"Well hello gorgeous," George said from behind Cassi and Rose the next morning. Cassi had a huge smile on her face as George moved forward to grab her hand. Rose raised her eyebrows at her then started pointing to the opposite direction.
"I have to go work on something," Rose said to Cassi, who furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at the way Rose was acting, then Cassi realized what she was doing. Cassi nodded, a smirk on her face as Rose ran off in the opposite direction. George grinned as he walked beside her.
"The first challenge is tomorrow," Cassi said casually, and she felt a difference with him, but couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Yes, I'm excited but nervous at the same time," George admitted, and Cassi looked at him, and one name popped inside her head, Harry Potter.
"You are worried about Potter," she said as a statement, and George nodded.
"He's practically blood, and it scared me to no end when I heard his name called. I'm going to act like I'm totally fine with it, but on the inside I'm scared for him."
"Well," Cassi began and sighed, "If you ever want to talk, I'm here for you. On another note, you aren't ashamed to be with me?" George looked at her with a hurt and shocked expression on his face.
"Ashamed," he asked, then saw a small crevice in the hall that they could hide in. He pulled her to it and pressed her against the wall, his voice low and full of anger, "Why would I be ashamed of you Cassiopeia?"
"Because I am a Slytherin," she hissed out, accentuating her point, "And you are a Gryffindor. We are the two very extremes of Hogwarts. Slytherins are out casts."
"Only because you make yourselves to be that way," George growled out and Cassi's mouth dropped open in shock and anger, "If so many of you didn't act like you were better than everyone else, it would be different." Suddenly George's anger deflated and he stared into her violet eyes, "I am not ashamed of you Cassi. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin, I would still care about you because I care about who you are, and not the house you are in. Only a shallow person would think so obtusely."
"Like your brother," she cocked an eyebrow at him and he chuckled, "Yes, my brother would be one of those very obtuse people." He bent his head down and gave her a gentle kiss. Cassi's arms went around his neck as she returned it the same gentility. He moved away and they rested their foreheads against each other's.
"Was that our first fight," George asked, slight amusement to his voice. Cassi shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. George gave her a quick kiss and pulled her out of the small alcove they had hidden in. Cassi could feel people's eyes on them as they walked to the Great Hall, hand in hand. George could feel her uneasiness at being the center of attention, but gripped her hand tighter to make sure that she didn't run away. Cassi looked at the hands and shook her head again when she realized what he was doing, but didn't try to pull away. George was grinning as they made it to the front entrance of the Great Hall, everyone stared at them. Cassi began to feel her cheeks heat up as everyone's eyes looked at them. Most with curiosity, some with hatred and disgust. Cassi saw Draco sneering and lifted her head high. Draco stood up and swaggered over to them, anger in his eyes.
"So Cassi," he began, drawing more attention to them, "You have betrayed us for a low down Weasley." It wasn't a question, it was a statement, one that angered Cassi beyond belief. Draco could see the anger in her eyes and shrunk away a little bit, but otherwise stayed where he was.
"You know how much I hate public discussions when it's supposed to be a private matter," she said to him. Draco's sneer became more prominent, and George struggled to not curse it off his face.
"Maybe you should have thought about that before you were seen with a Weasley," Draco said, pulling his full height up, towering over her. Cassi looked up and felt George move forward, but she placed her hand on his chest to stop him. George hated that she wouldn't let him help her, but he stood there, glaring at Draco, feeling everyone's eyes on them even more. He felt a presence behind him and felt his tense shoulders relax a little because his brothers and friends were behind him. Draco's cronies started moving behind him, slight trepidation in their eyes.
"You act like there is something to betray Draco, when there isn't," Cassi said finally, sighing, sounding tired and older than her years.
"Because there is," Draco practically yelled, and Cassi shook her head as he continued, "It's either us or-"
"Them," she asked, cutting him off, "There is no us or them. There never was an us or them. Everybody is the same. We all bleed red Draco. So stop acting like anybody who wasn't a product of incest isn't."
