***

***

WHEN THEODORE NOTT FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MEDIEVAL TORTURE METHODS used for Cassia Greengrass's detention, he was furious, to say the least. He was ready to storm into the office of the blasted toad and demand her explanation for such a barbaric punishment. No one hurts his best friend and gets away with it. But, still. He respected Cassia's opinion more than he hated the pompous teacher, and her request for Theo to subside his rage and let things wallow down nicely and smoothly in the next few weeks was what he abided by.

And so, they did. Cassia hadn't uttered a single retort to whatever Professor Umbridge bestowed upon them, and only resorted to scathingly copying down the texts that Umbridge forces them to duplicate. It made Cassia laugh, really. When Umbridge said that 'she'd learned her lesson' just by looking at rotten words I mustn't insult my superiors on her hand, thinking that Cassia knew what was better for her now. But it wasn't that. Cassia didn't insult Umbridge or the Ministry that day, she spoke the truth. And she would 'insult her superiors' again if she knew what she said was correct. That wasn't the lesson Cassia had learnt. The lesson she learnt was that for people like her, in a house that's dismissed and discarded by many others, that to stay quiet is the best thing. Because no one would ever believe her. No one would ever believe a Slytherin. Especially in a fight against people as powerful as the Ministry. She learnt her lesson long before Umbridge made her sit down in her office. The punishment and her scar were just an added reminder of her faults.

It's a little over a week away when Cassia is seen having breakfast at the Slytherin table, accompanied by Theo and Maryam and Eva. By now, her scar has mostly faded away, yet still remains as sharp in its carving like a scratch to metal, clearly depicting the words I mustn't insult my superiors even if it had been scarred over. Serving as yet another reminder that life will be better if she stays quiet on her own behalf.

     (Will it be better, though?)

     And she finds that, unprecedentedly, she misses the meetings with Harry that had to be inevitably ceased. And her mind couldn't seem to stop dreaming of the fleeting moment in which he'd held her, touched her... She really did miss him, talking to him, laughing with him. It hardly ever dawned on her how much time they'd spent last year, but this time apart proved just that. And it seemed that with their opposing houses, friends and lives, that they couldn't really find the time of day to interact with each other like they used to.

The bowl of cereal inevitably drained of its contents sits patiently on the weathered oak of the Slytherin table, beneath a sky of infallibly blue nebulae, seeping with slight twinges of greyness and no outshining hearth of sunlight. It was a grey day, in other words. And the arrival of the Daily Prophet into Theodore Nott's hands didn't seem to make the day any brighter, which Cassia judges from the scowl on his face as his eyes scan down the forefront of that article.

"Life is shit." Theo says with an emphatic drop of the newspaper onto the table.

Cassia narrows her eyes at him. "Why? What did it say—?" As she picks up the newspaper with haste, smoothing out the crumples to get a good look at it, Theo shakes his head.

"There's no use reading the whole thing," he says dismissively. "It's just the statement from the pushover Weasley speaking a bunch of crap. They couldn't even get the Minister to speak, what a bunch of idiots! Malfoy's dad spoke, of bloody course, but when does he ever say anything good. Main point is, look at the headline."

With a squint of suspicion in her eyes, Cassia looks to the headline:

MINISTRY SEEKS
EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR

""High inquisitor"?" Cassia poses. "What in Merlin's beard is that?"

Theo sighs sullenly, before saying, "It means the old toad has more power. Basically, she can control and bend the teachers to her own will. She'll practically be inspecting the teachers to make sure they don't step out of line, or whatever."

"Oh," says Cassia. "You reckon she'll be... inspecting teachers today?"

"No idea. The old toad can do whatever the hell she wants to do now that this is in order."

Cassia sighs, dropping the newspaper down. She hates the idea of Professor Umbridge having more power than she already does, when she was such a horrid, merciless woman. From what the mark on her hand depicted, that much was easily said. And the fact Umbridge now has the ability to do even more... scared her. It really did scare her.

She averts her attention elsewhere from the sorrowful news. Cassia picks up the opened letter beside Theo, reading it. It was from the only person Theo knew he would ever get a letter from, his mother.

(By now, niceties didn't even have to be observed for these best friends. Invasion of privacy isn't unnatural for them both, and it wasn't even invading. They were just... open with each other. A letter sitting open on the table was practically inviting the other to read it.)

"That's great, Theo!" Cassia exclaims in glee, waving the letter about. "Your mum said she's better! This is amazing."

"Yeah, it is," says Theo. But something about the way he spoke didn't really convey that he was glad?

Cassia narrows her eyes. "You don't... seem too happy that your mother is recovering from an illness?"

"Yeah," Theo rolls his eyes, a look of gloom within them. "It's all fine and dandy right now but our luck has never been that great, Cass. It's... too early to get excited over this."

