"And what about Cassia?"

When Ron brought her name into the fight, Harry took a step back, and Hermione gasped, tears in her eyes.

But Ron was driven by anger, screaming on. "She betrayed all of us, yet you still moon over her name on the map-"

"Don't you dare," Harry raised his voice. "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE BRING CASS INTO THIS-"

"JUST ADMIT IT, HARRY! YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH A TRAITOR! AND YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BUT HER-"

"DON'T FUCKING SAY THAT ABOUT H-"

"I'LL SAY WHAT THE HELL I LIKE!" Ron roared. "SHE'S PROBABLY A DEATH EATER BY N-"

"URGH!"

The blow of Harry's punch echoed all throughout the woods, knocking Ron backwards. The red headed boy didn't take that well, and lunged for his supposed best mate, knocking them both to the floor.

"Stop it!" Hermione was yelling, tears streaming down her face. "Stop, please!"

Eventually, they did, scrambling to their feet and facing each other, both still stewing with anger.

"Insult her again, and see what happens," Harry snarled, hands clenched.

He didn't care what Ron said about him.

But he wasn't saying anything about Cass.

❦︎❦︎❦︎

Life went on.

And slowly, Christmas dragged closer and closer, until there was only one week until it came.

Cassia was dreading it. She'd recieved the letter from her mother the previous day, saying she (and her father) were disappointed to hear about the sword and also wanted her home for Christmas. She and Draco would both be going, but Cassia knew it was only her that'd be facing consequences.

So she was figuring that she should just fuck it, and go crazy. She knew what happened the last time she decided to do this, but nevertheless, it was fine.

She, Poppy and Ginny had sneaked out the night prior, just after Cassia had recieved the letter, and graffitied the walls again.

DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY: STILL RECRUITING

THE CARROWS ARE COWARDS

Cassia knew Snape and the Carrows suspected all seven of the people they had caught stealing the sword a few weeks ago, but they, again, had no evidence. They were under investigation, but as long as no one slipped up, they'd be okay.

Amycus had been getting creepier and creepier over the past few weeks. It had got to the point where Cassia was physically backing away from him any time she saw him. He'd made the 'good girl' comment again to her more than a few times, and once had physically put his hand on her shoulder, gripping quite tightly as he spoke to her. Cassia had almost ran out of that situation, to the bathroom, because she felt like she was going to be sick.

Getting away from Amycus was the only way in which she was grateful it was almost Christmas. The only way.

It had also come to her attention that there'd been no news on Harry since he broke into the ministry. This sort of upset her, because even if it was just a newspaper article, it gave an insight into how he was doing and what he was handling.

But there'd been nothing.

And Christmas only came closer and closer.

❦︎❦︎❦︎

In the last DA meeting before the holidays, Cassia thought of Harry often.

They weren't really doing anything, just talking and doing the occasional spell, but Cassia was reminded of how her boyfriend used to run the DA, and how he did it.

She noticed Cho looking at her quite a lot, and knew she was onto her. It wouldn't be long until they had to have a conversation.

Little did she know, it wouldn't be very long at all.

At the end of the meeting, Cassia said merry Christmas to everyone, grinning slightly (albeit rather falsely) around. She hugged everyone that wanted to hug her, and watched as everyone headed off.

"Cass!" Poppy grinned at her, face shining and cheeks rosy as she stood next to Neville and Ginny. "You not coming with us?"

"Er- give me a minute," Cassia said, smiling slightly at them as they nodded.

"Alright."

As they left, Cassia turned back round. She thought she was alone. She had no idea that one person remained in the room with her.

The blonde girl turned her attention to the wall of mirrors, where a notice board was. Pinned up were pictures. Everyone had been open to add some, and there were a few, but there was only two that Cassia was looking at.

The first was a picture from last year, of her, Poppy, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Cassia was stood with an arm around Poppy, rolling her eyes at Harry with rosy cheeks and a soft smile on her face. She looked so in love with him, and when he smiled back at her in that picture, he looked so in love with her.

The second was a cutout from the newspaper about Harry's break in to the ministry. Cassia looked straight at him in the picture, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"I-I love you," she whispered, reaching up to touch the picture. "I love you, Harry Potter, I- I-"

"Cassia?"

