Fate and Destiny

Chapter 5

Cassie opened the door to her… associate? Colleague? She wasn’t sure what he was or what she should call him. Gellert shut the door behind him as Cassie retrieved a bottle for him.
“Champagne?”
“Only the best,” Cassie said with a smile. He took it from her and followed her to the kitchen.

“What did you want to talk about?” she asked as he poured himself a glass.
“Something I’m curious about,” he said as he sipped the champagne. He smiled. “It’s nice.”
“What are you curious about?”
“An Obscurus.”
“A what?” Cassie asked. She had never heard of such a thing.

“An Obscurus,” Gellert repeated. “It’s a dark parasitic creature, not much is known about it. But I think Ariana was one. She was unusually strong for one.”
“Ariana?” Cassie asked. “Dumbledore?”
“Yes,” said Gellert, nodding. “They’re created by suppressing the magic. They have to know it’s magic and it gets dangerous. They explode with magic when they’re really angry or upset.”

Cassie looked down, remembering Ariana’s outbursts. It did seem to match, even what Albus said about the Muggle boys attacking her.
“One incident can cause that?”
He nodded. “Yes. And they usually don’t last past nine or ten.”
“Ariana was fourteen, Gellert.”
“She was strong, and she had help from Aberforth and her mother and everything,” said Gellert. He drank more of the champagne Cassie had brought him.

Cassie frowned. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, but it explained why she had magic and couldn’t go to Hogwarts. And the outburst that caused her mother’s death.
“When she died, Cassie, it was like there was an explosion of magic. I had to figure out what it was, if it was me or Albus or Aberforth who did it.”
“And you found out it was this… Obscurus thing?” He nodded. He seemed so convinced of it. “I need to think about it.”

She’d never heard of it before, it could have been made up by him as an excuse. But if the obscurus was real, then it wouldn’t have been any of their faults, not truly. The blame was all of theirs to share for upsetting her and causing such a violent outburst that killed her.

“Where did you find out about this?”
“One of my followers, he has a very old book that records on an Obscurus,” he said.
“I want to see it,” she said. If there was physical proof, she’d be more willing to trust it.
“You can ask the man yourself if you come to a meeting with me,” he said, setting the half empty glass down on the counter.
“Gellert, I told you I wanted no public part of it.”

“It’s not public,” he said. “These are people I trust, but I need you there. Some of them are starting to believe that you are not real, or that you are not truly committed to this cause. These people are sworn to secrecy.”
“They are?” she asked. He nodded. “When’s the next meeting then?”
“This evening. I have a portkey for us to use, if that’s alright,” he said. Cassie nodded. “I trust you can dress well, but do me a favour and put a flower in your hair.”
“Why?” she asked, furrowing her brow. What was a flower in her hair going to do to help?
“It’ll be much more amusing for me at the very least if they underestimate you.”

“I told Albus,” Cassie admitted quietly. “The parchment was charmed to burn after so long but I suppose he could use his memories.”
“People can falsify those,” said Gellert. Cassie wasn’t sure if he looked angry or confused, but he was feeling something. “But why did you tell him?”
“I don’t know,” Cassie said honestly. It was a tiny note attached to an owl.
“And what did he say?”
“Nothing.”

It was silent.

“He said nothing?” Gellert said slowly. “Nothing at all?”
“No, nothing at all,” Cassie said, shaking her head. “I don’t know why I bothered. He didn’t say anything last time.”
“You weren’t thinking of betraying me?” he asked seriously.
“No,” she quickly replied. Betrayal had not been what she had hoped for. Maybe she had hoped Albus would join them again. He was a well known wizard now, if he supported their cause, it would seem even more credible.

“I just… I needed to tell him, maybe I hoped he’d agree with us or… or something,” she said honestly.
“And he didn’t reply?”
“No, he didn’t.” She frowned and Gellert stared at her.
“I wasn’t expecting him to be that cold towards you,” he said quietly. “You had nothing to do with our argument and the duel.”
“I know.”

It stayed quiet for a while, neither of them knew what to say.

“I need to go somewhere first, I’ll be back in a few hours,” he said. Cassie nodded.
“I’ll get ready then,” she said. She wasn’t sure what she should wear. He seemed to want her to be underestimated, though she wasn’t sure why. Was he expecting her to show off some powerful magic?
“I’ll see you later.”