chosen - harry potter

Chapter 12 - The Owl at the Window

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

Thanks to Ron, news of Harry and Cassia's newfound relationship spread like wildfire. Hermione and Ginny interrogated Cassia in their dorm, each shocked that she didn't tell them. Fred and George seemed not to react at all, save for George passing Fred five sickles.

The morning following Ron spreading the news, Will sauntered toward the Gryffindor table at breakfast.

"So, uh," he said, pointing between Harry and Cassia, "you two are a thing now, huh?"

"Yeah, Will," Cassia said, nodding amusedly.

"Right, well," Will said. "I better not see any snogging in the corridors. I know how you kids are."

"You are one year older than me."

"Point still stands."

"Got it, William."

Unfortunately for Cassia, even the professors somehow found out. As Harry and Cassia walked down a corridor together, she saw Professor McGonagall give the two of them a wink.

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

The morning of Cassia's first Quidditch game arrived, and she suddenly felt very guilty for trying to get Harry and Ron to eat through their nerves in the past. She stared at the plate before her, twirling a curl of her hair between her fingers. It felt ridiculous to her to be as nervous as she was for a Quidditch game. You've been near literal murderer wizards before, she thought, why is Quidditch twisting your stomach?

"Cassia, you know you have to eat," Hermione said warningly.

"I know."

"You're going to be fine, you know," Ron said glumly. "You can't do worse than me. And at least they won't have a song about you."

Cassia breathed a laugh, eating a small bite of toast.

"You'll do great," Harry said, smiling assuringly at her. "Angelina put you on the team for a reason."

The four walked to the Quidditch pitch, Cassia biting the insides of her cheeks nervously. Ron went straight into the locker rooms, Hermione trying to bid him good luck as he went. She turned to Cassia.

"I'm going to head to the stands. You're going to do great, Cass, good luck," Hermione smiled, nodding. She turned and headed toward the stands. 

Cassia felt her stomach drop again, looking toward the locker room.

"Hey," Harry said gently, making Cassia turn back toward him. "Are you okay?"

"I feel like I can't do this."

"You can. And you will," Harry said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You're going to do great."

"Thank you," Cassia nodded. 

Harry leaned down and gave her a quick kiss, his hand landing gently on her cheek.

"Good luck," he said as he pulled away. "Don't die."

"I'll try," she laughed, remembering the dumb joke she's been telling since their first year.

He smiled and turned, heading toward the stands. Cassia blew out a breath and ducked into the locker rooms.

She pulled on her Quidditch robes, annoyed at her shaking hands. As she stepped onto the pitch, her eyes widened. She had never seen the games from this perspective. The stands were packed with people. She suddenly forgot everything she knew about Quidditch.

Regardless, she mounted her broom, and at the sound of the whistle, she kicked into the air. 

The bludgers started flying at the Gryffindor team nearly immediately. The Hufflepuffs shot them their way, and, suddenly, something took over in Cassia's mind. She gripped her bat with her hands and swatted the heavy projectiles away from her, hitting them back toward the yellow and black figures.