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“The Hogwarts champion,” Dumbledore called out, “is Cassius Warrington!”
The Slytherin table exploded and the Ravenclaw table clapped enthusiastically, but the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables were more subdued. The Hufflepuffs were obviously disappointed that Diggory hadn’t been chosen and Hayley knew that her housemates would be unwilling to support a Slyterhin champion, which she thought was dumb.
Yes, some Slytherins (like Malfoy) were obnoxious gits, but every house had jerks, including Gryffindor. After all, Hayley had spent the last several weeks dodging Cormac McLaggan with his wandering hands and giant ego.
On the other hand, Warrington had never been anything but polite and respectful whenever they had crossed paths. Secretly, he was her favourite member of the Slytherin Quidditch team.
So with that thought in mind, Hayley began to clap loudly and she cast glares around the table until several of her housemates joined in.
“Hayley, what are you doing?” Ron hissed, his hands remaining at his side, “he’s a snake!”
Hayley ignored him. Three years of experience had taught her it was the only way to deal with Ron’s prejudice.
Besides, she was too busy watching as Warrington confidently strode to the front of the hall. She couldn’t help but think the hat had made a good choice, he had the posture of a champion, plus he was a Slytherin, so she had no doubt that he had a will to win. She actually thought the hat had chosen perfectly.
It didn’t hurt that he was really handsome (though she’d never say that out loud).
Ron was still complaining about Warrington being chosen when the goblet began to smoke again.
Hayley froze, closing her eyes in a silent prayer that she knew was fated to be ignored. Sure enough, a second later Dumbedlore called out “Hayley Potter”.
Hayley got to her feet, knowing there was no point in denying the inevitable. Once again, she had been somehow forced into a ridiculous situation and all she could do was hold her head up high and bear it.
It was a lesson she had learned many times over the years, never let them see your fear.
So with that thought in mind, she walked past the head table and towards the door that the other champions had disappeared through without sparing anyone a second glance. The hall was silent, though she was sure the rumours would start soon.
Let them think what they want, she had bigger worries.
The three champions all startled when she entered the room. Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons champion, was the one to speak, assuming that Hayley had been sent to fetch them.
Hayley ignored them and just took her place by the fire, next to Warrington. She wanted to apologise to him, after all she was stealing his thunder, but she wasn’t quite sure what to say and it wasn’t like they had a previous relationship.
She knew his house would be furious. They would assume she had done it on purpose. They would see it as a repeat of Dumbeldore humiliating the Slytherins and ripping the House Cup away from them in her First Year and they would be right and Hayley doubted that any amount of words could convince them that neither incident had been her doing.
The adults joined them now, the headmasters of the other school shouting furiously.
Dumbledore approached her, his expression tense. “Did you put your name in the goblet, Hayley?”
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. He was putting on a show. He must know that she would never do that, but of course he couldn’t just support her, not Dumbeldore, he had to play every angle.
“No,” Hayley said calmly, even though she knew no one in the room would believe her.
Of course they didn’t. Her words led to more shouts and debates, her character called into the question, as well as the authenticity of the tournament.
“Lady Potter can’t compete,” the words were spoken with quiet confidence and Hayley immediately turned towards Warrington. He was leaning against the fireplace, his posture relaxed and he had a smirk on his handsome face.
“She must,” Mr. Crouch said, “the rules are clear, once a name is called that person must enter.”
Warrington ignored him. “Hayley Potter can not compete,” he repeated and Hayley tried not to blush at the way her name sounded on his lips, “because she is my soulmate.”
Cassius watched in amusement as the room descended into even further chaos at his words.
Everyone was talking at once and he had heard a few people say things like “impossible” and “ridiculous” but he paid them no attention, his focus on Hayley.
She did not look horrified, instead her head was tilted and she was staring at him in concentration. Then after a moment, she stepped forward and reached towards him, “May I touch you, Heir Warrington?”
“You may, Lady Potter.”
If she could only know how long he had waited for her to say those words. He had seen her mark in second year, when the Slytherins had invaded the Gryffindor quidditch practice, but he had kept the news to himself, biding his time, after all Hayley had only been twelve then, far too young to court and it was clear to anyone with a brain that she had been completely ignorant of wizarding customs, so she probably had no idea what the mark meant and telling her too early, would likely scare her.
Cassius was patient, he was a Slytherin after all. He bided his time, watching her from afar. He interfered behind the scenes a few times, offering her whatever help he could without revealing himself. He had made sure she received books on wizarding culture, kept Malfoy in line when he threatened to go too far, and he spoke to his parents, making moves behind the scene meant to help and protect her.
