Chapter 5
The curious thing about the Room of Requirements is that to some degree, it knows what you require, even if you do not know it at the moment. Even if you did not specifically ask for a nice cozy place to read books in, it might set up a cozy armchair by window or fireplace anyways. Or, even if you did not tell her you wanted to come back and continue where you left off, it would still find a way.
Last year, she would come and go, and the room would be ready for her. Her herbs and plants grew, by the time she got back, as time passed. Deek’s assignment to help her in the room and his constant presence started to make more and more sense. The time passed in the room, only if someone was inside, using it. After her ‘death’, he must have returned to his previous duties.
And the room, frozen in stasis, waited for her. It came as a shock, that everything stayed as she remembered it. An old cup of tea by the loom. Potion of invisibility was bubbling in the corner - she would probably throw it away and start again, who knew how time affected the potency.
“Oh my gods, Regulus!” she exclaimed, excitedly grabbing at his shoulder. “Prepare to be amazed…!” she flashed him a smile full of teeth, for the first time in 24 hours feeling lighter.
He only raised an eyebrow, but let himself be dragged up the stairs.
Her favorite vivarium was on the little balcony - the midnight sky and enchanted forest inside was a place she loved the most. Regulus gave her a skeptical look as she opened the doors to the little glass pumpkin structure, but she winked and jumped inside.
Cassandra breathed in the fresh air, and closed her eyes. Soon enough, a leathery snout was pushing on her cheek. They were alive. She hugged the curious thestral around its neck, relieved they were fine. It would also be a little awkward, to make such a fuss in front of her classmate, only to bring him inside an empty room, or worse, a room full of dead animals. Her reputation would never recover.
The unicorn family was always a little shy, but a quick glance to the river revealed they were fine as well.
“Are those…”
“Can you see them?”
“Yes,” he replied curtly, offering no further explanation. He slowly approached, hesitantly reaching out hand towards its mane, petting softly. He then must have noticed movement, because he paused and did a full turn.
“They are such fascinating creatures, aren’t they? So gentle.” Cassandra smiled, as she watched Regulus looking in fascination at the Mooncalves dancing and playing with a Moon shaped ball, along with the unicorn foal.
“I thought the last ones were in Scamander’s sanctuary. This is amazing!”
He let out a shock of laughter as Hazel the unicorn sniffed him curiously, letting him pet her. It was surprising, his expression softer and unguarded for the first time since they met.
It was a good idea to take him here. As Poppy would say, the animals are a great judge of character.
“Give me a moment, I need to take care of them a little. There are other vivariums, if you want to come with me. Or you can wait here, up to you.”
She then busied herself with refilling the feeder, brushing the animals that required it and cleaned out the enclosure. She repeated the process in all vivariums, Regulus following with curiosity after her, throwing a ball with his wand to entertain the beasts a little.
Before they entered the last vivarium, Cassandra stopped him. “This one is a little special, so do everything I tell you, alright? There is a family of Graphorns, and while they know me, I earned their trust. So, be very respectful, alright?”
“How the hell do you have a family of graphorns just hidden away here? They are extremely endangered.”
“Well, I know they are rare, but how endangered?” she asked anxiously.
“Let's just say, the last breeding pair was known in the 1920s.”
That took a little time to digest. She wanted to release all the beasts at the end of the year, with the help of Poppy or professor Howin. They surely had connections and knew what to do, and would have helped protect them. It felt like it was too late now.
She wondered what happened to the Golden snidgets they found, and left in the protection of centaurs. Could they help now? Would they?
“Well, that is something to think about later. Gods, time can be cruel. Lets go in.”
The sunny plains awaited them behind the doors, and the old ruin stood proudly to the right still. The phoenix liked to perch there, but sometimes he would come down, if in the mood to play.
Regulus stayed close to her as she filled the feeder, just like she asked him to. A tug on her sleeve interrupted her storming thoughts. “They are coming. Merlin, he is so big.”
And a second later she could feel it as well, as the ground started to shake under their feet, as 4 graphorns started running towards them. The Lord towering over his mate, and their small children tripping over their little feet. The sight did bring a smile to her face, but also a fear for her companion. She grabbed his wrist and stood a little in front of him, bowing low. Regulus quickly copied her, his eyes opened wide, staring into the ground. She looked carefully at the giant graphorn, watching for a reaction.
His head lowered down towards them and his warm breath washed over them, first her, and then Regulus as well.His breathing stuttered a little, and she squeezed his wrist in comfort.
The graphorn then leaned back and slowly bent his leg, lowering its body towards ground in an elegant motion. His head lowered, intelligent eyes maintaining contact with her.
“Look at him,” she whispered. After a few heartbeats, Regulus raised his head and looked forward.
They waited until the graphorn straightened up, and so did they.
“Regulus, meet the Lord of the Shore,” she smiled at him, and raised the wrist she was still holding towards the beast's head.
