C. M. Black: Eyes of an Owl

Chapter XXIX: Both past and future

It took several days of persuasion, but Cassy eventually got Harry to agree to call Sirius on the two-way mirror he had been gifted. It was almost midway through the Easter holidays that Cassy and Harry finally sat in the boys' dormitory surrounded by the remnants of their revision, with timetables scattered across the bed and floor from Harry's continuous discovery of the many places they had been hidden so he could never forget their schedule and balled up parchment with useless and half-hearted notes from his lessons discarded at Cassy's demand.

'Are you sure you do not want me to leave?' she asked as she tidied.

Harry shook his head. 'It doesn't bother me if you hear. I'll just end up telling you about it anyway.'

He had avoided speaking of his father to anyone else so far. It was a mix of shame and hopefulness that made him unable to even suggest that his father may have been less than a perfect man and there was always the chance the others would not see what the issue would be, given the severe hatred of Professor Snape all his friends harboured with no real secret. Everyone else was outside in the April sunshine to avoid their revision – although Hermione seemed to have taken hers with her down to the lake – so the pair took the unusual moment of calm to finally make the long overdue call.

The mirror flickered for a second, before Sirius' grey eyes popped into view and he grinned. His expression quickly dimmed and he frowned, asking, 'Harry, what's wrong?'

'Is he okay?' came Remus' call from somewhere out of sight.

'I'm fine,' said Harry. 'Cassy made me call.'

Cassy turned to stare at him flatly.

'Oh? Where is she?' asked Sirius.

'Glaring at me from the foot of my bed,' said Harry and Sirius huffed a laugh. 'I did want to call you, though. I have a few questions about my dad, actually.'

Harry spared no detail in his retelling of the memory he had seen. Sirius and Remus were unusually quiet until Harry finished and Sirius audibly shrugged.

'We were fifteen,' he said simply.

'I'm fifteen and I don't string people up by their ankles!' protested Harry much in the same way he did with Cassy.

'There was a lot of bad blood between James and Snape. They often fought and it came from both sides. Snape gave as good as he got,' came Remus' voice as Cassy worked on folding Harry's clothing he had scrunched and thrown into his trunk. They were delivered folded when the laundry was done, so how he managed to get them into that state she did not know, but what she did know that the sight was annoying and had to be corrected.

'Snape was jealous of James,' added Sirius. 'James was popular and good at sport, Snape was weird and practiced the Dark Arts. His only friends were Death Eaters. People naturally avoided him.'

'He attacked Snape because he was bored,' said Harry.

There was a sigh and Cassy heard it despite her inner debate whether she could haphazardly formulate a cleaning spell with only what she had seen Tonks do badly over the summer.

'I'm not proud of what happened,' defended Sirius.

'He grew out of it, Harry. The boy you saw then grew into a very different man by the time your parents got together,' said Remus softly.

'How did they get together?'

Harry's tone had switched from uncertain to eager and Cassy certainly did feel out of place as the reminiscence of his parents began to spill into the cool, quiet air of the Gryffindor dormitory. Sirius laughed at the mere thought of it. He and Remus launched into a long story and asked if James had ruffled his hair and when Harry nodded they burst into another round of fond laughter. Their story twisted and turned and by the end of it, neither Cassy nor Harry was any wiser on how his parents actually finally got together. There just seemed to be a lot of Quidditch matches and drinking and Lily playfully pretending to dislike James for the simple fact she knew it drove him mad. As the story trailed off, if it had ever really begun, Sirius' voice remained unusually gentle.

'That doesn't mean his rivalry with Snape ended just because James grew out of mean pranks,' he said as though it was still something amusing. 'They still fought, but it tended to be a bit more private than it had been.'

'James and Snape never saw eye to eye for as long as we were at school because James was incredibly loyal to those he cared about and given that Snape was part of a group who would never respect Lily, even when she and Snape had been friends, meant he couldn't stand him,' added Remus,

Harry blanched at the idea of Lily and Professor Snape being friends. Cassy rose an eyebrow, but supposed it was not impossible, given how she had defended him.

'Did Snape find out you had seen his memory?' asked Remus suspiciously.

Harry shrugged. 'He said he would never teach me Occlumency again.'

Sirius and Remus exploded into loud protests.

'He what?' demanded Sirius. 'I'm coming up there to have a word with him!'

