A/N : Hello everyone, welcome in this new crossover fic! Let's welcome the Arcane season 2 with a new fanfic! Crossover again :)
Main focus will be CaitVi, I want go for something a bit angsty but mostly sweet, in a dark setting. That's why I chose to set this fic in Hogwarts during the rise of Voldemort. The line might not be easy to navigate but we shall try our best !
This will also allow us to spent a bit of time with the young Marauders!
Not planning to include any smut this time.
Notes before we start : I took some liberties with the canon. Eg : Vi was redheaded as a kid. None of it should be too outputting, but don't scream when you notice it.
It will be small chapters, hopefully one every Sunday. I already got a bunch written :)
hope you will like it ! I take any feedback as long as they are respectful :).
1973
Caitlyn wiped the single drop of sweat that had started to run down her forehead. She began to regret the heavy, luxurious robes her mother had suggested she wear for this special day.
On the other hand, she supposed even the best Seers of all time would not have been able to predict such a hot day in Scotland.
It had to be the warmest day ever recorded, even if it was early August.
Still, despite the oppressive heat, she took such pleasure in walking the path up to the castle that she couldn't hide her smile, even if she had wanted to.
Twelve years. It had been twelve years since she last saw those towers, the shining blue of the lake, and the distant screeching of owls coming and going from their roosts.
For seven incredible years, Hogwarts had been her home, and only now, finally returning, did she realize just how much she had missed it over the past decade.
Nothing seemed to have changed. Had anything ever changed here in the last two centuries? She couldn't tell.
Actually, something did feel new. Something caught her eye—a glimpse of something—then came the loud voice of Rubeus Hagrid.
"Errr, what are ye doin', Vi?"
That was it! The new, unexpected thing: the pink hair. Or were they red? She couldn't tell under the blinding sun. Still, she had never seen anyone with such a color on their head.
Not to mention those arms...
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm carrying that damned wood like you asked me to!"
"Why don't ye use yer wand?"
"I'm not gonna use magic for something that trivial! I don't wanna get lazy! Besides, you're not using it either! "
That voice! It wasn't a man's voice but a young woman's. Could a woman really wear that haircut? And that type of outfit? The woman named Vi was walking around in trousers and a grey tank top, flashing her glistening arms like her mother would display her jewelry at a gala.
Was it getting warmer? Had the sun suddenly gotten closer to the Earth?
The pink-haired woman, Vi, noticed Caitlyn standing on the path, stopped, and flashed her a magnificent, warm, bright grin. Then, she returned to her task as if nothing had happened.
Hagrid, however, took a few steps toward her.
"Hello, miss! Errr, what are ye doin' here, if I may ask?"
"Hello, Hagrid," she answered kindly. "It's nice seeing you again."
The half-giant stared at her for a second, his eyes lingering on her long, navy-blue hair, before taking a few long steps toward her and grabbing both her shoulders with his massive hands, almost lifting her from the the ground.
"Oh, by me beard! Miss Kiramman! Such a pleasure to see ye again! How long's it been?"
"By my count, twelve years, sir. Far too long."
"Too long indeed! Still, what do we owe the pleasure?"
"I'm here to meet Professor Dumbledore. I have an interview for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
"Ah! Miss Kiramman! A pleasure to see you! Please come inside! Excuse the mess... I've been, well, rather busy."
Caitlyn stepped inside, still out of breath from all the stairs she had to climb.
Seriously, how did that old man do it? Every single day? She supposed he must have had some Chimney in his office to get up here instantly, although she could see none.
The Headmaster was exactly the same as in her memories. His beard wasn't an inch longer or shorter, and neither was his silver hair.
"Have a seat," he offered, pointing at an empty chair.
She did as she was told, her polite smile never faltering.
"So, you are here to interview for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor position. Good," he continued, not troubled at all by carrying the entire conversation himself. "It's good. We are having a hard time finding suitable candidates this year."
"I am happy to hear you are considering me as such, Sir," Caitlyn said as her first words.
"How is dear Cassandra doing, by the way?"
Caitlyn's smile wavered for a second. Her back became more rigid, and her voice sounded flatter than she would have liked.
"Mother is doing quite well. She sends her regards, of course."
"Then please be sure to share mine as well. Now, to our business..."
He leaned back in his chair, his purple hat slightly tilting off the top of his head.
"I am deeply aware, Miss Kiramman, of the reputation I might have as, let's say, an eccentric person. Not that I deny that reputation, au contraire, but please note that I take these interviews, and my responsibilities in choosing professors, very, very seriously."
"I would not have it any other way, Sir."
Her throat suddenly felt dry. Rough.
"Then, would you please be so kind as to tell me, Miss Kiramman, why you think this position would be suitable for someone like you?"
Caitlyn was taken aback, dropping her smile completely in the process. She had expected to explain why she was perfect for the job, not the other way around.
But there was no fooling those playful eyes behind the small round glasses.
She sighed.
"I suppose there's no use trying to hide anything, is there?"
She smiled now. It felt like a small burden had lifted off her shoulders.
"I've always wanted to be an Auror, for as long as I can remember. You might recall it yourself since you were my Professor. And I succeeded! Much to Mother's disapproval, I should add, but I made it. However, what happened last year is no secret. As you know, my mother got her wish, and I had to leave the force. It took me a while to figure out what to do with myself. But when I saw the advertisement for this position, I found my answer. There isn't just one way to make the world a better place, is there? Catching dark wizards isn't the only thing one can do. And maybe, with proper education, guidance, help, and listening, there would be less need for Aurors in the first place."
