Practice Makes Perfect (Caitria)

[CASSIDY CLAWFORD]

(OOC: I have to admit, I couldn't really find anything online regarding seventh year Charms. I could only find some speculation as to this spell so I figured I'd run with it. This post isn't great (I was making tomorrow's lunch as I typed it) so I might edit it a bit tomorrow)

It was cool and quiet in the classroom, perfect for practising their most recent charm. It had been too noisy in the common room, Cassidy was too easily distracted outside and, to be quite frank, she didn't much fancy their chances of practising in even the quieter corridors without being disturbed. Fortunately, Professor Flitwick was a kind teacher and he was willing to allow students to practice their charms in his classroom - and trusting enough to allow them to do so without his presence.

They sat together at the bench and before them was a well-thumbed, open copy of The Standard Book of Spells: Grade 7 and a little tin soldier, looking smart in his uniform, catching the light. Cassidy's eyes flitted over the open pages rapidly, gleaning information. She frowned slightly with concentration before turning to Caitria.

"... so it really is crucial that we get the movement just right - like this," Cassidy demonstrated the wand movement in a slow, deliberate swish, "In-an-i-MAH-tus con-JUR-us"

Cassidy tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear before turning to the little tin toy soldier.

"Inanimatus Conjurus," she proclaimed, swishing her willow wand with determination.

The soldier twitched slightly, rocked momentarily, before toppling over rather unceremoniously.

"Oh!" Cassidy exclaimed then added sheepishly, "I honestly thought I had this mastered. Let me try it again..."

Cassidy performed the spell again, focusing as hard as she could on the soldier. This time the tin man walked, albeit uncertainly, along the bench before giving a stiff salute. Cassidy smiled warmly, then looked over to Caitria.

"How do you feel about giving it a try?"

[CAITRIA O'FARLEY]

Ugh… Charms. Such a nice word really, and it was no secret being good in Charms, both the subject and the character trait, would get you far in life. Though Caitria had long since resigned that she lacked talent for both. She’d resigned to having the solid goal not to fail her NEWT in it, nothing more, get better than a Poor. Then again, if she did NOT fail, she should get an E by default… since she would have Exeeded everyone’s expectations, including her own. But the new Hogwarts regime didn’t look like they were allowing such deals. Hell, Flitwick might be the same teacher and he was quite jovial most of the time, but he wouldn’t have any influence on the examiners that would test them – and judging how things were now, they would most likely be merciless Death Eaters.

Hope was always dying last however, and so she had agreed on this private session with her friend Cassidy, sitting in the Charms classroom and trying to get a toy soldier to walk. There was no doubt that animating articificial objects could come in handy at times, but that didn’t mean her brain would accept this necessity and make Caitria perform that spell without major chaos. Why this kind of finesse was lost to her she would never know, but she just worked better with the coarser side of magic, especially excelling at working with Magical Beasts. Maybe them, unlike inanimated objects, could appreciate her humor. That one Hippogriff had been quite impressed with her mocking bow, and she could have sworn to see twinkle of amusement in his eyes, almost reading as: ‘finally someone who understands the polite charade for what it is, but let’s keep up niceties’. After that, their interaction had gone swimmingly. Lately she had also deepened her research on Thestrals, now that she could see them… which she rather would have not though. Ah, she tried to distract herself now… that might be clever, but was not nice. Back to Charms!

Not without a slight prick of benevolent envy she watched her friend get the soldier to walk in the end. Maybe not in the most elegant fashion, but probably better still by far than what Caitria would put the poor soldier through. But then again… you never knew until you tried!
“Alright then, soldier… prepare to be amazed”, she said, chuckling and raised her wand. “Inanimatus Conjurus!” There was a little puff of smoke and a plopping sound, and suddenly the tin soldier was standing their headless, the head rolling on the table a few inches away, neatly severed. “Uh…” Caitria gave a helpless shrug, then looked between her wand, the soldier and Cassidy with a grimace. „Have a spare? Remind me not to use this on ANIMATED objects… then again, I’d already know whom I’d rather see decapitated like this… or I could ask Nearly Headless Nick to be my guinea pig.”

[CASSIDY CLAWFORD]

“Oh!” Cassidy exclaimed in surprise as the tin solider suddenly found himself decapitated. When she realised what had happened the sheer silliness of it, combined with Cait's funny comments, made Cass giggle. It was a musical, happy sound.

