slide away {lorenzo berkshire}

63. party 4 u

"And I'll love you 'til the grass around my gravestone is deceased"
- Fontaines D.C.

~~~~~~

Cassie Avery

It had been almost two weeks since Gringotts, but the air between us still hummed with the weight of that night.

Mattheo had kept his distance. Lorenzo hadn't - but neither of us had brought it up.

I didn't push. Not because I didn't want to know what he thought of it all, but because I was afraid I already did.

Still, I caught myself watching him more now. Noticing the way his gaze would drift when he thought no one was looking. The way his laugh came a second late in conversations, like he had to pull himself back to the present. He was still Lorenzo - but something in him had gone quieter.

The Great Hall felt colder than the snow falling outside. The enchanted ceiling was a dull grey, mirroring the clouds that had seemed to circle the castle ever since we got back.

It was almost Christmas. Students would be leaving for break in a couple of hours. But looking around, you would never know that. No trees. No garlands. No enchanted snow drifting from above. Snape had made sure of that.

Most students had already left for their dormitories, eager to escape the draught and the constant eyes of the Carrows at the high table.

Our table was still full. We certainly weren't in a rush to get back home, or whatever was left of it at this point.

I slipped into my usual seat beside Lorenzo, the bench creaking under us. He was already there, cradling a mug of tea like it was the only thing worth getting out of bed for.

"Happy birthday," I said quietly, before anyone else could.

He glanced at me, startled for half a second, then his mouth curved just barely. "Thanks."

It wasn't much, but it was more than I'd gotten from him most mornings lately. Eighteen today, and he carried it like another weight instead of a milestone.

"Happy birthday!", Theo boomed from across the table, making at least three Ravenclaws turn their heads. He shoved the plate of toast toward Lorenzo like it was a wrapped gift. "You're what now, forty-seven?".

Lorenzo smirked as he took another sip. "Feels like it".

Blaise leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Eighteen. Officially an adult. I could start singing".

"God, no", Lorenzo said flatly.

"Yes," Theo countered, already clearing his throat.

Lorenzo looked relieved as the doors creaked open, and Draco strode in, the echo of his boots cutting across the hall. A black-sealed letter was in his hand. He didn't say anything when he joined us - just broke the wax seal with a sharp flick and read in quick, clipped movements.

Theo leaned over the table. "Go on then, Malfoy. Don't keep us in suspense".

Draco's mouth tightened. "Orders. Cassie, Lorenzo, Theo, me... and him." His gaze flicked, brief and sharp, toward the far end of the Slytherin table, where Mattheo sat alone, staring into a goblet like it might spark a conversation with him.

I felt Lorenzo shift beside me, the faint brush of his arm against mine. When I glanced at him, his expression was unreadable, but his fingers tapped once against his mug.

Theo plucked the parchment from Draco's hand, scanning the short lines. "Remain at Hogwarts. Be vigilant. Await further instruction." He gave an exaggerated sigh. "Well, I for one am devastated to be missing Christmas dinner with the Dark Lord. I was really looking forward to passing him the turkey."