The Slytherins

It had been over a week since their first flying lesson when they had stolen Neville's remembrall, and the Slytherins were banned from it for the rest of the term.

Theo, Draco and herself had since completed their detention, which involved two hours of lines, writing "we will not disobey our teachers".

It was now October 30th, and Slytherin house had gone all out for halloween. The walls were decked with fake spiders transfigured to crawl up and down the walls.

The bloody Barron had sewn his mouth together and his eyes shut, and would glide through walls scaring students out of their skins.

Peeves, meanwhile, was throwing blood bombs in classrooms, (a balloon filled with a red liquid that no one could tell if  was real blood or not), and would turn all the portraits into skeletons until an angry Professor McGonagall would storm down the hallway demanding that he change them back.

That morning, Draco had a sly, smug smile playing on his lips, and seemed to laugh quietly to himself every few minutes.

Cassie asked the others if they knew anything, but they all said they didn't know.

"He was like that last night when he came into our dormitory," said Blaise.

Eventually, when it began to get on everyone's nerves, Cassie sighed. "Is there a reason you look so happy today?"

He just laughed, and Theo glanced at the Gryffindor table. "Is it just me, or does Potter look extra tired this morning?"

"Weasley too?" Blaise asked, curious.

"They look as if they've been up half the night." Pansy added.

"Maybe they were," Draco laughed and took a swig of his pumpkin juice.

Cassie glared at him, half annoyed that she wasn't in on the joke. "What did you do?"

"I may have challenged him to a duel and then never shown up," he admitted.

Everyone laughed. "So you mean to tell me that Potter was wondering around the castle in the middle of the night?" Pansy giggled.

"I tipped off Filch that he may be out of bounds as well. Because at least some teachers think that rule breakers should be punished," he rolled his eyes.

Blaise and Pansy burst out laughing, whilst Theo chuckled to himself as he stuffed a sausage into his mouth.

Cassie meanwhile, stood up. "So you were a coward then."

Draco looked up, surprised. "What-"

"You told him to his face you would be there and then you chickened out."

"I did not chicken-" he stuttered, but Cassie interrupted him again.

"Why are you mad?" Asked Pansy.

"I dont know," said Cassie, and it was partly true. "But when a Slytherin gives their word, we mean it."

"But we work smart, not hard," argued Draco.

"Yes but that was like cheating. We don't cheat in our own game." She shook her head.

"I'm going to find Laurie and Mattheo. I'll see you later," and she walked off, trying to ask herself why she was mad at Draco.

_____

Laurie had told them all that he needed to go to Professor Flitwick's office to ask a question about something he didn't get in a lesson, and Mattheo said that he would come too, which why they weren't at lunch.

Cassie found them sat on a bench near charms classroom, huddled over a piece of parchment.

It was a Saturday, so naturally there were few students lurking in the hallways, and they stayed clear of her anyway. She walked over to them. "Hey,"

Mattheo looked up, whilst Laurie kept staring at the piece of parchment, his eyebrows furrowed. "Hi," he said.

As she got closer, she frowned. "What's up, L?"

Laurie sighed. "Just a revision sheet Flitwick gave me. Except neither of us can figure out the answer to to this question,"

He turned the sheet round so that Cassie could take a look at it. "Which question?"

"23," Mattheo said. " 'Who and in which year was the charm wingardium leviosa created?' "

"I've searched in the standard book of spells for ages, but it doesn't anything about what year it was created in!" Laurie sighed.

"Easy. Jarleth Hobart in 1544. He was highly proficient in charm-work, however it was created as he believed that he had at last succeeded in doing what wizardkind had so far failed to do, and learnt to fly. Of course I think he was quite disappointed when he had only levitated himself. And thus so, the levitating charm was created." She recited of the top of her head.

"Where the hell do you find that in the book?" Laurie flicked through the pages of the book.

Cassie sighed. "You're looking in the wrong part of the book you idiots! Go to chapter 5: a spell through history, and look to the 1500s. Then you'll find the year,"

"How do you know that?" Mattheo asked.

She wasn't going to admit that she had memorised the book's context. "Because I actually have a brain and thought to check the other pages," she rolled her eyes.

"I'll turn this in then," Laurie said. "See you guys later!" He gathered his sheets, and walked into the charms classroom.

After a few minutes of standing in silence, Mattheo asked her, "Why are you not with the others?"

