Lizzie and I sat in the library the next afternoon, to do our transfiguration essays. It surprised me when Elena Greengrass tentatively took the seat opposite me on our desk.
"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked, giving us a small smile. It amazed me how with a completely clean face and her long, shining golden hair pulled back she still managed to look like she was from a painting.
"Of course," I replied giving her a bright smile. Her and Lizzie said a slightly uncomfortable hello and we got down to our work.
We had almost finished when the forth seat on the table was also scraped back.
"Good afternoon," Raimond said, dropping into the chair. We shared a look and I smiled.
"Lizzie have you met my dear friend Raimond?"
Lizzie and I were meandering back to Ravenclaw later that afternoon when we heard shouting. We shared a look, Lizzie had a mischievous glint in her eye. We both shrugged and then smirked, she pressed a finger to her lips and we crept towards to the classroom door.
"Why are we having this argument again, Charlus! You're like a broken record," came the shout of a familiar voice that I could not quite place. Who would be arguing with Charlus Potter?
"Because I want us to be together, is that a crime?" he replied, his voice too, was loud and irritated.
"We are together, what is the problem?" the girl demanded.
"Yes, together, where no one can see us, behind the backs of all our friends. I can't do this anymore," he snapped, volume rising further.
"What do you want from me Charlus, to declare to everyone my undying love you and marry you in your great-grandmother's ivory dress?"
"You know all I want is for us to be a couple, a normal couple , a girlfriend who I can talk to without having to make plans days in advance or having to sneak away at night," he explained. "I want to be your boyfriend, not some dirty little secret."
"You know why I can't be with you," the girl said stiffly.
"Because you're ashamed of me, because I'm a Gryffindor," he stated, I could hear the resentment in his tone.
"It's not that, I would lose all the influence I have, everything I have worked for would go up in smoke, no one in Slytherin would respect me if I courted you officially," she explained, at that moment the penny dropped.
No, it couldn't be.
"And that's what's most important to you isn't it, Cassie, your image?" I heard Lizzie gasp softly at the revelation, but I ignored her, my ears pressed harder to the wood.
"You must have known this was never going to last Charlus," Cassie replied somberly, her tone almost sad, longing but harsh.
"I wasn't aware you were such a cold-hearted bitch, Cassie."
Slap.
I flinched as I heard the unmistakable sound of Cassie's hand lashing across the Gryffindor's face.
"No one speaks to me like that," her voice was low, dangerous. I felt almost felt afraid for him.
"We're done Cassie," Charlus said, his voice was rough, broken almost. "It's over. You're not the person I thought you were. I thought there might be something more to you than this ice queen of Slytherin image you portray. I hope having every student in the castle in the palm of your hand is worth it, in the long run."
"You cannot end it with me," she almost whispered, but she was not sad, more disbelieving. "I'm Cassiopeia Black."
"And I'm Charlus Potter, the only heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, your parents would have been proud. You know you could have done a lot worse than me Cassie. All this, all this stupid inter house bullshit, it will be over by July and out in the real world it will have no significance. And that's what terrifies you. You will have no control. But a Black and a Potter? That would have had significance."
"Charlus… I-" Cassiopeia tried to say.
"No," he interrupted. "I don't want to hear it. There's nothing left of us."
Then there was the sound of footsteps in our direction, I swore under my breath and pushed Lizzie through the nearest door. Immediately both our ears were to the wood, we could still hear the remnants of the quarrel.
"Charlus Potter, you cannot fucking leave me!" we heard Cassie scream. "Charlus!"
Then there was silence.
"Well shit," Lizzie muttered, looking to me.
"Lizzie, will you promise me not to tell anyone about this?" I asked. "Cassie is…" I looked to Charlus' little speech for inspiration. "Charlus is right, she's not coping well with the idea of having to leave Hogwarts into a world where everything is so uncertain. That's why she's so controlling."
"Of course, Poppy," she replied, her blue eyes sincere as she grasped my hand. "I wouldn't dream of telling a soul."
"Thank you Lizzie," I replied, and we shared a hug. "You're a good friend."
We waited a few more minutes to make sure the coast was clear and then made our way back to the tower. But all evening I couldn't concentrate on anything any of our friends were discussing.
"I'm going down to the dungeons to see Cassie," I whispered to Lizzie some time later. "To make sure she's okay."
"Alright," Lizzie said with a kind smile. "I'll see you later, if not, at breakfast."
Swiftly, I made my way to the dungeons and just as I reached the portrait hole, it opened.
"What are you doing here?" Tom asked defensively.
"I could ask the same," I countered, perplexed by his standoffishness.
"This is my common room," Tom pointed out, glancing at his watch.
"I need to see Cassie," I said, where he was going held no interest for me, especially as I knew he would never tell me. "If you let me in, and tell me where she is, I will ask you no more questions and let you get on with whatever you are in such a hurry to do."
"She's in her bedroom."
"Cassie," I cooed, knocking gently on the bedroom door which read Cassiopeia Black- 7th year.
"Cassie, will you let me in."
