“For the hundredth time, Potter getting banned is exactly what he deserved,” Draco was ranting, arms flailing dramatically as they cut across the grounds. “You don’t try to hit someone after a match—what is this, a Muggle playground?”

Theo sighed “You’ve said that five times in the last minute.”

“Six,” Blaise added. “And you’re circling back to your original rant, by the way.”

“I’m just saying—he assaulted me—”

Yeah, yeah, and yet,” Blaise said  “we still lost.”

Pansy snorted “Obviously. We would’ve won if Nott had actually focused on the game instead of sending heart-eyes across the pitch to Cassiopeia.”

"I wasnt!"

"You literally aimed the bludger towards our own chaser nott"

"That was a personal beef"

Cassie gave him a slow side glance. “Was that your excuse for the heart-eyes or the near concussion?”

Blaise snorted. “Maybe both. Either way, we lost and now we have to hear Draco’s ‘Potter Deserved It’ monologue until the end of time.”

“Oh, I haven’t even begun the monologue,” Draco sniffed, clearly offended. “The disrespect I suffered on the pitch—Potter launched himself at me like a rabid Hippogriff—”

“You provoked him,” Pansy muttered, inspecting her nails.

“I was sporting,” Draco snapped. “My words were pointed, yes, but hardly warranting violence!”

Cassie looked at him “Didn’t you call his mother dead weight?”

Draco blinked. “It was a... metaphor.”

Blaise cackled. “Mate, you basically asked for the punch.”

Theo folded his arms, unimpressed. “And now half the Gryffindor team’s banned, we’re still down thirty points, and Montague’s nursing a bruised ego. Good job, all around.”

"And potter deserved it" Draco said for the thousandth time

"DRACO-

Cassie, somewhere between done and clinically dead, rolled her eyes  “Draco, outside this school, people might think you fancy him the way you talk about him.”

That shut him up.

Momentarily.

Blaise let out a delighted snort. “He does bring up Potter more than his own mother.”

Draco flushed. “Excuse me for having opinions!”

“Yes,” Theo said dryly. “Loud, repetitive, traumatizing opinions.”

“Shut up.”

Cassie wasnt paying attention the banter anymore. momenteraly ignoring Draco whining about Blaise messing his hair up. Because beyond the pitch, from the crooked chimney of Hagrid’s hut, smoke was curling up - he was back?   Innocent enough

But then—Movement. A figure shifting near the window. Lurching. Huge. Limping.

And even from here, even through the haze, she saw it—the light catching one side of his face. Swollen. Split. Raw.

Her steps slowed. Boot scraping against the frosted grass.

Theo caught it first. The shift in her. “Cass?”

She didn’t answer. Just nodded toward the hut, sharp and subtle. “Look.”

He followed her gaze.

His eyes narrowed. “What the hell—”

Cassie’s fingers curled around his wrist, ""Come on.:" She veered off the path without hesitation, tugging him down the slope behind Greenhouse Four. Theo didn’t resist. He never did

“Oi!” Blaise called from behind. “Where are you two sneaking off to?”

“Oh, let me guess,” Pansy drawled, “behind a tree to—”

Cassie didn’t so much as flinch. Theo flipped them off without turning around.  Her grip stayed tight as they moved, boots scuffing down the narrow trail behind the last greenhouse. The chatter of the crowd faded behind them, swallowed by the wind. “Cass, what’s going on?” Theo asked, breath misting in the cold. “You’re worrying me.”

“Something’s off,” she murmured.

They moved in sync—like they always did 0-slipping around the back, sticking to the shadows near the forest’s edge.

Cassie wasn’t heading to Hagrid’s. Not directly. She pulled them toward the edge of the lake instead, ducking under a low-hanging branch and emerged in a clearing tucked near the Black Lake, partially hidden by a half-dead tree. Twisted, bare, and ugly. One of the few places no one wanted to hang around.

Theo raised a brow “This where you murder me?”

“No one comes here,” Cassie said simply.

And she was right. The tree was skeletal, half-rotted, clawing at the sky. The ground was cracked near the lake’s edge, and the stone slab beneath it was cold and stained with moss.

Cassie dropped onto it, silent, tugging her coat tighter. Eyes still flicking around as if expecting company , like her brain was spiraling ahead of itself.

Theo joined her, glancing sideways. “What are we doing?”

She didn’t answer for a second. Then:

“Talking.”

He tilted his head. “About?”

“stuff - others prolly won't get it,” she muttered.

There was a pause. Then he gave her a look—half teasing, half real. “You know, for a second I thought you dragged me here to make out.”

Cassie snorted. “Disappointing, isn’t it?”

Theo grinned, leaning back on his palms. “I mean, I wouldn’t complain.”

She didn’t answer. Not right away. Just looked out across the lake, jaw set, shadows flickering behind her grey eyes.

The smile faded off Theo’s face. He leaned in a little closer. “Okay. What’s actually going on?

