School had resumed quicker than either of them had expected; so, their relationship stayed quiet. "Back to Professor" and "Nothing happened between us" was Remus's words to Cassandra that she repeatedly said in her head. Yes, she was allowed to call him Remus for that little period of time. It was awkward at first, but she got used to it after using it ten or twenty times over two days. It was quite . . . she didn't necessarily know how to describe it. Yet, Cassandra hated hiding this relationship from her friends who had asked about her sudden change of mood over the past week, but she had to. For her sake and for her Professor's sake; this needed to keep quiet. Of course, the year continued to pass, their relationship secretly grew, until one night, late in April.
She went to go see Professor Lupin something to do with homework. It was a little late, she knew that, but she didn't think he'd mind. So, she went towards his office, with the moonlight being her only guide around the dark classroom. She stopped having heard a noise. It happened again; it was a groan. Her pace quickened quietly, and she hesitantly reached for the door, having heard the groan again. Cassandra grabbed the doorknob and turned so slowly that it could've been a minute before it fully turned and quietly unlatched. She peered in the doorway; no one was in there. Something was on the floor though . . . it looked like a creature, anorexic and almost hairless. Its head peered up; Cassandra gasped and shut the door. She ran out as quickly as her legs would let her. She collapsed in the Hufflepuff common room; Cassandra could not believe she saw what she saw! She knew now . . . she just had to keep it quiet.
Shortly after this unknown encounter, Cassandra went to Professor Lupin early on Saturday morning. He had not been in classes the following day, as she expected, but he had shown up for the rest of that week.
"Come in," Cassandra opened the door as Professor Lupin turned and smiled, "Hello Cassandra,"
"Hi Professor," Cassandra greeted as Professor Lupin offered her a seat. Cassandra shut the door, walked over to Professor Lupin, and hugged him. Professor Lupin seemed a little taken aback by the sudden notion, but returned the hug and asked,
"Something wrong Cassandra?"
"No, I just felt like hugging my boyfriend," Cassandra murmured for only the two of them to hear. Professor Lupin shook his head.
"Alright, that's fine." He answered with a smile. Yet as the two broke, he found that Cassandra seemed a little skeptical.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked quietly. Professor Lupin looked at her queerly.
"I'm not sure of what you're talking about–"
"You know very well what I'm talking about; you do. It happened Monday night." Cassandra explained, quietly, staring at Professor Lupin seriously. Professor Lupin was shocked; yet he did not show it in his facial expression or his manner. In fact, the way he was made him look a little intimidating and angry.
"You came into the room that night?" he asked quietly and a little irritated.
"I only opened the door," Cassandra said shaking her head, "Little did I know that I would see you like that on the floor." Professor Lupin turned away from her and looked out his window.
"You weren't supposed to know; no one really is supposed to know." Professor Lupin said quietly. Cassandra walked up to him and entwined her hand in his.
"I don't care." she said quietly.
"No, you should." Professor Lupin said rather harshly, ripping his hand away from hers. "You should care that if you were to walk in like that again, I could hurt you!" He turned and faced the wall, angry with what Cassandra had carelessly said. Cassandra looked hurt in a way; but she felt something different inside. She looked down and leaned her body weight on her hands that were on Professor Lupin's desk, trying to think of what to say next.
"I dated a vampire in my fifth year." Cassandra finally said. Professor Lupin's brow scrunched up in totally confusion, yet he continued to listen, "He was visiting my neighbor, his aunt, for the summer. I met him two days after he arrived, and we became good friends. A week later, he had asked me out, and we started dating. In the middle of July I'd say, he brought me over for dinner. His aunt wasn't at home; after dinner, we started dancing to some music he had put on. The next thing I know, I'm on the floor, and he's on top of me. He was looking at me, but his neck was moving away from me. His eyes were searching my face, but the rest of his body was moving away. Finally he started telling me to go back home, I protested, he yelled at me and flung himself off of me. I asked what was wrong, then his teeth started to deform. It hit me then, and he said he was sorry. I ran out and didn't come out for three days. I was petrified . . . I think it was a Saturday I went back to his house, and we talked things over. We still dated until August when he had to go back to Transylvania; we just didn't have dinner with each other."
Professor Lupin turned around and eyed Cassandra. She was praying inside that her true story had worked as she looked at him.
"I hope you understood why I told that story,"
"Cassandra," Professor Lupin came closer to her, "You realize if you interfere while I'm . . . what I am . . . you could get killed."
"I didn't say I was going to interfere Professor . . ." Cassandra said. Professor Lupin then kissed her passionately (truly, he was quite thankful), and he hugged her tightly.
