musical mood: lovin' me - fifty fifty

"Where the hell have you been?!" A voice echoed through the parlour, as Cass stood up from the floor as she had shot out of the fireplace and landed right on her face on the wood floor. She never would get used to floo travel, it seemed.

Bartemius, who had been in the kitchen and heard the commotion, had stormed in, a nervous Winky at his side. His grey hair was folded neatly under a cap, and he wore the fanciest robes he owned, meaning either he was about to leave, or just got back from something important. Ministry related, of course. It wasn't like he had a life outside of his job.

"A friend's place. I literally told Winky that." Cass pushed past her father to go upstairs to her room, wanting to pack before she had to leave for Hogwarts the next day, but Bartemius grabbed her upper arm, stopping her dead in her tracks.

Cass tugged back, and a silent power struggle ensued, though Bartemius came out the victor. He was stronger than he looked, and it was a rare moment in which Cass remembered how young he was, compared to how old he appeared. Despite being aged just forty nine, the stress of his life caused him to look fit for retirement.

"What do you want?" She stared at him when she realised there was no use struggling, a blank expression on her face, which contrasted entirely with her fathers mixed emotions.

"You told Winky you'd only be gone for a few days, but it's been weeks, Cassiopeia! You cannot just leave like that and not tell us where you went!"

She stared at her father, dumbfounded. She wanted to scream, to swear at him, to bloody punch him, as rage built up in her body like gas fuelling a muggle car. Bartemius always pissed her off, but this was a whole new level of fury. How dare he. He hadn't been there for months, he hadn't taken care of her after she nearly died, he hadn't bothered to check up on her once, and now he was playing the role of concerned father? Oh, the irony was baffling.

"Did you actually bother looking?" Cass cocked an eyebrow, suppressing her rage the best she could. If she allowed herself to lose her temper, to let go of years worth of built up resentment, she didn't know what would happen. She didn't want to do something she couldn't reverse. "I wouldn't have been hard to find."

"Did I bother - of course I looked - what kind of question -" Bartemius sputtered out, his cheeks glowing red. He'd been caught, and they both knew it. With a deep breath, he continued. "Point is, you cannot just up and leave without telling me!"

"When, exactly, would I have had the opportunity? Do tell, because I haven't seen you all summer."

"I was busy, Cassiopeia, you know how busy I am." Bartemius shifted, his eyes glancing sideways, like he wasn't telling the full truth. "You've always understood that, you've never complained."

The rage was about to overflow, and Cass took a deep, shaky breath, trying her best to not punch her father right in the face for his bloody nerve.

"I just find it ironic that you're chastising me for spending three weeks away with the families of people you know and easily could've found me, when you've been absent my entire life. I was raised by a bloody house elf, for fucks sake!" She threw her free arm in the air, motioning towards Winky, who recoiled.

"Language!"

"Oh, fuck off, and have some bloody self respect. Stop pretending to give a shit about me, it's insulting to the both of us." Cass tugged herself from his grip, and this time he let go without protest.

He called after her, probably with some other ridiculous defence of his terrible parenting, though Cass easily tuned him out as she dashed up the stairs as fast as she could, running into her bedroom and slamming the door behind her.

*

Winky brought her to the train station the next day, early enough that there were several empty compartments left, which Cass treated herself to, kicking her feet up on the velvet booth across from her. She pulled out a book, one about natural antidotes to poisonous herbs. It seemed to be a bit on the hippie side of Herbology, but she figured it could potentially come in handy in the future.

You could never be too careful, Cass had learned that the hard way. Her newly deep and scratchy voice that was most certainly permanent, was proof of that.

"I love that book." A wispy voice said, so quiet Cass nearly didn't hear it. She hadn't even noticed the compartment door open, when she looked up at the girl standing before her. She had long, curly blonde hair and a faraway look in her grey eyes, and given that Cass hadn't noticed her before, she assumed she must be a first year. Something about her seemed familiar, though Cass couldn't quite place her finger on it.

"Er, thanks." Cass paused, waiting for the girl to either sit down or leave, though for some reason, she remained glued in the doorway, not saying a word. "Would you like to sit here?"

"I'd love to." She smiled, sitting down across from her. Cass noticed her dangly earrings - they were turnips. How odd.

"What's your name?" Cass asked the blonde, after several minutes of pure silence. The girl had been staring out of the compartment window, despite the train not having taken off yet, and there being little to look at.

