Chapter 6 A/N I do not own Harry Potter, any french is google translate
The following morning, she made her way up to Professor Dumbledore's office with the Weasley twins, telling her about their newest ideas and parting ways when she arrived in front of the gargoyle statue. She told it the password and stepped onto the moving staircase, knocking on the door to his office when she reached the top.
"Enter."
"Good morning, professor. I trust you had a pleasant evening?"
"I did, Cassie. I rather enjoyed looking up at the stars. I think I even heard a squeal." he said, looking at her with twinkling eyes.
"That very possibly was me, sir. Professor Sinistra told me I had passed, and I tried to contain it as best I could. I should work on that." Cassie said thoughtfully.
"Well, I have here your grades, and I must say I am quite impressed. In Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology and Potions you received 150, 170, 145 and 100 percent respectively. In Astronomy, you received 85 percent and in Defense you received 95." Dumbledore said jovially.
"Excuse me, professor, but how are these exams graded?" Cassie asked, unfamiliar with the grading system used.
"It is out of 100. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick gave you extra credit for your creativity and attention to detail." Dumbeldore answered kindly.
"So, does this mean I can transfer here next year?!" Cassie asked excitedly.
"It does." Dumbledore answered. "So long as I have your parents signatures." he added, making the euphoria Cassie was feeling quickly sink."
"I still haven't told them." she admitted timidly.
"I thought that would be the case. I can give you until the end of June to tell them, but if I don't have their permission to enroll you in the upcoming school year, I'm afraid that you will have to remain at Beauxbatons Academy." Dumbledore told her gravely, observing her from behind his half-moon spectacles. "On a happier note, if you are enrolled next year, you will be sorted along with the first years at the Start- of-Term feast, but you will attend class with those in your year." he said.
"May I ask how the decision is made, sir?"
"It will be as much a surprise to you as it is to the first years." he said with a smile.
"Okay."
"I trust you have travel back to France arranged?"
"I just figured I would do what I did to come here? Without Professor McGonagall, obviously." Cassie said sheepishly.
"I believe you failed to bring your passport, Cassie. Muggles won't let you leave the country without it."
"Oh."
"I will make you a portkey, just tell me where to drop you off." he said kindly
"Thank you professor. I think it would be best to drop me off at Toulouse. It's a pretty metropolitan area, the only place I can think of near the train station that would be alone in the early morning is the Cimetière de Terre Cabade, the cemetery. I don't exactly like it, but it's the only place muggles wouldn't panic as it would most likely be empty at that time."
"And what time would you like it to be?"
"Five a.m. French time. So...Four a.m. here?" Cassie asked, not sure where here was exactly.
"Very well, if you are sure. Would you like one of the staff to accompany you? I'm sure anyone would be willing." Dumbledore asked graciously.
"Thank you, professor, but I don't think that it will be necessary. I have traveled by Portkey before."
"If that is your decision, I can hardly force you otherwise, Cassie. I prepared these papers for your parents to look over when you tell them. And these papers should go to your Headmistress." Dumbledore said, handing her two thickly rolled up parchments.
"Thanks, Professor." Cassie said kindly, taking them with a smile.
"Well! That settles that, I do have to ask you one more thing."
"Of course, Professor. Anything."
"Would you like to spend the rest of your time here, or at the Three Broomsticks? I hardly think it's very easy walking all the way there and back at four in the morning."
"Where would I stay?"
"There's plenty of extra beds in the dormitories while students are away for holiday." he said simply. "But if you prefer, there are empty classrooms that can temporarily be converted into a bedroom. I can have one of the house-elves do it now, if that is your decision." he added seeing her look.
"I think I would prefer the classroom, if it's not too big an inconvenience."
"Of course not! Leepy!" Dumbledore called, expecting the immediate pop of the house elf.
"Yes, Master Dumbledore?" the house elf asked.
"Would you be kind enough to take Ms. Gratien to the empty classroom at the end of this corridor and transform it into a temporary bedroom? It will only be for one night."
