The golden light of the late afternoon stretched across the courtyard, casting long shadows as Cassie, Padma, Serena, Lorelei, and Hermione lingered on a stone bench, chatting about the day. Ever since Cassie helped Harry with the Summoning Charm, Hermione had started joining their group now and then, much to Serena's initial surprise. Now, though, it seemed natural, and Hermione blended in effortlessly — despite still occasionally correcting Serena's pronunciation of spells.
Cassie leaned back against the bench, her gaze drifting to Lorelei. Something had been off about her for weeks now. She'd been sneaking away to read letters late at night, giggling softly to herself as if someone had written something especially sweet. During class, Cassie had even caught her doodling hearts and what looked suspiciously like initials in the corners of her parchment.
Cassie had started to wonder if Lorelei had some kind of secret crush or budding romance. Whatever it was, Lorelei seemed distracted and distant today, her usual sharp wit dulled. Cassie wondered if it had anything to do with this mystery boy not asking her to the ball yet.
"Did you see Flitwick's face when Malfoy's Levitation Charm sent his quill flying into the chandelier?" Serena said, breaking into Cassie's thoughts.
Padma snickered. "It was even funnier when Crabbe tried to get it down and accidentally charmed the whole chandelier to start singing."
"I still don't understand how that happened," Hermione said, frowning. "It's a Levitation Charm, not a Vocalization Spell."
"Who cares how it happened? It was hilarious," Serena replied, grinning.
Cassie smiled but stayed quiet, her gaze flicking back to Lorelei, who was staring at nothing in particular, her chin resting on her hand.
Before Cassie could ask if she was okay, a familiar voice called out. "Lorelei, can I talk to you for a second?"
All five girls turned to see Lee Jordan striding toward them, his usual easygoing smile replaced with something much more serious. He stopped a few feet away, gesturing for Lorelei to follow him.
The girls exchanged glances. "What's that about?" Serena whispered.
"No idea," Padma murmured as Lorelei rose with a sigh and walked a short distance away with Lee.
From their spot on the bench, they watched as Lee launched into an animated explanation, his hands gesturing wildly while Lorelei stood with her arms crossed, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Is he...begging her for something?" Hermione asked, tilting her head.
"Maybe he's trying to convince her to join his commentary booth," Serena quipped.
Padma smirked. "You think she'd put up with that much Quidditch talk?"
Before anyone could answer, Lorelei returned, brushing her hair back with a casual air.
"Well?" Serena asked, curiosity sparking in her tone.
Lorelei arched a brow. "He asked me to the ball."
The other girls blinked, surprised by the nonchalant way Lorelei said it.
"Wait, Lee Jordan?" Hermione asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
Lorelei rolled her eyes. "Yes, Hermione. That Lee Jordan. I've known him since I was a kid. Our dads have been best friends since forever, so we basically grew up together. He's like a cousin."
Cassie tilted her head. "Why's he asking you now? Isn't it a little late?"
"Oh, that's because the girl he originally asked said no," Lorelei replied with a shrug. "He doesn't want to go alone, so he figured I'd be a safe backup option."
"That's...not very flattering," Padma said, her nose wrinkling.
Lorelei gave a small smirk. "Maybe not, but at least it'll be fun. He's not awkward or boring, and we won't just stand around all night."
The group fell quiet for a moment, digesting this new piece of information.
Serena finally broke the silence with a snort. "Honestly, I respect the audacity."
Cassie laughed softly, but her mind drifted back to Lorelei's odd behavior from earlier. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than Lorelei was letting on.
The next day at lunch, as the girls sat together at the Ravenclaw table, Cassie tried to focus on her food, but her mind kept wandering back to Lorelei. Padma and Serena were talking quietly about some new gossip from Gryffindor, but Lorelei was lost in her own thoughts, her fork poking aimlessly at her salad.
Just as Cassie opened her mouth to ask Lorelei if she was feeling alright, a figure approached the table, and she froze.
It was Ron Weasley.
He stood awkwardly in front of them, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his face flushed and his hands stuffed in his pockets. He looked like someone who had been forced into an uncomfortable situation, like he didn't want to be there at all.
