CASSANDRA, or Memoires of an Heroine

CASSANDRA, or Memoires of an Heroine

Chapter 2

'Diamonds are forever. They are all I need to please me. They can stimulate and tease me. They won't leave in the night, I've no fear that they might desert me. Diamonds are forever. Hold one up and then caress it. Touch it, stroke it and undress it. I can see every part; nothing hides in the heart to hurt me.' ('Diamonds are Forever' from the James Bond film of the same name.)

The Book

Thursday August 20th 2020, 4:13:54 p.m. Penzance

Well. I'm not sure if that quotation is completely satisfactory- for I don't have a diamond. Just a small piece of rough glass. That is, a rather large piece of rough glass actually. But I think it's beautiful.

It's sitting on my bed now, the sunlight refracting through it. It's about one and half inches in diameter at an estimate using my thumb as a ruler. I found it this morning on the beach. (We're on holiday in Cornwall for a few weeks.)

I was paddling about in a rather secluded rock pool near the cliffs to one side of the beach when I felt something graze my foot. I looked down and in the water, where the wave had just washed in, I saw a glint in the sun. (I mean, what was left of it. There's never enough sun when you go to the beach, so I've found.) I picked it up and it glowed all different colours. Unlike most pieces of glass that get washed up on the beach, this one wasn't worn away by the sea at all. The waves don't seem to have affected it in any way.

When I look at it, it seems to glow slightly green, but a lot (sorry, Miss James ex English teacher- many) of the things that get washed up on the beach were originaly green wine bottles.

It is beautiful. I think I'll keep it as a good luck charm in exams- which now I'm going to go to Hogwarts, I'm actually going to need.

Anyway, enough of my new found comforter, though I think I could write a whole book about it(!).

Cassandra E. Potter

Saturday August 22th 2020, 5:15:01 p.m., Penzance

Here is a conversation I had with Mother the other day in the hotel conservatory.

Mother: Are you all right, Cassandra? You seem restless.

Me: I'm fine. Honestly.

Mother: Hmm. I know you're disappointed about your wand, but really, Cassandra, you couldn't have used it before you went to Hogwarts anyway.

Me: Ah, hmm, yeah. Um...

Mother: Now, Cassandra. (dramatic pause)

Me: Yes, Mother?

Mother: Your father and I have decided it is time to tell you a little about Hogwarts.

Me: But- I know all about Hogwarts!

Mother: Do you?

Me: Yes! It's a castle, with a large lake and a giant squib. There is a great hall with a ceiling like swirling clouds. Um... there are four houses... there are kitchens and to get into them you tickle the pear... The library is very good but we can't go into the restricted section. There are twelve school govenors. They are you, Mr. Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Marisa Weasley, Miss Emma Sinclair, Professor McGonagall, who is also Headmistress, Mr. Seamus Finnigan, Mr. John Fletcher, Miss Cho Chang and I don't know who the others are.

Mother: Is that all you know?

Me: Oh no! (embarrassed)Well... ah... yes.

Mother: Well, I shall recommend Hogwarts, a History to you. It will enlighten you on many points. We have it at home. But for now, I'll just tell you a little about the houses since they are very important indeed. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. They are named after the four founders of Hogwarts.

Me: Go on!

Mother: Gryffindor is probably best house to be in. It values bravery, strength of mind, intelligence and sense. The symbol of Gryffindor is a lion.

Me: Sounds perfect! Bet I won't be in it then!

Mother: Nonsense! Ravenclaw is the learned house for those gifted with exceptional brains. However, that's not to say that very clever people can't be in other houses. The symbol of Ravenclaw is an eagle.

Me: Ravenclaw sounds good as well.

Mother: Moving on... Hufflepuff values friendship and loyalty above anything else. Their symbol is of a badger.

Me: I shouldn't mind Huffepuff either! They all sound wonderful houses.

Mother: I haven't finished yet. Last but not least comes Slytherin. Now, that's the house I would steer clear of, if I were you.

Me: Why?

Mother: Slytherin, well, Slytherin has a habit of turning out more dark wizards than good wizards.

Me: Really?!

Mother: Indeed. Lord Voldemort was a Slytherin once. In fact, he was the Heir of Slytherin.

Me: The Heir of Slytherin! So the founders have heirs, do they?

Mother: Yes. They are all supposed to. Slytherin and Ravenclaw have both produced heirs: Lord Voldemort and the Grey Lady, an old Headmistress of Hogwarts. She is now a ghost. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff's heirs have yet to be born.

Me: All these things I didn't know! Well, go on, tell me more.

Mother: About the heirs? I can't. I don't know more. No-one really knows anything about them and I'm certainly not an expert on the subject.

Me: You must know something!

Mother: I told you I don't! Now, this is the crunch of the matter. You remember the woman we met in Diagon Alley a few weeks ago?

Me: Mrs. Malfoy?

Mother: Yes. With her was her daughter, Emilia.

Me: I thought it was her daughter. Go on!

Mother: Emilia Malfoy will be going to Hogwarts this year. She will be in the same year as you. Her brother, Nero Malfoy is in Slytherin in the year above. From what I hear from Catherine, he is a no good sort. I, myself, have an aquaintance (if you can call it that) with Draco Malfoy, their father. He is not the pleasantest of men, Cassandra, and I would steer clear of his children.

