It seemed like it was just yesterday that Cassia had arrived at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and, by an unexpected turn of events, became the first member of her family to be sorted into Thunderbird House. Cassia Serbus was just two and a half months away from her twelfth birthday when this event occurred; Serbus, if you guessed, was not a Wizarding Family name and, given that Pure-Blood Supremacists ran rampant in the 1980's, even in the United States of America, contrary to popular opinion, she drew criticism upon her admittance into the school, due to her family.
Cassia was a Half-Blood, born of a No-Maj father, businessman Johnathan Serbus, and Pure-Blood witch mother, Margot Romano-Serbus. Her father had two children from his previous wife, Clara, named Noah and Liam, who were learning the family business in the lumber industry, due to Cassia being born in the Evergreen State, on the other side of the country and, since her older brothers were also No-Maj's, they hadn't been accepted into the school. The Romano family was known for its connection to the mob in Italy, and they were also known not to be messed with, even though Margot Romano-Serbus had married a No-Maj.
The rest of the Romano family was known for their strong leanings into Horned Serpent, so the fact that Cassia got sorted elsewhere was nothing short of shocking. Moreover, Margot, Cassia's mother, didn't believe that her daughter was a witch at all, until she got her acceptance letter into Ilvermorny the previous summer, that is. Margot thought she had produced a Squib, and became content to ignore her daughter, denying her the affection she so craved growing up, and, instead, lavished all of her attention onto Cassia's younger brother, Edgar, who showed off his accidental magic early and often, much to his mother's delight.
It took years for Cassia to reach an embittered understanding that, no matter what she did, no matter how well she performed in school or her magical abilities, she would never escape from beneath Edgar's shadow. She was much better in school that Edgar was, and although did not show off her magic, so to speak, and Headmaster Roman Codde, a Thunderbird House alumni, never failed to congratulate her on her work. Cassia, although appreciative of the headmaster's efforts to ease her unhappiness, knew that a love from one's mother could not simply be replaced, and hungered for it all the more, especially as the years passed.
"If I have to hear one more word about Edgar, I think I'll curse myself," Cassia muttered bitterly to her best friend and housemate, Pure-Blood Samantha Willows, as she threw herself backwards onto her bed in their dorm room.
Samantha tossed her long, blonde hair, and smiled, her blue eyes gleaming. "Come on, Cass. I mean, Christmas can't have been that bad."
Cassia rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out in direction of her friend. "You're one to talk. You all live in New York, surrounded by love and extended family."
"Is Washington State really so bad? I thought your dad got time off for the holidays."
Cassia muttered under her breath. "He usually does," she replied with a huff, crossing her arms as she pushed herself upwards. "Not this year. Took Noah and Liam to the mountains to ski, for some 'networking'," she said, her tone bitter, putting the word in air-quotes. "I mean, it's not like I can really feel sorry for myself here. I'm seventeen, one of the oldest in our class, and I could have easily gotten out of there..."
"Well, why didn't you?"
Cassia swallowed. "Didn't want to be seen as that pathetic Half-Blood whose own family couldn't stand to have her home for the holidays."
Samantha pursed her lips. "You could've always come to New York. My family loves you. They say that waiting for the summer isn't enough, and you're always welcome for Christmas." She smiled at Cassia, and it quickly developed into a smirk. "You know, Julian was asking about you again," she put in.
Cassia wrinkled her nose at the mention of Samantha's younger brother, two years behind them at the school. "Um, no thanks. I've known him since he was nine," she said, stressing the word at her best friend. "He's practically my brother, too."
Samantha twittered good-naturedly at Cassia's reaction. "Least Alabaster could come to New York," she said, her entire body relaxing with happiness as she mentioned her steady boyfriend of over three years.
Cassia rolled her eyes. "He's great, Sam, really."
Samantha smiled. "You know, you could find a guy, too."
