chapter four / a murderous break-in
WITH THE START OF OCTOBER, Cassie was more than happy to see Harry's mood lift significantly since he was foretold of his death in Divination. She didn't know why he was so good-spirited until a sign on the notice board caught her attention;
'QUIDDITCH TRYOUTS : THIS THURSDAY! BE AT THE QUIDDITCH PITCH BY SIX-THIRTY SHARP! NO EXCEPTIONS! BRING YOUR OWN BROOM. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE. WE WILL NOT LOSE TO SLYTHERIN THIS YEAR!!
Signed sincerely by Oliver Wood, Quidditch captain.'
Cassie knew Harry was quite the Seeker. Well, she didn't exactly know, more rather had been told legends, but none that she didn't believe. Hopefully he was as good as he'd been rumored to be, as Cassie figured from the furious underline beneath the last line of the poster; Gryffindor had to beat Slytherin.
She caught Cedric in the hall the day after Quidditch tryouts had been announced.
"Excuse her!" he yelled, a smiling face heads above the rest of the students. "Cassie's coming through! Let her in! Excuse you!"
"I was going to wish you good luck for tryouts," she informed him, cheeks flushed with embarrassment once she'd made her way through the crowd. "But now.."
"Oh, come off it," Cedric scoffed lightly, playfully pushing her arm.
She laughed and ran a hand through her hair, letting out a huff. "Come now, Diggory. You won't even need my luck, if you're half as good as these people make you out to be..."
"I sure hope I am. Thank you, I really need it. There's another girl trying out for seeker, and she's just brilliant, from what I can tell. It'll be close. And I know I'm your favorite fifth year in the whole school—"
"Oi!" Atticus's voice exclaimed suddenly and from out of nowhere, shoving his way next to Cedric. His nose and cheeks were flushed pink, and Cassie couldn't help but wonder if it was result of the cold weather or if Atticus had just finished talking to a girl. He scrunched up his face. "Favorite fifth year? Says who?"
"You aren't even a fifth year," Cedric pointed out, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Atticus shoved him on the shoulder.
Cedric's jaw dropped. "Watch it, mate!" he said, emphasizing his words with a shove of his own.
Atticus shoved him again. "You watch it!"
"No, you watch it!"
"No, you—"
"Boys.." Cassie muttered to herself, rolling her eyes as she headed off down the hallway.
Cedric and Atticus stopped their bickering long enough to shout a synchronized "Bye, Cassie!" before returning to the argument at hand.
A FEW CRISP NIGHTS LATER, Cassie sat in the Gryffindor common room with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They'd been sitting in silence, the room otherwise empty, until a loud buzz of chatter exploded into the room and directed itself to the notice board. All four of the third years' heads swiveled toward the crowd.
"What's happening?" Harry asked.
"Looks like the first Hogsmeade weekend." Ron pointed to the notice board and, sure enough, Mcgonagall had just pinned up the statement. She scoffed at Oliver's Quidditch notice.
"Excellent!" chimed Fred (at least, Cassie thought it was Fred—she could never fully tell the twins apart). The first twin collapsed onto the couch next to Ron and Cassie. "I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of stink pellets."
They were still talking about Hogsmeade by lunch the next morning, and Harry's bright mood had dropped back to a slump. Cassie slid onto the bench next to him, trying to think of anything to say to comfort him.
"I'm sure you'll be able to go at some point, Harry. They've got to catch Black eventually." Cassie frowned. "You could ask Mcgonagall if you can go this time; Black's already been spotted in Hogsmeade once, I doubt he's coming back in any hurry. Honestly, we could probably sneak you out, if we tried hard enough—"
"Cassie!" Hermione hissed. Apparently, she'd been listening, and didn't approve of Cassie's rule-breaking plan. "Harry can't leave the castle. It's for his own safety!"
"He can't be the only third year left behind!"
"And he won't be."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cassie all turned their heads to face Remus, who'd walked up behind them, unannounced. His lips were tightly downturned in his best impersonation of a frown.
"What d'you mean?" Ron asked, his words muffled around the mashed potatoes in his mouth. Hermione cringed.
"I'm afraid Cassie is going to have to stay back, too."
Cassie sputtered in disbelief, standing from the table. "How on Earth is that fair? Just because Harry's being chased by a murderer—of course, no offense, Harry—
"None taken," Harry said quickly.
"I'm sorry, Cassie," Remus tried to reason. "I know it's unfair."
She just glared at him. "Why don't you want me to have any fun?"
He frowned, clearly hurt. "What? Of—of course I want you to have fun—"
"Then act like it! Let me go to Hogsmeade, like a normal third year! Again—no offense, Harry!"
Harry shrugged.
Remus just shook his head. "I'm sorry, Cassie, this is just the way it is. Now, please calm down—"
"You're the worst dad in the history of dads," she huffed, picking up her schoolbag and exiting the Great Hall abruptly.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry all shared a look, before standing as well.
"I– I'm sure she'll come to her senses," Ron told Remus hesitantly, before the three rushed out of the great hall after their friend.
