Cassandra White

Gryffindor

"Hat stall?" asked Scorpius.

"Yes, Malfoy. A hat stall" replied Rose impatiently.

"The Hat was thinking hard whether it should put you in Gryffindor or Slytherin. Professor McGonagall wrote about it to my mum. She, of course, is happy about it though she is reluctant to admit and mum seemed happy too. She was talking about it to Dad." Rose continued. "And I for a fact am pleased. You will be trying out for Quidditch I suppose. I also heard that you are a very good flyer."

"I guess so," Cassandra replied a little unsure

Rose nodded her head curtly and said, "Well I have to get to the patrolling. It's hard being a prefect. Mum and Dad were really happy. They both were prefects you see. I will be seeing you around Cassandra
Take care." Rose closed the door behind her and left.

"I hope I don't. " scowled Albus.

Cassandra looked a bit surprised, "You don't like her?" she asked carefully trying to sound unassuming.

"I don't hate her," replied Albus and diverted his attention outside the window. "She seems intense. Really." Cassandra said.

"Yes, intensely beautiful," Malfoy added. Both Cassandra and Albus stared at him with an expression that clearly screamed, 'Are-you-serious?'

Cassandra was unwilling to question further and began talking to Scorpius. They exchanged chocolate frog cards and Cassandra decided that she will start her own collection.
Once they were halfway through their journey Rose Weasley again visited them in there compartment, "We are about to reach Hogwarts I would suggest you change into your uniform Cassandra." announced the red-head. Cassandra looked out the window and noticed a huge lake outside, it was still quite far away from them. She looked back at Rose and said, "Alright! Thanks for the heads up Rose." She got up and began taking out her uniform.

Rose then looked at the two boys and said, "I suppose you two should change as well...unless you are planning on jumping off the train again."

Both the boy's expression turned to stone. Cassandra noticed that they suddenly became pale. Rose had already left and Cassandra took this opportunity to ask them, "You guys jumped off the train?" she didn't show it but she was in fact extremely impressed at their courage and wondered why weren't they in Gryffindor. Albus and Scorpius in and attempt to avoid answering Cassandra walked out the compartment claiming that since Cassandra needed to change first they could wait outside both of them hurried out and closed the compartment door. Neither spoke to the other and stood outside the compartment in the aisle in silence.

After a while, Cassandra called out to them saying she was done and offered to wait outside while they changed. This time Cassandra was standing outside the compartment alone. She looked along the length of the aisle wondering what she would say if they asked why she was standing outside. Cassandra did not have to wait outside as a girl, maybe a year younger, walked up to her. "Hello, are you Cassandra White?" She asked politely.

"Yes..." The other replied Cassandra was not getting used to being known and was feeling a little odd by now.

"I am Rowlin Beck. I heard some of the prefects talking about you. You seem to have become pretty famous among the students. They say you are the next brightest witch of your age. I wonder why you aren't in Ravenclaw."

Cassandra looked at her blue robes and could tell that she was from Ravenclaw herself. "The hat makes the decision." She replied in an attempt to avoid further discussion of this topic.

"You know you are the only one who has become this famous at Hogwarts apart from Harry Potter," Rowling spoke is a matter-of-fact tone. "You mean Albus' dad?" She asked she knew who Harry Potter was. She had read about him in the Modern History of Magic.

"Yes, but Albus on the other hand is not like his dad at all. It's odd you see someone so great has a son like Albus. He is not at all like his father." She said and laughed aloud. Cassandra was starting to dislike this girl. It was then that simply due to unfortunate timing Albus happened to be standing at the door, he heard everything Rowlin had said and he did not say a word. Cassandra, on the other hand, did not notice Albus there and said, "Well that's obviously because he is Albus Potter and not Harry Potter. He may be his son but Albus is an entirely different individual and therefore unique. You know for a Ravenclaw you seem pretty dense in grasping the obvious facts." Cassandra said all of it in a deadpan voice which made it seem more hilarious to Scorpious who couldn't help but snicker softly behind Albus. She heard Scorpious and turned to see Albus standing there having heard the entire conservation.

Rowlin was blushing red by now. She did not seem to have expected this retort and at once turned and stomped down the aisle, fuming.
Albus did not say anything and sat down Cassandra walked into the compartment, she managed to say "You don't need to listen to them. They are..." but before she could finish Albus intervened, "I know I don't need to listen to them."
After a moment of silence in the compartment Albus continued, "Thanks, for standing up for me." he gave Cassandra half a smile. Cassandra returned the smile and sat down. They continued talking till they stopped at the Hogsmeade station. The train bellowed steam like a beast as it stopped. Cassandra and the others collected their luggage and waited for the thestral carriage that would take them to Hogwarts. She still couldn't see them. Albus could but somewhere she knew he wished he didn't and she wondered why.
Cassandra oddly felt that she had found friends in this journey to Hogwarts and was glad of it. She hoped her time at Hogwarts would be a memorable one.