Cassian knew his friend had a point and despite stubbornness being first nature to him, he allowed his shoulders to sag. âI donât want you to lose everything you have because of your connection to me.â He grumbled, taking a few steps towards his fellow Slytherin, âI donât want to watch that happen with you.â The way it did with me. The words were unspoken, but he was almost positive that Rhysand would be able to fill in the blanks, even if he wasnât fully aware of everything that was happening with him. âIâm sorry.â It was a rare, genuine apology that he would almost never give out- at least not to anyone he wasnât close with.
Rhysand took a breath. Never in the years that heâd known the boy, had he ever heard him ask him to step away from something, to back off, as if he wasnât so far into this that he couldnât stop. Had Cassian forgotten that doing stupid shit had been how they became friends in the first place? Would he lose his best friend because the boy was so afraid of what it would mean to allow him to be as close as they had been?  âI just... donât understand. Why you havenât been talking, like youâre so afraid of losing me, but all this time youâve been pushing me away. I just want to understand at what point that you talking to me changed? When do you start realizing that you couldnât talk to me? Am I just... not good enough or something?â he asks biting his lip, because he canât believe how pathetic he sounds, but the boy was breaking his heart in ways he never expected to be possible.
âOur friendship means everything to me!â He bellowed, the anger finally rushing out as he swung his arm at the chess table directly beside him, sending the pieces flying as he rounded on his friend. âYou donât understand how deep this goes- how dark it is! You donât understand what I have to do or what Iâve done! I canât drag you into it and we both know if I did it would drag Sylvie in too. Thereâs a bloody reason weâve kept her at arms length, do you really think you can help me and keep her?â His eyes were now brimming with emotion, the desperation for him to just understand now clear in his voice. âI donât want to drag you down with me. You mean too much to me.â Itâs a weakness, was the afterthought.
Rhysand didnât flinch when Cassian hit a table, sending a set of wizards chess scattering across the common room. He raised his wand, muttering a simply silencing spell into the room so Cassian could blow up as much as he wanted without drawing attention to their conversation in the room. âHow could I know things when you push me away just like youâve pushed away everyone? Youâre not alone in this, mate. You never were. You know Iâd do whatever I had to in order to help you, I donât like how youâve distanced yourself so much to the point where youâre torturing yourself because you think you canât talk to me! Donât use Sylvie as an excuse for pushing me away.â
âBased on your looks? Oh, you mean your extremely handsome looks?â A laugh escaped her lips as she reached out her hand to gently stroke Rhysâ cheek. âI think they can only have some very nice thoughts, inappropriate even.â Sylvie realized what he was actually referring to, but wanted to cheer him up with a compliment instead. His insecurities did not bother her, he was perfect in her eyes. âYes. Trust me, sheâd love to meet you and she will not let prejudice get in the way of forming an objective opinion.â Her mother was overprotective, but not unfair or brainless. âHow about we now look forward to the break we will spend with your family, and then we could talk about when you could meet my mother?â
âYou sort of have to say that, youâre my girlfriend,â he says a smile coming to his lips as she touched his face. His dimples made a rare appearance and leaned forward to capture her lips in a kiss. âYouâre too good for me, I swear. Iâm a very lucky guy to be dating the prettiest girl at Hogwarts. I bet all the boys are jealous. And some of the girls too.â Rhys lifts his hands to her face, rubbing his thumb over her cheek. âIâm sure youâre right. Iâm just being paranoid.â Taking a deep breath he nodded. âWell are there any things you wanted to see while youâre in Scotland? Obviously Iâll show you as much of my city as I can, but I just figured Iâd ask. Or I can just show you what I think youâll like.â
âhey mr.preacher man                                                         can you help me get away from my this life of sin?                                    iâm ashamed of the dark places i have been                                        fix my soul so i donât lose a love again.â
Valentine || 5 Seconds of Summer
âi love the light in your eyes and the dark in your heart                            you love our permanent chase in the bite of our bark                                 we know weâre classic together like egyptian gold                                      we love us.â
Pink Lemonades || James Bay
âdo you wanna talk?                                                            do you wanna talk it through?                                                 swear i donât got anything on my mind                                               i donât wanna talk to you.â
Be Mean || DNCE
âmake love burninâ                                                           love how you keep me hurting                                                    so ooh-ooh be mean, be mean to me                                              be mean to me.â
We Wonât || Jaymes Young
â cause iâm confused when weâre together                                        feels like im choking, these emotions                                                i know iâm gonna let you down                                                   so donât hold your breath, now.â
Stronger || Kanye West
ânow that donât kill me                                                         can only make me stronger                                                       i need you to hurry up now                                                       âcause i canât wait much longer.â
IDGAF || Dua Lipa
âyou say youâre sorry                                                             but itâs too late now                                                            so save it, get gone, shut up.âÂ
What Lovers Do || Maroon 5Â
âArenâtwe too grown for games?                                               Arenât we too grown to play around?                                            Young enough to chase                                                        But old enough to know better                                                   Are we too grown for changinâ?
