Growing Pains

Next Friday was here before I knew it. Between my increased school work load, thanks to the O.W.L.s at the end of this year, and researching everything I could about Sirius’s escape and whereabouts, I had no time to stress about my date with Oliver. Fred and George didn’t let me forget their opinions on it, but I ignored them the best I could. Ang and Alicia, on the other hand, were so excited for me. 

“I still can’t believe you managed to bag Oliver Wood. Do you know how many practices we’ve spent flirting with him?” Ang said, sitting on her bed as I got ready in front of the full-length mirror in our room. 

“Yeah, he might be a player, but he sure is picky about the girls he chooses,” Alicia scoffs. “I didn’t even think you two were that close.” 

“I didn’t either,” I said, applying the final touches to my makeup and going to my armoir to pick out an outfit. “I guess we’re in a lot of the same circles; same house, same friends. I never would’ve guessed he thought about me like that. We only talked like a handful of times before he asked me out on the train.” I rummaged through my clothes, trying to find the perfect outfit. It couldn’t look like I was trying too hard, it needed to look effortlessly cute, something I was not adept at. I pulled out my nicest sweater and a pair of ripped, baggy jeans. I turned to show Ang and Alicia, and they burst out laughing. 

“Cass, I love you, but those will make you look like my grandpa,” she got off her bed and went to her dresser. She pulled out a tight, cropped cardigan and threw it in my direction. “The jeans are fine, but wear this on top. You have a great body, Cass, and you better show it off.” I rolled my eyes and went behind my privacy screen to get changed. I was trusting Ang, but this top was way out of my comfort zone. 

“Yeah, if I looked like you, I would not hide it behind those huge sweaters you wear,” Alicia chimed in.

I rolled my eyes. “If you two don’t knock it off, I’m never telling you about any date I ever have again.” I walked out from behind the screen and looked in the mirror. My jaw almost dropped, but I didn’t want my friends to see how shocked I was. The cardigan was white and ribbed, and it perfectly hugged my figure. I knew I had a larger chest, but I spent my life not wanting anyone else to see. Seeing myself in this shirt made me second guess hiding myself away. I stood and looked at myself for a few minutes. My hair was over my shoulders in soft curls, thanks to Alicia, and the white cardigan and loose jeans perfectly accentuated my figure. 

“Damn, Cass. If Oliver doesn’t want to date you after this, I might have to. You look incredible,” Alicia said, coming up behind me and looking at me through the mirror. I smiled and looked up at the clock on the wall. 

“I should get going. Are you sure I look okay?” I asked my friends as I put on my shoes started to head for the door. 

“You look amazing, he’s going to go crazy for you,” Ang said. 

“Thanks, guys. I’ll see you after!” I said as I walked out the door. 

“Be safe! Don’t let him go too far!” I heard them scream as I walked down the hall and to the stairs. I laughed as I walked into the common room. I saw George on the couch with Lee, and I gave them a smile before heading to the portrait hole. It was weird that Fred wasn’t with them, I thought to myself. He’s either with those two, with me, or at Quidditch practice. I pushed that thought aside and began my walk to the Astronomy Tower.

--

I felt nervous walking up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. I didn’t know what Oliver had planned and my mind was racing thinking about it. When I finally reached the top of the Astronomy Tower, Oliver was already there, leaning against the railing, staring up at the starry canvas above. The soft glow of the moonlight outlined his features, making him seem even more enchanting. He turned to me as I entered the room, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"Hey, Cassandra," Oliver greeted, his eyes twinkling. "You made it."

Cassandra returned the smile, her nerves beginning to dissipate. "Wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, her cheeks warming.

He reached for the basket that was sitting by his feet and pulled out a blanket. “I thought we could stargaze and have something to eat. Is that okay with you?” He said, attempting to unfold the blanket and lay it out on the ground. 

“That sounds perfect,” I said, walking over to help him with the blanket. Once we had it smoothed out, he placed the basket and pulled out pumpkin pasties and some warm Butterbeer.

