Cassian sat alone in an abandoned classroom tucked deep in the dungeons, flipping through a Charms textbook he wasn't actually reading. His wand tapped idly against the spine, casting a faint rhythm of light along the edge. Blaise was off charming his way through some Ravenclaw study group in the library, leaving Cassian in rare solitude.
He didn't mind. Solitude had a certain peace to it—less talking, less pretending. Hogwarts was stifling these days; every corridor echoed with silence more than conversation, every wall lined with yet another decree from Umbridge.
"Cassian."
He glanced up. The smile that touched his face wasn't warm—it was sharp, almost tired. "Well, look who it is. The Gryffindor golden girl, slumming it in the dungeons."
"You always did like to use this room," Hermione replied, ignoring the dig. "I was hoping we could talk."
"I'm shocked you remembered how," he said, shutting his book with a soft thud.
Hermione flinched at that, then took a steadying breath. She stepped closer, glancing around as if checking for eavesdroppers. "I need to talk to you about something important. It's about Defense."
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "If this is about Umbridge, I've already lost interest. Unless you're here to ask me to hex her."
"No," she said quickly, then hesitated. "Well—not exactly. I wanted to ask if you'd consider helping with something we're starting. A group. To actually learn Defense. Properly."
Cassian blinked. "What, like an underground class?"
"Exactly," she said, her eyes brightening. "Harry would lead it. We've already spoken to a few people who are interested."
The mention of Harry soured his mood instantly. He looked back down at his book, flipping a page he hadn't read. "Then I think you've got everything you need."
Hermione didn't leave. "Cassian… I know things are tense between you and Harry, but this is bigger than that. People need to learn how to defend themselves. We need teachers with real skill."
Cassian snorted. "So I'm useful now."
"That's not fair," Hermione said, folding her arms tightly. "You're one of the best in our year at non-verbal casting. Everyone knows that. And you've studied dueling on your own for years. We need people like you."
Cassian shut the book slowly and looked up at her, unimpressed. "I'm flattered, really. But Harry and I don't exactly agree on… anything anymore."
Hermione's mouth pressed into a line. "I'm not asking you to go back to being his friend. I'm asking you to teach people how not to die."
Cassian stared at her for a long moment. He could respect the directness—almost admire it. But the thought of standing behind Potter while he played hero in front of a crowd again?
He gave her a sidelong glance, "Who else is in this 'club' of yours?"
"We're keeping it small for now," Hermione said. "Only those we trust."
"Well, isn't that such a ringing endorsement," Cassian said sarcastically, before falling into thought.
After a long moment, he finally said, "I'll think about it. And I'm telling Luna and Blaise."
She hesitantly nodded. "We're meeting at the Hog's Head. Saturday."
She turned to leave, then paused. "And Cassian… thanks. Even thinking about it means more than you realize."
He didn't reply, and she didn't wait for one.
After she left, Cassian looked toward the window slit, jaw tight. He hated being dragged into another Potter-led adventure. Especially for people who wouldn't hesitate to whisper behind his back.
But Luna might've wanted him to.
And despite everything, he still cared what she thought.
---
Cassian found them exactly where he expected: tucked into the back corner of the library—Luna liked the quiet, Blaise liked the people watching. She was reading The Philosophy of Spectral Beings upside down, and Blaise was pretending to study Arithmancy, though he mostly seemed focused on trying to catch the attention of a Hufflepuff girl across the room. With little success.
Cassian dropped into the chair across from them without asking.
Luna looked up immediately. "You're brooding. It's louder than usual."
"Lovely to see you too," he muttered. "I need your opinion. Both of you."
Blaise set down his quill. "Can't you see I'm trying to woo the lovely Miss Jones?"
"Hermione Granger tracked me down," Cassian said bluntly. "Wants me to help with some underground Defense club. Apparently, Potter's leading it."
That got Blaise's full attention. "Absolutely not."
Luna tilted her head. "Did you say yes?"
"I said I'd think about it," Cassian replied. "Then I said I'd tell you both."
Luna closed her book, though she didn't correct its orientation. "They want to learn to fight."
