I was picked up for the Malfoy's party by two Aurors who were to escort me to my home where I would get ready and then Mommy and Daddy would take me to the party. I was very excited to see them, it had only been a few weeks, but I have never gone so long without them. They have been so busy moving in and getting set up at work that they could barely even owl me. But at least for awhile tonight Mommy would fuss over me and Daddy would slip me chocolates and things would be normal.
Of course normal meant be cross examined by my mother the MACUSA lawyer and Daddy the ambassador about how my first weeks of school went.
I told her all about Daphne Greengrass and how her sister would be going to school there in a couple years. And that we were both really excited about learning to fly better, except Daphne doesn't want to play Quidditch she wants to make mascots for the Slytherin team like the Bulgarians have their veela's. Daphne is pretty enough to be a veela.
I told them all about Blaise and Theo and Draco too. They asked some questions about Blaise and Theo and their family, but then they zoomed right in on Draco like they were looking for the pot to drop the quod in before the two minute timer was up.
( news/2012/01/quadpot-beta-rules).
"How did you enjoy your shopping trip with Narcissa Malfoy?" My mother asked finally. This translated as "Did you do anything so embarrassing we will have to fake our deaths and move to Siberia?"
"It was sure different from shopping with Maria." I said happily. "Lady Malfoy really enjoys shopping and she made sure every detail was exactly the way it is supposed to be. We didn't just grab the first thing and leave!"
My father frowned "Yes, I got an interesting owl."
I put my head down "I am sorry Daddy, I didn't mean to complain. I know how busy Maria is and I should have been grateful."
Daddy got right down to my level and lifted my chin up with his hand "Cassandra Elsbeth Taylor, you listen to me. Maria was my assistant. I pay her to do the best job she is capable of doing with the tasks I assign her. She did not do that with you, and made you feel like it was your fault. That is unacceptable."
I swallowed hard "Was your assistant?"
"Yes Cassandra, if I cannot trust her with important tasks like taking care of your needs, how can I trust she will take care of my visiting dignitaries?"
I nodded, that made sense. Daddy liked to spoil me, but when he gave me a job to do, like get good grades or do a chore, he expected me to do my very best and he didn't accept excuses.
Giving me a quick hug and a kiss on my head he turned to my mother with his tie in hand. She laughed and proclaimed him the most incompetent man at the most silly of tasks, for all of his political brilliance.
But this did not deter my mother "Cassandra? Your trip with Narcissa?"
"Oh, it was very nice Mommy, but they sure are odd about some things here, aren't they?" I commented with a frown.
"Cassie, eat what is put in front of you. There is every chance you will find a new food you like." I was confused at first with what she was saying.
"Oh no, Mommy, I meant their thoughts on being pureblood." Mommy and daddy both froze the same way Draco and his mother had.
"What do you mean, Cassie?" asked Daddy.
"Well, I don't understand, how could someone be a mudblood or halfblood?" My parents both gasped in outrage.
"Cassandra, never use that word again! We do NOT call them mud ANYTHING, they are muggleborn. That would be very bad for your Daddy's career for you to say that word." I didn't want to be the one to tell her that pretty much everyone in Slytherin used it. I didn't know it was a bad word until I saw how they reacted. Maybe it means something else here?
"Yes Mommy. I didn't know it was bad." She nodded.
"But still, how can they have no-maj parents? Isn't it illegal to marry no-maj?" I was eleven children outside of marriage hadn't really occurred to me yet. Even my friend Hannah who had two Mommies had two married Mommies!
"Cassandra…" Daddy started "this is a very different place. It is not illegal here. And not everyone frowns on it, but some do."
"What about the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy?" As a child in a political and legal home I may not know a lot about how babies come to be, but I heard a lot more about international law!
"They enforce it differently here." Mommy explained.
"But I am glad you enjoyed your trip, the Malfoys are a very important family. We want you to be friends with Draco, but if he or his family says anything that makes you feel… uncomfortable about people who are different, come and speak to us and we will make sure you have the facts."
I nodded. I wasn't really uncomfortable just terribly confused.
Mommy helped me get ready and made my hair into soft waves. The dress in person was even better than it had been at the shop. Of course at the shop it was just a bit of material and a charmed image. It really was as soft as I remembered. I felt like a princess.
While she was helping me get ready I knew now was as good a time as any to bring out the rampaging hordes of trolls ready to storm the Hogwarts Castle at a moment's notice. And if someone wasn't actually leaving the door open for them then they weren't watching the doors they had left open for Merlin knows what else!
I started out by reminding her about what Michael said about all of the terrifying creatures that could be found wandering the forest outside of Hogwarts. With a laugh she asked "Now, aren't you glad that Michael doesn't know everything?"
