Hello!
In this fanfiction the rules of Hogwarts are a bit different and the events will not all be the same, as you will see. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 1 - You Give Me Wings
There she was, on the train back to Hogwarts for her last year. Cassandra Williams was 21 now and she would give anything to go back to live all the years in the Gryffindor house again. Her best friend, Anna, felt the same. They sat in the train and digged through so many memories that time went by really fast. They thought that they had already arrived, but the sound of everyone alarming changed that.
It all turned cold, dark, eerie. Cassandra felt sad, like she wanted to give up everything. She then saw dementors all around the train outside and thought of Harry Potter right away. She and Harry were quite close; it all started when Cassandra helped him get to know Ginny Weasley more. Curiosity and worry killing her, Cassandra stepped outside the train compartment to see if she can see anything. When she looked up, she saw a Dementor coming straight at her. Her eyes grew wide and she started to step back, until she reached the corner of the small train corridor. She felt hopeless, sad and panicked.
''Expecto Patronum!'', a male voice yelled, jumping in front of her.
Cassandra looked up and saw a strong, silvery light coming out of the man's wand; the light fought against the Dementor until it disappeared and all turned lighter again.
''Are you alright?'' the man said touching her arm, breathing heavily.
''No..yes. I don't know, it didn't do anything to me, but it was terrifying. Thank you for helping me, sir…'' Cassandra said, trying to get a glimpse of the man who saved her.
''Lupin. Remus Lupin. Dementors, they indeed terrifying things indeed. Glad I could help, miss..'' he answered softly.
''Cassandra Williams, but everyone calls me Cassy'' she answered, her eyes starting to unblur, being able to see him.
''Nice to meet you, Miss Williams. Here, eat! You'll feel better'' he said handing her a piece of chocolate, then turned around and off he was.
He seemed calm, shy and kind. He had messy, light brown hair and his eyes were of a golden light green. He had a mustache the same colour as his hair and a few scars on his cheek.
That evening at dinner everyone felt happy to be back. Dumbledore raised his voice and silenced everyone so he can make an announcement.
''Good evening, new and older students, and welcome back! It's good to see you all. As you all already know, Dementors are around. It is therefore someone who has sent them, obviously with bad intentions. I suppose you are already suspecting who it could be, but I want you to stay calm, because Hogwarts is a safe place and nothing will happen to you. The Aurors will be around'' Dumbledore says.
''Freak Potter! It's all because of you!'' Draco yelled accompanied by some small talk from the Slytherin house.
Draco Malfoy hated Potter, and Potter felt the same for Draco. However, as much as Draco disliked Gryffindors, he didn't hate Cassandra. Two years ago he liked her so much that he tried to pour Amortentia into her drink one evening. Anna saw it and told Cassy, who after dinner had a nice talk with Draco. She told him that she was not interested in anything more than friendship with him, which he surprisingly understood. Since then, they are friends. They are not the closest friends, but they do talk from time to time.
''SILENCE!'' Dumbledore yelled. ''Going on, I want to present you your new professor in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Remus Lupin. Lupin stood and bowed shyily.
''Finally, I have the honorable pleasure to say that our friend, Hagrid, will be your professor in Care of Magical Creatures''
Everyone clapped, happy to see Hagrid there.
''It's him, the new DADA professor saved me from that Dementor'' Cassy told Anna.
Cassandra stared at him, as if she would never get tired of that. He sat there with a slight smile hidden behind his mustache. He seemed full of mysteries and she felt so ready to hear them all.
In the morning, the sun making its way through the clouds woke Cassy up, who surprisingly felt well rested. She and Anna went for breakfast, then directly to their DADA class, sitting in the third row of desks. Professor Lupin came in with a cheerful face, presented himself and started teaching.
While everyone worked in pairs on some small spells, he scanned the room, looking at each and every one of his new students. When his eyes met Cassy, he couldn't help but look at her longer than he should have. He was too agitated back on the train to see her well. He looked at her hands, so soft and delicate on that wand; she had a silver bracelet on her hand, a little heart attached to it. The skin on her arms, neck and shoulders made him want to know how it feels to wander his lips and fingers on it. She was not the classical beauty with golden long curls. She had long, straight, brown hair, quite soft. She didn't have long fluttery lashes and blue eyes, nor did she seem to have a long height, but she was stunning. Something about her made Lupin want to look at her all day, every day.
What he didn't know was that when class was over and before exiting the room, Cassy turned her head to take a last look at the mysterious professor; the one who in two days made her heart beat faster than usual at the sight of him.
''Something about him..'' she told her best friend.
''Professor Lupin? You don't like him? He seems fair'' Anna said.
