Chapter 25 Family Connections

I was playing cards with Harry that Saturday night. I had a regular pack of muggle cards and we were enjoying playing 'Go Fish'. A muggle game I had learned in the orphanage.

"I saw the Grim." He said after I had pulled a card off the deck.

"What?" I paused, looking at him.

"I saw the Grim." He repeated.

"It -"

"This is the second time I've seen it, and almost died. The first time was when I was going to the Leaky Cauldron, I saw it and the Knight Bus almost ran me over."

"That one honestly was an accident. There's no way of ever knowing when or where the Knight Bus will stop. Especially if you don't know how to summon it." I hoped I was easing his concerns.

"But how do you explain this last time? I saw the Grim and suddenly the dementors are on the grounds and I almost died." Harry asked, putting down his cards for a second.

"You remember the dog I told you I took in?" I asked.

"Yeah, Snuffles, right?" Harry nodded.

"Yes, Snuffles." I chuckled. "He's been living in the woods."

"What?!" Harry's jaw dropped.

"He must have gotten scared in the storm and didn't know where he was so you must've seen him, and the timing was unfortunate." I theorized.

Harry thought about it for a minute.

"But if you're honestly scared, I'll see what I can do about making a shelter for him?" I asked.

"I don't know what to do honestly." Harry sighed. "It's those dementors. I am the only one who collapses when they're around."

I stopped to think about that. When I was in the air, looking for Harry, they didn't come after me. And my head didn't explode this time because the block was gone.

"Why not ask Professor Lupin for some extra lessons? You need them most of all, since the dementors are keen on getting you for some reason." I suggested.

Harry nodded silently.

Madam Pomfrey had me leave so that Harry could get some rest. I patted his head hand and left the cards for him.

I, thankfully, had regained my powers that Monday. Harry was with us and I was trying out different hair colors from the darkest of purples to the brights of greens. I had even changed out my ruby nose ring for a plain black hoop.

I was still changing my hair in potions, while Malfoy had finally taken off his bandages and was imitating Harry falling off his broom to celebrate. I managed to get Harry to ignore him, but Ron threw a crocodile heart at Malfoy.

"Fifty points for hitting his head." I gave Ron a discreet low-five under the table.

Snape took fifty points from Gryffindor.

"If Snape's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again, I'm skiving off." Ron said as we stood in the corridor away from the door.

"Me too." I nodded.

"Check who's in there, Hermione." Ron gestured to Hermione.

She rolled her eyes but went to the door.

"It's okay!" She beckoned to us.

We walked in, feeling relief. Lupin wasn't looking his best. His eyes appeared to be sunken in and he was pale. His scars popped out on his face, and there were fresh cuts on his neck.

The students suddenly exploded with complaints.

"It's not fair, he was only filling in, why should he give us homework?"

"We don't know anything about werewolves -"

"- two rolls of parchment!"

"Did you tell Professor Snape we haven't covered them yet?" Lupin asked, a frown on his face.

"Yes, but he said we were really behind -"

"- he wouldn't listen -"

"- two rolls of parchment!"

Lupin nodded and smiled at us individually.

"Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to the essay."

"Oh no," Hermione said in disappointment, "I've already finished it!"

"I started it, but I'm not surprised you finished it." I chuckled to her.

That lesson we learned about the hinkypunk. He only had one leg and seemed to be made of smoke.

Hermione and I swapped notes through the class period. I had more observational notes about the hinkypunk while Hermione was listening and writing down what Lupin was saying.

When the bell rang, we gathered our stuff and I was about to walk out with Hermione when,

"Wait a moment, Harry." Lupin called. "I'd like a word."

"Ask him!" I whispered to him.

I let Hermione and Ron leave the room but I hung out near the door. Harry looked back and waved at me to join him.

"Ah, Cassie." Lupin looked up when I took some steps forward.

"Hello." I waved at him.

Lupin looked at Harry.

"I would like her to stay." Harry said.

"Very well then." Lupin nodded and gestured for me to join them.

I nodded as well and stood there.

'Snape has had it out for Lupin since day one. I don't understand why…' I thought as I stood next to Harry.

"I heard about the match," Lupin moved slow, like it hurt to move. "And I'm sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?"

"No, the tree smashed it to bits." Harry shook his head.

I bumped his shoulder and he gave me a smile of appreciation.

Lupin gave a sigh, "they planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would have a chance."

"Did you hear about the dementors too?" Harry asked.

I gave his shoulder another bump. Lupin looked up and saw it, he got a look in his eye.

"Yes, I did. I don't think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. I also heard about Cassie catching you." Lupin nodded at me.

I blushed and gave a grin.

"The dementors have been growing restless for some time… furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds… I suppose they were the reason you fell?" He finished.

"Yes." Harry nodded.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. I gave him another bump and gestured with my head to Lupin.

"Why?" He burst out. "Why do they affect me like that? Am I just -?"

"It has nothing to do with weakness," Lupin was quick to respond. "The dementors affect you worse than others because there are horrors in your past that the others don't have."