Cassie summoned a roll of parchment from her satchel and fishing out aquill. Her legs crossed; the parchment stretched over her lap, and without looking up, she mutteredd “Shit’s going down.”

“That your opening line?”

She started scribbling something messily across the top. “You know the Order of the Phoenix?”

“Dumbledore’s lot. From the First War, yeah?”

“It’s back.”

He blinked. “Didn’t know it was rebanded.”

“Guess where the headquarters is.”

He gave her a dry look. “Don’t tell me it’s—”

“My house,” she said flatly. “Grimmauld Place. That's why I went there.  Thought I’d drop in, see if the war effort was worth joining. Spoiler alert: it’s not.”

Theo raised a brow. “Why not?”

Cassie exhaled, cracking her knuckles. “Same old plan. Love. Unity. Moral high ground. All that pretty garbage that got half of them killed last time.”

“Charming.”

Cassie snorted. “It’s not charming. It’s stupid.”

Theo leaned forward, elbow on his knee, watching her as she picked up the quill again scribbling messily on the parchement

“You know how Voldemort took over during the first war?” she asked.

“Yeah. build a  army.  Ministry collapses,Order falls apart, everything burns.”

“Well, he’s doing it again. The same damn order ” She started scribbling. “Step one: dementors-well that is  achieved”

“How do you know?”

“They attacked Harry this summer.”

Theo blinked. “Dementors don’t attack without Ministry orders.”

“Exactly,” she said, circling the word Ministry three times. “Guess who isn’t in control anymore.”

Theo muttered something under his breath. “Next?”

“Giants,” Cassie said. “Hagrid got sent to negotiate with them. Dumbledore probably sent him off with some half-baked peace offering of rock cakes and peace treaties. Meanwhile Voldemort probably promised fire and a front-row seat to destruction.” “And judging by the way hagrid came back—beaten to shit—it went well, I assume.”

“Okay, so that’s two.” Theo said, Taking his own quill and drawing a jagged arrow from ‘Dementors’ to ‘Giants’,

“Next: Werewolves,” Cassie said, already writing it down.

Theo raised a brow. “Confirmed?”

“I’ll ask Lupin for updates, but I already know the answer. Fenrir Greyback won’t leave Voldemort. He’s loyal, rabid, and the only alpha that ever mattered. The rest will follow him.”

Sounds like a fun reunion.”

“Yeah, imagine the Christmas parties,” Cassie muttered.

He picked up the quill again, adding a small cross beside Werewolves and looked up at her. “So that’s—Dementors. Giants. Werewolves.”

“Next,” Cassie said quietly, “Azkaban.”

Theo paused. “Makes sense - but you think the order--”

“I know,” she interrupted. “There’s going to be a breakout. The place’s already unstable. And if he’s got Dementors on his side... it’s not a question of if. It’s when.”

Theo looked over nodding mouth tight. “Bellatrix.”

Cassie gave a single nod. “And your father.”

There was a beat of silence before Theo said, voice low, “Rookwood. Mulciber. Antonin Dolohov. Nott. Lestranges”

“All the lovely dinner guests,” Cassie added. “There you go -He has his army.” ”
Theo stared at the parchment. “Next stop?”

Cassie tapped her wand against her thigh. “Ministry.”

Theo hesitated. “No.” He pulled the parchment toward him and added something in quick, dark strokes. “There’s one obstacle Voldemort still has.”

Cassie frowned. at the word he wrote “Dumbledore.”

Theo didn’t look at her. “As much as you hate him, Cass, he’s the only wizard Voldemort ever feared.”

“I don’t hate him,” she said after a beat. “I just don’t trust him. He’s too… poetic.”

Theo gave her a look. “You mean delusional.”

Cassie laughed. “Close enough.”

He stared at the page. “So he’ll have to go. Voldemort’ll make that move soon.”

“Then it’s checkmate,” Cassie muttered. “eliminate Dumbledore- Take  the Ministry - hunt the Order down.”

The wind had shifted. The lake had gone still.

Then, without looking at her, Theo spoke., almost  carelessly: “You do realise he expects our support.”

Cassie’s head snapped up.

“The Dark Lord,” Theo added. “We’re Slytherin. We’re from the right families. He’ll expect it.”

Cassie’s jaw tightened. “Yours, yeah. He doesn’t know I exist.”

“How do you know? What if Lucius told him?”

She looked at the lake and then back at him. Her voice was quiet, but cold. “I don't care. I’m not standing with Voldemort, Theo.”

Theo tilted his head, "Even if he calls?”

“Let him.”

He let out a long breath, then looked down at the parchment in her lap, suddenly not so interested in the checklist anymore. “What about your father?” he asked, "I'll be honest... I don’t know much about the Pierre line. Where they’ve stood before but if he’s anything like mine—”

“He’s not,” she said. “He is against it. Used to be a Death Eater. Then… he understood.”

He nodded . not making any comment .After a pause, he asked, “So, what’s your big plan then? You don’t want the Order. Don’t want the Dark Lord. What are you gonna do?”

