"Are you ready?" Draco asked. He had come to the conclusion that he was the only one in the family in any shape to lead Cassie's departure. If he didn't take charge, odds are Narsissa would claim Cassie for another year.
"Yes." Cassie whispered, biting her lip. She was shaking, nerves no doubt, but he recognized the determined Malfoy glint in her eyes. The Malfoy's were cowards, everyone knew that, but they were blooming determined cowards, that's for sure.
"Please be careful, darling!" Narsissa bawled, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Don't hesitate to come home if you need to! Dumbledore will understand."
Lucius simply bid his daughter goodbye, shook his son's hand, and disapperated, probably to meet with the Dark Lord. That's all he ever did these days.
"I will Mother." Cassie nodded. "I love you."
"Write me when you get into Slytherin!" Narsissa demanded. "Draco, darling, take good care of your sister. And keep up your studies. And do be careful in Quidditch, I don't want you getting injured."
"Of course, Mother." Draco rolled his eyes. He debated on whether he should go first so he could catch Cassie on the other side, or if he should make her go first just to make sure Narsissa would let her go. He finally decided to go first, that way Cassie wouldn't be so scared ending up all alone in Dumbledore's office. "I'm going now, Cass. If you're not through in two minutes I'll come back for you, yeah?"
"Alright." Cassie nodded, steeling herself. She trembled with nervous anticipation as her brother disappeared through the green flames. "My turn. I love you Mother! I'll see you at Christmas!"
Narsissa, who was too busy crying to answer, just waved.
Cassie stepped up to the fireplace and threw in a pinch of floo powder, watching as the flames once again turned the brilliant shade of green that ruled her life. "Albus Dumbledore's office." She declared, and stepped into the fire.
"Ah, there you are." An old man declared, blue eyes twinkling kindly behind his spectacles. "Cassiopeia Malfoy, I presume?" Cassie looked around for her brother, moving to stand by his side. "Ah, yes, no one could doubt the family resemblance."
"We're twins." Draco scoffed. "Of course we look alike."
"Not all twins do, Mr Malfoy. Miss Malfoy, the Sorting Ceremony is just about over with. They'll sort you after all the first years. You might as well get down there. I suppose I ought to be there too." the old man added as an afterthought.
"You didn't have to wait for us, sir." Cassie pursed her lips. "We didn't even know you'd be here."
"Oh, I'm never too fond of Sorting Ceremonies anyway." Dumbledore chuckled, winking at the girl. "Too many names, too difficult to keep up with. Come along then, don't want to keep everyone waiting."
"You'll be fine." Draco reassured her as they walked down the corridor to the Great Hall, following Dumbledore. "Just remember you're a Malfoy, and maybe threaten the stupid hat if it tries to put you anywhere else. Pansy said she'd save you a seat. Good luck!"
Cassie watched as Draco walked away from her, taking his seat at the Slytherin table. The gang looked up, Pansy and Theo waving at her. Blaise caught her eye and gave her a curt nod, and Crabbe and Goyle stared blankly at her. She glanced at the empty seat next to Pansy, just hoping to vacate it.
"The Hat isn't going to hurt you, Miss Malfoy, contrary to what your brother may have told you." Dumbledore chuckled, and Cassie looked up at him.
"Oh, no sir. He didn't say anything of the sort. I just… I really need to get into Slytherin, or I might get disowned or worse, sir, and I'm afraid I might not."
"Hmm, no, you're right." Dumbledore declared, looking down his spectacles at the girl in front of him. "I'm afraid you respect me too much to fit in with the Slytherins." Cassie giggled, just a tad, and the old man smiled kindly at her. "The Hat will put you where you belong, Miss Malfoy. Wherever you are placed, you will prosper."
"And this year, we have one transfer student." McGonagall called out, and Dumbledore nudged her gently.
"I believe that's your cue." He whispered, and Cassie nodded, bravely entering the Great Hall.
"Thank you, sir." She replied, waiting at the front of the Hall. She hadn't expected Hogwarts to have so many… people. Students ogled her left and right, and she shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, just wanting to take the place next to Pansy already.
