Cassia's POV

I've changed quite a bit since school started last year. For one thing, I got a smidge taller. Plus I grew out my bangs. And the rest of my hair. My summer's just been...okay. Didn't do too much. But I have a problem- I've written to Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Cedric, but I didn't get a single reply from any of them for the ENTIRE summer! Not even a card for mine and Harry's 12th birthday!

That's why, tonight, I was absentmindedly poking at my slice of birthday cake with my fork.

"Cass, are you alright?" Dora asked, interrupting my thoughts.

I looked up at her. "Yeah...just thinking," I replied.

"About what?" Mum/Andromeda asked.

"I've owled my friends and my brother, but they never replied for the entire summer," I admitted.

Dad/Ted put a hand on my shoulder. "Don't fret, Cassia. I'm sure it'll all blow over soon," he assured me, planting a kiss on my cheek. Dora and Mum/Andromeda each gave me a hug as well.

"You're right," I agreed.

<><><><><>

After dinner, I grabbed my bathrobe and a couple of towels and took a shower. It helped me forget about not receiving any mail from Harry or my friends. I turned off the water once I was finished, and pulled my bathrobe on. As for my hair, I just towel-dried it and pulled it into a messy bun. I went into my bedroom to change into my pj's, but I stopped right in the doorway when I saw a strange sitting on my bed, reading one of my books. "What the-?" I asked, making the creature jump and the book go flying out of his arms.

The creature looked a little bit like the goblins I've seen at Gringotts, except he was taller and skinnier and he wore what looked like an old, worn-out pillowcase. He looked up at me, its tennis ball-sized eyes meeting my green ones. "Cassia Potter! Such an honor it is to meet Harry Potter's twin," he said, bowing.

I couldn't help but crack a smile at his actions. But then I turned serious again. "Who are you? And what are you?" I asked.

"Dobby, Miss. Dobby the house elf," the creature answered.

I closed the door behind me so my adoptive family wouldn't hear, and I faced Dobby again. "Well, what's a house elf doing here?" I asked, folding my arms.

"Well, Miss, Dobby is forbidden to leave his master's house, Miss," Dobby told me, "But Dobby had to come to warn Harry and Cassia Potter."

"Warn us about what?" I asked, coming over to the bed and kneeling in front of him.

"Harry and Cassia Potter must not return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year," Dobby said.

"What?!" I exclaimed, "Why?"

Dobby had a look of pure terror on his face as he answered, "There is a plot, a plot to make the most terrible things happen! I warned Harry Potter, but he refused to say he would not return to school."

"Wait, what kind of things? Who's behind it?" I asked, taking Dobby's hands in my own.

Dobby immediately started to freak out. "Dobby - cannot - say," he managed to tell me in the midst of his hyperventilating.

I put both my hands on his shoulders. "Dobby. Dobby, calm down. It's okay. I understand if you can't tell me. You don't have to," I told him.

Dobby took several deep breaths and started to calm down. Then he burst into tears. Immediately, I thought I'd hurt him or something, but the smile on his face told me he was fine. "Thank you, Cassia Potter," he said, "You are so much nicer than Dobby's master."

"Master?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, Miss," Dobby said, giving a slight nod." Every house elf is bound to serve one family for the rest of their life," he explained.

"Oh, Dobby, that must be terrible," I commented, immediately feeling sympathy for the poor house elf.

Dobby nodded again. "Oh, if only you knew what it was like..." He shuddered. "I shouldn't have said that. Master will beat me if he finds I left his house," he added, growing very nervous.

"I'm sorry. If I could help you, I would," I apologized.

"You can, Cassia Potter, by promising Dobby that you won't go back to Hogwarts," Dobby said.

How was I supposed to answer a request like this? I couldn't not go back! It's the only place I can see my brother and my friends! Wait a minute, I know! I'll tell him maybe! "I...I'll think it over," I said.

<><><><><>

A few nights later, I was reading a book before bed, with Ivy on my lap. But a loud noise coming from outside interrupted me. What was that? I wondered. I heard it again, but it was much louder. It sounded a bit like a car engine. And it was coming from right outside my window. Deciding to investigate, I put my book down and crossed over to the window. Sure enough, there was a car right outside my window. And who should be driving it but Ron, Fred, and George!

I blinked. "What the-? Guys, what are you doing here?" I asked, unable to believe it.

"We haven't heard from Harry all summer, so we're gonna go visit him," Ron replied.

