A.N. - Thanks to Koinaka for her review! And to answer your question, you'll have to wait and see. If I told you that would give the plot away. So please be patient. I will get to that.

So, to everyone else this is your last chance to vote for which house Cassian will go into. Thank you for the five people who did vote! Four for Slytherin and one for Ravenclaw!

Chapter Five

Cassian got up earlier than he usually did. Today was the day that he would be boarding the Hogwarts Express. Cassian wasn't excited or nervous about the prospect of attending a school, he had always been curious about it. It was more like he was deciding not to fight against the inevitable. Going to Hogwarts was something he had to do. Harry on the other hand, was ecstatic to finally be going to school with other children and just plain going to school period.

Entering the dining room Cassian saw Draco was up early as well. Well, earlier. The Malfoys always got up early in the morning. Usually though Draco was the last to arrive for breakfast, not the first. Cassian wondered if he was excited to be going back to school.

Draco who'd been biting into a biscuit loaded heavily with marmalade nearly choked as he looked up. "You're not honestly going to wear that?"

Pausing in pulling out his chair at the question, Cassian raised a brow then continued to sit. "Yes."

"Father and mother won't be pleased."

Shrugging, he stated, "I don't care."

The boys ate in silence until the Draco's parents entered. Narcissa eyed Cassian's clothes with distaste and resignation while Lucius eyed him coldly. Cassian had dressed in clothes he'd managed to hide from Lucius' purge of his wardrobe. Wearing a long sleeved yellow shirt with black piping down the arms, a tie-dyed shirt atop, and tie-dyed bleached jeans.

"I'm not changing," Cassian stated before they could voice their objections with his clothes. "If you want, I'll stay far enough behind that no one will know I'm with you."

Draco stared not believing Cassian could continue to calmly eat after speaking like that. Glancing over at his father he saw that flash of anger in his eyes and the look that was usually directed at him.

"You are a Malfoy, if not by name then by blood." Lucius' voice was as cold as the hard look on his face. "You are living under my roof and as such I expect you to act like a Malfoy in dress in manner. You will go and change into appropriate attire befitting a Malfoy."

Cassian set his fork down and with his eyes and demeanor reflecting Lucius' he met the man's gaze. He could feel his anger simmering. Because of Markale, the Malfoy's and everyone else he'd met believed his natural hair color was golden-brown. Since living at the Jenkins' Cassian had let his hair return to it's original black. Thinking that he had dyed it, Lucius had him immediately change it back. Rather then arguing, after all it was only hair, he and Harry hat to recall what potions and spell Markale had used to turn his hair that particular shade the Malfoy's were used to.

"Cass, maybe-"

"No." It was directed at both Harry and Lucius.

Draco's eyes widened and went to his father who drew his wand, pointed it threateningly at the still seated Cassian. Cassian didn't bat an eyelash not intimidated in the slightest. He'd been at wandpoint many a time in his short life. He wasn't scared. He knew that if Lucius did use his wand on him it wouldn't be to inflict lasting damage. Besides, Dumbledore was already suspicious of Lucius' motive's for taking Cassian in. So, if Cassian arrived hurt or didn't arrive at all, the man's suspicions would be proven accurate.

"Either change voluntarily or I will make you change."

"Cassian," Harry tried to calm him down and make him think. "Just do as he says. You can always change on the train."

When it looked like he wasn't going to listen, Harry tried once more. "He'll use the Imperius Curse on us. It won't work, then where will we be?"

Cassian understood what Harry was getting at. No one knew Markale used to put them under the Imperius Curse until Cassian could throw it off. It was a secret best kept hidden until he needed to use it.

"Fine," he replied speaking to both parties once again. Standing he couldn't help but notice the other two Malfoys' exhale in relief.

When Cassian met the Malfoys in the foyer he was 'properly attired' in slacks, turtleneck shirt, and a sweater vest. Lucius and Narcissa nodded in satisfaction while Cassian tried to keep the scowl off his face. He kept silent the entire way to the station. He was sure that the Malfoys took his silence as sullen sulking but that wasn't it at all. Cassian motto was, 'Don't get mad, get even!' He was trying to think up what he could do to get back at them for making him change his clothes.

