Chapter i^12. Or 6 if you have no poetry and/or vector calculus in your soul.
In which someone is up to no good whatsoever. For very good misguided reasons.
LARGE time skip… or negative depending on your point of view, I suppose.
Harry was on the way back from a pretty good fifth year charms class with Hermione, when a girl appeared in the corridor. Not, by stepping out of a room, or up a staircase, but just… like she'd stepped out of slit in a big invisibility cloak. There was a small shower of glowing bluish motes that fell off her, and she looked around, through glasses. Harry envied her glasses immediately, they looked quite stylish and suited the shape of her face. Which was, for a girl about his age, quite long, and she looked, apart from the glasses like one of those pure-blood girls with horses and stuff. She was wearing robes that looked a lot like Hogwarts robes, and boots like those pure-blood witches wore too. She stumbled a little, stood up, seemed to pull herself upwards, looking more grown up suddenly, and patted her slightly wavy blonde hair into place.
"Hello" she said in a posh accent "I'm Cassiopeia Black. Are you Harry Potter? The Harry Potter?" she asked, staring at him. Her green eyes were a bit disconcerting, as Harry hadn't met anyone alive with green eyes before. Surely people would have told him if his looked weird? At least she didn't look like family.
"Um," said Harry, ever eloquent.
"He's Harry Potter, I'm Hermione Granger, and you're a Black. I've never heard of you, and you just appeared? You can't apparate at Hogwarts, it's in Hogwarts, a history." said Hermione, sounding a bit cross. Harry suspected because she'd just apparated at Hogwarts, and Hermione's favourite book had been contradicted.
Cassiopeia Black turned her head sharply and looked at Hermione, and smiled "Delighted to meet you, Miss Granger" she said "I um... used a jumper from… from Beauxbatons. We go to Beauxbatons, and I'm here to see if we'd like it, to transfer next year" said the strange girl.
"A Jumper" said Hermione "Like a portkey?"
"Only different" said Cassiopeia Black quickly.
"You said 'we'" said Harry.
"Well, my Brother Altair and I" said Cassiopeia Black. "We're twins."
"Are you related to Sirius Black?" asked Harry, in as artificially diffident tone as he could manage.
"He's… an uncle, I think. Or Great uncle?" said Cassiopeia Black, frowning slightly. "I'm not sure. I've never met him."
"Because he's a wanted criminal on the run" said Hermione. "Busy in history of magic class, were you?" she asked shrewishly.
Harry sighed. This pure-blood … bint was getting Hermiones' back up, with her nearly perfect hair, and… the bunches of confidence she seemed to have. Like she expected to be treated like a princess.
Harry had a good hard look at Cassiopeia Black's face. She had weird eyes, they tilted at the ends like she was part something not English. 'She's a Black that goes to school in France, you idiot' thought Harry to himself. That pretty much explained it, really.
"Why here… why not come by portkey?" asked Hermione "Why use a jumper?"
"To um… to um… fit it into our schedule. OWL year after all, and Mummy would be very cross if I got poor marks. Daddy would probably drag out one of his 'I'm so disappointed in you rants'" said Cassiopeia. "He's amazing, but he can be so judgemental."
Hermione huffed. "Well, you've met us anyway." she said.
At that point Ron finally caught them up. He'd had a mysterious conversation with Seamus that Harry tried not to think about too hard.
"Harry, who's this?" asked Ron, looking at the posh-looking student.
"Cassiopeia Black" said Hermione "Cassiopeia, this is Ron Weasley, our friend."
"Ron Weasley" squeaked Cassiopeia Black, shrinking to school-girl proportions suddenly "THE Ron Weasley, Harry Potters best friend?"
"Yeah," said Ron, "wot, Am I famous or something?"
"At Beauxbatons" said Cassiopeia hurriedly, in a tone Harry just knew was a lie. "The, the… returning students for fourth year mentioned you. Mentioned all three of you actually" said Cassiopeia, hurriedly "Of course, everyone has heard of Harry Potter."
"That wasn't me, I was a baby" said Harry automatically. He glanced over at Ron, who was looking half-confounded. Harry supposed this was Ron's first brush with being famous.
