The Sanctum of Alessia Nicoletta Lupa
 

After the feast Cam was quite worn out. She'd knew she'd gone entirely too long without some sleep, and had gone straight to her bed, and fell asleep without bothering to get out of her uniform.

This morning, after ten hours of sleep, she was feeling much better. Cam was even able to smile at people on occasion! That morning, she had an appointment, one she was even looking forward to. Professor Lupa seemed to be a nice woman, even if the elderly man she'd been walking around with was a bit of a grouch. Cam knew you couldn't always judge someone by their company. Sometimes you company was chosen for you...and people don't always show their true colors anyway. The old man...what was his name again...wasn't likely as bad as he seemed.

After binding her curly brown hair into a braid, slinging it over her shoulder, and pulling on fresh, Slytherin robes, Cambri headed out to locate Professor Lupa's office. She'd rather talk to her than the headmaster...and it would do the same thing right? The headmaster was her boss...so long as Cam talked to a teacher about it--she'd done her job...she'd made sure they knew. Outside the appropriate door, Cam lifted her fist, and knocked three times, in quick succession, on the door.

Alessia tried not to skip to the door... that would have been wrong, but she really wanted to. She opened the door and said, "Miss Hale!" She said remembering the girl's name... She was good at that. "Come on in dearest, have a seat on my fluffy and we can have some cookies. Do you take coffee?" She asked as sweet as a peppermint toad.

Smiling at the warm welcome, Cambri stepped into the office. As soon as she looked around herself she was overcome with the strange sensation that she'd stepped backward in time. OK, it really wasn't as extravagant as all that, but the room was well put together, and had a certain feel about it. Cam couldn't help but like what she'd done with it.

"Thanks, and yes. I do. Mom doesn't like me to drink it...but I do anyway." Cam responded with a smile. Her mother was convinced that drinking coffee would rot her insides, and make death come sooner. Cam obeyed, and perched herself on a piece of furniture that she took to be an ottoman.

"Well, my dear..." she said kicking off her shoes and sitting on the 'fluffy' and motioning with her wand to have the pot brew fresh, "I have spoken to the headmaster and he has informed me no letter arrived from your mother, or anyone else for that matter. May I ask you what her letter was in regards?" She'd sat down in the yoga lotus position, and rested her hands on her knees, and with her wand she summoned a cookie.

Chris had really liked the past Ancient Runes professor but was excited to meet the new one He had saw her at the feast and thought she looked pretty nice. He wanted to get to know her a little and then be ready for the first Runes class. He smiled as he knock on the door, waiting for a reply.

Panic seized her. No letter had arrived? Stupid feather brained owl! What was she supposed to say? Just blurt it out?! 'Oh, well, I'm a werewolf. My mom is just afraid I'll forget my potion and terrorize the school like I did in Biloix.' Uhm. No. She thought warily. Cam began to play nervously with the end of her braid. Just one question at a time. Say, 'The letter was about me', easy! Cam told herself while chewing on her bottom lip.

"The letter was about me...and my...worse nature." Cam muttered self consciously. "I got kicked out of my last school partially because I'm a werewolf...and I caused...problems as such." She stated. Might as well get the hard part over with. HA! You think that's the hard part? You still have to explain what you did! A voice in the back of her mind mocked her. That was when someone knocked on the door. Cam jumped, and looked over at the door. Had they heard her?

"Darling, give us a few minutes, alright honey? There is a bench right outside the office, I'll come get you when I'm ready." She said through the door.

...

"My dear little Cambri... I'm so glad you made me aware of your situation. There is nothing to be afraid of... and by all means do NOT call it your worse nature." She said sweetly as the coffee pot screeched it's whitle. Less levitated it to them and poured each a cupful. "Dearest... I too have the disease... and it's nothing to be ashamed of, if well prepared. Now... Cookie?" She said offering the plate.

After Professor Lupa's response Cam couldn't decide if she was more shocked or amused. Part of her wanted to laugh at the irony, the other part couldn't seem to grasp it all. She'd just confessed to being a werewolf...and was no being offered a cookie. Cam shook her head, trying to clear it, then took a cookie from the plate. Cam took a bite, and stared over at Professor Lupa for a moment. Apparently you really couldn't judge a book by it's cover.

Her ailment had never been referred to so politely before. Around home it was her worse nature, her dirty secret...any number of things...but none seemed to think of it as just another ailment. It was strange talking to Professor Lupa...being told that it was ok. Still, the woman's reaction made her feel a bit more at home.

"I had to tell you really. At my last school I was usually prepared...but I forgot my potion one month and wound up terrorizing the school a bit...I destroyed three classrooms, and ruined a few old books...that's why I got expelled. I'm not usually that careless. I mean, it never happened before or since but--" Her voice trailed off and she took another bite, taking her time to chew and swallow it. "You really are too though? I was worried that I'd be alone because of it...that no one would have the facilities to handle this...ailment." She confessed, then picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip of it.

"Sweet Cambri... you will be fine here. I will be sure to alert the headmaster of your situation and you and I will discuss the fine art of alerts. To take your potion." She said as if she was talking of doing each other's nails. "I was given the wrong potion once, and I too felt horrible for what I had done but I had support and help through it. I will be that for you." She put 6 teaspoons of sugar into her espresso and drank it.