Cassia shook her head. "No thanks, I'm all right. Less than one more year, and then we'll get jobs at the MACUSA, just like we've planned," she replied.
"Aurors," Samantha said, her tone dreamy as she imagined their future. She quickly dropped it, however, and locked eyes with Cassia then. "See anything about it, yet?"
Cassia shook her head. "No. There's just smoke—black smoke. No idea what it means, but I know it doesn't mean I'm dead, at least, not yet." She swallowed then. "Great-great-great-grandma Sybylla's diary doesn't leave me much, I'm afraid."
"Your mom ever talk to you about her?"
Cassia sighed. "Not really. She lived a good long life, dying just before I was born. As far as I know, they weren't close."
"Does she know about the diary, then?"
"No," Cassia replied. "Those of us who are afforded the gift of Seer are entered into a mind-bond with the last member of the family to have the gift," she said, and Samantha relaxed against her bed, loving the tale. "Just after we get our acceptance letters, they begin the communication, leaving us clues as to where to find their diaries. We're then instructed to read all we can, plus write down our own observations into the next pages of it—its magically transfigured never to run out of pages—so as to pass it onto the next girl who has it."
"It's never been a boy?"
Cassia shook her head. "No. Only women in the Romano family have the gift."
Samantha pushed herself upwards then, swinging her legs off from her bed and gently rocking her heels upon the floor. "Fancy a run?" she asked.
Cassia's brows knit together. "What do you—?"
Samantha let out a giggle, before she shrunk down, gray fur dotting every surface of her body, a beautiful tail extending from her backside, and her eyes remaining bright and intelligent. The gray fox hopped from the bed where Samantha had been a moment ago, and scurried to the door of the room, as if to say, You coming?
Cassia rolled her eyes. "Alohomora," she said indulgently to Samantha, the door to the room clicking open. "Wait for me," she urged, shrinking down into her bobcat form, and running out of the room after her.
. . .
The welcome feast to congratulate the students for making it to the second-term was held later that evening, and Cassia was relieved. As much as she loved running around the mountains of the school in her Animagus form with Samantha, it often tired her out. She would need to eat plenty that evening if she was to regain her strength before their classes began the following morning. Just as Cassia, Samantha, and the rest of the students in the dining hall were about to eat their dinner, Headmaster Cobbe got to his feet, proudly making his way towards the podium, and the chatter instantly evaporated as he addressed the students.
"Good evening, all of you," he said, his kind voice, Southern accent, and large belly all radiating through him. "Before we begin our dinner, I have an announcement. It came to my attention at the end of term, that Ilvermorny School has not participated in the International Student Exchange Program, or the I.S.E.P., in quite a few decades. I reached out to our friends from across the sea, among them Hogwarts School in Scotland, Beauxbatons Academy in France, and Castelobruxo in Central Brazil. I'm happy to announce that my dear, longtime friend and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Scottish Highlands has accepted the terms. The teachers and I will review your progress from now until the end of the school year, wherein four students—two wizards and two witches—will be chosen as representatives within the program. You will then spend the duration of the next year at the other school, while four Hogwarts students will come here to Ilvermorny. As this is such a big to-do, one rule is that the students selected in question must be seventeen or older by the time they go across the globe. Meaning that they will be seventh-years by next year, so you will spend your final year of school in Scotland. Another thing—you will be sorted into a House at Hogwarts School, as well as be obligated to partake in the N.E.W.T.'s examinations, which are our equivalent to the H.A.R.E.'s, and will translate, as we've received special permission from the MACUSA to do this exchange program. If you are interested, please see your Head of House, and your name will be put up against the others, if your grades are deemed worthy enough. Best of luck to all of you who think you have what it takes to be among the chosen, and I hope we have a wonderful rest of the year."
. . .
Working hard was not exactly an alien thing for Cassia, as she would usually spend her vacation periods reading ahead in her lessons and seeking advanced forms of such things. She was already plenty ahead in her coursework, and although the professors and headmaster said that she could have easily qualified for graduation already, Cassia refused, not wanting to be singled-out further because of her family's ignoring of her, or her Blood-Status.