At the platform, Cassian left Draco to say his goodbye's to his parents. Going in search of an empty compartment, he sighed. Not able to find an empty one he settled on one that had a lone occupant who kept a tight hold on a toad. Cassian was just happy to be rid of Draco for a few minutes. The blond had been annoying him as he was trying to figure out if Cassian would disrupt his rule of the Slytherins.

None of the Malfoys doubted that Cassian would be placed anywhere other then Slytherin. All Malfoys were Slytherins and Lucretia Ashwood, Cassian's grandmother, had been a Malfoy before marrying Kale Ashwood, and had been a Slytherin while attending Hogwarts. Not to mention both Kale Ashwood and his son Markale had both been students of Durmstrang Institute.

Cassian saw surprise on the boy with the toad's face. His eyes widened slightly in recognition. Puzzled, Cassian tried to think of where he might've seen him before, but couldn't. Turning to Harry he was that his face showed recognition as well.

'Harry?'

"I've seen him before."

'Where?'

"I don't know. St. Mungo's maybe? He was with a really scary old lady."

Looking over at the boy, Cassian asked, "Okay if I sit here?"

Neville nodded and hoped that he wasn't remembered. He didn't want to explain why he was at St. Mungo's. For something to say he blurted, "So, you're joining us at Hogwarts this year?"

"Obviously," was the dry reply.

"Do you know what House you'll be in?"

"No. Maybe I'll ask the hat to place me in Ravenclaw. I like to read."

Cassian read just about anything he could get his hands on. Knowledge was power after all. The more he read the more he learned. The more he learned the more he understood. The more he understood the better he could use that knowledge. It would also help him achieve his most important if not only goal in life; to become strong. To become stronger than anyone or anything that could hurt him.

He could still hear Markale summing up how Cassian had always felt. He had been eight years old and receiving his wand. "Listen, carefully. In this world, power is everything. The strong make the rules and the weak have to obey them. Never let yourself become dependent on anyone. They'll only let you down. The only person you can ultimately rely on is yourself."

Silently to Harry, Cassian suggested, 'Or maybe Hufflepuff. That'll really annoy Lucius, wouldn't it?'

"Imagine what he'd do if we were put in Gryffindore."

Cassian kept himself from laughing. 'Toss us back to the Jenkins' I expect.' Aloud to Neville he asked, "What House are you in?"

"Gryffindore. Don't you have an animal?"

"No. Why do you have a toad?"

Neville explained how Trevor was a gift for getting into Hogwarts. Listening, Cassian frowned not liking Neville's family at all. He was about to say so too when their compoartment door opened and two boys entered. Cassian recognized them from Flourish and Blotts. One who Harry said he thought they knew, and the other one was the red head that Draco liked to prevoke.

"Hey, Nev. Who're you?"

"Nice, Ron. Very subtle."

"What?"

Shaking his head at his friend's cluelessness, Dudley nodded to the boy sitting across from Neville. "Hi, I'm Dudley. The rude one's Ron."

"Cassian."

"So do you two know each other?"

"To know someone you'd have to know them longer than five minutes."

While Dudley was talking with Cassian, Neville asked Ron, "Where's Hermoine?"

"With Padma, Lisa, and Mandy." (1)

The witch who sold sweets off her trolley distracted the boys. While the others got things from the trolley, Cassian stared out the window prosessing what he'd learned so far about the three boys. Ron was also a Gryffindore like all his family which seemed to depress the red head. Dudley was in Hufflepuff and a Muggleborn.

When the three sat back down again, Ron eyed him with a funny look. The witch asked if he wanted anything. Cassian shook his head. "I don't like sweets."

"How can you not like sweets?" Ron asked incrediously.

Cassian shrugged. "I just don't."

"Do you collect Chocolate Frog cards?"

"No." No need to tell them he used to. Draco got him interested in the cards shortly after they were introduced to each other.

"What about Quidditch? Do you play Quidditch?" Ron asked trying to find anything that they could have in common to talk about.

"No."

"You at least have a team, right?" he asked hopefully.

"No." By now Ron was looking at him as if he'd grown another head. Thinking of something, Cassian asked, "Have you ever heard of William Shakespear?"

"The playwrite?" Dudley asked curiously around a mouthful of licorice wand.

"Did you know that he was a wizard?"