SOME FEW HOURS AFTER LUNCH, Cassie leaned lazily against her desk, examining her nails with a bored expression on her face. Transfiguration was uneventful, and she wanted nothing more than to leave the dull class and retire back to her common room. But when the bell rang and signified the end of class, Harry made way to Professor Mcgongall's desk holding a slip of parchment, and Cassie realized she was expected to stay even longer and wait for him to be declined once more.
"Please, Professor, my aunt and uncle forgot to sign it. Do you think—er, would it be okay if I got to go to Hogsmeade?"
Professor Mcgonagall peered up at him, her lips drawn in a tight line. For a moment, Cassie thought she might say yes.
"I'm afraid not, Potter. You heard what I said. No form, no Hogsmeade. That's the rule."
Harry glanced over his shoulder and Ron and Cassie silently cheered him on with vigorous head nods.
"But.. Professor! My aunt and uncle, you know.. they're Muggles! They don't really understand about.. Hogwarts and stuff. If you said I could go—"
"But I don't say so," she interrupted, dipping her quill in ink and beginning to write what looked like it would be a long letter. "The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission. I'm sorry, Potter, but that is my final word. Now, you three had better hurry, or you'll be late to your next lesson."
There really was nothing else to be done. Ron had called Mcgonagall a few words that Cassie knew his mother wouldn't stand for, even though she'd never met the woman. Hermione, when they caught up with her, put on an 'it's all for the best' expression. Cassie, of course, sympathized with him. Both had to endure everyone in the class talking loudly and happily about what they were going to do once they got into Hogsmeade.
"There's always the feast," said Ron, in an attempt to cheer them up. "You know, the Halloween feast."
Cassie sat up straight, suddenly interested. "It's Halloween?"
"Er, tomorrow is.. but we don't do anything," he informed her, shrugging. "I mean, normally, there's the Halloween ball, but that got canceled because of Black."
Cassie narrowed her eyes, rolling her jaw in contempt. "That slimy git. How's he managing to ruin everything?"
And with that, she crumpled up her parchment, throwing it forcefully into the bin on her way up to her dormitory.
"WE'LL BRING BACK LOADS OF TREATS," Hermione promised Harry and Cassie the next morning at breakfast. The two had been sitting in their seats looking thoroughly depressed, neither speaking very much. Hermione had begun to feel worse and worse the more they kept quiet.
"Yeah, loads!" Ron agreed, piling eggs onto his plate.
"Don't worry about us," Harry told them, and Cassie just nodded, afraid her voice would give her disappointment away. "We'll see you at the feast."
The four Gryffindors walked to the entrance hall where Filch was checking names off of a list and peering suspiciously into the faces of the students, making sure nobody was sneaking out that shouldn't have been.
"Staying here, Potter?" the voice of Malfoy sneered as they began walking back to their common room. "Scared of the dementors, are we?"
"Just ignore him," Cassie muttered. Harry had told her about Malfoy, and he was the most unpleasant git she'd ever heard of. Even if he had yet to make jokes about her, she knew they would come eventually.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked when they made their way back to the common room, and Harry mumbled it. Her portrait swung open after a moment. If she noticed the looks on their faces, she decided not to ask.
"Hiya Harry, hi!" said a rather loud second year. "Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey!" – Colin glanced around to his friends – "you can come sit with us, if you like, Harry!"
"Er.. no thanks, Colin. I've got to go to the library and get some work done," Harry lied, taking Cassie by the hand and dragging her back out of the portrait hole.
"Oi!" Filch stood behind the pair, who paused and turned on their heels. He narrowed his eyes at them. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," they said at the same time, rather truthfully.
"Nothing! Likely story.. sneaking around on your own—why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying stink pellets and belch powder and whizzing worms like the rest of your nasty friends?"
Harry shrugged, but Cassie's nose was still scrunched up at the thought of belch powder.
"Get back to your common room," Filch growled, and the two didn't have to be told twice.
But they didn't return to the common room. Harry and Cassie made their way aimlessly around the school, narrowly avoiding Filch again, until they passed an open door and someone from inside called out to them.
"Harry, Cassie," Remus gestured for them to come inside his classroom. "What are you two doing? Where are Ron and Hermione?"
Cassie scoffed lightly, and Harry replied. "Hogsmeade."
"Ah." Remus's eyes flickered to Cassie for a moment, but she had suddenly taken an interest in a spinning marble that never stopped turning.
"Tea?" he offered after a moment. Cassie shook her head, but Harry nodded. "I've only got teabags, I'm afraid—but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?"
"How'd you know about that?" Harry asked in awe.
"Professor Mcgonagall told me. You're not worried, are you?"
"No," Harry replied quickly, taking the cup out of Remus's hand. He opened his mouth as if to tell the professor of the black dog he'd been seeing, but Cassie noticed this and began speaking before he could.
"Dad, what's the deal with the boggart?" she asked abruptly, sending Harry a look.
"What about it?"
"Why didn't you let me fight mine?" Harry asked, suddenly forgetting about his tea and setting it on the desk.