Me: I wouldn't consort with a Malfoy if they were the last family on earth! I can safely promise you never to even talk to one.

Mother: That may be unavoidable, but try your best. They are not a nice family, and Mr. Malfoy's father is currently in Azkaban for serving Lord Voldemort. I don't know how far the son is involved, but whatever you do, stay away from them. They are the lowest of all wizarding families.

Me: I'll remember that, thank-you.

Mother: Now, about something to do. Why don't we go into the centre of Penzance tomorrow and get you a good book to get your teeth in? The Lord of the Rings I think. Yes, I think you're ready for that...

Things to do

1) Read Hogwarts, a History.

2) Read Lord of the Rings.

3) Go swimming.

4) Violin and oboe practise.

5) Send postcards to all Weasleys and Grandma, Sirius and Arabella Black etc.

6) Arrange stuff for Hogwarts.

7) Do the above things instead of writing about them...

Cassandra E. Potter

~~*~~

The small Romanian village of Pasnic slumbered quietly in the sultry night. Suddenly, just outside of the village the earth began to crack and then swelled up into the size of a mountain. Charlie Weasley and his wife Maria were still up, and watched horrified, as the dark sky behind it turned red and flames licked up from inside the volcano.

Maria screamed.

Tongues of bright fire burst up from the volcano and into the sky. Then a great coldness descended over the people of Pasnic, and they were afraid.

The flames had now completely left the volcano and swooped over Pasnic, yet nothing was burned. It tried to get into the houses, but was not strong enough. It only caught one person who, with a scream of despair, was hauled into the midst of the giant flame and gave it strength.

The flame was still young and couldn't stay out long. In one final swoop round the village it returned to the new mountain and was quiet.

~~*~~

The Book

Tuesday September 1st 2020, 10:14:25 p.m. Girls' Dormitory, Hogwarts

What an AMAZING day!! I never immagined that a place could be so wonderful. And I never knew what it was like to fall in love before. I have fallen in love with Hogwarts. It is the most perfect place in the universe! I know I shall never be able to leave it! I don't know what I shall do when I come to graduate! I truly am the happiest creature on earth!

We left the Two Towers early, for Derbyshire is a long way from London and King's Cross Station. Both my parents were coming to see me off.

The only hitch in the proceedings was that I found I had left my copy of The Fellowship of the Ring on my bed at home. We had almost reached Birmingham by then and of course we were too far away to go back and get it. We had to stop at a 24 hours garage and purchase a cheap, paperback copy with print so small it was almost unreadable! Still, beggars and people in a hurry to catch a train cannot be choosers.

We reached Kings Cross with only a few minutes to spare. Mother found a trolley, while Father told me in a hurried whisper to ignore whatever Mother said about being good, and to definitely annoy Professor Snape as much as possible. Apparently he's absolutely horrid, as well as being head of Slytherin house. I felt very torn. If Snape really is dreadful, then I shall certainly give him a piece of my mind.

However, I do have a deep rooted impression that school is for learning, and that teachers deserve respect. I also know that teachers are human, for my godmother Catherine is a teacher and she's one of the nicest people I know. From what I've seen today, I seem to be the only eleven year old who has this opinion. It's rather discouraging.

When Mother returned we found platform nine and three quarters. Father was all for all three of us holding hands and running at the barrier. Mother, of course, was against this and suggested we leant gently against it while talking about the weather. Mother won.

I do believe, that in all my life I have never seen such confusion (except perhaps when the Chudley Cannons won a game about five years ago) as there was on that platform. The steam engine was whistling loudly and everyone was shouting and running everywhere.

"Let's find the Weasleys!" called Mother over the chaos.

"The what?"

"The WEASLEYS, Harry!"

"Oh!"

Eventually we found Percy Weasley and his daughter Megan, who will be in the sixth year. She's the only Weasley with no red hair whatsoever. She's a brunette.

"Percy and Megan! How lovely to see you!" cried Mother, "and I say, Megan, you're a prefect! How delightful!"

Megan was certainly sporting her silver badge. "Oh thanks. But you know, I was a prefect last year as well."

"Yes, we hope Meg'll be Head Girl next year," said Percy pompously, "The first Weasley Head Girl of this generation!"

"The first of many, I hope," smiled Mother.

Megan scowled, "I shouldn't want to be Head Girl. A prefect is bad enough. I don't know why everyone expects me to be Head Girl, Minister of Magic and all that rubbish. Actually, I want to study Hippogriffs more than anything!"

"Well, shall we find a compartment?" said Father, feeling the tension.

"I thought I saw Jenny and Tom over there. Well, bye Dad. I hope you get that promotion that you wanted." Megan kissed her father and he disappeared into the crowd.

"Are you coming, Cassandra?" she asked, "I'll take care of her from now on, Harry."

I bit my lip. I don't think I need being taken care of.

Father hugged me and whispered, "Put that owl to good use, Cassie. Enjoy yourself." I glanced at my tawny owl, Portia, and grinned, "I'll write loads and loads."

Mother smiled, with a little water in her eyes perhaps, "Do take care, dear. I'll miss you." She straightened up, "And any reports of misbehaviour from Professor McGonagall and you'll be in for an unpleasant suprise at Christmas! Don't forget- both Grandma and Catherine will have their eyes on you."

