Sang Qui Lie

Cass wondered why they bothered to wear Muggle clothing. Not only did she absolutely loathe the green and silver dress, but it didn't disguise the Malfoy's muggle difficulties. Draco had no idea how to pay their driver and Cass had the distinct feeling he'd received much more money than deserved.

The three teens pushing heavy laden carts didn't blend in well either. Cass's owl received a couple of stares, but not nearly as many as Artemis's kneazle. They had tried to cover up the cage with a blanket, but every now and again a curious nose pushed out from under it.

Getting onto Platform 9 3/4 was a bizarre experience. Cass was terrified of running into a brick wall headfirst, but, to her relief, she felt nothing. Suddenly other wizarding families were around her. She relaxed slightly. Most of them were bustling about, hurrying to get on the train.

Draco motioned the three of them to the luggage car and they all piled their stuff in. Cass was so sick of trains. This was the second one she'd been on in a week. But at least this time she was getting away from Lucius.

"Hey, Artemis," Cass pulled the two necklaces out of a pocket in her jacket. "Here's yours." She handed her the wolf and moon necklace.

Artemis hesitated, but Cass insisted she didn't mind taking the snake. Artemis smiled and put on the necklace immediately. Cass slipped hers back into her pocket.

"A Slytherin necklace, Cass?" Draco sauntered up behind Cass. "Supporting Salazar, are we?" Cass's fingers clenched into a fist.

"Draco, if you don't get off my back, I'll tell your Slytherin buddies everything I've heard this weekend. Okay, snakie?"

Draco snarled at Cass.

Thankfully, the conductor shouted, "Two minutes!" and the girls hustled aboard. Inside, almost every car was completely filled. Draco walked purposefully back several cars. He stopped and looked around.

"Crabbe! Where's my seat?" Draco snapped.

A big, chunky, dumbfounded guy stood up and motioned Draco into a seat. Draco looked back at Cass and Artemis. "And where are my cousins going to sit, Crabbe?" Crabbe shrugged his shoulders. "This whole car's full."

"We'll find somewhere else to sit, Draco." Artemis cooed. "Don't worry about us." She walked out. Cass followed her.

"I hope Hogwarts is a big enough school that I never have to see Draco in it." Cass blurted.

"You will if you're in Slytherin."

"I'm not going to be in Slytherin." Cass fingered the necklace with the moon and snake. She couldn't have taken the wolf one away from Artemis, but there was something else about it. What, however, Cass didn't know. She put it on and slipped the chain under her collar. No use in supporting Slytherin.

About three cars back the girls found some seats. Cass slid in next to the window. She sighed and closed her eyes. Less than a week ago she had been at home, jumping out of a window to wake up. Now her cousin and uncle hated her guts. Wasn't life fun?

Cass felt the train jerk to a start. "Hey," someone said. Cass ignored them. "Hey!" She felt a thump on the top of her head. She opened her eyes and looked back.

"What?!"

Three of the students from Madam Malkin's stared back at her. It was Harry Potter, the bushy haired girl, and one of the redheads.

"Why aren't you up there with your cousins and his friends?" The redhead hissed. "Why are you back here, Malfoy?"

Cass said nothing. She had known this would happen. Just mention that her name was Malfoy and everyone grew suspicious. Artemis looked sideways at Cass. A fire flickered in Artemis's eyes. Silently, she told Cass she was ready for a fight.

The lunch cart rolled into the railcar. "Want anything, dears?" Cass was staving. "One of everything!" She heard one of the boys behind her snort as she pulled out her money. Ignoring them, she ripped open a Chocolate Frog and began to eat.

"Want anything, Ron, Hermione?" Harry said. Cass wondered how rich an orphan like Potter could be.

"No thanks, Harry." Ron mumbled. He tried to lower his voice, but Cass overheard. "You've already bought Fred, George, Ginny, and me new robes. You're not buying me anything else."

Cass impulsively grabbed a Pumpkin Pasty and turned around. "Here," she said. "Take this." At their cool glances, Cass realized how stupid she was being. They were not going to accept charity from a Malfoy. Trying not to be condescending, she added, "I don't like them. Honest."

Hesitantly, Ron reached forward and took the pasty. "Thanks," he murmured. The look on his face was half shock, half embarrassment. Harry was still trying to analyze her. She tried again to break the ice.