"Don't be such a pessimist, Theo!" Cassia says, frowning.

Theo scoffs. "Coming from the one who's been nothing but dopey ever since you and Potter called it quits on your late night Astronomy Tower snog sessions!"

Cassia's eyes widen. "Theo—"

"Oh my god," Maryam says after overhearing them, her jaw dropped wide open. "Theodore, is this true?"

Theo nods eagerly. "Every night, Cassia and Potter would meet in the Astronomy Tower and they would sno—"

"Theodore Mortimer Nott," Cassia breathes furiously, "I swear, if you continue that sentence I will personally castrate your innards and make it so that no girl will ever decide to be with your coupon again."

Theo grimaces, his eyes widening. He chooses to stay quiet.

"Wait," says Maryam, "So you're saying that you and Potter would go up to the Astronomy Tower and snog—"

"No, that's not what I'm saying!" Cassia sighs. "The two of us used to meet in the Astronomy Tower and just talk, we did it all last year and up until a few weeks ago until—"

"Filch nearly caught them two snog— talking," says Theo. He smiles widely at Cassia. "What! I'm speaking the truth!" He turns back to Maryam and Eva, "But our dear Cass here cares loads about her Dearest Harry's well-being so they've stopped meeting in the Astronomy Tower to "talk". Did I do well?"

Begrudgingly, Cassia nods. "Yeah, I guess."

Theo grins, satisfied.

     "And what do you think about it, Theo?" Eva asks the boy. Her eyes seemed to stand out more than usual today... something about the way the light hit them made the icy blue swarm seem even more crystalline. "About Cass and Potter?"

     "Well, I don't like the prick so that's that," says Theo. "And Potter should know by now just what exactly is good for him. I've got nearly sixteen years of bottled up daddy issues and violent hatred inside of me so if Potter breaks our Cassia's heart, the supposed return of a wizard maniac won't be the only thing he'll have to worry about."

"Can we stop talking about this?" Cassia intrudes. "Please?"

"Why? Your heart aches talking your Dearest Harry?" The smirk addressing Theo's face was not undetectable by any means.

"Why, you—"

Theo is able to dodge the rapidly approaching flurries of Cassia's hand, making firm attempts of smacking the Slytherin boy. When Cassia eventually stops after getting a good hit to his arm, Theo sits straight again, the undeniable trace of a smug grin across his face. He adjusts his tie.

"You're an idiot." Cassia spat.

"Your favourite idiot, though."

. . . meanwhile
at gryffindor table. . .

     The residue of the news that Dolores Umbridge now had the opportunity to torment the students even further had resulted in a glum, despair atmospheric condition on the three known as the Golden Trio. Harry's hatred for the woman seemed to be growing more and more by the second, as was his impatience with anything O.W.L related and the intolerance of everyone around him. Merlin, he wished people could stop treating him like an outsider. But that was the fate dooming him from the start. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, The Boy Who Lied, The Boy Who Is Absolutely Done With Everyone's Shit. And not to mention The Boy Who Regrets Ever Having Ceased Astronomy Tower Meetings With Cassia Greengrass. Even if it were for both of their sakes.

Harry didn't know what exactly it was about Cassia Greengrass that ever allured him in at first glance. Maybe it were the fact that he may have met another kindred spirit in this complex yet compassionate girl... Perhaps it were the idea that she wasn't as judgmental or prejudiced as her peers... Or maybe it was because she just had this effect. Like, Harry didn't know how she did it but there was a way in which she smiled that was able to relieve him of any stress whatsoever... Any muscle that would tense up would unfetter it's restraints immediately and with her, Harry felt like he could just breathe. Without feeling like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. Without feeling like being The Boy Who Lived was his only distinctive quality. With her... he felt good. And it was remarkable.

"Erm—Harry?"

Harry averts his eyes to meet the inquisitive—and somewhat concerned—stare of Hermione's. He raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

The Gryffindor girl grimaces. "You're... looking at her again."

There didn't need to be any clarification on who her was. Because Hermione was right — Harry's attention had otherwise been focused on a certain girl at the Slytherin table, a pretty girl with wavy auburn hair that passed her shoulder blades and with eyes as blue as the inside of an aquarium. There was no doubt Harry was looking at Cassia, who until then was chatting to her twin sister and best friend.

(Harry sometimes found it... strange. He found Theodore Nott strange. This boy may have been plagued with as many demons as Harry himself or may not have been, but unlike Harry, he was doomed to face the more horrid path... Maybe not in this time or place, Harry was being looked to as the hero, but in many cases people do deem the Potter boy a saviour of sorts. But for people like Theodore... he had no choice. One day, he would wake up and have no other option but to follow the path his father gave him... and in a way, Harry felt bad. Truly. And not just because Theodore was Cassia's best friend.)

(But that too.)

