Chapter 2:A/N I do not own Harry Potter. In here Gabrielle is Harry Potter's age, not like in the books or movies. I had an idea, and I'm going to go with it, not entirely sure yet where it's taking me. But, it may tie into Merlin and my other fic, so, if I'm slow on the upload it's beacuase I'm waiting for it to catch up to what I've written so far, or 'cause I'm just stuck. Like this month I've had zero inspiration for Llys Don, it's been all Harry Potter, and I honestly think that I might stay with this fic for a bit longer. As far as I can tell, it won't catch up to my Merlin fic until like, the end of second year, but the story could change its mind as I write it. Also, I'm still trying to figure out the formatting thingy to this, so bear with me. I know last chapter didn't get the formatting I wanted to give it.
"Are you really thinking about leaving Beauxbatons?" Gabrielle asked after stepping off the carriage that led to school.
"Oui, Gabrielle. I don't think I could stand to be here, so close to them." Cassie answered sadly.
"I'll miss you, you know. You're my best friend, Cassie." she said, pulling the blonde in for a side hug.
"I know, but we are getting ahead of ourselves. I haven't even been accepted yet. For all I know, Professor Dumbledore will say no to my transfer." Cassie replied gloomily.
"He would be quite dumb to do that! You are a brilliant witch, smarter than anyone in our year!"
"Thank you for that, but I'm really not that bright. If I was, I would have seen what they really are a long time ago."
"You can't blame yourself, mon amie. No one would have ever guessed."
"But-"
"No! Stop wallowing, Cassiopée!"
"But anyone else in my position would have stayed with their family, protected them. I am a traitor! And a coward!"
"A coward would not have done the right thing, I know you don't want to, but think of all the families that can finally get justice!"
"And what of mine? I did not think it through when I called that man. I never should have snuck into his study and looked in the pensive." Cassie said regretfully, walking into the warmth of the castle.
"Mon cher amie s'il te plait. Forgive yourself, you have done the right thing. I saw what was in those vials, you did the right thing!" Gabrielle told her friend with conviction.
After she and her brother had gone to her house to finish off the holidays, Gabrielle had caught her looking in the pensieve and followed her in. She saw Cassie's grandfather in a green uniform, standing next to other men dressed in the same manner at a dinner party. When the guest of honor arrived, all the men and women turned and saluted 'Heil Hitler,' and Gabrielle gaspeed, alerting her friend to her presence and they both left the memory. Even though she was a quarter-veela wizard, she heard of the crimes committed by the man named Hitler. She knew her friend was in the right, and she didn't care what others would think. She would stand by her no matter what.
"Come, Gabrielle, we must unpack and head down to dinner." Cassie said, looping her arm through her friends and dragging off towards their dormitory.
March came quickly, and Cassie grew increasingly nervous, she had yet to come up with a plan to go to Britain without her parents finding out about what she was doing.
"Good news!" Gabrielle said, intruding in her thoughts.
"Good news about what?"
"I've convinced my parents to travel for Easter!"
"I'm happy for you, Gabrielle, where are you going?"
"Oh, silly, now you have the perfect excuse, I've also written your parents, asking for permission to come with us, and they agreed."
"Still don't see…"
"Well, you see, Fleur, Maman et papa and I will be going to Prague. And you will be on another train!"
"That's brilliant, Gabrielle, except I can't reach England on a train."
"Oh." she said disheartened.
"But, now they think that I'll be with you and your family. I do hope they don't write to them to confirm." Cassie said, trying to lift her friend's spirit, thankful for her help.
"They never have before." Gabrielle said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Now I just have to think of a way to get to England without them knowing."
"Floo?"
"No, too far."
"Portkey?"
"Where would I get one? I'd have to enquire about one at the Ministry and I'm sure my father will hear about it."
"What about muggle transport. I hear they have these big metal things that fly. And if not, there's always a boat."
"I could try, I can always exchange my currency for muggle money and pay my way. I do have some money saved up."
"Well, we've decided to go by train, the views from here to Prague are spectacular!"
"Maybe I can take a train that goes to Calais and take a boat to England, then another train to London." Cassie said thoughtfully, not really liking all those hours of travel.
"It's so long though, I would hate to travel such a long time by muggle means."
"My thoughts exactly. Perhaps the flying contraption would be best. I will have to research it. Do you know the name?"
"No, Cassie, I don't. But, Pierre is muggleborn, maybe he knows?"
"Good idea, except Pierre is friends with my brother. I ask him, he tells my brother and it all goes downhill. I'll see what I can do. But first I have to make sure my dreadfu- Actually, that might just work!" Cassie said, not clarifying what she was talking about before getting up and walking over to her sister's room and knocking.