My nerves melted away as we sat and talked while enjoying our snacks. Fred and George’s warnings were pushed to the back of my mind as Oliver and I enjoyed our time together. When we finished eating, we laid back on the blanket to look up at the night sky together.

Oliver gestured towards a particularly bright star. "You see that one, Cassandra? That's Polaris, the North Star. Always guiding us, steady and true."

I followed his gaze, her eyes tracing the constellation. "It's beautiful. Like a constant in the ever-changing sky."

Oliver nodded, his eyes reflecting the starlight. "Yeah, it reminds me of Quidditch, actually. The thrill of the game, the chase for the Snitch, but knowing that the goalposts are always there, waiting for you."

I laughed gently. "I never thought of it that way. You really do see the world through Quidditch-colored glasses, don't you?"

He grinned. "Guilty as charged. But hey, it makes life a bit more exciting, don't you think?"

I smiled. "I can't argue with that. It's contagious, your enthusiasm for everything."

Oliver leaned back on his elbows, his eyes scanning the vastness above. "What about you, Cassandra? What's your favorite constellation?"

I thought about it for a moment before pointing to a group of stars forming a graceful pattern. "That one there, Cassiopeia. It's like a queen in the sky, unapologetically bold and beautiful."

He followed her gaze. "I like that choice. Fits you, I think."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how so?"

Oliver smirked. "Bold, beautiful, and unapologetically yourself. I like that in a person."

I felt the blush rise in my face. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Wood."

He chuckled. "Is that so? Well, maybe I'm just stating the truth."

Our moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps walking up the stairs to the tower. I felt more disappointed than worried about our date being interrupted. I truly didn’t care if we were about to get in trouble, I just never wanted this night to end. I could feel the color drain from my face as I turned to see who interrupted our evening. Oliver jumped up as my brother, followed by Fred, walked into the room. I stayed put on the blanket, anger rising in me. 

“Professor Lupin, sir, I promise nothing happened here. We were… just studying for Astronomy,” Oliver said, panic in his voice as he looked for an excuse. I stared down Fred as he kept his gaze fixed on the floor. 

“Mr. Wood, I have no doubt your intentions were good, but this is vastly inappropriate. I know you are a well-respected student, so I will assume this situation was simply a lapse of judgment. If anything like this were to happen again, do understand I will have to report it to your head of house.” I could see the panic in Oliver’s face. I knew Professor McGonagall would never punish him, seeing as she wanted to win the cup just as much as he did, but I could tell the idea still scared him. 

“Of course, sir. I understand. It won’t happen again.” 

“Thank you, Mr. Wood. Now, please return to your house. Curfew is very soon and I doubt you’d want to get in trouble for something else,” Remus said, and Oliver grabbed his basket and headed toward the stairs. He looked at me with a sorry look on his face before descending the stairs. “I don’t even have the words to say to you, Cassandra. Sneaking off with a boy two years your senior while an incredibly dangerous man is on the loose? Have you lost your mind?” He said, anger in his voice. I stood from the blanket. 

“Why are you so angry?” I said louder than I intended to, emotion taking over me. “It’s not like we snuck out, we are literally still in the school! Hogwarts is one of the safest places in the world, isn’t it? Or is that not the problem. Is it that I am on a date? Because I don’t have to ask your permission on these things, Remus, I am not a kid anymore.” Remus seemed shocked by my anger. 

“Well, Mr. Weasley here seemed to imply that Oliver might not have had your best intentions in mind. I am a professor after all and have to look into things like this.” My blood began to boil.

“Oh, he said that, did he? Well have you ever considered that maybe Fred is the one who doesn’t have my ‘best intentions’?” I said, throwing those words back at him. 

“I just didn’t think you knew what you were getting into,” Fred said, unable to look me in the eyes. 

