The Sallow Saga - Vol. 2 - In the Shadows of Memories [A HL Fanfiction]

Chapter 9. Mrs Weaver

The group descended into the swirls and mists of Cassy's memories and landed in a dark, terraced street. The road was cobbled and bustling with a hive of muggle activity. The air was thick with smog as large chimney stacks belched plumes of black smoke into the sky. The smell of damp and mildew filled their senses. As they each looked around, a large carriage pulled up in front of them.
Normally, such a think wouldn't strike anyone as being abnormal, however the carriage appeared to be horseless. The muggles stepped around the carriage, oblivious to the surrealness. The rider wore dark robes, a unique pair of goggles, and scrutinized everyone who walked by.

"How on earth does this carriage move?" Cassy pondered, as she slowly approached the space where the horses should have been tethered.
Sebastian approached her slowly and gently pulled her back a few steps, before saying.
"Something tells me, you'll find out in due course."
Cassy nodded, but puzzled further, "why does no one seem phased by a horseless carriage?"
Gareth swiftly approached her other side, "why do you think? Remember, these are your memories, and these select two have been identified as crucial moments in your life, to recall."
Cassy frowned in quiet contemplation and looked closely at the carriage. It was a dark mahogany carriage, quite regal and well kept. The doors each bore the Hogwarts coat of arms.
Cassy's eyes widened in understanding; "Hogwarts only uses thestrals to pull their carriages! In my normal waking life, I can see the misunderstood creatures. This must be a recollection of mine before I had that ability. Which must mean, at some point, I witnessed a death...". Her voice trailed off and she swallowed hard.

She furrowed her brow as she tried to recall her teachings; "muggles struggle to perceive anything magical in their waking lives. Its why a number of magical phenomena can occur around them, without the need for ministerial interference. Many in the wizarding world believe muggles are simply too ignorant to comprehend the complexities of magic. There's even a train of thought that suggests muggles and magical folk have different brain patterns! It's all folly of course."
Ominis nodded quietly, "I find muggles quite fascinating! They have the capability to perceive magic, however they are more inclined to block it from their mind and categorise anything they witness as 'something out of the corner of their eye', or 'a trick of the light'! They choose not to perceive magical phenomena, without even knowingly making the choice!"

Cassy smiled reflectively, it felt so wonderful to safely recall these teachings. It was as though her mind had shaken off a weight of dust and suddenly the knowledge that had been smothered had leapt into the air and filled her head. She watched as two young boys, street urchins by all appearances, slowly approached the carriage with awe-struck expressions.

Natty watched the children with a curious expression, "I never understood how muggle children see things their elders do not." As she spoke, the two boys pointed up at where Cassy could only assume a thestral must be standing.
"Well, look at these two children. If we presume for a moment that they are muggles; muggle children are more inclined to believe the unbelievable until age and muggle reason overthrows their mindset. I remember reading somewhere that many muggle born witches and wizards are only able to project their magical capabilities because their parents actively encourage such imagination at a young age! After all, one would feel more inclined to believe in the fantastic, if the fantastic is regularly promoted as something healthy in their everyday life!" Cassy smiled at the boys as they duck and wove in between what she presumed were the thestral's legs.

Her eyes drifted lazily over the street to the front door of the tallest house around them.
In a weary voice she sighed, "children's minds are open to everything as they absorb much of the world around them. It's why many muggle children can see ghosts, or even tell such unbelievable stories to one another, they have such wild imaginations. Infancy stages play such a crucial role to a witch or wizard's development, more than we appreciate. In general, most of us will only start showing magical capabilities just before our eleventh birthday, it all comes down to how those abilities are encouraged by those who are around us daily, which can determine whether we naturally allow our powers to grow; unhealthily subdue them; or even disregard them as folly and something dangerous. It's the latter mindset that determines our lives ultimately, the path of a muggle or the path of a witch or wizard. It is such an intense decision that takes place in mere moments of our young lives." Cassy blinked, somewhat taken aback by her profound monologue.
"That was rather eloquently put Cassy," Ominis frowned, "forgive me, I fail to recall when that was covered in our Muggle Studies class."
Cassy smiled as the door to the carriage slowly opened, she remembered this day now as if it were yesterday.
"I didn't learn that in Muggle Studies Ominis. Someone else taught me." She said, eagerly.
"Oh?" Ominis smiled politely, "whom?"
Movement from the carriage beside them interrupted their conversation. It swayed as its occupant stepped out of its confines. He straightened his attire, before looking around him with a curious expression. His bright periwinkle blue eyes shone brightly through the thick smog.
"Professor Fig!" Cassy beamed, in response to Ominis's question.