Cassie shrugged,“End everything.”

Theo stared. “That doesn’t make sense .What does that even mean?”

“It means burn both sides if I have to.”

“You sound mad.”

“Maybe I am.”

Theo gave a short, humourless laugh. “Brilliant. We’re sixteen and already sick of two entire political movements.”

Cassie raised an eyebrow. “You’re not?”

He didn’t answer right away.

“Voldemort’s army strength already exceeds ours,” she said tapping the parchment “If he gets full control of the Ministry—he  will outnumbers us by at least five to one. It won't be a war - just a massacre waiting to happen”

Theo nodded slowly. “And we can’t convert his followers.”

Cassie snorted. “That would never work. Fanatics don’t change their minds. They only die. can you see us turning the Lestranges into pacifists?””

He looked at her sideways. “Killing them, then?”

“Maybe,” she said with a shrug. “Depends on the day.”

Theo huffed, half amused, half wary. “You realise the Order doesn’t exactly approve of killing, right?”

Cassie turned her head, eyes glinting. “‘We are not them, Cassiopeia, We are better than them’” she said in a perfect Dumbledore impression, even mimicking his disappointed expression.

Theo laughed—boyish and sudden, like it punched out of him. “Merlin, you sound exactly like him.”

“I should,” she muttered. “He says the same three lines in every bloody room.”

He grinned. “Let me guess—‘We believe in forgiveness and the power of love’?”

Cassie put her hand to her chest. “‘There’s no shame in kindness, Miss Black. We will triumph with the power of love and forgiveness’”

Theo laughed again, slumping against the tree “Oh my God, that was terrifyingly accurate.”

“I’ve heard it enough,” she said dryly. “He says it like he’s quoting the ultimate truth”

Still laughing, Theo clutched his chest. “You need to do that voice more often. Maybe next time Umbridge gives one of her speeches—just answer her with that.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “She’d probably explode on the spot.”

Theo wiped at his eyes, still grinning. “Merlin. I needed that. But seriously, you don’t agree with him?”

“I don’t obey him,” she said flatly. “He’s not my leader.”

“But he’s leading the only resistance we have.”

“He’s leading them in circles,” Cassie muttered. “Voldemort is playing war, and Dumbledore’s playing therapy.”

Theo sobered a little, watching her. “So you’d kill?”

“If it ended this? Yes.” She met his gaze. “Wouldn’t you?”

Theo didn’t answer right away. Then he nodded slowly. “I think I would. But Dumbledore—”

“I don’t obey him neither should you,” she snapped. “He’s no one to me.”

He exhaled. “So what—you’re going rogue?”

“I’m doing what needs to be done.”

Theo leaned forward, elbows on knees, eyes locked on hers. “And where does that leave me?”

Cassie looked at him carefully. “Wherever you choose to stand.”

A beat. Then Theo muttered, “My father would kill me.”

Cassie looked sharply at him, cold and fierce. “I’ll kill him first.”

Theo frowned  “NO you won't - He’s still my father, Cass.”

“I don’t care,” she said, flatly. “Anyone who eyes what I love dies.”

Silence.

Theo grinned despite himself . “Wait. Cassiopeia Black—you love me?”

Cassioepiea immedielty coughed - trying to shake it off “I didn’t say that.”

“You so did.”

“Didn’t.”

“You said what I love. That’s me.”

“Maybe I was talking about my wand.”

“Your wand wouldn’t get murdered by my father.”

“Depends on how it’s being used.”

Theo recoiled “That was unnecessarily filthy.”

“You started it.”

He laughed, that boyish, stupidly charming laugh that made her chest ache in ways she hated. “So you love me.”

“I said maybe.”

“You didn’t deny it.”

“I didn’t confirm it either.”

“Cass.”

She raised a brow. "What"

“So you are telling me you don’t want to kiss me right now,” he said, voice low, brushing deliberately against her knee.

“I don’t,”

He leaned in slightly, just enough that her breath caught. “Liar.”

“Maybe.”

His hand grazed hers—lazy, teasing. “You’re not pulling away.”

“I’m planning a murder. Don’t distract me.”

“So murder first, then kissing?”

Cassie didn’t answer. She just stared at him, eyes burning like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to kill him or kiss him. And then Theo moved closer—closer than close. Their noses brushed. The air between them disappeared.
“I’m gonna kiss you now,” he murmured.

Cassie tilted her head, lips a breath away from his. “You’re assuming I won’t hex your face off.”

“I’m assuming you won’t,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.

And before she could throw another snarky line, Theo leaned in and kissed her.

Not gentle.

Not rough.

Just—right.

That kind of kiss that carried every unsaid thing between them.  Just heat, tension, maybe a little fear. His hand curled into her jacket like he wasn’t sure she’d stay. Her fingers hovered at his wrist like she might pull away, but didn’t.

She kissed him back.

Of course she did.

When they finally broke apart, Theo was grinning like an idiot.