At this point, a loud scream came from the engine and I jumped almost three feet in the air and Portia flapped about her cage in suprise.

Mother quickly kissed me and then I found my hand being grabbed, and Megan pulled me onto the train, my trunk following.

"Now, let's find the others. They're around somewhere." She peeped into different compartments until she found one, near the end of the carriage, "Here!" she called into it, "Found you!"

Two redheaded boys came up to me and pulled my trunk into the compartment, I followed.

I must say, if I could chosen another compartment I would have done. This was one of the smallest- only room for six. It contained the whole of the Weasley clan.

There was Jack and Jill, sharing a seat by the window. Next to them were Jenny, George and Katie's daughter, and Martin, the twin's elder brother, sporting repaired glasses and a large book of charms. People call him 'Little Percy' since he certainly takes after his uncle more than he does Ron.

On the other side, Megan had slumped and was now playing cards with Tom, Jenny's brother. Edward, Catherine and Bill's eldest offspring, Xanthia's brother was squashed up in a corner writing an essay.

Xanthia herself was leaning out of the open window at a perilous angle and yelling at her mother, "I don't need my hat! Yes, I know you've got it there, and I could reach down and pick it up if I wanted to! I know the train's about to leave! Er, is leaving now! Mum- don't swear! It's just a hat! Mum- I've never needed this hat before, and I doubt very much if I'll need on the train! I'll see you at Hogwarts in a few hours. Unfortunately. Don't put Cassie's case there, Edward! Sorry, Mum? Bye, Mum!" And the train drew out of the station, Catherine Weasley still visible running along the platform clutching Xanthia's pointed hat.

There was no where to sit, so I sat on the floor and pulled out The Fellowship of the Ring, pushed my glasses furthur up my nose in a hope that I might be able to read the small print better, and tried to get myself comfortable.

Xanthia pulled her head back in through the window and closed it. She looked around the compartment, and suddenly clambered up onto the luggage rack.

Edward looked up in horror, "Xanthia! What do you think you're doing? Get down immediately!"

She stuck her tongue out at her brother, "No! I'm quite comfortable up here, actually. Come and join me, Cassandra? No? How odd! Pass me my Transfiguration book, please Meg."

And she spent the whole of the journey on the luggage rack.

Jill looked down at me and asked what I was reading. I showed her the cover. To which she replied, "Oh that! That's so boring, I've heard."

"Have you read it?"

"Well, no but just look at the size of the print!"

"The size of the print isn't everything, Jill."

"Hmm, you read too much," and she returned to her scrutiny of her nails.

"How far have you got, Cassandra?" asked Martin quietly. He's read every single book in the English language (or so he says).

"Merry and Pippin are stuck in a willow tree and Frodo and Sam are rather worried. If you don't mind... I'll just continue."

I bent my head to my book and was dead to the world for a couple of hours.

"Look at the fog!" said Jack suddenly.

"Eeek!" I cried, scared from my book. Everyone laughed, and we all looked out of the window. Thick fog was shrounding the landscape. It wasn't thin. It was thick. I couldn't see anything. It was rather spooky, and I put down my book. I had just reached a chapter called 'Fog on the Barrow Downs' and I didn't think it would be a very good idea to read such a chapter in weather like that. Not that I would be frightened by a bit of mist... Of course not! It takes worse things to fighten a Potter! However, this is the scariest thing I've ever come across. But it's fiction, and should therefore not be taken seriously. Whoever heard of magic rings that give eternal power, black faceless riders, evil dark lords (well- we had one of them a long time ago but I don't know anything about that.) All complete fiction! I'm not scared!

It was then that some Slytherins decided to pay us a visit. The compartment door slid open and revealed a tall boy with very fair hair and cold grey eyes, the girl I saw in Mr. Ollivander's, a short, pugnacious, thickset boy and a large muscular girl, both equally ugly.

"Rather crowded in here," commented Emilia's brother. "Can't you afford two compartments, or is it impossible to separate this clan?"

"The only people we want to separate ourselves from is you, Malfoy," said Xanthia lazily from the luggage rack. Malfoy looked round the cabin, and almost tripped over me.

His eyes widened when he recognized me. (Why does everyone know who I am? It's not my fault I've got green eyes.) I stared mulishly up from the floor.

"Gracious," he said, "is this the Potter girl? Sitting on the floor? Such a, how can I put it? condesending gesture, for her to join you."

"I have a name. It's Cassandra, and you can get lost," I replied without breaking eye contact.

Emilia then came forward and leered down at me, "Ooh, I'm so scared, aren't I? You're so intimidating, you know, Cassandra? I'm going to run away screaming. God."

I made no reply.

"Why don't you stand up and let me look at you. I like being scared."

I said nothing.

"Come on, Potter. We want to look at you, don't we, Lucy?"

Lucy, the other girl nodded twice. Jack sighed in expasperation, "Look, Whatever-your-name-is, she doesn't want to stand up. She's quite happy as she is."

Emilia cocked an eyebrow, "On the floor? This celebrity is happy on the floor? Are you, Cassandra? Are you?"

Actually, my legs were so stiff that I'm not sure I'd have be able to stand anyway.

I managed it even with my dreadful pins and needles, and stood up, "I'm perfectly happy, Emilia Malfoy, but I'd be even happier without your company. Would you mind leaving?"

