Sang Qui Lie

Cass awoke to the sound of her roommates quietly getting dressed. She sat up slowly and pulled the curtains from around the bed. The four girls ignored her completely and continued dressing in silence. Cass recognized Hermione, but the other three she didn't know. Tired and grouchy from the previous night's events, Cass dragged herself out of bed.

She haphazardly threw on her bluish velvet robe and began to brush her curls. She lovingly smoothed her raven curls, with one of the girls shooting her jealous glances, Cass haughtily noted, then checked her appearance in the mirror. She had looked better, but judging by how she felt, she was okay. I'll die before I'll let Draco know I wanted to be in Slytherin. Cass thought to herself.

Not needing Hermione's guidance, Cass walked down to the common room, then out the door behind the portrait. She walked slowly, admiring the personality of each picture as she passed. Coming closer to the Great Hall, Cass noticed more and more people around her. It wasn't until she felt a cool breeze that she saw another person.

"Ah HAHAH Ah HA HA!" cackled a ghost as it flew past her. "Oh, the wittle Malfoy walking all alone. But not just any Malfoy, no. Tis the GRYFFINDOR MALFOY! The TRAITOR! HAHaHaHaAHa!"

Cass tried to ignore the ghost's jeers, but he swooped down in front of her. "TRAITOR!" Cass stopped and looked into his face. He completely blocked her path. Then, with the brilliant realization that he was a ghost, Cass walked straight through him and continued on her way. Several eyes followed her.

Shaking off both the embarrassment and the cold feeling of walking through a ghost, Cass entered the Great Hall. Luckily, most of the students were too busy eating and chatting to really notice her entrance. Glancing over at Slytherin, she saw Draco, but not Artemis. She sat down quietly and began eating.

More students filed in and took their places among the four tables. Everyone talked happily, enjoying the ultimate breakfast before them.

Suddenly, the Hall filled with the loud yet quiet sound of many owls' wings fluttering. Cass looked up, surprised. "Interesting way to deliver the post." she mumbled.

Nanook swooped low to the table and dropped Cass's copy of the Daily Prophet, what appeared to be her schedule, and...a Howler. Cass recognized the horrible thing and knew she had to open it. The last time she had ignored a Howler it erupted bubotubor pus all over her hands. Cringing, she grabbed it.

"CASSANDRA NIOBE MALFOY!" Her father's voice burst out as soon as the letter was opened. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! GRYFFINDOR?! YOU ARE IN TROUBLE BEYOND ANYTHING YOU'VE EVER KNOWN! YOU ARE NOT TO SET FOOT IN MY HOUSE AS LONG AS YOU BEAR THE NAME GRYFFINDOR! NEVER!"

The letter collapsed wearily as Cass's face burned brightly. Every person had turned to see what the commotion was coming from. Cass looked up into the face of the Gryffindors to keep from crying. Potter had sat down directly across from her. He blinked.

"You all right?"

"What do you care, Potter?" Cass could feel the Malfoy burning up inside her. She wanted to reach out, make friends, but she couldn't. Not here. "I'll be fine thank you."

He backed off, but didn't leave. Cass took that as a good sign. Trying to find something to do, Cass opened up her schedule. She read the first class, then slammed her hands down on the table, muttering incoherently. Why, why, why, why, why?

"First class with Slytherin, I know. And Defense Against the Dark Arts, of all things." Potter tried again to make conversation. "Lots of fun."

Cass began rubbing her temples. Potter was getting annoying. He couldn't possibly know anything of what she was going through. He didn't have any family to betray. Besides, the only reason he wanted to befriend Cass was probably to spite Draco.

"I have to go get my books." Cass responded harshly. She stood up, grabbed her Prophet and schedule, then stormed out of the Hall.

I will not scream. I will not scream. Cass soothed herself. Rage consumed her. Anger, fear, worry. She closed her eyes. I will not let them think I am weak.

She had reached the Gryffindor tower. She said the password, stepped inside, and ran to grab her Defense Against the Dark Art books. The tower was practically empty. She ran back out and tried to remember where the classroom was.

It was 8:20. She had 40 minutes before she was late. Surely she could find the classroom.

"...believe they put Gryffindor and Slytherin together." Cass stopped. Maybe she could follow whoever that was coming around the corner.

"Remember what I told you. Leave Cassandra alone. Let me handle her." Cass recognized Draco's voice too late. She turned to go in the opposite direction, but Draco saw her.

"Well, hello, cousin." he sneered. "How are you this fine morning?"

"Get away from me Draco. I'll have nothing to do with you." Cass hadn't turned around. She began walking.

"Loved listening to your post this morning. Mulcifer sounded a bit upset, didn't he? I did notice Potter come to cheer you up." Draco growled.

Cass tightened her grip on her wand. She knew she could take Draco. Mulcifer's coaching and Durmstrang's teachings flashed through her mind. Draco had to make the first move. She knew he would. Draco never could resist a challenge.

He got the message. He tensed slightly, gripping his wand in his right hand. He opened his mouth and reared back, clearly preparing to strike. Cass smiled. It had to be the Hogwarts teachings.

Before Draco could strike, Cass flipped her wand and whispered, "Petrificus Totalus!" Cass had to restrain her laughter as he fell, stiff as a board.