“Well, I couldn't have done that even if I tried,” she said with a smile as she picked up the soldier's head and fallen body before continuing, “If you manage to do that to the Death Eater examining your Charms test, I'll be very impressed!”

For Cassidy, it was quite a brave comment and she couldn't help but cast a quick glance over her shoulder as she said it, even though they were the only two in the classroom and the door was closed. It would be just her luck to be overheard. These days you didn't want to be caught saying anything bad (or even anything that could be misconstrued) about the new regime or the Death Eaters, even if it was just a silly throwaway comment. Rumour had it they were getting rather... creative with their punishments. Cassidy frowned slightly as she thought about it. She had managed to stay out of trouble so far but surely it was only a matter of time. Sometimes, it seemed, they didn't even need a reason to punish students. But it couldn't be worse than what I've already survived... could it? Cass spooked at the thought and quickly turned her attention to the broken tin soldier.

“Reparo,” she said with quiet confidence, tapping the figurine with her wand and watching as head and body were reunited. With a small smile, she tucked the toy soldier into her satchel, “Why don't we take a break? I think we've earned it and heaven knows the little guy could do with some time to recover.”

Cassidy smiled kindly, she didn't want her friend to feel disheartened. They could take a break, chat for a while and then try again. No pressure. The best results always seemed to come when the spell caster was relaxed and, despite everything, it was still possible to relax at Hogwarts.

[CAITRIA O'FARLEY]

Any other girl might have felt disheartened at this anewed obvious failure, but Caitria had long since given up all hope of becoming a whiz kid at any other subject than those she was already good at. The lower the expectations you had of yourself, the less you could be crestfallen and letdown by your failure, that was one of her mottos. Since her whole family were muggles, every single act of magic she could perform was grand and mysterious in their eyes, so no high expectations there either. And Cass… well, Cass was her best friend apart from the O’Sullivan twins, and in her company, Cait just couldn’t feel like a failure. It was enough she had made her friend smile and giggle in this troubled times, and if she had to make fun of HERSELF for it, then so be it!

”Always a pleasure to show my unique skills!” she joked, doing a half bow where she was sitting and grinned sassily at her friend. Then however, he eyes took on a slightly darker edge and so did her humor as she gave a low hiss. “Shhh, Cass, please don’t tempt me, okay? I think there would be more people impressed by that, but I fear they would also recover quickly from their astonishment.” The punishment for killing a Death Eater in these times would probably be instant death for yourself. But then, maybe that was better than being tortured senseless down in the dungeons, until she spilled things she’d rather never say. “And anyway…” she made a dismissive gesture, intent to lighten the mood again after this quick turn down the dark and spooky lane. “If I only knew this always worked. I never get the things done I do want, so if I wanted to decapitate someone with that spell, he or she would end up a cackling green egg with … three feet and one horn.” It was the most random and the silliest thing she could think of off the top of her head, and she hoped it would be enough to make Cass smile again. Merlin knew there were too little people smiling in these halls nowadays, it was a spreading disease!

A break sounded like a heaven-sent gift however, and Caitria agreed to it with a sigh, playing with her wand before placing it on the table beside the now fully repared but immobile soldier. “We should give him a name, you know. How about Bert? Bert the guinea pig… at least in my case.” Another grin flashed over her face, but then another thought crossed her mind and she leaned forward, trying to sound inconspicious. “Haven’t seen our dear Tristan in at all today, you know what he’s up to?” After all, Cass knew him far longer than she herself did. Sometimes Cait almost envied her friends the shared past, even though she never really felt left out. They were all a great bunch of friends… and she would never be able to repay them for covering for her… especially Tristan.

[CASSIDY CLAWFORD]

(OOC: If you'd rather Cass didn't have an inkling about Tristan and Cait let me know and I'll take out the last paragraph. Also, my apologies if this isn't exactly my finest post - in my defence it is now 2am here. Eek!)

Cassidy grinned at her friend's jokes and laughed merrily at the prospect of a Death Eater turning into a cackling green egg with three feet and a horn. It was silly, completely and utterly ridiculous, but it really tickled her. Cait had a way of lifting the spirits of those around her, Cass found, and it was so nice to laugh and smile and to forget, at least for a little while, the dire straits they were in. Heaven knew, they truly needed some joy, some light in this time of darkness.

