𝑨𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒕 - ʜᴊᴘ x ᴏᴄ [𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆&𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆]

𝟓𝟒

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ʀᴇᴜɴɪᴏɴ?

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Harry Potter blew up his aunt."

Cassie chuckled, her tone light and teasing. "Okay. What now?"

But when she caught the look on Aurie's face, the laughter faltered. Aurie's expression was serious, and the air between them seemed to thicken with the weight of unspoken tension.

"It's not funny," Aurie said quietly, her eyes not meeting Cassie's.

"Okay, okay, sorry," Cassie said, pursing her lips to stop herself from laughing again. The awkward silence stretched between them before Cassie broke it, trying to shift the mood. "We have to leave now to go to the Leaky Cauldron. You have to come with me too. He ran away from home."

Cassie grinned. "What?! That's so cool."

Aurie raised an eyebrow, her frown deepening. "That's not a cool thing to do, Cas."

Cassie shrugged nonchalantly, leaning back against the bed. "Of course it is. I've done it, so that means it's cool."

Aurie shook her head, her lips twitching as if holding back a smile. "I still can't believe you ran away from Malfoy Manor."

"Well, I can," Cassie replied with a hint of bitterness in her voice. "That place is a nightmare."

The silence returned, this time heavier. Aurie's gaze softened, but there was something unreadable in it. "You're just like him."

Cassie's heart skipped a beat at the words, and she felt her face shift, the tension between them palpable. It wasn't the first time Aurie had mentioned it, but hearing it now made her stomach churn.

"Who?" Cassie asked, her voice slightly sharper than she intended.

Aurie hesitated, as if she were debating whether to continue. The awkwardness hung in the air, thick and uncomfortable.

"No one," Aurie said quickly, but Cassie wasn't buying it.

"Aurie."

Aurie sighed, finally meeting her gaze. "Your father."

Cassie's chest tightened, and she nodded slowly, unsure of what to say next. Aurie's words lingered, heavy and honest, and for a moment, it felt like the space between them was too vast to cross.

"I'm not talking about the killing twelve Muggles part," Aurie added hurriedly, her voice softening. "I'm talking about the fun, charismatic, and nonchalant part of him."