Alone.

Only Sometimes

"I suppose I should be getting to bed then." Cassie said, standing up and looking at the boys.

Sirius yawned and stood as well, walking and collapsing into his bed. Peter followed suit on his own bed.

Remus slowly started to clean up the board games and food rubbish littering the room.

James looked at Cassie, "You... sure you'll be alright? Walking alone?"

Cassie turned and faced James, "Why wouldn't I- oh." Her expression dropped and she paused for a moment, "Walk with me?" She asked James softly.

James was surprised for a moment, not expecting Cassie to have asked him to go with her. "Right- yeah. Yeah I'll go."

Cassie said goodnight to the others and her and James left the dorm and common room.

James and Cassie walked slowly and silently.

"I'm... thank you. For helping me today." Cassie said quietly.

James paused, and then nodded, "I mean, yeah. Of course, we're not just going to let you suffer alone."

"It meant a lot. Really."

James smiled awkwardly and wrung his hands out softly, "Yeah." A beat of silence passed before James spoke again, "Quidditch tryouts are next Friday. Gryffindors time slot is 10-11:30 am. I'm not sure when Ravenclaws is though."

"Oh I don't mind much about when Ravenclaws is. I'm not trying out."

"You don't play?"

Cassie shook her head, "I never learned how."

James was silent for a moment. "I could teach you." 

Cassie looked over at James, "You would?" He nodded, "Why?"

"Quidditch is like, the greatest game ever. Everyone should play." 

"I can't imagine I'll be all that good. I wasn't really a sports kid when I was younger."

"But that's the great thing about it! It all depends on what position you play, some of them it's not that bad."

Cassie laughed slightly, "Define 'not that bad' to me."

James shrugged, "Just think about it." Cassie nodded, making James smile.

They walked in comfortable silence for awhile, turning corners and watching other students filter back to their common rooms as curfew approached.

"You might not make it back to your common room before curfew." Cassie said, checking the time. "I'll be fine from here."

There wasn't a moment of hesitation from James, "Nope. I'm walking you the whole way."

"James-"

"I don't want to hear it Cass." Cassie sighed, rolling her eyes slightly. James grinned, "Something wrong with me walking you the whole way?"

"Not really, it's just unnecessary. And I'll feel bad if you don't make it back by curfew."

"Why would you feel bad?"

"Because then it'd be my fault you get house points taken."

James' grin widened, "Who said I'd get house points taken?"

Cassies eyebrows furrowed and she frowned, "Well I mean.. wouldn't you?"

"Nope. I have a way to stay hidden."

"What, like an invisibility cloak or something?" Cassie joked. James shrugged and she gave him a look when he didn't give a direct answer, "Seriously?"

"What?" James asked innocently.