Cassie wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve, “Don’t make it a thing,” she muttered.

“It’s absolutely a thing,” he said.

"No it's not"

“Admit you love me.”

“I will push you in this lake”

Theo leaned back, smug as hell, hands behind his head  “I’m still your favorite.”

“You’re not.”

“I’m the only one you kiss.”

“Temporary madness.”

“You’re smiling.”

Cassie scowled.

Theo nudged her with his shoulder. “You are.”

“Shut up.”

Theo grinned “Make me.”

She kissed him again

********************************

Bonus - Cassiopeias birthdayyy

“I told you—no fuss. How hard is that to understand?” Cassie hissed as she descended the girls' dormitory stairs, barefoot, scowling, and already deeply regretting being born

She hadn’t even made it three steps onto the common room floor before—

“THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!”

Blaise launched himself toward her with arms wide open like he was announcing her as the next Dark Lord.
Cassie stopped dead. Eyes wide.
“Blaise. No.”

He ignored her, fully sprinting across the common room like a lunatic. “Come here, you terrifying little menace—”

“Don’t touch me—”

He tackled her anyway, arms around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground as she flailed.

“Put me down, Zabini—!”

“Too late!” he cackled. “Birthday tackle!”

Cassie finally managed to shove him off with a growl, her curls now sticking out in three directions. “You lot are unbelievable.”

“And you’re ancient today,” Blaise said sweetly, ruffling her hair and narrowly dodging a hex. “How does it feel to be closer to death?”

"The only part I'm excited about" Cassie said blinking. The entire common room was decorated. There was a suspicious cake levitating on one of the tables, green and silver streamers trailing across the chandeliers, and the Slytherin crest was charmed to wink every ten seconds.

She looked horrified.“This is—this is my nightmare.”

“You should’ve seen her this morning,” Pansy said, flopping onto the couch . “Nearly hexed me for saying ‘happy birthday.’”

“You tackled me,” Cassie growled. “Practically throttled me before I could escape.”

“Also,” Pansy added, “I gifted you a dress. Why haven’t you put it on yet?”

“I told you guys. No fuss. No party. No weird sentimental gifts. You can’t expect me to parade around in chiffon all day.”

“Why not?” Blaise asked innocently, already reaching into his pocket. “It’d pair well with this.”

He handed her a small black box. Cassie frowned "What is this"

"We mortals call it a birthday gift"

Cassie gave him a look but opened it anyway.

Inside was a sleek silver ring with a glinting green gem—and a tiny latch built into the band.

“…What the hell is this?”

“Press the stone,” Blaise said smugly.

She did. A miniature, gleaming blade snicked out from under the gem.

“Oh,” Cassie said, blinking. “Oh this is good.”

“Concealed dagger ring. Stabs through most fabric. You’re welcome.”

Draco sauntered over,  “And here’s mine.”

He held out a long, narrow box and waited, all expectant.
Cassie opened it—and frowned.

“…A robe?”

“A Roonwit-grade combat robe,” Draco corrected her, nose in the air. “Reinforced seams, spell-resistant lining, and a pocket for this—”

He waved his want cube-shaped box floated over. Inside was a multi-weapon minimizer, polished and inscribed with a snake.
“Borgin and Burkes exclusive. I had to blackmail someone.”

Cassie stared at him, then Blaise, then the ridiculous room "So much for asking a quiet brithday"

You say that like you expected us to not do anything” Blaise said, shrugging.

“Anyway,” Pansy piped up, tossing a cushion at Cassie’s legs, “you’re welcome. Happy birthday. Even if you’re ungrateful and weird about it.”

Before Cassie could retort, a loud, dramatic hoot echoed through the room.

Mortem swooped in, almost crash-landing on the cake, flapping his wings as he dropped a huge, oddly elegant parcel onto the floor in front of her. The owl gave her a slow blink like he was deeply judging her life choices and started pecking at the frosting.

Cassie stared at the parcel. “Ah. Of course. Dad. Because this wasn’t already enough chaos.”

“Parcel looks expensive,” Draco muttered.

“Parcel looks cursed,” Blaise corrected.

“I hope it is cursed,” Cassie mumbled, crouching beside it with a deep sigh. She traced the edge of the parchment, instantly recognizing the sigil wax-sealed into the top—Black crest, slightly cracked.

Pansy raised a brow. “You gonna open it?”

Cassie glanced up. “Eventually. Maybe after I hex you all for this—”

“Don’t waste your hexes on them.”

Theo’s voice came from the back of the room. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with that half-smile he reserved just for her.

You’re late,” she muttered, though she hadn’t technically asked him to come.

Theo didn’t bother replying. He pushed off the wall and walked toward her with unhurried steps, his eyes never leaving hers.

When he reached her, he stopped just close enough to make her breath hitch.

“Happy birthday, love,” he said quietly, the words low and warm.

Then he leaned in and kissed her.

