The Power of Love

The Man at the Door

It seemed like any ordinary day in any ordinary house. The sun was already up and all the people of the small neighborhood were already awake. The adults were all off to work, and the children were waiting by the street corner for the school bus. All the children, that is, except one. Cassandra Salem. She didn't go to school, she didn't play at the park, she didn't even have any friends. This small eleven year old girl never left her family's small suburban house.

You see, the Salem family was not like any normal family on their block, in their town, or even in America. The members of the Salem family held a secret they prayed that no one on their street would ever find out. The Salem family just happened to be one of the oldest wizarding families in the world. However, even as abnormal as her family was, her family considered Cassandra to be as weird as they come.

On this fine morning, Cassandra was sitting by the front window peeking through the curtains at the happy children waiting for the bus. They all stood there chatting loudly with smiles on their faces and lunch boxes in their hand as the morning slowly slipped away. Cassandra sat there longingly wishing that she could run out there and go to school with them. Then a small girl at the bus stop pointed at Cassandra looking through the window. The other children turned and looked towards the Salem's house, staring at Cassandra. Suddenly she was overcome with pain and began screaming and holding her head as the children at the bus stop pointed and laughed at her.

She fell to the floor still screaming and did not stop until the school bus had arrived and driven away. Cassandra was no normal witch. She was cursed with the ability to hear people's thoughts. A curse, that no witch or wizard her family knew could cure. It was the reason she was unable to attend school. The minute she would step inside the classroom she would be overcome by the thoughts of the other children and fall to the floor instantly.

Her mind-reading ability was not the only reason her family considered her weird. The way Cassandra looked they found particularly odd. The entire Salem family had long, strait, black hair with dark brown colored eyes. Cassandra however, had long spiraling locks of white-blonde hair with soft light blue eyes. While the family favored darker colors for their wardrobes, Cassandra wore white. It wasn't as if she wanted to only wear white, but anytime she put on any garment no matter what the color had been it would instantly turn to white. Nevertheless, in the family pictures little Cassandra stuck out horribly.

Another thing about Cassandra that her family thought was especially odd was her temper. Cassandra was a very cool, level headed person, even at her age. However, whenever someone would push her anger to the limit, something inside her would change. Her eyes would turn dark violet; her hair would then turn as black as night, and finally whatever clothing she was wearing would turn black also. No one could quite explain why this happened, but when it did, you should run for cover. With each of her screams the house would start to shake and pictures would fall off the walls and glasses would break.

She could still remember the last time her "dark side," as she called it, got the best at her. It was the last time she had gone to school. A rather large girl began to pick on Cassandra. That put with the horrible thoughts she heard from her classmates became too much. She had somehow changed and before she knew it, the school was crumbling to the ground. The girl who was picking on her, had been the only one to get hurt, she had died. By time the dust from the falling school had settled, Cassandra was her normal self crying over what she had just done. Of course no one knew that a little girl had leveled the school, the townspeople thought that it had been a freak earthquake. People around here would think of anything to deny the use of magic.

Shaking her head trying to rid herself of the horrible thoughts of that day she walked over to the table. Since she was unable to attend normal school, she took classes through the mail. She liked doing this, she was able to work at her own pace and learn about different things that they would not have taught at a normal school. Though she was only supposed to be in the sixth grade, she was at the classroom level of a student in the tenth grade. She started flicking through pages in her book thinking that this was just an ordinary day. How very wrong she was.

At about twelve o'clock Cassandra got up from the table, closed her book, and walked to the kitchen to get herself lunch. She was just about to go sit down with her sandwich and watch a little television when she heard a knock at the door. People normally didn't come to the door at this time of day, so curiously she got up and opened the door. She found herself standing in front of a very tall, very old looking man. He wore long violet robes with a long white beard and even longer white hair. He had two twinkling eyes that were behind his half-moon spectacles that sat upon his very long crooked nose.

"Hello there," the old man said in a very distinct English accent. "Are you Cassandra Salem?"

"Yes, that's me," she said with a shaking voice.

"Wonderful," the old man clapped his hands and smiled. "My name is Albus Dumbledore and I'm here to talk to you about where you'll be going to school year."

"I'm sorry. You must have the wrong person. I am home-schooled," Cassandra said while debating on weather or not she should shut the door on this man.

"I know that my dear," Albus started, "but I am here to talk to you about coming to a wizarding school."