"Luna Lovegood. You?"

"Cass." She frowned slightly, still not able to figure out how she knew Luna, or why she looked familiar.

Just as she brushed her thoughts off, assuming Luna probably just looked similar to someone else, and that it was a coincidence, the compartment door swung open again, and a flurry of people entered.

Cass was soon squished up against the window as Ana plopped down next to her, followed by Padma, then across from her Naia took a wary seat next to Luna, then Parvati and Lavender. In just a moment, there was practically no wiggle room, and Lavender burst into conversation, asking a million questions.

"How was everyone's summer? Did you all get my postcards? I made sure to send all of you one when we were in London. Ana, I wasn't sure if owls could get to Russia, so I sent it through the muggle post, did you receive yours?"

"It would be odd if she did, considering she lives in Belarus." Cass rolled her eyes, and Lavender sighed.

"Shit. Sorry, Ana."

Ana laughed, messing with her hair. "It's alright. I was actually in Latvia for most of my summer. My mother, siblings and I went to stay with our cousins, which was lovely. How was London?"

"It was amazing!" Padma answered, glancing at Cass with a smile, which she mirrored. "Sorry we couldn't invite the rest of you, but our mum and dad said we could only bring one friend each. Guess they didn't want a hoard of twelve year olds to be responsible for."

"And how are you, Cass? Are you feeling better?" Ana turned to her, her blue eyes wide.

"Much better now, thanks." It was mostly the truth, Cass told herself. Sure, her vocal cords were fried, she was riddled with nightmares not just of being poisoned, but of Quirrell and Barty, and she spent all her free time obsessing over poison preventatives, but it could be worse.

The Blood Magic book was tucked in the back of her trunk - she had debated packing it, but decided last minute she ought to bring it, lest her father or Winky somehow discover it. The act of simply looking at it sent her into a mental spiral, though, so she planned on doing her best to avoid it.

"I'm glad." Ana reached over and squeezed Cass' hand. "That was scary. We were all so very worried for you."

Naia, who hadn't spoken a word since entering with the others, shot up from her seat, and exited the compartment.

"Is she alright?" Parvati frowned, watching as Naia fled down the hall of the train, her corkscrew curls bouncing behind her.

"She's been acting strange since like...February." Lavender said.

"Should someone go talk to her?"

Padma stood up. "I'll go see if she's alright."

As Padma shut the compartment door behind her, Lavender leaned back in her booth, stretching her feet out now that there was more room. "And then there were five...speaking of which, where's Bethany?"

"I think I saw her with her sister." Ana said, turning to Luna. "By the way...who are you?"

Luna, who hadn't spoken once since all the second years entered, looked at Ana with a smile. "Luna Lovegood. You're Ana, correct?"

Ana nodded, a kind smile on her freckled face.

"You have wrackspurts in your ears."

"What is a wrackspurt?" Ana glanced around, her pale cheeks going red. She probably assumed it was a language barrier, but as Cass thought deeply, she'd never heard of wrackspurts in her life.

"They're microscopic creatures that fly into your ears and make your brain go fuzzy. That's why it's best to grow out your hair, so they can't get in as easily."

Ana blinked, but said nothing.

The rest of the train ride went similarly, with loony Luna spouting what seemed to be complete bullshit, and everyone nodding along, too polite to say anything. Naia and Padma did not return, though were seated at their normal place at the Ravenclaw table, while the sorting began. Bethany was across from them, her hair tied back into a low ponytail, and reading a book.

"Excuse me." A soft voice called over to the second years, from next to Henry, just as Abrams, Nolan was sorted into Gryffindor.

A very pretty third year girl Cass knew to be Cho Chang, smiled when heads turned to her. "I know you lot are second years now, and we need a few new people on our Quidditch team now that they've graduated. Tryouts are this Sunday at half three, if you'd like to join."

While Cass didn't care for Quidditch at all, she saw Naia perk up, and nodded eagerly. "I'll for sure be there! Thanks!"

"Of course." Cho grinned, before turning away and continuing a conversation with Marietta Edgecombe.

Cass smiled - Naia seemed a bit better now, which was good. But how odd that whole scene on the train had been...

They turned their attention back to the sorting, just as Burke, Adelaide was called up by McGonagall, and Cass couldn't help but stare. Each of the Burke sisters, while very distinct from each other, all had the same regal aura, though Adelaide's was on another level. She carried herself with an amazing confidence, approaching the sorting hat with her chin held high and a confident smirk on her lips, as though she hadn't a worry in the world.

