XXVI

" Outstanding in every single test," George said proudly, taking a glance at Cassiopeia's potions book at the end of the library. "You're a genius. You're like… Hermione, but cooler."

The girl shook her head.

" I'm a Malfoy," she said slowly. "I couldn't have it any differently."

He turned to his girlfriend with a frown.

" What? Really? Like… Really, really ?!"

" My dad would kill me if I got an ' Exceeds Expectations'," she pointed. "I can't even think of it."

George just watched her for a short moment.

" I don't know why I'm surprised," he confessed. "Your father is…" he cleared his throat awkwardly for a moment.

" Very exigent, yes," Cassiopeia noted.

" That's one way to put it."

The girl rolled her eyes, turning the page. Professor Snape was also very exigent with his students, and she had a class with him in less than half an hour, which was the reason the girl was giving the first chapters a quick reread to be prepared.

" You know, Fred and I should have earned 'E's' in all of our O.W.L.'s. We showing up already exceeded the expectations."

Cassiopeia giggled.

" I haven't had the time to mention," she rested her elbow on the table before reaching with one of her hands to mess with his red locks. "I've noticed that you changed your hair."

He gave Cassiopeia a smile that was half sad and disappointed and half mischievous.

" Well, mum was about to shoot me with an unforgiving curse if I didn't get it cut," he joked. "It's a bit of a change. It's not like I was trying to grow it or something."

The girl watched his face silently and rubbed his cheek with her thumb.

" You didn't want a haircut, did you?"

He looked around a bit, shrugging but looking rather annoyed anyway.

" Not really."

" I'm sorry."

He shrugged again and Cassiopeia went back to her book. She'd already read the book when at home, she could just close it and spend the time with George.

" Are you done?" her boyfriend questioned, almost as if he'd just read her mind.

" Yeah," she closed the book in front of her. "I'm done."

He watched her silently, looking like he was thinking if he could or not say something.

" Yes, we can kiss if you wanted to," Cassiopeia encouraged as she smiled at him.

George relaxed visibly.

" Okay," he chuckled. "I was a bit afraid. I mean, it's… We're dating and all, but I don't know if we can do stuff or the stuff we can do. I never had a girlfriend before."

The teen just smiled at her boyfriend and leaned in, laying a peck on his lips.

" Just ask," she whispered. "Really."

He gave Cassiopeia a large smile and pulled her up, making her drop her books onto the table before pulling her into one of the darkest sections.

" George!" she let out a whisper. "Where are we going?"

He didn't answer, but before Cassiopeia could ask again, George walked the two to a wall, making her shiver all over.

" Oh," she gasped.

He gave her a bit of a hopeful look, and Cassiopeia felt her cheeks red and hot.

" Can I…" he whispered. "Uh… You know?"

The teen nodded gently, and her boyfriend cupped her jaw before kissing her lips. Soon, the peck became a full tongue kiss, and George's body quickly came to press against hers, which made her lose her breath just a tiny bit. How come she just realised how the six years of Quidditch had shaped his body? Cassiopeia could feel the way his arms and torso were actually more defined than what she had first assumed, which was a bit surprising.

Cassiopeia had completely melted into his kiss when a noise brought her back to reality.

" George," Fred called from somewhere far from them, and her boyfriend jumped away from Cassiopeia's body with his brown eyes wide. "George?"

Cassiopeia walked away from him, fixing herself and getting right back to where she'd kept her books.

" Sup, Cas," the redhead smiled to the girl. "Where is my brother?"

" Which one? You have five."

He chuckled, raising his eyebrows in a bit of surprise.

" Well, he is…" she looked around. "Over there. I gotta go to class before people notice I'm gone."

" Okay," he nodded. "Bye."

He watched as Cassiopeia almost ran out of the library, and stopped to look at where his brother had just emerged with his face completely red and his hair a bit messy.

" You're blushing, she's flushed…" Fred noticed, looking at George's face for a moment. "Did I interrupt something?"

His twin's ears reddened to match his face.

" I'll tell you later."