The sound of rushing brooms and hundreds of cheers filled the air. Robes of brilliant blue and vivid green passed by, creating a tornado as they pursued a ball that whizzed through the air. Excitement rolled over the crowd like an avalanche tumbling down a mountain. The Quidditch stands were packed with Ravenclaws and Slytherins alike, ready to watch the exciting match with clenched fists and wicked smiles.

Cass cheered as Enzo took the field at the start of the game. She was clad in an assortment of Slytherin gear—a dark green jersey with the last name Berkshire emboldened in silver, a green and silver scarf to match, a green beanie with a silver puffball, and a coat that matched the rest of the ensemble. All of it was promptly given to her by her mother, who insisted that Cass not only support her boyfriend (as if she would ever dream of being anywhere else when Enzo was playing) but that she should be decked out in Slytherin's colors while doing so. Enzo loved all of it, though he insisted that she wear his spare jersey each game.

"You're my lucky charm," he said with a grin this morning before a match. Then, he kissed her like they were in the middle of the Great Hall before winking at her and going to prepare. Needless to say, if he was going to kiss her like that, she would gladly wear the jersey.

Though the match was in the evening, Cass hadn't seen him since this morning. Enzo was rather intense when it came to Quidditch so he had a whole routine planned out for the morning before his game. To be honest, she was rather surprised when he'd shown up at breakfast. Enzo's friends had warned Cass of Enzo's Quidditch prowess so she'd assumed he'd be far too busy to see her. Knowing that she was his lucky charm made her feel warm all over.

"Remind me again why we're here," Margot asked dryly as she stood there with her arms crossed, the one spot of yellow in a sea of ocean-like colors. She sputtered as someone flew past her as part of their warmup, making her hair fly everywhere. It stuck to her lipglossed scowl. "It's cold as hell and neither one of these teams is our own house."

Cass laughed and looped her arm around her friend. "You know why, Margs. I want to support Enzo just as much as he supports me."

She glared at the grey sky as if that would keep the frigid winds from bearing down on them. It was nearing the end of November and the weather was finally starting to act on it. Cass was glad she brought her mittens; she'd be miserable without them. Thanks, Mom, she sent out into the world mentally. Growing up in the American North, her mother always insisted that her girls carry a hat, coat, and gloves with them from October to April. Apparently, Minnesota was much colder than the UK so even though Cass argued that she didn't need them on the sunnier days, her mother insisted. Now, she was glad. It was a little warmer this morning but it was definitely getting chillier as the day went on.

Cass's mind flashed to a memory of a Minnesota winter. Of the sight of a glove lying on the cold, icy ground while screams and a lingering honk filled her mind. Andie's frozen, dead body looking back at her with lifeless brown eyes, unblinking as if in horror.

"Well, I don't see why we have to support him while freezing our asses off," Margot said, interrupting Cass from the terrible memory and the sense of lingering guilt that always followed. "Can you not just buy him a chocolate frog and give him a blow-job? Seemed to work well with Ernie."

The mention of her now ex-boyfriend was enough to deepen Margot's angry expression. Her brows furrowed and her green eyes narrowed at the players flying past. Cass wasn't sure why Margot and Ernie broke up this time—the girl refused to talk about it and Cass didn't want to pry—but she did know that Ernie somehow messed up because he was knocking on their door constantly. It was rather funny a few days ago when Enzo answered the door during their movie night to a sobbing Ernie, only to bring the boy in and give him advice on how to win Margot back. Cass had to admit: her affection for him grew a little bit more as she watched her kind-hearted boy.

"Cast a warming spell if you're so miserable," Cass said with a grin. She was cold, too, but the adrenaline building within her body as Madam Hooch released the quaffle and bludgers was enough to keep her warm. At the sight of the golden snitch flying off into the air, she tensed. Whatever lingering cold she felt was gone.

"I'm not going to cast a bloody warming spell. What am I: a ninny?"

"You're acting like one," Cass teased before grabbing her friend and pulling her into a hug. "Thanks for joining me, Margs. You don't have to stay if you don't want to. Go inside and grab some hot chocolate."

Margot rolled her eyes before hugging Cass back. The short ends of her black hair tickled Cass's neck as they embraced—though Cass was starting to wonder if Margot was only being this affectionate because she was cold and wanted body heat. "I'm not going back inside. At least out here, Ernie leaves me alone."

"And you're sure you don't want to just hear him out?"

"Oh, and I suppose he had a great reason for hugging that Ravenclaw!" Cass bit her lip to avoid pointing out to Margot that she'd seen him hug that girl several times—and that they had similar eyes and facial features. Perhaps the Ravenclaw was a cousin, or perhaps Margot was right and Ernie was a cheater. Though she really doubted that; Ernie was always so nice and so doting on Margot. Growing up with five brothers, Margot could sometimes be a little bit clueless when it came to boys, something Cass found ironic. Eventually, Margot would calm down and Ernie would explain his side and they'd be good as new.

She'd tried getting involved in her friend's relationship one time—offering advice and trying to help them mend their ways. Cass would never do that again. It took her a six whole months to look at chocolate the same.

"What's Enzo doing?" Margot wondered, drawing Cass's attention back to the game. Her eyes instantly found him at the middle of the field. He looked to be scouring the stands for something. It couldn't have been Aria—she was in her usual seat in the front next to Theodore Nott. The two of them always managed to get the same spot each time, though that was probably due to Theo's sharp gaze and intimidating size. Cass wished she had that in her arsenal. It would certainly prevent her from being jostled over as she tried to squeeze in.

