hogwartsexpressed | Happy Holidays!

Draca laughed at that. A few years ago, even a year ago, there was a likelihood that Cassi wouldn't have teased Draca as she had. Especially not about that. To hear her say it though, it felt good. It showed Draca how much she had strengthened over the years. "Such a wicked, charming girl you are," she said, chuckling.

It still made her smile, chin lifting, loving that Draca showed that affection to her. "Though I guess that is true though, you really aren't. You're so much better now," she said, definitely meaning it as a compliment, even if she wasn't sure that was how it came across.

Draca snorted at that, rolling her eyes. "He's so beneath you. Completely and utterly. Beyond who you are, and that you are Slytherin and certainly not a sniveller as he is, how could he think he could win a woman like you?"

Cassi loved the sound of Draca's laughter and found herself smiling even wider when she did. That first year at Hogwarts had been a challenge. She'd come into the magical world without even a bit of knowledge of what she was walking into until she used some of that money in her account to buy any and all books she could get her hands on and shook Draca's hand at Madam Malkin's. Now she had a confidence that she had been sorely lacking in due to the Dursley's. It felt nice to have it. To stand up for herself (and those she liked) when the need arose. "I learned from the best," she said with a bright smile.

"Much, much better now," she agreed with a laugh before leading the other girl out of her room and toward the stairs. "Come on, I'm sure your Mum and Father are waiting for us."

She grinned and glanced at her. "Absolutely," she agreed. Draca on the other hand... she was much different and someone she absolutely wanted in her life. "You know Weasley's, they have a high opinion of themselves," she scoffed with a roll of her eyes. There were only two that she could semi tolerate and they were the twins.

If nothing else happened, Draca would always be glad and proud of the witch they had helped Cassi to become. She was worth so much more than most, and she deserved so much more, and she was glad that now she was strong, and powerful, and hadn't fallen into the hands of Gryffindor. Draca knew the hat had nearly done that to her, and that would have been a disaster in Draca's mind.

"Oh they probably are," she said, turning on heel and heading for the stairs.

She snorted. "I don't understand it though. They're cheap and poor and they have not a single brain cell between them except the twins," she noted. She knew they were smarter than most of the family, so she watched them closer. "Ron though, he's the weakest of the lot."

Cassie grinned and watched the way Draca moved so self assured and so confident. It was probably one of the things she loved most about the other girl. That sheer confidence.

She laughed. "Sometimes, they're the ones who think the most high of themselves. Especially Ronald Weasley," she said, walking next to her toward the stairs. "The twins at least have something going for them and according to word around, the eldest Weasley's do as well." They'd gotten out of the area at least and made some sort of life for themselves from what she understood. Not that she had a thing for Weasley's but simply it was good to know the families you may have to interact with at a later date.

"Certainly the weakest of the lot. Now, no more talking about bloody Weasley's. This is our break from damn Gryffindor's," Cassie smirked, sending the other girl a teasing wink.

At home it was only stronger, in a place where there was no one to slow her down. School had others that held her life against her, her pride and confidence. At home, she was wholly and fully the woman she was.

"I don't understand how he feels how he does. About himself. He's the lowest of his family, the one with the weakest genes. How can he even believe he's better than scum? Even the sister can kill him in a duel. They should have gone and drowned that one at birth," she said with a snort, rolling her eyes.

"But that's it. Except for hoping she kills him in a duel one day. I hope," she said with a laugh. "And we can just be ourselves. Entirely."

She laughed and sent the other girl an amused look. "I cannot agree more," she agreed. "But alas they didn't and now Hogwarts has to deal with him for another few years. I'm sure she's thrilled when more Wealsey's enter her halls." At least, as they said, some were more interesting than others.

"We can only hope she kills him in a duel however I doubt it," she mocked sighed. "We will have to pay him back somehow for the stunt on the train when we return from the holidays."

Cassi hummed in agreement and reached up to slide her fingers over the earrings she wore. "Absolutely."

Draca's nose wrinkled. "Or it feels cursed each and every time another one comes here." At least that was how Draca felt. Horribly and utterly cursed, and this one thought he should be spending time with her Cassi.