“You don’t get to make my decisions for me, Fred! I asked you to stay out of this, and you run off to tattle to my brother? You are ridiculous,” I grabbed the blanket from the floor and started to walk towards the stairs. I stopped next to Fred, “Don’t talk to me ever again,” I said, and I ran down the stairs.

-- 

I slept most of my Saturday away. I knew I should talk to Oliver at some point, but the thought of walking into the common room and seeing Fred was enough to keep me in bed. I rolled over to look at the clock on my bedside table and sighed when I saw it was already noon. I sighed even louder when I heard a faint knock on my door. The door cracked open and Ang peeked in to look at me. 

“I’m assuming last night didn’t go well?” she said, walking in the room and placing a plate with toast on my bed. I smiled at her a took a bite. 

“That would be an understatement,” I said with a mouth full of toast. 

“I saw Oliver on my way up here, he wants to talk to you when you get the chance.” I rolled my eyes and shoved my head into my pillow. 

“Can I just stay here and ignore everything today?” I said, the pillow muffling my words. 

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to face him at some point, love,” Ang said, and I felt the bed sink as she sat next to me. “And I hate to break the news to you, but Fred is a wreck.” I sat up so fast I saw spots for a second and looked at her, my blood beginning to boil. 

“He is a wreck? He is the reason everything was ruined! Why does he get to be upset?” I stood and started walking around the room. 

“Cass, take a deep breath, love. I know how you feel, but you have to try to see this from his side.” 

“He shouldn’t have a side in this, Ang. I told him to butt out of my life and he insisted he knew what was best for me. I don’t know what happened to us, but I’m tired of fighting with him, Ang. I feel like were stuck in a cycle and I don’t even know how we got here.” I didn’t even realize I was crying until she walked over to me and wiped the tears off my cheeks. 

“I love you, you know that right?” I nodded, “So know I’m saying this from a place of love. You are an idiot if you can’t see what’s going on with Fred.” I pulled away from her hands and looked at her, waiting for her to explain further. “Merlin, Cass, do I have to spell it out for you? He likes you!” 

I stood there, glued to my spot, not able to get a word out. He couldn’t like me, what was she talking about? Fred is my best friend, it would ruin everything. Well, I guess everything is already going wrong between us anyway. 

“Cass, are you still there?” Ang said, snapping me out of my thoughts. 

“I think you’re wrong, Ang,” I said flatly, and began rummaging through my dresser for clothes.

“I am absolutely right. Do I need to explain every situation from the past few months that makes it totally clear? Cause I know you’re smart enough to put it together.” She grabbed her Quidditch stuff and started toward the door. Before she walked out, I called after her. 

“You’re wrong. There is absolutely no way Fred Weasley likes me.”

-- 

After almost an hour of getting ready and deep breathing in the bathroom, I was ready to walk into the common room and face whatever was waiting for me. I grabbed Oliver’s blanket from my room and headed down the stairs. The common room was mostly empty. Seeing as it was a nice September day, I assumed most people were outside. I knew that at least a handful of them were on the Quidditch pitch. While I knew that was the last place I wanted to be today, I knew that’s where I needed to be. 

The long walk to the pitch gave me time to think about what Ang meant. If Fred liked me, if, it would explain a lot. Him not wanting me to be a part of his family would make sense. Him randomly kissing me would make a lot of sense. And him not wanting me to date Oliver would also make sense. When I finally reached the stands, I sat and watched the practice going on. I tried to push the thoughts from my head, but seeing him only made them worse. Seeing Oliver was also making my head spin. I had a really great time with him, but was he going to want to see me again? He would be a great distraction from Fred, but I can’t imagine he’d want to be involved in this… situation. Lost so deep in my thoughts, I didn’t even notice the bludger flying towards my face. 

“Cass, watch out!” I heard Fred scream as he tried to race the bludger. Duck, I told my body. Duck or we’re going to get hit! I tried to tell myself. But I was frozen in my spot. “Cass!” I heard Fred scream again. And then everything went black.