The announcement of the Triwizard Tournament had sent Hogwarts into a frenzy. When Dumbledore had made the announcement at the opening banquet, the Great Hall had erupted in a frenzy of cheers. Students clapped and hollered, their excitement building with every word. The enthusiasm was contagious, but she wasn't one to catch the fever. It was all just noise to Cassie. She couldn't bring herself to care about the logistics of some tournament that, no doubt, would bring more trouble than triumph.
Despite never being the most observant, even she couldn't ignore the pattern of chaos that seemed to shadow Hogwarts each year. Trolls, basilisks, dementors — it was almost laughable how trouble seemed drawn to the school. The promise of an enchanted age line to deter underage students only made her arch a brow. Did anyone really think that would stop determined minds from trying?
By mid-October, the school was nearly unrecognizable, pulsing with an energy that even Cassie couldn't entirely ignore.
Conversations about Beauxbatons and Durmstrang dominated mealtimes, filling the Great Hall with speculation and half-formed rumors. Even the Ravenclaw common room, normally a haven of calm, had been swept into the excitement. Cassie, however, remained unimpressed. She preferred to let the chaos swirl around her, content to doodle abstract shapes in the margins of her potions notes as her friends bickered.
At breakfast one morning, the buzz was particularly grating. Lorelei was practically vibrating with excitement, her fork clinking against her plate as she gushed about Durmstrang.
"They've got this air about them, you know? Rugged and mysterious," she said, wiggling her eyebrows at Padma. "I heard they wear fur cloaks. Real fur! Can you imagine?"
Padma, ever composed, sipped her tea before replying. "You're forgetting Beauxbatons. I bet their robes will be gorgeous. And the Yule Ball…" She trailed off, throwing a sly glance in Cassie's direction. "I think it'll be fun for once. Don't you?"
Cassie rolled her eyes, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "The ball's not for ages, Padma. Let's survive October first."
Serena, seated at the edge of the table, scoffed loudly. "Just what we need," she muttered, "a bunch of arrogant strangers parading around, clogging up the halls and causing even more trouble." She stabbed her sausage for emphasis, cat ears atop her head twitching slightly with the movement.
Her foul mood had been especially sharp and a near-constant lately, thanks once more to the twins. Earlier in the week, they'd cast a particularly elaborate hex that left her with twitching cat ears, visible to everyone but Serena herself. Every trip to Madam Pomfrey was met with a shrug of shoulders and the cure of "time".
Lorelei bit her lip, trying to suppress a giggle. "You're just bitter because the twins have been picking on you lately."
"They're so bloody entertained," Serena fumed as they gathered their stuff to leave the Great Hall. "Just once I'd like to see them—"
Padma smirked. "I'd leave them be. You're keeping them occupied. Think of it as a public service." At this, Padma spared a glance towards the Gryffindor table.
At the Gryffindor table, Fred was attempting to sneak glances at Cassie without making it obvious, his fingers drumming lightly against the table.
"You're being obvious," George whispered.
"I'm not," Fred protested.
"You are," Lee added, grinning. "Who's that again? Cassie something?"
"Valencourt," Fred muttered, ducking his head.
Back across the room, Padma leaned toward Cassie, eyebrows furrowed. "Why are the Gryffindors staring at us?"
"Probably Serena," Cassie muttered without looking up from her bag.
Padma smirked, a playful lilt in her voice. "Or maybe you."
Cassie rolled her eyes. "Definitely Serena. Though I suspect it's because she hates them so much that they've been so entertained recently."
But Padma's knowing smile didn't waver, a quiet hum of mischief as they made their way out of the Great Hall.
By mid-afternoon, the Hogwarts grounds were alive with anticipation, students jostling for the best spots to watch the arrival of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Cassie hadn't planned to join the crowd—it wasn't her style—but Lorelei and Padma had other ideas.
"Come on, Cass," Lorelei had pleaded, tugging at her sleeve. "You've got to see this. When else will we get to see flying carriages and ghost ships?"
And so, reluctantly, Cassie found herself pressed between her friends, half-listening as Lorelei gushed about the Beauxbatons students.
