XXIV

Cassiopeia adjusted her dress, running a hand down slowly right where it tightened at the middle of her thin waist and flowed down elegantly. It was a black model in velvet with dark grey lace, and her wrists and ears were decorated with the sapphires Narcissa had loved so much on her daughter.

The blonde girl fixed her hair carefully and put on the high heels that made her as tall as Draco.

The Malfoy Manor had been emptied from the previous guests and only a few people were there; just her family, Draco's two friends – Crabbe and Goyle -, just a few of the closest Slytherins from school, like Nott and his family and others, Eleanor and her family, and some cousins the two girls shared. Cassiopeia's grandmother Druella was the oldest sister of Eleanor's grandfather, so their friendship ran deeper than any other. She could only be carrying the Black and Malfoy names, but she was a Rosier just like her nonetheless.

"Cassiopeia !" Eleanor walked to her friend as soon as she stepped into the room. "You look so gorgeous. Are those the sapphires you mentioned in our last letter?"

" Yes," the blonde girl looked around. "I take it that you like them?"

She gave her friend a knowing smile.

" I do, indeed. Your friend has a great taste, but mine is much better, obviously."

Cassiopeia let out a laugh, feeling the tension leaving her body. It was good to see Eleanor.

" Come on. You need to see my gift."

She pulled the blonde girl to the corner of the room, where the presents were piled up, and took hers right from the top.

" Open it," she pointed. "Go on."

The Malfoy girl glanced at her side, but complied anyway, finding a perfume bottle and a velvet box that clearly held a necklace.

" I remember you said you wanted this perfume but couldn't find it anywhere," she pointed. "So I may have taken a trip to find it for you."

Her greyish eyes widened and Cassiopeia turned to her with a shocked expression.

" Please, tell me you didn't travel all the way to Germany for a bottle of perfume," she said in a disapproving tone. "Eleanor, I could have had it shipped from a store."

The brunette shrugged.

" I needed to make sure it would arrive safely. And I found the necklace there just as well and bought some shoes, look," she pointed down and the Malfoy glanced at her feet. "Pretty and comfortable."

Cassiopeia shook her head, but reached out for the jewellery box, finding a ruby necklace. It was no surprise. Her family always gave away the most extravagant gifts. When she was born, her Aunt Bellatrix had given Lucius and Narcissa their daughter's weight in galleons for 'good luck' and did the same with Draco two years later. On her first birthday, Bella had given her god-daughter diamond earrings she still had up to this day – they were quite heavy for a child but fit perfectly now.

" Thank you," the blonde girl reached out and held her hand. "Thank you. You shouldn't have, but thank you."

Eleanor rolled her eyes, waving dismissively with her hand before picking up a glass of wine from a tray a house elf was carrying, and Cassiopeia took the liberty to do the same. The two girls were just now legally allowed to drink, but it didn't mean they'd never done so before; that happened since they were around 15 at their house parties.

Cassiopeia was looking a bit forward to this party. She hoped she could have fun and enjoy it like she did every time, but something was clearly missing. Even dinner didn't taste as good, and her mother had had her favourite dishes prepared.

When it was over and music filled the room, the girl couldn't help but space out while Eleanor talked about what seemed to be some guy she met in her trip to a fully wizard town close to Berlin.

"Cassiopeia ?" someone waved a hand in front of her eyes.

" Yes?" the girl turned, finding Draco and Eleanor staring at her face.

" And she is not dead," her brother chuckled. "I was asking you if you wanted to dance."

The tall girl turned to glance at the room, quickly noticing how some people had engaged in a dance, which included her parents and the Rosier themselves.

She couldn't say no and was soon holding her brother's hand and twirling around the room among the rest of the people, with him smiling at her sweetly. Cassiopeia felt her heart aching slightly inside her chest. She absolutely hated lying to Draco, but it was needed. He would understand one day.

Their parents, however…

Cassiopeia hoped they understood. She really hoped they did.