XIV

Cassiopeia twirled the rose in her thin fingers while George animatedly told her about how he and Fred had recently come up with a new version of their Trick Wand, which now – in addition to turning into a random object when a spell was cast– beat the user on the head and neck. She couldn't help but smile with how passionate he sounded. Every time he mentioned any invention or how he came up with the idea with his brother, his eyes brown lit up and his whole posture changed - he was clearly much more confident and happy.

"What about you?" he questioned.

"Me?"

He had Cassiopeia's hand in his for some reason, - the one that wasn't holding the rose – and his fingertips were making little patterns on her slightly cool skin while the two spoke. She wasn't even sure he knew he was doing it, but it was so natural neither of them even thought about it.

"You," he nodded. "What do you want to do after school?"

The girl hesitated, biting her lip.

"Well… My parents want me to work for the ministry just like dad," she told him. "Or marry some man from a good family and be a stay home parent just like my mother."

When Cassiopeia said 'good family', both of them knew to what that referred to. Some pureblood family with money and prestige and a son to keep her as a trophy wife.

He raised his eyebrows at her, silently telling the Malfoy girl to continue.

"But I want to work in the business area, just like you," she confessed. "Not inventing but behind everything."

"Like… With numbers?"

She nodded.

"Does it make any sense?"

George just squeezed Cassiopeia's hand in his.

"Yeah," he nodded and smiled when something crossed his mind. "You know what? You can work with me and Fred in our store!"

The girl moved her head to look at him in surprise, her blue-grey eyes wide during the motion.

"Really?"

"Of course!" he exclaimed. "I mean, you're smart as..."

She glanced at him as a challenge and George slowed down his words. Cas hated when he cussed, and he knew that very well.

"Heck?"

She rolled her eyes, but he continued anyway.

"Well, you are!" he insisted. "And I know I can trust you, and Fred will be the same when you two meet so there is no need to worry."

Cassiopeia shook her head. George was uncorrectable.

"We should head back," he looked outside through the closest window. "Everyone will be leaving soon."

he teenager looked down, feeling her shoulders sink just a bit.

She didn't want to leave. Nowadays, what she liked the most was spending time with George. She even looked forward to when they managed to sneak around to see and talk to each other.

"I guess I'll see you around," he stood up awkwardly. "In the library after Flickwick's class?"

She nodded eagerly.

"Yes, of course."

George smiled, offering her his arm and guiding the two of them to a street with an exit to the main street. Cassiopeia left before him, quickly meeting with Eleanor and wrapping her arm around hers just as Draco came into her field of vision.

"Hey," he stopped in front of the two girls, looking confused. "I've been looking for you two the whole day, where have you been?"

The two friends exchanged looks, and Eleanor was quick to shrug carelessly.

"We went around. We visited Zonko's and some other places and..." she trailed off.

"And some places out of the main area," the Malfoy girl added.

That had her brother even more confused.

"Why would you do that?"

"Is it against the law?" Cassiopeia's posture changed to defensive. "We were curious. We've been coming here since our third year and yet we've only ever visited places everyone else has already visited."

"Yeah," her friend insisted. "What if we're missing something?"

He didn't press on the subjected, but his eyes rapidly averted to where his sister's fingers were holding the iridescent rose.

"What about the flower?"

Both the girls' eyes moved to the rose, and the owner of the gift struggled to find a reason for it.

"A lady was giving them out," Eleanor decided. "It was the last one and she thought Cassiopeia should have it. She said it looked a bit like her eyes or something."

In response, Cassiopeia raised the rose, bringing it closer to their vision and pretending to do a comparison.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Draco inspected it with attentive eyes.

"Yeah," he finally agreed. "It's beautiful."

His sister gave him a forced smile, moving the subject away.

"I'm tired," she lied. "We should join the others and go."

"Yes," Eleanor quickly agreed. "Me too. We walked a lot. Are you coming with us, Draco?"

"I'll go check with the others," he decided. "I'll see you in the castle."

The two friends walked away before he could change his mind, climbing the closest empty carriage, and Eleanor was quick to call her friend's attention while they were still alone.

"Now, tell me everything," She instructed. "And don't forget a single detail."