A/N: Howdy folks! Who's your favorite possum?
Last chapter was just for grins and giggles. This chapter will answer some of your questions! Yeah for question answering! Just for purposes I have in my mind: Harry (I don't know if his lifetime band of Quidditch is still intact but in my story it is not) is seeker still. Ron is chaser and Ginny is chaser.
Chapter Six: Defying Gravity
Cassandra stifled a yawn. It was ten at night and she was still doing homework. Stupid teachers…
Helena, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Cassandra, Dawn, Callia and, of course, Loofamin sat doing their homework in the common room.
Or in Loofamin's case: staring at Helena in awe. Or in Dawn's and Callia's case: drawing mean pictures of Snape. Or in Harry and Helena's case: flirting with each other. Or in Cassandra's case: looking at the mysterious note that was passed to her a couple of days ago.
So, technically, Hermione was the only one doing her homework.
"It's a Thursday night. Why don't we do our homework later?" Dawn suggested.
"Yeah, I need to get some sleep tonight. Saturday's a big Quidditch match. We're playing Ravenclaw. We're gonna kill them." Harry said happily.
"It's almost Friday night and Harry has nothing embarrassing in store for me." Hermione said happily as she thought about her birthday four weeks ago. She still couldn't get that Lester's Possum Park tune out of her head.
"Yeah, goodnight everyone." Helena said as she stood up to go.
Everyone murmured their goodnights and soon started up for bed.
Cassandra grabbed Ron's arm. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked him quietly.
"Sure."
As soon as everyone left, Cassandra asked, "Do you seriously like Dawn?"
"I don't know."
She gave a grunt of annoyance. "You're not helping."
"Why do you care so much?"
"She's my cousin. I can't help not caring."
"Anything else?"
"No." Cassandra didn't meet his eye.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Well, I have another question." She looked at the floor.
"What is it?"
"Cassandra! Get your arse you here!" Helena called from the stairs.
"Never mind, Ron. Bye." She gave him a quick wave and left.
Ron watched he go and muttered to himself, "Bloody girls, I'll never understand them."
During Defense the next afternoon Cassandra pulled out the note. Who had passed it to her? This question was bugging the hell out of her.
She took her quill and dipped it in ink.
Will this really work? She asked herself in thought. She licked her lips nervously and reread the note.
What did you do? The note read.
Nothing. Why?
Just wondering. I'm really bored. I hope this class livens up a bit.
I bet it will.
Maybe.
Who are you?
Someone in this class.
Obviously. Tell me, please.
You'll have to guess.
Are you in Gryffindor?
No.
You're a Slytherin?
Is there a problem with that?
No, but why are you talking to me?
My friends fell asleep and I thought you were pretty cute so I pass you a note.
I suppose I should be flattered.
I suppose you should be.
Thanks. I
Cassandra licked her lips again and began to write.
So, how's it going? This class liven up a bit?
Instantly the paper disappeared.
She looked up to see if anyone was surprised or at least writing.
Everyone was.
Damn. We're supposed to be taking notes on something. What was it again? I'll ask Hermione later. Never mind. Damn. Cassandra thought as she sighed.
To her surprise the note came back with writing on it.
I was bored until you popped up. I was wondering when you'd pass this note. I saw you slip it in your backpack after Blackwood grabbed it.
She smiled and replied.
I was trying to figure out who you were. I'm still in the dark. Why won't you tell me?
Because it's way too much fun watching you during DADA worrying over a piece of paper.
You're mean and evil.
Some would call me that but it's all sticks and stones, love. I thought you were different.
I am different. In a good way, I mean.
The note popped away but didn't come back.
Cassandra looked up and found Blackwood staring over her.
"Miss Sanderson," she said briskly and coldly. It seems ever since Cassandra caught Blackwood snogging her brother, she had been nothing but vulgar towards Cassandra and her friends. "I would appreciate it if you would do the class assignment." Then she walked away.
Cassandra rolled her eyes and poked Hermione.
Hermione sighed and looked up from her note taking. "What?" she whispered angrily.
"What are we supposed to be doing?"
"Taking notes."
"On what?"
"Different charms for defense. I find them mostly stupid. Who's ever going to use the Flower Force Charm anyway? Why would anyone want to sprout flowers in someone's hair for defense? It's stupid!" Hermione sighed and went back to work."
