Chapter 4
After introduction, professor Slughorn escorted her to dorms and gave her the new password. A new bed and desk have been added to the fifth year dorm, for her. After inviting her once again for his little get together with some of the students, which, just like on the way to the dungeons, refused, he left her to catch up on sleep.
Cassandra sat gingerly on the bed. As if she could sleep right now. Rummaging through her pockets, she found a parchment, and took one of the feathers from the desk. She needed to do something, and what better to start with than a list.
She needed clothes, and a uniform. Based on what she saw of the students in passing, the fashion changed a little (a lot).
What happened to her original clothes? Is there a storage of ancient stuff, forgotten by everyone, lost and found? Did the house elves take them?
1. Go ask in the kitchens about her old clothes
She mused a little, and added two follow ups.
1. Go ask in the kitchens about her old clothes
a)Look in the Room of Requirement?
b)Sneak to Hogsmeade and buy new.
Which brought her to another point. What of the money she had stored away? There was always a small amount on her person, but probably not enough to start a life.
If her clothes stayed here, her money must have as well.
2. Go look in the Room of Requirement anyways - what happened to my study?
Professor Weasley knew about her beasts, thankfully, she would have taken care of them. But it still would be nice to have that space back.
3. Sneak to Hogsmeade and check on my house.
Her heart panged at the memory of her house elf Penelope. Thankfully, she couldn´t be returned to her old master, as she was in Azkaban, but Cassandra wondered what happened to her. Faustus probably wrecked her house actually, if there was no one to clean up afterwards.
Oh, who is she kidding? Her house has been abandoned for over 80 years, the village probably sold it to some other resident. Her quill almost broke in her hands.
She took a break to breathe, and put her head in hands.
With every passing minute she realized another thing she lost to this stupid situation. At first, she mourned the loss of her friends, and everything she knew. Now, she is adding to the list essential things, like her house, money, even stupid dresses. Which seems very shallow of her, but goddamnit, she never owned anything before Hogwarts. Everything in the orphanage was to be shared.
With a groan, she returned to her list.
4. Check on Undercroft
After Sebastian shared Undercroft with her, and Ominis came around, it became their place, all three of them. With Sebastian in Azkaban, and her presumed death, poor Ominis stayed alone. Was that place too full of memories for him, would he even return down there?
Her hand was shaking as she wrote down the words- it would be painful to go, but she had to. It was difficult to admit, but she was scared for Ominis. Anne left the country, his best friend fell to dark arts and went to Azkaban, and she…
They became close friends, yes. But it was left unspoken, that with time, they could be more. He would lay down with a pillow on her lap, playing with her fingers as she read some passage from their textbook. Every morning, he would wait in the common room, holding out his arm to escort her to breakfast.
Most of his peers were afraid of his family, and those who were not, kept at distance by Ominis himself. Only Anne and Sebastian, and then Cassandra got close. She was someone to him.
(She was afraid of what a lonely, heartbroken Ominis was capable of)
Gods, she desperately wanted to know what became of her friends. But how would she even start? Unless they all became famous, and history books talked about them, it would be difficult.
2 years before Hogwarts, a book made its way to the orphanage she was at, about a detective called Sherlock Holmes. Only the boys were taught to read, but luckily she snuck to the lessons as well, and borrowed the book during nights.
If only she could ask some detective to find the information for her. Did wizards have detectives? A muggle one would have trouble finding wizards, who were probably already gone.
That was enough for now. She can add other items later.
Cassandra stood up and stretched. Onwards to the kitchen then.
The common room was empty, everyone in classes. Or not, she thought as her eyes landed on a lone figure lounging on the sofa, book open. It was the boy from before. He looked up at the sound of steps, and waved, lazily.
“Hi, again.”
“Hello. Do you not have class?”
What was his name? Black…. Regulus.
Regulus smirked, and put away the book back into the bookcase. “Headmaster thought you might be restless, and since I am already somewhat aware of your situation, he asked me to help, if you wanted to familiarize yourself with the castle.”
“I don’t need a chaperone.” Cassandra frowned.
“You got one anyway.” he replied, “If it makes you feel better, think of me as a buffer between curious students and professors. I might be able to help.”
