Forever Young

Hello all! I decide to quickly update before going to rehearsal this morning. I hope everyone had a great week and now the weekend is about to get even better! So this is the Halloween dance chapter and the morning/afternoon afterwards. I really hope you enjoy! And please make sure you check out my pinterest page for her Halloween costume. You don't have to but it will help you picture it better! The links in my bio just click on it then click on the Cassidy Clark board. Enjoy!

Chapter 22: This is Halloween

Cassidy's POV:

After that Hogsmeade weekend Halloween was quickly approaching. I borrowed the last of my costume from Marlene and she helped me figure out what I was to do with my hair and face. On Halloween evening we had a quick snack that I snuck from the kitchens before getting ready. I was the only one who needed to shower so I jumped in and soaked in the hot water before getting out and drying myself off. I put on my underclothes and then my robe and went to work on my hair and make-up.

I curled my hair into soft waves and then french braided it to the middle of my head. I mixed different shades to make my eye lids a bright red with black winged eye liner and mascara. I swiped on blood red lipstick and brushed on a gloss over top. I rubbed my lips together and winked at myself in the mirror before going out to get dressed. Lily, Marlene, and Ellie were almost done so I quickly hurried myself into my costume.

I wore a simple white dress that went down to the middle of my calf. It had buttons down to my belly button and a thin black belt with a bow under my bust. I wore black tights and red oxford heels. Over top of all that was a simple red cloak with a hood.

"Ok," I said adjusting everything. "I'm ready."

"Wait," Marlene said pulling something out of a box. She threw something at me, Lily, and Ellie. In my hand I know held a black birdcage lace mask.

"Marlene," I said in awe. "It's beautiful!"

"My mom has a friend who makes them so I had her make a few for us," she said waving her hand. "No biggie." I tied Lily's, Marlene tied mine, and Lily tied Ellie's. We all stood in a circle and observed ourselves. Lily was going as Daphne Blake from Scooby Doo (James was going as Fred), Marlene was going as Minnie Mouse (Remus was Mickey), and Ellie was going as Wendy from Peter Pan (Sirius was Peter).

And me?

I was going as Little Red Riding Hood of course.

"Ladies," I said a smirk starting to form on my face. "We. Look. Good."

"Hell yeah we do," Marlene chirped.

"Let's go break some hearts ladies," I said as I began to walk out of the room.

A few hours later the dance was in full swing. People were dancing, laughing, and having a great time. I was dancing and laughing with my friends when a slow song started to play as if on cue their respective partners made their way over and I slowly (and awkwardly) made my way to a table.

"Hey Stranger," a voice said sitting down next to me. I looked over and smiled as Andrew took a seat next to me.

"Andrew," I said. "How are you?"

"Great how about yourself," he said nodding at my stomach. "How you holding up."

"I'm all better now," I said with a smile. "It's like it never happened."

"That's great Cassidy really," he said placing a hand on mine. "So would it be awkward if we danced? I mean I know we aren't a thing anymore but you looked kinda bored and I thought-."

"Andrew," I said getting his attention. "I'd love to dance." He smiled and held out a hand for me. I smiled back and took it as he led me onto the dance floor. We danced for a few songs and laughed at each other's terrible dance moves.

"Merlin," I said breathless after a few numbers. "We are terrible." We started in another round of laughing.

"You got that right," he said wiping his eyes. He gave me a small kiss on the cheek before heading back to his Ravenclaw friends. I went to grab a drink before heading back to our table. Marlene and Remus were sitting there laughing and talking.

"Minnie, Mickey," I said nodding at each of them. They smiled back and continued chatting with each other. Eventually Lily and James came and sat down as well.

"Hey Cassidy," Lily said her cheeks red. "Was that Andrew you were dancing with earlier?"

"Yeah," I said with a raised eyebrow. "What about it?"

"Nothing," she said shaking her head. "I was just wondering."

"Okay," I said drawing the word out. I continued to sip my drink while my friends became engrossed in each other's faces. Finally I couldn't handle it anymore so I downed the last of my drink and slammed the glass down startling my friends.

"Oh no don't mind me," I said bitterly. "Continue sucking face. I'm going to turn in for the night."

