A/N: Again, the name-change from Holly to Cassia was because of the too many H names.
The face-claim to Sage Ashcroft is Logan Miller.
Chapter 7: The Potions Master
Cassia woke up and got dressed. There were new ties laid out on her trunk, which were yellow with black stripes. Her robes now bore the yellow badger crest on it.
She followed Lily and Sally-Anne out of the dormitory into the common room. The other Hufflepuffs were gathered around a corkboard display board, so the two went over to them. There was a map of Hogwarts and Cassia looked at it, hoping to at least memorize it.
After that, they headed to the Great Hall. As they walked in the Entrance Hall, a few people stopped and did a double-take.
"I think that's her," a Ravenclaw whispered to her friend. The two Ravenclaws stared at her before heading into the Great Hall.
Sally-Anne and Lily looked at Cassia, who shrugged, before heading in the Great Hall.
Cassia looked over at the Gryffindor table, hoping to spot Harry, but she didn't see him. They sat down at the Hufflepuff tables and Sally-Anne grabbed a box of Pixie Puffs. She poured herself a bowl, Cassia got some porridge, and Lily got some kippers. As they ate, Professor Sprout was passing out timetables. When she handed Cassia the timetable, she grinned widely at her.
When she looked at the others at the table, there were some older Hufflepuffs smiling at her.
"Why are they smiling at me, like that?" Cassia asked.
"You're famous," Sally-Anne said. "So, it's sort of like a big deal. I mean, no one expected the Girl-Who-Lived to end up in Hufflepuff."
"Yeah, and considering the house that rarely gets glory," said Susan from across Cassia. "I mean, it's just because we don't boast, so that's why. We don't show off. We got someone who's famous, so that's why everyone's happy."
"We were expecting you to either get sorted into Gryffindor or say, Slytherin, maybe even Ravenclaw. Just not Hufflepuff," Hannah said.
"Oh," replied Cassia. She looked at the Gryffindor table, hoping to spot Harry, but again, he wasn't there.
"You know, I think History of Magic might be interesting. It's taught by a ghost," Sally-Anne said, looking at her timetable.
Lily scoffed, "Transfiguration is where it's all about." They looked at Cassia.
Cassia looked at her timetable, "I think…that either Potions or Herbology sounds fun."
"I guess Herbology doesn't sound too bad," Lily said, running her hand through her hair.
"Yeah," said Sally-Anne, circling her spoon in her bowl of milk.
Transfiguration was the first class of the day. When they left the Great Hall, they got turned around and the Fat Friar was too happy to led them to the classroom.
When they got there, the other three houses were already there. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle snickered when they walked past them.
Cassia sat down in the desk near the wall, away from the Slytherins, who were at the other wall. She looked at the Gryffindors, but Harry and Ron weren't there yet. She wondered where they were at and why didn't they show up.
After a minute, Professor McGonagall walked in and they immediately quieted down.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned," she said at once. "Now take out your quills and parchment, we have a lot to get through." She turned around and started writing on the board.
Cassia and Sally-Anne looked at each other, both momentarily stricken, before pulling out quills and parchment. They started writing down the notes that Professor McGonagall wrote down on the board.
After they finished, Professor McGonagall was going to start speaking, but there were thumping sounds outside of the classroom and Cassia knew that it was Harry and Ron, because she didn't know who else it would've been.
The two boys burst through the doors.
"Phew, we made it!" said Ron. "Can you imagine the look on ol' McGonagall's face if we were late?"
Professor McGonagall turned to look at them, who seemed to notice her. She turned her desk into a pig and back again.
Ron gaped at that, "That was bloody brilliant."
"Thank you for that assessment, Mr Weasley," Professor McGonagall said. "Perhaps it might be more useful if I were to Transfigure Mr Potter or yourself into a pocket watch. This way one of you might be one time."
"We got lost," said Harry quickly.
"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats," said Professor McGonagall.
The two sat down in the last remaining desk. Cassia went back to her note taking.
