Cassie never thought she'd be this relieved in the entirety of her life.

As she opened a cabinet that was firmly secured with muggle object known as a 'lock,' there it was. The key to relieve her of the restricting piece of magic securing her to the ministry.

As she sticks the key into the available groove, a familiar call, warning, echo's throughout the office.

Blair.

She was one of the top shapeshifters of the ministry, the perfect soldier for combat and a strong leader who had little sympathy for enemies. She was, unfortunately for Cassie, also in charge of dealing with shapeshifters that stepped out of line.

"Kid, what are you doing?" She questioned, hands on hips, staring expectantly.

"I-I just want this...this bracelet off, I can't take it anymore" Cassie admitted, guiltily, praying her submission would earn less severity of punishment. Blair made her way towards Cassie, her strides closing in on Cassie's tense vicinity. Glancing subtly behind her, Blair turned the key and the bracelet discarded itself onto the floor with a unpleasant rattle.

Cassie's eyes flew in shock, staring, waiting for the punishment.

'Blair is my friend, always has been, and this is justified, I had this coming.'

"Go. But promise me one thing."

"Anything, Blair."

"You stay on the good side, alright? No going AWOL on me."

"I will, I promise. Thank you again, Blair. This means the universe to me, even beyond that" Cassie smiled warmly, unable to contain her excitement. Blair ruffled Cassie's hair before both disappeared.

Cassie appeared in the middle of a busy strip in London, muggles bustling around her. She tensely stepped backward into the side alleyway, controlling her breathing before venturing further. Once out of sigh, she concentrated, appearing on a rooftop, glancing around.

Her absence had been recognised more hastily than she considered.

Swinging around on her heel, she's met with
ministers behind her, holding their wands, aiming at her. One being Percival, who had his wand down and was gesturing for me to run.

"Please. I'm not going back to that ministry. I don't want a fight. I'd never want to hurt any of you" Cassie pleaded with them, holding out her hands, full well knowing if this turned into a fire fight, she'd win.

Cassie watched cautiously at one Minister who appeared to ready themselves to fire, when another shot her right side with a hex that was unrecognisable and a dog collar onto her wrist the second she was on the freezing concrete. She groaned softly, holding her arm over her now bleeding ribcage, crimson spreading rapidly on her shirt.

"Hey! Don't you dare!" Percival snapped harshly, dashing towards Cassie. "Cas? Cas!" He shook her, causing her to tilt her head up at him. "Go, go, go please, the dog collar will let you go once, please, go...I'll get the key, please go" He whispered frantically, ignoring orders being barked behind him.

Cassie disappeared, her powers malfunctioning and sending her crashing at high speed into a water orientated path, muddy and sunken in from the previous rain. The darkness contributed to her confusion as she glanced around before momentarily allowing her head to drop onto her forearm.

"Please, sweetheart, relax" A calm, male voice reassured nearby, causing Cassie's head to snap up with alarm.

"But that was quite a loud noise....I'm worried Rem, please don't go out there."

"Nymph, it's alright sweetheart" The man calmly reassured once more, the voice evidently becoming more distant from the female voice and closer to Cassie.

A flash followed, a minister appeared just feet from Cassie, who now sat on her knees. Considering her options and in no condition for another hex, she slowly rises to her feet, one hand up, the other resting over the hexed injury on her ribcage. 

"Come back to the ministry and we have no problems, kid. Come on, don't make this hard. I don't want to hurt you and you're in no condition for a fight. Come on, Cas" Minister Robelli reasoned.

"N-No, I'm not going back there...I won't. I'm sorry, but I won't" she shook my head frantically, stepping backwards further into the mud and tall weeds. He signed, sadly, and raised his wand slowly to aim at her.

"It wasn't a request, kiddo" He warned, his voice low and ominous but laced with sympathy. Conflicted.

"H-Hey!" The males voice came from just behind Cassie, startling her as she flinched violently. "Leave her alone!" He instructed, wand out in front.

"Remmy..." Cassie heard the woman, speaking in a whisper. The faint sound of a young child crying in fear echoed through Cassie's ears. She turned and saw the woman holding a young boy, comforting him as she came closer.

The minister fired a shot near the man, narrowly missing the woman and child. Cassie became enraged by his carelessness.

"Stay out of it sir, we do have permission to shoot if she's interfered with" The minister commented, distracted.

"Your carelessness could've hurt them" Cassie hissed quietly, raising her head to meet his gaze, eyes flickering between normal and a sky blue glow, indicating her powers struggle to regain control.

"They're interfering, kid. They know the stakes-"

"I no longer believe that is under your jurisdiction" The ferocity of Cassie's voice was unexpected, her eyes a glowing sky blue, preparing for an attack. "What're are you waiting for? Come and get me."

"As you wish" He responded, a devilish smirk moulding on his features as he took out his wand and aimed it straight at Cassie, who remained motionless, calmly staring him down m.

"Miss, please, you might want to get down! You'll get hurt!" The man called from behind her, hurrying the woman toward the house. The minister muttered a curse, and with a simple wave of her hand, it rebounded away, hitting him harshly and causing him to fall to the mud.

He lay on his back, his wand metres from his hand and gawked in shock at her.

"But how? T-The collar?" He uttered in disbelief. Cassie held the destroyed dog collar up in her hand, smirk plastered on her features.

"Who's laughing now sir?"