"Right away, Maste Dumbledore." she replied, bowing to the ground and leading Cassie to the door."
"Goodbye, professor!" Cassie called over her shoulder as she quickly followed the house-elf.
They walked to the far end of the corridor where Leepy opened a door and snapped her fingers, transfiguring a desk into a small bed and the chair into a dresser and mirror.
"That's exceptional magic, Leepy!" Cassie said in awe.
"Thank you miss." Leepy said bashfully.
"I was wondering if you could pop over to the Three Broomsticks and gather my belongings for me?" Cassie asked, looking down at the small creature. "Also, make sure to pay Madam Rosmerta and give her this note and the keys." Cassie said, bending over the dresser and jotting something down quickly.
"Right away miss." Leepy said, taking the keys, coins and note from the girl and popping out. As soon as the house-elf had gone, there was a knock on the door. Curious as to who it was, Cassie walked over and opened the door slowly.
"Hullo!" came the two voices in unison.
"Good morning, Gred and Feorge. How can I help you this fine day?" Cassie asked jovially, playing along with their antics.
"Come with us. We have much to discuss."
"Pranks, mainly, but there will be other topics."
"Give me a few to get ready and I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall."
"You seem ready to me." Fred said, confused.
"That's because you're not a girl." Cassie giggled.
"That makes no sense." George said, equally confused.
"Crème solaire." Cassie told them, closing the door. The house-elf's return startled her a bit, making her jump and clutch her chest.
"Beg pardon miss. Your belongings." Leepy said, presenting the packed garment bag to her.
"It's quite alright, Leepy. I'm easily startled." Cassie said, graciously smiling. "Thank you." she added as she dismissed the small creature.
"Maintenant, où est mon chapeau." Cassie muttered to herself, sitting at the mirror and retouching the sunscreen.
She dug around her garment bag and quickly untransfigured the nail brush back into her hat. She pinned her hair up to fall gracefully around her face and took her blue floppy hat with her to the Entrance Hall. When she got there she found the twins speaking with Tommy, Leon and Cedric.
"Ready!" she said, putting on her hat and looking at them expectantly.
"A hat?" they asked in unison.
"What? A girl only has one complexion, she must do everything she can to protect it. Be thankful I left my parasol back in Beauxbatons, or else you'd be stuck holding it up for me." Cassie said, lifting her chin proudly. "Besides, I don't have my sunglasses, and the sun always makes me tear up."
"Well, blue eyed people do have more sensitive eyes." Leon said, smiling.
"That explains so much about you." Tommy said jokingly, nudging him playfully.
"If we're just going to hang around inside all day, I'll go back upstairs, I'm meant to write Gabrielle anyways. She promised me a beautiful pale blue and lilac knee length skirt I've had my eye on and I need to find out if she got it!" Cassie said, knowing perfectly well what their reaction would be.
"Oh, no you don't." Fred said, hooking an arm around hers.
"We just got someone with as brilliant a pranking mind as ours, we're not losing it to skirts and shoes!" George agreed, taking her other arm and leading her to the doors.
"Oh, all right." Cassie relented, glad the boys at Hogwarts were as easy to predict as the ones in Beauxbatons.
The six of them walked through the grounds laughing and speaking pleasantly as though they've been friends forever.
"So, how'd the exmans go? Do you have the grades yet?" Cedric asked once they found a shady spot near the lake and sat.
"Much better than I would have hoped for. I got 100 in Potions, 95 in Defense, 85 in Astronomy, 150 in Transfiguration, 145 in Herbology and 170 in Charms. Dumbledore said he was very impressed with the marks." Cassie said proudly, taking off her hat and laying it in her lap.
"Ravenclaw." the boys all said in unison after a quick look at each other.
"Hey! I'm not a complete nerd! Besides, I think it's got more to do with me wanting out of France than actually liking studying."
"Most people would kill to go to France. Girls at least." Fred said.
"Well, I don't live in Paris, so you can't say it's because of the Parisian fashion." Cassie said drily.
"Where do you live?" Leon asked.
"Aubigny-sur-Nère."
