musical mood: when you were young – the killers

"Cassie Crouch-"

"Fuck off." Cass glared at George, who had approached her as she exited the Great Hall. It was nearing the last days of school, and she'd just finished her potions OWLs. It hadn't gone terrible, but she hadn't gotten used to using her left hand yet, which made for some sloppy brewing.

"Damn, you didn't even let me ask." He pouted, and she rolled her eyes.

"Didn't have to. I know what you're going to say."

"Have I ever told you that you're a genius?"

"It doesn't take a genius to recognise a pattern. You've been asking me to be your girlfriend for weeks, just to win this stupid bet. Also, flattery doesn't work with me, so don't bother."

"Doesn't hurt to try." He shrugged, continuing to chase after her as she speed-walked through the halls. "I don't think you understand how badly I need to win this thing. I refuse to let Pretty Boy Diggory have a girlfriend before me."

"And you truly think I'm your best chance? I've certainly made my thoughts clear on this silly bet of yours. I'd be eaten by the giant squid before I say yes to the likes of you."

"The giant squid is an herbivore."

"Precisely."

"Harsh. What has you all cranky anyways?"

"Well, other than, you know, possibly failing my potions OWL because of my hand, I really am not looking forward to going back to Stromness for the summer, and I have to tell Henry he can't come back with me, which will be absolutely heart breaking. Oh, and of course, I have the most irritating redhead alive asking me to be his girlfriend so he can win a bet!"

"Sounds rough. Maybe you need a boyfriend to support you through this rough time."

"I am going to kill you."

"In all seriousness-"

"Seriousness? I wasn't aware that was an ability you possess."

"As I was saying, if you really don't want to go back to where you live, you could spend the summer at the Burrow. I doubt my parents will mind – they love you, and my dad has more questions about muggle pop music. My knowledge on Elton John and Michael Jackson only goes so far."

Cass shook her head. Clearly George didn't understand where she grew up. "Bold of you to assume I possess any more knowledge on them than you. I think you're forgetting how isolated my muggle community is to the rest of the world. We're about thirty years behind pop-culture-wise. I don't think they've discovered The Beatles yet."

George's brow furrowed together. "Your town hasn't learned about bugs?"

"I stand corrected. Though, I will take you up on your offer, as long as it's okay with your family."

"I'm confused. Do you not have bugs in Scotland? If so, I'm jealous."

She didn't dignify him with a response.

The pair exited the castle and walked into the breezy afternoon outdoors. Even with dementors floating around the grounds, the weather was spectacular, quite unusual for the typically dismal Highlands. Most of the Hogwarts students were sprawled across the green landscape, chatting amongst their friends, seeming relieved that exams were over.

Cass's usual group was easily spotted, with Lavender chatting so loud she could hear every word from metres away, as she ranted about her crush of the week – some Hufflepuff boy called Ernie. An unfortunate name, in Cass's opinion.

"Hey." She gave them a small smile as she sat down, George right behind her, following her like a loyal puppy. Fred was likely with Angelina, and whenever his twin wasn't around, he latched himself to Cass instead, for Merlin knows what reason. He didn't seem like he was good on his own, ironically, since Cass was a massive introvert.

"Okay, Cass, I need your opinion. Is Ernie's haircut super hot, yes or no?"

"No." She answered Lavender instantly. The poor kid had just gotten a bowl-cut, and it looked like he'd come straight out of a low budget 80's film.

"Told you!" Parvati pointed.

"Come on, it's cute! Padma, back me up here!"

"I'm sorry Lav, but I can't defend you on this one. You're delusional." Padma shook her head.

"He looks like my little brother." Ana added, her freckled nose scrunched up.

"Is your brother cute?"

"He's three years old."

"Ew!"

"You lot heard it first; Brown likes little kids." Henry snorted.

"You're disgusting, Nott!" She moved to hit him, but he dodged her, collapsing into a fit of laughter. It broke Cass's heart just a little bit, knowing she had to ruin his day, and send him back to a home with a dead mother, an abusive father, and a brother who was still avoiding him.

But she couldn't have him staying with her, not when Barty was very much alive and she knew about it. What if he hurt Henry like he did Fionn and Malcolm? What if Henry stumbled upon him? He could get Bartemius sent to Azkaban, and where would that leave Cass? Maybe it was selfish, but she refused to let the Crouch name sink any lower, and allow herself to become an orphan-equivalent. She had too much pride, even if at the moment, she hated her father more than Barty.