She tried to find some saliva in her mouth but found none. Her mind begged for a glass of water. Dumbledore leaned forward.
"I see. So, this is about a backup plan for your failed dreams, is it?"
Caitlyn offered a smile, hoping it would be as playful as his.
"Well, you asked what this position could do for me, sir. If you'd like to know what I can bring to the students, I'd be happy to answer that as well."
The old man's grin grew slightly wider.
"Well said, Miss Kiramman. Now, I do not doubt your abilities. However, I wonder if you might be lacking some... experience. After all, you're only twenty-eight years old, and we do not usually have such young professors."
"Twenty-nine, actually, sir. But I take your point. And I suppose being the youngest squad leader in Auror history doesn't mean much here. After all, this is a very different field. But if my track record, both in the force and at school, says anything, it's that I refuse to give up on my goals and can adapt to any situation. And I fully intend to put an end to this so-called 'curse' and stay here for much longer than a single year."
1969.
"We both know that spending your days with children isn't what you envision for your life, Tom. What are you really here for?"
Dumbledore's voice was polite as ever, but unmistakably firm.
"You really won't trust my word, will you?"
"I'm afraid not, Tom."
The anger, which at first seemed forced and fake but playful, had now taken a genuine turn. Tom stood up from his chair, almost knocking it back.
"I am not going to let you insult me this way, Dumbledore! I deserve respect!"
"Then I apologize if my words caused you any harm. I didn't mean to offend. However, my point still stands, and I am yet to hear anything to persuade me otherwise."
Tom Riddle leaned forward, both fists on the Headmaster's desk.
"You're going to regret this, old fool."
Dumbledore's face remained unmoved, his voice steady and calm, yet his presence grew unmistakably stronger.
"I thought you wiser than to make a threat under this roof, Tom. While I am not sure what has happened to you over the past decade, I am deeply sorry to see you've come out of it worse for wear."
Tom glared at him, trying to murder him with his eyes if he could, before turning away and slamming the door behind him.
"You' will come to regret this!" he yelled back from the hallway.
"Ah yes, this curse", smiled the Headmaster. "If you pardon my lack of modesty, I do believe I know quite a bit about the topic, and I am quite sure there is no such thing as a cursed teacher position. However I do admit that the Prophet might have a point, four professors in four years certainly is disturbing."
Caitlyn froze for a second, not sure if she was supposed to push on and confirm with all the self-confidence she had that she could prove them wrong, or if the old headmaster was just talking to himself.
"Anyway" he resumed, looking back at her, "I am very happy to hear so. I will have Miss Lane show you the teacher's quarters and especially the Floo-connected chimney. After all, there are quite a few of those and it would be very easy to step into the wrong fire. I expect you will need a bit of time to prepare your belongings, so I am expecting you back here next Monday to start preparing your curriculum. There will be a lot of work for you to do before the start of the year."
Caitlyn blinked three times.
'I, um, I'm sorry", she stuttered, "I ... I did not expect such a quick answer. Shouldn't you meet other candidates?"
Albus leaned forward, an eyebrow raised.
" Should I ?"
" Ye... I mean no. I mean, it's your decision, Sir. I just thought the process would take longer."
"Do you want the position?"
" I do, Sir."
Dumbledore's serious face lit up with the grin only he had the secret of.
"Then it's settled. Please find Miss Lane on your way out, and I will see you next week."
With that, Caitlyn found herself back on the stone stairs, shocked but euphoric. She had it! She had the job! She was going to teach the younger generation how to protect themselves against the Dark Arts! And, as a bonus, it would push back her mother and her constant proposals for betrothals and other nonsense.
She reached the bottom much faster than she had reached the top earlier, only to be greeted by the pink-haired woman she had noticed before.
The woman harbored a thin, slightly cocky smile on her lips.
Caitlyn looked back up the stairs, confused.
"But... how? It's been barely a minute!"
Mrs. Lane answered with a wider grin.
"Actually, I've been waiting here for five minutes already. I guess everything went as planned?"
It took Caitlyn a few seconds to realize what had happened before she lowered her shoulders and sighed.
"That old man..."
Then, pulling herself back together: "I take it you're Miss Lane? Nice to meet you. I'm Caitlyn Kiramman."
She extended her hand, opened her palm, and took the opportunity to study her new acquaintance. The woman's hair was indeed a perfect mix of pink and red, short on one side, longer and rebellious on top—boyish in style. Her face was marked with faded but noticeable freckles, and more prominently, a scar cut through her left eyebrow. Her upper lip bore the trace of an old wound, and both her ears and nose were pierced. But more obvious than anything was the Roman numeral tattooed under her left eye.
If she had crossed paths with a man who had such markings in Diagon Alley, she might have thought he had escaped from Azkaban. The idea that a woman would choose to look like this was absolute madness to Caitlyn.
And yet, she thought, absolute perfection.
Mrs. Lane's voice snapped her out of her reverie as she quickly released Caitlyn's hand after a brief shake.
"Yeah, I know. Come on, Cupcake! I'll show you around!"
And with that, she was off, not waiting a second for Caitlyn to catch up.
"Cup...cake?"