εթίթհαηу // fred weasley

01

The final battle ended on the morning of the second of May, 1998. It left many bruised, many scarred — physically and mentally. No one could have predicted the outcome, but their faith and hope had driven them to victory. Everyone mourned, they healed, and they grew... But not everyone. She was still recovering from her wounds.

Cassie exited her room with suitcases. Draco had assisted her in bringing them downstairs. They assembled together in the courtyard and Lucius took her other suitcase. They held each other's hands, then apparated to an empty alleyway near the airport in London.

"Stand proud," Narcissa told her, fixing the collar of her dress. "You are a Malfoy. Don't let any of those Americans get the best of you."

"I'll be fine, Mum," Cassie assured.

"Do you have to go?" Draco asked sadly.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Cassie told him.

"You're taking orders from someone who'll probably be half as smart as you," Draco said.

"Yeah, but maybe if I prove myself, I'll get promoted," Cassie said, then pulled him into a hug. "I'm gonna miss you. But I will write to you during the holidays."

Cassie looked down at her watch. It was almost time. She hugged and kissed her parents goodbye and walked towards the airport and she stood in line. She showed the man her ticket. The date read: 18 July 1999.

Cassie thanked the man and boarded the plane. She found her seat and sat down. She closed her eyes, imagining America and her future. It was her new life, a new start. She wanted to let go of the past mistakes she had made and move on for the better.

The plane landed in New York, United States of America. In the past year, Cassie had quit her Potions position at Hogwarts, not wanting the students to come back to see a Malfoy at the school. Most had forgiven them, but not all. Cassie left Hogwarts and Kingsley Shacklebolt had offered her a job in the Ministry. There, she was an assistant in the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

A year after her employment, Cassie was offered a job in the Department of Unidentifiable Magical Objects. It never did sound interesting to Cassie, but at least she would be able to use some magic instead of always at a desk analyzing papers and writing. Plus, it was in America and Cassie thought it would be interesting to be in New York.

Cassie had bought a small apartment near the Ministry. Walking inside, to the left were hooks to hang coats, purses, etc., and a small table. To the right was a door into a bathroom. In front was a small desk/dining area. It had a few drawers and shelves attached to the wall. Across from it was the kitchen: It had an oven, cupboards, microwave, and a fridge and freezer. Further in was the living room that had a small couch, a small table against the wall, and a footrest. Across from it was a television on the stand. At the very end was the bed with a closet and drawer. There was also a glass door that led to a small balcony outside.

For the rest of that day, Cassie began to unpack her essentials. She hung her clothes on hangers, folded the others, and set them nicely in the drawers. Her shoes were lined up on a small shelf next to her drawers, then she began to unpack her toiletries in the bathroom. The bathroom had a shower with a glass door and hand a sink and toilet. Cassie put her medications and some miscellaneous things inside the mirror cabinet. Cassie had also changed her bedsheets to white sheets with a green cover.

On her first night, she wrote a letter to her parents telling them she had landed safely and was all right. That night, she ate in the comfort of her new home, however, it was always a bad night's sleep on the first night.

Cassie had been dreaming about it for more than a year. The wall blasting apart, losing Addy and Snape, but most of all, the fact she took a life. Cassie wouldn't admit it, but she was living in fear. Kingsley Shacklebolt's warning had frightened her and when Shacklebot offered her a job in the Ministry, she knew it was to keep an eye on her. When Cassie received the offer, Shacklebolt accepted it, thinking that it would have been smart. Under the care of the Ministry and far from the United Kingdom.

The next morning, Cassie awoke to her alarm that had been beeping for the past hour. She shut it off and her eyes widened seeing the time. She cursed, realizing she would be late.

Cassie quickly got ready, changing into a white top tucked into jeans. She wore a mauve coat and platform sandals. She had gathered her things, then quickly went towards the Woolworth building. Cassie entered through the revolving door. In front of her were stairs and as she walked up, she had her first impression.

There were many people, walking in different directions, talking with one another, going over papers and notes. There was an odd clock hanging and when she looked down, there were more floors. Cassie took a deep breath in an attempt to shake off her worries.

"You're late," said a voice. Cassie turned around. He had dark hair combed back, a face so serious it reminded her of Snape, and he had a mustache.

"Sorry, I— "

He cut her off saying, "My name is Edward Jeffers. I'm the Head of the Department of Unidentifiable Magical Objects."

They entered an elevator and a few seconds later, it opened to a corridor, then Cassie was led into a small room.

"This will be your office," Jeffers told her. "The last employee here had forgotten to organize those files before they left. So, you will have to organize it."

"Is there— "

"By tomorrow, you should have this all cleaned up," he told her. "So... with that, I will leave you to it."

He closed the door as he left and Cassie cursed at him under her breath. She looked at the piles of files and the mess the last person had made.

Then, there was a knock on the door. Cassie turned around as the door opened. A tall woman with brown hair came inside.

"Cassie Malfoy?" She nodded in response and the woman shook her hand. "Julia Robins. I attended Illvermorny, graduated 1994."

"Nice to meet you," Cassie replied. "Erm... do you need anything— "

"How was it?" she asked, cutting her off. "Is Harry Potter as handsome in real life as he is in the paper?"

Cassie furrowed her eyebrows and answered, "No... "

She sighed, then sat on Cassie's desk. "And I heard about you and that boy, Fred Weasley. I have tried every flavor of boy except red... "

Cassie looked at her, disgusted. She would have asked her to leave, but she doubted she would even if she didn't ask politely.

"... Of course, I wouldn't kiss your boyfriend, no. But his twin... "

"Has a girlfriend," Cassie told her. "Well, he fancies someone else right now."

"Too bad... " she said, then smirked.

"Hey, Jules." A young man had come into the threshold. "Get back to your office. Stop bothering the newcomer."

Julia got off the desk and walked past him. The young man walked further inside saying, "Sorry about her. Zach Payne."

"Cassie Malfoy," she introduced, shaking his hand.

Cassie's first day wasn't all bad. Zach had assisted her in organizing the files so Cassie didn't feel alone when working. Though it was good, she still wondered if she made the right choice. New York was different than London. She didn't want to sit still at a desk for all her working hours.

Cassie couldn't turn back though. She had to get used to this new life. This would be her new home now.