She burst out laughing, "Look at her, Nero! For such an 'important' person, she's barely four foot!"

I clenched my fists.

Nero laughed too, "And do you call this hair? It's like dirty dishwater!" He then had the cheek to finger a piece of my hair. I whipped it away from him angrily. My hair may not be the most appealing part of my face, but he had no right to insult it.

"And so sweet, isn't it, her having matched the frames of her glasses with her eye colour. Don't you agree, Lucy?" screeched Emilia.

Lucy nodded twice again. She seems to be a girl of few words.

I was getting angrier by the second. I've never really been angry before, and now all the anger that I had, was spilling up. I was going to loose my temper.

"GET OUT!!" I yelled at the top of my voice. The other Weasleys, I could see out of the corners of my eyes, had raised their wands. As soon as I had yelled I burst into tears.

Nero bit his lip, probably to stop himself from laughing. I wiped my eyes on my sleeve. I was so ashamed. To cry in front of the Malfoys! I'll never live it down. And the worst of it is, that I was sure that I would now have no chance of getting into Gryffindor. Gryffindors are meant to be brave. I just started crying.

"Just go!" I sobbed. And the odd thing was, they went.

Immediately everyone became busy feeling sorry for me. I dodged them all since I hate people who try and sympathize with someone who is crying. They may mean well, but it's very fake. Pity, I mean.

I ran out of the compartment and leaned against the rail in the corriador outside. I hate those windows on the trains. The rail in the middle is just at my eye level. The top section is too high and the bottom bit is too low to look out of. Malfoy was right- I am barely four foot, but there's no need to draw attention to the fact. I'll grow! I bet in five years they won't know me!

Jill had followed me out, "Are you all right, Cassandra? They are jerks, you know. Don't get yourself so worked up."

I nodded, and felt a strong urge to start crying again, "They're beastly, aren't they? Beastly." I managed a watery smile.

Jill nodded hard, "Absolutely beastly."

I paused, "But, Jill, they're the first nasty people I've ever met. I wasn't expecting that."

Jill laughed, "Golly, I always knew your parents protected you, but I didn't know that they were that over protective! If they were the worst you've seen... No offense or anything, but you'll have to stop crying when they're horrid to you. And they will be."

"I know. But why? Why are people horrible? I don't think I'm nasty, you're not nasty, nobody I know is nasty, so why are some people?"

"Now you're beyond me! In my opinion, they're nasty, and that's an end to it!"

I wasn't satisfied. It's like in Lord of the Rings. Why does the ring make people evil? Why is Sauron evil? What is the pleasure in being evil?

After a little while we returned to the compartment, where the others seemed to have made a pact not to speak of anything Malfoy. The topic seemed to be French verbs. Xanthia was insisting that the past participle of écrire was écris with an 's' and Martin was trying to pursuade her that it was écrit with a 't'. Martin, it turned out, was correct.

We arrived at Hogsmeade station not long afterwards.

Immediately there was a rush to leave the train and Jack and Jill and I all clutched each other's hands so that we would not get separated. The older students all left shouting and jostling, and we got off more slowly afterwards.

The fog had got slightly lighter, and was now more floating in tendrils instead of a thick blanket. It was very mysterious. All around us people were talking and running and tripping over us, calling, "Damn those little first years! Always getting in the way!" We had no idea what to do.

Suddenly, in the fog a voice called out, "Firs' Years! Firs' Years! Over here!"

A dark shape loomed up out of the white all around us. "Hagrid!" cried Jack with relief.

I grinned. I had completely forgotton about Hagrid. I'd never met him before, but he had featured in my father's old bed time stories a great deal. If I remember right, he once hatched a baby dragon all by himself. He must have read an awful lot to be able to do that successfully.

He loomed up in front of us, "Now, who's this? Not another Weasley!"

Jack grinned, "'fraid so, Professor, and you've got two of us this time. I'm Jack and this is Jill. And this Cassandra."

"Not little Cassandra Potter?" he sounded suprised, "and you're really eleven? I remember when you were jest a little baby! Now, lemme look at you."

I gazed up in the general direction of his face and he bent a lantern down towards me and looked me up and down. He had a very friendly face. At the end of his scrutiny he sighed deeply and said, as though satisfied, "Yer a Potter, Cassandra, you are."

"Well, I'd hardly be anything else really, would I?"

He chuckled, "No, very true."

"I'd hardly want to be."

He nodded thoughtfully, "I dessay you wouldn't." And then he heaved his lantern up and moved off down the platform with us following.

The fog may have been getting lighter, but now it was becoming dark- it was seven o'clock, after all. There was a stiff breeze blowing and between the threads of drifting fog it was very cold and clear. When we arrived at the end of the platform there was a cluster of ninety odd first years, all in varying states of cold, exhaustion and general misery. Someone near me was chattering his or her teeth very audibly. I found it irritating. An Asian girl was pointing out Venus to anyone who was interested. (i.e. no-one.)

Hagrid explained to us that we would be going a different way across to Hogwarts: across a lake. You're supposedly meant to get a good view of the castle, but I didn't think we're likely to get one today.

