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“I... Yeah, alright.” Georgie sat down, her eyes downcast. She didn’t really want any help, but she probably didn’t really need anymore enemies either. 

“Are you sure? Come here and sit on this stool and let me clean you up. You don’t want to get an infection of any sort.”

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“It’s just a cut. Not like I got bitten.”

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Film is where I want to head towards, and every year I try. I’d love to do independent films; I think there is more freedom and more of a challenge. Because, on the show, I’ve played the same character for five years, any chance I get to play someone completely different from who I am or what I’ve played before, I’d like to jump on that.

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But relationships are scary, because once you’re in one, you have to face the idea of breaking up or staying together forever -Ashley Benson

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Cassandra laughed tilting her head, “Of course that’s a factor. No one tolerates me just because.” She grinned and shrugged, “’cept Lily.” She couldn’t help but laugh when he winked at her, though maybe only because it was him. “A protective bubble, eh? How should I feel about that?”

Albus was grinning my now, glad that any sharpness in the girls tone was replaced with a playful nature. “Well, that’s a factor,” he said teasingly. “But it’s also because I’ve grown up with you around the past few years, and that much time and I’ve grown a protective sort of bubble around you,” he stated. “Doesn’t happen often,” he added with a playful wink.

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Cassie couldn’t help but smile, properly smile. “Is that just because I’m Lily’s best friend though?” She couldn’t help but ask, but there was a more playful quality to her voice now. “Because I will not be little-sister-ed out of guilt.”

When Albus first met Cassie all those years ago, he hadn’t liked her, but now, four years on, he was glad to be considering her a friend. He knew she wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, but then again, nor was he, so they sort of matched each other there. Smiling, he nodded. “Yeah. While your brother sorts his own shit out, I’ll be his stand in.”

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Cassie smiled back at Albus, a little relieved to see how obviously happy he was in response. It was funny, but Cassie really didn’t think of herself as having many friends past Lily. But, she supposed, if she thought about, she and Albus did see each other a lot because of Lily and maybe this was a good development. “My stand in big brother?”

Albus watched an obvious relief pass through Cassie at his explanation and it let a relief pass through him himself. He even managed to smile at her, and properly this time, relaxing in his seat, and letting the anxiety lift from himself. He wasn’t really sure what had caused tension in the girl in the first place, but it didn’t matter anymore, for it was gone, and he was able to relax again. “It’s alright,” he said, smiling a little wider at the word ‘friend’. “Well, I never want you to feel at risk around me. I want to be like your…stand in big brother.”

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Cassandra’s lips parted slightly when she realised what had offended him. And, in a funny way, Cassie was kind of relieved. In fact, Cassie was very relieved. Him being annoyed because he thought he knew her better made her happy, because on a basis level, it meant he’d liked her better when she wasn’t on the defence. And truth be told, the defence got very tiring. “Sorry.” Her voice was softer. “It’s not something I do because I don’t think of you as...” She paused, “A friend.” It was a newer word, but she didn’t mind using it so much. “It’s because it’s what I do to not feel... you know, at risk.”

Albus noted the annoyance in Cassie’s tone and all of his worries came true. He’d fucked it up. Shit. Leaning forward in his seat, he gave a strained smile. “I’m sorry, it’s just…” his smile dissipated and was replaced with a thinking frown. “You did that smile,” he said simply. After a couple of moments of silence, he continued. “That ‘princess’ smile, I guess you could call it. Which…just sort of annoys me, because I thought we’d moved past that princess act.”

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She narrowed her eyes again, frustrated. Even when she tried it didn’t work. This, she reminded herself quietly, was why she’d stopped crying. “Just what?” She asked again, trying to keep her annoyance out of her voice and mostly succeeding in doing so. She couldn’t seem to make anything work, even talking to someone she didn’t actually dislike.

Albus looked up again as she spoke and when she did, it took him a moment to register what she’d said. When he had, he let out a small chuckle instinctively before shaking his head and hastily apologizing. “Sorry, just…that obvious am I? Anyway, it, uh…it wasn’t really anything you said, just, uh…don’t worry. It’s alright,” he reassured her, slapping on what he hoped looked like a genuine smile. “Nothing to fret yourself over.”

