Encounters at Sunset ((Cass))

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona threw down her cloak and grabbed up her black jacket. Her mind was still reeling from everything that had happened. Her heart hurt from everything. She hated how she lied. How she tried to cover the truth up so she could just battle with a decision that could affect her entire existence in the wizarding world. The mere thought sent a shiver down her spine and she ran a hand through her blonde hair trying to sooth her emotions. Everything seemed so wrong anymore. But what was worse was the utter loneliness she felt about Kennedy. Their relationship had gone down hill since everything had literally imploded. She knew deep down that the truth was the worst thing to tell him, but she couldn’t stand the look on his face. Besides he basically knew everything anyway. Pyro had been sure of letting things slip. She had to remind herself to give him a good kick later for the amount of damaged he had caused to her life. As soon as the thought came she felt her knees give a little and she grabbed her bedpost to keep standing. She was blaming others for her own mistakes and she knew that no matter how much she wanted to blame Kennedy, Pyro, and the Cass girl she could never put all the blame on them. She was at as much fault if not more than all of them. And the thought crushed her heart.

Fiona stuffed her wand into her pocket the cool material reminding her of just how much Kennedy cared for her, going to the lengths of getting it repaired when she thought it was broken forever. It had signified a new beginning in her life. A time when she would forget the young girl she was and become the woman she was destined to be. Her hand shook a little as she withdrew it from her pocket. She hated the sign of weakness and moved her hand to her face pushing a strand of hair behind her ear in an attempt to steady it. Taking a deep breath she willed herself out of the room and up the stairs to the entrance hall. Her eyes glanced around cautiously as if she was just waiting for an attack from someone…anyone. When nothing happened she stole out the front door and into the fading daylight. Her eyes glanced over the shimmering ice of the lake. Winter was in full blast and it made her smile slightly to know that everywhere around her things were sleeping, just waiting to be reborn as spring came. She could only hope that that exact thing would happen to her. She wasn’t sure how much more of this darkness she could take before falling apart. She didn’t even know how she stood with Kennedy, The Chosen, or her father right then. It just seemed that things were getting worse and with that she could only hope that the good was coming.

Fiona moved through the snow as her feet found themselves headed toward the Forbidden Forest, to the rock that lined the edge of the forest. It had become her safety net in the last few years. It was the same one she had sat on when Jack at asked her about her family when she had first got back that year. It was where she had confided in him about how she felt. How she missed her family so much and how it was her fault. So much had happened since then. So much good and bad. Her hands brushed away the snow on the cold rock before she gingerly sat down her knees folding up to her chest. Her arms wrapped tightly around them as she watched the sun set.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

"Ugh!" Cass had found herself planted in another mud puddle. She stepped out out of it, and then wiped her feet on a nearby patch of grass. It had been snowing the last few days, and that always left the grounds a bit messy. Still, Cassie was sick of the Common Room. Cabin Fever had finally driven her out of the castle to seek some solace and refuge in nature. The grounds were beautiful this time of year. The snow capped hills and mountains were a perfect background for Hogwarts. The picturesque scene helped soothe the poor Gryffindor's nerves. It had been a hard year. Drama had pursued the girl all year, and she was ready to enjoy some peace. Pyro and Kennedy evaded her thoughts unfortunately. What would she do with those two? How would she get the book from Pyro? How should she handle the Kennedy situation? Would she lose Liam?

Cass' loose, black curls twisted in the wind as she shook those thoughts out of her head. She didn't want to be plagued with these questions. "How hard is it to be normal? It would be nice to have a day go by that didn't include my family's pureblood madness," Cass muttered. She was going to what she had dubbed in her third year as her spot. Cass was a quiet, lonely girl when she first started to attend Hogwarts. She mostly kept to herself since she was a fish out of water. Slightly scared, Cass spent most of her time exploring the grounds and reading books. She had found this little rocky alcove in front of the Forbidden Forest in her second year. Since that time, she had visited frequently with a book in hand.

Like many times before, she was heading to that place with a transfiguration book in hand. It was about a twenty minute walk from the castle, but it was well worth it for the solitude. Just not thirty minutes ago, two first year Gryffindors had assailed her about joining the Quidditch team. Cass refused to let first and second years be on the team. First of all, they were too small. Second, they could hardly fly. Cass remembered her third year when she joined the Quidditch team. She was in so of awe of Harry that she was surprised she stayed on her broom. However, Harry felt that she would make a fine beater, and then at the end of her fourth year, he made her the next Quidditch Captain.

She was nearing her old stomping grounds when she realized it was now being enjoyed by none other than Fiona O'Reilly. "Damn, wanted some peace and quiet and I get the crazy." She sighed because it would only be a moment or two before the girl saw her. She put her right hand on her wand, and began to walk back to the castle.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona bit her lip in through as Kennedy came to mind once again. It was hard getting that man off her mind, especially with everything that was happening. All she wanted was to be safe in his arms again, but things were fast looking like they'd go the other direction. Fiona didn't know how she would handle that. She had always thought that they'd be together for always. After all that had happened that year, Kennedy had been her rock, her comfort, her one joy left. Now that joy was fast fading and now all she could think about was how much pain she was in emotionally. The kind of pain that couldn't be gotten rid of easily. She sighed as she watched the colours of the sunset light up the sky. It was beautiful. Sometimes she forgot about the simple beauty of the world.