"What?" she asked when she saw who it was.
"Hello to you too. Gabrielle has just invited us to go to Prague. Well, she invited me and I figured you might want to go too."
"Prague!?"
"Yes, the same one you're thinking of."
"I'll write mother! Ask her if I can go!"
"No need. Already done. But it's just for us girls, Mme. Delacour doesn't want boys along, she knows full well how much our dear brother fancies Fleur. Mother already wrote back saying yes."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she squealed, forgetting they didn't like each other at school and hugging her tightly. "I have to start packing. Holiday's not for two weeks, but I need to look my best in Prague!" she squealed walking into her room and emptying her wardrobe.
"You're welcome."
"All set?" Gabrielle asked when she came back.
"All set. My twin is going in my stead, Does your mother know whos' who?"
"I barely know who's who!" she kid.
"Well, then I'll have to fake being sick at the train and assure them that I would make it back to home safely, not to worry."
"You are a very good actress, if anyone can pull it off, you can." Gabrielle told her friend confidently.
"Thank you. Now I have to figure out how much money I need to take. Especially if I'm going on the flying contraption thingy."
"What about your brother?"
"He usually stays for the holidays with his friends, I don't really worry about him too much."
"Okay. I'll go see if I can find Sebastien, he's muggleborn too and not friends with your brother."
"Goodluck!" Cassie called after her, glad to have such a good friend.
The next day Cassie and Gabrielle were walking out on the grounds when Sebastien caught up with them.
"Hey Gabrielle, Cassie." he greeted with a broad smile.
"Hello, Sebastien. How are you?"
"Great, thanks. Listen, about the planes you were asking about, can you tell me why you want to know?"
"No reason, just curious about muggles and your transportation." Cassie answered quickly, keeping her tone light and pleasant.
"Okay, well. I have some information he sent, in case you want to read it over." he said nervously holding out some papers for Cassie to take
"Thank you, Bastien. It means a lot." Cassie said, blinding him with her smile,
"Y-You're welcome." he gulped, looking between the two blondes. "Anyway, if you're planning a trip for Easter, I don't recommend Italy or Israel. It's packed at this time of year."
"I'll take that into consideration. "
"So you are planning a trip?"
"I'm just keeping my options open."
"Well, I should go. Detention." he said, flashing a goofy smile her way, "I'll see you later?"
"Sure, later." Cassie said with a smile.
"Bye, Sebastien!" Gabrielle called after a second.
"Bye, Gabrielle!" he said, turning around and tripping over his robes, making both girls giggle.
"I think he likes you!" Gabrielle said after he disappeared through the doors.
"Does not!" Cassie said with flaming cheeks.
"Does too. And maybe you like him back?" she said, eyeing her friend carefully.
"Well, you think wrong. I was just being friendly" Cassie said, giving her friend a look that said 'don't be ridiculous.'
"Well, your friendly is the same as flirty!" Gabrielle laughed as storm clouds began to gather overhead, casting them in shadow. "Come on! We'll get soaked if we don't find shelter quickly!"
"Race you!" Cassie said, giggling as she took off first.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Gabrielle called after her.
The morning that Easter holidays started, Cassie made sure she looked somewhat pale with light shadows under her eyes through expert use of makeup. She looked just enough to make her story believable, but not to make them too worried. She and Gabrielle boarded the carriages that would take them to the train station in Toulouse. They were to meet Mme. et Mr. Delacour at the station so that they could board the train to Prague together.
"Maman! Papa!" Gabrielle and Fleur cried together upon seeing their parents.
"Mes chéris!" Mme. Delacour greeted her daughter with a worm hug. "It's lovely to see you girls as well. How's your brother?"
"Oh, he's staying at Beauxbatons for the holidays." Cassie said, smiling painfully at the woman.
"Dear, are you all right? You don't look too well." Mr. Delacour asked worriedly.
"Quite, monsieur. Just a little upset stomach is all." Cassie said weakly, playing it off as nothing.
"She's been like that the whole carriage ride over. Must be motion sickness or something." Her sister offered.
"Oh dear. I'm sure the muggles have something for motion sickness. I'll ask the pullman porter to make you something once we board." Mme Delacour said.
"Thank you, that would be lovely." Cassie said, pressing her lips together as if she were holding back her nausea.
"Cassie, you're really not fine at all. You look green! Do you think you can stomach such a long ride?" Gabrielle asked, repeating the well rehearsed words.
"We can take you home if you're not feeling up to the trip. We can always go some other time." Mr. Delacour said kindly.
Home sounds good, monsieur, but I don't wish to spoil your holidays. It's all Gabrielle could talk about since she told me and my sister is very excited as well." Cassie said, looking guiltily at the three girls.
