Who: Sebastian Harper and Cassandra Runcorn
What: Former house mates run into each other.
Where: Leaky Cauldron
When: September 4, 2002
Rating: TBD
Status: In Progress

Cassandra wasn't a huge drinker. She wasn't one to frequent bars, either. After the events of the day, however, she felt the need for a stiff drink, and that's how she found herself at the Leaky Cauldron, sitting at a small table in a corner, a tumbler of firewhiskey in front of her as she rubbed at her forehead.

It had all started with the Ministry's owl. Her step-mother had spent the morning alternately screaming like a mad woman and sobbing into whoever's shoulder was closest at the moment. When Alexia had cornered her, starting in about how she was a terrible daughter and what in Merlin's name was she doing back in her father's house, she hadn't cared, she was just there because he was dead and she wanted her inheritance, it was all Cassie could do to not pack up and leave again right then, her problems back in Greece be damned. When Alexia had suddenly started crying and apologizing, and she had seen Ethan giving her a pleading look from the door of the room, Cassandra had paused, taken a deep breath, summoned a house elf to bring tea, and went about trying to calm the hysterical woman down. She had finally convinced her to take a mild sleeping potion, and, seeing her step-mother to bed, she had bolted from the house with a promise to be back before too long.

That had been six hours ago, and Cassie was having second thoughts about going back to the manor at all. She was running out of energy, emotional and physical, and maybe it would be better to go back to her aunt's and deal with being the poor, jilted darling instead of someone who wasn't really welcomed. And yet...if she had to sit and accept one more pitying look she was going to hurt someone.

Letting that line of thought dwindle into nothing, she picked up the glass with a determined look on her face and bolted half of the liquor down in one gulp, only to end up choking at the strong, unfamiliar burn. No, Cassandra definitely wasn't a drinker. The scowl she had focused on the glass was transfered up as she noted someone hovering near her, and, still gagging slightly, she noted that it was a former house mate of hers, and one she only just remembered the name of. Fantastic.

"Can I help you?" she asked sharply, her voice slightly rough from coughing, though no less defensive for it.