“I think we will be spending a lot of time with this poor little man,” Cass nodded in the direction of the tin soldier, “So it's only right we name him – Bert it is! Long may he live and may he not suffer too much at our hands.”

Still smiling, Cass joined Cait in setting her wand on the table. Until a couple of years ago, Cass had been forever leaving her wand at her backside. It wasn't that she didn't love her wand or wasn't attached to it, it was just that she hadn't felt she needed it on her at all times. These days, however, she felt rather anxious when it wasn't close at hand. It was a sign of the times. Perhaps she ought to consider learning wandless magic.

At Cait's question regarding Tristan's whereabouts, Cass frowned slightly with thought, trying to recall when she had last seen him exactly. Now that she considered it, she hadn't seen him since this morning.

“I saw him at breakfast but I haven't seen him since,” Cass replied and after a pause added, with a touch of concern in her voice, “He looked tired.”

He's tired because he's worried, Cass thought, And he's worried for the same reasons that everyone else is worried. These are some terrible, trying times... Cass pushed the thought away. All she wanted was an hour or so to not think about these things. If she couldn't manage to do that in the presence of the bubbly and bright Caitria, there was no hope of ever escaping it. Caitria, who had so much more to lose than anyone else Cass knew and yet somehow still had the strength to smile and to go out of her way to cheer up those around her.

“Wherever that boy is, we can rest assured that he isn't studying,” Cass followed up with a half smile.

Reconsidering Cait's question, Cass tilted her head. She was the first to admit that she was terrible at reading people, especially when it came to romantic connotations. Sometimes, though, it seemed to her that Tristan's eyes would linger on Cait a moment longer than necessary and that, sometimes, when Cait was engaged in conversation with Tristan she would... light up. There was no better way to describe it. But Cass knew she was bad at judging these things and was most likely miles off the mark. A shame, really. They would make a lovely couple.

[CAITRIA O'FARLEY]

Caitria gave a lopsided smirk as she heard Cassidy’s optimistic well-wishes for the tin soldier. “Ha! Wishful thinking!” she claimed and gave Bert an affectionate tap on his little nose. “At least when I am concerned. The best I can hope for is that you won’t follow me into my dreams as the Headless Hunter, Bert!” It probably would need quite a few more of of Cass’ excellent repairing spells before Cait could even think of making Bert do a few excersizes. But that was what practice was for, righr? It could at least make semi-perfect. Any little progress that would not make her fail her NEWTs was welcome, she would NOT stand for having risked her life in vain! Then again, a little time of recreation to raise the mood she would not say no to either. That was the lovely thing about being a Hufflepuff: You might try to get good grades, but you would always value the amicable interaction more than that. She knew that without her friends, she might as well have gone crazy already. Being forced to be someone else you were not... that simply could not be healthy for long.

She tried not to appear too overly concerned, to not let it get to her, but Cass’ words made the worrisome thoughts in Caitria’s head multiply. She had noticed a change in Tristan too, and it affected her more than she herself thought healthy. Tristan had always been a little worrier, fiercely protective and always worried of those he cared for. This was one of the reasons why she had been indecisive for a long time, if she should even burden him with her own problems and ask for his help un covering up her blood status. But she said nothing of that sort, since she knew what Cass’ answer would be. Of course Cass would tell her that she had done the right thing. And who knew, maybe one day Cait would believe it herself. What use was there in talking about these things anyway? The mood was already somber enough.

”Next time I see him I shall tell him to finally stop partying the night away with the House Elves”, she quipped. “Seriously, you would think he’s taking a fancy to them, if he sacrifices his beauty sleep for quality time with them.” Well, if there was any truth to her words, she would have to ask someone else of the Hufflepuff guys, since they were the only ones able to testify for what Tris might be doing in his night hours. Ah, she missed those days, when you still could have sneaked down to the kitchen in the dead of night, without having to fearfor your life. The thrill of excitement, the realization that you were borderline crazy doing this and the shared conspiratorial smiles in the dark – those were the moments in which you felt most alive and the moments you would remember forever!
”Curse growing up”, she muttered, almost more to herself than to Cass. “Don’t you sometimes wish the old days back, where we just could go crazy?”

