A/N: La brevità, gran pregio; ma come vive scrivo. La nota mia `e breve. Scrivo ancor tre righe a volo per italiano. Aspetti un momento, inglisce. Strega Brava l'storia nueva -lo trovo scintillante! Tocchiamo l'autor mia favorite! Here you go.

Chapter Thirty-One: Summer Plans and Surprises

"Sevvy?"

"Cassandra?" Snape didn't so much as look up from the potion he was making. Cass shut the door behind her and warded it.

"We picked up the chat you had with Lucy Malfoy in the library."

"As I hoped you would. Why do you think I stood near the microphone?"

"By all that dagger talk, he meant Narcissa, right?"

"You know that."

"Just checking. Exactly where are you going to stash her, mate?"

Snape raised his eyebrow at the American.

"Whatever happened to 'need-to-know basis' and 'constant vigilance?'"

Cass rolled her eyes.

"Don't confuse me with Moody, Sev. I've still got my whole nose, such as it is." The Yank picked up a knife and began to chop the phyllodron roots Snape had set out. "I worry about her. She's kind of nice."

"Little thinner. Isn't she?" Cass obligingly sliced the roots into thinner pieces and Snape continued. "We've been friends since I was very young."

"So I can trust you not to do something stupid like Godric's Hollow?" Cass faced Snape, the knife held almost threateningly in her hand.

"Just how much has old Mad-Eye briefed you on? Godric's Hollow was… years before your time at least, either one."

"The second one wasn't, and as to the first, I can read, you know."

"Alright, no need to get snippy."

"You're telling someone not to get snippy?" Cass couldn't restrain a grin.

Godric's Hollow, Scotland, had most notoriously been the site of Voldemort's first downfall when he encountered and tried to kill the infant Harry Potter. What many wizards of the age had forgotten, however, was that it was also the hiding place for many of Grindelwald's enemies in the nineteen-forties. There had been a leak of information to the Dark Side then, just as in 1981, and several key members of the Resistance had been killed. The Godric's Hollow incident, as it came to be called, was one of the worst blunders of the Light in its history, and it was the notoriety of the site as a bad stronghold for hiding spies that had led the Potters to choose it, reasoning that Voldemort wouldn't think them stupid enough to hole up there. Every child in wizarding Britain knew their fate, and most wizards older than thirty knew of the earlier incident. Every spy worth their salt also knew of both.

"I'm supposed to be snippy. I'm a Slytherin."

"Speaking of," Cass changed the subject with a wry smile. "I'm going to get Sorted." Snape arched an eyebrow

"Interested in being a student now?"

"Snarky git." The Yank slid the sliced roots onto some parchment before she weighed them. "It was Dumbledore's idea. They're re-Sorting all the professors, including next years Defense Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies, and that new class." Snape put down his spoon and looked quizzically at the Yank.

"You know who the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is to be?" Cass grinned.

"I might."

"Why, you little…" Cass had the good sense to back away. "I asked your husband how to get secrets out of you and I will not hesitate…"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Wouldn't I?"

Sure enough, after a spirited chase around the Potions room and a momentary wrestle-fight in trying to get away, Cass found herself being tickled without mercy.

"Stop!" Snape gave her a questioning look and continued until the werewolf was a writhing ball of mirth. "Okay, stop! Please! I'll tell you who the damn professor is…"

"You'd better."

"Holy crap!"

The 'interrogation' was thus interupted by a mortally shocked and quite possibly brain-damaged Ron Weasley, who had come to inquire about homework. "Professor Snape!"

"What is it you need, Weasley?" Snape asked, not missing a beat. Cass, surprised, didn't so much as speak or move.

"You two are…holy crap!" Ron did, indeed, look very confused and disgusted. "Professor Tyler, you're married, and he's..."  The boy fumbled for a word. "He's fucking Snape!"

"Watch you language," Snape commanded absently.

"Ron, you've really dropped a bolt if you think I'd schtupp your professor." Cass disentangled herself and stood up calmly. Ron still looked positively shocked. "It would be like you and Ginny getting your freak on… just really sick."

"Then why was he pawing you like… like a Niffler in heat?" Ron stammered accusingly.

"He was tickling me, the bastard! Wanted to know something." Cass shot a disdainful look at Snape, who was still on the floor, and began to brush herself off. "You'd think the Geneva Convention would ban that shit."

