𝑨𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒕 - ʜᴊᴘ x ᴏᴄ [𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆&𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆]

𝟑𝟓

   ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

ʟᴏᴄᴋʜᴀʀᴛ

   ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It was Professor Lockhart's class, and Cassie was thoroughly unimpressed. As he dramatically introduced himself, she absentmindedly twirled her quill, doodling on the edge of her parchment.

"Now, be warned. It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind," Lockhart proclaimed, puffing out his chest as the cage beside him rattled ominously. "You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. I must ask you not to scream—it might provoke them."

Cassie shared a look with Theo, who raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Cornish Pixies?" Seamus Finnigan asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Freshly caught Cornish Pixies," Lockhart confirmed proudly.

Cassie bit back a laugh. Oh, this was going to be a disaster.

"Laugh if you will, Mr. Finnigan, but pixies can be devilishly tricky little blighters. Let's see what you make of them."

And with that, he flung open the cage.

Chaos erupted instantly. The tiny blue creatures shot into the air, overturning desks, yanking at hair, and pelting students with ink bottles. Cassie did not hesitate—self-preservation was a priority. She grabbed Katherine and Daphne by the hands and bolted out of the classroom, cackling.

"Leaving this to the brave Gryffindors!" she called over her shoulder.

Lockhart's panicked shouts echoed behind them, but Cassie barely heard them over her own laughter.

: ̗̀➛ ᴀ ꜰᴇᴡ ʜᴏᴜʀꜱ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ : ̗̀➛

The Slytherin Quidditch team had gathered at the pitch for practice. Draco Malfoy stood at the front, his usual smirk in place. Cassie leaned against her broom, watching with an unimpressed expression.

"Merlin knows how he got in," she muttered to Theo, who merely shrugged.

As if summoned by her disdain, the Gryffindor team arrived, led by Oliver Wood.

"Where do you think you're going, Flint?" Wood demanded.

"Quidditch practice," Marcus Flint responded, holding up a slip of parchment.

"I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today," Wood countered.

"Easy, Wood, I've got a note," Flint said smugly.

Wood snatched the paper, eyes scanning over the words. "'I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, owing to the need to train their new Seeker,'" he read aloud before his expression turned to one of disbelief. "You've got a new Seeker? Who?"

Draco stepped forward with an air of superiority.

"Malfoy?" Harry Potter blurted out.

"That's right," Draco drawled. "And that's not all that's new this year."

Cassie followed his gaze to the gleaming Nimbus 2001s lined up beside them.

"Those are Nimbus 2001s," Wood muttered. "How did you get those?"

"A gift from Draco's father," Flint announced smugly.

Cassie's stomach twisted. Oh. So that was why Lucius Malfoy had met with her grandfather. Gaunt Brooms & Co. had produced Nimbus brooms for decades. Lucius had practically bought Draco onto the team.

"At least no one in Gryffindor had to buy their way in," Hermione remarked, arms crossed.

Draco's smirk darkened. "No one asked for your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood."

Silence crashed over the courtyard.

Cassie's stomach gave an unfamiliar jolt. She had heard that word a thousand times before, from her own family no less. Grandfather had said it often enough that it should have rolled off her like water. But somehow, watching the way Hermione's face fell, the way her shoulders stiffened—it didn't feel the same.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy," Ron growled, drawing his wand. "Eat slugs!"

The spell rebounded. And just like that, Ron was bent over, vomiting slugs.

"Yuck," Cassie muttered.

The Slytherin team howled with laughter as Harry and Hermione hurriedly helped Ron away. But Cassie remained silent, her arms crossed, her gaze flickering back to Draco.

For the first time in her life, she was on Granger's side.