He did all of this from afar while waiting for her to grow up.
She turned fourteen in July, old enough for him to court her and claim her as his soulmate, but he still waited, knowing the time wasn’t right. Things were building in the wizarding world, there were many unsettling rumours and Cassius was sure that his girl would end up in the middle of it and some instinct cautioned him to hold onto the element of surprise.
And obviously that instinct had been a valid one.
Hayley reached a small hand up and pushed his rone aside, revealing the mark on his shoulder, the interlaced W&P. Warrington and Potter.
“I worried it was one of the Weasleys,” she said carelessly, her hand still on his shoulder. “I never considered it might be you.”
She didn’t sound distressed about the possibility, in fact the look on her face had Cassius’s blood pumping and he was fighting the urge to pull her tight against him.
“Lady Potter, are you certain?” Dumbledore asked, his tone even. The man was a master at controlling his expressions after all, but he couldn’t quite control the tension lingering beneath the surface. It was clear that this news did not please him.
The girl dropped her hand from Cassius’s shoulder and spun to face the headmaster. “I am not going to reveal my mark to the room, but yes I am certain. It is the same place and the same colours. Heir Warrington is my soulmate.”
“I am,” Cassius confirmed, “and that means she cannot compete against me. It is in the tournament rules.”
He had read the rules carefully over the summer, once he had learned of the tournament and found that loophole. One more reason he had refrained from pursuing his girl until now.
“The boy is correct,” Barty Crouch conceded, after conjuring up a copy of the rules, “one of them must drop out and given the unusual circumstances of Lady Potter’s name being called, it should clearly be her, assuming she is willing.”
“I am,” the girl in question said quickly.
“Very well then, the paperwork will be filed immediately and the soul bond registered with the ministry,” Crouch said and then he went on to explain the terms of the first task and they were all dismissed.
“So that was exciting,” Hayley commented as they walked through the empty Great Hall, “have I mentioned how glad I am that you are the Hogwarts champion?”
“I heard you cheer for me,” he told her, remembering the satisfaction he had felt when the applause had finally come from the Gryffindor table and he realised who was leading the way.
“It would have been wrong not too,” Hayley told him, tossing her head, “people would have screamed for Diggory or Davies, you deserved the same.”
“Is that the only reason?” He asked, his eyes darkening as he came to a sudden stop and rested against an empty table.
Hayley stopped as well, looking at him with those fierce emerald eyes. It was appropriate, he thought, that his soulmate had Gryffindor red hair and Slytherin green eyes. “No,” she admitted and her lips curved into a smile, “I also thought you were cute.”
“Is that so?” Cassius asked, reaching out to pull her against him, daring to do so since she had already given him silent permission by asking to touch him earlier. “Well, I think you are stunning.”
She blushed but she met his eyes boldly. “If you are going to kiss me, you should call me by my name first.”
Cassius grinned, oh she was a bold little lion. He had noticed the changes in her over the summer, she had come back to Hogwarts much more confident and she seemed much more aware of traditions and etiquette. It was a change that had intrigued and delighted Cassius.
“Very well, Hayley,” he said in a low, deep voice, “and you may call me Cassius, because I am going to kiss you.”
The soul bond would be registered with the ministry, along with their acceptance of it. He and Hayley were as good as betrothed, though the sooner he got the Warrington ring on her finger the better. He wanted everyone to know she was his.
He pulled her tighter towards him and leaned down and claimed her mouth, knowing he was claiming her first kiss (and his own, he was a Warrington, he wouldn’t settle for anything less than a soul bond) and also marking her as his for all eternity.
“Is this a good idea?” Hayley asked as Cassius led her into the Slytherin dungeon, “I don’t think anyone would approve.”
It was after curfew and besides, students weren’t supposed to be in other Houses common rooms (ok, she might have broken that rule before, but it still stood).
She was also wary of the reception she would receive in the dungeon after everything that happened. She was sure the Snakes were rightfully angry that their moment of glory had been spoiled and even though she was no longer participating in the tournament, she was sure the resentment would linger.
“I am King of Slytherin,” Cassius told her arrogantly, “you are my Queen, you have every right to come and go in the dungeon and it is important that everyone knows that.”
So the rumours of Slytherin having a hierarchy were true, Hayley realised, it made sense that Cassius was King. He just radiated lower and confidence.
She nodded at his words and held her head up high. She was not going to fail him. If he wanted her by his side, then that is where she would stand.
Cassius entered the Slytherin Common Room confidently, Hayley tucked into his side, trying to ignore the way everyone was staring at him.
