Chapter Seven – Cara

Return to Hogwarts

I took Remus' arm as we made our way to the head table in Rose's wake. As we approached, several teachers stood in recognition and Dumbledore stepped forwards, first embracing Rose, then Remus and I in turn.

"Rose," he greeted warmly, "Cara, Remus. It's so good to have the three of you back here."

"It's good to be back, Professor," I told him earnestly. I looked up and smiled at the enchanted ceiling. "There's nowhere more impressive than Hogwarts' Great Hall."

"Not even the dragon enclosures in Romania?" he asked, a twinkle in his blue eyes.

Remus laughed and I said, "Not even there, Professor."

"I'm glad to hear it," he said. "But do call me Albus. It is about time the lot of you did so. Now, Remus, Cara, you're there and there, next to Professor Sprout. Rose, dear, come and sit between Severus and I. We have a lot to talk about, dear."

My sister looked at him briefly, her happy face disappearing and becoming closed off. "Yes, Professor," she agreed softly. "We do indeed have a lot to discuss, but perhaps later, in your office, might be more prudent?"

He smiled congenially, and said, "Of course, my dear."

We walked up the steps and took our designated seats. My seat put me too far away from Rose to hear what she was saying easily, so all I could do was watch as Severus Snape stood up to greet her. The two of them stared at each other for a moment, neither moving or smiling, until-

"Did Rose just hug Severus Snape?" I asked Remus, shocked.

He didn't even look at me as he stared at them in complete and utter surprise and said, "I think she did."

She was smiling as the two sat down and began to talk quickly. The Hall was filled with noise as I glanced at my husband, and then we began to laugh. It was so… unexpected. If there was one person Severus had hated most in the world it had been Sirius, and here he was, talking happily with his greatest enemy's wife.

"Typical Rose," I muttered to him, and then greeted the other teachers around me happily. It was very different, I mused, to be sitting up at the head table looking down on the students, rather than being one of the students looking up. I briefly wondered if this was what it had been like for James when he proposed to Lily – one of our favourite memories of the young rascal – but pushed the thought aside before it could make me sad. I glanced instead at the Gryffindor table, meeting Ginny's eyes quickly and smiling at her. I realised we had never told her and the others why we were all coming to Hogwarts, so I knew it would be a shock when she found out.

The doors opened and Minerva McGonagall came striding in, holding a dilapidated hat and a stool, followed by a line of first years, along with Beth and the Black clan, who were to be sorted last as they weren't first years. The new students stopped in the middle of the long aisle between tables, and McGonagall stepped forwards, placing the hat onto the stool and stepping aside.

The brim opened and the Sorting Hat began to sing.

Once four founders lived in peace,

And loved each and every other.

Then the happiness did cease,

And strife formed between the brothers.

Cunning Slytherin, whose mind was bright,

Chose only those with great ambition.

Wise Ravenclaw, who had keen sight,

Chose knowledge as her mission.

Brave Gryffindor, who was ever daring,

Wanted those who were brave at heart.

Kind Hufflepuff, the most caring,

Took the rest, so they all had a part.

The four founders, whose love was dear,

Now stood duly parted,

And that was how the sorting, here,

Was forever started.

I urge you with all my heart,

To listen to my old words;

Do not allow the sorting to part,

But allow divisions to become blurred.

For though sorting is my job and I must do it,

I feel it is a sin I do commit.

Silence seemed to reign through the hall for several moments. I stared at the hat as it uttered a warning, and a chill crept over me. Why would it warn us now, when there was no one out there to hurt us?

"In a moment," she started, her voice echoing down the hall, "I will call your names. One by one, you will approach the table and place the sorting hat upon your head. Once sorted, you will go and join your house table." Here she unrolled the parchment she had in her hand and started, "Andrews, Rebecca!"

A small blonde girl ran forwards and placed the hat on her head, and sat for several moments as it deliberated. Finally, the hat once again opened up its brim and shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table began to cheer, and the girl went to join her new house mates. Thus, the sorting proceeded quickly, and I became more and more nervous, until the name was called:

"Lupin, Daniel!"

