Forsaken Bloodlines {HP x GOT}

Chapter 3.4: New Professor

When Lyanna felt better, surprisingly rejuvenated after eating the chocolate, she decided that if something like that happened again, she'd be better off with her friends. Gathering her courage and her suitcase, she left her compartment in search of her Gryffindor friends. As she walked through the train, she could see the tension and unease among the students. Eventually, she found them, huddled together in a compartment. Harry looked quite dazed.

"Harry?" Lyanna's voice was soft and concerned as she entered the compartment, her troubled face hovering above him. "Are you alright?"

Harry, still looking pale, managed a weak nod. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all looked at Lyanna with worry etched on their faces.

"Come in, Lyanna," Hermione urged, making space for her. Lyanna sat down, feeling a bit more at ease among her friends.

"What happened?" she asked, her eyes darting between them.

Hermione explained, "Harry was attacked by Dementors. They're looking for Sirius Black."

Lyanna's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't want to make them worry more. She decided not to tell them that she too had been attacked. "That's terrible," she said, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. "I'm glad you're okay, Harry."

Harry gave her a small smile, still clearly shaken. "Thanks, Lyanna. It was... it was horrible."

Ron piped up, "Yeah, those Dementors are terrifying. We need to stick together until we get to Hogwarts."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Lyanna felt a sense of relief wash over her. Being with her friends made her feel safer. They spent the rest of the journey discussing their plans for the new school year, trying to distract themselves from the earlier events.

As they talked, Lyanna couldn't help but glance out the window, the memory of the Dementor's cold presence still fresh in her mind. 

~~~

As the students settled into their seats in the Great Hall, a hush fell over the room as Professor Dumbledore stood up, beaming at the gathered students.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore began, his voice carrying easily across the hall. "I have a few things to say before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair..."

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, and Dumbledore chuckled.

"Mm, yes. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you, Professor."

Amid scattered applause, Harry, Ron, Lyanna, and Hermione clapped loudly, their excitement palpable.

"As some of you may know," Dumbledore continued, "Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!"

Harry, Ron, Lyanna, and Hermione stared at each other, stunned for a moment before bursting into vigorous applause. Hagrid, turning a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato, rose and nearly toppled the staff table, sending water goblets weaving.

Dumbledore then turned grave, his expression serious. "Finally, on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts -- at the request of the Ministry of Magic -- will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban."

A murmur of apprehension filled the hall. At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy, flanked by the ever-present Crabbe and Goyle, caught Harry's eye and feigned a dead faint. Lyanna rolled her eyes and glared at her brother, annoyed by his childish antics.

"The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds," Dumbledore continued his tone stern. "While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving."

The hall fell silent, the weight of Dumbledore's words hanging heavy in the air. As the feast began and the students gradually returned to their conversations, Lyanna couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her stomach.

Later that evening, students made their way to their respective common rooms. Lyanna, feeling the weight of the day, trudged up to her shared room. Once there, she found herself drawn to the window. The night was dark, and outside, the Dementors drifted eerily to their positions around the castle grounds. Their shadowy figures sent chills down her spine, and she watched them for a few moments, lost in thought.

~~~

The next morning, the school was buzzing with news. During Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class with Slytherin and Gryffindor, Draco had managed to get himself injured. Lyanna's heart clenched with worry, but their recent quarrel on the train still stung. She couldn't bring herself to visit him, anger still simmering just beneath the surface.

Despite this, she couldn't resist a bit of teasing when she heard students gossiping about how Hermione had been the first to react, insisting that Draco be taken to the hospital wing. A smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth as she thought about Hermione's quick actions.

Determined to make her point without breaking her silence with Draco, Lyanna scribbled a note and made her way to the hospital wing. She slipped into the room quietly and found Draco asleep. She placed the note on his bedside table, then slipped out as silently as she had come. The note read:

"Dear Draco,

You should be grateful towards Granger. Without her quick thinking, who knows, maybe you would've lost your arm.

- Lyanna"

Satisfied with her little act of mischief, Lyanna returned to her room, feeling a small sense of relief. Though she was still upset with Draco, she couldn't completely ignore her concern for him. The note was a small olive branch, a hint that perhaps, despite their differences, she still cared.