"Yeah," mumbles Harry. "So what?"

"Well, I mean—" Hermione cut herself off, looking hesitant. "You've been doing an awful lot of looking and not enough of... talking."

"Talking? To who?"

"Well, us." Hermione alludes. "And also... her."

Harry's head shoots up. "What does she have to do with any of this?"

"Everything, Harry! Haven't you listened to this entire conversation? You miss her. You haven't talked to her ever since you two stopped meeting at night and you want to talk to her more and because you like her—"

"You don't know that—"

"I see that, Harry," says Hermione. "And... not that I'm a big expert on relationships, but... you need to talk to her again! Before—before you let her... slip away. Because people do tend to drift apart when you don't speak for long, Harry."

"What are you suggesting I do, then?"

"I don't know!" Hermione says with a light scoff. "Just—talk to her, or something. Things between you two aren't that complicated."

(But the feelings Harry feels for her definitely were.)

"Yeah, I don't know," says Hermione. "There's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up soon, or something? You can ask her out, or—"

"I'm not doing that—"

Hermione groans. "I don't know why I ever try with you."

"Look," says Harry. "I don't know if any of what you're saying is true, but just because everyone is saying the same thing doesn't mean it's— it doesn't mean it's true, and—"

Ron, who'd been quiet and brooding throughout this entire affair, released a large, droning groan, cutting Harry off from whatever proclamation he was about to make.

"Harry, mate, I've had enough!" He says exasperatedly. "You fancy the pants off this girl, stop denying it! You fancy her, and you're mopey because you hardly see her, and you wish you can see her again so for the love of Merlin, just do us all a favour and ask her out! Bloody hell, I can't listen to this anymore!"

Hermione clears her throat. "Well said, Ronald."

Harry scowls. "You two don't know what you're talking about."

     This seemed to cause a hilarity to bounce off the Granger girl and the Weasley boy, sharing amused looks between themselves.

"That so? You've fallen head over heels for Cassia Greengrass, Harry," says Ron, "And it's about time you admit it."

———

IT DAWNED ON CASSIA THAT THE MERE PRESENCE OF Professor Umbridge's ugly toad face was enough to put a dent in the potential of her day. That much, she could figure out, when she saw the despicable woman in her Divination class and was hit with the anxious feeling of a weight descending deep into the depths of her stomach. Seems like the High Inquisitor wanted to get started on her inspections.

     Thankfully, the old toad hadn't been present in Professor Snape's Potions class or Professor Sprout's Herbology class where the Slytherins had been before lunch, yet her stout, pompous figure was seen emerging from the trapdoor leading to the North Tower as Cassia sat down in between Maryam and Eva. She suddenly felt a burning envy within her towards Theo at the fact he was yet to endure an inspection, having picked Arithmancy instead of Divination.

     "Good afternoon, Professor Trelawney," says Professor Umbridge in her saccharine sweet tone. "You received my note, I trust? Giving the time and date of your inspection?"

     As Professor Trelawney frowns slightly, though nodding nonetheless, as Professor Umbridge took a seat at the front of the class, surveying the pupils with her evidently false smile. The kooky Seer pulls her beaded shawls together, before shakily making her way to the front of her class and commencing the lesson, intending to pay ignorance to Professor Umbridge's beady stare. Cassia suddenly felt... bad for Professor Trelawney, as she nervously looked at all the students in front of her through her large magnifying lenses and most especially with a conscious revolving around the woman to her side.

"We shall be continuing our study of prophetic dreams today," says Professor Trelawney. Her voice was dreamy and faraway as usual... but there was a bit of a shaky edge to it this time. Cassia didn't need to guess why. "Divide into pairs, please, and interpret each other's latest nighttime visions with the aid of the Oracle."

Professor Trelawney was about to head to her seat, but had to do a U-Turn at seeing Professor Umbridge in her seat. Instead, the woman went to stand beside Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

"We can just go as a three," says Maryam, gesturing to herself along with Cassia and Eva. "I don't think she'll mind. She's far too busy with the inspection from the toad, anyways."

"Brilliant," says Cassia, paying a short glance to the somewhat paranoid woman revolving around the class. "Okay. I had a weird dream last night. But you guys have to promise not to laugh."

"Sure."

"Fine by me," says Eva.

"Promise not to laugh!" Cassia pleads, looking abashed.

Maryam and Eva share an exasperated look between themselves, before sighing and saying very irritably, "We promise."

"Okay," Cassia smiles. "So, you know the superstition where people salute magpies for good luck?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, I like to salute magpies."

"You're superstitious?" Maryam asks incredulously.

"No, I'm not superstitious," Cassia perseveres, "But I like to salute magpies."

Maryam furrows her eyebrows curiously. "Can I just ask... why?"

Cassia shrugs. "I dunno. I've always done it. It feels weird if I don't. I feel like the magpies like me if I do. Like, they think I'm their friend."

