εթίթհαηу // fred weasley

05

Cassie locked her suitcase just as there was a knock on the door. She unlocked it and yelled, "Come in!" As she sat her suitcases upright, Zach came inside.

"You're bringing two suitcases?" he questioned.

"We don't know when we'll be done," Cassie told him. "It could be weeks, months."

They boarded the plane in the evening and arrived in London late at night. Cassie thought to herself — Morrighan wasn't like the Dark Lord. He wouldn't care how much magical blood was spilled and wasted. He wouldn't care if he took the lives of creatures, the pure-blooded, and certainly the Muggle and Muggle-born.

Cassie brought Zach to her home, Malfoy Manor. They would have stayed closer to the Ministry, but the Leaky Cauldron was a place for the desperate. No one would really stay there unless they had nowhere else to go. "It is a filthy place," Cassie told Zach.

They entered the home and Draco was the first to see them. "Cassie! You're back! Why are you back?"

"Ministry duties," Cassie answered. "Draco, this is Zach. Help him with his things in the guest room down the hall of my room. Where's Mother and Father?"

"In the drawing-room," he said, taking Zach's suitcase.

Cassie headed that way and the two of them were sat down in front of the fireplace. Lucius was reading the Daily Prophet and Narcissa was sewing.

"Gosh, they're getting old," Cassie thought.

"I'm home," Cassie announced, getting their attention.

"Are you all right?" Narcissa asked, putting her things down. "It's all over the Daily Prophet about the attack on MACUSA."

"That's why I'm here," Cassie responded. "The president has us working with the Ministry's Aurors. You two shouldn't go out often, and if you do, disguise yourself...

"And Mum, you should see Aunt Andy," Cassie told her. "She lost Ted and you both lost Aunt Bella... "

"Tomorrow's the second already?!" Narcissa exclaimed, glancing to her husband who nodded.

"I'm gonna go out with Zach to see them," Cassie informed. "You're welcome to come with."

:::

2 May 2000

"Have breakfast, dear," Narcissa said, gesturing to sit with them.

"I'm good," Cassie replied as she pulled on her coat. "Zach and I are visiting... remember?"

"Oh... " Narcissa nodded. Lucius was still looking down at his plate as if ashamed to look up.

"Ready?" Zach asked, pulling on his coat as he walked into the dining room.

"Yeah," Cassie nodded, then she looked back at her mother. "Not going then?" Cassie asked.

Her mother shook her head. "I need to buy some groceries today."

"Could I... " Draco spoke, making them stop. "... come with?"

"Why?" Cassie asked. She didn't think he needed to see anyone. But then again, neither did Cassie have to. It was the guilt.

"Oh, well, Addy was a good friend of yours so... " he trailed off.