"Is that your sister?" Padma asked Bethany, who had gone rigid, her already pale face gaunt, and her slender fingers tapping on the Ravenclaw table.

"Duh." She snapped, and Padma recoiled.

The sorting hat was placed on Adelaide's perfectly straight black hair, and a few short moments went by before the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!"

Bethany pursed her lips in a tight, thin line, as her younger sister practically floated to the cheering Slytherin table, and sat down next to Dahlia, who was applauding gently. Dahlia gave her sister a soft pat on the shoulder, and while the elder sister's mind seemed elsewhere, Adelaide appeared very pleased with herself.

"I'm sorry." Ana squeezed Bethany's shoulder, who, surprisingly, didn't shake her off. "I know you wanted her in Ravenclaw."

"It's fine. Our uncle will be happier with her in Slytherin, anyways." Bethany lifted her chin, tearing her gaze away from her sisters, just as a mousy Creevey, Colin was sorted into Gryffindor.

The rest of the sorting went by without anything interesting happening - Luna Lovegood was sorted into Ravenclaw, and Ginny Weasley Gryffindor, which was no surprise. After the feast, the five made their way through the Ravenclaw common room while the Prefects showed the first years where to go, and entered their dorm, though they all stopped dead in their tracks.

"I'm not the only one seeing that, right?" Padma blinked.

"I don't think so." Cass frowned, glancing around at her dormmates.

Their dorm room, for some reason, had grown. Literally. There was now a sixth bed occupying the slightly bigger space, which had probably been expanded to fit it.

"I do not understand." Ana tilted her head. "Is there a new student this year?"

"I don't think so." Cass bit on her lip. No one had ever joined Hogwarts after their first year, that didn't make any sense. Then again, no one from the Soviet Union had come to Hogwarts either, but Ana was walking proof that the school was anything but consistent in their enrollment process.

They waited, getting ready for bed in silence, all eyeing the new bed with suspicion. Bethany even tried a few spells to see if anyone was hiding in the room with them, but nothing turned up.

When Cass came out from their shared bathroom, Naia was already in her bed with the curtains closed, reminding her of how Bethany had acted on the first day last year.

She eyed Padma, searching for answers, but Padma just shrugged in response. Clearly, she hadn't managed to get through to their friend either.

No one came to claim the mysterious bed, and eventually, they all drifted off to sleep.

*

The first half of classes went by in a breeze. They had a new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, now that Quirrell was...well, you know. His position was replaced by none other than Gilderoy Lockhart, the man from Diagon Alley that apparently had harassed poor Potter. He was the dictionary definition of a narcissist, it seemed, desperate to only talk about himself and his accomplishments instead of actually teaching the class, though Cass zoned out entirely as he began a tangent on his favourite colour.

In her boredom, her mind drifted, as it did many times, to Quirrell. There were so many unanswered questions about him. Was he somehow connected with her father's odd behaviour last year? How the hell did he encounter Voldemort and get possessed by him? Isn't Voldemort supposed to be dead?

Cass would have to read Blood Magic eventually, examine the photographs and the letters too, if not to quell her own curiosity, but it also likely held the answers to at least a few of the questions that burned so deeply in her mind. As much as it tortured her to think about what had transpired last year, it was just as bad not knowing what had been so secretive to the deceased Professor.

Soon. She promised herself as class was dismissed, and they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch. I'll do it soon.

Cass sat down next to Ana, who turned to her and asked, "Where were you this morning? You were not at breakfast."

"Last minute studying." Cass said, which wasn't a lie. Sure, reading up one last time on how to detect poisons wasn't exactly classwork, but it was still studying. It was sure to come in far more useful in life than Lockhart's lessons, at least. "Why?"

"You missed a lot! The brother of your redhead friends, he received a letter that yelled at him. We could hear it all the way from the Gryffindor table!"

"A howler?"

Ana shrugged. "If that's what a yelling letter is called."

Padma snorted, from where she sat across from them and next to Bethany. "For real, Cass, it was hilarious. I'm not sure what exactly it was that he did, but Ron Weasley is in massive trouble. Hey, next time you see the twins, ask them for me. I'm dying to know."

"Well, Parvati and I share a dorm with their friend Hermione Granger," Lavender butted in. "and we heard that they stole a flying muggle machine and crashed it into the Whomping Willow!"

Parvati nodded eagerly.

