Chapter 10
"Ron, how could you let that one get past you?" yelled Harry from his broomstick.
"Right, my fault. I should have let the Bludger hit me. That way, as I went crashing down to the ground, the Quaffle would have bounced off my prone body and been deflected," replied Ron. Harry grinned.
"Sorry. I just really want-"
"To shove this game down Slytherin's throat?"
"Exactly."
"Don't worry about it, Harry. We all hate Slytherin with a fiery vengeance. Well, almost all of us," Ron added, glaring over at Cassandra.
"Don't start, please," Harry begged.
"Fine. If you didn't like her, I'd show her a thing or two."
"I don't think Cassandra's interested in whatever you could have to show her, Ron," Amalia called.
"Yeah, but I'm sure you'd be very interested," Davis said, making no attempt to hide the distaste in his voice. Amalia smiled at him coldly before going to check on the antics of the Bradford twins.
"I do not like Cassandra," Harry insisted.
"Of course not. You don't want to beat Slytherin for the simple purpose of making Malfoy look like a fool on a broomstick, which I might add, he already is."
"Of course, I do. When have I ever passed up an opportunity to show up Malfoy?"
"Never. In fact since Cassandra's shown up, you've gone looking for opportunities to show up Malfoy."
"I have not."
"Come on, Harry. You actually try in Divination, which she shows a profound interest in? That's not your usual style."
"Maybe I'm tired of getting mediocre marks in Divination."
"Maybe you're full of shit," Ron said with a grin.
"What do you want Ron?" Harry sighed.
"I want you to admit to me that you like Cassandra."
"I'll admit it when you will!"
"Ugh! I'm hurt that you would even suggest such a thing."
"Are you really?"
"Yes, hold on a moment, I think I'm going to be sick from that suggestion," Ron said, pretending to gag.
"She's not as bad as all that."
"Anyone who likes Malfoy and gets along tolerably with Snape is as bad as all that. Face it, Harry. She's just an evil creature full of dark, twisted secrets and desires that only Malfoy and Snape would understand. The only plus side is that she's not very talkative and looks killer even in school robes," Ron said with an evil grin. "Actually, it might be good for you, Harry. Maybe you won't be such a goody-good."
"I am not even liking you, Ron. Just go away," Harry said with a smile.
"I'm only trying to be helpful," he said.
"I don't need your help," Harry assured him.
"You sure? I could talk to her."
"No! That's quite alright."
"Alright. If you're sure..."
"Positive."
Harry looked at the sky. It was afire with reds and oranges. It would be dark soon. "Okay, everyone, let's call it a day," he yelled, cupping his hands so that his team could hear him. One by on e, the team descended and walked off the field, brooms in hand. Eventually only two people remained, Harry and Cassandra. He flew over to her. She sat motionless on her broomstick, watching the sun sink slowly beneath the horizon.
"Ready?" he asked her. She turned her head quickly.
"Oh, Harry! I didn't even see you there. I guess I was lost for a while," she replied, turning to gaze at the sunset.
"You ready to land?" he asked. Cassandra looked nervous.
"You mean as in get down?" she asked. He nodded. She shook her head. "I don't want to get down."
"Scared?" Harry inquired grinning.
"Yes!"
"Come on. I'll tell you how, " he coaxed.
"Nuh-uh."
"You can't hang up here all night!"
"Wanna bet?"
"Fine, you leave me no choice," Harry sighed, moving in closer. His eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Harry- Harry, what are you going to do?" she asked, not liking the look on his face one little bit. He smiled at her and put one arm around her waist.
"Down," he whispered. Her broomstick fell to the ground immediately. He laughed softly, enjoying for a moment her clinging to him with terror, as if he'd let something happen to her. He repositioned her in front of him on his Firebolt.
Her death-grip on his neck relaxed. "Now," he said," I'm going to show you some real flying if it kills us both." Cassandra turned deathly pale.
"Oh, no! NO! Harry-!" she protested before he started doing corkscrews up and down the Quidditch field. Cassandra tightened her grasp, one arm over his shoulder, the other around his waist. Her face was buried in his shoulder. Harry was enjoying himself immensely. He loved to feel the wind whip through his hair as he defied gravity over and over again. That he could feel Cassandra's lips on his neck and she was holding him very tightly was an added bonus. He slowed down and flew parallel to the ground for a bit. Cassandra raised her head and loosened her grip. Harry smiled softly before going into a perfectly executed Wronski Feint.
