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To say that Cass had been going around the school in a terrible mood was probably an understatement; she'd even managed to get herself a detention with Lupin, the only one so far of the year he'd given out.

She was also very clearly not impressed by everyone's attempts to cheer her up, though they were clearly unaware of what the issue was.

It was at the end of the week before Christmas that Cass made her way begrudgingly down to Lupin's classroom after dinner on the Thursday night, slamming the door behind her.

Lupin raised an eyebrow 'And what exactly Cass, has my door done to deserve to be thrown around?'.

She threw herself into a seat and scowled out the window, watching the snow fall against it

'What do you want me to do? I just want to get out of here and start packing'.

Lupin smiled, sitting at his desk and pulling out a book, looking at her in slight amusement 'are you packing to go home for the Christmas holidays?'.

She nodded 'mhmm, going home to inevitably end up getting in just as much trouble. Can't wait'.

Her voice was dryly sarcastic and Lupin started taking notes from a book as he spoke

'Cass, what you've got to understand is that I'm lenient compared to most people. You are lucky because of how smart and powerful you are as a witch. The very fact that you misbehave so much and on such a scale is frankly holding you back. If you didn't act out so much, then I wouldn't be surprised if you came out at the top of the class, above Hermione Granger probably as well'.

Cass exhaled deeply and tapped the table lightly, Lupin continuing 'you've got potential and a whole world of possibilities ahead of you Cass, why do you constantly fight against me and everyone else?'.

She was silent for a long time before looking up at him, eyes sad.

'Can you keep a secret, Professor Lupin?'.

Slowly he put his quill down, looking over at the younger girl 'Yes, of course…'

Lupin was equally as intrigued by what she as going to say as he was wishing he'd simply asked her to write lines.

He knew from her expression at the terrible way she'd been behaving recently that there was no chance this was only a small matter.

'I read a book in the restricted section about this thing…you can, um…uh…impart magic into other people...it said it's painful to the person who gives the magic...but it also acts as a protection to the person they give it to'.

Lupin's eyes were wide as he watched her for several minutes before he finally spoke

'Yes, how did you get a book out of the restricted section, can I ask that first?'.

Cass shrugged 'that's really not the important question at the moment is it?'.

'Fine, I'll pretend you were allowed to read the book in the first place. Yes it is possible to impart magic. It's a difficult and quite painful task to do, which is why it's not exactly popular- I've never heard of one being done. It's old magic, ancient magic even. In the end the recipient is generally stronger and more powerful magically than everyone else; the other thing that happens is the recipient is given a form of protection charm, and that stays with them. Unlike the spell that Lilly Potter placed on Harry, this charm won't wear off, the recipient will constantly be somewhat protected from harm'.

Cass was nodding slowly, though she looked pale and almost like she needed to vomit

'Did you hear about the Basilisk…last year?'.

Lupin nodded 'of course…why?'.

Cass was shaking slightly, looking like she was trying to supress the rising tide of nausea inside her

'I could hear it…I can speak parseltongue, Professor...that's not…it only ever attacked when I was out of the castle…I was never anywhere near it. Quirrel in the first year, he never came anywhere near me…I've fallen off my broom a million times, and never hurt myself, Cedric has fallen from half the height and ended up in St Mungo's…'.

Lupin attempted to fill the gap 'you might have just been lucky'.

Cass rolled her eyes, laughing sarcastically 'My mother is a Healer, Professor, she's said it herself that I must have had someone 'looking over me'…and now I know who…'.

Lupin frowned, his voice quiet '…who?'

'My parents were Death Eaters, I think most people know that-'

Lupin nodded slightly and she continued

'the only explanation is that Lord Voldermort imparted magic to me when I was a baby, before I was abandoned at St Mungo's...I have dreams all the time...about snakes, it's Nagini isn't it…my boggart…and the voice…the voice was him too wasn't it'.

Lupin simply blinked, at a loss of what to say.

Let me know what you think, Reviews are always appreciated.

Let me know who you think the parents should be too.

:)

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