Little Miss Marauder

Chapter 21 - Introductions

Chapter 21 - Introductions

There was one last class before lunch and so far all of the students had enjoyed their lessons and the two new teachers liked getting to know the students. As it was the first day of term the content of the lessons were relatively simple and mostly consisted of the professors getting to know the students and explaining what the year would involve. Cassadee looked to Remus as the last first year Slytherin exited the room waving a goodbye to both of the professors. "What class is it next?"

"Third year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors." Cassadee nodded absentmindedly, her attention caught by the chandelier that James and Sirius swung on in their third year. Remus looked up at her and then followed her line of sight, his mind recalling the exact same memory.

Students began trickling in slowly, sitting down in their chosen seats chattering away, while Cassadee headed to the front of the classroom to where Remus was standing, not yet looking at any of the students that had sat down. "I'll let you start this one" Cassadee smirked at Remus, as they had been stealing the opportunity to introduce themselves to the new students from each other for the entire morning. It was easy for them to work together, the conversation flowed between them and the students and the dynamic that they had from all of those years shared at Hogwarts in their youth was definitely still present.

Harry and Ron were running through the corridors, rushing to their DADA class, trying not to be any later than they already were."I'm so gonna beat you" Harry smirked back to Ron who was a few paces behind him, before stumbling over his own feet and falling to the floor. "Sure you will" Ron wheezed while slowing to a stop so he could focus his energy into laughing at his friend. "You manage to fall over everytime we do this!" Ron said after recovering from his laughter, putting out a hand to help his awkward, speckled friend. "Shut up" Harry shoved him after fully recovering from his fall. They were now just down the corridor from their lesson but a lot later than they should have been. They walked up to the door, knowing that coming in late and wheezing wasn't the impression that either of them wanted to give their new professors after the travesty of their past two years.

Remus was halfway through explaining what this year would consist of for the students learning, when the door slammed open and in stumbled two Gryffindors. "Ah, so glad you decided to grace us with your presence" Remus chuckled at the embarrassed looks on their faces, "Take a seat, and may I know your names?" "W...Weasley, Ron Weasley" Ron stuttered out, not used to having this kind of reception from a teacher. "Harry, Harry Potter" Harry was more confident in this, he was starting to become used to having all eyes staring at him, after the disasters of his two previous years at this school.

Neither of the teenagers noticed the way that both of the professors stilled, Remus stared at the boy in shock, wondering how he had not realised who he was before. "Erm, yes, well, uh do not make a habit of it." Remus concluded, recovering from his shocked state enough to address the boys again. Cassadee's back was currently facing the students so nobody noticed her lapse in movement, but she was frozen, not wanting to turn around, unsure as to whether it really was him standing behind her.

"Well, for the benefit of those of you who were unable to manage to get here on time, I am Professor Lupin and myself and Professor Potter over there will be your new teachers for defence against the dark arts." All heads turned to where Remus gestured as Cassadee turned away from the desk to address the students. "Hi there guys. As Professor Lupin just said, I am Professor Potter and together we will be teaching you defence against the dark arts." Eyes were burning into her throughout the entire introduction, but the pair of oh so familiar green eyes stood out the most from behind circular glasses. The eyes of the only living memory of her brother. The eyes of her nephew, holding so many emotions. The most prominent one, betrayal.

Harry did not want to believe it. No, this woman could not be related to him. She could not be his aunt, his fathers sister. Why would she be here? Why now? Did she not want him 12 years ago, or even any of the years in between?  He couldn't understand anything. Even though all Harry had ever wanted was a family, one that loved him, he was so desperately hoping that this woman in front of him was not related to him. That it was a coincidence. He could not deal with not being wanted by another family member. He had been through a lot in his short life, but if he now found out that he had another aunt, another one that wanted nothing to do with him, that would surely be enough to finally break him. He sat through the entire lesson, eyes glazed over, blocking out what anyone was saying around him, not even noticing the attempts to get his attention that his two best friends had made. It was impossible. He really wanted it to be impossible. Yet he couldn't deny the similarities that his father (well the father he had seen in photos) and this woman shared, the similarities between himself and this woman. What would he do? Harry had no idea, but he knew that he had to go and speak to Dumbledore. Yes. Dumbledore would help him, give him cryptic answers, most likely, but he couldn't quite fathom the idea, let alone the courage, to speak to the woman in question herself. Harry may have faced Voldemort before, but having his greatest dream crushed yet again, that seemed like a foe far worse than any other.