Black Curiosities
Magical Feeling

"Are you still wondering why your magic is telling you to return to England," her benefactor wrote in a letter attached to an owl Cassie found quite beautiful with its black feathers. However, she suspected the owl wasn't native to the country.

"No. I'm not still wondering," Cassie thought as she read that line. "I'm already helping the people of Middleton with my shop. Although, I can't help but suspect there is more going on right now, that there's something my benefactor doesn't want to tell me."

Her benefactor slipped a couple of articles in their letter, which she at first paid no mind beyond the news articles falling from her benefactor's letter onto the counter in front of her. There was a line in the letter, " Keep in mind the articles I 've sent with my letter are written by Rita Skeeter, who, as you should very well remember, has no journalistic integrity. "

And at first, Cassie thought the articles were meant to inform her someone had been foolish enough to try and restart the Twiwizard Tournament. " Which can 't have ended well, as historically, every time they've tried, the attempt has ended in a major disaster, but you'd think that in this day and age they would, I don't know, prioritize the student's safety. But then, the ministry has always been behind Muggle society in certain aspects. "

Yet as she read through the article, she saw the real reason as she picked up a familiar name, her mind remembering how Martha wasn't able to name the prestigious boarding school that one Hermione Granger went to, only for Cassie's benefactor to let her know the child the Muggle mayor of Middleton bragged about was like her—a witch.

"Yet why did my benefactor want me to know that rather than me figuring that out on my own? Particularly since there is absolutely no guarantee of the two of us running into each other, given she'll only be here on breaks," Cassie thought. "And if the articles are anything to go by, she might be too busy even for that." This led to the thought, "I do wonder how the Grangers are doing with their daughter not returning for the holidays. They must miss her. I wonder if my magic will lead me to do anything about that, but we'll have to wait and see."

And—

"I'm still waiting to discover the significance of Grey House, the how and why I inherited, given…."

The bell over the door jingled, and Cassie quickly packed the letter away, grinning as the owl flew out the door, startling Jake as he came in, as did the two boys who were with him, that his hands gripped onto the back of their shirts tightly, but as the owl flew out the open door, one of the boys said, "See. I told you she's a witch."

Cassie frowned, wondering what was going on, and tilted her head. "If that were true, is that really a bad thing?"

The two boys looked at her, horrified, while Jake sighed. "That's not helping, you know."

"Is it?" Cassie asked. "I mean, if I were a witch, is there anything wrong with using magic to help people?" She let out a laugh. "But to be honest, the items I offered here, boys," Cassie said, watching the two squirm. "Isn't magic, but simple natural remedies that anyone can do." Which, in turn, "Is why I don't run foul of the Ministry of Magic. I simply use my magic to figure out what people need and go the natural route every time."

"Yes, well," Jake let out a deep breath. "These two rapscallions…."

"Oh! You must be Martha's boys?" Cassie asked.

And there was that horrified look as the younger of the two, who hadn't spoken before. "How did you know?"

"I recollect your mother being in here using the same words, but what do I owe this visit to?"

"These two owe you some community service hours," Jake said. "I caught them trying to egg and toilet paper your house."

"I told you we shouldn't," the younger boy started to say while the older shook his head, shutting him up.

"Surely that is a bit extreme for their age?" Cassie asked.

"Yes, well, this isn't a criminal punishment," Jake said. "It's the punishment Martha decided fits the crime, but they're to report to either you or my father-in-law—he's the caretaker for Grey House, by the way, for tasks to do until the end of summer."

"Isn't that a bit extreme?"

"I've not decided yet, given I'm still surprised Martha didn't defer to Tom," Jake said.

"We embarrassed the mayor," the youngest said, looking far more admonished. At the same time, Cassie realized her words to Martha about having more faith in her ability to discipline the boys, yet something told her Martha wasn't mincing words about her boys being rapscallions.

"Well," Cassie said, looking at the storefront. "How about the two of you report to George O'Hanrahan for your first task at Grey House tomorrow? And if your mom asks, I didn't want you getting home late and getting in more trouble?"

She watched the two boys look at each other before they nodded, and Jake let go of the backs of their shirts. Jake let out a sigh, shaking his head as he did so. "Well, you will certainly have your hands full the next few days."

"I'll manage," Cassie said. "Life's not managed to throw too many curve balls at me that I can't handle."

"Wait? A baseball reference?"

"I am from America, though I wouldn't be against watching a good soccer game, or football as you call it over here. You'll tell me when there are any local games?"

"I sure will," Jake said, turning to leave but then stopping and glancing over his shoulder. "I've actually heard you're having a positive effect on the residents here in Middleton. Whatever magic you're doing, keep it up."

"As I told the boys," Cassie said, laughing, "It's just good old-fashioned natural remedies. And sound advice."

"Anyways, see you around Casse Nightingale."

The bell over the door dinged as he left, and she started looking over her inventory right before turning the sign in her front window to let everyone know she was closed. There was a strange feeling when another ding was heard, and she thought nothing of it, not until—

"I need your help," she heard someone say.

And then, Cassie saw the Dark Mark shoved into sight, right where she could see the terrifying tattoo of a snake writhing out of a skull.

She took a deep breath and looked up, not understanding why her magic hadn't warned her about the presence of a Death Eater in her shop, only to find herself staring at the person in front of her.