Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or its universe. I'm just borrowing it from Rowling-Sensei and playing with it. The only thing I do own are any OC'S.

Pairing (s): Hugo Weasley × OC

Chapter Twenty-Six

A quiet groan left Hugo's lips as the early morning slither of light hit his face, in an attempt to escape the morning's bright and early call buried his face in the tangled mass of hair belonging to his bed partner.

"Mmmh…too early" Cassiopeia groaned in protest before completely freeing herself of the confines of the blankets. The action had her nude body on display and Hugo couldn't help but allow his eyes to rake over the soft curves and contours which made up her body leaving nothing to the imagination. From ample breasts to flat toned stomach she was perfect to him.

Hugo gave a light chuckle as Cassiopeia shuffled her position so that she was facing him, a scowl had etched her way onto her features and her eyes heavy with sleep.

"Morning…" Hugo cooed before pressing a kiss to her nose.

Cassiopeia giggled at the action before shifting their positions so that she was straddling Hugo.

"Morning yourself" Cassiopeia said softly before leaning down to press a chaste kiss against Hugo's lips, he happily reciprocated and soon both found themselves lost in the kiss Cassiopeia initiated.

"Morning breath" Hugo chuckled as the pair pulled apart.

Cassiopeia giggled before swatting him playfully on the chest "Says you" She retorted before sticking out her tongue.

Hugo quirked a brow before lightly grasping Cassiopeia by the waist and shifting their positions so that she was beneath him and enticing a loud squeal from her.

"Yep, says me" Hugo said with a grin.

Cassiopeia rolled her eyes with a soft smile before reaching up to tangle her hands in his soft auburn curls. They'd grown to such a length that he could probably tie them into a short pony tail and Cassiopeia found herself enjoying this new length.

"Don't cut it—your hair, I like it like this" Cassiopeia mused whilst her hands idly tangled themselves in the curled tresses.

"You like it?" Hugo asked with a quirked brow.

Cassiopeia nodded "Yes, I just said- Hugo!" She quickly shrieked as he lowered his head to tickle her with his curled hair.

"Okay I'll stop" Hugo said with a smile before turning onto his back so he was now lying next to Cassiopeia.

She smiled before laying her head atop his chest and drawing invisible patterns in the sparse hair found there. Hugo was perfectly content with lying with Cassiopeia like this forever, just the two of them not having to worry about their impending future…just now…

But he knew it wasn't possible.

"I'm going home today…" Cassiopeia muttered sadly.

"It'll be fine, Cass" Hugo said before pressing a kiss to her forehead, she smiled at the action before snuggling closer towards him.

"I know…but you'll have to meet my father…well again" Cassiopeia said with a slight frown.

Hugo nodded in understanding, the last meeting with Cassiopeia's father didn't exactly end on good terms and Hugo would've been lying if he said it hadn't put him off meeting with Mr Malfoy again.

"Oh that..."

Cassiopeia stiffened slightly, a slight frown on her features and steel grey eyes narrowed in thought. Hugo knew that expression all too well; he'd pissed her off.

"So you don't want to meet him?" Cassiopeia asked, hurt evident in her voice.

Hugo gulped, was there a right or wrong answer to such a question?

"It's not that I don't want to-" Hugo started.

"Hugo…please for me" Cassiopeia pleaded, steel grey eyes wide and hopeful, just how could he refuse?

"Okay" Hugo said with a smile and causing Cassiopeia to smile brightly "I'll talk with your old man"

"Thank you Hugo!" Cassiopeia gasped with a bright smile she practically launched herself at him, slender arms wrapping around his neck as she buried her face in his chest "You have no idea how much this means to me"

Hugo smiled before gently cupping her chin between his fingers; he'd do anything for her, even if it meant practically walking to his death to face her father- who very much hated his guts!

"I have some idea" Hugo said with a shrug before pressing a soft kiss against her lips. He smiled as Cassiopeia parted her lips for him, allowing him entrance to her mouth and to drink in the taste which was entirely her.

Warm and sweet.

With flushed features the pair pulled apart, both sporting tangled messes of hair and Cassiopeia's now a bright magenta; a colour Hugo having learnt from last night meant only one thing…

"Cass…?" Hugo asked slowly.

Cassiopeia grinned "Nothing…" She cooed in an attempt to feign innocence, though all the while she was slowly straddling Hugo once more and pressing her naked body flush against his own.

Cassiopeia grinned against him, she knew exactly how to push his buttons and was very much using it to her advantage. "Something...good…?" Cassiopeia asked softly, her warm breath tickling his already sensitive skin.

"Definitely" Hugo confirmed before pulling the blankets over them and silencing Cassiopeia's giggles with a kiss.

