This chapter flips POV back and forth a lot. I really hope you enjoy it! Mature content warning ahead for any concerned readers.

They say I did something bad

But why's it feel so good?

Most fun I ever had

And I'd do it over and over and over again if I could

It just felt so good

__________________

Christmas flew by in a blur. Ron spent the evening very aware of the absence of a certain brunette around the dinner table. He and Cassiah had spent the last year excitedly discussing how they were excited to bring their families together for the holidays the first time. He tried not to be too upset about the fact that she wasn't there drinking spiked peppermint hot chocolate with his family and unwrapping gifts.

He failed.

But he had hope. As much as he was embarrassed about his drunk letter, he also felt a warm, optimistic feeling in his chest. He let himself believe that Cassiah would read the letter and admit that she felt the same way he did. He hadn't felt that kind of hopefulness in a long, long while. It was like he'd broken out of a rut. Yes, he was still heartbroken, but it was different now, somehow...

And now the New Year was on the horizon. Just one night stood in between Ron and the year he would graduate Hogwarts – something he was still entirely unprepared for. One night in between Ron and the year he would get Cassiah back.

Of course, Fred and George were throwing a party. They'd sent Ron and Ginny and Harry out to buy booze while they spent the day decorating their little apartment in Diagon Alley for the event.

"Do you think that party's going to be fun?" Harry asked, walking in between Ron and his sister. It was so cold out that all their breath was forming clouds in the air.

"With Fred and George?" Ginny said incredulously, "You can't be serious. Have you met them?"

His sister had a point. The twins were known for throwing some of the craziest parties in the Wizarding World.

Ron grinned, however, slinging one arm around Harry's shoulder and using his other hand to ruffle his dark hair. "Still won't be as good as our party was, yeah Harry?"

Harry broke into an equally big smile, and blushed and ducked his as he noticed Ginny's eyes on him. Ron frowned, glancing between his best friend and his little sister.

He grabbed Harry by the shoulders and hoisted him to the side, stepping in between the two of them and continuing to walk without addressing it.

"Arsehole," Ginny muttered under her breath to Ron and he shot her a look, raising his eyebrows as if to say don't test me. He couldn't deal with Harry flirting with his sister right now. He was sure he'd see enough of it at the party tonight. Especially at midnight...

He grimaced, suddenly feeling sick.

____

Cassiah was doing great. Phenomenal, even.

After spending the holidays with her mother, she's headed up to Malfoy Manor on Christmas night to spend the rest of her break with the other Slytherins from her year. It was nice to have her friends around – things got a bit depressing when it was just her and her mum, as much as she loved her.

Plus, her rooms at the manor were splendid, and with Draco's parents mysteriously away, they were all left to do whatever they wanted. She would never explicitly ask, but she got the impression that Draco's parents were "away" a lot. Whenever she visited the manor, there was no parental supervision and Draco did seem like the type who was always led to his own devices.

Now the new year was coming, and more than anything else, Cassiah was relieved – so relieved to be leaving behind the hardest year and the worst heartbreak of her life. With the new year, she could finally shut the door on that chapter of her life and look forward to something better.

She had a whole future ahead of her – a bright one with the high marks she received during her school years – and she needed to stop thinking about the past. She could it, could put it all in a box, and seal it off tight. What good were memories if they only brought you pain?

Cassiah was making new memories starting tonight, with new people who accepted her, who understood her for who she was. These people would never criticize her for focusing so much on her goals, her ambitions. They would never hold her lineage against her because as messy as hers was, theirs were worse, and yet they were all building something better for themselves.

Breakfast was a flurry of pancakes and sausages and eggs and black coffee (because be honest, Slytherins didn't put cream or sugar or caramel in theirs because that was for the weak) and Cassiah found herself fully and wholeheartedly happy laughing and talking with her friends, seated in between Draco and Pansy. Although, she could feel the heat coming off of the both of them and knew they were secretly wishing she wasn't between them.

