After successfully chasing most of her suitors away at the previous balls, only a few remained stubborn and willing, but she wasn't sure how many people she could put off in one night as this was the last ball of the summer. Tomorrow, they'd be going into Diagon Alley for their school supplies and the following day, they would be returning to Hogwarts. Usually, the thought brought her comfort, but now, it brought her impending sadness. She wasn't sure how long she could keep up her facade. Everything was weighing her down and she felt it would drown her soon if she struggled to stay afloat. Fred kept her afloat, but she couldn't have him.
Everyone, including Cedric and Benjimine, had persistently sent her letters throughout the duration of the summer, each one becoming more desperate with a lack of response. George even asked her if she was dead, which she had to laugh at, for when her father caught wind of her ploy with her suitors, he would surely have her head.
Speaking of, the devil himself had been becoming increasingly more absent from the house, meaning she had been subjected to less beatings for stepping out of line or for his amusement, but she couldn't really find relief. These days, she was always on edge, expecting the worse and staying alert in anticipation of Lucius showing up during the night to beat her within an inch of her death. He'd done it once, he'd do it again.
Despite the circumstances, Cassie smiled at the dress Lopsy had left on her bed, as she ran her fingers along the soft fabric and watching as it shimmered in the light. Her mother had already informed her that her father would be absent during the ball and it settled her nerves a little, knowing she wouldn't be watched by his scrutinizing gaze the entire time.
There was a knock at her door, before Narcissa popped her head in the door with a smile, Lopsy at her feet.
"Need any help?" She asked.
"Always." Cassie smiled at her mother, as said woman all but bounced into the room happily.
Cassie sat down on the stool in front of her vanity, watching in the mirror as Narcissa stood behind her with an elegant smile.
"Do you like the dress?" She asked, as she started fiddling with her long blonde locks.
"It's positively stunning." She replied, genuinely.
"Just like you, my beautiful little girl," She smiled, pressing a kiss to to top of her head. "Don't you forget it."
Narcissa took her time, braiding her hair by hand and adding little diamond clips, before curling the few strands left by her ears with her wand. Instead of applying any make up, Narcissa had simply handed her her favourite shimmery lip gloss and Cassie couldn't help but think about how strange it would be to attend the ball without her face caked in heavy make up. Lastly, Lopsy and her mother had helped her into her dress and Lopsy had threaded the corset before Narcissa finished it in an elegant bow.
"I know what you have been doing." Narcissa said gently, as the pair gazed into the full length mirror by the door. Cassie brought her eyes up to hers, not sure what to say. She wouldn't lie to her mother. "All I ask is that you don't go too far tonight, just because he won't be there. Please, darling."
"I promise, mother." She replied, turning around to hug her, smiling as she felt her arms wrap around her tightly.
"Ready to go?" Draco appeared by the door in his dress robes. "The guests are arriving."
"Shall we?" Narcissa smiled, as she and Cassie linked their arms with Draco as he lead them to the hall.
Cassie had to admit, despite the circumstances, she felt more freedom at this ball. She didn't have to worry about any sudden movements, she didn't feel uncomfortable with what she was told to wear and she didn't feel nervous.
Barely any of the boys andmenshe knew to be her suitors approached her, but rather strayed off to the side of the room and watched her instead. Maybe word had gotten out about the previous advances of the others. Either way, she was happy to be left alone to sip her drink as she walked around the room, sometimes dragged away to dance with Draco so he could escape the fawning girls trying to jump his bones.
"Fancy seeing you here." She turned to find TJ standing behind her with a glass in his hand in a similar fashion.
"Shocker." She rolled her eyes.
"Well, might I say," He said, mock bowing. "You're rocking the Slytherin Princess look, m'lady."
"Stand up, TJ." She said, glancing around the room, glad that no one had watched the exchange.
"Relax, Cassie." He smirked. "No one is watching. They're too self absorbed. If they were watching, they'd surely notice little miss Parkinson over there being dragged away into that empty hall by her father."
