AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is going to take a twist, it's gotten darker, but now it will take a lighter side, maybe during this chapter or next chapter.  All I know is that eventually, it won't be focusing on just Harry and Tristan…summer holidays are almost over, which is why the teachers returning.  A surprise character shows, another original one with a cloudy past.  Onto the chapter! ^^

Oh yeah, I use a few Japanese words, and for those unfamiliar with the language, here is a little key to anything I use:

Hai=yes

Majo to mahotsukai gakko=literally means 'witch and wizard school' though it's the name I gave to the Japanese wizardry school

Kuroino means something, but it will be revealed later…sakura is cherry blossom, but is also a name for girls

Watashi wa=I am

Sensei=teacher

Chapter 10

Summer's End

            There laid Mrs. Snape, dead on the floor with a note in her hand.  Dumbledore was the bravest one; he was the only one who would go near her to pick up the note.  He read it aloud.

            Dearest Severus, Tristan, and Mister Potter,

                        I can not bear to see you like this, Severus.  A son with a Mudblood is the greatest disgrace of the Snape name.  Luckily, he did not take on your name.  Tristan, I wish I could love you, but I can not.  Mister Potter, you are nothing to me and never will be, understand?  Severus, if you are crying, you are a fool.  Now understand the reasons for my death.  What would have happened if I left here?  Our Master would have hunted me down in search of you.  He does that every time I leave your place, to make sure you are still loyal to him.  I fear that I would tell someone about Tristan and that must not happen.  Tristan, if anyone, and I MEAN ANYONE, finds out who your father is, you are in deep shit.  (Dumbledore paused before finishing that last sentence.) You will be asked to be a Death Eater, and I would not wish that upon you who has the heart of a Gryffindor.  You are a true Gryffindor, with the ambitions of a Slytherin, I must admit.  My death was not escaping this world; it was saving my son's, my grandson's, and Mister Potter's life.  Severus, I know you will understand, if not now, later.  Take my body to the Forbidden Forest with the poison bottle next to me.  No one needs to know the truth of my death.  This is good-bye.

            Summer Autumn Snape

            Dumbledore fiercely held back his own tears, something that Severus, Tristan, and Harry could not do.  McGonagall left to go upstairs and greet the rest of the teachers, to make it seem as though nothing had happened.  Tristan went to his dad and pulled him into a tight embrace.  Words did not need to be spoken.  Everyone understood how each other was feeling and that silence was the best thing for everyone, Severus, especially.  Tristan just hugged his dad, who seemed like a little kid that had lost his puppy.  Harry sat there staring into an abyss. Dumbledore once again showed true courage and broke the silence.

            "Severus, I know this is hard for you, but I must go and greet the rest of the arriving teachers.  I hope to see you at dinner.  You have my condolences," Dumbledore spoke solemnly and left the room.

            Severus spoke only after Albus left.  "My mother, she's right.  I'm crying.  What a fool I am!"  Tears flowed naturally and he didn't try and stop them.

            "You're not a fool Dad.  Only someone who has lost a loved one," Tristan comforted Severus in saying, or so he thought.

            "If only she was a loved one, it would make sense.  On the contrary, I hated her all my life.  The minute she goes and saves my life and the life of my son's, I suddenly love her.  She died for us, DO YOU NOT GET IT?!" Severus yelled back at Tristan, though he didn't realize how hurt Tristan was from those words until after he said them.

            "She died to save us.  You may have said you hated her, but in reality neither you nor she ever truly hated one another.  This has come as a shock to you, but you will live.  You may not get over it, but you will live.  I swear you will live, as will I," Tristan said in calm but soothing voice.

            Harry slowly rose and walked towards the door.  He thought no one was looking at him, but Tristan was.  Tristan asked, "Harry where are you going?"

            "I am going to the Great Hall for dinner.  Care to join me?  I feel that it will relieve some of our nerves.  Oh yeah, Tristan, I think you should just introduce yourself as the new Defense Against Darks Arts professor.  For now, it's the safest way.  Dumbledore knows that, so don't worry," Harry replied.

            "I'm game.  How about you Dad?  I know how you're feeling.  Let's go and eat!" Tristan exclaimed and continued, "Harry, I'll race you and Dad to the Great Hall."

            "You're on, I'll win!" Harry shouted back.

            "I won all the races for the track team in college," Tristan responded.

            "Yeah, well, I have Severus on my side!" Harry haughtily responded.

            "What are you talking about?" Tristan asked, confused.

            "Your dad just performed a lovely charm on me.  Now I'll beat you no matter how fast you go.  It's a good thing Mum tutored him in Charms.  Now I'll just glide along!"

            "Speaking of Dad, where is he?"

            "I'm right behind you two!  Don't stop running Tristan, or we'll all crash!" Severus warned.