"Malfoy, Cassiopeia" McGonagall read off the parchment, and Cassie stepped forward to gasps from all around. There was another Malfoy? When did that happen? How did no one know Draco had a sister? Because she spent her whole life locked up her room, she answered silently, sounding bitter even inside her head. She stepped up to the stool that the first years had all vacated, and McGonagall placed the Hat on her head.
Ah, very clever I see.
And cunning! Cassie thought back quickly. And ambitious to boot.
I can see which House you want to be in, the Hat chuckled.
I'm a Malfoy. That's where I belong.
But would you really benefit there? I can see you don't want what they want.
What do you know? I hate muggle-born scum! Cassie thought desperately.
Ah, so you say, but something just doesn't seem quite right. You're quite loyal to your family and daring as well. A very courageous girl, aren't you?
Cassie's heart stopped. In all their musings, she and Draco had never come across the idea that she might be a Gryffindor. Brave? Her? As if! Merlin, even Hufflepuff would be better than Gryffindor!
Not Gryffindor, please, not Gryffindor! Aunt Bella would kill me! HE might even kill me! Not Gryffindor, not Gryffindor, please, not Gryffindor!
After that, the Hat debated, leaving her in silence. Her heart pounded and the other students leaned forward to see what he would say.
"Very well then, I suppose it better be… RAVENCLAW!"
Yes! Raven- WHAT? Cassie stood up, her eyes wide with horror. She stared across the room at Draco, whose expression matched her own. Pansy had frozen mid cheer, her jaw dropping open. The rest of Draco's friends just stared at her as McGonagall gently pushed her the way of the Ravenclaw table. She took a seat next to some girl numbly as Draco and them finally sat down.
"Hard to be apart from your brother isn't it?" The girl asked, and Cassie nodded. "I get the feeling. I was separated from my twin too. She's a Gryffindor. I'm Padma, by the way."
"Cassie." Cassie replied. "And I'm supposed to be a Slytherin."
"Not the House you wanted?" Padma grimaced. "Well, Ravenclaw's not that bad. We're the smart ones, you know. Clever, open minded, eccentric, liable to dedicate our lives to studying blast ended skrewts… Well, ok, that last one was a joke."
"I wouldn't mind being in Ravenclaw much. Well, actually, I don't really care either way. It's just my whole family will have a fit. Aunt Bella might actually kill me." Cassie sighed, setting her head in her hands. "They threw me a 'Congratulations on getting into Slytherin' party before I even left."
"Ouch." Padma winced. "You could always not tell them."
"You really think I could hide my House from them?" Cassie asked, arching an eyebrow. Padma laughed.
"Of course you could hide it. Your parents aren't here, are they? If Malfoy won't tell, then you should be fine. They all expect you be a Slytherin anyway, so they're not going to question you."
"Padma, you're brilliant!" Cassie cried, and Padma smirked.
"I am a Ravenclaw, aren't I? You'd better get some food before the feast is over."
"Thanks." Cassie mumbled miserably, piling milder food on her plate and staring at it. "You're being awfully nice about this."
"What, just because I hate your brother? The Hat had to have seen some good in you to have not put you in Slytherin. I've got no reason to hate you too, at least not yet."
"Please don't speak about my brother that way." Cassie demanded, fire in her eyes.
"Got it, sorry." Padma shrugged awkwardly, and two fell into an uncomfortable silence. As dinner finished, Cassie followed Padma out the Great Hall as she promised to show her the common room.
"Cassie!" Pansy cried, catching up to the two. She grabbed Cassie's shoulder pulling her away from Padma. "I need to talk to her, twin. Move along."
"I'm going to show her the common room." Padma defended, eyes narrowing. "You kind of can't do that. Parkinson, since you don't know where it is. I'll wait."
"Whatever, Patil. Anyway, Cass, don't worry about this, ok? Ravenclaw is the second best House you could get into. At least you're not a Hufflepuff." Pansy shuddered. "This doesn't mean anything, ok? We'll still hang out with you. Ravenclaw's not half bad. We'll give you all the Slytherin passwords and soon enough everyone will forget this ever happened."
"Thanks Pans. I'd rather not tell Mother, so if you and the guys could keep quiet about it, I'd be really grateful."
"Oh, yeah, Draco's on the same page. As soon as we sat down he turned to us and said 'If anyone asks, Cassie made it into Slytherin, got it?' Of course we'll keep quiet. Don't want you to be disowned. Us pure-blood girls have to stick together, right?"
