Cassie looked up from her desk when she heard a THUMP against the window. Sighing she stood up and opened the window, a limp grey owl lay on the windowsill. It was Errol, Ron's owl. Cassie, Ron and Hermione had been sending letters back and forth with the ill owl for the whole summer because Harry hadn't replied to any of their letters, so they couldn't use Hedwig. They were all worried about their best friend and Ron was on the verge of going to Harry's Aunt and Uncle's house and breaking him out. Cassie turned back to Errol, who was now pathetically lying on her desk. She took the letter from his leg and instantly recognised the small, swirly handwriting of Hermione rather than Ron's large capitalised script . Cassie ripped open the envelope and read,
Dear Cassie,
Have you heard, Ron actually broke Harry out of his Aunt and Uncle's house. He wrote to me about it yesterday. I hope everything went alright and that Harry is okay and that they didn't do anything illegal to get him out, because that would get Harry into trouble, too. I'm very busy with schoolwork, of course but me and my parents are going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley? Let me know what's happening as soon as you can.
Love from Hermione XXX
Cassie ran to her door and wrenched it open.
"DAD ?" she shouted down the stairs
"WHAT ?" her Dad shouted back
"ARE YOU OR MUM OFF ON WEDNESDAY ?" Cassie asked
"YEAH," replied her Dad "I AM"
"CAN WE GO TO DIAGON ALLEY ?" Cassie shouted
"HELL YEAH !" whooped her Dad.
"Darius, landguage !" Cassie heard her Mum scold her Dad
"And Cassie if you want something, please come and ask but don't shout down the stairs." called her Mum.
But it was too late, Cassie had already disappeared into her room again. Cassie went to her desk and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill.
Dear Hermione, she wrote
I wish I'd been there when Ron broke Harry out of his Aunt and Uncle's house, it sounds so exciting, nothing much is happening here. My dad's got a day off on Wednesday, so I can come to Diagon Alley. Hopefully, I'll see you, Harry and Ron there.
Lots of love, Cassie X
Cassie slotted the note into an envelope and scrawled Hermione's name on the front. She tied the letter onto Eroll's leg and carried him over to the window. Cassie tried to nudge Eroll outside but he just flopped onto the windowsill. Cassie sighed, she really needed an owl.
The next Wednesday, Cassie and Dad were standing in front of the Leaky Cauldron. They pushed open the creaky door and walked inside. It was just as dark and damp as Cassie remembered it, with suspicious figures dotted around at various tables. She nodded to Tom the bartender, before leading her dad behind the bar and out into the walled courtyard. Cassie pulled out her wand and began counting bricks.
"Are you allowed to do that ?" asked her Dad "I thought you weren't able to use magic outside of school if you're underage."
"I checked with Hermione," replied Cassie. "She says that it's not technically magic, it's just the wall recognising a magic core within the wand so it can let you pass."
"Wow." said her dad, looking impressed.
Cassie tapped the correct brick and the wall began to open like a huge gaping mouth. As soon as Cassie entered the Alley, she was mesmerised by the colourful street and its magical occupants. Cassie gazed around and grinned when she saw a girl with a mass of bushy brown hair running towards her.
"Oof !"
Cassie was nearly knocked over when Hermione flung her arms around her. Hermione's hair seemed to have grown even longer over the summer and the two of them had to spend a few minutes disentangling each other from Hermione's curls.
"I've missed you so much Cassie." said Hermione, linking their arms together
"Aww I've missed you too Mione" replied Cassie, her cheeks going a faint pink.
"Have you spotted either of the boys?" asked Hermione, as they walked down the Alley
"No," said Cassie "Me and my Dad just got here."
The two girls turned around to look at the parents, Cassie's Dad was getting on splendidly with Hermione's parents. The group of five walked slowly down the street, peering in shop windows and keeping an eye out for a family of redheads and a bespectacled boy. It wasn't until they were on the top of Gringotts steps that Hermione gave a shout
"Harry! Harry! Over here!"
