"Think you're clever, don't you?" Cassie snarled, her wand digging into the second-year Ravenclaw's chest as she pinned him to the wall. The boy's eyes were wide with fear, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.

"Please... I didn't mean..." he stammered, his voice trembling.

"Didn't mean what? To be a worthless little prat?" Cassie spat,

"Let him go, Black!" Cedric's voice rang out sharply, echoing through the dimly lit corridor.

Cassie tilted her head, surveying the narrow passage lined with ancient stone walls adorned with flickering torches casting long shadows. The occasional tapestry hung between the torches, adding a touch of color to the otherwise cold, grey stones.

Cedric Diggory—Prefect and Captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team—stood tall and broad-shouldered, his Hufflepuff badge gleaming on his chest. He stopped a few feet away, his eyes fixed on the scene before him.

"Oh, look who it is," Cassie sneered, not removing her wand. "Little Mr. Perfect Diggory." She met his gaze with a defiant smirk, her grip on her wand steady and unwavering.

"I said, let him go," Cedric repeated, his voice like steel.

"Fuck off, Diggory. This has nothing to do with you," Cassie snapped, her wand still pressing against the terrified Ravenclaw's chest.

"It has everything to do with me when I see someone being bullied," Cedric retorted, 

Cassie raised an eyebrow "Always the hero, aren't you? But this isn't one of your little Quidditch matches, Cedric."

"You don't fancy a detention on your first day, do you, Black?" Cedric said firmly, his eyes not leaving hers.

Cassie snorted, her grip on her wand tightening. "And It's like you badgers don't know me at all."

Cedric whipped out his own wand, pointing it steadily at Cassie. "I'm not going to say it again—let him go, Black."

"Gonna fight me Badger?"

Cedric didn't retort just kept his wand raised

Cassie eyed him, calculating. She could take him on in a duel, but she didn't fancy fighting someone on the first day, she relented, turning to the terrified Ravenclaw.

"This isn't over. If I ever catch you and your little Raven friends talking smack about Slytherin again... remember, Cassiopeia Black is a Slytherin."

She stepped back, finally releasing the boy. The Ravenclaw nodded, terrified, before fleeing down the corridor.

Cedric's eyed her with utmost disdain. "Stop bullying the younger kids. Next time, I'll report straight to the Head of House."

Cassie's scoff echoed harshly through the corridor. "Oh, please," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you're so noble, don't you? It's always the same with you lot—Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, Ravenclaws—with your perfect little worlds, always ready to play the hero."

She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "You have no idea what it's like for us. You don't hear the sneers behind closed doors. That Ravenclaw boy? He was spewing vile nonsense about a Slytherin first year—belittling, mocking, as if we're just dark shadows lurking, waiting to pounce. But of course, you wouldn't understand that. To you, we're just the 'evil' house, the 'wicked' ones."

Cedric was momentarily taken aback by Cassie's intensity, but he quickly recovered. "I don't—" he began, but Cassie cut him off, her voice icy

 "You all do. From the moment we're sorted into Slytherin, it's as if the world has decided our fate. We're cast aside, shoved into the corner, labeled as the next supervillains. The professors? They're biased, blaming everything on us. And let's not even talk about Dumbledore—dishing out last-minute points to save Gryffindor from defeat. It's as if he's scared of what might happen if Slytherin actually wins for once."

Cedric stared at her, absorbing every word. He tried to respond, but his voice faltered. "We don't—"

Cassie cut him off again, her eyes flashing with contempt. "We don't blame you. That's just how Hogwarts has always been. Especially since that manipulative bitch became headmaster. Go ahead, be the perfect little hero, and let us be the villains in your story."

Cedric stood there in silence, unable to find the right words. His gaze was fixed on her,

Cassie let out a mirthless laugh. "Funny first meeting isn't it?"
She raised her hand, her expression softening just enough for a brief, ironic smile. "Cassiopeia Black," she said with a hint of mockery.

Cedric shook her hand firmly, his expression a mix of curiosity and unease. "Cedric Diggory."

Cassie tilted her head slightly, her smirk returning. "Guess I'll be seeing you around then, Diggory."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her cloak swirling behind her as she vanished down the corridor towards the great hall

The storm had blown itself out by the following morning, but the Great Hall's enchanted ceiling remained as gloomy as ever. Heavy clouds of pewter gray swirled overhead, casting a dull light over the students below. At the Slytherin table, the group was busy examining their new course schedules over breakfast.

"Look who's here," Pansy called out, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and curiosity, as Cassie trudged toward the end of the table.

Cassie took a seat next to Theo, not even bothering to hide her sour mood. "Ran into Diggory," she snided, grabbing a piece of toasted bread and slathering it with jam.

"Well, well," Blaise said with his mouth full, looking up from his plate. "Is he alive?"

"I spared him," Cassie said dismissively, her tone cold as she looked down at the timetable that had been handed out. "What are you all doing?"

"Timetables," Theo said, his gaze focused on the parchment in front of him.

Cassie peered at her own timetable, her eyes scanning the list of subjects. "Care of Magical Creatures with the Gryffindors and Herbology with the Ravenclaws," she muttered.

That's it—She and Theo  flunked Divination last year, so she had convinced Regulus to let her drop it.

There was a sudden rustling noise above them, and a hundred owls came soaring through the open windows, each carrying the morning mail. Instinctively, Cassie looked up, her eyes catching sight of a sleek black owl gliding gracefully over the Slytherin table. It carried two letters, followed closely by Draco's eagle owl, which was struggling with a large packet of what seemed to be sweets.

Mortem, the black owl, let out a loud, dramatic screech before landing gracefully on Cassie's shoulder. The owl affectionately nipped at her ear before extending a talon to deliver the two letters—one obviously from Regulus, with its elegant, precise handwriting, and the other a bit ragged, bearing the familiar neat scrawl of Moony.

Cassie unfolded Moony's letter first, the familiar neat scrawl of her uncle's handwriting smoothing out as she read- Barely a line

Cassie,

Stay out of trouble- and Take care- pads is almost north...Keep me updated

Lupin

Cassie smiled tucking in the letter turning to her dad's Neat scrawl which was again the same

Cassie,

As much as I know you want to fix things and figure everything out, please—for my sake—stay out of trouble. If you do find yourself in a tight spot, remember to use the bracelet I gave you.

Take care, and know that I'm thinking of you.

Love you,

Dad

Cassie sighed folded the letter back up and tucked it carefully into her bag

"What's up?" Theo asked, leaning closer, his curiosity piqued.

Cassie gave him a small smile. "Same old stuff—stay out of trouble shit"

Theo nodded understandingly

Blaze, glancing at his watch and asked, "Is it almost time for Care of Magical Creatures?"

"It is," Theo replied, standing up and brushing crumbs from his robes. "Let's head out before we're late."

Draco finishing off his toast, pushed his chair back.
"Can't wait to see how the stupid oaf messes up this year," he sneered

A/n

This chapter doesnt really have much- just wanted a cedric cassie firstt meet and an angsty slytherin monologue type- i was pretty happy with it

2 days- 2 chaps lets go!

i keep jinxing my health- i got stupid fever again- its better since i took like meds- but yea feeling weird

hope yall are doing great!

mxriddle