So when it was announced in June, just days before the end of second-term, that Cassia was one of the female students chosen, she nearly dropped her fork in shock. The other female was Samantha, an equally-brilliant witch in her own right, much to Cassia's relief. The wizards chosen were Alabaster Raywood, Samantha's long-term boyfriend, and Storm Drake, a member of Pukwudgie House. The only consolation of the upcoming trip was that Cassia was therefore no longer obligated to travel back home for the summer, instead opting to remain in New York with the Willows family during her final American summer.
An international Portkey was obtained from the MACUSA for their travel, and all of them gathered a day before term was due to begin back at Ilvermorny. Cassia had traveled by Portkey before, and although she didn't much like it, she had thankfully mastered how not to fall down completely upon arrival at the final destination. They were wished good luck by Headmaster Cobbe, before the Portkey—a rusty key—was activated, and they were subsequently swallowed up by its magic.
They burst through the atmosphere then, to cloudy skies and black iron gates, and were promptly shoved to the ground, narrowly missing the opportunity to break any bones. Dusting themselves off and making sure the Anti-Breaking Spells they'd cast on their shrunken trunks had worked effectively, they walked towards the gate and peered through, seeing the castle beyond. Almost as if by magic, five people made their way towards the wide-eyed young wizards and witches, and the one in the center, who had to be Headmaster Dumbledore, took down the wards which surrounded the gate and permitted the foursome access.
"Welcome to Scotland, and to Hogwarts," the headmaster said.
"Thank you," the four said in unison.
"These are the Head of Houses—Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House and our Transfiguration Professor; Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw House and our Charms Professor; Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House and our Herbology Professor; and, finally, Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin House and our Potion's Professor. And I, of course, am Headmaster Dumbledore," the white-bearded, spectacle-wearing man concluded.
Cassia looked over each witch and wizard Head of House in turn as they were being introduced to her and the three other Ilvermorny students. The first was a woman with her brown hair conservatively pulled back into a bun, with spectacles upon her nose, and while she clearly possessed a no-nonsense attitude, Cassia somehow knew she was a fair witch. The second, whom Headmaster Dumbledore had introduced as Professor Flitwick, was a dwarf, who too wore glasses, and carried a delightful smile on his face. The second witch among them, Professor Sprout, was a plump woman with curly, gray hair, who seemed to spend a lot of time in outside, due to her sun-stained cheeks and well-worn hands. The final man, the wizard and Head of Slytherin House, however, was something else, as he literally made Cassia's throat go dry, with his shoulder-length black hair, captivating black eyes, black robes which seemed to hold him in all the right places, and pale, pale skin...
"And what is your name, young witch?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes landing firmly on Cassia.
"Oh," Cassia said, clearing her throat then, and somehow managing not to blush. "My name is Cassandra Serbus; please call me Cassia. It's a pleasure to meet you, Headmaster Dumbledore, and it is also a pleasure to be at Hogwarts."
"Oh, yes, you're the first witch to be born into the Pure-Blood Romano family in over thirty years," the headmaster observed with a twinkle in his eye. "Headmaster Cobbe speaks very highly of you, Miss Serbus."
It was this time that Cassia did blush. "He is one of the few who does. I confess my mother believed me to be a Squib and, as such, my younger brother Edgar was the only one permitted love and affection."
Headmaster Dumbledore regarded Cassia then. "I am sorry to hear that, my dear."
Cassia smiled and shook her head. "That is all right, headmaster. I've grown used to it now, you see. While one of course covets a mother's love, it is not necessary in order to be a competent witch."
The headmaster looked amazed at Cassia's attitude, whereupon he smiled. "Headmaster Cobbe mentioned that both you and Miss Willows are Animagi?"
