The Marauders Era

Suppose I have to congratulate you two.

It wasn't long until the pair found themselves standing by the beverage table, and though it probably wasn't for the best, Cassie immediately reached for the blue liquid she had gotten so fond of. The sourness didn't bother her as much as it did her companion. As a matter of fact, she'd always prefer sour alcohol over anything else; she wasn't particularly fond of anything too sweet as it usually ended with her getting sick.

"Look as much as I enjoy watching you scrunch up your face. Because I do, you look adorable. I think it's best if you try to keep away from the blue one." Cassie threw him a glance as she filled her glass.

"I suppose you're right." Rabastan chuckled as he found another glass and filled it, this time with punch. He met her gaze as he raised his glass up and gently clinked it together with hers. "Cheers."

"Cheers." She replied, bringing the glass to her lips and let herself be yet again washed away by the euphoric sensation the drink gave her. She had to give it to Professor Slughorn; he really had good taste in alcohol.

"So.." Rabastan began, drawing the attention of the dark-haired girl back to him. "Looking forward to the holiday?"

Cassie scrunched up her face in slight discomfort. "Is there a right answer to that question?" She thought for a moment before continuing. "Hopefully, it won't be that bad... Just wish there was some way for us to run away if it becomes too much."

A rather strange expression covered his face as he leaned slightly closer to her and whispered. "Is that your Christmas wish?"

Cassie seemed surprised for a moment, though quickly remembered that she had never given him a reply when it came to the question he had asked her in his last letter a few days ago. If there was ever going to be made a Christmas wish, then that had to be it. Though she was almost positive with her luck, there was no way on earth it would ever come to happen.

"If I had to make a wish, then yeah. But I doubt it would even happen. After all, that wouldn't be a Christmas wish it would be a bloody miracle." She answered dryly.

"Let us hope for a miracle then." He added just as he was about to take a sip of his drink. Rabastan hadn't tasted the punch before now but found himself immensely enjoying it. It was much better than the blue one; after all, his face didn't end up in grimaces after each sip now. "Maybe we should hire Professor Slughorn as a barkeeper for the wedding. We're sure guaranteed good drinks than, suppose being a potions master can be handy with mixing drinks."

At the mention of the wedding, it was as if a sudden bolt of lightning had struck her as a sudden fit of coughing suddenly erupted from Cassie, causing Rabastan to look at her somewhat concerned.

"Are you okay?" She nodded slightly however continued coughing. She felt a warm, big hand rubbing gentle circles on her upper back, something that calmed her, but not her coughing. "Why don't you drink something?" He immediately scanned the table for any sort of water but came up empty. "Want me to ask for some water?"

She shook her head eagerly as the fit continued. Lifting her almost full glass, she threw the drink down and swallowed it. Though it left a soft burning sensation in her throat, the coughing subsided, and she was left with a rather hoarse voice.

"Oh, merlin." the words came out a bit too raspy for her own preference. She cleared her throat and waited for a moment before trying again. "Tha-erm, Thanks."

He gave her a toothy smile, though the worry still lingered in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just swallowed my drink wrong." she lied smoothly, making any trace of worry disappear from his face. The mention of the wedding had surprised her almost as much as it had frightened her. This was the first time Rabastan had ever mention it, something that made her wonder just how often he thought about it.