XOXO

Cassiopeia felt more than comfortable in Hugo's family home from the way Ron and Hermione practically welcomed her with open arms she was sad to say goodbye. Though Hermione had insisted this wasn't a 'goodbye' and more of an 'until we next meet' Cassiopeia couldn't help but feel a little sullen.

The Weasley's home was her safe haven and though Cassiopeia knew she had to leave, part of her feared of what she'd have to face once she returned to the manor.

Hugo and his parents standing in front of the family fireplace as they prepared to say goodbye to Cassiopeia. The blonde was stood with a wry smile as her large Chudleigh Cannons jersey hung loosely over one shoulder after refusing to cooperate like normal clothing.

"And we'll definitely see you at Christmas" Mrs Wea- Hermione said with a tone which left little to no objection.

Cassiopeia nodded, having grown fond of the brunette during her stay despite how short it was.

"Of course" Cassiopeia said with a smile "Though you'll have to visit for New Year's"

Cassiopeia could have sworn she saw Mrs Weasley glance to Mr Weasley almost hesitantly with an expression the blonde just couldn't place. Though as quickly as it appeared it was gone and replaced with her warm smile.

"We'd love to"

"But don't expect anything for Easter" Ron said with a grin only to receive a not-so-quiet hiss of 'Ronald' from his wife.

Cassiopeia smiled at the display, her own parents had never been accustomed to arguing with each other. They agreed on everything to an extent that Cassiopeia thought was normal.

But seeing Hugo's parents so open with each other and so open with her was strange and yet humbling.

They so easily accepted her as Hugo's girlfriend and it hurt knowing her father was reluctant the same.

"It's true, Easter's here are pretty crazy" Hugo said with a grin.

Cassiopeia giggled "Good thing I like crazy then" Cassiopeia whispered softly.

Hugo reddened slightly "It is" He confirmed whilst trying his best to ignore the expressions of interest from his parents. Both Ron and Hermione attempted to not so subtly glance away with identical expressions of feigned innocence.

"Well um see you later then" Cassiopeia said sheepishly before pressing a soft kiss against Hugo's cheek.

Before he could respond, the blonde quickly scurried into the fireplace and left Hugo stood practically transfixed on the spot, watching dumbly as she disappeared in a mass of emerald green flames.

XOXO

Draco read over the letter for what seemed to be the umpteenth time that morning. The moment the small owl had swooped into his home in a very crazy manner that he instantly recognised his daughter's neatly curved scrawl.

"She's with the Weasley's" Astoria commented wistfully.

Draco merely quirked a brow before neatly folding the letter in two, all the while Astoria patiently watching him.

"That was expected" He said coolly, ignoring the expression of pity from his wife.

"And how do you feel about this?" Astoria asked, lips pursed and early brown eyes watching him intently "about her coming home"

He stayed silent, placing the now folded letter on his desk.

"How am I supposed to feel?" He asked icily "My daughter she...left us" She left me, he added silently.

"That doesn't matter" Astoria cooed before crossing the distance and perching herself against the edge of his desk. "She's coming back and we can make things right"

Draco sighed, his hand running through his slowly thinning hair. This children were going to run him bold with their stubborn nature, their unique views and strong willed personalities.

He couldn't understand just how Astoria always held hope that he'd do the right thing. That he'd come through. Though somehow Draco always doubted himself.

Cassiopeia was right; he was using her. But not in the way she'd assumed. He wanted to prove to himself that he could hope. Hope for a better future for his children; though by doing so he only succeed in further pushing her away.

"It's not exactly that easy, love" Draco said tiredly.

Astoria smiled softly, warm brown eyes lightly up with love she had only reserved for him.

"Nothing worth having ever is"

XOXO

Cassiopeia staggered slightly as she stepped out into the living room of the manor, a humourless bout of silent laughter left her lips as she glanced around at her home's large living room. She became accustomed to Hugo's bright mismatched decorations, the smiling photographs that being back here felt so alien and yet this was her home.

Sighing Cassiopeia shrugged off her dragonhide bag and padded through the dark living room towards the manors main hallway. Portraits stared in shock at her current state of dress, though it was Great Grandfather Abraxas who openly voiced his current disgust.

"The shame of a descendant of my house to dress so...so common" Abraxus Malfoy spat, the words like venom rolling off his painted tongue.

Cassiopeia merely spared a glance down at her Chudleigh Cannons sweater- or rather Hugo's Chudleigh Cannons sweater before dismissing him. The action earning her a chortle of approval from her late maternal Grandfather Hyperion Greengrass.

With chocolate brown hair and warm brown eyes, it was clear where Astoria had gotten her own features. However Hyperion's face was slightly squared and had a fierceness about him which commanded attention.

"Certainly gets that from your side of the family" He teased, his grin only widening at Abraxas' expression of pure horror.

"I should hope not!" Abraxus hissed, his ice blue eyes glaring daggers at Cassiopeia.