"I Know That!" said Cassiopeia sharply. "But you won the Tri-Wizard tournament when you were fourteen, and killed a basilisk when you were twelve. You're probably the greatest hero of your lifetime."
The way she said, it, proudly, yet like it was like saying the sky was blue on a sunny day, had Harry feeling very odd. He'd never considered that his disastrous adventures were considered amazing by others. "Erm" said Harry "Those sound great said like that, but… when I did it, it was just terror, and luck and … "
"He's just bloody modest," said Ron, "He is also the youngest seeker in a century."
"I know that" said Cassiopeia Black bitterly "Mother has pointed that out when I didn't want to go to quidditch practice. She's so finicky about cobbing."
Hermione snorted. And Ron tipped his head sideways.
"And my stupid brother is always flying, trying to suck up" continued Cassiopeia, ignoring Harry, Hermione and Ron for a moment.
"Harry, French witches use you as an example to make their children practice quidditch. That's fame" said Ron, and snorted. "I'm telling the twins. You'll Never live this down."
Harry decided that he needed to scuffle with Ron immediately. He grabbed Ron by the shoulders and the two teenage boys tugged and pushed at one another, Harry trying to mess up Ron's hair, Ron getting Harry with tickles, that had Harry leaping away and looking odd, like he'd had a shock.
"Ronald!" said Hermione "You can't just tickle Harry. You know that!"
Cassiopeia Black seemed oddly disconcerted by this conversation. She stared and gaped.
"Well, if you jumpered in here, you probably don't know where anything is" said Hermione "We should take her to a teacher."
"Don't" said Cassiopeia Black suddenly, "I'm … I'm not supposed to have used it."
"Bloody hell. You came all the way to Hogwarts, without permission" asked Ron. "You're worse than us. And that's saying something."
"Whatever you say Mr Weasley," said Cassiopeia Black politely.
"Well, we can show you the library anyway," said Hermione, and Cassiopeia Black sorted "The Library?" she asked "Isn't that where you met Viktor Krum, international Quidditch superstar?"
Hermione went bright red on both cheeks.
"She practically lives there," said Harry, enjoying Hermione's embarrassment.
"I do not!" said Hermione huffily, "It's the premier school library in Europe. Even the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students found it better than their own schools."
Hermione then switched to French and said "And I'd thank you not to make fun of me, Miss Black"
Cassiopeia went pink and snorted "Gosh you have a really weird accent" she said. "Mummy always said not to speak French to you."
Hermione's eyebrows formed a massive brown vee, "And How does your mother know me, Miss Black? As I'm sure I Don't know her!"
"She ...she…. isn't called Black right now," said Cassiopeia Black, "Not that mummy and daddy are divorced, far from it. Daddy's devoted to her. It's a bit sickening sometimes."
Hermione paused "Your family… pure-bloods and your parents are … nice to each other?"
Cassiopeia pulled herself back up and said haughtily "My Father is a Half-blood and my mother a Pure-blood heiress. Though mummy says Daddy's not really a half-blood. His mum, grandmama wasn't a muggle-born. Mummy says... says muggleborns are all the offspring of squibs anyway."
"A half-blood Black?" asked Ron "Wow," he exclaimed, "they're a bit more liberal over in France."
"Well, Mummy and Daddy apparently had a difficult start. But that's all in the past. Except for Valentine's Day, or if great-uncle Gerald's being an arse." said Cassiopeia "Um.. Harry Potter?"
"Are you a Harry Potter fangirl?" asked Ron "Cos he's actually a moody specky git."
Cassiopeia Black's mouth pursed shut like a handbag "Specky Git?" she said. "Quite." she said tightly.
"Ron" said Hermione "Miss Black wears glasses too, maybe be a little more polite."
"But her Glasses are great, they set off her eyes." said Ron, and Hermione gave Ron a glare that had Harry wincing. He anticipated Ron would get a haranguing once this posh girl from Beauxbatons left.
"So... what did you want to see?" asked Hermione, tightly.
"Harry Potter and … well, to see the famous three Gryffindors, and go see Slytherin dorms. I just know I'd be sorted there." said Cassiopeia.
"Slytherin?" asked Ron, "You don't want to go play with all the blood purity fanatics?"
