2
"-playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
"Oi, that's a warning for you , Black.", Castor glared at the fourth year boys not 2 seats away from her. She could just about hear her dear little cousin, Draco laughing along with them.
Castor really did hate this school sometimes. She could hear the whispers all around her, some accusing her of 'helping' her uncle escape, other's seemed to be scared to be near her 'in case he tries to kill her, and then us'. Then you have the jeering whispers about how Harry Potter fainted when the Dementors boarded the train. Castor did feel sorry for him, Draco never seems to give him a break.
The loud applause broke Castor away from her thoughts. It seemed to be aimed at the man Castor saw briefly on the train. The new DADA professor, Castor assumed. The next to receive a round of applause, and a bunch of moaning from her table, Hagrid as the new Magical Creatures professor.
"What is his name? The new Defence professor?", Castor asked no one in particular.
"Lupin", Tabitha Bainbridge answered. There was something about that name that seemed familiar to Castor. Her father had mentioned that name more than once.
** ** ** **
The feast went by quickly. The first years were sorted and greeted. It wasn't until everyone started to leave to the dungeons that Castor got pulled to the side by a prefect.
"Professor Snape wants to see you in his office."
"What, now?", Castor knew he'd wish to speak to her soon, but she did assume he would save it until tomorrow at least.
"Yes, now. Don't keep him waiting."
It was strange walking through all those corridors that her father wrote about in his journals. From the side corridors with their secret holes behind the picture frames, to those wide, main corridors that were always full of life in the daytime and full of silence at night. Then, there was Snape's office. The Head of House had changed throughout the years, but as far as Castor could tell, it's location was always the same. What once was Professor Slughorn's, was now Professor Snape's. Although plenty changes at Hogwarts, the system has always been the same. And that was a major comfort to Castor. The uniforms never changed. Those stairways change the same way they have done for over 15 years, probably since Hogwarts was founded.
"Enter.", Castor hadn't even knocked yet.
Snape's office was dark. It's shelves packed tight with hundreds of potions, some large vials, other tiny diamond shaped. There were cauldrons bubbling and brewing up his next concoctions. Then there was the Head of House himself, sat right in front of her at his desk and with a bundle of paper by his quill set.
"Good evening, Sir."
"Sit down, Castor. Enough of the formalities.", Castor did so, but couldn't get rid of the nervousness rising in her gut.
"It appears the Ministry have identified you to be a prime suspect in your uncle's escape. You will be-", his voice did not hide his boredom.
"I didn't do it, Professor. I've never ev-"
"Do not interrupt me. I have no care for what you did or did not do."
Castor swallowed the knot in her throat. This would go faster if she shut up. The girl responded by playing with her rings, pulling at that bit of dead skin under and around her fingernails.
"The Ministry are sending 2 Aurors to speak with you tomorrow, I will be present as your Head of House.", Snape sighed with every word.
"What time will they speak to me at, Sir? I have double defence tomorrow."
"I will come find you. Professor Lupin will have to make do with a class minus its top student.", the words spoken were full of pride, but the voice that spoke them was still so dull and boring.
"Thank you, Sir.", Before Castor could leave, she was given a sheet.
"This is to be signed at the start and end of each lesson. We will meet each week."
Castor nodded and left the office before he could say anything else to her. The common room was full of life when she walked in. It didn't take long to spot Draco huddled with his friends, laughing and jostling each other. Castor made her way through to get to the dormitories. Hers was empty when she arrived, but the other 4 beds already had items on them so she knew everyone had already unpacked.
The other girls were nice. Castor didn't talk to them much, but they always studied together and played exploding snap or chess with each other. And of course, they had the usual 'gossip night' in bed about boys and lessons and most importantly, who's going to Hogsmeade with who.
** ** ** **
History of Magic had come and gone the next day. Castor made her way to Charms. Castor liked Professor McGonagall. She was strict of course, but Castor had far stricter tutors growing up. She walked up to the Professor and presented her time sheet. Before she could sit back down in her usual seat, she was stopped.
"Up front, Ms. Black. Beside Weasley."
