"We were
Just friends
That spoke like lovers
And that seemed to be enough for
Two teenagers who were scared to love one another"
- k.a.t.
~~~~~~
Lorenzo Berkshire x Cassandra Avery (OC)
A sort of slow burn, childhood best friends to lovers story...
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"She was still there inside me now, just as she always was: a life put on hold, a memory I didn't know how to handle." - Banana Yoshimoto
~~~~~~
Cassie Avery
"Well," Draco said, breaking the silence, "it's done."
I nodded, my eyes fixed on the cabinet. It stood in the centre of the room like some awful prize we'd earned. It gleamed now, freshly polished and reassembled, its cursed doors shut. I swore I could hear something whispering on the other side of it. Or maybe that was just my conscience.
"I assume you tested it?". Snape's voice was a low hiss, impassive as ever, but his eyes flicked to the cabinet with surgical precision.
Draco nodded, his face paling. "A bird".
I felt Theo wince beside me, with a guilt that mirrored my own. It had returned, lifeless. The sight of its tiny, broken body had twisted something in my stomach. I held a straight face, masking the nausea that threatened to rise.
Snape walked toward the cabinet, examining the joints, even kneeling slightly to run a finger along the base.
"Very well", he straightened himself up.
"What do we... uh, what do we do now?", Theo mumbled.
"You wait".
Snape began to walk towards the door, but paused in his tracks.
"Avery."
My heart lurched. I kept my face perfectly still. "Sir?".
He stepped closer, enough that I could feel the tension radiating off Draco and Theo behind me.
"You've passed your exam. Exceeds expectations".
For a beat, I didn't process what he'd said, not really sure what he was talking about. Then I blinked.
"I... what?".
Snape gave me a look like I was the most idiotic creature he had ever come across.
"You've passed your divination exam," he repeated, saying the word 'divination' with complete disdain. "You may remain at Hogwarts for another year. I expect that will be pleasant news for you".
I managed a nod, my voice failing me.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Snape gave me a long look. The kind of look that said he knew exactly what I wasn't saying. Then he turned on his heel and walked out of the Room. The door shut behind him with a dull click.
Relief washed over me. I hadn't even realised I'd been holding my breath until then.
One more year at Hogwarts. One more year of pretending to be a student and not just the branded puppet of my mother's twisted loyalty. I could live for one more year as if I had somewhat a choice. Even though I didn't.
