"I think I'm getting the hang of it, don't you?" Cassie smirked, 

Before Theo could respond, a mannequin popped up behind her. In a split second, Cassie whipped out a dagger from the holster on her thigh and pressed it against the mannequin's neck

They were in the Room of Requirement. The walls were lined with various weapons—daggers, swords, and other combat tools. Targets were set up at one end, ready for practice.

Theo watched her, his expression unreadable. "Mhm," he remarked noncommittally.

Cassie turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "What's up with you?"

"What?" Theo replied irritatedly 

Cassie huffed, crossing her arms. "You haven't been talking to me since yesterday."

Theo's gaze sharpened as he studied her. "Where were you yesterday?"

"What do you mean?"

 "At Hogsmeade. Where were you? Because I know you weren't at Quality Quidditch Supplies."

Cassie met his gaze, carefully placing her dagger back in its holster. "Of course I was. I told you, I spilled Stinksap—"

Theo cut her off, his voice harsh. "Blah, blah—I'm not guessing, Cassie. I know you weren't there because I went in looking for you."

Cassie remained silent, her eyes darting away.

"There was no Stinksap spill, no employees falling. And I didn't see you," Theo continued,

Cassie didn't respond, instead focusing on packing her gear.

Theo stepped forward, grabbing her arm "Why won't you tell us?"

Cassie looked at him, her expression hardening. She pulled her arm free and took a step back. "It's none of your business, Theo."

"It is when you disappear without a word and lie about it," Theo retorted, his voice rising 

Cassie's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step forward,
"Oh, spare me the lecture, Theo, what is it to you?"

Theo's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "It's everything to me, Cassie. You think you can just vanish and not explain yourself? We're supposed to be friends."

Cassie scoffed,
"Friends? Is that what you call this? Because it feels more like you're trying to control me."

Theo's jaw clenched,  "I'm not trying to control you! I'm trying to understand why you keep shutting us out."

Cassie's laugh was cold and bitter. "Understand? You can't even begin to understand what I'm dealing with. And I don't owe you any explanations."

"Really? Because it seems like you're just scared to let anyone in, You are acting like a coward" Theo shot back.

Cassie snarled. In an instant, she whipped out her wand and pointed it at Theo. "Take that back, Nott," she hissed.

Theo didn't flinch, his own anger rising to meet hers. "Or what, Cassie? You'll hex me? Go ahead. You're just proving my point. You're so afraid of being hurt that you'd rather lash out at everyone who tries to care about you."

Cassie looked him dead in the eye, her tone icy. "I don't need anyone to care for me. Especially not you."

Theo's face twisted with pain, and he took a step back. "Fine," he said, his voice breaking slightly. He harshly grabbed his bag before storming out,

Cassie looked at the door, her grey eyes unsure, her face masked with indifference. 

The room felt colder and emptier. She clenched her jaw, her mind replaying Theo's words.

She wasn't scared. Was she? They were better off not knowing any of it. They wouldn't understand anyway.

She sighed, placing her wand back and slinging her bag over her shoulder. With one last look around the training room she walked out of the room.

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

"What the fuck happened?" Cassie's eyes widened as she took in Draco's blood-covered face, with Blaise and Theo following behind him.

Cassie's gaze flickered uncomfortably to Theo before she looked away,

"Miss Black, for the last time, no swearing in the library!" Madam Pince shouted from across the room.

Cassie rolled her eyes but didn't retort.

Pansy rushed forward,
"What happened?" she whispered, nudging Draco's hand away from his face to get a better look.

Cassie turned her attention to Blaise and Theo, who were both stifling their laughter.

Draco, indignantly blurted out, "I was attacked."

Cassie raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Draco's ears turned red with embarrassment.

Cassie glared at him intently, waiting for an answer.

Blaise snorted, unable to hold back his laughter. "That's the funny part. Granger hit him wham! right on the nose."

Cassie's expression remained unreadable as she processed the information. "Oh, okay," she said thoughtfully before picking up her bag and walking out of the library.

Pansy sighed as she watched her leave. "She was surprisingly calm. Thats a good thing right??"

Theo's expression turned serious. "Uh oh. No. That's a bad thing..."Fuck, Blaise, let's go," Theo nudged Blaise, and they ran across the library, ignoring Madam Pince's shouts of "Boys, no running!""

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

"You should have seen Malfoy's face," Ron bragged, his expression mocking a terrified look.