"Henry, can we talk?" Cass said, once he'd calmed down from his chortles.

"Er, yeah, what's up?"

"It's probably best we do this in private…" She glanced around at the group of girls, who had already started a new conversation about Naia's latest Quidditch match (which she had done amazing in). "Unless you want to stay here."

He frowned. "I'm alright. Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of them."

"Right." She took a deep, shaky breath.

God, if you're out there, please show some mercy, and just kill me now.

"Well, some family things came up, and you can't come back to Stromness this summer…"

"Oh." Henry blinked, surprised. A moment of silence went by, and Cass bit down on the inside of her cheek. "Is it about that friend of yours? Connor or whatever?"

"What? No! He isn't…he isn't my friend anymore. It has nothing to do with him. It's just…hard to explain. But you can't come back. I'm really sorry."

"Aww, don't worry about it, Crouch." He waved a hand in the air, forcing a smile. "I'll find a place to go. Worse comes to worse, I stay at the Leaky Cauldron for a bit."

"You can stay with us, Henry." Padma jumped in, and Cass stared at her. She hadn't been aware she'd been listening to their conversation.

His eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah, for sure! I'm sure our parents wouldn't mind at all." Parvati said, grinning.

Cass leaned back, feeling as though a ton of bricks had been lifted off of her shoulders. That was one problem solved, at least.

Father,

In light of recent events, I will not be returning to Stromness for the summer. Or ever, actually. I have an offer to stay with a friend (for everyone's safety, I will not be disclosing whom, though I'm sure you lot could find me if you actually cared enough to try).

Please do owl me anything I may have forgotten when I ran away, since I have no intention of ever coming back, and I'd like my possessions with me. I have nothing left for me in that blasted town, so you'll finally be rid of your burdensome daughter.

Congratulations. I hope it was worth it.

With the most intense amount of hatred you can possibly imagine,

Cass

"Is it true you're spending the summer with George Weasley?"

Cass looked up from her book, eyebrows raised. She'd found a compartment on her own, wanting to be alone for the train ride back to Kings Cross station. She'd have a summer of no alone time, if she was staying with the Weasley's, so she might as well take the last opportunity of peace and quiet that she could get.

"It is." She told Cedric, who was standing in the compartment doorway, leaning against the frame.

"Why?"

"Because I'd rather suffer a summer of the Weasley's than go back to my father. Which says something."

Cedric snorted. "Fair enough. Mind if I sit down?"

"Go ahead." He was probably the only person she'd want to sit with her. Sure, she'd been craving alone time, but Cedric was worth the sacrifice.

"How are you doing?" He asked when she didn't say anything, sitting down on the booth across from her.

"Brilliant. Yourself?"

"I can't complain. Are you sure you're alright? You've seemed very…off, the past few months."

"Everyone keeps saying that." She rolled her eyes, trying to feign indifference. Apparently, when it came down to it, she wasn't as good at suppressing her emotions as she thought. "I'm doing fine. More than fine, actually, since I don't have to go to Stromness."

"You really hate it there, don't you?"

She nodded. Hate was an understatement. "I have nothing left for me there."

It was a statement she'd said many times, and would continue to reiterate until everyone understood.

"Are you dating George?"

If Cass had been drinking something, she would've had a spit-take. "What?! No! Have you not heard a word I've been saying, how I can't stand him?"

"I mean, you say that, but you seem to like him."

"He's my friend, and a pain in my arse. That's it."

"Whatever you say." Cedric shrugged, giving her a playful grin.

"Why do you care so much?" She raised her eyebrows, challenging. She was hopeful that perhaps it was because he fancied her, because he was jealous, but her childish ideas were quickly squashed.

"Because I want to know if he's won the girlfriend race. I'm truthfully not very interested in it, but I still don't want him to get a girlfriend before me."

"Oh. Well, he hasn't, so no need to worry. I'm sure you could get a girlfriend in an instant if you tried." She instantly regretted saying that. What if he thought she was insinuating she would be his girlfriend? Well, she would, but she'd never say it out loud...but she'd never allow herself to be his girlfriend over some bet with George Weasley.

"Maybe." He shrugged, and that was that.

The train had taken off about an hour ago, when the compartment door flew open, and in stormed Bethany. Her pale face was glowing red, and her eyes were shooting daggers.

