The evening air was warm, the dim glow of the café lights flickering against the darksky.. Three more days until they'd be back in the grind, but for now, time was theirs to waste.

Draco, half-bored, flipped through a random Muggle travel brochure he'd snatched from the counter, a lazy smirk playing on his lips.

"Oi, Cassie, check this out," he said, tossing it across the table without looking up. "Some kind of Muggle hiking and camping nonsense. Near a waterfall, apparently. Sounds absolutely dreadful."

Cassie caught the brochure mid-air and skimmed it, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, this looks COOL- Waterfalls, camping, a possible chance of death?—yes, we're going."

Blaise blinked at her like she'd just grown another head. "Are you feeling alright?"

Pansy leaned forward, peering at the page like it physically offended her. "Cassie, be serious. You do realize 'camping' means sleeping outside, right? Like, on the ground? With dirt?"

"Oh, come on," Cassie scoffed. "Three days left before we're back in hell—might as well make the most of it."

Theo arched a brow, amused. "I'll go, but only so I can laugh when you're all miserable."

Blaise sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I get eaten by a bear, I'm haunting you."

That was that. Next thing they knew, they were piled into a cab, winding their way up to some nature reserve. The driver, a grizzled old man with a voice like crushed gravel, gave them a long, skeptical look in the rearview mirror.

"You kids sure about this?" he asked. "There are bears up there. Real dangerous ones. Better be careful."

Pansy paled instantly, gripping the seat like it might save her. "B-bears?" she squeaked. "Like actual—"

Draco clapped a hand on her shoulder, grinning. "Relax, Parkinson. We're wizards, remember?" he added lowly

"Doesn't mean I want to die horrifically in the woods, Malfoy!" she hissed.

When they finally arrived, reality hit them like a slap to the face. Two sad-looking rental tents, no proper supplies, and a vague idea of how camping was actually supposed to work. Cassie knelt on the ground, furrowing her brows at the jumble of poles and fabric in front of her.

"Alright," she muttered. "How hard can it be?"

Apparently, very hard.

Draco tried to start a fire. Pansy wrestled with a tent. Cassie got tangled in ropes at least twice. Blaise supervised by doing absolutely nothing.

After the fourth failed attempt at setting up camp, Cassie shot Draco a look. "I thought you were supposed to be good at this stuff."

He glared at the useless flint in his hands. "I am."

"Then why does our fire keep dying?" Theo asked

Draco scowled. "Because it's defective."

Pansy, tangled in yet another section of collapsed tent, groaned. "This is a disaster."

Cassie grinned. "This is fun."

Blaise snorted. "This is suffering."

It took another twenty minutes of arguing, a few minor injuries, and exactly one near-meltdown before the fire finally crackled to life and the tents stopped resembling abstract art.

As they flopped down around the flames, exhaustion setting in, Cassie stretched her arms behind her head and sighed contentedly.

"See?" she said smugly. "Totally worth it."

Draco rolled his eyes, "Yeah, sure. Let's see if you still think that when the bears show up."

Pansy let out a strangled noise.

Blaise took one look at her horrified expression and burst out laughing.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Pansy muttered, pulling her jacket tighter around herself. "Let's see who's laughing when a bear actually shows up."

"Oh, definitely still me," Blaise smirked. "I'll be inside the tent while it eats you."

Pansy smacked his arm, and Cassie grinned, stretching her legs out toward the fire. The warmth seeped into her skin, the cold night air making the flames dance brighter.

Draco groaned dramatically from where he was slouched against a rock. "You know, for all this effort, we could've just stayed in a nice hotel. With beds. And food that doesn't require a sacrificial ritual to cook."

"Yeah? And where would the fun in that be?"

"Oh, I don't know," Draco drawled, "not being out here?" He gestured vaguely at their miserable attempt at a campsite. "Where Blaise is utterly useless, Pansy keeps threatening to scream at every sound, and I—"

"—can't even start a fire?" Blaise cut in, smug.

Draco shot him a look. "It was defective."

"No, you're defective," Blaise countered. "Seriously, Malfoy, how does it feel knowing Muggles can do something you can't? Bet some random bloke named Gary out there could start a fire in two seconds."

Cassie burst out laughing. "Imagine Gary watching you struggle for twenty minutes—"

"Alright, alright, we get it," Draco muttered, scowling.

"Oh no, no, I don't think we do," Blaise grinned. "Let's really take this in. Draco Malfoy. Prince of the Purebloods. Lost a duel to Gary the Muggle Camper."

Blaise snorted shaking his head. "The Dark Lord would be so disappointed."

The laughter still hung in the air—until it didn't.