After the notes were completed, McGonagall passed out matchsticks, saying, "You are to turn this matchstick into a needle." She demonstrated with her own wand.
It looked easy enough.
Cassia did the same wand flick that McGonagall had done, but her matchstick stayed the same. Sally-Anne did the same, but her matchstick stayed the same.
At the end of the class, Hermione was the only one to make it pointy and silver. Lily was the second one, having half of the matchstick turn silver with the eye for the needle. Professor McGonagall gave Lily a small smile, but it wasn't the full one that she had given Hermione. Cassia was the third one by giving the matchstick half of the eye. Cassia figured that with a little bit more hard work, she would finally get it.
After class, they headed to Potions. Harry caught up to Cassia.
Cassia turned to look at him, "Where were you?"
"We got lost," Harry said.
"There, look." An older student said, pointing at them as they walked.
"You did?" asked Cassia.
"We were trying to enter the third floor corridor," Harry said.
"The out-of-bounds one?" asked Cassia.
"Which one would it be?" asked Harry.
"Whatever," replied Cassia.
"You know, I was joking about you being in Hufflepuff," said Harry.
"I didn't have much of a choice in the matter," replied Cassia. "Apparently my loyalty and protectiveness towards you was better suited for Hufflepuff."
After Transfiguration, they headed to Charms. Professor Flitwick was a tiny man who had to stand on a pile of books to be able to see over his desk.
When he took the register, he gave an excited squeak when he read Cassia's name and when he got to Harry's name; he fell off of his stack of books.
After he got up, he started lecturing them, who took notes, on how to correctly hold wands, how it's important to pronounce words correctly, and wand movements.
After class, they filed out for to go to the Great Hall for lunch.
"I didn't think that there would be more to magic than waving a wand and saying funny words," Harry said to Cassia.
Cassia nodded, her eyes wide. It was all so fascinating. "I know. It's really different than how Muggles think magic works."
Hundreds of owls suddenly flew in the Great Hall. The owls circled the table, searching for their owners. Hedwig dropped something on Cassia's lap and then circled over to Harry.
Cassia picked up the letter and opened it. In messy handwriting the letter said:
Dear Cassia,
I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three? I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.
Hagrid
"What does it say?" Sally-Anne asked.
"Oh, it's just Hagrid asking me if I want to have tea with him, after school on Friday," Cassia said. She looked around past the Slytherin table to look for the Gryffindor table. She caught Harry's eye and nodded. Harry took a quill from Ron and started writing.
After lunch it was History of Magic.
Sally-Anne was eager for the class, which turned out to be boring, because Professor Binns just droned on in a monotone, while they took notes. Cassia was sure that she messed up on Emeric and Ulric. She wasn't sure if Emeric was evil or if he was the oddball.
After that, it was Potions. They went to the dungeon where Potions was supposed to take place. Harry dragged Cassia into a seat between him and Ron. Sally-Anne and Lily looked confused, but they sat down next to Harry, while Neville and Seamus sat by Ron.
Cassia looked around. There were pickled animals floating in glass jars on shelves all around the walls. It was colder down in the dungeon and Cassia knew that her allergies were going straight to hell.
Snape barged in the dungeon and went straight to the podium. He took the class register, went through the names, but he seemed to stumble on Lily's name, and paused on Cassia's name. In a soft voice, he said, "Ah, yes. Harry Potter. Our new—celebrity."
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Cassia wasn't sure why so far it seemed like her name was overlooked.
He stopped on Cassia's name, "Cassia Potter."
Cassia looked him in the eyes and Snape said, "Our other…celebrity." He tore away from Cassia's gaze and continued to take the names.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," Snape said after he was finished with the register. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids the creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses…I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death—if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Cassia stayed silent and noticed how Hermione Granger was literally sitting on the edge of her seat.
"Potter!" called Snape, looking straight at Harry. Cassia and Harry glanced at each other, before looking at Snape. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Hermione's hand went in the air.
