Cassia spent the rest of the holidays had been spent clearing up the Burrow (it had been relatively easy to fix the damage but the house still had to be cleaned) and trying not to feel overwhelming amounts of guilt. Obviously, this was not successful, and by the time she was sneaking back into Hogwarts to resume school again, she was still feeling a lot of weight on her shoulders.

The first day was intense, with a lot of people arriving in droves. Cassia was with Harry and Hermione at that moment, walking along the crowded corridor as Hermione read the story about the unrest at the Burrow in the newspaper.

"It's so easy for them to get to you," she commented vaguely. "You're bloody lucky you weren't killed," she shoved the paper down and looked up. "You have to realise who you are, Harry."

"I know who I am, Hermione, alright?" Harry wasn't in the mood as he rolled his eyes, before muttering. "Sorry."

Hermione didn't reply, however, as the corner they had just rounded meant they could now see Ron and Lavender, engaging in a very non-verbal 'hello'.

"Excuse me, I have to go vomit," said Hermione, walking away and leaving Harry and Cassia standing together in the middle of the corridor.

Cassia sighed, looking at him. "You okay?"

Harry nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "Yeah, fine. Just..."

He trailed off, looking down at the ground.

"Just what?" Cassia frowned, knowing she couldn't move closer to him due to the fact they were in such a crowded corridor, but also wanting to comfort him.

"Do you think I've done anything wrong?" Harry asked, his tone so vulnerable Cassia just wanted to hug him.

"No, idiot," she said, without hesitation. "It's my stupid aunt and Greyback that are the problem, not you."

Harry smiled slightly, itching to take her hand but not doing it as he began walking along the corridor again. "Come on, Cass. Let's go."

But, as they walked away, she did have another thought. One she agreed with wholeheartedly.

And me. I'm also the problem.

❦︎❦︎❦︎

So, the week continued.

Harry had a private lesson with Dumbledore the night of the first day back, and had come back very frustrated and preoccupied with something. Cassia knew he had told Ron and Hermione whatever it was he had learned, and she had deliberately told him not to tell her. If he did, there was only so much she could do to stop whatever Dumbledore was planning leaking to Draco.

Lessons were as hard as before, with all the teachers ramping up the workload even more than before. Well, except in potions, where Harry continued to share the Prince's tips with her.

But anyways, by the end of the week on Friday night, Cassia was sat on the sofa, legs in Poppy's lap as the two chatted and gossiped with Ginny and Hermione, maybe drinking a bit of firewhiskey in the process. Despite the tiredness, the four girls were all laughing like mad soon enough, making the most noise in the relatively loud common room, much so that Cassia almost didn't notice Harry coming rushing down the stairs.

"Cassia!" He said, skidding to a stop in front of her. "I- I don't know what to do, I- Ron- I just-"

"Take a breath, Potter," Cassia said, sitting back and smirking. She knew she couldn't outright flirt with him because the common room still had a decent amount of people in it, but she was still going to have some fun. Harry looked at her in awe before she said. "Come on, tell me what's happening."

Harry sighed. "It's Ron, he- well, I don't know, but he's acting weird."

"Isn't he always?" Poppy asked. "Look, Harry, can you sort this out yourself? Cass is keeping me warm."

"I'm sure she is," Harry rolled his eyes, as the four girls in front of him giggled. "But I'm sorry, I need you, Cass."

Cassia sighed, getting up. "Okay, come on Harry, where is he?"

"Thank you," Harry said. "And he's up in our dorm, come on."

He led Cassia to the dorm, intertwining their fingers as soon as they got out of eyesight, and half dragging her into the Gryffindor fifth year boys' dormitory.

Ron was the only one in there, sitting on the bed, mooning up at the ceiling. He had a dopey smile on his face, and his eyes were unfocused. Cassia rolled her eyes.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" He smiled. "The moon."

Harry and Cassia shared a look before the former said. "Divine."

Cassia sniggered. "What the fuck is he on?" She hissed to Harry, who just shook his head in return.