Harry looked at me, and I gave him a nod in confirmation.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself...soulless and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of."

I wrapped my arm around his and put my head on his shoulder. He put his head on mine and stood up straight again.

"When they get near me -" Harry reached for my hand and squeezed it. "I can hear Voldemort murdering my mom."

I gasped. Lupin made a motion to put his hand on his shoulder but stopped. I laced my fingers through his and squeezed his hand.

Harry squeezed it back, "why did they have to come to the match?" He asked bitterly.

"They're getting hungry." Lupin shut his briefcase. "Dumbledore won't let them into the school, so their supply of human prey has dried up… I don't think they could resist the large crowd around the Quidditch field. All that excitement… emotions running high… it was their idea of a feast."

"Azkaban must be terrible." I whispered.

Lupin nodded, "the fortress is set on a tiny island, way out to sea, but they don't need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when they're all trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single cheerful thought. Most of them go mad within weeks."

"But Sirius Black escaped from them," Harry said slowly.

"He got away…" I said quietly.

"Yes." Lupin dropped his briefcase and had to catch it before it hit the ground. "Black must have found a way to fight them. I wouldn't have believed it possible… Dementors are supposed to drain a wizard of his powers if he is left them too long…"

"You made that dementor on the train back off," Harry pointed to Lupin.

"There are - certain defenses one can use," Lupin said slowly, "but there was only one dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficult it becomes to resist."

"What defenses?" I asked at once.

"Can you teach me?" Harry asked at the same time.

"I don't pretend to be an expert at fighting dementors, Harry… quite the contrary…"

"But if the dementors come to another Quidditch match, I need to be able to fight them- " Harry said.

"And what's to stop them from coming onto the grounds again? Like you said, their food supply is gone. They don't have anyone to feed from. And they do have a liking for Harry. He needs to be able to hold them off." I helped Harry.

Lupin looked between Harry and I for a minute before sighing.

"Well… all right. I'll try and help. But it'll have to wait until next term, I'm afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I chose a very inconvenient time to fall ill."

"Thank you Professor!" Harry said happily.

We walked out of class together and when we got far enough from Lupin's class I gave his hand a squeeze and moved my hand to the crook of his elbow.

"I'm so sorry about what the dementors are making you remember." I said quietly.

"Don't be." Harry shrugged.

"I don't understand how you're able to remember that though?" I asked myself.

Harry shrugged again.

I had worn my topaz ring to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff match, mostly because I didn't have any friends in Ravenclaw. But I will admit, I was happy to see Ravenclaw wipe the Hufflepuffs around the pit. And Harry's mood had also lightened up. I was glad to see him smiling more.

I was at breakfast by myself, having gotten Hermione to promise she will be down soon with the boys, and was surprised when a well taken care of eagle owl fly in with a screech owl land in front of me.

They shook the first of the snowfall from their feathers.

I took both their letters, paid the screech owl, and the eagle owl flew over to Malfoy.

'Dear Cassiopeia,

I am pleased to inform you that you and I are family. Your father is actually a cousin to me, so that makes us cousins. I would like to invite you to our house for the holidays. I will be understanding if you don't want too, but the invitation is always open. I am sorry to hear about your situation and I do hope you are doing well at school.

I know I am a stranger to you, but if you do wish to talk to someone, you can send me a letter anytime.

With regards,

Narcissa Malfoy'

'She's a lovely woman.' I thought, deciding to sit on that letter and think about it later.

I opened the other one.

'I don't know how to address you. Cassiopeia? Cassie? But I want to thank you for reaching out. I knew Karen was pregnant, but things happened between your birth...

You are beautiful. I have no doubt you're mine, with you being a metamorphmagus. Don't worry, I keep my distance.

I know what happened to Harry and his broom. I was there when he fell. You were quick to get him. I'm really proud of you for having his back. James and I joked about how our kids were going to be the best of friends.

Enough of that, I'm probably scaring you. And I shouldn't tell you this now, but I couldn't resist reaching out now. I'm not trying to buy your love, but I was thinking of getting you and Harry a Christmas present. So be on the lookout for that, and I wouldn't curse them, or this letter.

Sincerely,

S.B.'

DUN. DUN. DUN!

Shout out to Dr . Meridith . Shepherd for following the story! (I know your name doesn't have spaces but it won't let the name save unless its spaced out like so.)

Shout out to ninjaslayr . star . mical for adding the first story their favorite list!

Shout out to Pamela Hutchins for leaving a review!

Pamela Hutchins: Christensen is the girl Cassie has had an unspoken crush on (we're building up to her sexuality) and everyone thought she was okay because she helped find Ariel in Cassie's first year. And then we did have that dueling incident during Lockhart. And we don't really know what's going on with Christensen's home life. So she could just be acting out. But as for the hexing, it's hard to find the culprit when she doesn't even know who it is, with her keeping her head down to be a smaller target. And I had to break them up for her growth in the next book. So be prepared for that!

I've decided not to take on that story request. I am so focused on this series that I would't be able to take on another.