Memories Of Them

Chapter 14- Secrets Out of the Bag

Cassie spent the rest of the day avoiding everyone, she missed lunch, spent her free period completing her charms homework in her dorm and sat in almost complete silence in alchemy. Alicia had saved her a seat beside her which Cassie was thankful for but she couldn't bring herself to be happy and chatty. At the end of the lesson as she was packing all of her notes into her bag, Alicia nudged her shoulder, shooting her a small smile.

"Do you need help finding your way to the common room? We all normally change into something more comfortable before heading down to dinner," she said.

"I was actually hoping to go to the library," Cassie said, not ready to socialise with everyone.

"Cassie, we all noticed you missed lunch. Fred said you were upset after that vile Defence lesson so we didn't come and find you but you need to eat dinner!" Alicia said.

"Well Fred needs to mind his own business. I want to finish my Charms and Alchemy homework before more is piled on tomorrow. I don't want to fall behind right at the beginning of the year," she muttered.

"Okay and I'll come to the library with you to do homework , but you're eating dinner first," Alicia said pushily.

"Alicia..." groaned Cassie.

"No, we're friends now, I care about your health, you need to eat dinner!" she said, grabbing Cassie's arm and dragging her out of the classroom, along the corridors and all the way to the common room.

"Go upstairs and get changed, if you're not down here in 5 minutes or you try to sneak off I'll hex you," Alicia practically growled disappearing into her dorm room.

Cassie grabbed a cream chunky knit jumper dress and a pair of thick tights and rushed into the bathroom to get dressed. Looking in the mirror she noticed her hair was a mess after she had spent all day anxiously running her fingers through it; rather than leave it down to get more and more ratty, she delicately plaited it into a neat crown around her head, leaving the front parts to fall framing her face. Looking at her watch, she ran out of the bathroom, put on a pair of fluffy socks and pulled on her black combat boots. Rushing down the stairs she saw Alicia waiting at the bottom with Lee, Bonnie and a girl Cassie thought was called Angelina.

"There she is!" cheered Lee, "the disobedient namby pamby French student!"

Cassie couldn't help but laugh at the comment, making the boy smile wider.

"We've missed you today Cass," Lee said.

"Sorry I just haven't been in a very sociable mood today" she mumbled quietly, picking one of her fingernails.

"I'm really sorry about class, I knew if someone didn't answer he would keep badgering you. You just looked so uncomfortable!" Angelina said, clearly worried she had upset or offended Cassie, "he was foul for picking on you like that and making it so personal," she continued to ramble.

"Angelina is it?" questioned Cassie, still unsure of the girl's name.

"Yes, sorry we haven't been introduced yet. The twins, Lee and Alicia talk very highly of you," she replied with a bright smile.

"Well what happened in Defence wasn't your fault, you're not the psychotic Professor who likes to torment students are you?" Cassie joked.

Angelina appeared to be relieved that Cassie wouldn't be holding a grudge and shot her another smile.

"Shall we head down to dinner then?" asked Cassie, getting somewhat uncomfortable with the topic of conversation, wanting an excuse to change the subject. The small group nodded their heads eagerly making their way towards the portrait hole.