𝑨𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒕 - ʜᴊᴘ x ᴏᴄ [𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆&𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆]

𝟏𝟎

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀᴀʟʟ

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Harry was both relieved and disappointed that Gryffindor only shared Potions with the Slytherins. On one hand, it meant he didn't have to endure Malfoy's smug face in every class. On the other, it meant he wouldn't see Cassie. He didn't know why, but there was something about her that kept pulling his attention—maybe it was the way she laughed, or the sharp way she always had a comeback ready. Either way, he wasn't sure he liked the way he felt when she wasn't around.

His conflicting emotions were interrupted when a notice appeared in the common room: Flying lessons would begin on Thursday. Gryffindor and Slytherin together.

"Typical," Harry muttered. "Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy and Cassiopeia."

"You don't know you'll make a fool of yourself," Ron pointed out. "Besides, Cassie won't care, and she doesn't even know how to fly. Malfoy's always going on about how great he is, but I bet that's all talk."

Cassie wasn't looking forward to the lesson. Not that she'd ever admit it. Fear wasn't exactly her style—but flying? That was different. It wasn't that she thought she'd be bad at it, but rather that she'd never tried. And if she wasn't immediately brilliant at something, well... better not to risk it. People had expectations—her mother had been an incredible flyer. Falling flat on her face wasn't an option.

As she and Katherine made their way down the front steps, she could already hear Draco bragging about his skills to Pansy and the others. Cassie rolled her eyes. Draco had been insufferable lately—more so than usual. Ever since she'd started spending time with Potter, her cousin had taken it as some sort of personal betrayal, making snide comments whenever he got the chance. And, of course, Pansy had latched onto it, eager to impress him.

Madam Hooch arrived, sharp-eyed and brisk. "Well? What are you waiting for? Stand by a broomstick! Come on, hurry up."

Cassie eyed her broom with mild suspicion but did as she was told.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!'"

"UP!" the students called in unison. Cassie's broom leapt straight into her hand, as did Harry's and Draco's. No surprise there. Cassie caught Draco shooting her a sideways glance, like he expected her to struggle. She smirked at him as if to say, Nice try.

Madam Hooch paced between the students, correcting grips. When she reached Draco, she snorted. "You've been holding it wrong for years, boy."

Cassie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing but didn't bother hiding the smirk curling at the edge of her lips. Draco scowled at her.

Then, of course, disaster struck.

Neville, bless him, launched himself into the air before Madam Hooch had even blown the whistle. A moment later, he was lying in a heap on the ground, his wrist twisted at an unnatural angle.

"Broken wrist," Madam Hooch muttered, leading him toward the castle. "Nobody moves! Touch those brooms, and you'll be out of Hogwarts faster than you can say 'Quidditch.'"

No sooner had she disappeared than Malfoy started laughing.

"Did you see his face? The great lump!"

Pansy and the goons cackled along, and Cassie felt her irritation spike.

"Shut up, Malfoy," snapped Parvati.

"Oooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" Pansy sneered. "Didn't know you liked fat little crybabies, Patil."

Cassie stepped forward lazily, tilting her head as she looked Pansy up and down. "Huh. And here I thought you were just an airheaded lapdog, but turns out you're also a pug-faced Malfoy groupie. The world's full of surprises, isn't it?"

Pansy turned red, looking ready to retort, but Draco cut her off with a loud, "Look what we have here." He plucked something from the grass—Neville's Remembrall.

Harry's expression darkened. "Give that here, Malfoy."

Draco tossed the glass ball between his hands, smirking. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find. Maybe—up a tree?"

Cassie folded her arms. "Or maybe you could try using it yourself, see if it reminds you how to act like a decent human being. Oh wait, probably won't work. Would need something up there for it to remind you of."

Draco's smirk faltered for half a second before he grinned. "Come and get it, then."

And with that, he kicked off the ground, soaring into the sky.

Cassie and Harry didn't even hesitate. Granger's warning about getting into trouble barely reached their ears before they were in the air, wind rushing through their hair. Cassie felt the initial lurch of panic fade almost instantly. She wasn't just flying—she was good at it. The broom obeyed her every move like it was part of her, and for the first time in a long time, she felt something close to free.

Draco was ahead, dangling the Remembrall, but Cassie didn't need to play his game. She swerved sharply, cutting him off with a cocky grin. "Got slow all of a sudden, Draco? Or do you just get stage fright when you don't have Crabbe and Goyle around?"

Draco scowled, trying to push past her, but Cassie was faster. With a daring tilt forward, she snatched the Remembrall clean from his hands, twirling it in her fingers.

"Thanks, baby cousin," she called teasingly, throwing in an exaggerated wink.

Draco growled under his breath and, in a move so predictable it was almost laughable, tried to knock her off course. Cassie swerved last minute, but for a brief second, she lost her balance, slipping downwards before gripping the broom hard and steadying herself.

Draco laughed triumphantly—until Cassie grinned at him, completely unfazed. "That all you got?" she taunted.

"Catch this, then!" Draco shouted, flinging the Remembrall high into the air before veering back toward the ground.

Cassie started forward, but Harry was already ahead, diving fast. The glass ball plummeted, but Harry was faster, reaching out—and catching it just inches from the ground.

Cassie let out a low whistle, grinning as she hovered mid-air. "Not bad, Potter."

Harry barely had time to grin back before a sharp voice cut through the air. "MISS BLACK. MR. POTTER."

Cassie turned her head and spotted them—Professor McGonagall and Snape, watching the entire thing unfold from below.

Well. This was going to be fun.