Chapter 3

The next morning, Cara woke earlier than the others. She showered, got dressed, and went for a walk outside. The grounds seemed very beautiful, and they were even better in person. Cara walked for about twenty minutes, and then went in for breakfast.

Harry and Ron weren't down yet, so she sat with Parvati and Hermione.

"So," Parvati asked, "See any boys you fancy yet?" She seemed very boy crazy, and gossipy, which was fun for Cara.

"Not quite yet." Cara answered. "I like to get to know them a bit first."

She took a bagel. "What about you, Hermione?"

She rolled her eyes. "The boys in our year are so immature. I can't see myself with any of them!" And with that, she dug her nose back into her copy of Hogwarts, a History.

"Is that a good book?" asked Cara. She enjoyed reading, but apparently not as much as Hermione.

"Oh, yes, just started it last night, it's very intriguing!" said Hermione. It was surprising, because she claimed to have started it last night, but she was about 2/3 of the way through with it.

When the boys finally came down, Cara was just finishing.

"I'm going to run back to the dormitories and get my books," she told them. "I'll see you in Charms!"

She walked out of the entrance hall, and spied Malfoy around the corner. I'd better keep my distance! She thought, remembering what Ron had told her.

Keeping her head down, she tried to walk by unnoticed, but to no avail. Draco niticed her all right. And he came over, and introduced himself.

"I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy." He held out his hand for her to shake. She grasped it briefly, and said coolly, "Pleasure."

"So", said Draco, "Who are you?"

"Cara," she said, "Cara White."

Draco looked pleased. "So you are a pure blood then?"

"No," said Cara, "Half."

His expression chilled. "Well, I must be going. Good day then."

Cara rolled her eyes, Ron was right. He was stony to those who were, ahem, 'below his station'. She continued on to her room to collect her books.

Five minutes later, she met the others back in front of the Great Hall.

"What's up?" asked Harry. "You look a bit… ticked off."

Cara groaned. "Malfoy, that's what! He saw me in the halls, and was acting all friendly, until he found out I wasn't a 'pure-blood'. You were right, Ron."

They arrived at the charms classroom, and took their seats. The tiny Professor Flitwick came in, and stood on his stool.

"Good Morning, class. Today we will learn how to make objects fly!"

"How exciting!" said Cara in a hushed whisper to Parvati.

"Now," said Professor Flitiwick, "The incantation is Wingardium Leviosa Repeat after me, without wands, please! Wingardium…"

"Wingardium…"

"Leviosa!"

"Leviosa!"

The professor looked pleased. "Very good! Now let's practice the wand movement. It's a bit of a swish and flick. Now you try. Swish… and flick."

Cara tried the movement, and found it to be quite easy. Ron had some difficulty- his swish and flick was more of a swing and jab. Harry was doing fine, and Parvati had grasped the concept.

"Now try it with the incantation on your feathers. On the count of here, one… two… three!"

"Wingardium Leviosa!" said Cara, as she swished and flicked her wand. The feather floated upward, as if being pulled on by a string.

"Excellent, Take 10 points each Ms. White and Ms. Granger. Careful, Mr. Weasley!"

Ron had managed to get his feather into the air, but alas, it had burst into flames!

"Now, Ron," said Hermione, "It's Levi-Oh-sah. Not Levio-sah."

Ron rolled his eyes, and later, after their lesson, mimicked Hermione.

"It's Levi-Oh-sah… She's a nightmare, honestly!" said an annoyed Ron.

Hermione pushed past Cara, crying. She had been right behind them, and had heard the whole thing.

Cara looked over at Ron. "Nice job, Ron!" and ran after Hermione.

"Hermione, wait! Wait up, 'Mione, he didn't mean it!"

And she followed Hermione into the girl's room, hoping to console her.