A TALE OF TWO PROFESSORS.

BY CELTIC GUARDIAN PRINCESS

CHAPTER 1

CGP: This story/fic is for my bud, Ryoko the Vampire Hunter. Sorry for all those times I've gotten fed up with you, mad at you, or just plain not talking to you. This is to make it all up. Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the friendship between me and all my friends, a few YGO cards, and my writing. Ryoko wishes to own Snape, though.

            The day: August 31. The time: 9:30 am. The place: Ryoko Dracula's home, Dracula Manor.

            The alarm clock clattered around on Ryoko's bedside cabinet until it fell on her hand sticking out from under the covers of her bed.

            "Shit! Damn it, that hurts! I'm getting an electric one next chance the Muggles have one on sale somewhere." She grumbled as she crawled out of bed.

            Ryoko looked at the calendar hanging on the wall on her way to the kitchen. And she cussed some more seeing it was the day she had to go to her new job, Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

            In the kitchen, house elves were busy at making coffee and breakfast for her.

The head elf, Kahla, was giving orders while standing on a high stool getting the coffee pot down.

            "Don't bother with breakfast today, Kahla. I've got too much to do. Just coffee will be fine." Ryoko said as she sat down at the table. "Has the paper come yet?"

            Kahla looked over at her as she poured the steaming drink into a mug. "Kahla doesn't think so, ma'am. Kahla been so busy she doesn't know one ear from the other." The small elf gave the cup to Ryoko. "Kahla will ask the others."

            Ryoko nodded, then took her wake-up ritual to her room.

            The last of the Draculas looked around her bedroom, smiling slightly. It was decorated in 17th century style. Most everything was either black or blood red, but here and there were brighter colors. A post card from her friend Aliana, who was in Tokyo visiting a pen pal, a picture of Ryoko, Aliana, and Kita, their other friend, when they were in America, and a few other odds and ends.

            Ryoko's trunk was open at the end of her bed. The things she was taking were piled unorganized through out. Her black robes were tangled around her books, books stuck between models, and models caught on robes.

            "Miss? Eorlana found the paper." A small voice said.

            Ryoko looked down to see another house elf standing there holding up the Daily Prophet. She took it from her, and then started to pack the rest of her things. The picture of her friends went in gently, unlike everything else, which she had just thrown in. Her money bag went in a small compartment in the side to ensure safety, and the last book pulled off the shelf, tossed in the trunk, the she closed it, locked it, and put it next to the door for the house elves to take to her fireplace.

            "Well, Lupin, I'll be at Hogwarts until the end of the year, and I want you to take this to Aliana as fast as you can. She needs to know where I'll be, so get it there fast. Go on." Ryoko said to her owl, Lupin, named after her godfather whom just passed away. He hooted softly, and then soared out the window with the letter to her best friend tied to his leg.

            Ryoko got changed into her normal black tank top and black bellbottoms along with her dagger necklace. Her black hair brushed slightly, her red eyes now used to the light, and she set out for her drawing room.

            A house elf of maybe 7 had brought down her trunk and set it handle up next to the stone fireplace. Ryoko walked to it briskly, her dagger bouncing against her chest.

            Most of the elves had gathered to see her off, Kahla in tears.

            "Don't worry, Kahla, I'll come back. And if Kita or Aliana swings by, tell them to visit me at Hogwarts. I'll need some visitors. That place is drab." Ryoko said to comfort the poor creature.

            Kahla wrapped her tiny arms around her middle, then gave her the jar of Floo powder. Ryoko took some, threw them in the fire, and then stepped into it.

            "Hogwarts!" she shouted into it, and then all the elves watched as their mistress disappeared along with her trunk, Kahla sobbing her heart out.

            "Headmaster, you know how long I've been wanting that position. You said I could have it the next time there was an opening!" Severus Snape protested.

            "Now, Severus. Just hold on one more year, and then it is yours. But this year, I'm letting a female teach this class. If she can live and/or keep her memory by the end of the year, maybe you two could, make an exchange of sorts." Dumbledore explained calmly.

            Snape sat down, appalled. "A female? Teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts? She won't make it! No females have ever done that!"

            Dumbledore smiled. "No females have ever tried. And I am quite sure this one will."

            A distant sound reached their ears as Ryoko neared them. She came to a stop and walked out of the fireplace clumsily. She brushed soot off of her clothes, then took off her dark sunglasses and cleaned them, and then put them up. She looked over at Dumbledore, missing Snape by a mile.

            "I'm here. So, what do I have to do now?" she asked him.

            "First, you have to meet one of your coworkers. Ryoko, this is Severus Snape. Severus, this is Ryoko Dracula." Dumbledore said, motioning to them each as he said their names.

            Ryoko whirled around quickly, making her dagger swing around to her back. But she didn't notice as she got a look at Snape. Her trunk fell to the floor with a thud, as she had let go of it in her shock of the handsome creature that stood before her.

            Both Ryoko and Snape had the same thought as they stared at each other. 'Whoa. I'm in love.'

CGP: Ryoko, did you like the first chapter? I may add another one tomorrow, depending on what goes on. R&R, please Ryoko? And please excuse the dots/boxes/things at the bottom of the page.