The rest of the year went by fairly smoothly, much to Cassius' relief.
OWLs were horrible but after seeing the state Beatrice and the other seventh years were in after NEWTs, Cassius didn't feel so bad. Harry's new best friend, Luna Lovegood, was re-sorted into Hufflepuff. Harry served his detention with Madame Pomfrey and came away with sweets in his pockets. Sirius remained out with Hagrid for the rest of the year, no one wanting him with Harry for long periods of time until he could seek psychological help properly.
The only dark spot was during the last week of school when his cantankerous head of house leaked that Professor Lupin was a werewolf. So they would have yet another new DADA professor next year.
Although everyone had enjoyed seeing tiny Hufflepuff Harry Potter lecturing Professor Snape on manners and learning to keep his tongue in his head if he had nothing nice to say. Snape had tried to give Harry a detention but it had been shot down by the rest of the staff since he was the one that caused the problem.
Potions class next year was sure to be a bundle of joy.
Going home for the summer was a relief for his brain, but Cassius' felt his chest get tight as he said goodbye to Harry for the summer. He was sure he would see him at least a few times during the break, but he was going to miss having the colorful boy around him every day. He was bright, chaotic, and full of endless optimism but unless he was causing trouble, Cassius usually found his presence rather soothing to be around. They could sit for hours in silence and it was comfortable, nothing needed to be said to enjoy each other's company.
"Habibi? What is wrong?" Cassius' mother asked concern in her indigo eyes so like his own.
It had only been two weeks since the end of term and Cassius had been keeping himself busy to distract from his listlessness but his mother could never be fooled. Cassius slumped some in the comfortable black leather armchair he had taken over in their library in his attempt to finish all of his summer work in one go.
"I'm fine mother, you shouldn't keep your friends waiting." Cassius attempted to deflect on habit, running his fingers through his blonde curls that were in need of being trimmed down as long as they were after a year away at school.
His mother scoffed, a very un-ladylike sound that she would have never done if his father had been around. "Cassius." Her normally dulcet tone got sharper and her eyes narrowed. "Talk to me. Something is clearly bothering you."
Cassius rolled that sentence around in his mind. What had him feeling like this? How did he explain that he didn't understand what he was feeling or why? "I am unsure…" Cassius finally sighed out.
His mother walked over and sat down on the armchair next to him, studying his face. His mother was beautiful, it was no wonder she had been contracted to his father so young. Her chocolate cherry-colored hair fell in smooth waves around her delicate face, not a grey hair in sight. The red undertone of her hair brought out the purple in her almond-shaped eyes. So different from the golden blonde curls that Cassius got from his father's side of the family. Cassius had always disliked that he looked so much like his father's side of the family. Cassius had pale skin, unlike his mother's bronze tone which made her stand out like an exotic beauty compared to the other pale British Purebloods.
Lila Banafsha Mirza Sahira Warrington could care less about keeping up pretenses whereas his father, Jude Cassian Warrington, had tried for years to try to get his mother to adhere to British wizarding traditions and fashions. His mother usually won that argument by telling the man that he should have married a British inbred witch if he had wanted her to behave like one so much.
There was no love lost between the two of them, but they at least tried to be civil.
Cassius had always preferred the traditional colorful Persian robes his mother wore over the dull black European robes that his father preferred. Probably something in that being the reason he enjoyed Harry's chaotic fashion so much. But as the first-born eldest son, Cassius' father had control over everything in his life including his clothing until he got married off.
Cassius pulled at his skin-tight white button-down shirt as he lost himself in his thoughts. His mother's white robe was loose and light with a yellow kandys covered in red flowers on silky fabric wrapped around her making her curves more pronounced.
A stray thought had him imagining that Harry would love Persian robes and maybe he should get the boy some for his birthday. The thought of Harry in Persian robes made him flush slightly, making Cassius' mother's eyes light up with understanding.
"Oh Habibi! Who is it?" Cassius' mother asked excitedly.
Cassius blinked confused. "What?"
His mother was smirking now, never a good sign. "I know that look on your face. Who is it that has captured your heart?"
Confusion covered Cassius' features now causing his mother to laugh.
"You do not even realize your heart has been stolen, do you? Ah, my sweet son. You bring me so much joy. You may hold your father's features but you have a heart and soul like mine, Habibi. Do not let your father's old-fashioned and power-hungry ways chase you away from whoever conquered your heart. You deserve the world and when you figure out who has stolen your heart from you like a thief in the night I wish to meet them." His mother cooed in a contralto tone.
"I don't know what you mean mother," Cassius replied, searching her face for clues but she was clearly holding back from laughing at him, causing him to scowl slightly.
She stood up and walked over to plant a gentle kiss on top of his curls. "You will figure it out soon enough." She then left him alone once more. Leaving him confused and trying to figure out what his mother's words even meant.
No one had stolen his heart. Right?
Cassius was searching the train platform trying not to look too eager as he searched for Harry in the crowd of families, pops of apparition, and screeching pets.
