chosen - harry potter

Chapter 9 - In the Lake

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

The next day, everyone woke up late. The Gryffindor common room was very quiet, the lazy conversations punctuated by long yawns. The quartet seemed to have come to a silent agreement. Ron and Hermione weren't discussing their fight, and they were being strangely formal with each other. Harry and Cassia both refused to bring up their kiss, and they were sitting far away from each other.

At the Yule Ball, Rita Skeeter had somehow gathered the information that Hagrid is a half-giant, producing an article that many were chattering about. Cassia didn't care, Hagrid was one of the kindest staff members at Hogwarts, and learning that he was half-giant didn't change that. That opinion wasn't shared, however, and Hagrid was replaced in his teaching position by Professor Grubbly-Plank, who taught them about unicorns.

The return of classes also saw the return of Cassia's lessons with Snape. She felt more confident about her skills with Occlumency, but she hoped that her lack of practice over the break didn't show.

He began by using the stronger form of Occlumency, which Cassia blocked, turning her mind off. Then, he would use slighter forms, not warning her when he was infiltrating her mind. She always knew, though, for it felt like an itch in the middle of her head. She would do the same method, turning her brain off and closing her memories off from him. Then, he told her that he would be looking specifically for memories of Tom Riddle when she was in the Chamber of Secrets, and he told her to rewrite those memories so that he wasn't there. She did this successfully, completely removing Tom Riddle from the memory as Snape viewed it. He retreated from her mind, and Cassia let out a deep breath. Then, he opened a drawer and pulled out a small vial of a clear liquid.

"Veritaserum," Snape said. "Take it. I'll only ask questions I know the answer to."

She took the vial and drank the liquid, feeling a warmth spread over her body.

"What is your name?"

"Cassia Bright."

"What is your house?"

"Gryffindor."

"Now, try to fight the potion and lie to me. What is your name?"

She strained her jaw, grinding her teeth. It felt as though her insides were burning, her throat closing up uncomfortably. She swallowed and breathed, speaking clearly. "Albus Dumbledore"

"What is your house?"

"Slytherin."

"What color is your hair?"

"Purple."

"Good work Ms. Bright. Here is the antidote."

She drank the potion quickly, feeling relieved to be rid of the burning feeling.

"I thought the use of Veritaserum on students was forbidden," Cassia said, putting the vial of antidote back on the desk.

"It is. But you are a specific case for which I got permission from Dumbledore. You must be aware that your magic requires some rules to be broken for you to learn how to control it."

"I guess. But, professor, if most people were given the amount of lessons that I've had, wouldn't they be able to do magic like me?"

"No...not at all. The magic that you're able to successfully cast usually takes years for people to learn."

"Really?" Cassia said, furrowing her brows. "Is it genetic? Were my parents able to learn fast, too?"

"I can not answer that for you. You are dismissed."

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

Harry went to the Prefects' bathroom as Cedric had told him the night of the Yule Ball. He told Cassia, Ron, and Hermione that the egg had opened under the water, singing a song about taking something he would miss. They sat in the common room, decoding that the task was likely to involve Merpeople.