A/N: I would just like to apologise for the mistake in the previous chapter - I wrote Cedric and Cho as one of the opening dance partners without thinking, but I have went back and fixed it. Sorry for any confusion.

Cassie smiled, as she attempted to walk over to the drinks table for the second time that night. Cedric pulling Cho over to her, however, intercepted her journey again. She sighed, but wasn't annoyed in the least. She smiled at the two, as the pair came bounding over to her, happily, hand in hand.

"Hey," Cassie smiled, noting how close they were standing next to each other. The two of them finally getting together had been a long time coming.

"Hey, Casper." Cedric grinned, as Cho smiled.

"Having a good time?" She asked, stepping out of someone's way.

"Extremely." Cho beamed.

"You bet." Cedric said, before looking around Cassie. "Alone again?"

"Yeah," She said, with a shrug. "But what can a girl do?"

"Come dance with us, that's what you can do." Cedric said, before Cho leaned in to whisper in Cassie's ear.

"We've heard that the Weird Sisters are playing soon."

"Really?" Cassie asked, rather surprised.

The Weird Sisters weren't exactly her favourite band, as she found them extremely weird funnily enough, but she had to admit, they were amazing live. She found herself excited for something she could engage in without a partner.

"Cho! Cedric!" Emily Tarraway, a Ravenclaw friend of Cho's called, making the two turn to look behind them.

"Go," Cassie smiled, as the girl motioned the two over.

"Are you sure?" Cedric asked, searching her eyes.

"Yeah," Cassie smiled, before continuing, "I've been dying for a drink all night, if you need me, you know where to find me."

They all laughed at that, before Cedric and Cho left. Cassie walked over to the drinks table, completely unaware of the eyes on her. The that body belonging to the watchful eyes was just about to make a move towards her, but froze as another approached her. It seemed fate was working against him, as every time he attempted to talk to her, someone else got in the way and he missed his chance.

"Here," Cassie whipped her head up to see TJ, holding out a glass to her, his own in the other.

"Thank you," She said, taking it.

He grumbled in reply, before leaning against the table, as she was, beside her.

"Where's your date?" Cassie asked, knowing that he had asked Martha. Well, asked was a strong word, more like she made the decision herself.

"Over there somewhere," He nodded out into the crowd, across from them. "Finding any Durmstrang willing to snog her."

"Ah," Cassie said, feeling somewhat sorry for the boy. She had nothing against Martha, she could act how she wanted. But to put it bluntly, she was rarely friendly, and had a bit of a reputation as a 'player'. "Martha, my favourite serial snogger."

TJ snorted into his cup. "Serial snogger? I like it."

"I'm sorry she ditched you." Cassie said, sincerely.

He shrugged in response, before admitting, "I never wanted to go with her anyway."

"I see." Cassie said, taking another sip of her drink.

"Cassie!" Said girl turned her head, searching for the voice, before her eyes settled on her best friend.

Everyone was crowding around the stage, which seemed to be preparing for the arrival of the Weird Sister, where Serena and Benjimine were. Serena was motioning her over with her hand, both frantically and excitedly.

Cassie laughed to herself, although, TJ heard it and smiled.

"Sorry," Cassie said, setting her cup down. "Duty calls."

"It's fine." He nodded.

"You know," Cassie said, pausing from walking away. "You're more than welcome to join us."

He shook his head, fighting a small smile. "I don't really do dancing, or the Weird Sisters."

"Okay," She replied, turning around, before calling over her shoulder. "If you change your mind, you know where we'll be."

She started walking over towards the crowd, but someone stopped her.

"Cassie!" She turned to see that it was TJ that had called her. Maybe he had changed his mind. "You look nice tonight."

"Did Thomas Jexson just compliment me? Quick, someone catch me before I faint." She teased, before turning away again, and smiling over her shoulder. "Thank you, TJ."

"Having fun?" Cassie smiled, making it to the pair at last. She had to contain a laugh, as they both nodded enthusiastically in reply, but couldn't repress the smile that pulled at her lips.

Just as Cassie had expected, the Weird Sister were amazing live. The trio danced away the entire time, in the centre of the roaring crowd. By the time the band were finished, Cassie was well and truly out of breath.

"Well, I'll leave you crazy kids to it." Cassie laughed, the two seemingly full of energy still.

She left the two with a smile on her face, as she walked over to her brother, who was currently moping in the corner.

"Hey," She smiled.

"Hey," He greeted, in a mutter.

She followed his gaze and spotted Hermione and Krum dancing, as slow music was playing. Despite the previous energetic music that had just been played, slow music replaced it as the hall grew quieter the later into the night it got.

"She's not into him." Cassie said, trying to console him in some way. She didn't have the heart to tell him that she had a crush on a very oblivious Ron.

"It wouldn't matter if she was." He said, broodingly staring at them.

