"Who does he think he is, ordering me around?" Cassie seethed, yanking down her Hogwarts robe and storming out of the compartment, leaving Pansy alone.

The entire Hogwarts knew better than to cross Cassiopeia when she was mad.

As Cassie flung open the compartment door and stepped into the narrow hall, she collided with someone.

"Oh, pardon—"

"Watch where you're going, you fucking imbecile," Cassie snapped, her wand already in hand.

"Now, now, language, Cassiopeia," a calm voice interrupted.

"Ah, Lupin... Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more pressing matters to attend to," Cassie sneered, tucking her wand away with a flourish and gesturing for Lupin to step aside.

"I just wanted to praise your Patronus charm... Not many third years know about it, let alone perform it," Lupin remarked.

With a disdainful toss of her dark locks, Cassie fixed Lupin with a cold stare, her lips curling into a smirk as the train slowed down and came to a halt.

"Clearly, you haven't heard about my skills then," she retorted, her voice dripping with arrogance as she walked off.

"Watch where you're going, midget!" she roared at a terrified first-year who had bumped into her slightly as she exited the train.

Upon finding her friends' carriage, Cassie joined them with a cold look, and no one dared to speak, knowing full well Cassie's temper at that moment.

The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Pansy's eyes lit up as they got down.

"Guys, it's Potter!" she exclaimed, bouncing up and down as if she'd found a treasure.

Harry stepped down from the carriage, only to be met with a delighted voice in his ear.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Draco telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Pansy sneered, elbowing past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle. The rest of their group chuckled along, standing by Pansy's side.

"And Weasley here nearly wet himself when the Dementor showed up!" Cassie added with a smirk, followed by roars of laughter from the rest.

"Shove off, Black," said Ron, his jaw clenched with irritation.

Cassie's demeanor shifted, her hand instinctively reaching for her wand as her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You wanna say that again, Weasel?" she growled, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that sent a shiver down Ron's spine.

Ron looked visibly terrified, the bravado from his snarky comment vanishing; he was no match for Black when it came to dueling.

"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. Professor Lupin had just disembarked from the next carriage.

"I don't know. You tell me, Ulfar (wolf in Norse)," Cassie sneered, raising an eyebrow.

Theo could have sworn he saw the professor gulp slightly.

The rest of the group gave Professor Lupin insolent stares, taking in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase.

"Let's not waste time on petty beings," Cassie declared with a smirk, striding off toward the castle with the rest of the group in tow.

Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the three of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous entrance hall, which was lit with flaming torches and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.

The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called,

"Potter! Granger! I want to see you both..." Professor McGonagall was calling over the heads of the crowd.

"You too, Miss Black," Snape huffed like he would be anywhere but here if he had a choice.

Cassie turned, her expression one of mild surprise, before shrugging indifferently and following Snape, with Draco trailing behind.

"Move along, Mr. Malfoy," Snape drawled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Only Miss Black."

"There's no need to look so worried... McGonagall wants a word in her office," Snape said, leading Cassie away with an air of impatience.

Professor McGonagall ushered them away from the chattering crowd; they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor. Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire with Snape standing folded hands looking uninterested.

"Oh, come on, Minnie... don't tell me you've called because of that pathetic cowardly murderer bastard who I'm obliged to accept as my father," Cassie sniped, plopping into the chair in front of the desk.

Harry and Hermione exchanged shocked glances at Cassie's indifference, while McGonagall regarded her with a mixture of pity and concern.

"Miss Black, you have to be careful... Sirius Black may try to harm you."

"I'd like to see him try," Cassie smirked defiantly.

"For once, you have to follow the curfew and the rules for your safety," McGonagall cautioned.

Cassie hummed uninterestedly. "Now, can I go?"

"No... wait a moment, Miss Black," McGonagall interjected.

Professor McGonagall motioned for Harry and Hermione to sit down, her expression serious.

"Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter," McGonagall explained, her gaze piercing.

Cassie let out a snort of laughter, earning a sharp glance from McGonagall.

Before Harry could reply, there was a soft knock on the door, and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, bustled in, fussing over Harry's well-being.

Harry felt himself flushing with embarrassment. It was bad enough that he'd passed out, or whatever he had done, without everyone making such a fuss... especially in front of Snape and Black.

"He also mentioned the extraordinary Patronus you performed. Well done, Miss Black," McGonagall praised, while Pomfrey continued her examination of Harry.

"So?" Cassie prompted eagerly.

"So what, Miss Black?" McGonagall asked, confused.

"House points? Oh wait, I forgot, I'm in Slytherin and not the 'mighty Boy Who Lived,'" Cassie quipped sarcastically.

"No, it's no—"

"Be honest, Professor, if it was Potter who did the charm, our dear old headmaster would be dishing out a couple of hundred points," Cassie interrupted, her tone biting.

"Twenty points to Slytherin... well done, Miss Black," McGonagall announced, putting an end to Cassie's tirade.

Cassie smirked in victory.

