— Look! I've never seen anything like that before!
— Wow! The Nimbus 2001 is out already?! Cool!
Cassian merely let out a heavy sigh as he watched his wife and friend. At thirty years old, they were acting like two little children, excitedly running from one shop window in Diagon Alley to another.
— Maeve?! — a surprised female voice suddenly called out nearby.
Maeve turned around, her eyes instantly lighting up with joy:
— Chloe?! Aaaaaah! Chlo-chlo!
She bolted forward, ran up, and pulled her friend into a tight hug. The two women began embracing, jumping up and down, and squealing with delight, completely ignoring the bewildered and sideways glances from the passing wizards.
— Chloe, my god, how many years has it been! Didn't you move to the States with your husband?
— I did... but I came back this winter. I got a divorce, — Chloe sighed.
— What?! Why?! What happened?! Didn't he appreciate you? Did he cheat on you?! How dare he do something like that to you?! I'll fly over there today and beat his face in! — Maeve made a feisty face and decisively shook her fist.
— Woah, woah, calm down! — Chloe laughed, trying to tame her friend's fire. — He didn't cheat on me, and actually, I was the one who left him.
— What? But why? You were together for so many years!
— Well, back in America, I got a job at Ilvermorny School. Over time, I started noticing that he was becoming envious of me, and as time went on, it only got worse. In short, once I realized that wizards and Muggles are simply incompatible, I gently erased his memories of magic and filed for divorce. Since I had no family or loved ones left over there, I decided to return to my homeland. As for you two, I see... — Chloe cast a warm glance at Cassian standing nearby, — ...still together?
— Yes, we're still together! But wait... Ilvermorny—isn't that the magic school in America?
Chloe nodded:
— Yes, I taught Muggle Studies there.
— Wow, that's awesome! You managed to find a job in the wizarding world, while I'm still stuck in the Muggle one... — Maeve sighed glumly.
— Well, you know, they're offering me a job here too, — Chloe smiled. — I don't know much yet, but apparently, they were interested in my talent for Potions. Speaking of which, I might be able to hook you up too!
— Wait... Did you get a letter too?! — Maeve gasped in surprise. — I'm actually here because of it too! Hee-hee-hee, maybe we'll be working together again!
— That's not certain yet, — Cassian chimed in dryly.
— What exactly isn't certain? — At that moment, Felix approached them, having been staring mouth-agape at the brooms in the window until now. Noticing Maeve hugging some woman, he was surprised at first, but looking closely, he recognized the familiar face: — Chloe?! What a surprise! How many years has it been! You've gotten so ol... ahem, I mean, grown up! — He caught himself instantly and corrected his words upon meeting two icy female stares.
— So all of you are here because of a job offer? — Chloe clarified.
— Oh, were you invited too? — Felix asked, surprised.
— Yes, the three of us were as well! — Maeve replied happily.
Cassian sighed heavily, seeing his wife's genuine happiness, and stole a quick glance at his watch:
— I think we should head over, or we'll be late, — he reminded them.
The faster this whole thing is over, the better, and we can go back home, raced through his mind. Cassian had completely lost trust in the magical community and had come here purely for Maeve's sake.
— Oh, right, the time! Let's go, quickly! — Maeve grabbed Chloe by the arm and eagerly dragged her along.
Cassian frowned: he didn't like his wife's sudden impulse one bit. However, having met Chloe now, a single thought caught his attention. All four of them had been in the same year in Ravenclaw. Could someone from back then have remembered them and decided to offer them a job? But no matter how hard Cassian racked his brain, he couldn't recall any Victor Moss. And most importantly—why now, after so many years?
— What, do you want me to hold your hand too? — Felix asked with a smirk, noticing his buddy lost in thought and frozen in place.
Cassian merely rolled his eyes in silence and strode after his wife.
Finally arriving at the meeting location, they stepped inside the building. In the foyer, they were immediately met by a beautiful young woman.
— Hello, welcome! Please find your names on the list and place a checkmark next to them, — Abigail greeted them with a warm smile. She stood behind a table, holding a pen at the ready alongside several parchment sheets with names.
— Hello! — Maeve chimed in. She skipped over to the table, quickly found her line, and checked it off.
The others followed suit. Cassian scanned the names carefully, hoping they would all turn out to be their old Hogwarts acquaintances, but alas—most of the surnames were completely unfamiliar to him.
— Thank you! Head inside the hall and make yourselves comfortable; the event will begin shortly, — Abigail said as they passed.
Once the four went further inside, Abigail glanced at the clock and then counted the marks on the list:
— Only thirty-eight people... Victor is definitely not going to like this, — she sighed quietly.
— Um-m-m, excuse me... Is this where they're hiring? — a quiet, bashful voice asked.
Abigail looked up to see a woman in her early twenties, nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt out of anxiety.
— Hello! Yes, you've come to the right place. Find your name and place a checkmark next to it.
The girl nodded hurriedly, found herself on the list, and placed a checkmark.
— Thank you! Head inside, make yourself comfortable; the event will begin shortly.
She gave another shy nod and hurried into the hall. Abigail looked at the name that had just been checked off, and a triumphant smile touched her lips:
— Now this will definitely put him in a good mood!