She sighed. "I got... I don't know, mad at Draco for something, but I'm not sure why."

"Oh, is it because of how he told Potter he would duel him?" He asked, as they began to walk along hallway.

"How did you-?"

"Draco spilled it to me last night when he came up to bed," he explained.

"What did you think of it?" She asked.

"Not much. I was tired so I fell asleep without thinking about it really," he fiddled with his hands. "What did you make of it?"

"I thought he was a coward for breaking his word," she admitted. "Even though it was never promised or anything, it just feels wrong that he left him there,"

"Not feeling sorry for Potter now, are we Peverell?" He teased.

"No, but it's like he cheated. If it was Potter's idea, then I'd be fine with what he did, but it feels like an insult to my house and our reputation,"

"What because Slytherin's your grandad and it feels like an insult to his name?"

She laughed. "We're a bit more distant than that. But I guess people already think we're scum, and Draco was only proving that,"

Mattheo sighed, as they stopped outside the Slytherin door, having walked and talked down to the dungeons.

"You can't change what he did,"

"Yeah I know, and it's stupid really. I'll apologise to him later," she decided. "But whatever emotional little chat we just had here, stays here, alright Riddle?"

"Alright Princess," he said amused.

_____

The following morning, when the owl post arrived, Cassie received a letter from her mother.

Dear Cassiopeia,

Congratulations darling for being sorted into Slytherin. I am terribly sorry that I could not write sooner, but business is business, darling, and I have clients that grow impatient.

I expect to hear great things from you, Cassiopeia. Remember to make enough of an impression so that your name stays their brain, but not enough to cause a scandal.

How is Draco? And I'm sure you've seen Theodore? I only heard from Cora a week ago that he was enrolled at Hogwarts instead of Beauxbatons. I hope you have made wise choices about your friends, dear, because I have informed you on who are suitable to be seen with and who aren't.

Write quickly, won't you? I'd dearly like to know what's changed and if I need to inform Lucius on anything that needs improvement. Your classmates also, I would like to know about, darling.

I'll send you a check in November so you can buy what you'd like for your birthday. Twelve already, and j feel as if you are turning into a fine young lady. I'm afraid it's looking unlikely that you will be able to stay here for Christmas, but I have written to Narcissa and she has agreed to take you in for the holidays.

My best regards darling,

Violet Peverell.

Cassie sighed as she reached into her bag and reached for a pen. "Does anyone have parchment on them?"

"Here," said Draco, as he handed her a piece of paper, looking over her shoulder as he read the letter. "Aah. So your mother finally wrote?"

Cassie sighed, "Yup. The usual stuff. 'Live up to our reputation Cassiopeia' 'I expect great things from you' 'be smart, people are watching you Cassiopeia' blah blah blah."

"'Why'd it take her so long to write?" Asked Pansy, joining their conversation.

"Because my mother works religiously." She rolled her eyes.

"What does she do?" Pansy inquired.

"I don't actually know. She covers this family thing that she had to take over when my father...well you know, but she also works along side Draco's father in a project,"

"It's how we met. Our parents are business partners," Draco added.

Conversation started up again as Cassie wrote to her mother.

Dear mother,

It's good to hear from you again. I'm pleased to hear that business is flowing, and I don't mind spending Christmas with the Malfoy's. Draco says that he is in perfect health, and asks after you.

I met Theodore on the train, surprisingly as I too was expecting him to attend Beauxbatons. Pansy and I are roommates, as we presumed we would be, and Draco rooms with Blaise Zabini, (have you heard of his mother? She's apparently quite scandalous, but she is pure blood) Theodore, a boy named Laurence Bancroft, and Mattheo Riddle.

Yes, Mattheo Riddle, mother. I was quite as shocked as I suspect you are reading this. The seven of us have formed our own sort of group, and we are left unbothered by the rest of the school.

Apart from Harry Porter and his friend Ronald Weasley. I think that's another one of Arthur's sons, isn't it? It seems that the whole school is in awe of Potter as he can do no wrong to them. Would you ask Lucius if he can remind the staff that all student must get punished fairly?

I am finding the school work easy, however there is a muggleborn who seems to think she is smarter than everyone else, but I'll show her who comes top in the tests we have in November.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Cassiopeia.

She gave a treat to her owl Attie, sealed her letter and attached it to her leg. "Send this back to mother," she told her, and Attie took off from the table.