The flicker of a fond smile briefly crossed her face as Cassidy made this all too true comment about Tristan. Of course Tristan was not a lazy bum and he also was not stupid, but he already knew what he wanted to do with his life, and for that he didn’t need to become a professor with excellent grades. He was someone to work with his hands, not with too many books and rolls of parchment. “True!”, she nodded. “They can turn Hogwarts upside down and inside out, but some things will never change. All hail Tristan O’Sullivan, our pillar of unstudiousness… or whatever that word is.”

[CASSIDY CLAWFORD]

Cassidy brightened at the thought of Tristan spending time with the House Elves. She wouldn't put it past him! It was no secret that he felt the fine cuisine of Hogwarts didn't quite measure up to the comforting meals his beloved mam prepared back home. Tristan was a typical Irish boy in that sense.

“I never thought of that, perhaps Tristan is spending his time tormenting the House Elves for some traditional Irish stew or potato bread!”

When Cait reminisced about times gone by, when they had had significantly more freedom, Cass responded by laughing gaily, “Crazy? Me?” she asked with a smile. Cass had had her brave, enterprising moments of course – there wasn't a soul who could be entirely immune to the infectious adventurousness of Cait and Tris. The few occasions where Cass had been caught up in the excitement and, with the encouragement of her dear friends, had sneaked out and explored she had been most fortunate not to get caught or, at least, not get into significant trouble. “You must have the wrong Cass! I may have my moments from time to time but there is no escaping the fact that you and Tristan are the wild Huffies around here. In all my days I haven't had a single detention - you two, on the other hand, make quite a team.”

“But I agree, growing up is a total pain,” Cass sighed at the thought, she really couldn't believe that their time at Hogwarts was almost over. Although it was her ambition to teach she didn't feel ready for a proper grown-up job yet. Just think of all that responsibility! “After we graduate I think I'll stay on at the bakery for a couple of years, try to get some articles published and maybe write a record of the Clawford family history – there is bound to be some scandal or excitement in there somewhere. Perhaps I will discover one of my great Aunts had a bow-tie fetish or that my great-great-great-great grandfather made everyone address him as 'Sir Swimsalot' or something equally ridiculous.”

Cass smiled as her thoughts turned to the future of her friends. Where might they end up after graduation? There was no doubt in her mind that Cait would work with magical creatures, the girl had a gift. Tristan did too, in his own way, but his career was already lined up for him, “Unstudiousness is right! To be honest, I'm rather proud of Tristan for coming back to Hogwarts for his NEWTs. A part of me really thought he would leave after the OWLs and go back to the farm. It's not like he needs to be here and with the ways things are...”

There was a quiet strength about Tristan, something that had nothing to do with his physique. Cass couldn't quite define it (she didn't feel that she was eloquent enough) but if someone forced her hand she would say that their dear friend Tristan was a rare breed of man. One of those timeless characters, totally in tune with the earth, who would find his life's joy and fulfilment toiling all his days (and never complaining) on his little patch of this beautiful planet. The O'Sullivan landholding had been there for as long as anyone in the locality could remember. At one time they had rented the land from the local gentry – the Clawfords. But some centuries ago the O'Sullivans had bought the land for themselves and had been farming and expanding ever since. No doubt Tristan would wed, have his own children and remain in that remote spot until the day he died – then he would be buried in the family graveyard, up on the hill overlooking the land he loved so dearly. Cass imagined there had to be comfort in such certainty and stability. Of course Tristan still gave in to his boyish streak (thank heavens, his mischievousness was a joy to behold) but other times... it was like Tristan had some profound understanding of the world that Cass couldn't quite grasp, an emotional stability that went far beyond his years. In short, Tris was what Cass's paternal grandmother would have called an “old soul”.

“It sounds silly but I'm really glad he's here,” Cass confessed with a smile, “While I know he is no talisman against the darkness, I feel safer knowing he's around. I don't think I could face being here, seeing Hogwarts this way, if it weren't for you two.”

Thank heavens for friends, thank heavens for being in Hufflepuff.