"Apparently," Cassian said. "Hermione's worried no one's learning anything useful in Umbridge's class. She wants us to help teach. Or at least not sit on our hands when everything falls apart."
"And we're suddenly allies in the war effort?" Blaise asked, incredulous. "You realize the moment you join something like this, you've officially chosen a side."
"I'm already on a side," Cassian said coolly. "Just not Potter's. But Luna—what do you think?"
Luna studied him for a long moment, then said, "I think the world is getting darker. And if someone is trying to light a candle, even if it's messy, it might be worth helping them."
Cassian gave a faint nod. He expected that. "Would you go?"
"Yes," she said. "But only if you're going for the right reasons."
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "And what are the right reasons?"
"To help," Luna said simply. "Not to prove anything."
Blaise groaned. "You're both mad."
"Not denying that," Cassian said. "But are you in?"
Blaise looked like he was strongly considering faking his own death. Then he caught Luna's gaze and sighed. "I hate you both."
"I'll take that as a yes," Cassian said, standing.
"I want it on record that I opposed this from the beginning," Blaise muttered, gathering his things.
"Duly noted," Cassian said, already walking toward the exit.
Behind him, Luna hummed a little tune. Blaise muttered something about terrible decision-making and loyalty blackmail.
---
The Hog's Head smelled like goat, firewhiskey, and questionable life choices.
Cassian leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, flanked by Luna on one side and Blaise on the other. The room was dim, dusty, and filled with too many eager faces and not nearly enough escape routes.
Harry Potter stood awkwardly near the front, Hermione and Ron bracketing him like overzealous bodyguards. It looked like someone had tried to sweep the floor—once—and then given up halfway through when a rat bit them.
Cassian smirked. "This is charming. I can feel the revolution brewing."
Blaise muttered, "I've been to actual underground gatherings. This feels like a club for people who still believe in bedtime stories."
"They do," Luna said dreamily. "That's the point."
Harry cleared his throat. "Er… thanks for coming. I know this is a bit unusual, but… we all know we're not learning real Defense in Umbridge's class. And with what happened last year—"
Cassian snorted under his breath. "Ah yes, the bold return of our chosen savior. 'With what happened.' I love how he phrases that like it's a minor inconvenience. You know, just the Dark Lord returning from the dead.
Blaise leaned over to Luna. "Does he always speak like he's narrating a tragic memoir?"
"Only when he's nervous," Luna replied serenely. "Or when someone's watching him. Which, to be fair, is always."
Harry pressed on. "We need to be ready. We can't afford to be unprepared now that Voldemort is back."
That earned a few flinches. Cassian rolled his eyes. "Bravo. Say the name again. Maybe it'll summon him so we can all test our stunning spells."
Luna giggled behind her hand. "You shouldn't say that. He might think you're serious."
"I'm always serious," Cassian whispered. "That's why I'm so charming."
Across the room, Harry's gaze flicked to the back. He caught Cassian mid-laugh, a smirk curling too sharp to be polite.
Harry's jaw clenched.
Hermione leaned in, whispering something meant to calm him—but it didn't work. Cassian knew that look. Knew he'd hit a nerve. He raised an eyebrow and offered Harry a lazy, knowing smile.
Ron looked ready to throw something.
Hermione stepped forward and began passing around a piece of parchment. "If you're serious about joining, we'd like everyone to sign their name. It's a way to show your commitment—and to make sure no one talks."
Cassian eyed it warily as it passed.
Luna hummed. "Is it enchanted?"
"Definitely," Blaise muttered.
Cassian arched a brow. "So we're signing an invisible magical loyalty pact?"
"No," Hermione said with an awkward smile. "Nothing magical. Just a list."
Luna took the parchment when it came to her and signed without hesitation. Cassian raised a brow at her.
"You're really doing this?"
"I think it'll matter," she said simply.
Cassian hesitated—then signed.
Blaise sighed dramatically and scrawled his name at the bottom. "If I die because of this, I'm haunting both of you. Loudly."
Luna smiled. "I'll make tea for your ghost."
Cassian smirked. "I'll make sure you die somewhere poetic."
Blaise shook his head. "I should've transferred to Beauxbatons."