone paired up fairly quickly with someone from their own house or their significant other. The Slytherin were no exception as eight of the girls formed four groups. Unfortunately, that left Cassidy without a partner. Harry had originally planned on teaming with Ginny, but when he saw that Cassidy didn't have a partner, he asked Ginny to partner with her instead and give him the chance to walk around and give help where needed.
"Sure," Ginny said after only a slight hesitation.
"Cassidy," Harry said, "you can partner with Ginny."
"I'd love to," Cassidy responded in a voice that seemed like slightly forced sweetness to Ginny.
They had only practiced the spells on each other a couple of times when Cassidy said, "Harry is a great guy."
"I think so," Ginny said as nicely as she could manage.
"So how did you two meet?" Cassidy asked as if they were old friends.
"I met Harry when he was heading to Hogwarts for his first year," Ginny said.
"Oh that's right," Cassidy said. "I forgot that you were a year behind him. I guess he became friends with your brother first."
"That's right," Ginny said not wanting to discuss her personal life with Cassidy, but knowing that those questions were probably coming.
"So how long have you been dating him?" Cassidy asked.
"A few weeks," Ginny said.
"Really?" Cassidy asked. "From the way you two act I figured you had been going out for years."
"I guess if we had you would have read about it in those American newspapers where your friends get his picture from," Ginny said trying hard to keep her temper under control.
"I guess it can't be easy being the girlfriend of someone who is seen as a savior on one hand, and an international icon on the other," Cassidy said.
"Only to those who read about him in the newspaper," Ginny said. "To those of us who know him he's just Harry. A great wizard, but still, at the heart of it, just Harry."
"I imagine you're right," Cassidy said. "He certainly isn't what I thought he would be. I like him much more than I thought I would."
"Not really something you should tell his girlfriend," Ginny said feeling her face flush with anger.
"I'm sorry," Cassidy said sounding as genuine as she could. "I didn't mean it like that. I just thought he would be a snob that only associated with a select group of friends. Instead I found out that he was as open and giving with his friendship as a person could be."
Several seconds passed in silence between them as Ginny attacked and Cassidy defended before Harry said, "Be careful to complete that rotation of the wand tip when you defend Cassidy. If you don't complete it fully, it won't produce a shield strong enough to hold off the attack. Here, let me show you."
Ginny watched as Harry stepped up behind Cassidy and reached around to grab her wand hand. He guided her hand in a slow motion demonstration of the precise movement. As she watched, Ginny didn't know if she wanted to scream out or hex Cassidy as she watched a small grin form on her face.
Harry had them go through the exercise with one another one more time while he watched and proclaimed that they were both doing very well. Then he told the class that they were going to move on to something else for the rest of the class. He had them all sit on some mats that he conjured as he attempted to lead them through a meditation exercise that was designed to calm their minds. He told them that it would be something that they would do every time, as he would try to teach them all occlumency in the near future.
Ginny found it most difficult to calm herself. Every time she tried to empty her mind, thoughts of her conversation with Cassidy kept popping into her head. She could only wonder why it was that Harry couldn't see what was going on the way she saw it. At the end of class she told Harry that she wasn't feeling well and was going back to the common room and then on to bed. Harry offered to walk her back, but she told him to go ahead and answer everyone's questions and she would see him in the morning.
"Is something bothering Ginny?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Not that I know of," Hermione responded. "What makes you ask?"
"Well, she just left here saying she wasn't feeling well," Harry said. "She looked like she felt fine, but she looked as if she was upset about something."
"Nothing she's told me about," Hermione said. "I can go and check on her if you want me to."
"Please do," Harry said. "I hope she would have told me if it was something I did."
"Don't worry mate," Ron said. "Maybe she really is feeling bad. I mean, I hope she isn't, but if she is then…"
"You had better come with me, Ron," Hermione said, "before you put your foot in your mouth again."
"Thanks guys," Harry said as they turned to go.
After they had stepped outside, Cassidy walked up to Harry and said, "Great class, Harry. I've talked to all of the other Slytherin, and they say they thought it was great too."
"I'm glad to hear it," Harry said with a smile. "I guess I owe you a bit of thanks for getting them here."
"Speak nothing of it," Cassidy said. "I'll be back tomorrow with a larger number of first and second years."
"Well, the class tomorrow may be well below your level, but you're welcome to stay if you want," Harry said.
"I'd love to," Cassidy said. "I'll even help if you need me to."
"I think that would go a long way to making the other Slytherins feel more comfortable," Harry said.