It wasn’t rushed or dramatic — just slow, deliberate, and maddeningly soft. One of his hands slid lightly to her jaw, steadying her . She didn’t flinch. Didn’t hex him. Didn’t even breathe for a second.

When he finally pulled back, she blinked, stunned and infuriatingly breathless.

“…You’re ridiculous,” she muttered

From across the room, Blaise made a strangled noise. “Oh for Merlin’s sake—ew. Get a room. Not the common one!”

Cassie turned to glare at him, cheeks faintly flushed. “What are you, four?” she snapped. “See, this—this is what I meant by no fuss.”

But Theo was completely unbothered, still looking far too pleased with himself. “Yeah, well. This birthday?” He slung an arm around her shoulders. “She’s all mine.”

Cassie arched a brow. “Wait—what?”

He grinned, devilish. “We’re sneaking out tonight. I’ve got plans.”

“Do these plans involve breaking at least three school rules?”

“Four,” he said proudly.

“That's more like it.”

********************

Cassie stood at the far end of the corridor behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy, arms folded, foot tapping impatiently.

She looked...infuriatingly good. Black knee-length dress, sleek and minimal, paired with a cropped leather jacket Pansy had probably picked out and forced her into. The only thing it appeared that cassie had managed fight pansy into is her old leather boots. Her hair was their usual untamable curls - a bit set in a way that framed her face a little too perfectly.

Theo stopped dead when he saw her.

Then, dramatically, he bowed, offering his hand.
“My princess.”

Cassie rolled her eyes and took his hand anyway. “Yes, my servant. Lead the way.”

Theo grinned. “Why was I expecting ‘my prince’ at least?”

“Because you’re an idiot.”

The castle was quiet—most students in bed, and the few patrols easily dodged. Both of them cast Disillusionment Charms smoothly, moving in sync like they’d done this before.
They slipped behind Gregory the Smarmy’s statue, and Cassie paused. “No fucking way This is a passage?”

“Just found it last week,” Theo muttered, already pressing the right stone to trigger the hidden door. “Gregory the Smarmy: smug bastard,but apparently useful.”

"Where does this lead to?"

"you'll find out"

The narrow tunnel yawned before them, misty and cool, the stones damp and echoing their footsteps.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, just the soft sound of their shoes on old stone. Eventually, the passage curved upward—and ended in a concealed exit behind the large fountain in Hogsmeade’s west square. Cassie blinked as she emerged into the night air. The village was quiet under the starlit sky, most shops closed, the street lamps casting a low, warm glow. "No fucking way - this is so cool"

The village was nearly silent—just the soft clinking of tavern glasses far in the distance and the occasional hoot of an owl overhead. Most shops were dark, shutters closed, signs swinging slightly in the breeze.

Cassiopeia tilted her head rolling her eyes  "So. Your master plan is to walk around the streets under the moonlight?"

Theo smirked removin their dillusionment charms "Was. Until I remembered who I’m dating." He slid his wand back into his sleeve. "So I thought—why not commit at least one felony?”

Cassie grinned. "Now that’s a birthday"

They made their way through the cobbled street, shoes silent. The first stop was Honeydukes—not for sweets, but because Cassie wanted to see if she could break the backdoor charm without setting off the alarm.

She could. And she did. “Fifteen points to me,” she whispered, snagging a handful of Fizzing Whizbees and chocolate frogs.Theo rolled his eyes but took some too.

Next was Zonko’s—closed up tight. But Cassie picked the lock (more like broke it in rage ) , and the two of them slipped in through the side. They left with three Dungbombs, a deck of cursed trick cards, and a bottle of enchanted ink that would explode in color if spilled.

But it was the firewhiskey heist that did it.

The shop on the corner—just past Scrivenshaft’s—had bottles stacked right in the window. Theo used a simple Alohomora to get in, while Cassie kept watch, wand out  The second the latch clicked open—

“Oi! Who’s there?”

A voice. Loud. Sharp. Not close—but close enough.

Cassie’s eyes went wide. “Run.”

Theo didn’t ask questions. They bolted.

Down the alley, Cassie tugging him behind stacks of barrels, through a fence, behind the side of the Three Broomsticks. Laughter started bubbling out of her halfway through. They ducked behind a stone wall just as the shouting shopkeeper passed the alley, muttering curses. Cassie slid down the wall, breathless, her leather jacket catching the moonlight. She looked exhilarated—wild curls flying, cheeks flushed, eyes burning like embers.

Theo landed beside her, clutching the firewhiskey.

“We nearly got caught,” he gasped.

Cassie threw her head back and laughed.

Loud. Reckless. Free.

It was the kind of laugh that made his chest hurt.

She looked over at him—grinning, like she hadn’t felt that alive in years.
“This is what I meant,” she said breathlessly. “No candles. No cake. Just this.”

Theo grinned "Alright next stop your favorite hill"

The hill behind Hogsmeade was steep, wind-whipped, and mostly forgotten. Students didn’t bother with it—it was too far, too cold, too empty. Exactly why Cassie liked it.