"Nonsense! I'm sure they can wait until the summer holidays."
"No, please. Don't let me ruin your holidays, I can take the Floo. Really, go have fun. I expect presents. I will write when I get home, let you know I got there safe." Cassie said, warning Gabrielle with a raised finger and a pained smile.
"Feel better!" Gabrielle said, hugging her friend and adding in a whisper "Excellent! I have the letter in my purse, I'll excuse myself to the bathroom and send it."
"Feel better, Cassie. We'll make sure to take plenty of pictures!"
"Good thing about having a twin, huh." her sister said, reluctantly hugging each other.
"You're always in the pictures, even if you didn't go."
"I'll just go over to the Floo station over there and use it, shall I? The train's going to leave without you." Cassie said, pointing to the conductor walking over.
"Au revoir" they all said in unison.
Cassie walked over to the Floo station and exchanged some of her currency there, not even looking at the fireplace. When she had the correct money, she walked over to the ticket counter and asked for directions to the airport. She traveled light, a simple garment bag with an undetectable extension charm that had a crossbody strap was a cerulean color. She walked the ten minutes to the airport and bought a one-way ticket to London, England. She went to the powder room first, to remove her makeup and fix her hair, then to the gate where she would board, nervously shifting from foot to foot as she waited for the doors to be open.
"First flight alone?" a Scottish woman asked her kindly.
"Is it that obvious?" Cassie answered in a thick French accent.
"Yes dear, those shoes are not made for walking, much less traveling. Are you going to visit family?" she asked, peering over her glasses and setting down the book she was reading.
"No, I'm on my way to a school interview, a boarding school. I must admit I am rather nervous about it, and flying. I've never flown on a plane before, madame"
"Well, you'll be fine dear, but would you mind very much standing still, or sitting? I must confess you're making me nervous, and I've been flying since the sixties!"
"I do apologize, madame." Cassie said, sitting down gracefully next to the woman and placing her garment bag neatly beside her. "I'm Cassiopée." she introduced herself, holding out her hand.
"Minerva." the woman said, accepting the hand. "I am a professor at a boarding school in Scotland, may I ask what school you are interviewing for?" she probed.
"It's...a school of the arts." Cassie lied quickly, knowing better than to talk about magic to a stranger. "I have the placement exam later this week. I'm hoping to transfer for the next school year."
"Yes, well, in my experience, the more nervous students are, it means they haven't prepared well enough."
"Oh, no, I have been preparing since Christmas holidays, madame. I just tend to overthink before the exam and the thinking quickly becomes nerves and then I'm rambling about my studying with a perfect stranger!" Cassie laughed nervously.
"What is your specialty? For the arts school?" Minerva asked, playing along with the girl's story.
"Oh it's," Cassie started to answer but the passengers were called to board, saving her from answering.
The two stood up and walked over to the line to board.
"Ticket and passport please." the stewardess asked when Cassie stepped up.
"Passport?" Cassie asked as she handed the ticket to the woman, clearly panicking. She heard Minerva mutter something behind her and then the stewardess smiled and waved her through, giving her the ticket back.
"Next." Cassie heard as she walked into the plane, looking for her seat. She sat in the aisle, placing her garment bag under the seat in front of her and looking around in nervous excitement. Minerva stood next to her, pointing at the window seat. Cassie took the hint and stood up to make way for her.
"We meet again, Cassiopée."
"So we do, Professor." Cassie said nervously dreading her decision to fly. "May I ask what you are reading?" Cassie asked conversationally.
"Oh, I'm grading papers. I came to Toulouse for school business, but I brought the papers to get ahead. The headmaster asked me to see that his business arrives safely."
"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Clarice and I'm your chief stewardess. On behalf of Captain de Beaulieu and the entire crew, welcome aboard to British Airlines flight 1234 nonstop service from Toulouse to London. Our flight time will be one hour and fifty-five minutes…."
"We are second in line for takeoff, we should depart in five minutes." came the captain's voice over the intercom after the stewardess had finished with her introduction.
Throughout these announcements, Cassie began having a mini-panic attack, muttering to herself in french.
"Miss. Is everything all right?" the stewardess, Clarice, asked as she passed checking the overhead bins.
"Yes, thank you. I am just a little nervous. It's my first time flying." she answered sheepishly.
"I will bring you some water after takeoff, but there is nothing to be worried about. Captain de Beaulieu is very good at his job. If you need anything, just motion and my fellow stewardesses will come." she said with a smile.
"It helps to take deep breaths. Here, I always find it calms me." Minerva said, handing her a small flask.
"It's not alcohol is it?" Cassie asked apprehensively.
"No, it's not alcohol." she answered curtly.
