Chapter Four – Making Arrangements
It was like déjà vu. I ran home dragging a tearful Annabelle behind me. Again I ignored the pain of my injury and concentrated just on getting back home.
"I told Jack," Annabelle spluttered as we ran through a suburban street, "now he hates me. I should never have told him." I pulled her hand to keep her from stopping,
"Trust me he would know now; I think our whole year saw you blow apart the door." We stopped gasping for air and I enveloped her in a hug. "It's going to be ok" I reassured, "mum will floo Professor Dumbledore and he'll sort this out – just like last time."
"Last time there was one person's memory to obliviate," scoffed Annabelle, "like you said the whole year saw me."
"He'll sort it out" I stressed, "Now c'mon we need to get home." We set off at a sprint. Thank god we started going jogging; I underestimated the distance we'd have to run.
Finally we got home and stumbled into the kitchen. Aunty Em was sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, as per usual. Her eyes shot up at the site of us. We were both bare footed after failing to run in heels, my dress was ripped from Mark and I had a nasty bruise on one side of my face, my hair was a mess and matted at the back with blood from where I had hit it. I think it was Annabelle's appearance which shocked her the most; Annabelle is usually so composed that it is scary to see her with mascara streaking down her face and her overall appearance dishevelled, I noticed she had cut her leg somehow too.
"What's happened?" asked Aunty Em urgently.
"Annabelle saved me, this guy was trying to rape me but she stopped him. Just she had to use her power and everyone saw her Aunty Em. She blew apart the door and then Mark went flying. He's still alive but everyone saw."
"Shit" she breathed, "Wait here." She walked over to the fireplace and took a handful of floo powder. Putting her head in the fire and sprinkling the powder she said clearly, "Hogwarts, headmaster's office".
I could faintly here Dumbledore welcoming her but Aunty Em quickly cut him off,
"It's happened again Professor. Annabelle. He's still alive but the whole of their school year saw." I smiled weakly at Annabelle and took her hand; I knew how hard this was on her. "Ok" said Aunty Em, "Thanks a lot."
"Is he coming?" I asked.
"Yes he's just going to get some back up. They will be here shortly." I sighed and took a seat at the table. "What the fuck happened to your head?" shouted Aunty Em her eyes flashing with anger. I lifted a hand feebly to the back of my head and realised there was a lot more blood than I had anticipated.
"He threw me down and I hit my head on his chest of drawers."
"Jesus Christ. Thank god Annabelle was there." Annabelle, however, didn't look pleased that she was there; her head was in her hands and she was sobbing.
"Come here Belle" I said, beckoning her to the seat next to me. She sat down beside me and I gave her a hug, "Thanks for saving me. You did the right thing."
"Why do I feel so bad then?" she whimpered, "I nearly killed him."
"But you didn't" I stressed, "You controlled it Belle. You saved me." I stood up, "I'll make you a cup of tea ok?"
"Don't be stupid" growled Aunty Em pushing me back down, "you're not moving until someone has seen your head."
"I ran all the way here" I protested, "I'm fine."
"Don't move" she growled again and I nodded my head in defeat. Now that I thought about it my head did hurt a little bit. Suddenly there was a pop and a man appeared in our kitchen. He had red hair and a shabby looking suit.
"Arthur Weasley. Nice to meet you" he said offering his hand to Aunty Em.
"Thank you for coming," she smiled shaking his hand, "I'm Emily Redshaw, this is my daughter Annabelle Black and my niece Cassiopeia Black." I waved a hand in acknowledgment.
There was another pop and Dumbledore appeared. I loved this man, his eccentric personality and amazing knowledge, but as he would say, alas, his visits were few and far apart.
"Emily" he said soberly kissing her on the cheek, "there is no time for us to linger we'll have to round them up as quickly as possible. We will be back in a few hours. What's the address?"
"16 Oak Line, Willow Hill" I said bitterly, "feel free to finish Mark off." Dumbledore smiled sympathetically at me,
"Are you injured?" he asked kindly. I shrugged, waving him off with my hand.
"She's cut her head open quite badly" interrupted Annabelle, twisting my head round "Look."
"Take her to the hospital wing Emily. Poppy will be completely confidential." Aunty Em nodded, we waved them off as they left to go sort out the muggles.
I usually hated flooing but with a head injury it is the most uncomfortable feeling ever. I staggered out of the fireplace into what looked like a hospital ward: the hospital wing at Hogwarts. My head felt light and I nearly feinted right there.
"Goodness me, sit down dear sit down" clucked a friendly but stern looking nurse. She pulled me (rather forcefully) over to a bed and sat me down. "You shouldn't get yourself into these messes dear. Understand?"
"Yes" I said, feeling that this was not a woman to argue with.