"Yeah, except for the part where a full grown mountain troll actually got in to the castle and almost killed three first year students." ZING! Now something would get done.
She laughed again "Now Cassandra…" except looking in to my eyes she could tell I was serious "Wait… really? CHRISTOPHER!"
Daddy came in at a run "Cassandra just told me that an actual troll got in to the school and we were not informed!"
Daddy pulled at his shirt sleeves and looked uncomfortable "You knew!" Mommy was not happy.
"Now Ellie…." Daddy definitely had known. And no one was fired? I mimicked my mother's stance with my arms across my chest. The 'I'm very disappointed in you Christopher Taylor' stance.
"Don't you 'now Ellie' me. Our child could have been seriously injured or killed. Take. Care. Of. This." That was her final word on the subject. We floo'd to the Malfoy estate immediately after.
I was amazed when we arrived at Draco's home. I thought our place was huge. And it is, but this is a whole new level of huge. It looked less like a home than a small castle. It even had places where it looked like someone should be shooting arrows or pouring boiling oil on us!
Draco was in the receiving line. I knew my duty. Greet my hosts, don't fidget, be polite. Smile in all the right places and then blend in wherever my parents were.
But no one ever really talked to me before, I was just ornamentation. Until Lady Malfoy, who made a point of asking about school and my week and just chatting the way she was doing with all of the important people. When I looked up at Lord Malfoy I almost gasped. He was so tall and his eyes were almost as pretty as Draco's. He acted normal. Good evening, shuffle along. Draco did the same, except he whispered he'd meet me by the punch bowl when the receiving line was done.
As good as his word in about an hour, Draco met up with me. Well… us really, since Theo and Blaise were also here. Mommy and Daddy allowed me to go off with them as soon as I introduced them. They were on their best behavior with the adults which was completely out of character for these two jokers, but it got me out of a boring conversation about the legality and safety regulations of shipping mandragora across the ocean. Boring!
Theo had just finished telling us a joke about why witches don't wear knickers (to get a better grip on their brooms) that we were all groaning over when Draco finally managed to escape.
"Theo if my mother hears you telling that joke she will have your head." Draco laughed coming to stand next to me.
"Now Draco," I said, "we have all seen Theo's head. Lady Malfoy can do much better."
Theo pouted while we all laughed.
My parents and the Malfoys arrived at that moment smiling down at us. Daddy came over to wrap an arm around my shoulder making me squinch up and smile at him. Daddy always makes time to make certain I am not too bored. Mommy mostly just makes sure I am not getting in to trouble. I always wondered how they decided who got which duties. When I get married I want to be the one who slips chocolates in the pockets and my husband can be the one who has to remind the kids to do their homework!
"How is my second best girl doing?" Daddy asked. Mommy gets to be first best, but I get to be best daughter, so it works out.
"Good Daddy, we are just chatting quietly, not letting wild animals in to the house or anything." Daddy and I shared a laugh while Mommy glared at both of us.
"Now that sounds like a story waiting to be told." Draco smiled at me.
"And we will leave you to it, son." Lord Malfoy said looking at him… I really don't know how, more like he was an employee than a son "I do believe you had requested flying time on our Quidditch pitch?"
"Yes, Father," Draco replied very stiffly "If we may have your permission to take our leave?"
"You may do so." He seemed to dismiss us after this.
Daddy squeezed my shoulders "Alright butterfly, go have fun with your young man and we will have you summoned for dinner."
My young man? That was an odd way to describe… wait… who did he mean? There were three boys with me? "My… who Daddy?"
Draco shook his head at me like I was being silly and grabbed my hand, "Come on Cass, let's go." The weird smiles on the faces of both of our parents was starting to creep me out big time.
Draco pulled me out with the three of them towards the side yard. Their Quidditch pitch was HUGE! It might even have been regulation size, except I really didn't know what that would be.
We spent the next couple of hours flying around. At first Draco had me ride with him so I could get a feel for when and how to turn and when to dive. Afterwards he watched me practice what he had shown me and then told me with my instincts I would make a great beater.
We practiced until we were summoned for the dinner where I was seated next to Draco with some strange girl who only spoke Dutch on my other side. Fortunately for her I was taught Dutch and French by two nannies. I felt bad for her, she looked so lost, so I spent my time between both her and Draco making certain no one felt left out.
Later there was dancing. I danced with Daddy, Draco Blaise and Theo. Draco was the best.
From the looks my mother and Lady Malfoy were giving me I knew I had passed yet another test. I looked at Draco and I knew he was thinking the same thing.
Just what was going on?
I was not to find out the answer to that question for several years.