Beginning of the End
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Eleven: "Oh, 'tis sweet when in one line, two crafts directly meet."
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
***********
"But first Albus, I think we need to talk."
"What about child?"
"Well, you most likely know this, I feel foolish telling you, after all.."
"I know you were under the influence of a spell or potion, child. I was worried about you. But you seem to have gotten over it. May I ask if you are planning on pressing charges?"
"I will if I can find the bastard. I had decided to just divorce him and move on. But now,.that is not what I wanted to discuss. My husband," Cat shivered, " will get his in time. Albus, you do realize teaching at Hogwarts will be difficult for me."
"You can adjust. You seem to be a very resilient young woman. And I am sure a change of scenery will do you good. Not to mention the absence of certain, memories."
"You are right. I don't think I could stay here. Not with Jamie and Joseph gone. They raised me you know. After my parents died. Joseph taught me so much about your world. It seems strange to be in it without him. And Jamie was the only one who I could talk to about what it is like to live with, yet separate from the group. But as much as I could use the move, how exactly am I going to teach a class without magic? After all, I just filled in for Stephan. I was not the main teacher."
"Just because it is a muggle studies course doesn't mean I would keep you from using magic my dear." Albus looked shocked at the suggestion.
"Albus, you really don't know. Oh this is too too funny. I am sorry I didn't tell you. It took Jamie so long to get excepted that when I came here we only told the staff, the students just assumed. look, the job offer was nice but I really can't go." Albus looked confused. "I am a muggle."
"But.how?"
"Well, my parents died when I was little. Mother had cancer and dad just wasted away after we lost her. Jamie had just married Joseph. She was my closest living family on Mom's side so she took me in. Jamie didn't have any magic either, but Joseph was a half-blood wizard. He got a job as a potions quality inspector and Jamie worked at a muggle-clothing store. They were all too happy to look after me. Joe taught me all about the wizarding world as he was teaching Jamie. When I went off to college he got a job teaching potions at Armstrong's and they decided it was high time to start their own family. Little Alia was born." Cat blinked back her tears.
"It doesn't matter now. Enough to say that Jamie and Joseph were my only family. Joseph raised me like I was his little sister. So I know enough about the wizarding world to pass. The students just assumed I was a muggle-born. It made life a little easier. Jamie had all kinds of pranks pulled on her when she first came. Miz Halloway and I decided to avoid the hassle and to just not correct their assumptions. When I covered Stephan's classes I was careful to do lessons where no magic COULD be used. That kept the issue null and void."
Albus was stunned. //How can she be a muggle? She practically radiates magic. Perhaps because she was raised.Filch is a squib and he doesn't put off this kind of energy. But I have never seen her with a wand//
"So thank you for the job offer, Albus. I understand though. No hard feelings. I will just go back to San Francisco." Albus cut her off.
"No, you will just come to Hogwarts. We can't have you abandoning the children when they have lost so much. They need a piece of Armstrong's to take with them."
"Albus, there are more than enough pieces on the ground to pick up. And they have more magic in them than me. I don't see how I can teach a class full of students without being able to do magic. Here it was fine. The students are use to muggles and a more laid back form of magic. It didn't seem strange to never see me with a wand. Most of the teachers never drew theirs outside of the lesson. But Hogwarts! Everything I have ever heard makes the place sound like a ... a circus. A crisis a minute! Purebloods everywhere. Suspicion and spies. Cassandra is enough of a problem with all her 'special' presents and 'I'll tell daddy' moments. I don't think I can handle a whole house like that."
"I maybe able to pass as a muggle-born in front of the children, but never in front of the parents. And the Slytherins will never accept a muggle as a teacher; you don't even have a muggle-born on staff! How will I keep order, or protect them from danger? You need someone who can help you if the Deatheaters attack. I would be a liability."
"Well the Slytherins will have to deal with a muggle-born witch on staff. For that is what you will be to everyone besides myself and one of my colleagues. I would not tell anyone, but someone needs to know incase I am.indisposed. Any oddities in behavior or knowledge will be passed off as you being an American. We have enough staff capable of fighting off an attack. Our wards are far stronger than Armstrong's. I tried to strengthen them, but Miz Halloway was not much help. It takes a great effort, over centuries, to cast even the most elemental of the wards around Hogwarts. There just wasn't enough time or energy to adequately protect this school. You will have no worries within my walls, child."
"It is not my safety I worry for Albus. Do you honestly think this could work?"
"We do not know unless we try. Now what happened with your husband?"
Cat filled him in on what Joseph had found. Albus was most displeased to learn of Stephan's trickery. He was adamant that Cat file charges. He did not want another woman to fall victim to Stephan's cauldron. But Cat was worried. Stephan had not come back. Surely he would have returned when the news of the attack broke? Albus told her to not worry about it. He was probably fleeing the aurors. He would have known the love potion would not remain a secret for much longer. The attack was a perfect cover for his escape. Albus walked with Cat to talk to the AMA aurors, again, in hopes of getting them to believe her.
In his mind Albus was planning on just who to ask for help covering up Cat's lack of ability. //He could use a distraction. Of course he will not be pleased to have to work with a muggle. But the look on his face..hehehehe. Perfect. And maybe, just maybe I can get him to have some fun.//
A/N: Albus's idea of fun can be dangerous. The title is from Hamlet. And remember that nobody besides Lucius, Voldermort, Wormtail, and two anonymous none Severus Deatheaters know Stephan is dead. Or that he was working for Voldermort. OR that he was Lucius's half brother.