"Oh, that would make my entire year," Draca said in the dreamiest of tones. "Can we make that happen?" Pausing and then nodding. "Oh he will definitely pay. I don't want you involved in it in case they turn me in again, but he will definitely answer for that."

She smiled, watching her the movement of her fingers. "Those look stunning on you."

"Oh, I'm sure it's definitely that one. Especially one with mediocre talent and drive," she said, walking down the stairs where they would join Lucius and Narcissa for lunch. At least Narcissa if Lucius was otherwise busy as he usually was.

Cassi laughed and sent her a smile. "I believe it would make everyone's year if she did. Maybe not Granger but... we could wish." She raised an eyebrow. "What, you don't want to serve detention together again?"

She wasn't bothered really if people turned their backs on her. She got used to that after first year and she was sorted into Slytherin.

"Thank you. You do have excellent taste," she said with a smile, looking at her. "I love them."

"Do any of them have more than that?" She knew it was possible. Bill, perhaps. Maybe Charlie. Older kids than they were, but definitely the creme of whatever crop there was in the Weasley family.

"If it's together, then I'm perfectly fine with it," she pointed out, meaning it. Anything was endurable as long as they were together. "Our luck would be he'd be there with us, and then I would just be making it worse," she said, admitting that she would do more against him. He had tried to take what was a Malfoys, and that was not to tolerated.

Draca was used to being an outsider, as she was better than all of them. She was more than willing to bring Cassi with her to that level.

"I do. I chose you as my dearest friend the day you arrived, didn't I?"

Cassie tilted her head in thought. "Perhaps the oldest of the clan do. William, that one that trains dragons and the twins," she said and knew Draca likely considered them as well. Honestly, there was a small part of her that admired what Bill did - curse breaking. It was simply fascinating.

She grinned at the woman's response. "Detention with you is always preferred than solo detention." She winced remembering one or two detentions the three of them have had over the years and they never turn out pretty. Especially these days as they were older and more experienced.

"You chose me the day we met in Madam Malkin's and then promptly lead me away to help me purchase some real clothing," she said with a laugh. "You've no idea how much that meant to me that day."

"Oh well, the twins must be adopted. Mustn't they? I believe the family pulled strings to keep them in Gryffindor rather than them arriving with us in Slytherin. I can't imagine that, to be honest. It's like clipping their wings," she admitted, obviously having put thought into this. "And I can agree with the dragon trainer. He does seem to have some skills. Maybe they just used it up on the older ones," she said, considering that option. It made as much sense to her as anything else.

"Yes but then things go on from there," she said. "To three and four, and them there and talking," she said, nose wrinkling at that very thought. "We would be so much better off is Weasley was gone."

"I know how much it meant to me," she admitted. "You changed my world, and saved me from all of them. I owe you for that. Not nearly as much as you owe me though," she teased, grinning.

She laughed softly. "Mm, yes, I can see them being adopted. They are so much different than their siblings." Cassie nodded, giving it some thought. "I wouldn't put something like that against them. They would absolutely pull strings in order to to keep them in Gryffindor. Merlin forbid someone of their family become a Slytherin."

"Now, no more talk about the Weasley clan until we return from holidays," she said with a nod. "Can't have him continue to ruin our holiday, yeah?"

Cassie smiled and brought the other girl in closer to her, pressing a little kiss to her cheek. "Naturally," she smiled. "However, you get the honor of being my best friend, I feel that makes up for it," she teased her with a grin. She wanted Draca to be much more to her other than her best friend but she hadn't quite gotten up her nerve for that yet.

"The hair could be a glamour, you know. It makes sense," she added, because in the end, it did more than them being related to the one they knew. The one she was literally talking about killing.

"But you're right. He's out of our life for now," she said, smiling. "And he own't ruin anything." Because she planned to kill him. Just like that. She had made the decision that he was going to die, and that was all that mattered to Draca.

"I guess it does. It really is an honor. Even I can admit that," she said, much more warmth to her tones than her words showed. "Come on then, Darling. We need to get a few things taken care of then."

Happy Holidays!

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