The Three Broomsticks

Cassi woke up in the cosy confines of her tent, far away from prying eyes. Alone with her thoughts and the task she had set for herself - helping in the reconstruction of Hogwarts and getting to know the new witches and wizards as she the young woman she is now. She sat up, stretching her limbs and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Breakfast was already laid out for her by Winky, the ever-efficient house-elf. As she savoured the meal, the solitude of her tent seemed more comforting than ever. But it was time to step out of her comfort zone, to meet new people and make new connections.

 

With a fluttering heart, she apparated to Hogsmeade, the magical village not far from Hogwarts. The familiar sight of the Three Broomsticks, the popular pub and inn, greeted her. As she walked in, she found Rosmerta, the pub owner, working tirelessly despite her slight limp she never had before.

 

The sight of the once vibrant pureblood woman, now bearing the scars of the war, was a stark reminder of the toll it had taken on everyone. A pang of sadness washed over Cassi, but she swallowed it down, reminding herself of her mission. She had come to help, to heal, and to forge new bonds.

 

Deciding to stay at the Three Broomsticks, she approached Rosmerta "Hello," she greeted Rosmerta, her voice friendly and warm. "I'd like to rent a room."

 

Rosmerta turned to look at her, her face lighting up in a warm smile. "Of course, dear," she responded, hobbling over to the counter to fetch the keys. "I don't believe we've met before. Are you here to help with Hogwarts?"

 

Cassi exhaled a sigh of relief. Her disguise had worked. Now it was time to weave her tale, a story fabricated to hide her true identity and her true mission. She nodded, her eyes meeting Rosmerta's. "Yes," she said, her voice steady. "I'm here to help."

 

And thus, they began talking, Cassi lying through her teeth about how her mother was out working business and she wanted to do something helpful, thus decided to help out at Hogwarts a bit.

 

Cassi was still engaged with Rosmerta when another voice spoke up. "You're from MACUSA? And you're here all alone?" The voice belonged to Daphne Greengrass- a classmate of Rose. Daphne was a pure-blood witch from a prominent wizarding family, and Cassi knew her from her time at Hogwarts. The memory of Rose, a friend she had lost in the war, was tied closely to Daphne, making the encounter bittersweet.

 

Daphne was enthusiastic, her eyes shining with a fervour that was rare to see in the aftermath of the war. She confessed that her parents wouldn't allow her the freedom that Cassi seemed to have, and that the only reason she was here was that they had sent a chaperone with her. As she said this, she gestured towards a tall, quiet girl standing by her side. Tracey Davis was Daphne's constant shadow. She always thought they were best of friends. She barely spoke, her expressions hard to read, but her eyes held a distinct disgust at Daphne's exuberance and openness. Which was odd, Tracey used to be the outgoing one of the two.

 

Cassi was taken aback by Daphne's candour. In Roses memory, Daphne had always been a reserved and somewhat aloof girl, preferring to keep her emotions to herself. Earning her the name ice queen. But the girl standing in front of her was a far cry from the Daphne she had known. This Daphne was expressive, her feelings flowing freely without any restraint.

 

Cassi found herself enjoying Daphne's company. She was a breath of fresh air in the gloomy post-war atmosphere. And so, after a while, she asked Daphne to show her around Hogwarts and suggested they could work together while rebuilding. Daphne was ecstatic at the proposal, her face lighting up in a grin that was infectious. She agreed enthusiastically, her excitement palpable.

 

Tracey, on the other hand, just followed them silently. She didn't express any opinion, her face a mask of indifference. But Cassi could see the unmistakable look of disgust in her eyes. It was clear that Tracey did not approve of Daphne's open and free-spirited nature. But Daphne seemed oblivious to Tracey's disapproval, her focus solely on Cassi and the adventure that lay ahead.

 

And so, with Daphne's enthusiasm and Tracey's silent disapproval, they set off towards Hogwarts, the grand castle that had once been their school. The castle that had seen them grow and change, the castle that bore the scars of a war just like they did. But they were not here to dwell on the past. They were here to rebuild, to create a better future from the ashes of the past. And in that endeavour, they were not alone. They had each other, an unlikely trio brought together by fate and a shared goal.

 

Hogwarts

As the unlikely trio left the bustling pub behind, it was Daphne who led them towards the Hogwarts carriages, her steps brisk and purposeful. The carriages, once a symbol of joy and anticipation, now served another purpose - to transport those willing to help rebuild the castle. The sight of the Thestrals drawing the carriages made Daphne hiccup slightly.

 

Cassi turned to her, curiosity piqued. "What is it?" she asked, her voice gentle. The Daphne she remembered would never have shown such a reaction.

