Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CASSIE'S ROOMATED AVOIDED her more than they ever had in her five years at Hogwarts. Their nights were spent together on one of the three beds, whispering with the curtains drawn. They were often never in the room with Cassie unless it was the night. They left before she woke up in the morning and were never there when she returned after her afternoon classes.
Honestly, Cassie had her mind on her birthday more than anything else.
She had left a box of chocolates in her father's classroom, a tradition she had whenever the full moon was coming. Cassie figured he could always enjoy them during his recovery. She knew the full moon was not coming at the most convenient of times, but hoped that they could at least celebrate together once her father was feeling better.
Cassie entered the defense classroom, excited because they were to have a substitute. However, her smile dropped when she realized Snape would be teaching her class.
"Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four." He grumbled from the front of the room, pulling a screen down to show a projection. Angrily, she pulled her book out of her bag,
"Dad's lesson would be more fun." She whispered for only Cedric to hear, and he nodded in response. Cassie, begrudgingly, turned to the page he assigned, eyes widening once she realized the topic.
"Werewolves?" George beat her to question the professor. "Professor, you must be mistaken because we've already learned about them."
"I think I am well aware of what to teach, Mr. Weasley. Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape snapped at him and George groaned in response.
"Sir-"
"Do not make it twenty, Mr. Weasley." George sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. Cassie could only glare at the man in front of her. It was no secret Professor Snape hated both of her fathers and Cassie had a sneaking suspicion that he knew of Remus's condition. Cassie shook her head as he rattled on about werewolves, unable to make eye contact with the professor.
"Now. Which of you can tell me the difference between an Animagus and a werewolf? Perhaps you, Ms. Lupin-Black." His comment forced the girl to look up and make eye contact with him, she scoffed.
"An Animagus is a wizard who chooses to turn into an animal. A werewolf has no choice in the matter." She continued, "Humans only turn into werewolves if they are bitten during a full moon. Meaning, they have no control over if they become wolves or not." She affirmed.
"Correct." He muttered, almost in disappointment. "I prescribe two rolls of parchment on the werewolf by Monday morning, with particular emphasis placed on recognizing it." He addressed and the class groaned in disbelief.
"Happy birthday to me..." Cassie muttered, finally making her way out of the final class of the day.
"So, what's your plan for tonight, Cass," Lee said, catching up to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"Checking on my father, going to dinner, and going to bed?"
"You're just going to sleep on your sixteenth?" Lee looked at her incredulously.
"I'm tired!"
"Well, I think you should come to the Hufflepuff common rooms for a little celebration," Cedric announced from behind her. The other three cheered and Cassie just shook her head and laughed.
"Come on, Cass. It'll be fun, just us." Fred smiled at her.
"Yeah, no dementors, basiliks, or troll present." George nudged her shoulder.
"Fine." She finally accepted, succumbing to their pressures. "You better be there after dinner."
. . • ☆. ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆ ° . *₊ ☆
Cassie was quite happy with the little birthday celebration that her friends had planned for her. She had learned that the three had snuck in a cake from the kitchens before entering the common room, with sixteen bright and potentially dangerous candles.
"So Cass, tell us what you got!" Lee exclaimed excitedly pushing her presents towards her. She laughed in response before opening each one.
She received a card from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and one from Alicia and Angelina, which she thought was adorable. She got more Sugar Quills from Fred and a framed picture of Cassie and the three Gryffindors from Lee. Cedric kept apologizing profusely that he could not get her gift because he had to stay in during the last Hogsmeade trip. He insisted that he would buy her something during the next one, but Cassie knew she wouldn't let him.
But George's gift was her favorite: a book she had mentioned a while ago and a bag of lavender seeds he'd 'borrowed' from Professor Sprout.
"For this summer." He'd said once her wide eyes looked up at him.
Cassie had always helped Mrs. Weasley with her garden and seemed to be the only one of her 'kids' who wanted to do it. Cassies favorite and the ones she cared for the most were her lavender plants. Eventually, George started to help her with them which became a tradition for the two during the summer. Cassie smiled up at the proud look on his face.
"These are amazing, thank you all very much." She praised and, as the arrogant gits they were, took her praises very close to heart. She only rolled her eyes at their comments.
The five took the time to relax and catch up, Cassie almost falling asleep on George's shoulder. He placed a blanket on top of her and twisted her hair around his finger, absentmindedly.
They stopped once there was a knock at the common room door and turned and looked at each other in confusion.
Cedric got up, cautiously opening the door with his wand raised, but relaxed once he realized who it was.
Remus Lupin stood at the door, looking disheveled and pale.
"Cass-"
"Dad! You should be resting." She rushed over to his side, eyes wide and worried.
"Dumbledore requests our presence." Cassie could only nod in response and follow him out the door, sparing a worried look with her friends.
"Is he going to ask us to leave? Will I have to go to another school?" Her mind raced with millions of possibilities.
"We will know when we get there, my love." Her father assured her, smoothing her hair down, fondly.
"How are you feeling?" She whispered as they got closer.
"I feel fine, there is no need to worry about me." Cassie nodded at him and they finally made it into the office.
"Professor Lupin, Miss. Lupin-Black. Please sit." He instructed them and she did as she was told, anxiously bouncing her knee. Her father placed a hand on her knee to stop her, she squeezed it.
"Well, let's get straight to it, then. I have received letters and requests from your dormmates and their parents to remove you from the room. They have expressed feelings of insecurity, and unsafety, and have even threatened to remove their daughters from our school. We have decided that you will have your private room starting tonight. We will not start a fight with the Ministry and our Hogwarts families at this moment, simply it is not quite worth it. I apologize Cassieopia, but I urge you to think of the positive outcomes of this arrangement."
