"Hurry up Cassie, the Grangers will be here in a minute and I'm already late !"
"Coming Mum, coming." Cassie called as she bumped her trunk down the stairs.
As both Cassie's parents were at work today, Cassie was getting a lift from Hermione to Kings Cross. There was a beep of a horn from outside and Cassie peered out of the window.
"They're here." she told her Mum
"Go on then darling," her Mum replied "We'll see you at Christmas."
Cassie hugged her Mum and then walked out of the door with her trunk in one hand and Bean's cage in the other. Hermione's Dad greeted her with a smile and lifted her trunk into the boot of the car. Cassie opened the door of the car and slid in next to Hermione, putting Bean's cage on her lap.
"Wotcher Hermione, Dr Granger."
"Alright Cassie." said Hermione, putting down her book
"What are you reading ?" asked Cassie, glancing at the front cover "Not that Lockhart prat."
Hermione's mum threw back her head and laughed.
"That's exactly what me and Richard think of him but Hermione thinks he's wonderful."
"He is," protested Hermione "He's done loads of great things and saved loads of people."
"So he says." muttered Cassie.
"Who's wonderful ?" asked Hermione's Dad, getting back in the car
"Gildreoy Lockhart." replied Hermione's Mum
"Ah yes, our Hermione's new crush." said Hermione's dad, laughing
"Dad !" groaned Hermione, going red.
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An hour later, they pulled into Kings Cross Station's car park. They all got out of the car and Hermione's Dad loaded their trunks onto two trolleys. The group of five quickly made their way over to the wall between Platforms 9 and 10.
"Go on then dears." said Hermione's mum, gesturing towards the wall "We'll come through after you."
Hermione went first, taking the barrier at a run and disappearing with a pop. Cassie went next, bracing herself as she went through. Then she was on Platform 9 and ¾, the huge scarlet engine of the Hogwarts express bellowed steam and a guard blew a whistle.
"That means we've got ten minutes,'' said Hermione, "Have you seen the Weasleys?"
Cassie looked around the crowd but came up with nothing.
"Maybe they're already on the train." she suggested.
Both Dr Grangers appeared behind them.
"I'm going to go and find a seat." Cassie told Hermione, wanting to give her privacy to say goodbye to her parents.
Hermione waved her off and Cassie dragged her trunk along the platform, making sure to keep an eye out for Harry and Ron. She found an empty carriage and somehow she managed to pull her trunk up onto the train and settled into an empty seat, putting Bean's cage on the one next to her. Several minutes later, Hermione appeared, hauling her trunk behind her.
"Found Harry and Ron yet ?" she asked as she plopped down into the seat opposite.
"No," said Cassie, who was scanning the platform "Wait, there they are."
She spotted Mr and Mrs Weasley with Ginny burst through the platform wall and begin to sprint towards the train, they were followed by Percy and the twins. As soon as George leapt onto the train, the clock struck eleven, the whistle went and the train started to pull out of the station.
"Oh my God!" said Cassie, staring at the rapidly disappearing platform in horror.
"What ?" asked Hermione, putting down the book she had just pulled out.
"Harry and Ron've missed the train." replied Cassie.
"What ?!" exclaimed Hermione again "I thought you said you saw them."
"I just saw the Weasleys," said Cassie "I presumed they were with them."
"Maybe you just missed them." suggested Hermione.
"Mmm." hummed Cassie noncommittally.
Cassie strode over to the carriage door, opened it and stuck her head out.
"Oi Weasleys!" she called.
Fred, George and Ginny turned around from where they were standing next to a luggage rack. Cassie gestured for them to come over.
"Have you seen Harry or Ron ?" Cassie asked as soon as they were close enough to hear her.
Fred and George both turned around as if expecting Harry and Ron to be behind them. When that drew a blank they turned back around to face Cassie again.
"Nope." they said in unison.
"Great," groaned Cassie "They've missed the train."
"Don't worry Cassie," said George "Mum and Dad'll just have to apparate them up."
"Sucks to be them," said Fred grinning "The train ride's one of the best bits."
"What's going on here ?" asked someone in a pompous voice.
It was Percy.
"What is it against the rules to stand and talk to friends now Mr Prefect ?" asked Fred
"I'll have you know loitering in the corridor is a punishable offence." replied Percy snootily.
"Sorry Perce." said George with a grin
Percy frowned and stood there until the four of them filed into Cassie and Hermione's carriage.
"Prat." said Cassie, shaking her head and shutting the door.
"I know right," signed Ginny. "Just because he's got a prefect badge, he thinks he's Dumbledore."
Cassie laughed and glanced at Ginny. She was under the impression that Ginny was a shy quiet type but that was obviously not the case. Ginny grinned up at her, when she did that, she looked impossibly like Fred and George.
"I like your owl," said Ginny peering into the cage as Bean hooted happily "What's his name ?"
