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CHRISTMAS CAME AND went, and although Cassie thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her dad, she was excited for her friends to return. She saw Lee first, who practically ran her over in a hug, followed by Cedric, whose arms were filled with gifts from his mother.
"She missed you." He said to her, and Cassie graciously accepted the presents.
The arrival of January was exciting, however, it also meant middle-of-year exams took over all of Cassie's time. She and the Gryffindors crammed into the library's back table to study for their tests.
Cassie was a good student, but that didn't mean she was immune to academic pressures. Especially since her father was now a professor, she was more determined than ever to get the highest marks and make him proud.
"Oh, will you stop it!" She heard Hermione's screech from across the library, immediately shut down by Madame Pince. Cassie turned her head and saw Harry raise her hands in defeat, but Ron continued his argument.
"I thought we left the common room to escape that," Cassie said as she studied the use of bat spleens and placed her hand on the table to stop George from slamming his head into it.
"We'll never get away from that, they'd get married to keep arguing." Fred looked up from his study of Acromantula venom.
"I think Crookshanks is after Scabbers again," Lee added, watching Hermione berate Ron.
"I'm never studying again," George muttered into the table.
"Thought you were academic" Cassie mocked his previous words, but he scowled at her.
"Sorry..." She muttered as he rested his hands on his arms to go to sleep. Cassie pinched the back of his neck and he shot up, but she acted as if nothing happened.
"This isn't working." Fred interrupted. George and Lee stood up but Cassie stayed seated.
"But-"
"No, you have to take a break. You've been studying for years at this point." Fred dragged her out of the library, the four gazing at Hermione and Ron's fighting in the corner. "You can't study forever, Cassie, your brain is going to explode."
"And that'd be a catastrophe," Lee reassured as they walked down the corridors.
"Fine. So what do you three suppose we do instead." She quickened her pace to catch up with them as George slowed down.
"Hm," Fred pretended to think and Cassie rolled her eyes at his theatrics.
"I will turn back around-"
"-Lee and I have been meaning to check out a passageway. I noticed it on the map before we gave it to Harry." Fred interrupted her.
"We missed a passageway? I thought we've been through all of them at least ten times?" Cassie questioned, watching as Fred and Lee eyed each other and George narrowed his eyes at them.
"Let's get on with it!" Lee grabbed her arm and dragged her through the halls, her laugh echoing against the hollow stone walls.
There were ceaseless whispers from the twins behind her, but Cassie focused on Lee and the joy that she could ignore dusty textbooks for a while. They arrived in an arbitrary corner near the dungeons and Cassie stared at it quizzically.
"You're certain this is a passage?" She tilted her head, searching for a sign of opening but couldn't find it anywhere.
"Very certain..." Fred trailed off as he felt a brush beneath his feet. A shocking similar rat passed at the group's feet. They turned to hear a soft purr from a dust-colored cat.
Mrs. Norris.
A sudden soft pattering of feet could be heard in the distance and their heads shot up, Cassie instinctively inched towards the wall until she felt herself fall to the floor with a thump. Before she could take in her surroundings, Cassie felt a weight fall on top of her.
"Blimey! What do you eat?" Cassie groaned out, catching her breathe
"Oi! I'm as light as a feather." George answered, getting off of Cassie and offering his hand to help her up.
"At least we found the passage." She whispered, fumbling in her pockets to grab her wand.
Cassie quietly cast a quick 'lumos' charm and found herself in much closer proximity to George than she expected. "Sorry," Cassie muttered, turning away to discover the depth of the tunnel.
He stayed frozen and silent but eventually followed.
"We've never been here?" She heard George ask from behind her.
"It's unfamiliar, but, we've never tended to stay by the dungeons for long. Let alone Snape's classroom." He hummed in agreement and they paused at the sound of Snape's voice.
"-the mandrake juice is easy to obtain, lent from the greenhouse. However, the dragon's blood and moonstone powder are harder to acquire." George scoffed at the sound of his voice and Cassie was about to do the same, but the next voice caught her ear.
"I understand and I do appreciate the effort, Severus, truly. I...did not expect this from you. " Professor Lupin, her father, was thanking Snape?
She didn't understand.
Snape had no response and they heard shuffling steps, the two assumed someone was walking away.
"I'm sorry-" Remus tried to continue, but Snape interrupted him with a grunt and Remus took that as his sign to leave. The room was met with silence once more and Cassie lowered her wand, turning her head to face George.
"What was that about?" George whispered to her and she could only shake her head.
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cassie and george crumbs :)))
again im sorry for the lack of updates, i've had a ton of writer's block but I'm trying to get back on track!!!