"You must swear to me that you won't do that. I can't hurt you," he murmured. Cassandra sighed in relief and hugged him back tighter.
"I promise."
Three minutes later, Cassandra walked out of the Defense classroom and outside on the castle grounds, near the Black Lake. It was a beautiful day; she didn't see why she wouldn't make the best of it. She sat underneath her favorite tree and watched the Lake glimmer in the sunlight. Yet, something had pulled her out of her thoughts of serenity; it was Gregory. He was crying, or trying to control himself not to cry. Nonetheless, tears were running down Gregory's face. Should she try and see what was wrong with him . . . she didn't see why not.
"Gregory." She called to him as she started walking over. Gregory's head shot up to Cassandra walking to him. He wiped off his face of any straggling tears and looked away. "What's wrong?" Cassandra asked sitting down next to him.
"Why would you care?" Gregory asked harshly while throwing a rock violently into the Lake.
"Well, I've never seen you this upset." Cassandra said. Gregory looked down and then back out at the Lake.
"My mother's dead." He said angrily, tears glimmering in his eyes as he threw yet another rock that seemed to be coming out of nowhere into the Lake. Cassandra gasped and clapped a hand to her mouth.
"Gregory . . . I'm so sorry." Cassandra said, her voice full of sorrow. Gregory could tell that, and it seemed to be a revelation to him.
"What was worse . . . he killed her." Gregory said angrily as two tears fell from his eyes. Cassandra wasn't exactly sure who Gregory was referring to, but then it came to her, and she gasped again. A tear fell from her eyes as Gregory looked back at her. Instinctively, Cassandra pulled Gregory into a hug, in which Gregory started to cry again. The two sat there for a little while, just hugging each other and swaying the slightest bit. When the two broke apart, they looked teary eyed, and Cassandra gave him a reassuring smile while saying,
"It's going to go away, someday. The pain. It will eventually go away."
"Cassandra, you are the strongest woman I've ever met. I don't know how you could manage with both of your parents gone because of that man." Gregory said as the two stood up. "Thanks though, for what you did,"
"It's alright," The two departed from each other, and they remained quiet for the rest of the day. While Cassandra was wandering around, she ended coming across Julianna and . . .
"Jason,"
"Jules, I love you." Cassandra stopped dead in her tracks; was she hearing what she heard? She then realized there wasn't any conversation going on. She peered down the hall to see Julianna and Jason making out passionately. Cassandra turned around and smiled widely. She went back into the common room and awaited the return of her friend. Julianna walked in approximately five minutes later, more content than Cassandra had seen her. Cassandra raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Hey Cassa," Julianna greeted sounding a little unsure of why Cassandra was doing what she was doing.
"Hi Jules," Cassandra greeted sweetly.
"Something getting at you Cassa?" Julianna asked curiously as she sat down on the couch, across from Cassandra.
"Not really, how are you and Jason?" Cassandra asked. Julianna opened her mouth and hesitated to answer. Cassandra knew that Julianna and Jason were officially a couple since Christmas break, and it blossomed, but the make-out was supposedly only for Jason and Julianna to know about.
"Fine," Julianna said nodding her head, "Why?"
"Oh, you know me, I'm just curious." Cassandra explained shrugging, "Considering that make-out you just had,"
"What?!" Julianna exclaimed loudly and outrageously. Cassandra raised her eyebrows, and Julianna gaped unbelievingly a couple times, not exactly sure what to say. "You're sneaky Cassandra,"
"Nah, I just happened to catch you in the right place at the right time," Cassandra smirked. Julianna scowled and tried not to laugh at Cassandra who was smiling widely. Finally, the two girls burst out laughing in the common room. The portrait hole was opened, and Jason walked in on the two laughing. Cassandra looked up and saw Jason; her eyes went on him like glue onto a paper with a hyper-looking smile. Julianna did the same.
"I'm missing something from those looks you two are giving me?" Jason said, looking back and forth between the two friends before they burst out laughing.
"Yes. But I will fill you in two words: great kiss." Cassandra said boldly. The two started laughing again, but they laughed harder when they saw Jason flush a pale red at the cheeks.
Things were relatively calm after that. One night though, Cassandra was patrolling, she heard some people saying "Put that light out!" and "We're trying to sleep!" She found it queer that paintings were still awake, so someone who was walking around was waking them up. Cassandra followed the voices, and soon the voices came with a light and a boy that she knew from the front and behind.
"Do I dare ask what you're doing Harry?" Cassandra asked calmly. Harry jumped and spun around to see her, hand on hip with her wand aimed with light. He looked at her, the parchment he was holding and then back at her.