After lunch, the boys went out to "run errands," not supplying any more information as to where they were going. She supposed knowing would give her the ability to claim ignorance if they got caught. Draco had a penchant for certain party favors that she didn't particularly care to partake in.

Instead, she and Pansy and Daphne busied themselves setting up for the party, putting away any of the breakable or valuable items and hanging lavish decorations from Draco's mum's collection. By the time they finished, there was only about an hour until the party was meant to start and there was no sign of Draco or any of the guys, so she and the other girls headed upstairs to get ready for the party.

Cassiah opted for a different look than her usual. Instead of smoking out black and green around her eyes, she threw in some gold shimmers to ring in the new year. She liked the way her eyes sparkled when the glitter caught the light. Plus, the gold matches the accents on her dress. She smiled at herself, feeling completely and utterly beautiful.

And what she didn't realize was not only did she not need Ron to tell her that anymore to believe it, but she was willing to hear it from someone else. In fact, Ron didn't cross her mind at all. That had never happened before.

____

Unsurprisingly, the twins' party was a smashing success. People that even Fred and George didn't know were lining up at the door trying to get in, and Ron had been in charge of sending them away. A few girls with small amounts of clothing tried to flirt with him to get in, but it didn't work. Maybe it would've a few years ago before – well, before her.

Sure, he could recognize that the girls were pretty hot, but he didn't have eyes for anyone else. He hadn't since he ran into Cassiah in Diagon Alley that summer day two years ago.

Once he'd taken care of the crowds outside, Ron headed back upstairs. As soon as he came up the stairwell, he saw a flash of long red hair in the back corner of the apartment. He immediately looked away, knowing that if he saw anymore, he wouldn't be able to resist the urge to drag Harry by the hair away from his sister.

Instead, he sauntered over the bar Fred and George had set up on the back wall. He had to admit, they'd made their apartment look pretty bloody cool. The bar itself glowed and was stocked with everything he could imagine.

He pushed past a group of kids who he vaguely recognized from the year below him and flagged down George, who was taking a shift behind the bar.

"Jack and Coke," he called to his brother, who nodded and turned to start fixing the drink.

"You enjoying the party?" Ron asked George as his brother leaned over the bar to hand him his drink.

George broke into a shit-eating grin and nodded, "You know I love playing host, giving the people what they want." He chuckled to himself, "The drink's strong by the way."

Ron snorted in amusement, "I figured. The drinks always get stronger when you get drunker."

He turned to leave with his cup, swirling the contents a bit before taking a tentative sip. After the actual worst hangover of his life the other day, he'd gagged on his first drink of the night earlier. This one was definitely going down easier, although he did still wanna keep track of himself, not wanting a repeat incident tomorrow morning.

When he finally fought his way through the crowd around the bar and got back into the living room, he found Harry leaning casually against a support beam.

"Harry!" he crowed, catching the shorter boy's attention from across the room. Harry waved at him, a sheepish look on his face, and Ron shoved his way over to him. "How are you doing, mate?" he asked.

"Brilliant," Harry said, blushing slightly even under the colored lights. His hair was rumpled.

"Aw, bloody hell," Ron grumbled, "I wish I hadn't asked."

___

The party was in full swing at Malfoy Manner. Very few people outside their direct circle had been invited, except for a few people from the grade above and below, including Marcus Flint and his friends. Cassiah didn't particularly care for Flint, but she enjoyed chatting with some of the Sixth Year students.

To be fair, Cassiah liked chatting with everyone when she had a few drinks in her system.

She broke apart from a conversation about boys on the Quidditch team with a girl from the grade below named... Mary? Marie? Merlin, she wasn't really sure. She knew she wasn't too drunk because she easily saw through the girl's attempts to pump her for information about Draco.

