Sang Qui Lie

Artemis sat twiddling her thumbs and shot haughty glares at the students who continuously stared on the twin's direction. That glare was enough to make even the professors look away. Except Dumbledore and Snape, of course. All Malfoy's learned appropriate facial expressions at a young age, and Cass was incredibly good at using them to get what she wanted. Artemis excelled at the typical sneers and glares, much to the approval of her father.

A sharp jab in the ribs brought Artemis back to the Great Hall. Cass tutted at her and tilted her head towards the numerous students filing in. An older, rigid looking witch led them in. In her hands were a stool and a rather ragged hat. Her nose wrinkled in disgust. She turned to Cass, who was looking at the hat with mild interest.

"We have to put that on?"

Cass's eyes widened. "We what?" She quietly shrieked. Professor Snape glanced at them sharply. Cass leaned in closer. "How do you know we have to put that on?"

Artemis smiled. "Hogwarts: A History. Lucius had a limited edition copy. More in-depth."

Cass stared at Artemis for a second then opened her mouth to speak. She was interrupted by the professor's sharp voice saying, "Adams, Jubilee." The twins watched in silence as the shaking first years were sorted into their houses. Artemis's breath quickened as "Zabini, Roderick" was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Dumbledore leaned closer to the twins and whispered, "It's time." Artemis and Cassandra stood up as the last first years took their seats. The stern professor closed her list and addressed the students. "This year we have two new fifth years. They have transferred from Durmstrang and it is expected that all will help make the change easy." She straightened her glasses. "Malfoy, Artemis."

Artemis looked at Cass, her pale eyes bright with nervousness. Ignoring the whispers of "Malfoy!" and "Another one?" throughout the hall, she sat down and scowled. She glimpsed Draco talking to a large boy next to him. "Artemis is definitely a Slytherin. It's in the blood." Then came blackness as the hat fell over her head.

She squeaked when a voice spoke to her. "Hmmmm...odd. You seem to have many contradicting traits. Several houses rolled into one. Difficult...let's see. You have a large amount of loyalty, yet I don't believe Hufflepuff suits you."

Artemis growled. "Bloody right, it doesn't. Go ahead and say Slytherin, we both know how this interrogation will end."

A soft chuckle was the hat's response. "So, you wish to be a Slytherin?"

"No, I don't wish it, but it is expected of me...My parents would be so disappointed if I wasn't." She whispered inaudibly.

"Family honor, ehhh? Ever consider Gryffindor?" Artemis thought a few choice words to the hat. "I guess not then. I really don't think Slytherin is right for you. You are cunning and ambitious; however you reek of Ravenclaw traits. Don't be so skeptical, I can see it in your head."

"Slytherin! Not Ravenclaw!"

"Are you sure this is what you want? Okay, okay.....SLYTHERIN!"

The table to the left exploded with applause as Artemis smoothed her dark locks and gracefully sauntered to her new table. Draco smirked at her. "Artemis, glad to see you have common sense." Artemis smiled slyly before cooing, "Oh, Dwakie, how nice it is to know that family really does care!" She patted his head and smirked, a cocked eyebrow daring him to respond.

Draco paled then glanced up to the professor's table.

"Malfoy, Cassandra." The call rung out and Artemis bit her lip. "Don't do anything you'll regret, Cass."

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Cass was shocked. Put a thing like that on her head? But, as she watched the first years and Artemis, the excitement of the sorting grew. In the silence of Artemis's sorting, Cass examined the teachers. She knew Dumbledore and Snape well enough. She recognized the big oaf of a man, Hagrid, at the end table. The other teacher's all looked fine, except that professor holding the sorting hat. Stern woman she was.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat called out and Artemis strolled down to the applauding Slytherin table. After shooting Draco a quick glare, she turned eagerly back up to the front.

"Malfoy, Cassandra."

Trying to remain as calm as possible, Cass walked up and sat down. Every eye was on Cass as the professor placed the hat on Cass's head. She closed her eyes.

"Another Malfoy, heh?" The voice in Cass's head was smooth. "You're stubborn, yes, and willful. A desire to prove your strengths. Not much different than your father and uncle, if I recall." Cass grew angry. "Aahh, but there is something different, isn't there? The Malfoy reputation angers you. Resentment, yes, and embarrassment. Slytherin would help you to grow....but no, it's not for you. Better be.......GRYFFINDOR!"

Cass opened her eyes. No one clapped. No one stood up. No one moved at all. The professor slowly removed the hat. Her eyes betrayed the shock and surprise that filled the hall. Cass felt as if she wanted to disappear.

Feeling her face turn red, she defiantly stood up and walked toward the Gryffindor table. She tried to ignore the arrows Draco's eyes shot at her. He was ticked. He was beyond ticked.

As she sat down, Cass's gaze fell upon Artemis. There was no expression on her face. Cass pleaded silently for her to smile, blink, cough, anything. As if she had received Cass's urge, Artemis smiled awkwardly.

Dumbledore stood up. Cass had noticed no change on his face after the sorting. It was as if he had already known.....

"...welcome all our students, new and old." he was saying. "You will receive your schedules at breakfast. Now, may the feast begin!" He clapped his hands.

More food than Cass had ever seen appeared on the table. There was something from every corner of the world. Despite the tantalizing smells, Cass grabbed a biscuit and picked at it. She stared off into space to avoid the glares of the Gryffindors.

She had done it now. Yes, she had wanted to spite her family and not be a Slytherin, but she never expected it to happen. Now that it had, Cass didn't know what to do. She imagined she could hear her father's yell all the way from Iceland.

"Cassandra Niobe Malfoy! What have you done?! Never in Malfoy history has anyone disgraced the family in such a way! A Malfoy in Gryffindor...unthinkable."

"Hey," Cass felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up into Hermione's face, who attempted to smile. "We're leaving. Come on."

Cass silently rose and fell into step with the crowd swarming out of the hall. She glanced over at Slytherin, but Artemis was already gone.

"Does Durmstrang look anything like Hogwarts?" asked Hermione. Cass wanted to thank her for her attempt to be friendly, but she didn't. "No, Durmstrang is much smaller and less lighted. Your Great Hall is twice as large as our dining hall."

Cass glanced up at the slanting stairways criss-crossing back and forth. "Did that staircase just move?"

Hermione nodded. "They do that all the time."

They reached a picture of a frilly fat lady. "Gillyweed," Hermione mumbled. The picture swung open to reveal a warm, cozy room full of laughing Gryffindors. Cass cautiously stepped in behind Hermione.

"The girl's dorms are on your right." Hermione whispered hurriedly. She rushed off, leaving Cass alone.

Looking around and trying to stay out of sight, Cass noticed Potter, Hermione, and the Weasleys gathered around the fireplace. Potter shot Cass a sharp glare, forbidding her come near them.

Sighing to herself, Cass managed to find the stairs to the dorms. Inside, there were five 4-poster beds in a semi-circle around the room. Finding her belongings, Cass opened Nanook's cage and instructed her to fly to the owlery for the night. As she did, Cass sat and watched the moon rise over the lake.

Cass sat like this for awhile, thinking, then prepared for bed. She tied her hair back, slipped on her pajamas, and slid into bed, dreading what tomorrow would bring.