Moonstruck | marauders era

vii. dinner reunion

With the days of October rushing by the day of the first Slugclub dinner neared. Grace was beyond thrilled but only for the fact that she gets to give her friend a dress over. The blonde was collecting a few make-up tools as well as a hairbrush and some hair slides while Cassie sat cross-legged on her bed, watching her.

"I don't even want to go so why do I need to look all dressed up again?"

Grace smiled brightly at her, pointing the make-up brush in her hand at her.

"It's a dinner with some 'high-society students' like Skyler would say." she sat behind Cassie, holding her shoulders to keep her in place as the brunette wanted to turn around. She huffed while Grace started to brush her hair.

"It's either students with known parents or very smart ones. Which leads me to the question again why I have to go there," Cassie mumbled, feeling her friend begin to braid her hair. "Admit it, you just wanted to put me through a makeover."

Grace playfully tugged at a strand of Cassie's hair to which the brunette laughed. Grace kept quiet after that but as she finished the braid and threw a dark red blouse and a black skirt at her friend Cassie was convinced she had seen an almost evil grin on her face.

A knock announced Cassiopias arrival at the dinner. She entered the big room Slughorn had chosen to host his dinner party in and her eyes scanned the room. Only two chairs were empty at the big table surrounded by students looking at her. She immediately recognized the girl sitting next to one of the empty chairs and she gulped, not knowing how to act around the Gryffindor.

"Ahh, Miss Grady!" Slughorn cheered as he stood up. "It is so nice to have you here tonight! Come, take a seat." he gestured to the two empty spots next to each other. Cassie gave him a tight smile and a small nod before she moved to take the seat next to the strawberry blonde.

Mia Crestfield smiled brightly at the Hufflepuff as she sat down beside her and Cassie looked over with a forced smile still on her face. She didn't know exactly how to act around the former friend. How is someone supposed to act around their sibling's ex-girlfriend?

Noah and Mia had dated for two years, each being their first relationship ever. Cassie always admired the bond they shared but the pair realized after two years of a romantic relationship that their feelings had lessened until they acted like friends rather than lovers. They broke up before summer break and Cassie was questioning herself how she was supposed to act around Mia now. They had been friends during the time of her dating Noah but now they were broken up and Cassie didn't know if she was simply allowed to be friends with her brother's ex.

"Cassie," Mia cheered, "it is so nice to see you! Besides classes we hadn't really had the chance of talking to each other. How are you?" Cassie opened her mouth and closed it again, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Yeah well.....I mean," she stopped to take a deep breath, "I've been great. What about you?" she didn't mean it but a look of sympathy formed on her face. Mia lightly scoffed and waved her off.

"Oh Cassie, don't look at me like that!" she grabbed her hand and looked her in the eyes, Cassie allowing her to pierce through her soul with those gorgeous green eyes. "Noah and I broke up on good terms, no hearts broken. We just realized we're better off as friends. That does not mean the two of us can't be friends anymore."

Cassies eyes glistened as she squeezed Mia's hand softly. "It doesn't?"

"Of course not! You're stuck with me whether you like it or not."

The Hufflepuff now smiled brightly. "Believe me, I do like that."

Lily Evans was seated on the other side of Mia. She looked over at the pair next to her and smiled. Mia had feared to loose not only Noah but also Cassiopia or Grace as her close friends and Lily had assured her that they will be able to talk it out. Lily smiled knowing she had been right. She was happy that her friend was happy and she decided she wanted to get to know the various group around Cassiopia Grady better.