She ran down the white steps, with Cassie hot on her heels
"What happened to your glasses?" asked Hermione, pointing to the cracked lens in Harry's round glasses.
"Hello, Harry, Hagrid, it's great to see you two again." said Cassie, beaming
"Are you coming into Gringotts, Harry?" queried Hermione.
"As soon as I've found the Weasleys," said Harry.
"Yeh won't have long ter wait," Hagrid said with a grin.
Harry, Cassie and Hermione looked around: Sprinting up the crowded street were Ron, Fred, George, Percy, and Mr. Weasley.
"Harry," Mr. Weasley panted. "We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far..." He mopped his glistening bald patch. "Molly's frantic, she's coming now."
"Where did you come out?" Ron asked.
"Knockturn Alley," said Hagrid grimly.
"Excellent!" said Fred and George together.
"We've never been allowed in," said Ron enviously.
"I should ruddy well think not," growled Hagrid.
Mrs. Weasley now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other.
"Oh, Harry, oh, my dear, you could have been anywhere.."
Gasping for breath she pulled a large clothes brush out of her bag and began sweeping off the soot off of Harry's clothes. Mr. Weasley took Harry's glasses, gave them a tap of his wand, and returned them, good as new.
"Well, gotta be off," said Hagrid, who was having his hand wrung by Mrs. Weasley ("Knockturn Alley! If you hadn't found him, Hagrid!"). "See yer at Hogwarts!" And he strode away, head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the packed street.
"Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?" Harry asked Ron, Cassie and Hermione as they climbed the Gringotts steps. "Malfoy and his father."
"Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?" said Mr. Weasley sharply behind them.
"No, he was selling," Harry replied
"So he's worried," said Mr. Weasley with grim satisfaction. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something ..."
"You be careful, Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley sharply as they were bowed into the bank by a goblin at the door. "That family's trouble. Don't go biting off more than you can chew."
"So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?" said Mr. Weasley indignantly, but he was distracted almost at once by the sight of Cassie's Dad and Hermione's parents, who were standing at the counter that ran all along the great marble hall, waiting for Cassie and Hermione to introduce them.
"But you're Muggles!" said Mr. Weasley delightedly. "We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money. Molly, look!"
He pointed excitedly at the ten-pound notes in Dr. Granger's hand.
"Meet you back here," Ron said to Hermione and as the Weasleys and Harry were led off to their underground vaults by another Gringotts goblin.
Cassie's Dad had already exchanged money so they stood off to the side waiting for the others.
"Dad?" said Cassie, casually leaning against a pillar.
"Cassie.." her Dad replied, grinning
"What'd you think about me getting an owl." asked Cassie "For sending letters and that."
"Well.. I suppose it's your birthday soon"
"Thanks Dad." Cassie leant in to her Dad's side.
"Your welcome Casserole." her Dad replied, ruffling her hair
Cassie groaned at the use of her awful nickname.
"I thought you promised not to call me that anymore." said Cassie
I didn't for nearly a whole year, I think it's time my ingenious nickname made a reappearance." her Dad said, grinning.
Cassie was about to reply when she caught sight of Ron and Harry coming back from the vaults. She signalled to Hermione and the four of them walked out into the sunshine together. When outside on the marble steps, the Potter, Weasleys, Blacks and Grangers all separated. Percy muttered vaguely about needing a new quill. Fred and George had spotted their friend from Hogwarts, Lee Jordan. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were going to a secondhand robe shop. Mr. Weasley insisted on taking Cassie's Dad and both Dr Grangers off to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.
"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your schoolbooks," said Mrs. Weasley, setting off with Ginny.
"And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" she shouted at the twins retreating backs.
Harry, Cassie, Ron, and Hermione strolled off along the winding, cobbled street. At the ice cream parlour, Harry bought four large strawberry and peanut butter ice creams, which they slurped happily as they wandered up the alley, examining the fascinating shop windows. Ron gazed longingly at a full set of Chudley Cannon robes in the windows of Quality Quidditch Supplies until Hermione dragged them off to buy ink and parchment next door. In Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, they met Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, who were stocking up on Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks, and in a tiny junk shop full of broken wands, lopsided brass scales, and old cloaks covered in potion stains they found Percy, deeply immersed in a small and deeply boring book called Prefects Who Gained Power .
