Night of Nights (( Liam and Kennedy maybe))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

" Liam, you are wearing me out," Cass cried as her boyfriend spun her around on the dance floor again. Laughing crazily, she pulled him close and whispered, " Don't you think you could give me a rest. I'm getting quite hot." Leading the way, she pulled Liam by the hand off the floor. Sitting down at a round table, she smiled at her boyfriend. For two years, they had been one of Gryffindor's Golden Couples. Everyone knew that they were an item, and no one was even surprised to see that their relationship had lasted for almost two years. The couple had weathered so much together, and this night could of very well turned into another tempest when the Blackfires had all decided to attend the event. Luckily, Liam seemed to be keeping his temper, and Cass didn't even care about the stare coming from her Aunt.

The two Gryffindor prefects huddled together as people continued to mill around. It seemed like every wizard in London had shown up that night. It had been a long times since Voldemort had been sighted, and with this in mind, many felt like celebrating. " Oh, Liam. I'm so glad you decided to come. The holidays have been torture without you. Uncle Charles has been breathing down my back almost every second, and that wretched Alexandra hasn't matters. You would think she was truly family and not some orphan off the street." Cass spoke like Liam didn't know any of this. Sighing, she stood up, " Of course, I should feel sorry for her, but she is a damn Slytherin. I could almost get along with her if she didn't skulk about the manor pretending like she is the most depressed person in the world, and that no one else's life is worse than hers." Looking up at Liam, she could already tell that he was becoming bored with the conversation.

" Do you think we have a chance against Slytherin? Rumor has it that the team has fallen apart since Dawn McGrogan is no longer here." Cass placed her hand lightly on Liam's forearm and she could feel his arm relax a bit. Liam always became tense when she talked about Slytherin or anyone related to that house. " As the team captain, that is the one game that I have to win. I truly am worried about it." Looking at Liam's face, she could suddenly tell that he wasn't paying attention to her. Cass hated it when his attention wasn't on her when she spoke. Turning around, she saw what had piqued his interest. There he was, Kennedy Valek.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

Kennedy sat at the drink bar, his glass of butterbeer still full. He'd have rather been anywhere but there- anywhere but at home where his parents were throwing his spoiled little sister her very own New Year's party. This was his only escape, as they told him he either had to stay at home or go to this party since it was supposed to have plenty of adult supervision and such. What a joke, he thought. If he didn't think he sister would have annoyed him to no end, he have just stayed at home and spent the entire evening in his room. But no, there he was, alone and miserable at the party. It wasn't the alone part that he minded. Actually, he welcomed the isolation. It was the misery part that he wasn't enjoying much. It made him sick to see everyone else so happy and carefree. Sure, he was being bitter and depressed, but he just didn't need this- not here, not now.

In the back of his mind, his thoughts wandered to Fiona. Apparently she had other plans for the night. Part of him thought that maybe she would be the only one he'd actually care to see, but the other part of him knew that they still hadn't quite gotten over the whole incident with his finding out about her being part of the Chosen. Both of them had made mistakes that took their toll on their relationship. In a way, he regretted it, but luckily it had happened in such a way and time that they were able to get over the hurdle.

Kennedy turned in his seat so that he was facing the dance floor. As much as he really did just want to sit and be self-sorrowful and anti-social, he knew how sick it made him when others acted that way. It was a weakness, he knew; a weakness he tried his best not to give into even though it was inevitable at times.

As he watched the cheerful couples and groups of students dance, his attention quickly turned to one particular couple that caught his eye. There, on the dance floor, he saw Cassandra Blackfire with her boyfriend Liam Angelus. The sight of Cass made him half sick. Ever since she had convinced him to join her at the party where the disastrous encounter with Pyro took place, Kennedy hadn't yet worked up the nerve to approach Cass. He figured he would only have words of wrath and end up doing something stupid. He still blamed her partially for the incident that night. It did make him feel better though, knowing that she hadn't got her hands on Pyro's book.

Just before watching the couple move from the dance floor, Kennedy could have swore that he caught Liam's eye. That was another story in itself. Kennedy and Liam had never spoke a word to each other, but he could only imagine what Liam felt for him- although he wasn't exactly sure. In truth, Kennedy had nothing against Liam. He had no reason to. But Kennedy was almost certain Liam would have his own impression of him, most likely not a positive one at that. Still looking as if Liam was watching him, Kennedy made sure to glance away every now and then so that it didn't appear that he was staring them down. At one point, he thought that Cass had even caught his stare. Please don't come over, he thought to himself. Could the night get any worse? Maybe if Fiona were there, he thought, rolling his eyes at the idea.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

God, why tonight?, Cass thought to herself as she looked at Kennedy. Cass' stomach fluttered a little bit as she realized what she had to do. Yes, she did find Kennedy a bit attractive, and that was what normally caused the wretching feeling. However, the current butterflies were not from the present situation, but from a past one. " Um, Liam," she looked up into the eyes of her boyfriend, " I need to handle something." Kissing him on the check, she headed toward Kennedy resolute. Cass had to do this to get what had been on her mind for several weeks. Cass could see a myriad of emotions cross Kennedy's face while he sat at the bar. Cass couldn't tell if he was angry, scared, or just plain dumbfounded that she would actually approach him in public. Smiling sweetly, she approached Kennedy and began to take the seat across from him. " Hey, Kennedy, I hope you don't mind the company."