"Your staring is kinda creepy." Cassie teased, lightly, as she took a seat beside him.

"Well, his stupid smile is creepy." He snapped. Cassie raised a brow at his outburst, but she understood him well enough not to take it to heart. "Sorry."

She sighed, before placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay."

"I'm just frustrated." He said, putting his head in his hands.

"I know, Draco, I know." She said, rubbing his shoulder, comfortingly. She decided to change the subject, knowing that he wouldn't talk about it any further tonight. "So, where's Pansy?"

"Bathroom." He replied, shortly.

"Boy, you really don't like her, do you?" She teased, knowing full well that he was beyond not liking her.

"What gave that away?" He asked, sarcastically.

She pinched his cheek, spotting Pansy coming back.

"I should go, before your pet gets jealous." Cassie said, as Pansy sneered at her from across the room, at the sight of her with Draco.

"She's seriously got problems for being jealous over you." He groaned, dragging his hands down his face. "You're my sister, for Salazar's sake!"

"Draco," Cassie rolled her eyes. "She'd get jealous over a bowtruckle."

He groaned in agreement, as she walked away. Pansy passed her, banging into her shoulder roughly.

"Move it, maggot." She sneered.

"Shut it, mutt." Cassie replied, as she rolled her eyes.

Cassie started to head over towards the drinks table again, noting that Draco had stalked out of the hall, with Pansy trailing after him. In fact, most students were gone, with the remaining slow dancing on the quiet dancefloor or sitting at a table with a drink. She was just about to pick up a glass, but was halted as someone hauled her over to the dancefloor. She inwardly groaned, what was with people and interrupting her at the drinks table and pulling her off to the stupid dancefloor? She snapped out of it, and turned to face the culprit once they had stopped in the middle. However, her annoyance was replaced by surprise and a little anger.

"What do you want?" She asked, trying to remain calm, but her heart was aching at the interaction.

"Dance with me?" She looked into the pleading brown eyes of the tall, ginger haired boy. "Please?"

"Fine." She stated, before crossing her arms. "One dance."

He nodded his head, a little eagerly. "One dance."

She unfolded her arms, letting him take one and place his other on her waist. Hesitantly, she raised her hand and settled it on his shoulder. She looked around at the other dancing couples, noticing that they were leaning into each other, but refused to fall into that trap, no matter how much she longed to with Fred. Ironically enough, one of Cassie's favourite songs by a muggle artist called 'The One That Got Away' started playing, to which she had to stop tears from pricking her eyes. (For this purpose, just pretend this existed in their time)

Cassie peered up to look at him, as he hadn't made any move to speak. Truthfully, he didn't have any intention yet. He didn't want this moment to end, knowing that he could either win her back now or lose her, once he opened his mouth. He had spent the entire night thinking of his words to her, but now that she was finally in his arms, somewhat prepared to listen to him, he had lost all confidence in his prep.

"Fred," She said, realising that he wasn't going to start talking anytime soon. She, however, needed him to, before she lost it.

"Listen, Cass, I didn't mean for this to happen," Fred said, looking down at her, with vulnerable eyes. "I had honeslty planned to ask you, not Alicia. I was going to that time in the hall, but then Cedric came and said he needed to speak to you. I overheard him ask you to the ball and you say yes. I got mad, that I just ended up asking Alicia to go with me."

"You idiot," She breathed, trying to decide whether she should laugh or cry it off. "You heard him practice to ask Cho Chang - his crush!"

"W-what?" He looked genuinely stunned, and before they knew it, they had stopped dancing and were just staring at each other. "You - he - didn't - It was all just a big misunderstanding."

"A big misunderstanding that broke my heart." She stated.

"Well, that makes the both of us." He said, with an unintentional bite to his tone. "It wasn't just yours."

"That's not what I'm saying." She said, appalled that he could think she would dismiss his own feelings. "What I'm saying is that I spent the entire time being reassured that you were going to ask me, to not accept any other date, because you were going to ask me. But that's my fault, I should have known better than to believe that. I spent the entire time thinking you were going to ask me, until I overheard you ask Alicia what she was wearing - except I didn't misunderstand, because what I heard was the truth. If I hadn't overheard, I probably would have spent until tonight thinking that you were going to ask me, because that's how much I believed in you. I guess it was misplaced faith."

"No, listen to me, Cas-" He started desperately.

"No, listen to me, Fred," She said, shaking her head, as the tears splashed at the force. "I can't have you overreacting like. You should have talked to me instead. That's what friends are supposed to do, in fact, I don't feel like friends, never mind best friends."

"Cassie," He said, his voice wavering, as his own eyes clouded. "Please, just-"

"What happened to us, Freddie?" Her voice broke, as tears ran down her cheeks at an alarming rate, but she didn't release a sob. She wouldn't.