"Did he, now?" Madam Pomfrey interjected. "So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies?"

"Are you sure you feel all right, Potter?" McGonagall asked sharply, her concern evident.

"Yes," Harry replied quickly, eager to escape the attention focused on him.

"Very well. You and Miss Black, kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her course schedule. Then we can go down to the feast together," McGonagall instructed.

Cassie rolled her eyes and marched out of the room, leaning against the wall with an air of indifference, followed by Harry, while Madam Pomfrey departed for the hospital wing, muttering to herself.

"Well, well, how is itsy bitsy Potter doing? I suppose you know who my father is actually after?" Cassie taunted mockingly.

Harry remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

"Let's hope he finishes the job so I don't have to deal with you anymore," Cassie sneered, her words laced with malice.

Harry opened his mouth to retort, but before he could respond, the door opened, and Hermione emerged, looking pleased about something, followed by Professor McGonagall and Snape.

They made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall, where the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air.

It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick, who was a tiny little wizard with a shock of white hair, was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall.

"Oh," said Hermione softly, "we've missed the Sorting!"

"Who cares, Granger," Cassie scoffed and marched toward the Slytherin table, where Pansy was eagerly gesturing to the empty seat she had saved.

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione quietly made their way toward the Gryffindor table.

"I have something planned. Watch," Cassie remarked to her friends, positioning her wand toward the teachers' table.

Those who overheard Cassie's words were filled with glee, knowing that Black's pranks were among the best at Hogwarts, rivaled only by the antics of the Weasley twins.

At that moment, Dumbledore stood up to address the students. "Welcome!" he began.

"Now, 3-2-1," Cassie whispered, pointing her wand at Dumbledore's hat

Immediately, Dumbledore's hat burst into sparkles, forming words in the air:

"Cassiopeia Black is my favorite student and Slytherin is the best house."

The Slytherin table erupted in laughter, followed by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

"Miss Black!" McGonagall stood up, her voice stern.

However, Dumbledore chuckled and waved his wand, causing the mess to disappear and his hat to reappear. "Calm down, Minerva," he said with a smile.

"Now that we have all been entertained," Dumbledore continued, "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."

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly.

"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said.

Cassie rolled her eyes at Dumbledore's speech and muttered to Pansy beside her, "Can't believe Dumbles is letting the Ministry interfere with Hogwarts."

Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.

"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."

There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.

Cassie raised her brows, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she mimicked a wolf with her hand, her gaze meeting Lupin's momentarily. Lupin quickly averted his eyes, uncomfortable.

"I can't believe Dumbledore is hiring peasants now. My father will hear about this," Draco sneered, his disdain evident in his tone.

"Snape doesn't like him very much either," Blaise remarked, nodding in agreement.

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin 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 gamekeeping duties."

The hall burst into applause, which was particularly tumultuous at the Gryffindor table. Hagrid, who was ruby-red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, had his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.

"What the fuck is Dumbledore up to? That bloody oaf teaching us?" Theo snarked.

Cassie frowned. She did not dislike the man, but he wasn't qualified to teach for sure.

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore's voice broke through her thoughts, signaling the start of the feast. The golden plates and goblets before them filled with food and drink as if by magic.

"About time. I was starving," Blaise declared enthusiastically, diving into the food without hesitation.

However, Cassie's attention remained fixed on the teachers' table. Lupin had risen to speak with Dumbledore, and she couldn't help but notice the exchange between them. Dumbledore's surprise, followed by a glance in her direction, didn't escape her notice. She observed as Dumbledore leaned in to whisper something to Snape.

"Cassie, eat something," Pansy nudged, breaking her reverie.

Cassie reluctantly turned her attention away from the teachers' table and joined the conversation between Blaise and Draco about some Quidditch team, though her mind remained preoccupied.

She mechanically helped herself to food, deciding she would write to Regulus tomorrow.

As the feast progressed, the hall filled with the sounds of talk, laughter, and the clatter of utensils. Eventually, when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had been consumed, Dumbledore announced that it was time for bed, granting them their chance to leave.

Cassie rose from her seat, preparing to depart with the others, but their exit was halted by Snape.

"Miss Black, stay back. The Headmaster wants a word," Snape drawled.

"Move along, Malfoy, Zabini, Parkinson, Nott," he snapped.

Reluctantly, her friends obeyed, casting one last glance over their shoulders before exiting the hall.

As the hall cleared of students, Cassie made her way toward the teachers' table, where Dumbledore and Lupin were seated.

"It's about that bloody mutt, isn't it?" she scoffed at Snape, who simply nodded, eyeing Lupin with disdain.

A/n

Clarifying here- I personally love Hagrid, he is so umma amazing. But sorry, Slytherins are supposed to not like him

The prob with me is. my eng isnt really the best. i hve practically drafted the whole third year story in my head, BUT how to write is the prob. i get lazy. have entrance exams comin up. but yea cant stop thinkin at this-

till next chap---

mx riddle