Chapter 4: All Aboard the Hogwarts Express
The article did appear in the Daily Prophet later. The Potter twins went into Flourish and Blotts, 'wanting' to get Lockhart's books, only to get the 'real deal' at Hogwarts. It made her eye twitch at how it made her and Harry look like fans of Lockhart, when they didn't even know who he was 'til a few weeks ago.
She tossed the newspaper in the fire when the Weasleys and Harry weren't looking.
She read Lockhart's books, and the two Slytherin boys were right; all Lockhart did was bang on about himself. Okay, he did talk about his adventures, like him gadding with ghouls, what his year with a yeti entailed, or what traveling with a troll was like.
It was just something about him that rubbed her the wrong way; for instance, the bragging, and the fact that he dragged her and Harry up to get his picture taken with them. There was also the fact that Lockhart had lied about them wanting his autobiography as well.
She let Ginny fly on the broomstick during the summer and she reread Lockhart's books and other material to prepare for school. Then after that, she packed up her belongings.
On the last evening, Mrs Weasley conjured up a dinner which included a mix of Cassia's and Harry's favorite things, which was rounded off with a treacle pudding.
Fred and George finished the evening off by setting off some Filibuster fireworks. After thirty minutes of watching red and blue stars bouncing from the walls and ceiling in the kitchen.
Cassia tried to go to bed, but Mrs Weasley wanted her to drink some hot chocolate before she did.
The next morning, they got up early but Mrs Weasley seemed to be in a bad mood, looking for spare socks and quills.
A few times, Cassia ran into Fred, George, and Percy on the staircase.
Mr Weasley had tripped over a chicken while he carried Ginny's trunk.
The car had been magically expanded so everyone can sit comfortably.
Cassia started to get in a foul mood when they turned back three times. George forgot his Filibuster fireworks, Fred forgot his broomstick, and they almost reached the motorway when Ginny shrieked that she forgot her diary.
When Ginny came back, they were running late.
Then Arthur suggested flying it, but Molly said no because she didn't want to in broad daylight.
Finally by ten-forty-five they finally got King's Cross. Mr Weasley ran to get trolleys for them and they hurried into the station.
"Percy first," Mrs Weasley said, looking at the clock overheard. They had five minutes to spare.
Cassia asked, "Mr Weasley, can I go with you through the barrier?"
Mr Weasley smiled, "Sure thing, Cassia."
They went next and Mr Weasley helped her with her trunk, cat, and owl.
She felt better knowing that she got on the train. She found Lily, Sally-Anne, Terence, and Adrian in a compartment together.
"For a moment, I thought you weren't going to make it," Lily told her.
"Yeah, we had to double back three times because Fred, George, and Ginny forgot something," Cassia explained as the train started moving.
"They can't send whatever was left behind?" Adrian said, "That's what my parents do when I left something behind."
"That's a good point," Cassia stated. "You two were right."
Sally-Anne asked, "What were they right about?"
"Lockhart is attention-seeking prat," Cassia told her.
"I read one book and didn't bother reading the rest. I didn't learn anything," Lily said.
"Hard to believe that he did all that while looking like this," Terence stated, looking at the cover of a Lockhart book.
The compartment door opened and Cassia was annoyed to see Malfoy.
"It is true," Malfoy said with a grin. "You two would rather sit with Hufflepuffs than in our own compartment."
"As least I don't have to hear your whining," Terence said.
"At least I have your spot as Seeker," Malfoy mocked.
Adrian rolled his eyes, got up, and pushed Malfoy out the compartment, shutting the door on him.
Terence asked, "I'm going to hearing that crap, aren't I?"
"And we'll be hearing him bang about it too," Adrian grumbled.
The compartment door opened again and Hermione walked in. Hermione asked, "Cassia, do you know where Harry and Ron are at?"
Cassia was confused, "Aren't they on the train?"
"I was expecting them to come to my compartment but they haven't," Hermione explained. "I thought that maybe they were with you."
"Maybe they got in a different compartment because we were running late," Cassia said, trying to think of something that would make sense.
"They could've missed the train," Sally-Anne stated.
Cassia felt panicked over the situation.
"Don't worry, Cass. He could've asked for help," Adrian told Cassia.
Lily asked, "Do you want to sit with us?"
Hermione nodded, "Sure." She sat down with them.
They finally arrived at Hogsmeade station, and Terence had to nudge Cassia to move, "We take a different way to the castle."
They followed after the other students, while Hagrid called for the first years. Cassia followed her friends down a mud track, until they saw about a hundred stagecoaches.
Hermione went to sit with Neville, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan in a coach, while Cassia and her three friends went to sit in a coach.
As soon as Cassia got in, the door closed on its own and started to get pulled away.
They went past a pair of wrought-iron gates that was flanked with stone columns that was topped with winged boars.
Cassia asked, "So, who's pulling this thing? There aren't any horses."
"Thestrals," Adrian said.
Cassia asked, "What?"
"Thestrals pull the carriage. They're invisible to anyone who hadn't seen and processed death yet," Adrian said.
Lily asked, "Why are they pulling the carriages?"
"They're harmless but they're kind of creepy," Adrian told the blonde.
"Oh," Lily said.
They got out of the carriage and joined the crowd up the stairs of the castle.
Cassia felt a strange knot form in her belly at the idea that Harry wasn't there with them. Maybe he was in the Great Hall already.
Once she sat down at the Hufflepuff table, she looked at the Gryffindor table. She didn't spot Harry or even Ron at the table.
As the sorting commenced, Cassia felt even more worry for Harry. Most of the professors were at the table except for Snape. It was odd seeing that not even some of the professors looked too thrilled at the idea that Lockhart was with them, even Flitwick seemed annoyed at having to be sitting next to him. Sprout didn't seem interested in listening to what Lockhart was telling her about.
It made her feel a little better knowing that her head of house didn't like him either.
After the sorting was done and the food arrived, Cassia was distracted with eating.
Lily asked, "Where's McGonagall going?"
Cassia looked up to see that McGonagall took off. She shrugged, "Dunno."
Although Ernie looked at Cassia, "Is it true?"
Cassia asked, "Is what true?"
"That Harry and Ron arrived in a flying car," Ernie told her.
Cassia was sure her voice echoed in the hall when she yelled, "What!"