Hurts Good || R5
â say that you want me just to want somebody                                      tell me you need me cause i need somebody                                       none of these lines will ever make you love me                                     hurts good to want ya                                                        crave the pain i get from you.â
Pompeii || Bastille
â But if you close your eyes                                                    Does it almost feel like                                                     Nothing changed at all.â
Cassian was almost shaking in his frustration- anger? He couldnât be sure, but either way the overwhelming events of the last week began to swarm in his mind. How could he express to his best friend just how deep he was in? How could he ever tell him all that he had been through in the past year? How could he explain why he constantly woke during nightmares or why his mood shifted so quickly? âI donât want you pulled into this anymore.â He said, voice almost hollow, however his eyes were full of emotion. âYou and Sylvie both need to distance yourself from all of⊠this.â His hands flailed slightly in the air as if all the trouble he was facing were hovering there, staring at him. âIâm sorry, but I canât drag you into this any further than I already have.â
Rhysand shook his head baffled by what he was saying. âYouâre joking. You want me and Sylvie to just? Stop? Youâre pulling my fucking leg. Have you lost your ruddy mind?â he asked running a frustrated hand through his hair. â16 years of being your best friend, doing what I can to help you, and not once have you ever said out loud that something was âtoo muchâ for me. Sylvie is the one whoâs being held at armâs length! She doesnât know anything and itâs going to stay that way. You donât get to just decide when Iâm done being your friend!â he hisses. Does our friendship really mean that little to you?â
Oliver Wood (born c.1975 or 1976) was a Scottish wizard who was the Keeper and Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He was known for his determination and skill on the playing field, and his long lectures before practices.Â
âDonât you want to meet her?â Sylvie asked in surprise. Was he scared or nervous? Or just simply unwilling? Was it possible for him to think it was too soon to be introduced to her mother, in spite of them having been dating for so long now? âYou donât have to be concerned about that. No matter what you believe my mother might have heard or might think about your tattoos, she is smart enough to know that I wouldnât have spent two years dating a guy without him being serious or caring enough. I think she would actually love to meet you. It would be a relief for her to finally attach a face to the name.â And see for herself that rumours and peopleâs talk were not always the whole truth.
âOf course I do, babe.â he says with a sigh, because heâs sure his reaction made him sound like he was dreading meeting her. But that wasnât completely untrue- he knew that out there were wizards who had specific ideas of who and what type of person their children should be investing their time in. But he supposed after two years of her putting up with him, making him the happiest heâd ever been- he owed it to her to meet her mother, especially when Sylvie would be spending the break with him and his family. âItâs just a knee jerk reaction. Iâm only nervous because of the way some people react when they meet me just based off of my looks.â he squeezed her hands gently, bringing her hands up so he could press kisses to her knuckles. âBut- I owe you this and your mum deserves to meet the boy youâve been with for two years.â
Within mere moments Cassian had lost his cool, blood almost boiling as the Slytherin male began to lecture him. âI donât answer to you, Rhysand!â He snapped, rounding on him as he made his way deeper into the common room. âI donât answer to you or anyone else in this bloody castle, so if I wished to simply vanish for good it wouldnât be any of your damn concern!â It was clear that he was seething at this point, jaw taunt with the effort to filter his already angry words. Not once had he considered his best friend lower than him, but that didnât mean he would simply roll over when the dark-haired male was angry. His fists began to clench at his sides, gaze shifting to the fire as he took a sharp inhale of breath before responding, âI have responsibilities outside of school.â Responsibilities he wasnât quite ready to share with his best friend.
