Chapter Text
Hufflepuff common room.
- And now, to our lovely main character of today! - Exclaimed Cassia, - to Victorie, our officially oldest Pine Societee!
Three shots of firewhiskey and one butterbeer bottle clinged among friends, while the newest David Bowie record played. It was birthday present from Adikia and her new boyfriend, or so she said. But, where is she now?
The truth is that it wasnt easy to spot anyone in common room at that moment, so the question was one thousand percent suitable. A little gathering became a big party. Noone really knows how or who told these people to show up. Probably him… or her… or someone else. Cassiopea Black didn’t care though, as long as her one and only closest friend was around. She looked over at Belladonna Ollivander, who was spiking Charles Macmillan’s drink with probably some form of laxative. The amount of hatred this girl carried toward’s Cassia’s ex was tremendous.
Black left her shot glass on the table when someone called for her from the other side of crowdy room.
- Cassia! Cassia! - Blonde girl with unnaturally blue hair ends was shouting trough talking and laughs. - Come over here!
That was Adikia Skeeter, one of the Pine Society members. Exact girl that Cassia wondered about. The girl got up and straighten her black skirt. Fortunately there was a mirror nearby, so Black could make sure her makeup is not smeared. She looked at her dark curls reaching to her shoulders. She thought if she should rather cut them once again, but quickly her thoughts came back to earth. Adikia was calling her. Cassiopea pushed the glasses on her nose back to their right place and went over to shorter girl.
- There you are! This is Ascaris, my boyfriend. - Adikia said, presenting tall, blond guy standing beside her. Cassia smiled and waved at him.
- Cassia, uh, sex? - Ascaris blurted out, to Black’s surprise.
- Sure, let’s go. - The girl answered, to Adikia laughter. It was for sure a strange request, but Cassia was nearly sure it was Adikia’s idea.
The three of them went back to the table where the rest of Pine Society was sitting right now. Adikia once again introduced Ascaris to everyone, and then went back to look for her best friend, Eunice Filch.
- So, what was that about? - Cassiopea said, after sitting on the couch next to visibly anxious Ascaris. - You want me to be your side hoe, or something?
Ah yes, if there was one thing that Cassiopea Black could do perfectly, it was bluffing and flirting with people she had no intention dating. Just like right now, because why would she take her friend’s leftovers? She wasn’t interested in him the slightest, even though he was actually good looking guy. After all, she just broke up with Charles. And this break up didn’t leave her wanting anyone. She was happily single.
- uh, you know what? - Ascaris answered, acutally acting confident. - I do. So what, we hook up now?
The girl was too stunned to speak. All she wondered was if this moron was acutally for real wanting her to cheat on his girlfriend with. But a second later magically Adikia showed up and everything cleared up.
- So now you are his side piece? Well, too bad, because i want you as my side piece too.
- Honestly i dont think its a problem, Adikia. I can leave both of you satisfied, can’t I?
Cassia didn’t care if the second girl would feel attacked. After all, Adikia knew it was lighthearted, because of not so old break up. Or so she thought.
But it wasnt Cassia’s problem, at least not back then. She just got up and walked towards Belladonna, who was looking so smug.
- He shat his brain out, mate. I feel bad for the toilet though. - Bella said sweetly, drinking her own drink. - I’m sure he wont touch any alcohol for at least twenty minutes now.
Cassia just smiled and shook her head while putting a joint between her teeth. What better could she do than to smoke some weed during this oh so little party? Nobody will see anything after all. She loved Belladonna, and she loved that Bella didnt gave single fuck for her smoking habits. It was a fight long gone.
- Oi, isn’t something going on between Skeeter and this blond guy? What was his name-
- Ascaris. And yes, it is. It’s time for me to go there and listen in. You with me? - Cassia said, reigniting her joint. She could hear that Belladonna is right behind her.
- …you always do everything however you want and you dont give one fucking shit about what im feeling.
- You know what? Okay. Take care. Cassiopea! Here. - Ascaris shouted the second he could see Black. She wasn’t sure if that was play fight or really bad misunderstanding, but well, she was drunk and joint inbetween her teeth made her feel invincible. So she just looked at Belladonna smugly and jumped into Ascaris’ lap, facing him. She placed her hands behind his neck, and one move more and they would kiss. But it wasn’t the goal of today.
- Hi baby, - she said after exhaling the smoke. - You smoke?
- No, I will pass. - Ascaris said reluctantly while looking at Adikia. He reached behind her back and took out some weird looking glass with mysterious liquid. - But do you want to take a sip?
- What the fuck is that? - Cassia sniffed the liquid, but even she couldnt make any sense of the ingridients.
- This, my dear Cassia, is the Cauldron. Made it myself! - Ascaris exclaimed proudly. - Inside there is every alcohol i could find during this party. And probably some more. Take a sip! It was made for Victorie, but she isn’t a fan.
Cassia just looked at Adikia, who went to the next couch and went to sleep, holding some weirdly shaped pillow. Then her vision shifted back to Ascaris and the Cauldron.
- I wonder why. It looks so appetizing after all.
She wasnt a fan of the drink. But it was alright, considering there was everything inside. Nonetheless, Cassia refused to take second sip. She just inhaled more smoke instead.
- Tell me, Ascie, - Cassia started. Now she was sitting beside the boy, while most of the guests left. - Which year are you? Because i guess you are the same house as Adikia.
- Sixth. You?
- Fifth. Dumbass. I have most of my classes with your girlfriend, don’t you know? How long are you two together? - She surely didn’t have any filter once afterparty started. She didn’t care.
- Never seen you though. And us? Bit over a year.- He didnt care as well. - Tell me something now. Because right now it seems like you are interrogating me, Cass.
- So, Im fifth-year, like you know. And i am single at the moment. - She pointed at Charles, who was holding his new, unspiked beer and talking to some other guy. - And not interested, since i just broke up with mr. “i dont deserve anything”.
- You shitting me right now?
- Why would I?
- Because that’s one of my best friends.
Cassiopea just froze. Charles Macmillan is Ascaris’ best friend. She had no words.
- um, well, - she took a sip from the Cauldron. - Did he said anything about me?
- Just some bits. He told me that you are all talk no game when it comes to sex.
He was right. She was a virgin after all. And she didn’t want to change that any time soon. But also her best friend was avid smut reader, so she knew exactly what to say to needy men.
- Cheers to that, then. - She finished her glass in one go. - You gonna go now? Or you are staying here for the night?