The Cursed Child

Chapter 3: Don't Tell Me What To Do

(A/N: Short update here as promised!)

The night was getting late but the jeers and celebration kept growing, especially from those in red robes.

"I can't eat anymore of this," Cassidy said while different personalities approach the newcomers one by one and fill their plates with different assortments of custard pudding and cinnamon sticks.

She thanked each one sheepishly and responded to the questions they throw at her, but most were invites to clubs or get-togethers.

On the otherhand, Sophia was managing thing almost perfectly. As if she calculated that this flood of conversation will happen. Well, maybe not calculated. It was more of, she was used to attention.

She easily conversed with everyone, and displayed a domineering character out there. "Yes, my dad is a high-ranking official at the ministry, and I always frequented his office. I even drafted one of his proposals," she stated with pride.

Even the higher years were looking up at her, drawn to her distinct charm.

"She is really a Gryffindor, no doubt," Cassidy thought while munching off a layer of a blueberry muffin.

Suddenly, a strong chime reverberated across the hall.

Everyone stopped, and glance at the stage where the sound came from.

"Attention, everybody!" the headmaster yelled.

"I hope everyone enjoyed tonight's festivity. But, we must call it a night for the young ones. Head professors of each house, together with your deputy professors, I leave the handling of our new students in your hands."

Sophia immediately left the crowd she was talking to and walked towards Cassidy.

"We're going to our beds now, gosh, I'm so tired," Sophia grumbled.

"I didn't imagine that you get tired," Cassidy said.

"I can't help it if everyone wants my attention," she said, grinning.

"Where's Hayley by the way?" Sophia then asked.

Suprised, Cassidy glanced on her right where Hayley was seated. But she was not there.

"Ah, I didn't notice! Lots of seniors approached her, I didn't notice what happened after," she said.

"A lot? You mean more that my crowd?" Sophia asked.

"Um, yes?"

It was obvious that Sophia's mood turned sour from learning that, but she immeadiately whisked that thought away and asked Cassidy, "So where is this brat?"

Cassidy shook her head.

"I think she went to my prince charming again, what a stalker she is," Sophia said.

"Why don't we look for her?" Cassidy suggested.

"Alright," Sophia sighed.

Xxx

"Hogwarts is so chaotic" was what Hayley repeatedly murmured to herself, as she was wandering outside the dining hall stealthily escaping from the flock of Gryffindors.

It was just few minutes since she was sorted to Gryffindor, yet the minutes seem years for her. Everyone was asking her questions and inviting her to after-school parties, muggle studies club and frenzies she could never think of.

The food they're offering were gross as well, some were bitten and some were new to her eyes and unappetizing.

"I want to go home," she sighed.

"But I need to convince Josh again. Any minute now he might be---" but she paused.

She touched her grandmother's locket again, and whispered some magical incantanion.

Then, it seemed like she was warped into another dimension:

She saw Josh's back. A lean back she could never forget. He always carried her in his back when she gets exhausted from playing outside their houses.

He was wearing his black robes with blue laces, indicating that he was in Ravenclaw.

He was walking in a hall with portraits of the best Quidditch seekers hanging on the sides.

He was walking slowly, with wand in his right arm.

Hayley followed him.

But as soon as he approached the corner, a person dressed in black robes with a cloak draped on his head passed through Hayley, and stabbed him on his back.

Josh fell on the cold ground.

Hayley opened her eyes, as the vision ended.

Nothing changed.

Still, a person will stab Josh.

Whoever that person was, she doesn't wave a clue.

She found herself in a corner of a pathway, several steps away from the noisy dining hall.

"Is this the place where Josh will get stabbed?" She asked herself.

No portraits were around, but she didn't feel any comfort because of its semblance to her visions.

She continued walking to the corner, still in deep thought, but then she stumbled on the ground. She tripped off against something.

"Ah, that hurts!" She groaned.

She glanced at the direction where she tripped off.

There, she saw a person slouching off the corner.

His foot caused Hayley to trip.

"This is not a place to sleep! Don't you realize that this is a hallway? That's common sense!" She shouted, reprimanding that person.

"Damn, you're such a loud mouth," the slouching person said.

"Don't tell me what to do, old hag," he added. As he stood up and offering his hand to Hayley.