Another Hogwarts Mystery

Chapter 2 - A Change in Staff

When they got off the train, the rain got heavier and thicker. The sky resembled a thick, dark greyish roof.  A coat of heavy clouds hung over the mountains and covered their tops. Luckily, the carriages were roofed and packed with students so that it did not get too cold. As they entered the Great Hall, Casandra did not know how and what to feel. On the one hand, she felt like coming home. It was a warm and welcoming feeling. Seeing all those candles floating in the air, the warm light, the smell of the castle, and her house table made her feel salvaged. On the contrary, she felt as being handed to everyone on a silver platter. As soon as she sat down at the Ravenclaw table, she felt almost every eye on her. Nickolas, who belonged into Hufflepuff, showed her an encouraging smile from his table. Sabrina and Beverly sat both down next to Casandra. She felt Beverly's arm on her, slowly patting shoulder. "Just ignore them. They are just sensational." she added. The Slytherin table was the worst. Casandra heard them talking about her and saw them pointing their finger at her.

She felt like a clown in a circus. Everyone was watching her. It was a terrible feeling. She felt her insides move in almost every direction. Her heart started to beat as though it was training for a marathon. It only lapsed when Professor Dumbledore stood up and raised his voice. Casandra shock her head slightly as if she wanted to wake up from an intense day dream. Dumbledore raised his hands and begged for silence.

"Good evening to each and every one of you! I do not want to keep you all too long from this marvellous feast, however, there are a few things that I need to point out on this rainy and stormy evening." Dumbledore said with a soft smile. "As always I want to remind you that Mr Filch has reminded me to tell you that magic is not permitted in the corridors. Moreover, he told me –" Casandra's mind drifted away and Dumbledore's voice became fainter and fainter. She was no longer listening to him. Her thoughts wandered to her dead brother. Last year, he sat in the Great Hall, too. He used to wave her from the Slytherin table. Such a funny and curious thing, Casandra thought. Every member of her family had been sorted into Slytherin house — except for her. She could still hear her mother's howler shouting through the Great Hall at breakfast five years ago. Furious was not enough to describe her anger. She was beside herself with anger, disappointment, and shame. "YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO OUR FAMILY! YOU HAVE FILTHED OUR HONOUR AND TRADITION! A RAVENCLAW IN THIS HONOURABLE PURE-BLOOD FAMILY, HOW DARE YOU! YOUR FATHER AND I ARE DISGUSTED! STAY AT HOGWARTS FOR CHRISTMAS. WE ARE EVEN WONDERING WHETHER WE EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN AT ALL..." The shrill and exploding voice of her mother was still ringing in her ears when a sudden movement jolt Casandra out of her dreams. Beverly was shaking her right shoulder and pointed to Dumbledore.

With an extreme rush of adrenaline, Casandra realised that everyone was watching her and  the headmaster now. She felt her blood filling her head, making her face turn red like a lobster. Every eye in the room was stuck on her. Their looks felt as if thousands of spears were piercing her. Before she could even stop herself or think about it, Casandra heard herself saying

"Excuse me, headmaster. I was just—" but before she could finish, Dumbledore rose his left hand and interrupted her

"—Oh don't you worry my dear. It is alright. As I was just saying, it must have been an utterly traumatic and tough time for you. Losing your loved ones is always a very horrible incident." Dumbledore's smile faded and turned into a very serious expression "Benjamin Clark was a very notable and gifted young wizard and he will be deeply missed. Thus, let us all be silent for a few moments and think of him." Casandra, however, did not think of her brother at that very moment (she thought of him almost all the time) but was rather thinking why Dumbledore did not mention how her brother was killed, that he was killed by his own mother. Was he protecting her or was he so ashamed of her family and her, that he just could not mention it?