"Where's that?" Tommy asked, knowing very little of French geography, he barely knew English geography.
"About 150 kilometers south of Paris."
"So pretty far away." George summed up.
"I should say, yes." Cassie said, straightening out her skirt in amusement.
"Still can't believe you got 150 in Transfiguration! McGonagall never gives extra points." Tommy said in disbelief.
"No, Tommy, McGonagall never gives you extra points." Leon clarified with a knowing smile.
"Transfigurations and Charms are my best subjects." Cassie said, blushing scarlet.
"Let's see some wandwork, then. Here. Do your best." Fred said, laying a quill on the grass.
"It's a quill." she said, confused.
"Well spotted. Go on." George prompted.
"Okay." Cassie said, waving her wand delicately and transfiguring the quil into a gilded dagger with red glass gems inlaid in the hilt.
"Woah!"
"It's not real gems, they're just glass. I haven't been able to figure out if I can transfigure something into a gem. I don't think so, but I'm trying. I mean, Nicholas Flamel made the philosopher's stone, and that turns any metal to gold and gives an elixir of life, so I just need to keep trying." Cassie rambled on, embarrassed at the looks in their eyes.
"Well, I guess now I know why the 150!" Tommy said, picking up the dagger and running his fingers along the blade. "Ow!" he yelped when he cut himself.
"You don't know how to handle a dagger?" Cassie asked, using her handkerchief to wrap his hands and staunch the bleeding.
"No, do you?" he said, holding his hand gingerly against his chest.
"Sure. I'll need a target." she said, looking at the boys expectantly.
"You're not throwing that thing at me!" Cedric and Leon said at the same time.
"Not a human target!" Cassie said, rolling her eyes. "Just conjure one up."
Cedric did as she asked and placed it twenty feet away, looking at her in awe.
"It might not hit the bullseye, the sun is too bright, but I hope I don't make a fool of myself and completely miss the target. Especially after saying I could." she said, the last part in french.
She stood up and carefully aimed at the target, hoping the poor balance of it wouldn't throw her off course too much. She carefully held the blade in her hand and bent her arm back, wrist towards her forearm. She raised her arm, bending it at the elbow, so that it was perpendicular to the ground and swung straight down, releasing when it was completely straight. Her weight had shifted forward to her nondominant leg and her arm kept swinging back. When it struck the target within the third circle, she smiled brightly and stood up straight, turning to look at the boys who all had open-mouthed expressions.
"If you were any older, I'd say you were the perfect assassin." Leon said, looking from her to the dagger and back.
"Not an assassin." she said, walking over to the dagger and removing it from the target; all the while thinking bitterly 'just the daughter and granddaughter of murderers.' She quickly schooled her features before turning back and walking over to the boys.
"Just scary. Remind me never to get on your bad side!" Cedric joked.
They spent a few more hours just talking and went back inside for lunch. Cassie excused herself when they were finished with lunch, saying that she really needed to write to her friends, and made her way up the stairs to the third floor where the headmaster had given her a temporary room. She shut the door behind her and sat down on the bed, removing her shoes, and taking out a parchment and quill. Before she could begin writing, however, there was a knock on the window. She peered out and saw an owl seeking entrance and crossed to open it. She looked at the hastily scrawled note on the top and took the letter from its beak.
Cassie, we were wondering if you'd like to have dinner with us tonight as a send-off in the kitchens. Let us know by return owl.
-Tommy
Of course I would love to have dinner with you tonight. Just tell me when.
-Cassie
In two hours, meet us at the Entrance Hall. My brother saw us sitting under the tree earlier and figured it was a perfect opportunity for a picture to send home. I figured you would like a copy. Safe travels.
-Tommy
Getting rid of me already? I don't leave till tomorrow, you know. ;)
-Cassie
P.S. The picture turned out wonderful, your brother has quite the talent as a photographer!
P.P.S. Do you mind if I borrow your owl? I need to send a letter so my friend knows when I'm going to get there.
Of course you can use the owl, just know that we'll be expecting letters from you for the rest of the school year and all through summer!
