Remus Lupin
They were screwed.
Morgan knew of the spell, of course she knew, but it was NEWT level...
By this time Remus had gotten up and was saying something to the dementor. Probably about Sirius Black.
Morgan, however, didn't bother to listen to what he was saying. The dementor was getting to her and she had to get the spell down.
In unison with Remus, she raised her wand and shouted "EXPECTO PATRONUM"
A silvery figure burst out of her wand- WAS THAT A THUNDERBIRD?!?!- and she felt as if she would burst with pride.
The dementor backed out of the room, and Remus' Patronus chased it outside the train, while as soon as the immediate threat was gone, the thunderbird flickered and blinked out of existence as Morrigan let her magic loose.
Of course, Morgan was planning on working on that one this year, since this could be a one-time thing, caused by the urgency and the need to protect her friends. Or at least improve her casting so it required less focus and lasted longer, even if it wasn't a one-time thing.
Morgan stumbled as she slid her wand back into its holster and she collapsed on the seat. She didn't faint, but it was a close thing.
Immediately, she had Ron and Hermione -or rather, Apollo and Thena- fussing over her, making sure she was alright.
She wasn't, but nobody needed to know that. Atleast until she was sure all her friends were ok.
"Ron, Hermione, are you ok?"
They exchanged a look, "It felt horrible while it lasted, but we're better now. You, however, don't seem to be okay"
"I'm alright," Morgan said dismissively, attempting to sit up.
"No, you're not" Ron disagreed.
Morgan waved him aside, much to his and Thena's displeasure.
Ron and Hermione eventually let Morgan out of the compartment, who immediately went to the compartment she knew Ginny and Neville were sitting in.
"Are you all ok?" She demanded, throwing the compartment door open.
There were only 3 people in the compartment, Ginny, Neville and a little blonde girl who looked to be a first or second year and was probably a second year like Ginny.
Neville, whose hands were shaking gave her a tiny nod. Ginny was shaking head to toe and tears were streaming down her face (which was a given considering the year she had had) and the blonde girl was also shaking violently, but less than Ginny.
Morgan looked at Ginny, who seemed most affected, and recognized the oncoming signs of a panic attack.
Morgan tentatively reached out and wrapped her arms around Ginny, who tensed, before melting into her embrace.
Morgan felt something inside her reaching out and... wrapping itself around Ginny (as far as Morgan could tell). She would later learn this was her magic.
Once Ginny had calmed down, and it took a while, she seemed pretty embarrassed. By this time Neville had calmed the blonde girl down.
Morgan smiled comfortingly at Ginny, who grinned back.
After a while of making small talk with the three of them (the blonde girl was apparently called Luna and Morgan had taken quite a liking to her, inwardly declaring Luna as one of hers) Morgan left to get changed
~~
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard.
"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 best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. . . ."
Dumbledore 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."
He paused and Morgan frowned, monsters such as dementors had no business being here, around children.
"On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.
"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
People started clapping, somewhat unenthusiastically, but Morgan stood and cheered for him, along with Ron and Hermione, who had seen how good he was at defence back at the Hogwarts Express.
Seeing the Girl-Who-Lived give him a standing ovation, most others did too. Not all, but most.
Remus Lupin looked at her in surprise and looked even more astonished when she gave him a sly wink.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the applause died away, "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game-keeping duties."
The applause was loudest from the Gryffindor table, because of course it was.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
The feast was fun as usual, Morgan made small talk with Ginny and Neville, while Ron and Hermione argued over Crookshanks and Scabbers, again.
"Say, Morgan," Neville said suddenly, "You-you do know about S-Sirius Black being y-your..." He trailed off, not knowing how to finish.
"...Godfather? I do know, but thank you for asking, Nev" Morgan said, slightly surprised, but knowing she shouldn't be.
He hesitantly smiled back at her.
~~
"Congrats, Hagrid!" Hermione said happily as they reached the Teachers' table after most of the student population had left.
"All down ter you three," said Hagrid, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them. "Can' believe it... great man, Dumbledore... came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough... It's what I always wanted..."
Morgan looked away to hide her smile, and to her surprise found Remus looking in their direction.
She slid away as Ron and Hermione chatted with Hagrid and approached him.
"Hello, Professor," She said quietly.
"...Ms Potter" He replied, albeit hesitantly.
"Remus," She said again.
"Morrigan," He replied.
They stared at each other for a long moment before she broke the silence, throwing her arms around him.
He tensed up for a long moment, before tentatively returning the hug.
"Remus-" Her voice broke, "I-I missed you so much,"
Earlier, when she implied that only knew him through her parents' journals, she was lying. She did in fact have faint memories of 'moomy' and 'pafoo', she just was not ready to share yet.
She also implied that she would wait for him to approach her.
She did not mean to lie.
She just had zero impulse control.
"I missed you too" He whispered back, voice thick with emotion.
When she finally pulled back, Hagrid was still chatting amiably with Ron and Hermione, Dumbledore was watching them with a happy expression, not even bothering to hide it, and Snape was watching them, disgusted at the open display of emotion.
"I'd like to talk to you sometime," She said softly, "preferably tomorrow,"
He chuckled and nodded quietly.
She went back to where Ron, Hermione and Hagrid were with a new spring in her step