Sticks and Stones

Chapter three: Cassiopeia Malfoy

HOGWARTS WAS MORE BEAUTIFUL than Cassi could have ever imagined it. The lanterns on the bows of the boats lit up the water, casting a beautiful reflection of the light, and made the scene all the more majestic. She caught Harry, who was also in the same boat with her, looking at the gorgeous castle as well. In fact, the other two people in the boat, Ron and another boy she didn't know, were also gaping at the castle. Looking back at the castle, she couldn't believe she was going to study there.
When the boats finally docked again, Hagrid helped Cassi step out of the boat.

"Thank you!" She said to Hagrid. She glanced over to see where Xiu was, and saw them getting out of a boat with three other girls. All of them were giggling about something or other as they helped each other get out. She looked down at her feet.

'They're probably still mad at me for thinking they were deaf and not mute,' she thought to herself.

"Cassi, are you alright?" Ron asked behind her. She looked up at him and nodded.

"I'm okay. Let's go, I can't wait to see the inside of the castle!" she said, racing up the path behind Hagrid.
The students slowly, but surely made their way towards the castle and eventually made their way up a long, winding staircase to a higher level. When they arrived, Cassi saw that there was someone waiting for them. She recognised the person as one of the professors, Minerva McGonagall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup." She said.

Suddenly, a nervous looking boy jumped forward as he spotted a small toad on the stairs. "Trevor!" He exclaimed, making some of the students laugh at him. "Sorry." He said, embarrassed, before going back to his spot.

Professor McGonagall looked at the boy before continuing on. "The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily." With that, she left to go to what Cassi had to presume was the Great Hall that she had heard about.

Now that the students were left alone, Cassi's brother stepped forward. "It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." He said, addressing Harry. "This is Crabbe and Goyle. And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

This, apparently, made Ron laugh.
Draco turned to him. "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley. You'll soon find that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. Don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." Draco extended his hand to Harry.

"Draco-" she started to say, but Harry interrupted.

"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks," he said coolly. Cassi stifled a laugh at her brother. She knew that his massive ego would be damaged after that comment. Then the teacher appeared behind her brother, tapped him on the shoulder, and her brother walked back to his place with his... weird... friends.

"We're ready for you now," McGonagall said. Harry and Ron walked into the great hall, and Cassi followed suit, nervous about her new school. When she entered the domed hall, the first thing she noticed was how absolutely massive it was. The second thing she noticed was the night sky above her. At first she thought it was some kind of skylight, like in the greenhouse at Malfoy Manor, but then she realised that it was an enchantment. Next to her, Hermione was spewing facts about Hogwarts that she claimed to have learned from 'Hogwarts: A History'. Cassi felt a little bit underprepared for this new school. Hermione was so confident in her abilities, and meanwhile Cassi could only cast one or two spells with her wand. As she walked through the hall, she cast a glance in Xiu's direction. They were still giggling along with the three other girls, this time pointing around at everything in the room. Cassi turned and looked back down at her feet. She still felt bad about her assumption on the train. Then she ran into Harry, who was walking in front of her, quite abruptly.