"Me? I'm, um, I'm doing nothing. Why do you ask?" Harry asked a little nervously.
"What is that?" Cassandra asked seriously. When Harry didn't answer, she asked, "Can you at least tell me why you're up? Looking around for?"
"Someone . . ."
"Not Sirius Black I hope,"
"No . . . someone by the name of . . . Peter Pettigrew,"
"You know, you should–" Cassandra stopped at the sound of feet; her eyes widened, and so did Harry's. "I'm saving you; do whatever you have to do to get this, thing off! Give it to me, and put out your light!" Cassandra whispered. Harry did as instructed before the two came across the voice belonging to the feet and the other light,
"Potter. Walker. What are you doing, wandering the corridors at night?" Snape asked somewhat angrily
"He was sleeping walking Professor." Cassandra covered up as Harry was going to attempt to save his own skin. Snape's eyes turned to Cassandra rather quickly. "I was patrolling, and I saw him just walking. I had to wake up him up Professor," Snape's eyebrows raised and looked over her face. Then he saw the piece of parchment. "What is that?" Cassandra looked from the parchment to Snape and back, unsure of what to say.
"This? It's a–"
"Blank piece of parchment, sir." Snape's head turned to Harry, who Cassandra could tell was thinking on his feet, "I was doing some homework that Ron had kindly reminded me about before I went to bed. I had grabbed the parchment and put it in my sweater." It was a believable story. Snape then aimed his wand for Cassandra.
"Walker, the parchment please." Cassandra hesitated for a moment, but handed him the piece not wanting to get into any other arguments. "Potter, open it." Harry took the parchment and opened it. Snape aimed his wand for it and said, "Reveal you secrets." Nothing had happened; Cassandra and Harry looked at each other a little worriedly. "Show yourself!" Snape said angrier, hitting the parchment. Still nothing happened. "Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, demands that you show me the information you conceal!"
As if it was being written on at that moment, writing was going and appearing across the paper.
"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor and begs him to keep his abnormally nose out of other people's business."
Snape was bewildered; Cassandra's eyes widened at that comment . . . even though it was more than true.
"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git."
Cassandra was going to burst out laughing if the situation wasn't what it was. Yet, there was more . . .
"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a Professor."
Harry closed his eyes; Cassandra's stomach plummeted as she saw Snape's horrified look. But the parchment had one more comment to spare . . .
"Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball."
"So . . . we'll see about this . . . Potter, Walker, with me." They walked to his office; he went over to the fireplace, and Snape called out angrily,
"Lupin! I want a word!" Cassandra cursed inside her head quite graphically. Harry rubbed his forehead, looking now on edge. Professor Lupin came from the fire into the room while wiping some ash off of his pants.
"Severus?" he asked mildly. Cassandra did not look at him when he looked in her direction; she felt it would further embarrass her even though she was quite aware of the fact that he was looking at her.
"While I was patrolling the corridors, I found these two walking around–"
"I was patrolling Professor." Cassandra put in a little defensively.
"I did not ask for you to speak Miss Walker," Snape said deadly as he turned to her. He turned back to Professor Lupin, "I told Potter to give me what he had in his hand, and I came across this!" Snape handed the parchment to him, and Professor Lupin looked over it with a raised eyebrow. He shot a quick glance in Harry's and Cassandra's direction, who were watching the two professors' every move; they knew that it would be unwise to speak. "Well? Clearly, this is full of Dark Magic. Where do you think Potter managed to get such a thing?" Professor Lupin looked back up at Snape,
"Dark Magic? Really, Severus?" Professor Lupin asked mildly with a bemused half-grin, "To me, this seems like a piece of parchment that is designed to insult anyone who tries to read it. I suspect it's a product of Zonko's. Childish, but hardly dangerous." Cassandra could see Snape's anger against the moonlight, especially when his jaw went rigid.
"You think a joke shop provided him with such a thing? Surely, you don't think it more likely that he received this directly from the manufacturers?" Snape persisted a little eager to find the answer. Harry looked more than confused now as this conversation continued; Professor Lupin also seemed confused and didn't understand what Snape was talking about.
"You mean by Mr. Wormtail, or one of these people? Harry, do you these men?" Professor Lupin asked curiously. Harry shook his head,
"No sir," Harry said. Cassandra, thinking on her feet, took out her wand and aimed behind her. She conjured a price label for Zonko's and crumbled it in her hand quickly behind her back.
"You see, Severus, I am confident that this is a Zonko's product–" Cassandra stuck her hands back in her pockets and then spoke out,
"Um, what is this?" she said trying to sound confused, which she succeeded in. She took out the sticky label from her pocket and looked at it curiously. "I guess you didn't take the label off Harry," Harry was more than shocked and surprised. Professor Snape seemed quite amazed too. Professor Lupin chuckled and clapped his hands together.