"Why the hell would they do that?" Cass rolled her eyes. "Honestly, you lot, don't believe everything you hear."

"Excuse me." A tiny voice interrupted them, and they all turned to look at where a small blonde haired boy stood next to Bethany. He held a camera in his fingers, and had wide eyes and a small, nervous smile. Cass recognized him from the sorting - he was a first year Gryffindor. "I'm Colin Creevey."

"Hi." A few of them said, all very much confused.

"You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." Colin said in a mystical voice, unmistakably directed at Bethany. When she realised he was talking to her, she dropped her fork in confusion, landing with a loud clang on the floor.

"Me?" Bethany pointed at herself, dark brown eyes wide, and her expression unreadable.

"Oh, Merlin." Terry muttered under his breath, watching the scene play out while pretending to read a Quidditch book. Henry was next to him, holding back a laugh with his hand, and Theodore looked stunned.

"Yes." Colin nodded eagerly. "I saw you at the feast yesterday, and I couldn't stop thinking about you. I think I'm in love with you. Please, tell me your name, so I can properly confess my everlasting admiration for you."

It seemed like the eyes of the entire Great Hall were on them, all silently holding their breath in anticipation. Cass knew this wouldn't end well, and felt around in her robe pockets for her wand, just in case she needed to intercept a jinx from Bethany.

This poor boy was about to be obliterated. Judging by the camera, Colin was a muggleborn, and while Bethany was nice enough to Ana, by Bethany standards at least, who's to say how she would treat one that she didn't have to spend time with day and night.

Luckily, no one chose to curse each other.

Instead, in one swift motion, Bethany stood up from the Ravenclaw table and practically stormed away to sit with the Slytherins, her sisters watching the scene go down with wide eyes. While Dahlia seemed amused, also holding back a laugh, young Adelaide's eyes were wide, appalled.

"Can I at least take a picture of you?" Colin called after her, waving his camera in the air, but Bethany didn't look back.

"Sorry, mate." Parvati looked at the boy with pity. "Better luck next time."

"It's alright." Colin shrugged, a grin still on his face despite his very public rejection. "She'll hear me out eventually - and when she does, I know she'll fall in love with me."

"Sure."

They all watched in amazement as Colin skipped back to the Gryffindor table, hugging his camera tight to his chest like a child might a teddy bear. With the nerve to ask Bethany out like that, and take rejection without so much as a flinch, Colin Creevey belonged in Gryffindor, that was for sure.

The rest of lunch went by in a hoard of amusement, between discussing what had just happened between Bethany and Colin, and rumours of what Ron Weasley and Harry Potter had gotten up to the night before, Cass remembered why she had loved Hogwarts so much last year. During the times when she wasn't digging up dirt on her Professor, brooding over her family, or clinging to life in the hospital wing, at least, Hogwarts was such an amazing place, because of the people she surrounded herself with.

Except this year, something was different. Naia was different, and as Cass studied her, she couldn't figure out what was wrong, but was also afraid to ask. What if it just made her more upset?

When Naia stood up to go to the next class, Cass went to follow, pushing her fears aside so she could properly help her friend, but was cut off by a voice calling her name from behind her.

"Miss Crouch!"

"Yes, Professor Flitwick?" She couldn't mask her annoyance at the tiny Professor, who was standing just feet away from her, though had he not said her name, she doubted she would've spotted him.

"I just wanted to check in and see how everything is going. Remember, if you need any accommodations, given what happened last year and potentially being behind, just let me know."

Cass fought the urge to roll her eyes. Accommodations was just a codeword for 'please don't sue us even though a member of our staff nearly killed you'. Did they really think she was that stupid, that she'd fall behind on the first bloody day?

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Are you sure? Because as your head of house, I have the authority to-"

"I'm sure." Cass said, snappier than she intended to. When a look of shock spread across Flitwick's face, she added, in a much softer voice, "Thank you, Professor. But I've got everything managed."

When Cass turned back around to find her friend, Naia was gone.

*

Cass couldn't sleep.

She'd been having problems with insomnia over summer break, but she figured being back at Hogwarts would help shake it. But here she was, at half one in the morning after her first day had gone surprisingly smooth, tossing and turning.

Counting sheep never worked, even when she was little. Cass considered finding a sleeping draught - she was sure she had one left, buried in the bottom of her trunk, but she didn't want to make too much noise and wake her dormmates.

