chosen - harry potter

Chapter 1 - Pubs and Pointy Hats

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

Cassia awoke with a jolt of excitement. She threw herself from her bed, her dragonfly-decorated quilt that her mother had made for her landing in a heap on her bed. She darted down the hallway, still in her blue plaid pajama pants and a large Beatles t-shirt that she had stolen from her father.

Her mother was sipping tea at the kitchen table, and she smiled at her as Cassia walked in. 

"Good morning, my girl. Are you excited for today?"

"Yes!" Cassia smiled, giving her mother a side hug.

"There's breakfast on the stove," her mother said, hugging her daughter back and nodding toward a plate of eggs and toast, along with a bowl of mixed fruit.

Cassia got a plate of food and sat next to her mother, the two of them eating in silence. Cassia ate and looked out the window, seeing the hazy summer morning envelope the grassy plains near their house. 

Her father and Will joined them a moment later, Will looking especially tired.

"I don't want to go shopping," Will groaned, popping a grape into his mouth.

"Would you like to go to Hogwarts empty-handed?" Wendy asked sarcastically, smiling at him.

"...No."

"Then you're coming."

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

London was sunny and warm that day. A rare occurrence, but one that Cassia felt matched her cheerful mood. The streets were crawling with people, and Cassia watched them with wide eyes and a warm smile.

Cassia had been to London many times, but only once before had she been to Diagon Alley. She would have enjoyed being there that first time, but instead, she was mostly annoyed at her brother's incessant bragging about him going to Hogwarts before she did.

They went a way that they hadn't before; they had run out of Floo powder the week before and hadn't yet bothered to buy any more. As they walked towards the Leaky Cauldron, earning a few looks in their direction, seeing as it was a dirty pub and they did have children, Cassia's eyes flicked over her supplies list.

"Why can't I bring a broomstick?" she whined. "I know how to fly."

"Most first years don't, Bertie, that's why there's a class," her brother remarked.

"I've told you to stop calling me that, William."

Her brother snorted in response, and their mother gave them a stern look, telling them to stop.

As Cassia's face reddened from the nickname she so dearly hated, they walked through the open brick wall, into Diagon Alley.

Cassia was distracted from her embarrassment at once, looking in amazement at the newest broomstick on display. Quidditch wasn't as big a passion of hers as it was for the Weasleys, but part of her did hope to play at Hogwarts. She found it extremely annoying that she couldn't try out during her first year.

She looked at the surrounding shops, taking everything in. There was a stack of cauldrons for sale to her left, and a busy family hurrying to a bookstore to her right. A girl with blonde, curly hair and a floral patterned headband smiled and waved at Cassia. She wondered if she was starting Hogwarts, too.

"Madam Malkin's is just over there," Finn said to Wendy. "We ought to start there."

"Robes?" Cassia said. 

"Yes," Wendy said pleasantly, leading them toward the shop. "And we'll only need to get yours, Cassia, since Will's are charmed to grow with him."

A bell jingled as Cassia pushed the door open, and a short witch, dressed in all mauve, smiled at them greetingly.