Chapter Sixty: Well At Least The First Day Back's Not Boring
It felt strange to be at Hogwarts but not wake up in her own bed, Lina thought the next morning. She hadn't fallen asleep till gone one in the morning and would have overslept if the smell of hot chocolate hadn't wafted through. Lina changed into her robes and walked into the small living room that separated the two bedrooms.
Lina tiredly rubbed her eyes and plopped down in the arm of the chair "morning" she mumbled picking up the steaming mug.
"Good morning" Remus replied, "sleep well?" Lina shook her head. "You know you can't run away from everyone-"
"I know" she replied knowing he was referring to last night "I didn't plan to, I was ready to sleep in my own bed but" Lina gripped her mother's necklace around her neck "the girls were talking about me. Apparently, if dad breaks into the castle they know who to blame, like I would."
"Does Cedric believe this?" Remus asked.
"What?"
"Does Cedric believe you would help Sirius?"
"No, of course not."
"What about Lucy and Danny?"
"No."
"Fred? George?"
"No."
"Well, there you go."
"I don't get it."
Remus sighed and leaned forward, he put his own mug of hot chocolate down "Lina you are not alone, you have people on your side, it's not you versus the world. Use the people around you for support, that's what friends are for. Does anyone know you're here?"
"No."
"Well then your friends must be worried sick, go down to the great hall for breakfast, you can't hide forever."
"Alright" she conceded "but can Demeter stay here, I know no one will hurt her but just in case."
Lina stood up and grabbed her bag, she wasn't completely ready to face the school but knew she had to do it sooner rather than later "see you in class."
Remus was right her friends were worried, Lina had never seen Cedric look so relieved as he did when she walked into the great hall.
"Where the hell have you been?" Cedric asked as he hugged her the tightest he ever had.
"I didn't feel well" Lina lied "so I decided to spare everyone and stay with uncle, damn it, Professor Re-Lupin."
"You're never going to get used to calling him Professor Lupin are you?" Lucy asked.
"Nope" Lina replied sitting down.
"Well here's your timetable for the year," Danny said sliding the parchment over, Lina picked it up and examined it. "How is it?"
"Not bad, I've got double Defence Against the Dark Arts first then double History of Magic."
"Oh, I'm jealous," Lucy said, "you get a good nap on your first day back."
Lina cracked a smile "I've only nearly fallen asleep once."
"One more than perfect prefect Cedric, right mate?" Danny said elbowing him.
"I hate you" Cedric replied.
"Sure you do."
Lina playfully rolled her eyes "I'm going to class."
"But the bell doesn't go for like another five minutes or so," Lucy said.
"I know but I don't want to be late for uncle Remus's first lesson."
"You did it again" Danny teased.
Lina sighed "I'm never going to get used to this."
Lina left the hall but her name was called, she turned her head to see Harry running over to her "Lina-"
"Sorry, Harry I've got to go, I need to talk to Professor Lupin" she didn't let him say anything else and ran out of the entrance hall all the way to her class. She was the first to arrive, so Lina didn't bother to knock as she entered.
"Now how did I know you would be the first to arrive?" Remus asked without looking up.
Lina shrugged and sat down at a desk in the front row "you know me far too well."
Remus hummed and continued his last-minute lesson preparations until they head a babble or conversations outside his classroom. Remus waved his wand making the door open, students flooded in. The twins and Lee Jordan spotted Lina and joined her although reluctantly.
"Why are sitting at the front for?" Lee asked.
"Because the new Professor is my uncle" Lina replied.
"What?" Lee looked between Remus I'm his shabby-looking robes and Lina in her newly bought pristine Hufflepuff robes, through his observation Lee noticed that both had the same tired expression and bags under their eyes.
"Sit down," Lina told the boys. The twins sat on either side of Lina and Lee next to George.
"Good morning class," Remus said "let me introduce myself, I am Professor Lupin as some of you may know" Remus's eyes flicked to Lina who was smiling proudly at her uncle "Now I don't want our lessons to be dull, I know from experience how that lowers drive to learn but I do need to know how much you've learnt. Who wants to start?" Alicia in the second row behind George put her hand up "yes miss-"
"Alicia Spinnit Sir" Remus nodded "well last year we learned nothing."