"Incest," Draco voice roared at the word, and Cassi's came out in a harsh whisper, trying to make sure that not everyone heard the conversation.
"Yes, incest. There is no other word for when cousins marry cousins and have children Draco. Stop acting like a little boy and grow up. You aren't going to get your way in this, and throwing a little temper tantrum isn't going to do anything. So get over it."
"I'm going to tell my father about this," Draco growled out and Cassi moved closer. So close that their noses were almost touching. She could see the fear in his eyes, but didn't back away.
"And tell him what? That a girl that he doesn't even know decided to date a Weasley? And what is he going to do? He has no control here. He has barely any control outside of here in the Ministry. The Malfoy's are at the top no more. So do not act like you can control me or my family. Because yours has more skeleton's in the closet that the Ministry would like to hear than mine. This conversation is over," Cassi turned around and walked out of the Great Hall. George hurried after her, and Fred followed him. Cassi fought back the tears that were trying to be free as she ran down to the courtyard, and out to the lake. George caught up with her quickly and grabbed her and pulled her free. Then the dams broke free.
"I feel sorry for that little boy in there," Cassi said as George pulled her down to the grass and tried to soothe her.
"Why. He isn't worth your sympathy Cassiopeia," George said as he ran his fingers through her hair, and he almost gasped at the emotion in her violet eyes.
"All he has ever known is hate, he knows no other way to be. He deserves sympathy George," Cassi said and looked up at some shuffling in the grass, and found a clone of George. She shot up and fixed her uniform and wiped her eyes as a bright smile lit her face.
"You must be the famous Fred," she said and George scowled at his brother for interrupting. Fred shrugged as he walked over to the couple, noticing his twin's scowl.
"And you must be the famous violet eyes. It's nice to put a face the eyes," Fred said and gave her a charming smile. Cassi giggled and George's scowl deepened as he stood up as well.
"What are you doing here Fred," George asked, and Fred pouted his lips out as he stepped to his twin.
"Is that anyway to talk to your twin George," Fred began, and Cassi watched the exchange, "The man that shared the same womb with you, grew up with you, played pranks with you, helped you get gorgeous girls," Fred finished and wiggled his eyebrows at Cassi, causing her to giggle. But she stopped when she noticed the true scowl on George's face. Fred followed her eyes and stopped laughing as he stepped away from his brother, allowing Cassi to step in and grab his hand. George tried to pull his hand out of hers, but she held on tight. She kissed his knuckles, and his scowl started to melt away, but there was still hurt in his eyes. She went on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"There is no point in being jealous. I've only had eyes for one Weasley since the sorting," George's eyes widened and Cassi smirked at his reaction. George smiled at her and kissed her cheek. Fred smiled as well, happy that the coupled was able to make up so quickly.
"We are hanging out together during the challenge," Fred asked, more of Cassi than his brother. Cassi could sense the challenge and she smiled brightly at him.
"Of course. I would love it if we could get to know each other Fred. And Ron and Ginny," she said sincerely, and Fred smiled back at her and nodded. She checked her watch and her eyes bugged out at the time.
"I have ten minutes to get to potions, Snape is going to kill me," she groaned out and rubbed at her eyes. She ignored the confused faces as she gathered her stuff and began to walk back to the castle.
"But Snape loves Slytherins," Fred told her as if she hadn't gotten the memo. Cassi snorted.
"That's a laugh! Snape hates everyone, including us Slytherins, he just hates the Gryffindors more, so he gives us special treatment. But when he just has us for his class he treats us with very harsh annoyance and indifference. I don't know what can turn a man so cold, but there you have it," Cassi said, slightly out of breath as she reached the castle. She gave a swift kiss to George's lips, "I might not see you for the rest of the day. Rose is gonna have us go dress shopping and I'm going to have a lot of homework."
"I'll meet you at the Great Hall tomorrow morning then," George said and Cassi smirked.