"Well, I have some letters to write before I go to bed tonight," Cassidy said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Harry."
"Goodnight," Harry said as she turned to go.
When he got back to the common room, Harry spotted Hermione and Ron sitting next to the fire.
"No luck, Harry," Hermione said. "I tried to ask her if anything was wrong, but she just acted like she was already asleep. I took that to mean she really didn't want to talk about what ever it is."
"I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow," Harry said. "I'd go and find out right now if there wasn't that silly charm on the stairs to the girls dormitories."
"I can't believe even you haven't found a way around that one yet," Ron said.
"I doubt it would do any good," Harry said. "I wouldn't doubt it if there were other spells to get through even if you did manage to get past the stairs."
"Well you could just read her mind you know," Ron said. "You can do that now you know."
"I wouldn't invade her privacy like that," Harry said disturbed that Ron would even suggest it. "If she decides to tell me on her own, fine, but I won't do anything to force her to tell me. I know what it's like having someone else getting into your head. I hope none of you ever have to feel that."
"I'm sorry mate," Ron said. "I just didn't think about what I was saying before I said it, as usual."
"It's alright," Harry said. "I've been known to do the same thing a few times before."
Meanwhile, in the Slytherin common room, Cassidy was sitting in her usual chair by the fire, writing another letter to her friends back in America. Unbeknownst to Cassidy someone else had noticed her writing another letter, and walked up behind her to see if they could get a look at what she had written.
"You have got to be kidding me," Malfoy said as he swiped the letter out of Cassidy's lap before she could stop him.
"Give it back, Malfoy," Cassidy warned him.
"I can't believe how wonderful Harry is," Malfoy said reading the letter out loud. "I thought I was going to melt when he touched my hand."
"Stop it," Cassidy yelled as she lunged for the letter that Malfoy managed to hold up, out of her reach.
"It doesn't sound like you're using him to me," Malfoy said. "It sounds like you actually love him."
"Shut up, Malfoy," Cassidy yelled. "It's none of your business."
"Oh, I think it is," Malfoy said. "Speaking as someone you've rejected, I think I have a right to know who the competition is. I just can't believe it would be Potter. What kind of a Slytherin are you anyway?"
"A better one than you'll ever be, Malfoy," Cassidy said finally managing to tear the letter from Malfoy's hand.
"Don't bet on it," Malfoy sneered. "You had better watch your back if you align yourself with Potter. You won't even be safe in your own common room. Maybe you should beg the Gryffindors to let you join their house."
"I told you before, Malfoy," Cassidy said. "I have plans for my time here, and anyone who gets in my way will pay the price, even if they are from my own house."
"What about your precious Harry?" Malfoy asked bitterly. "Are you going to take him out if he interferes?"
"He won't," Cassidy answered.
"Then you don't know Potter as well as you think you do," Malfoy said.
"I think I know him well enough," Cassidy said. "And if you breathe a single word about what you read in my letter to anyone, I'll kill you myself."
Cassidy pulled her wand out before Malfoy could react and shoved it into his chest. Malfoy just put his hands up and backed away a few steps.
"We'll see who gets the last laugh, Silverwood," Malfoy said nastily. "You aren't the only one who knows how to play mind games you know."
Malfoy turned and walked over to the stairs that would take him to the boys' dormitories. Cassidy stood there considering whether she should go ahead and get rid of Malfoy, or take a chance that he would somehow reveal her true feelings for Harry to the entire school. He had disappeared from sight before Cassidy had really made her final choice, so there was nothing she could do but sit back and wait for the other shoe to drop.
The next morning, Harry got up early and went down to the common room to wait for Ginny. He spotted Hermione sitting in a chair opening a book.
"Morning, Hermione," Harry said as he sat in the chair opposite her.
"Good morning, Harry," Hermione said a bit surprised. "Kind of early for you isn't it?"
"I didn't sleep well," Harry said. "I was just to worried about Ginny."
"Well don't," Hermione said. "She's upstairs right now getting dressed. She popped right up out of bed this morning as if nothing was ever wrong. When I asked her, she said she was feeling better, but never said what had been wrong to begin with."
"Maybe she wasn't feeling well after all," Harry said.
"Harry," Ginny said with a smile as she walked over to his chair. "What are you doing up already? I thought I would have to come up to wake you like usual."
"I couldn't sleep," Harry said as she bent down and gave him a little kiss.
"Sorry to hear that, Harry," Ginny said. "I slept great."
"So you're feeling better this morning?" Harry asked.
"Loads," Ginny said smiling. "Feel like some breakfast?"
