"Oh, shut the hell up, Weasley!" Gemma Farley shouted.

At last, there was silence again.

"Second — to Miss Hermione Granger... "

"The Mudblood?" said Viola.

"... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

"Third — to Mr. Harry Potter... " said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet. "... for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."

Around Cassie, many Slytherins were shouting. Everyone who could calculate in their head knew that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two points — the same as Slytherin. They had tied for the House Cup.

Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.

"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I, therefore, award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

"That's rubbish!" Shouts from Slytherin were barely heard as the Gryffindors cheered.

"Which means," Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, for even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were celebrating. "... we need a little change of decoration."

He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place.

"Take that, Malfoy," said Angelina on the way out.

Cassie ignored her. She caught Oliver's eyes who looked at her sadly. He smiled in her direction, but Cassie never saw as she began making conversation with Adrian.

Early the next day, Cassie awoke. She finished packing the few books she had and changed her clothes. They took the carriages to Hogsmeade Station where they were to board the Hogwarts Express. Addy, Viola, and Cassie took a compartment.

"Thank Merlin." Cassie sighed with relief. "I've got two months without seeing Johnson or any Weasley."

"Can't believe how fast this year has gone by," said Addy. "Only a few more years and we'll graduate."

"I just want to get out of this school," said Viola. She was still upset about losing the House Cup to Gryffindor. "Dumbledore... 'course he'd favor them. Potter lived and has a scar, so what? Only now that he's come to school, he's all interesting. No one had talked about him for years."

"That's just fame," said Addy. "Obviously, I don't like it any less than you do. Imagine if Potter was sorted into Slytherin, think Dumbledore would have favored us."

"Famous Harry Potter," said Adrian as he came inside with Flint behind him. "The little git."

"What do you want?" Cassie spat, glaring at Flint.

"Ease up a bit or this bloke will change his mind," said Adrian, clapping Flint on the back.

"We've had a rough year," said Flint. "Lost against Gryffindor, barely won against Ravenclaw... "

Adrian nudged him. "Get to the point."

"I'm offering you a spot on the team next year," said Flint. "As Chaser."

"You aren't messing with me, are you? 'Cause if you are, I will break every bone in your body."

Adrian shot her a look and shook his head.

"I'm serious," said Flint, taking a mental note to never cross Cassie again.

Cassie could barely keep her calm. "What made you change your mind?"

"Well, Adrian was right," Flint confessed. "You are far better than Montague. I think we would like to have some strategy on the team."

"Great!" said Addy excitedly, then she glared at Flint. "Now get out of here."

He got up, Adrian following behind him. Before he walked out of sight, he smiled at Cassie.

"Is there something wrong, Addy?" Viola asked.

"No, just Adrian being a git and Flint being his usual self," Addy replied.

Cassie and Viola raised their eyebrows, intrigued.

"Flint spread rumors I fancy Sloan," she explained. "And then Adrian got on my nerves about it. I'm surprised you didn't hear it. Most of Slytherin know and so do a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws."

"Could I use Bam?" asked Cassie.

"Sure... " said Addy slowly, opening the owl cage.

"I've got a letter to send," Cassie explained.

She reread the letter she wrote in the morning. It said:

Dear Miss Tonks,

You may not know me, but my name is Cassiopeia. I'm your niece. I know you might not wish to see me given past events, but you're the last person I can talk to. Please, write me back soon.

𝕭𝖆𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝕾𝖈𝖆𝖗𝖘 || Fred WeasleyWhere stories live. Discover now