'Are you serious, Harry?' asked Remus quickly.

'Yeah, but I don't see what the big deal is. I'm relieved, actually. Sirius, where are you going?'

'Sirius, you're not going anywhere. Get back here.'

At the sound of Remus' demand, Cassy sat herself down beside Harry and peered at the dull image of Grimmauld Place's dingy kitchen. Remus' salt and pepper hair was just in view as he had tilted the mirror away in an obvious effort to drag Sirius back to the table again.

'Cassy,' called Remus, 'make sure Harry goes back and speaks to Snape to ask him to continue the lessons.'

'Can't I just teach myself?' asked Harry, mortified at the prospect of begging Professor Snape for anything. 'Cassy does.'

'You can't just teach yourself Occlumency,' came Sirius' voice somewhere off in the distance. 'It takes far too much time and concentration. You must have someone teach you, Harry.'

Suddenly, Sirius' face popped back into view and he snatched the mirror back from Remus.

'Promise you will go and speak to him, Harry. Once Dumbledore hears of this he will make Snape continue the classes,' he continued.

'Fine, fine,' agreed Harry half-heartedly.

'Be careful and do not do anything reckless that might draw attention to yourselves,' he said pointedly.

As soon as the conversation ended, Harry snorted, 'Who is he to tell me to be careful? He got himself arrested, imprisoned, escaped, tried to murder someone again, and then went on the run!'

Cassy laughed. 'You are talking about the man who told you not to send Hedwig with letters because she's too conspicuous and then sends his replies by toucan.'

Harry laughed and in the days that followed everyone commented on his improved mood. When he had stopped brooding, their revision was much smoother and Harry actually listened to every word Cassy said instead of every other and the two were soon back on track, even with their added Occlumency practices. A few days later, large, caramel filled eggs arrived in the post, hand-made my Mrs Weasley and stamped with an approved sign from the post inspection. Revision turned into a poor mix of work and eating where far more chocolate was consumed than real work completed even with the exams just over a month away. Confident Harry would thrive under pressure as he always did, Cassy did not protest when he would become distracted or fabricate half his Divination homework with Neville and Ron.

It was towards the end of the holidays that posters were spread across the school announcing the upcoming careers advice sessions beginning next week for all fifth-year students. Leaflets appeared in the common rooms and any time between revision and eating was then spared thinking over what it was everyone wished to peruse in the future. In the Gryffindor Tower, it read:

CAREERS ADVICE

All fifth-years are required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the summer term to discuss their future careers. Time of individual appointments are listed below.

Cassy was top of the alphabetical list of fifth-year Gryffindors and was scheduled for ten o'clock Monday morning with everyone else later that day. It was fortunate that she was going first really because it seemed like she was the only one of her friends who had the slightest idea what they wanted to do. Leaflets were spread between them on the floor and even Ginny was flicking through them idly.

Ron picked up one and put it straight back down. He said, 'The qualifications they want for some of these are insane!'

'The best jobs are usually not the easy ones,' commented Hermione, who had taken nearly all the legal and advocating leaflets for herself.

Neville was nervously collecting everything on the lower end of the spectrum, not even bothering to touch anything Hermione had picked up in interest, while Harry read with the sort of interest one might display when reading the blurb of a particularly uncertain book purchase.

By the time Monday came around, the entire year had burst into nervous chatter of pre-planned discussions. Cassy left mid-way through History of Magic without an explanation to Professor Binns, it was not as though he would actually hear her anyway, and made her way to Professor McGonagall's office. She waited until exactly ten o'clock and then knocked loudly three times.

'Come in,' called a voice from within.

She poked her head around the door and greeted, 'Professor.' She then looked to the side as a shuffle of movement caught her eye and with much more carefully disguised dismay, greeted the same to Professor Umbridge, who had hidden herself in a corner of the office, clipboard and all.

'Black, take a seat,' ordered Professor McGonagall. 'We are here to discuss any career ideas you may have and I will do my best to advise you on what NEWTs to take and what options post-Hogwarts are available for you.'

Cassy nodded. Her hands were folded in her lap as she sat in the seat opposite. Professor Umbridge was already scribbling notes behind. Ignoring her, she said, 'I would like to be an Unspeakable, I think.'

There was no raised eyebrows or pointed stares from her Head of House as there would have been on anyone else's face.

