Cassiopeia Granger sat in one of the armchairs in her Common Room. She was positively bursting with excitement after this night's events. Hogwarts, finally! She was far from sleepy thinking about the many adventures she would soon embark on. Beside her was her newfound friend who was also about to write a letter. Seeing as Cassie didn't have her own owl and that it was too late to trek up to the Owlery, said friend will be lending her an owl to send her letter to her mother. After smiling in gratitude to her friend who nodded at her in response, she brought out a fresh parchment and a new quill and started to write.

Dear Mum,

I am currently sitting in one of the armchairs in my Common Room. The Welcoming Feast (or whatever it's called) has just ended and the prefects just led us to our dorms. It was extremely overwhelming, mum! The whole feast, the Great Hall, the sorting, the food popping out of nowhere! I know you've told me about it thousands of times but experiencing it myself was entirely different than just hearing about it. I loved it, mum! I love the castle. I love the portraits that move and tell their stories. I love the ghosts and I even love the pudding they served! I cannot wait for tomorrow to see the grounds in daylight! I will most definitely not have any trouble getting up in the morning.

Our travel was pretty good. We didn't encounter any bumps in the road (or tracks, if you want to be more accurate) and we got to Hogwarts in good time. When I went inside the train earlier, I found an empty compartment and happily claimed it as my own. The train was already moving when someone came in to share it with me.

She was sitting in a compartment in the train all by her lonesome. The train had started to chug off and she waved goodbye to her almost sobbing mother through the window. She blew her a kiss right before she was out of sight and let out an excited and worried sigh. Here she was! Finally on her way to Hogwarts! She opened her bag and brought out a book and started to read. She had only read a page when the compartment door opened.

"Hi there." A boy poked his head in.

"Umm, hi." Cassie answered in reply, looking at him. He looked extremely flushed and very familiar.

"Would it be alright if I stayed here? All the others are full and well, you seemed like the most harmless occupant of a compartment." He gave a small smile.

She chuckled. "Go ahead. I don't bite."

The boy opened the door fully and dragged his trunk and a cage with an owl inside. He settled all his belongings and sat on the seat opposite her.

"You seem tired." Cassie observed.

The boy gave a small smile again. "Yeah. I ran. If I didn't, I don't think I would have made it on time to catch the train."

"Overslept?" she inquired.

He shook his head. "Mother took forever to get ready, much to mine and my father's dismay."

She only nodded. She found it funny that he called his parents such formal names such as mother and father. This boy must be from a well-respected family. She looked at him once again and observed his sharp features, handsome face and very prim and proper disposition. Yup, she thought, this one's definitely from a respectable family! She couldn't shake the fact though that he looked extremely familiar, though. Did he know this boy? Have they met?

"It irks me that my mother ALWAYS takes hours to get herself ready. It's as if she is always dressing for a ball or a social event of some sorts." He sighs, "Is your mother the same?"

She chuckled again, "Most definitely not! My mum's a wear and tear sort of person. I mean, it's not like she's sloppily dressed or has no care whatsoever with how she looks. I guess she's just the type of woman who would rather spend her time doing things that do not involve dolling herself up. Not that she needs to. I kind of think my mother is a natural beauty." She smiled as she pictured her mother smiling at her.

"I wish my mother was like that too. I bet your father must adore that part about her." He voiced out.

Her face fell and he noticed this. "Well, I wouldn't really know. I don't have a father."

The boy frowned. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to make you sad."

She gave him a small smile. "It's okay. I mean, I know I have a father but I never really knew who he was until very recently. And even if I knew who he was, I've never met him anyway. And well, I don't really think he knows about me." She sighed again replaying that thought she's been having that the red leather-bound notebook got lost in the mail, was delivered elsewhere or was never read.

"Would you still want to meet him if you had the chance?" He asked, genuinely interested.

She nodded, "Yes. I've always wanted a father. I'm just afraid he may not want me which is why I am afraid of seeking him out."

They fell silent for a while. Cassie then gave an amused laugh and said, "Look at us. We're already exchanging rather serious stories about our lives but we haven't even exchanged names."

Upon noticing this, the boy smiled and laughed. "Huh… It is common courtesy to exchange names."

