**Disclaimer** All characters, real or implied, and the marvelous world they inhabit belong to the fabulous J.K. Rowling. I am just playing with them for my own amusement.

Chapter One

Rough Start

"Made it!" Samara declared triumphantly, as she held the door for Iris. The small, brick administration building of Saint Milburga's University was bustling with activity, typical for the first day of the term.

"I can't believe it! When the train was late, I thought we were done for," Iris stated, as she began to dig through her bag for her credentials. "Wouldn't it be great if we could just magically appear exactly where we needed to be?"

Samara chuckled. "That would be something, alright. Anyway, you go check in. I'm going to run to the loo."

"Okay," Iris replied. "Don't take too long, though. Janice will pitch a fit if we miss her opening speech."

Samara turned down a small hallway just off the entrance, and Iris continued down to the conference room at the back of the building.

"Iris Raggner!" a high pitched voiced called from a cubicle as she passed hurriedly.

"Janice! Aren't we having our start of term meeting?"

"Sweetie, I've been trying to reach you on your mobile all morning. Yes, we're going to have our meeting, but you've been reassigned and need to report to your professor before the first class," Janice explained, as she handed Iris a slip of paper.

"Professor Rune?"

"Yes. Now scoot, honey, or you're going to be making a bad first impression."

Iris turned back toward the door. "Thanks, Janice!" she called over her shoulder. She nearly ran into Samara on her way out.

"Whoa, where's the fire?"

"Can't talk, Sam. I've been reassigned. We're still on for lunch!"

As she worked her way across campus, Iris checked her watch for the umpteenth time, then quickened her pace to a near jog. As she moved, she tried to scan the slip of paper Janice had handed her. Professor B. Rune, Doctor of History. 0900-Origins of the Occult; 1000-History and Mythology; 1100- History of Medi—

Crack! Iris slammed into somebody. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" a young woman yelled.

Looking up, Iris saw that she was standing near the entrance to the history building. "I'm so sorry!" she apologized. "I was looking at my schedule and I wasn't paying attention." I don't even know how I got here so quickly.

"Well, slow down next time. I'd like to get to my classes in once piece," the girl retorted, spinning around and walking away, her long red hair flowing behind her.

"I really am sorry!" Iris called after her, before turning to enter the building.

Blake glanced up at the clock above his desk. Ten to nine. Didn't they say I was to receive a teaching assistant? he wondered. "Bloody irresponsible co-eds," he muttered aloud. Just then, a young woman with the bushiest brown hair he had ever seen, practically slid into his office.

"Professor Rune? I'm Iris Raggner, your teaching assistant," she said breathlessly, extending her hand to the tall man. He hesitated, and then took her hand brusquely. As they touched, Iris felt a quick electric shock, causing her to pull her hand back quickly. If he had felt it, he did not react.

Turning to his desk to gather his lecture notes, he spoke. "Miss Raggner, if you are going to make a habit of skating into my office mere minutes before class, I would highly recommend you request a reassignment. I simply cannot work with anyone who is less than professional. If that is normally how you conduct yourself, I assure you, you would find me most unpleasant."

Iris narrowed her eyes, but was determined to keep her voice as cheerful as possible. "No, sir, this will not be a habit with me, I promise. I had only just received my assignment to you this morning when I checked in at the administration building. My previous assignment did not have a class until 1030."

She sized him up as she spoke. He was young, compared to most of the professors at Saint Milburga's, late thirties, perhaps. Tall, with pale skin, but well built and fit looking. He wore a black suit, complete with seven button vest that reminded her of vintage men's fashion. His hair was long, however, almost to his shoulders, conjuring images of American skater culture, but void of any playfulness.

"Enough. We will be in lecture hall C this morning." With that, Blake simply brushed passed her, heading toward to the classroom.

Assuming that was the closest thing to an invitation she was going to get, she adjusted her bag on her shoulder, and followed him. "Nice to meet you, too, Professor," she grumbled, shutting his office door behind her.

Since she hadn't arrived in time for him to issue any instructions, Iris took a seat in the front row of the lecture hall to take notes. She hadn't taken many history courses during her bachelor's studies, and none of them seemed as interesting as the ones on Professor Rune's schedule. The first class, History of the Occult, was listed as a senior level course. Professor Rune tossed a syllabus and reading list unto her desk as the students filed in and chose their seats.

As soon as the clock ticked over to nine o'clock, he began. "There will be no foolish giggling or silly behavior in this class," he said smoothly, not raising his voice above his normal conversational timbre. The students immediately quieted and leaned slightly forward to catch what he was saying. "In this class, we will be studying the ancient traditions and beliefs of revered cultures from all over the world. While you," he snapped his pointer on a student's desk for emphasis,"may not agree with or understand many of the things we discuss, I will settle for nothing less than the utmost respect for the cultures we examine. Let us begin."

Blake smiled inwardly as he began his lecture. These students were actually paying attention; they were interested in what he was saying. What a refreshing change of pace, he thought before he quickly realized he had no other teaching experience to compare it to.

Author Notes:
Name meanings:
Iris- Messenger
Samara- Guardian
Blake Rune- Dark Secret

Saint Milburga (aka Saint Mildburh) was one of three sisters to be canonized. She was noted for her magical powers such as healing, communication with birds, creation of a spring, and even levitation of her veil upon a sunbeam.