We didn't. However, it was quite an experience. The lake was quite still (as still it could be in that breeze) and very dark. The boats glided silently across the water. As we came round a corner (I think it was actually a river going to a lake) we saw some golden pinpricks of light in a large dark building: Hogwarts, fog swirling round its topmost towers. We all gazed spellbound.

Actually, when I got over how incredible a piece of architecture it was, I immediately thought that, were this sequence of events in a film, it would be one of those bits where there's some beautiful slow haunting music with etherial choirs floating and singing 'Aah' above the violins playing in seventh position. There always is a bit in any halfway decent film with music like that.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" breathed Jill, shivering. Jack just stared silently.

We passed under an archway into a lighted cave, where there was a landing stage. We all got out and grew accustomed to the light.

There was a door on one side of the landing stage, with a large bell pull. Hagrid pulled it and the sound reverberated all through the building.

I could here footsteps coming towards the door and soon it was pulled open. The opener was a youngish man with quite messy brown hair, twinkling grey eyes, a pleasant, open face and a friendly smile. I liked him instantly.

"Thank-you, Hagrid, I'll deal with them now."

Hagrid nodded and disappeared. The teacher looked at us and then laughed, "Come along in, then!" He held the door for us and we traipsed into the warm.

He ushered us into a room, with many portraits. They were all moving, which I was quite used to, but some found rather worrying. After reassuring the muggle borns, the teacher introduced himself, "Good evening, girls and boys. I'm Professor Harker and I'm the Deputy Headmaster. I shall be superintending the sorting. Now," he glanced down at a piece of paper in his hand, "is there a Miss Cassandra Potter here? I would like to speak to her."

There was dead silence then Jill gently pushed me forward. I went to stand next to Professor Harker. Looking back at the other children, ninety-nine pairs of interested eyes stared back at me.

Professor Harker smiled, "Are you Cassandra?"

I nodded.

"Good, pleased to meet you. Well, I've a little matter to discuss with you if you could just step outside."

We left the room and passed through a hall way into another room. Lying in the middle of the table was a wand.

"My wand?" I cried, excited.

He nodded, "Do you want to try it out?"

Gently, I picked it up. Immediately I felt a pulse of warmth spread all the way through, it was a wonderful feeling. I waved it, and sparks flew out.

"Ten and three quarters inches, ancient oak and contains one piece of a lion's mane."

He looked suprised, "Yes, you're right. You have a good memory."

"I do," I agreed. "Elephants never forget. Neither do I."

"Well," he laughed, "you'll be good at vocabulary learning in French and Latin. Shall we go back?"

I hesitated, "Please, can I just try a spell on it? Really quickly?"

"Go on then! I shouldn't really let you, but go on."

I looked around, and my eye lighted upon a book on the window sill. Pointing my wand I concentrated very hard, and said, "Accio!"

There was a second's delay, then the book appeared in my hand. The teacher clapped hard, "Well done, Miss Potter, well done! Considering this is the first time you've ever done magic, that's really excellent! And that is a fourth year charm, you know."

"Is it?" I asked, feeling very pleased. The first spell I ever do works perfectly, and it's one I shall not be learning for another four years! It really made my day. Mother will be so proud of me, I thought to myself. She said I'd be very good at magic and, you know, I think she might be right.

Professor Harker seemed desparate to return to the sorting, so I followed him back to the crowd. Jack and Jill raised their eyebrows at me. Since they had been with me when we went to Ollivander's they know all about my wand. I smiled back at them.

Suddenly a pretty girl who looked half Chinese came up to us and asked quietly, "Excuse me, but do you know anything about the sorting? There's all sorts of rumours going round. I'm not sure what happens..."

Jack was just about to reply and since he'd have lied and made it out to be something quite dreadful, I trod on his toe and answered myself and told her just what you had to do.

She laughed and said cheerfully, "Oh you've set my mind at rest! I'm Kim, by the way." She held out her hand.

I shook it, "Cassandra Potter."

I'm sure the conversation would have continued if Professor Harker hadn't called us in for the sorting.

We all got into register order. I was behind a girl with thick brown hair in a pony tail who seemed very worried and excited. Jack and Jill of course (being Weasleys) were right at the back. Kim was nearer the front.

Professor Harker had thrown open large double doors and sound and bright light spilled out.

"I'm so going to die of terror!" said the girl in front of me to the girl infront of her.

We entered the room. I am sure that my descriptions would not do it justice. Suffice to say that it was massive and it really did have the enchanted ceiling that Father had mentioned. I felt a little homesick. All those stranges eyes, staring at us were making me feel rather selfconcious.

There were five tables and for the first time I realised the importance of houses at Hogwarts. My parents had all tried to be neutral, which was hard for them, since they were both in Gryffindor. The Weasleys also have been in Gryffindor since the beginning of the world. The only exception is Edward who is in Ravenclaw. Catherine has Ravenclaw blood in her, however (though she was a Gryffindor) so that's all right, I suppose.

The Slytherins all looked pretty horrid, the others seemed quite neutral. I did hope I would be in Gryffindor.

Professor Harker clapped his hands for quiet and the sorting hat (which I could not see over the long line of students in front of me) began its song. I took the opportunity to study the rest of the room.

The fifth table was the teacher's table. I immediately looked for Catherine, who was sitting quite near the middle of the table and was staring up at the ceiling (probably cross eyed). She looked bored out of her senses.