-Tommy
The picture had shown the Weasley twins, Cedric, Leon, Tommy and her sitting under the shade of a tree as she transfigured the quill into a dagger and wrapped Tommy's hand when he cut himself. She giggled a little when she thought of what Gabrielle would say. She could already hear her beautiful friend going on and on about how cute they all were. Which was true, really. They were very cute, but Cassie had other things to worry about.
Dear Gabrielle,
You wouldn't believe how different Hogwarts is from Beauxbatons! I passed all my exams and even made a few friends! I'll tell you all about them when we see each other. Professor Dumbledore has managed to arrange a portkey for me for tomorrow morning so we can meet up at the train station in Toulouse as always. I hope you had a good time in Prague, I really wish that I could have gone with you, but we'll have plenty of time for that later. I'll see you tomorrow, hopefully.
Your best friend,
Cassie
Cassie quickly changed for dinner, she had been taught from an early age to never eat dinner in your day clothes. She let her hair fall gracefully down her back and wore a pale yellow knee-length dress that flowed out at her waist in wide pleats with her white one-inch heels and her lacy white gloves.
"Ah, there you are! Everyone's already in the kitchens."
"Not to be bothersome, but why didn't we just eat in the Great Hall, Tommy?"
"You'll see." he said with a smirk, making her roll her eyes. "Why are you so dressed up? We're not at a fancy restaurant, you know. I'm pretty sure Fred and George are wearing the same pants they wore yesterday."
"You dress up for dinner. Even if it's just in the kitchens." Cassie said as if it were the most normal thing in the world; which to her, it was.
"Correction, you dress up for dinner. We have dinner in casual clothing."
"Well, I shall be the one to change that." Cassie said with steely determination, and a hint of amusement.
"Good luck." he snorted.
"Challenge accepted." Cassie said, holding out her gloved hand.
"You're on. I give you till the end of the next school year to get at least five people to dress up for dinner." Tommy said, shaking her hand.
"What's at stake?"
"I'll tell you when you're sorted. It depends on what house you get." he said.
"Deal." Cassie said, the wheels in her head turning as she planned.
"Here we are." Tommy said, tickling the pear and allowing her entrance first.
"That's such an odd way to enter a kitchen! I love it!" she said excitedly, pausing for him to step in front of her and lead her over to where everyone was.
"What's with the dressing up?" Fred asked when he saw her in her dress.
"What? This old thing?" Cassie said, putting a hand to her chest and looking shocked. She discreetly waved her wand at all the boys and transfigured their casual clothes into a top hat, white tie and tails ensemble while they all looked at her antics. "Ah, that's better. Now, which of you gentlemen will pull my seat out for me?" Cassie asked, smiling mischievously.
"Allow me." Cedric and Leon said in unison, and the faces they made when they realized what they were wearing was priceless.
"Hey!" the twins cried in unison, equally affronted that they were dressed up.
"So, Tommy. For the sake of the argument, let's say I'm a Gryffindor to even things out at the table. What's my reward?" she asked, looking at him sideways.
"Last time I make a bet with a girl." he muttered, taking out his wand and saying "Your wish is my command." tipping his hat to her, literally, making them all burst into laughter.
"Hmm, I'll let you know when I'm sorted. It depends on what house I get." she said, echoing his words.
"These ties are so uncomfortable." Fred complained.
"Oh, but Fred, darling. You look absolutely marvelous!" Cassie said, putting every effort into doing a posh british accent to say that.
"Oh, so she can speak clearly." George teased.
The rest of dinner went by in much the same manner, teasing and laughing and generally having a good time. Cassie mentioned to Tomy that she wouldn't be needing his owl after all, she had figured out how to deliver the letter to her friend immediately with some intricate magic, but that she would be writing to them. They all walked her up to her temporary room and bade her bon voyage, in a rather funny attempt to sound French from the Weasleys.