"There Severus, now that is cleared up. Good night Severus; I will make sure that Harry gets back to his dormitory. Cassandra, come with us please." Neither of the students looked at Snape as they walked out. Professor Lupin stopped them once they reached the entrance of the Great Hall.
"Professor–"
"I don't want to hear any explanations." He said rather coldly before lowering his voice and looking around, "I know for a fact that this map was confiscated years ago by Mr. Filch. I do know it's a map Harry," Cassandra's brow had furrowed in confusion as to Harry who was astounded, "How it came to be in your possession, I don't want to know. Quite frankly, I'm astounded you didn't hand this in particularly because of what happened when a student left information lying around the castle. I'm sorry, but I am not giving this back to you Harry." Harry nodded, looking downward, but asked,
"Why would Snape think that I got it from the manufacturers?"
"The mapmakers would've wanted you to be lured out of the school. They'd find it quite enjoyable." Professor Lupin explained shortly.
"You know them?" Harry asked, impressed both in voice and expression. Cassandra was know curious herself.
"We met," Professor Lupin persisted on the previous discussion, "I can't you make take Sirius Black seriously. But you must understand that you're parents gave up their lives to save yours." Professor Lupin's voice became angrier when he said, "Gambling their sacrifice by wandering the castle at night, with a killer on the loose seems to be a pretty poor way to repay them over a bag of magic tricks. Do not expect me to cover up for you again," Cassandra took the hint when he said that because he probably meant her as well. "I want you to return to your dormitory and stay there. And do not think of taking any detours, if you do, I will know about it." Harry nodded his head and walked up, looking and probably feeling much worse than he was in Snape's office; Cassandra felt bad, and she wasn't even spoken to, yet at least.
Professor Lupin then turned to Cassandra.
"Very smart of you, I must say."
"I had–"
"I don't want explanation from you either Cassandra." Professor Lupin said. Cassandra sighed, looking downward. "My office." The two walked up to the Defense classroom, and as Professor Lupin shut the door, Cassandra felt even more nervous than before. "What were you doing in the corridors?"
"I was patrolling. Professor Dumbledore told me to–"
"You ended up finding Harry, knowing Professor Snape was coming and saved him? When you could've gotten into trouble as well?" Professor Lupin said angrily.
". . . Yes, yes I did. But I swear–"
"That you didn't know or come to consider that this could've been something that could have and would have endangered your lives because this was in the hands Sirius Black so someone could get it and be lured out of the school?" Professor Lupin almost yelled. His tone sent goose bumps down her arms; and not in the good way.
"No, I didn't think of that. I'm sorry Professor," Cassandra muttered, looking away. There was a moment of completely dreadful silence before Cassandra said, "I'll just go to back to Hufflepuff tower then, good night Professor." She started walking away. Professor Lupin then watched her for a moment before calling,
"Cassandra." She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around to be caught in an embrace. She hugged him back, still feeling weird.
"Remus?" she uttered quietly.
"I'm sorry for going overboard with you, probably Harry as well," he replied as they broke.
"You were trying to protect us. There was nothing wrong with that," Cassandra rebuked, "That map was probably from Sirius Black."
"I know when I go overboard Cassandra; I do go over a little," Professor Lupin said shaking his head a little. "You should go rest. It's late, and I'm sure Severus went back to patrol anyhow." Cassandra smiled and chuckled.
"Alright, I will. Goodnight," Cassandra leaned up and kissed him; responding back, they were brought closer. When they broke, both were smiling as they had entwined their hands. Cassandra then reluctantly started walking away even though they were both holding onto each other's hands. When they broke, Cassandra turned around and was halfway to the door when she turned back around, "Professor. I think you should know something." He was curious and nodded his head, "Harry was walking around for a reason. Before S-Professor Snape found us, I had asked what he was doing. He said he was looking for a man by the name of Peter Pettigrew."
He went rigid; he shook his head, looking paler in the moonlight.
"That's not possible." He said disbelievingly, "Peter Pettigrew has been dead . . . for years."
"I'm just saying what Harry told me, unless he lied, which is likely, but I'm only telling you just in case. Goodnight," Cassandra said before she walked out.
Late in June, Sirius Black had turned up again. Except this time, many dark secrets were uncovered as Cassandra found out. Sirius Black was innocent, Peter Pettigrew, who had been dead for years, was alive and was guilty of the murders of James and Lily Potter by betraying them to Lord Voldemort. Remus was friends with both of them; he believed Sirius killed Peter and betrayed James and Lily, just like everyone else did. It was madness for Harry Potter and his two friends along with the two reunited friends (Remus and Sirius) against their traitor of a friend (Peter) who had turned out to be Scabbers, Ronald Weasley's pet rat!
