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CASSIOPEIA FOUND HERSELF HANGING OUT IN THE COURTYARD, READING A COPY OF WITCH WEEKLY. She was slumped against a tree when a familiar wave of yellow robes plopped down next to her. She peered over the top of her magazine to see Eleanor sitting there, holding a bag of Gobstones. Next to her was Kennedy Maples, her red hair glowing and her Prefect badge shining.
"Round of Gobstones, Cass?" Eleanor grinned as she shook the bag.
From beside her, Kennedy scoffed. Cassiopeia gave her a look and Eleanor quirked an eyebrow. The redhead looked disinterestedly at her nails, "Gobstones is a game for children. So is Witch Weekley."
Eleanor timidly tucked her bag of Gobstones into her pocket. Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, "I didn't know you were the fun police, Maples."
"I'm not. I'm just saying that students who are almost of age and taking N.E.W.T. courses should really leave childish things behind," Kennedy popped a bubble of her gum very loudly. She narrowed her eyes at Cassiopeia. "I thought you ought to know that. You want to be taken seriously these two years to get a good letter of recommendation from your Head of House and a proper career."
Cassiopeia had very few interactions with Kennedy before this. She had made small talk with her a few times at the bookstore and had never gotten the impression that she was this pretentious. She thought it was ridiculous that Kennedy was discouraging them from enjoying things they liked because might potentially impact their future careers. She had never heard of employers caring about whether or not you Gobstones or read Witch Weekly in your free time.
"Well, Eleanor and I are going to play a round of Gobstones," Cassiopeia hissed as she set down her magazine. "You're welcome to join us if you'd like. Unless you think you're too good for it. You never know. There could be a Ministry of Magic official around, waiting to put on your record that you were caught playing Gobstones on the first day of classes."
Kennedy scoffed, "I'm just looking out for you, Coldwell."
The ginger took off, blue robes billowing behind her, and Cassiopeia rolled her eyes. She turned towards her cousin. "Has she always been that stuck up? She seemed okay when I talked to her this summer."
Eleanor shrugged, "I think she just has a lot of expectations placed on her. She told me how she was a shoo-in for Head Girl and how she was waiting for that letter to come, only to find out Dumbledore gave it to Gracie Nichols. Kennedy said her parents were very disappointed. Gracie Nichols wasn't even a Prefect before becoming a Head Girl, she's just dating Eddie Carmichael. Kennedy's really upset it."
"That still doesn't give her the right to be a complete prick to you. I mean, honestly, who cares if you're playing Gobstones? It's your free period."
Eleanor looked sheepishly down at her feet. "She does a have point. We are N.E.W.T. students, now. We really should be studying. It would look good on a resume."