"Sorry again sir, but, I'm not allowed to go to school. My parents don't think that it's good for me," she said while starting to close the door.

"Yes, they think that it is best for you to stay away from other people after what happened to that school and that poor girl," Albus Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Well, yes. But how do you know about that," said Cassandra. She pulled the door open and motioned for Albus to come in. He smiled as he walked over to the couch where her lunch sat.

"You will find, Cassandra that I know much more than you realize." He smiled and handed her the plate with her lunch. "For example, I know that you can hear the thoughts of everyone you come across and that it causes you much pain."

"How do you know that?" Cassandra looked shocked at Albus' words and began to pace the length of the living room.

*I have some American friends who have told me of your problems,* she heard Albus think. Then he spoke, "and I figured I might be able to help you control this gift."

"You can't help me. No one can. My parents and many other witches have tried to help me but they can't, it's hopeless" Cassandra said looking to the ground with a sad look in her eyes, Albus could have sworn that he had seen a tear forming.

"That, my dear, is because they have all tried to rid you of your gift. In truth, telepathy will never leave you, but you can learn to control it," said Albus with a smile.

"I don't think so," she said while was beginning to doubt what Albus was saying.

"Well, I can help you. You can learn to control your gift and then you can live a normal life," Albus said while still smiling. *You just have to trust me and have faith in yourself. What do you say?*

"How?" She looked up to Albus with determination in her eyes. It couldn't hurt to see if he were telling the truth.

"Concentration is the key. You just need to concentrate on what someone is saying. Especially in a crowd, you need to focus on one person or what you are doing at the time." His eyes were twinkling as he stood up. "Come with me, I'll show you." She took his hand and before she knew it, she realized that she was standing in the middle of the mall with Albus.

"What are we doing here?" She began looking around nervously.

"Teaching you to concentrate. Just focus your mind on listening to me." He watched as Cassandra reached for her head. She was struggling not to scream. Albus took her hands and put them on her temples blocking her view of everyone but him. "Concentrate on me. Pretend that there is no one here but you and I. Now slowly move your hands away but remember there is no one here but you and me. Keep concentrating on me. Now I want you to tell me how you feel."

"I feel normal. The pain is gone!" She was smiling with her eyes moistly shining.

"All right then. Let's go get something to eat." Albus stood up and they walked to the food court. *Now concentrate on the cashier and what you want to order. Talk to him like you were to me.* Cassandra just nodded and ordered her lunch from the cashier. They walked to a table in the middle of the busy food court and sat down. Cassandra was still smiling obviously pleased with her accomplishment. The day kept going like that. Albus would take her into busy stores and asked her to concentrate on the clothing and cashiers and finally took her to a movie before they went back to Cassandra's house.

"So how do you feel?" Albus said when they got back to her house.

"I feel all right! I have a small headache now, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as it normally would. You did it," Cassandra cheered.

"Well, there will still be some situations where concentration will be very difficult for you. For example in exceptionally large crowds, your mind might get the better of you. But with the crowds we dealt with today, you will be able to handle a classroom of students." There was that twinkle in Albus' eyes again. "You know, I'm the headmaster of a wizarding school in England. I would be honored if you would come to my school and we could continue to work on controlling your gifts."

"It sounds nice, but there is a problem with that," Cassandra said with a small sound of fear in her voice. "First I would have to see what my parents say about it. I'm not sure if they will like the idea of me going to school, let alone me going to school in England."

"Well," Albus started his smile fading, "your parents should not be a problem. If you wish to go to school with me, then it is your decision. But I will speak with them when they come home for you. It would be best to leave with their blessing rather than without." Cassandra smiled and looked at the clock. Her family would be home any minute. And just as she thought of them coming home, the front door opened.

"CASSANDRA!"

"Oh no! They're home early," said Cassandra looking nervously towards the tall, raven-haired woman coming through the front door.

"Why don't I smell dinner cooking?" Behind her mother were her older sister and brother and then her father. It was her sister, Krista that first noticed someone sitting next to Cassandra on the couch.

"Mom!" Krista yelled "The freak let someone in the house!" With those words the entire family stopped in their tracks and looked at the couch where Cassandra and Albus Dumbledore were sitting.

"And who might you be," said Mr. Salem fighting back anger.

