Chapter 15 A/N I do not own Harry Potter, any sentences taken verbatim from the books are not mine.
"Come on," Ron whispered to Harry. "Move - come on-"
Cassie steered him out of the hall, Hermione and the two boys hurrying alongside them. As they went through the doors, the people on either side drew away as though they were frightened of catching something, all of them receiving a hard glare from Cassie as they passed. Harry obviously didn't have a clue what was going on, and neither Ron nor Hermione explained anything until Cassie had dragged him all the way up to the empty Gryffindor common room.
Then Ron pushed Harry into an armchair and said, "You're a Parselmouth. Why didn't you tell us?"
"I'm a what?" Harry asked, looking at Cassie who was bent by the wall, holding her side muttering about how she really needed to do more exercise.
"A Parselmouth!" said Ron. "You can talk to snakes!"
"I know," said Harry. "I mean, that's only the second time I've ever done it. I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once - long story - but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I sort of set it free without meaning to that was before I knew I was a wizard-"
"A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?" Ron repeated faintly.
"Classic Harry." Cassie panted out while Merlin handed her a glass of water, where he got it was anyone's guess.
"So?" said Harry, ignoring Cassie. "I bet loads of people here can do it."
"Oh, no they can't," said Ron. "It's not a very common gift. Harry, this is bad."
"What's bad?" said Harry, starting to feel quite angry. "What's wrong with everyone? Listen, if I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin-"
"But you didn't! You hissed at it and it slumped to the ground, Harry." Cassie said, while Ron asked at the same time, "Oh, that's what you said to it?"
"What d'you mean? You were there - you heard me-"
"I heard you speaking Parseltongue," said Ron. "Snake language. You could have been saying anything - no wonder Justin panicked, you sounded like you were egging the snake on or something - it was creepy, you know-"
"It sounded something like this." Merlin said, then proceeded to imitate Harry pretty well, or so Cassie thought.
"You're saying nonsense Merlin. What does Algiers have to do with anything?"
"I was hissing at you, Harry."
"I spoke a different language? But - I didn't realize - how can I speak a language without knowing I can speak it?"
"It's not that hard. Happens to us all the time." Cassie said, motioning to Merlin and herself.
Ron shook his head. Both he and Hermione were looking as though someone had died. Cassie and Merlin were looking at him contemplatively. Harry couldn't see what was so terrible.
"D'you want to tell me what's wrong with stopping a massive snake biting off Justin's head?" he said, getting angry. "What does it matter how I did it as long as Justin doesn't have to join the Headless Hunt?"
"It matters," said Hermione, speaking at last in a hushed voice, "because being able to talk to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent."
Harry's mouth fell open.
"Exactly," said Ron. "And now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great-great-grandson or something-"
"But I'm not," said Harry, with a panic he couldn't quite explain.
"You'll find that hard to prove," said Hermione. "He lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be."
"But Cassie said-" Harry began, but Merlin interrupted him.
"Cassie's not a genealogist, Harry. You may very well be his descendant, we don't know."
"I stick by what I said, Harry. You're not the Heir of Slytherin." Cassie said, completely sure of those words and taking a seat by the fireplace. "Come on, you're just going to stand there open-mouthed?"
But Harry only closed his mouth and skulked up to his room.
"Guess that answers that." Cassie said with a crut nod. "Come on, Merlin. There's damage control to be done in our common room."
"I have a feeling I know exactly what they're going to say, Cassie. Let's just stay here until curfew. At least George and Fred will laugh it off."
"They'll be the only ones." Ron muttered, going up to his room as well.
"Don't suppose you want a game of exploding snap, 'Mione?" Cassie asked her from where she sat.
"Sorry, Merlin. You go down to your common room. Cassie and I have to talk." Hermione said, grabbing her and dragging her up the stairs.
Cassie snuck down to the Hufflepuff common room an hour after curfew, to find it blissfully empty, save for a few older years and Merlin.
"You weren't wrong about damage control. At least they went to the dorm before you got back. They really bit into me when I got here." Merlin said quietly as he led her towards the corner he was previously occupying.
"Really? Was it Ernie and Smith?" Cassie asked him, some animosity heard her voice.
