Cassi cried. She felt weak because of it, but the tears wouldn't stop. She had never felt so much hurt before, not caused by a Gryffindor at least. They had been walking to the temporary arena for the first challenge, and George finally stopped her.

"Love, please stop crying," he whispered to her as he held her close to him. She knew that he had signaled to everyone else to go on without them, "I'm so sorry he hurt you like that baby."

"Maybe he's right," Cassi said and George pulled away sharply to look at her, "Maybe we shouldn't be together."

"Why? Because my stupid, angry, younger brother said so? Nobody else has much objection to us," George growled out, but he continued to hold onto her and tightened his arms around her, "I like you way too much to care about what other people think about us Cassiopeia."

"More and more people are going to realize we're going out, and then we're going to have more and more criticism. I don't know if I can take that. I can handle some people, but not the entire school," Cassi said weakly, her self-preservation side coming out. George furrowed his eyebrows together in anger and confusion.

"Are you breaking up with me," he asked, and Cassi shook her head.

"I don't know, I just feel like we need to rethink this. I like you a lot George, I have for a very long time. But I don't know if I'm strong enough for so much hate and anger," she replied. George pulled full away, looking into her eyes as he kept her arms in his grip.

"I'll be strong enough for both of us," he told her, and she shook her head as more tears fell down her face. George smiled, "I will. I will be strong enough for both of us. I've been dreaming about you for too long to finally have you, and now, to let you go because of what other people think? I don't care, never have, never will, no matter who you are or what house you're in. I'm going to stick with you. Will you stick with me?" He looked into her violet eyes for what seemed like forever. He wished he could just look into those purple pools forever. She looked so sad and lost, but finally she nodded in agreement.

"I'll stick with you as long as you want me too," she told him, a weak and watery smile now on her face. George grinned back as he pulled her into another hug, then kissed her soundly on the lips.

"Now that we have averted another crisis regarding our relationship, let's go watch people get nearly killed and have fun doing it. And I'll definitely be having a few words with Ron about how he treated you later," George said and Cassi shook her head vigorously this time.

"No George. I don't want you to split the family over this. It's not that big of a deal," Cassi said, and soon they were waiting in line to go into the arena that was normally the Quidditch pitch.

"No, the way he treated you was wrong and disrespectful. He needs to learn how to treat people right, no matter who I'm dating. He's tactless, and he's too old for it now," George affirmed, and Cassi conceded with a sigh. They found Ginny, Fred, and Lee all sitting together, saving a spot for the couple.

"I'm sorry about Ron Cassi," Fred said, anger and sadness on his face, "He can be rather thick sometimes, and we have no clue where it comes from. Certainly didn't come from our Mum or Dad." Fred shrugged, causing Cassi to laugh. All of the tension seemed to leave the group when they heard her laugh, and you could see them all physically relax. Soon it was time for the champions to come out. First it was Fleur Delacour, and although it was fascinating, the audience held no excitement at the sight of her defeating the dragon and getting the golden egg. Next it was Victor Krum, and the crowd perked up, cheering him on, but Cassi could feel the anticipation of the Hogwarts champions. Soon Cedric Diggory was out and everyone knew who was going to be next. You could feel the tension in the air as Cedric's time came to an end, catching the golden egg.

The air was stiff and unmoving as Harry Potter came out. He immediately ran for the egg, and Cassi could have thumped him on the head for such an obvious move. The dragon immediately came after him, breathing fire, and thrashing it's thorned tail. Cassi clutched onto George as she watched the youngest champion struggle to get his head in the right direction. The stands were silent as they watched him run, trying to stay one step ahead of the fire. Cassi watched him realize something and heard him call, "Accio Firebolt!" Cassi gave a little fist pump as the broom flew to him.

Playing to your strengths, well done Potter, she thought as he flew around the arena, getting close to the egg. The dragon took flight as well, and the whole crowd gasped in shock as it broke away from its chains. She gritted her teeth as she forced herself to watch the Boy-Who-Lived struggle and fly off to the castle. She saw the worried faces of all the spectators, the one that popped out most to her was Ron's. He looked worried, sad, and guilty all at once as he realized just how much danger there was into being a champion. Cassi felt a niggling in the back of her mind. Someone placed Potter's name in the Goblet, the only question is was who was it?

It had been about 15 minutes and the crowd began to get antsy. Not out of boredom, but out of fear. The fear that the Boy-Who-Lived was defeated by a dragon. But just as the fear was beginning was really about to settle in the pit of all of their stomachs, Harry whizzed by, grabbing the golden egg, a relieved and happy smile on his face. The entire stadium went into cheerful uproar, including the Slytherins, at the sight of him making out alive. The tension was over, until the next challenge.

~0~0~0~

"That was bloody brilliant Harry," Fred and George said as they greeted the young man. He had a sheepish look on his face as he smiled at the group, graciously taking the high-fives and hugs of triumph. Cassi stayed on the side-lines, a smile on her face as she watched Harry Potter's Gryffindor Hero's Welcome. She was invisible for the moment, just the way she liked it. But her invisibility was shattered when George walked over with Harry Potter, a huge smile on his face.

