Sang Qui Lie

Cass looked around Diagon Alley. She had been there before, once long ago, but barely remembered. The crowd of wizards and witches flocking from Flourish and Botts to Gringotts to Ollivanders made Cass uncomfortable. They were all so.....unrefined.

"Well, you won't be needing wands." Narcissa was babbling, "You three go get fitted for new robes while I go get your books." She smiled and left.

Cass and Artemis looked at Draco blankly. He nodded toward a store and led the way. Cass had noticed Draco seemed to walk straighter and taller around other wizards. She rolled her eyes. Who was she to make fun of the High and Mighty Draco?

They walked into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and were waited on immediately. Probably thanks to dear uncle Lucius, Cass thought to herself. And attendant escorted Cass off to the side into a fitting room. Without a word he motioned her up onto a pedestal and lifted her arms straight out. He began to measure.

"Have you heard the rumors, Seamus?" Cass listened to the conversation going on back in the waiting room.

"About what?"

"The two newest members of the Slytherin House. Fifth years, they are. Said to be transfers from Durmstrang."

"So what's the rumor?"

"They're Malfoys!"

Cass's knees buckled, much to the disapproval of the measurer. How in creation did they know of her and Artemis already? Surely Draco hadn't told anyone. How many other people knew?

The attendant held up a board with seven different materials on it. Cass picked out a dark, sparkly blue velvet, an emerald silky material, and a plain black sample. She hopped off the stool with orders to come back in an hour for the robes and ran out into the waiting room. Apparently, the two boys she had heard talking were gone. She sat down to wait on Artemis and Draco, when she looked over at the paper laying beside her.

She picked up the copy of the Daily Prophet. In the bottom right corner was the small yet consequential article.

ICELAND MURDERER TO GET MALFOY DEFENSE

Helios Ratcliffe, charged with triple homicide, has the best defense available, says government official. Mulcifer Malfoy, an outstanding wizard lawyer, has traveled across the Atlantic to represent Ratcliffe. "We even had to send our daughters to another school," complains Libitina, Mulcifer's wife. "They are staying with their uncle."

Cass put down the article. They were in the frigging papers. Every student from Hogwarts would know they were staying with Lucius. Why? Why, why, why? Cass had wanted no affiliation with Lucius or Draco.

"Are you done with that, dear?" A plump, red-headed woman asked nicely. Cass nodded and handed the paper to her. Behind the woman, six children sat, four of which had the same bright red hair as the woman. One of them looked like....no, it couldn't be. Cass tried to keep her eyes from jerking up to his forehead, but they all noticed.

"New to Hogwarts, dear?" The woman smiled warmly. "I don't recognize you."

Startled by this stranger's friendliness, Cas cleared her throat. "Oh, yes, I am transfer student." Please don't ask where from....

"Ah, nice to meet you. I am Molly Weasley. The four red-heads are mine. Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny." Each one nodded in recognition. "The other two are Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

Cass tried to block the gasp that escaped her lips. She had been right!

"What year are you going to, um......" Mrs. Weasley said, trying to ease the tension.

"Cass. I'm a fifth year."

"Play Quidditch?" Harry didn't seem to be offended by Cass's shock.

"Yes, actually. Keeper."

"Gryffindor needs a Keeper. Which house you betting on being in?"

Cass's heart wrenched. Gryffindor needed a Keeper! She had already been informed the Slytherin team was full.

"I'm....I'm not sure." Cass stumbled.

"What the hell do you mean, Cassandra?!" Draco had came back in, with Artemis behind him. Artemis was staring at Potter while Draco fumed.

"You so much as think of joining ranks with the likes of him, you'll never set foot in my house again!"

Harry smirked. "And that would be a bad thing?" At Draco's arrival, every face, including Mrs. Weasley's, grew stern. Cass stood up.

"I believe I can choose my own friends, thanks, Draco."

Ignoring Cass, Draco walked over to Harry. Towering over him, he yelled, "You stay away from my cousin, Potter!" On that note, he stormed out of the building. With one last glance at Potter, Artemis followed.

Cass looked apologetically at the group before her. Now, knowing her true identity, they all met her with cold and hostile glances. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Angrily, she turned on her heels and left.

"Draco!" Cass screamed. She disregarded all the heads turning to see who was yelling. Draco ignored her completely. "Draco! STOP!"

He stopped and reversed reluctantly. "Quit making such a scene!" he hissed and grabbed Cass by the arm. He dragged her into some dark, deserted building and began yelling.

"I told you to stay away from Potter, Weasley, and Granger!"

"Getting possessive, Draco?" Artemis joined in. "Cass was right. We aren't children. We can pick our own friends."

"They are Gryffindor scum! Filth of the school! You are Malfoys, Slytherins who...."

Cass couldn't take it any more. "NO!" she interrupted so loudly her voice cracked. "I am NOT a Slytherin. I will never be a Slytherin. If Slytherins are anything like you and your father, Draco Malfoy, then they are nothing but sniveling, self-righteous, arrogant Voldemort worshipers! And I will have nothing to do with them!"

Cass shook with rage. She had surprised herself, but Draco was speechless. Draco looked at her coldly, as if he was sizing up the enemy.

Without saying a word, he twisted around and left. In a strange fit of relief, pride, and fear, Cass broke into laughter. She had finally stood up to Draco!

"You've been wanting to do that for a long time, haven't you?" Artemis didn't seem upset by Cass's irrational behavior.

"You have no idea."

"Draco's going to tell Lucius what you said. I think you just made life harder for yourself."

Cass shrugged. "Whatever. Let's hope that sorting hat thing knows better than to put me into Slytherin." She walked back out into the busy street.