Madness

In the weeks that lead to the start of Hogwarts I corresponded with Mr. Borgin, Neville, and Blaise as well as practiced my new skill using my new talisman. I had never felt buiser.

I was startled out of my busy grind one bright summer morning (by receiving from my familiar) a copy of the most popular newspaper in northern wizarding Europe, “The Daily Prophet”. I was shocked by the main headline on the front page, showcasing in big bold letters, Black vs. Black by Rita Skeeter, and a photo of Narcissa and I wearing all black, taken by a journalist on the day of Arcturus’ funeral. There was also an in-depth analysis explaining who we were to each other as well as the lawsuit going on between us.

Family against family disputes apparently sold a lot of papers, making me almost even more infamous in the wizarding world.

Mr. Borgin was an amazing help to me in the weeks that followed due to my new lawsuit against the paper.
I prepared my trunk for school with all the things I and my familiar would need for the next year at Hogwarts. I also spent as much time as possible with my Luna as the next time I would see her will be for Yule.

Uncle Xenophilius came home a week before I was meant to be off giving me a chance to give him stories that I prewrote during the early portion of the summer, for next year’s family paper. Being prepared is a perk of being an adult in a child’s body. He gave me a compliment after reading one of my stories about a dead muggle from the 1920’s called Ophelia, “A Scrumptious Affair Poppet.” His comment made me smile and feel a warmth bloom in my chest as I remembered that my uncle loved me whether being gone or not.

On the day I was supposed to head to school my uncle, my cousin and Kreature were all waiting by my mom’s car, which was given to her by her mother, while I loaded my trunk into the back. My family took this opportunity to spend time together and take a car trip instead of just using the floo. The car was an onyx colored 1951 Chevrolet, which only survived my uncles awful driving skills due to the preservation spells layered in runes that were stitched into the purple upholstery. We all got in, even Kreature and made our way down the muggle roads.

When we got to the border of Ireland and left the amazing city of Dublin, I watched as my uncle took his wand out and said multiple spells to make the car invisible as well as float, on our way across the water to Liverpool.

Driving from Liverpool into the city of London felt like an adventure all on its own. Crescent, my familiar was bopping along with Luna to wizarding artists Celestina Warbeck as well as the Weird Sisters through a portable wizard radio as we cruised down the road after driving out of the water. We were able to see the English countryside over the long drive, captivating me with its beauty. One of my favorite perks of the drive was stopping at gas stations and picking up muggle candy. Even though I was an American in my last life, I still saw some of my favorite candies in the English shops. I bought enough sweets to last me the upcoming year. Since it was the nineties, magazines were still popular which influenced me to buy several for free time over the next school year. Luna even asked what the strange booklets I was buying were causing a long explanation. I ended up gifting my cousin several zoo editions to keep her busy on the drive back home.

This trip felt like the last hurrah for my family before I would be gone. When we got to King’s Cross Station, I was almost disappointed. My grief had lessened during the trip with the reminders that my family still loved me. Saying goodbye to them was difficult. I hugged Luna and twirled with her until I was feeling sick and then kissed my uncle on the cheek.

I walked through the pillar that acted as a portal to platform 9 ¾ and gasped in delight as I saw the cherry red train. The train station had amazing glass ceilings and the most gorgeous grey pillars.
I pushed through the bodies of students and wizards, who had come through the floo to the steps of the tall train. Two tall red heads who reminded me of my friends the Prewitt twins, Fred, and George Weasley, helped me drag my trunk up the steps. They only knew me through Luna, so they otherwise ignored me and departed swiftly joking to each other. I watched them go feeling like I just dodged a bullet due to the stories their uncles had told me of their pranks. Seeing the number of ghosts on the train shocked me at first then excited me due to the number of new stories I could hear.

I found a compartment in the middle of the train that was empty and allowed for Crescent to get out of her large bird cage. The bird looked around before flying out the window. I assumed the bird would meet me in Scotland. While waiting for someone to join me and to meet my new classmates, I reflected on my time in the wizarding world so far and gave a quick prayer to Lady Magic as well as Lord Death. I felt so grateful even with the deaths of my loved ones due to the blessings that I had been bequeathed.
While my eyes were closed in prayer, I heard the door roll open and grinned brightly as I saw Neville. He was looking down at a medium-sized green toad connected to the leash I had owled to him for his birthday. He squeaked in surprised seeing me when he looked up and let out a breath before bowing. We both said hello and conversed about everything we could not say in our letters. We were so focused on the other, we barely noticed as the train started to roll down the track.

“My grandmother found out about my wand; she was not happy. She thinks that you charmed me or something as I stuck up for myself for once and refused to get rid of it. Sorry Cassi but she really does not like you.”, said Neville.

I felt so proud of Neville and raised myself up from the bench to give Neville a hug, which we pureblood children so seldom receive. He almost sniffled into my hair, but I could see the tension drain out of his shoulders. I whispered into his ear, “You did the right thing my friend.”

As this was happening, I looked over and saw a young boy of about thirteen watching us through the train window. He was not smiling but he had a pleased gleam in his gorgeous, bright blue eyes. As our eyes met, I could see something I did not expect to see in a boy so young, maturity. After staring for another moment, he departed. I felt like I had been punched with the beauty of that moment. I would later find out that was the first time I met my betrothed.

Neville and I continued chatting as we travelled to Scotland, and I couldn’t help but think of the boy I saw feeling confused as to why I kept thinking of him.

Both Neville and I bought wizarding candy, including my favorite ice mice that left a pleasant feeling in my mouth with the icy white fog that floated out after I ate them. I was pleasantly surprised as Neville paid for both of us and I felt blessed to have such a generous friend. Ever the gentlemen my bestie is.

As we rolled into the Hogwarts station, I could see a giant of a man who had to have some creature blood in him. The large dog at his side intimated me a bit as canines have never been a favorite until Neville reached over a politely hooked his elbow with mine in solidarity. We overheard the large man calling out while waving a bright lantern, “First years, first years, over here.” Both Neville and I looked at each other and smiled.

We followed the man, who I later found out was named Hagrid, and boarded a small wooden boat with three other small first years. We introduced ourselves and that is when I met the golden trio for the first time. I did not know it then, but I would soon find out that those three were like moths to a flame when it came trouble. I tried to stay away as I had enough trouble of my own.

As we travelled across the black lake, I could see Hogwarts in all its glory. It was taller than anything I had ever seen, other than skyscrapers and more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine with its ancient grey stone and tall towers. Due to the bright moon, the castle was beautiful bathed in a yellow glow. I wanted to bottle up this moment in time as it was so beautiful.
As we passed the wards, I was amazed at how much magic they contained. I could feel with my other sight that these wards have been sacrificed to and tended to for thousands of years.

I watched a large squid tentacle came out of the water and pull a first year out of the lake who had fallen in. I giggled to myself when I overheard the boy exclaim, “Bloody hell”. I thought in that moment that we had the same thought in mind.

When we pulled up to a path that would take us to school, I couldn’t help feeling a fresh breath of excitement for life.