The Beauxbatons carriage descended first, a grand, gleaming thing that looked almost too perfect to belong in the same world as Hogwarts' rugged towers. Madame Maxime stepped out, towering over everyone, her presence as commanding as the carriage itself.
"Gorgeous, aren't they?" Lorelei whispered, nudging Cassie as a group of students in pale blue robes disembarked.
Cassie gave a noncommittal hum, her gaze drifting to the lake as the Durmstrang ship emerged. Its arrival was a stark contrast: dark, brooding, and shrouded in mist.
"I told you," Lorelei said, her voice dropping to a reverent whisper as the Durmstrang students marched past. "Rugged."
Cassie had to admit they did cut an impressive figure—broad shoulders, fur-lined cloaks, and an air of quiet confidence. But the spectacle only held her attention for a moment. She found more amusement in watching the Hogwarts students, their excitement almost palpable as they craned their necks for a better view.
Fred Weasley was among them, of course. His laughter carried on the breeze as he nudged George, both of them exchanging quips as the Durmstrang procession passed. Cassie's eyes flicked toward him just as his gaze landed on her. Fred raised a hand in a half-wave, his grin easy and warm.
Cassie blinked, then turned away, ignoring the flutter in her chest.
"Do you know him?" Padma asked, catching the exchange.
"Not really," Cassie replied, pulling her scarf tighter as the chill from the lake seeped into the air.
The crowd began to disperse, students breaking off into smaller groups to dissect every detail of the arrivals. Cassie was content to let Lorelei and Padma chatter as they made their way back toward the castle, her thoughts already drifting elsewhere.
But her solitude didn't last long.
A low, accented voice interrupted her reverie. "Excuse me."
Cassie turned, coming face-to-face with a Durmstrang student she didn't recognize. He was tall, with sharp features and a cloak that seemed to amplify his imposing presence.
"Yes?" she said, arching a brow.
"Do you know where we are meant to go?" he asked, his English clipped but clear.
Cassie glanced toward the castle. "I'd assume Dumbledore has someone waiting to guide you. Just follow the crowd."
The Durmstrang student frowned slightly, clearly unimpressed with her answer.
"Or," Cassie added with a faint smile, "you could wander around aimlessly. Might be a good way to learn the layout."
For a moment, he stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he chuckled—a low, gravelly sound that seemed at odds with his otherwise stern demeanor.
"Thank you," he said, inclining his head before striding away.
"Who was that?" Lorelei asked, appearing at her side with wide eyes.
"No idea," Cassie replied, her tone indifferent. But she couldn't entirely suppress the small smile tugging at her lips.
The Durmstrang student's chuckle stayed with Cassie longer than she cared to admit, lingering in her thoughts even as the sun dipped below the horizon. But by evening, the buzz of the arrivals had settled, leaving the castle in its usual hum of activity.
Cassie, however, had no interest in lingering among the chatter. While most students gathered in the common rooms to dissect every detail of Beauxbatons' elegance and Durmstrang's mystique, she retreated to a quiet sanctuary: the library.
The quiet corner she claimed was undisturbed, as always. A towering stack of books surrounded her, their spines cracked and pages yellowed with age. She'd just started to lose herself in the intricacies of magical wards when the shuffle of footsteps broke her focus.
It was subtle at first, like someone trying not to disturb her. But it didn't take long for the shuffle to grow louder, followed by a familiar voice.
"Blimey, are you trying to make Hogwarts float, Soapy?"
Cassie looked up sharply, her brow furrowing. "Excuse me?"
Fred Weasley stood there, his grin as bold as his hair. He looked every bit the troublemaker she knew him to be, but there was something different in his posture—almost like he was bracing himself.
"Soapy," he repeated, his grin faltering just slightly. "You know, like Cassiopeia? Soap sounds like your name? It's clever, isn't it?"
Cassie stared at him, unimpressed. "Creative."
Fred cleared his throat, leaning casually—or trying to—against the edge of her table. "It's a term of endearment. Very personal."
"Endearing isn't the word I'd use," she said, turning a page in her book with deliberate nonchalance.
