This summer was different than the last.

Cassia wasn't sure whether that was good or bad, but it was certainly something.

Her father hadn't taken kindly to her having an owl, or punching her brother, or how she had ran away this time last year.

Cassia had been expecting hits, like last year, and maybe even punches. She was expecting to be hurt beyond belief, bruised up bad, and then hidden away the whole summer.

But it hadn't been like that.

Don't get it wrong, her father had yelled at her. He had gone on and on about her behaviour last year, how it was unacceptable for her to punch her brother and how she shouldn't have run away. How she was irresponsible and just an ignorant child and ruining his reputation.

And then he had taken Oswald, her owl, away from her, and locked him in a cupboard. She had been yelled at for that too.

But after the yelling came the physicality, thought Cassia. She was expecting to see her father hit breaking point, and was so fucking afraid as she got ranted on and on at that she was going to be hurt.

But just as she thought it was going to happen, just as she thought they had reached the point of no return, Lucius calmed.

He went completely still, looking at her, the anger suddenly gone from his eyes.

Cassia was still frozen, unsure of what was going on.

"But, despite all this, and despite my deep misgivings," he began. "Your mother and I have decided to give you a second chance."

What the fuck? Cassia wanted to demanded.

"Wh- what?" Was what she actually said.

"This chance," Lucius carried on. "Is your last, Cassia."

Cassia remembered shaking slightly at the sincerity yet the harshness in his tone.

"You will get one more try at being part of this family," Lucius said. "One more try to act appropriately, one more try to uphold our reputation."

"And- and what happens if I don't?" Cassia frowned.

Lucius had just looked at her. "I don't think you want to find that out."

Slaps.

Kicks.

Punches.

Abuse.

Cassia did not want to add to that list.

So for the next four weeks of the summer, things had been fucking weird.

Like, it hadn't been nice. But it also hadn't not been.

Her family had been treating her with way more respect lately, and in return, so had she.

But Cassia hated it.

Because it was all lies. None of it was true. She didn't want to love her family, because they didn't deserve to be loved. She didn't want to uphold their reputation, because she didn't believe in any of it.

She wanted nothing more than to say "fuck this" to all of it. Than to march out of the house and out of their lives forever. Than to run all the way to Poppy's house and cry in her best friend's arms about how fucked up her life was and try to sort it out.

But she couldn't do that today.

Because today was a very important day. Today was the final of the Quidditch World Cup, Ireland versus Bulgaria, and the Malfoys had been invited to watch the match from the Minister for Magic's private box.

And Cassia could hate her life all she wanted, but she fucking loved quidditch, and from the view of Cornelius Fudge's box? It was going to be amazing.

She had been looking forward to the day for weeks, ever since she had heard the news. For once, she didn't care that she was going with her 'family', she only cared about the game.

They got the full experience as well. The Minister had rented out a bunch of luxury cabins on the campsite next to the stadium (that muggles couldn't see) and all his closest friends that were watching the game with him had been staying in them for the past four days.

The cabin was amazing. Cassia didn't even have to share a room with Draco, it was so big, and there were cool things like a hot tub and a huge wizard's chess board inside.

But today she wouldn't be dealing with any of that, because today was the day of the match.

A load of people would be swarming the campsite today, her father had said disdainfully over breakfast that morning. Cassia had supposed that was true, because today was the day of the match, but it also made her afraid.

The letters had stopped appearing after the first week. Letters from Poppy, she supposed, not that she ever got the chance to read them. Her father had swiftly chucked them in the fire, saying that if she wanted to be a part of this family, some things had to change.

So Cassia hadn't spoken to Poppy, her best friend in the whole world, in just under a month. She had no way to give her a heads up, of course, because Oswald had been stolen from her, and she couldn't explain anything.

She knew Poppy wouldn't be mad right now, because she knew the tendencies of the Malfoys, but after seeing Cassia actively go with her father? Seeing her accept him?

She would be livid.

These thoughts had been eating away at her over the past couple of days. She had already guessed that Poppy would be coming - it was the biggest event ever, why wouldn't she? - but she wasn't prepared for what came with that.

Because she couldn't converse with her, couldn't acknowledge her existence, couldn't say a word.

If she wanted to be a part of the 'family', that is.

And then after they got back to Hogwarts, what would happen? Her brother saw everything, she couldn't hide a friendship with Poppy from him.

She had no idea what she was going to do.

She sighed as she got dressed, smiling at her outfit that she had picked out carefully five days ago. Pale green jeans, an ivory spaghetti strap top and a green cardigan to go on top. Ireland colours.