"I'm sure it won't be like that for me" said Cassiopeia dismissively.
"Are you like, trying to come to Hogwarts to date Harry?" asked Ron tactlessly.
"Ew no, that'd be gross," said Cassiopeia, and she paused, mouth open, then continued "He's family. Related thorough the Blacks. Sirius is adopting you, isn't he?"
Hermione started casting silencing spells on the hallway "Boys, get her into a classroom. She can't talk about this stuff in public." Harry and Ron started trying to herd Cassiopeia, but she strode off.
Cassiopeia went into the nearest room and sat on a desk, back straight, and put her hands on her crossed knees.
Hermione came in last, casting a spell, muttering the words.
"What are you doing Hermione" asked Ron.
"Privacy charms" said Hermione, and Cassiopeia nodded, "Obviously."
"Obviously?" asked Harry.
"I have, many siblings," said Cassiopeia. "And the quints are a pack of bloody snoops."
"I'm from a big family Too," said Ron, and Hermione glared at him.
"Quints?" asked Hermione
"Quintuplets. Mummy had Daddy sterilised immediately after that." said Cassiopeia drily. Then for some reason, she snorted. Harry wondered if being posh didn't necessarily mean not having a sense of humour.
"Five all at once!" said Hermione, looking uncomfortable.
"Sirius did mention that I could live with him next summer, yeah" admitted Harry, trying not to think about that, "How do you know?" he asked.
"Daddy told me," said Cassiopeia, "We're Blacks. Sirius Black's the head of Black adopting the new Heir. It's a big deal actually. He has to, or Draco Malfoy could inherit being the head of Black. And that is intolerable."
"Yeah Malfoy's an arse" said Ron. "Waitaminute… you know of Draco Malfoy?"
"Only that he is a waste of oxygen," said Cassiopeia, "People came back from the Tri-Wizard."
Ron smiled slightly, and Hermione had a really smug grin.
"Sirius is going to adopt me?" asked Harry in a quiet croak, wishing he'd sat down. His knees felt wobbly. It really was going to happen.
"Yes." said Cassiopeia Black.
"So we'll be related," said Harry. Cassiopeia nodded mutely. "So's Ron Weasley, because of Cedrilla Black marrying the Weasleys."
"Blacks in my family," said Ron dismissively "But they're dark."
"We're not," said Cassiopeia, "Daddy's got black hair, I suppose. That's as close as we get. Well, and some of my brothers, and sisters obviously."
Hermione looked a bit like she wanted to laugh, the ends of her mouth twitching. Harry wondered if Cassiopeia Black hadn't intentionally misunderstood to make a joke.
"So… you wanted to meet me to tell me that?" asked Harry in a small voice.
"Well, yes. And you are pretty damn famous," said Cassiopeia. "And to ask about one of my … relatives."
"Your other relatives?" asked Ron.
"Er yes," said the girl, "Daphne Greengrass? Do you know her?"
Harry furrowed his brows. "Don't think so?" he said, and Hermione huffed.
"Harry! She's been in potions with us for five years. The quiet blonde in our year in Slytherin." said Hermione. For some reason that had Cassiopeia Black looking at Hermione for a moment with her eyebrows raised.
"Sorry," said Hermione, shaking her head, "They've both got no idea about anyone they don't play quidditch with."
"Greengrass is the stuck up blonde right?" asked Ron tactlessly.
"She is NOT stuck up!" said Cassiopeia stiffly "Like you, she's in the Sacred twenty-eight and unlike you, expected to take over the family business one day. She's the most clever and beautiful member of my family by far."
"You look like her," said Hermione bluntly.
"Oh please, I'm a pale imitation," said Cassiopeia, "Thanks to Daddy, I'm quite powerful, but Daphne Greengrass is the clever one."
Ron stared at the girl oddly, "What are you doing?" he asked.
"Greengrass, you can cancel the eye-colour charm, or is it on the glasses?" asked Hermione.
Cassiopeia turned and stared at Hermione "Oh really?" she said and took off her glasses "Now I can only see blurs, thanks to Daddy's bad eyesight, but as you can see, I have green eyes. Daphne has the beautiful blue eyes."