They climbed it in silence, Theo carrying the firewhiskey like a prized trophy, Cassie trailing a step behind, boots crunching in dry grass. Her dress fluttered around her knees, the jacket Pansy had insisted she wear keeping out the chill.

When they reached the top, she sat down with a soft huff, leaning back on her palms to look at the stars.

Theo dropped beside her, set the bottle between them, and let out a long breath.

Neither of them said anything for a moment. Just the wind and the faint, faraway sound of Hogsmeade below.

Then Theo twisted the bottle open and handed it to her first.

Cassie took a swig—eyes narrowed at the burn, lips pursed.

“Tastes like bad decisions.”

Theo smirked. “Aged twelve years and illegally acquired. Only the finest.”

She passed it back, and he took a drink too—

They sat like that for a while—passing the bottle back and forth, letting the night wrap around them. Cassie’s legs were tucked under her, Theo’s shoulder warm against hers. His sleeve brushed her hand every so often. Neither of them moved away.

Then he reached into his coat pocket.

Cassie raised a brow.

“Please tell me it’s not a second dagger ring.”

Theo smiled—quiet this time—and pulled out a thin chain. A silver pendant, small and intricate, dangled from it.

He pulled out a thin silver chain, and Cassie froze mid-sip. A pendant dangled from the end — delicate lines connecting stars, unmistakably forming the constellation Cassiopeia. The charm shimmered faintly in the dark, softly warded, unmistakably expensive.

Cassie stared. “That looks shit expensive.”

Theo shrugged, playing it off, but the corner of his mouth curled.

“Obviously. Couldn’t get a black-market combat wand holster engraved with your name, so this had to do.”

Cassie blinked at him, then slowly raised an eyebrow. “What happened to saving money, Mister Nott?”

Theo gave her a crooked grin. “Have too much of it, Black. You can always return the favour on my birthday next month”

Cassie chuckled, low and amused, not even pretending to argue. “Of course.”

She reached for the pendant, let it settle into her palm. It was cool, surprisingly heavy for something so dainty. She turned it over, noting the faint etching along the edges—old runes for protection, bloodline, and truth. “…You’re giving me a constellation of myself.”

“I’m giving you something you already are,” Theo said simply.

Cassie rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. “You’re disgusting when you say things like that.”

“Yeah. You love it.”

She didn’t deny it.

Without another word, she turned around, dragging her hair aside.
“Put it on.”

Theo moved behind her, quiet, careful. The chain clicked shut around her neck, and she shivered — not from the cold.

The pendant lay against her collarbone like it belonged there.

“There,” he murmured. “Now the stars know who they answer to.”

Cassie turned halfway, smirking. “You rehearsed that, didn’t you?”

“Nope. I’m just that good.”

She tilted her face up toward his, the moonlight catching the green in her eyes.

“If you’re going to kiss me, do it before I mock you again.”

Theo didn’t need a second invitation.

**************************************

They’d been sitting for hours, just watching the stars move, the bottle between them half-finished, breath fogging in the chill. The sky was paling to a silvery-blue, the kind of eerie pre-dawn that felt like the world was holding its breath.

Cassie rubbed her eyes and stood.
“Let’s head back. If we’re caught returning in daylight, I’m hexing you.”

Theo snorted, brushing grass off his trousers. “Worth it.”

They were quiet as they wound their way back down the hill, boots silent on the cold dirt. Hogsmeade was dead still, the village sleepy and gray under the creeping light. Most shops were dark, a few lanterns swaying in the breeze. As they neared the back alley behind the Hog’s Head — planning to circle toward the passage behind Gregory the Smarmy’s statue — Theo paused. Cassie nearly bumped into him.

“What—”

He motioned sharply. She followed his line of sight.

Two cloaked figures sat slumped at a rickety table outside the Hog’s Head’s back entrance, bottle between them, smoke curling around their heads. One of them laughed — loud, braying, unmistakably drunk. The other flicked his wand lazily, causing a nearby rat to explode with a pop.

Cassie’s blood ran cold.

The taller one — broad-shouldered, greasy hair — leaned forward and slurred something.

“Should’ve killed the juggle—juggle—what was his name?”
“Jugson,” the other one muttered. “Git botched the hex. If it weren’t for me, we’d be bloody rotting still.”

Cassie grabbed Theo’s arm,  immedietly recognizing that voice from third year“…That’s Macnair.”

Theo’s jaw tightened. “And Avery.” Malfoy's accomplices

Both of them froze.

Confirmed Death Eaters — the ones that had never gone to Azkaban. Slippery bastards who claimed Imperius and slithered through the cracks after the Third Task/ ie. voldermort's return

Cassie exhaled slowly. “Fuck. We are so screwed.”

The two men laughed again, slurring about some Ministry contact, voices rising. One of them knocked over the bottle.

Cassie didn't waste time. She flicked her wand , a perfect Disillusionment Charm rippling over them, and reached for his hand.