"I haven't heard from him or you guys either," I said, "So you're gonna go see my brother in a flying car?"

Fred -- who was behind the wheel -- nodded. "Yeah, it's Dad's Ford Anglia," he replied.

"Come on. Get your things and get in," George said.

"Wait, what?!" I exclaimed.

"Come with us," Ron encouraged me.

I put a hand up to stop him. "Wait a minute. You do realize your parents are gonna have a fit when they find out you took the car," I pointed out.

"Who cares?" Fred asked, "Besides, rules-"

"-are made to be broken," George finished his sentence.

I playfully rolled my eyes at them and started to get my stuff together. While I packed my clothes, Fred turned the car around and unlocked it. Quickly, I put my trunk in the back of the car and scribbled a note for my guardians so they wouldn't freak out once they saw I was gone the next morning. Then I grabbed Ethel's cage and put that on the seat behind George. And finally, I took Ivy into my arms and climbed into the back seat of the car, right next to Ron.

"You good back there, Cass?" Fred asked. I nodded.

"Good. Now let's go get your brother," George said. With that, we drove off into the night.

<><><><><>

We reached Privet Drive a few hours later. I was surprised to see Harry's room had jail bars on the window. Geez, I knew Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon hated us, but this is crossing the line. When Fred pulled the car up as close as he could to the window, I could see Harry standing there looking completely floored.

"Hiya, Harry," Ron said.

"What the heck are they doing to you?" I asked, glancing at the locked door with a cat door at the bottom, and a bowl of soggy vegetables lying by it.

Harry did a double take. "Ron, Fred, George, Cassia, what are you all doing here?" he asked, leaving my question unanswered.

"Rescuing you, of course," Ron replied, "Now come on! Get your trunk!"

While Harry got his trunk packed, Ron pulled out a rope with a hook attached to it -- which was attached to the car -- and hooked the jail bars. "Better stand back," he warned Harry.

Harry stood back.

"Let's go," Ron said.

Fred drove forward, yanking off the bars and the window. They both crashed to the ground below. Hoping that didn't wake our aunt and uncle was pretty much wishful thinking, because 5 seconds later, we heard Uncle Vernon yelling, "POTTER!" Uh oh. I think we're in trouble...

I climbed out of the car and jumped through Harry's window to help him get the rest of his stuff together. As we packed up his books, I could hear Uncle Vernon fumbling with a set of keys to open the three locks keeping Harry imprisoned in the bedroom. Before long, I heard the first lock click open. If we were going to get Harry out, we had to move fast. And I mean really fast! Harry and I got his trunk in the back of the car and slammed the door quickly, right when I heard the second lock click open.

"We've gotta hurry," I told Harry. He nodded and picked up Hedwig's cage. I handed it off to Ron and George, who put it into the back seat.

"C'mon, guys! Hurry up!" Ron said.

I leapt out the window and into the backseat, right in between Hedwig and Misty -- who looked so happy to see Hedwig again -- and George. Harry started for the window, just as Uncle Vernon opened the door.

"PETUNIA, HE'S ESCAPING!" Uncle Vernon yelled. He made a dive for Harry and managed to grab him by the ankle.

Ron wrapped his arms around Harry, while I held his hands tightly. "We've got ya, Harry," Ron assured Harry.

"C'mere!" Uncle Vernon barked, tugging on Harry's ankle. It was basically a tug-of-war for Harry between us and him, but thanks to the death grip I had on Harry's hands, Uncle Vernon wasn't getting very far with pulling him back into the house.

"Let go of me!" Harry snapped.

"Get your hands off my brother!" I shouted.

"Oh no, girl! You two and that bloody pigeon aren't going anywhere!" Uncle Vernon fired back, pulling Harry's ankle harder.

"Get off!" Harry yelled.

Ron looked over at Fred. "Drive!" he ordered.

Fred slammed his foot on the gas and we started to drive away. Uncle Vernon lost his grip on Harry's ankle and tumbled into the bushes 10 feet below. Harry slammed the door as the car flew higher and higher into the air, with Fred now driving in the direction of the Burrow.

"By the way, guys, happy birthday," Ron said, turning towards Harry -- who now sat next to him in the front passenger seat -- and then to me. I reached forward and hugged Harry tightly. Since I was sitting right behind him, it was an easy reach. Harry hugged me back, but he held on tighter. Neither of us had any intention of letting go first.