"So you're a magpie whisperer that salutes magpies and feels weird if you don't salute magpies but aren't superstitious towards magpies?"

With a furrow of the eyebrows, Cassia leads off with, "...Yes."

Maryam takes a pause to process her words, before shaking her head, her braids swishing from side to side. "I don't buy it."

"What?"

"I don't buy it," says Maryam, convinced, "How can you salute magpies and not be superstitious? I don't buy it."

"I do," says Eva. The other two look at her in surprise. "What? My mum is the same. In France, there's a superstition that leaving a load of bread upside down on a table gives you bad luck. She says she's not superstitious, but any time she sees an upturned loaf of bread she's all "Mon dieu! C'est atroce! Le pain!". So, yeah. I buy it."

Cassia smiles. "Thanks, Eves. It's not the worst thing ever, I mean, just because I like saluting magpies doesn't mean I—"

Maryam cuts her off with a groan. "Tell is the dream, already!"

"Okay," Cassia says, "The other night I had a dream... and I was in a park and I was feeding the birds some bread by the lake and I saw a magpie. And I didn't salute it but offered it some bread — dumb idea, magpies only like shiny things — and it pecked my hand and started getting angry. I think it didn't like the bread or the fact I didn't salute it. So... it got big. Like, really big. Bigger than Hagrid big. And... I think it wanted to peck me to death. But then I woke up."

There was a pause. And then, Maryam and Eva burst into a rowdy fit of laughter. They only stopped when Professor Umbridge gave a stony glance their way and they humbly lowered their heads, laughing into their palms.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh!" Cassia huffs petulantly.

Maryam snorts. "I think that promise expired when Eva started talking about her mum and upside-down bread."

Cassia frowns.

"But what does it mean? Am I going to be pecked to death by a giant magpie?"

"I think," Maryam begins, "That this dream is more proof you need to admit you're superstitious."

A scowl crosses Cassia's face as she swats Maryam's arm. "No, that's not right. I'm not superstitious."

"Actually," Eva says slowly, "I think Maryam's right."

A sounding of 'What?' came from both of them — Pleasantly surprised from Maryam, and unpleasantly surprised from Cassia.

"Not about the superstitious part—" Maryam sinks down into her seat at this part, while Eva rummages through her book, taking notes down, "But about the admitting part... from what the books are saying, your dream says that you're hiding something? And you need to admit it aloud. That's what I think."

This here, made Cassia freeze. Especially in front of Eva. She was hiding something. A big something. About Eva's dad, and the fact he might be a Death Eater. (The evidence from Cassia's tireless nights in the library didn't exactly seem to be working out, as there was no proof that Enoch Abercrombie was a Death Eater. There was hardly anything about him at all.)

There was also another thing... something that couldn't seem to unleash its hold on Cassia. In fact, it was someone. That person... it was Harry Potter. Admit what about him, Cassia didn't know just yet — but apparently there was something. Something that couldn't leave the Slytherin alone.

Who ever said dreams were true, though?

"Okay," says Eva, breaking Cassia out of her reverie. "My turn now! I dreamt that me and Adrian—"

"Yeah, that's enough for me." Maryam says, exchanging a grinning, amused look with Cassia. She ignores the protests of Eva as she continues, "I dreamed that me, Millie and Trace got spots on the Quidditch team and shoved our brooms in Montague's a—"

"Shush! Look!" Eva says hastily, cutting Maryam off. They look to the scene unfolding in front of them, involving Professor Umbridge and Professor Trelawney, the latter of whom looked quite out of place and uneasy.

"You've been in this post how long, exactly, now?" Professor Umbridge asks. Her eyes were bulging like usual, and she smiles in a way that made Cassia want to throw up whatever she consumed for lunch. This woman made her sick.

"Nearly sixteen years," replies Professor Trelawney. She'd folded her arms so tightly together, her bodice was being made out from the tight convulsion of her shawl being held close to her. Her voice was deep, low, and very... tense.

"Quite a period," says Professor Umbridge as she made a haste note on her clipboard. "So it was Professor Dumbledore who appointed you?"

"That's right."

"And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney?"

"Yes," Professor Trelawney says, a bit more confident than previously. Professor Umbridge adds to her notes.

"But I think — correct me if I am mistaken — that you are the first in your family since Cassandra to be possessed of Second Sight?"

Professor Trelawney frowns, looking more uneasy again. "These things often — er — skip three generations."

Professor Umbridge smiles. "Of course." She makes another note on her clipboard before looking up with her bulging, scrutinising eyes and innocently asks, "Well if you could just predict something for me, then?"

The Seer freezes on spot, anxiously clutching at her shawl. "I don't understand you," says Professor Trelawney.

The toad smiles even further. "I'd like you to make a prediction for me."