"It's a date then," she gave him another kiss a wave to Fred then ran off to Potions. George had a dopey smile on his face and Fred looked between his twin and the disappearing girl.
"Why, she already has you wrapped around her little finger. I'm surprised you can be tamed in such a way brother," Fred said and George broke out of his daze. He scowled and punched Fred in the arm.
"Just wait Fred, you are going to meet a girl that you won't know what to do with because you're so crazy about her," George smirked evilly as Fred's eyes bugged out in fear of such a girl then hit hi lightly on the shoulder, "Come on, we have to go to transfiguration. Hey! Maybe we'll see Angelina on the way!" Fred's face flushed the famous Weasley red and George grinned at him. Fred stopped talking and they walked off to their transfiguration with their favorite teacher.
~0~0~0~
"I don't know Rose," Cassi said, her face showing her distaste for the dress she had on. It was white and had ugly puffy sleeves with a huge skirt and ugly white material roses all over. Thanks to her father's connections to some very exclusive shops in France and Spain, he was able to send some representatives to Hogwarts who had thousands of dresses brought with them. Dumbledore allowed for them to have an abandoned classroom to use until they picked a dress.
"I think you are right, it doesn't flatter you at all," Rose agreed, scrunching up her face at the ugliness and went back to the racks to look for a few more. Rose had already picked her dress. A nice bright red dress that had figure-hugging ruching that met to her left side where a gold firework like broche lay with an asymmetrical sleeve on her right that tapered down to her knuckles. There were gold strips of material that were hidden within the folds of the skirt that was pleated. The dress looked gorgeous on Rose, and it made Cassi a bit envious that Rose could look so good in red with her pale skin.
"Well, you are going to have to wear green, purple, or navy blue. I say either purple or green because of your eyes," Rose said and brought over three dresses. One was a deep royal purple that would seem to matchy-matchy with her eyes, and two emerald green that would go beautifully with her skin. Cassi's eyes immediately locked on to one of the emerald green dresses. It was simple. In the front it was a simple V-neck with straps that dipped low to the back. It was cinched in at the waist, and the material wrapped from the back to the front of the skirt. The skirt was long and flowy and had a small train. The V in the front dipped a bit low, but she was instantly in love. Rose had noticed her instant infatuation with the dress and placed it in her hand.
"Hurry up and go try it on," Rose told her and gently pushed Cassi into the makeshift dressing room. It took her a minute to get out of the atrocious white gown, but was able to quickly slip on the green one. She stared at herself for a minute. She knew that that was her dress. She stepped out from behind the curtain, and lifted her eyes when she heard Rose gasp.
"You look," Rose searched for the proper word for a second and Cassi continued to look at her, "Beautiful. Definitely get that one. George is going to slobber everywhere when he gets a look at you in this." Cassi beamed at her, then turned to the full body mirror and sighed. She began imagining herself with George at the ball, dancing, then running off to a darkened hallway, giving each other secret kisses. Then her thought became decidedly more heated and she forced herself stop. Rose noticed the flush that was on Cassi's face, but ignored it and moved her back in the dressing room to change. Her father had already covered their purchases and whatever else they would need later and Cassi went to sleep peacefully, with red hair on her mind.
~0~0~0~
Cassi felt rested with a clear mind the next morning. She woke up to grey clouds and was happy that she could wear jeans and a thicker jacket for the challenge, instead of the skirt and cloak of the usual school day. She silently got up, careful to not disturb her roommates and went up to the bathroom to take a shower and begin preparing herself for the emotional day ahead.
When she was done getting ready, her hair brushed, teeth washed, clothes on, people were barely getting up. She decided to walk around the castle for a few minutes till it was suitable to go to breakfast. The common room was, thankfully, empty when she walked in, noticing Draco making out with Parkinson on the couch. She lifted an eyebrow at the disturbing couple and leaned against a wall, waiting for the most opportune time to interrupt. When she began to hear moaning, she believed that it was a good time to stop them.