It didn't stop all at once, not really. It just... faded. Like the sound of the fire crackling suddenly seemed louder, like the weight of the joke caught up with them a second too late.

Theo snorted, but even that sounded different now. "The reals of it kicking in yet?," he muttered, kicking at the dirt.

Cassie's eyes flickered to the flames. "It is inevitable, He's back. We can't pretend he's not."

Blaise exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "Dad talked about it,"

Draco didn't move.

Blaise continued, almost absently, staring into the fire. "He's planning to take his side. Expects me to do the same."

Silence.

Pansy shifted, wrapping her arms around herself. "Do you want to?" she asked, hesitant.

Blaise let out a humorless chuckle. "Honestly? I dunno. The whole pureblood supremacy thing—yeah, sure, I get it. But..." He trailed off, exhaling slowly. "All this murder shit. The Dark Lord, what he does—"

Draco just looked away.

Theo's gaze flickered to Cassie, like he expected her to say something. Like he needed her to say something.

She didn't. Not right away.

Then—finally— "You don't have to, you know?"

Draco scoffed. "He'll kill us, Cass. It's as simple as that."

No one argued. No one could.

The fire crackled between them. Heavy silence presserdf in, like the weight of it all was settling in

Cassie tilted her head, watching Draco's clenched jaw. "Your sister isn't dead yet, Malfoy."

Draco's head snapped up.

"I'll protect you," she said simply. "All of you."

Blaise snorted, shaking his head. "Oh yeah? You gonna duel the Dark Lord himself?"

Cassie didn't even blink. "Yep. Ill be the new one if that what it takes-"

A pause.

Then—

"Oh please," Pansy burst out, rolling her eyes. "I can see it now." She yanked her hood up dramatically, flipping it over her head "Bow before me, mortals!" she declared in an exaggerated deep voice. "For I am Cassiopeia Black, the new Dark Lady!"

Blaise, catching on, clutched his chest. "Oh no! Have mercy, my Queen!"

Theo nodded solemnly. "Long live the Dark Lady."

Cassie groaned. "You're all insufferable."

Draco snorted. "Nah, I think it suits you."

Blaise leaned back, "Yeah, Cass. Imagine it—your own evil lair, minions, dramatic capes—"

"—a throne made of Gary the Muggle's bones," Pansy added, wiping fake tears of laughter from her eyes.

Cassie grabbed a handful of dirt and chucked it at her.

Laughter rang out again. The weight of reality slipping into the background.

For now, at least.

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

Despite everyone's complains Everyone ended up falling asleep really quickly-

Cassie lay on her back, staring at the roof of her tent, trying to sleep.

She really tried.

But the moment her eyes slid shut, she was back there.

A shadowy figure. A glinting blade.

Her mother's scream, cut off too fast—too wrong—

Cassie jolted awake with a sharp inhale, her body snapping upright before she even knew what she was doing. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her breath uneven.

She exhaled, rubbing a hand over her face, then pressed her fingers into the side of her neck,

Pansy was curled up beside her, fast asleep,

Cassie sighed. She wasn't getting any sleep tonight. again.

Carefully, she pushed herself up, stepping over pansy's mess of a blanket pile and slipping out of the tent.

The air outside was chilly, carrying the scent of smoke and damp earth. The grass beneath her feet was dewy, and above her, the sky stretched endlessly—dark, and littered with stars,

She sighed again, running a hand through her hair.

"Can't sleep?"

Cassie whipped around so fast she nearly tripped over herself.

Theo stood a few feet away, just barely lit by the dying fire, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie.

"The fuck?" Cassie breathed, pressing a hand to her chest. "You cannot just sneak up on me like that. I could have hexed you for all you know."

"...Nightmare?" he asked after a pause, his voice quieter now.

Cassie's jaw tightened. She looked away, back at the sky.

Cassie sat on the grass, her knees drawn up to her chest, looking at the stars but not really seeing them. The cold night air bit at her skin, but she barely noticed. The nightmare still clung to her, she couldn't shake it.

Theo sat beside her, his eyes flicking between her

"Pretty," she murmured eventually, nodding towards the sky.

"Yeah"

silence

"I can't say I know exactly how you feel, but... nightmares suck. I get them a lot." Theo suddenly started

Cassie looked at him, surprised. "You? I thought you were the type to sleep like a rock."

Theo shrugged, his hands tucked behind his head, lying back on the grass. "I wish I could, but nah. I can't sleep much in general. I keep thinking about things... about my dad. About what happens if he comes back."

Cassie felt a pang of sympathy, but she didn't show it. She kept her gaze focused on the dark sky, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She hated how vulnerable she felt with him, even if it was just a glimpse.

