Memories Of Them

Chapter 5 - Normality?

Cassie had been home for 5 days. 5 days of mind numbing boredom. After 9 days of treatment at the world renowned St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Cassie had been looking forward to returning home and moving on with her life, finding a sense of normality in the mundane. It appeared however that her parents had very different ideas, their plan appeared to be complete house arrest. No visitors, no leaving the house and no strenuous activity. She had barely been allowed to leave her bedroom, only going downstairs to eat meals and bask in the last of the summer sun in the garden.

On her fifth day home however, a group of three robed men had appeared on the front step of the Shacklebolt residence. They had introduced themselves as members of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement who wished to speak to Cassie regarding her experiences at the Quidditch World Cup. Apparently they had tried to interview her in the hospital, however Kingsley had been adamant that she was too unwell and shaken from the experience.

But now they had her cornered her, Kingsley was at work and although Maya had tried to keep them at bay they had rather forcefully barged their way through the front door, making it clear they had no intention of leaving. Maya had reluctantly led them through to the living room where she had then stalled asking the gentlemen if they wanted any refreshments. Whilst going to get their drinks she had subtly sent Kingsley a message at work, she then went upstairs and got her daughter, the whole time her heart was beating so hard she could hear it in her ears.

Cassie slowly entered the living room, her fuzzy socks dulling the sound of her footsteps on the wooden floor. Timidly she met the eyes of all of the men sitting in the room, trying to gauge what they wanted.

"Sit, Miss Shacklebolt, please, we have a couple of questions about what happened at the World Cup," the broader of the three men said.

Cassie instantly cut him off, angered that he appeared to be ordering her around in her own house, "Vaughn, my name is Miss Vaughn, Sir," Cassie said, holding the man's gaze, not allowing him to intimidate her.

"My apologies, Miss Vaughn, I wasn't aware you hadn't taken the Shacklebolt name," he replied.

The tension in the air was broken by an apprehensive knock on the door. Maya slowly entered the living room, passing around glasses of lemonade from a tray she was levitating behind her. Once she had finished she went over to Cassie, gently grabbing her hand squeezing it, silently asking if she was okay. Cassie gave her a small smile and a nod, determined to not let these men get to her.

"You may now leave Mrs Shacklebolt, from our records I can see that you were not at the event and are therefore unable to give us any further information of your own," a skinny wisp of a man called out.

Maya's eyes flared with anger, "I am her mother, she is underage and in a medically weak state. You will not interrogate her without someone who actually cares about her welfare present," she said, her tone cold and threatening.

"Mrs Shacklebolt, we have done you the courtesy of coming to your house after our countless owls of correspondence have gone ignored. We are dealing with a highly sensitive investigation, therefore your daughter will be questioned in whatever manner we see fit. If it would be easier, we are more than happy to accompany her to one of our questioning rooms at the Ministry," the man spat out, clearly angered by Maya's disobedience.

"Mum," Cassie broke in, looking her mother in the eye with a comforting smile, "I know how to handle myself, I'll be fine," she said.

"Cassie," Maya whispered, but the third man had now stood up towering over the pair, firmly placing a hand on Maya's shoulders he ushered her out of the room, slamming the door in her crestfallen face.