Little Miss Marauder

Chapter 19 - It's Not Easy

Chapter 19 - It's Not Easy

Cassadee pushed open the doors to the great hall and took her first step in. The house tables were reasonably full with students digging into their breakfast before their first class of the day. At first only a few heads turned at the opening of the doors, but after a few steps into the room, all were faced their way and a blanket of silence had been draped over all of the staff and students present.

Remus was both anxious and elated that he was able to walk into the hall once again with one of his best friends at his side, yet he couldn't erase the tug of pain, knowing that his other three friends should be right there with them. He tried to bury those emotions and focus on the present, focus on making sure Cassadee was okay and that they would be able to educate these students, together. He took the moment of silence in the hall to squeeze Cassadee's hand before gently tugging her, urging her to move along. "You look like an awestruck first year all over again." Remus chuckled under his breath, attempting to ease the anxiety he could feel building. The comment made Cassadee smirk slightly while a snigger escaped from her mouth. "This time I would like to avoid getting detention on my first time in here thanks." She laughed along.

During their exchange neither of them realised that they had managed to walk down the entirety of the great hall and were at the bottom of the steps that lead to the teachers table. The pair climbed the steps at the same time and circled around the table in order to approach Dumbledore. Knowing that she had to look professional in front of the 300 odd students, Cassadee smiled and shook the headmasters hand, smiling back at him after his greeting. She stepped aside allowing Remus to greet their old professor when she was surprised by the sudden arms that wrapped around her. This caused her to still as adrenaline pumped through her and she reflexively reached into her pocket for her wand. "Miss Potter... I'm so glad to see you once again." A voice said in her ear. "Minnie", Cassadee muttered back and embraced the older witch. "I'm glad to be back. It's been far to long."

"I know it must be hard for you, coming here again after... everything... but I couldn't say that I'm upset at you being here." Mcgonagall replied, giving the witch a small sile, a glint of sadness ever present in her eye. "It's not...easy I'll be first to admit, but I'm glad that I've come back and i'm glad that he" Cassadee gestured to Remus who was still talking to Dumbledore, "is here with me." The two continued to talk amongst themselves as they settled down into chairs at the table facing the mummering crowd of students. That was until Dumbledore addressed the entire hall of the students that were present.

"Students. I am certain that many of you have questions about events that have taken place this year, but I would like to introduce you to your new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professors, Mr Remus Lupin and Miss Cassadee Potter." At the mention of her last name, Cassadee heard many mutterings float around the room. "Silence!" Dumbledore continued as though he was never interrupted, "I expect you to welcome them and respect them as much as you would any Professor here. Now enjoy your meal and first day of classes. Time Tables will be passed out by the prefects of each house before breakfast is over." With that Dumbledore sat down and the hall erupted into conversation, with many students still glancing at the new Professors every so often.

Hermione Granger sat at the Gryffindor table opposite her two friends. The announcement of the new Professors had sent her mind into overdrive. She knew that that was the woman who had bumped into them on the train, and also the one that Malfoy had come to find Professor Lupin about. Now with the definite knowledge that her last name was Potter, Hermione knew that this new Professor was directly related to Harry. She just didn't yet understand how any of them had not heard about her so far. Not from Harry, not even from Hagrid. How had this woman managed to stay so secret until now?

Harry was sat opposite Hermione, thinking along the same lines as her, but at the same time he was trying to refuse the possibility that she was in-fact related to him. Surely if she was she would have come into his life already by now. He just didn't want to face the reality of another relative of the family he thought he had lost, not liking him, not caring about him. Harry wasn't sure he could take anymore rejection from the family he had only ever wanted to care about him.

Cassadee sat in her seat at the table, completely unaware that the eyes of her nephew were trained on her as she sat eating toast, preparing herself for her first day teaching at her old school.