Harry cleared his throat, "We'll just dispel any charms on you now" he said "Just to be sure"
"You can't" said Cassiopeia hurriedly "I can't be without the haircare charm I just can't."
Ron snorted "She's the anti-Hermione" he said. Hermione glared at Ron again. Harry suspected Ron would be getting a bollocking when Cassiopeia Black left. Or if he was unlucky, need to visit Madam Pomfrey.
Harry lifted his wand and the girl tensed, and Harry cast a dispelling charm. Cassiopeia's hair turned from blonde to light brown.
Hermione gasped, "You colour your hair?" she said in one breath.
"Mummy won't let me use bleach, bloody hypocrite," said Cassiopeia. "I have to cast it weekly, every year, once I'm on the train to school."
"Your um… hair is a perfectly nice colour," said Harry awkwardly, "You don't need to charm it blonde."
Cassiopeia sniffled, drew her wand and a small mirror and painstakingly charmed her hair, one hank at a time back to blonde.
"Um… sorry about that," said Harry "It's just… strange things happen, and you do seem a bit suspicious."
"Look, I can prove this… come with me to see Daphne Greengrass," said Cassiopeia. "Only, I don't know where she is. Give me a moment."
With that, Cassiopeia rummaged in her robe pocket, her arm disappearing ludicrously deeply, 'It coudn't possibly be that deep, could it?', wondered Harry. Her hand came out holding a tatty bit of parchment, which she laid on a desk and tapped with her wand, muttering something. As the tatty parchment turned into a marauders map, Ron exclaimed "Another one!"
"I'm a Black," said Cassiopeia offhandedly. "She's in the Slytherin fifth year girls dorms." she said and deactivated it, and pocketed it.
"You just… have another Marauders map?" asked Hermione.
"It's a family magics matter, Miss Granger. The family magics act applies." said Cassiopeia, only sounding a little unsure of herself.
"Oh that's a thing," said Ron "Family magics are sort of protected secrets. You can't ask about them, not even Aurors can without cause."
"Have you got any?" Hermione asked Ron.
"We've got some yeah." said Ron "I'm not Bill, and I don't fancy being an apple farmer, so I'm not learning them."
Harry glanced at Ron and saw his face looking tight around his eyes. "Hermione, let it go. Ron doesn't want to say. We're just nobodies, we don't have secrets like that."
"Harry Potter has many family magic secrets," said Cassiopeia, "The Potter's are actually quite mysterious if you look them up."
"I don't know any of them, so that's a load of tosh, isn't it," said Harry, "Come on, let's go barge into the Slytherin common room with a visitor. That couldn't go badly at all."
"Harry!" said Hermione "You can't tell those kind of jokes, she doesn't know your kind of humour."
Hermione apologised to Cassiopeia, "Harry can get a bit snarky sometimes," she said.
"Only when he's awake" muttered Ron.
"We'll just take her down there and wait, undetected" said Harry.
"You have to see Daphne and I, at the same time" said Cassiopeia "I'm not her, she's much prettier."
"Ron Hermione, looks like it's time for an adventure. I'll go invisible." said Harry.
"Into the girls Dorms!" said Cassiopeia "No you won't. Not till I'm sure nobody's getting changed!"
"Pity" said Ron "That could have worked, and some of them are quite fit."
"Ron!" said Hermione angrily, jabbing Ron with her index finger, "You can't call girls fit!"
"Hermione, you're fit. There's no harm in calling girls out on being fit too." said Ron.
Hermione blushed, and turned away.
"While watching their courtship is ever so informative and humiliating for them, can we get moving?" asked Cassiopeia rather snarkily. Harry eyed Black – even if she thought she was going to be in Slytherin, she was sort-of funny in a stuck-up way.
"I mean, Black she's quite fit too." said Ron. Harry winced. Hermione was almost certainly sending him to Madam Pomfrey later.
"Ew," said Cassiopeia.
"See Ron, girls don't like it" said Hermione.
Harry rolled his eyes "come on you two, you can yell at each other later." said Harry. As peacemaking attempts went, thought Harry, it was a bit ad-hoc but Hermione bottled up her rant for later. Ron was probably going to get hexes and a rant. Ninety percent odds of Madam Pomfrey.