The goosebumps on Cass's flesh made her at least another inch taller. She shivered as she walked down the corridor and made her way to the Great Hall, hoping that there would be at least a little bit of warmth amongst the tables. She had her doubts, though. On that frigid mid-December day, just about everyone was tucked in their beds or in front of common room fires.

Not Cass, though. No, Cass's room was currently being used for Margot and Ernie's... reunion. She'd rather be just about anywhere than witnessing that.

First, Cass had gone to the Hufflepuff Common Room in hopes of getting some studying done in front of the warm fire but all of the best spots were already taken. Plus, everyone tried asking questions about her relationship with Enzo, which she was in no mood to answer. She didn't need to embarrass herself with bright red cheeks, especially not with Zacharias Smith there. He'd take any reason to be a jerk and Cass didn't need to give him one.

Then, she'd tried going to the library but it was so empty that she almost fell asleep, not to mention Madam Pince always glared at her because of the time Andie spilled a potion in there. The old woman could never tell them apart no matter what Cass said or did.

She thought about going to Enzo's but despite the fact that she'd visited his room a handful of times, Cass could never remember where the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room was. Plus, she didn't think she'd be able to get in without him—nor did she know if he even wanted her to come over right now. Despite the fact that they'd been together over a month now, Cass was still navigating the rights and wrongs of the new relationship. She didn't want to mess anything up. Cass really liked Enzo—obviously, if she said she loved him—so she didn't want to be too clingy or too annoying or too anything else that Zacharias had called her when they were together.

Plus, he might have already been busy. Enzo was a well-liked guy, always sought-after for attention. He was probably with his friends or using his free time to study. If he wanted to see her, he could seek her out.

So she made her way to the Great Hall even though it wasn't a mealtime in hopes that she could find some warmth, quiet, and perhaps a little snack if there was one. She wouldn't turn a chocolate down right now.

Thankfully, hardly anyone was in the Great Hall so there were plenty of open seats. The few people who were there looked as if they were searching for the exact same thing as her. Cass smiled and found a place tucked away in the corner of the room. It wasn't as warm as she would have liked—her goosebumps weren't going away anytime soon—but at least she didn't have to hear Ernie and Margot making out... or more.

She pulled open her book and began to read about different ways Transfiguration could be used to heal others. Cass had always wanted to be a healer—well, at least since she'd first come to Hogwarts. Her heart wouldn't rest unless she was helping people. While Andie was always the one injuring people, Cass would be the one to help them gather themselves back together.

Something inside of her chest ached as she thought about Andie. Though the pain of losing her twin sister would probably always be there, Cass was at least thankful that she could think of her sister without tears immediately coming to her eyes. Andie's memory deserved to be associated with happiness—not sadness or grief or guilt. Though Cass was still working on the last one, she'd felt the progress that almost a year had brought.

Cass was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice a thin presence slide into the seat across the table from her. It wasn't until the girl softly spoke that Cass practically jumped out of her seat, eyeing the blue-eyed brunette across from her. "What are you reading?"

"Aria," she breathed, clutching her chest. The girl looked concerned for a moment but she stayed quiet, those blue eyes steadily watching her. Before, Cass had always thought that Aria and Enzo had the same captivating eyes. But now, she realized that Aria's were much darker, much more contemplative. Each beautiful in their own distinct way. "Sorry. You frightened me. It's just a Transfigurations book."

Cass took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her racing heart before looking at the girl and smiling. "My roommate and her boyfriend are... busy in our room. Did you come down here for some peace and quiet too?"

Aria shrugged. "Astoria was busy and I was lonely. I thought more people would be here."

"Did Enzo not want to hang out with you? Or Theo?"

The girl's eyes filled with pain at the mention of the tall, grey-eyed boy. Cass instantly realized her mistake as Aria whispered, "No. Theo doesn't want to hang out with me."

Cass got the feeling that there was a lot more to the story than Aria's pained words suggested but she didn't want to pry. After all, while she knew of the girl and had sat by her a couple of times during meals when Enzo sat at the Hufflepuff table, she didn't know her well enough to pry into her love life. So all Cass said was, "I'm sorry, Aria. I know you really liked him. If you ever want to talk, I'm here."

The girl's eyes snapped up to Cass with suspicion. "You knew? Does Enzo—"

"Enzo doesn't know."

"Why didn't you tell him?"

Cass shrugged. "I suppose it wasn't my secret to tell. Plus, I wasn't even sure if I was right. It was just a guess."