Cassandra stared blankly at her paper in front of her before whispering a little too loudly. "Right-o. A little obsessed are we?"
Blackwood heard her.
Oops.
Busted.
"Miss Sanderson, if you continue to be a nuisance in my class I shall be forced to remove you."
"Yes, Professor Blackwood." More like Blackheart.
Suddenly a bell rang sounding the end of classes for the day.
"I want you to finish up your notes for homework." Blackwood called to the departing scholars.
As they left the classroom, Helena muttered to Cassandra, "She's got it out for us, especially you."
Cassandra groaned.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing. I'm just having a slight headache."
"Are you sure?" Helena asked in a motherly tone.
"Yeah, I'm just going to skip dinner and have a lie-down. I'm fine." Cassandra said in an unconvincing voice.
"I'll bring you some food later on, ok?" Helena offered.
Cassandra smiled weakly.
"My Lady! Wait for me, please!" Loofamin said as they approached the Fat Lady.
"Password?" The Fat Lady said in an annoying voice.
"I married a moose!" Helena said triumphantly.
The others snickered as the Fat Lady swung open.
"Well that's interesting…"Hermione said cautiously
"Thanks," Ron beamed. "I made it up myself."
Hermione asked, "So who's the lucky buck?" (A/N: is it a buck?)
"I think it was Harry… I'm not sure, we were drunk!" Helena asked
Harry put his arm around Helena. "I certainty was not drunk. I was just a little..., erm, tipsy."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"What's a moose?" Loofamin asked Helena as he tugged at her robes.
Helena smiled, ruffled his hair and started in the direction of the girl's dorms.
Loofamin stood frozen for a second, partly because of confusion, and partly because of fear of being left by Helena. Then he jumped up and down and his yells could be heard down the hall. "NO! TELL ME! WHAT'S A MOOSE? AHHH!"
"Helena! Don't leave me here with these people!" Harry soon joined her on the steps.
"Er, Harry." Helena said uneasily.
"Yeah?"
"You're not allowed to go up here."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Where does it say that?"
"In the Hogwarts rule book. Rule number 38473 to be exact." Hermione said as she and Cassandra joined them on the stairs.
"Er, right-o." Harry gave Helena's arm a tight squeeze and left to find Ron downstairs.
The three girls walked quietly into the room.
Cassandra pulled her curtains and flopped on her bed.
"Are you sure you want to be alone? Do you want me to stay with you?" Hermione asked in a maternal tone.
"Or me!" Helena piped in.
Cassandra looked thoughtfully at her friends before rejecting their offer. "No, I think I should have a nice and quiet evening."
"Ok," Helena said turning to go. "I'll bring some food later."
Hermione smiled and left with her.
Cassandra heard the shrikes of Helena from all the way up here.
"Loofamin! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? Where did you get those flowers? EEKKKK! THOSE ARE POISONUS YOU BLOODY LITTLE CREEP! EEKKK!"
Cassandra giggled into her pillow. Then she pulled out a Muggle book called Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella and read as she heard the noises in the common room die away.
For what seemed to be an hour, but really only five minutes, Cassandra fell asleep. Her dreams were wild beyond imagination.
A black haired witch and a blonde haired wizard strolled throughout an enchanted garden, complete with rainbows and butterflies. The trees were made out of different assortments of candies. Redvines hung from licorice trees and wrapped around the trunks like snakes. Flowers we tiny and sprinkled with sugar and little fairies flitted about with little glowing wands.
There were seven rivers that lead into a pond. The pond was an aqua color but the rivers were each a different color of the rainbow. (A/N: no indigo) Floating on top of the water was lily pads that changed colors between white, purple and pink. Brightly colored fish with shiny scales swan underneath the water.
The boy grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her down on the ground next to him. Instantly a green leprechaun appeared with some tea. He poured the tea into tiny cups and popped away.
The girl smiled at the boy as she drank her tea.
He smiled back. "Cassandra…"
The girl closed her eyes as the boy pulled her in closer. She parted her lips. His we almost upon hers when—
"Draco!"