âOh trust me Iâm well aware that you donât answer to anyone, Cassian.â he hisses because this was the same schtick he got to hear every time he managed to make his best friend angry. Not that he did it often, but this wasnât exactly a normal sort of argument that he had with the taller boy. âOh? Have I not been your best friend for our entire lives? Have I not vowed to protect you, be your eyes when you couldnât do it yourself? Put my own neck on the line? Thatâs what best friends do! I have no secrets, Iâm a fucking open book but youâre standing here being secretive? Seriously, man?â he says shaking his head. âDude what could seriously be so bad that you donât want to talk to me?âÂ
For a brief moment he felt guilty, guilty for leaving his long time friend without so much as an explanation. Guilty for having cut him off the past week in order to sulk. âAt least I waited out the crowd.â The words were laced with sarcasm, the only way he truly knew how to communicate with his friend when he was in a mood such as this. And his words were true. The common room was now completely empty, leaving Cassian to deal with Rhysandâs annoyance on his own. It wasnât as if he feared his friend, in fact he often thought that they were equal when it came to power, it was the fact that he was the only person he could trust. The fact that without him he had no one and that wasnât a world he was ready to face. âI apologize for being late. I got caught up in the forest.â
âIs that supposed to me feel better for sitting here wasting time that I couldâve spent doing something else? Itâs the bloody weekend, Cassian what in Merlinâs name were you doing that you have to be FOUR fucking hours late to meet me? Itâs nearly dinner.â he hisses beyond ticked at this point. Rhysand wasnât afraid to get loud with the other, in fact, he made sure to do it on the regular to remind the boy that he wasnât weak and could handle himself in arguments. He stared at him silently for a minute, seething with irritation. This wasnât the Cassian he was used to. And lately, it felt like everything going on with the boy was another surprise to him. âSo, are you ever going to actually tell me why the hell you were in the forest?â
Luck seemed to be against him the week following the Winter Ball. Not only was he constantly being trailed by aurors and students who wished to make a name for himself, but he had also crowded his schedule even more by agreeing to become a tutor. That was exactly how he found himself hours late for a meeting with his best friend. Of course he hadnât rushed out of the Forbidden Forest. No. He had taken his time, head held high as his eyes dared every student he passed to step in his path. It wasnât until he had reached the Slytherin Common Room that he relaxed, though once his gaze met that of Rhysand he let out a sigh, âI suppose Iâm a bit late.â
Rhys had made plans to sit with his friend, check in on him to see how he was doing. Rhysand had the benefit of being able to keep his hand down and avoid any more attention to himself. He had to make sure that at least on his part he would remain a useful source in case Cassianâs father and friends needed to contact his friend. So heâd kept his mouth shut and not bothered Cassian. But he needed to know how he was doing, and he certainly didnât appreciate being stood up. After 30 minutes he was worried, but after an hour and a half had gone by and he was getting angry, and by the three-hour mark he was furious that he had been left hanging. As his friend stepped into the Common Room, Rhys looked over to the door from his perch at a window that looked into the depths of the Black Lake and raised his eyebrows. âNice of you to finally show up, Cassian.â
âOh, good then. Iâd feel uncomfortable if they didnât know about our plans.â It would be the first time for her to meet his parents, Sylvie had only met Rhysâ sister, and only because she attended Hogwarts as well. But his parents? She only knew them through stories she had heard. âIâm glad you have enough space, but you know you will be welcome to sneak into that room of mine during the night, if you get the whim to do so. Very quetly, of course.â A soft laugh escaped her lips at the comment. âSince youâll be introducing me to your parents, now I feel like I should do the same and introduce you to my mother soon.â
Rhys would hardly say that he was nervous about meeting Sylvieâs mother, but to be fair with the reputation he had, he was sure some of Sylvieâs cousins had no doubt made sure her mother knew who he was. He didnât want to waltz into their home in Paris and introduce himself only to be declared not worthy of the girl heâd quickly become smitten for. After all, theyâd been dating for the last two years and with his graduation coming sooner, he wanted her to know of him sooner rather than later. âYou sure you want your Mum to meet me?â he asks quietly, trying to not come off as so nervous even though he was slightly terrified. âIâm just worried she might feel some kind of way about her beautiful daughter dating the likes of a boy like me, covered in tattoos.â Rhys rested his hands on the girlâs waist, looking at her for a reaction.