"You good?" Cass raised her eyebrows as she sat down next to her after slamming the compartment door so hard Cass worried it would shatter.

"Yes, Crouch, I'm clearly fine and dandy!"

"Damn, no need to freak out."

"I'm going to kill my entire family. I hate them all."

"Relatable." Cass muttered under her breath, so quiet she didn't think anyone else heard.

"I don't think we've been acquainted. I'm Cedric." Cedric offered a hand for Bethany to shake.

She looked down at his hand, her nose scrunched up. "I'm disgusted."

"Nice friend you have here, Cass."

"We aren't friends." Cass and Bethany said in unison.

He eyed the two, clearly unsure of what to say. "Right..."

Turns out, Bethany was angry with her sisters, because they were telling her to break up with Colin, which was hypocritical of them because Dahlia dated a half-blood in her third year. She admitted to not actually liking Colin (which was obvious to everyone), and was simply using the poor kid to spite her family, and convince John Nott to not have her marry his son. It seemed as though Cedric was the only one there with a relatively normal family.

Cass had to admit, things could be worse for her. Sure, she had a maniac for a brother, and her hatred for her father ran deeper than anyone could possibly fathom, but at least she wasn't being forced to wed someone she couldn't stand.

When the train returned to Kings Cross, it was already dark out, the summer heat gone and replaced with a cool breeze. The Weasley family was easily spotted in the crowd, their flaming red hair standing out. Cass walked up to them, hauling her trunk behind her, which was a difficult task, given the state of her hand. She'd come to the conclusion that she'd somehow injured herself when she fell out of her bed, but for some reason, the hand wasn't healing it all, and the explanation felt...off. She forced a grin as she approached the family, somewhat hesitant – she was thankful, sure, but it was still hard to be genuinely happy, considering the circumstances. Of course, she had to put on a front. That was her life now.

"Cassie! It's lovely to see you again!" Molly exclaimed, arms outstretched as she pulled Cass into a tight hug. It was easy to close her eyes, to lean in and pretend Molly was Diana, and for a brief moment, Cass allowed herself to indulge in the fantasy. Her lack of a mother rarely upset her, but she could've used a maternal figure at this point in her life. Not that Diana was a great person, allowing her psychopathic son to escape prison...

"Lovely to see you too, Mrs. Weasley."

"Please, no need for formalities! Call me Molly."

Ron, who had been saying his goodbyes to Potter and Granger, approached the group, his red eyebrows raised as he stared at Cass. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Language, Ronald!" Molly snapped.

"Sorry."

"I'm spending the summer with you...did you not tell him?" She whipped around to glare at the twins.

"Sorry, Ronniekins." Fred shrugged, not seeming any bit sorry.

There hadn't been much of a change to the Weasley's home since Cass had last been there, back in the summer before second year. Before everything went to hell, really.

Percy, who had graduated this year, was still living with them while avidly hunting for a Ministry internship. He shouldn't have much trouble, Cass thought, with his insufferable, uptight personality that nearly every Ministry worker seemed to possess, they were sure to hire him in no time.

It was a bit awkward, sharing a room with Ginny again, now that she knew she'd been the Heir of Slytherin (although unwillingly). It reminded her that her Ravenclaw friends had assumed it had been Cass, a wound that still stung even months later. But Ginny was fun, if not a bit intense, a bit like Saoirse, but less rude. The flaming red hair certainly didn't help.

Being with the Weasley's was therapeutic, almost. Cass rarely thought about her father and brother and Connor, and no one asked why she was refusing to go back to Stromness.

About a week had gone by, before Cass came down for breakfast. She hardly slept, plagued by a nightmare of Parvati Patil turning into a werewolf and killing them all.

"Good morning." She yawned.

"Good morning, Cass." Percy greeted, ever formal. He was already dressed, despite it only being eight in the morning, his hair combed and his posture straight.

"You're looking lovely today, Cassie." George said with a wink, and she glared at him.

"Shut up." Her hair, unlike Percy's, was completely unkempt, her pyjamas askew, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She'd never been a morning person.

"Oi, that's no way to talk to your future boyfriend."

Arthur, who had been sipping on pumpkin juice, began to cough, as the eyes of every Weasley turned to Cass.

"George Weasley, I swear to all that is holy-"

"I knew you fancied her!" Ron interrupted, a satisfied grin on his lips.

