The coming weeks were a fluster of activity for Cassius.
The Golden Egg was solved the same night he received it, having already known the solution.
Though after revealing it to the girls, all of them including Fleur herself demanded to hear it for themselves.
But when he tried to simply hand his egg over so they could take a bath with it, or suggest they simply use Fleurs own egg.
They all responded back conspiratorially stating it had to be his since they could compare the eggs and make sure both got the same message.
Which seemed to reinforce his position, only until they all refused to actually take his egg from him.
"That's your property as our collective Master. We cant accept taking your possession from you."
They wound up going back and forth for close to an hour wasting valuable study or practice time.
And in the end Cassius was made to concede.
Though he did enforce proper rules if a group bath was going to happen to make them happy.
Rule #1 bathing suits would be worn by everyone.
This rule collectively got groans showing their disatisfaction from almost all of the girls.
Rule #2 Hands must stay above the water at all times.
This rule caused the older girls to blush and after getting some whispers the younger girls likewise flushed.
He racked his brain and tried to come up with any other suitable rules but couldnt think of anything.
This was a cause of his belief that his girls were all still innocent young lasses and not actually a growing nest of vipers.
~
When the afternoon had passed and evening come.
Once they were all stuffed with food to replenish the energy lost during Grindewalds boot camp training session.
Each and everyone of them stumbled into the bathhouse like they were walking zombies.
"We're witches, why do we have to do physical training, im gonna be sore for days."
"More like sore forever, we still have another training session tommorow."
"I like Mr. Grindy he's just so loveable don't you think?"
""...""
""Luna.""
Cassius was able to listen in to all the ongoing girls talk on the other side of the assembled changing room.
After he'd lost the discussion about having the bath itself, he'd spoken to the Draconis house elves who modified the existing bathhouse to become for the moment a coed one, though with seperated changing rooms, however it wasnt fully enclosed and was not much more than a hanging drop sheet cutting the room in two.
Thanfully he was spared some fairly graphic remarks that anyone watching a bathhouse scene from a hentai or modern day anime that could be taken out of context, or even cause blood to flow down ones nose.
Perhaps because he was alone or perhaps by design, Cassius had changed into his shorts faster than the girls, and entered the bathing area earlier.
Grabbing a bucket and scoop alone with a stool.
Using fairly japanese customs for his bathing a practice he felt was fitting considering this wasnt just jumping into your Bathtub, but a full size swimming bath, one that would need to be cleaned by the elves and if he could help reduce their work even just a little he'd chose to.
Dunk
Splash.
The first ladle of warm water was poured over his head.
Wetting his hair and causing his black locks to become pinned to his skin even more than usual.
Splash.
The second cause water beads to cascade down his exposed chest and back.
*Gasp*
*Le Gasp*
Just as he was about to go for the third ladling totally lost in the feeling of warmth rushing over his body, he felt as if the room itself had gasped.
And turning his head to look over his shoulder he saw at the entrance from the changing room, Fleur, Cho, and Astoria were standing stock still.
Holding the cloth door open but not moving forwards.
Their eyes locked onto him, like a starving man staring at a buffet table.
Cassius had an idea of what was going on but just shook his head before continuing.
They might be seventeen, but he was only fourteen.
Sure he was capable, but he wasnt going to cross that line.
After a moment the girls brains rebooted and they started to move collecting buckets and lades themselves, just in time for the next batch to emerge and repeat the cycle breath catching as they took in his near nude form glistening in the pale lighting of the bathhouse.
Having resigned himself Cassius just resumed, moving a scrubbing sponge across his arms, legs, and chest.
Before he was even finished.
"Do you want me to wash you back for you Cassius?"
...
...
...
The room still as if someone has stopped time itself.
The words echoed in his mind, over and over again.
He didnt have a long brush capable of scrubbing his own back, so the offer was fairly genuine, but the voice that spoke it...
It was huskier than usual.
Laced with lust and far from innocent intent.
But at the same time refusal would come with a new arguement one he was sure to lose.
Acceptance was just as dangerous.
As it would set a precedent.
One he would be hardpressed to refuse should it reappear in the future.
Lost in thought for only a minute.
He was brought out as something soft pressed onto his back.
This sensation caused his brain to short-circuit.
Those... were not hands.
Sponges.
Yeah totally got to be sponges, or a loofa.
"Hey! Not fair me too!"
One after another more and more soft things began to pile in pressing onto his back.
Locking his head forwards, implying his silent consent the storm of women, came at him like ravenous wolves.
Aside from the initial contact, now he was assured the roaming softness was hands, as there were so many crawling across his skin it couldnt possibly be that, i mean logistically the squarefootage of his back couldnt possibly support such a thing.
A few times he woke up from his dream being forced to fight off hands that tried to slip around to his front, before finally after he was more than assured his back was thouroughly cleaned did he declared enough was enough.
Grabbing a new bucket of water and dousing the entire thing over himself to wash off the generous amount of suds.
The girls let out sighs of disappointment seeing Cassius ruin their fun, being the first to enter the bath, but then a twinkle of mischief set itself off in Astoria's eye.