Her attention flew to where TJ had gestured and sure enough, she caught the sight of Pansy's struggling back just as the door closed behind her.
"Empty halls and angry fathers." TJ's voice wasn't teasing, instead, it was as if he was goading her. "That's something you would know about, right Cassiopeia?"
She didn't acknowledge the fact that TJ most likely knew her secret and was trying to goad her into admitting it. She didn't panic that someone was trying to expose what went on behind the closed doors of the Manor. She couldn't focus on anything but the fact that nothing good could be coming of the strange encounter, so, instead, she left the surprised pureblood boy behind and opened the door, following the sound of quiet but desperate pleas.
She rounded the corner with a sharp click of her heels, gaining their attention as Mr Parkinson's hand froze in the air as she was about to hit a cowering Pansy.
"Mr Parkinson." She said, unable to contain the venom from her voice.
"Ah," He said, bringing hand back down to brush off his robes before standing smugly. "Here's another girl that knows a thing or two about the consequences of stepping out of line, isn't that right dear?"
"They're about to toast," Cassie replied, pointedly as she struggled to keep her voice level. "I think you should join yourdearMrs Parkinson."
For a minute, the man seemed taken aback by her attitude and confidence, before a snarl settled on his face. He sent a sharp glance at his daughter before glaring at Cassie as he passed her, muttering angrily under her breath.
As Cassie looked at Pansy, the girl that didn't like her and the girl she didn't particularly like, she realised that they were two broken souls with more in common than they thought. It made sense that Pansy was so bitter now, Cassie could understand that now.
"Pansy?" Cassie said, offering her hand to the vulnerable girl as she leaned against the wall, but instead of taking it, she simply slid down the wall and brought her knees up to her chest as a sob left her body.
"It's okay, Pansy." Cassie said, sitting down next to her and slipping her hand around her shoulders. "Let it out, it's okay to cry. You're safe here."
After a while, she calmed down, only sniffling as she wiped away her tears to reveal a bright red mark on her cheek.
"I don't think it'll bruise," Cassie said, softly, as she brushed her fingers across it lightly. "We can stay back here until it fades."
"I'm so sorry, Cassiopeia." Pansy whispered, avoiding her eyes. "I'm so sorry for all of the things I've said, I guess I was just jealous, but I see now that I wasn't the only one with a secret."
"It's alright, Pansy, everyone copes differently." Cassie comforted, gently brushing away a stray tear. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. You're a strong girl."
By the end of the night, Draco walked Cassie to her room, both adorning smiles as the night went much better than they had both anticipated.
"Goodnight, Cassie." Draco said, hugging her briefly before retiring to his own room.
Cassie stepped into her room with a wistful smile, before it vanished at the sight of a letter sitting on her table, already opened. She immediately swiped it and paled as she realised it was from Fred. Who had opened it? Who had read it? Who had been in her room?
With shaking hands, she started reading the letter, finding it was similar to his others, but this time, she could see little stains and smudged ink. Her cried writing it.
The entire night, every time she saw someone that resembled him even a little morphed into her Fred Weasley and each time, she had caught herself foolishly approaching as they had turned out to be random strangers in the crowd.
She broke.
She wanted him so badly, she needed him. She was naive to think she could simply push all of her friends away so easily without it breaking both parties. Her night spent with posh purebloods only reminded her more of the times she enjoyed most with so called blood traitors and muggleborns. She could admit that they all equally held their faults, but purebloods were so far up their own arses that they couldn't see past their traditions or themselves for that matter.
She wanted to write back.
And so she did. She wrote and wrote and wrote, breaking her heart out with each desperate plea. A sob fell past her lips as she sat in front of her vanity, still all dressed up as tears smudged her ink just like Fred's letter.
But unlike her, Fred would never receive her letter.
She never sent it. She just couldn't.
A/N: I hope you're all staying safe and keeping well. I'm sending love to you all and your families. I'd just like to say thank you for your kind reviews and hearts, it's honestly the only thing keeping me going during this time.