The two whirled around to find Hermione standing underneath a tree wearing a flowing white gown that seemed to give off a faint light of its own. Her hair was done up in a chignon with ribbon flowing down her back. She looked like a goddess.
"Draco," she called softly. "Come back into the cottage Draco. Come with me."
Suddenly a tiny cottage appeared in the background and the skies turned gray. Everything changed into a haunted forest.
Draco looked at Cassandra's figure than at Hermione's. He abruptly got up and walked over to the Hermione/goddess, leaving Cassandra on the ground. He clasped Hermione's hands and kissed her. She kissed him back. Together they walked away to the cottage.
"Draco!" Cassandra called after the fading figure. He simply waved goodbye.
Suddenly the ground beneath Cassandra gave way and she stated falling. She fell faster and faster. The wall and sky around her faded into darkness.
Cassandra looked beneath her and saw wooden spikes. The spikes were very sharp and could pierce even the smallest fly.
As she plunged closer, the spikes turned into a bowl of hot soup. She fell in with a large splash. "Mmm, tomato."
"Cassandra! Wake up you sleepy dolt. I've got soup!"
Cassandra opened her eyes to find Helena staring down at her with a try in her hands. "Is that for me?"
"No, it's for me. I just wanted to eat it in front of you to torture you." She replied sardonically.
"Oh," Cassandra said as she rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"
"It's about eight. People are starting to come up. Harry's already off to bed and so is Ron. You are so lucky you weren't at dinner. All those bloody boys could talk about was Quidditch. It's sickening!"
Cassandra mumbled an answer as she sat up in her bed. Helena placed the tray on her lap.
The girls turned as they heard thundering footsteps coming from the stairs. Hermione ran into the room holding a piece of paper and flung herself on her bed. "I will never hear the end of it!"
"End of what?" the other two asked simultaneously.
"Quidditch! I'm so ti…i…i…ired of hearing about it." Hermione said through a yawn.
"Then don't listen to it. Tune it out like I always do." Helena said over-cheerfully.
Hermione shot her an evil glare. "How can you? You're commenter, remember?"
"Damn! I thought I could get out of that. Damn,"
"What are you talking about? You love that job?" Cassandra gave her friend a confused look.
"Just trying to get Mione off my back." Helena said lamely.
"I'm going to read." Hermione said as she pulled out a large book. She looked at the piece of paper once before she shoved it in the book.
"Fascinating. I don't really care." Helena plopped on her bed and closed the curtains.
Cassandra looked at her two friends as she heard a "stupid Mudblood." coming from Helena's way. Then she looked at Hermione. A silent, silver tear trickled down her cheek and fell onto her book.
Cassandra sighed and ate her soup slowly.
No one talked the rest of the night.
"Weasley passes it to Sully who passes it to Heichberger. Now it's back to Sully. Oh no! Ravenclaw's Juliet Burr took the Quaffle! She shoots, she scores! Damn it! Er, sorry Professor McGonagall. It just slipped out." Helena was commenting for the Quidditch game, Gryffindor against Ravenclaw.
It was almost noon and the score was 40-30. Ravenclaw was winning.
Hermione, Cassandra, Dawn, Callia and Loofamin sat in the Gryffindor stands cheering their team on. Hermione was mostly silent for some unknown reason.
Helena's attention seemed completely absorbed in the match but in reality, it was on a certain Seeker… "Come on you bloody bast—I mean—Go team! Looks like Ravenclaw's got the ball. He passes it to Eaton. She misses! Ladies and gentlemen! Call the news! For the first time in the history of Quidditch, or as long as she's been playing, Evelyn Eaton has dropped the ball and guess who caught it? That's right! Ron Weasley! He's the best! Ron, if you weren't so madly in love with someone I knew, then I would totally go out with you! Sorry Professor…"
Ron and McGonagall shot evil glares Helena's direction who innocently twiddled her thumbs and whistled.
Cassandra laughed at Helena but turned to attention back to the game. Ron was playing better than usual. He really seemed to figure out that it was just a game. Tell that to Harry, he'd kill me! Cassandra chuckled to herself.
"Cassandra, I'm going to go." Hermione said as she got up.
"Why?" Cassandra asked blankly.
"I just need time to think." With that, she left the stands and made her way to the castle.