This was not going to be a good year. Castor liked the Weasley twins, but when sitting beside either one of them, they were the most annoying people Castor knew.
"Morning.", he lengthened the word thrice as Castor took her seat and muttered one back, even though it was past two o'clock in the afternoon. She didn't know which Weasley she was sitting beside. Although, she had a fair idea that the ginger head beside her was Fred. George always called her by Black, while Fred took to just not using any name at all. As long as they locked eyes while he spoke, Castor knew he was talking to her.
Time crept up on Castor like a cheetah. Not 20 minutes into a revision class with Professor McGonagall, did Snape enter to bring her to the Aurors. Castor could barely hide her disappointment. They had been revising Transfiguration charms, and Fred Weasley was attempting to change his quill into a sugar quill (something Castor would be itching to know the success of once she gets back from this meeting).
Snape did not speak to her once on their way out. She followed him first towards what she thought was his office, only they took a turn beforehand and now she was standing in front of 3 Ministry Aurors, her Head of House and the Headmaster himself in his own tower. Castor sat on the only remaining chair left open. In front of everyone. She had to hide how much this intimidated her. She felt so vulnerable in front of them, with their badges and notebooks and cocky little chins sticking up like they were above this place. Above her. The youngest Auror, Castor noticed was her very own cousin, Nymphadora Tonks. If she had recognised or remembered her, Tonks did not show it. A part of Castor was grateful for that.
"Where were you the night of Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban?", a Senior Auror spoke.
"Home", Castor kept her voice as dull and meaningless as possible so to hide the rapid beating going on in her chest.
"And where is home, Miss Black? Malfoy Manor?", the other Senior Auror stepped in.
"No. Black Manor. I was in Black Manor."
"Is there anyone who can back this up, Miss Black?"
Castor was starting to get annoyed at their attempt to accuse her of hiding him away.
"My house elves, Tippy and Kreacher were present the whole time I was there."
"Right-"
"- anyone who can confirm this? Anyone who has not sworn their loyalty to you, that is?"
Malfoy. Say the Malfoy's. They know you go there. Narcissa will back you up, even if Lucius denies.
"No", she couldn't lie. They would go straight to Lucius if they hadn't been already. And what if they dragged Draco up here and he denied it all right in front of her? They'd send her straight to her uncle's empty cell, where she'd be the next disappointment to the Black name.
"No?"
"No. "
"Very well, Miss Black. Have you had any contact with your uncle since his escape?"
"I've had no contact with him since I was born, Auror..? "
"Dawlish.", he muttered.
"Dawlish. I do not know my uncle. He was kicked out of my family before I was born and marked as a bloodtraitor. All I know is that the man is insane and if he decides to come looking for me, I will-", Castor bit her tongue and gave them a tight-lipped smile, hoping they would catch what she was going to say. She hope she could leave in time to catch the end of her Charms lesson. And the result of Fred's transfiguration charm.
"We are not done here, Miss Black.", the other Auror spoke. Castor recognised him as Kingsley Shaklebolt. Why had the Ministry sent 2 of it's finest Aurors to 'interrogate' a 15 year old?
"Sirius Black is a very dangerous wizard. Any contact or information on him that is not reported to us will be a classified as a crime and will result in a full Ministry trial."
"Trial? I don't know anything. Any even if I did, I'm sure you'd know about it by now. The Malfoy's don't exactly understand the term privacy."
"So , you don't know anything? No location? Safe house?", Dawlish had sat back on his chair now, playing with a loose thread on his robes.
"No. The only safe houses in my name can only be unlocked with my blood. I've already told you that Sirius was kicked out, so obviously he can't get into any of these.", Castor's voice rose in her annoyance. Dawlish sighed and slumped back even more in his chair. No one spoke for a moment. Dawlish continued playing with that obnoxious thread, Tonks was rapidly writing on her parchment and Shaklebolt had taken to staring at Castor. Dumbledore and Snape did not speak either, the fore was sipping on his tea. Snape was falling asleep with his eyes open, or maybe he already was asleep.