"And what are you wearing? Tut. You don't need to wear this kind of stuff to get yourself noticed ok? Lot of good this dress did. Cheapening yourself like this. I hope you're going to start dressing more appropriately from now on?"
"Yes mam" I said nodding obediently.
"Nasty head wound" she muttered to herself as she pulled back some of my matted hair, "will need blood replenishing number 6 and hmm I have just the thing wait here. Don't move a muscle" She tottered off to the store cupboard leaving me feeling rather, well ... whipped.
"Don't know how she does it" smirked Aunty Em, "Pomfrey always has had that power over people. If anyone else said that about your dress you would sock them one."
I rolled my eyes and allowed myself to be fussed upon as Pomfrey rubbed ointment into my head and made me drink three different potions. Finally once she had done my inspection she moved onto Annabelle and, much to her embarrassment, Aunty Em.
"Madam Pomfrey I assure you there is nothing wrong with me" squealed an undignified Aunty Em as Madam Pomfrey checked her head for injuries in a technique similar to an Indian head massage. I chuckled quietly to myself only to get a stern look from the nurse.
"Right you're all ready to go," she frowned, "I would have like to keep you all overnight but with your ... unusual situation I would say it is fine for you to go."
We all said our thanks and left as quickly as possible without seeming rude. Once we were home I got changed into my pyjamas and then we all sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea (obviously) waiting for the return of Dumbledore and Mr Weasley. Aunty Em had, half-heartedly suggested that we go to bed but we were far too anxious to check everything had gone smoothly. Not that I didn't have complete faith in Dumbledore (because I did) but I needed the reassurance.
At about three am in the morning the two men reappeared they looked exhausted but Dumbledore gave us a brief nod and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"We have changed the memory of everyone present. They believe the young boy 'Mark' caused all the damage whilst running around stark naked singing Greece's own 'summer loving'." I grinned wildly; I loved this man, I would happily bear his children.
"Thank you so much" smiled Annabelle sweetly.
"Now" said Dumbledore seriously taking a sip of his tea, "there is the matter of your education. I feel that homeschooling has not been beneficial. I would very much like it if you would join us at Hogwarts. We're only three weeks into the school year."
"Hogwarts? Wicked," I beamed, nearly bouncing with excitement. Aunty Em looked cautious and Annabelle looked – downright petrified.
"We can help you control this Annabelle," said Dumbledore kindly.
"What about Sirius?" asked Aunty Em, "his escape will just cause unwanted attention and then there's the Malfoy's – will they be safe?"
"I can guarantee their safeness Emily. If it would make you more comfortable they can go by a different last name?"
"Yes I'd like that." I spluttered out my tea,
"A different last name! No I like being a Black!" I whined.
"Well you shouldn't do" Aunty Em snapped, "being a Black is nothing to be proud of."
"Cassiopeia the Black's do not have the best reputation. It would make your social life much easier if you posed as muggleborns or half-bloods."
"Fine."
"Excellent, I will put together some profiles for the two of you. If you could come to my office at eight on Monday then we can enrol you."
"Ok" said a reluctant Aunty Em, "Thank you for your help Professor."
"Yeah thanks a billion" I said, grinning like a Cheshire cat. I was unbelievably excited for going to Hogwarts; I had been devastated when we decided not to go and although I never complained I felt like I had been cheated out of my chance.
"Right get to bed both of you" yawned Aunty Em, "you must be exhausted."
"As exhausted as a sugar filled two year old" I mumbled, but I went to bed anyway. Despite my hypernes and excitement I went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The next few days were a blur of constant preparation. We went to Diagon Alley and got our robes and school supplies. Thankfully we all ready had wands so we didn't need to go anywhere near that creep Ollivander. I also decided that we would need some new muggle clothing and surprisingly Aunty Em let us run round London madly buying shoes and dresses that we didn't really need – I think she's going soft on me.
On Sunday night I put on my robes and paraded round the house singing the Hogwarts song.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts!" I sang loudly as I danced around the kitchen. Annabelle had decided to opt out of the song; she was still ridiculously nervous. "Teach us something, please."
"Will you shut up" grumbled Aunty Em, sending me into a fit of giggles, "what have you been taking?"
"Nothing" I tittered, "Whether we be old and bald. Or young with-"
"Shut up."
"Fine" I grumbled. Since I had stopped singing, I decided to start drilling Aunty Em with questions,
"So in your opinion what is the best house?"
"Gryffindor."
"Don't you think Gryffindor's are a bit thick?"
"No."
"How many staircases are there?"
"I don't know."
"Tut tut it's one hundred and forty two. What does pumpkin juice taste like?"
"Pumpkins."
"Yes but could you describe the taste?"
"No now will you stop drilling me."
