XLIII

"Are you sure, dear?" Umbridge sipped on her pink teacup. "I'm sure we can use your good services in our Inquisitorial Squad."

"I'm sure, ma'am," Cassiopeia smiled politely. "I'm abstaining myself from any extracurricular activity this year so I can focus on getting Outstanding grades in every subject."

She just opened another one of those incredibly annoying smiled. Merlin, if Cassiopeia could only punch her right in the middle of that stupid face.

"I'm sure your parents must be proud of you."

Her parents. That was the big reason why Umbridge seemed to try to get that close to Cass so much. Her very influential parents.

"I hope they are, ma'am. Can I go now? I was hoping I could study a bit before my next class."

"Of course," she shooed the teen with one hand. "Go, I don't want to retain you for longer than necessary."

Cassiopeia left. Walking her way to the library, she felt a hand pulling her by the elbow just as she approached her favourite spot. The blonde pulled her wand out, ready to attack whoever it was, but relaxed when she realized it was just George.

"Where the hell have you been?" she questioned worried but was interrupted by a sudden kiss on the lips. "George!"

"Look, I don't have much time," her boyfriend interrupted her again before she could protest more. "I just wanted to see you one last time before you're done with school."

Cassiopeia frowned. Before she was done with school.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm leaving. Today," he opened a large grin.

She shook her head.

No. What?

"You can't!"

"I can!" he said back. "Look, if Dumbledore isn't here, there is no reason for me or Fred to be here. We won't learn any more than we already know in this place, and our future isn't in the intellectual area of work, she know that. We're gonna open our store, start our business. There is no reason to endure more months of this stupid frog lady."

Cassiopeia was shocked. She knew George and his twin didn't enjoy school very much, and with Umbridge there to make their lives a living hell, she couldn't blame them and shared the same dreadful feeling. But leaving?! Leaving was a huge decision.

"I'm not staying here with that woman as Headmistress," he pointed. "That's decided."

The girl nodded slowly.

"I can't go with you," she muttered. "I need to finish school."

To that, George cupped her cheek and smiled gently.

"I would never ask you to do such a thing. That's why we needed this goodbye."

He reached around her, pulling her close to his body and dipping the girl dramatically just as he gave her a very passionate kiss.

"I love you, Cassiopeia Black Malfoy."

The blonde girl opened a smile, making him mirror her and get her back on her feet.

"I always wanted to do that," he confessed, excited. "But I mean it. You don't have to say anything back. I just wanted you to know."

Cass reached out, taking his hand in her. Did she love George? Of course she did. But saying it aloud wasn't exactly easy.

"Be careful," she kissed his knuckles gently. "I won't be out there to protect you from jinxes."

He chuckled.

"Yes, ma'am."

The girl sighed out.

"I'm gonna miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too," George moved a hand and put a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Don't miss the show, okay?"

Cassiopeia frowned.

"What show?"

Her boyfriend chuckled and opened the largest and wickedest grin she had ever seen on his face – and she had seen many of them.

"You don't expect me to go without a show, right?"

Cassiopeia walking out of class at the end of the day when her eyes caught the shining fireworks, and someone yelled a watch out before she could take a step too close.

The corridor was starting to get crowded with students, and Umbridge was standing among them with her swollen face red from anger.

The floor of the corridor in front of them had turned into a swamp, which made the girl glad that someone had stopped her in the middle of the way before her shoes could get dirty.

"Accio Firebolts!"

In the middle of the crowd, in front of the headmistress, her boyfriend and his twin were standing with the most wicked of the smiles.

"And before we can leave," George ran in his girlfriend's direction, putting his hands around her waist and dipping her before kissing her lips very dramatically.

When he pulled away, she was left frozen with her hands and palms up, completely shocked. He mounted his broomstick and shot right up to his brother's side.

"Cassiopeia Malfoy!" he yelled from up there. "If you ever get tired of living around snakes, mail me. I've always had a crush on you!"

With that, they took flight, and left before her – or the students, for that matter - could even process the situation around.

It was Eleanor who first spoke after the noise went down.

" Okay, what in Melin's sake just happened here?"