Abigail checked the clock once more, stepped outside briefly, and after ensuring no one else was coming, locked the front door. Grabbing the lists, she headed inside.
Entering the massive hall where the invitees were already taking their seats on the benches, Abigail spotted Victor right away. He was standing at the very back of the room, leaning against the wall, taking in the guests with a sharp, attentive gaze. Abigail walked over to him.
— Thirty-nine people, — Victor said quietly. — Well, not bad. Far fewer than I expected, of course, but it'll do.
Abigail nod, then handed him the lists and pointed her finger at a specific line. Victor glanced briefly at the name, his eyes instantly glittering as a satisfied smile spread across his lips:
— And which one is she?
With a barely perceptible gesture, Abigail pointed to the girl who sat at a distance from the rest, clearly extremely nervous:
— That's her.
Victor nodded with satisfaction:
— Excellent. Alright, go tell them we can start.
Abigail nod again and hurried toward the stage. Climbing the steps, she slipped behind the curtains:
— Victor said to start!
Hearing her words, Daphne and Hermione exchanged a look, gave each other a focused nod, and walked out onto the stage with confident strides.
When the crowd saw two little girls step out before them, a wave of disgruntled outbursts instantly rippled through the hall:
— What is going on?!
— Hey, is this some kind of joke?! Why are there kids on stage?
— What's the meaning of this?!
— Where is this Victor Moss?!
— Hey, can you explain what's going on here? — one of the wizards asked Abigail as she walked past, given that she seemed to be the only adult among the organizers.
— If you calm down a bit and let them speak, you'll understand everything, — Abigail replied with a polite smile, calmly walking past and taking her place next to Victor, who seemed to be genuinely enjoying the unfolding chaos.
Realizing that it really was these two little girls who were going to address them, the crowd gradually quieted down and stared at the stage incredulously.
— Ahem... — Daphne took a step forward. — First of all, thank you for coming. I completely understand your distrust. Believe me, I have no particular desire to be standing in front of you right now either, but unlike you, I don't have a choice. So allow me to lay everything out quickly, and then we will answer all your questions.
Daphne's strict tone and adult demeanor knocked the haughtiness right out of the disgruntled guests, forcing them to listen.
— Well then... Each of you received a letter with a job offer. And it is no trick. Victor Moss, who tracked every single one of you down and gathered you in this hall, is indeed planning to open his own business in Diagon Alley. It will be a retail chain of several shops. He chose you as the best specialists in Potions, Alchemy, and, of course, as skilled magic users for security and goods transportation. You are probably asking yourselves: "Why me? What is so special about me or anyone present here?" And I will answer you: every single one of you is Muggle-born.
— What, the rest too?!
— We're all Muggle-borns?!
Those who were older and had lived through the dark times of Voldemort were gripped by panic. An anxious whisper swept through the hall:
— Is this some kind of Death Eater trap?!
Cassian instantly squeezed his wife's hand while his other hand reached for his wand in his pocket, his wary eyes locked onto the hall's exit.
— SILENCE! — a thunderous, deafening voice suddenly roared, making the walls tremble.
At the boom, everyone present clapped their hands over their ears and stared at the stage in fright. Daphne, whose ears were literally ringing from the sudden noise, slowly turned to Hermione, who was still holding her wand tip against her own throat.
— Thank you, Hermione... — Daphne gritted out discontentedly, as she had been standing closest and felt the full force of the Sonorus charm.
Hermione immediately hid her wand behind her back guiltily, giving her friend an apologetic look:
— Sorry...
Daphne merely sighed and shook her head before addressing the quieted wizards:
— I assure you: you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The thing is, Victor Moss is just as Muggle-born as you are. That is precisely why he sought you out, — Daphne reassured them, letting the room catch its breath. — Now, feel free to ask questions. But please: one at a time!
— How did you even find us?! And how did you know about our skills?! — someone from the middle of the room asked right away.
— Albus Dumbledore helped us. Hogwarts still keeps all your personal files and records, — Daphne answered calmly.
Hearing the Headmaster's name, even the most distrustful guests began to gradually relax. If Dumbledore himself was involved in this, then it was completely safe.
— And why didn't Victor Moss come himself? Why did he send children instead? — someone shouted from the front row.
— He sent us because we... — Daphne pointed first to herself, then to her friend, — ...Daphne Greengrass and Hermione Granger, will be your direct superiors should you accept the job. I will be responsible for shop operations, and she will oversee the workshops and manufacturing.
— I've had enough! — Cassian suddenly stood up from his seat. — The whole thing looked extremely suspicious from the very start! And now two children claim they're going to be our bosses?! And isn't Greengrass one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families? Aren't you from those who supported You-Know-Who's ideas?!
Everyone present in the hall turned to stare at Daphne in surprise and caution.
— My family never supported him, — Daphne replied in an even tone. — We have always maintained strict neutrality.
— Hmph! All of you pure-bloods despise us!
— I am not here on behalf of the Greengrass family; I represent the interests of Victor Moss, — Daphne cut him off just as calmly.
— Victor Moss?! And where is he?! Does he even exist?! — Cassian fumed in dissatisfaction. — Or are you just two little girls who fancy yourselves grand entrepreneurs and decided to open a couple of shops using daddy's Galleons?!