At the centre of the table was a tall, strict looking woman with iron grey hair scraped back into a tight bun. She had a piercing glare and was wearing tartan robes. She was Professor McGonagall, the Headmistress.

To her right was an empty chair for Professor Harker, and to her left was a sober man with darkish skin and very greasy black hair. Even Sharon Smith, a neighbour, of Brassington Home Farm couldn't rival the amount of greasiness in that hair. (And she has very greasy hair.) He looked rather distainful of the whole proceedings. Next to him was my grandmother, Lily Potter who is Head of Charms and next to her was Catherine, head still in the clouds. Grandma nudged her, and she jerked out of her reverie and surveyed the sorting hat with rapt attention for about three seconds before returning to whatever fantasy she had been enjoying previously.

The sorting hat finished its song and Professor Harker cleared his throat. I crossed my fingers. I don't believe in superstition, but I always cross my fingers...

"Abbot, Kirsten!" called out Professor Harker. I craned around the brown haired girl in order to see better. It didn't work. There must have been about seventy pupils in front of me. Still, after a while, the sorting hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table started cheering. From my angle I couldn't see them very well either.

The next person (Francis Ackerly) had been called, and was soon sorted into Ravenclaw.

After another Ravenclaw there was the first Hufflepuff. The Slytherins didn't get anyone until Lorelei Butterworth was sorted. She was number ten if I remember rightly.

I can't remember all the students who were sorted, indeed, after a while it all became all rather blurry. I had a headache and I was nervous.

Lucy Crabbe, Emilia's friend became a Slytherin, obviously. They're welcome to her.

Robert Cresswell became a Gryffindor and Chloe Dammis a Slytherin. Fisicaro Drogo, a very Mediterranean looking boy became a Hufflepuff.

Catherine was now looking at the floor with the same interest as she had watched the ceiling previously. She clapped politely at every name.

The next pupil was called Elizabeth Elliot. I'd hate to be named after someone in a book, and a horrible person at that. Elizabeth was sorted into Hufflepuff.

A few names later Kimberley Fortune, the girl who had asked me about the sorting was sorted into to Gryffindor. I really hoped I'd be in Gryffindor.

They ploughed through the Gs, the Hs, the one I, the Js, and the Ks. In the Ls they were held up by a short boy with thick brown hair, Felix Lorrimer, who took about five minutes. He became a Hufflepuff eventually.

The Ms were highlighted by Emilia Malfoy's sorting. Naturally she became a Slytherin, having not spent long under the hat, either.

There were only fifteen to go till I was called. I could see the stool and the hat now, now sorting Phillip Marshall.

The next few names seemed to go very quickly. Then there were only two left before me.

"Peterson, Donnatella!" shouted Professor Harker.

A girl walked forward, put on the hat, and was sorted into Gryffindor. Then Professor Harker cried, "Peterson, Dorothea!" and the girl in front of me put on the hat. Donnatella and Dorothea were identical twins. Dorothea became a Gryffindor as well.

There was no-one left.

"Potter, Cassandra!"

Catherine had bothered to look up. I should think so too; she's my Godmother!

The space between me and the stool seemed to increase the closer I moved towards it. A very interesting fact that I should look into one day (but not now). I noticed that the silence was heavier than before. Everyone was watching me more than they had watched anyone else. I suppose that's because I'm Harry Potter's daughter.

I picked up the hat, and it screamed in its loudest voice, "GRYFFINDOR!" I hadn't even lifted it up to my head.

If I had thought the silence was intense before I reached the hat, it was nothing to what it was like now. It pressed against my ears so much that it hurt. No-one moved. I stood in the middle of the room holding the hat as if it was a hot brick. Slowly I turned to teacher's table, and after licking my lips, said to Professor McGonagall in the midst of all this silence, "Excuse me Professor, am I sorted? Or shall I put on the hat?"

Professor McGonagall snapped out of her suprise, "Why, I..." and, having clearly no idea herself, consulted the greasy haired treacher, who I'd worked out to be Snape, and my grandmother sotto voce. The school began to buzz with chatter. "Hush!" said Professor Harker loudly.

The teachers emerged from their huddle, and Professor McGonagall turned to me, "I believe you are sorted. What just happened was most irregular-" (here she looked at me in such a way as to make me feel it was my fault) "-but I do not see why the sorting should not work just as well in this way. The hat has clearly made its decision. What do you think, Professor Shortstraw?"

Catherine stopped staring into space and said firmly, "Oh definitely! Quite!"

"Thank-you." I put down the hat and walked over to the Gryffindor table. Suddenly Xanthia cried, "Cheer, everyone!" and the table erupted into applause. I felt myself blush and sidled into an empty seat at the end of the table.

"Delayed reaction. Stupid idiots!" hissed Xanthia across the table from me as Cornelia Raftery joined the Ravenclaws.

I was so relieved to be in Gryffindor that I hardly concentrated on the rest of the names, except to cheer loudly when Jack and Jill joined me in Gryffindor. I was suprised to see that were six people left before the end of the list. Irina Wescott became a Ravenclaw as did Clarence Woodhouse and Samuel Yates. Michelle Wood, a girl who if I hadn't known her name I would have taken her for a boy became the last Gryffindor. Thomas Zackery became a Hufflepuff and Timothy Zagan ended the register with number 100 as a Slytherin.