Cassandra furrowed her brow and thought, What's up with Hermione? She seems to be acting strange. Actually, Helena and Hermione were both acting strangely…
"My Lady is doing a fine job commenting. Don't you agree Cassandra?" Loofamin asked the older girl.
"Sure," Cassandra turned her attention back to Helena's comments.
"Score ten for Gryffindor! Yeah! Ok, now I have a random shout out from a student. 'To Gretchen Shannahan: Next Hogsmeade day is coming up. Wanna go with me? Signed, Gregory Smith."
A random shout of "yes! I love you Gregg!" came from the Hufflepuff stands.
"Interesting. Ok, back to the game. Looks like Eaton's got the ball. She passes to Burr but the pass is intercepted by female Weasly. Go Ginny! She shoots, she scores! Ten for Gryffindor. Gryffindor is now winning. I'm hungry. COME ON HARRY! FIND THAT BLOODY SNITCH! This game is never going to end! GET YOUR LAZY ARSE MOVING! Sorry Professor…"
McGonagall whispered something to Helena along the lines of "I think it's time you gave up commenting for every game".
"But Professor, if I give up, who will fill my shoes? I see how it is. You don't like me. You never did! You have lowered my self esteem! I shall never look at myself the same way again!"
Professor McGonagall smacked her forehead and mumbled something to Helena.
"Gee thanks Professor. I didn't know I was the best commenter you ever had. My self esteem has sky rocketed! I shall now soar among the birds and fly freely! Yes, I think it's time I got back to the game. What's this? It looks like Potter's spotted something. Could it be? He dives. Uh oh. Ravenclaw's Seeker has spotted it too. He's going for it. He's right on Potter's rear—however wrong that sounds. Harry's reaching—I think I have a perverted mind—for it! Freddy Hill is going for it. They're both going for it! What's this? It seems Freddy is trying to knock Harry off his broom. Damn you Freddy! That's cheating! Sorry Professor but that's cheating. It isn't? Oh, never mind.
"Harry suddenly flies up? What's he doing? He's reaching. He's going up and up and up. Now he's doing downward spirals. I think I'm gonna be sick. Now Hill's doing it—ew. Potter stops suddenly and can it be? Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Professors and caretakers! Hobbits and Elves! Witches and Wizards! Macaroni and cheese! Bacon and eggs! It appears that Harry Potter has won Gryffindor another game! I love Jimmy! I mean, I love you Harry!"
Applause filled the pitch, the loudest coming from Gryffindor.
Harry flew around the playing field parading the Snitch. When he landed, Cassandra, Callia, Dawn, Loofamin and some other students rushed onto the field and tackled him.
Helena jumped from the commenter's booth, pushed students out of her way and ran up to Harry. She threw her arms around him and kissed him. He kissed her back.
The students (and some staff) oohed and awwed.
"My Lady!" Helena turned to see Loofamin standing next to her with tears in his eyes. Suddenly he ran away.
"What did I do?" Helena asked Cassandra as she watched the little boy run away.
"I think he was in love with you. That or he had to use the bathroom. Your pick." Cassandra shrugged.
"Do you think I should go talk to him?"
"No, let him blow off some steam." Harry said in a manly voice.
"You're right." Helena clasped Harry's hand and started to walk away.
"That was worthy of noting." Callia said suddenly. The little girl hardly spoke at all.
"Indeed." Dawn agreed.
Suddenly Ron came up. He caught sight of Cassandra then Dawn and blushed. "I need to talk to you Cassandra. Alone. Meet me by the lake in about an hour."
"Why do you need an hour? You take longer than Helena and I combined."
"You take a shower with Helena? Gross!" Dawn said in a laugh.
Cassandra hit her over the head then squeezed her in a hug. "Awww, little Dawny don't like being hit? Poor little Dawny."
"You're mean."
"Yes, now go away with Callia. I need to talk to Ron. Goodbye!" She pushed Callia away with one hand and Dawn with the other.
They walked away slowly.
"What did you need to talk about?"
"Meet me at the lake 45 minutes." He turned to go.
"Ok, that's fine with me." Cassandra said as she watched Ron fade away.
The sun was a little past overhead and the clouds were white. They were happy clouds in spiffy shapes.
