0.23 - A Cousin Outing at Hogsmeade
Just because Hogwarts Castle is a massive area doesn’t mean that gossip travels slowly: it travels faster than the speed of light, especially when you have nosy ghosts, nosy educators, and nosy students. So it wasn’t a surprise to everyone when news got around about Cassius Warrington making eye contact with Celestine Potter—the only thing they’re waiting for now? Harry Potter’s response to all of it.
To be frank, it was all getting to Harry. All the questions about Celestine and how she was, what her favorite things in the world were, all of it. He was not only overwhelmed with what happened on the train to Hogwarts with the Dementors, but the Celestine/Warrington thing was adding to it as well. He knew that this feeling would only be dissolved if he talked to his cousin, which speaking of, how is she?
So he marched right to the Ravenclaw tower and politely demanded for his cousin. He saw his cousin walk down the stairs, he could sense a more confident aura from her, which, sure, was a good thing for her, but he sensed it wouldn’t be a good thing for him.
“Long time no see, Harry,” Celestine smiled as she closed the door to the Ravenclaw common room, “You were asking for me?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me?” Harry looked up at her since she was so much taller, “I miss hanging out with my favorite cousin.”
“I can’t say no to that,” She smiled, “Let’s meet at the Entrance Hall in ten minutes—I still have to get something, okay?”
“Okay,” Harry smiled back, “I’ll just grab my scarf.”
After those ten minutes, the cousins met at the Entrance Hall and began walking to Hogsmeade in a path where they couldn’t be suspected by the administrators due to the requirement of a reply slip from a parent or guardian, both of which the two do not have.
The two reached Hogsmeade after a 20-minute walk and decided to go to The Three Broomsticks to try Butterbeer. So after the two ordered and found a spot, they began catching up as they waited for their order.
“So how are you with your lessons?” Celestine asked awkwardly, not knowing where to begin.
“It’s been…manageable. I heard about you and Cassius Warrington.”
“Oh? What about it?” She raised her eyebrow as she took off her scarf.
“Rumors have been going around that you’re dating him. Is that true?”
“Oh, my Lord, that’s cute but far-fetched. We just made eye contact, and that’s all.”
“So nothing’s happening?”
“Nothing, but there has been something going on before that.”
“What’s that?”
“Your little nemesis, Draco Malfoy. He was a pain in my ass for weeks on end before, well, you know.”
“Would you be glad to know that he’s tormenting me again? If only I could do something to his stupidly privileged face.”
“Well, you’re just going to have to act like the bigger person.”
“Yeah, because being the bigger person will make you go far in life. Why?”
“So he probably won’t expect you to hit back, easy!”
The cousins then get interrupted by their orders of Butterbeer, so Harry proceeds to get it since he insists on paying.
Celestine stared out the window and saw how the pavements were covered in snow. She also noticed Cassius Warrington was staring at her, so she waved.
Holy shit, he waved back. The two smiled softly at each other before the Slytherin left with his pack of friends, leaving Celestine to sit straight as Harry put down their drinks in front of them.
The two then continued to talk, making sure that the other was caught up in what was happening to their lives, even if a bad thing was happening to them.
Harry knew, deep down, that he was going to confide in his older cousin no matter the occasion. He felt safe with her, as if she was the home he could always come back to if the sun was shining, or if the sky was taking its time to weep.