'I am not surprised,' said Professor McGonagall, already searching through the leaflets on her desk. 'You need top grades, then to pass a mental comprehension test with could occur at any time in the allotted test period, even at home or while out with friends. You must be able to demonstrate clear thinking and critical understanding in everything you do in life.'

'Perhaps Miss Black should begin to work on that immediately if she intends for such a career. Certain beliefs and ideals must be reconsidered constantly as an Unspeakable, they cannot be stubborn in their thinking,' came the irritatingly sweet voice of Professor Umbridge and Cassy did not have to look behind her to know she was smiling widely.

'With all due respect, Professor, I hardly believe considering Muggleborns to be of equal worth to Purebloods will hold back my career prospects greatly,' said Cassy calmly, not even turning to her.

'I quite agree, Miss Black, now, there is not much more I can explain to you than the leaflet does. Unspeakable work is top secret. They are sworn to never divulge their work and no one is sure what is being done right now or at any period of time. It is not work you will be praised for besides a generally impressed congratulations that you are capable of such a career.'

Professor McGonagall flicked through a stack of sheets on her desk and pulled out one titled:

CASSIOPEIA MARILYN BLACK

NOVEMBER 14TH 1979

'Your current grades suggest you are more than capable of fulfilling the academic criteria and I know from your various endeavours around the school through the years that you have initiative and quick thinking, however, there is no clear way of entry into being an Unspeakable. They take only the best and in the last fifteen-years I have not heard of a single student applying for the role and being accepted. While I see no reason you would not be accepted, do you have a second plan?'

'If not I am considering working on the treatments of Dark ailments, perhaps specialise in Werewolves,' she said.

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow and looked pleasantly surprised.

'I am not sure what kind of a career market there is for that. You would have to get in touch with numerous people to work it out and even then that is something proven near impossible,' she said. While her words were not encouraging, her face and tone suggested she thought it was an excellent career idea.

'Believe me, Professor, I have the means to be self-sufficient while working out the details of it,' said Cassy with a smile.

'Sorry to interrupt again, Minerva,' called Professor Umbridge. 'But is Miss Black aware that it was me who drafted the latest anti-werewolf legislation? If she wishes to speak to someone about them then I would be willing to answer any questions.'

Professor McGonagall crinkled her nose and said, 'Thank-you for that, but I know Black has a keen interest in politics. I have seen her reading The Lords enough over the years to assume she did indeed already know that.'

Cassy was thankful for her teachers quick defence. She had begun to roll her lip between her teeth in an effort not to speak out in disgust at the woman's work. Instead, she shifted in her seat and drew Professor McGonagall's attention back to her.

'I was thinking of trying to create my own independent line of work with them rather than join an existing field. I have some ideas on them already and would like to be able to use my own theories on their transformations,' she explained and Professor McGonagall peered over the rim of her glasses at her seriously.

'That will require tireless work,' she said.

'I know,' agreed Cassy. 'I have been thinking about it for several years now.'

The Head of House did not ask further about it. She undoubtedly knew where Cassy's werewolf inspiration and fascination had come from and without wanting to spur on a debate with Professor Umbridge, she quickly looked back down at her grades.

'Given your latest results, I am certain you will get impressive overall OWL scores this summer and will be able to do whatever it is you have in mind,' she said.

'Forgive me, Professor, but I do not think it is wise to encourage children to gallivant with werewolves at their own discretion,' interrupted Professor Umbridge.

Professor McGonagall ignored her, handed Cassy several leaflets and said, 'You will need Potions, Defence, Transfiguration, Herbology, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, and Charms for either goal of yours. Seven if the maximum I am willing to allow.'

'I was wondering about Alchemy actually, Professor,' said Cassy.

'Miss Black,' she sighed. 'You do realise that NEWTs is more difficult than OWLs? You are already taking ten OWLs, more than most others. Do you not think the workload for eight NEWTs will be too much?'

No, in fact, it is boring more than anything, answered Cassy mentally.

'Is there no way I can take alchemy related classes? Even a distance learning course?' she asked.

Professor McGonagall sighed heavily and fixed her with a very pointed stare. Cassy knew the threat of 'What would your father think?' was on her lips and had Professor Umbridge not been present Cassy probably would have made a joke about how disappointed he would be to learn she was asking for extra work. She left with a promise that her Head of House would see what she could do about alchemy. If there was enough interest from other students then they might be able to work something out, although there was no guarantee.