He was about to respond, but she couldn't hear it. She took off, weaving through the small amount of remaining dancing couples, to reach the doors at the opposite end. She didn't even bother to lift her skirt, as she swiftly made her way towards the doors. She pushed them open, ignoring the boy behind her calling her name.

"Cassie, Hermione's-" Serena, who was standing just outside of the doors, having just left with Benjimine, said, before stopping. "Cassie? What's wrong?"

"No-Nothing," She said, shaking her head and wiping the tears from her face, even though she knew her eyes were red and her mascara had most likely run. "You were saying - about Hermione?"

"She's on the stairs over there," Serena said, pointing to the staircase where Hermione was ripping her shoes off. "She had a fight with Ron and Harry. She's crying."

"Thanks, Serena, I'll handle it." Cassie said, with a weak smile. "You should head back now."

"Are you sure?" Serena asked, as Benjimine nodded to signal he was asking the same.

"Positive." Cassie said, smiling between the two of them. "Now, enjoy the rest of your night, and walk her back like a gentleman, Benny."

Benjimine rolled his eyes, with a groan at the horrid nickname, but saluted with two finger nevertheless. "You got it."

Cassie knew he hated the nickname, almost grinning triumphantly at the reaction. Serena, however, leaned over to hug Cassie and smiled once she had pulled back.

"See you at the dorm?"

"Yeah." Cassie smiled.

"Okay, be careful walking back." Serena said.

"I will." Cassie reassured.

"I can -"

"I'll be fine, Benjimine." She said, but couldn't stop a small laugh. "Thank you, though."

The two left off towards the direction of the dungeons, but Cassie didn't miss Benjimine reaching out to take Serena's hand in his, before they turned the corner. She smiled - at least someone was able to have an enjoyable night.

Because of her altercation with Fred, she had missed the fight between Hermione and the boys, which was why she had been surprised when Serena had notified her.

"Mione?" Cassie said, softly, as she approached.

The girls that were giggling on the steps above, scattered as soon as Cassie shot them an unimpressed look. It was just them now. Hermione hadn't seemed to have heard her, as her head was buried in her arms on her knees, as she sobbed quietly. Cassie sat down beside her, softly placing a hand on her head, as to not frighten her.

"Hermione?" She tried again.

"Cassie?" She looked up, sniffling, as loose strands of hair was littered across her face.

"Hey," She smiled, softly, as she brushed the hair back and out of her face. She swiped her thumb across her cheeks, under her eyes to rid them of the tears, which was a fruitless attempt, as they were replaced. "Seems we both have rotten taste in boys."

Not many words were exchanged between the two, but Hermione greatly appreciated Cassie's presence, as she allowed her to cry in her arms. Cassie merely rubbed soothing circles on her back and stroked her hair, knowing it was a calming method, as Hermione's sobs became more controlled. She was barely keeping it together herself, but she had to be strong for Hermione. Otherwise, they would both just be broke. Hermione needed her right now. That's all that mattered to her.

Neither of them knew that the shortest of the two twins was leaning against the wall around the corner to them, his own grief and regret consuming him.

Once Hermione had finally calmed down, she was embarrassed by her apparent breakdown and apologised profusely, to which Cassie dismissed, while assuring her that she was more than welcome to let loose her emotions to her. Cassie walked Hermione to Gryffindor Tower, seeing her off so that she had some peace of mind that she was tucked away in the safety of her Common Room and dorms. After leaving her friend, she made the trek back to her own Common Room, through the dark dungeons, the click of her heels drowning out any other noises in the silent halls. She hiked her dress up, as she stepped through the portrait, after muttering the password.

Fred sighed, as soon as the door shut behind her, the nerves he once held that she wouldn't make it back safe, now quelled. He was grateful for the sound of her heels on the ground, otherwise, he would have been outed, after he had panicked that he had lost her around a corner. He made his way back to his own dorm, with a heavy heart. He had lost her.

Cassie took her heels off and made her way to her dorm, listening to the quiet snores. She opened the door and peered in to see Serena and Katya sound asleep. Martha's bed was empty and she was nowhere to be seen. The serial snogger was at it again. She felt bad for thinking such a thing, but she was grateful that Serena was sleeping. Of course, she wanted to hear all about her night, but she wasn't yet prepared to answer questions of her own. She needed time. But one thought plagued her mind. She had lost him.

She pulled her dress off, before flinging on her lavender nightgown and quietly curling up under the covers. The warmth and comfort the soft duvet provided was heavenly and calming. She fell asleep that night, with thoughts of her best friend.

Her father treated her like dirt, she wasn't about to let her best friend treat her as such. That would absolutely finish her.

A/N: So, my initial plan was to have the cliché 'dance together and make up' with everything resolved as a silly misunderstanding, but upon request from a few of you, Cassie isn't going to forgive him straight away, however, she will forgive him, in most likely the next chapter or so. Opinions or requests?