( September '93 )

Cassandra had ended up staying with her dad a couple of days before she was to leave for Hogwarts. The Weasleys were at the Leaky Cauldron for those couple of days. Severus dropped her off at King's Cross Station so she could get to Hogwarts. He apparated to Hogsmeade, leaving her trying to get to the platform alone.

However, Cassandra knew how to get to Platform 9 ¾. She knew she had to run between platforms nine and ten. She only acted like she didn't know how to get there because she wanted her dad's attention. It didn't work. He left her anyway.

Cassandra walked towards platforms nine and ten. She ran towards the wall with her trolley. As she braced for impact, she passed right through the wall. Cassandra smiled at the sight of the train that she would be taking to Hogwarts. This experience was all new to her, which made her even more excited.

Cassandra heard the train whistle, signaling that it was almost leaving. She put her trunk by the rest of the trunks, and took Fluffy in his cat carrier down the hallway to find a compartment. She didn't know where Ron was staying or if she'd even be welcome to sit with him and his friends.

Ron was one of the only people that Cassandra knew at Hogwarts. Along with Fred and George of course. Blair and Blaise Zabini were Cassandra's childhood friends and she knew they had gone to Hogwarts. The Zabinis were most likely placed in Slytherin due to their family lineage. The train started moving as Cassandra was still searching for a compartment. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going and ended up bumping into someone.

"I am so sorry," Cassandra apologized. She looked up at the person's face. She had bumped into a boy. A handsome boy. He had dark hair and strikingly bright grey eyes.

"It's no problem." The boy said, and Cassandra blushed. "Are you new around here? I don't recognize your face."

"Oh uh yeah, it's my first year here."

"You don't look like a first year."

"I'm not. I'm actually going into my third year. I was homeschooled for two years."

"Ah I see." The boy nodded. "I'm Cedric Diggory."

He stuck out his hand for her to shake.

Cassandra took his hand and said, "Nice to meet you. I'm Cassandra Sn-Rose."

"I'll see you around then, Cassandra Rose?"

"Yeah, that would be nice." Cassandra smiled shyly as she walked past Cedric. 

Cassandra walked past the "Slytherin" compartments when she heard a voice.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Cassandra Snape. Oops or should I say Cassandra Rose?"

"Shove off Malfoy. You're such a prick." Cassandra huffed.

"I haven't even said anything to get mad at, love." Draco Malfoy sneered.

"Don't call me love," Cassandra hissed.

"Well someone is cranky this morning," Draco said.

"Yeah because I was frightened by the sight of your ugly face."

"Your face isn't any better looking."

"I don't have time for this Malfoy, goodbye." Cassandra shoved past Draco making sure to bump into him hard.

She continued down the hallway and found Ron but he was talking to his friends at the time when she burst in. A man was sitting in the corner with his coat blocking his face.

"Sorry to interrupt but may I sit here?" Cassandra asked, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Of course, Cassie, you know you can. I already offered." Ron responded.

"Cassie?" The girl next to him asked.

"Oh sorry, I'm Cassandra Sn-Rose."

"Pleasure. I'm Hermione Granger." The girl smiled brightly at Cassandra.

"And I'm Harry Potter." The boy sitting across from Hermione said.

"Nice to meet you both. I hope I wasn't interrupting something."

"Oh it was really nothing." Harry said.

"By the way Ron, did I leave my pair of gloves at your house? Not the white ones but the grey ones?" asked Cassandra.

"Yes, I brought them with me in my trunk."

"Thank you."

"Are you in your third year?" Hermione questioned.

"Yes. I was homeschooled for two years by all of the Hogwarts teachers. They came to my house on the weekends. I would study throughout the week with the reading materials that they gave me."

"I didn't know you could be homeschooled." Harry added.

"Well, I think it was because of a special request from my dad. He works at Hogwarts. I go by my middle name just so nobody figures out who my dad is. I do it for my dad."

"Why would he not want people to know that you're his daughter?" Hermione questioned.

"He's ashamed of me, I guess. I'm not sure." Cassandra replied, looking at her hands.

"He shouldn't be ashamed of you Cassie. You're brilliant." Ron commented.

Suddenly the train stopped.

"Why are we stopping? We can't be there yet," Hermione commented.

Harry got up and stuck his head out of the compartment door. As he did so, the train rattled, making Harry fall back.