Cassy left the meeting just in time to attend break. She did not tell anyone of her plans and instead focused on the irritating mound of unwanted pink frills in the corner of the classroom. Everyone groaned loudly and quickly began to rethink their planned conversations to avoid having to speak to the new headmistress as much as possible. The mood did not lift in potions class as Professor Snape threatened homework on the next two people who left for their meetings. Although Harry did manage a healthy looking Invigoration Draught.

'I'm definitely getting at least an "E" on this,' he said with relief as he filled up his vile.

Cassy smiled as he moved to put his sample of the desk at the front. Without warning, Malfoy bumped shoulders with him and sent the sample crashing to the ground. Professor Snape glanced over at them with disinterested eyes before turning to continue to berate Neville. Harry growled by returned to his desk and filled up another vile. With narrowed eyes, Cassy watched Malfoy double back around with his wand drawn to undoubtedly make him drop another sample, but Cassy was quicker and his wand was out of his hand in an instant. It sunk slowly into the cauldron of steaming cement Crabbe had made.

Malfoy let out a shriek of horror. Cassy busied herself cleaning and, when no one was watching, filled a vial of it and stuffed it in her inner pocket.

Hermione disappeared for half-an-hour at the start of Ancient Runes and returned to her seat with a beaming smile. Frantically, she scanned over the notes Cassy had duplicated with the use of a charmed quill to mimic her owns movements. She scribbled down the rest of what Professor Babbling dictated before class was dismissed. As soon as they exited, Hermione burst into an excited jig that Cassy had only ever seen her do when related to work.

'Professor McGonagall thinks I am right on track to work in Creature relations,' she gushed.

Cassy had a feeling Hermione would want to continue SPEW further, but was very grateful she had not. It was enough of a nightmare finding badges declaring her allegiance pinned to everything she owned last year, let alone in the presence of Professor Umbridge.

'Have you ever tried being excited about something other than work?' asked Cassy, amused.

'Have you ever tried being excited about anything at all?' countered Hermione.

The pair playfully bickered all the way to the Great Hall for lunch. People eyed them warily as they passed, unsure if the growing pointedness of the insults were real or not. Neville tuned them out and dug at him soup without ever once trying to calm the conversation. Dean and Seamus watched in amazement that neither girl had snapped yet and if it was not to the occasional glance from both to check the other was still playing along no one would have known there was nothing vicious in it at all.

'Are they always like this?' muttered Seamus loudly.

'They never agree,' told Dean knowingly. 'They're too alike.'

'We are not alike!' protested Cassy and Hermione simultaneously.

'Some of us are actually capable of following good instructions,' said Hermione tartly, her nose pointing upwards snootily.

Although not at all insulted by the comparison, Cassy made sure to look disinterested as she ripped apart a roll and said, 'And some of us are capable of independent thought to improve upon such instructions, but we cannot all be thinkers.'

She smirked and Hermione made an indignant sound, mouth agape.

'How rude! I think!' she protested and Cassy smirked, ready to challenge.

As she leant forward to pat Hermione's arm patronizingly with a soft 'yes, yes', Harry dropped onto the bench beside her. He eyes the two warily before he turned to Ron.

'How was your meeting?' asked Ron eagerly.

'Pretty good, actually. Umbridge tried to tell me I wasn't qualified for anything, but McGonagall assured her I got good marks in Defence with any competent teacher,' he grinned.

Everyone roared with laughter.

'Did she actually say that?' asked Hermione with a deeply satisfied smirk.

He nodded. 'She even offered to tutor me so I can get the grades I need to be an Auror, but I said I already had one of those.' He turned to Cassy, who was smiling, despite trying to detach the hand of spaghetti from her arm that Hermione had cursed to rise from the serving dish.

'Umbridge even accused McGonagall of wanting Dumbledore to take over as Minister of Magic,' he continued. 'She called her mad and I left at that point.'

'I wish I could have seen that! Imagine McGonagall verses Umbridge,' said Ron.

'Umbridge would lose,' said Dean.

'Yeah, there's no way McGonagall would lose to her. Not a chance,' agreed Seamus.

