Chapter 2
As the hours passed and the train finally arrived to Hogwarts, Lupin and Caecilia said goodbye and got off the train. Caecilia joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione on to the carriages, rubbing a Thestrals head before she jumped into the carriage. They all sat at the Gryffindor table waiting for ceremony to start. Eventually the first years names were read and they were sorted. The choir sang along with some frogs and eventually Dumbledore began his speech.
“Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say, before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair…” Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and gave Dumbledore a look, “Mm. Yes. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you, Professor.”
Next to Caecilia, Hermione gasped.
“Of course! That's why he knew to give you the chocolate, Harry.” Dumbledore continued his speech.
“As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid! Finally, on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts -- at the request of the Ministry of Magic -- will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban. The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving. Well, thats all from me now enjoy the feast!” As the students clapped, Caecilia looked up to Dumbledore and he smiled at her before he sat down and began to indulge.
Caecilia took this time to catch up with the twins- as they had been gone all summer to Egypt. They talked about all the things they saw such as the pyramids and the dragons. Eventually the feast was over and prefects began leading the students to the common rooms. Caecilia walked with Fred and George to the common room. They stayed up for another 30 minutes before they too called it quits and went into their dormitories. Caecilia made sure there was nobody else around before she headed out of the common room and back into the hallways of the castle.
Remus Lupin had also turned in after lots of drinking with the other members of the staff. He had lessons at 9 am and he hadn’t started getting his classroom prepared. He began walking towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower. As he neared the classroom, he saw a shadow at the end of the hall, walking down a set of stairs. He began walking towards it when he realized who it was.
“Miss Gaunt?”
Caecilia turned around as she heard her name be called. Her bag flipped around and her things came flying out. Books, parchment, quills, ink, and her pack of cigarettes. She immediately dropped to pick her things up. Remus also began helping when he noticed the cigarettes.
“Now Miss Gaunt I don’t know what you’re doing out late in the castle after curfew, but I need to confiscate these.”
“I’m on a strict training schedule. I’m allowed out late in the castle until 12 am. And please don’t take those. Do you know how expensive cigarettes are? ”
“Yes, do you?”
“No, I stole these from a Ravenclaw, But I bet they’re really expensive. ”
“Absolutely not.” Caecilia begged for them, but Remus did not budge. After Caecilia realized that she would not be getting them back, she finally gave up.
“Where are you going to train this late at night?” She pointed at the clock behind her. Remus eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She waved her hand and the clock opened revealing a room.
Remus stood their shocked. When he created the Marauders Map with James, Sirius, and Peter, this was a room that they accidentally found. They tried mapping it but the Room stayed secret. Just like the Room of Requirement. When a person would walk through their footprints would disappear.
“Well Professor, its getting late, I must finish my training before midnight. Care to join me or … ?“
Remus shook his head. He really had to get his room ready for his lesson with the 4th years in the morning. Caecilia smiled at him and walked into the room with the clock shutting behind her.
Remus stood there for a few more minuted thinking of Caecilia. More specifically of her training. Dumbledore had this poor girl training at all times. He wondered if she had any free time to be a child. He remembers being her age and running through the castle halls with the other Marauders playing pranks on the Slytherins. Throwing smoke bombs into the girls bathrooms and getting chased by McGonagall. Had this girl ever even had a group of friends that close. Lupin saw her talking to the Weasley twins through the feast, but besides that she really didn’t talk to anyone else. He knew she was kind to Harry and his friends, but didn’t see her interact with anyone else. Remus walked back to his classroom lost in thought and began slowly planning his lesson, half focused on it.
Caecilia spent the next 3 hours in the room sparring with the dummies and practicing new spells. By 10 til midnight she began packing up her things. She walked out of the Undercroft (she found that carved into the wall inside the room her first year) and passed the defense against the dark arts classroom, she saw a light on and assumed Professor Lupin was still awake. She walked out through the first set of doors and was met with a chilly breeze. As she was halfway through the bridge she heard a pair of footsteps running behind her. When she turned she was met with Lupins eyes.
“Sorry Miss Gaunt I need to give you this.” Lupin handed her a notebook. She opened it and saw his lesson plans inside as well as a schedule for when she would be assisting in classes. One of them being the 3rd year class that Harry was in. She smiled at the handsome professor.
“Thank you, Professor. I'll see you in the morning.” Caecilia walked through the second set of doors and into the common room, heading straight to her dorm.
When morning came, Caecilia got ready for her first day as Lupin’s assistant and classes. She had a free period right after breakfast, so technically she didn’t need to wake up that early but she was excited. She grabbed the notebook she needed for his class and placed it into her bag before running out of the dorms, through the common room, and into the Great Hall. She sat down with the rest of Gryffindor and picked at her breakfast before chugging some coffee that the she conjured up. She saw Harry sit down a few minutes after she finished her breakfast. She got up, and began to walk over to him before being interrupted by a certain Hufflepuff boy.
“Ceci, have you been ignoring me?”
“Oi, come on Cedric. We haven’t even been here a full day and you think I am ignoring you, you must be full of yourself.”
Cedric leaned down and whispered into her ear.
“No, but you’ve certainly been full of me before.” He smirked and stood upright again.
Caecilia blushed and pushed his shoulder.
“Shut up, there are children around. Most of whom haven’t even had their first kiss. Give me a second I have to tell Harry something. Meet me by the Great Lake, unless you have class?”
“No, a free period just like you.”
“Okay, see you in a second.”
Caecilia watched as Cedric walked backwards looking at her while blowing kisses at her before he turned around and walked outside. She laughed and walked up to Harry.
“Hello children.”
“Hi Celia, how was your last first sleep at Hogwarts?” Ron asked.
“Well, actually I have a surprise for you. Dumbledore has given me an internship of sorts here at Hogwarts. Ill be helping Professor Lupin with some of his classes for the year. So Ill be at most of your classes with him too.”
“Wicked, can you help us with our coursework?” Ron asked.
“Yes, but Im not doing it for you. And I know Hermione’s work and words so Ill know if she wrote something for you.”
“Suddenly, Im not feeling as excited about this for you.”
“Ignore him, Celia. I think this is fantastic. Will you be coming back for Hogwarts next year? As a professor?”
“Thats the plan. So you won’t be rid of me yet.”
“What would Hogwarts do without Caecilia Gaunt?” Harry said.
“Crumble.” Hermione and Ron said in unison.
“All right kiddos, I’m off to bother a certain Hufflepuff. See you in class!”
As Caecilia walked off the trio began taking to each other.
“Do you think she knows Cedric is in love with her?”
“Definitely not, remember when Charlie said that she had boys trailing at her feet for her 3rd year and didn’t notice. Not even when a boy tried to confess to her. She thought he was joking and laughed at him.”
“May Merlin help Cedric, he will need it.”