Her makeup consisted of emerald green eyeshadow, mascara, some lipgloss and concealer, and she knew this would have to be touched up later, before the game.

For now, however, she didn't need it to be that big, just enough to show the Bulgarians she was an Irish fan.

That day they didn't have much planned, so Cassia stayed in until lunch, eating it eagerly whilst listening to her father rant about something meaningless and her mother heartily agree with him, then afterwards she got ready, grabbing her wand (as if it could do anything outside of school) and asking her father if she could go for a walk.

Lucius had surprisingly agreed easily. Anything to get her out the cabin, she supposed.

But then again, things had been different since they arrived. Hushed conversations, short tempers and private talks had all been increasing in the past few days since they'd come to the cabin. Cassia had no idea what any of it was about, but she wasn't going to try and find out.

So instead she went out, body alight with excitement, and she was now strolling through the campsite absentmindedly. It was so interesting, she almost envied the people camping here. There were performers, and banners everywhere, and even the odd bit of banter between the nicer Irish and Bulgarians.

Cassia was so caught up in it that she didn't see-

"Urgh!"

She had bashed headlong into someone and had fallen down onto the grass, cursing silently.

"Oh my- are you okay?"

Cassia frowned, looking up to see-

Oh shit.

The guy she had bashed into was hot. Like, extremely, extremely hot. And she recognised him. He was Cedric Diggory, going into sixth year, who played seeker for the Hufflepuff quidditch team.

And that same boy was the one that had his hand outstretched towards her.

"Yeah," she said, taking it and letting him pull her up. "Yeah, um... thank you."

Sniggers from behind Cedric made Cassia falter, finally pausing to look at her surroundings.

And oh fuck her! Fuck her life!

Arthur Weasley and someone she presumed was Cedric's dad were behind him, and next to them were Hermione and Ginny, but that wasn't who Cassia was annoyed at.

Because Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were standing a couple of metres away, almost bent over by how hard they were guffawing.

"Oh fuck off, you two!" She yelled at them, her middle finger going up. She turned back to Cedric, who wore an expression of half amusement, half something else (awe? confusion? She couldn't tell). "Thank you."

"Anytime," the boy replied with a soft smile that made Cassia melt inside.

As she headed off, she continued to picture that smile.

But why did she feel this way?

❦︎❦︎❦︎

It was nearing six o'clock when she finally got the sense to get back to the cabin.

"If you aren't back by six sharp, you won't be getting dinner," she recalled her father saying as she left. "The match starts at eight and we have to be in the Minister's box by half past seven, so there won't be any time for you to eat if you're late."

Checking her watch, Cassia saw it was now quarter to six, and it was about a ten to fifteen minute walk back from where she was.

Fuck. She would have to hurry up if she hoped to make it.

She had walked all around the site that afternoon. If anyone had asked her why, she would tell them that it was because she wanted to see the place, and see if people she knew were there.

But in reality, the main reason was because she wanted to check if someone she knew wasn't there.

And, as much as she hated to admit it, she was relieved. Relieved that she hadn't seen Poppy. Relieved that she didn't have to show her best friend what a miserable coward and fraud she was being, and had been all summer.

She felt angry tears start to appear in her eyes as she walked through the campsite, headed back to the cabins. She was frustrated, but more at herself than anyone else. She shouldn't be glad that she wasn't going to see her best friend. She shouldn't be betraying Poppy like this-

"Cassia?"

Oh, fuck-

Because Cassia recognised that voice.

It was the one she had been dreading hearing all day.

She didn't want to look up, but somehow she found the courage within her cowardly body to.

Poppy Patil was standing before her, a look of excitement and joy (that shouldn't be directed at her) on her face, a full water bucket in her hands.

"Cass! It is you!" Poppy exclaimed, setting down the bucket and barrelling into her best friend, hugging her tightly. "I wasn't sure if you were going to be here!" She said into Cassia's shoulder. "Oh my god, I'm so glad you are! And I love the makeup, by the way!"

As she pulled back, she saw the look on Cassia's face. One of guilt, and sadness.

"Cass? You okay?" Poppy asked, eyes going wide. "Has your father-?"

"No," this question took Cassia out her trance. "No, er..." she was unsure of what to do, what to say. "No, actually, this summer's been... it's been good."

"Good?" Poppy seemed taken aback. "You mean he hasn't-?"

"No, nothing like that," Cassia said firmly, forcing a smile onto her face. "We're watching the game from the Minister's box tonight, actually."