"Hurry it up Parkinson." Padma interrupted, glancing around. "We're getting left behind."
"Don't tell me you can't find your way to the common room on your own, Padma. You've only been going here for five years." Pansy scoffed. Padma bristled angrily, and Cassie smoothly interrupted them.
"That's all well and good, but I should probably get going anyway. I'll see you later Pansy? "
"See you soon, count on it!" Pansy called as Padma ushered Cassie away.
"No offense, but why do you hang out with that prat? She's nothing but a bully." Padma asked, looking down at the smaller girl.
"She's the only girl my age I've ever known." Cassie replied truthfully. "And I like her. Pansy's nice."
"To you maybe. She's just trying to get into your brother's trousers." Padma snorted, and Cassie laughed, remembering how she had thought the same thing not so long ago.
"Not exactly." Cassie shrugged. "You weren't raised in our family, I doubt you'd understand."
"My parents are magical too, you know. And I'm not stupid." Padma defended, and Cassie nodded.
"Of course, of course. I only meant you weren't raised as a Malfoy, or one of our close circles. Or if you were, you never came to visit me."
"Visit you?" Padma asked, raising her eyebrows, and Cassie laughed slightly.
"I thought you would have known. Transferring in to Hogwarts in the fifth year can't be too common. I'm ill. It's not contagious." Cassie added quickly, as Padma backed away.
"What have you caught?" Padma asked, and Cassie shook her head.
"The Healers can't figure it out. It's not Spattergroit or Dragon pox or anything like that. I've been sick all my life, and they don't know what's wrong with me." Padma nodded, remaining silent for quite some time.
"I'm sorry. My sister, Paravati, is the outgoing one. She'd know what to say to you, but I don't." She finally stated awkwardly, and Cassie smiled.
"It's ok. I haven't had that much social interaction either, so I can't really judge you. Mostly I just lie in bed and sleep all day."
"Well now I'm jealous!" Padma laughed.
"Don't be. I like it much better here." Cassie replied looking about the castle. "It's all just so… busy! I thought the crowds would make me nervous, but I kind of like it."
"Oh, that's good. It was a bit much for me when I first came here too. Paravati loved it of course, she's like that, but I'm more reserved I suppose, and it scared me. I'm glad I've found you." Padma added as an afterthought. "You and I are pretty similar, I think."
"Padma, what are you doing?" A boy called, making his way back to the two. "You're supposed to be helping me with the first years."
"I'm showing Cassie around. That's part of the job, isn't it? She's kind of like a first year." Padma replied indignantly. "Cassie, this is Anthony Goldstein. He's the other Ravenclaw prefect. Anthony, this is Cassie. She's new."
"Charmed, I'm sure." Anthony replied, holding out his hand. Cassie shook it, pleased that for once someone wasn't worried about contaminating her.
"Cassie just got separated from her twin brother." Padma informed Anthony. "And you remember how I was First Year when Vati and I were split up. So be nice to her, alright?"
"Of course. Wouldn't dream otherwise." Anthony replied, and the large gaggle of Ravenclaws stopped at an ornate door knocker. "Right, well, this is the entrance to the Ravenclaw dormitory." He called out.
"In true Ravenclaw fashion, you have to answer a question to get inside." Padma added. "Oi, First years, listen up!"
"If you don't know it, or can't guess it, you'll just have to wait around until someone else comes along who does." Anthony completed, and knocked on the door. The eagle door knocker opened its beak wide and asked:
What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?
The group of First Years and Cassie were silent, contemplating, until Cassie got the answer. Her eyes lit up, but she remained silent, allowing the First Years to figure it out.
"You've got it Cassie? What do you think?" Padma asked, and Cassie shrugged, stepping forward.
"A river, isn't it?" She asked, and the knocker agreed, swinging open.
"Looks like the Hat made the right choice." Anthony praised, and Cassie nodded with a sigh. Looks like it did.
"Oh, come off it Cassie!" Padma sighed. "So your mum won't be pleased, big deal. Is life worth living if you are constantly vying for the approval of others? Can you not think for yourself?"
"I can think for myself, sure." Cassie sighed. "But I cannot guarantee that I'll come back after Christmas break. I might get disowned, or I might get sent off to Beuxbatons, if Mother is willing to let me go. I don't think she's too likely to, though, with what's coming."