"Bean." replied Cassie, standing on the seat to put his cage in the overhead storage.
She jumped down and sat down next to Hermione. Once everyone was settled, Fred pulled a pack of cards out of his jacket pocket.
"Fancy a game of Snap ?"
They all enjoyed several hours of playing the wizards version of snap. It was very exciting as the cards exploded if you managed to match them. Even Hermione could be persuaded to put down her book to participate in a few rounds.
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"So Ginny," began Hermione as they made their way along the corridor to go and get changed into their school uniforms. "What house do you want to be in ?"
"Gryffindor." replied Ginny promptly.
"I could tell you had good taste Ginny." said Cassie, holding the door open for the two girls.
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They were walking back to their carriage, black robes flapping around their ankles when another carriage door opened and two seventh year boys walked out, nearly crashing into the three girls. One of the boys muttered something that neither Cassie nor Hermione heard but Ginny did and it made her go red with anger. Cassie and Hermione had to restrain her from going after them. Ginny shook them off once they were back into their carriage.
"You should've let me do something." she said angrily.
Fred and George looked up in surprise.
"What's wrong Gin ?" asked Fred.
"Something happen ?" George asked the other two girls but both Cassie and Hermione shrugged their shoulders.
Ginny calmed down enough to tell the story.
"We were coming back from getting changed and these two Slytherin guys, I think they were seventh years, crashed into us and they said," Ginny broke off "They said the M word."
Both Fred and George's expressions turned from ones of surprise to ones of fury.
"I don't understand," said Hermione "What's the M word."
Cassie nodded, feeling equally confused.
"Merlin," signed Fred, running his hands through his hair, making it stand on end "I don't know how, well, it's,"
He gestured for them to come close,
"Mudblood," he whispered and then shivered "No one should ever say it."
"I still don't get it." said Cassie
"It's extremely nasty," said George "It's another word for Muggleborn and it means dirty blood."
Hermione seemed to have caught on
"So they're saying because I'm a Muggleborn I have dirty blood."
Fred, George and Ginny wore identical expressions of sadness and they all nodded. Hermione's eyes filled with tears and Cassie now understood what made Ginny so angry. Cassie put her arm around Hermione and pulled her close, Hermione sniffed and put her head on Cassie's shoulder.
"Bastards," said Cassie quietly "Complete bastards."
The mood in the carriage was rather sombre after that, Fred and George went to go and see Lee Jordan and their Quidditch friends, Hermione read her book, Ginny took out her diary and Cassie placated herself by planning what to do if anyone said that awful word again. The three girls didn't talk until a voice echoed down the train.
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in two minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
"Come on then." said Hermione, and she led the other two girls down the corridor towards the train door.
A few seconds later, there was a grinding noise and the train slowly came to a stop. Then the door popped open and the girls were pushed forward onto the small platform and were instantly surrounded by a swarm of students. A familiar voice began calling out.
"Firs' years firs' years over here."
Cassie gently pushed Ginny towards Hagrid.
"It's alright, it's just Hagrid," said Cassie to Ginny, who was looking more nervous by the second "We'll see you at the castle."
Cassie and Hermione left Ginny with a group of terrified eleven year olds and made their way over where all the older years were standing.
"How do we get to the castle?'' asked Hermione but Cassie just shrugged.
Their answer came by a few moments later, when a whole string of carriages seemingly pulled by nothing came to halt next to them.
"Cool." said Cassie in admiration and climbed in.
Cassie and Hermione were followed into their carriage by four second year girls that Cassie could tell were Ravenclaw by their ties but had no idea what their names were. Thankfully Hermione did.
"Hello Lisa, Mandy, Padma, Sue." she said, nodding at each girl
"Hello, Hermione,'' they chorused.
The four girls seemed very nice but spent the entire carriage discussing Guildroy Lockhart with Hermione so Cassie decided to tune them out. A short while later, the carriages came to a stop and the six girls clambered out and joined the throng of students that were walking into the Entrance Hall. Professor Flitwick was standing on the top of the steps directing students into the Great Hall.
"Quickly now, Hagrid will be arriving soon." called Professor Flitwick squeakily. "Jenkins, if I see you do that again it will be 5 points from Hufflepuff."
Cassie sniggered as a fifth year boy with curly black hair let his friend out of a headlock. Hermione, however, was standing on her tiptoes, looking around the crowd for their two missing friends.
"There not here Mione." said Cassie, tugging on Hermione's sleeve to get her to move. "I bet they're already in the Great Hall."
However, Harry and Ron were not sitting in the great hall. Now Cassie was starting to get slightly worried.
"Where are they ?" she hissed to Hermione "They should be here by now."