"All of the ones in our year and some in third."
"They're going to feel foolish when they figure out that Harry isn't the Heir of Slytherin!" Cassie hissed angrily, keeping her voice low.
"You and I know that, but they don't. They don't know Harry like we do."
"They would have to be exceptionally thick to think someone like Harry would ever do something so cruel!" Cassie said, her face flushing in anger.
"We are talking about the same people, aren't we?"
"Susan and Megan aren't that dumb."
"You're right. But they're afraid. The whole school is." Merlin said sadly.
"I know. But if-" Cassie said, stopping while some of the seventh years packed up their books and left, "If the Heir is someone at Hogwarts, who could it be? It has to be a first year, why wait so long to open the chamber otherwise. But then that begs the question, how? They're doing magic beyond N.E.W.T. level! Pertifying someone is a dark magic that isn't taught here! I doubt it's even taught at Durmstrang, Merlin. Who could be doing this?"
"Whoever is opening the chamber is letting out a monster that does the petrifying. It's the only explanation, and it agrees with the legend. The only one I can think of right now is a Gorgon-and I highly doubt that Medusa's behind this." Merlin said sarcastically.
"Hermione and I are going to the library over the weekend, maybe we will find something there. I'll be sure to check out books on creatures. I don't know much about Gorgons, but what if it's a Gorgon-like creature; a descendant of a Gorgon if you will."
"Cassie, those books will be in the restricted section. I highly doubt that Pince's going to receive Lockhart's signature again." Merlin warned her.
"You're right." Cassie said, deflating. "But there should be books on Medusa in the stacks, right?"
"Yea, I don't know how thorough they'd be. Probably just an overview of the Greek myths and what wizards actually know about them." Merlin said dismissively.
"Still worth a try. I'll tell Hermione about the theory in Herbology tomorrow." Cassie said.
"I'm more concerned with how tomorrow's going to go in class."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing I can't handle. As long as we just ignore everything, it'd be alright."
"Herbology's going to be dreadful tomorrow!" Cassie groaned, looking out the window at the snow that was piling up.
"Yeah." Merlin agreed as a clock chimed somewhere.
"Can't believe it's really one in the morning." Cassie said after a pregnant pause.
"We've been speaking for over an hour Cassie, you really have no sense of time." Merlin said amused.
"Can't say you're wrong there, Merlin. I should go turn in. Goodnight." she said, kissing him on the cheek and retreating to her dorm. She lay on her bed, thoughts swirling as much as the snow outside and when she fell asleep she dreamt of a phoenix carrying a horse, a stag, a dog and a peacock. For some reason, she woke up in the kitchens instead of her bed with the house-elves shooting her glances.
"Excuse me." Cassie said to the nearest house-elf that was carrying a tray of pancakes, "Do you know why I'm here? I could have sworn I was in my bed last night."
"Miss entered the kitchens two hours ago. I think Miss was sleepwalking." The house-elf answered in a high, squeaky voice.
"Thank you. It's Shely, right?"
"Yes Miss!" she answered, nodding her head happily.
"Would you mind very much making me a mushroom and bacon quiche today? I'm craving some for some reason."
"Of course Miss! Would Miss like to wait down here, or would you like it upstairs?"
"I think I'll go freshen up and change into my school robes first. Then I'll eat down here if that's all right?"
"Of course, Miss! Right away!" she said, putting the tray down on the table and hurrying to make Cassie her quiche.
Cassie went back to her dorm and quickly ducked behind the three-fold dressing screen with the panels depicting the Fragonard painting L'Escarpolette she had put up for privacy to change behind. When she deemed herself presentable, doing her hair up in a French braid that wrapped around her head and ended in a messy bun at the nape of her neck, she gathered her books and went back to the kitchens to have her breakfast. She ate the quiche happily, went back to the drom to brush her teeth, and then started off towards Herbology. Halfway to the door that led outside, the rest of the Hufflepuff's caught up with her and told her that Herbology had been cancelled; Professor Sprout wanted to fit socks and scarves on the Mandrakes, a tricky operation she would entrust to no one else, now that it was so important for the Mandrakes to grow quickly and revive Mrs. Norris and Colin Creevey. They said that they were going to the library to study and that she could join if she wanted, which she readily agreed to, thinking about how un-hostile they were being and how Merlin may have exaggerated.