"We are, headmaster," Samantha said softly. "I'm a gray fox, and Cassia is a bobcat. We've been Animagi since we were fourteen."
"Professor McGonagall is a gray tabby," Headmaster Dumbledore said. "I am sure she will find both of you good company, you especially, Miss Serbus."
"Thank you," Cassia replied, and returned Professor McGonagall's smile when she saw that she was giving her one.
"Come along, then," the headmaster said, leading them inside. "Headmaster Cobbe didn't mention what houses all of you were. Would you care to enlighten me? You first, Mr. Drake," he said, looking over his shoulder at Storm.
"House Pukwudgie, sir," Storm replied.
"Very good, Mr. Drake," Headmaster Dumbledore said as they walked in through the front doors of the castle. "And you, Miss Willows?"
"Thunderbird House, sir," Samantha said.
The headmaster nodded. "Mr. Raywood? Your house?"
"Wampus House, sir," Alabaster said effortlessly.
"And what about you, Miss Serbus?" asked the headmaster as the nine witches and wizards journeyed into the empty great hall, save for the house tables, teachers table upon the dais which included a podium similar to Headmaster Cobbe's, and a lone stool in the center of the room, which currently was playing host to an old-looking hat.
"Thunderbird House, sir, like Samantha," Cassia said softly.
"Ah, wonderful," said the headmaster, and motioned for the Heads of Houses to gather around him, while the four new students stayed back. "We'll go alphabetically, then. Mr. Drake, please sit upon the stool and place the Sorting Hat on your head."
Storm stepped forward, his blond hair illuminated all the more brightly in the floating candlelight, as he moved towards the stool. He carefully took the hat into his hands before sitting down, and placed it upon his head.
No sooner had it happened than the hat shouted, "Hufflepuff!"
Professor Sprout stepped forward then as Storm took off the hat and placed it back onto the chair behind him, shaking Storm's hand and motioning for him to stand beside her.
"You're next, Mr. Raywood," said the headmaster to Alabaster.
Alabaster squeezed Samantha's hand as he left her side, crossing the room and walking towards the stool with confidence. It was much different than the Sorting Ceremony that they'd all partaken in while first-years at Ilvermorny, and Cassia wondered then how different all the other wizarding schools were throughout the world. She watched as Alabaster took the hat into his hands and sat, placing it upon his head, and waited in a patient manner, his blue eyes only for Samantha.
"Ravenclaw!" the hat proclaimed.
Professor Flitwick very nearly danced on the spot, somehow containing himself at the last minute as Alabaster replaced the hat onto the stool, and walked forward to shake the Head of Ravenclaw's hand.
"Miss Serbus, if you would," Headmaster Dumbledore said.
Cassia felt the lump rising in her throat as it had done when she was sorted previously. She walked up to the stool, and took the hat gently in her hands, now knowing that it was a living thing, and placed it carefully onto her golden-brown head. She recalled her own sorting again, and knew from the stories told that, if all four houses called for the student, they were permitted to select the house they wanted to be in. However, during her summer reading on the Sorting Hat, Cassia had discovered the term Hatstall, meaning that if the hat took more than five minutes to decide what house you were in...
"You're a smart one, aren't you?" the hat observed, interrupting Cassia's thoughts. "Cunning as well, very cunning; you've had to make sacrifices in your life which have truly defined you. However, your kindness to everyone is also a contributing factor, not to mention your apparent bravery... Yes. Yes. I can see it all now, just as you can see it, can't you, Cassia?" the had asked, and Cassia very nearly squeaked at the hat's words. "Gryffindor!" the hat said, and Cassia's mouth fell open, knowing that the corresponding Hogwarts House to Thunderbird was Slytherin, but the hat couldn't be wrong, so she took it off and placed it back on the stool.
Cassia crossed the room then, as Headmaster Dumbledore summoned Samantha to the stool to be sorted, and shook Professor McGonagall's hand, who looked quite pleased with the entire situation handed to them. "It's a pleasure to meet you, professor," Cassia responded to her statement about her delight at being sorted into Gryffindor, as well as meeting her.
