I own nothing. JK Rowling is a genius.
Author's Notes: Thanks for the very encouraging reviews, especially poly styrene, who gets a point. there goes my gun gets two for being write and funny at the same time. I tried, I really did, but I just couldn't bring myself too.
This will probably be Ron/Hermione, just because they're fantastic to play with.
Sorry if this chapter seems boring, more action next time. I can't promise that it will come as quickly.
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Cassandra sat at the teachers' table in the Great Hall and smiled. The smile was part fondness for her own time at the school, and part uncomfortable amusement at seeing it from this point of view. The students began filing in and she scanned the crowd. The two remaining Weasleys were easily spotted by their hair, as was Lucius Malfoy's son, Draco. Harry Potter would be somewhere in the crowd, as would Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and Rose Zeller.
Professor McGonagall entered with the hat and a trail of first year students. Caroline was last through the doors and caught the attention of most of the school, given that she looked twice as tall as the other students. McGonagall didn't look much more pinched than she had when Cassandra had been at the school, for which the new teacher was rather grateful.
The Sorting Hat sung its new song, briefly describing the virtues of each house and reminding the school the ignoring its warnings the previous year had been disastrous. Cassandra had only heard that Voldemort had returned (who didn't know that?), not any of the specifics of the events the surrounded the revelation.
The students were called forward one by one, but she barely paid attention to the process until Professor McGonagall called out
"Saxa, Caroline."
There was an excited buzz across the hall as people repeated the name to remember it, and others tried to recall what they knew about the Saxas.
Caroline sat carefully on the stool and closed her eyes as Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
Hmm, yes it said. Welcome back to where you belong Miss Saxa. Following your uncle, I think would be best for everyone
"Gryffindor!"
Caroline handed the hat back to Professor McGonagall and walked to the cheering table of red and gold. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville were clapping loudly with the others, although the whispering began again. The girl sitting between Harry and Hermione had to be Ron's sister.
"I'm Caroline," Caroline said.
"I worked that one out," the girl said. "I'm Ginny Weasley."
"Pleased to meet you Ginny," Caroline replied, smiling.
The sorting ceremony finished, McGonagall took the hat and stool away and Dumbledore rose to his feet.
"It is a pleasure to welcome you all to a new year at Hogwarts. Given the current situation there are a few words I would like to say."
Caroline groaned. She was hungry, and not really in the mood to hear about how the rise of the Dark Lord or the need to be careful and trust each other in times of need. She'd had the same talk from her mother all the way to Kings Cross station.
Harry grinned at her.
Dumbledore began his speech. "Please, enjoy your meal."
He sat down as Professor McGonagall rejoined the staff table and Caroline cheered along with everyone else, before loading her plate with food and tucking in.
Cassandra saw her daughter grinning and relaxed. She seemed to have made friends on the train, which was the whole point. Minerva leaned forward to talk to her.
"Congratulations," she said.
"Only you could say that to a Ravenclaw, Professor," Cassandra said.
Minerva grinned, rather cat like. Cassandra felt eyes on her and looked back over the school. Caroline caught her eye and grinned again. She said something to dark haired girl across the table from her.
"They're a quick witted group," Minerva said, nodding at the group. "They'll look after her."
"She's well able to look after herself," Cassandra said primly.
Minerva snorted, not a sound Cassandra had though to hear from her former professor.
"She'll need it with that lot," she said.
Caroline smiled slightly and Minerva patted her.
"See, that wasn't too difficult, now, was it? I'll have you remember that your brother did very well in Gryffindor."
"How is he?" Cassandra asked.
"You haven't seen him?" McGonagall asked, shocked, and mildly reproachful.
Cassandra felt her cheeks coloured, but didn't look down.
"Why should I have?" she asked.
She heard a derisive snort from her other and looked down the table. There was the unmistakable, and rather unfortunate, profile of Severus Snape. He seemed to be ignoring her, but his eyes shifted as she stared at him. She remembered some of the stories she had heard about him and sneered in his general direction.
Caroline watched her mother as much as the other teachers as her new friends described them too her. She would be taking Arithmancy with Hermione, but not Ancient Runes. She would also be taking Transfiguration, Charms, Defence, and Potions.
"Snape's a horror, though," Ron said. "Worst teacher in the school."
Caroline saw her mother sneer at the greasy haired man and grinned. He wasn't going to have it easy on her bad side.
"He really knows his stuff," Hermione counted. "He's one of the best potions makers in the world, I think. And he only takes the best students into his class."
"He's not a good teacher if no one can stand to be in classes," Ron said.
"You know he's a Slytherin," Hermione said, with an exasperated sigh.
Harry rolled his eyes. Caroline nodded in understanding. She had had friends at high school who had argued like that. Even once they had started going out.
"So what did you get for potions?" Ginny asked, ignoring her brother outright.
"I got an A," Caroline said. Ginny looked surprised. "Ah, that's an O, here, I think. We use the Muggle marking system in Australia."
"My dad likes anything Muggle," Ginny said. "Drives mum mad sometimes. He charmed a car to fly once."
"Cool," Caroline said, appreciatively.
Dessert came and went with good discussions about Quidditch and classes, and the end of Hermione v. Ron round, whatever. The student body was tired and full when Dumbledore stood again.
"I would like to introduce you all to our knew Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Cassandra Saxa."
Cassandra stood and waved. People clapped. Cassandra sat down again.
"Her daughter Caroline is joining us in sixth year. Please remember that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students, at all times. Firenze has asked me to ask you all to stay away from the ground level classrooms unless you have class there. And Mr Filch has once again posted the list of banned items on his door, and will severely punish anyone found using magic between classes. Those matters taken care of, time for the school song. Pick a tune."
Caroline stared at the words for a few vague moments before she understood what was supposed to happen. She tried to follow along with Harry and Ron, but they seemed to change song every other line, so she ended up just chanting it with most of the rest of the school. She saw her mother singing, though, and winced for the people sitting near her.
Hermione looked relieved when the song finished and Dumbledore sent them up to bed. Caroline followed Hermione and the other first years through the castle and up to the Gryffindor tower. She changed wearily into her pyjamas with the other girls; Parvati, Lavender, Marina and Athena; before they all wished each other good night and climbed into bed.
Caroline closed the curtains around her bed, glad for the privacy. Despite the fact that her mother could be no more than a few minutes frantic searching away, she was going to be hit with a desperate surge of homesickness and didn't want the pity of her new roommates.