While vivid descriptions of the theoretical fight began to take shape, Cassy turned to Neville. She had not heard him laugh and he had yet to comment on anything that had been said. He did not greet her when she sat and neither did he ask after Hermione's meeting. In fact, he remained much as he had been when she had arrived, stooped over and moving his soup slowly in the bowl. She frowned.

'Neville,' she whispered.

He did not respond. Unwilling to bring attention to his sadness, she reached across the table and patted his arm, before retracting it quickly to make it look as though she had merely been reaching for another bread roll. He glanced up quickly and then immediately back down at his lunch.

'What's wrong?' she asked.

He shrugged.

'Was it your meeting?' she pressed.

Neville frowned. 'I suppose that's obvious, isn't it? That I would be told I'm not good enough to do what I want to do.'

'Do you want to talk about it?' she offered. 'We could go outside.'

'Forget it. Don't worry about me,' he said, waving the spoon.

'You know I'm here if you need me,' she said, frowning again. It was unlike Neville to reject an offer of help. He had never had any issue speaking with her before, even in first-year when she would really rather he leave her alone. He nodded slightly back at her and offered a watery smile. The shine in his eyes was oddly bright and upon closer inspection, Cassy realised Neville had been crying.

'Unless you can get me top grades next month then there is nothing you can do. I'll never be an Auror. Nothing Professor McGonagall could do or say could change that,' he said, still smiling. 'She suggested I speak to Professor Sprout about being a botanist or something, maybe even a teacher, but Umbridge just laughed at that suggestion.'

'Ignore her,' instructed Cassy firmly.

'She's right, though,' he said. 'You can't even say she's not. I'm not smart enough to be an Auror and I would just get walked over as a teacher.' He slid from his seat and collected his things with an unusual air of invisibility. No one seemed to notice his departure besides Cassy and as she looked around at their friends, she realised none of them had noticed there was anything wrong at all. She too rose from her seat and hurried after him. He said nothing as she fell into step with him, although she noted a slight increase in pace, as though he could possibly outpace her and avoid talking any longer.

'Neville,' she said firmly. 'I understand if you do not want to talk about it. I also understand why you want to be an Auror and I know it must be difficult to be told otherwise, but you are selling yourself too short. You have confidence and you have skills when you need them. You overthink and that is your problem. You would be a brilliant teacher if that is what you wanted.'

The fact that Neville wanted to be an Auror in memory of his parents was left unsaid. She thought it was a terrible idea. Neville was kind-hearted, he was someone who could offer support and advice and comfort. Dumbledore's Army proved what the years before had not and that he could indeed fight when needed, but she was certain that was not his calling. In a state of constant combat he would manage, but he would not thrive, in the same way Cassy knew she could never be an Auror. They were meant for something else.

The remainder of lunch was spent with Cassy hopelessly trying to cheer Neville up. She had gone over his other talents, his options, and even ventured into the unspoken territory of what she valued in him as a person, although she internally withered at having to verbalise her sentiment. It would have been much better had she brought Hermione with her, she thought. Hermione was much more tactful when it concerned genuine feelings and although Cassy was confident she could talk her way out of nearly anything, she was only slightly more able to comfort at sixteen-years-old than she had been at eleven without feeling like a fool.

The pair of them slunk into Defence Against the Dark Arts just in time and took their usual seats. She spent most of the lesson trying to catch Hermione's attention and communicate the problem non-verbally, but only twice did she look her way and both times resulted in a questioning raised eyebrow. She huffed heavily and scribbled out a note. Coughing as she ripped the parchment to cover the sound, she then folded it into a paper plane as Dean had once shown her and threw it directly into Hermione's bushy hair.

The other scowled and Cassy looked back at her notes. She could easily tell Hermione afterwards about it, but she wanted her to talk to Neville as soon as class was over before he had a chance to slink away again. Hermione unfolded the note which simply had an arrow pointing to her left with the word 'sad' beneath it. She turned back to Cassy with an expression of concern and annoyance.

There was a sudden pop outside and a surge of voices followed. Another bang rang out somewhere in the distance.

'Face forward, please. Do not look at the door,' said Professor Umbridge calmly.

Everyone who had turned to peer turned back again, but the noises did not stop. They became louder and louder and the bangs continued to echo through the castle. A shriek; a pop; a fizzle that sounded distinctly like a firework.