"Ooh, check you!" Poppy said with a giggle. "That'll be so amazi- Cass, are you okay?"

No, Cassia was not, in fact, okay.

Tears had appeared in her eyes and even though she knew her furious attempt to wipe them away was futile, she still tried it. Poppy noticed, though. Like Poppy always did.

"Yeah," Cassia nodded. "Yeah, everything's fine- life's great, in fact!"

"Cass..." Poppy's voice, so full of concern and fear, only made her wilt more.

"Look," she said, stepping closer. "I'm fine. Just- just find someone else to obsess over, okay?"

She didn't say the words particularly nicely, and it killed her inside as she turned and left, leaving her best friend standing there, face sad and eyes welling up.

And there were tears in Cassia's eyes as she walked off, too. In fact, when she got off the campsite, she fucking sobbed, but she couldn't back. She just- she just couldn't.

It's for Poppy's own good, she recited in her head as she walked back to the cabin. Her own good. She has to learn how to live without me. Because-

She steeled herself as she thought it, and shivered as the idea settled down her spine.

Because I'm going to have to stop being friends with her when I go back to Hogwarts.

❦︎❦︎❦︎

She got in at around five seconds to six, panting and slightly sweaty. But she was allowed to eat with her- her family, so that's what mattered.

After dinner, Cassia touched up all her makeup and retrieved the Irish flag she had bought the other day, knowing all the prices would go up the day of the match. Not that money was a problem for the Malfoys, but she had payed for this one herself.

At seven, she met her mother and father just outside the cabin, Draco already holding onto their father's arm. They were apparating to just outside the stadium (apparition to inside was, for obvious reasons, forbidden) and then getting escorted up to the Minister's box.

"Hurry up," her father told Cassia curtly as she made to grip on to her mother's arm. Narcissa just looked straight ahead, her expression, as always, unreadable.

"Sorry," Cassia murmured, head down, as she held onto her mother's arm and was whisked away.

She tried to block out the feeling of apparition. Poppy had once asked what it felt like when she said she had done side-along, and the only way she could describe it was the feeling of getting dragged through a hosepipe.

However, the feeling in her gut much improved as she saw the stadium. It was huge. Massive, really, with seats all the way round and as high as the top hoop.

As a keen chaser on the Gryffindor quidditch team, and also a huge fan of the game itself, she was getting more excited by the minute.

That soon dulled on the walk up the stairs. Yes, they may be getting the best view in the whole stadium, but that did not mean they didn't have to work for it.

Once they were on their level, which was about halfway up, they started to walk round to the box, following their escort that all the Minister's friends got.

"Ron Weasley, your legs are the weakest thing ever!"

"Alright, shut up Poppy, you can't even win a chess game!"

"Er, excuse me-"

Cassia's heart stopped. Like, completely, utterly stopped.

Because, up on a walkway above her, still climbing up the stairs, were the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Patils.

She recognised them all. Pippa, Poppy's mother, her two triplet sisters, Parvati and Padma, and of course, Poppy.

Who was laughing with Harry, Ron and Hermione, and Ginny, Fred and Gerorge. Who was cracking jokes and doubling up in laughter. Who seemed just fine without her.

And suddenly, Cassia didn't care about the cabin, or the box, or the view. All she cared about was friendship, and how she was breaking at the sight before her.

However, they didn't seem to have noticed her yet, so she just hoped they wouldn't.

However, that was too much to ask.

"Blimey dad, how far up are we?" Ron asked weakly, panting.

And, of course, her father had to muscle in on this.

"We'll put it this way," he said loudly. "If it rains, you'll be the first to know."

Fuck you, Cassia wanted to scream. Fuck you, fuck you, FUCK YOU.

She could feel their eyes on her. Physically feel them. And it made her sick. But not at them. At her.

"We're in the Minister's box!" Draco only made things worse, boasting up to them with a smug smirk. "By personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself!"

"You don't have to boast, Draco," Lucius said curtly. "There's no need with these people."

Cassia was two seconds from breaking-

"And come along, Cassia!"

The next thing she was aware of was the sharp stab of her father's cane in her stomach. Pain shot through her and she almost doubled over.

What-?

She thought the deal was that if she was good, and abided by his rules, then this would stop happening.

So what was going on?

She shouldn't look up. She really, really shouldn't. But she did.

Then she almost cried.

She had been expecting to see a bunch of surprised faces; her friends being angry at her father and standing up for her so she didn't have to do it herself.

But that's not what she saw.

Because they had all moved on, walking up the stairs, away from her.

Cassia had been wrong.

None of them cared at all.