"Ravenclaw!" the hat shouted from behind her, and Samantha handed off the hat to Headmaster Dumbledore, and went to stand with Alabaster and Professor Flitwick.
Professor McGonagall informed Cassia that she would show her to the common room, located in Gryffindor Tower, and that she was likely to be alone until the Hogwarts Express arrived with the other students the following day. Cassia moved to follow her new Head of House, and answered her questions flawlessly. However, just as they were leaving the Great Hall, Cassia felt a pair of black eyes upon her back and, turning, saw Professor Severus Snape staring back at her, almost as if into her soul, before her swept out of there via a door behind the teacher's tables, in a plumage of black robes, causing Cassia's breath to hitch in her throat as she quickly moved to follow Professor McGonagall out of there and up the staircase.
. . .
Professor McGonagall had shown her around the bits of the school which led to the common room, informing Cassia that each common room was guarded by a portrait, and that there was a password. The password at the time was novis initiis, which Cassia knew to mean 'new beginnings'; as they stepped inside the common room, Cassia took in the massive fireplace, and the large, red upholstered chairs scattered around the lavishly carpeted room. She gazed in awe at all of the portraits scattering the walls, who eagerly seemed to want to leap out of their frames as she came into view with Professor McGonagall.
"Now, don't make her feel as if she is in a zoo," the professor scolded them firmly, yet gently as she turned around and regarded Cassia with a smile. "Go on, dear. Introduce yourself to them, or you'll never hear the end of it."
"I'm Cassia Serbus, one of the witches selected from the exchange program from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Pleasure to meet you all," she said.
"Oh, my! An American!" one knightly man proclaimed.
"That is Sir Cadogan," Professor McGonagall explained, minute traces of annoyance peppering her tone. "I'm afraid he is one of the more excitable portraits."
Cassia smiled at her. "Not to be presumptuous, professor, but we Americans are known to be an excitable bunch."
Professor McGonagall laughed at her. "Well, I do suppose you're right." She looked over Cassia's uniform then, nodding her head. "This is the school uniform for Ilvermorny, then?" she asked, her tone curious.
Cassia nodded. "Yes, professor. I assume it's no longer appropriate, now that I'm seen as a member of this school?"
The professor smiled considerately. "Well, each house here has a different uniform, so as to tell you all apart," she explained. "Just let me..." She lifted her wand then, transfiguring Cassia's robes into that of a Gryffindor House robe, complete with an undershirt, vest, black robe, slacks, socks, and dress shoes. "Now, for the finishing touch, and my personal favorite," she said with a smile, and turned the Gordian Knot into a Gryffindor tie. "You have other uniforms inside your trunk, then?"
Cassia nodded, removing it from her inner pocket and putting it back to its former size. "They're all in here," she said.
"I shall teach you the Uniform Transfiguration Spell," the professor said with a smile. "Come to think of it, I haven't had to do it in quite a while... Ilvermorny to Hogwarts. Are you ready for the incantation, Miss Serbus?"
Cassia took her wand out from the sleeve of her robe. "Yes, professor."
"It is Ilvermornia uniformis ut Hogwartia uniformis. Have you got that?"
Cassia nodded. "Yes, professor, I think so." She turned to her trunk then, and said, "Ilvermornia uniformis ut Hogwartia uniformis," she a golden light came forth from her wand, lifting her trunk into the air, whereupon it shook for a moment, and came back down onto the carpeted floor beneath them.
"Very good," Professor McGonagall said with a smile. "Had it not worked, your trunk would have burst open, its contents flying everywhere, and your wand would have emitted nasty green-looking sparks."
Cassia smiled, straightening her tie a bit. "Um... Professor?"
"Yes, Cassia?"