"I don't know, sir," said Harry.
"Tut, tut—fame clearly isn't everything," Snape said, ignoring Hermione's hand.
"Let's try again," Snape said. "Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Hermione stretched her hand higher.
"I don't know, sir," said Harry. Cassia was shrinking down in her seat, a little uncomfortable, and growing angry.
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" said Snape.
"He read it," snapped Cassia. "Do you honestly expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi?"
Snape looked at Cassia and seemed to narrow his eyes. "Since you're so eager to defend your brother, how about you tell me what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Cassia was thrown off by the same question Harry had gotten. She frowned, "You get a sleeping potion, but it's powerful enough to be known as the Draught of Living Death."
Snape seemed to narrow his eyes. He asked, "Where would you look to get a bezoar?"
Cassia glanced at Hermione, who was raising her hand, stretching it.
Cassia looked at Snape, "In the stomach of a goat."
"And what is its use?" asked Snape.
"It can save you from most poisons," Cassia said.
"And, tell me, Miss Potter, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Snape asked.
Cassia noticed how Hermione was standing on her seat. She looked at Snape, "They're the same plant."
"And what is their other name?" asked Snape.
"Aconite," said Cassia.
Snape scowled and looked at the class. "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. "And two points will be taken from Gryffindor house for your inability to answer questions for yourself." He looked at Cassia, "And one point from Hufflepuff House for speaking without raising your hand."
Snape put them in pairs so Ron and Cassia were paired up while Harry worked with Lily. While Cassia had pulled her hair back, Snape told them that they had to make a simple potion to cure boils.
Cassia had Ron stew the horned slugs, while she weighed the dried nettles and crushed snake fangs. She kept wiping her nose on her robes, trying to be discreet about it.
"Get your sleeve away from the fire, foolish girl," Snape snapped, pulling Cassia's arm back.
"S-sorry, sir," Cassia stuttered in embarrassment as she sniffled. Great, now it probably looked like she was crying because she got told off.
Snape continued on and Ron looked at Cassia, who shrugged.
"Don't put your face so close to the cauldron," Snape snarled to Sage Ashcroft. "Have any of your sisters tell you that?"
"They have better things to do than hang out with me," Sage replied.
"I'll tell Eden to have a talk with you," Snape said and walked away.
"Eden?" whispered Cassia, confused.
"I think Fred and George said that a set of triplets entered Hogwarts last term," Ron whispered. "One went to Slytherin, the other went to Ravenclaw, and one's in Gryffindor. I think her name's Fable. Watch your sleeve."
Cassia stopped stirring and pulled her sleeves up to her elbows. She got back to work and ignored how Snape kept praising Malfoy and how he seemed to criticize everyone else.
"Stir it gently," Snape snapped at Cassia. Cassia looked at him and stirred the potion more gently.
Acid green smoke and a loud hissing suddenly filled the dungeon. Cassia covered her nose with her robes and turned to look and saw that it was Neville's cauldron. Seamus's cauldron had been twisted into a blob and potion was seeping across the stone floor. Cassia scrambled onto her stool and looked over at Neville and Seamus, when she heard a moan of pain. She gasped when she saw that Neville had red boils springing up all over his arms and legs.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, waving his wand, which cleaned up the spilt potion. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Neville whimpered as boils started popping up all over his nose.
Snape rounded on Seamus and spat, "Take him up to the hospital wing." He then rounded on Cassia and Harry, "You—Potters—why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you both lost for Gryffindor and Hufflepuff."
Cassia opened her mouth to argue, but she ended up having a sneezing fit instead.
After she finished, she heard Harry say, "Four."
"Thanks," said Cassia, wiping her nose on her robes.
"What?" asked Ron, sounding confused.
"Get back to work," snapped Snape.
They resumed their potion-making.
"What does four even mean?" Ron asked Cassia.
"It's a thing we do," explained Cassia, sniffling. "Every time I sneeze in a row, Harry counts it out. We want to see how many times I can sneeze in a row. My record is six."