"I am Albus Dumbledore. I am the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I am here talking with Cassandra about her going to my school." Both Cassandra's brother and sister began to laugh hysterically while Mr. and Mrs. Salem exchanged tense looks.

"Well we are afraid that our daughter is unable to attend school yours or any other." Mrs. Salem glared at her daughter. "I don't know what lies you have been feeding her, but she is unfit to be around other students."

*Wait until he leaves and we get our hands on you girl! You won't be able to sit properly for a month!* Cassandra heard her mother think. She flinched at these thoughts which Mrs. Salem saw and smiled at.

"So it may seem Mrs. Salem," said Albus motioning to the dinning room table for them to sit at. Cassandra slowly followed and sat in a small chair next to Albus watching her parents. "Your daughter has been unable to attend school due to some unknown pains and headaches that she has when she is in the company of other people, is that not right?"

"Yes," Mr. Salem said quickly, "and it is no use to say that you can cure her. She is a hopeless case and incurable." Albus began to smile when Mr. Salem said this.

"True she is incurable, but not a hopeless case." He flashed a quick smile to Cassandra and then looked back at her parents. "Cassandra here is telepathic. There is no cure for that. However, one can be taught to control telepathy. It is merely a matter of concentration and discipline."

"Your theory is admirable, Mr. Dumbledore, but I doubt it will work. You see..." but Mrs. Salem was cut off by Albus.

"My theory will, and has worked. Just ask Cassandra. We went to the mall today and she didn't have a single headache or the slightest pain what so ever. She even sat through a packed movie at the theater. Ask her yourself." This was not what Cassandra wanted her parents to hear.

"So you left the house," Mrs. Salem said with an evil grin, "you know the rules girl. Now get into the kitchen and start our dinner." Cassandra slowly stood up but Albus stopped her.

"Allow me." Albus waved his wand and the table was filled with food. At the sight of the food, Cassandra's older brother and sister ran to the table and began to eat. "Cassandra merely needs guidance. And with the progress she and I made today, I know she will do wonderfully at my school."

"Well all that aside, she cannot go because we cannot afford to send her to some expensive wizarding school in another country," Mr. Salem said with a look of triumph.

*We will lock you in your room until Christmas the second this man leaves girl!* Cassandra heard her father think.

"Should Cassandra come to Hogwarts, she shall be on a full scholarship." Albus' eyes were twinkling. "She will be perfectly fine and safe at my school and will learn to live a normal life with her gifts. The term starts in three days. She could leave with me tonight for England."

"Well, I don't know..." Mrs. Salem started.

"Mother, I want to go. Please," Cassandra pleaded after hearing her parents' threats, she just had to get out. Her brother nearly dropped his fork when she spoke and the entire family just stared at her.

"Fine then," Mrs. Salem said with a look of contempt, "go with him. And when you start screaming in classes and the whole school falls down, don't come back here." *You are no daughter of ours!* And with that Mr. and Mrs. Salem got up from the table and went to their room.

"You should probably go to your room and pack any things that you shall need," Albus said smiling, "we will be leaving shortly." Cassandra smiled and walked upstairs to her room and began to pack.

She threw a bag onto the bed and began to throw some clothes into it, when suddenly a small, pure-white cat peeked out from underneath the bag. The cat looked at Cassandra with it's light blue eyes and walked into the closet. The cat suddenly reappeared pushing a small animal-travel case with it's tiny head. The cat looked up and cried at Cassandra.

"Oh Jewel, I'm sorry I don't know if you can come with me," Cassandra said looking at the cat that continued pushing the crate until it hit her leg. Jewel looked up at Cassandra with sad eyes and cried again. "Now don't look at me like that. Fine, I'll ask Albus if you can come, but it's not my decision if you can't." She finished packing her bag and walked downstairs carrying her bag and the travel case with Jewel following close behind her. Jewel immediately walked over to Albus and began to rub against his legs purring.

"Is this your charming cat?" Albus reached down to gently pet Jewel's white back.

"Yes, this is Jewel." Cassandra said quietly, "I was wondering if she was allowed at school."

"Of course," Albus said with a soft smile, "all students are allowed to bring either an owl, a toad, or a cat with them. Jewel here is more than welcome to accompany you to Hogwarts."

"Thank you," Cassandra said gratefully, "I'm all packed and ready to go then."

"All right," Albus said with a smile walking towards the door. There was a cab waiting outside for them. "To London we go!"