"What's going on?" Ron asked as fear washed over his face.

"Dunno, maybe we've broken down," Harry said, trying to remain optimistic. As Harry said this, the lights went off.

"Oh crap," Cassandra cursed.

"Ouch Ron, that was my foot."

"There's something moving out there," said Ron, ignoring Hermione. "I think, I think something's coming on board."

"I wonder if it's a dementor." Cassandra said. 

"Well, whatever it is, it better stay away," Ron said.

Cassandra was starting to get cold, and she could see her breath. She started panicking on the inside. The window had frosted up. A shadowy figure had started to approach the compartment. Harry knocked into Cassandra as the train rattled again. The figure had reached the door and opened it.

Cassandra then began to feel like life was being sucked out of her. She felt like she'd never be happy again. This is when she realized that she was facing a dementor. She saw a bright light, then heard a woman scream, and passed out.

~~

When Cassandra awoke, she found Ron and Hermione staring at her. Harry was waking up as well. Cassandra looked at the concerned faces around her, and saw quite a familiar one. Remus John Lupin.

"Eat chocolate, it'll help," Remus said, handing a piece of chocolate to Harry and Cassandra.

"Remus!" Cassandra exclaimed, leaping up to give Remus a hug. He squeezed her tightly before letting go.

"Cassandra, you need to eat." Remus commented, concerned. She nibbled on the chocolate. "Now if you'd excuse me, I'll go speak with the driver."

Remus left, leaving the four teenagers to talk amongst themselves.

"Okay, I'll ask about that interaction later, but how are you two doing?" Ron asked.

"I'm feeling better. But did any of you hear a woman screaming?" Cassandra inquired.

"Nobody was screaming, Cassie."

"I heard it too," Harry jumped in.

"Well, Harry, it looks like we're going crazy," Cassandra said. 

~~

Cassandra was told to wait outside of great hall doors until it was time for her to be sorted. After the annual song, Professor Dumbledore walked up to the podium to make his speech.

"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" started Professor Dumbledore. "Now before the feast, I have a couple of announcements to make. First, I'm pleased to welcome a new student, who will be sorted in just a couple of moments. Welcome to Cassandra Rose!"

Cassandra walked in with Professor McGonagall. A blush rose to her cheeks as she made eye contact with a very excited pair of twins. She sat down on the three legged stool and Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on top of her head.

"Well, well, well," the hat spoke. "You'd make an excellent addition to Ravenclaw, but you're courageous at heart. But you have the work ethic of a Ravenclaw. Maybe you shall join your twin. Hmm yes join your twin in Gryffindor. It shall be GRYFFINDOR!"

Applause rang throughout the hall as Cassandra went to sit next to Harry. She was pleased to be in Gryffindor, but something the hat had said confused her. She has a twin in Gryffindor? She caught the eye of her dad and he winked at her.

"Congratulations, Cassandra." Professor Dumbledore said. "Secondly, I'm proud to welcome Professor RJ Lupin who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck, Professor."

Remus stood up, earning applause from the students. Severus rolled his eyes, but clapped nonetheless.

"Oh so that's why he gave you two the chocolate." Hermione smiled.

"Psst," came a noise behind Cassandra and Harry. "Potter! Rose!"

Harry and Cassandra turned around.

"Is it true you fainted? I mean you actually fainted?" Draco Malfoy asked.

"Oh go to hell, Malfoy," Cassandra said.

Draco rolled his eyes and turned back around.

"Good job, Cassie." Harry said, smiling.

"Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that Rubeus Hagrid will take place as the Care of Magical Creatures Professor."

Hagrid stood up, knocking into the table slightly. Hermione, Cassandra, Ron and Harry clapped as enthusiastically as they could. They were all really excited that Hagrid is now a professor. Professor Dumbledore went on to explain that dementors will be stationed around the school and to be careful with them.

Halfway through the feast, Professor McGonagall came up to Cassandra.

"Miss Rose you will be rooming with Miss Granger here, Miss Patil, and Miss Brown." Professor McGonagall said. "Your things are already placed by your bed. Miss Granger, I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, Professor." Hermione said and Professor McGonagall gave a smile, walking away.

"You really don't mind?" Cassandra asked.

"You're very kind, Cassandra, and that's something I value in a person, so yes, I don't mind."

Cassandra smiled and for once, she felt like she belonged.