Theo hesitated just a second — then allowed the spell to wash over him , the cool shimmer coating them. His grip on Cassie's hand tightened. They moved together, barely breathing.

They slipped past the side wall. The drunks didn’t notice.

But then—

CRACK. Cassie's foot hit a glass shard, too fast to avoid.

Avery sat up slightly, eyes squinting into the gray “Oi… I heard somethin’.”

Macnair blinked. “Ain’t nothin’. Wind.”

“No. I heard somethin’. Movement.”

Theo’s grip on her hand became iron. He whispered directly into her hair.
“Don’t move.”

Cassie didn’t. Her wand was already raised under her jacket. Every nerve in her body screamed.

Avery stumbled to his feet, wand out, eyes sweeping.
“Lumos.”

Light bloomed.

Cassie shifted — slow,  — pulling Theo gently behind a barrel.

They crouched, barely breathing.

Macnair grunted. “You're hearing ghosts. We’ve got three hours before Lucius expects us. Sit down.”

Avery hesitated, clearly swaying.

Cassie held her breath.

Avery was still peering into the shadows, wand flickering.

And then—
“Homenum Revelio.”

The spell burst from Avery’s wand in a streak of pale light — cast sloppily, but fast — shooting directly toward the alley where Theo and Cassie crouched.

“Shit—!”

Cassie pushed theo out of the way and ducked , shoulder slamming the cobblestone, cloak rustling. The spell missed by inches, sparking against the stone wall behind them.

Theo’s breath hitched—he turned just in time to see her rise again, wand already out, eyes burning

“Cass—no.” he whispered
He knows someone’s here—”

“Exactly,” Theo hissed. “You hit him and he remembers. Then they hunt. Then we’re done.”

She didn’t answer. Just stared at him-- "alright - Let's leave - fast"

Finally, Avery scoffed, flicked his wand off, and flopped back down.

“Bloody rats,” he muttered. “Everywhere.”

Cassie didn’t move for a full thirty seconds. Neither did Theo.

Then, finally — slowly — they began inching back around the corner, sticking to the shadows, When they finally reached the edge of the alley and the sightlines broke, Cassie exhaled hard.

“What. The. Fuck.”

Theo didn’t answer. He just pulled her along toward the hidden statue, They slipped back into the castle , through the Gregory the Smarmy passage and into the empty corridors of the dungeons. The torchlight flickered amd their footsteps echoed just a little too loudly.

As they neared the Slytherin common room entrance, Cassie blew out a breath. “Well. That was the perfect end to my birthday.”

Theo looked at her sideways. A near-death encounter with two drunk Death Eaters? Sounds about right for you.”

Cassie grinned, brushing dust off her jacket. “Exactly.”

He gave a low, disbelieving laugh, shaking his head. “You do realise we’re going to have to tell someone about this?”

“Who?” she said, already wincing at the question.

“I don’t know. Someone. Anyone. Someone responsible—”

Cassie sobered slightly, her grin fading. “Yeah. I know. I mean… I have to tell Dad. At least.”

Theo groaned, dragging a hand over the back of his neck. “Cool. So that’s a death warrant for me.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” she muttered,  “I’ll tell him it wasn’t your fault. You actually stopped me from hexing them into the void.”

“Mhm.” He smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I meant we should tell someone from the Order. They could actually do something about this.”

Cassie glanced at him, pausing in front of the common room wall.

“Yeah... but who? We can’t just walk up to Dumbledore and go, ‘Oh hello, we were out illegally drinking and stealing  and stumbled across Death Eaters in Hogsmeade, thought you’d like to know.’”

Theo raised a brow. "Sounds about right. Might die of embarrassment instead.”

Cassie snorted. “I’ll write to Remus.”

“Owls aren’t safe..”

She nodded.
“Yeah. I know. I won’t owl. I’ll send Kreacher—maybe first to Dad. Let him freak out and scream into a void or whatever. Then he can pass it to Remus.”

Theo didn’t reply. Just nodded once.

Then Cassie whispered the password, and the wall slid open.

The common room was quiet now, dim and empty. A single streamer still hung from the chandelier like it was clinging to the party.

As they stepped inside, Theo muttered, “Happy birthday, Cass.”

She looked back at him, just a little too tired to smile.

“Yeah. Thanks.”
*********************

The dorm was bathed in silver light when Cassie crept in. Pansy was curled up on her bed, fast asleep, her breathing soft and even. One of her arms dangled off the side, and a discarded party hat drooped sadly from the bedpost.

Cassie crossed to her trunk soundlessly, fingers slipping past a stack of books - Nyx hissed lightly  slithering around her hand. Cassie stroked the top of its head before setting it back in its enclosure...fingers reaching for teh two way mirror. The shard of mirror was wrapped in one of her old dress robes,

She sat on the edge of her bed, cast a quick “Muffliato” around her, and carefully unwrapped it.

The mirror flickered once.

She leaned in, whispering, “Regulus Black?”

There was a faint buzzing hum, like static in her ear.

