TRULY REALITY [A Harry Potter Fanfiction]

CHAPTER 8| Where I'm Meant To Be

I got out the train; trunk in one hand and Snow's cage in another. I would be taking the boats just like any other 1st year. Except that I was not a first year. I kept the trunk and my owl in a corner, from where it would be magically transported into the castle.

I got into the boat with a bunch of first years. It felt kinda awkward because I was bigger than the first years. We soon reached the castle and formed a line. I was at the back because I was not a first year and would be sorted last. The huge doors of the Great Hall opened and we all walked. It was so much more magical and enchanting when you are actually walking through, than when we read about it or see the movie, or when we dream.

All the first years got sorted into their houses; Dennis Creevey, Nigel Wolpert, Jimmy Peakes, Natalie McDonald and two others got sorted into Gryffindor. , , and got sorted into Hufflepuff; and into Ravenclaw and and into Slytherin.

And then finally: "Cassie Smith", McGonagall called. I walked forward and sat on the stool. The sorting hat was placed on my head and then all I could see was black. The sorting hat started to speak:

"I can see many things in your head but something unique; I have never sorted a time traveler before. Aah.. a strong urge to prove yourselves a Slythrin trait I see. But no, your creativity and wit outsmarts that. Or maybe a Hufflepuff for you are loyal and kind. Brave as well I see. Hufflepuff or Gryffindor? Hufflepuff or Gryffindor? Yes, but time traveling and your adventures here require bravery. And thus, better be............ GRYFFINDOR!!"

I was happy that the hat spoke the things in my head instead of it being out loud; I wanted the time traveling thing to obviously be a secret. After removing the hat from my head, I ran to the Gryffindor table. I sat in between the twins (they said they 'reserved' the seat because they knew I would be in Gryffindor) and talked to all the Weasleys plus Hermione, Harry and Lee.

While we sat there Dumbledore announced that Quidditch would be cancelled and a chorus of disagreement was heard from the students. He then announced about the tri-wizard tournament and that the other schools would join us from October. The sad glint from the twins' eyes when they heard about the age restriction soon turned into a mischievous one. "What do you know about aging potions?" They asked me. "I may not know a lot, but I know that they are not going to work", I replied.

I knew that neither was the twins going to get chosen, nor were their aging potion going to work. "That statement right there-" Fred started "Is just going to make us try harder." George ended.

"What do I get if I am right?" I asked the twins; head raised and arms crossed. "If we are right, you do our potions homework for a week. And if you are right, then we do yours." They said. Since I knew they would lose the bet anyway, I said that if I win the bet, they would have to give me two chocolate frogs each; they agreed.

After dinner we all walked to the common room. The dark halls of the castle were lighted only by fire torches, but the whole atmosphere gave me a surge of happiness. The prefect told the password (Balderdash) and we entered the common room.

A feeling of warmth engulfed my body. The red atmosphere was comforting. The scent of burning wood and cinnamon filled my nose. I knew then, that this was the place to be. I parted way with the twins and went up to the fifth year girl's dormitories.

In my room, there were two girls. Katie Bell and a girl I could not quite place. "Hi. You must be the new girl. Um... Cassie?" the girl who I did not know asked. Something about her was so familiar; but what? "Yes I am", I replied. "Hi. I'm Katie Bell and this Laura Wilsdon." That's it! Her eyes; they look just like Alice's. The same electric blue eyes. Cassie's mum's name was Laura and her maiden name was Wilsdon. Come on Cassie, there might be many Laura Wilsdons in this world. And besides you and Alice lived nowhere near the UK. But she could have travelled. I was woken up from my daze when Laura waved her hand in front of my face and said, "Earth to Cassie." Laura was a half-blood and grew up with both a muggle (from her dad) and wizarding (from her mum) lifestyle. For an hour we talked and got to know each other better. My background being mostly lies.

The next day I woke up and got dressed into my school robes after having a shower. I went downstairs and waited for Fred, George and Lee. Then we went to have breakfast. McGonagall came around and gave us our timetables. I had DADA (Defence Against the Dark Arts) for first period. Oh God. Moody, or should I say Barty Crouch, is gonna ruin my day.

I went to the DADA class. I took a seat in the middle along with Katie. Everyone except me took out their books. Moody got into the class and told to put away the books. He wrote his name on the board and then continued, "Alastor Moody. Ex-Auror. Your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me. End of story. Goodbye. The end. Any questions?" This was responded with a pin drop silence in the entire class.

He then proceeded to tell the class how far behind we were and started on the unforgivables. "Who can tell me the first curse?" When no one raised their hand, I slowly raised it. "Yes miss.."

"Smith. The imperious curse?" He nodded and then proceeded to demonstrate and this continued for all the other curses. By the end of the class, the entire class was shook. I had potions next and I was going to Snape's classroom when I heard laughter and a mocking sound come from a corner on my right.

A group of about 4 Slytherins where surrounding non-other than Luna Lovegood. I stepped forward. "Hey. Leave her alone", I said. "Oh. Loony Lovegood has a lunatic friend", they mocked. "Atleast she is creative and unique and not a group of cliché bullies." I retaliated. This was followed by both me and the group drawing our wands and Luna just staying in the corner looking at us with a dreamy expression. I went and quickly held Luna's hand. I quickly casted the Conjunctivitis Curse on the Slytherins which was a spell that irritated the eye and forced them to swell shut. I and Luna ran from there and went to our respective classes.

I ended up being 10 minutes late to potions and losing 10 points from Gryffindor as a result, but saving Luna was worth it. Later for lunch, I and Luna sat together and we talked. We talked about nargles (which I was curious about) and other stuff. A friendship soon bloomed within us and we agreed to meet again for lunch the next day.

I enjoyed the rest of the classes; Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic and also Care of Magical Creatures. I had taken Muggle Studies as my second additional subject but did not have it today. The day soon ended, we had dinner and we went to the common room. Me, Fred and George sat in the common room doing homework (only in potions and transfiguration) and talking about our first day of school. Later I went to bed and revised the whole day in my head.

I was finally Hogwarts and just finished a day here. What was to await me tomorrow?