[CAITRIA O'FARLEY]

Caitria couldn’t help her stomach growling as Cass spoke of Irish Stew. It was true, Hogwarts might be a paradise concerning mealtime, but the traditional Irish meals were still a little neglected in what the House elves concocted every day, so a little reminder of how delicious Irish food was would not go amiss. She would have to ask Tristan, if he really was up to such things, and if he was not, she could well suggest it. A few other students, including Cassidy and probably Seamus Finnigan of Gryffindor might appreciate a little more “Irishness” as well. And who knew… Hogwarts was gathering quite an illustrous group of house elves after all, maybe some of them had previously been serving in some Irish family or just somewhere in Ireland and were therefore familiar with how to cook the Irish specialties. It was certainly a thought worth pursueing further.

She laughed when Cassidy protested and pointed out how she never had had any detention in her whole time at Hogwarts. Oh yes, indeed! “How could I have forgotten that you are the saint around here”, she teased baring her teeth in a cheeky grin. “Saint Cassidy, always trying to be a good influence on Tris and me… and hopelessly failing cause we’re just that bad. For real though… this year I need your help in being a saint.” For this year, it would not be done with writing stupid sentences or polishing medals of honour in the trophy room until the fingers went stiff. The school year had only just started and already the iron fist of the Carrow Twins was palpable in almost everything. There were rumours of horrible torture methods which made Filch smile his eerie dumbheaded smile. No… definitely not a time you wanted to be caught doing something bad. Especially not when you could happen to spill a few precious beans when the pain got too severe… it would be so hard for Caitria to maintain a low profile throughout the year, but she would simply have to try.

Listening to Cassidy, Caitria realized her friend had quite a few plans already on what to do with her life, at least far more than Caitria ever would have. She would take things as they came, always, and right now she was more concerned with getting good enough grades for once in her life and also live to tell. What came after that… who knew? Of course the thought of somehow working with magical creatures had been on her mind for a long time, but that was all far from distinct. “Oh, you must keep me updated!” she commented, leaning forward. “Lord knows, you old families must have some interesting stuff going on throughout the centuries. I am not even sure I can trace my family back around the next corner, though there is of course that great-great-something, could be aunt or –mother, who was rumoured to be a crazy lady. Maybe a witch, only that she was told to be more on the line of ‘druidess’.”
In the end, what would it matter? Even if she could dig up that long-since forgotten ancestor, she would still be considered a mudblood. Such were the rules.

The conversation turned even more towards Tristan now, and Caitria was not sure how well she liked that fact. Of couese, she loved to talk about him, the problem was just that it might show too much just HOW well she liked to talk about him. It was something she did not understand quite so much herself, just that he had been present on her mind ever since the last summer holidays and that it intensified after he agreed to cover for her, together with Conor.
“I’m so glad he’s here too”, she replied truthfully, glancing about the room for a second subconsciously, as if to not meet Cassidy’s gaze. “but thanks you’re including me into that, that means a lot! If I am honest, I wouldn’t know what I had done, if Red had not come back, even without the whole… thing. He just… Hogwarts without him, and without you of course, it’s not possible. For me, YOU three are Hogwarts, not the castle itself.”

[CASSIDY CLAWFORD]

Cass grinned when Caitria called her a saint and, giggling quietly, pressed her hands together in supplication and put on what she hoped looked like a holy expression.

“I do try, my child, oh I do, but even you and Tristan are beyond my powers of good influence. What a pair of holy terrors you are!” Cass wrinkled her nose and poked her tongue out playfully - she didn't mean a word of it. Sure, her friends had got into trouble from time to time but they were only ever up to clean, good-spirited and otherwise harmless fun. Cass then continued, with a kind smile on her face, “But don't worry, I shall do my very best to keep you out of trouble.”

Cait and Tristan hadn't been up to their usual antics and mischief this year. Getting into any sort of trouble now would be most inadvisable, the penalties were much too high. Still, Cassidy couldn't even begin to comprehend the burden her friend was being forced to carry. Justin Finch-Fletchley hadn't returned this year, along with all the other Muggle-born students. Only dear Cait was left. Cass couldn't help but admire Cait for her sheer determination and outright courage. Had Cass been in her friend's shoes she would have literally run for the hills and hid away until this war, this mess, was all over. And that was saying something, given how important education was to Cassidy. But between Tristan, Conor and herself Cass was sure they would be able to keep Cait's secret hidden. Failure was simply not an option.