Cassia jumped violently, turning round and wiping her tears simultaneously. Behind her was probably the worst person it could be. Cho Chang.

"Ch-Cho," she said, stammering slightly. "I- I'm sorry-"

"You and Harry are together, aren't you?" Cho asked her point blank.

There was no point in lying. She'd been caught saying she loved him.

She nodded. "S-since the beginning of sixth year," she mumbled. "We kept it secret cause my family would kill me if they found out, and... I don't know, I didn't wanna offend you or anything, cause you said you liked him..."

"Cassia, if he's taken, I'll back off," Cho said with a chuckle. "I'm not a home wrecker, Cass."

"I know that, but..." she shrugged, more tears falling despite attempts to keep them in check. "I guess I just- I don't feel deserving of him and... when I look at you... I feel like you deserve him."

"By the sounds of things, he's in love with you and that's not changing," Cho said. "And I'm not mad about that, I promise."

Cassia nodded, smiling slightly as she wiped her tears. "Thank you, Cho."

Cho smiled slightly at her. "And thanks for trusting me, Cassia. I- I know we haven't had the best relationship in the past but... now we're being completely honest with each other, I'm happy to be friends."

Cassia smiled at her, walking forwards and hugging her.

"Of course," she whispered into her shoulder. "I need all the friends I can get."

And she did.

But she never knew what would happen when she went back home.

She could lose all of them.

❦︎❦︎❦︎

The rest of the week went by in a whirlwind.

Cassia was begging it'd go fast, but of course, life rarely went her way. It was the last day before the holidays, and she was sitting in front of the fire, supposedly watching Ginny and Seamus play chess.

This wasn't fun. She wasn't happy, but she wasn't really fighting anymore. She was in a hoodie and tackies, her hair up on top of her head in a messy bun. She hadn't cried in a couple days, and she wasn't interested in doing it now.

She didn't think anything could make this day better. She was feeling so low, nothing could rise her up.

But no. In fact, something did make her day better. A lot better.

She had been thinking about packing the whole day, but hadn't gone up to the dorm yet. However, she knew she needed to do it, and so turned to Ginny in that moment.

"I'm gonna go pack," she said, pressing her lips together.

"Alright," Ginny smiled. "See ya, Cass."

"See ya," Cassia said with a tight lipped smile.

She slowly headed up the stairs, not even really registering anything around her.

Until she caught Poppy and Neville at the top of the stairs, kissing softly.

And Cassia didn't expect the joy blossoming in her chest at watching them. She was so fucking happy for her best friend, and she wished Poppy all the best.

"Well, well, well," she said, interrupting them. They both turned, faces going red as anything as they saw Cassia with her hands on her hips, grinning wide as anything.

"Cass!" Poppy said, sounding surprised.

"Cassia!" Neville also said, tops of his ears burning.

"It's okay, I'll spare you the awkwardness and move on, but I am hearing all of the details about this later," Cassia said, smirking at Poppy, walking in between the two and briefly grabbing her bestie's hand. "Oh, and she's mine as well, Neville, you'll have to learn how to share."

"Cassia!"

"What? It was this and worse last year," Cassia shrugged, heading upstairs to the dorm and leaving her two mates to their snogging.

She was happy that Poppy had someone to get her through.

She was happy that her best friend had some romance.

But when she got inside the dorm, she closed her eyes for a second, controlling her shaky breathing.

She'd never felt more happy.

But then again, she'd never felt more alone.

❦︎❦︎❦︎

After Ron left, Harry found it considerably harder to cope. Hermione was great, but she cried a lot, and there wasn't much he could do to comfort her.

Ron's words still rung in his head.

"JUST ADMIT IT, HARRY! YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH A TRAITOR!"

Well, Ron was right about one thing, he'd fallen head over heels in love with Cassia. But he was wrong about her being a traitor.

He knew. Deep down, he just knew. Cassia was at Hogwarts right now, and she was fighting. She was with Poppy and Neville and Ginny and Luna, and she was trying to rebel. She wasn't hanging out with Slytherins and being with her brother, he just knew.

He thought about her everyday. She consumed his thoughts, really. Ever since Ron had left, he'd thought about her even more. He and Hermione didn't talk a lot, and because of that, he thought of Cassia.

Maybe Ron was right, maybe she was a traitor.

He didn't care.

He'd still love her regardless.

He always would.