Cass smiled as she realized there was only one person he could be looking for then. She waved her arms really large as his eyes traveled over their section. Enzo's face brightened as Cass blew him a quick kiss. He caught it in his fist before flying back to the other Slytherin chasers, joining in on their formation. With his kiss still in her hand, Enzo scored. The crowd erupted into cheers as the first points of the game were put on the board. But Enzo's eyes weren't on the crowd.

They were just on her.

"You two are so gross," Margot said but even she couldn't help the smile at the edge of her lips. "You've been dating for—what, a few weeks?—and you're already looking at each other like you're going to get married and have babies."

Cass blushed at the thought. "What's so bad about that?" She rather liked the idea of marrying Lorenzo Berkshire and having his babies. They'd have his blue eyes and her blonde hair. His loyalty and her compassion. She couldn't wait for that day, to be honest.

"It makes you two absolutely disgusting to look at. You know what I walked in on the other day? You two making out. You're going to scar my stuffed animals and I'm going to have to put them in therapy again! They can't go back there, Cass! They don't take my mum's insurance anymore!"

She couldn't help the laughter that burst out of her. Everyone around them looked at her oddly before smiling once they realized that she was the captain's girlfriend. "Stuffed animal therapy? Are you actually serious, Margot? Where do you come up with this stuff?"

Her friend turned up her petite nose. "I'll have you know that it's a very legimitate industry. Duke Snuggleworth has never been the same since."

They clapped again as Slytherin scored, this time from Nora Rosier. Over the past couple weeks, Cass was starting to get to know the girl. Though she was a little prickly at first, Cass could sense that there was a kind heart hidden behind the icy exterior. Lately, Nora had been smiling at her a little more often. To Cass, that was a win. She could practically picture them being best friends after a few months. After all, not many people got that far with the popular girl.

Cass turned back to her other best friend, the one who could never be replaced. "Is Duke Snuggleworth the polar bear with the beret?"

Margot scoffed. "Put some respect on Baroness Fluffington! Speaking as if she's some commoner. Duke Snuggleworth is a highly-respected bear with a monocle."

Unable to contain her amusement, Cass just giggled and wrapped her arms around her best friend and squeezed tightly. Margot hugged her back before shivering overdramatically. "So there's no way I could convince you to come inside with me? Not even if I let you hold Baroness Fluffington?"

"Could I hold Duke Snuggleworth?" Cass teased.

Margot gasped. "Of course not! He's my favorite!"

"Then nope. I'm afraid to say it's Duke Snuggleworth or nothing. I can't be trading my boyfriend for a low-ranking aristocrat. What kind of girlfriend would I be?" Cass smiled as her mind went over how ridiculous of a conversation this was, though she'd never tell Margot that. The girl loved big and loved deeply, including with her many stuffed animals. Cass wondered what the school would think if the cool, grungy Hufflepuff girl had a nest of stuffed animals on her bed who not only followed an aristocracy but also went to therapy. It was one of the many reasons she loved her best friend. Margot was full of surprises and while Cass often felt boring, she knew that Margot would more than make up for her.

"If your boyfriend doesn't stop looking over at us, he's going to get hit with a bludger."

Cass looked up to see that Margot was telling the truth. Enzo was constantly sneaking glances at where she sat, even as he held the quaffle in his hands and went to score another goal. She cupped her hands around her mouth and smiled. "Go Enzo!" she shouted with all her might.

"That's right!" Margot cheered too. "Go Berkshire! Don't suck in front of your girlfriend!"

Enzo rolled his eyes as if he heard them before blowing Cass another kiss just as Mattheo arrived in time to save his beautiful face from a bludger. Cass watched in awe as Enzo glided across the field, looking as if he were dancing on air. Everyone else was a good flyer too but Enzo? He was incredible. He looked as if he'd been born to be on that broomstick. He called to the skies and they answered in full. Lorenzo Berkshire was nothing short of a Quidditch God. Watching him zip and glide across the open field like a sailfish slicing through the open water.

"Yeah, he's brilliant," Margot sighed, apparently reading Cass's mind. And if she was saying that, then it was clear that Enzo was more than incredible. He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands as he scored almost all of Slytherin's goals while helping out his teammates and being a good sport to the other players. Cass could see why he was chosen to be captain. Not only was he amazing at the sport, but also with people too. It was one of the many reasons she loved him.

Cass's eyes widened as she realized something: she loved Enzo. She loved him. She loved him so effortless, so easily. Loving him was like loving a sunny day or a warm cinnamon bun. She hadn't known she loved him until the thought slipped into her mind and warmed her more than any spell or any pair of gloves ever could. He was her boyfriend. And she loved him.

It seemed soon, perhaps, but in a way, it wasn't. They'd known each other for months now and while they'd only been dating for a couple weeks of those, Cass had been slowly falling for him all this time. They were friends first and then lovers—and that somehow made it even better.

She smiled as she cheered even louder for him. Enzo, seeming to sense his girlfriend's support, moved even quicker, scoring again. And when he turned back to look at her, she mouthed those three little words, unable to contain herself any longer. "I love you."

Enzo's eyes widened. He slipped from his broom a little, forcing her heart to stutter. Mattheo quickly righted his captain before patting him on the back and grinning. Before Enzo could turn back to look at her, a quaffle was thrown in his direction and he was darting back across the field. But she didn't mind. She said it as a statement—not expecting a response, nor needing one. Her love didn't diminish any less if he wasn't ready to give her those words back and it never would. Cass loved Enzo. And right now, that was enough.

Okay, but why did I love this chapter way more than I expected to when I first started writing it? Margot and Cass are such cute friends and then Enzo being amazing at Quidditch and finally her little love confession. The next chapter might be short but it'll be from Enzo's POV!