"Am I interrupting?" Cass stiffened at the sound of one of the professors. The woman walked up, looking stern. She sized up the situation and spoke. "Aren't you two supposed to be heading towards my class right now?"

Cass looked around. All of Draco's buddies had scattered like cockroaches. She smiled again. Trying to feign innocence, she explained to the teacher Draco had tried to curse her, but she had struck first.

Maybe it was just her imagination, but Cass thought she saw the Professor trying to restrain a smile. Remaining serious, she motioned Cass to head on to class. She bent down and tried to pick up Draco. "I've got to get him to Madam Pomfrey somehow...well, no, I won't bother." She turned to Cass and motioned towards Draco. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Smiling broadly for the first time in a month, Cass nodded and waved her wand. The counter curse worked and Draco, very upset of course, stood up. He sulked at the Professor, then shot an evil glower at Cass. She just laughed. Draco stomped off to class.

"Cassandra." The Professor called. She walked closer, looking at Cass quizzically. "As funny as I believe you find that, I don't want you to keep cursing your cousin. If another professor had found you, you would be in a lot of trouble." She smiled. "Kindly keep this between us. I don't want anyone to think that I, Professor Rhodes, let rule-breaking go unpunished." Laughing she led Cass to class.

Most everyone was already in their seats. The tables were designed to sit two people together. Cass looked around. The room was divided in half-Slytherin on the left, and Gryffindor on the right. Cass noticed Ron, Hermione, and Harry weren't sitting together. She thought it strange until...

"I've assigned seats based on your skills in this class." Professor Rhodes entered. "Cassandra, you're sitting beside Harry."

Nodding, Cass calmly walked back to the third row. Without glancing at Harry, she sat and examined the Slytherin side of the room. Artemis and Draco sat together. Artemis caught Cass's stare and rolled her eyes. Cass smiled.

"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm Professor Rhodes. As I understand it, this class has had four different teachers. And Slytherin and Gryffindor have never been classed together? So, skills will definitely vary. Let's see how adept you are. How many of you can perform a successful Patronus?"

Harry, Draco, Artemis, and Cass raised their hands, followed by a timid Hermione. "So few? Okay, Miss Granger let's see yours."

Hermione nervously stood up and waved her wand. "Expectro Patronum." A few wisps of cloud emerged, but nothing else.

"Mr. Potter?" Harry stood up confidently beside Cass. With a shout and a flick, Harry shot a gallant steed galloping across the room. It circled the students then dispersed.

"Excellent, Harry, good. Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco stood and tried his hand. A misshapen crocodile slithered out of his wand. It was only a half formed one, but it was still a Patronus.

"Good, good. Artemis?" Cass knew what to expect with Artemis. At Durmstrang, they had a good bit of teaching on Patronuses. A shrew, strong, but not fully formed, climbed out of her wand. It floated up above Artemis's head and then thinned.

"Cassandra?" Cass rose excitedly. She loved Patronuses. Somehow, it was like she could control what came out of her wand. She flicked her wrist and said the words. A soaring hawk floated out of her wand. She willed it to circle Professor Rhodes. It did then returned to Cass, hovering briefly over her shoulder before it disappeared.

Professor Rhodes watched curiously. She nodded and walked around the room. "Okay, the rest of you need to work on your Patronuses." She turned and wrote "EXPECTRO PATRONUM" on the black board behind her. "In your books, Chapter 2 gives you specific instructions. The room may get a little smoky, so please stay in your seats. I am going to talk to Mr. Potter and the three Malfoys out in the hall." Cass stood and followed the professor outside.

"I've reason to believe you four are the most talented at Defense, am I correct?" Cass could actually see Draco swell up proudly. "Well, I am beginning a sort of dueling club for those gifted in Defense. Strictly, it's for sixth and seventh years, but I do have special places for the few fifth years. Try-outs are in three weeks. Are you interested?" All four students nodded.

"Excellent." Professor Rhodes rubbed her head as something in the class exploded. "My, my, such ineptitude." She sighed. "It would probably be safer if you four went back to your dorms. Yes, I give you the rest of this class off. See you Thursday." She went back inside.

Draco, Artemis, Harry, and Cass stood looking at each other. Even now Cass could see the hatred flashing between Draco and Harry. They began to walk.

"Heard about your post this morning. " Artemis sidled up beside Cass. "You okay?"

Cass smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah, I will be. Don't worry. So...you going to try out for this thing?" Cass tried to change the subject.

"Depends on if I make Quidditch. You are still going out for that right?" Artemis asked. Cass glanced at Harry, then nodded. Both the guys were still shooting arrows at each other. Suddenly, Cass had a remarkable idea.

"Hey, Dwakie, did you hurt your head when you fell?" Cass taunted. "Sorry, guess my curse was a little too fast for you." Both Harry and Artemis lifted an eyebrow inquisitively. Cass couldn't help but continue.

"At first I thought it was this Hogwarts training. But Harry seems to know his Patronus well enough......so I figured it was just you."

Harry broke into a full fledged grin at this. Draco turned red and mumbled under his breath, "Have you any idea who you're dealing with Cassandra?"

Cass leaned forward. Two inches from Draco's face, Cass whispered. "Do you?" Turning away, she shot Draco a classic Malfoy glare and walked down the hall with Harry smiling at her side.