By now, the entire class was looking at the disturbing scene. Cassia managed to make unforeseen eye contact with Harry, and smiles. She doesn't know what the fluttering feeling inside her meant at him smiling back. She ignores it.

Professor Trelawney makes noises of disgruntlement. "The Inner Eye does not See upon command!" She says offensively.

"I see," Professor Umbridge says lightly.

An epiphany strikes up in Professor Trelawney's magnified eyes as she points a shaking finger in the face of the toad. "I — but — but — wait! I.. I think I do see something!" She begins to say in her usual dreamy, delicate, ethereal tone. "Why... I sense something that concerns you... I sense something... something dark... some grave peril..."

Professor Umbridge continues to smile. Cassia wished her quill was in her hand right now so that she could snap it in half at the sight of the toadlike smile.

"I am afraid... I am afraid that you are in grave danger!"

A small pause ensued. Professor Umbridge sighs softly. "Right," she says with a click of the tongue, "Well, if that's really the best you can do..."

The stout woman had left the North Tiwer before anyone had a chance to say anything, her pink clipboard in hand. Professor Trelawney looked lost for words on one hand... but completely furious on the other. She continued the class with an unforeseen ferocity, one that made people feel slightly less pitying to the Seer than they did before.

"I don't know about you," Cassia hears Seamus Finnigan say in his distinctive Irish accent, "But Trelawney's in deep shit."

Cassia can't help but frown grimly. Something told her the Gryffindor boy wasn't wrong in any way, shape or form.

———

"I HATE THAT WOMAN SO, SO MUCH THEO."

     One had to give Professor McGonagall balls for her to be able to deal with the self-satisfied travesty that was Dolores Umbridge. Really, any teacher who had to deal with the toad should be getting a raise. (Maybe not Snape, though. He may not have been as horrible as Umbridge but he was certainly still a douche. Half of his own house didn't even like the man, and you can't blame them.)

     With that being said, after the unusual Divination lesson, Defence Against the Dark Arts wasn't any better. Possibly worse, actually, considering Harry Potter's increasing knack to repetitively garner more and more detentions, and Professor Umbridge still not shifting her stance on the usefulness of sole theory learning. The students were growing more and more bored — not to mention, they were hardly learning anything. It was a wonder if they'd be able to pass their O.W.L's like so without having any practical experience on casting defensive magic. To say that Professor Umbridge was putting a downcast gloom upon the castle of Hogwarts, even more now with her new power... was an understatement, in the least.

     "She honestly makes me sick to my stomach and I can't fathom how we're meant to have her for the rest of the year." Cassia rambles, a disheartened tone preceding her and her bouncy, typical waves. Theo was listening to her as she continued off on this exasperated tangent, feeling... bad for his friend. He didn't have any class with her inspecting apart from the usual Defence, but Cassia certainly dealt with a good amount of Umbridge today. And it seemed to affect her pretty badly. Cassia didn't get frightened easily... but Professor Umbridge seemed to have gotten one up on her. She didn't hate people easily either—something her and her sisters shared with each other—but judging by the way she held this contempt for the toad... anything was possible.

     "Me too," Theo sighs as they embark on their journey to the common room, having just fuelled themselves on a nourishing dinner. "I'm glad I didn't have her inspect any of my classes today. Defence was still horrible, though. Because bloody Saint Potter can't keep his mouth shut and because we aren't learning anything. It's tragic. Moody would've been a better teacher and he was deranged and an impostor. I can't believe I'm saying this, but—it's times like these I really wish Professor Lupin came back. I don't care what the toad is saying about him being a half-breed. Who cares, when he was the best teacher in our time."

     Cassia nods. She couldn't help but agree. Remus Lupin was one of the best teachers they'd had in their time... he was kind, and understanding, and he taught the best. It was tragic that all it took was Snape exposing him for Lupin to have to go. Everyone loved him, maybe even some Slytherins along with Cassia and Theo. He was a good guy. And Hogwarts needed a teacher like him again. They needed someone like him back again.

     "You know," says Cassia, "Its come to the point where I honestly don't care if e not allowed to practise defensive spells. We need to. I'm getting an O in that O.W.L, regardless of anything the Ministry says. We..." she pauses, taking a sigh, "We have to find a way to... practise the spells. Without anyone finding out. Even if it means sneaking up to one of our dorms and using our pillows and duvets as, like, a crash mat, or something."

     "That's not a bad idea," Theo says. Cassia grins. "It could work. The toad hardly ever pays attention to the Slytherins anyways, unless it's to do with Parkinson or Draco trying their hardest to suck up to the toad. Honestly, they embarrass me sometimes."

     "And not to mention, everyone'll be on the same boat. Maryam and Eva dislike the toad as much as I do, so they won't be impartial to the idea."

