~ Pre-hogwarts education ~

Their pre-hogwarts education was handled by a combination of tutoring groups with other wizarding children and trips with their father and step-mother, meaning that Cass got to see a lot of the world at a very early age. Their talent for getting into trouble somehow seemed to equate to an ability to get along with people (once you run screaming from a bear with someone you tend to get along better. this is a scientifically proven fact). Their childhood was filled with a large number of misadventures, including eating an entire sheath of paper on a dare, sabotaging a bridge so that one of their friends would fall into the water when crossing it (an unfortunate Gardner was the next to use it) and more forts than houses in a small village built in the woods.

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~First instance of magic~

Cass was four and filled with restless energy, always running circles around their parents and finding new and inventive ways of getting into trouble. The manors grounds where large and as an attempt to calm the restless child whenever their father could take a break from working they would take a walk through the autumn leaves together and feed the ducks. They where running ahead of their father, picking up sticks and pretending they where wands then throwing them "like a bird! Coming down to attack you!", jumping in piles of leaves, scrambling up and down trees and getting into to whatever trouble they could while their father watched in shock and amusement. They ran ahead and bellyflopped in another pile of leaves before running back to their father and proclaiming that they where the fastest kid on the planet. Their father shook his head and smiled, and they took it as a challenge to take off with speed down the path ahead as fast as their short little legs would allow. Laughing uncontrollably, they jumped into the air... And landed 3 meters high in a tree.

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~Parseltounge~

One thing that many pureblood families have in common is their love of being able to trace back their ancestors for generations. Cass's Pa would always say that family is the roots from which the tree grows, the strength behind a person that was there for them through journeys rough and smooth. Through these roots, unknown to Cass the ancient ability to speak in another tongue was passed down. Parseltounge. When they were younger, no amount of expensive magical toys could keep Cass inside and entertained for very long.

To the great annoyance of their nanny's and parents, Cass had ridiculous amounts of energy and a constant need for entertainment that often lead to them roaming the trails in the woods behind the estate. Young Cass would always speak of animals in the woods telling them great tales of things that happened long ago, or the location of streams perfect for swimming. Their father put it down to a child's overactive imagination, until the fateful day not long after their tenth birthday. While roaming the grounds with their father, they made the decision to take a stroll down one of Cass's favourite (though less well maintained than others) trails.

The leaf litter held many hiding places for the hunting reptile, though for one snake their hiding place worked a little too well that day. The boot of Cass's father stomped down on a soft body, causing the snake to lash out in fear and pain and sink its teeth into the leg of its assailant. The man cursed and pulled out his wand, the snake clung on for dear life, and the child opened their mouth. "STOP" to the average wizard, the hissing noises that emerged from Cass's mouth were impossible to understand, but to the terrified snake their meaning was crystal clear. "Accident. No harm" they hissed "Let go. We do no harm".

The snake seemed as shocked as their father upon finding out that the child could speak its language, and quickly slithered away from the trail and into the woods. "Cass.." their father shook his head, seeming to be at a loss for words. "Pa? Are you okay? He didn't mean to hurt you he just got a shock.." they trailed off into silence at the look on their fathers face. He picked up the young kid and hugged them. "Darling.. what you can do isn't normal, even among wizards" he said "some might think you different, even strange for it". He ruffled their hair with one hand "It may be better to keep it.. not secret necessarily but.. not a common conversation topic". They nodded, their green eyes wide with confusion and though they would never admit it, the tiniest bit of fear. "Now come on, we should get this bite checked out" he laughs "healing spells were never my forte". The rest of the day was filled with snake related questions and an impromptu rendition of parselmouth happy birthday (spoiler alert-think nails on a blackboard crossed with your one trumpet-playing-neighbour who has no skill but insists on playing at 2am so you never get any sleep).

~ First year ~

Coming soon!

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