The Harper household has always been a strict one, one with firm words and sharp eyes. Yet like every other story, there's always one person who can burn it down with a single flick of their wrist. In this fanfic of Harry Potter, that person is Cass...
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There was a week until the school year began, and many families seemed to be getting some last minute shopping done in Diagon Alley, including the Harpers, a long line of wealthy and well known Ravenclaws.
The families first born, Cassandra, was starting at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this September. She was over the moon when the letter of acceptance had arrived, so much so, she had tumbled down the stairs, in attempt to rush into her parents bedroom and deliver the good news. Akilah, Cass' mother gave her a stern scolding for being so unladylike, and merely nodded her head in acknowledgement toward the letter Cass waved so frantically in her face. Her father Oswald gave her a proud smile, and although it was small, it meant world to the girl.
This was their second trip to Diagon Alley, as Cassandra had already lost her transfiguration book. Oswald was busy at the Ministry, so it had been her mother who had taken her back to the busy street.
Just as they were coming out of Flourish and Blotts, Cass spotted Quality Quidditch Supplies, and just had to beg her mother to go in. As Cassandra anticipated, Akilah said no with a look of horror on her face.
"Have I taught you nothing, you are never to step a foot near any broom. You are a sophisticated young lady, who will stay planted on the ground at all times, studying or-or practicing piano. So don't let me hear you mention it again."
Cassandra sighed a fake, soft sigh and replied with an "Of course mother." Akilah nodded sternly with a look of satisfaction on her face, and continued walking with her head held high, as if she had accomplished something.
Cassie had other ideas though and held back, waiting until her mother mixed in with the crowd, she casually strolled over to the shop full to the brim with Quidditch gear, merchandise and brooms. As she entered, she quickly took in the families, which seemed to crowd the shop.
Luckily with her petite form, she was able to squeeze through the gaps, and make her way over to one of the many tall shelfs. It was stacked with all sorts of supplies, toys and kits. But the one thing that caught her eye, was a cushion shaped as a quaffle. It was perched at the very top shelf.
It had always been Cass' dream to become a chaser, ever since her father had told her about his days on the Ravenclaw quidditch team. It sounded like such a thill, she could practically feel the wind ripping through her hair, just thinking about it. Of course, she never told her mother about this, Akilah would never approve, she believes girls should be prim and proper and spend all of their time studying or making themselves look classy.
Her father was different though, once he seen an eight year old Cassie in her bedroom using one off the sweeping brushes as a broom, throwing one of his big pairs of socks into the wash basket, commentating on her moves, he went out and bought her, her very own broom. They promised they would keep it a secret and that Cass would only be able to practice when her mother was visiting the neighbors, a family of pureblood Slytherins.
So when the girl spotted the cushion, her small body filled with a strong determination to get it and quickly scaled the shelf looking for the easiest way up.
As she began the climb to the highest shelf, she didn't notice two redheaded twins, watching her with curiosity in their eyes.
Just as Cassie felt the soft material of the cushion touch her fingertips, her foot slipped. She reached out to grasp something, with the hand not wrapped around the plush quaffle, but couldn't get a grip on anything solid.
Seeing the girl about to fall, one of the twins, stepped forward intending to catch her. What he didn't expect however was for half of the objects from the top three shelf's to come crashing down with her. He managed to catch the girl, but in panic she flailed her arms out and elbowed him in the eye.
Once Cass realized she hadn't hit the ground, she stopped waving her arms and instead, clung onto her savior, who was now swaying side to side in attempt to keep himself steady.
He looked down at the girl he had yet to know the name of and froze instantly in shock. Even with bright flushed cheeks, blue eyes wide open in shock and light brown hair all over the place,he thought she was beautiful.
The girl loosened her grip to take a look at the mess surrounding her. While scanning the now broken objects that had once been perched on the tall shelf, she let out two words.
"Oh, fuck"
The words seemed to snap the redhead out of his daze. He was the first to notice that the entire shop had gone silent and was now staring at the two.
Suddenly a very stern and shocked looking witch pushed past the crowds and let out an audible gasp at the sight of her daughter in the arms of a boy, surrounded by broken quidditch supplies. She looked positively fuming.
Cassies head snapped in the direction of the sound and instantly knew, she was in massive trouble. If she had gotten shouted at for saying she wanted to play quidditch professionally, she could only imagine the punishment for this.
She tried to wriggle free from the tight grip the boy had on her. As soon as she managed to get out of his hold, she flopped straight onto the ground, but scrambled to stand up as fast as she could. It was only when she was standing, did she get a good look at the boy.
He was around her age, but taller than her by a bit, he had bright ginger hair, and looking into the eye he hadn't covered up with his hand in pain, she could tell it was a nice light brown color.
The redhead was so shocked, he just stood there in awe at the beauty and boldness of the girl that stood before him. And for the first time in his life he felt speechless, but with his hand pressed against his injured eye, which would surely bruise, and his mouth gaping like a fish above water, he managed to squeeze out his name.
"I'm Fred, Fred Weasley."
The girl looked as if she didn't just topple off of a shelf and gave him a smile, holding her hand out to shake.
"I'm-"
"Cassandra Harper!! You get over here right this instant!" Akilah yelled.
Cass turned her head to her mother with a frightened expression and froze as if she had forgotten about the crowd, watching her intently.
Impatiently, the older witch stormed over and grabbed the arm, which was still outstretched in Fred's direction. Cass let out a quick "Thank you, and I'm sorry about your eye!" As she was frantically rushed out by her embarrassed looking mother, who also shoved some galleons into the shop owners hand on the way out.
Fred watched as the cushion slipped through her fingers, and hit the ground softly. Only then did he have a good look at the thing the girl so desperately wanted. It didn't seem like anything special, you could see some sewing mistakes made and there was a thread coming out one end, but he didn't think that mattered to her.
As he went to reach out and pick it up, his mother stepped in front of him. She looked as though, she couldn't decide that she was proud of him for catching the young girl, or angry he was in such a mess at all. Either way Fred knew he would have to listen to Molly Weasleys ranting, when they get home.