"Isn't it a tad too early to be doing all of that Draco," she asked, causing Parkinson to squeal and push away from him. Draco growled and glared at her. Cassi didn't glare back, but continued a steady gaze till he looked away. Parkinson was glaring too and her high pitched voice cut through the tense quiet.
"How dare you speak to my Drakey that way," Parkinson said, and Cassi felt herself beginning to snort at the name, but stopped herself by clearing her throat. Parkinson noticed her amused expression and grew angrier. When she was getting ready to speak again but Cassi cut her off.
"Quiet Parkinson, before someone hears you," Cassi told her, annoyance clear on her face and in her voice. Draco continued to glare at her, but didn't defend the stuttering girl and Cassi sneered at her, "Now leave before I make you." Parkinson scrambled away, muttering something about cursing her and her family, but Cassi decided to keep her gaze on Draco.
"What in Merlin are you thinking Draco," she whispered angrily, "When someone can see you? At least have the decency to do it in a hidden place. Are you trying to humiliate yourself, and her?"
"Is that what you and Weasley do," Draco asked, sneering at her, "Kiss each other, touch each other in hidden places?" Cassi was mildly shocked at the question, but decided to be honest.
"Yes, we do. Better than shaming myself in public like this," she gestured to him and the common room.
"You shame yourself by being with him," Draco replied, and his glare had a small hint of hurt. A realization hit Cassi.
"You are mad at me, because I chose him over you," she sighed out and sat next to him, Draco looked away and Cassi continued to speak, "Are you trying to get back at me somehow?"
"I want to hurt you," he admitted as he continued to hide from her gaze.
"Why," she choked out, feeling the beginning of the tears welling in her eyes.
"You abandoned me for a Weasley. You are like a sister to me, and you chose him over me," Draco said angrily, sounding more like a little boy than an almost grown man. Cassi sighed again.
"Oh Draco," she shook her head, "I'm not abandoning you. I'm still here, but you are starting to act more and more like a like a spoiled brat every day. I'm not always going to be here," she sighed again, looking at a large painting of a snake above the fireplace, "You know, my father has been trying to find a way to get you out of the mansion." She could feel Draco look at her, and she was sure that he was shocked, but she continued to stare at the painting, "We are afraid that you are going to do something drastic to prove yourself to your father."
"I wouldn't-," Draco began, but Cassi cut him off.
"You would, and you already have, and it will only get worse as you get older, the more powerful you get. You are a very brave person Draco, and you are loved. But you let past hate and the fact that you want to get your father's acceptance cloud your judgment." Cassi stood up and looked at him, holding her hand out to him, "Come on, let's take a walk." Draco stared at her hand, and she knew that he could understand her underlying meaning, and hoped he would take her hand. If he took her hand that meant he wanted to move away from the hate, but he looked away from her, stood up, and walked away. He was already taller than her, and she knew that he would get taller. And more bitter. She looked sadly at his retreating back, then, deciding to not let the incident ruin her day, she lifted her head and walked out of the dungeons to go meet the twins in the Great Hall.
~0~0~0~
Her fake smile turned into a real one when she saw the twins laughing and smiling with their fellow Gryffindors, eating breakfast. She noticed that Harry Potter wasn't among the group, and saw the worried brows of his friends, and deduced that he had already left to get ready. George saw her and waved her over, a grin on his face, and she tried to keep her pace slow as nervousness began to creep up at the back of her neck from having to meet more Gryffindors. And more family members.
"Hello gorgeous," George said as he gave her a light kiss on the lips as a greeting. She felt the stares on them. George then began to introduce her to everyone, "Cassi, this is Ron and Ginny," he pointed to a tall, bright red haired, gangly boy that sat between a girl with brown with brown eyes, and a girl with the deeper, famous Weasley re hair. The brunette smiled kindly at her, Ron gave her a suspicious look, and Ginny just looked curious.