"And the year before was no better" Lee agreed.
Remus looked to Lina who nodded in agreement "alright" he said "as I'm sure your all aware this year is your O.W.Ls, I'll be offering extra lessons and help to anyone who needs to. But for now" he clapped his hands "let's begin with today."
For most of the lesson, Remus ran through past O.W.Ls exams questions to give the students a sense of what to expect. He wrote down a list of topics they should have already covered which the students copied, he also wrote down a guide on what to study, he then set homework to write notes on various different dark creatures.
Through the lesson not one person talked over Remus, it was clear he knew what he was talking about, instead of making it up as he went. By the time the bell ran for lunch and students left Lina overheard several people say how he was already the best Defence teacher they had had.
Lina was only able to give Remus a thumbs up before she was hustled out the class.
"Hey female Lee, we've got to do something, we'll see you later," Fred said giving Lina no time to object they ran off.
Lina headed in the direction of the great hall, she was in some need of pumpkin juice before she had to go to Professor Binns class but as she walked she got interrupted.
"Oh look who it is, Sirius Black's daughter" Lina groaned and turned around a group of Slytherins fast approached her, Lina didn't recognise any of them, they looked younger than her that was for sure but that was the only thing she could tell. "How does it feel to be the most hated girl in school" the one leading the group with a pug like face asked.
"I'm sorry do I know you?" Lina asked.
The girl scowled, a few girls in her group laughed which only seemed to anger the girl, she looked a step forward Lina assumed this was to intimidate her but honestly the girl wasn't as scary as she liked the think she was.
"Pansy!" Draco's voice snapped cutting through the air like a hot blade, he strode over alone and stopped by Lina's side.
"Draco," Panay said surprised taking a step back.
"Hello, cousin" Lina greeted.
"Cousin, is Pansy bothering you?"
"Oh so that's her name, well she's trying to but she isn't that scary."
Both Draco and Lina looked at Pansy with the famous Black stare, one no one dared to mess with, Pansy ran off scared, her group following.
"Let me guess she mentioned your father?" Draco asked.
"Hmm."
"She won't say anything to you again, I promise."
"Thanks, Draco" Lina smiled as the bell for next lesson rang, lunch was already over "what class do you have now?"
"Care of magical creatures" Draco made a face like he had something very unpleasant in his mouth "with the oaf."
"Be nice Draco. See you later."
***
History Of Magic was boring, Professor Binns had never drowned on longer before, he gave long speeches on the importance of the upcoming exams and how they would determine the rest of the student's lives. Lina wondered if after she passed her O.W.Ls (hopefully) would she be allowed to drop the subject.
In contrast to the lesson after lesson was not boring, Lina was now done with that day's lessons, she headed in the direction of the common room wanting to start on Remus's homework, she passed the hospital wing only for a group of Slytherins to cut her up, Lina recognised one of them as Pansy, but why would she, looking very upset be leaving the hospital wing. Lina peered in, her eyes widened at the sight of Draco laying in a bed, his arm wrapped in a sling.
She rushed to his side "what the hell happened?"
"My arm" Draco whimpered.
"Well, I can see that," Lina said sitting down in the free chair "I mean how did it end up in a sling?"
"That oaf of a teacher made me interact with an extremely dangerous creature, it attacked me."
"Attacked you?"
"Yes!"
"Out of nowhere?"
"Yes!"
"Draco" Lina sighed, she suspected he wasn't telling her the whole truth.
"My father-"
Lina rolled her eyes "isn't here" she said sharply.
"You don't believe me?" He looked to Lina and for the briefest of moments, he looked like a little boy.
"I do" she relented "of course I do, but I'm sure Hagrid didn't purposely bring in a dangerous creature with the intent to hurt anyone."
"But it still did" he muttered.
It was clear Lina wasn't getting anywhere with him on the matter. She shook her head "just don't do anything stupid" even Lina didn't believe her words as she left.