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Cassandra didn’t know what she’d done to alienate the middle Potter child this time, but she could be fairly certain it was her own fault, because it usually was when things like that happened. She’d just never fully figured out how to be around people without alienating herself completely. “What did I say?” She sighed, “I know I said something, what did I say?”

Albus looked down at the table where his hands had interlocked, knotting his fingers together and untying them on repeat, a tell that he was getting anxious. He looked up again when she spoke, listening to her words that were now almost comforting him, an opposite to what it had been before. Smiling lightly, he looked down again before looking back up only to be met with the princess-smile that had always given Albus a slightly off feeling. “Okay. If that’s what you want,” he said simply.

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Cassie sighed, realising she’d upset him with her automatic and cutting response. The tone she used to tell people to bugger off when they got a little too close to the realer side of her. She paused for a moment before speaking again and when she did, it was far softer, though still a little sarcastic. “I wouldn’t ask you to talk to him. I don’t really want you to. I don’t think it can go down like that. I think he’ll have to realise one day that he wants me back in his life... and if he doesn’t, then... I don’t want anyone around who doesn’t want me around.” She smiled her best princess smile, but something was lacking.

Albus kept his light smile as he kept hold of her gaze. “Doesn’t matter, family is family. And just because we’re the famous Potter’s, doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of problems,” he teased. “Well, I’ve only spoken to your brother a couple of times, but he doesn’t seem like the type to just up and leave his sister…at least, I don’t think so. Otherwise,” Albus added quietly. “If you want, I…I could always talk to him for you?” Albus wanted to smile, he thought they’d reached a good place, but when Cassie spoke again, the usual sharpness to her tone returned. Albus closed himself off and retracted into his seat, nodding slightly with a fake smile. “Thanks,” he said quickly.

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“I’m saying mine isn’t badly bleached. Besides, you’re too old for that wanna-be, beach-boy, teeny-bopper nonsense.” She scoffed, “You have a personality? Congratulations, who did you steal it from?” She tilted her head, “Complaining about you or about me? I like me. You are obscuring my view of a wall I’d rather be looking at.”

“And what? You’re saying that yours isn’t bleached? I mean that’d explain the whole dry and ratty look to it. At least I have a personality, beats the hollow shell with legs. Eh, at least the outside reflects the inside - I’m sure you’re not complaining.” 

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“I bet you were.” Cassie nudged her best friend, “It wasn’t the best, no. Wasn’t the worst though either.” Even with Lily, Cassie still had the element of protecting herself and her thoughts.

"I was fully prepared to fight you on that one." She joked as she brought a leg up onto the couch. "Hi, Cassie! Why so grumps? Bad day?"

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Well, not enough apparently.

And do they not do anything about it? 

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Cassie half smiled, looking down and then back up, “Yeah, but Albus, my family isn’t your family. No one else’s family is your family.” She shook her head, “Maybe you’d never not want to be around your sister, but I don’t think everyone thinks that way... I don’t think everyone cares that way.” She narrowed her eyes a little when he made the comment about wanting to boost her mood or something. For some reason, it rubbed her the wrong way, but she really had no idea why. “Well... You’re a good person then.” It was a compliment, but there was something sharp in her tone. She didn’t like feeling like every other pity case.

Albus let out a small sigh after he’d finished his advice-giving. Cassie’s silence was slightly worrying (she still wouldn’t look at him), and he was beginning to wonder if maybe he had crossed a line, if he’d fucked up his chance to make her feel better. But when she spoke, it was to regain herself, and Albus smiled lightly, encouragingly and leaned back in his chair. “Well, he’s your brother, and family rules say he has to give you a chance. He just has to. No brother can want ‘nothing to do’ with their sister, it’s not how it works.” Albus’ smile widened to meet the small one he received from her (he didn’t receive those often) and shrugged in response to her statement. “Yeah, but it’s still a nice thing to be…nice. Sister’s best friend or not, you looking like you needed a boost.”