“To be honest, part of me dreads to think what secrets are festering in my family history. Being an old land-owning family, I'll probably find that the Clawfords cast people off their land and let them starve on the moors,” Cass shook her head disapprovingly, “Such are the sins of the father.” If she could take back her ancestor's misdeeds she would do it in a flash. Whatever truths she uncovered in the Clawford family tree, whether good, bad or ugly, Cass would oust them all. The truth should be known, even if it did reflect badly on her.

Cass then turned her attention to what Cait had said about her own family tree, “Oh, I have no doubt there's magic in your family's history,” Cass agreed amicably. Suddenly her thoughts turned to the hateful lies that were being propagated about Muggles and Muggle-borns, right here at Hogwarts, by none other than Professor Alecto Carrow. How such a dimwitted troll got a teaching position, Cass would never know. Oh wait, that's right, she got the position because she was a nasty, obnoxious toad and a Death Eater scumbag!

Poor Dumbledore, Cass thought to herself solemnly, He must be turning in his grave at this abhorrent pollution of Hogwarts.

These thoughts manifested themselves as a frown on Cass's face. Her blood was beginning to boil, “You know, I really don't understand this whole blood status thing. Some of the finest witches and wizards that ever existed were Muggle-born. Do they honestly expect us to believe there is a difference between the blood that runs through a pureblood's veins and that which runs through a Muggle-born's? Honestly, my blood is no different to yours! If anything, I would say yours is better.” Blushing slightly, and giving her head an agitated toss, Cass continued, “I mean, I dread to think just how inbred my family tree is. People joke that the Irish are inbred but to be Irish and pureblood? I'm lucky I wasn't born with three eyes and webbed feet!”

Cass laughed but it lacked conviction, she was suddenly feeling agitated. Fortunately Cait's next words, about how her friends were what made Hogwarts special rather than the castle itself, touched and soothed Cass. It truly warmed her heart and, despite Cait not being one of those touchy-feely sorts, Cass suddenly gave Cait a quick hug. When she pulled back, she flashed her friend a brilliant, warm smile.

“That's exactly how I feel too! So long as we three are together...” Cass paused, three Hufflepuffs yes, but there was one more, “Well, we three plus a certain Ravenclaw that goes by the name of Conor. So long as we are together there is nothing we can't face.”

Cass had to admit, she sometimes felt bad that Conor had been sorted into another house, away from his brother. Despite Tristan and Conor being twins they were very different when it came to their personalities and interests. The three Hufflepuffs never excluded Conor, not at all, but with him being in a different house there was a certain amount of distance forced between them. Cass hoped that this didn't make Conor feel left out. Either way, Cass vowed to make some time for Conor in the coming weeks.

[CAITRIA O'FARLEY]

First she had called Cass a saint and now Cass in return was calling them ‘holy terrors’. Caitria could not help but giggle loutishly at the cult-like turn their conversation had suddenly taken. Not that she minded, it was certainly fun to think that way. “All hail to the holy terrors who are worshipped by the followers of chaos and feared by those who worship order”, she nodded with a fake unctuous voice and smile. But there were different kinds of chaos, good and evil. Tristan and her were surely chaotic, but they still would never be swayed towards the side that wanted to create chaos out of twisted and bad intentions, smite down the society that existed now and replace it with a world where only one small proportion was the winning race, and others were to be tossed into the abyss. Others like her. With all her pretended grip on her life, all the fuss she raised for being independent, never obeying one rule unless she accepted it wholeheartedly… she was considered nothing but the lowest pawn in their game. They had her within their grasp, and her only hope was their continued ignorance of that very fact. Not much of a holy terror left now.
It was strangely soothing to have Cassidy worry about such, in comparion at least, trivial things as the rotten skeletons in her family history. It reminded Caitria of their previous years, when they stuck their heads together like that, Cassidy being the sophisticated dreamer, and Caitria being the one pulling her back on the ground with her practical realism. In truth, she did not have much love for history at all, she was firmly settled in the present and liked it that way. “Well, if they had what would it change for you now?” she asked therefore, grinning. “You’d never do that, and I think even your parents are decent enough people. Behold, this is a compliment, in case you didn’t catch it!” For Caitria, the sins of the sons were far more worrisome as the sins of the father could ever be. But no doubt Cassidy would find something, and she would make it an interesting tale. It might be Caitria was not so much interested in lore, preferring action over it by half, but especially when you had your wings clipped, lore could be a faithful companion, she had come to realize.