Immediately Professor McGonagall stood up and addressed the school, "Welcome everybody, and especially welcome to the new First Years to this new school year of 2020. Before we start the feast I have a few notices to give out. Firstly, we have been joined by Professor Glenn who will be assisting Professor Snape in the Potion's department."

A ripple ran through the crowd. Professor Snape, I found out afterwards, had never accepted any colleagues, even when the school dramatically expanded in 2013 and had always insisted in working on his own. He looked very sour about Professor Glenn's arrival. And well he might! She was very young and rather pretty and she was smiling cheerfully. Just what Snape would hate, I'm sure.

Professor McGonagall turned her attention from the Potion's department and cleared her throat. The hall fell silent. "I'm sure," she continued, "that you've noticed the absense of Professor Johnson here." There were a few nods.

"I'm afraid to tell you that Professor Johnson passed away during the summer." Shock. "He was involved in a motor accident in July and was instantly killed. We were very much moved and we will certainly remember him with great kindness. He was an excellent member of the Transfiguration department and a very fine and well loved Head of Gryffindor. Perhaps we could all take a few minutes to remember him." She bowed her head and we all followed suit. The happy atmosphere had changed drastically and everyone was looking very shocked and worried, though not openly sad. One Ravenclaw started crying, which we all tried to ignore.

Since I had never met Professor Johnson, or even heard of him, I could not join in with the silent reflection as much as other people, but I did mutter a little prayer.

When Professor McGonagall started speaking again, it was to introduce Professor Jenkins as Professor Johnson's replacement in the Transfiguration department. She then said, "As for the new Head of Gryffindor, after much discussion, we have decided to give the place to Professor Catherine Shortstraw." There were a few gasps; I was certainly very suprised, but clapped very loudly. A girl with long blond hair and too much makeup turned to me and said spitefully, "Don't think she'll be lenient to you, even if she is your godmother!"

Xanthia stopped banging her head on the table to snap, "Oh go do self-cruciatus, Hyacinth!" before resuming her somewhat peculiar way of celebrating her mother's promotion.

Professor McGonagall smiled, "I'm sure you've all felt how much an integral part of the school society Professor Shortstaw is, since she has been here eleven years and indeed, was the principle pioneer along with her friend Lady Potter who is Head of the Department of International Magical Educational Schemes and Syllabuses-"

"Or MESS," whispered Xanthia audibly.

"-and chief school governor, in introducing both French and Latin to the school syllabus, something I'm sure we've never regretted."

Judging from the dubious looks the school was giving both Catherine and Professor McGonagall, I would doubt that statement very much, but neither seemed to notice, or if they did they didn't show it.

"Perhaps we should have a round of applause," hinted Professor McGonagall. We all clapped, the Gryffindors louder than the rest, though some didn't look very happy about their new head of house.

Professor McGonagall continued, "Now, a few more notices."

Jack's stomach rumbled.

"The Head Boy for this year is Adam Marsdon of Hufflepuff and his two deputies are Richard Clement of Gryffindor and Sean Pickles of Slytherin. The Head Girl is Anna Williams of Ravenclaw and her deputies are Clare Lockhead also of Ravenclaw and Brigit Holland of Gryffindor. Contact them or any of the sixteen prefects if you have any queries.

"The members and captains of the quidditch teams are listed in your common rooms. Could I emphasise that first years cannot play on a team. The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to everyone and there will be suspension to anyone who goes in it."

There was a general outbreak here. "That's new!" whispered Martin, "they've threatened detention before, but not suspension. I wonder why."

"It's because Cassie came. You know why," replied Xanthia in a tone definitely not intented for my ears. I wonder what she meant by it. Why would they tighten up the rules, just because I've come? It's not as if I'm going to break any! I intend to be a very good pupil.

Professor McGonagall told us about Filch, the caretaker's new set of rules, (I seemed to be the only one was listening) and then told us to start the feast.

"I could eat a hippogriff!" sighed Jill happily, as roast chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, gravy, stuffing and parsnips appeared on our plates.

"Jillian Weasley! You wouldn't think of doing such a thing! Hippogriffs rule!" shouted Megan over the noise of the start of term feast.

The food was very good, and Jack, Jill and I had much to talk about. Our faces glimmered in the firelight, and there was a very warm, peaceful atmosphere. I felt very tired, and yet strangly awake.

"Do you think we'll have to call Aunt Catherine 'Professor Shortstraw'?" mused Jack.

"I think it would be best," I replied.

"What a bore. But, Cassie, I don't see why she shouldn't be Professor or Mrs. Weasley. That is her name now, after all. Why use her maiden name? It's not even a very, you know, lucky name, is it?"

Edward, who was sitting on the end of the Ravenclaw table, leaned over to explain, "It's because there are so many Mrs. Weasleys around. She doesn't want to be confused with anyone else."

Jill laughed, "But come on! There aren't any other Mrs. Weasleys at Hogwarts! And not many people teach Latin, do they? Seems very unecessary to me. You couldn't confuse anyone with my aunt."

"But it's lucky that she's Head of Gryffindor now, isn't it?" said Jack, "she's not very strict."