Cassia sighed. "If one had an allergy to wool, could they perhaps transfigure their outer robes to flannel, and their inner robes to cotton, while maintaining the woolen look?"
Professor McGonagall looked shocked at the question.
"I'm sorry, professor!" Cassia said quickly. "I didn't mean any disrespect by it, I swear!"
Professor McGonagall shook her head then, and blinked. "No, no, Miss Serbus. It's just that what you just described to me was very advanced magic..."
Cassia smiled. "I've been doing pre-reading on being an Auror soon after I became an Animagus," she explained. "Charms are one of my best subjects, along with Transfigurations, and even though I have a lot to learn, I haven't botched anything like this yet."
Professor McGonagall smiled. "You want to be an Auror?"
Cassia nodded. "I do. Very much."
"Would you mind demonstrating your spell work to me, Miss Serbus?"
Cassia smiled and shook her head. "Not at all, professor." She waved her wand then, uttering in flawless Latin, "Lanitium ut flannel," and then, "Lanitium ut bombacio," and her robes were promptly transfigured, leaving behind the furry essence that wool seemed to have atop every article of clothing it was made from.
"Very good, Miss Serbus. If only it were tomorrow, and I could aware ten points to Gryffindor for your innovative spells."
Cassia grinned. "Well, perhaps I could cast them again tomorrow."
Professor McGonagall laughed. "No wonder Severus seemed so displeased."
Cassia blinked. "Severus, professor?"
"Oh, pardon me, Miss Serbus. I mean Professor Snape. He seemed... Well, a trifle shocked when the sorting hat put you into my house."
"Thunderbird House is frequently associated with Slytherin House," Cassia said softly. "It was no wonder he was a bit shocked."
Professor McGonagall smiled. "Professor Snape doesn't get shocked, Miss Serbus," she replied, walking towards the spiral staircase to show Cassia where the seventh-year dorms were. "It is not an emotion he possesses."
"What other emotions doesn't he have, professor?" Cassia asked, walking up the staircase after her new Head of House.
The woman sighed. "You will see for yourself in potions class next week," she replied.
. . .
After a slightly restful sleep alone in the dorm that night, Cassia was up early to straighten things out and to take a shower. She put on a new set of robes, finding that a house-elf had kidnapped the ones she'd worn yesterday to bring down to the laundry, before heading down to breakfast at half-past-eight. She'd been told that day that the students wouldn't be arriving until close to dinner, which left several gap hours for her, Samantha, Alabaster, and Storm for themselves, where they were permitted to go to Hogsmeade, and through a special tunnel from Gringotts Wizarding Bank, to exchange their money, and then get to Diagon Alley, where they could purchase their books. Cassia had been told the night before that her class schedule would be waiting for her at breakfast the following morning.
While loading her plate with breakfast potatoes, sausages, and scrambled eggs, Cassia felt her stomach growl at the tasty food combinations before her. She filled her mug with some sweet-smelling and steaming hot chocolate, and was suddenly aware of four corners peeking up from beneath her golden plate. Perplexed, Cassia levitated her plate wandlessly and wordlessly, with a mere flick of her chin, and brought out the paper, before lowering her plate downwards again, and peered at the script upon it.
Cassia soon came to the direct conclusion that this paper was her schedule, with a map attached to the back of the parchment, which seemed to be charmed every hour to reflect direct routes to her classes. Smiling to herself, Cassia read her classes, which were due begin the following morning.
First Hour: Charms
Second Hour: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Third Hour: Potions
Fourth Hour: History of Magic
== Break for Lunch ==
Fifth Hour: Transfiguration
Sixth Hour: Care of Magical Creatures
Seventh Hour: Herbology
Eighth Hour: Apparition
Cassia swallowed then, knowing that the bookstore in Diagon Alley, Flourish & Blotts, would merely need to see her schedule, to know what books she would need. Just as she began cutting into a sausage link, Samantha came skipping into the Great Hall; she was always more of a morning person than Alabaster ever was anyhow. When she saw Cassia sitting there, she promptly moved to join her, and a golden plate, more food, and a piece of paper appeared before the two of them.