The graduation was coming quicker than any of them had expected. It was only two days before the Class of 94 was to graduate. Jason and Julianna became even closer than before, and the same seemed to be for Cassandra and Remus. Until the night that he was discovered a werewolf and when Sirius Black came back to the school. Cassandra had gone to see Professor Lupin the day after the incident had happened.
"Come in Cassandra," Cassandra walked befuddled, about to knock considering he was facing the other way. He turned to her, and Professor Lupin pointed to the map, "I saw you coming."
"The Map you took from Harry?" Cassandra asked quite curiously, briefly observing the map, "It's incredible."
"Thank you. I created this map,"
"You – what?" Cassandra's eyes were wide, and she was gaping.
"Yes. I was Moony in the Marauders," he explained simply throwing something into the fire.
"Moony . . . oh my Merlin! Who on earth came up with that?" Cassandra asked, smiling widely. Professor Lupin chuckled.
"I still debate myself if James or Sirius had come up with that name." Professor Lupin explained quite honestly. Cassandra shook her head; she then got a closer at him.
"You look horrible," Cassandra said going over to him.
"I've looked worse, don't worry." Professor Lupin said shaking his head.
"Can I ask why you're packing everything? You could just leave it here for next–"
"There won't be a next year, Cassandra." Professor Lupin said crossing over the room to close the door, "I resigned." Cassandra's eyes widened.
"Resigned? Why? You're one of the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Hogwarts has had. Why are you resigning?" Cassandra asked, bewildered and upset.
"Cassandra–" Professor Lupin started, leaning against his desk for support.
"The Ministry didn't find out you were helping Sirius, did they?" Cassandra asked worriedly, cutting him off. "They didn't find out . . . about us, did they?"
"No. Professor Dumbledore convinced Fudge that I was trying to save their lives. The loss of the Order of Merlin for Severus hit him hard," Professor Lupin explained, "He, er, accidentally, let slip that I was a werewolf at breakfast." Cassandra's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?! The unbelievable git! Just because of some stupid honor, he did that purposely!" Cassandra exclaimed angrily.
"Cassandra," Professor Lupin said warningly. Cassandra looked back up, "It's alright. By this time tomorrow morning, owls will arrive with parents' complaints about their children being taught by a werewolf. If anything happened, I could've bitten you that night, or Harry or any of them last night . . . Cassandra, you know what this means," She turned her back to the Professor, folding her arms over her chest, knowing what was coming. Tears were forming quickly in her eyes as Professor Lupin came over to face her. He lifted her chin to meet his eyes.
"Yeah, we have to break up," Cassandra muttered. Professor Lupin shrugged,
"That's one way of putting it." He said. "You must know though that, no matter the consequences were, I did not regret this." They hugged and then kissed before Remus said that she needed to go . . . that was the last time Cassandra saw Remus.
Her graduation went smoothly; she had been awaiting this for eight years. She was more than proud of her classmates and class in general. Cassandra wouldn't've wanted another group of witches and wizards for her classmates. Julianna and Jason had become engaged that day; their parents were there, and they were more than overjoyed. Yet . . . something else happened.
"Cassandra!" a voice called to her. Cassandra turned around to see Gregory, smiling in his black graduation gown. "Congratulations,"
"Thanks you too," Cassandra said as they hugged.
"So, I know, we didn't get too close this year or over our past years here at Hogwarts, but . . . I got you this," Gregory said handing a small box to her. Cassandra took it and opened it; her smile widened.
"It's absolutely beautiful Gregory. Thank you," It was a gold bracelet with different colored gems in the wide bracelet that glittered in absolute brightness in the sun.
"Well, I hope to see you in the future, goodbye Cassandra," Gregory said as he winked and walked off.
"Goodbye Gregory." Cassandra said as he left. She took out the bracelet and put it on; it was really pretty, and she liked it. Cassandra was about to close the box when she saw a little piece of paper inside. She opened it and laughed aloud. Gregory's address and telephone number was written on it. Cassandra shook her head and looked back at Hogwarts. That would be the last time she saw that school. Cassandra then went look around for Gregory with an anxious smile creeping over her face.
Hi everybody, Mysterious Victoria is back! I want to thank my four reviewers immensely for their encouragement, Shiloh Asha, AnimalAddictions, Jessie, and Tonks. I'm glad you liked the first chapter, and here is the second chapter that unfolds this little story.
Thanks again, and make sure to review!