"How?" Her voice reminded Cass of the sound of silver bells chiming in the wind. Cass wondered if that was the veela part of her or if it was the beautiful, pure energy that surrounded her. Enzo had told her that part of the reason why Aria's mother hated her so much was that she wasn't a "proper" veela, who all had bright blonde hair, blue eyes, and lots of charm. Frankly, Cass thought that was bullshit. Aria was much more beautiful than any veela she'd seen before. And anyway, when did "veela-ness" become the way that beauty was defined? It was clear that their mother was a narcissist who didn't see her son as a threat but had always viewed her daughter as one. Despite the fact that Enzo had been ignoring them for months, he was still their golden boy. The weekly packages that were immediately given to random first years were but one example.

"How did you know?" Aria repeated.

"Because he looks at you how Enzo looks at me," Cass whispered, suddenly aware of the heat in her cheeks. "And you look at him with all of the emotions I feel for Enz."

Despite the pain that still lingered in her eyes, Aria grabbed onto Cass's hand and squeezed it with a smile on her face. "I'm glad Lorrie's found you. He deserves to be happy. You both do."

Cass smiled and squeezed the girl's hand back. "Thanks, Aria. And I know you don't know me well, but you deserve happiness too. I hope you find it, with or without Theo."

Aria pushed her shoulders back and smiled. For the first time since Cass had ever met her, the girl had confidence. It was a good look on her. "Thanks," she muttered, "but I don't need Theo for my happiness."

"Of course," Cass said with a gentle smile.

Aria nodded before turning back to Cass with bright eyes, pushing Cass's transfigurations book to the side. Cass didn't even fight her on it. Now that she had someone to converse with—someone who she'd never really talked to with a deep connection to the man she loved—she couldn't bring herself to read something as dull as a textbook. Studying could happen later.

"I'd much rather talk about you and Lorrie," Aria said with a mischievous curve to her lips. Mattheo and Astoria were rubbing off on her already. "Tell me everything."

Cass's cheeks felt like they were on fire. Well, at least something in here is warm. Aria giggled, a sound just as beautiful as her voice. "There's really nothing to tell. We're dating."

"And you're not going back with him for the holidays?"

Cass shook her head, scrunching her nose in the process. This was a conversation she and Enzo had often. Cass didn't want to go back to America with her parents because the idea of spending weeks surrounded by memories of her sister's death was too painful for her to bear. Enzo was planning to go back to the Berkshire home but he insisted Cass not come with him. "I don't want you anywhere near that woman," he said with darkness across his face before kissing her forehead.

"But, Enz, I want to be there for you. This can't be easy for you," she'd replied. "Are you sure you want to go at all?"

"Shh," he'd murmured. "I don't want to go but there's something I need to do. I promise that I'll be spending all of my Christmases after this one with you. Alright?"

Cass had agreed, albeit reluctantly. Her efforts to get Enzo to say what he was planning on doing were futile. He wouldn't tell her so she resigned to just wait until he returned for the Yule Ball to find out.

Aria sighed. "I don't blame you. I'm staying here too. Astoria offered to bring me back with her but she's staying at Malfoy Manor and I have a feeling they'll have enough drama without me there to witness it all."

Cass smiled. "Holidays are overrated anyway. There are plenty of reasons to be happy on other days." Though she didn't believe the words. The idea of a holiday without Enzo had her speaking without reason in an attempt to make her feel better about his absence.

"Don't worry," Aria said, seeming to read Cass's mind. "Enzo will make up for his departure. He's already panicked at the idea of leaving the two of us. He doesn't seem to understand that I'm perfectly fine with several days of books and quiet."

Cass laughed. "Quiet doesn't exactly bode well with Enzo."

Aria shook her head with a smile. "He's always been like that. He seems to think that if there's a moment of silence, people will tire of him and send him off."

"Yeah, well I'd never send him off," Cass said with a small smile.

"You really like him, don't you?"

"I love him," Cass said with the same conviction she'd felt on the Quidditch pitch not long ago.

Aria smiled, grabbing onto Cass's hands and squeezing them tightly. "That's amazing. I know Enzo really loves you. A lot. He's a little annoying about it sometimes, to be quite honest with you."

"Really?"

"Oh yes," Aria said with a grin. "Goes on and on about you all the time. Draco had to make a rule that he was only allowed to bring you up for thirty minutes a day. Lorrie's been dying ever since then."

Cass could picture very vividly a red-faced Enzo, eager to talk about the latest news. "Well, it makes sense, I suppose. I'm his first girlfriend."

Aria quickly shook her head. "That's definitely not it. Lorrie loves you. Not just your relationship." She turned to Cass with a sly grin. "He wants to marry you, Cass. He's been very, very clear about that to the rest of us. He punched Mattheo once for jokingly calling you his future wife. I think if you asked him to marry him right now, he'd already have half the wedding planned."

Cass was sure that if she had a drink, she would have spit it out right then. She knew Enzo loved her—he told her so as often as he could—but to think of marriage? As teenagers? She didn't know a single teenage boy who was eager to tie himself down yet he apparently regularly told his friends of his intentions. Cass would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it too—but she thought all girls did. A little house tucked away in a quiet corner of the world, Enzo holding a daughter of theirs, a life as a healer. It sounded perfect. To know that he might want those things too... it just made Cass fall a little deeper for him.