Dan hurried up the steps and placed the hat on his head, and a hush fell. I leant forwards nervously, and Remus placed his hand on my arm, smiling. He knew that wherever his son went, he'd be proud. I would be proud, too, but… I couldn't stand it if he went in Slytherin!

"GRYFFINDOR!"

With a great sigh of relief, Dan jumped of the stool and placed the Sorting Hat upon it, before running down the hall to join the cheering table. I smiled.

"There's no need to be worried, Ca," Remus said softly in my ear. "You know our children. They're good through and through."

"Lupin, James!"

Jamie hurried up the steps and put the hat onto his head. For several seconds, the hat was silent, until it announced:

"GRYFFINDOR!"

I exchanged gleeful grins with Remus and we settled back to watch the rest of the sorting. After all the first years were sorted (with Wyatt, Peter being placed in Ravenclaw last), McGonagall stepped forwards again.

"We now have four older students to sort, as they have just arrived in Britain from Romania. First of all, we have Bethany Rose Lupin."

Beth hurried forwards, looking worried for a brief moment. I knew in my heart that Beth would never be placed in Slytherin, and I smiled as the hat was placed upon her head. For a moment the hat was silent, then it called out, "RAVENCLAW!"

Beth smiled and stood, returning the hat to its perch and hurrying towards the Ravenclaw table, where she sat down next to a remarkably pretty girl with long, shiny black hair. I let out a breath and smiled at Remus, who grinned back. "She is such a smart aleck, that was easy to see," he muttered into my ear and I relaxed. None of my children were in Slytherin. None would be evil.

"Lily Black," McGonagall called, and Rose's youngest daughter hurried up to the sorting hat, which barely had to touch her head before it announced her in, "GRYFFINDOR!"

She smiled and jumped up, hurrying to sit with Ginny Weasley, who congratulated her. I smiled at the young girl.

"William Black," came McGonagall's voice, and Will strode forwards, looking like the most confident man in the entire world. I saw, out of the corner of my eye, Dumbledore lean forwards, just as Rose did. I knew this was the test – would Voldemort's genes win out?

Again, the hat hardly needed to touch his head, before it shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

It looked like Rose's genes had won out, I thought with a smile. Will made his way unhurriedly towards the Gryffindor table and sat down next to the Weasley twins, high-fiving them.

"And lastly, Elizabeth Black."

Lizzie strode forwards, biting her lip. She looked like she was concentrating and I frowned. What was she planning?

She sat down and the hat went onto her head. She sat for a long time – longer than any I remembered sitting for – whispering something. I tried to make it out and I could have sworn I heard her whispering, "Slytherin," but that made no sense. Why would she want to be in Slytherin after all we had told her about it? It must have been, "Not Slytherin." That was probably what it was-

"Very well," the hat said aloud. "SLYTHERIN!"

Ice shot through me as I stared at my beautiful niece, who stood and returned the hat to McGonagall before she strode through the hall to take a seat at the Slytherin House table. Unable to help myself, I stared over at Rose, expecting her to be angry. Instead, I saw my sister smile knowingly and, when Lizzie looked up at her, wink at her daughter.

What on earth was going on?

The doors at the back of the hall opened and Harry and Hermione re-entered, taking their seats at the Gryffindor table, which made me glance over at Will, searching for some sort of anger. He didn't look exactly happy, but neither was he angry. It seemed that the Blacks had been keeping something from me and I was determined to find out what it was.

Dumbledore stood up and silence fell, as the students were waiting for him to speak.

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, smiling at the students. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it is best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…"

He cleared his throat and continued. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." Here he paused, and I couldn't help but feel that he wasn't too happy with the dementors' presence. "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly as Harry and Ron exchanged glances and I was reminded quickly of James' cloak. So, it had been passed on to his son, I realised with a wry smile. James would have been pleased.

"It is not the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors."

Here the eldest Weasley at Hogwarts, Percy, puffed out his chest in pride. Dumbledore paused again and looked very seriously around the hall, while nobody moved nor made a sound.

"On a happier note," he continued, his voice changing and losing its serious tone, "I am pleased to welcome four new teachers to our ranks this year.