"That's Hermione, and that's Lee," George said as he pointed to the brunette and a dark-skinned boy with a happy smile and dreads. She nodded to all of them, trying to not let the nervousness overcome her.
"Come and sit with us and eat, you look a tad pale," George commented and pulled her to the other side of the table. Ron's suspicious look became a full-on glare as she sat down between George and Fred.
"I don't think that's a good idea George," Ron grumbled out and the group looked at him, slightly confused. Hermione was the one that spoke next.
"What isn't a good idea Ronald," she asked, a bit of incredulity to her voice.
"Her sitting with us isn't a good idea," he answered, and Cassi stared at him. She felt George stiffen next to her.
"And why is that, dear brother of mine," George asked, anger and sarcasm think in his voice.
"Because she's a Slytherin. And I don't think you should be with her either," he told the couple, hate in his eyes. Cassi looked down, and a single tear fell. Her hands were tightly clasped in her lap as the group went into and uproar. Ginny and Hermione both spoke to him, fury in their eyes as he sat there and stewed. Both Fred and George were to their feet, their faces red with anger as well. Lee tried to calm everyone down, but Cassi noticed that there was anger on his face as well. She placed her palms on the table and stood up slowly, her hair a thin veil to her crying. Everyone stopped and watched her stand.
"Cassi, you don't have to leave, don't listen to him. He can leave if he feels that strongly about it," George said, a pleading look in his eyes. Cassi shook her head.
"No, it's fine, I have to go do something, I'll see you later though," She told him, continuing to keep her head down to make sure no one saw the tears. George must have seen though, because his eyes widened, then the dark blue became dark with anger. She stepped out from the table and began to walk away when she felt him grab her elbow.
"I'll come with you," he told her and her head came up to look at him sharply. Her eyes were wide and he gave her a watery smile as his hands came up and wiped her tears away.
"Are you sure," she whispered out and he nodded as he grabbed her hand. He looked at Ron, anger quickly returning to his face.
"We aren't done Ron. We are talking about this later," George growled and walked out with Cassi. Fred and Lee stepped from the table as well, following George and Cassi out. Ginny shot up as well, and glared at her brother.
"Just because you're mad at Harry doesn't mean you should take it out on your family," she told him and walked quickly to catch up with the others. Hermione glared at him, and finally Ron looked up from his food.
"What," he snapped at her and Hermione continued to glare.
"I hope you are very proud of yourself Ronald," she spat out, "Not only have you pushed Harry away, but you've pushed your family away as well."
"She's a Slytherin," he told her, trying to defend himself, but even to him it was a weak case.
"Not all Slytherins are evil, just like how not all Gryffindors are good. Prejudice is a dangerous thing Ron. And if George is gets serious about her, you might as well kiss your family good bye."
"He hardly knows her," Ron practically yelled.
"And you knew even less. Don't make assumptions about people Ron. Because assumptions are dangerous thing too," Hermione sighed and stood up. Ron's eyes widened as she began to gather he stuff.
"You're leaving too," he asked, his voice sounding pained and pathetic. Hermione looked at him.
"You need to think about what you're doing Ron. You're pushing everyone away because you are mad at Harry for something he has no control over. I'll see you later at the challenge," and with that Hermione walked out. Leaving Ron alone to stew in his own angry thoughts.
A/N: Not even the challenge yet and drama is high! Ron really put his foot in it this time didn't he? That was an unexpected turn of events. About the dress, Roses dress came purely from my own imagination, so I hope you understood the description. And Cassi's dress was the green dress from the movie Atonement with Keira Knightley, if you want to see what it looked like. Next is the first challenge. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! And please review, I have inspiration to write when you guys review. Oh, and I already know how it's going to end! I know, I'm bad. MUAHAHAHAHAHA! IF you haven't already, go read Heir To Apophis Slytherin. It was the inspiration to this one. It's not finished, but maybe if I got more reviews I'll finish it. Love ya! And please review! Thanks!