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CASSIOPEIA SAT AT the Hufflepuff table, head in her hand, trying not to fall asleep during the sorting. She stared over at the Gryffindor table and watched as the twins and Lee mouthed guesses about which house the first years were going to.
"Silvers, Celia!" McGonagall called out and Cassie turned her sight towards the boys. 'Gryffindor', she watched George mouth to her. In response, she shook her head and responded 'Slytherin'. The two turned their heads to the magic hat that sat atop the blonde's head.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted and Cassie turned to look at him smugly, to which he only rolled his eyes in response. She smiled to herself and, almost falling asleep once again, rested her head on Cedric's shoulder.
"I feel this getting longer every year." He muttered to her, resting his chin on top of her head.
"Wake me up when we get to 'Z' please?" She whispered, closing her eyes.
"I would, Cass, but your dad's looking over here very sternly," Cedric responded, trying not to laugh. Cassie opened her eyes to see her father looking at her pointedly, as if to say 'Don't you dare fall asleep, Cassiopeia Lily!' She just shook her head and looked down at her empty plate, wishing this could all be over and she could go to bed.
She found herself glancing at her father, she knew he would be introduced soon enough. She watched as he anxiously bounced his leg, yet still watched the first years with a smile on his face. Cassiopeia watched as the sorting ceremony came to an end, excited for it to be over and for the feast to begin.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast...."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." Cassie inhaled and only looked down at her empty plate.
She really wished for this to be over.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises -- or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly. Cassie smirked and gazed at Harry as his eyes widened.
"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.
"On a happier note," he continued, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. "First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Cassie smiled looking up at her father and clapped as loudly as possible through the mild applause. He looked awkward getting all the attention but Cassie laughed as she saw her friends cheering the loudest.
After the applause ended, she watched as her father's gaze met her own and she winked at him. She turned and saw that Snape looked annoyed, which he always did. Cassie couldn't figure out if it was because her father held the DADA teaching position or because of her father. Cassie had heard stories of Snape and his rivalry with her father and his friends.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties." Cassie turned her gaze to Hermione, Ron, and Harry and watched as their faces lit up. They loved him. "Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
"Thank Merlin," Cassie murmured as the plates began to fill around her, watching as Cedric began to stuff his plate. "So how was your summer?" She asked as she piled pieces of chicken onto her plate.
"Fine. Dad's got me in quidditch training nearly every day. 'Happened right before you came and right after you left. He's the best though, but you know how he gets."
"Yeah, I get it." She replied, continuing to eat her food.
"And your summer?" He trailed off as if he remembered something, "You don't have to say anything, Cass if you don't want to."
"No, it's fine. I did not leave the house that much unless it was a visit, and before we left I got a whole talk. It can't be worse than it always was, right?" She said, although slightly to herself. Her years weren't awful, the other kids weren't horrible.
But they weren't nice.
Cassie didn't have many friends and that never really bothered her. People would whisper and gossip, but no one could deny that the girl was truly a nice person.
They were just scared.
As the feast was finished, Dumbledore announced for the prefects to escort the first years back to their dorms. Cassie smirked at him, "Oh how could I forget, Mr. Prefect is here." Cedric dragged her out of her seat.
"Piss off, Cass you're coming with me." She laughed as he dragged her away and waved to her dad at his seat before she exited the hall, to which he smiled in return. Cassie giggled as Cedric was answering questions from the curious first years.
Once they got to the common room Cassie branched out from the group and entered her dorm. She shared it with three other girls, Alice, Emma, and Helena. They were nice enough, but never really spoke to her because they were their own trio.
They never hung out with her and Cassie had a sneaking suspicion it was because of her father. She didn't mind though, because she had her own friends anyway.
She entered the dorm and saw that the three were having a conversation on Emma's bed, barely turning as she entered the room.
"Hi," she muttered to them, passing as she went to get ready for bed. They either nodded or responded with a quiet 'hello'. She ignored them and quickly fell asleep, thinking of all the ways she could avoid Dementors the following day.