Then she noticed something, on the bed. It was a heart shaped box of chocolate cauldrons, and it was open, all of them now eaten. Attached to it was a note, that Cassia grabbed and read:

Dear Harry,

Here's a gift for you, I hope you love it and we can go to Slughorn's party together. I think you'll look amazing in dress robes.

Love from,

Romilda Vane

Cassia's heart burned in jealousy as she read the letter that was placed on top of the obviously-love-potion-spiked chocolate cauldrons. Yes, she knew people were wanting her boyfriend, and yes, she knew she did not deserve him.

But that didn't stop her from wanting to keep him.

Across the room, Harry and Ron were talking. They were on Ron's bed, Ron leaning close to his best mate, and Harry leaning back.

"I think I love her," Ron was saying, grinning. Harry just stared at him, eyes wide.

"Well, brilliant," he shrugged, getting off the bed and moving away.

Then Ron asked. "Do you think she knows I exist?"

"Bloody well hope so, you spend half your time snogging her," Harry chuckled.

The smile vanished off Ron's face.

"Snogging? Who are you talking about?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Romilda, of course," Ron shrugged. "Romilda Vane."

As entertaining (and cute) as the confused look on Harry's face was, Cassia knew it was time to spill.

"Harry, look at this," she said, beckoning her boyfriend over. Harry came over and took the letter out her hands, reading it.

C

assia bit her lip as he did. She knew he wouldn't leave her, or cheat on her, yet it was the thought of that that-

"Cass? You alright?" Harry's voice snapped her head round as he finished reading, looking at her. "You look angry."

"I'm not angry," Cassia lied, shrugging as she held up the letter. "But I did just find out why Ron's head is full of crap."

"She gave me these before Christmas," Harry shook his head, gesturing to the now empty box of chocolate cauldrons. "I never even touched them."

"Well good, because they're spiked with love potion," Cassia said, rolling her eyes again.

Harry's eyes widened as he clenched his fists. "I can't believe she would do that."

"I can," Cassia shrugged. "Everyone's after you this year, Potter."

And I'm the least deserving of them all.

"And you're the only one I want," Harry assured her, taking her hand. "Now come on, we need to get Ron to Slughorn. He should be able to cure him of this."

Cassia agreed, turning to Ron.

"Hey Ron, do you wanna go and meet Romilda?" She asked, smirking slightly.

"Yes!" Ron jumped up, almost running to them. "Can you introduce me?"

"Of course," Cassia nodded, smiling. "Come on."

❦︎❦︎❦︎

They took him to Slughorn, walking along the practically empty corridors until they got there. They both had to drag him at various points, but for once, Cassia actually felt alright.

'Alright' meaning 'not a traitor'.

When they got to Slughorn's office, Harry knocked on the door, and the man opened a very small section of it to speak to them.

"I'm sorry sir, we wouldn't bother you if it weren't absolutely essential," Harry started off.

"Where's Romilda?" Ron asked, as Slughorn looked between the three of them in conclusion.

"What's the matter with Wenby?" He asked.

"Very powerful love potion," Harry whispered.

Slughorn looked from him, to Cassia, who shook her head, to Ron, and then sighed heavily. "Very well. Better bring him in, then."

Once inside, Slughorn got to work, taking out cases of ingredients and putting them together.

"I would have thought you would be able to whip up a remedy for this in no time, Harry," he said whilst working.

"Well, I thought this called for a more practiced hand, sir," Harry shrugged.

Ron chose that moment to wrap his arms around Cassia, tight. "Hello darling, fancy a drink?"

"Most certainly not," Cassia said, removing his arms from her.

Slughorn, meanwhile, looked to Harry. "Perhaps you're right."

Harry smiled, heading towards Cassia to lead Ron away from her, due to the fact he was still trying to cling on for dear life.

"Sorry for all this, Professor," he said as he did this, leading Ron to the sofa to lie down on, before subtly taking Cassia's hand and walking back to their potions master.

"It's alright, Harry m'boy, it's alright," Slughorn said, stirring his antidote. "Now, let's get Wenby sitting up to take this, it won't do him much good if he's lying down."