     "Blaise won't mind either. Draco on the other hand, may need convincing to get the guts to practise these spells when they're not meant to. And it's as if I'd tell Crabbe and Goyle, I don't trust those idiots. At all."

     Cassia and Theo were willing to bypass the laws set in place... besides, it wasn't like there was a specific rule that said they weren't allowed to practise defensive magic outside of class (or was there?) and they had to do whatever they could to garner the best chance at a Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. No bloody pink toad was going to stand in their way.

      As they turned a corner past one of the archaic, stone-encrusted walls, two figures protrude out of nowhere and Cassia finds herself jumping in fright and gasping loudly as they materialise abruptly directly in front of her. (It took a miracle for her not to scream out) A relieved sigh escapes her at the sight of her two favourite Weasley's, identical smirks on their faces. She ignores the fact Theo has completely burst out into laughter at Cassia's reaction.

     "Hey, Favourite Greengrass," The Weasley twins chorus. Cassia was still recovering from their sneak attack, a hand on her chest as she glares furiously at them. Theo, meanwhile, was having the time of his life, bent over in hilarity, laughter spilling out of him. He didn't seem to want to stop laughing anytime soon.

     "What was that for?" She fumes loudly at the twins, who continue to grin at the furious Slytherin.

     "We wanted to say hi," says Fred.

     "You seemed to have gotten a bit frightened, but?" George says amusedly.

     "A bit?" Theo muses. He was still crouched over in laughter, ignoring the glares from his best friend. "You — completely — pissed — yourself!"

     Cassia barges Theo's side. He recovers, wiping his tears quickly before trying to once again restrain himself. She narrows her eyes at the twins.

     "You guys are idiots," She spat.

     "Your favourite idiots, but." Fred smiles.

     Theo gasps. "That's what I told her this morning!" George grins, bumping elbows with him.

     "Okay, okay." Cassia says. "What are you guys doing here?"

     "Here, as in Hogwarts?" George questions. "Or here as in, in front of you? If it's the former then attempting to get an education and failing, trying to bring some joy into everyone's dull lives—"

"The latter, George," Cassia laughs.

George grins. "We just wanted to say hi."

Fred smiles. "Yeah! We've hardly seen you two since Favourite Greengrass over here nearly knocked our Favourite Speccy Git over in the Entrance Hall at the start of the year. What's new!"

"Well, Favourite Greengrass and Favourite Speccy Git have fallen irrevocably in love," Theo says.

Cassia's eyes widen. "I—"

"Ah, I should expect as much!" Fred remarks.

"Yeah, they're practically soulmates!" George agrees. "Both filled with trouble, stand up to the old toad—"

"You heard about that?" Cassia grimaces.

"We hear everything," says Fred.

"Yeah, and we were proud!" George adds. "Like, the old toad will get what's coming for her one day. Mark my — our — words."

There's a sort of crafty grin on the two redheads' faces, one that... worried them both, in a way. Theo clears his throat.

"I saw the Daily Prophet this morning," says Theo, "And your brother is the Junior Minister?"

"Yeah. Wouldn't worry about that, though, Nott," George sniggers.

"Meaning?" Cassia inquires with a raised eyebrow.

"Meaning, he's not exactly been much of a brother lately," says Fred. "He's not top of our list of concerns."

"Ah, trouble in La Casa De Weasley?"

     They all look at the Nott boy with utmost curiosity.

     "What?" Theo retorts. "I've been learning Spanish. It's surprisingly easy to learn. It's mainl—"

     "Okay, um, yeah. That." Fred says. "There has been drama. But also! We have news."

     "What kind of news?" Cassia asks.

     "The joke shop," George says with an unmistakable grin. "We're moving on in the world! Thanks to an unnamed donor, we have loads to fund our business with and things seem to be moving along well!"

     "That's amazing!" Cassia exclaims, smiling.

     "Yep," Fred quips, "And, we have some samples to give away. You guys can have some. But like, they've been 95% tested so please don't sue us if you, you know, turn purple, or die, or whatever. Yeah?"

     "I'm up for it!" Theo grins.

     Cassia narrows her eyes at her best friend. "Did you miss the part where he just said we could die?"

     "Only a 5% chance," George remarks cooly.

     "Count me out," Cassia says, her hands held up to her face.

     "Reason number two hundred and twenty-eight why you and Favourite Speccy Git are predestined to be with each other: you're both boring as hell."

     Cassia frowns at the Gryffindor twin.

     "Nice chat," Fred comments, "But we've got to meet Lee. You know, business duties and all. An empire can't be built alone!"

     "Yeah, okay." Cassia chuckles. "See you guys after." Following their short farewell with the eccentric twins, Cassia and Theo continue on their journey to the common room.

     "You don't think I'll actually die from their products, do you?" Theo asks, somewhat reflectively and with a belated concern.