Defeated, Cassandra nodded and waited for Regulus to join her by the stairs. “Very well. It might be nice to have company.”
“Lead the way. Where are we going?’
“First, kitchens.” He raised an eyebrow at that, but made no further comment.
It was a short journey, and she was happy to see the entrance hadn't changed. She did however note that Regulus almost passed the portrait of the bowl of fruit, and stopped only after he almost walked into her. Either he was lost in thought, or he was about to learn the location of the kitchen for the first time.
Cassandra tickled the pear, and giggled at the slight surprise on her companion's face as the painting revealed a door. He quietly walked in behind her.
The house elves were as busy as always, stirring pots bigger than themselves, cutting vegetables, and running around with ingredients. The head elf noticed and immediately ran towards them, bowing and welcoming them, asking how he could help the honored guests .
“Hello Feddo, I am sorry we are disturbing you before lunch. I wanted to ask, if you would be so kind and find me something small to snack on, and answer a few questions for me.”
“Of course, Feddo would love to make something for young lady and young mister.” he bowed again quickly, and returned with a few sandwiches. Cassandra and Regulus thanked the elf, and while Cassandra started eating one, Regulus packed it for later.
“Young Miss wanted to ask a question?” Feddo twisted his fingers, anxiously waiting. His eyes flickered back towards the back of the kitchen, probably wanting to get back to cooking and supervising, but too polite to say.
“Just a quick one. If, let’s say, a student disappeared and left their whole trunk and luggage in the dorms, what would happen to it?”
“Oh, Feddo is not sure. Feddo thinks it would be sent back to the student’s family.”
“What if they didn’t have a family to send it to?”
“Oh, then probably it would be given to a friend of the student, if they asked. Otherwise, it would be stored where all forgotten things go.”
“Perfect, thank you very much. Have a great day Feddo.”
she thanked and quickly turned to leave, Regulus like a shadow behind her.
After a few moments of silent walking, Regulus spoke up.
“So, when are you from?”
Despite the amusement from the awkward phrasing, she was surprised. “I thought headmaster explained, when he asked you to accompany me.”
“He wasn’t keen on sharing your personal business.”
Well, that was nice. It probably wouldn’t hurt to tell Regulus. He already knew some of it.
“I started Hogwarts in my fifth year in 1890, and got sent here at the end of the term, so 1891.” Cassandra admitted,” no one quite knows how.”
“But you have an idea..?”
Cassandra pursed her lips. “Well… Yes. I don’t know why it happened, or the specifics of how, but. It would be just my luck for it to happen.”
Regulus took in the information. He then decided to change the topic. “So, was the visit with the elves useful then? Do you know where ‘all forgotten things go’?”
“Well, it was somewhat useful. If my friends truly believed me dead, they probably took my things with them, and no matter how hard I look for them, they are gone. If they hoped I would somehow come back, they might have hidden them themselves. There are a few options I will have to check.”
First of them was her former study. They were on the way to the seventh floor, and Regulus was following without questions, lost in thought.
“Out of curiosity, do you know this room?” Cassandra asked, as they stood in the corridor in front of the hidden door.
At his silence, she chuckled. “So, time for you to learn another secret.”
She started to walk up and down the corridor, focusing.
I need the room of forgotten things
Slowly, a familiar door appeared. Cassandra looked around, making sure they were alone, and opened the door, quickly motioning for Regulus to come inside.
He followed, eyes wide. “What is this?”
“The room where forgotten things go,” Cassandra laughed.
The room was a mess, very similar to her first experience with it.
“Accio my trunk!” she waved her wand, and waited a moment. Nothing happened, and she sighed. The chance to find her old things just lowered drastically.
“Well, it was worth a try. But, nevertheless!
This is not how I would usually visit this room. Watch your head.”
She started to imagine her old study, with tall glass ceiling, circular layout and bookcases on sides. Marble floor with green imagery, and dark green walls. Staircase on both sides, leading to the balcony with her vivariums. The passageway to the lower chamber, filled with her botany tables and potions brewing.
The ground under her feet started shaking, and she felt a breeze on her face as the room started rearranging itself. Regulus let out a surprised yelp as a desk came a little too close for comfort. Once he let out a silent exhale of wonder, Cassandra finally opened her eyes. Her room was back.