 

Daphne paused, her gaze flitting to the Thestrals before returning to Cassi. "I can see them now," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "the Thestrals." Her eyes held a faraway look, as if she was seeing something Cassi couldn't. "Before the war, my world was small, safe. But now... I've seen the shadow side of it."

 

Her voice trailed off and she hesitated before adding, "I was about to be sold to the Malfoys. As concubine you see. He used to wanted me to marry him, with the… political change he changed his stance, because I never showed interest in him before, so he would teach me how to behave. The things he was about to do to me." She paused. “And he made sure I knew of what was to come, what would happen, if I don’t obey” she nodded towards the Thestrals. “I saw his concubine” she spat that word “die. He made me watch.”

 

Cassi felt a chill run down her spine. She knew Malfoy was prejudice, but this gave it a new spin altogether. The thought of any girl being given to someone as a plaything was horrifying, even worse considering her new body.

 

Before Cassi could respond, Tracey interjected, her voice sharp. "You should be thankful, Daphne," she snapped. "It could have been so much worse. You could have been sold or married off to the likes of Crabbe or Goyle. Like me! And that would only be because I am a half-blood. I don’t even have any way of changing it, only because my father couldn’t keep his dick to himself as he was our age." She sneered with disgust. “And now not even this is safe.”

 

Tracey's words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the prejudices that still existed in their world. Daphne was silent for a moment, her gaze dropping to the ground. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but firm. "I acknowledge your struggles, Tracey. I really do. I shouldn’t complain so much."

 

The mood shifted, the air heavy with unspoken words. The war had left its mark on them all, in ways more than one. They climbed into the carriage, their silences only interrupted by the rattling of the carriage.

 

The Hogwarts carriages rattled to a halt at the entrance of the castle grounds. The once-imposing gates now stood broken and battered, a grim reminder of the war that had ravaged these hallowed halls. Cassi's heart tightened as she stepped off the carriage, her gaze sweeping over the familiar landscape, now marred by destruction.

 

The castle, once a beacon of light and learning, was eerily silent, its walls scarred by spells and curses. Its towers now stood broken, their grandeur lost. Yet, amidst the ruins, there was a strange sense of calm, a silence that was both haunting and comforting. It was as if the castle was quietly mourning its loss while standing tall in resilience.

 

The past came rushing back to Cassi - the blood and pain, the laughter and fun, the friendships forged and the lessons learned. Every stone, every corner of the castle held a memory. It was overwhelming, yet comforting.

 

They trudged on, their footsteps echoing in the silence until they came upon a large group of people - students, civilians, goblins, and some more professional-looking wizards. They were all there for one purpose - to mend the castle, to bring it back to its former glory.

 

The goblins, their faces grim as ever, were engrossed in their tasks, oblivious to the world around them. Some of the professional wizards, on the other hand, were guiding the volunteers, teaching them the basics of magical repair.

 

Cassi, Daphne, and Tracey hurried over to join them. As they listened to the instructions, Cassi found herself glancing at Daphne. Her friend's face was alight with a newfound openness and free spirit that the war had brought - a stark contrast to the Daphne she knew before.

 

Tracey, however, seemed less than pleased with this change in Daphne. Her lips were set in a thin line, her eyes flashing with a hint of disgust. But Daphne, engrossed in the lesson, seemed oblivious to Tracey's disapproval.

 

Cassi felt a pang of sympathy for Daphne and Tracey, being barely more than cattle sounds horrible. She couldn’t quite grasp why Tracey was still a stanch supporter of the old system, while Daphne changed so much. But she admired Daphne's spirit, her willingness to embrace change. It was a testament to her resilience, her ability to adapt, learn and grow amidst adversity.

 

They found themselves in a group listening to a wizard named Jean, his thick French accent wrapping around his words like a comforting blanket. He was explaining the intricacies of magical repair, how certain spells could irrevocably damage the very materials needed for the reparo charm. The bombardas, he explained, could alter the weight-bearing capacity of the ground, hence the need for meticulous checks.

 

Jean's words painted a vivid picture of the restoration process - from inspecting the ground and the thickness of the walls to the amount of mortar required. He spoke of transfiguration, of turning limestone into mortar, rocks into bricks, sand into glass. It was a dance of spells and charms, a symphony of magical craftsmanship.

 

In the midst of this, house elves would appear, bearing trays of food and water, their small forms flickering in and out like tiny sparks of light. Cassi couldn't help but marvel at their efficiency, their unwavering dedication.

 

Daphne, her eyes sparkling with interest, seemed captivated by Jean's lesson. She had promised to keep her newfound attitude under wraps, especially around Tracey, whose outlook was even bleaker than hers. Yet, every so often, Cassi would catch a glimpse of Daphne's spirit shining through, like a beacon in the gloom.