"Professor Flitwick informed Alabaster and me last night that the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws are the houses that share classes together," Samantha said, pouring herself a mug of coffee, which made Cassia wrinkle her nose. "That means we'll likely have different schedules, and won't see much of one another."
"We also have to adhere to school rules, and sit with our houses during mealtimes, and it's considered frowned upon to enter other houses common rooms," Cassia told her quietly. "But, we've got our Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley trip today. Plus, we can always study together in the library. Even though our schedules are different, I doubt the work will be much."
Samantha smiled, placated with that information, as she helped herself to some toast and what appeared to be homemade blackcurrant jam. "What electives?" she asked.
"Just Care of Magical Creatures," Cassia said. "I hear Professor Kettleburn lost an arm, a leg, and an eye because of his love for animals."
"Oh, I see how it is," said a deep, intoxicating voice from behind the pair of them, and Cassia and Samantha turned to see Professor Snape standing behind them, and his eyes were boring into Cassia, the same way they'd done the day before. "How typical."
Cassia remained impassive towards the implication, although she sensed Samantha growing uneasy from beside her. "Sir, I'm afraid I cannot confirm or deny what you deem to be typical, as you've not said specifically what is typical, only that you see or sense something to be, when, in fact, you don't know either of us, so to make an assumption like that is not only impolite, but a bit cruel. Isn't it?"
Professor Snape stared down at Cassia; never in his life had he been presented with logic like this before, and he wanted so badly to take points from her, but term had not yet begun, so he was at a loss of what to do. "I am claiming, Miss Serbus, that your behavior when speaking of Professor Kettleburn is typical for that of an American. You wish to ogle him."
"If by 'ogle', you mean 'stare', sir, then, yes, I'm afraid I must stare at him while he is lecturing me during his classes. Not to watch a teacher while lecturing is considered rude at Ilvermorny, as the professor will immediately believe they don't have your full attention. However, if by 'ogle' you mean to do so in a malicious manner, I'm afraid, professor, that your assumptions, in this matter, are incorrect."
Professor Snape gritted his teeth; he could not allow himself to be bested by a seventeen-year-old, or a Gryffindor, or an American, he just couldn't! "Well, then, Miss Serbus, perhaps you intend to pity Professor Kettleburn for his ailments."
"If he sustained them by doing something he loves, and doesn't feel sorry for himself for having them, then there is no reason to pity him, is there, professor?"
The potions professor looked flabbergasted by Cassia's words and, knowing when he had been beaten, took off in a plumage of black as he stomped away.
"You could've gotten house points taken for that!" Samantha said, swatting Cassia on her arm as she returned to her breakfast.
Cassia shook her head. "He couldn't have. Classes don't begin until tomorrow, and term doesn't start until tonight. I'm in the clear."
"Not unless he decides to try and trump up charges against you later..."
Cassia squared her shoulders and smiled at Samantha. "I can handle Professor Severus Snape, Samantha."
Samantha's eyes widened. "You know his first name?"
"Professor McGonagall let it slip out last night while she was showing me around. She had the courtesy to mention that he doesn't feel shocked under any circumstances whatsoever."
Samantha turned away then, watching the Great Hall doors, where the potions professor had stomped out of not two minutes ago. "That wasn't shock?"
"That, my dear Samantha, was rage at having a student better him, and beating him at his own game," Cassia said simply. "I won't allow by time in Scotland be marred by a professor who thinks he knows everything about me without being properly introduced. I don't care if it loses me house points or gets me into a detention or two. Professor Snape has no right to treat me like that and, if he does so again, perhaps Professor McGonagall can have a word with him." With that, Cassia nodded in a decided manner to herself, before she returned to her breakfast, with Samantha warily watching her.