"What? No way!" Dudley wasn't sure whether or not to believe it. Neville had a frown on his face looking as if he was trying really hard to remember something while Ron looked clueless. "Who?"

"William Shakespear," Dudley informed his friend wishing Hermione was there. She would know if it were true or not. She was like a walking Encyclapedia Britanica. "He's famous for his plays that are mostly trageties."

"Apparently he was an infamous Muggleborn wizard who basically founded the W.A.D.A." (2)

"How do you know that?" The boys were interested now.

"Look at his plays. The knowledge is all there. The three witches from Macbeth, the sprite in The Tempest, the Draught of Living Death in Romeo and Juliet. Not to mention his play A Midsummer's Night Dreamwhich is riddled with mentions of our world."

That spawned a more interesting conversation and debate. Much more enjoyable than talking about Quidditch. Harry pouted since he liked Quidditch and not reading. He used to enjoy when Cassian and Draco argured who was better; the Holy Head Harpies or the Foulmouth Falcons, which always resulted in Narcissa telling them both to stuff it because the Pride of Portree was the best.

Before they knew it, they were at the station. The kids piled out of the compartments and off the train. The first years headed to where the giant who badmouthed the name of Malfoy was waiting for them. The rest of the students headed for the carriages being drawn by black winged skeletal horses.

Cassian froze seeing them and Dudley following his gaze understood. It had freeked him out too the first time he'd seen one and everyone else looking at him like he was crazy. The Thestrals did take awhile to get used to.

"Neville and I can see the Thestrals too. The others, they think the carriges pull themselves."

"Thestrals?"

Dudley nodded. "I saw them flying above the forest last year. I asked Professor Kettleburn and he told me about them. Only people who have seen death can see Thestrals."

Turning to Dudley he saw the boy's grim sad look. "Who did you see die?"

He didn't realize that that was probably a personal question that the boy didn't want to answer, until after he'd asked.

"My dad. We were in a car accident."

Licking his lips, Cassian stared up at the sky deciding that the boy neede compensation for confiding in him. Softly, his voice cracking slightly, "I watched my father and grandmother die."

Giving him a sympathetic look, Dudley led him to a carriage occupied by a third year Ravenclaw boy and a fourth year Slytherin girl. The short ride to the castle was a silent one. Then while everyone else headed for the Great Hall, a witch named Professor McGonagall led Cassian to where he could slip behind the first years without much notice.

Swallowing, he exhaled and Harry gave him a nervous smile. They followed the first years into the Great Hall and Cassian felt himself wanting to run from all the stares of the older students. For once he was glad he didn't have a growth spurt like the other kids his age. His shorter height helped him blend in with the first years.

They halted in front of the Head Table where the stool sat with the Sorting Hat atop it. Knowing he'd probably be last, Cassian devised a game he and Harry could play to pass the time until it was their turn. They would take turns and guess which type of animal the student had or if they didn't have one.

0o0o0o0o0

Dumbledore watched the first years enter, his eyes seeking out Cassian. The boy walked behind everyone else. It took him a moment to spot the boy since Cassian had changed his hair once again. Dumbledore had meant to ask the boy about that but it had slipped his mind. Keeping his eye on the child, he caught him wiping his hands on his robes. Perhaps the boy was nervous after all?

After the Sorting Hat sung it's song, Dumbledore stood and addressed everyone. "We have a new student joining the Second Years this term. Due to unfortunate circumstances he was not able to attend last year."

As McGonagall stepped forward, Dumbledore sat back down feeling the boy's angry gaze on him. Sitting back, steepling his fingers, Dumbledore watched as the boy's name was called.

"Ashwood, Cassian."

The Great Hall erupted into noise. There was boos, hisses, and angry negative comments and insults shouted from all four tables. The boy didn't so much as blink as he strode with confidence to the stool and placed the hat on his head. In the brief minuted it of silence while the hat decided to put him, Dumbledore looked over at whom he knew would be the boy's head of house. It wasn't that hard after speaking whi the boy and observing him where he'd go.

A.N.- Sorry the chapter was so short. I promise the next one will be Cassian's sorting and MUCH longer.

For those of you who don't know

(1)- Padme Patil, Lisa Turpin, & Mandy Brocklehurst are Ravenclaws

(2)- Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts. It's in J.K.R.'s Tales of Beedle the Bard