She received an alarmed look for it, but he obediently pet it.
“It is so surreal. I am petting a graphorn, which is near extinction, on a meadow, inside a secret room, in a castle.”
“Magic is amazing. How would you like to ride one?”
“Wh-” she didn't give him time to answer, and she took him to the Lord's side, who obediently kneeled to make the climb easier. “Are you serious?” he asked, and cringed at his question for some reason.
“Very much. Go, I will follow.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, he eventually managed to climb up, with a few pointers. Cassandra climbed up behind him.
“Here, hold onto these,” pointing towards the horns at the back of its head, “tugging onto them helps with directing.”
As soon as he did so, Cassandra held onto Regulus and swung her feet down.
The Lord reacted to the familiar motion, and started into a sprint. Regulus yelped in surprise, but quickly got into it. Soon they were running around, Lord´s mate joining and children running behind them. The phoenix started flying low around them as well, wanting to join in on the fun.
After they were done, Regulus sank onto his knees, and laid on his back, closing his eyes. His breathing was still a little irregular, so Cassandra joined him. She hardly ever let herself feel, and Regulus was right.
She closed her eyes as well, the warm feeling on her face from the enchanted sunlight, the blades of grass between her fingers. She smiled, clearing her mind. The anxiety and the need to DO would come back, but for now, she can enjoy this.
Several minutes passed in comfortable silence. The phoenix curiously hopped in between them, and started preening, Cassandra idly petting its feathers.
“Thank you. For sharing this with me.” said Regulus softly. “I don't even know when´s the last time I laughed so hard, and just…” he trailed off.
“It has been my pleasure, Regulus. I want to thank you as well. I think.. Today has been really difficult. I don't think it's even lunch yet, and I had to come to so many realizations, and I am afraid to think what I would do if I were alone.”
That was maybe a little too honest.
“I am sorry for lying. The headmaster did not ask this of me, I was just curious.”
Cassandra breathed out a laugh. “I don't blame you. Thank you.”
They went silent again.
“Can you keep a secret, Regulus?” she turned her head towards him, Regulus turning and meeting her gaze.
“I will.”
That response comforted her.
“I saved this phoenix from poachers. The cavern it was in was full of them, searching for him, but he showed himself to me, and led me to his nest.
That graphorn, he was part of a trial. I was actually the last trial, all of them set up by the Keepers.”
“Who are the Keepers?”
And Cassandra told him everything. About the dragon attack and the reason she can see thestrals in the first place, the fight in the Gringotts and the first confrontation with Ranrok. The attack in Hogsmeade, and how she learned to control ancient magic. The trials, the fights, the goblins and the dark wizards.
About Isidora Morganach, and the fear of her own magic, seeing what it was capable of.
About her friends.
Natsai Onai, who taught her about wizarding culture in Zimbabwe, looking for evidence and rescuing Highwing, the child, and the confrontation with Harlow. How she jumped in front of the curse meant for her, and how she still has nightmares about that moment.
Poppy Sweeting, with whom she shared the love for magical beasts, and fought poachers. How they rescued a dragon, dismantled an illegal fighting ring, and found a nest of golden snidgets.
Amit Thakkar, and his love of stars, showing her the magic in the night sky.
Sebastian Sallow, who desperately wanted to save his sister from pain, leading him down a dark path.
And about Ominis Gaunt, who wanted so much to escape the influence of his family, only for his best friend to walk that path instead. The Slytherin´s scriptorium, and his refusal to cast Cruciatus on either of them, even if it meant saving their lives.
And she told him about the final fight, under the castle. How she did her best to contain the magic, and how powerful it was, and how she woke up, confused and alone.
She was sitting up, hugging her knees and petting the phoenix, and as her tears started running freely on her face, the magical bird shed a tear with her. Regulus sat beside her, paying close attention, looking in the distance.
After she finished, he let her cry into her hands. She did notice he turned away, rummaging in his bag, when suddenly a book nudged her knee. She wiped her cheeks with a sleeve, taking the book.
“Orbits and Omens: Magical Forces in the Heavens.” she gave Regulus a confused look.
He tapped the book, pointing to the author.
Amit Thakkar
Her eyes widened. She softly traced the name. “You should read the dedication.”
She turned a few pages and looked, and gasped.
“For Cassandra, who guided me to look up at the stars,
even when the darkness seemed too much.”
“The name Thakkar seemed familiar, and I remember why. Maybe it could help, seeing the effect you had on your friends, just like they did have one on you.” he said softly. “I am really sorry this happened.”
Her throat felt constricted suddenly, a new wave of hot tears running down her cheeks. Her eyes closed shut tightly, she pressed her forehead to the book, hugging it tightly.
“Thank you..” she whispered.
And they sat in silence, Cassandra crying, Regulus beside her, looking at the napping graphorns to give her a semblance of privacy.