Serena shot a confused glance at Padma, raising an eyebrow. It seemed like Ron had been sent over by Fred, since he certainly didn't look like the one who would voluntarily approach them for any reason.
"Padma," Ron started, his voice gruff and unsure, "I, uh, need a date for the ball."
Padma blinked in surprise, not entirely sure she'd heard him right. "I'm sorry? What?" she asked, her tone laced with confusion.
Ron shuffled his feet. "Parvati's going with Harry," he said, looking down at the floor as if the words were difficult to get out. "And I still need a date. So…will you go with me?"
Padma's eyebrows knitted together. She glanced quickly at the Gryffindor table, where Parvati was sitting with her eyes fixed on her twin, silently begging her to agree. Padma's stomach churned with the familiar annoyance that had been building up for days.
She had no idea why Ron thought it was okay to just waltz up to her like this, demanding she agree. Her irritation grew when she noticed the smugness in his posture, as if he expected her to say yes without a second thought.
Before she could respond, Ron seemed to grow impatient. "It's not like anyone else has asked you," he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with annoyance.
Padma's jaw clenched, and her gaze flicked back to Parvati, who was still silently pleading, her face drawn with frustration. Hermione, seated at the Gryffindor table, was looking at Ron with wide eyes, clearly horrified by his behavior.
Padma's patience was running thin. She didn't want to make a scene, but at the same time, Ron's approach was enough to test anyone's composure.
With a resigned sigh, Padma finally gave in. "Fine," she said, the words coming out more out of obligation than anything else. "I'll go with you. Happy now?"
Ron didn't seem to care either way. He muttered under his breath, "Should've just asked Looney Lovegood," clearly displeased with the whole situation.
Serena, who had been watching the whole exchange with a mix of concern and disbelief, raised an eyebrow. "He's lucky I don't hex him right here," she muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Padma clenched her jaw, the irritation still bubbling beneath the surface, but she kept her cool. "Don't waste your energy," she said quietly, her voice calm but carrying an edge.
Cassie gave her a reassuring smile, clearly trying to lift her spirits. "We'll survive this, Pads," she said, nudging her playfully. "We'll make it through the ball together."
Padma didn't say anything, but the thought of getting through the night with her friends was enough to bring her a small sense of comfort. For now, she could only focus on surviving the next two weeks.
Two days later, Cassie found herself sitting across from Aleksandr once again in the library, surrounded by open books and scattered parchment. They were deep into a heated debate about the finer points of charms, neither of them willing to concede. The energy of their conversation seemed to fill the small, dimly lit corner of the library, but eventually, the back-and-forth faltered, and a brief silence settled between them.
Aleksandr looked up from his notes, his blue eyes studying her for a moment before he cleared his throat. "So, are you going to the Yule Ball?" he asked, his tone casual but with a glint of curiosity in his gaze.
Cassie blinked, a bit taken aback by the question. She hadn't expected that to come up. "Yeah, I am," she replied with a shrug, keeping her voice light.
He smiled faintly, reaching into his bag and pulling out a small, wrapped box. He placed it gently in front of her. "I have something for you," he said, his voice tinged with a bit of excitement.
Cassie hesitated for a moment as she picked up the box, raising an eyebrow. She unwrapped it and saw that it was a box of Peppermint Toads. She fought the urge to wince. She had never been a fan of them, but she smiled politely as she looked up at him. "Thank you," she said, even though she knew she'd probably pass them off to someone else later.
Aleksandr seemed oblivious to her discomfort, his expression hopeful as he continued, "So, would you — well, would you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Cassie blinked, caught off guard by the suddenness of his request. She hadn't expected him to ask her at all. There was a brief moment of stunned silence as she processed the question. She had always thought of Aleksandr as just a debate partner, but now that he was standing right in front of her, offering the invitation with that same calm composure, she couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
She thought about it for a second, glancing down at the box of Peppermint Toads. She didn't want to leave him hanging, but at the same time, she wasn't quite sure what to say.
