Moonstruck | marauders era

xx. back at Hogwarts

     The winter break was over a couple of days after the group of friends had separated and gone home to spend a few more days with their families. Cassie enjoyed the quiet time with her family, playing simple board games with them or going on a walk with Cupcake before she had to go back to school. She enjoyed it just as much however to board the train back to the castle. She had only a minute to herself before Skyler had found her and her interest was awakened by the serious look on her friend's face.

"We need to talk as soon as we arrive."

"Why not now?"

"Because I already saw the others on the platform, which means they'll arrive in the next couple of minutes and this will take longer than that." Cassie raised her eyebrows in question. "My dad talked to my grandfather again over Christmas. He gave in, we do have an Ava in our family."

Cassie sat up straight, her mouth falling open.

"There you are!" Grace cheered as she entered the compartment. Cassie exchanged a glance with Skyler. They'd talk later. Cassie smiled at Grace but frowned at the small cat in her arms.

"Ehm... Grace?"

The blonde sat down next to Skyler, settling the white, thick-furred cat carefully in her lap. The cat responded with a quiet purr.

"Yes?" she looked up from the small cat to Cassie with a grin. "Oh, this is Snowball. Remember when I told you that my siblings found a tiny stray shortly before Christmas? They wanted me to take him with me to school so I'd miss them less, they said. He got the all clear from the vet so,-"

"The what?"

"Don't tell me you wizards and witches don't have vets," said Grace with a glare. "You have so many owls and other animals in your world and you don't have vets?"

Cassie frowned, shrugging.

"A vet is like an animal doctor. God, how are all of those owls still alive," mumbled Grace, shaking her head. "Anyways, my siblings took him to see a doctor and he is underfed but otherwise healthy. We tried to find his owners but no one came around so we got to keep him."

Cassie leaned forward to carefully scratch the cat's head. Another low purring reached her ears and she smiled.

"Snowball, huh?"

"Really?" Skyler scoffed with a shake of her head, trying to hide a grin.

"What? Cameron named him." Cassie smiled at the mention of Grace's youngest brother. She adored Grace's siblings and their group couldn't wait to find out if Cameron would turn out to be a wizard like Grace as her other two siblings, Max and Zoe, hadn't gotten the letter.

     Snowball helped Cassie's nerves stay low during the train ride. She scratched the little cat whenever she found her mind diving too much into whatever Skyler's father had found out. She was grateful for other distractions like James and Sirius passing by, wrapping the girls into a conversation or Noah and Benjy coming around to complain about Sam and Celeste, who were 'way too cuddly and sweet. Disgusting'.

Arriving at the castle didn'toffer a good opportunity for the friends to have the needed conversation. They found themselves at the Hufflepuff table, surrounded by friends and loud chattering and laughter from other students catching up after winter break. Cassie tried to focus on her food to stop her mind from wandering when she noticed Grace looking around the hall with a frown.

"What's wrong? Too much?"

"No, it's not that," she turned to catch Cassie's eyes. "Something feels off. Someone's feeling... I don't know, upset? Worried? Hurt? All of the above, actually."