Cass anticipated Kennedy's shrug off quite quickly. " Okay, that is fine. You don't have to speak, just listen." Cass cast her eyes down to the bar. Her black hair created a wall between the two teenagers so she couldn't see the person she was talking. " Look, I know I as wrong. I am sorry for trying to use you as a pawn against my cousin." Silence. " You don't understand what is going. If you, Pyro, or Alex were in my situation, you would of done the same thing. You may not believe me, but you are a Slytherin. As far as I know, Slytherins will do anything to gain a one up on their opponent. That was all I was trying to do. Get a heard start on my Uncle. This isn't even about getting back at Pyro or Alex. Hell, I kind of like both of them. Alex and I are in the same boat, and Pyro has burned by my Uncle as well. Go on. You can tell me that I am a scummy human being. However, just think about how much pride I am having to suck up to apologize to a Slytherin." Cass began to push herself up from the bar when the incredible happened. Kennedy began to speak.

[Liam Angelus G5]

Liam was having the best time he'd had in a while as he danced with his girlfriend, Cassandra. Liam caught himself laughing a couple of times as the two of them danced. Not matter how much he wanted to continue dancing, he was glad when Cassie dragged him from the dance floor. Liam let out a low sigh as he sat down at a round table with his girlfriend before spotting her aunt giving them a nasty look.

Liam sat quietly as Cassie talked about the events going on within the Blackfire home. He really could care less about anybody in that house aside from his girlfriend, but he managed to act interested. That is until he spotted Kennedy Valak walking into the room. He vaguely heard Cass talking about quidditch and felt her hand on his forearm. Liam shook his head as he noticed Cassie begin walking over toward the Slytherin boy. Liam tried to keep his calm as his girlfriend talked to the boy.

Liam never actually talked to Kennedy, but it was enough for him that the boy was in Slytherin house. Liam spent his entire life hating everybody from that house that he never gave any of them a chance to change his view of them. Sighing, Liam stood from the table and began walking in the direction of his girlfriend and the Slytherin boy. Liam was a few feet from the two when he heard a loud commotion coming from within the hall.

Liam heard Cassie scream as he realized what was happening. Lord Voldemort had appeared in the hall. Liam quickly rushed toward his girlfriend and pulled his wand from his pocket, intending to protect his girlfriend.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

Kennedy raised his eyebrows angrily as Cass sat beside him and spoke. Did he mind? One thing was for sure, she sure did have a lot of nerve. Kennedy didn't speak, but he did listen as Cass immediately entered the conversation with the topic he would have guessed. There was not way she was just coming to chat, that was for sure. As she spoke, Kennedy thought back to the night it all began- the night she had requested they meet in a diner, alone, very late. Even then, he wondered why he agreed to it; a decision that now haunted him today. If he had just said no back then, he and Fiona would be fine now. But he didn't. Kennedy was selfish, and it only led to his own set of troubles. As much as he was angry at Cass and would have loved to blame her, he knew it was nobody's fault but his own.

"You know what Cass," he said with a heavy sigh after she had finished her part. "I don't care, quite frankly, about you and your little troubles with Pyro or your troubles with your uncle. I don't even care that you did try to use me for the book." Kennedy was talking rather loudly and angrily, but he did feel lighter with each word that escaped his mouth. "What I care about, Cass, is that my relationship with Fiona may never be the same. But of course I know that you could care less about that. It's no secret that the two of you hate each other." He had his jaw clenched shut and his temples were throbbing. Letting out another long sigh, he turned away from Cass and looked back at the dance floor. It didn't help his anger that Cass was being so kind about the whole situation. She seemed willing to make amends, but Kennedy wouldn't be able to do that. Not now, and maybe not ever. She was wasting her time, no matter how much he realized she was doing the right thing, Kennedy couldn't find it within himself to care in return. The only care that dominated his thoughts was Fiona.

Just as Kennedy was about to turn back to Cass and tell her that she was only wasting her time, she spoke again. His mouth was open to speak, but instead, he just let her say what she was about to say. After all, he noticed Liam coming there way. This conversation would be over soon anyways.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass took the brunt of Kennedy's wrath. She deserved that, but she was utterly confused about the comment about her and Fiona. " Fiona and I utter enemies?" She gave Kennedy an utterly stumped look. " How could I hate someone I hardly know, Kennedy? I don't have any problem with your girlfriend, Kennedy, only that she got you and not me." Cass gasped at what she just said. " Oh, god, Kennedy. That was entirely too bold of me." She turned on her stool away from Kennedy, her whole face turning a deep shade of red. "Of course, I would never leave or cheat on Liam. I care about him way too much, and he would never do anything to me. " Cass clasped the necklace around her neck where the Angelus family crest was worn like an amulet of protection. She was rambling like a desperate woman since she was caught between the two people she never wanted to be caught between. Cass' words came out of her mouth faster and faster. "Kennedy, I'm so sorry again. I'm just making this more and more complicated. I mean, really I've already had a crush on one Slytherin who turned out to be my cousin, but that is an entirely different story about me and Pyro, but considering, we are purebloods so it wouldn't be too weird because pure blood cousins marry all the time. Oh, Jeez, I really should shut up now."

Cass gasped several gulps of air. She could feel Kennedy's eyes boring into her back stunned at what she just said. She also knew that Liam was looking at her as well. She turned around with tears in her eyes to look at Kennedy. " Oh god, Liam. What if he heard me say that?" She put a fist to her pouty red lips and held Kennedy's stare. Seeing some motion over Kennedy's shoulder, her attention wandered. " Oh my god!" she whispered and her hand went to her wand. Pointing to the Death Eaters that were now entering the party, she screamed.