Cassandra sat under a tree next to the lake waiting for Ron. She glanced about the lake and its surroundings. No one was in sight except for an occasional person taking a walk.
Cassandra glanced at her watch. Ron was late by fifteen minutes. Maybe he wasn't going to show up after all… Maybe he was just playing a joke on me. Maybe…
"Cassandra!" a voice called from behind, interrupting her from her thoughts.
She looked behind her to see Ron coming towards her, holding his broom…
"Hey! I thought you weren't going to show!" Cassandra said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.
"Yeah, there was a line for showers and I had to polish my broom." He held out his broom to prove it. The broom was all shiny, like a piece of metal.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Oh, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to try defying gravity. So, do you want to try defying gravity?"
"I don't understand."
"Wanna go on a broom ride in the forest?"
"The Forbidden Forest? Isn't it forbidden?"
"They only want you to think that. It's not as dangerous as Hermione during her period."
"Wow."
"Wanna give it a try?"
"I haven't ridden on a broom since first year. I fell off then and, well, I'm afraid of heights."
"Ever herd the saying 'don't look down'?"
"That's not a saying."
"Still,"
"If I fall, I'm going to jinx you all the way to hell and back."
Ron smiled and grabbed her arm. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?"
"Into the dark black forest." (A/N: he! he! he! Get it?)
"Oh, I'm smart."
"Come on."
They walked in silence to the edge of the forest.
"Couldn't we just fly around the Quidditch pitch?" Cassandra asked, cowardly.
"And spare the detentions?"
"Yes,"
"Right on!"
Together they walked to the Quidditch pitch in silence.
"Ok, now I'm going to upright the broom and when I say go, jump on it. I'll be right behind you. There's no need to worry."
"But, what if I fall?" Cassandra asked biting her lip nervously.
"I'll be right behind you with my arms around you. You won't fall."
Cassandra gave him a skeptical glance.
"Ready? Go!"
Cassandra gulped and jumped on the broom. She felt Ron sit behind her. She smiled slightly when she felt his arms go around her waist.
"Ok, now we're going to go up." His breath mingled in her raven hair. Soon, they lifted off the ground.
Cassandra gave a shriek of fear and felt Ron's arms tighten around her waist.
They lifted higher and higher. Soon they were more than two hundred feet up in the air. Cassandra squinted her eyes so she wouldn't look down.
"How is it?" Ron asked her softly.
"Fine," she managed to squeak.
"Are you sure?"
"No,"
"Wanna try going faster?"
"No,"
"You're not making this very romantic."
"Romantic?" Cassandra thought out loud. "I thought you were smitten with Dawn."
"What?"
Suddenly the broom lurked, causing Ron to loosen his grip on Cassandra. He shifted uncomfortably with made Cassandra have to move a little bit.
That little bit was too much.
Cassandra slipped off the broom before Ron could grab her. Her scream pierced the sky like a hawk's cry. She fell faster and faster. The ground grew nearer and nearer. She was going to die soon, she knew it.
100 feet left.
Now 80.
Now 65.
Now 47.
Now 30.
Oh Merlin! This is it! I'm going to die!"
Now only 24 feet before Cassandra fell all the way to her doom.
A/N: Like it? I hope it answered some of your questions. I tried the best I could. This part of my story has taken a mysterious turn. I didn't intend for this to happen but I hope you like it anyways.
Now to respond to my reviewers!
Abbie: This is why it's rated PG-13. Duh!
Saxifrage: Yes, dear Fabio! "I'm alive!" Don't ya just love him? "Now pat you head and rub your tummy. Click your heels together three times and say 'I do believe in fairies! I do, I do!" Lol! Yes, that part was from the Goofy Movie. I love Loofamin too. Did you know that Loofamin is a real name? Well, real last name anyway…I might have added and extra O. I was thinking of you!
Jessica: Thanks for answering the questions. It made my day. You're the only one who did.
DrunkenBuddie: First, I love your penname! It's so spiffy! Second, I'm not telling. Third, sorry about that chapter. It was just for grins and giggles. I hope you enjoyed it all the same! P.S: Now that you've reviewed one chapter, you must review all! (From ch 1-6!) I'm trying to reach a goal of fifty! Please do!
I'd love you if you reviewed! I really would!
Love: S.S.