Cassiopeia merely shook her head before carrying on up the staircase all the while ignoring Abraxus' sneers of obvious distaste; he never had much nice to say about her and Cassiopeia had half the mind to set him on fire.

Her hand idly brushed against the staircase, the sound of her fingernails scraping against the polished wood was like a familiar symphony and she found herself softly smiling to herself as she left behind the lightest indentations-

"I always hated whenever you did that"

As if the banister had suddenly burst aflame, Cassiopeia ripped her hand away from the hardwood as she glanced up to meet the piercing stare of her father. Feeling like a child caught in the act, she shifted from foot to foot before gently tugging at the sleeve of her sweater.

"You hated a lot of things" Cassiopeia said quietly. Her father blinked, a flash of hurt flickering across his features before it was gone as quickly as it came and he was once again stood straight at the top of the stairs.

Cassiopeia somewhat regretted her words though part of her felt...no part of her needed to be straight with him...in the hopes that he would be straight with her.

"I did" Draco answered coolly "Like when you used to beg me to attend your tea parties"

Cassiopeia found herself smiling slightly at the memory, her father dressed in pink lace would haunt her forever.

"That put me off pink for ages" Cassiopeia said with a slight smile.

"Seeing your father dressed in a frilly pink tutu would do that" Draco said with a slight smirk.

Cassiopeia nodded before a small sigh left her lips "Father...do you- do you hate me?" Cassiopeia asked slowly.

Draco's features softened at Cassiopeia's hurt expression. He'd never anticipated on how his actions had made her feel and the words falling from his daughter's lips was the most hurtful thing he'd experienced.

"Cassiopeia…"

"You told me to leave" Cassiopeia whispered "Then you...you filled me missing- and...I thought you hated me"

Draco stilled as Cassiopeia continued, she'd always been one to quietly accept things the way they were; to quietly accept whatever he'd thrown her way with little objections...or at least the ones which weren't voiced.

"Cassiopeia I never hated you...I never could hate you"

Cassiopeia stilled, her bright silver eyes filling with tears.

"But you said-"

"I was acting foolish" Draco stated, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration "childish even...I wanted to protect you-"

"Father I'"

"I pushed you away-"

"Father…"

"I made you hate me"

"Dad!" Cassiopeia exclaimed, causing Draco to cease his rant and stiffen in alarm.

Cassiopeia smiled awkwardly, her silver blonde hair taking a bubblegum pink hue as she stared intently back at her father.

She needed him to understand, needed him to know…

"Dad I...I'm sorry too" Cassiopeia said with a sigh "I said hurtful things because I was angry- I made you think that everything bad was your fault and that was wrong of me. I...I don't hate you"

Draco sighed before a small ghost of a smile formed across his lips.

"I said some things too" Draco said with a frown.

"Like insulting Hugo" Cassiopeia added.

Draco nodded, how could he forget the boyfriend his daughter had decided to choose.

"Yes...that"

Cassiopeia giggled softly at his reaction before reaching out to wrap her arms around her dad's torso tightly and not even caring about the few tears which started to fall.

"Dad I'm so sorry" Cassiopeia sobbed quietly.

Once again Cassiopeia was resorted to the little girl Draco once knew, and once upon a time he wished that time would rewind itself to when things were simpler. But now, seeing his daughter, now a very much independent woman resorted to tears, it broke him inside.

Slowly Draco placed a hand atop her head causing Cassiopeia to glance up at him with wide steel grey eyes and gently he used is free hand to wipe the stray tears away.

"There's nothing to be sorry for Cassie" Draco said with all the softness he could muster.

Cassiopeia sniffed, her eyes still wide with obvious confusion "But-"

"One more word and you're grounded" Draco said with a smirk.

Cassiopeia smiled softly before burying her head into her father's chest and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. Hugging him like this was something she hadn't done in a while and she found herself missing it.

"I love you dad" Cassiopeia whispered, her voice slightly muffled against his chest.

Draco smiled once more "I love you too Cassiopeia"

Cassiopeia gave a choked laugh, the tears falling down her cheeks making her taste nothing but salt and her vision blurry. She was sure she looked a mess, snot filled nose and bloodshot eyes and yet she didn't care.

She was back, her dad didn't hate her and she was home.

XOXO

A/N TIME:

I'm sorry that the chapter was so short but I felt more comfortable ending it here as I felt it better ending on Cassiopeia and Draco making up rather than prolonging the chapter just to make words.

I mentioned Hugo growing his hair out and I kind of envisioned it like Kit Harington's hair but you know red.

I want to thank the reviewers, I generally like hearing/seeing why you think since you know improvements.

Like I don't mind criticism since you know…improvements.

Stay tuned for the next chapter where Hugo freaks the freak out, (yes victorious reference. Sue me) Cassiopeia is nervous and Lily investigates.

Don't forget to review!

Heavensfairy signing off

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