âJust the guy I was looking for.â Sylvie said, as she reached out her hand to take Rhysâ in hers and pull him away from the big crowds of students that were now walking down the halls of Hogwarts. âI was hoping we could talk. About your Scotland invitation.â It was something she was looking forward to, and something that had kept her in joyful spirit, in spite of the events at the ball. Whenever the thought of spending the holiday with Rhys and his famly would cross her mind, it instantly made her forget about the Ministry and the escaped prisoners. âHave you told your parents? To see if they approve of me staying with you, at your home.â
Rhys was deep in his thoughts as he moved through the crowds towards the Slytherin Common Room. He often walked through the castle this way, lost in his thoughts, a grim look on his face which was enough to scare most first years away from him and clear a bath for him. He felt the hand in his efore he heard Sylvieâs voice and a small smile he reserved really only for her appeared on his face. âHi love, sure we can talk, whatâs up?â he asked as they slipped through one of the doors that lead to the now quiet courtyard at the very front of the castle. âSure, you know my offer still stands about you spending the holidays with us.â he raises his eyebrows, a playful twinkle in them. âI asked my dad before I ever even suggested the idea, baby. Theyâd love to have you. Itâs not like we donât have room. Youâd have your own room across from mine.â
victoire frowned, a displeased huff on her lips as the brunette resisted the urge to stomp her foot. âthat is the exact opposite of what i said, i just said that i danced with cassian because he asked me, not because i felt forced to, just because youâre rude and dating my cousin does not mean you get to put words in my mouth and decide that i danced with someone out of pity,â she protested, that stubborn streak her mother insisted was from her weasley side and father laughingly would protest came from his wifeâs side coming out to play. âi am not sylvieâs friend, iâm her family,â victoire corrected him, âand that means more than anything else in the world when it comes down to it. iâm glad sheâs happy, youâre insufferable and i have no idea what on earth she sees in you but⊠if sheâs happy, then iâm happy for her, and on the plus side i get use one of those hexes aunt ginny has taught me if you ever hurt her,â victoire warned in a chipper tone.
Rhysand groaned running a hand through his long black hair and glared at the girl. âIâm not sure what it is that I need to say to get you the hell away from me, Weasley but Iâd appreciate if you just did us both a favor and go away and bother someone else.â he hisses because he was getting irritated how while he was being completely honest in not wanting to be at the ball, this girl was just succeeding in pissing him off. He was perfectly calm, wanted to be level headed for whenever Sylvie asked him to dance. âFriend, family whatever. You know what I mean. And youâre right, it only matters what she thinks, and I donât really care if you like me or not. You donât have to spend time with me, in fact, I wish you wouldnât. And relax would you? Iâm not going to hurt Sylvie, dim wit. I love her too much.â
âOh, really? Are you thinking what Iâm thinking?â She looked forward to being alone with Rhys again, just in time before the winter holiday. Sylvie was not sure if she wanted to go home to Paris, but she was certain her mother would definitely expect that. Gabrielle Delacour wished they were closer, just like they used to be when Sylvie was little. âBecause if so, you have to make sure weâll be too busy to feel the coldness. I sometimes wish the professors werenât as strict, or we wouldnât have to sneak out to the lake. Though it does sound way more romantic than a Slytherin doormitory.â
âI think Iâm definitely thinking what youâre thinking,â he responds as they continued their walk down the water. âSo.. I with winter holiday coming up and I know youâre not too keen on going back to Paris.. would you want to spend part of your break with me and my family here in Scotland? I know that might seem a bit too forward or something, but I just figured Iâd ask..â he says his voice trailing off as a rare blush lit up his cheeks. It wasnât normal for him to get so flustered by a normal question, but he hadnât ever asked a girl to spend any kind of time with him around his family, because he hadnât ever wanted his family to get excited about the idea of their Rhysand settling down.