"Fine" I moaned. We sat in stony silence as I tapped my nails annoyingly on the kitchen table. The tapping soon developed into a rhythm, "Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts" I sung-whispered. Aunty Em ignored me, "teach us something, please, Whether we be old and bald. Or young with scabby knees," Aunty Em's hand twitched in annoyance, so I picked up the volume, "Our heads could do with filling With some interesting stuff, For now they're bare and full or air, Dead flies and bits of" I took a deep breath, "fluff" I sang hitting a high note (rather badly).
"Argh you are so annoying!" screamed Aunty Em, "exactly like your brother."
"Did Sirius have the voice of an angel too?" I giggled. She rolled her eyes and pointed to the door,
"Leave me be; your too irritating."
"Irritating?" I scoffed, "jealously isn't becoming Aunty Em."
"Go." I chuckled to myself and skipped out singing.
I was sat on my bed utterly bored when Annabelle came in looking pretty worried,
"Cassie" she said, "I don't know what to wear." I snorted in laughter,
"You're worried about what you're going to wear?"
"Well what are you going to wear?" she asked annoyed.
"Probably just – shit I have no idea" I yelped. Annabelle burst into a fit of giggles, "this is not funny Annabelle what we wear will label us for the rest of our life. If I wear the wrong colour everyone might hate me!"
"Slight overreaction."
"You won't be saying that I'm labelled bag lady."
"Why? Were you planning on wearing a bin bag?" I waved her off and threw open my wardrobe throwing clothes on the floor. "Haven't you packed yet?" asked Annabelle. I ignored her and picked up some black ankle boots with killer heels,
"These" I smiled, I picked up my cropped black leather jacket "this and..." I found a nice white top and some dark blue skinny jeans, "these." I smiled triumphantly.
"Right if you're wearing jeans I'll wear a dress" she said thoughtfully, "with my denim jacket?"
"Yeah" I agreed, "that will look nice. Wear some black tights and your black heels."
"Kay" she smiled, "you don't think we're going a bit OTT with heels?"
"No. We need to get up the pecking order quick. I can't deal with being unpopular."
"Honestly Cassie you're going to be popular." I scoffed,
"You do realise we will be complete dunces. We've hardly learnt any magic."
"Shit" she said, her eyes widening, "we're wearing heels." I laughed.
"Right I suppose I better pack" I sighed, "are we seriously supposed to get everything in that one trunk?"
"Yeah I've done an expansion charm on it."
"Oh wicked will you do it on mine? I can't do it." Annabelle nodded and went to get her wand. Despite very little home schooling Annabelle excelled in Charms, I sucked at it but got some condolence that I found Transfiguration easy where as she struggled at it.
After Annabelle charmed my trunk she helped me pack and then we sat cross legged with hot chocolate on my bed chatting.
"Do you think wizards will be hot?" I asked taking a sip.
"I hope so" giggled Annabelle, "I've had enough of muggle boys for a lifetime."
"Hear hear" I laughed toasting with my hot chocolate.
"Which house do you reckon we'll be in?"
"Hmm" I pondered, "I reckon I'll be in Slytherin and you in Gryffindor."
"Why do you think you'd be in Slytherin?"
"I'm sly" I shrugged, "plus I don't think I'm brave enough to be in Gryffindor. I'm not smart enough to be in Ravenclaw and I'm not nice enough to be in Hufflepuff."
"Don't be silly, I think you'll be in Gryffindor."
"I just hope we're in the same house," I whispered, voicing both our fear. Annabelle nodded soberly and gave me a hug. There was a knock at my door and Aunty Em came in with a leather-bound book,
"I thought you might want to see some photos" she said smiling.
We all sat around as she flipped open the first page. There was a picture of a pretty brunette hugging a pretty red hair girl.
"Wow you were dead pretty" I breathed looking at the brunette, "who's that?"
"Lily Evans. She was in the year above me but she was my best friend," she said wistfully, before turning the page, "Sirius" she said emotionlessly. It was a picture of Aunty Em with her arms around my brother's neck. He looked so happy – so not murderous. And so it went on, Halloween dance, Christmas, Hogsmede visits. Sirius only came up in another two photographs, one taken in the snow and one taken by a big tree but he seemed to lift the picture; his smile and laugh were infectious. In spite of having been told about the horrible things Sirius did I still thought wistfully of him as the older brother slash father figure I never had. I refused to see him as a murderer. But then again I've never seen Regulus as a death eater either. My earliest memory is of Regulus and he was the light in my life; he was kind and loving – so unlike my parents. I know that he was essentially good.
As we looked through the pictures I felt sad that had not experienced Hogwarts from first year but I was overwhelmingly happy that I would, at least, be able to go now.
Aunty Em finally announced that it was time to bed and I fell asleep with wondrous thoughts of Hogwarts.