Chapter 25
Cassie settled down at a table in her favorite alcove of the library. This was her spot, and almost everyone knew that this was where the Ravenclaw girl always came to study. The table was just large enough for four people, with a towering bookshelf on either side. The old tombs smelled heavenly to her, like old parchment and ink. To her left was the opening to the rest of the library, and to her right was a window which overlooked the lake and the mountains beyond. Even better, there were parts of the window made with colored glass, leaving cheerfully colored splotches across the pages she was reading.
She didn't know why the stained glass was there, the rest of the library windows were just plain glass. She didn't care though, the glass made this alcove even more special.
"I'm going to fail…" Cassie looked up with a smile at Belinda who was hunched over her textbook in desperation.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am! I know it. This quiz will be my downfall, I'll never pass another exam again."
Cassie rolled her eyes in amusement at the familiar panic attack. Belinda freaked out ever every single quiz and exam and essay. Cassie had never understood it, but Rose suspected it was because the moment she felt sure of herself, she'd relax too much. At least in the blond's mind. Cassie left the mind reading to Rose.
"Quick, distract me, I need to relax!"
"How?" Cassie asked, mind going blank at the other girl's demand.
"I don't know…how goes it with Sirius?"
Cassie smiled as she looked out the window, the open book before her ignored for now. "I think they're going pretty well. He and I talk a lot more now, there's almost no arguing anymore."
"Does Remus say that it's working?"
Cassie giggled. "He thinks so too. You know, I'm really glad I asked him for his help. I'd been considering James, seeing as he and Sirius are inseparable, but Remus is such a sweetheart."
"Didn't he fancy you at some point?"
Cassie felt her cheeks warm and had to wonder at the reaction. "I…I never asked him." She said quickly. "But he's a lot more observant about Sirius than I would have expected." She said, quickly changing the subject back.
She firmly pushed her strange reaction out of mind. There was no reason to be blushing about Remus, not when Sirius made butterflies swirl around her stomach in a whirlwind.
"A good balance." Belinda teased. "Considering you're oblivious."
Cassie stuck out her tongue even as she grinned. Belinda was right after all. Cassie was horrible at reading people, and tended to be entirely oblivious to what people were really thinking. She left that kind of stuff to Rose, who could practically read minds by looking at you. Or in this case, to Remus. He seemed to be able to do much the same thing.
"I don't try to be, it just works out that way."
"Obviously, because you haven't asked me once about this." Belinda said, lifting a necklace from where it rested on her sweater. It was a tiny silver heart, plain but pretty.
"Um…was I supposed to?" Cassie asked with a raised eyebrow. Belinda grinned.
"Darren gave it to me on Monday." She said, her cheeks flushing a lovely pink. Cassie's smile widened.
"He did? Are you two going out?"
Belinda bit her lip and nodded and Cassie squealed softly in excitement. "That's wonderful, I'm so happy for you!"
The blond giggled and looked down at the silver heart charm. "Now we just need to get you and Sirius together."
Cassie grinned. "That'll be nice, yes." She admitted.
As Belinda went back to her studying – still playing with the charm – Cassie looked out the window. That would be nice…she looked forward to the days when she could reach out and take Sirius's hand without wondering if he'd be alright with it. When he'd wander the halls with her, just talking about everything and nothing.
She already knew it would be wonderful. How could it not be, it was Sirius Black!
She smiled and watched as a bird flew past the window, changing colors as it went behind the blue, green and yellow glass.
She wondered what would happen once she and Sirius did get together… Her group of friends would really grow then. Rose and Remus would be able to bring their relationship out into the open. Their meetings were still held in secret at the Usual Spot. Cassie wasn't sure if they were officially dating or not, but she suspected they'd be getting together any day now. Rose was always sneaking off to talk with him, and they were obviously close.
Of course, considering how little Cassie noticed sometimes, it was possible that they were already together and that she just hadn't figured it out yet.
Maybe she should ask Rose about that later…
She went back to her book and started reading once more, though the colored light sprinkling the page was much more interesting to her distracted mind.
She was starting to think that maybe it would be alright for her to start making more obvious moves to Sirius. Like…walking with him after class to wherever he was going next, or maybe asking him to join her in Hogsmeade on their next visit. She could be more subtle and ask for his group to come with hers. That would give Rose and Remus an excuse to get out of the castle together too after all.
And maybe then things would really take off. And Sirius would realize that her feelings towards him were no longer all animosity. Maybe he'd realize that if he flirted, she'd actually reciprocate.
He hadn't been flirting a lot lately…almost not at all. It was rather confusing. Cassie's best guess was that he'd hoped that backing off would make her like him more? Perhaps?
Though over the year, he'd only seemed to grow more and more distant. Especially since the dance. Perhaps he was starting to realize that flirting and wild gestures of affection weren't the way to win her over, she just wanted a friend. A much more casual relationship.
She reached up and pulled her own necklace from under her shirt, looking at the small hibiscus charm. It faded from green and red to blue to yellow…actually, now that she looked at it, it was the same colors as the glass in the window. It was likely coincidence, but it still made her smile.
She still couldn't be sure who it was from, but she suspected it had been Sirius. He'd been sending hibiscus flowers to her for months. At first anonymously, but then with notes saying that he was thinking of her.
Though the gifts had stopped recently, she wasn't surprised. It was only March after all, but she was hoping that with spring, more flowers would be left on her pillow with a short note.
She looked at the clock on the wall and sighed. "Lindy, I'm starving. Let's go get some lunch before class."
Belinda sighed. "Alright, fine…" she grumbled, standing and packing her things. Cassie followed suit and the girls left the colorful alcove and then the library altogether.
"Belinda!" both girls turned to see Darren coming towards them, a smile on his face and a spring in his step. "A flower for my favorite girl." He said with a smile as he whipped out a daisy.
Cassie smiled. He was good, daisies were Belinda's favorite. The boy was rewarded with a beautiful smile and a hug before she even took the white flower from his hands.
"How'd you know?"
"Know? Know what?"
Belinda giggled. "Daisies are my favorite."
"Really?" the genuine surprise was matched by the grin on his face. "That's great, they're my favorite too!"
Cassie sidled away as Belinda pulled the boy into a kiss, trying to be invisible. It was adorable though, she couldn't help but smile in happiness for her friend.
Belinda soon skipped up beside her again and they finished making their way to the great hall.
"You should stop smiling like that." Cassie teased and Belinda giggled.
"I can't help it. You know how that is."
Cassie's mind flew to a pair of grey eyes half hidden behind black hair. "Yeah. Yeah I do."
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Believe it or not, this is more than just a filler chapter. Originally, it wasn't going to be here at all, and I was going to hop into some MAJOR drama. Then I decided that Cassie needed some time in the spotlight. She doesn't get a lot, and I know that a good number of my readers either don't like Cassie or don't care about her at all. I just wanted to remind everyone that she's important to this story, and she's a real person too. Maybe this chapter helped with that ^^
Please review!
Your Humble Authoress,
Whisperwings