"You don't have to stay with him, you know?" Cassie's voice was quieter than she intended, but there was an edge to it, "You don't have to let him control your life. You can always leave."

Theo shifted, his eyes turning toward her, his brow furrowing slightly. "I know," he said, but there was a sadness in his voice. "But my grandmother... she doesn't have much time left. She told me herself."

Cassie didn't know how to respond to that. She'd heard rumors about Theo's family situation—how complicated and messy it was—but hearing him admit it so openly... it hit differently. She didn't speak for a while, her thoughts tangled in the quiet.

The silence between them wasn't empty—it was full. A whole conversation spoken in the quiet, in the way their gazes flickered toward each other but never quite met, in the way neither of them moved, both staring at the stars like the answers to their problems might be written there.

At some point, without realizing it, they both lay back at the same time, their shoulders barely brushing.

Cassie exhaled. She hated how easy it was to fall into these moments with him.

Theo shifted slightly beside her.

Neither of them knew when it happened—when their exhaustion finally caught up with them. But when morning rolled in, golden light slipping through the trees, they were still there.

Curled up near each other.

So close.

Tangled in a way that felt almost too natural.

Blaise was the first to spot them. He froze mid-step, staring for half a second before a slow, shit-eating grin stretched across his face. Oh, this is gold. He dug into his bag, pulling out his Polaroid camera and, with expert quietness, snapped a quick picture.

"This is going straight into my collection," he whispered, admiring his work.

Behind him, Pansy let out a dramatic gasp, her hand flying to her chest. "Oh my god," she breathed. "She looks so peaceful. I haven't seen her like this in... I don't even know how long."

Draco, standing slightly apart from them, crossed his arms, scowling. "Why is it always him with her?"

Pansy nudged Draco with her elbow. "Oh, come on, it's cute."

"It's not," Draco said flatly, his expression unimpressed. "She's my sister. I don't need—"

But before he could finish that thought, he was already marching toward them.

Cassie and Theo were still deep in sleep, breaths slow, Cassie's hand barely resting against Theo's hoodie.

Draco rolled his eyes and crouched down, nudging Theo's shoulder none too gently. "Oi. Wake up."

Theo groaned, stirring slightly. Cassie scrunched her nose, shifting but not quite waking.

Draco, unimpressed, shoved Theo a little harder. "I said, wake up, lovebirds. Don't you want to head to the waterfall?"

Theo cracked one eye open, blinking blearily. "What?" His voice was hoarse with sleep.

Cassie stirred then, blinking slowly, confusion flickering across her face as she realized where she was—who she was practically curled up against.

"...Shit," she mumbled, rubbing her face.

Blaise smirked, waving the Polaroid in the air. "Don't worry. We got proof."

Cassie groaned, reaching for it. "Give me that, Zabini—"

"Nope. Priceless memory."

Pansy, still grinning, clapped her hands. "Come on, let's get moving! "

Cassie sighed, stretching her arms over her head. Theo, still half-asleep, muttered something under his breath before rubbing his eyes.

Draco scoffed. "Seriously, you two are ridiculous."

But as Cassie and Theo finally got up, their movements still slow with sleep, neither of them seemed to mind the teasing too much.

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

The hike to the waterfall was a mix of complaints, and the occasional threat of hexing. The sun was high,

"This better be worth it," Draco grumbled, wiping sweat off his brow.

"Oh, don't be such a grandfather, Malfoy," Cassie shot back, walking a little ahead of him. "You sound like you belong in a bloody rocking chair."

Blaise snorted. "I'd pay to see that."

Draco scowled. "Shut up."

By the time they reached the clearing, the sound of crashing water filled the air, the spray misting their skin. The waterfall tumbled over jagged rocks into a deep, clear pool below, shimmering in the sunlight.

Cassie didn't hesitate.

"THIS IS SO FUCKING GOOD- I'M GOING IN!" she yelled, already tugging off her boots.

Pansy's face twisted in horror. "It's freezing, you psycho!"

"So what?" Cassie shot back, grinning. "You come to a waterfall, and you don't swim?"

Pansy crossed her arms. "I don't want to ruin my hair. Or get a cold for that matter"

Draco, already unbuttoning his shirt, smirked. "Guess that means you're staying dry, Parkinson."

Theo was rolling up his sleeves, and Blaise had already tossed his shirt aside, stretching lazily. "Water's probably great," he said. "Once you get past the whole freezing your arse off bit."

Cassie rubbed her hands together, "Yeah, yeah, I have zero patience for this, Pans—"

Before Pansy could react, Cassie stepped up, grabbed her firmly, and lifted her off the ground.

Pansy shrieked. "CASSIE, NO!"

"CASSIE, YES!"

