Sang Qui Lie

Sitting on the bottom of the stairs, Cass was fuming. She tried not to show it, and kept biting her lip to keep it in. But this was so unfair. Why did she have to move half way across the country just to go to school? Ares got to stay! And Hogwarts, of all places.

Artemis trudged down the stairs in front of her levitating suitcase. Their parents walked into the room. "You're both ready, good. Artemis, put down your trunk. At Hogwarts, you aren't permitted to use magic outside of school."

That made Cass even madder. But behind her, Artemis was outraged. "Dad, I am an Animagus, and I plan to change forms as often as I want."

Mulcifer ignored her. "We're going to Apparate, so come here." I thought we weren't allowed to use magic outside of school. Cass thought to herself. Biting her lip again, she stepped forward and pictured the train station.

Pop! Suddenly the sounds and sights of the train station jumped into existence. This was a wizard train station, so a girl appearing out of nowhere with a caged owl under her arm didn't get many stares. Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Her mother, father, Artemis , and Ares all joined her.

"This way," Mulcifer motioned. Everyone followed silently, dodging hundreds of hurrying business wizards. Eventually, the crowd parted enough for Cass and Artemis to drag all their belongings through.

"Here we are," Mulcifer toned. A man leaned out of the train and hollered, "Five minutes!" Cass and Artemis hurriedly piled their stuff onboard then came back out to say goodbye.

"Now you two behave yourself," their mother ordered. "Listen to your aunt and uncle." With a quick kiss on both the girl's cheeks, she was gone.

"Bye," Ares mumbled, his smug face reminding Cass of how much she hated him at the moment. As if he was reading her mind, he shot Cass one more smug look, then disappeared.

Mulcifer walked up behind them. With a hand on each of their shoulders, he said smoothly, "I know you two will behave. If I have to be brought all the way from Iceland because of you...." A quick squeeze on their shoulders finished his sentence. One last Pop! and Cass and Artemis were left alone. They solemnly boarded the train and found seats. They sat quietly, Cass looking out the window. She asked, "Don't they have houses at Hogwarts? Slytherin.... um... Gryffindor...."

"Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff." Artemis finished. "I looked it up before we left. Dad, Lucius, and Draco are all Slytherins, so we will be too."

"What's wrong with the other houses?"

"Hufflepuffs are stupid, harmless fools. Ravenclaws are the arrogant nerds of the school. But Gryffindors...have you never heard Draco talk about Gryffindors?" Artemis asked.

Cass shook her head. Draco was a stuck up, self righteous little drone. She never listened to him.

"Gryffindors are the worst. Almost every Mudblood in Hogwarts is a Gryffindor. They're always getting into trouble. Potter's in that house."

Cass had heard stories of the infamous Harry Potter, The Boy Who Draco Hated. Inwardly, Cass smiled. It would be an honor to meet the boy that drove Draco to insanity. She laid back and closed her eyes.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Cass dozed on and off, but kept waking up from dreams of Harry Potter, the Gryffindor house, and Hogwarts. When the train came to a screeching halt, she looked out the window. There was a mass of people, but she could still see Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco waiting impatiently.

After grabbing their bags, Cass and Artemis trudged out of the train. She had thought one of her beloved family members would come help them, but they never did.

Struggling the entire way, Cass just knew Draco was smirking at her difficulty with the luggage. After much sweat and toil, Cass nearly collapsed in front of her aunt and uncle. Lucius leaned down and smiled evilly. Offering his hand, he said, "Welcome to England, Cassandra. Hogwarts term starts in four days. Draco will make you comfortable."

Draco stepped forward and dutifully offered his hand. Cass ignored it, swung her bag onto her shoulder, and followed Lucius.