After a moment of hesitation, she gave a small nod, offering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes but was still polite. "Yeah, sure. I'll go with you."
Aleksandr's face lit up, though it was brief and modest, almost as if he wasn't quite used to the idea of being excited about something like this. He watched as she tucked the box into her bag, apparently satisfied with her answer.
Cassie, now feeling the slight awkwardness of the moment, shifted the conversation. "By the way, do you know who Viktor Krum's going with? Some of the girls have been placing bets on it." She tried to sound casual, not wanting the topic of the ball to linger too long between them.
Aleksandr gave a small chuckle, leaning back in his chair. "I haven't heard anything definite, but I'm sure it'll be someone who'll make headlines," he said with a smirk. "You could ask him yourself though. He's right over there."
Cassie turned to follow his gaze, her eyes landing on Viktor Krum, who was standing at a nearby table, deep in conversation with a few of the Quidditch team members. Off to the side was a small group of girls, all casting admiring glances in his direction.
"I'd rather just finish my Transfiguration essay," Cassie replied dryly, giving Aleksandr a pointed look.
Aleksandr's grin widened. "Come on, it'll be fun. I'll introduce you."
Before Cassie could protest, he was already pulling her up from her chair.
Cassie, who had never been one to get starstruck, followed with a sigh. They made their way over to Viktor, and Aleksandr greeted him with a friendly clap on the back.
"Viktor! This is Cassie. Cassie, Viktor."
Viktor stood and gave a warm smile, nodding toward her. "Nice to meet you, Cassie."
"Nice to meet you too," Cassie said, smiling back. She couldn't help but notice how much taller he was than most students. He had an easy charm about him, even if it was all a little too much for her liking.
"So, how are you liking Hogwarts?" she asked casually, trying to make the conversation feel more natural.
Viktor smiled, leaning against the table. "It's different, for sure. Back home, everything's much more...structured. Here, there's a bit more freedom. But the atmosphere is good. It's nice to be around students who are passionate about their studies."
Cassie nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I get that. It's not like the rigid expectations of other schools. A bit more laid-back, in a way."
Viktor grinned. "Exactly. It's nice to have some room to breathe."
Aleksandr chimed in, "And the weather's a bit milder than Bulgaria, too, right? Less snow?"
Viktor laughed. "Definitely. I'll take the English winter over a Bulgarian one any day."
Cassie smiled. "I can imagine. I'd be freezing if I were in your shoes."
They shared a brief, comfortable pause before Cassie noticed the group of girls still off to the side. Curious, Cassie asked, "So, does it ever get annoying, all the attention?"
Viktor's smile faltered just slightly, but he recovered quickly. "Sometimes, yeah. It's hard to just have a normal day when you can't walk anywhere without someone pointing at you. But I guess that's the price of fame."
Cassie tilted her head. "Must be frustrating, especially when you just want to relax."
Viktor nodded, glancing over at the girls still watching him from a distance. "It is. But then again, I can't complain too much. I'm doing what I love."
Aleksandr, who had been listening quietly, chimed in with a smirk, "At least you don't have to deal with homework like the rest of us."
Viktor chuckled. "I can't say I envy that. I'd rather be flying around on a broomstick than trying to finish an essay on magical theory."
Cassie laughed, feeling the tension lift. "Fair enough. Though I've always been better at writing than flying. I don't think it would be something I'd be known for."
Viktor's eyes twinkled as he smiled. "Maybe one day. You never know what could happen."
After a beat, Viktor glanced at his watch and stood up. "I have to go get ready for practice. But it was nice meeting you, Cassie."
Cassie smiled politely. "Good luck with the practice."
Viktor waved as he made his way toward the library door, his fans trailing behind him.
Once he was out of earshot, Aleksandr turned to Cassie with an amused grin. "I think I've never seen someone so unphased by Viktor Krum. I'm starting to think you might be immune to all the star power."
Cassie shrugged, a wry smile crossing her face. "He's just a person, Aleksandr. Not everyone's as obsessed with him as some people are."