     Cassia pats his arm. "No more than me getting pecked to death by an angry magpie in my dreams, buddy."

     Theo frowns. "What—?"

     "Don't ask."

———

NEARLY TWO WEEKS LATER, after countless more hell-bent lessons — more like copying sessions — on behalf of Dolores Umbridge, adding to their dismay, and the old toad had no idea of the supposedly innocent Slytherins' evening activities. In the day, Theodore, Cassia and most others would copy the chapters down like they've been instructed to but by night, they would scour the library for the best books on defensive spells and take to the dormitories to put them to use. It had become a spoken arrangement between Cassia, Theo, Blaise, Maryam and Eva that this would be the best chance they had at their O.W.L. Practise makes perfect.

     (None of them had even gotten that badly injured... what was the Ministry worried about? There was a case where Eva's foot was Stunned into place for an extra hour after a miscalculated Stupefy from Blaise... No blood, or tears, though! Only sweat. And frustration.)

    It was a cold, end-of-September Friday morning when Theodore Nott is seen in the Slytherin boy's dormitory along with his roommates. He was knotting his green and silver tie and getting ready for Potions, and he couldn't seem to shake this headache away from him. It was a headache that came close to the end of the holidays... and didn't seem to have gone away. It just lingered, like the residue of a gong vibrating throughout his synapses, and it was a sensation Theo learnt to unwillingly get used to. He hoped it would go away soon.

And for Theo, he hasn't exactly been on best terms with the boy occupying the berth beside him. Draco Malfoy was getting on his nerves, to say the least, at the fact Theo was defending his best friend for being friends with his enemy. But Theo thinks Draco should know that regardless of whatever opinions the flaxen, platinum-blonde Slytherin would think, Theo would stand up for Cassia Greengrass at any point. She's been there for him in times of need; it's only fair that he's the same.

     "You lot coming?" The question is posed by Blaise Zabini, his expression as brusque as it were handsome. Beyond him was the window. The mermaids could be seen floating in the tinted green glass. The dungeon dormitory was chilly. They could feel the breeze. It was cool, wafty, faint.

     "In a minute," says Draco. "Nott, stay back. I need to talk to you."

Theo frowns as he watches Blaise exit the room, Crabbe and Goyle following after him once Draco told them they could go. What on earth apart from the usual would Draco want to talk to Theo about? The Nott heir hopes it wasn't anything too terrible.

"What is it, Malfoy?" Theo asks once it's solely them inside the dorm, scattered belongings littering the room — mainly Crabbe and Goyle's. The other three didn't like wallowing in mess. Theo sits down on his bed. Draco was still sitting on his.

"Professor Umbridge is forming an Inquisitorial Squad," Draco tells him. "Have you heard of it?"

Theo sniggers. "What on earth is that?"

"It's a group designed to help the High Inquisitor — Professor Umbridge — carry out her duties. She wants it to be comprised mainly of Slytherins."

"And you're actually considering joining it?"

Draco frowns. "What, and you won't?"

"Of course I won't, Malfoy!" Theo scoffs. "The woman is vile. I would sooner snog a Gryffindor than do anything for that old toad."

"Like that best friend of yours?"

Theo glares at the Malfoy boy. He could've sworn there was a bit of steam coming out of him. He stands up. Draco follows suit. "Leave Cassia out of this."

"She's already made a dent in the reputation us Slytherins were meant to have, this is our chance to mend it!"

""Made a dent"?" Theo reiterates incredulously. "And what reputation is that? Cruel, soulless, diabolical? It's bad enough people don't already like us. By joining up with old toadface, you're just making certain that the only people who'd be willing to be your friends are the ones you share a dorm with."

"But—"

"You know," Theo cuts off, "I'm sick of having people undermine us as Slytherins any longer. And I don't plan on ruining my reputation, as you so love to put it, by kissing the arse of this toad. So, no thanks. I don't want to join this squad, and I know for a fact that Cassia along with those with common sense wouldn't want to either."

Draco sighs, his face in his hands. "Nott, don't you understand! We are vulnerable! Our parents are liable of being found out if we don't align ourselves with the Ministry! I don't like Professor Umbridge either... but she has power. And I'm not going to waste an opportunity to save my family."

"No, Draco. That's just foolish and cowardly."

"We're not Gryffindors, you don't have to act like one!"

"Well I'm still a fucking human being!"

All Theo could think about was that Draco had a family who was worth saving. A mother and a father that loves him... Theo's father couldn't care less if he was well or not. All he wanted was this weapon. And all Theo had was his mother.

"What, are you planning on acting out like Greengrass?" Draco sneers.

"I told you not to bring her into this," Theo says through gritted teeth. "Cassia is braver than you or I could ever be, so don't talk about her like that. I may not have the guts to speaks up like she did, but I most definitely will not agree to sucking up to Umbridge like you are. I'm better than that."