"He doesn't fancy me, thankfully, he simply made a bet with Cedric Diggory at my expense. Whoever gets a girlfriend wins…something. I'm not quite sure."

"Ten galleons." Fred said with a snort.

"George!" Molly exclaimed. "Ten galleons? Why on earth would you make a bet like that?"

George ignored his mother, instead glaring at his twin. "Oi! I thought that was staying between us!"

"Sorry." Fred shrugged.

"That's no way to treat a lady, George." Percy shook his head.

"Thank you." She rolled her eyes, not bothering to correct him on calling her a lady, as though she were some middle aged nun. She reached to grab a fork, flinching at the movement from her hand.

It was so instinctual, to use her right hand for everything, she still hadn't gotten used to the fact that it was practically useless. There was nerve damage, apparently, and simply moving it sent pain up her arm, all the way to her shoulder. Pomfrey did everything she could to fix it, but that wasn't much.

It proved to be a big challenge indeed, not to panic over her mysterious injury. She told herself it would be better by next year, as long as she didn't overuse it. By the time she got back to school, all would be well, she'd be able to brew potions as usual, and cast spells and hold forks and everything of the like. After all, how could she be so seriously hurt when she didn't remember how it happened?

"So, is it okay if I invite Harry and Hermione to the cup with us?" Ron asked his parents, his mouth full of bacon.

"Of course it is!" Molly said. "They're always welcome here, and our tickets this year are cheap. Cassie dear, you'll be coming with us as well, right?"

"Er, coming with you to what, exactly?"

"The Quidditch World Cup, of course! It's in late August, but we have to buy tickets soon." George explained.

"Oh. Yeah, sure, I'll go." She wasn't actually interested in going at all, but she thought it might be rude to say otherwise. She'd never cared much for Quidditch, after all. "My father should be owling my stuff anytime soon, which will have my money…"

"Oh, enough of that nonsense. We'll pay for your ticket, children shouldn't pay for those things." Molly waved a hand.

I'm hardly a child. Cass wanted to say, but held her tongue.

"Great. So it's settled!" George flashed her a grin. "You're rooting for Ireland, by the way."

"I am?"

"We all are. Except Ron, he's obsessed with Bulgaria. Well, actually, just Krum."

"Between you and me, I think he has a crush on the bloke." Fred winked.

"Do not!" Ron protested through a mouthful of food.

"Manors, Ronald." Percy's nose pinched up.

"Oh, up yours!"

Percy rolled his eyes, as Cass let out a snort, though she quickly covered it up with a cough. She probably shouldn't laugh at those types of jokes in front of Molly and Arthur, lest they think she was disrespectful.

"I think I'll be rooting for Bulgaria too, then." Cass straightened her posture, smiling at Ron. No doubt Ireland would remind her too much of Connor, whom she was doing her best not to think about. Not that it was working very well…

"Traitor!" George gasped, holding a hand to his heart. "How could you, Cassie? You're supposed to be my future girlfriend!"

"I'd rather drink bleach."

"What the hell is bleach?"

"Anyways," Percy cleared his throat harshly. "I may have found an internship. An owl came last night with an agreement from a man from the International Magical Cooperation branch. Not exactly what I was aiming for, but it'll do."

"That's wonderful, son!" Arthur was beaming as he clapped his hands together, while the twins rolled their eyes. "Who's the man? We ought to have him over for dinner, to thank him."

"Bartemius Crouch."

Cass spit out her drink.

"What?!"

"Oh, I forgot, he's your father, isn't he?" Percy said, tilting his head. "That makes it even better then! You can help me get to know him."

"Better-get to-what?!" Cass shook her head, heart beginning to race. "No, you can't work for my father! That's a terrible idea!"

Percy's brow furrowed together. "Why's that?"

Because he's hiding his undead son in our attic.

"Because…he's a terrible person. An absolute dickhead. Trust me, you don't want to work with him. Chances are, he won't even remember your name."

He can't remember mine.

"It's just an internship, Cass." He shook his head, staring at her with a condescending smile, like she was a child, and she wanted to reach over and punch him. She'd never felt so much hatred for someone she hardly knew before. If only he knew…

"He's an asshole, Percy! Why do you think I'm spending my summer with that one-" She pointed at George, "-instead of with him?"

"Everyone hates their parents at your age, dear." Molly gave her a similar smile to Percy's. "I'm sure you and your father will work everything out."

Not bloody likely