"Harry, I would like you to meet my new girlfriend, Cassiopeia," George introduced, and Cassi looked between him and Harry with a startled expression. She quickly hid her aggravation with a smile.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," she said as she smiled gently at him. She didn't want to scare him off.

"Nice to meet you as well," he said as he shook her hand, "Are you in Gryffindor? I've never seen you around." Cassi swallowed loudly as she looked at George, panicked. George smiled again, giving her an encouraging head nod to her. She breathed in as she said, "No, I'm in Slytherin." Harry looked taken a back, but then nodded thoughtfully.

"Oh, ok then. You must be ok if George is dating you," Harry said, then gave her a smile. She sighed out of relief as George gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You have the approval of Harry Potter," George said loudly, loud enough for everyone to hear, "It's official now that we have the ok from Scarhead." Cassi hit him on the chest as the group laughed. She felt at peace with the Gryffindors. There was an ease about them that the Slytherins didn't possess, and she felt cheerful and happy. It felt like a constant party with them; a party that can be full of drama and disappointment, but a party none the less. Soon she began to feel weary, and checked the time to realize that she had ten minutes to be back at her dorm before curfew hit.

She stood up from her seat on George's lap and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips, "I have to go. It's almost curfew." She began to pull away, but George quickly grasped her hands, a puppy-eyed look on his face.

"Please stay, nobody would know," he pleaded causing Cassi to laugh.

"Please, the whole school would know before our heads even hit the pillow," Cassi told him, having him laugh along with her.

"True, but at least we'll be together? And besides, you only have four minutes left anyway, so you might as well stay," he gave her a mischievous grin as she checked her watch. She sighed when she realized he was right.

"Fine, but only for tonight," she told him and he kissed her in excitement and happiness, she pulled away from him, a wide smile on her face, "That was a very sneaky move you pulled Weasley."

"You could almost say Slytherin-like," he told her, making her laugh. As they were about to walk up to the George's room Ron came down, and there was instant tension in the air. Cassi could feel it thick around them, and her heart rate increased as the two brothers glared at each other. Ron looked at her, and his glare became full of hate.

"What is she doing here," he spat out, and Cassi couldn't help but flinch at the vehemence in his tone.

"She's staying here," George replied as he moved to be in front of Cassi, "Not like it's any of your business." At that second Harry stepped and grabbed Ron's forearm, trying to move him from the stairwell. But Ron didn't budge an inch.

"Come on Ron," Harry said gently, and Cassi tried to remember to breath as the younger Weasley man and her stared at one another, "Everyone is tired, and we have had a long day. It's not the time to have this discussion. George stepped forward, his hand gripping around his wand tightly. Cassi saw this and gently held the fisted hand. He looked at her, anger and questioning in his eyes, and she shook her head no.

"Potter is right George. Now is not the time to do this," she said as gently as she could, and Ron moved down, closer to them.

"Stay out of this snake," Ron growled out, and George turned back to him, but the wand was put away.

"Don't speak to her that way. You have no control over her, or my relationship with her. So you stay out of it Ron," George told him. Then all of a sudden Ron lunged, and he almost hit her if it weren't for the fact that George, Fred, and Harry kept him back. Cassi looked around, panic on her face as the boys rolled around the floor. She heard a sharp cry coming from one of the twins, and blood began to poor out of George's nose. She knew that everyone was watching, so trying to keep the attention away from them was a non-issue. She drew her body up and took a deep breath, and closed her eyes as she balled her fists.

"ENOUGH," she yelled at the top of her lungs, and all movement immediately stopped, the four boys all look up at her and she began to feel her anger build beneath her skin, "You are acting ridiculous. Harry and Fred were just trying to help, but you George and Ron," she looked at them as the boys stood up and she could see the bruises and blood form on their bodies. George looked sheepish while Ron looked pouty, "Making a huge scene over nothing. I don't want to split this family apart. I care a lot about George, and George cares a lot about you Ron."

"So break up with him if you really care about him so much," Ron said, and Cassi felt her anger simmer down as she looked at Ron with a questioningly look on her face.

"Why do you hate me Ron," she asked, but he was silent for a second as he thought about it.

"Because you are in one of the darkest houses. Slytherin has pushed more dark wizards than any other house, even You-Know-Who was in it," Ron told her, and even though George glared at him, but stayed silent. Cassi nodded in understanding.

"Yes, Slytherin is a very dark place, and in all honesty I don't like it. I was expecting to be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, like my mother, but I guess the Sorting Hat had seen something that made it decide to put me in that house. But as much as I don't like it, now I can't see myself anywhere else. I understand where you are coming from I really do," she began to move forward as fire burned in her eyes, the fury was instantly back, "But you don't know me. And I don't appreciate the fact that you make assumptions about me and my people. I don't have to break up with George to make you happy, and as much as I don't like the fact that you two are fighting over something that really is such a miniscule thing, I'm not going to ruin my happiness for you. And maybe that's selfish, but the fact that you asked is selfish as well," by this point she was an inch away from him and she began to step away from him and sighed, "You seem like a nice person Ron Weasley. And I have no issues with you, and I would like to at least be civil to each other. But what you have said has hurt me in my heart, and I would walk away if I hadn't made a promise to myself and to George to not give up. So, can we start over, leave all prejudice behind, for the sake of George?" She looked expectantly at him as she stuck out her hand, he looked at it then at her and sneered.