"Your name's Hermione Granger, isn't it?" She asked the girl. Hermione nodded. "Doesn't Viktor Krum know you?"

Hermione's face began to blush. "I....he....we went to the, um, Yule Ball last year."

Artemis joined the conversation. "He talked about you a lot. That and the Tournament.

Harry's face tightened. Cass imagined the Triwizard Tournament was a touchy subject for him. Seeing that boy die right in front of him....

Ron didn't seem to notice. He nearly choked on his pasty and gasped, "You know Viktor Krum?" He yelped. "The Viktor Krum?"

Cass smiled. "He's on the Durmstrang Quidditch team."

"Best Seeker we've had in years." Artemis added.

"Wow, Harry. Krum on their team. Betcha you'd love to play them!" Ron was suddenly babbling on about Quidditch. Harry's calculating stare had left Cass only long enough to study Artemis. "Play Keeper, don't you?" He asked. Cass nodded. "What about you?" He looked at Artemis.

"Beater."

"Slytherin could use a new Beater. Their Keeper's good though. Guess you won't be playing." Harry said coldly.

Cass winced. The snake on her necklace suddenly felt heavier. "So I've heard." She answered.

Ron didn't have seemed to notice this hostile exchange. He was still rambling on about Krum. "Does he use that Wronski Feint a lot? That's so amazing. It always seems like he's going to smack into the ground."

Hermione looked out of the window. "I think it's about time to change into our robes."

"Already?" Ron wrinkled his nose. "Train does seem to be moving faster than normal, doesn't it?"

Cass was jubilant to rid herself of the Slytherin-reeking dress. She welcomed the feel of the soft, smooth, emerald silk. She had chosen this color for the way it accentuated her already shockingly green eyes. She imagined she looked very Slytherin to everyone else. She patted down her curls and sat back down.

A rather tall, slinky blonde boy entered the railcar. "We will be arriving at Hogwarts soon, but I have been told all students are to remain in their seats until further notice."

"Why? What's going on?"

"I am not sure. But please stay seated." The boy nodded and left.

"Unusual. I wonder what's wrong." Hermione said.

Cass felt the train slow down and stop. She stayed in her seat until an enormous beast of a man squished himself into the railcar. He had to be over nine feet tall, with shoulders as wide as Cass was tall. His bushy beard and mustache gave him the look of a tree.

"Hagrid? What are you doing here?"

"Why are we stopped?"

"Now, now, not ter worry Harry, Ron." the giant answered gruffly. "Just escorting somebody ter meet with Dumbledore."

"Who?"

Cass stood up. "Us. You're Hagrid?"

"That I am. And yer Artemis and Cass?" Artemis stood up and nodded. "Let's go then."

Hagrid slowly moved back from where he came. Everybody in every car stared at the difficulty Hagrid was having. After much pushing and groaning, Hagrid eventually popped out of the train.

"This way." Hagrid motioned Cass and Artemis into some kind of horseless carriage. An elderly man with a long beard sat inside. Cass clambered in after Artemis.

"Hello, Artemis, Cassandra." The man spoke in a barely audible whisper. Cass felt like she had to lean forward to hear him.

"My name is Albus Dumbledore. I am the Hogwarts headmaster." He spoke as the carriage began to move. "I just wanted to inform you of what is going to happen when you go inside. There's a Sorting Ceremony at the beginning of each term. Usually it's all first years. But not this year." He smiled.

"You two will sit with the teachers until first year sorting is complete. When Professor McGonagall calls you, simply walk up there and place the hat on your head. It's that easy." The carriage stopped. Cass looked out at the humongous doors of Hogwarts.

"One more thing," Dumbledore said. "The Sorting Hat will pick the house that is best for you. It may be different than expected, but it will not be changed. Mr. Filch will show you where to sit."

Cass and Artemis slowly got out of the carriage and walked up to the front door. An ugly, hunchbacked old man with a cat circling his feet directed them into the Great Hall. Overhead, a clear night sky winked it's stars down at the girls. Durmstrang didn't have an enchanted ceiling. Cass was fascinated.

Two extra chairs were placed at the end of what appeared to be the professors's table. Cass and Artemis took their seats and watched the students as they file in. So it begins, Cass thought.