Chapter 9
Cassidy sat outside on the stone steps leading down to the grounds, the cool autumn air brushing against her skin. She wasn't sure how long she'd been out there, listening to the distant chatter of students heading to lunch, but she wasn't ready to go back inside yet. The jazz song from Lupin's gramophone was still stuck in her head, looping over and over.
She exhaled sharply, rubbing her hands together, when she noticed movement near the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
A bear.
Not just any bear—a massive, dark-furred figure, moving slowly between the trees. Its silhouette was unmistakable against the golden light filtering through the leaves.
Cassidy didn't move.
She'd seen that bear before.
Instead of fear, she felt... oddly comforted. The bear wasn't charging or threatening in any way. It was just watching.
Then, as if sensing her attention, it turned and slipped back into the trees, disappearing without a sound.
Cassidy's brows furrowed.
"We don't have bears in Scotland, you know."
She jumped slightly, turning to see Professor Lupin standing at the top of the steps. His tone was light, but his eyes flickered to where the bear had been.
"I know," Cassidy said slowly, still staring at the trees.
Lupin stepped down, hands tucked into his shabby robe pockets. "You all right?"
Cassidy sighed. "If you're about to tell me I need to talk about my feelings, I'll jump into the Black Lake."
Lupin chuckled. "I considered it. But I figured you'd just swim back."
Cassidy cracked a smile despite herself.
Lupin sat down beside her. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before she finally spoke.
"You called me Noelle on the train," she said, glancing sideways at him.
Lupin's expression didn't change, but she caught the slight flicker in his gaze.
"Did I?"
Cassidy huffed. "You did."
He let out a thoughtful hum. "Well, Noelle suits you."
"That's not an answer."
"No, I suppose it isn't."
Cassidy narrowed her eyes. "How did you know my middle name?"
Lupin hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the trees again.
"I knew someone who used to like it," he finally said.
Cassidy's heartbeat stuttered. "Who?"
Lupin turned back to her, offering a small, unreadable smile.
"Ask your father."
Cassidy's breath hitched slightly, but before she could push for more, Lupin stood up, brushing off his robes.
"Come on, lunch is waiting," he said lightly.
Cassidy hesitated, then got to her feet.
As they walked back toward the castle, she cast one last look at the Forbidden Forest, half-expecting to see the bear again.
But it was gone.
For now.
✺⋆⋆✷⋆⋆✧⋆✺⋆✧⋆⋆✺⋆⋆✷⋆✧
A couple days later, the third years of Hogwarts were preparing for their first Hogsmeade trip. Harry couldn't come, because his Muggle family was evil and didn't want to sign. At least, that's how Cassidy viewed the whole thing.
"What do you mean you can't come, Harry?!" she said indignantly as they walked down the hallways to the courtyard, where Professor McGonagall would be seeing them off.
Cassidy's braids had been taken out now, and she wore her natural hair in space buns, each tied off with a navy blue ribbon. She had on a cropped, cable-knit sweater in deep blue, high-waisted corduroy trousers, and a long, lightweight trench coat that flared out behind her when she walked. Her boots were polished brown leather, and a matching satchel bag was slung over her shoulder. Having a Muggle-born mother meant Cassidy was more in touch with Muggle fashion, and she loved it.
"I don't know, maybe I'll ask McGonagall to sign it herself," Harry muttered, staring at the empty permission slip as they approached the courtyard. "She knows I've got no parents. She might pity me."
Cassidy wrinkled her nose. "Or, and hear me out, we forge it."
Hermione gasped. "Cassidy, that's illegal!"
"So is keeping a thirteen-year-old locked in a cupboard for ten years, but here we are."
Ron snorted, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. "She's got a point, Hermione."
"Look, I'll figure something out," Harry said, though he didn't sound too convinced.
Cassidy sighed. "Well, we'll bring you back loads of stuff, don't worry." She patted his cheek before falling back to where Neville and Seamus were lingering.
As they arrived at the courtyard, Cassidy couldn't help but notice how excited everyone was. The air was crisp, the scent of damp leaves and chimney smoke curling through the breeze. Students were wrapped in scarves and light jackets, their breath misting in the chill. Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs chatted eagerly, while the Slytherins made a point of looking unimpressed—except for Pansy Parkinson, who was talking way too loudly about how her family had a private cabin in Hogsmeade and how not special the trip was.
Cassidy rolled her eyes.
"No permission form signed, no visiting the village. That's the rules, Potter." Professor McGonagall looked down at Harry pityingly as she said this, and Cassidy gave him a sad look while turning in her own permission slip. She went to stand next to Ron and Hermione as the rest of the students lined up.
"All those with permission, follow me. All those without, stay put," Filch droned, leading the students off. Cassidy, Ron, and Hermione watched helplessly as Harry tried to convince McGonagall to let him go.
She did not let him go.
"I'm sorry, Potter. That is my final word," the professor said before walking away with the others.
Cassidy, Ron, and Hermione stood there, staring at Harry pityingly.
"Harry, look. It probably isn't even that—"
"Have fun, you guys. See you later." Harry cut her off, his voice quiet.
They all waved feebly as he turned away. Cassidy started after him, but Ron stopped her with a shake of his head and gently steered her toward the path leading out of the castle.
They walked in silence for a moment before Hermione hesitantly said, "Cass... about the Boggart in Lupin's class..."
Cassidy stiffened slightly. "What about it?"
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances.