"A study of Hogwarts prefects and their later careers," Ron read aloud off the back cover. "That sounds fascinating ..."
"Go away," Percy snapped.
"Course, he's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all planned out... He wants to be Minister of Magic..." Ron told Harry, Cassie and Hermione in an undertone as they left Percy to it.
Once outside, Cassie turned to the others
"By the way guys," she began "Dad said yes to an owl, dunno what Mum'll say about it but we'll cross that bridge once we get home."
The other three laughed as they crossed the threshold into Eeylops Owl Emporium. Cassie, Ron, Harry and Hermione peered into each cage, giving their opinions on each creature inside. It wasn't until the last cage, that Cassie found her owl. The small, fat, tawny brown owl with large black eyes tripped on its way to press against the wire front on the cage. Cassie opened the cage door and laughed at the owl eagerly jumped onto her shoulder and nuzzled into her cheek. Cassie turned and grinned at the other three.
"I'm getting this one." she said
"What are you gonna call him ?" asked Harry
"I'm going to call him Bean." said Cassie, stroking the owls head with her finger.
"Bean ?" snorted Ron
"It's a very distinguished name." replied Cassie trying to look snooty but failing miserably
The four best friends collapsed into giggles.
An hour later, they headed for Flourish and Blotts. They were by no means the only ones making their way to the bookshop. As they approached it, they saw to their surprise a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get in. The reason for this was proclaimed by a large banner stretched across the upper windows:
GILDEROY LOCKHART
Will be signing copies of his autobiography: MAGICAL ME
Today 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.
"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!"
The crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around Mrs. Weasley's age. A harassed-looking wizard stood at the door, saying,
"Calmly, please, ladies... Don't push, there... mind the books, now..."
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Cassie, who was holding Bean's cage, squeezed inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. They each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys were standing with Hermione and Cassie's parents
"Oh, there you are, good," said Mrs. Weasley. She sounded breathless and kept patting her hair. "We'll be able to see him in a minute..."
Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forget-me-not blue that exactly matched his eyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair.
A short, irritable-looking man was dancing around taking photographs with a large black camera that emitted puffs of purple smoke with every blinding flash.
"Out of the way, there," he snarled at Ron, moving back to get a better shot. "This is for the Daily Prophet, "
"Big deal," grumbled Ron, rubbing his foot where the photographer had stepped on it.
Gilderoy Lockhart heard him. He looked up. He saw Ron and then he saw Harry. He stared. Then he leapt to his feet and positively shouted,
"It can't be Harry Potter?"
The crowd parted, whispering excitedly; Lockhart dived forward, seized Harry's arm, and pulled him to the front. The crowd burst into applause. Cassie watched as Harry's face burned red as Lockhart shook his hand for the photographer, who was clicking away madly, wafting thick smoke over the Grangers, Blacks and Weasleys.
Harry tried to sidle back over to the Weasleys, but Lockhart threw an arm around his shoulders and clamped him tightly to his side.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said loudly, waving for quiet. "What an extraordinary moment this is! The perfect moment for me to make a little announcement I've been sitting on for some time! When young Harry here, stepped into Flourish and Blotts today, he only wanted to buy my autobiography - which I shall be happy to present to him now, free of charge, "
The crowd applauded again.
"He had no idea ," Lockhart continued, giving Harry a little shake that made his glasses slip to the end of his nose, "that he would shortly be getting much, much more than my book, Magical Me . He and his schoolmates will, in fact, be getting the real magical me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be taking up the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
The crowd cheered and clapped and Harry was presented with the entire works of Gilderoy Lockhart. Cassie, Ron and Hermione all grabbed their necessary books before making their way over to Harry and Ron's sister Ginny. Once they got there, they saw Draco Malfoy was also standing there, sneering at Harry
"Oh, it's you," said Ron, looking at Malfoy as if he were something unpleasant on the sole of his shoe. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"
"Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley," retorted Malfoy. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those."