Then— Grey eyes. Blinking, tired, panicked.

“Cassie—the fuck what happened?” Regulus hissed, Grey eye swimming into view.  then a bit of his face. His hair was rumpled like he’d been asleep, but he was fully alert and panicked. “You never call - let alone at at this hour unless it’s bad. What is it?”

Cassie chewed her lip, glancing back at the room. Pansy shifted once, still snoring.

She sighed. “Okay, so... don’t be mad.”

Regulus squinted. “Cassiopeia.”

“I kind of did something.” She made a vague, circular motion with her hand. “Well. We—me and Theo—we snuck out. For my birthday. We were careful,” she added quickly, seeing Regulus’s expression darken and mouth open, “wait let me We used Gregory the Smarmy’s passage and disillusioned ourselves and everything—”

“Cass.” His voice was low. “Please tell me that’s all.”

Cassie hesitated. Then she muttered:

“We might have broke into a couple shops - and may or may not have stolen a bit of firewhiskey-

regulus groaned

- uhm- as we were returnjing saw Avery and Macnair. Outside the Hog’s Head. They were drunk, but—they were talking about some Jugson . And killing them. One of them shot a spell when they heard us.”

Regulus’s face went still. “The fuck - Cass-Did they see you?”

“No. Theo pulled me back before I could hex them. We got away.”

A beat of silence. Regulus’s jaw clenched.

“You’re sure it was Avery and Macnair?”

She nodded. “I know macnair- and Theo recognized avery.”

“Damn it.” Regulus ran a hand over his face, muttering under his breath.
“Cassiopeia, you can’t just be out like that right now. You know how close things are getting.”

“I know,” she whispered back, frustrated. “But it was just supposed to be one night. My one night. And we weren’t being stupid, I swear—”

“Weren't being stupid?! Cassiopeia You disillusioned yourselves and broke I don't know how many rules and almost got hit with a stray curse.” His voice was sharp now, but mostly scared

"You stop getting your self in this Cass - you are only fifteen.”

“Sixteen.” She gave a tired half-smile.

“Still too young to be dancing past Death Eaters and stealing firewhiskey with boys named Nott.”

That made her grin. Just a little.

“He kept me alive. Barely.”

Regulus sighed. “I'll deal with him - Bring him for christmas- You just—don’t go out again. Not now.”

“we are not coming for Christmas and alright I promise I won't--.” Her voice dropped.

The mirror dimmed as regulus eyes faded  “Tell your boyfriend to stop dragging you into death plots, will you?”

“He isn’t my—ugh, nevermind.”

****************************

The sky outside was streaked with orange and soft lavender, the sun just peeking over the mountains. Cassie squinted at the light slipping through the crack in the curtains. It was too late—or too early—to sleep. Her adrenaline still hadn’t dropped  Her fingers twitched.

She reached for a piece of parchment. Quill. Ink. Fine. Let’s get yelled at

Dear Uncle Moony,

Please don’t freak out.

I mean it. Take a deep breath. Maybe sit down. Grab a cup of tea or whatever it is you do when your niece writes you a highly questionable letter at sunrise.

So. Yesterday was my birthday.
And… well, I snuck out. With Theo.
It wasn’t meant to be a big deal—we just used the secret passage behind Gregory the Smarmy’s statue (yes, that one) and ended up in Hogsmeade. At night. Technically after curfew. Technically without permission. Technically illegal.

And then, you know… one thing led to another, and we may or may not have broken into a few shops. May or may not have walked out with a bottle of firewhiskey. In my defense, the shop was closed, and the bottle looked very abandoned and emotionally neglected.

But here’s the actual reason I’m writing:
We ran into Death Eaters.

Not metaphorically. Literally. Two of them—Avery and Macnair—were slumped outside the Hog’s Head. Drunk. Loud. Talking about something that sounded very murdery. I didn’t catch everything, but they were talking about someone dying, and it wasn’t a pleasant kind of dead. More like… planned and intentional. They didn’t spot us, but one of them did get twitchy and fired a spell in our direction.

We didn’t fight back. Theo dragged me away before I could hex someone (rude). We got out. We’re fine. Everything’s fine—except the fact that they were there, acting like they owned the place and they just did not kill someone

I thought you should know. I mean… this feels like something the Order should be paying attention to.
But maybe, if you’re going to pass the info along, you could leave out the minor lawbreaking parts. You know—the sneaking out, trespassing, possible petty theft, underage drinking, and near-death bit.

Just say the intel fell from the sky. Or Theo dreamt it. Be creative.

I’m safe. I promise. And I’ll be more careful next time.
(Okay, fine. I’ll try to be more careful next time.)

Love you always,
Your occasionally reckless but extremely resourceful niece,
Cassiopeia

P.S. You cannot send me a howler for this. It’s my birthday week. Be nice. nor I want a Cassiopeia I expected better-
also tell Sirius nothing. Not a word. He’ll be insufferable about why didn't she just die or whatever