"I don't think so," he told her, and just as George was about to lunge for him again she turned around a placed a gentle hand on his chest and shook her head.

"No more fighting please," she whispered to him as she felt everyone's eyes on them, she hated getting attention, "I can't have everyone like me, and there is no point in fighting over it. I've said what I've had to say, and now I just want to go to sleep. So please, no more fighting." George looked at her for a long moment, then he grabbed her hand and nodded.

"Ok love," he told her then looked back at Ron, "You don't have to like her Ron, but you should show her respect." With that the couple walked up the stairs, leaving the others to glare at Ron. He limped over to one of the chairs, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Fred following him.

"You're being unfair Ron. Why can't you just be happy for him," Fred asked, and they could hear the strain of Fred trying to not sound angry. All Hermione could do was sigh.

"You two get whatever you want. Girls, people who like you, mum doesn't treat you like a baby. Now he has a Slytherin girlfriend, and everyone is fine with it. I just don't get it," Ron admitted, and Harry ran a hand through his hair as Fred ran a hand over his neck.

"It's because we know that George wouldn't date her if she was a bad person. She is nice, and quiet, and really smart. There really isn't any reason to not be ok with it. George is a smart guy Ron, he wouldn't make a bad decision. Please try to be reasonable," Ginny said and Ron stayed silent. She stood up and stood in front of him, "Ron Weasley you look at me this instant!" He looked at her and glared, but there was some fear in his eyes. She placed her hands on her hips, "You are acting like a spoiled brat, and that's why mum treats you like one. Grow up. George has a girlfriend, she is a Slytherin. If they go through something we'll be here for him, but right now he seems happy, and you shouldn't ruin it just because you can't handle the fact that you're too chicken to ask any girl you like out. You need to get over it and be there for him when he needs you. First you were unfairly angry at Harry, and now you are unfairly being mean to her. Now tomorrow morning you are going to apologize to her and try to be nice. And then watch her to see how she treats George. If you don't, I'll tell mum."

The small group watched him in silence till he gave a small nod. He stood up and limped up the stairs to his room and slammed the door behind him. Ginny plopped down in the seat next to Fred and sighed, "He'll come around. He's just being stubborn now."

"I really wish he would stop doing that. Now I have to listen to George bitch about it tomorrow after Cassi leaves. I really think she likes him a lot. She acted a lot like a Gryffindor when she was telling him off. Do you think the Sorting Hat made a mistake?" Fred asked and Hermione shook her head.

"The Sorting Hat has never made a mistake," she told them matter-of-factly and Ginny straightened up from her position.

"But people can change. They develop and grow into different people than who they were when they were 11. Maybe she belonged in Slytherin when she was that age, but all she's shown is courage. But who knows. The only thing she could ask would be the Sorting Hat, and that's locked away in Dumbledore's office. Not much if anything to do about it," Ginny said, and Fred was amazed at how adult she sounded. He began to fear that what had happened two years ago had ruined her, but then he realized that she had changed, but she changed for the better.

In the boy's dorm room Cassi was lying beside George, in a pair of his pants and shirt he had lent her. They were looking at each other, her hand on his chest, his gently rubbing her cheek.

"I'm sorry my brother has been acting like such a prat towards you. I really don't know what his problem is," George apologized to her and she gave him a small smile.

"It's ok George. I understand why he's acting the way he is," she told him and he gave her a confused look so she elaborated, "Think about it. You and your family have always associated Slytherins were bad. Everything he was taught has just been shattered. I don't blame him, and I know he'll come around at some point. Maybe a bit begrudgingly at first, but he will."

"How are you so kind yet in Slytherin," George asked and she chuckled, "I would expect you to be in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor or something, but you aren't."

"I can be mean when I want to," she told him, her smile becoming a smirk, "And I can be quite sneaky when I want to be as well. Not all Slytherins have an end to their means. They don't all plot against the Gryffindors, or bully the Hufflepuffs. Sometimes I do think that the Sorting Hat made a mistake, but I'm almost done with school, so not much I can do about it now."

"I'm glad I was able to figure out your name," George sighed out and she cuddled closer to him, her breathing becoming more even. He wrapped his arms around her and he closed his eyes. His heart felt warm and at peace. But Cassi left her eyes open. Something was going to happen, something that was going to bring them apart; she could feel it in the pit of her stomach. And as she closed her eyes and fell asleep she kept trying to tell herself that she was overreacting.

A/N: I know, it's short, but it seemed like a good place to cut it off. This story it gonna be pretty short because it's not from Harry's point of view, so not a lot of stuff is going on. But we will see. Will try to have the next chapter up tomorrow.