            The three of them ran throughout the Hogwarts halls, narrowly missing a few objects on the way to the Great Hall.  Just before the doors, Tristan stopped short.  Harry crashed into one side of the doors and Severus landed on the other side.  Tristan ended rolling on the floor, laughing his ass off.  That's when the doors opened.  Professor McGonagall stood there, hovering over them giving the 'death glare Snape eyes.'

            "Sorry, Professor.  We were just having a little fun.  We'll behave a little better next time," Harry added when both Severus and Tristan refused to speak.

            "You're just lucky it's summer vacation, and I can't give you detentions.  Hurry up, dinner is about to be served," McGonagall said forcefully as Severus and Tristan stood up and brushed themselves off.  Harry was already inside, eying the seat next to Professor Dumbledore.  The only other seats open were the one on the other side of Professor Dumbledore and the one next to Professor Trelawney.  Harry did not want, under any circumstances, to sit next to Professor Trelawney.  Tristan saw the predicament and raced to the other seat next to Dumbledore.  Severus noticed this and gloomily reached his seat.  Dumbledore rose and tapped his glass.

            "I am glad that all of you have arrived for another year.  This year will prove most challenging, but we will still do our jobs.  I would like to introduce our new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Tristan Hollen.  You may remember him as your student, Tristan Winbaf, from a few years ago.  I would also like to say that Harry Potter will be staying here for the rest of the summer holidays.  He is a friend of Tristan's and Tristan invited him to stay.  Now, dig in, as they say in the Muggle world!"

            Just as Dumbledore sat down, lightning struck and the doors swung open.  A young girl of about fourteen walked in, more or less limped in, with who appeared to be her mother behind her.  Her mother looked of an Asian descent and the young girl looked about half Asian and half European.  She walked, or limped, straight up to Dumbledore, as brave as could be and said, "Are you Headmaster Albus Dumbledore?"  Her mother still stood in the doorway, while her daughter spoke.

            "Yes I am.  May I ask who you might be?" he asked the young girl, who turned to her mother, who in return nodded to her young child.

            "Watashi wa, sorry about that, I am Cassandra Kuroino and that is my mother, Sakura Kuroino," the young girl said gracefully.

            "You must be from Majo to Mahoutsukai Gakko.  Miss Kuroino, are you fluent in English?"

            "Completely fluent!  Yes, I went to Majo to Mahoutsukai Gakko, though we never called it that.  It was always just Majo, for me, and Mahoutsukai, for guys.  I'll explain myself.  My father was an Englishman, though I don't know his name.  My mother grew up in Japan and moved here and met him.  Afterwards, he vanished and my mother moved me back to Japan, but made sure I learned English.  She decided to move me back to England and felt it was better if I transferred schools as well.  Would I be allowed to transfer into Hogwarts?"

            "You will have to pass all the tests required of third years, I assume you want to go into your fourth year?"

            "Oh no sir!  I was intending on going into my fifth year.  At Majo, we start at ten, not eleven.  I just turned 14 on July 31.  I may have learned different things sir.  Majo doesn't require us to choose certain subjects.  We are all required to take 3 years of Care of Magical Creatures, 1 year of Divination, 1 year of Arithmancy, 3 years of kendo, karate, or tae kwon do, 2 years of Ancient Runes, 3 years of Muggle Studies, and 1 year of either art or music.  You are also required to take Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, Herbology, Defense Against Dark Arts, and Astronomy every year.  I believe I meet my requirement in those classes," Cassandra said politely.

            "Yes, you do, Miss Kuroino," Dumbledore began, but Cassandra interrupted him.

            "Sir, please call me Cassie, no one ever calls me Miss Kuroino," she insisted.

            "Alright Cassie.  What subjects did you take at Mahoutsukai while you were there?" he asked.  Harry looked at the young girl and though he recognized her features.  She looked like someone else, but he could not place his finger on whom.

            "At Majo, I took Divination my first year, kendo and Arithmancy my second year, kendo, music, and Muggle Studies my third year, and last year I chose to study kendo, Muggle Studies, and Care of Magical Creatures.  Most people by sixth or seventh year have finished their electives and decide to take more years of a certain elective.  What electives may I take here and am I required to take any electives?"  Cassie asked.

            "You may take two electives of your choice and you are not required to take any more than that.  Any two electives will suffice.  You may take Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, music, art, or private study."

            "What is this private study?" Cassie asked.  She knew a lot about Hogwarts, her father went to Hogwarts and had told her mother all about it.  Her mother in turn told Cassie the lovely things about Hogwarts and ever since then she had wanted to come here.