"I believe it is." She smiled and put out her hand. "I'm Cassiopeia Granger but never EVER call me Cassiopeia or I will hex you into oblivion. Call me Cassie. Cassie Granger."

He took her hand and shook it. "Granger, huh? You're the daughter of the war-hero Hermione Granger? That must be amazing! I heard she was the Smartest Witch of her Age. My father was in Hogwarts with her, I believe."

She smiled. "Oh, really? And yes, my mother is a clever one. She's taught me so much already. I could teach you the spells I know if you want."

"Thank you! I would love that. My mother never really spends time teaching me anything. Well, she barely spends time with me unless to show me off during her society galas and balls. But father does! Whenever he finds the time, he shows me all sorts of spells. I dearly enjoy spending time with him."

She only nodded and smiled.

"Cassiopeia's not a horrid name." He changed the subject, seeing as she was uncomfortable with the topic of fathers. "It's different. Named after a constellation, right?"

She nodded again.

"Just like me, you know." The boy smiled.

Cassie's eyes widened at the thought of not being the only one given a ridiculously embarrassing name. "Let's see if yours is as bad as mine. Although I believe, you haven't told me your name yet, Mister—?"

"Oh!" He put out his hand as well. "I'm Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy."

And Cassie Granger just stared, shell-shocked with her mouth agape.

His name is Scorpius, mum. Scorpius Malfoy. He's also a first year. I was surprised that I was talking to a Malfoy because I've always read about them in the social events section of the Prophet but actually talking to one was quite interesting. He's a nice boy, mum. After I recovered from my initial shock, we got to talking. I told him to never call me Cassiopeia or else I'll hex his bits off. I think he was scared for a bit but he laughed it off. He promised to never call me that ridiculous name you gave me (which I still think is considered a form of child abuse) and even helped me feel better about it by pointing out that we were both probably named after ridiculous constellations. See mum, he feels my pain. And it's not like we can shorten his name to something more acceptable. Unless we call him Scorpi! But that doesn't sound right now, does it?

Cassie was shocked, alright. But it wasn't because he had met a Malfoy from the papers. It was the fact that she met a Malfoy from Draco Malfoy. She remembered the puzzled look on his face when she was silent and shocked for about a minute and a half. She remembered she had to shut her mouth and stop looking like a complete fool in front of this boy.

"Cassie?" Scorpius asked, concerned. "Are you alright? I don't think my name is THAT horrible for you to have your mouth agape."

Cassie quickly shook off all thoughts from her head and managed to smile. "No, sorry! It's not." She grabbed hold of his still out-stretched hand. "I don't usually space out like that, please don't think I am mentally challenged or something. I just umm, remembered something."

Scorpius nodded, a bit wary of her sudden catatonic phase but shrugged it off.

Cassie, on the other hand, had a mind that was whirling in thoughts. She was face-to-face with Scorpius Malfoy, son of Draco Malfoy. She was face-to-face with the son of her father. She was face-to-face with her… brother! Well, technically her half-brother but still! A relative! A blood relative! That was why he looked familiar! He looked like her! With that platinum blonde hair and an upturned nose, it was so obvious! Except he did have blue eyes which was probably from his mother whereas she sported stormy-grey ones like her, well, THEIR father.

She was too deep into her thoughts to hear him already start another conversation. Was it about the scenery? Classes? Houses? Forbidden Forest? Quidditch? What was he saying?

"Uh Cassie, I asked you what House you wanted to be in." He roused her from her swirling mind.

"Oh. Oh! Umm, I've always wanted to be a Gryffindor like my mum. What about you?" She asked, swearing to get over it and accept the fact that this REALLY was her half-brother she was conversing with.

"I don't really know. I don't really mind if I get into any other house. But seeing as both my parents and my entire family were Slytherins, there's no doubt I might be in that house too." He paused for a while. "Father, though, told me that it didn't matter where I was housed as long as I was happy and made the most out of my schooling."

She smiled a sincere smile at the mention of his, no, their father. "He seems like a very nice man."

"He is." Scorpius beamed. "I can tell he loves me very much and is very supportive of me. He always rescues me from my mother's incessant rants and complaints."

She laughed. "You seem to not like your mother."

"Well, of course I love my mother. But she's just very difficult to be with most of the time so it's always father who I turn to."

