Hello…
It's been a while. We apologize, mostly I do. Writer's block is a terrible thing.
In other news, this chapter is finally finished, and we can move on to the next. Once again, sorry if you have been waiting patiently for the next chapter to be posted.
BUT YOUR WAIT IS OVER!
Seriously, although it isn't super long please enjoy!
Disclaimer: This work is purely for fun and anything recognizable is more than likely not our work. If there are similarities, please take it as a compliment from us and give credit to those deserving.
CHAPTER TWELVE: PART TWO – A Day in Hogsmeade
"Albus whatever-your-middle-names-are Dumbledore! We are going to Hogsmeade today whether you like it or not! I am not staying at Hogwarts or going to the village by myself for the last trip of the year! I'm going to make you put down your studies if it is the last thing I do!"
Cassie shouted as she stormed through the doors of the Great Hall and up to the Gryffindor table, where an unperturbed Albus sat finishing his breakfast. She flopped down onto the bench across from him to allow her a full view of his face.
You aren't going to get out of this buddy!
"Albus, did you hear me, or are you just ignoring me once again?"
He looked up from the book he was reading to gaze disinterestedly at her.
"Yes, I heard you and I did not feel it necessary to answer you. You know I never visit the village. Besides final exams are approaching, and I must study. I simply cannot go." He said finishing the last few bites of his breakfast and standing from the table.
"I'm terribly sorry my dear, but you'll have to go alone."
Cassie jumped from her seat to follow him in protest.
"NO, NO, NO, NO! You are not doing this to me! I have sat with you all year in that stuffy library. I like books just as much as the next person, but you're taking this a little too far Albus. You need a break and I insist that you come to the village with me."
Cassie grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop a few steps into the corridor. Unable to turn him around, she stepped in front of him.
"You've been studying like mad all year! I swear by now you could probably take your N.E.W.T.S and pass!"
Albus looked down at Cassie, smiling softly.
"My Dear, you can flatter me all you like. It isn't going to change my mind."
"Please, Albus! Just this once. I won't complain about your studying for the rest of the year, and you can even help me study if you want!" Cassie pleaded.
"Is it really this important for you to go to the village with me?" Albus asked.
"Yes, I want to experience it with you! I want to spend time with you outside of the castle."
I swear to god, it's like pulling teeth to get him to do anything he doesn't want to do. Just give me this one thing!
Albus was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Fine, we can go to Hogsmeade together."
"Yay!" Cassie shouted, jumping up and down while clapping her hands together.
"But," Albus added quickly. "You will follow the study schedule I create for you, without any complaints."
"Yes, yes whatever! Let's go!" Cassie said trying to drag him out of the castle.
Albus allowed her to pull him, chuckling at her behavior.
LINE BREAK
"Where would you like to go next, Albus? We've already gone to Honeydukes and Scrivenshaft's. Would you like to stop and get lunch, or continue shopping?" Cassie asked as the two of them walked down the main street of Hogsmeade.
"Lunch sounds wonderful, Dear. We've been walking for ages, let's go sit and recoup." Albus said, leading Cassie in the direction of the Three Broomsticks.
The entrance of the pub was crowded with more people than normal. However, with exams so close it wasn't that surprising. The two shuffled inside the pub and search for an empty table to sit at.
"Oh, there's one! Why don't you go claim it for us and I'll go up to the bar to order for us?" Cassie said, leaving before Albus could answer.
He shook his head before making his way over to the table to stare at it in disgust. Reaching into his robes, he withdrew his wand and swiftly cast a cleansing spell over the area. Throwing it one more questionable look he sat with care, unsure of the integrity of the furniture. Once settled, he could hear the whispers of the conversation happening around him.
"Why didn't he go up and order? Doesn't he know any better…"
"Look at his hair! It's so long and…and RED! Doesn't he own a brush…"
"How indecent! I can't believe they are out together without a chaperone. The impropriety of young people these days…"
"Did you hear her accent? She's American! I would never be caught spending time together with an American…"
"What a long mane of red hair! He must have some Scottish heritage, the inbred…"
Albus sat still in his seat. He was so still that he could be mistaken as a startlingly lifelike figurine. Silently seething in rage, he counted down the seconds of Cassie's return. As she could provide an apt distraction from the ignorance of the Christian muggleborns littered around the pub.