"W-well..." she stammered. "That's... good."

"Good?" Aria laughed. "It's great! I've always wanted a sister!"

Cass smiled softly. Sadly. A million little shards of glass rebroke inside of her chest. "I was a sister once," she whispered brokenly, her mind going back to the night she'd lost it all. The night when she no longer had a sister to call her own. A familiar ache returned to her heart.

The feeling of Aria squeezing her hand again broke Cass away from what would have surely been a haunting afternoon spent wondering what she could have done differently. "You're still a sister now," Aria said. "Just in a different form. The ones we love never really love us."

Cass nodded but didn't say anything, fearing that any words she said would bring on a set of tears before she had a chance to fight them off. "I'll be right back," Aria muttered with those bright eyes back on Cass. It looked as if an ocean were staring right at her, the waves churning with the signs of a storm to come. "Don't go anywhere."

Cass didn't need to be told twice. With a textbook in front of her and pain slowly leaving her, she had no intentions to move. After all, where would she go? She was sure Margot and Ernie were far from done. Cass sighed at the possibility of sleeping in the Hufflepuff Common Room. The idea was looking more and more real the longer the day dragged on without a sign of them.

As Cass was wondering which of the Hufflepuff couches would be the comfiest, she heard the sound of footsteps slamming down the corridor. She peered up at the door to the Great Hall only to see—to her surprise—Enzo, sprinting into the room with his hair sticking up in a million directions. His eyes frantically searched the room. When they finally landed on her, he ran over to her and knelt before her. Cass didn't have time to ask what he was doing—or wonder why she felt a rush of heat at the sight of him on his knees in front of her—before Enzo kissed her.

Cass's toes curled as Enzo's large, strong hands cupped her cheek and pulled her closely. Every time they kissed, she marveled at his incredible strength. His lips moved against hers with hunger—albeit sleepy hunger. The state of his hair coupled with his slower movements made Cass wonder if he was napping before he ran down here. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her face for better access.

Kissing Enzo was like kissing the sun. Fiery and warm, with a passionate that brought waves of heat barrelling down on her.

He broke away, panting as his blue eyes stared at her with hunger. "Why didn't come find me when Margot and Ernie took your room?"

Cass blushed at the electricity she felt in his gaze. "Because I didn't know if you wanted to hang out. It's not Saturday night. You might be busy."

"I'm never too busy for you, sunshine," Enzo rasped. His arm flexed, though his hand on her cheek stayed gentle. Cass got the sense that Enzo was struggling to hold himself back from something.

"Are you alright, Enz?"

He chuckled. The sight brought out his dimples—one of her favorite parts about him. "I'm fine, Cass. Just sleepy and horny and really trying to talk myself into being a gentleman."

A frantic sense of need rapidly churned between them. Cass gulped as she felt it overtake her. She hadn't felt like this since... ever. She and Zacharias had gone all the way but never in their relationship had she felt the sparks that she was feeling with Enzo. It filled her head with fog and curled her toes inside her sneakers. "And what would you say," Cass said slowly, "if I tried to talk you out of being a gentleman."

Enzo clenched his jaw. Merlin. He'd never looked sexier. Well, perhaps when she caught sight of his toned muscles dripping from a fresh shower after that one Quidditch match...

"I'd say," Enzo said in a deep voice that had Cass on the precipice of losing herself right there in the middle of the Great Hall, "that my bedroom is currently wide open. And that we will move at whatever pace you desire."

Cass nodded shakily. "Well... I like the idea of the bedroom if you like the idea of it."

The corners of Enzo's lips turned upward. "Bedroom it is."

Finally, we have a spicy chapter coming ahaha. The friends thing really threw off my pace and the rest of the story is jam-packed with stuff but I'm trying to get in the spice for everyone who loves it so rest assured: it will be coming soon.

Since we're a little over halfway, what do you think? Liking the story so far? Liking Enzo and Cass? Anything you're eager to see? Let me know!

And here's some BIG NEWS! On my Wattpad (same username SerpentsAndSongbirds), I made a big announcement. Essentially: I started a book podcast with some besties and did a face reveal + Instagram/Tiktok reveal on my House of Snakes story (which has bonus content like playlists and family trees and more if you guys suggest it). I can't post it on here because I can't put pictures but if you're interested in checking out my podcast, seeing what the heck your author looks like, or want to connect with me on socials, try to check it out. Our podcast is called The Book Room and it's on Apple/Spotify/etc. but all that info and more is on that bonus story. Check it out if you're interested! We'd love more listeners and I love connecting with you readers on my socials :)))