When she was little and couldn't sleep, she'd use her flashlight in morse code to see if Connor was awake too. But now, he was hundreds of miles away, so even if he was in the same position as her, she had no way of knowing.

A knot formed in her stomach. Merlin, she missed him. They hardly got to see each other over the summer - she hadn't even had the chance to give him his gift from Westminster. She'd owl it to him this weekend, with a long note, and he'll respond with something sweet and adorable and it'll be like he was really there, she told herself, but it brought little comfort.

Oh, the things she'd give for Connor to be a wizard.

Or, to be a muggle herself. Life would be so much easier, as a muggle.

She rolled over again, and while suppressing a groan, she threw her blankets aside, got onto her feet and exited the dorm as quietly as possible. Maybe a change of scenery would help her mind be more at ease. If not, she could borrow a book from the shelves, and read until dawn on the comfortable blue couches.

As she descended down the stairs and into the dark common rooms, only illuminated by a the dying fireplace flames, she noticed a silhouette on a couch, head ducked down and reading a book of their own.

"Naia?" Cass frowned as she reached the base of the stairwell, and the figure looked up.

"Hi, Cass." She said dully, and turned back to her book.

"What are you doing out here? It's one in the morning!" Cass sat down next to her, and Naia shifted, moving to the opposite end of the couch.

"Reading. Why are you here, if it's so late?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"Ah."

Cass took a deep breath, gathering all of her anxiety, and looking her friend dead in the eye. "Naia, is there something wrong?"

Naia tore her gaze away. "What?"

"You've been acting so different lately. We're just worried about you, is all."

"I dunno what you're on about." She bit down on her lip, running a hand through her corkscrew curls. Her tan face was illuminated by the dwindling fire, reflecting golden hues off the warm brown.

"Don't play dumb. If you don't want to talk about what happened, that's fine, but don't pretend to be an idiot. It's insulting to both of us."

Naia scoffed, shaking her head softly. "Merlin, why are you so nice?"

Cass stared at her, baffled. "Me? Nice?"

"Yes?"

"That's certainly a first. Though, I suppose it's hard to not seem nice next to people like Bethany or Malfoy."

Naia snorted, a reluctant smile creeping up onto her face. "You have a point."

"Of course I do. I'm the smartest person here." Cass winked, and Naia laughed this time, a proper full on laugh.

Though it didn't last long, her laugh quickly faded into a stone cold stare. Naia picked at a loose thread in her pants with her fingers, pursing her lips tight, clearly very deep in thought.

"If I tell you something," She began after many moments of silence, her tone grave. "Do you swear not to get mad at me? Or tell anyone else?"

"Of course. I swear."

Naia took a deep, shaky breath, staring into the flames with a frightened, yet determined look.

"It was me." She said finally, just as Cass was beginning to think she would change her mind.

"What was you?"

"I poisoned you. On your birthday. I think."

Cass froze. That was certainly not what she was expecting. "...you think?"

Naia nodded, trembling. "I remember when we were leaving potions, and you went to speak to that Weasley, Percy right? Yeah, him. I wanted to ask Quirrell a question about my essay, and the next thing I know, it's a day later and Ana is sobbing about you being in the hospital wing, and I don't have a single memory from the day before. I think he jinxed me or something, and got me to deliver a poison, because no matter how hard I think, I can't remember a thing. I nearly killed you, I'm so sorry!"

Naia was in full on tears now, resting her face in the palms of her hands. Instinctively, Cass reached over, placing an arm over her back, and hugging her tight.

"Hey, no, it's okay. Don't cry. Naia, please, don't worry about it. It isn't your fault, he jinxed you. It was probably the Imperious Curse."

"But you nearly died!" She wailed, her voice muffled through her hands.

"But I didn't. I'm here now, aren't I? I'm just fine. Oh Merlin, Naia, please don't cry. I promise, it's all okay."

Truthfully, Cass had suspected someone had poisoned her for Quirrell, rather than him doing it himself. He tried to kill her because she was suspicious of him, so how would he manage to poison her outright? It hadn't weighed too deep in her mind, though, why would it when she was nearly positive they'd been under a curse. Now, her assumptions were proven correct, but poor Naia had to suffer with unnecessary guilt for months.

Bloody Quirrell. The Voice. Voldemort. Whoever.

Naia looked up, sniffling. "You aren't mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you? It wasn't your fault."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

A weak smile formed on her tear stricken face, and Cass sighed in relief. That was one problem solved.