As they got closer to the lake he turned to look at the girl and rolled his eyes. âWhen have I ever not made you warm when we mess around, baby?â he asks a teasing grin on his lips because he wanted to see if sheâd say anything back to his cocky remark. âHey, my dorm is pretty romantic when I kick my roommates out and I lit all those candles. You didnât complain that time.â
When her turn came to speak to the Aurors, she was led to some small and dark room in the castle. A female Auror had asked her to sit down while she was being questioned. Sylvie could see the woman was trying to be friendly and not scare her, but it didnât make the Slytherin like her more. She kept her distance and replied in a cool manner to every question, without actually giving any clues or hints. It was not because Sylvie was trying to frustrate the Ministry or protect any guilty person, but because, simply, she didnât know. When it was all done, she was escorted oustide of the room.
âAbsolutely.â Sylvie replied as she was in the company of Rhysâ once again. âWeâll have to be super careful though. I believe the teachers would not like it if they caught us sneaking out.â The only thing that she thought she had to lose was her prefect title, though she doubted the professors would be as strict, even if they caught them. âDo you have anything special in mind? For when we get to the lake?â She asked as she reached out her hand to take Rhysâ while they walked.
âOf course weâll have to be careful, Iâm not an idiot,â he says with a teasing roll of his eyes. As many times as heâd snuck out of the castle, he wasnât exactly one to get caught when he went on his escapades around the castle. As they snuck out one of the side doors into the courtyard, Rhysand took a deep breath, grateful to finally be in fresh air. He hadnât realized how choked heâd felt in the Great Hall. âFeels good to be out here,â he says squeezing the girlâs hand as they made their way down to the dock. âHmm, I havenât really thought about that. But weâll pass a few places on the way to the lake so you tell me where you want to stop and we will. As for what weâll do. You hinted at something earlier, and Iâm thinking thatâd be a great idea, itâs been a while.â he says pressing a soft kiss against the girlâs neck to prove his point. âDonât you think, Vie?â
âIt will be fine. You know they canât effectively accuse anyone if they donât have proof. They canât take a student away, just because of their own suspicions or rumours that might be going around.â The Aurors must be smarter than that. Even though she loathed the Ministry, Sylvie realized that they couldnât just point out fingers if they didnât have anything to back up their theories. What was going on right now was simply interrogations, provoked by the lack of information the Ministry had. âYou can just remain close to me. They have nothing bad on me. We could try to focus on one another and ignore the presence of all the Aurors. The time will pass quicker this way.â
Rhys nodded. âI know, I know. Iâ not too worried, Iâm just as confused as everyone else about what the hell is going on here.â he says faking an innocent smile that he hoped to god she didnât see through. âI donât plan on going anywhere. If they need to question me they can come talk to me while Iâm with you,â he says. And true enough to his words the Aurors made their rounds, finally coming to speak with him. He kept is cool, answering questions honestly and when they left he didnât feel worried that heâd given them anything to be suspicious about.Â
Rhys wrapped his arms around Sylvieâs waist and lifted her carefully from the ground, swinging the girl around while pressing a kiss to her lips. âReady to get out of here, Vie?â he muttered softly, his eyes combing the room to make sure he saw the last of the students from his house clear out of the room. As a perfect- it had its perks of being able to stay behind while the younger prefects escorted the students to their dorms. They left out the Great Hall, walking as if they were going towards their respective common rooms before slipping out the main door and down a corridor which would lead to the lake.Â
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