"With what's coming?" Anthony asked, curious. "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, you know, winter. I always get more ill in winter." Cassie covered smoothly. She did NOT want Him to come down on her for spoiling His return….
"Understandable." Padma nodded. "Many people catch ill in winter. It might just be adding to your chronic illness." Cassie agreed, relieved Padma bought it.
"And who's this lovely lady?" A boy asked, joining the two, another boy tailing behind.
"Oh, Michael, Terry, this is Cassie. Cassie, this is Michael Corner and Terry Boot." Padma introduced. Terry nodded at her kindly.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Michael declared, and Cassie bit the inside of her lip. Were all Ravenclaws this formal and… well, weird?
"Much obliged." Cassie replied, remembering her manners. It wasn't like that was all she was taught from age two… oh wait, it was.
"Any rate, Cassie, your parents can't have too much quarrel with you hanging out with us." Padma declared suddenly. "None of us four are muggle born."
"Hang on; you're one of those muggle haters?" Michael asked whirling on her.
"Michael's dating Ginny Weasley, and so he's gotten really into muggle born rights." Padma explained. "Not that Ginny's a muggle born, but she's a sympathizer, so naturally Michael is too."
"And you?" Terry asked quietly. "What do you believe Cassie?"
"I…" Cassie broke off, looking around the room. She didn't have Draco or Pansy or Theo or even Blaise to sweep in and save her this time. "I… don't know. I don't much have an opinion on anything, since I was locked up in my room all my life. But I don't think Pansy and the rest would hate someone without reason."
"They do." Michael declared quickly, and Anthony shoved him hard in the ribs.
"Merlin's beard, Mike, let her form her own opinion without being tainted by extraneous variables!" He cried, and Michael nodded.
"Of course, sorry."
"Pansy happens to be my best friend, thank you very much." Cassie replied, lifting her chin. "And I'm not fond of how you've judged her."
"Well, she can be quite rude." Padma began shyly.
"And I'm sure she has reason for it, if none other than to please her Mother!" Cassie shot back. "Not everything is so black and white you know. It's not always good and evil."
"That's true." Terry nodded thoughtfully. "Sometimes people are pressured into doing things that they don't want to."
"You look familiar." Michael stated, staring at Cassie. "Have I ever met you before?"
"Now that's a line." Snorted Anthony. "You're dating Ginny, remember?"
"No, I just meant that-"
"Of course she looks familiar!" Padma interrupted impatiently. "She'd Malfoy's twin sister!"
The three boys fell silent, staring at Cassie. She shifted from foot to foot awkwardly until Michael finally spoke up.
"Why aren't you in Slytherin then?"
"Merlin, Mike, you can't just ask people why they're not in Slytherin!"
"It's a sensitive subject for Cassie, can't you tell?" Padma frowned. "Leave her alone, Michael!"
"I was just asking." Michael grumbled.
"It's fine." Cassie shook her head. "I've been wondering the same thing myself. Aunt Bellatrix is going to kill me, I know she is-"
"You've said that several times." Padma interrupted. "She's family, isn't she? Surely they'll accept-"
"My second uncle got into Gryffindor and they burned him off the family tapestry." Cassie shook her head. "And quite possibly framed him for murder. It's a serious crime in my household to not be in Slytherin."
"Didn't you tell the Sorting Hat that? He takes your wishes into consideration, you know." Terry stated.
"I managed to talk him out of Gryffindor, but not into Slytherin." Cassie sighed.
"Bummer." Michael shrugged. "But we don't mind that much. Always good to have another Ravenclaw around."
"You'll get through it ok, I know you will." Padma smiled. "Anyway, you'll be staying in my room, along with Lisa, Mandy, and Su. We had to move another bed in, of course, but I figured you'd rather stay with us than three other first years."
"Oh, thank you." Cassie nodded.
"Not a problem. Breakfast is at 7, and we have double DADA first thing in the morning, so I for one am going to bed now. I'm not near as accurate when I'm tired." Padma declared, and Cassie nodded, following her.
"It was nice meeting all of you." She called, following Padma up the stairs.
"The other girls probably aren't in the room yet. You'll likely meet them tomorrow. Get some sleep, Cassie. Goodnight."