There was noise from inside and the door swung open with unnecessary force. To anybody who was not so well acquainted with Cassie, they would think she was fine, but I could see the way her eyes were ever so slightly ringed with red and her cheeks shined subtly with the residue of tears and mascara.
"Oh, it's you, Poppy," she sighed. "Come in."
I accepted the invitation and glanced around the room. It was large and Cassie's belongings were scattered haphazardly around the surfaces. Of course she had her own room; everyone in Slytherin did- thanks to funding from their ancestors.
Cassie dropped down heavily onto the bed, sniffing slightly.
"Are you okay, Cassie?" I asked tentatively.
"Of course," she replied, putting on a large smile, but it lacked the vitality and sparkle which danced her eyes when she was truly happy.
"Come here Cassie," I said, opening up my arms.
"I'm fine really," she insisted, I raised her eyebrows.
"Cut the bullshit Cassie." The older girl just gave me a sad look and sighed, leaning into my embrace. Cassiopeia did not cry, her face remained dry. I sat with her until the small hours of the morning, stroking her hair rhythmically.
She sat in stoic silence, her face hard and dead eyes focused on a bare piece of stonework.
"It's two in the morning," Cassie said, her voice was rough, almost rasping.
"I should sneak back to the tower," I said, eyelids drooping, making to get up.
"Don't be ridiculous," Cassie scolded, but her manner was subdued. "I'll find you a nightgown; my bed is big enough for the two of us." I agreed, indeed it was big enough and very luxurious, more than I would have had in my own room.
I used a spell to clean my teeth and after quickly changing into nightclothes the pair of us climbed into bed. Her bed was so wide, there was easily a foot and half of space between us.
"Goodnight Cassie," I said, as the candle was extinguished.
"G'night Poppy," came the morose reply. "And thank you."
"Anytime."
The last two late nights had taken their toll, and I woke too late for Cassie to allow me to go back to Ravenclaw tower. I had insisted she use her own en-suite bathroom, so with an armful of Cassie's spare uniform, I walked the long corridor to the prefect's bathroom. It was still too early for anyone to be around, or so I had thought, and since Cassie's room was the closest I didn't bother to change out of her night gown.
I instantly regretted this decision when the door to the prefect's bathroom opened and out stepped Tom, impeccably dressed despite the early hour. Self-consciously, I ran a hand through my hair, which was looking wild and untameable thanks to the silk pillows Cassie loved so.
How did I not notice how the thin silk of the nightgown clung to my hips, and cut so deeply across my chest? I mentally cursed Cassie and her provocative gown when Tom's eyes raked down it.
"Abraxas was it? Raimond? Avery?" he questioned by way of greeting, brows raised. His tone was airy and unaffected, I clenched my jaw .
"Cassie, actually," I replied shortly, placing a hand on my hip.
"Well, I'll make sure to thank her for the view," he replied in a bored tone, raising an eyebrow and smirking before he brushed past me.
I was intercepted as I walked to dinner by Dorea. She was an anomaly when it came to the Black family, her skin was a little darker, her hair more of a chocolate brown, and she had warm, expressive doe eyes. Whereas Cassie was a queen, dictating the way Hogwarts was run, Dorea was a mother, comforting and familiar.
"Poppy," she said, in her low voice, as smooth as honey. "A word."
"Of course," I replied, following Dorea to a secluded corridor leading from the Entrance Hall.
"Word is you stayed in Cassie's room last night," she said cautiously, glancing around for eavesdroppers.
"I did yes," I replied. Did even that mundane piece of information make the morning gossip circuit?
"Cassie seemed out of sorts last night, that must be why," Dorea deduced. "What is the matter with her?" I remained silent.
"Poppy, she is my sister, I am concerned," she stated firmly.
"I know Dorea, you misunderstand my hesitation," I said, placating Dorea who could be so protective at times. "You see, I do not know the reason either. I have my guesses, but she is a closed book, you know."
"Well, what do you suspect?" she asked, brow furrowed.
"I think it is the simple case, that Cassie had an admirer, which she had to turn down. But it was someone she was quite fond of, and now she regrets that such a friendship has been lost," I lied smoothly. "But do not ask me anymore, it is just speculation after all, and I have no evidence, or names of who the man in question could be."
"Thank you Poppy," Dorea said with a relieved smile. "You have put my mind at rest, you are probably right. She did not seem too distraught?"
"More ill at ease," I replied tactfully. "Though you can never tell with Cassie."
We made our way to the Great Hall again, but once more, I was grabbed before I could reach dinner. I was starting to get hungry, and I got easily aggravated when hungry.
"Yes Raimond," I said politely, despite the fact my stomach was clenching with hunger.
"There's a rumour going round that you spent the night in the Slytherin dorms last night," he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"I stayed with Cassie," I insisted, rolling my eyes.
"Are you sure," he teased, giving me a disbelieving look.
"Positive," I swore. "Now if you don't mind I have some dinner to eat. Please ensure any rumours of my sexual exploits in Slytherin house are rebuked."
"I can't promise that!"