"Do you want us to come," Lily said starting to stand up.

I shook my head. "Stay with your guy Lil's," I said. "I'll be fine." I said good night and started making my way towards the exit. Once out of the Great Hall I began to head towards the Gryffindor Common Room. I was walking past a broom cupboard when suddenly the swings open and nearly hits me in the face.

"Watch it," I hissed at the person exiting. The door closes slightly and behind it I see none other than Sirius Black.

"Cassidy?" he asked.

"Sirius?" I responded. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you," he said back his arms crossed. I rolled my eyes and was about to answer when someone else exited the broom cupboard.

"Ellie?" I asked wide eyed. She's in the middle of straightening out her bow when she makes eye contact with me.

"Cassidy," she squeaks out. "We were just umm…" I don't even bother listening to the rest. I push past Sirius and her making my way towards the common room.

"Cassidy," Sirius calls but I start running. Even in heels I'm a fast runner. When I'm almost at the common room I can hear he's right behind me so I quick duck into a dark corner so he can't see me. He shouts the password at the Fat Lady and runs into the common room. I decide to sit and wait for a while before heading in. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember is being shaken awake by someone.

"Wake up Clark," the voice hissed. I groaned and my eyes began to flutter open. I saw the shininess of the prefects badge and the snake on it and groaned. I looked up and saw none other than Severus Snape standing in front of me.

"What do you want Snape," I grumbled.

"Well it's after curfew and you aren't in your common room yet," he hissed. "Are you really that lazy that you couldn't make it 20 more feet to enter your common room?" I groaned and stood up straightening out my dress and robes.

"I wasn't lazy, I was hiding," I snapped. "I must have fallen asleep." He rolled his eyes and started to walk away.

"What no points docked," I called quietly after. "No detention? Not even a slap on the wrist?"

"I was trying to be considerate but if you want those I'll be happy to give them," he said with a slight smirk. "No? Ok then, night Clark." And he continued to walk away.

"Night," I muttered before heading over to the portrait. I grumbled the password and stumbled into the common room. As I went deeper in only a single person was there.

Sirius.

I looked at him and he looked at me. I looked at the stairs then back at him. He stood up and put a hand out as if it were going to keep me in place.

It wasn't.

I bolted towards the staircase but Sirius made it there before me.

"Beat you love," he smirked. I rolled my eyes and pushed him out of the way and he grabbed my wrist. "Cassidy."

"Just leave it Sirius," I said. "I'm tired and sore from sleeping on the floor outside the portrait. Just let me go to bed." He started at me then let go of my wrist motioning towards the stairs. I quietly made my way up them. I slowly opened the door and walked over to my bed. Too tired to change I flopped onto my bed and slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Well, almost peaceful.

The next morning I was slow to awake. My friends were up and dressed move about the room. I sat up and stretched with a large yawn that caught their attention.

"Morning sleepy," Marlene chirped from her bed. She was currently wearing a dress and an alarmingly high ponytail and was in a way to happy attitude for me.

"What the hell happened last night," I said my voice thick with sleep.

"Well you left about an hour before the dance ended and we don't know what time you came in. But it must have been late because you are still in your costume." I looked down and realized she was right. I was still in my dress and cloak. I must have kicked off my shoes sometime in the middle of the night considering they were on the floor. I rubbed my eyes once more before standing up and padding into the bathroom.

"I set something in there for you to change into," Lily called from the bedroom. I mumbled a thanks and began to get ready.

I took the braid out of my hair and left it in its curly state. I cleaned the remnants of make-up off my face and washed under my arms not feeling like getting my whole body wet. I then cast a cleaning spell over my body to make me feel refreshed and clean. I then began to change into the outfit Lily had set out for me.

I pulled off the dress and tights and change my knickers and bra before pulling on leggings and a white long sleeved tunic. I threw my clothes into the hamper then went back into the dorm. It was now empty so I could finish changing in peace. I pulled out a pair of cable knit white socks that went to my knee. I grabbed a scarf that was mint green with pink, black, and white patterns on it. Finally I pulled out a pair of gray rain boots and put them on I made my bed and finished cleaning around my area of the room.

"Cassidy," a small voice said from the door. I looked over and then turned back to my bed.