Cassiah snickered quietly as she walked away, finding amusement in the younger girl's crush. If she really knew Draco, this innocent little girl would definitely go running for the hills. She was on her way to find Pansy and tell her exactly that when she swung open the door to what she thought was the powder room, where she last saw the girl.

"Oops, my bad!" she chirped when she accidentally slammed the door open. "Pansy, you'll never guess what–"

She had the wrong door.

Draco and Blaise and a few others were standing around the ornate table in his father's office, rolled up bills in hand.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Draco. I didn't mean to interrupt..."

"You don't need to apologize Cass," Draco said, smiling broadly, "You don't need to run out, either. I haven't seen you all night."

She grinned back, sauntering a few steps forward to throw her arms around Draco in a hug. She turned to offer one to Blaise, too but found he was busy.

"What have you been up to, Black?" Draco asked, leaning casually against the desk.

"Just chatting with some of the girls from year six, dancing with Pansy..." Cassiah watched Draco's already-blown pupils grow even wider at the mention of Pansy's name. She smirked in amusement, thinking it was funny to see Malfoy get so hot and bothered over someone.

"Where is Parkinson, anyway?" Draco asked, trying to be as casual but Cassiah picked up on the shift in his demeanor.

"If I knew I'd tell you. I was looking for her when I came in here by accident," Cassiah supplied. Then she smirked, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Draco quirked an eyebrow, noticing that knowing look on her face. "Spit it out, Black," he said.

"I was going to tell her about this year six girl who has the biggest crush on you. I thought she'd think it was funny. Draco, it was honestly kind of cute how smitten she is with you." Cassiah glanced at the table, considering, and added, "Then again, if she knew you were in here doing co–"

"That'll be enough," Draco chuckled, grabbing her by the shoulders and guiding her out the door. "You need to keep yourself out of trouble, Cass."

"I am out of trouble, Malfoy," she challenged, but Draco was already opening the door and ushering her out.

"I'll see you later, Black."

Cassiah stuck her tongue out at him playfully and then turned to leave the office and continue her search for Pansy.

She smashed straight into a hard wall of golden-brown hair and lanky muscles.

"Whoa, watch where you're going, angel."

___

"Ron!" he heard a voice call out from across the party. "Ronald!"

Ron wheeled around, surprised to hear his full name, and saw Hermione perched on one of the sofas, waving enthusiastically. He broke into a grin, happy to finally see a familiar face. Harry had disappeared again and his brothers were busy tending to their guests, so Ron had spent the last hour or so milling about by himself.

"Mione!" he cheered, striding over to sit next to her on the couch. "I'm glad you made it. Are you having fun?"

"Are you having fun?" Hermione countered, drawing out her words and poking Ron on the nose for emphasis. Her eyes were unfocused. Ron couldn't help but chuckle. Hermione was such a lightweight and it was always so entertaining to see her at parties. That is, on the rare occasion that she came to one.

"Merlin, she's drunk..." Ron muttered, mostly to himself.

"What?" Hermione yelled over the music, looking curious and leaning over to hear him better.

"How drunk are you?" he yelled back so that she could hear him this time and she just giggled in response. Ron got up out of his seat. This was his brothers' party, and they wouldn't want any girls getting too out of hand under their watch.

He extended his hand to her and raised his eyebrows expectantly. She grabbed his hand and bounced up out of her seat with an abundance of energy, her curls moving with her. She swayed a bit where she stood.

"Let's get you some water, Granger," Ron smiled caringly at her and he led her out of the main room and into the kitchen.

"Let's get me some vodka!" she cheered in response and Ron burst out laughing.

He grabbed a cup out of the cabinet and, noticing her swaying, grabbed Hermione by the waist and hoisted her up onto the counter to sit while she waited. She shrieked and giggled in his grasp, swatting at him.

Once he deposited her on the countertop, she waited dutifully while Ron ran the tap and fixed her a glass of water, offering it to her.

"No ice?" she asked, pouting.