"Where've you been? Haven't seen you since the Great Hall last night." Susan asked.
"No where. I was talking until late with Merlin and I woke up early this morning." Cassie said, shrugging as she walked up the stairs next to her.
"I didn't even hear you get up. You're really stealthy." Megan said from the other side of Susan.
"Hardly. Pretty sure I stubbed my toe on the way out, it's been killing me for a while, and I'm not the best person to be around in the morning. I just figured I would get an early start and wash my hair. And I tend to take a long time washing my hair."
"Really, it's not wet." Megan said, looking at her braid. "But I do love this braid! It looks so cute!"
"My best friend's sister taught me how to braid my hair like this. She also taught me how to dry my hair with my wand, so I never have wet hair for classes." Cassie said happily as they made their way to the library.
"You must miss them." Susan said, "You talk about them nonstop."
"They're more than family to me. Of course I miss them. Which is why we write each other every week, alternating owls, of course. Those poor birds fly so far!"
"The table in the corner over there is big enough for all of us." Ernie said, leading them all over and taking a seat.
"I'll be back, I need to grab some books first." Cassie said, leaving her bag on the chair next to Megan and walking over to Madam Pince. "Excuse me, Madam Pince." Cassie said softly, waiting patiently for the matron to look up from the spellbook she was polishing.
"Yes."
"I was wondering if you could tell me in which aisle there are books on Greek mythology?" Cassie asked nicely, waiting for the librarian to finish writing down where they would be. "Thank you." Cassie said, smiling. She went over and picked out a book on the myth of Perseus and another on mythological creatures.
"Why are you researching Perseus? We've got Potion's homework to do." Zacharias asked.
"Finished the Potion's homework ages ago. This is just for pedantry." Cassie said.
"What's pedantry?" he asked lamely.
"I am looking through Jone's Perseus cycles and wanted to know the myth behind his inspiration. It's just for my edification."
"I swear, sometimes you are more annoying than Granger." Hannah said.
'You lot asked! If you don't like the answer, don't ask the question.' Cassie thought, but mumbled that she wouldn't change the way she spoke for them instead and started reading.
"So anyway, I told Justin to hide up in our dormitory. I mean to say, if Potter's marked him down as his next victim, it's best if he keeps a low profile for a while. Of course, Justin's been waiting for something like this to happen ever since he let slip to Potter he was Muggle-born. Justin actually told him he'd been down for Eton. That's not the kind of thing you bandy about with Slytherin's heir on the loose, is it?" Ernie said to them all.
"You definitely think it is Potter, then, Ernie?" Hannah asked.
"Hannah," Ernie said solemnly, "he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a Dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue." Cassie was fuming inside, she didn't trust herself not to explode on them so she bit her tongue and turned the page as the others all murmured their opinions.
"Remember what was written on the wall? Enemies of the Heir, Beware. Potter had some sort of run-in with Filch. Next thing we know, Filch's cat's attacked. That first year, Creevey, was annoying Potter at the Quidditch match, taking pictures of him while he was lying in the mud. Next thing we know - Creevey's been attacked." he kept going, listing his reasons.
"He always seems so nice, though," said Hannah uncertainly, "and, well, he's the one who made You-Know-Who disappear. He can't be all bad, can he?" Cassie couldn't help but think slightly better of Hannah at that comment. Ernie, however, kept going, lowering his voice and forcing Cassie to look up from the book and lean closer so she could hear what he said.
"No one knows how he survived that attack by You-Know-Who. I mean to say, he was only a baby when it happened. He should have been blasted into smithereens. Only a really powerful Dark wizard could have survived a curse like that." He dropped his voice until it was barely more than a whisper, and said, "That's probably why You- Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place. Didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him. I wonder what other powers Potter's been hiding?"
