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You find yourself sitting on a bench on the edge of the black lake. Fellow students have gathered to watch the fireworks and listen to the band perform. The moon illuminated the night sky behind the castle. There’s distant chatter all around, and many of your friends are celebrating with the international students. You were glad the tournament was over, the stress of that and classes led to more one-nighters than usual. Thankfully the eyeshadow, poet in the night, you wore hid the bags under your eyes. For the celebration you dressed up in your Hogwarts Heritage outfit and styled your hair in a Streaked wolf cut dyed black with blue ends look.
You turn from the lake view and search the crowd to find Cassandra standing alone in the tree line. Making your way to her, you hadn’t seen her since she was released from the hospital wing earlier that day. She wore a matching outfit, obviously, the accent colors were green matching her house. Her hair was styled a bit differently, rather than letting her hair hang off her shoulder it was pulled into a loose braid that that sat on her right shoulder. The top part is styled in a volume wave that flows to one side while the other is pushed over her ear. She also wore a green bow in the center of the back of her head.
Her emerald eyes meet yours the moment you reach her peripheral vision. “You’ve cleaned up nice, for a commoner.”
“Wow a compliment, have I really outdone myself?” You do a little twirl, earning a small smile from her.
“You surprised me during this competition. I overheard what happened with Viggo…” Crossing her arms she leaned against the tree.
“Most muggle children fight with their fists so I guess you can say I had the upper hand.” You laugh at your own joke and hear a long sigh leave her lips. “I wonder if he knows what Ilvermorny wouldn’t exist without Hogwarts.“
“In the end, we came out victorious and showed you all aren’t so average after all.”
“What a year.”
“Yes, speaking of Ilvermorny. We still haven’t talked about when Violet was impersonating me. Did you honestly think that was me!?”
“Yes, I’ll admit you-she was acting a bit strange. In my defense, I hadn't had a good night's sleep and was functionally solely off pepperup…"
She cut you off by grabbing your tie and pulling you towards her, “Don’t ever fall for that again.”
Eyes wide and awake you reply, “Yes Cass.” She gently lets go of your tie and you adjust it back into place.
The choir behind began to sing your school’s song. You remove your glove from your right hand and hold out your previously injured hand to her. She takes your hand leading the two of you to sit on a nearby bench in the back. Sitting hand in hand she leans on you, her head resting between your shoulder and neck.
"You should really get a good night's rest, that eyeshadow isn't fooling me."
"Now that you are no longer in the hospital wing, I can rest a bit easier." You glanced at your conjoined hands, your thumb tracing the back of her hand. A feeling of disgust entered the more you stared at the injury that spread across your entire arm.
"Stop it." You separated your hands for a moment and wrapped your arm around her, nestling in closer.
“I'd like for all of us to have one year where no one is in any danger. I know we haven't faced anything on the same level that Harry Potter went through. But I would like to not have to worry about everyone's safety or watch my back at all times. Now that NOTME has been making more appearances and the breakout in Askaban…" You felt a hand on your cheek, pulling your direction to face Cassandra who was now sitting up.
"How’s your arm been? I noticed you were using your left hand to perform incantations.”
“Thankfully Professor Flitwick has been very patient in helping me relearn.” Your breathing subsided and your heart no longer felt like it was going to explode.
“This may be a bit late but, what are your plans for the summer?”
You forgot that the summer was just around the corner and everyone would be returning home. “I’ll be waiting tables at the Three Broomsticks. I plan to visit the city of London a couple of times to do some sightseeing. And of course, I’ll be stopping by at the Vole residence so someone doesn’t miss me too much.”
“You are not to mention ever again.” She playfully smacked your knee. “Knowing them they won’t stop pestering me so you better show up more than once this summer.”
Over the winter break, Cassandra invited you to her home after deeming you unfit to take care of yourself over the break. It wasn’t uncommon for you to neglect self-care and overindulge in your studies, but this year in particular was extra challenging with the tournament. Before the break started she barged into your room, unsure of how she got in, and scolded you for the state of your room. Rightfully so since you hadn't left your room in weeks, only leaving to get food and occasionally shower. It wasn't the worst state she had seen you in, recovering from your injury last year had been much worse, but it was one of your lower moments.
“Cass, I’ve been making to ask…” You were cut off by the sound of fireworks echoing in the air, you’ll ask her later. You look around to see everyone watching the fireworks dance in the night sky, literally. These past four years have flown by and you have made so many unforgettable memories.
As much as you wanted to relax there was this underlying feeling of nervousness. The OWLS test would be coming up next year, NOTME seems to be making themselves more known again, and you weren’t sure if your WB account would transfer over to NetEase?! Worries aside, as long as you had your friends by your side, there wasn’t anything you could not handle.