"You bloody bastard!" Cassandra laughed, hitting Harry with her fist at each word. He laughed as they entered the Great Hall. He grabbed her wrists gently. Her hair was windswept, her cheeks were ruddy and she was pissed- in a harmless sort of way. She was still struggling to free her wrists when they sat down for dinner. He let go, still laughing. She threw a dinner roll at him. It bounced off his forehead. She picked it up and threw it at him again.
"Never- do- that- again!" she commanded, bouncing the roll off his forehead in between words for effect.
"Okay! Stop!" Harry said, putting up his arms.
"No," she said, throwing it once more. "You were having too much fun with that, you- you sadist!"
"Not a word I want to hear while I'm eating, thank you," remarked Ron.
"I am not!" Harry protested.
"You are! You were enjoying that too much! Evil!" she cried, sticking her tongue out.
"Now there's the pot calling the kettle black," Ron muttered.
"She's not evil. You can't be evil and ticklish."
"I am not-" Cassandra broke into a fit of giggles when Harry tickled her. Hermione got up and left.
"What's wrong with her?" Harry asked.
"I'll tell you as soon as you get rid of that trollop over there," Ron replied, nodding towards Cassandra. She smiled.
"I knew that you don't like me, but it's okay because you are without a doubt the biggest prick I've ever met," she said calmly.
"That's not true. In fact, I still mean what I said on the first day. You're gorgeous and I like you just fine- until you open your mouth and generally it's downhill from there- for me at least. I have no idea what you opening your mouth may mean to other-" he broke off as Cassandra smacked him hard across the face. Harry cracked up because for a split second both of Ron's eyes were in the same socket. But Cassandra wasn't finished. She took the time to dump a pitcher of pumpkin juice all over Ron before going to sit by Malfoy at the Slytherin table.
"Well, that worked," Ron sighed, wiping his face with a napkin. "Thank God, she got my drift. I didn't want to have to say that-"
"Why did you?"
"I had to get rid of her. Now I can deny having implied anything besides the fact that I can't stand her. Plus, now you're off the hook."
"What's this about Hermione?" Harry inquired. Ron looked around.
"Not here," he said. "Come with me. I have to get cleaned up anyway." Harry followed Ron to the nearest bathroom.
"Yuck!" Ron said, looking at himself in the mirror. "That bitch!" he exclaimed. Harry laughed again. "I wish Hermione was here. She'd know the perfect spell. At any rate, about Hermione."
"Yes?"
"She likes you, Harry."
"Did she tell you that?"
"No, but it's rather obvious," he responded. Harry was silent. "You know," Ron continued, "I should be thanking Cassandra."
"Why's that?"
"I like Hermione. She likes you. You like Cassandra. You're so busy with her, you've been ignoring Hermione, which is good for me because if you were paying her any attention, I'd have a snowball's chance in Hell."
"Have I really been ignoring Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron nodded. "Damn it! I have to find her!" he said, rushing out of the bathroom.
"I really should keep my mouth shut," Ron muttered to himself.
Harry found Hermione in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione saw him and got up to leave. "Hermione, don't leave," he requested.
"Did Ron put you up to this?" she demanded.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because I find it hard to believe that you would tear yourself away from Cassandra to come after me."
"Hermione, honestly-"
"You like her, don't you?" she asked. Harry was caught off guard. Was he that transparent? Did the entire world know? "Harry Potter, you are the world's biggest fool," she sighed.
"What?"
"Ever since you came to the Burrow all you've talked about is Cassandra. Since we've gotten to Hogwarts, you've been helping her, defending her, chasing after her. It's pathetic!"
"Why?" he asked, his voice low.
"She's got you wrapped around her finger while she's chasing after Malfoy and every other guy except Ron and Neville, and that's because Ron won't have any of it and Neville is -well, Neville."
"She is not!" he replied in the same tone. He was aware that he had just proven Hermione's point exactly. Her laugh was scornful. "Cassandra's just-"
"Friendly?" offered Hermione. Harry nodded. "Please, no one has any business being that friendly."
"Hermione please, don't do this to me. I can't have both you and Ron against me," he begged. His warm green eyes pleaded with her and his countenance looked genuinely distressed. She closed her eyes tightly and nodded. He hugged her. "Thank you, " he whispered. She nodded. He released her and turned to leave.
"I was wrong," she called.
"How so?" he asked.
"You're not the world's biggest fool," she replied. He smiled and went through the portrait hole. "I am," she whispered.