Cassidy’s outburst came quite unexpectedly, and Caitria found herself looking around nervously, if the room was still deserted, or if the door was neatly locked. Such talk would have been appreciated or gone unnoticed in previous years, but nowadays it could equal a death wish. If the Carrows heard of such talk, the best you could expect was a long ‘conversation’ with one of them… and the worst,… well that better was not thought about at all. “Easy, Cass”, she heard herself say, momentarily stunned with the realization of how their roles had become reversed. Had she ever told Cassidy to lie low? She usually was the one pushing and pushing! “But of course you’re nothing but right. Do you know what came to me the other day? They say Thestrals have the most impeccable sense of scent of all magical creatures. If they can’t smell a difference, I bet there is none. Shall I invent it? The Thestral test?” The she puckered up her face as the picture Cassidy had painted so vividly unbiddenly entered her mind. “EW, Cass, for shame! But of course you must be inbred! If I have to hide my third eye, situated on my right hip by the way, then you must have more than one hidden – or other atrocities! I bet you’re secretly Ellén Trechen!”

Of course it had not been Caitria’s intention to exclude Conor in any way, but it was a simple fact that his brother just outshone him in so many ways. Conor was a great friend, part of their secret pact. and one of the smartest heads she had ever come across, but Tristan was so much closer to Caitria in so many ways, in personality, in his goals and dreams… ah, she was doing it again. What would this comparison bring?! She was turning ludicrous. Tapping the tin soldier with her wand, she looked at Cassidy, hoping her sudden overstudiousness would not arouse any suspicion. “How about we face this little fellow again? He shouldn’t put up more of a fight than the Carrows, don’t you think?”

[CASSIDY CLAWFORD]

Cassidy smiled a small, delighted smile. Compliments weren’t exactly a common occurrence with Caitria but, when they came, you could always be certain that she meant it 100%. Cass wouldn’t have her friend any other way. “Aw, thanks Cait,” Cass murmured happily, “I’m glad you don’t think me capable of being a villain!”

If she was honest with herself, Cass would admit that she had surprised herself with her outburst. Deep down, however, a part of her remained defiant; it wasn’t like she had said anything that wasn’t true. That said, Cait was just right to give her a quiet warning, such talk was exceedingly jeopardous these days and you certainly knew you were straying into dangerous territory if Cait was the one warning you to reel yourself back in! So Cass did exactly that but her anger and frustration at the unfair system and framework of belief was not gone, it was simply contained deep inside her.

At the suggestion of a Thestral test Cass tilted her head, the academic in her emerging as a pensive expression took over her face, “You know, that is really interesting! It’s a shame you couldn’t look into it after school, invent it and patent it. Honestly, you could win an award for such work. But with the way things are if you even dared publish your hypothesis I imagine it would be less than twenty-four hours before you vanished, never to be heard from again...” Cass frowned deeply, they were heading back into dangerous territory it seemed and Cass didn't want to climb back onto her high horse just now so, instead, she knocked the subject on the head by adding with a small shrug, “Such is the way the world is at the moment - but it won’t be this way forever.” And Cass genuinely believed it. You-Know-Who had been defeated before, it could be done again, and there was simply no way terror and hatred could be allowed to reign indefinitely. Still, whatever stood between now and then would be terrible, that much was certain, and fear prickled Cass's heart as she thought of the future.

At Cait’s comments regarding Ellén Trechen , Cass pretended to be utterly shocked and flabbergasted, “Huh, not capable of being a villain but capable of being a monster, perhaps! You know you can’t just go giving away my secrets like that – people think that Ellén Trechen was killed!” Cass poked her tongue out playfully and shook a dainty fist, “That pesky Amergin mac Eccit gave me but a scratch and still he claimed victory!”

Phew, it was difficult to keep these days, so quickly did one swing from serious thoughts to playfulness! But it was impossible to be constantly burdened with heavy thoughts and such mirthful merry making was good for the soul and could only help to keep them sane. The world was going to Hell but they weren’t there just yet – and didn’t they say laughter was the best medicine? Besides, Cait was one of the very few people Cass felt comfortable enough with to share her silly side. Most people only met serious, studious, quiet Cass.