He chuckled quietly, shaking his head. How very on-brand for Hermione. Even in her drunken state, she was telling him what to do. Typical.

He did get her ice to add to her cup, though.

"Drink up," he demanded, pushing himself up onto the counter as well, the sink a divide in between them.

Hermione took greedy gulps of her water, downing the whole thing so quickly that water spilled down her chin and onto her shirt. Ron had never seen her so... messy. But also so uninhibited and carefree. When she drained her cup, he refilled it for her – this time without the ice because he didn't want to have to get up.

"You hungry?" he asked her after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

Hermione studied him calculatingly before finally asking, "You think I'm so drunk that you have to take care of me? I promise, Ron, I really don't need the babysitting..."

"Who says I'm taking care of you?" Ron asked incredulously, "I haven't eaten in like three hours. I'm bloody ravenous."

She giggled, and he raised an eyebrow and said, "You can laugh all you want but I'm seriously starved. How's pizza sound?"

"Where are we going to get pizza at this hour of the night, Ronald?" she lectured him.

Merlin, it's going to feel good to out-smart her for once, Ron thought.

Without another word, he hopped down off the counter and swung open the icebox, producing two frozen pizzas.

"I don't think we need two of them."

"How long have you known me, Granger?"

He crossed back over to the kitchen counter where he ripped open the packaging and took the pizzas out, putting them on plates.

"I still don't know how we're going to manage to heat them up," Hermione countered, already acting a bit more sober.

"A microwave," Ron said, his eyes twinkling. He pushed a little curtain in the corner of the counter of the side and revealed the appliance.

"How did you get–"

"My dad got his hands on one and gave it to the twins as a housewarming gift, but I've never used it. Will you show me how?"

Hermione nodded eagerly and Ron grinned, and they set to work.

____

"I'm so sorry, I–"

"I was kidding," the tall boy said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She stared at his hand on her, entranced. He was handsome.

"Oh."

"Yeah," he smiled down at her. He still hadn't taken his hand off of her, his thumb now rubbing soft circles on her shoulder. "I never really noticed how beautiful you are, all these years. Your eyes– they're so dark and so green at the same time."

"T-they're hazel, actually," she stuttered, nervous under his heavy gaze. "Most people usually think they're brown."

It wasn't a bad kind of nervous. It was a kind of nervousness she hadn't felt in a long time, hadn't been able to feel with it anybody since Ron. She's forgotten how exciting this feeling was – how exhilarating.

"We'll simplify and just call them enchanting," he answered, and Cassiah blushed, ducking her head.

He reached out a hand, gently grabbing her chin and guiding her gaze back up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Don't hide from me. You never have to hide any part of yourself from me."

She cleared her throat, trying to find the confident tone she wanted to use. She found it as she said, "I'd quite like that."

"Come," he said, "Let's get away from Draco and his fairy dust."

"Is that what you were coming here for when I ran into you?"

"Does it matter anymore?" he asked, his accent posh and his smile bright, "I'd rather be with you."

"Then be with me," Cassiah demanded, her breath catching a bit even as she said it so confidently.

Cassiah looked up into his eyes again, hazel meeting blue for a split second before his eyes flicked down to her lips. She felt her lips part slightly, her breath growing heavy in anticipation. She wanted this.

He was standing so close that his legs were in between hers, his chest rising and falling against hers.

"Yeah?" he said with a lopsided grin.

"Yeah," she said in return, her eyes darkening.

He reached out and tucked a piece of her long, dark hair behind her ear, using the opportunity to lean even closer still until their lips connected.

____

"I love your father has an interest in muggle appliances, Ron. It's nice to have a taste of home, even something silly like a microwave!" Hermione mused, finishing off her second slice.

Ron had already wolfed down an entire pie, but that was beside the point.

"It's my favorite of the muggle inventions my father has brought home over the years. Even better than the tornado that makes wind on hot days. He says it's called a fan," Ron explained, licking his fingertips.