Aleksandr shook his head, still grinning. "You're a hard one to impress, Cassie."
Cassie just shrugged, brushing off the conversation. "Guess I'm just not into the whole celebrity thing."
Later that evening, the Great Hall buzzed with the usual din of students catching up over dinner. Candles floated lazily overhead, casting a warm glow over the long tables. Cassie lingered in the corridor just outside the hall for a moment, still turning the box of Peppermint Toads in her hands. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, weaving through the crowd toward the Ravenclaw table.
Cassie strolled up to her usual spot at the Ravenclaw table, sliding the box of Peppermint Toads onto the table in front of Padma without a word.
Padma looked up in surprise, her expression quickly shifting to delight as she picked up the box. "Peppermint Toads? These are my favorite! Where'd you get them?"
Cassie pulled out her chair and sat down with a shrug. "Aleksandr gave them to me earlier."
Padma's eyebrows shot up. "Aleksandr? Why—"
"He asked me to the Yule Ball," Cassie interrupted nonchalantly, reaching for a slice of bread from the basket in front of her. "And I said yes."
The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment.
From behind Cassie, there was a loud choke followed by a coughing fit.
Serena glanced over Cassie's shoulder, narrowing her eyes as she spotted Fred Weasley at the Gryffindor table, red-faced and sputtering into his goblet. Their eyes met briefly, and his expression shifted to something unreadable before he stood abruptly and strode out of the hall, ignoring George's confused questions.
Serena's lips pressed into a thin line, and she exchanged a quick look with Padma, who seemed equally concerned.
Lorelei broke the silence with a delighted squeal, clapping her hands together. "Oh my Merlin, I knew it! I knew Aleksandr liked you! He's so into you, Cassie."
Cassie waved a dismissive hand. "He's not into me. It's just a dance, Lorelei."
"Oh, please," Lorelei gushed, leaning forward. "You don't just give a girl a box of sweets out of nowhere unless you're interested. Aleksandr is totally into you."
Padma forced a smile, her fingers drumming lightly on the box of Peppermint Toads. "That's…great, Cassie. Really."
Serena's smile was a bit sharper than usual. "Yeah, wonderful news." She paused, her tone turning wry. "Guess that means I need to find myself a date now."
Cassie frowned, glancing at her. "I thought you said you were going alone?"
Serena raised an eyebrow. "What, and be the third wheel to not one but three different groups? No thanks."
"Oh, that's true," Lorelei chimed in, her brow furrowing slightly. "You'd be the only solo one..."
"Don't worry. I'll figure something out," Serena replied dryly, her gaze sweeping the hall.
Her eyes landed on Neville Longbottom as he stood from the Gryffindor table, nervously brushing crumbs from his robes. A slow, mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Longbottom!" she called out, waving him over.
Neville froze mid-step, looking like a deer caught in wandlight. Hesitantly, he shuffled toward their table, his wide eyes darting nervously between the girls.
"Y-yes?" he stammered.
Serena rested her chin in her hand, smirking up at him. "Got a date to the Yule Ball?"
"Uh…no?" Neville replied, his voice cracking slightly.
"You do now," Serena declared, sitting up straight.
Neville's mouth opened and closed a few times, clearly unsure how to respond. "W-what?"
"You. Me. The ball," Serena said plainly, as if explaining something obvious. "Problem?"
"No," Neville managed to squeak.
"Good." She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping into a mock-threatening tone. "Be outside the Ravenclaw common room at five sharp. I want to get there before all the food's gone. And if you're late, I'll make your boggart seem like a puffskein. Clear?"
Neville nodded rapidly, his face pale. "Crystal."
"Great." Serena waved him off. "Go on, then."
Neville didn't need to be told twice. He turned on his heel and practically sprinted back to the Gryffindor table, still looking dazed.
Serena turned back to the group, a smug smile on her face. "There. We all have dates."
Padma and Lorelei burst into laughter, while Cassie shook her head with a small chuckle.
"You're unbelievable," Cassie muttered, shaking her head fondly as Serena leaned back in her chair, clearly pleased with herself.