"I've spent all of the love I saved.
We were always a losing game."
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She's a Gryffindor. He's a Slytherin.
She's a Weasley. He's a Malfoy.
She's sweet. He's a bully.
She's dangerous. He's dangerous.
She likes him. He likes he...
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Summer had been dreary for Cassandra Weasley. All her misdemeanours last year (fighting a troll, being caught after hours, transporting an illegal dragon, detention, breaking her ankle, etc.) seemed to outweigh the fact that she had helped save the Philosopher's Stone from the evil grasp of Professor Quirrell – who turned out to be a host for the parasite that was Voldemort – and so she had endured the terrible punishment of being grounded.
She had been forbidden from going into the village with her brothers, banned from playing Quidditch or Exploding Snap, and she had been weighed down with more chores than usual. Sat under the shade of the large oak tree, book propped open on her lap, Cassie watched with longing as her brothers floated in the sky above her. In an attempt to coax some annoyance out of their sister, George and Fred Weasley took turns tickling her with a leaf and then flying out of reach before she could hit them.
Due to her position on the ground, she was unable to hear the whispers of conversation between her twin and prankster brothers. However, she could see the scheming face of the elder twins and, whatever they were saying, they had thoroughly convinced Ron.
Closing her book after realising she had read the same sentence five times, Cassie wandered back into the Burrow, smiling at the pictures on the walls as she passed. There were the 'trouble twins' on the day of their birth, matching onesies with an embroidered F and G.
5 year old Charlie Weasley discovering a book about dragons for the first time, face lit up in awe.
Ron and Cassie, on their third birthday, covered head to toe in chocolate cake; Cassie's white dress absolutely ruined.
Smiling at the memories of her family, she hummed contentedly once the smell of her mother's cooking reached her freckled nose. This was one of the things she would miss most once she started her Second Year. Whilst she loved that she could eat whatever her stomach desired at Hogwarts, the cooking of the House Elves never quite reached the standard of Molly Weasley's.
"Do you need some help, Mum?" Cassie asked, coming up behind the older witch.
"No, thank you, dear. However, could you help Ginny finish her packing? She's fretting over what to take." Molly chuckled, remembering that Cassie had been the same last year.
"Sure."
Climbing the three flights of stairs until she got to the landing that contained Ginny and Cassie's shared room, the twelve year old panted slightly in an effort to catch her breath before entering the room. It was a flurry of haphazard clothes, books, hair ties, and –
"Ginny, there is no way you're taking three teddy bears to Hogwarts." Cassie emptied her younger sister's trunk (not that it was full) before re-folding the clothes and placing them neatly in one corner.
Sat atop her pink bedding, Ginny flushed a shade of red that clashed horribly with her hair. Their shared bedroom was split into two sides, shown through the difference of colour. Ginny's side was pink and frilly whilst Cassie's was various shades of grey. The wooden floor was marked with paint splatters and glitter from when the girls had been younger and attempted to make art on their floor (without the knowledge of their mother). Ginny's side was usually messy whilst Cassie's was 'organised'; all her belongings were in the place they were meant to be, even if her shelves were cluttered with books and memorabilia.
"Honestly, Ginny, pick one teddy to take. That's it." Cassie threw the bear, dog and owl at her younger sister, laughing as they hit her in the face.
Grumbling, the youngest Weasley launched the owl back at her, scowling when Cassie caught it and placed it neatly between a stack of books.
"Have you got all your toiletries?"
"In that wash bag."
"Wand?"
"Nightstand. Ready to go in my pocket, in the morning."
"Enough quills?"
"Yes, but if I run out, I know you have more than enough."
"Smart arse." Cassie chuckled, pulling the trunk closed with a loud click.
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Revelling in the warmth and comfort of her bed, Cassie decided she was going to remain there for as long as her mother would allow. Soon, she would have to leave her own bed behind in exchange for her bed at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, her plans of a lie-in were once again ruined when screaming abruptly awoke her. Grabbing her wand, despite not being able to use it, Cassie sprinted down the three flights and to her mother's aid – who was screaming at her idiot twin brother and the elder twins, not in fear.
"Harry!"
Pulling her bespectacled friend in for a tight hug, she dragged him over to the worn dining table and began dishing him up some breakfast whilst Molly continued yelling at her sons.
"What are you doing here?" Cassie asked, once Harry was seated on the large, colourful, wooden table. "We've tried contacting you all summer."
"Jail break with a flying car." Harry smiled slightly.
So that's what her stupid brothers had been plotting. Stealing the Ford Anglia and driving halfway across the country to rescue her poor, imprisoned friend. No wonder they were in so much trouble. Fred, George and Ron followed behind their mother looking ashamed of their actions but Cassie could tell the twins were secretly proud of themselves for pulling it off, and for finally driving the Ford. Smiling gratefully at her daughter for getting breakfast started, Molly began piling more food onto Harry's plate, who looked overwhelmed at the house and by the attention he was receiving.
"I'm so glad you're here, dear. Arthur and I have been so worried about you. Just last night we were saying we'd come and get you if you hadn't responded to these two by Friday. But really, flying an illegal car halfway across the country. Anyone could've seen you."
"But it was cloudy." Fred pointed out.
"You keep your mouth shut whilst you're eating." Molly snapped. Pointing a warning finger at him.
Chuckling into her bacon, Cassie grunted when Fred retaliated by jabbing her in the side with a pointy elbow. Pinching his thigh under the table, she smirked when he exclaimed in pain, which caused Molly to glare at him with even more ferocity.
"They were starving him, Mum." George defended, pointing to Harry's skinny frame.
Thankfully, George was saved a lecture when Ginny thundered down the stairs, caught sight of her idol, squeaked, and ran back up the stairs. Forgetting what she had been about to say to George, Molly turned back to Harry and began giving him more sausages, another egg, and some slices of toast.
"Ginny." Ron informed Harry upon seeing his perplexed look. "She's been talking about you all summer."
"Bit annoying, really. I haven't been able to sleep because she keeps me up with questions about you," giggled Cassie, enjoying the flush on Harry's cheeks.
"She'll be wanting your autograph, Harry." Fred snorted until he caught his mother's evil eye and busied himself with finishing his breakfast.
For the rest of the meal, the only conversation came from Cassie and Harry, the three Weasley boys remaining silent so as to avoid their mother's wrath (who was still muttering darkly under her breath). Once the dishes were cleared away, Fred let out a yawn before announcing that he was going to head to bed and catch up on some sleep. Much to Cassie's joy, she was relieved of her chores for the day as the twins and Ron were given the arduous task of de-gnoming the garden. Apparently they deserved to be punished more than Cassie did.
Pleased with her day of freedom, she decided there was no better way than to spend it annoying her brothers whilst they were attacked by the tiny devils plaguing the garden.