“I am sure the rumours have already reached you,” Cassius said calmly, “Lady Potter’s name was called from the goblet incorrectly but the situation has been rectified and our soul bond has been registered. She will not complete, but she will stand by my side now and forever more.”
Hayley expected more silence but as if Cassius’s words had been a command (and ok, they probably had been), everyone started reacting.
“It is about time,” Adrian Pucey said with a grin, “I thought Cass was never going to make a move.”
“Some of us know the importance of waiting for the right moment,” Cassius retorted. “And notice my soulmate hasn’t thrown anything at my head.”
Hayley fought a giggle, knowing it would be unbecoming of the mate of the King of Slytherin, but she definitely needed to hear that story later.
Daphne Greengrass, who was in Hayley’s year, stepped forward. “Welcome to the dungeon, Lady Potter.” There was confidence in her voice and stance and Hayley wondered if she was the leader of their year. She had always assumed it was Malfoy, but she would much rather deal with this girl.
“Thank you, Heiress Greengrass, I am happy to be here,” Hayley greeted, “and you may call me Hayley if you choose.”
Greengrass smiled. “I am honoured. You may call me Daphne.”
Hayley smiled, happy the encounter had gone well. She would need an ally in Cassius’s house and she’d never had a problem with Daphne.
Several of the other older students (the younger ones were in bed) approached her and Hayley greeted them politely, only offering her name to a few (including Pucey, since he and Cassius were obviously close). She could feel Cassius’s silent approval.
Finally, the hour grew late enough that she knew she had to return to her common room, even if she didn’t want to. She said as much to Cassius and he nodded.
“Wait here,” he instructed, looking meaningfully at Adrian who moved closer to her side as Cassius swiftly disappeared down a corridor. He emerged a moment later and held out his hand.
She took it happily and let him lead her out of the dungeon and through the empty castle. She expected them to head up to the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, but Cassius stopped suddenly and pulled her against him.
He took the hand he held and before she realized what was happening, he slipped a ring on her finger. It was a stunning green gem, the same shade as her eyes, in an elegant setting.
“The Warrington emerald,” Cassius told her, “it is the traditional betrothal ring for my family. It will be yours until you pass it onto our eldest son to give to his betrothed.”
Hayley shivered at the mention of children. She found she liked the idea a lot. She had always wanted a family some day and a family with Cassius… Well, it was a very pleasant idea.
“I have a godfather,” she told him, “he might not appreciate my getting betrothed without his permission.”
She hadn’t heard from Sirius in a few weeks, but they had been in constant contact and she knew he took her welfare quite seriously and the he regretted how much he had already missed out on, as much as she wanted to accept this ring, she felt bad doing it without Sirius’s agreement.
Cassius didn’t seem bothered by her objection. “I have already obtained Lord Black’s permission,” he told her. He smiled devilishly at her expression of shock. “My father is working to get him the trial he was denied. I imagine he will be a free man by Yule.”
Hayley shook her head, in awe of the boy standing in front of her. She had only been aware of their soulmate status for a few hours, but already he had changed her life multiple times. He had saved her from the tournament and now he was promising to save Sirius.
“I have known for two years that you were mine,” Cassius told her, “I waited for the right moment to claim you, but I didn’t want idly. Warrington’s are possessive, we protect what is ours at all cost. You are mine, Hayley, and anyone who tries to harm you will learn what it is to mess with House Warrington.”
Hayley knew that some witches (like Hermione) might be offended by his words and the implication that she needed protection or turned off by his possessiveness but Hayley had been forced to stand on her own far too often at a young age and her heart leapt at the idea of someone willing to fight her battles for her, or at least act as her shield.
She knew words would never be enough so she wrapped her arms around Cassius’s neck and kissed him deeply. He immediately responded and deepened the kiss, claiming her with his mouth as he had already claimed her hand and her future. Hayley had every confidence that he would soon claim her heart.
Finally, reluctantly they pulled away.
“I am sure the Lions are ready to riot by now,” he said with a sneer.
Hayley was sure that they were. She was dreading the scene waiting for her in the Tower (she was sure Ron would be insufferable) but she couldn’t put it off forever.
“I will come for you in the morning,” Cassius promised as he dropped her off at the entrance to the Tower, “we’ll have breakfast together.”
Hayley could only imagine the reaction that would cause, but she found she didn’t care. She was not going to hide or explain herself, a soulmate bond was a sacred thing and she was proud of hers and if anyone had a problem with that, then she didn’t want to associate with them.
She had put up with whispers and criticism for too long. She deserved better and she was going to claim it. She was a lion and she was about to roar. And if that didn’t stop them, well then she’d let Cassius deal with them and they’d learn what happened when they messed with the King of Snakes and his Queen.
The End