            "It is where you are assigned to work with a teacher and help them grade papers, plan lessons, and run errands for the teacher.  You have to be recommended for this program, but I am recommending you.  Do you have the paperwork from your old school?" Dumbledore asked, wanting to make sure that this child was not transferring schools because she was in trouble.

            "Mother, come here," Cassie commanded her mother.

            "Yes, my child?" her mother asked, almost like a servant.

            "Did Sensei give you the paperwork needed to transfer?"

            "Hai, hai.  Here it is.  Headmaster, is there any trouble in accepting my daughter?" she asked, timidly.

            "No nothing Ma'am.  Cassandra should arrive at King's Cross Station promptly at 10:30 AM on September first.  The train leaves at 11:00 AM from Platform 9 ¾.  Any questions?"

            "No sir.  What supplies will she need?" Mrs. Kuroino asked.

            "It is all explained in this letter.  I expect to see Miss Kuroino alone at the moment.  Come Miss, we must talk in my office," Dumbledore led Cassie upstairs into his office.  "Miss Kuroino," he began, yet Cassie interrupted him.

            "Sir, please, if not Cassie, call me Cassandra.  Miss Kuroino sounds to formal," she said in a joking tone.

            "Miss Kuroino, this is a formal discussion.  I know who your father is, but I do not know if you would like to know."

            "Sir, does he know about me?"

            "He does not know about you.  I am almost positive he will remember your mother though.  They were serious for about a year.  I don't remember the exact reason for the split.  Does your mother not talk of him?"

            "Oh she talks about him!  She just refuses to mention his name.  I really don't mind, especially since it wasn't like he abandoned me.  Sir, maybe once I get settled in Hogwarts, do you think you would be able to tell me?"  Cassie asked, knowing that one day, curiosity would get to the best of her.

            "It would be my pleasure.  Now we must get going.  I assume you'll want to head to Diagon Alley and pick up your school supplies.  I will see you on September first.  Until then, this is good-bye," Dumbledore said, as he waved Cassie back downstairs.  Cassie walked downstairs to the Great Hall, where her mother grabbed her hand and pulled her out.  Harry waved good-bye to Cassie, and she smiled back at him.

            Dumbledore sat down and food magically appeared on their plates.  The professors ate quickly and left to their chambers to begin unpacking.  Severus, Tristan, and Harry headed towards Tristan's room, when Severus stopped.  He spoke slowly and calmly, "Sorry, I've got to go see Dumbledore.  Sleep tight.  Come to my room for breakfast.  See you then."

            "Well Tristan, what do you think of that new girl?"

            "In all my years, there's never been a transfer student.  I think there's a purpose for her coming here.  Besides, I think you like her!"

            "Do not!  Anyway, she reminds me of someone I know.  She looks like her mother and someone else I know, but I can't quite place my finger on it," Harry pondered.

            "Suuuuuuuuuure you don't like her," Tristan said sarcastically, "I understand all about denial!"

            "I'm not denying anything!  What about you saying there's never been a transfer student?"

            "That's right.  I've never known of anyone transferring into Hogwarts.  What House do you think she'll be in?"

            "She looks like she would not fit in Hufflepuff at all!  If she had a lot of brains, she'd go for Ravenclaw.  See, we don't know her personality.  Maybe she could be your 'personal assistant.'  Dumbledore mentioned something about her being recommended for that private study.  Think you'd want her?"

            "Nah.  I'd want to do things my way.  It is my first year of teaching.  Maybe once I get settled in, if I stay more than one year," Tristan trailed off, remembering that Defense Against Dark Arts teachers never lasted more than one year.

            "I thought you wanted to graduate college?" Harry asked, confused.

            "I have my Associate's Degree.  I do want to go for my Bachelor's, but since the wizarding world has accepted me back better than I had hoped, I think college can hold off.  Do you want me to go?" Tristan asked, in a hurt tone.

            "No!  I've got a family; I don't ever want to lose you again!  You have to continue teaching here!  I'm tired.  I think I should sleep," Harry said as he yawned.

            "Hey, I redid the bedroom!  I added a bunk bed in there, besides the fact that we each have our desk, dresser, and bed.  I figured you would want me to meet your friends and have them stay here at some point.  Would you like that?"

            "I would love that.  Ron and Hermione would love to meet you, unless they found out you were Snape's son."

            "You must keep it a secret.  The only ones who know in the world are Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, Dad, obviously, and McGonagall.  We had to tell McGonagall.  She also will allow you not to stay in your dormitory every night.  You can come visit me some nights.  Isn't that nice of her?"

            "Yeah nice of her.  I can keep a secret, you know that!  Ron and Hermione will figure it out, if they look close enough.  I'm sure some people will figure it out."

            "But, Harryyyyyyyyyyy, there's no way to prove it.  Now will you shut up so I can sleep?"

            "Fine, night!"