Draco sighs again. "You don't understand—"

"No, you don't understand!" Theo retorts. There was a sort of defeated sadness in his eyes. A dejection. "You have a family that cares about you, and would do whatever they could to save you. Me... I just have my mum. And what use is that when she's stuck cooped up with my psychopathic father all day long. You're the one who doesn't understand. I just have my mum... and the Greengrass's. That's it."

"Don't say that, mate." Draco says. "You have me too. I just... it's just about doing what's best for everyone."

"Yeah?" Theo raises an eyebrow. "I'm doing what's best for me and my mum."

"What about what's best for the Greengrass's?"

Theo narrows his eyes. What did Draco mean—?

"What do you mean?"

Draco sighs. He looked like he just said something he wasn't meant to. "I can't—I can't say—"

"Say what?"

"The Greengrass's—they—" Draco has to take a pause. His jaw sets. "They're at more risk than you think."

"And you can't tell me why?"

Draco's eyes drop down. "No."

Theo's lost the chance to further interrogate Draco on what the hell he means by the Greengrass family being at risk — he doesn't know why that is. But there's a squealing in his ear, it's a cacophonous sound that could pierce his eardrums and faintly resembles the sound of glass smashing. A bright light blinks in his eyes, and he's no longer in Hogwarts. He was in a house. A fancy house. A Manor. Nott Manor.

Why was he in his house?

He was in a room. The drawing room. Next to the parlour. He wondered if he could go upstairs and see his mother. But he couldn't move. His feet were planted. He could only see, and hear. Not feel, not move.

He was in the drawing room. The window was open. He couldn't feel the chill. There was a tray of tea set on the table. There were four people in front of him. He couldn't see who. They were blurred out of his vision somehow. But they were all men. One, with long platinum blond hair. Another, with trimmed, jet black hair. Another with piercing blue eyes, that he could swear had been carved out of ice. These were the only details that shined the most in Theo's mind, regarding the blurry status of his vision. There was one more person... or was it a person?... his skin was pale, sickly, and his eyes looked like a big, red orb, snake-like, with slits that would yearn to yank him in...

He was in his house, and in the drawing room. Theo couldn't visit his mum. He couldn't move. He couldn't feel the air. He could only see these people. He couldn't hear them either. They were chatting indistinctly, like they're voices were blurred out too...

And then—

Theo bolts upright. How did he get on the floor? He could feel the wind. He could see the mermaids. He could feel the breeze. It was cool, wafty, faint. Draco was by his side. He looked worried, confused. His eyes widen as he sees Theo return to... consciousness? When did he fall unconscious?

"Mate, are you okay?" Draco asks frantically.

Theo looks around. How did he get on the floor? He just remembers the noise, and white light, and the Manor. And the people...

"What happened to me?"

Theo stands up. He's surprised when Draco says:

"You fainted."

Theo's eyes widen. "I did?"

"Yes, you did!" Draco chases after Theo as he begins to walk to the door, like nothing happened... Draco stops him. "Wait—are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Theo says. "It's not a big deal."

"It is! You just fainte—"

"I'm fine!" Theo reiterates. "I'm fine. We're getting late for Potions."

Okay, Theo is also perplexed by whatever just happened. He fainted. His mind went somewhere else. It was like the time when he went to say goodbye to his father before leaving the Manor that summer... only he didn't know why. But he knew that he fainted. He saw something. And he didn't want to make it a big deal. Because it wasn't a big deal, right? People faint all the time...

(But they certainly don't have reveries of their home being occupied by unknown men...)

Theo's hand reaches the doorknob, and he's ready to shout at Draco when he calls out:

"Nott."

Theo turns around, meeting Draco's icy grey stare. His hair was platinum blonde. (Like that man...)

"What?"

Draco inhales. "Think about what I said."

Theo's thoughts are replaced. He's no longer trying to push out the fact he fainted. It's gone. He's thinking about how much he hates the toad... how he hates what the toad has done to his best friend Cassia... how he hates the fact Draco is taking the easy route. Theo can't even say anything. He's doing the exact same by not acting out. He hates to admit it, but he was no better than Draco. He most definitely wasn't going to take this step, though...

"I have," Theo tells him. "And I'm not changing my mind."

(All Theo can now think about is how he fainted, why he fainted, and what happened while he fainted.)

(And what Draco said about the Greengrass family. What did he mean?)

***

hey guys another update 😁

not even gonna lie i LOVE writing ootp i have so much planned especially towards the end>>
and so much planned for harry and cassia and theo and everyone😌

hope you liked this chapter!!! it got a bit boring trying to write but im glad with how it turned out. and that stuff with theo😼😼

tysm for reading I love you all and i hope you're all keeping well and healthy 💕💕💕💕