"Okay…this is just really strange." Ron looked like he'd just stumbled into a mess of house-elves dancing naked in tea cozies. Cass rolled her eyes.

"Sevvy and I are friends, Ron. Co-conspirators." Ron still looked blank. "Oh, come on, you don't think that Gryffindor-Slytherin thing goes all the way up to professors and heads of House?"

"It doesn't?" Ron actually looked a little crestfallen.

"Of course not." Snape managed to stand up. "Minerva McGonagall and I –well, I still think she's a-"

"Severus," Cass warned.

"There really isn't a great big feud," the professor explained. "And if Cassandra and I were having an affair, don't you think the silly nits in your House would be gossiping?"

"Good point," Ron agreed, smiling a little bit. "But what-all did you want to know that made you tickle her?"

"Professor Lupin's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again," Cass blurted out happily. Ron's face lit up like a sunbeam just as Snape's fell.

"Really? Wait'll I tell Harry!"

"It's going to be announced at dinner, Ron. Let him be surprised." Cass was grinning until she noticed the black scowl covering Snape's face. "What? I thought you liked making Wolfsbane potion."

"Not for three of you."

"Well, Hermione's here to help, isn't she? And I might actually want to learn how sometime."

"Will you be teaching next year as well?" Ron asked hopefully.

"Not only will I, but I'm taking over regular Muggle Studies while Professor Cleary's on maternity leave. Would you believe she's expecting more?" Cass grinned, almost hiding the slight tightening of her smile. "And John's going to be doing some guest-lectures on lycanthropy and transfiguration things."

"Neat! Are there going to be more field-trips?"

"Is the sky up? Is Sevvy a Slytherin?" The affable Yank smiled at her student. "Keep your cards close on this, okay, Ron? Don't want to blow the surprise for the other Gryffs."

"No problem. I'll see you later, then." The redheaded teenager left, floating a few inches high with joy. Snape gave the werewolf a very stern and august scowl.

"Lupin?"

"In all his English werewolf glory." Cass picked up the knife and started on the calamander roots. "I take it you're not pleased?"

"Bright of you to catch that."

"Hey, at least some woman's taking over Astronomy."

"What woman?"

"Young, sort of thin, colors her hair a lot. I've never met her personally." Snape's jaw hit the marble floor. "What?"

"You had better be joking."

"Sorry, Sev." The werewolf was by now shrugging haplessly. "I didn't catch her name."

"Does Nymphadora Tonks ring a bell?"

"I think… yep, that's her."

"Merlin's ghost."

"What?" Cass grinned happily. "You don't like her or something?"

With all the dignity he could muster, Snape set down his wand and rolled up his sleeves, an evil smirk dawning on his face. His fingers twitched in a tickly way even before he sprang.

"I'll give you something to laugh about!"

"Not again!"

**********************************************************

Bill had his instructions and a handful of Muggle cash he had got for Galleons at Gringotts. He was now in London and perfectly lost. All the landmarks he knew, he had seen in daylight, and it was now nighttime. He also suspected quite a few wrong turns had been taken in getting to …wherever he was now.

"Ma'am, could you direct me to-?" The woman 'humphed' and turned away from the man in robes. Bill looked down at his clothes and sighed. Honestly.

"Need some help, Weasley?" a voice from behind inquired. Bill spun around to see the speaker and was profoundly surprised; for there on the sidewalk, dressed in full Julia Roberts regalia, was a hooker.

"How did you know my name?" he squeaked. The fishnet stockings and knee-high boots were giving him a fright. Melanie Watling smiled.

"I was sent to help you find your girl some Muggle stuff." Bill swallowed nervously as the hooker smirked. "I believe we both know a certain American?"

**************************************************************

Hermione sat down to dinner with the other Gryffindors, looking pleased. Her pre-Animagus exam had gone very well and Professor McGonagall had awarded quite a few House points. Also, in Professor Sprout's class her asphodel plant had bloomed. It had been a very nice day and dinner was supposed to be one of her favorite foods. She was just laughing at one of Ginny's scandalous dirty jokes when she felt the telltale clench of claws on her shoulderbone.

"Who's writing you from America?" Blaise inquired, looking at the owl's address ribbon. She and Maria preferred the Gryffindor table and joined the Lion house whenever they could for meals.

"D'know," Hermione lied instinctively. Her parents' safety might hinge on nobody at Hogwarts' knowing where they were hidden. Not even Blaise could be trusted at the moment. "Likely some relative or something."

