( November '96 )

It was the first Quidditch game of the year - a big one at that. The first Quidditch game always determined which teams would be playing against each other. Eventually all the teams would be playing against each other but the top two teams had more games against one another.

Ron was always nervous before the games and today was no different.

Harry, Hermione and Cassandra sat at the Gryffindor table, patiently waiting for Ron to appear. Harry and Cassandra sat side by side in their Quidditch robes.

"Good luck today Ron!" Neville said as Ron entered the Great Hall.

Ron looked pale as he walked down to his friends and sat down.

"I'm counting on you, Ron." Seamus said. "I have two galleons on Gryffindor, yeah?"

Some Slytherins were calling Ron a loser, one of them being Crabbe. Cassandra threw an apple and it hit Crabbe right in the forehead.

Ron looked at his plate of food suspiciously.

"So, how was it then?" Ron asked.

"How was what?" Hermione asked.

"Your dinner party." Ron replied.

"Pretty boring, actually." Hermione said. "Though I think Harry enjoyed dessert. Slughorn's having a Christmas party too, you know. And we're meant to bring someone."

"I expect you'll be bringing McLaggen?" Ron suggested. "He's in the Slug Club isn't he?"

Cassandra mentally face palmed.

"Actually, I was going to ask you." Hermione said, looking back down at the newspaper.

"Really?" Ron said.

Lavender came up to Ron and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Good luck today Ron!" Lavender said. "I know you'll be brilliant."

Hermione's eyes followed Lavender out the hall.

"I'm resigning." Ron said. "After today's match, McLaggen could have my spot."

"Have it your way." Harry said, speaking for the first time. "Juice?"

"Hello everyone." Luna said. "You look dreadful Ron. Is that why you put something in his cup? Is it a tonic?"

Luna was dressed in a lion costume. She was more festive than any Gryffindor and that is saying a lot because she is a Ravenclaw. Harry slipped the vial back into his pocket.

"Liquid luck." Hermione said. "Don't drink it Ron!"

Ron didn't listen. Instead, he gulped down the whole glass.

"You could be expelled for that." Hermione said.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Harry said.

Ron smiled proudly, gaining back the color in his face.

"C'mon twins." Ron said. "We've got a game to win."

~~

Blaise picked up the quaffle and was headed for the Gryffindor goal posts when Cassandra swooped in, taking it away from him. She stuck out her tongue at him and headed toward the Slytherin goals. Cassandra noticed Draco watching the whole scene play out, feet above her. Cassandra headed for the goal and she scored!

"Ten points to Gryffindor!" The announcer said.

Cassandra missed when Lee was here.

Ron blocked the next goal headed for Gryffindor. Cassandra didn't think she ever cheered so loud in her life. Ron was confidently playing and Cassandra couldn't have been more proud.

Cassandra flew up and as she did, she bumped into Draco. She fell off her broom but was immediately caught in the air.

"It looks like Cassandra Potter fell off her broom." The announcer said. "But it looks like Draco Malfoy caught her. What a surprise! She is now sitting on the back of his broom as Malfoy takes her to get her broom."

Cassandra recognized the announcer to be Katie Bell.

"Why did you save me?" Cassandra asked.

Draco just shrugged. She held onto him tightly, afraid that she was going to fall off. Her broom had fallen along with her and was on the ground. Draco hovered above the ground and Cassandra lept off, heading back onto her broom.

"Thank you." Cassandra said.

Draco flew off and Cassandra was back in the game. She dodged a couple of bludgers as they headed for her. Ron had been blocking a lot of goals while Cassandra was on the back of Draco's broom.

After a while, the announcement came that Gryffindor had won. A sense of accomplishment flew through Cassandra as she headed to congratulate her team.

~~

"What the fuck Draco?" Blaise yelled as he pushed Draco into a wall.

They were in an empty corridor near the Gryffindor common room.

"You told me to stay away from her so you could have her all to yourself!" Blaise pushed Draco harder into the wall. "I see those stolen glances that you make during potions or defense against the dark arts. You love her, don't you?"

Blaise's voice sounded like he was on the verge of crying.

"I do." Draco's voice came out as a whisper. "She would never love me back. You love her too, don't you?"

Blaise let go of Draco.

"Yes." Blaise said. "She's my best friend. I have to protect her."

"Protect her from what?" Draco asked.

"You." Blaise's response was harsh and cutting.

"Me?" Draco asked, not understanding. "Why me?"

"You are a death eater, Draco." Blaise said. "You have the mark. And as long as you are a death eater, she will be in danger. You know the task the Dark Lord gave you. Imagine if you actually carried it out, she would hate you forever. It's either you choose her or you choose to be a death eater."

"You're just jealous, aren't you?" Draco said. "You love her, just like I do. But you can't have her."

"You're right." Blaise said. "I can't have her. She is in love with somebody else."

Draco swung at Blaise, punching him right in his face. Blaise punched Draco back and the fight broke out.

"Get off of him, Blaise." Cassandra's voice said from behind the two.

They didn't even know she was there until she had said something. Blaise got off of Draco. Both Draco and Blaise's faces were covered in blood.

"Follow me, both of you." Cassandra said.

When they didn't do anything, Cassandra grabbed them by their hands. She took them to the Room of Requirement.

"Sit." Cassandra ordered.

She grabbed a washcloth and ran it under warm water.

"Tilt your face up Blaise." Cassandra said, her hand resting under his chin.

She started wiping the blood off his face. Once she was done with Blaise she moved onto Draco.

"Now do you two want to tell me why you were fighting?" Cassandra asked, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"It was over the game." Blaise covered. "It was stupid."

"It was a good game." Cassandra said. "You shouldn't be fighting because you lost. You very narrowly beat us. I ought to be heading to bed. Don't let me break up any more fights, understand?"

"Yes ma'am." Draco and Blaise said in unison.

They felt like they were being scolded by a teacher.