The following morning, well before dawn, Cassie made sure that she left everything the way she found it, triple checked she had the parchments, all her belongings, and the picture of the six of them and made her way to Professor Dumbledore's office. She hoped she wasn't too incredibly early as it was rather rude to wake someone up before the sun even peeked over the horizon. She knocked timidly on the door, letting out a sigh of relief when the soft 'enter' was heard.
"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore. I trust I didn't wake you?" Cassie said nervously.
"My dear, when you are as old as I, sleep becomes a fickle thing. I was just enjoying a good book." he said jovially.
"Have you tried reciting all the elves? Fred Weasley says it puts him to sleep in seconds." Cassie said jokingly, matching the man's mood.
"I haven't, no. I think I'll try that tonight." he said. "It's nearly time for your portkey. Are you sure you wouldn't like someone to accompany you? It has been a rather long time since I've been to France, and I would very much like to pick up some more of those delicious candies."
"I will be fine, professor, if you are only offering for me. But if you really want some more candies, there is this quaint little muggle candy shop near the train station that has the most delicious nougats." Cassie said, not wanting to put him off, but still nervous about going alone.
"It's settled then! Give me just a moment, would I look too eccentric in wizard's robes?" he asked, twirling his wand in his hands, his eyes twinkling.
"I'm afraid you will, professor. Perhaps a suit? It can have a purple vest, no one will question the vest." Cassie told him, thinking to herself 'they might question the hair and beard…'
"It's settled then!" he said, going back into his personal study and quickly transfiguring his clothes into something muggle appropriate. "I trust you have everything?" he asked with twinkling eyes.
"I double and triple checked, sir. The only thing I'd be leaving is my handkerchief, but I don't see myself getting it back any time soon." she said politely, stepping forward and adjusting her grip on her garment bag.
"Well, I would say that the portkey should activate at any moment, do you have a firm grip on your belongings?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Here you are."
"A gilded hairbrush?" Cassie asked incredulously, observing it carefully; it was a rather beautiful handle with the back containing a cameo with her profile on it.
"I noticed you have a certain proclivity for gilded items, and you gave me a rather beautiful snuffbox and matchbook." he said, looking over at the table. "Besides, I had a horrible paperweight one of my former students gifted me, it was a perfect way to be rid of it." he said with a chuckle, grabbing onto the other end when it started growing blue.
She felt the familiar pull at her navel and the sensation of her organs being pulled up to her throat and her body being twisted in a vortex, and then she found her feet landing on solid ground. She looked over to professor Dumbledore and found he was smiling.
"Rather an uncomfortable form of transport, but it sure is good to be back in France." he said with twinkling eyes.
"Shall we?" Cassie asked, not sharing his feelings of fondness for France at the moment.
"We shall. Lead the way, Ms. Gratien." he said, motioning for her to go ahead.
They walked for a few minutes in silence, Cassie pointing out various landmarks she recognized, and finally arrived at the candy store she had told him about.
"I realize it's rather early, professor. I doubt the owner's even woken up yet. But I would compare it to that wonderful shop in Hogsmeade, what was the name?"
"Honeydukes!"
"The one and only." Cassie agreed with a smile.
"Since we're here…" Dumbledore said mischievously, holland out his arm.
"You want to aparate inside?" Cassie asked dubiously, then shrugged as if saying why not, and took his arm.
Once inside, Cassie recommended Dumbledore all the best candies, and accepted a few herself, and then left the muggle money on the counter, making sure to erase the security footage before leaving. Dumbledore accompanied her to the train station and bade her goodbye, using the wizard office to aparate back to Hogwarts.
Cassie waited the next few hours patiently, occasionally moving from one bench to the other. She knew that the Delacours would be coming back via train, and she hoped that Gabrielle received her letter from the day earlier. The bit of magic she had done had been highly experimental, she just thought of where she wanted the letter to go, and felt her magic hum under her skin and closed her eyes before waving her wand over it. When she looked back at the table, the letter was gone and she couldn't find it anywhere in the classroom. She really wanted to know if she could repeat the magic she had done, or at least know exactly what it was. The train from Prague pulled up at around eight thirty, making Cassie relax a little as she would be able to share everything from the previous week with her best friend.