"You two are the strangest pair of twins I ever met," Ron said, looking perturbed by what Cassia said.
"Thanks," said Harry and Cassia in unison.
An hour later, they walked up the steps that led to the dungeons. Cassia was feeling down, and her nose kept running.
"Cheer up," said Ron. "Snape's always taking points off Fred and George."
"At least we have something to look forward to, since we have tea with Hagrid on Friday," Cassia said.
"Hey, can I come and meet Hagrid with you two?" asked Ron.
"Sure," said Harry.
"Hey, can we come and meet Hagrid, too?" asked Sally-Anne, speaking up for her and Lily.
"Sure," said Cassia.
The next day Hufflepuff and Gryffindor had Herbology together, with Professor Sprout, a cheerful little witch, who talked about plants and gave them origins of the plants, before telling them that she wanted an essay on the history of the plants she gave.
Cassia couldn't help but think that it might be one of her favourite subjects.
After that was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Cassia looked forward to it, but the smell of garlic was overwhelming and Professor Quirrell wore a purple turban. She couldn't recall if the professor wore the turban when she met him in the Leaky Cauldron.
Sage asked about the turban and Professor Quirrell said that he got it from an African prince because Quirrell got rid of a troublesome zombie.
"How did you get rid of the troublesome zombie?" Seamus asked.
Professor Quirrell stuttered something about the weather and turned pink.
However that didn't explain why the turban smelt like garlic.
On Friday, at five to three, they left the castle, and headed across the lawn to Hagrid's hut. They had sat through Double Potions and Harry seemed confused over why Snape seemed to hate him and Cassia.
Hagrid lived in a small wooden house that was at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door.
Harry knocked on the door; there was a frantic scrabbling from inside and several loud barks.
"Back, Fang—back." Hagrid's voice rang out. The door opened just a crack and Hagrid's face appeared. "Hang on." To the dog, he said, "Back, Fang." He let them in.
There was only one room inside and Cassia noticed hams and pheasants hung from the ceiling. A copper kettle was boiling on the open fire and in a corner was a massive bed that had a patchwork quilt over it. It reminded Cassia of the patchwork quilts in the Hufflepuff dormitory.
"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang. The enormous boarhound went straight to Ron and licked Ron's ears.
"This is Ron," Harry said as Hagrid started pouring boiling water in a large teapot.
"This is Sally-Anne and Lily," Cassia said, pointing at each girl.
Hagrid was putting rock cakes on a plate, "Another Weasley, eh? I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the Forest."
Cassia took a rock cake and bite into it. She winced. She may have cracked a tooth or five on that rock cake. She was also sure that a rock cake wasn't supposed to be as hard as a rock.
They found spots to sit at and told Hagrid all about their first week of school. Fang had rested his head on Harry's knee and slobbered all over his robes.
Hagrid called the caretaker an old git and said that he wanted to introduce Mrs Norris, Filch's cat, to Fang some time, because Mrs Norris follows Hagrid around when he's in the castle.
Harry proceed to tell Hagrid about the disastrous Potions lesson on the first day of school and how Snape seemed to hate Cassia and him. Hagrid said that Snape hardly liked any of his students, but Harry said that Snape seemed to really him and Cassia.
"Rubbish! Why should he?" asked Hagrid. "How's yer brother Charlie? I liked him a lot—great with animals."
Ron started talking about Charlie's work with dragons in Romania and Cassia watched as Harry picked up something from underneath the tea cosy. Cassia looked at it to see that it was an article from the Daily Prophet.
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believe to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown.
Gringott's goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact, been emptied the same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.
"Hey! That happened on our birthday!" exclaimed Cassia.
"It might've been happening while we were there!" Harry added.
Hagrid didn't look at them as he offered them another rock cake.
Cassia wondered why Hagrid wouldn't look at them and if the package that Hagrid had taken out of the vault was the thing that these people were looking for.