'Stay here,' said Professor Umbridge sternly. The moment the door was open the sounds became incredibly loud; voices echoed up and down the halls, the cheers and screams of curious students who had already left their classrooms. Seamus crept to the door and poked his head out.

'She's gone!' he announced and everyone rushed from their seats and down the hall in the direction of all the commotion. They emerged at the staircases. The marble railings were lined with students and at the moment they halted, the nearest door opened and Professor McGonagall stepped forth with a class of curious sixth-years lingering behind. Her wand was drawn and she surveyed the scene below severely. Footprints stained every floor and several students stood with a thick, black paste coating from their feet to their knees. Splatters of yellow and green covered many more and the empty shells of fireworks littered the ground floor far below.

With a sniff, she moved forward to banish the cause of the commotion, but Professor Umbridge came bumbling through at that moment with her own wand drawn at the slowly spreading swamp at the foot of the staircase. Whatever it was she did, did not work and instead made the swamp bubble and swell.

Cassy glanced at Professor McGonagall, only to find her wand had been tucked back in her pocket.

As more flashes and crashes fill the lower halls, Professor Umbridge looked frantically up at the upper levels. She set her beady eyes on Professor McGonagall and ordered her immediate assistance. To her credit, Professor McGonagall did move down the staircases with her wand drawn, although very lazily and Cassy was not entirely certain she was putting any effort into the spells at all. It looked as though she was making the hand movements and not completing the spell, except for one which caused the swamp to surge and consume the Headmistress' pink shoes.

'Does this have anything to do with your brothers?' asked Hermione with her best forced disapproving face.

'I hope so,' breathed Ron.

'Filch! Inquisitorial Squad!' screeched Professor Umbridge. 'Round up whoever is responsible for this! Filch, get the whip.'

Filch's cry of delight ricocheted off the walls.

Everyone ignored the Headmistress' demands they return to class and as the bell rang to signal class changeover even more people joined the spectacle. Several teacher loitered in the crowds, but like Professor McGonagall, made no effort to help the situation. The noise died suddenly and an ecstatic yell broke through.

'We've got them,' called Malfoy, beaming. Behind him were Cassius Warrington, an upper year Slytherin, and Millicent Bulstrode, a black-haired, square-jawed and tall Slytherin girl. Each held one Weasley twin, who struggled and writhed; despite their stocky builds, they could not escape the chains summoned around them. Thrown onto the floor at the Headmistress' feet, they glared up at her with utter contempt, void of their usual boisterousness.

Ron paled.

'So, you think you can just set fireworks and swamps loose in my school?' she drawled.

'Well, yeah, it is what just happened,' said Fred blandly.

'Well, you can't!' she snapped loudly. She turned to Filch, who pushed his way through the crowds, long cords in hand. 'I think a public punishment will demonstrate to the entire school here what happens when you disobey my rules.'

Filch hopped on the spot, almost salivating at the chance to finally use his weapons.

'I don't think we're up for that,' said George with a shrug.

'It's not an option!' shrieked Professor Umbridge.

'It is if we're not students here anymore and you know what, George?' said Fred.

'What, Fred?' said George.

'I think we might have outgrown education,' said Fred.

'You know, Fred, I had just been thinking the same thing,' he replied and flicked his wand.

They pair rose and towered over Professor Umbridge. Her hands were on her hips and she sneered, widening her toad-like mouth even further.

'You leave when I tell you to,' she growled.

There was no negotiation though for a sudden crack rang loudly and two broomsticks shot passed the gathered students and straight at Fred and George. From years of Quidditch practice, the two effortlessly jumped and mounted their moving broomsticks and flew high out of reach.

'We don't want you to keep in touch,' called Fred.

'Yes, please be sure to leave us very much alone. Your company shall not be missed,' said George. He then turned to gaze at the mass of watching students. 'If anyone wants to buy a portable swamp, come to ninety-three, Diagon Alley and look for Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.'

Fred grinned and turned to Peeves, who had very much enjoyed the commotion.

'Give her hell from us, Peeves,' he said.

Peeves saluted as the Fred and George flew off into the darkening sky, chain pegs still hanging from the ends of their brooms.

Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter.

I hope you enjoy this one. Just one more after this before the trip to the Ministry begins and the final arc of the year is underway! There are thirty-five chapters in all for the year, so we're on the home stretch.

Thanks!