"Are you confirming the use of blood magic used by the Black family, Miss Black?"
Oh, Merlin. She had really thrown herself under the carriage there. Of course that was the only thing that had stuck. Why, oh why had she said that.
"Of course not. And not to be rude Auror Dawlish, but I am Head of the name Black now. I'd appreciate you remembering that.", Castor got a glare from Snape for that.
"Lady Black, then. Is it?", she kept a straight face. They could decide that for themselves. Tonks had stopped her writing and was looking right at her cousin now. Castor felt her eyes piercing her skin. Shaklebolt and Dawlish had begun quietly conversing with each other and then to Dumbledore and Snape. Castor spotted the portrait of Phineas Black right over their heads. It brought a slight smile to her face when he gave her a small wave.
"Black, you are dismissed. I expect you to return straight to your lessons.", Snape turned his head.
"We must encourage your full cooperation with us, until your uncle is found."
Castor had never left the Headmaster's office as fast as she had then, stumbling and wide eyed. It wasn't until she arrived at an empty corridor that she stopped. She pressed herself into the walls, letting the coldness ground her again. Castor's loud inhale opened her ears up again and focus back to the present.
"Oh, Merlin. Get it together, Castor. C'mon", she whispered.
"Everything alright?", it all happened so quick. Castor leaped at the voice behind her. Her instincts brought her hand to her wand in her pocket, but thankfully she felt safe enough in Hogwarts not to pull it out. Turning around, she found the owner of that gentle question. Professor Lupin. Her DADA professor. That she had a double lesson with, in about 10 minutes time.
"Professor", Castor could barely speak. Her heart was on overdrive now, she could feel it pulsing in her temples.
"Are you alright, Miss Black?", Castor didn't understand why his brow had creased while he questioned her. She tried to swallow that knot in her throat again, only it was her tongue that was knotted. She felt like she had been hit with her own tongue tying jinx. Castor swallowed. And swallowed. And swallowed again. And again, until she finally stopped feeling how dry her throat had gotten and how sweaty her shaky fingers were.
"Yes, Professor.", the words were barely above a whisper, not at an acceptable volume for any conversation, let alone one with her professor.
"Why don't we head to my classroom? I could use your opinion on a few things before class begins.", he had placed his hand upon her shoulder, only to snatch it back the second it made contact. Castor noticed him shrug it off, but she took a glance at her shoulder to see nothing but her robes.
The classroom hadn't changed. That's one thing Castor found comforting. The only difference was how much light was piercing in through the windows. It was so bright. She could even see the sunlight pressing itself onto her eyelids whenever she blinked.
"Castor, isn't it?", Professor Lupin was at his desk now, holding a sheet of parchment up. With her name on it.
"Uh, yes Professor."
"Excellent end of year results, Castor. Top of the class."
"Thank you, sir", she felt herself play with her rings again.
"Professor McGonagall has great things to say about you. I wasn't surprised of course, I thought you would be jus-"
"like my uncle.", she muttered. He thought she was just like Sirius. The man who once shared a dorm with him, and who killed his best friend. The Black sheep. Castor wasn't really surprised that he would assumed her talent for DADA was because of her heritage. The Black family was know for their dark magic, everyone knew that.
"What was that?", he was looking at her patiently this time. Castor swallowed her tongue once more that day.
It was the incoming crowd of fifth year's that saved Castor from saying something she'd probably regret. This was one of the very, very, very limited times she was grateful for Fred and George Weasley. The twins made themselves at home, as usual. Asked the ice-breaking questions of who, where, what, when and why. And the how. Professor Lupin answered them as though any Professor would. With lies, and with humour.
Castor was left alone for the duration of Defense. It had started as a recap, like just about every class before. And then the usual 'this is your OWL year' talk, although Professor Lupin mentioned multiple times that no one was to worry about the exams. And that he would give extra lessons to those who feel them useful.
He seemed decent, Castor thought. Better than Lockhart last year, at least.
Castor was scribbling down notes on Defensive Theories when the thought struck her. Her time sheet. She had forgotten to give it up at the start of class. Castor peered into her bag to see if was within easy reach. It was not there. She glanced up at Professor Lupin, making sure she wasn't disrupting him and then really started looking for that useless sheet of parchment.