It had been a long summer.
Cassius didn't get to see Harry at all that summer due to the problems with Sirius being declared innocent, the outrage from the public, and figuring out custody between the Bones', Haywoods, and Black. Then at the end of the summer, his father had whisked Cassius away for politics and pureblood training. They still exchanged letters nearly daily, much to his mother's amusement, but it wasn't the same. It was this separation that had made Cassius realize what his mother had been hinting at. Cassius was still firmly holding onto his denial though. He had never liked anyone like he did Harry before and he wasn't sure what to do with his feelings, so he was going to ignore it.
Harry had kept his hair color for the year a secret again, supposedly as punishment for their inability to meet up all summer. So Cassius wasn't sure what hair color he was searching for, but he figured Harry would still be relatively easy to spot. But Harry had apparently mastered his ability to sneak up on Cassius. That was going to be his defense anyway when he let out a yelp of surprise because Harry jumped onto his back and covered his eyes.
"Guess who!?" Harry sing-songed happily.
"Little Ray, it is a good thing you are lightweight," Cassius grunted, reaching back to grab ahold of Harry's thighs that were wrapped around his waist so the impulsive Hufflepuff didn't fall backward.
Harry just laughed happily and it filled Cassius with a warmth he was trying his best to ignore.
"Do I get to see your new hair or are you going to continue to be a spider monkey?" Cassius asked steadily ignoring the soft silky feeling of Harry's thighs under his quidditch calloused hands. He was either wearing a dress or really short shorts, Cassius was willing to take a bet on a dress.
"You're comfortable…but you'll like my hair, Cassy." Harry slipped down Cassius' back so he could turn around to face him and Cassius had to immediately fight a blush down.
Harry had apparently received a growth spurt over the summer. He was still shorter than average for his age, but he would no longer be mistaken for a first year at least. Cassius had grown over the summer as well, so Harry still only came up to his chest. But it wasn't his new height that had Cassius feeling flustered.
Harry had gained some maturity to his face, looking more like the teenager he was supposed to be rather than the child he had been looking like. His cheekbones were sharper, showing off James Potter's pureblood features, but his jaw was still softer looking helping him keep his androgynous looks. His hair had been tamed into soft waves that barely brushed his shoulders and dyed too many shades of green to count, giving his hair a depth and movement that hair usually didn't possess. In the front along the right side of his face was one streak of orangey-yellow hair that blended itself well into the sea of green waves surrounding it.
The green of his hair didn't dim his emerald eyes the slightest, it made them more noticeable somehow, giving them a bright glow. Something was different about the eyes though and it took him longer than he would like to admit to, he had been wondering if Harry had done his eyeliner and grey smokey and sparkly eyeshadow differently when he finally noticed Harry's eyes were more focused and lively than normal. There was still a dreamy look lurking in them, but he didn't feel like Harry was trying to examine his soul instead of his face.
Slowly Cassius slid his gaze from Harry's face down his body to see that he had been right. Harry was in a short black dress with short puff sleeves pushed off of his shoulders and the tulle skirt that flared out had small black designs that Cassius thought were probably flowers.
Harry was beautiful.
And Cassius' heartburn was returning.
"You look amazing," Cassius murmured before he could stop himself.
Harry's cheeks were now dusted in a natural pink blush, looking quite pleased at the compliment. Scuffing his black sparkly flats against the ground while looking slightly embarrassed. "Thank you, Cassy. You really like my hair?"
Cassius' heart clenched at the vulnerability in Harry's voice. He reached out and gently tucked a strand of the boy's multi-colored hair behind his ear.
"I think you look perfect," he said sincerely. "The dress suits you. And your hair..."
He trailed off, unable to find the words to describe the ethereal beauty of Harry's locks. The shades of green reminded him of a mermaid's tail, shimmering and fluid.
"You look like you belong in one of the fairy tales my mother used to read to me when I was a child," he said finally. "Beautiful and otherworldly."
Harry's blush deepened at the heartfelt compliment. He ducked his head, looking pleased.
Impulsively, Harry stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Cassius in a brief but tight hug. Cassius froze for a second before carefully returning the embrace. Harry still felt so small and delicate in his arms, even with having grown a few inches.
Too soon, Harry pulled back, rocking on his heels happily.
"Come on!" he said, grabbing Cassius' hand. "We're going to be late for the train!"
Still reeling from the contact, Cassius allowed himself to be pulled along by the exuberant boy. Harry's hand was soft and warm in his own.
As they walked to the train together, Cassius couldn't keep his eyes off Harry. The dress swished enticingly around his thighs with every step, and his hair shimmered under the sunlight. The soft scent of sweet apples and rosemary that seemed to envelop the small boy was intoxicating.
Cassius knew he was in trouble. There was no more denying his growing feelings for the alluring boy beside him. He just prayed Harry wouldn't notice the effect he was having on him. This was going to be an interesting year...