As Cassie looked around the Great hall, it seemed that she wasn't the only one to receive a piece of mail.

"What's Potter got?" Asked Blaise.

Draco stood up and frowned. "I don't know," he was about to walk over to the Gryffindor table, but Potter and Weasley quickly scurried out of the great hall, obviously hiding a package behind their backs.

Cassie glanced over to the Professor's table to see if they knew what was going on, to find Professor McGonagall smiling, as she stroked a tawny owl.

"I'm following him. Anyone coming?" Draco asked, as he got up from the table, his gazed still fixed on Potter and Weasley.

Blaise and Theo stood up. "Yeah we'll go,"

They walked out of the hall, and once they were gone, Pansy turned to Cassie. "I wonder what Potter's hiding?"

"Let's hope it's good or Draco'll be in a mood for the rest of the week," Cassie said.

"Why is Professor McGonagall in a really good mood?" Laurie asked curiously.

"Look at Snape!" Pansy pointed towards the man who was evidently sulking.

"He looks livid," added Mattheo.

"Is it possible for Snape to be in a worse mood than normal?" Laurie commented.

"For our sake let's hope not," said Mattheo.

_____
**fast forward two minutes when Draco, Theo and Blaise storm back over to the Slytherin table**

"That filth's got a broomstick! He's gotten into the Gryffindor team! Seeker!" Said Draco, as he slammed his fist down onto the table, breathing fire.

"A nimbus 2000!" Exclaimed Theo. "They've only been out a week! Even mother hasn't gotten the chance to buy it yet!"

"How'd he get it?" Exclaimed Pansy, her face contorted with rage.

"That's the best part! McGonagall bought it for him because he's in the quidditch team, and Poor little Potter's to poor to afford one himself!" Blaise said.

"What? For merlin's sake! A first year on a quidditch team? It simply isn't done!" Cassie exclaimed, her nostrils flaring. She stood up suddenly from the table and began to storm through the hall, towards the head table. her eyes darkened.

"What- where are you going?" Yelled Theo, swiftly catching her up, followed by Draco, as they struggled to meet her long strides.

When she reached the head table, she stopped in front of Snape. "Why has Potter got a racing broom? Professor, if he is allowed his own broom to enter the castle, then we have a right-"

"Calm yourself, Miss Peverell." Snape's voice was calm but direct. He glanced around the hall out of the corner of his eye. "Come with me," he ordered.

Snape stood up, his flowing robes gliding behind him as he strode into a room going off to the left of the hall, with Cassie Draco and Theo following him swiftly.

Once they had entered the room and Snape had closed the black door, Cassie started, "Professor surely-"

"Miss Peverell," Snape spoke, his voice higher and more commanding. "Do you really think that I approve of Potter's... special treatment? Do you not think that I have protested to the Headmaster directly about the amount of preferential treatment Potter receives? I do not like it myself, Miss Peverell, but the Headmaster's mind is made up, and he has approved of the decision."

Draco sighed. "Is there nothing you can do about Potter?"

Snape narrowed his eyes. "Which is it you care about; the fact that Potter has gotten less a punishment than he deserves, in which so I can give Potter a week's detention in Potions. Or do you care about how Potter gets to be on the Gryffindor quidditch team and you do not, in which I can again assure you that you are not missing out, as Slytherin have won the quidditch cup for the last four years in a row, and we are not planning on changing that any time soon."

"You can't play quidditch for your house team until second year! It's a fact!" Draco exclaimed.

"You think you could play for Slytherin?" Asked Snape, slyly.

"Not us," Cassie scoffed. "Theo!"

"What?" Theo looked up, exasperated. "Cas, I'm not even that good-"

"Shut up!" Cassie told him, and looked at Snape again. "Sir, he's the best in our year! He's better than Potter! Is there nothing you can do?"

"Ok, well Cassie I'm not that good-" Theo cut in.

"Shut up Theodore! I've seen you play!"

Snape turned his attention to Theo. "You think you're good?"

"I..." he started nervously, but with an encouraging glance from Cassie, he continued, "I'm alright, sir,"

Snape narrowed his eyes at him. "To play for Slytherin, Mr Nott, you must be better than 'alright'."

"He's lying," Cassie said. "He's brilliant, isn't he Draco?"

"He's better than me," he admitted. "Which is quite an achievement, may I add,"

Snape studied Theo with his black eyes. "I'll see what I can do."