The Start of Something New - September 1991

"True" I say smiling. I push away my empty bowl and stretch a bit. "No problem! Here's to a beatiful new friendship!" I say holding up my glass of pumpkin juice in a toast.

I smiled and raise my own glass, clinking it with hers, "Here's to us." I took a sip and set it down as Pots came back with our cupcakes. "Thank you Pots. They look amazing." I smiled at the little house elf.

I took a sip as well, then looked to the little elf. "Yes Pots, they look delicious. Thank you so much!" I then pick up the cupcake and take a small bite. I let out a moan of happinness. This was one of the best cupcakes ever!

I followed suite and took a bit. "They are delicious." I watched as Pots walked away, remembering Dobby. "I miss Dobby." I told Cassie, "Pots reminds me a lot of him." I hoped Father wasn't treating him too horribly now that I wasn't there.

"Sometimes it helps to talk about the things you miss, so that its like they are beside you" I say smiling gently. "Do you want to share any stories of him?"

I sighed. I didn't really want to talk about my home life but I did want to talk about Dobby. "He would sometimes help me with the chores I would have to do if I got in trouble." I started slowly, "Father sometimes would make me wash the dishes or something and he would help me put them away." He always risked getting in trouble to help me but I made sure he didn't. "He's really nice and I can't wait to see him over the holidays." I didn't really want to go home, wishing I could stay here instead, but I really did want to see Dobby. I smiled a small smile at Cassie, happy she had got me to talk a bit. "Thanks."

"Ugh I hate dishes as a punishment too! Dobby was really nice to help you" I say smiling. "I am sure he is just as excited as you to see you at Christmas. Just under 3 monthes" I say excitedly too. Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year.

I forced a smile to my face. I didn't want to go home over Christmas but I knew I had to and I wasn't about to leave Draco alone with our parents all holiday. "Thanks for listening to me rant. I'm sorry I seem to be such a bummer." I glad she was still talking to me, I knew I wasn't the easiest person to be around.

I could tell there was a touch of sadness over her face, and I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with her home life. She seemed to keep tip-toeing around the subject. I want to ask her about it but I feel like I should give it a little time. We have only just met. Maybe once we have gotten to know each other a bit better, I can ask her about it.

I smiled at her though, to hide my thoughts. "I'm pretty sure you have already listened to me ramble, so we can call it even" I say winking at her. "And you're not a bummer, you are my friend. Which makes you pretty special." I say putting my hand on top of hers and giving it a light squeeze to show my appreciation.

I could tell she wanted to ask me for more details but I appreciated that she didn't force the subject. No one deserved my family and I would do everything to protect her from them. I forced a smiled up at her and gave a small laugh, "Deal." I agreed. I looked at our hands on top of each other and was suddenly reminded of Draco with her comment. No one had ever said I was special beside him. I forced myself not to try to deny it, knowing it would only make her more curious about me. I didn't need that. "You're pretty special too." I brightened my smile, hoping to distract her from the emotions that must be playing across my face. She was special, it took someone special to be able to deal with me.

I smiled wider at her. I could tell that she was holding back emotions, so I decided we should probably do something fun. I wanted to try and distract her a bit. She looks like she needs some laughter in her. "Wanna do something fun?" I had just the thing in mind too.

I looked at her curiously. I could tell what she was doing, she was trying to distract me. Usually that was my job, distracting Father from Draco, so I was familiar with the technique. And I appreciated it. I realized that sometimes, I was the one that needed to be distracted. "What did you have in mind?" I asked, a smile playing at my lips.

"One second then!" I say with an excited gleam in my eyes. I get up and go over to Pots and speak quietly with the little elf. She nods her head, her big ears flopping. I quickly walk back over and grab Juniper's hand and pull her up. "Pots is gonna teach us how to make the perfect cupcake!" I say grinning excitedly.

She gabbed my hand and I had no choice but to get up. "We're cooking?" I asked with a little laugh. Cassie led me over to where Pots was getting all the ingredients and cooking supplies ready to make cupcakes. I smiled up at her, "This does sounds like fun." I had never cooked, Mother and Father thought it was servant stuff, but I had always been interested in how you could mix certain things together to make something completely different. "I should warn you both though, I've never cooked before." I figured I should at least give then a heads up.

"Even better we are baking" i said winking. "And no worries. I believe it is a similar process to potion making. The important thing is that we have fun!" I say as I hand over a pink and yellow flowery apron to her. I grabbed a matching purple and yellow one and pulled it over my head, tying the ties around my waist as well; subtly showing her how to put it on. I also used a muggle elastic that I had on my wrist to pull my long brown hair into a ponytail.