"Honestly!" Cassie had had enough, "You lot wouldn't know a 'Dark wizard' if he appeared in front of you in a cloud of green smoke!" she hissed, grabbing her bag and standing up to put the books back. However, at that moment, someone cleared their throat from the bookcase and stepped forward. That someone was Harry, and he looked furious. Cassie had to stifle a giggle at the sight that greeted him: Every one of her housemates looked as though they had been Petrified by the sight of him, and the color was draining out of Ernie's face.
"Hello," said Harry. "I'm looking for Justin Finch-Fletchley."
The Hufflepuffs' worst fears had clearly been confirmed. They all looked fearfully at Ernie.
"What do you want with him?" said Ernie in a quavering voice.
"I wanted to tell him what really happened with that snake at the Dueling Club," said Harry.
Ernie bit his white lips and then, taking a deep breath, said, "We were all there. We saw what happened."
"Then you noticed that after I spoke to it, the snake backed off?" said Harry.
"All I saw," said Ernie stubbornly, though he was trembling as he spoke, "was you speaking Parseltongue and chasing the snake toward Justin."
"Harry was not chasing the snake towards him!" Cassie cried at the same time Harry spoke.
"I didn't chase it at him!" Harry said, his voice shaking with anger. "It didn't even touch him!"
"It was a very near miss," said Ernie. "And in case you're getting ideas," he added hastily, "I might tell you that you can trace my family back through nine generations of witches and warlocks and my blood's as pure as anyone's, so-"
"- I don't care what sort of blood you've got!" said Harry fiercely. "Why would I want to attack Muggle-borns?"
"I've heard you hate those Muggles you live with," said Ernie swiftly.
"It's not possible to live with the Dursleys and not hate them," said Harry. "I'd like to see you try it."
He turned on his heel and stormed out of the library, earning himself a reproving glare from Madam Pince, who was polishing the gilded cover of a large spellbook. Cassie replaced the books on their proper shelves and hastened out of the library, running once she was clear of Madam Pince's gaze, to catch up to Harry.
"Harry! Wait up!" Cassie called after him, but he ignored her and turned the corner. "Harry!" She found him on the floor at Hagrid's feet.
"Oh, hello, Hagrid," Harry said, looking up at him.
"All righ', Harry?" he said, pulling up the balaclava so he could speak. "Why aren't yeh in class? Hullo Cassie."
"Hi Hagrid." Cassie said breathlessly. "I really need to start exercising more!"
"Canceled," said Harry, getting up. "What're you doing in here?"
"Second one killed this term," he explained holding up a limp rooster. "It's either foxes or a Blood-Suckin Bugbear, an' I need the Headmaster's permission ter put a charm around the hen coop."
"Yeh sure yeh're all righ'? Yeh look all hot an' bothered-" he said, looking more closely at Harry's face.
"It's nothing. I'd better get going, Hagrid, it's Transfiguration next and I've got to pick up my books." Harry said, walking away.
"What are Bugbears, Hagrid?" Cassie asked.
"A beast that lives in the forest. Don't expect yeh'll learn abou' 'em 'til yeh'r in Care o' Magical Creatures." he answered her.
"Oh." Cassie replied, keeping her mouth in an o-shape. "I should really get going, it's a ways to the Hufflepuff common room and I obviously don't like running." Cassie said, motioning to how hard she was still panting.
She bade her goodbyes to Hagrid and made it to the stairs, deciding to go look for Merlin since she already had her Charms book in her bag. She figured he'd be in Gryffindor Tower with Ron and Hermione and started walking up the stairs with a resigned sigh. She really had to start exercising now.
"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!" Cassie heard from a corridor to the left of where she was which was particularly dark.
She started running down the corridor, stopping for a half-second only when she saw Nick floating immobile and horizontal, six inches off the floor. His head was half off and his face wore an expression of shock identical to Justin's and he was black and smoky.
She saw Justin and Harry next, and ran over to his side, but soon regretted it as she found herself pinned against the wall next to Harry as the teachers shouted for quiet. Professor McGonagall came running, followed by her own class, one of whom still had black-and-white-striped hair. She used her wand to set off a loud bang, which restored silence, and ordered everyone back into their classes. No sooner had the scene cleared somewhat than Ernie the Hufflepuff arrived, panting, on the scene.
