you're the only reason that i'm not afraid to fly

[When Cassie leaves her room, a group of charmed paper cranes fly across the Hufflepuff Dormitory to her and land on a table. One of the cranes unfolds into a letter in the shape of a heart. Written in terrible handwriting is the following note.]

Happy Valentine’s Day, Cassie!

I was hoping to ask you sooner, cos it’s kinda cheesy to ask on Valentine’s Day… But, I was really nervous cos you’re so awesome and I really don’t want to make things weird.

But, I think you’re really cool and I just wanted to know if you’d like to go to Hogsmeade with me next month?

Nope, you definitely haven’t said anything that would make me run away. And I really can’t see you saying anything that would. Except for like, “Jake, your robes are on fire” or “Jake, there’s a unicorn trying to charge at you” or something like that where I should be running away!

But, uh, can I ask you something?

Maybe we should keep my warnings to you shorter so you actually have time to run away! I could always say ‘duck’ but then again, I would say that if I saw a real duck so... we’ll work on it! But hopefully you’ll never have a reason to be running away, none of those seem like fun or good ones.

Of course, you can ask me anything. What is it? Did I do something weird or wrong or something? Because I’m sorry!

Jake: for sure! i really like hawks? like the red tailed hawk, its super cool looking. but in terms of little birds, i think parakeets are super cute

Jake: oh, no, i don't mind at all. my mum works on her field work usually. she has some of her research published in magizoology journals and that's what she spends her time on. my dad mostly keeps the peace among the animals in the jungle, fixes the house, helps grandda with some of his more wild projects, that sorta thing.

Jake: my dads kinda like a stay at home dad in a way lol

Jake: ahhhh, im grinning a lot for some reason...

Cassie: I LOVE red tails! They're so gorgeous, ugh. One of my favorites for sure. And parakeets are adorable, nice choices! Then again, any choices would be good lol birds of all sizes and skills are remarkable.

Cassie: Oh wow, that's amazing! That sounds like such a cool job. Sometimes I think about going into magizoology but I think I'd be much better at running a shelter than traveling. Who knows though? And sorry lol I made that about me but that's just because I'm awed by how amazing both of your parents sound.

Cassie: Good, I'm glad! You have a nice grin lol :)

Rachel: Nuh uhhhhh, if you have seven best friends PLUS YOU then there are eight people! And I don't know why people always act like trios don't work, odd numbers are fun and great and awesome, people don't always have to be in pairs just because they were on Noah's Ark! You can get them removed if you want to, but I don't think I'm ever going to stop loving stuff or thinking it has a cool story to tell! Like, you'd never regret having a birrrrrd, would you?

Cassidy: Which sheroes make you feel that way in particular? Please say it's not Nancy Drew! Well, the drugs that Sherlock Holmes was using were legal back then in London, so people have to be able to think about the product of the times when they're watching things! But I don't think the drugs were like super necessary for him to solve the crimes, no.

Gwen: i donm't think anyeone really LIEKS gainign weight but we're teeangers, our bodies arwe all changing, none of us are leke compeltely done yet. Just did. to qot e the kids these days 'it be leike that sometgiems'. Yeah, raGnavels'w the first place i've ever reaolyl felt like if it in.

Gwen: whata, ddo you get werid whrn you're hyuper from sugar or soenthing? becacuse you're kind of losing me here and as you know i'm pretey damn smatr. smartere when i can sese the screen well enough to type correctly but whataever, that's the alcohol in my brain, not my actual brain. i aesnt' t 'in the ssquad', i was jsut following my brotehr around and he has to let em because of my partenst. haileey was the only one that iadidn't think i was an annoyjgn know it al.

Cassidy: Are there strong women who DO make you feel lame and weak and sucky? Because that's not what they're supposed to do, they're supposed to inspire you! Yeah, or he used to! He probably doesn't anymore, I think he did a rehab stint. And yeah! You're allowed to do drugs and still be a good person, duuuuuh!

Ally: Problem? Love isn't a problem! Love is beautiful!

Jake: nah I dont think your ranting, i like hearing about stuff you care about. and birds are always cool to hear about!

Jake: haha, yep, pretty much. i learned a lot of stuff back home but mum wanted me to be well rounded so she was all for me going to hogwarts

Jake: you think im cool? ahhhh, thanks, cassie :)

Cassie: Birds ARE always cool to hear about, aren't they?! Do you have a favorite bird? I can't believe I haven't asked until now.

Cassie: What do your parents do while you're at school? If you don't mind my asking.

Rachel: I hope you're right! EVerybody deserves a best friend. Everybody deserves seven best friends! But whyyyy? Tattoos are just like art on your body, and if you were born with it you wouldn't even have to dance with a needle!

Haha, you’re on. I’m still betting on you winning, just so you know. Sabotage? I dunno about that. I like hanging out with you a lot. I can’t really think of a time you ever said anything that might be “sabotage” or anything like that.

And I’m betting on you winning, so at least we’re evenly matched. And yeah, no, usually when I like someone I end up making things bad by saying dumb things or hiding from them or whatever because it feels very on-the-spot but I don’t feel that way with you so that’s good. I’m glad I haven’t said anything to send you running, yet, anyway.

Cassidy: That's just because he's the most current TV version - stupid BBC! There's an American version that's better called Elementary. Still not my favorite but Holmes is a woman which is a nice twist! Oh, it's probably the drugs, but that's what makes him seem pretty authentic as a Sherlock, you should give him a chance! They're suspenseful, sure - you never know when Sherlock's going to stumble across the culprit!

Gwen: OOOOH lacotsse intolerance? that's no fun, the worls'f curle for making it so shard fo rsome peopel eto enjoy mlk kike that, especially when it's tellign us how good it us for our bones. You? you nemver sesemed like you were out of palce at all. but eve if you felt, it, i'm snot sure everyone did. lmao imagine your isster osr mk or blake. tjeyr'e all so... puzzle spiecey. fittibng.

Ally: Apparently they've also already left their mistletoe. My sister asked me if it was possible that nargles followed anyone who's kissed under it, and that makes sense to why I can't find them!

Gwen: are you scared of brain frzeze or liek something else? I eman I always fel t lik e idnd't fit in evenr when we were little. I gsurs mayeb I wondered soethimes if you felt it too.

Cassidy: Oh gosh, that's the absolute WORST version to go off of! You should go by the written version, obviously, and then by Sherlock Gnomes because he's cute, and then by my dad because he's based his working methods off of Sherlock, and then by the black and white version played by Basil Rathbone, and THEN by the Robert Downey junior version, and then by pretty much every other iteration ever, and LAST Benedict Cumberbatch! And I'm not sure, actually? I don't think they're scary but scary means something different to everyone.