Seamus chuckled loudly. "Can't believe Granger actually did that...That was brilliant"

"Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione saidshrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherinwins!"

"But Malfoy's face?" Ron continued, mocking a terrified expression before bursting into laughter.

"Uh-oh. Black is coming." Dean interjected stepping back

Cassie, looking alarmingly calm, approached them with a sweet smile

"What's so funny, Weasley?" she asked innocently, her tone deceptively sweet.

Ron snorted, his bravado getting the better of his wits. "Oh, ha, we were talking about how Malfoy was crying when Mione slapped—"

Before he could finish, Cassiopeia smiled and lunged forward, punching him squarely on the nose. Ron staggered backward, his nose bleeding 

Harry furiously drew his wand, as did Seamus and Dean, 

"HEY!" Blaise and Theo arrived running, immediately stepping in front of Cassie with their wands out, 

"MISS BLACK, DETENTION!" McGonagall exclaimed, having arrived just in time to witness the chaos.

"Granger started it, Minnie," Cassie retorted.

McGonagall looked questioningly at Hermione, who turned red and looked down, unable to meet her eyes.

"Malfoy provoked her!" Harry shouted.

Cassie smirked. "Weasley provoked me, then."

The Gryffindors burst into indignant shouts, but Cassie continued,

 "Come on, Minnie, she hit my friend. I hit hers. that's fair"

"Violence is not the answer, Miss Black," McGonagall said sternly

Cassie rolled her eyes pointedly, 

"Miss Granger," McGonagall turned towards Hermione. "I'm very disappointed. I didn't expect this from you."

"Wait, so you expected this from me?" Cassie remarked sarcastically.

McGonagall gave her a sharp glance. "Detention for you too, Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded her head, still looking low.

McGonagall gave Cassie one last exasperated look before heading off. "I love you too, Minnie," Cassie replied cheerfully.

The Gryffindors were glaring at Cassie, who rolled her eyes before turning to Blaise. "And why are you two here?" she asked, not looking at Theo.

Blaise shuffled. "Uh, Theo told us we should."

"Of course he did," Cassie spat, turning on her heels and leaving indignantly.

"Trouble in paradise much?" Blaise remarked mockingly to Theo.

"Shut up, mate."

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

"Did you have to hit him, Cassie?" Pansy asked exasperatedly.

"Why, are you feeling sorry for Weasley?" Cassie sneered.

"Look, I'm not—but he recently lost his pet—"

"He did what?" Cassie spluttered, unable to hide her surprise.

Pansy looked at her, puzzled. "Yeah, his pet rat. It's dead. You didn't know?"

"So you're telling me that squeaky, weird-ass rat of his is dead?" Cassie asked, trying to comprehend the situation. Pansy nodded, still confused.

"Fuck that rat is smart" she whispered to herself

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

SO MY LAPTOP JUST RETURNED FROM FIXING- AND ITS WORKING SO MUCH BETTER

ALR SO I HAVE THIS FANFIC TO START (THANK U @louisynergy for tormenting me with those screenshots)

SO I JUST GOT MY LAPTOP BACK THOUGHT ILL UPLOAD MY DRAFT THEN GO DIE OVER THIS FANFIC @louisynergy TOLD

OK BACK TO THE CHAP- LIKE I DUNNO- ITS OK? PRIMARILY THE JUICY PLOT PART IS GONNA COME IN THE END

like WE ARE ALREADY APPROACHING THE END OF YEAR 3- 

ALSO- IM THE PERSON WRITING THIS AND IM LIKE- CASSIE- WHY U GOTTA PUSH THEO LIKE THAT - HE IS SO PRECIOUS WHAT-

ALSO-- I LIKE REALLY WANNA BE BEETTER AT DETAILING STUFF- SITUATIONS- AND ALL

BUT LIEK IF U TELL ME TO WRITE DIALOGUES ILL GIVE U PAGES OF IT- MY CHAPTER REALLY LACKS DETAILS

UHM- SO LIKE ILL WORK ON IT FR

PRIMARILY COS I WRITE FOR FUN- I DONT HAVE A SPECIFIC PASSION OR INTEREST FOR WRITING- PAR YEA ITS AN HOBBY I DEVLOPED AFTER OBESSING OVER FANFICS-

MY A/NS ARE TURNING INTO MY DIARY ATP

SO YEP- THATS IT FOR THE CHAP END BLABBERING

TILL LATER

BYEIII

MX RIDDLE