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Eleven: "Oh, 'tis sweet when in one line, two crafts directly meet."
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
***********
"But first Albus, I think we need to talk."
"What about child?"
"Well, you most likely know this, I feel foolish telling you, after all.."
"I know you were under the influence of a spell or potion, child. I was worried about you. But you seem to have gotten over it. May I ask if you are planning on pressing charges?"
"I will if I can find the bastard. I had decided to just divorce him and move on. But now,.that is not what I wanted to discuss. My husband," Cat shivered, " will get his in time. Albus, you do realize teaching at Hogwarts will be difficult for me."
"You can adjust. You seem to be a very resilient young woman. And I am sure a change of scenery will do you good. Not to mention the absence of certain, memories."
"You are right. I don't think I could stay here. Not with Jamie and Joseph gone. They raised me you know. After my parents died. Joseph taught me so much about your world. It seems strange to be in it without him. And Jamie was the only one who I could talk to about what it is like to live with, yet separate from the group. But as much as I could use the move, how exactly am I going to teach a class without magic? After all, I just filled in for Stephan. I was not the main teacher."
"Just because it is a muggle studies course doesn't mean I would keep you from using magic my dear." Albus looked shocked at the suggestion.
"Albus, you really don't know. Oh this is too too funny. I am sorry I didn't tell you. It took Jamie so long to get excepted that when I came here we only told the staff, the students just assumed. look, the job offer was nice but I really can't go." Albus looked confused. "I am a muggle."
"But.how?"
"Well, my parents died when I was little. Mother had cancer and dad just wasted away after we lost her. Jamie had just married Joseph. She was my closest living family on Mom's side so she took me in. Jamie didn't have any magic either, but Joseph was a half-blood wizard. He got a job as a potions quality inspector and Jamie worked at a muggle-clothing store. They were all too happy to look after me. Joe taught me all about the wizarding world as he was teaching Jamie. When I went off to college he got a job teaching potions at Armstrong's and they decided it was high time to start their own family. Little Alia was born." Cat blinked back her tears.
"It doesn't matter now. Enough to say that Jamie and Joseph were my only family. Joseph raised me like I was his little sister. So I know enough about the wizarding world to pass. The students just assumed I was a muggle-born. It made life a little easier. Jamie had all kinds of pranks pulled on her when she first came. Miz Halloway and I decided to avoid the hassle and to just not correct their assumptions. When I covered Stephan's classes I was careful to do lessons where no magic COULD be used. That kept the issue null and void."
Albus was stunned. //How can she be a muggle? She practically radiates magic. Perhaps because she was raised.Filch is a squib and he doesn't put off this kind of energy. But I have never seen her with a wand//
"So thank you for the job offer, Albus. I understand though. No hard feelings. I will just go back to San Francisco." Albus cut her off.
"No, you will just come to Hogwarts. We can't have you abandoning the children when they have lost so much. They need a piece of Armstrong's to take with them."
"Albus, there are more than enough pieces on the ground to pick up. And they have more magic in them than me. I don't see how I can teach a class full of students without being able to do magic. Here it was fine. The students are use to muggles and a more laid back form of magic. It didn't seem strange to never see me with a wand. Most of the teachers never drew theirs outside of the lesson. But Hogwarts! Everything I have ever heard makes the place sound like a ... a circus. A crisis a minute! Purebloods everywhere. Suspicion and spies. Cassandra is enough of a problem with all her 'special' presents and 'I'll tell daddy' moments. I don't think I can handle a whole house like that."
"I maybe able to pass as a muggle-born in front of the children, but never in front of the parents. And the Slytherins will never accept a muggle as a teacher; you don't even have a muggle-born on staff! How will I keep order, or protect them from danger? You need someone who can help you if the Deatheaters attack. I would be a liability."
"Well the Slytherins will have to deal with a muggle-born witch on staff. For that is what you will be to everyone besides myself and one of my colleagues. I would not tell anyone, but someone needs to know incase I am.indisposed. Any oddities in behavior or knowledge will be passed off as you being an American. We have enough staff capable of fighting off an attack. Our wards are far stronger than Armstrong's. I tried to strengthen them, but Miz Halloway was not much help. It takes a great effort, over centuries, to cast even the most elemental of the wards around Hogwarts. There just wasn't enough time or energy to adequately protect this school. You will have no worries within my walls, child."
"It is not my safety I worry for Albus. Do you honestly think this could work?"
"We do not know unless we try. Now what happened with your husband?"
Cat filled him in on what Joseph had found. Albus was most displeased to learn of Stephan's trickery. He was adamant that Cat file charges. He did not want another woman to fall victim to Stephan's cauldron. But Cat was worried. Stephan had not come back. Surely he would have returned when the news of the attack broke? Albus told her to not worry about it. He was probably fleeing the aurors. He would have known the love potion would not remain a secret for much longer. The attack was a perfect cover for his escape. Albus walked with Cat to talk to the AMA aurors, again, in hopes of getting them to believe her.
In his mind Albus was planning on just who to ask for help covering up Cat's lack of ability. //He could use a distraction. Of course he will not be pleased to have to work with a muggle. But the look on his face..hehehehe. Perfect. And maybe, just maybe I can get him to have some fun.//
A/N: Albus's idea of fun can be dangerous. The title is from Hamlet. And remember that nobody besides Lucius, Voldermort, Wormtail, and two anonymous none Severus Deatheaters know Stephan is dead. Or that he was working for Voldermort. OR that he was Lucius's half brother.