With a triumphant laugh, Cassie threw her straight into the waterfall's pool.

There was a loud splash followed by an ear-piercing scream as Pansy surfaced, spluttering. "I HATE YOU!"

Cassie cackled. "Hate you too, babe."

But before she could fully revel in her victory, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.

"Oh, you think you're funny?" Theo murmured right by her ear.

Cassie barely had time to gasp before he yanked her backward, dragging her into the water with him.

The second she hit the cold, she let out an involuntary gasp, kicking her way back up. "THEODORE NOTT, YOU ABSOLUTE—"

But Theo had already swum a few feet away, smirking at her from a safe distance. "What? Just balancing the scales."

Cassie slicked her hair back, breathing heavily. "You bastard."

"You love me."

Cassie swam closer, eyes narrowing. "That's a strong word, Nott."

Blaise, watching from the rocks, grinned. "Uh-oh. He's gonna die."

Draco shook his head. "Good riddance."

But Theo just smirked, completely unbothered. "You threw Pansy in first, Black. Seems only fair you got a taste of your own medicine."

Cassie lunged, sending a splash straight at his face. Theo barely managed to dodge before laughing, reaching out to grab her wrist—but she ducked under the water.

For a second, he lost sight of her.

Then—

She reappeared behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him under.

The water swallowed them both.

A few heartbeats later, they surfaced again, breathless, tangled, too close.

Theo's lips curled at the edges. "Sneaky."

Cassie flicked wet hair out of her face. "Very."

It was just them, suspended in the water, Theo's hands still lightly gripping her waist, Cassie's fingers brushing against his collarbone.

Theo tilted his head slightly. "You're still holding onto me."

Cassie huffed. "So are you."

"Guess we're even then."

Before she could respond, Pansy—still seeking revenge—sent a massive wave of water their way.

Cassie and Theo broke apart, sputtering.

Pansy cackled. "PAYBACK, BITCHES!"

Blaise roared with laughter. "That was well deserved."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake kids," Draco muttered, rolling his eyes before taking a running start and launching himself into the water.

Blaise followed with much less dramatic flair, simply stepping off the ledge and letting himself sink into the freezing pool.

The next few hours were pure chaos—splash fights, taunts, and Theo nearly drowning Blaise at one point for laughing too hard at his failed attempt to dunk Cassie again.

Pansy tried to act above it all but ended up shrieking when Draco suddenly grabbed her ankle and yanked her under.

"You prick!" she screamed as she surfaced, smacking him upside the head.

Draco only laughed, swimming away.

They didn't realize how much time had passed until Cassie finally pulled herself out of the water, shivering. The sun had dipped lower, casting long golden shadows over the forest.

"Shit," she muttered, running a hand through her soaked hair. "When did it get so late?"One by one, the others followed, dripping wet and exhausted. They grabbed their cloaks, wrapping themselves tightly, still shaking from the cold.

Draco, still sulking about being in the water in the first place, grumbled. "I swear my limbs are numb."

Blaise snorted. "Wouldn't be the first time you've been cold-blooded."

A well-aimed shove sent Blaise stumbling forward, laughing.

They settled in a loose circle, pulling their cloaks tighter as the night air pressed around them. Cassie wrung out her hair, watching the fire crackle and flicker in front of them.

"This was fun," Blaise admitted after a pause, stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Yeah," Pansy agreed, tilting her head back to look at the darkening sky. "Haven't had a night like this in ages."

Then Blaise sighed dramatically. "So... back to Hogwarts?"

A collective groan.

"Ugh, don't remind me," Pansy complained, flopping onto Cassie's shoulder.

Draco scowled. "I can already hear Potter whining."

Cassie smirked, tilting her head. "Wa wa wa, my scar pains, wa wa wa- im the boy who lived- " she mimicked in an exaggeratedly high-pitched voice, clutching her forehead dramatically.

Theo snorted. "Pretty accurate."

Blaise shook his head, grinning. "You lot are horrible."

Draco smirked. "And yet, you stick around with us."

Blaise stretched lazily, smirking back. "Yeah, yeah. Doesn't mean I won't enjoy watching you suffer through McGonagall's lectures first thing in the morning."

Draco groaned again, dropping his head back. "Why must you hurt me like this?

Laughter rippled through the group soaking in the last moments of peace before reality crept back in.

Voldy was back-

but that bitch can wait-

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


YEP- THATS THE END OF TEH MUGGLE TRIP!!

DO U THINK THESE CHAPS WERE WORTH IT? DID IT BUILD UP ON CHARECTER DYNAMICS?

BACK TO HOGWARTS! TIME FOR UMBITCH TO MEET CASSIE

TILL  NEXT TIME

MXRIDDLE