Cass arched an eyebrow and wrinkled her nose with suspicion, did she hear her friend correctly? “You... you want to practice some more?” Cass asked, gazing at her friend and narrowing her eyes with comical exaggeration. Hmm, well, they had come here to practice their charms after all but since when was Cait keen to study? A sudden grin split Cass’s face and she said gleefully, “Ha! You know, I think I am starting to rub off on you! I don’t suppose dear Bert the guinea pig will have much fight in him left by the end of this afternoon.”

Cass lifted the tin soldier, tentatively checking his neck with her fingertips (his head seemed attached securely enough but that might change in a few short moments) and placed him on the table in front of them.

“Would you like to go first?” Cass offered, “It is a case of ladies first and three-headed monsters second, after all.”

[CAITRIA O'FARLEY]

Caitria couldn’t help the shiver that ran down her spine at Cassidy’s all too true words. One false step could cause a desaster these days and those who spoke their minds and said anything at all against the new regime would definitely be silenced one way or the other. Though Cait wasn’t even that worried about herself. If she was captured and silenced, then so be it, it would be on her own conscience, but she was far more afraid of causing harm to those she loved. Her family, her friends, Tristan… and her thoughts were running in circles yet again. If there only would be a chance to make sure they remained unharmed, then Caitria would not care, she would not feel as tied down and muzzled as she did right now and she would show those ignorant and arrogant gits that even a muggleborn witch could fight for her rights! But she also knew that it could not be. Before she came anywhere near this point, someone with a little more sense in their brains would have long since tied her up and stored her away in some room for her own safety. Probably Tristan, aided by Cass. No… Cass would be the one bringing her food everyday and trying to hammer some sense into her in her calm, reasonable way, Caitria thought with an amused smile. She could really picture this… even though she hoped it would not come to that, either because the cause of her rebellion vanished, or because she found a different way.

“Well, seeing as I am firmly convinced there is nothing to smell, it would make the test a little moot, don’t you think?” she pointed out with a shrug. “Only lunatics think there is a difference in blood, and they call it mud not because of its smell, but of it being dirtied by muggle blood. What should convince them once and for all is a muggle DNA test…” she paused, cocking her head at her friend, asking: “Sorry, you do know what a DNA test is? I should probably not sprout my muggle knowledge so openly, the walls might have grown ears.” Hearing Cassidy say that the ordeal of their lives would not hold and that the reign of darkness would pass made Caitria sigh. She WANTED to believe it with all her might, but there was always the tiny voice in the back of her head, whispering that life was no fairytale. The good did not always win, and every little victory of the dark side pushed all hopes further back. Dumbledore’s Army was a great thing and one of the few things keeping Caitria upright in this year, but would it really do something good in the end? What were their chances?! Would they try to take over the school and drive the Death Eaters out? An interesting concept, but even Caitria had to admit it was also completely mad.

But as long as their was still laughter and joking in their lives, they could hold on, that was Caitria’s firm belief for a change, and all the talk about Ellén Trechen had raised her mood somewhat, so her smirk and chuckling was not in the least forced. Cassidy might be the calm and considerate one, but she still could meet you head on in some aspects of silliness, that was good to always keep in mind.
“What would you expect of someone who didn’t wash and speak for fourteen years?!” she retorted with an eyeroll. “And he was a poet to boot, those people always lie!” To an outsider this conversation might not make much sense, but for that Caitria loved it all the more. It was a huge benefit of their little Irish posse that they shared one and them same cultural background and were equally at home in it.

Of course Cassidy would get suspcious, she ALWAYS noticed those things, Caitria thought with a sigh. Not everyone could be such a klutz when it came to reading between the lines like herself after all. Hopefully she would leave it at that though, she wasn’t keen on talking about something she hadn’t even figured out for herself yet. Nodding, she took up her wand again with one last quip in Cassidy’s direction. “And age before beauty anyway, after all, I can’t compete with three gorgeous heads.”
Then she focussed all her energy on the little tin man infront of her and tried NOT to think about what she wanted to do to the Carrow twins while casting the spell. She wanted to get this soldier to walk… nothing else!
““Inanimatus Conjurus!” she said, swishing her wand in the same manner she had seen her friend to it. But the soldier didn’t march. It stirred a little, then suddenly raised his arm. Caitria was about to smirk in satisfaction, expecting a salute, when she suddenly gasped and exclaimed: “HEY!” as the soldier tapped his forehead at her. “This beast’s got a mind of its own!”