"I would have thought that was obvious, Harry."
"Why?" Harry asked again.
"Well, I presumed that if the boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort."
Harry gaped at him, and Cassie's lips parted in shock. She'd never heard her dad say his name before.
"Clearly, I was wrong," Remus continued. "But I didn't think it was a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staff room. I imagined that people would panic."
"I did think of Voldemort first," said Harry honestly. "But then I remembered those.. dementors."
"I see, I see," Remus said, as though in thought. "Well, I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is fear itself. Very wise, Harry."
Cassie made to ask about her boggart, when the door slammed open and in came Professor Snape carrying a goblet.
"Ah, Severus," Remus greeted kindly. "Thanks very much. Could you just leave it on the desk? I was just showing Harry and Cassie my grindylow." He gestured to the tank that held the seething creature.
"Fascinating," Snape said with a bored expression. "You should drink that directly, Lupin."
"Yes, yes—"
"I made an entire cauldron full, should you need more."
"I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus."
"Not at all," said Snape, but there was a look in his eye that set Cassie on edge. His black eyes glanced over to her and he faltered before regaining himself and exiting the classroom with a flourish.
"What's tha–" Harry began, but Remus cut him off.
"I've been feeling a bit off-color. This potion is the only thing that helps. I'm very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it." He took a sip from the goblet and shuddered. "Goblin piss."
"Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts," Harry blurted. "Some people reckon.. he'd do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job."
Cassie stifled a groan, only imagining the thoughts running through Harry's head.
"Interesting," Remus said after finishing off the drink. "Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. I'll see you at the feast later."
WHEN RON AND HERMIONE had first returned to the common room, they gushed on and on about their adventures in Hogsmeade and the candy shop and emptied the contents of their bags onto the floor between the four of them.
"Well," Hermione urged Harry and Cassie, "what did you two do while we were gone?"
"Er, nothing." Cassie shrugged, picking at the packaging of a licorice wand. "We talked to my dad. Oh, and speaking of—"
"Snape's trying to poison Lupin!" Harry hissed. Ron and Hermione's eyebrows jumped to the tops of their foreheads and they leaned in, sitting on the edges of their seats. Cassie's stomach lurched. This can't be good.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked, panicked.
"We were in his classroom, and Snape brought in a big, smoking goblet of some potion that Lupin said he'd been brewing for a while. And Lupin said it tasted like goblin piss, and Snape has always been trying to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job—"
"You don't actually think he would poison someone over it, do you?" Ron's voice cracked halfway through his question.
"Of course not!" Hermione whisper-shouted, earning a shush from Harry. Cassie rolled her eyes.
"Come on, he's not poisoning him. It's just..." She bit the inside of her cheeks. What would be better—tell them what the potion really was, or let them believe Snape was concocting a murder scheme?
It didn't take much thought for her to come to a decision.
"Maybe it's possible," she agreed, curling her shoulders into herself to make herself smaller.
Hermione checked her watch, biting her lip. "Okay, we can try to warn him at the feast, because we've got to go."
The four of them rushed out of the portait hole and down the empty corridors, arriving to the Great Hall just as the food appeared on the plates. Cassie caught her dad's eye, and he raised an eyebrow, but she just shrugged.
The feast, of course, was delightful. One of Cassie's favourite parts of Hogwarts, honestly. The ghosts trailed around the Hall, sometimes moaning about how they couldn't eat, and carved pumpkins adorned the tables in some places. It was decorated with twinkling orange lights, floating Jack-o-lanterns, and wizard's candy adorned the tables as centerpieces.
Once the feast was over, Remus had already gone, so the quartet didn't have time to warn him of Snape's attempt of murder. They all shared a sigh before following their fellow Gryffindors back to the common room, only to be stopped at the moving staircases by a large group of people surrounding the Fat Lady's portrait.
"What's going on?" asked Ginny, who'd walked up behind the four of them. They all shrugged, but stood on their tip-toes, eager to get a glimpse.
"The Fat Lady's missing!" someone shouted from the front of the group. Gasps echoed around the large hall. Dumbledore began walking through the students to the heart of the commotion.
"We need to search the castle for our dear Lady," he calmly told the other professors.
"You'll be lucky!" cackled a voice that echoed from above.
Dumbledore, along with every other body on the staircase, turned all attention to Peeves. The headmaster arched a white eyebrow in the poltergeist's direction.
"Whatever do you mean, Peeves?"
Peeves's silvery grin faded a little. He didn't dare taunt the headmaster, so instead, he adopted an oily voice that was quite strange compared to his usual jeering.
"Ashamed, your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess, sir, saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," Peeves explained happily. Upon Dumbledore's disappointed look, he adopted an unconvincing frown. "Poor thing."
"Did she say who did this?" the headmaster asked quietly.
"Oh, yes, Professorhead," said Peeves slowly. Despite the situation, Cassie had to duck her head to hide her amusement at Peeves's nicknames for Dumbledore. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see. Nasty temper, he's got, that Sirius Black."