Ron went red. He dropped his books into Ginny's cauldron and started toward Malfoy, but Harry, Cassie and Hermione grabbed the back of his jacket.
"What's happening here ?" a cold voice drawled
It was Mr. Malfoy. He had the same pale pointed face, platinum blond and grey eyes. He stood with his hand on Draco's shoulder, sneering in just the same way.
The elder Malfoy's eyes fixed on Cassie.
"You must be young Miss Black," he said "The daughter of the squib."
He stared down his nose at her but Cassie steeled herself and refused to be intimidated.
"Now we know where Draco gets it" said Cassie, glaring back at Mr Malfoy
"Gets what ?" asked Mr Malfoy slowly
"Being a slimy git." Cassie replied smirking
"Why you-" Mr Malfoy started forwards, plunging his hands into his robes.
"What's going on ?"
It was Mr Weasley. He caught sight of Mr Malfoy.
"Well, well, well - Arthur Weasley." Mr Malfoy forgot about Cassie and started on the Weasley patriarch.
"Lucius," said Mr. Weasley, nodding coldly.
"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear," said Mr. Malfoy. "All those raids... I hope they're paying you overtime?"
He reached into Ginny's cauldron and extracted, from amid the glossy Lockhart books, a very old, very battered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration .
"Obviously not," Mr. Malfoy said. "Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"
Mr. Weasley flushed even darker than Ron.
"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy," he said.
"Clearly," said Mr. Malfoy, his pale eyes straying to Darius and both Dr Grangers, who were now watching apprehensively. "The company you keep, Weasley... and I thought your family could sink no lower."
There was a thud of metal as Ginny's cauldron went flying; Mr. Weasley had thrown himself at Mr. Malfoy, knocking him backward into a bookshelf. Dozens of heavy spellbooks came thundering down on all their heads; there was a yell of, "Get him, Dad!" from Fred or George; a shout of "Punch him on the nose !" from Cassie and Mrs. Weasley's shriek of , "No, Arthur, no!"; the crowd stampeded backwards, knocking more shelves over;
"Gentlemen, please , please!" cried the assistant, and then, louder than all..
"Break it up, there, gents, break it up, "
Hagrid was wading toward them through the sea of books. In an instant, he had pulled Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy apart. Mr. Weasley had a cut lip and Mr. Malfoy had been hit in the eye by an Encyclopedia of Toadstools. Mr Malfoy was still holding Ginny's old Transfiguration book. He thrust it at her, his eyes glittering with malice.
"Here, girl, take your book, it's the best your father can give you,"
Pulling himself out of Hagrid's grip he beckoned to Draco and swept from the shop.
"Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur," said Hagrid, almost lifting Mr. Weasley off his feet as he straightened his robes. "Rotten ter the core, the whole family, everyone knows that, no Malfoy's worth listenin' 'ter, bad blood, that's what it is, come on now, let's get outta here."
The assistant looked as though he wanted to stop them from leaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and seemed to think better of it. They hurried up the street, Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with fury.
"A fine example to set for your children... brawling in public... what Gilderoy Lockhart must've thought,"
"He was pleased," said Fred. "Didn't you hear him as we were leaving? He was asking that bloke from the Daily Prophet if he'd be able to work the fight into his report, said it was all publicity, "
Cassie and her Dad quickly said their goodbyes and made their way out of the Alley. It wasn't until they were in the car, that her Dad spoke.
"Do people bother you at school cause of what I am ?" her Dad asked hesitantly
"No, not really," replied Cassie. "Most people presume I'm Muggleborn and no one has got anything against that anymore."
"Hmmm." Her dad didn't look convinced.
"It's fine Dad honest," said Cassie "What do you think Mum's gonna say about Bean ?"
It was a blatant change of subject but thankfully her Dad ignored it and threw his head back against the seat and groaned,
"I'm going to be sleeping on the sofa for weeks."