Redemption

Chapter 1. A guest from the past

  Kassandra was sitting on the windowsill near the opened window. She was reading a book.

  It was a chill June evening when the heat of the day got away. Light wind rocked tops of trees which were growing near the house. Cicadas sang loudly in the grass.

  Sometimes Kassandra distracted from the book and was looking at the street. There was twilight but still rather light. She enjoyed the feeling of the gentle breeze blowing her face. She felt calm and easy inside. It was a rare occasion after the Second Magic War. She could never forget the Fight for Hogwarts. She often had nightmares after that terrible night. She remembered everything: blood and tears, screams, falling ruins of the castle and cryings of those who lost their nearest and dearest.

  After the war Kassandra graduated from Hogwarts and met a young man. She liked James from the first sight. They had a whirlwind romance. At first he showed love and care. She thought they loved each other. They started living together.

  But James couldn't endure her depression and constant nightmares. After a year, when Kassandra just started to get herself together, he broke and left.

  From that time Kassandra decided she didn't need relationships anymore. She didn't want to be heartbroken again.

  She tried to get away her sad thoughts and started reading again. It was a love story about a young man from a simple family and noble girl. Such kind of literature helped her to relax and distract.

  Now she just took a shower. She was wearing a silk gown and lace pyjama. Her wet hair were loose. It was ten p.m. She was going to sleep.

  Suddenly someone knocked at her door.

'Who the hell could come so late?' she thought.

  She decided not to open. But the knocking didn't stop.

'Pushy people' she thought irritated.

  She took her wand and wrapped her bathrobe. Kassandra opened the door and freezed in surprise. On her doorstep she saw Draco Malfoy. Arrogant turkey, who she couldn't stand and who bullied her during their school years at Hogwarts.

  Her fist wish was to shut the door in front of his nose. But Malfoy couldn't come without a reason. And his face was sad. She couldn't see any arrogance which she has seen every day at Hogwarts. She held her wish to get him out.

  "Malfoy? What did you forget here?" she asked rising her eyebrow and hiding her surprise.

  "Hello, Kassandra. Listen, we didn't have the best relationships. And I'm sorry for this. But you're the only one I can ask for a help" Draco said.

 Her cold tone made him feel uncomfortable. But what else could he excpect? They used to be enemies. He knew that it was his fault. He constantly kept bullying Kassandra and her friends Hermione and Luna.

  "Well, ferret, you have changed" Kassandra said sarcastically. "You even started thinking about your words."

  'Here we go' Draco thought.

  He hesistated for a second but got himself together.

  "Stop it, Jones. It took me a lot to come to you" he said a little bit irritated.

  Draco's presence doesn't make Kassandra happy. But her curiosity won. Now she was wondering why did he come here.

  "Ok, come in. I wonder what do you need" she said letting him come in.

  'Why do I do that?' she thought.

  Draco looked around the small living room with humble interior. Loveseat and coffee table, two armchairs. A small desk and a chair near the window. Rocking chair near the fireplace. No luxury or sophistication.