The cottage roof, representing her past, peeked into view below, while behind her stood the cleft stone, a gateway to an uncertain future. Hours passed, and Claire remained seated, unmoving, lost in contemplation. She tried to suppress her emotions, relying instead on reason. Jamie had raised valid points about her safety, the comforts of her time, and Draco. The conveniences she had grown accustomed to were absent here—no hot baths, no indoor plumbing, and no readily available medical supplies. Her friends and her wand were also distant memories.