"It just—well, it really shook you up," Hermione said carefully. "And I know you talked to Lupin about it, but..."
Cassidy let out a dramatic sigh, waving them off. "I'm fine. You guys worry too much."
"Are you, though?" Ron asked, peering at her.
Cassidy flashed him a bright grin, nudging his arm. "Course I am. Now, can we talk about something fun? Like, I dunno, what kind of sweets I should buy? I'm thinking a whole bag of Sugar Quills just to see if I can survive off of them for a day."
Ron didn't look convinced, but before he could press further, Neville trotted up beside Cassidy, adjusting his scarf.
"I was thinking about stopping by Scrivenshaft's to look at quills," he said, clearly attempting to change the subject.
Cassidy groaned. "Neville, please tell me you're joking."
He gave her a lopsided smile. "Nope. And I was hoping you'd come with me."
Cassidy narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Why?"
Neville hesitated before shrugging. "Dunno. Just like hanging out with you, I guess."
Cassidy blinked at him, caught off guard, before a slow smile spread across her face. "Well, well, well. Didn't know I was so fun to be around."
Ron scowled at Neville. "Oi, what am I, chopped liver?"
Neville chuckled. "You can come, too. But only if you promise not to knock over the inkwells like last time in class."
"That was not my fault," Ron grumbled, and Cassidy laughed, looping her arm through Neville's as they walked down the path to Hogsmeade.
✺⋆⋆✷⋆⋆✧⋆✺⋆✧⋆⋆✺⋆⋆✷⋆✧
Hogsmeade was everything Cassidy had imagined and more. The village was small, but it bustled with life, lined with crooked little shops and warm, glowing windows. The rooftops were steep and thatched, their edges dusted with orange and red leaves, and the scent of fresh parchment, melted chocolate, and roasted nuts curled through the crisp air.
Cassidy pulled her coat tighter around her as they walked down the main street, her fingers brushing against the pendant of her necklace absentmindedly. The metal was warm against her skin—too warm for the cool autumn air. She frowned, glancing down at it, but the feeling passed just as quickly as it came.
Odd.
Before she could dwell on it, Neville lightly touched her arm.
"Still up for Scrivenshaft's?" he asked.
Cassidy groaned dramatically. "If I must."
"You don't have to come," Neville said, fighting a smile.
Cassidy looped her arm through his, leaning against him. "Of course I do, Nev. Who else is gonna bully you about your terrible taste in quills?"
Ron, walking slightly behind them, stuffed his hands in his pockets and scowled. Hermione busily chirped about going to buy some books.
"I still think this is a waste of a Hogsmeade trip," he muttered, kicking at a stray pebble and earning a disapproving look from Hermione. "Who comes all the way out here for quills?"
"I do," Neville said simply.
Cassidy tilted her head at Ron, smirking. "Jealous you didn't think of it first?"
Ron turned an alarming shade of red. "Why the bloody hell would I be jealous?"
Cassidy just grinned, tugging Neville toward the shop. "Come on, Longbottom. Let's get this over with before I start contemplating if you deserve my friendship."
Inside Scrivenshaft's, Cassidy trailed her fingers along the stacks of fine parchment and glass ink bottles as Neville browsed the quill selection. The shop smelled of varnished wood and dried ink, and a few Ravenclaws were huddled by the register, excitedly discussing the newest enchanted self-writing quill.
Neville turned a sleek, black-feathered quill over in his hand before showing it to Cassidy.
"What do you think of this one?"
Cassidy wrinkled her nose. "Very dramatic. Might as well wear a cape and call yourself a villain."
Neville laughed and put it back, picking up a simpler one. Cassidy watched him for a moment, leaning against the counter.
"You really love this stuff, don't you?" she asked.
Neville hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I dunno... I like nice things. And if I have to spend half my time writing essays, I'd rather do it with a decent quill."
Cassidy softened. "That's actually kind of sweet, Neville."
"Don't tell anyone." He said sheepishly.
Cassidy smirked. "Your secret's safe with me."
She expected Ron to make some snarky comment, but when she turned, she realized he wasn't in the shop anymore. Her brow furrowed.
"Where'd Ron go?"
Neville glanced toward the door. "When we came in, he muttered something about Honeydukes and stormed off with Hermione."
Cassidy sighed, glancing at the doorway. She didn't know why Ron had left, but she wasn't going to feed into it.
Her fingers brushed her necklace again. This time, a sharp jolt of warmth pulsed from the metal. Not burning, but distinctly... alert. Like something had shifted in the air.
Cassidy's smile faded.
She turned toward the shopkeeper, an elderly wizard with half-moon spectacles, and hesitated before asking, "Hey, have you ever seen anything like this before?" She held out the pendant, and Neville looked at it with curiosity. He'd never seen it before.
The shopkeeper squinted at it, adjusting his glasses. "Interesting craftsmanship... Old, too. Where'd you get it?"
Cassidy hesitated. "It was my ancestor's. I don't know much about it, though."
The man hummed thoughtfully, then shook his head. "Not my area of expertise, but you might try Tomes and Scrolls. Old wizarding artifacts and their histories—that's more up their alley."
Cassidy's brows shot up. "Tomes and Scrolls?"
"Bookshop on the other side of the village," the shopkeeper said. "If that necklace is as old as it looks, there might be something about it in one of their records."
Cassidy exchanged a look with Neville.
"I think I know where we're going next," she muttered.