"Ron, how could you let that one get past you?" yelled Harry from his broomstick.
"Right, my fault. I should have let the Bludger hit me. That way, as I went crashing down to the ground, the Quaffle would have bounced off my prone body and been deflected," replied Ron. Harry grinned.
"Sorry. I just really want-"
"To shove this game down Slytherin's throat?"
"Exactly."
"Don't worry about it, Harry. We all hate Slytherin with a fiery vengeance. Well, almost all of us," Ron added, glaring over at Cassandra.
"Don't start, please," Harry begged.
"Fine. If you didn't like her, I'd show her a thing or two."
"I don't think Cassandra's interested in whatever you could have to show her, Ron," Amalia called.
"Yeah, but I'm sure you'd be very interested," Davis said, making no attempt to hide the distaste in his voice. Amalia smiled at him coldly before going to check on the antics of the Bradford twins.
"I do not like Cassandra," Harry insisted.
"Of course not. You don't want to beat Slytherin for the simple purpose of making Malfoy look like a fool on a broomstick, which I might add, he already is."
"Of course, I do. When have I ever passed up an opportunity to show up Malfoy?"
"Never. In fact since Cassandra's shown up, you've gone looking for opportunities to show up Malfoy."
"I have not."
"Come on, Harry. You actually try in Divination, which she shows a profound interest in? That's not your usual style."
"Maybe I'm tired of getting mediocre marks in Divination."
"Maybe you're full of shit," Ron said with a grin.
"What do you want Ron?" Harry sighed.
"I want you to admit to me that you like Cassandra."
"I'll admit it when you will!"
"Ugh! I'm hurt that you would even suggest such a thing."
"Are you really?"
"Yes, hold on a moment, I think I'm going to be sick from that suggestion," Ron said, pretending to gag.
"She's not as bad as all that."
"Anyone who likes Malfoy and gets along tolerably with Snape is as bad as all that. Face it, Harry. She's just an evil creature full of dark, twisted secrets and desires that only Malfoy and Snape would understand. The only plus side is that she's not very talkative and looks killer even in school robes," Ron said with an evil grin. "Actually, it might be good for you, Harry. Maybe you won't be such a goody-good."
"I am not even liking you, Ron. Just go away," Harry said with a smile.
"I'm only trying to be helpful," he said.
"I don't need your help," Harry assured him.
"You sure? I could talk to her."
"No! That's quite alright."
"Alright. If you're sure..."
"Positive."
Harry looked at the sky. It was afire with reds and oranges. It would be dark soon. "Okay, everyone, let's call it a day," he yelled, cupping his hands so that his team could hear him. One by on e, the team descended and walked off the field, brooms in hand. Eventually only two people remained, Harry and Cassandra. He flew over to her. She sat motionless on her broomstick, watching the sun sink slowly beneath the horizon.
"Ready?" he asked her. She turned her head quickly.
"Oh, Harry! I didn't even see you there. I guess I was lost for a while," she replied, turning to gaze at the sunset.
"You ready to land?" he asked. Cassandra looked nervous.
"You mean as in get down?" she asked. He nodded. She shook her head. "I don't want to get down."
"Scared?" Harry inquired grinning.
"Yes!"
"Come on. I'll tell you how, " he coaxed.
"Nuh-uh."
"You can't hang up here all night!"
"Wanna bet?"
"Fine, you leave me no choice," Harry sighed, moving in closer. His eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Harry- Harry, what are you going to do?" she asked, not liking the look on his face one little bit. He smiled at her and put one arm around her waist.
"Down," he whispered. Her broomstick fell to the ground immediately. He laughed softly, enjoying for a moment her clinging to him with terror, as if he'd let something happen to her. He repositioned her in front of him on his Firebolt.
Her death-grip on his neck relaxed. "Now," he said," I'm going to show you some real flying if it kills us both." Cassandra turned deathly pale.
"Oh, no! NO! Harry-!" she protested before he started doing corkscrews up and down the Quidditch field. Cassandra tightened her grasp, one arm over his shoulder, the other around his waist. Her face was buried in his shoulder. Harry was enjoying himself immensely. He loved to feel the wind whip through his hair as he defied gravity over and over again. That he could feel Cassandra's lips on his neck and she was holding him very tightly was an added bonus. He slowed down and flew parallel to the ground for a bit. Cassandra raised her head and loosened her grip. Harry smiled softly before going into a perfectly executed Wronski Feint.
