XXIII

" But I want you to stay with us," George insisted, holding Cassiopeia's hand outside the house. "Can't you just stay? Maybe lie or something?"

" I really need to go," she reminded him. "And you're moving into another place, George, I don't want to be another addition to that mess."

But her boyfriend just continued to look at her with dramatic sadness.

" Come on, George, it won't be long. School is back in September. You survived so far, you can survive a few more weeks."

" You weren't my girlfriend back then," he tried to sound sad, but just came out as overly dramatic and whiny . "And we won't even be able to be around each other that often, we'll be hiding from people all the time."

" Don't be a cry baby, George," his twin gave his back a soft pat. "We don't want the whole Malfoy family looking from her in here. Cassiopeia has to go."

Her boyfriend nodded, sighing with his shoulders completely sagged. She'd already said her — very awkward — goodbyes to everyone inside and he was the only one left.

" Bye, then," he smiled sadly, hugging her once again and kissing her lips softly. "Let me know when you're home."

" Okay," the girl reached for her broom. "Goodbye."

He watched silently as she assembled her things, magically putting everything inside an expanded purse that crossed her thin body and rested just on her front, and took off. The redhead boy just stood there until she was out of his reach, just then turning to find his family waiting by the door.

" What?" he blushed.

" You're in love," Ginny said slowly. "With Malfoy."

He rolled his eyes.

" I thought you were over that already."

His sister shrugged.

" It's been just a day. And it's weird," she pointed. "Don't blame me for reacting like a normal human being."

He just ignored her but stopped when the next words reached him.

" She seems to like you," Ginny said. "And a lot."

George was a bit surprised but didn't let it on, only smirking and shrugging.

" I know, right?"

. . .

Cassiopeia had been attentive to plan her trip back home up to its smallest details, which included stopping to buy a set of bracelet and earrings to pass off as a birthday present from George and his family, and landed on the yard of the Malfoy Manor as silently as she could.

With a flight shorter than she'd actually informed her mother, she'd left the Burrow much later than she said she would and took a route that assured she would land from the correct direction.

The girl had time to put her broom with the others before your eyes fell on her mother and she came to hug her quickly.

" Cassiopeia!" she sighed as soon as her arms were around the girl. "I've missed you so much."

" It was just three days, mum," teen squeezed her tightly.

" I'll have a bath and a meal prepared for you," she held her hand and glanced at your side just as the house elf took her purse. "And you'll tell me everything."

Forty-five minutes later Cassiopeia was sitting on her bed with her mother folding her clean clothes to put them back into place.

" They have a little house in the South of France," the girl lied. "I got to share a room with his sister."

" Does he have a big family?" she enquired, turning for a moment.

" Two brothers and a sister, he is the second born."

She hummed a confirmation.

" They didn't have a guest room?"

" Not there," Cassiopeia looked in the window's direction. "But it's okay. It was like being with Eleanor."

That seemed to sparkle something in her mind.

"Can't forget to invite Eleanor for your birthday dinner," she pointed, more to herself than to you.

" Dinner?"

Narcissa turned to her daughter after her words, looking rather surprised and annoyed with her tone.

" We are a family. It doesn't matter if you spent your actual birthday away, we will celebrate it together."

The teen didn't protest, and the older woman stopped her activity when her eyes fell on the bracelet and earrings she'd bought.

" I haven't seen those yet," she noticed, bringing the velvet box where they came in together closer to her eyes. "They are beautiful."

She touched the pieces carefully.

" Did he give you this?" she questioned, but didn't even left time for her daughter to answer. "You've always looked amazing with sapphires, they make your eyes look very blue."

" I know," she resisted the urge to touch George's actual present hiding inside her clothes.

She took the earrings from the box and put the girl's clear blonde hair behind her ears before putting them on them, distancing herself to see the results.

" Beautiful."

Cassiopeia only smiled, and her mother put the pieces where the rest of her jewelry was stored, returning to the clothes in the suitcase.

" Go on, dear. Tell me more. Did his mother like you?"

Cassiopeia hesitated, not even knowing the genuine answer to the question.

" I'm still unsure," she decided. "She was very lovely but I had a feeling I was being studied."

She chuckled.

" Well, that doesn't surprise me," she held up a smile. "She'll certainly love you soon enough," Narcissa mother assured her daughter. "You're a good girl from a good family and with lots of talents. You're nearly perfect, sweetie."

Cassiopeia gave her a genuine smile.

" You're saying that only because you're my mother."

" I'm saying that because I know how this boy likes you," Narcissa corrected her. "Don't worry about it, darling."