Just when Fiona thought she was going to be in peace and quiet, she heard the sound of feet. Her head turned and she just caught the back sight of Cassandra Blackfire. Fiona's hatred soared. It lite a fire within her and she found herself on her feet in a matter of seconds. Deep down she ignored the voice of reason that was screaming at her. Her eyes narrowed. "Running away are you?" Fiona called out to her. Her blood was boiling now at the mere sight of Cassandra. "Afraid that I might hex you? You must think I have a pretty good reason to if you're leaving." Fiona's hand was shoved in her pocket, her fist holding on to her wand for dear life. All she wanted was to bring it out and curse Cassandra to oblivion, but she tried to stay her anger. She wanted to know why Cassandra had done it. Why she had involved Kennedy when she could have asked anyone else?

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass sighed and turned towards Fiona. "No, I'm not afraid you are going to hex me. I'm one the best duelers in the school. I could probably reflect anything you sent my way. I just wasn't wanting to match wits with an idiot today." She pushed her hands deep in her pockets and then shook her head to knock her hair out of her eyes. "So, come here often? I knew you were a bit of a loner, but isn't this a bit far away from your den of snakes?" Cass kicked at a pile of show on the ground with her pink Addidas. "Oh, wait, snakes are cold blooded creatures, right? It would make sense for you to be out in the cold by yourself." Cass sighed at this last sentence. Damn, she was back in her same old routine she realized. She just had to protect herself by bringing down other people. It was so foolish. So childish. Swallowing her pride, Cass' next words surprised her.

"Look, Fiona, do we have to keep fighting like this? Really, what is the point? Hell, I don't think we have been civil to each other once in the entire time we have been at this school. I'm sorry I was mean to you a few minutes ago, but you just put me on the defensive." Cass grimaced as she looked at the red haired girl in front of her. "You're right. I shouldn't of involved Kennedy. I had no reason too. I'm sorry for that, but if you were in my situation...," Cass trailed off. "Well, I doubt many people would ever be in my situation. Trust me, I was doing this for a good reason. I'm only trying to get my family back. You understand that, don't you?"

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona felt her teeth grind together silently as Cassandra seemed to try to take a bite out of her, but truth was there was nothing she could say to anger Fiona anymore than the words that tumbled out of her mouth in apology. What was she expecting from Fiona? Sympathy? Remorse? A simple apology for behaving the same way back? Well, whatever she was expecting, she wasn't going to get it. Fiona was in no mood to play games with the girl and she was definitely in no mood to be nice. This girl had but her relationship with Kennedy on the rocks overlooking the water her mother had jumped into. How could she forgive and forget something like that? How could she let herself forgive and forget? The one meaningful, real relationship Fiona had ever been in, was now on such rocky terrain that she wasn't sure if it'd ever be fixed and here Cassandra was apologizing for involving Kennedy and how Fiona needed to understand her situation.

Fiona didn't know why she did it, but it just felt right as she pulled her want out of her pocket and spun it between her two hands, eying Cassandra carefully. She was trying to calm herself down before she just decided to hex the girl. At the moment she wasn't regarding the school rules at all and really wasn't that worried about it either. She sighed softly to herself as her cold eyes bore into Cassandra's. Silence had filled the area for awhile now, but Fiona wasn't done with the conversation...not at all. She just waited till she was calm enough to speak and in a deadly voice she finally spoke. "Understand? Kennedy is my family...my only family and you could have gotten him killed in your selfish game to obtain a book that doesn't belong to you."

Fiona wasn't sure when the wind picked up, but the next thing she really noticed was her hair crossing over her eyes and obscuring her view. However she did not move it away. The only movement of hers was the careful, methodical spinning of her wand between her two hands. Her cold blue eyes crushing into Cassandra and wishing all the harm in the world to befall her. It wouldn't be long though before Fiona had her revenge. She had to have it. Needed to. She was an O'Reilly after all. She couldn't just let her reputation be sullied by a Gryffindor, who was more Slytherin like than she probably wanted to admit.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

"Book that doesn't belong to me?! How dare you say that, Fiona? The book doesn't belong to any of us!" Cass was trying to keep her temper under wraps, but the flames had been kindled. "I took that book from Caiest Raven over three years ago to keep it from my filthy cousin and the rest of your cronies who have nothing but delusions of grandeur. If I had been smart, I would of told McGonogall about the whole situation. However, I had to save the world by myself. Now, all of us are in too deep to back out of it." Sighing, the Gryffindor Prefect shook her head. Black ringlets of hair covered her pale faced and covered her hazel eyes. "You know just as well as I do that Kennedy isn't in any danger. I never would of let anything happen to him." She looked up at the girl who was now lazily twirling her wand between her fingers. Fiona was trying to intimidate her, but it wasn't working. Cass was more beaten down then anything. She didn't want to be involved anymore in these Slytherin's petty games of domination.