"Thank you, then." Cassie nodded, taking a sip of it. She felt its effects immediately, flowing down her throat warmly and relaxing her shoulders.
"Better?"
"Much, professor. Thank you." Cassie replied gratefully.
The rest of the flight was uneventful, Clarice had stopped by with a glass of water shortly after takeoff, and Cassie gratefully accepted.
When they deplaned, Cassie made her way to the ticket counter and asked for directions to King's cross station, not realizing that she had landed at the farthest airport and had to take a taxi.
"Merci, mam'selle." Cassie said and walked out to hail a cab.
"Where to, miss?"
"How much is the fare to King's Cross, monsieur?"
"Fifty-two pounds, miss."
"I don't have enough, sir. I apologise for wasting your time" Cassie said in a thick accent.
"Are you taking the taxi?" Minerva asked after she re-opened the door.
"Not any more, Minerva. You are welcome to it. I'll take a bus." Cassie said, forgetting to observe decorum and called her by her name and not title.
"Are you going the way of King's Cross? We can split the fare." she suggested.
"Oh, thank you. I am in fact going there." Cassie said, glad she wouldn't have to take a bus.
She moved over in the cab to let the professor in and told the taxi driver where to. They traveled in semi-silence, making polite small talk with the driver and each other and parting ways once they reached King's Cross. Cassie had gotten instructions from Dumbledore as to how to get onto the correct platform along with a ticket for the train ride. She quickly looked around, making sure no one was looking and walked straight at the wall, hoping that she really would go through. When she didn't feel herself crash into the solid wall, she opened her eyes and looked around, praying she hadn't missed the train.
"Pardonnez-moi monsieur, is there a certain cabin I should go to, or can I sit wherever?" she asked the guard as she boarded.
"No, anywhere that's free. Which is pretty much everywhere science most children have gone home for the holidays or stayed at Hogwarts." he answered her kindly
"Merci." she said politely and went to sit anywhere.
"Anything from the trolley, dear?"
"Oui, merci. I'll have one of those chocolatey things and do you have something to drink? I'm rather thirsty."
"I have juice and milk and water."
"Do you have pineapple juice?" she asked hopefully. Pineapple juice is her favorite.
"Yes dear, there you are. Anything else?"
"Yes, I was wondering how long the ride was. I'm rather tired from the long journey and don't want to miss the stop at Hogsmeade." she said while paying for the treats.
"You can go to sleep, dear. We won't be at Hogwarts for a long time."
"Thank you!" she called after her before she retreated to the compartment and drew the curtains. She settled herself comfortably, leaning against the window with her feet crossed on the bench and closed her eyes. The next thing she knew, the train was slowing down and the lights were on. She stood up and stretched out the kinks in her back and looked at her reflection in the glass so she could fix her hair. Once she deemed herself presentable, she drew back the curtains and opened the door, stepping out into the corridor and looking out the window from across from her. Once the train stopped, she deboarded and made her way into the small village of Hogsmeade, looking for an inn. She walked into an establishment called the Three Broomsticks and admired the warmth of it.
"Shouldn't you be up at the castle?" the matron asked, brandishing a wooden spoon her way with suspicious eyes.
"Non, madame, je ne suis attendu que demain" she answered, forgetting she should be speaking English. "Pardon me, madame, I meant to say that I am not expected until morning. I have an appointment with Professor Dumbledore for tomorrow." she repeated in heavily accented english.
"Oh. What'll it be, then? Food, board?"
"Yes, I would like a room, please. And some dinner if the kitchen's still open." Cassie said politely
"I'll see what I can whip up, dear. Here's your room key. It's just up the stairs, three doors down to the right. You may call me Madam Rosmerta."
"Thank you." Cassie said, receiving the key and walking up the stairs after Madam Rosmerta left.
The following morning, she sent an owl to Professor Dumbledore, letting him know that she arrived at Hogsmeade and was awaiting his instructions. She received a reply within the hour saying that she was welcome to tour the grounds with an escort while they prepared her examination. She left the Inn and made her way through the village towards the gates of Hogwarts. When she first laid eyes on the castle she was taken aback by its vastness. The towers and turrets, and so many windows. Beauxbatons was elegant, refined and gorgeous, but Hogwarts castle was breathtaking. She was met at the gate with a rather stout witch that smiled broadly when she saw her.
"Good morning, madame. I am Cassiopée Gratien. I am here to take an examination with Professor Dumbledore." she introduced herself politely.
"Yes, miss Gratien, we've been expecting you. I am Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff and the Herbology professor. I trust your journey was pleasant?"
"It was, thank you. A tad long, but I arrived in time."
"Would you like a tour of the grounds?"
"That would be great, Professor, thanks." Cassie said with a bright smile, following the witch.