Thankfully, he didn't have to wait for long as he could see Cassie making her way back through the crowds.
As she rejoined Albus at their table, the Gryffindor was pulsating with toxic energy, no longer able to hold back his ire. The air hung around him like a thick fog of poison gas, ready to attack anyone who entered it.
Cassie, however, was oblivious to the malicious nature around her friend and sat down as if nothing was wrong.
"Here's our drinks."
Albus didn't hear her. He couldn't hear anything over the blinding rage consuming his thoughts.
Who the fuck did these people think they are?!
Suddenly, a man sitting at the table next to them rose too quickly for his drunk brain to process and, as he fell, proceeded to spill the contents on his glass right on Cassie's head.
The following reaction as like a gun firing.
Albus leapt over the table, wand, and manners forgotten as he lunged for the drunkard.
Cassie, still trying to process the wetness of the situation, sat in shock as a brawl ensued within the tavern. Dishes went flying as the two men grappled for purchase. Albus clawed at the other man, trying to get at his throat.
A flash burst to life from Cassie's wand causing the room to go still. The immobulus causing the fight to become more like a still renaissance painting. Acting quickly, Cassie untangled Albus from the fight and, casting a quick levicorpus, literally dragged him out the door.
Quite a way away from the pub, and some time, later Cassie released her spells. Albus, who had been a statue of furry, came alive and was immediately dropped face first onto the ground.
"Ow"
Cassie crossed her arms, glaring her motherly disapproval.
"Why did you do that? It was clearly an accident and there was no need for you to get upset and violent about it."
Albus rose to his feet. The fire in his eyes were almost enough to make Cassie back down, almost.
"Those… those muggles! They were disgracing me! Disgracing you! And you simply expect me to do nothing when they PURPOSELY degrade you in such a manner!"
"YES!" Cassie shouted.
Albus froze fire still in his veins, with confusion written upon his face.
"What do you mean yes?"
Cassie turned to look out at the forest, her arms pulled close to her chest.
"My whole life, I have had people laughing at me. Hurting me, degrading me. Not just in the muggle world but the wizarding world too. There is no difference between the type of people who wish to cause me harm other than the presence or lack of magic. And the whole time, they only proceeded to do such things because they wished for a reaction from me. A crack in my shell. A crack that if they see signals that they won!"
She turned back to face Albus, ice coursing through her brown eyes.
"Never, NEVER, let them see you break."
"They need to learn." Albus countered, "Need to be made a lesson of. Wizards will never be safe as long as muggles infect our world with their filth. We need to subjugate them, not ignore them."
Cassie's eyes softened, Hufflepuff colors showing true.
"And what would that accomplish? You want equality, yet you talk to slavery. People are people Albus, pureblood, half-blood, or muggle. I guarantee, for every bad muggle, there is the same number of bad wizards. Do you plan to kill them all? When you could show them a better path. No one ever accomplishes anything through fear and the breaking of wills. To change others to be good people you need to persuade them to your side. Make them realize that they are wrong through love and devotion. Otherwise, you are fighting a losing battle from the beginning."
He turned to look out over the forests pausing to think before answering.
"I'm tired of the people I care about getting hurt."
Cassie stepped forward, her hand raising to rest on his shoulder.
"Then make a world where they don't."
They walked back to the castle in silence. The evening dew collecting on the undergrowth barely disturbed by their movements.
Upon reaching the castle, Albus stopped in front of Cassie. His eyes downcast and avoiding her gaze.
"Thank you…. for today…"
"Your welcome"
They walked into the castle together. The storm within them still raged. Waves beat against the rocks of their emotions. All outward appearances showed two quiet children, even though they were anything but. The war that raged inside them mirroring the one that, in the future, was yet to come. How do you quiet a hurricane?
Thank you so much for reading! If you want, reviews are always welcome.