chosen - harry potter

Chapter 4 - Just Perfect

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

"Cassia, are you seriously oversleeping on our first day?"

"Fifth year in a row," Cassia mumbled, sitting up.

She pulled herself from bed, patting Crow on the head sleepily. Her legs moved heavily, putting on her robes and shaking out her curly hair. Hermione waited patiently, and the two headed down the stairs. 

Cassia yawned as they started to walk with Harry and Ron through the portrait hole and out of the common room. 

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked. "You look really angry about something."

"Seamus reckons Harry's lying about You-Know-Who," Ron said flatly.

"Yes, Lavender thinks so too," Hermione said gloomily. "She said so this morning while trying to take over the bathroom mirror."

"Been having a nice little chat with her about whether or not I'm a lying, attention-seeking prat, have you?" Harry snapped.

Cassia shared a glance with Ron, both of their eyes wide in shock and confusion. 

"No," Hermione said calmly. "I told her to keep her big fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down our throats, Harry, because if you haven't noticed, we're on your side."

"...Sorry," Harry mumbled.

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

The first day of classes was a drag. Cassia couldn't pay attention for the life of her, she and Harry weren't talking, and, worst of all, her stomach was cramping. Her bad mood did not fade all day.

"Hello, Harry!"

The quartet looked to see Cho Chang, approaching the group. She had a pretty smile on her face. 

"Hi," Harry said. Cassia, Ron, and Hermione watched the scene, standing a bit away from the two.

"Doing alright?" Cho asked brightly. She had a tinge of pink across her cheeks.

"Yeah. Did you, um...have a good summer?"

"Oh, it was alright, you know..."

Cassia sighed, looking down the corridor. She leaned close to Hermione, her voice vaguely annoyed.

"I'm going to class, see you there."

She turned and walked down the corridor, feeling like she was dragging herself. She was desperately dreading Defense Against the Dark Arts, but anything was better than watching Cho flirt with Harry. It bothered her more than she wanted it to. Cho was a beautiful girl; she always looked put together. Her dark hair fell to her waist, pin-straight and shiny. She was incredible at Quidditch and the professors adored her. Everyone adored her. She was just perfect.

 Cassia huffed a breath out. Of course, Harry liked her. She wished she had figured out her feelings sooner; maybe it would have been less confusing. Rather, it took years, and now Cho has swooped in. Perfect Cho.

She blinked and rubbed her eyes as she sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was a strange thought. She didn't hate Cho; she just felt so angry all of a sudden. As she rested her head on her hands, she felt that her head was filled with smoke. Everything felt so wrong.

The classroom began to fill with students. Hermione took her usual spot next to Cassia, poking her in the arm as she sat down. Cassia turned her head, smiling tiredly.

"So, did they snog in the middle of the corridor, or what?"

"Harry and Cho?" Hermione asked amusedly. "No...it was quite awkward, actually. It's a shame you missed it."