chosen - harry potter

Chapter 3 - Flourish and Blotts

The summer ended up going much better after Harry got there, though Cassia didn't get to spend much time with him during the day due to everyone else wanting to speak with him. Between Ron, George, Fred, Will, and Arthur, Harry was often surrounded by people wanting to talk to him.

In the evenings, though, Harry and Cassia got a chance to talk. They would sit by the frog pond and talk about whatever they could think of; conversations would range from playful debates over the best class at Hogwarts to their thoughts on what happened during their first year and Voldemort. They both enjoyed their conversations greatly, and Harry got to meet lots of frogs.

One morning after about a week after Harry had arrived at the Burrow, they finally heard from Hogwarts. Cassia and Will had arrived and sat at their seats at the breakfast table sleepily, and, after seeing Harry, Ginny knocked her bowl of porridge onto the floor. Mr. Weasley spoke up promptly, hoping to distract from the clattering of the bowl on the floor.

"Letters from school," he said, passing their letters to Harry, Ron, and Cassia. "Dumbledore already knows you're here, Harry — doesn't miss a trick, that man. You two've got them, too," he added as Fred and George strode into the kitchen.

Cassia flicked past her letter, going to read her materials list. There were seven of Gilderoy Lockhart's books, making Cassia scoff lightly. Fred leaned over to peer at her list.

"You've been told to get all Lockhart's books too!" he said. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan — bet it's a witch."

"Woooow," Cassia drawled playfully.

"That lot won't come cheap," George said. "Lockhart's books are really expensive...."

"Well, we'll manage," Mrs. Weasley smiled, her eyes looking slightly worried. "I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things secondhand."

"Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked Ginny, making Cassia look over at her encouragingly.

She nodded quickly, her face blushing to match her fiery hair, and she put her elbow in the butter dish. No one seemed to notice except for Harry and Cassia, for Percy walked into the kitchen, his prefect badge shining on his sweater vest. Cassia discretely handed Ginny a napkin to clean the butter off of her elbow.

"Morning, all," Percy said briskly. "Lovely day."

He started to sit down, but jumped up again, revealing a limp gray owl.

"Errol!" Ron said, taking the owl from Percy and snatching a letter from under his wing. "Finally — he's got Hermione's answer. I wrote to her saying we were going to try and rescue you from the Dursleys."

"Is Errol alright?" Cassia asked, picking him up gently.

"He's pathetic," Ron muttered before ripping open Hermione's letter and reading it out loud. "Dear Ron and Cass, and Harry if you're there, I hope everything went all right and that Harry is okay and that you didn't do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry into trouble, too. I've been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, but it perhaps would be better to use Cassia's family's owl because I think another delivery might finish your one off. I've been very busy with schoolwork, of course — How can she be?" Ron said, horrified. "We're on vacation! — and we're going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don't we meet in Diagon Alley? Let me know what's happening as soon as you can. Love from Hermione."

"Aw, love from Hermione, how cute," Cassia teased, poking Ron on the shoulder.

"Ugh!" Ron groaned.

"Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too," Mrs. Weasley said. "And you two," she said, pointing to Cassia and Will, "can go with us as well so your parents don't have to worry about it."