"I don't know." said Hermione miserably, taking a seat at the Gryffindor table.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and Professor Mcgonagall strode in followed by a line of first years. She made them line up at the front and placed the Sorting Hat on the three legged stool. Both Cassie and Hermione looked along the line for Ginny, luckily she was easy to spot with her red Weasley hair. She was standing in between a small boy with mousy brown hair and a girl with long straggly white blond hair, this girl was looking up at the ceiling with a dreamy expression on her face. The Sorting Hat opened its brim and began to sing its song but Cassie was too preoccupied with looking for Harry and Ron to listen. She didn't spot either of her best friends but she did see that Professor Snape was missing from the staff table. Cassie proceeded to whisper this to Hermione. Hermione groaned,
"Oh hell, they're really in for it if Snape catches them doing something they shouldn't be and knowing those two, they will be."
Cassie nodded and gazed back up at the front, Professor Mcgonagall had brought out a list and began to read off names.
"Creevey, Colin." she called
The mousy boy next to Ginny stumbled to the stool and Professor Mcgonagall dropped the hat on his head. It deliberated for a few minutes before shouting,
"GRYFFINDOR !"
Cassie cheered with the rest as Colin joined their table. The sorting continued the same fashion as Cassie's, with Professor Mcgonagall calling out the name, the girl or boy going to the stool and the Hat calling out the house name. There were few notable names, such as "Greengrass, Astoria." who Cassie presumed was Daphne's sister, got sorted into Slytherin, "Lovegood, Luna'', the dreamy girl next to Ginny got sorted into Ravenclaw. Finally after a long wait, Professor Mcgonagall called,
"Weasely, Ginerva."
Ginny sat down on the stool and the second the hat touched her fiery head it shouted,
"GRYFFINDOR !"
Ginny grinned and bounded over to the cheering table. She slid into the seat next to Cassie.
"Well done Ginny,'' said Cassie, giving her a side hug.
Now the Sorting was over, Dumbeldore waved a hand and mountains of food appeared on the golden plates along all four tables. Cassie was just helping herself to some roast potatoes when Seamus Finnegan came running over to where they were sitting and sat in the seat opposite the three girls.
"You'll never guess what I've just heard." he panted.
"What ?" asked Cassie and Hermione together.
"Apparently Harry and Ron have crashed a flying car into the Whomping Willow." Seamus replied
"Where'd you hear that ?" asked Cassie
"From a Hufflpuff prefect." replied Seamus
"And how did he know ?" asked Cassie
"He saw it happen." said Seamus, sounding a bit more excited than he should have.
"Well its probably just his idea of a good joke," said Hermione "Because I highly doubt either Harry or Ron own a flying car."
"Actually," said Ginny, putting down her fork "Dad charmed our car to fly."
"Oh no." groaned Hermione.
"What's happened to them ?" asked Cassie "Are they alright ?"
Everyone knew that the Whomping Willow had very violent tendencies
"Yeah they're fine," said Seamus waving a hand "Well for now anyway, Snape's gone to get them and the prefect said they're gonna get expelled."
"Expelled !" said Cassie, horrified.
"I doubt they will be," said Seamus "No one's been expelled for years."
"That doesn't make it anymore reassuring Seamus." snapped Hermione
Seamus held his hands in the air
"Don't shoot the messenger"
And with that, Seamus departed off back to his own seat and the plates turned from the main course to dessert.
"I doubt they will be expelled Mione." said Cassie, trying to sound reassuring and failing
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Once everyone had eaten all they possibly could, Dumbledore waved his hands and the food disappeared. He then stood up and beamed at all the students, as if nothing would have made him happier than seeing them all siting there.
"I am sure you are all very full and very tired so I will try to be quick, Mr Filch would like me to tell you that no magic is permitted to be used in corridors between classes and that include items such as Dung Bombs and Filibuster Fireworks, which are banned anyway. First Years should know that the Forbidden Forest, is forbidden, just like its name suggests and finally, if you wish to play Quidditch for your house team, you must contact your Quidditch Captain or Madam Hooch. Now that will be all, of to bed you go.
Dumbledore sat back down in his chair and the Great Hall was once again filled with the laughter and chatting of students. Hermione and Cassie joined the crowds heading towards the Gryffindor common room. They climbed staircases, jumped trick steps and passed through passageways up seven floors until they came to the Fat Lady's Portrait. Too both Cassie and Hermione's surprise and delight, standing outside the Portrait Hole were two very familiar people.
"Harry, Ron," cried Cassie running forward, "Is it true you flew a car and then crashed into the Whomping Willow ?"
Harry and Ron both grinned and nodded.
"That's bloody brilliant." said Cassie, grinning similarly.
"And bloody stupid," said Hermione, coming up behind them "What if you'd been expelled ?"
"Well we weren't." replied Ron "What's the password ?"
"Its Wattlebird," replied Hermione "But that's not the point."
The four of them climbed in through the portrait hole, Hermione lecturing and Ron grumbling. Harry slung an arm around Cassie's shoulders and Cassie felt her heart swell with love for her three best friends.
This was exactly where she was meant to be.