"Firstly, Professor Remus Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause, but Remus smiled beside me, especially down at those who had been in our compartment on the train. "As to our other new appointments," Dumbledore continued, "well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical creatures teacher, has retired to spend more time with his remaining limbs. I am delighted to announce that his place will be filled with two professors, one of whom is known to you all. This job, along with continuing the role of gamekeeper, will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid."

The hall erupted into applause, mainly focusing around the Gryffindor table, and I glanced over at the gamekeeper, who was grinning massively and ruby red in the face.

When the applause finally died down, Dumbledore continued, "As a special favour to me, two more professors will be joining us this year. Firstly, sharing the role of Care of Magical Creatures teacher –as it is, after all, her area of expertise – is Professor Cara Lupin, who is also taking on the role of flying instructor after the retirement of Madam Hooch." The hall applauded me politely and I smiled and waved a little. Dumbledore cleared his throat, and they listened attentively.

"This year, we have decided to fill a new position, which is going to become very important. We have decided to begin classes in advanced defensive magic and healing, which will be taught by our very own Hogwarts Healer, who is also going to fill the role of supply teacher this year, in case of any more, er, unfortunate accidents. I would like you all to join me in welcoming Professor Rose Black as our new healer and teacher."

The hall seemed to fill with whispers as those who were brought up in wizarding families looked at each other in shock. Rose was infamous in our world, and I shot her a worried look as I applauded along with Dumbledore. She smiled, looking completely unaffected by the whispers. I saw her look down the hall and wink at Harry, who smiled back at his godmother.

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"

The golden plates and goblets filled with food and I smiled before tucking in. The food at Hogwarts had always seemed better than anywhere else, and while I was here I planned on enjoying it.

At long last, when the last bits of food had disappeared either down ravenous throats or melted back to the castle kitchens, Dumbledore said the word and released us. He turned to us with wide smiles and said, "Rose, you remember where you lived for the second half of your seventh year?"

"Of course, professor," she said with a smile.

"Well, that is where you will be living from now on. There is a room next door to it, too, which is for your charming sister and her husband. Your offices are on the first floor, next door to each other, except for yours, Remus, which is the normal Defence Against the Dark Arts office. Any questions?" When we all shook our heads, he smiled and said, "Then I bid you goodnight." And with that, he disappeared.

I tried to exchange an amused look with my sister, but she was hurrying down the hall to where our children stood, seeming in an altercation.

"Rose!" I called, and hurried after her. When I reached them, I realised that Lizzie was getting a hard time from the others.

"Look," Lizzie snapped, throwing her hair over her shoulder in a gesture that was entirely Rose, so much so it made me laugh. "I asked to be in Slytherin. I want to be there. And just because all bad people come from Slytherin does not mean that all Slytherins are bad people. Just look at Aunt Dromeda! She married Uncle Ted and had Dora, remember? A muggleborn? And look at Uncle Regulus! He turned out alright in the end."

"He turned out dead in the end," Rose said harshly, glaring at me. "And I have no idea what your aunt has been telling you about Regulus Black, but I forbid any mention of him in my presence again, are we understood?" When everyone nodded she relented. "I am proud of you, Lizzie, for being who you are and choosing what you want. I want the rest of you to remember that her house does not define who she is, and she is still your sister," she said to Will and Lily, "and still your cousin," she added, turning to Beth, James and Dan. "I mean, are you upset that Beth is in Ravenclaw?"

"No," James muttered, "But that's – well, we always knew she would be. She's so smart!"

"And Lizzie is cunning and determined," I pointed out. "I'm proud of you, too, Liz. I'm proud of all of you for being who you are."

"Yeah, right," Dan muttered. "If we'd have been put in Slytherin you would have disowned us."

I blushed and snapped, "I would not!"

Rose laughed and said, "In the end, you're all where you belong. Now, I suggest you get off to bed. You have school in the morning!"

"Good night, Mum," Elizabeth said, and hugged Rose. This was followed by Lily and Will, while Beth, James and Dan all embraced Remus and me, before they headed off to their respective common rooms.

I smiled sadly and Rose said, "Come on, we have work tomorrow." Then she led us upstairs, up to our new home.