The Cassiopeia Project [George Weasley] ✓

FOURTEEN

The month of March was a difficult month for fifth-year Hogwarts students. All the teachers were determined on finishing the important lessons before Easter, in order to spend the time until the OWLs revising everything the students had learnt since their first year.

Almost drowning in her studies, Cassie had managed to leave behind most of what had happened those past few months, including her mother's photo album, which rested at the bottom of her trunk with other personal items that she did not want to see every day. The quest to find her father had stopped momentarily, mostly because the next step would be to ask Professor Lupin and the teacher wasn't too receptive to her questions. She had also tried to dig something up at old registers in the library in between study breaks, but nothing had resulted of it. Neither her mother or father seemed to have been outstanding students or part of some school club.

"At this rate, I think I'm going to drown myself in the Black Lake before May."

"Don't be dramatic."

"But I'm dying!"

Cassie shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips, as Alicia whined with her head on the table. They were at the library, finishing an essay Snape had just set that same morning. It was the first day after the holidays — which hadn't been so much of a holiday and more like an intense study session only lifted when the twins decided to celebrate their birthday with a huge party in the common room —, and Snape and McGonagall had already drowned them in essays, reports and transfigurations to study and practise.

Alicia seemed suddenly distracted, and Cassie followed her gaze towards a burly boy they knew well. He was in the sports section, browsing through quidditch books, no doubt looking for new plays to win the next match.

"You should talk to him."

Angelina's voice took them by surprise. The dark-skinned girl had sneaked up on them and was setting her books on the table, not at all prepared to confront the pain that was the Potions essay.

"About what?" Alicia retorted, still glancing at the Quidditch Captain. "The only thing we've ever talked about is quidditch."

"Then talk about that." Cassie shrugged, turning back to her parchment. "It may lead to other things."

Alicia sighed and turned to her friends, an uncertain look in her face.

"There's Hogsmeade in two weeks. Ask him out." Angelina bluntly suggested.

Her friend looked at her in shock and then at Cassie, who just shrugged again, the tiniest smirk in her face.

"You're joking, right?"

"Oliver!"

The half-whisper was enough to attract the boy's attention, who closed the book he was holding and walked towards them.

"Hey girls, what's up?"

Cassie and Angelina smiled innocently at him while Alicia turned as red as a tomato. They winked at her and quickly gathered all their books and quills, leaving the chaser alone with her crush.

"You think that will work?" Cassie wondered, unable to control the giggling. Angelina smirked.

"I'm sure of it."

As they rounded a corner, the grinning faces of their favourite twins came into view, each holding a suspicious-looking bag.

"Hello ladies." They chorused. Angelina looked at them sceptically.

"Shouldn't you two be on detention?"

Their grins grew wider.

"There may have been a small explosion near the Slytherin common room..." Fred started.

"... and Snape may have gone to see what it was about..." George continued. Cassie snorted.

"...and he may or may not have found himself covered with slime."

As Cassie continued laughing at the twin's prank, Angelina arched one eyebrow, amused.

"And he doesn't know it was you?" She inquired.

The twins looked beyond proud of themselves.

"He had no way of proving it was us. We were with him the whole time." Fred explained. "It was foolproof."

"But then, who...?" Cassie started, but a voice cut her off before she could finish.

"Guys! I made it!"

It was Lee Jordan, running wildly from the end of the corridor.

"Of course it was him."

Angelina looked impressed at their scheming, and Cassie didn't miss the look Fred threw in her direction. He seemed to like her.

The five friends marched to their common room after that, discussing the next quidditch match, which was only five days away. It was the Quidditch Cup final, Gryffindor vs Slytherin, and everyone was excited for it. The twins were hectic, running around and pranking everyone, and, while Angelina, Cassie and Alicia liked to laugh at their jokes, they were also slightly concerned for them and their OWLs.

Alicia joined them not long after that, her face bright red and a rather large book in her arms. Angelina and Cassie quickly ditched the twins and Lee, who were skimming over a Charms book in search for new prank ideas, and dragged their friend to the girls' dorms.

"He only talked about quidditch." Alicia sighed, placing the book in the mattress. "I even checked out this book to pretend I'm studying tactics like he suggested in the last practice."

The girls' expressions quickly changed from expectation to understanding, Cassie placing a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"I'm sure it's only because of the final." She assured her.

"Maybe if we win he'll be happy and make a move." Angelina added, winking.

Alicia shrugged.

"Maybe. Or maybe he doesn't like me at all."

"Come on, don't say that." Cassie tried. "Did you ask him to Hogsmeade?"

"No... but maybe I will after the match."

"That's the spirit!"

They spent the rest of the evening in the common room, finishing the homework they still had among the twins' jokes, trying to cheer Alicia up. They were the best at it, making silly impressions of Snape covered in slime and copying his shriek of surprise until they made her laugh. Even though they didn't know what was wrong with her, they still did their best to keep everyone happy, and Cassie couldn't help but think that she was very lucky to have the friends she had.

A/N: Hello everybody! I'm sorry for the long wait, but I've just started my 2nd year at Uni and everything has been crazy around here. Also, I've been having writer's block, which sucks.

Kind of a filler chapter, I know, but had to be done in order to continue with the plotline I have laid out. I promise I won't take that long to upload the next few ones.

Thank you for reading!