Our conversation dragged on. We talked about everything from his family, to you, to almost anything under the sun! He liked to hear about you, impressed that I was THE daughter of the war-hero. See mum? I told you! You're still as famous as ever! He also liked talking about his dad who seems like a very good man. Do you know him? Scorpius says he went to Hogwarts the same time you did. His name is Draco Malfoy. Well, of course you know the Malfoys. Everybody does. But did you know him personally? It would be cool to know that you and his dad were friends too! He seems like a very good man from Scorpius' stories.

Okay, so she was badgering her about her father. It was rather obvious and knowing her mum's quick-thinking, she would probably catch on. But she didn't care. She just wanted to get her mum to talk about her father. She needed to know if she still ever thought about him. She wanted to know their love story. Most importantly, she wanted her mum to tell her about him. Didn't anyone understand how incomplete she felt without her father by her side? It's not like she was pestering her for Christmas presents. This was her father, for crying out loud! She deserved this. She sighed and continued.

Anyway mum, I'm a bit tired already and I think I'll be getting to bed soon. Like I promised, I'll write as much as I can but please mum, don't freak out if I can't write in a span of a few days. Remember mum, I came here to study and learn. And with your reputation with the professors here, it will be challenging for me to uphold such high standards!

I'll write to you again soon, mum. I hope you're doing well and that you're not too lonely by yourself at home. Call Aunt Ginny over or visit the Burrow as much as you can. Say hi to everyone for me! And give them giant hugs! By the way, don't you think this owl is quite a beauty? His name is Erin. Scorpius' dad gave it to him to keep in touch. He's lending it to me because it's too late for me to go to the owlery and mail this. See? A very nice guy!

Oh, and I know it's killing you that I haven't said it but guess what House I'm in? Hold on to your hats, mum! I'm in… Slytherin! Seriously mum, I haven't a clue as to why I'm here. Expect maybe because Uncle Harry and Ron always said I was a sly little one. But anyway, the green and the silver, mum! And strangely, though, I feel proud. I suddenly feel like there's a whole other side of me that I am yet to find out!

She laughed a little at her almost obvious hint earning her a confused looked from Scorpius. She shrugged it off and flashed her half-brother a friendly smile. He returned these gestures with a shrug and continued to write his own letter. Cassie did just the same.

See you in a few months, mum! (Please don't hex anybody who's passing by or is near you after you hear where I was housed.) I love you always, always, my beautiful mummy!

Missing you already,

Cassie

"Ready?" Scorpius asked, while folding his own parchment.

She nodded, folding her letter, "Just about. You sure Erin will be alright shipping off both letters?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine. She's a smart one." He cooed at his owl but suddenly cleared his throat and feigned indifference when Cassie shot him an amused look.

Scorpius then tied both letters to Erin's leg and said, "Please take these to my father and this other one to Hermione Granger. I'm sure you'll know where to find her."

And with that, the two new Slytherins, new friends and secret siblings watched the beautiful eagle owl spread its wings and fly off into the night until it was out of sight.

Hermione Granger was extremely pleased to see an owl waiting by her window when she got home that night. She had to work overtime on a case and got home a lot later than usual. She practically threw the window open to let the beautiful owl in. She breathed a sigh of relief and joy when she saw that it was her 11-year old daughter who addressed the letter to her. Her joy was cut short almost abruptly when she read a word that rocked her already very safe and secure world: Malfoy.

She hurriedly finished the letter and was filled with so much emotion: joy at having heard from her daughter, worry at having heard of who her new friend was, suspicion at the way her daughter was prying her about Draco Malfoy and fear at the moment she had the scariest realization.

She dashed into her study and almost tore apart her book shelves to look for the red leather-bound notebook. When she found it on one of the shelves, she grabbed it and almost ripped it open. She paled at seeing that it was no longer her notebook but an old book on charms for around the house magicked to look like the red notebook. She had to hold on to the wall to keep herself upright. Her eyes were wide in shock and her breathing was ragged and heavy. She was in tears when she uttered two very simple words.

"Cassie knows."

A/N: I hope it was good enough. Honestly still figuring out where this story will go but seems intriguing enough, yeah?

I own nothing and get nothing for this except a good way to express thoughts and ideas.