"No," agreed Jenny, "in fact, she doesn't believe in detentions! Or taking off house points! She's in the middle of a really big arguement with McGongall, so I've heard, about it. She thinks we should dispence with points and detentions. I was really suprised when they said she was promoted. Last year, we all thought she was going to get the sack it got so bad. And you know what McGonagall's like? Rules rules rules! Discipline discipline discipline! all the way through."

"But it's amazing that she doesn't believe in detentions! Does she really?"

Jenny nodded, "Really and truly. Last year, she caught my friend Roger writing 'Latin is boring. Put a tally if you agree!' on the desk, and she didn't take any points off!"

"What did she do then?"

"She kept him in at lunchtime and discussed it with him!"

"What an odd thing to do!" cried Jill.

"She did give us all triple homework when he told her, for some reason, that we all thought it was boring."

"That was a stupid thing to say!" Jack said.

I switched off. The doings of last year's third year Latin set have limited interest, I have to say.

Xanthia turned to me and said, "Hyacinth Gibbons wants to meet you, Cassandra. Can't think why- she'll only be nasty but there we go."

It was the pretty girl who had been scathing about Catherine's promotion. She tossed her head, "Now, Xanthia, don't be so horrid about your brother's girlfriend. It's not very polite."

Xanthia ignored her and turned to me, "Have you noticed, Cassandra, that the Weasley men always fancy silly, ignorant girls, but marry sensible, lovely women?"

"Hey!" said Jack.

"They do. I've observed it," replied Xanthia.

Hyacinth looked horrified, "I don't want to marry Edward!"

"I think you missed the point slightly. Anyway, Hyacinth, this is Cassandra. Cassandra, this is Hyacinth. We're unfortunately in the same class."

Hyacinth smiled at me. I smiled back, though not without some effort.

"So, Cassandra, you've been looking forward to coming to Hogwarts, have you?" She opened the conversation.

"Oh yes! Very much!"

"And... are you expecting to have any adventures?"

She sounded like someone out of an Enid Blyton adventure story. "Well, not really. Should I be?" I replied.

She shrugged, "I don't know. I just thought you might be trying to take after your father. Defeating evil and losing points for Gryffindor along the way, you know."

"But there isn't any evil to defeat! Besides, my father didn't do that all the time!"

Hyacinth wriggled her neatly pencilled eyebrows, "Well, from what I've heard he nearly always was. There was the Philosopher's Stone, wasn't there? And nobody's quite sure what happened in the Chamber of Secrets, but it was something quite extraordinary. And then, there was the Triwizard Tournament, when You-Know-Who got his body back-"

"You-Know-Who got his body back, and my father was present?"

"You mean you don't know?" She looked shocked, "Everyone else knows."

"Knows what?"

Hyacinth chose not to reply. Instead she started to say, "And then in his seventh year-" only to be interrupted by a very angry Xanthia, "Why don't you shut up for a change, Hyacinth? You should be a Slytherin, you're so horrible. I don't see what Edward sees in you!"

Hyacinth looked furious, "Mind your own business, Xanthia and I'll mind mine!"

"Well, don't mind Cassie's!" retorted Xanthia.

I coughed loudly and found my tongue, "I don't know you very well, Hyacinth, but I'm inclined to agree with Xanthia- mind your own business! I don't get any pleasure from talking to you."

Hyacinth looked as if she had been stung, "You mean that, do you? Well, I had expected more kindness from Harry Potter's daughter. Someone so special, as well!"

"I'm not special. I'm Cassandra Elizabeth Potter, aged eleven, of the Two Towers, Brassington, Derbyshire, and that's it. All right?"

"Well... I've heard differently."

"You've heard! You've heard from from someone who's heard from someone else who's heard from some muggle who doesn't know the first thing about anything! I don't give a fig for your rumours! If there was anything to know, then my parents would have told me. As it is, there isn't anything to talk about, and that's the end to that!"

Xanthia mouthed, "Well done!" and I turned my back the two third years and ranted away to Jack about girls who talk about nothing except makeup and boys. It's so nice to complain to someone who you know feels exactly the same way!

After supper we left the Great Hall and made our way sleepily to our houses. The Gryffindor common room, we found, was guarded by a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. The password was 'Smoke and Fire'. The Gryffindor common room was very comfotable and very red. There was a fire buring merrily in the grate. Meg and another prefect divided us into dormitories and sent the girls up the staircase to the right, and the boys to the left. I was sharing a dormitory with Jill, Kirsty Abbot (who was moaning about not being in Hufflepuff for some reason), Kim and Kirsty's pretty friend Esmée Robinson.

A prefect has just shouted up the stairs to tell us to turn off the light. Tomorrow will bring lessons, and who knows what else?

And so, as I believe it was Shakespeare who once said, to bed.

Cassandra E. Potter

Thank-you to neha dkulkarni, Katzgirl7, Polegara, LilSilverPhoenix, Kayla Snape, squee, Unregistered- Cassie Potter, SlowFox and vmarc9 for reviewing chapter 1. Keep those good reviews coming! I love reading them- and the more questions posed the better. E-mail me at the address at the top of the page, or private owl me. I guarantee a reply!

Don't forget to join my yahoo group at this address.

Next chapter: Life at Hogwarts, Snape sticks his nose into things and Lady Potter has a dream. All this and more in Chapter 3, the longest chapter so far! It will be uploaded on the 1st October, or just after.