"What do you want Ellie? I'm busy," I said annoyed as I tried to make myself look busy.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for last night," she said in a small voice. "I didn't want to but he was so nice and made me feel good about myself I just let him." At the sound of this my eyes widened and turned towards her immediately.

"Ellie," I whispered. "Did he force you too… have sex with him?"

Her eyes widened as well. "Oh no! God no we didn't have sex and he didn't force me no," she cried. "Sorry I didn't mean for it to sound like that. We were only snogging. And he didn't force me. I initiated it actually but then once we were in the broom cupboard and I realized what we were doing we stopped and that's when you found us." She explained to me. I let out a large breath and nodded my head.

"It's ok Ellie," I told her in a kinder tone. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I shouldn't be mad anyways because it's not like him and I are a thing or ever were one. He's just one of my best friends and I don't want him to get hurt." I said brushing it off. Most of it was true so it wasn't really a lie.

"Really," she asked with a confused look on her face. "You guys were never a thing? You guys flow together so nice I thought you were. I was surprised when you set us up for the dance."

"I think you guys are cute together," I said trying to make it so my voice didn't raise an octave higher than normal.

"Thanks but I don't think I like him that way," she said walking over to her bed. "I mean he's nice and a bloody good kisser but I think I like someone else."

"Really," I said. "Who?"

"I'm not even sure what his name is," she said with a laugh. "He's in my potions class and he's really cute."

"You'll have to point him out to me sometime," I said smiling. I finished cleaning and then made my way out the door to get breakfast… or would this be considered lunch? I went to eat is the point. I checked the time and it was nearing 1:00pm. In the Great Hall very few were still there. I sat down and began to eat quickly. I then went down to the library to spend the day doing homework after an hour of being there I heard two familiar voices enter the library.

"Padfoot you have to be quiet there are people working," Remus said as the entered the library.

"But Moony," he whined. "I don't wanna!"

"Shit," I whispered to myself. I slowly began to pack up my things and begin to sneak out. I hid behind some kids, a bookshelf, and a stack of books and when I thought I was in the clear I heard my name being called out.

"Miss. Clark," Professor Slughorn boomed. I cringed and turned around. Nearly everyone in the library was staring at me including Sirius and Remus.

"Hello Professor," I said trying to put a smile on my face. "How are you?"

"Just fine thank you my dear," he said with a large smile. "Did you enjoy yourself at the dance last night? What did you dress as?"

"It was great thank you sir," I said. "I dressed up as Red Riding Hood." He gave me a questioning look and I had to explain she was a muggle character.

"Very interesting my dear," he said. "Very interesting." I just nodded my head uncomfortably hoping I'd be able to escape.

"Well if you don't mind I must b-"

"Professor Slughorn," Sirius boomed earning a shushing from Madam Pince. "Mind if I borrow Cassidy for a moment."

"Actually I-"

"Why of course Mr. Black," he said gesturing towards me. "I must be off many papers to grade by Monday. Good day students." We both waved him off and I tried to leave as well but Sirius grabbed my arm and guided me into one of the many bookshelves.

"This is considered kidnapping," I said blandly. "You know that right? You could go to Azkaban for this."

"I'll take my chances," he said with the same tone. "Can we talk?"

"About what," I asked beginning to browse the books.

"You know what," he said crossing his arms.

"Honestly Sirius," I said turning to face him. "There's nothing to talk about. You were kissing Ellie. It's cool, I don't care. You aren't my property, we aren't together. Kiss whomever you want Sirius." I told him trying to smile. "Honest."

"So you're not mad," he said cautiously. I shook my head.

"Nothing to be mad about," I said. "Now if you'll excuse me I promised Marlene I'd help her with her charms homework."

And with that I hurried out of the library as fast as my feet could carry me.

Again with the not ending with a cliffhanger? Someone call the doctor I think I'm going screwy in the head! So next chapter might take a while to post because I have the worst case of writers block right now, I know exactly what I want but I don't know how to get there. I will be talking to my best friend who helps me when it comes to times like these. You hear that Gabby? Get your brain working cause we are talking as soon as I get home from dance!

See you guys next week (hopefully!)

XOXO,

SophieElizabeth630