"Sure," Harry said. "What about you, Hermione?"
"I guess I had better go wake Ron up," Hermione said. "We'll meet you there."
Hermione had finally managed to roust Ron out of bed, and gotten him down to breakfast. They sat at the end of the Gryffindor table closest to the doors along with Harry, Ginny and Neville. Everything was fine until Cassidy entered and said good morning as she passed on her way to the Slytherin table.
Hermione never would have noticed anything if she hadn't still had Ginny's problem from the previous night in her mind. It was subtle, but it was definitely there. Hermione noticed a slight stiffening in Ginny as if chills had just run down her spine when Cassidy passed. She knew that whatever her problem was, Cassidy Silverwood was at the heart of it. She decided it would be best if she talked to Ginny about it alone before she made a decision of whether to tell Harry about it or not.
Later that day, Hermione found her chance as she and Ginny waited in the common room for Harry and Ron before they went down to lunch.
"Don't try to deny it, Ginny," Hermione said. "It may have taken me a while to notice it, but there is definitely something going on between you two."
Ginny finally decided that she was fighting a losing battle, and said, "You're right. I do have a problem with her. I think she's trying to steal Harry away from me."
"What?" Hermione said. "Why would you think that?"
"I know it probably sounds crazy to you," Ginny said, "but I've had a feeling there was something I didn't like about her ever since that first day when she came over to introduce herself. Everything she said to Harry was something to butter him up. Then she made that comment about all of her friends having pictures of Harry stuck up on their walls. I wonder how many of him she has on her wall."
"But that doesn't necessarily mean…" Hermione began.
"I've seen the way she looks at him, Hermione," Ginny said. "I know that look very well. I looked at him the same way for years. Then yesterday in the D.A. meeting when he came over to show her the right wand movement, I swear I saw her grin when Harry touched her hand."
"Do you think that you may be over reacting to all of this just because you're his girlfriend?" Hermione asked. "You can't exactly see it with objective eyes."
"I don't just see it, Hermione," Ginny said. "I know it sounds strange, but I can feel it in my very soul. I know she wants Harry for herself."
"I don't think you have anything to worry about even if she does," Hermione said. "Harry is totally in love with you. He isn't going to give up what he has with you just for her."
"Dreams change, Hermione," Ginny said sadly. "Harry told me that himself just a few days ago."
"Well for goodness sake," Hermione said, "at least give him the benefit of the doubt."
Hermione decided against saying anything to Harry, since he likely would have blown it off as ridiculous anyway. As the week progressed though, Hermione started paying close attention to Cassidy's behavior toward Harry. She had to admit, Ginny had a point. She did have a very different look and voice when she talked to Harry, as well as an inordinate amount of hair flipping. She was happy to see, at least, that Harry's behavior with her was no different than it was for anyone else, other than Ginny of course.
Ginny, however, did not take solace in Harry's good behavior. Every word Cassidy said to him grated her nerves raw, and every look that she gave him made her blood boil. So, after only two weeks of school, even Draco Malfoy found it easy to push her over the edge.
"Sitting here all alone huh?" Malfoy asked, as he walked up to the library table Ginny was sitting at.
"What's it to you, Draco?" Ginny asked in response.
"Nothing at all," Malfoy replied. "Of course I would have expected to find Potter here with you if I didn't know that he had something more important to do on a Saturday than to spend it with his girlfriend."
"Harry's going to meet me here when he gets done," Ginny said trying to force herself not to think of where he was.
"I have to hand it to you, Ginny," Malfoy said, "I don't think I could put up with it. Harry leaves you here so he can go to the room of requirement and give Cassidy private lessons, and you sit here without a care in the world. Maybe you don't know then."
"Know what?" Ginny said starting to lose her patience.
"That Cassidy Silverwood is in love with your boyfriend," Malfoy said. "She sits in the Slytherin common room every night and writes letters to her friends back in America and tells them about melting ever time he looks at her. She even told me that she came here this year with one goal in mind. She means to get it, too. She says that she won't let anyone stand in her way of getting what she wants. And you sit here, not standing in her way at all."
"I happen to trust Harry, Malfoy," Ginny said as she got up and gathered her things together. "Maybe that's something you wouldn't know about."
Ginny turned and left the library. She wasn't about to let Malfoy know that what he said had gotten to her as much as it did. As it was, Ginny found herself in a nearly blinding rage. Harry was her man, and if Silverwood wanted a fight she was going to get one. She knew where to find them, but she had the presence of mind to make a little detour first.