"Caught in the act!" Ernie yelled, his face stark white, pointing his finger dramatically at Harry and Cassie.
"Shove it, Ernie! You know just as well as I that Harry's innocent!" Cassie yelled back at him, not caring about seeming rude in front of a teacher.
"That will do, Macmillan, Gratien!" said Professor McGonagall sharply.
Peeves was bobbing overhead, now grinning wickedly, surveying the scene; Peeves always loved chaos. As the teachers bent over Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, examining them, Peeves broke into song: "Oh, Potter, you rotter, oh, what have you done, You're killing off students, you think it's good fun-"
"That's enough Peeves!" barked Professor McGonagall, and Peeves zoomed away backward, with his tongue out at Harry.
Justin was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra of the Astronomy department, but nobody seemed to know what to do for Nearly Headless Nick. In the end, Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan out of thin air, which she gave to Ernie with instructions to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs. This Ernie did, fanning Nick along like a silent black hovercraft. This left Cassie, Harry and Professor McGonagall alone together.
"This way, Potter, Gratien," she said.
"Professor, I know Harry didn't do this! I s-" Cassie said at the same time Harry spoke.
"Professor, I swear I didn't-"
"This is out of my hands, you two," said Professor McGonagall curtly.
They marched in silence around a corner and she stopped before a large and extremely ugly stone gargoyle.
"Oh no," Cassie groaned.
"Lemon drop!" she said. Even full of dread for what was coming, Harry and Cassie couldn't fail to be amazed. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that was moving smoothly upward, like an escalator. As they and Professor McGonagall stepped onto it, Harry heard the wall thud closed behind them. They rose upward in circles, higher and higher, until at last, slightly dizzy, Harry saw a gleaming oak door ahead, with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin.
He knew now where he was being taken. This must be where Dumbledore lived.
They stepped off the stone staircase at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened silently and they entered. Professor McGonagall told Harry and Cassie to wait and left them there, alone.
Harry looked around. One thing was certain: of all the teachers' offices he'd visited so far this year, Dumbledore's was by far the most interesting. If he hadn't been scared out of his wits that he was about to be thrown out of school, he would have been very pleased to have a chance to look around it.
It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tattered wizard's hat - the Sorting Hat.
"Is it funny, I've been here many times, but it's the first I notice how many strange instruments and gadgets he has." Cassie whispered nervously, looking around.
Harry ignored her, however. He cast a wary eye around the sleeping witches and wizards on the walls. Surely it couldn't hurt if he took the hat down and tried it on again? Just to see... just to make sure it had put him in the right House.
"Harry, what're you doing?" Cassie asked from beside him.
"I need to know." he whispered back.
He walked quietly around the desk, lifted the hat from its shelf, and lowered it slowly onto his head. It was much too large and slipped down over his eyes, just as it had done the last time he'd put it on. Harry stared at the black inside of the hat, waiting. Then a small voice said in his ear, "Bee in your bonnet, Harry Potter?"
"Er, yes," Harry muttered. "Er - sorry to bother you - I wanted to ask-"
Cassie watched as he had his conversation with the hat, his face showing joy, then paling as he tugged it off and put it back on the shelf.
"You're wrong," he said aloud to the still and silent hat. It didn't move. Harry backed away, watching it. Then a strange, gagging noise behind him made both him and Cassie wheel around.
They weren't alone after all. Standing on a golden perch behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird that resembled a half-plucked turkey. Harry stared at it and the bird looked balefully back, making its gagging noise again. Harry thought it looked very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail.
"Beautiful!" Cassie murmured in awe as she slowly walked towards it.
Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames. Harry yelled in shock and backed away into the desk. He looked feverishly around in case there was a glass of water somewhere but couldn't see one; the bird, meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek and next second there was nothing but a smouldering pile of ash on the floor.
"Relax, Harry." Cassie said in the same awe-ful voice.
The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very somber.
"Professor," Harry gasped. "Your bird - I couldn't do anything - he just caught fire-"
To Harry's astonishment, Dumbledore smiled. "About time, too," he said. "He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on."
"He's absolutely amazing! What's his name? I can't believe I never asked"
"Fawkes." Dumbledore answered with twinkling eyes. He chuckled at the stunned look on Harry's face.
"Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him..." Cassie said, returning her gaze to the pile of ashes.
Harry looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, newborn bird poke its head out of the ashes. It was quite as ugly as the old one.
"It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day," said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. "He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."
Cassie stayed where she was, admiring the newborn phoenix as Dumbledore sat behind the desk in his high chair and fixed them with his piercing blue eyes. It took Cassie a moment, but she dragged her eyes from the bird to meet his, and the moment she did, she started babbling.
"Professor Dumbledore, Harry's innocent! I know he is, just because he's a Parselmouth has nothing to do with it! It's a complete coincidence, and I'm not sure how he can, none of his family were said to have that ability, though I suppose they wouldn'-"
"Cassie." Dumbledore said, stopping her rant with a raise of his hand and a look. But before Dumbledore could speak another word, the door of the office flew open with an almighty bang and Hagrid burst in, a wild look in his eyes, his balaclava perched on top of his shaggy black head and the dead rooster still swinging from his hand.
"It wasn' Harry, Professor Dumbledore!" said Hagrid urgently. "I was talkin' ter him seconds before that kid was found, he never had time, sir-"
Dumbledore tried to say something, but Hagrid went ranting on, waving the rooster around in his agitation, sending feathers everywhere.
"it can't've bin him, I'll swear it in front o' the Ministry o' Magic if I have to."
"Hagrid, I-"
"- yeh've got the wrong boy, sir, I know Harry never-"
"Hagrid!" said Dumbledore loudly. "I do not think that Harry attacked those people."
"Oh. Right. I'll wait outside then, Headmaster." Hagrid said, dropping the rooster by his side and stomping out of the office, looking embarrassed.
"You don't think it was me, Professor?" Harry repeated hopefully as Dumbledore brushed rooster feathers off his desk.
"No, Harry, I don't," said Dumbledore, though his face was somber again. "But I still want to talk to you. Both of you."
Harry waited nervously while Dumbledore considered him, the tips of his long fingers together.
"I must ask you, Harry, whether there is anything you'd like to tell me," he said gently. "Anything at all."
Cassie could practically see his thoughts swirling around, could practically see everything that had happened since the deathday party passing through his thoughts. She could tell he was thinking of what Ernie had said, and what Ron had said.
"No," said Harry. "There isn't anything, Professor..."
"Cassie? Is there anything you want to say?" He asked her gently.
"No sir, there isn't." Cassie replied softly, tracing the grain of the wood of his desk with her eyes.
"Very well. If there ever is anything you want to share, my door is always open. Happy birthday by the way, Cassie." he said, dismissing them.
"Thank you, professor." Cassie said with a small smile as she and Harry turned towards the door.
"And Harry," Dumbledore said just before they reached the door. Harry turned around to look at him, "You're lucky to have such good friends. Don't forget that."
"I think he knows we lied to him." Harry said once they got past the Gargoyle.
"Me, too." Cassie said, following him to Gryffindor Tower.
"Thanks, by the way." he said after a while of walking in companionable silence.
"For what?"
"For what you said to Ernie in the library and in the corridor, and what you said to Professor Dumbledore just now, too." he said sincerely.
"There's no need to thank me, Harry. You're my friend. Through thick and thin." Cassie said, hooking her arm around his.
"Thanks, Cassie." Harry said, blushing. "I guess I understand now why you're a Hufflepuff."
"I'd rather be a Gryffindor right now. There's very few people in Hufflepuff that I want to call friends right now." she said miserably.
"Because you stood up for me?"
"No, because they're right fools! Bloody idiots if ever I saw any, and I don't care for how quick they forget who their friends are!" Cassie said passionately, her french accent becoming even more pronounced.
"Wattlebird," Harry told the portrait of the Fat Lady, who swung open to admit the two students.
"How come you didn't say anything about your birthday?"
"Figured you knew and were waiting for a better time to say something. Hasn't exactly been an easy day."
"I feel like a terrible friend, you know. Having not remembered your birthday."
"It's okay, Harry. I don't really care much for my birthday anyways. Rather not have a fuss." Cassie said, climbing through the portrait hole.