"Your wand doesn't intimidate me, Fiona. If it would make you feel better to hex me, then go ahead. I'm not going to raise my wand against you." She held her hands out to her sides to show that she was telling the truth. A glint of light jumped off her Prefect's badge and she couldn't see the girl for a moment. When the light cleared, the girl didn't seem any happier. "Look, Fiona, I'm thinking about damage control now; not how to make the situation any worse. Let's face it, if we get into here, it will just get back to Kennedy. It's obvious that he cares about both of us. If I end up in the hospital wing, don't think that he won't find out what happened."

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona's eyes flashed in fury as she heard the words fly from Cassandra's mouth. Oh how she wanted to hurt her beyond all reason at that moment. Kennedy would understand why she did it. Out of protection for him. She was always wanting to protect him and she'd be damned if she let this Gryffindor create an even bigger rift between them. No, she wouldn't allow it. Couldn't. Fiona stopped spinning the wand and found herself crushing the small wooden object in her hand, the wand that had come to mean so much to her, because of the love Kennedy had for her. How long it must have taken to get it fixed after what happened and how much had Kennedy spent on it she didn't know. What she did know was that she wasn't about to let some Gryffindor continue to believe that she mattered to him...mattered to HER boyfriend.

Silence had fallen over them, as Fiona did not find the words to speak to Cassandra for a few moments. Letting the words fuel her pain and anger. Her eyes growing ever colder as she stared at the girl who dared to believe that Kennedy cared for her, would choose her over Fiona. Her voice was deathly calm when she finally spoke, no hint of anger trapped inside it. "That book belongs to the Chosen. It always have and it always will. To think otherwise shows your ignorance. And as for Kennedy. You dare believe that he'll be concerned about you if I harm you? You're even more ignorant than I thought. Believe me Logton that when I say you will regret those words I mean it," eyes narrowed significantly as she felt the anger trying to escape from within her very veins.

"You want to make amends? Damage control? Then stay away from Kennedy. The next time he even mentions your name or you mention his, I'll make sure you won't be around to distract him. Do you understand?" Fiona asked darkly.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

"Believe whatever you want to about the book. I couldn't care less. Pyro and I both know the truth. He was too chicken to go get it himself, but a snake's lies always come out in the end. No matter, your 'leader'", Cass made little quotation marks in the air with her fingers, "will use you until he is done with you. When you are no longer useful to him, he will throw you out like yesterday's Daily Prophet." Fiona stared at Cassandra, and then continued her tirade. She could only chortle when the red haired girl referred to her Logton. "Go on! Try to anger me by calling me Logton. That name has much more behind it then Blackfire ever did. At least the decent people of the wizarding community gladly acknowledge what my mother and father did to protect their children. It is probably one of the biggest sacrifices any witch or wizard could make. Giving up their magic."

Shrugging her jackets higher on her shoulders, she walked past the Slytherin since she felt their conversation was now finished. "Oh, and one more thing. Just so you know, I will do what I like, and if that involves speaking to Kennedy, then so be it. You can't scare me away Fiona with your idle threats. I know more about you than you think." This last bit was a lie. Really, Cass knew very little about Fiona except from what she had gleaned from their few encounters. "I doubt you would have the guts to actually act upon any of your threats. Like most of your house, you would never stick your neck out to protect anyone. Especially those you hold closest. Normally, those are the ones you tend to cut down first. So, if I were your Fiona, I would leave the heroics to us Gryffindors."

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona's eyes blinked quickly at the words she spoke about the book. Of course she kept her feelings about it hidden. Pyro wouldn't betray me. And he's not using me. He wouldn't...would he? Doesn't matter, at least it won't for long, the book will be mind and then there won't be any more issues with anything, Fiona thought to herself as she just listened to Cassandra continue on about how her parents did a good thing by hiding who they were. That's when a subtle hint ripped through her brain. A hint to why Cassandra went to the lengths she did, to why everything happened like it did. A soft inner smile fell across Fiona's face, this would be something she'd have to file back for later use. Fiona's tongue clicked softly against her teeth as she looked away from Cassandra when she started to leave, but Fiona wasn't one to let the last words be said by someone other than herself, especially when she had so much to say so she just cleared her throat and began twirling her wand between her fingers once again.

"You do not know me Cass," Fiona hissed the name as she fought her temper. The word having slipped from Kennedy's lips earlier had sent her into an anger she couldn't comprehend as her eyes seemed to flare in rage at Cassandra. "And to say you do is a lie. I know why you wanted that book. And I dare say that it would have landed you in Azkaban to try such a thing, or at least I'm assuming it would, but I'll keep that little bit of knowledge to myself. Do not underestimate me. I will get my revenge." With that Fiona stood from the rock her eyes leveled on Cassandra as she pocketed her wand and slipped away. She was in no mood to continue a conversation with the girl and she was definitely in no mood to continue sitting outside. She'd go back to her dorm and find Kennedy. It was a must.