When everyone started leaving, Castor had to swallow her pride and present herself to her Professor, time-sheet-less.
"Sir.", Professor Lupin looked up from his desk. He already knew she was still here, but he acted surprised anyway.
"Miss Black. How can I help?"
"I seem to have left my time sheet with Professor McGonagall, sir. I had to leave early to have a meeting and I.. uh", Castor noticed Professor Lupin glancing down at her hands. No. Her rings. She had been twisting and turning them while she spoke. He must've noticed.
"I'm sorry, sir. If you give me 5 minutes, I can go get it and bring i-"
"-there will be no need for that, Miss Black. I ran into Professor McGonagall before I ran into you earlier.", he had pick up a sheet from his desk and was beginning to sign it.
Her time sheet.
Castor felt so much relief.
"Now, that's that sorted then", he handed it back to her.
"Thank you, sir".
"Before you go..my door is always open. I can't imagine what you must be feeling at this moment."
** ** ** **
But he could.
Ever since Lupin had seen her face on the train, he couldn't stop picturing Sirius in his mind. She was so like him. So like her father too, Regulus had passed so many family traits onto her. The black hair, with the same waviness to it. The grey eyes, he swore he saw a bit of blue in them just now. Then he noticed the posture, the stature. It reeked of pureblood.
Lupin could only hope she hadn't been brought up the same way Sirius and Regulus once were. He couldn't bear to think of her being raised under the same roof as Sirius had. Under the same rules. The same punishments.
But she stood so tall.
He will always remember the day Regulus died, or well.. the day they all found out. Sirius locked himself away. James was the only one to provide him with any comfort. Regulus was his brother. When he chose to become a Deatheater, Sirius was blinded by rage. He swore to kill Regulus himself. But he never got the chance.
Regulus had left. He lasted a mere day before he was hunted down.
Lupin didn't know Castor existed until a few years ago, when she was pictured in the Daily Prophet after her grandmother's death.
He had felt sick that whole day thinking he was looking back into the past, picturing young Regulus jostling his brother before he entered the Hogwarts for the first time. He pictured the night 2 weeks after when the brothers has gotten into a fight and how Sirius cried that night when he realised he could never be the heir his family wanted.
When he saw Castor in the corridor, breathing heavily and with a death grip on the walls, Lupin had to stop avoiding her.
He knew of her meeting with the Aurors, he had just finished a near identical one himself just before her own.
He tried to comfort her somehow, but the second he placed a hand on her shoulder, it stung. His skin was burning. And he could hear hissing. Violent hissing. Loud, almost piercing his eardrums. But once he removed his hand, it stopped. His hand was fine, no redness, no swelling. No symptoms at all. It was a dark magic Remus didn't know much about. An evil spirit warden perhaps? He was a werewolf after all. If it was one, and it did recognize him as a threat, then Remus had just been in the proximity of very powerful dark magic indeed.
It wasn't until later that day that Remus noticed the silver rings she wore. Silver justifies the burning, but not to that level. And what was that hissing?
Castor was so nervous. He thought she'd be full of all that pureblood propaganda and the 'I'm better than you ever will be' personality. But no. She was nervous. Anxious. It reminded Remus of her father. Regulus was shy and anxious in his early Hogwarts years too. He hid and often explored the castle at night. He would catch Sirius following him on the map some nights.
Castor was the top DADA student in fifth year. Lupin wasn't surprised, Sirius was the one who taught him most counterattacks and jinxes. And who taught him how to duel. Regulus was just as good.
Memories flooded back of all the times the four would duel with each other and hide under James' cloak if they heard even a squeak (often just Peter getting excited).
Then he heard Castor say "like my uncle" and Remus was brought back to the present. His best friend had betrayed and killed 3 of the most trusted, most precious people in his life.
And he's now on the loose again. And with not 1, but 2 reasons to return to Hogwarts, Remus Lupin now had the safety of both Harry and Castor to worry about.