From behind a nearby shelf, a familiar snicker sounded. George Weasley appeared a moment later, shaking his head. "Smooth, Fred. Really smooth."
Fred flushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks for the support, mate."
Despite herself, Cassie smirked. There was something endearing—annoyingly so—about Fred's attempt. "I'll give you points for effort," she said, her tone dry but not unkind. "But maybe workshop the nickname."
Fred's grin returned, a little sheepish but just as persistent. "You'll come around. Soapy's got a nice ring to it."
"Hmm." Cassie turned her attention back to her book, though she couldn't entirely suppress her smile.
Fred lingered for a moment longer, clearly debating whether to say something else. Finally, a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes as he pulled out his wand.
"Alright, Valencourt, let's see how focused you really are," he said under his breath. With a casual flick, a small, harmless jet of ink shot from the tip of his wand, landing on the corner of her parchment.
Cassie's eyes narrowed as she glanced at the smear. Without missing a beat, she muttered a counter-spell, and the ink evaporated instantly.
"Impressive reflexes," Fred said, clearly trying not to grin.
"Impressive waste of time," she replied coolly, brushing off her parchment like it was nothing.
Behind the nearest shelf, George stifled a laugh. "Looks like she's not easily impressed, Fred. Better luck next time."
Fred huffed but kept his composure. "Thanks for the morale boost, George." Turning back to Cassie, he raised a brow. "Consider it a pop quiz. You passed—barely."
Cassie didn't dignify him with a response, simply flipping another page of her book.
Fred hesitated for a moment, his confident facade cracking just slightly before he shoved his wand back into his pocket. "See you around, Valencourt."
As he turned to leave, George's voice floated after him. "Smooth exit, mate."
Cassie watched them go, then calmly turned back to her book, smoothing the corner of her parchment where the ink had landed. Without so much as a second glance, she returned to her reading, the brief interruption already filed away as another peculiar but inconsequential encounter in her day.
The hallways of Hogwarts were quieter than Cassie expected, the late hour leaving only the occasional echo of footsteps or faint murmur of a distant conversation. She hugged her books closer, ready to collapse into bed.
Turning a corner, she nearly collided with someone. It was the Durmstrang boy from earlier, his fur-lined cloak making him look even taller in the dim hallway light.
"Good evening," he said, his accent thick but smooth, his smile small but confident.
Cassie slowed, her brow lifting slightly. "Evening."
A faint smile tugged at his lips, the dim light catching his sharp features. "It seems I've done it again."
"Done what?" Cassie asked, tilting her head.
"Gotten lost," he replied, an almost sheepish chuckle escaping him. "These corridors are like a labyrinth. Does Hogwarts always feel like it's trying to confuse you?"
Cassie raised an eyebrow. "Only if it doesn't like you."
His smile widened. "Then I must work harder to earn its favor." He paused, his expression softening. "I recognize you from this morning. You were with the Ravenclaw girls, no?"
"I was," she said simply, not offering much more.
"And your name?" he asked, his voice casual but his eyes curious.
"Cassiopeia," she answered.
"Cassiopeia," he repeated, the syllables rolling off his tongue with practiced ease. "A name fit for the stars."
Her lips twitched slightly. "Or a life of pride and arrogance. Depends who you ask."
Aleksandr chuckled, a gleam in his eye. "Fair enough. Aleksandr Sokolov. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." He reached out his hand, offering a polite but confident smile.
Cassie hesitated for a moment before reaching out. But instead of shaking her hand, Aleksandr lifted it, brushing a light kiss across her knuckles.
She blinked, caught somewhere between surprise and amusement.
"Have a good evening, Cassiopeia," he said smoothly, his voice low but with a hint of playful challenge, before releasing her hand and stepping back.
Cassie stared at him for a moment, her brows knitting together slightly. "Right." She gave a faint nod, watching him walk away with his usual effortless grace, the quiet confidence in his step matching the glint in his eyes.
Cassie exhaled, her thoughts lingering on the encounter as she made her way back into the common room. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows over the room. She dropped her books on the nearest table and sank into an armchair, curling up with a sigh.
Tomorrow would be another day, another distraction.
But for now, at least, she could rest.