Cassia sighed, starting to head over, but Harry overtook her. "I'll do it," he murmured. "Don't want him all over you again."

Cassia scoffed, saying in a low voice. "Are you jealous? Of your best m-?"

"Shut up!" Harry hissed. "And no."

Cassia rolled her eyes, giggling slightly as Harry went and got Ron sat up. Slughorn finished with his antidote in that moment as well, bringing over a goblet.

"There you go, old boy. Bottoms up," he told the red head, who took it with a rather bemused look.

"What's this?"

"Tonic, for the nerves," said Slughorn, as if he had done this before.

So Ron drank the antidote, still smiling like anything. Cassia stood back, next to Harry, and watched as he finished it, his face going from happy to confused in nought point two seconds.

"What happened to me?" He asked, his voice his own again, not layered in fluff and happiness.

"Love potion," Cassia replied.

"A bloody strong one at that," Slughorn said, taking the goblet from him.

"I feel really bad..." Ron muttered, looking down.

"You need a pick me up, m'boy," Slughorn smirked, going to his drinks cabinet. "Got butterbeer, wine, dazzling oak-matured mead. I did have other intentions for this, but I think given the circumstances..."

He took out the mead, taking the stopper off the bottle and pouring it.

But it was then that Cassia noticed something.

The bottle the mead was in.

It was a normal bottle, a glass one. But around its slender neck, was a pink ribbon.

Oh no. No no no no no.

She hadn't seen that bottle since before christmas. Since the last time she spoke to Draco. Since he yelled in her face that it was poisoned.

Poisoned, poisoned, poisoned...

"Er, couldn't we have butterbeer?" Cassia stammered, as Slughorn was halfway through pouring. "I just- I'm not really wanting mead this late-"

"That's alright, Miss Malfoy, I can give you butterbeer," smiled Slughorn. "But for the, er, men in the room, I think something stronger should suffice."

"Of course, sir," Harry said with a smile.

No, Cassia thought, as Slughorn poured her butterbeer. No please. Please not Harry. Harry can't be killed because of me, please-

But Slughorn was already handing a glass to each of them, smiling jovially.

PLEASE-

"Now, er... to life!" He said, Harry too, as both of them 'cheered' their glasses. Cassia too, wanted to join, but she couldn't think, she couldn't move-

Thump.

But, before she could utter a scream, or even pretend to faint or something to stop them taking a sip, Ron took a huge glug from his glass, falling to the ground almost instantly.

"No!" Cassia covered her widened mouth, eyes open fully and tearing up as she watched Ron writhe and struggle on the ground.

"Ron!" Harry was a bit faster than her, on the ground in seconds beside his best friend. "Ron- professor, do something!"

But Slughorn was stood with wide, sorrowful eyes, not doing anything. "I-I don't understand-"

Harry, meanwhile, was darting about, going through drawers and cabinets, trying to find something. Cassia had no idea what it was, but as she stood there with tears on her face, she knew she had to help.

"What are you doing?" She asked as she approached Harry, who was rummaging through a chest of drawers.

"Trying to find a bezoar," Harry answered.

Cassia gasped. Of course. A bezoar would save Ron from any poison, regardless of how strong the one Draco used was.

"Got it!" Harry suddenly said, pulling a small stone out of a box and running back to Ron, Cassia on his heels. He threw himself down on the ground and almost shoved the bezoar into Ron's throat, desperate to save him.

"Come on Ron, breathe," Harry prayed out loud, whilst Cassia prayed inside.

Sh- she had done this. Her. Draco and her.

Katie was one thing. She didn't really know her. But Ron... Ron was her boyfriend's best friend. He was one of her best friends. He didn't have a nasty bone in his body, just a load of clueless ones.

And if she had killed him...

She didn't know what she'd do.

"Come on, Ron..." she said, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. "Ron, please."

Another tear slipped down her face.

Shit shit shit. Fuck.

Well, she'd finally done it. She'd finally not only betrayed all her friends, but killed one of them. Ron was dead. Ron was dead and it...

And it...

It was all her fault.