Trouville {H.G}

The Great Hall

"Firs' yers this way," A large scraggly man shepherded the first years over to the boats, so they could cross the lake. Before Cassie could follow her newfound friends, the man rushed over to her. "Miss Malfoy! Yo'r comin with the firs' yers."

"I'm sorry? Who are you?" She said with a puzzled look on her face. She looked back to see that everyone else was off to the carriages. They were being pulled by bony horse-like creatures. She recalled her Guide to Magical Creature book she had gotten from her mother. Thestrals! That's what they were called. But you could only see them if you've seen death, at least that's what the book said.

"Nam's Hagrid, follow me." He guided her to the boats. She kept looking at the mesmerizing creatures behind her.

She took a step into the boat, almost tripping over her own feet. The boat wobbled. Hagrid would have caught her, but he was already going down the lake. She sat awkwardly next to a group of three scared first years.

"It's my first year here as well." She tried to comfort them, but to no avail. They just sat there silently, cowering next to one another.

When she walked toward The Great Hall, fear started to kick in. What house would she be sorted into? How did one even get sorted? What would happen if she didn't get into Slytherin? Would she be sent away again? Her thoughts raced at a million a minute. It felt like she was waiting for hours upon hours, but in reality it was only around ten or so minutes.

"Cassiopeia Malfoy!" A voice shouted her name, calling her into the hall.

She didn't have to be a legilimens to know exactly what people were thinking. Another Malfoy? Is she going to be as awful as her brother? Perhaps worse? She cringed at the thought.

She strode forward with her head held high, and her nose pointed up, a trick she learned from her mother. Dumbledore put a hat on her head.

Hm, another Malfoy? The hat spoke inside her head.

Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! She thought, anxiously waiting for a reply.

Are you sure? You would flourish in Hufflepuff... It spoke again.

I have to be in Slytherin, it's not much of a choice you see... She took a deep breath, and held her shaky palms under her legs.

After a while of deep consideration the hat bellowed across the hall "SLYTHERIN!"

The Green and Silver table cheered, as she took a seat next to her brother.

"Yay! I'm so excited to finally have another girl around." Pansy, the girl from the train turns to smile at her. Blaise and Draco playfully glare at the girl.

Dinner goes on and on, with Cassie chiming into conversations occasionally. She glances over to the Hufflepuff table longingly. Pansy seems to notice, "Is Something wrong Cass?" She asks.

"Oh, ugh." She's caught off guard, "No I'm alright."

Draco catches Blaise looking over to the Gryffindor table again, "Mate I don't know what you see in her." Blaise stares at him. If looks could kill, Draco would be slaughtered by now.

"Does Blaise have a crush?" Cassie asks.

"No."

"You could at least try to hide it." Draco rolls his eyes.

"Who is it?" Cassie leans over to Pansy and whispers in her ear.

"See the girl over there," She points to a slender girl with long red hair. "That's Ginny Weasley, Blaise has crushed on her since at least third year." Cassie laughs.

"Do not!" Blaise argues back.

"You soooo do."

"I do not have a crush on Ginny!" He yells, catching the attention of the whole hall. People snicker and whisper. He walks out of the hall dragging Draco along with him. Draco just shrugs to his sister and leaves without an argument.

Ginny looks back at Blaise and blushes.

"Oops," They giggle softly.

"Should we go after him?" Cassie stifles a laugh, covering her mouth.

"He'll be fine."

"Anyone caught your eye, I saw the way you look at Draco." Pansy looks down and her cheeks flush a dark red.

"I- Ugh. Well. Yeah" She stutters, "We went to the ball together last year, but I don't think he likes me like that anymore."

"Oh."

After dinner, Pansy shows her to their common room in the dungeons. Cassie's eyes widened. "Wow, this is gorgeous." She looks around at the room. Dark green curtains hang from the windows. Leather sofas and chairs are scattered throughout the room. It's littered with the house colors, green and silver. "Are we under the lake?" She watches the fish swim by.

"Yeah, pretty cool isn't it?"

"Definitely."

Pansy gives her a quick tour, then they go to their dorm to unpack. There aren't as many people in a room as other houses. There are only two beds. One for Pansy and one for Cassiopeia.

"Aren't there supposed to be more people?" Pansy asks like Cassie would know the answer. "Nevermind, let's just enjoy the privacy while we can." She sighs and flops onto the bed.

The girls spend the rest of the night unpacking, gossiping and comparing schedules.