''Oh I do..I really, really do..'' Cassy said confused of what was going on inside her head.
''Are you..? You're not..? Are you serious? You like him!'' Anna said louder than necessary.
''I do not! He is a teacher. He is cute though.'' Cassy said blushing. ''Now save me a seat, I need the loo''
Walking and daydreaming, she bumped into someone.
''I'm so sorry, I'm so dumb. I wasn't paying attention'' Cassy said. The moment she looked up, she saw those green eyes she'd been admiring all day yesterday.
''Professor Lupin..'' she said
''Dreaming much, are we?'' he asked smiling.
''I do that sometimes when I'm alone. What's more peaceful than that?'' Cassy said, getting a closer, better look at his face.
''True, but as good as it is, isolating yourself from reality too often can put you in danger sometimes. Think about that. Enjoy your lunch, miss Williams'' Lupin answered smiling.
''You too, professor Lupin'' she answered smiling back.
That night Cassy couldn't stop talking about Lupin. Anna was a best friend one could rarely find. She never judged, and she knew Cassy too well. Anna was quite a rebel herself, being open to experience anything new in life. She knew this would turn into something bigger and the only thing she wanted for Cassandra was to see her happy. No matter what, she would help Cassy with anything, as Cassy has done before and would do for her.
''Let's go for a walk if you can't sleep. I'm not tired either'' Anna proposed.
''What if Snape catches us? He terrifies me sometimes'' Cassy answered.
Laughing, Anna grabbed Cassy's both wrists and dragged her out of her bed. They walked on the big, chilly corridors of the castle, their voices echoing.
That night, the only thing on Cassy's mind was professor Lupin.
Wednesday and Thursday passed quickly without any events or too many thoughts about the new DADA professor. On Friday evening Cassandra stood in front of the fire, with a pair of cozy pajama shorts and a long sleeved sweater. She was trying to concentrate on the book on her lap. She tried to understand some things she didn't quite understand from professor Snape's class. Reminding herself that she had been studying for too long and that everyone was doing something else, she put on her shoes and silk robe and started wandering the corridors. Cassandra then entered one of the highest towers of Hogwarts and leaned against the balcony bar. The September air was still warm; summer did not want to leave and she couldn't complain. The young woman looked in awe at the superb surroundings, without thinking about anything particularly.
''It's beautiful, isn't it?'' a voice made her jump. The voice sounded quite familiar, though she wasn't sure. She was afraid to turn around, detention was the last thing she wanted.
She finally turned around, quite relieved to see that her brain was right. The voice belonged to professor Lupin.
''The night. It's beautiful. The stars, the peacefulness, the tranquil lake.'' he continued, approaching her.
He eyed her from head to toe. The tiny silk robe she was wearing fitted her smooth skin so well. The slight breeze moved a few hair straws making them stroke her pink lips.
''It is, yes. I love the sky at night. All these stars, they look like glitter. I would look at them for ages and not get tired; they make me calm, forget about stress and everything else'' she answered, her heart pacing just a little bit at the sight of the handsome man in front of her.
Remus listened to her carefully. He had warm, soothing eyes and that charming little smile he always has. She wondered if he was aware of it. His hands were in the pockets of his baggy pants. He was wearing a large blue sweater with elbow patches.
''You're such a dreamer. I like that'' he said smiling, now situated next to her.
Cassandra smiled. She didn't know how to feel about it, but her heart did, because it beat so fast it almost reached out of her chest.
''I wish I could fly above all this, above this lake and forests.'' Cassy said, looking down at the lake.
At that moment, Remus made a strange sound that caught her attention. The next thing she hears is a Hippogriff approaching them, landing behind them on the huge balcony. Cassy gave Remus a confused and scared look.
''Don't worry, just bow in front of him.'' he told her calmly.
She did so and he did the same. The Hippogriff bowed back.
''Come'' Remus told Cassy while taking her hand. The gentle touch of his warm palm sent shivers down her spine. She backed up a bit at the move of the immense animal.
''I'm here. You're safe as long as I am with you. Trust me'' he said.
Remus helped her step up on the magical creature's back, him sitting in front of her. The next thing she knew, they're flying.
''Hold me tight'' Lupin told Cassy who did exactly as told. She got closer and put his hands around his waist, holding tight. He smelled like chocolate and old books.
It felt so magical, exactly as she always imagined it. She felt like she had wings. They were so high up above the water and so close to the stars; nothing felt safer than that. They flew above the still green forests, the faded smell of grass mixed with Remus' chocolatey scent tickling her nose, making her close her eyes and take it in. She felt ecstatic, like everything was possible.