 

Tracey, on the other hand, wore a perpetual frown, her eyes reflecting a storm of thoughts. She seemed to be grappling with her own demons, her own battles. The war had left deep scars on all of them, and Tracey was no exception. Only she appeared to have found a different way to handle her situation.

 

The most fascinating part of the restoration process, however, was the goblins. Their method of repair was unlike anything Cassi had ever seen. They would melt the stone, inlay it with molten gold formed into runes, activate it, and the stone would rebuild itself. It was a spectacle of magic and craftsmanship, a testament to the goblins' skill and knowledge.

 

As the day wore on, the castle seemed to hum with a renewed energy. The walls, once broken and scarred, were slowly being mended, their cracks filled with mortar and magic. The towers, once toppled, were gradually regaining their height, their stones replaced with care and precision.

 

The task was monumental, the journey arduous. Yet, there was a sense of camaraderie that filled the air, a shared purpose that bound them all together. They were an unlikely trio - Cassi, Daphne, and Tracey, each grappling with their own wounds, their own fears. Yet, they were here, ready to rebuild not just the castle, but their lives.

 

A week had slipped by like sand through their fingers, each day merging seamlessly into the next. The enormity of the task had seemed insurmountable at first, yet here they were, Cassi, Daphne, and Tracey, working tirelessly, their hands and hearts committed to the restoration of the castle.

 

Their days were filled with the rhythmic hum of magic, the steady thud of stones being carefully laid, and the occasional squeak of a house elf offering refreshments. They had quickly become proficient at their tasks, no longer requiring constant supervision. They worked in harmony, each lost in their own thoughts, their own memories.

 

One day, as they were working close to the Gryffindor tower, the most damaged part of the castle, they heard familiar voices. It was Ron and Ginny, their words echoing through the hollowed-out tower.

 

"I believe the whole Dumbledore family is barmy," Ron was saying, his voice biting through the still air. "Everybody knows that fiendfyre destroys everything, I have heard that part of the speech at least five times! We will not find Rose's cloak or wand or something. This is a waste of time, Ginny!"

 

"Shut it, Ron," Ginny retorted, her voice holding a note of exasperation. "If he says there might be a chance, we will search. He even brought you all through the Horcrux hunt!"

 

"Dunno why Rose never wanted to tell us about him. Knowing someone was watching would have filled me with hope. Really... glory-hounding witch she was. I'm glad the times I have to play her friend are over."

 

Cassi felt a knot tighten in her chest. The words stung, their sharp edges cutting through the protective layers the old Rose had carefully built around her feelings. She felt a pang of betrayal, a raw wound reopened.

 

Neither Cassi nor Daphne noticed Tracey calculating look. She quickly whispered something into Daphne’s ears and her eyes lit up at the mention of potential treasures, adventures and to get one over someone of the golden trio. Something she really did enjoy sharing with her oldest friend. So, Daphne merely nodded as Cassi told her she quite had enough for the day, concentrating on adventure and freedom she could share with her oldest and most trusted friend she had.

 

Cassi, with a heavy heart, decided to take a break. She needed time to process the words she had overheard, to understand how Roses feelings could still hurt so much, to mend the cracks that those words have caused in her heart. She bid them a quiet farewell, promising to return after a few days.

 

Daphne watched her leave, a flicker of concern crossing her face. She would miss Cassi's company, but she also understood her need for solitude. As for the tower, Daphne couldn't help the thrill of anticipation that coursed through her veins. Only time would tell.

 

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the castle grounds, Daphne and Tracey continued their work farther away from the tower, only to come back in the night.

 

Cassi took drastic measures to protect herself from further pain. She deliberately distanced herself from the castle, that once was a place of joy and camaraderie, now tainted by the bitter taste of betrayal. Instead, she threw herself into a project of her own - building a house. It was a project born out of necessity, yes, but also a way to focus her thoughts on something else.

 

Building a house was not an easy task, even with the training she just had received. Yet, her eidetic memory proved to be a blessing, allowing her to recall every detail she had learnt with ease. The task was tedious, each brick laid and each rune inlaid was a step towards creating a sanctuary for herself. But it was also time-consuming, and in the long hours of physical labour, she found a respite from the tormenting thoughts that plagued her.

 

As the days turned into weeks, her house began to take shape and her worry and hurt lessened. It was as she were rebuilding herself, not just a simple and sturdy structure to live in. It was hers and it was she, built with her own hands, a testament to her resilience and determination. As she looked at the fruits of her labour, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

 

But the satisfaction was marred with regrets. She quite enjoyed her time talking with Daphne and with her absences she felt like she had killed that friendship in its infancy stages.

 

It did not help that Daphne, after finding no treasure and missing her new friend, had no chance of reaching out to her new friend.