"You bloody bastard!" Cassandra laughed, hitting Harry with her fist at each word. He laughed as they entered the Great Hall. He grabbed her wrists gently. Her hair was windswept, her cheeks were ruddy and she was pissed- in a harmless sort of way. She was still struggling to free her wrists when they sat down for dinner. He let go, still laughing. She threw a dinner roll at him. It bounced off his forehead. She picked it up and threw it at him again.
"Never- do- that- again!" she commanded, bouncing the roll off his forehead in between words for effect.
"Okay! Stop!" Harry said, putting up his arms.
"No," she said, throwing it once more. "You were having too much fun with that, you- you sadist!"
"Not a word I want to hear while I'm eating, thank you," remarked Ron.
"I am not!" Harry protested.
"You are! You were enjoying that too much! Evil!" she cried, sticking her tongue out.
"Now there's the pot calling the kettle black," Ron muttered.
"She's not evil. You can't be evil and ticklish."
"I am not-" Cassandra broke into a fit of giggles when Harry tickled her. Hermione got up and left.
"What's wrong with her?" Harry asked.
"I'll tell you as soon as you get rid of that trollop over there," Ron replied, nodding towards Cassandra. She smiled.
"I knew that you don't like me, but it's okay because you are without a doubt the biggest prick I've ever met," she said calmly.
"That's not true. In fact, I still mean what I said on the first day. You're gorgeous and I like you just fine- until you open your mouth and generally it's downhill from there- for me at least. I have no idea what you opening your mouth may mean to other-" he broke off as Cassandra smacked him hard across the face. Harry cracked up because for a split second both of Ron's eyes were in the same socket. But Cassandra wasn't finished. She took the time to dump a pitcher of pumpkin juice all over Ron before going to sit by Malfoy at the Slytherin table.
"Well, that worked," Ron sighed, wiping his face with a napkin. "Thank God, she got my drift. I didn't want to have to say that-"
"Why did you?"
"I had to get rid of her. Now I can deny having implied anything besides the fact that I can't stand her. Plus, now you're off the hook."
"What's this about Hermione?" Harry inquired. Ron looked around.
"Not here," he said. "Come with me. I have to get cleaned up anyway." Harry followed Ron to the nearest bathroom.
"Yuck!" Ron said, looking at himself in the mirror. "That bitch!" he exclaimed. Harry laughed again. "I wish Hermione was here. She'd know the perfect spell. At any rate, about Hermione."
"Yes?"
"She likes you, Harry."
"Did she tell you that?"
"No, but it's rather obvious," he responded. Harry was silent. "You know," Ron continued, "I should be thanking Cassandra."
"Why's that?"
"I like Hermione. She likes you. You like Cassandra. You're so busy with her, you've been ignoring Hermione, which is good for me because if you were paying her any attention, I'd have a snowball's chance in Hell."
"Have I really been ignoring Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron nodded. "Damn it! I have to find her!" he said, rushing out of the bathroom.
"I really should keep my mouth shut," Ron muttered to himself.
Harry found Hermione in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione saw him and got up to leave. "Hermione, don't leave," he requested.
"Did Ron put you up to this?" she demanded.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because I find it hard to believe that you would tear yourself away from Cassandra to come after me."
"Hermione, honestly-"
"You like her, don't you?" she asked. Harry was caught off guard. Was he that transparent? Did the entire world know? "Harry Potter, you are the world's biggest fool," she sighed.
"What?"
"Ever since you came to the Burrow all you've talked about is Cassandra. Since we've gotten to Hogwarts, you've been helping her, defending her, chasing after her. It's pathetic!"
"Why?" he asked, his voice low.
"She's got you wrapped around her finger while she's chasing after Malfoy and every other guy except Ron and Neville, and that's because Ron won't have any of it and Neville is -well, Neville."
"She is not!" he replied in the same tone. He was aware that he had just proven Hermione's point exactly. Her laugh was scornful. "Cassandra's just-"
"Friendly?" offered Hermione. Harry nodded. "Please, no one has any business being that friendly."
"Hermione please, don't do this to me. I can't have both you and Ron against me," he begged. His warm green eyes pleaded with her and his countenance looked genuinely distressed. She closed her eyes tightly and nodded. He hugged her. "Thank you, " he whispered. She nodded. He released her and turned to leave.
"I was wrong," she called.
"How so?" he asked.
"You're not the world's biggest fool," she replied. He smiled and went through the portrait hole. "I am," she whispered.