Chapter 6: Christmas, Easter, and End of Year Two
A few weeks later, Kassidy was back on her feet and in class, and Christmas had finally arrived. Draco had left to spend the holiday with his family, and had asked Kassidy if she wanted to join him. She agreed, and the two kids went back to Malfoy Manor for Christmas. Kassidy got her presents on Christmas morning and the orphanage had sent a small parcel with a note. Kassidy opened the note first.
Kassidy Laurine Williams,
As a resident of Miss Gibbs' Home for Girls for eleven years, you have always been on the list of children up for adoption, even during the time you have been at Hogwarts. But we are pleased to inform you that you have been adopted! The couple's names are Devan and Piper Goodwin, and they have sent you a Christmas gift. They understand that you are currently enrolled in a boarding school during the year, and acknowledge that you are there now. They want you to visit for Easter this year, they will meet you at King's Cross station. They say you may bring one friend if you want.
Regards,
Lauren Gibbs
Headmistress of Miss Gibbs' Home for Girls
Kassidy had read the letter aloud to Draco.
"You've been adopted! That's wonderful news!" Draco said, pulling Kassidy into a hug.
"Do you know that couple?" Kassidy asked.
"Oh, yeah, they're very influential, and they're rich, too. Mrs. Goodwin can't have kids, so it only makes sense. I wonder why they went to a Muggle orphanage," Draco said.
"They heard about me, knew I had no parents, knew where I'd been living before Hogwarts, felt sorry for me, and adopted me," Kassidy said.
"That's great news! I'm happy for you," Draco said.
"Thanks. Now, I want to see what they sent me," Kassidy said. She opened the parcel and inside was a Muggle toy, a little Russian Nesting doll half the size of her palm, by itself.
"What is that?" Draco asked.
"This is a Russian Nesting doll, but it usually has more to the set. It's a toy that Muggle children play with," Kassidy explained. "You'd normally have several dolls of different sizes, and they all fit inside each other."
"Cool," he said. Kassidy opened the little one she had and saw an even smaller one inside. "See?" she said.
"Why did they send you this?" Draco asked. Kassidy looked at it a little more and saw something familiar.
"This was my nesting doll that I played with when I was little," Kassidy said, showing Draco a mark she had put there that said her name.
"Oh, well, that only makes sense."
Easter comes along, and Kassidy asks Draco if he wants to come along, to which he says yes, of course. They go to London and find the Goodwin family, Kassidy's new parents.
"Hi, are you Devan and Piper Goodwin?" Kassidy asked.
"That's us. Please, call us Mom and Dad," Mrs. Goodwin said. Kassidy smiled.
"I can't wait to get to raise you the rest of your young life," Mr. Goodwin said.
"We're not changing your last name, as you are from a prodigious family, and we want that acknowledged by the wizarding community, unless you want our last name," Mrs. Goodwin said.
"No offense, but I'd like to remain Williams," Kassidy said.
"Alright."
"Alright, as your new father, I'm going to set a few ground rules. When you're home, curfew is at 2 AM. Screw up too bad, you will be getting a Howler from me. And if Draco stays over, he cannot sleep in the same room as you. Is that clear?" Mr. Goodwin said.
"Yes sir," Kassidy said.
"So, Draco Malfoy, how have you been recently?" Mr. Goodwin asked.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," Draco said.
"Tell me, what is your relationship to Kassidy here?"
"I'm not sure, we haven't established that yet."
"I thought we were best friends," Kassidy said.
"Then that, then," Draco said.
"Mistreat her, one bit, and I'll have your dad put you on lockdown; is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," Draco said.
That holiday was spent well, Kassidy getting to know her new family, and Draco making a good impression on her new family too, so they don't hate him and not let him date their daughter later on.
Back at Hogwarts, things were heating up. Hermione Granger had just been petrified, and it was odd to see Potter and Weasley without her with them, but Draco and Kassidy grew accustomed to it. Draco and Kassidy went out to find the chamber, as Kassidy could speak Parseltongue. They finally came about an abandoned girls' bathroom, Draco hesitating outside.
"Draco, get in here!"
"But it's a girls' bathroom!"
"It's not normally used," Kassidy said. She looked at the walls, the sinks, but on one of the sinks, there was an engraving of a snake.
"Could that be it?" Draco asked.
"Maybe. I think you open it with a lick of Parseltongue," Kassidy said.
"Then try it, I guess," Draco said. Kassidy focused and a hissing sound came out of her mouth. The sink began to move, revealing a hole through which one could drop into the chamber.
"Wanna go?" Kassidy asked.
"Yes, let's do this," Draco said. Both jumped into the hole one after the other, and came out at the other end into a large room decorated with stone snakes.
"I hear you need to be careful, don't look it in the eyes or you could die," Draco said.
"Alright, makes sense," Kassidy said. They looked around the room, and saw a book lying on the ground, as well as a body lying there in the middle of the room.
"Who is that?" Kassidy asked.
"She's a Weasley. Must be Ginny Weasley," Draco said.
"Why is she down here?"
"Don't ask me, I say we should leave," Draco said.
"Okay, I agree, let's go," Kassidy said as they found their way out.
They finally made a cure for the petrified people, and they returned to normal habits, even with exams around the corner. Apparently, Potter defeated the giant snake thing and rescued Ginny. Dumbledore got up to say a few words.
"Attention, please. Thank you. It has been a very interesting year. An interesting one indeed. Let's give a hand to Professor Sprout and Professor Snape who cured the petrified people with their Mandrake potion," Dumbledore said, causing the room to erupt in cheers. "I say we let this year end on a good note. Let the feast begin," Dumbledore said, as food appeared on the table and everyone began eating.