"Well I've been taking double doses of it all summer. After what happened I was kind of worried. I mean. I was lucky that I didn't hurt anyone. I'm just paranoid that it'll happen again." She muttered, and glanced briefly at the door. Was that other person still out there? Cam barely felt comfortable talking about this when she knew she was alone...when someone was just out there it bothered her.

"After it happened with me my friends wouldn't even look at me. I can't even imagining having someone around that wouldn't run away after something like that." Cam mumbled into her cup. Still, perhaps her mom had been right. Talking to Professor Lupa had been a wonderful idea. She was already feeling more at ease about the upcoming year.

Cam was curious if Professor Lupa had done anything worse than she had...but she knew she couldn't just ask. That was rude! You didn't just ask people stuff like 'have you ever killed someone' or 'have you ever infected someone'? That was just...wrong. That was the kind of thing that no respectable werewolf would admit to.

"Well, now... if you wish, we'll just make it a secret between you, myself and the Headmaster." She said smirking. "I know how hard it is, but you are at Hogwarts now and everything will be fine. I assume you have plenty of potion?" She asked putting down her cup.

So far Cam only had one other person in all of Hogwarts that knew, Aaron. She couldn't avoid telling him when he'd stumbled across her cage over the summer. What was she suppose to say? My dog ran away? We have shackles cause he gets a bit out of hand? It was impossible to be friends with someone that you blatantly lied to. The idea of keeping her secret was a nice one. Cam didn't want it all around Hogwarts like it had been Biloix. Back in Mississippi everyone knew she'd been bitten because it had been a big deal. Two second years sneaked outside at midnight, and got into a lot of trouble.

"That would be wonderful." She breathed, and took another drink of her coffee, still not bothering to put any cream or sugar in it. "I should. Unless some of the bottles broke when they brought my trunk to my room." She responded with a shrug. Her mom had taught her to brew it over the summer anyway. Better that than get herself into trouble.

"Let me know if they have... I'll speak to the Headmaster, who is also your potions master, to brew us some more. We'll get you through the school year my dear, I promise." She smiled.

"I will. But my mom helped me brew twice as many as I needed. I should be good." She stated, and finished off her cup of coffee. "Thank you for all of this by the way. I'm feeling a lot better about this whole thing. I was a bit worried about changing schools at first..." She allowed her voice to trail off to prevent herself from gushing too much. Cam smiled and laughed weakly.

"Anyway...I should probably be going. You probably have a line half way to the great hall by now." She stated, and set her cup down. She felt a bit guilty monopolizing the professor when she knew there would be students lined up to kiss her butt. Cam stood up, and took a step towards the door before stopping and turning to face Professor Lupa once more.

"Actually...I have a question...do you have any idea how I could go about getting some house points? I hate seeing Slytherin so far behind already..." She explained. Really, it was kind of a pathetic question...but she didn't know how to shmoose these professors!

"Points?" She smiled and nodded. "One thing to remember is not to put too much stake in the point system. Have you seen how far behind Hufflepuff is? Don't worry, just study and attend your classes, do your homework and points will be awarded." She said moving the girl to the doorway, "just be your sweet self. Now. My door is always open, unless I'm in here with another student, but feel free to come see me anytime."

Less guided the girl out and then turned to the gryffindor that was there. "Mr. Potter, is it?" she said gesturing to the boy. "Please come in, what seems to be the problem?"

Sarah had enjoyed doing Ancient Runes last year.It was a subject she hadn't known existed before she came to Hogwarts,but she had done quite well in class and with homework.
She knew there was a new professor this year so thought it prudent to go and welcome them...hopefully they were nice.
Slowly she walked up to the door,which was slightly ajar,and knocked twice.
"Ummm Professor Lupa?" she tentatively enquired,not knowing if anyone was within the room.

Chris smiled and shook the Professor's hand. "Hello, yes i am Chris Potter." he said as he yalked to her "I was just wanting to say hello and welcome to the school as a new professor, and if there are any errends or anything at all i will get it for you." he grinned "Also i can't wait for Runes class!"

"Oh... well, Thank you darling," She said and ruffled his hair. "That is very sweet, if I need something I'll owl you." She said and sent him on his way.

"Yes dearest, what can I help you with?" She asked sweet as pie.

"Hello Professor," she started nervously. "I just wanted to welcome you to Hogwarts,and to say that I am very much looking forward to Ancient Runes.It was one of my favourite classes last year."
She beemed at Professor Lupa,hoping that she didn't look like an idiot in the process.
"As Chris said too,if you need anything I'd be more than willing to help..."
She trailed off waiting for the lady to reply.

"You children are really making me feel welcome here at the school." She smiled and patted the girl's head. "Thank you very very much, and I cannot wait to have you in my class. But now sweeties, I must tend to my work." And with that she ushered them out and began going over her class schedule.

Alessia had been feeling lonely in her Sanctum, so hearing the knock at the door got her all excited. She made her way to the door, trying not to run or seem too eager and she opened it. "Hi there... Come on in." She said sweeetly. "Have a seat."

Rey? She turned to look at the boy, but he was... kneeling? Her eyes dropped to the boy. "Sweety..." she said taking his hand. "Sit here..." she said taking him over to the fluffy. "I know it's a little unusual, but it's fun and... well... fluffy..." She said sitting on it and reaching to get the cookie plate. "Cookie?"