She accepted the letter and gave the owl a piece of her fried chicken. Sure enough, it was from her parents. Ginny, faithful friend that she was, distracted the table with her joke about the transvestite Auror and the toad so Hermione could read it undisturbed.

'Dear Hermione,
Hope everything is going well at school. Don't study too hard for the Gecko tests!'

'N.E.W.T.s,' Hermione corrected mentally.

'Your father and I are enjoying the nice weather here, now that it's stopped raining, and we plan to go the the Arts Festival here in Pittsburgh tomorrow. Mr. Alcott insists that it always rains for that, but I can't imagine how it could possibly. It's like a monsoon in this river town. At least the flowers are beautiful.
According to your Professor Tyler's husband, John, who dropped by with news and your semester grades (his wife swiped them from your Head of House's office,) it is not a good idea for us to come home this summer. We were given the choice of sending for you to come out and stay with us here, or letting you stay with one of your professors. He also explained exactly what is going on back home, and to put it very bluntly, I did not like the idea of my only daughter involved in a war of any kind!

Mr. Tyler, however, believes that you are necessary to the resistance effort, and he spoke very highly of your capacity to withstand the crises that may be at hand. While I am exceedingly angry to discover exactly what you have been doing for the past schoolyear, it is very gratifying to hear that you volunteered to fight such an obviously evil personage as What's-His-Name. Mr. Tyler has given us his word that you will be protected to the best of his ability, and he has also explained that you are functioning as some kind of researcher with computers and potions and such. I see nothing wrong with research, especially when it is for such a dire cause, and after much discussion your father and I decided to let you make the choice whether to stay or not.

Darling, this has not been an easy year for us, and I'm sure it has been harder on you, serving just behind the front lines of what may well be a titanic struggle on the side of good. Should you decide to stay, Mr. Tyler has made arrangements to guarantee your safety over the summer term. I am sure you remember your Grandmother's stories of the French Resistance during the Second World War, and your father and I agree you must have inherited something of her spirit to join in such a fight. Whatever you choose, know that we are very proud of you, and will support you in whatever you decide to do. We love you very much and wish youand your friends all the best, especially Harry and the Weasleys. (Would you send Molly our address here? I have some of the recipes she wanted and I'm very eager to try the sweater pattern she suggested.)

Your father and Mr. Alcott are working on a 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle in the dining room while I work on the computer, knit, and read. We have also been working at the university, teaching in the school of dentistry, and I expect to get my American license to practice soon. It will be a nice change, and I've almost exhausted your Professor's collection of Nancy Drews. Did you know she has the whole series? There's a lot of Agatha Christie, too, and it's been lovely to get reacquainted with dear Poirot and Miss Marple. Don't neglect your reading if possible, and don't get too overworked. The side of good needs to relax once in a while, too. I know you are brushing your teeth every day, eating properly and getting plenty of exercise, as Mr. Tyler has promised you will be made to if you remain in Britain.

Good luck, dear. We are, as always, very proud of you.

-Mom and Dad'

'Well,' Hermione thought with a wry smile. 'At least they don't know everything that's going on.'

There was a clinking sound from the High Table, silencing everyone in the Hall. Dumbledore put down his fork and stood up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have a few announcements to make. Firstly, with the warm weather of late, Mr. Filch has asked again that everyone please wipe their feet before entering the building. Secondly, I have the great pleasure to inform you that there will be three new Professors at Hogwarts next fall."

There was quite a bit of applause at that, not too much, but some.

"Professor Cassandra Tyler will be remaining as teacher of American Muggle Studies, which due to popular demand has been added as an elective course."

There was lots of applause at that.

"She will also be taking over the regular Muggle Studies classes for our Professor Cleary, who will be on maternity leave next year."

Whistles joined the applause.

"Professor Hagrid will be returning in time for next year's start of term, and Care of Magical Creatures will be back on the schedule."

Many Gryffindors stood and cheered.

"Our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Moody will, unfortunately, be returning to his retirement next year. I'm sure he will be greatly missed."

There was less applause and quite a few disappointed 'aww's.

"As his replacement, our previous Professor of that subject will return. I am quite pleased to re-introduce Mr. Remus Lupin."

As Lupin walked shyly up to the High Table from the side doorway, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor in its' entirety stood and cheered. The cheering and applause continued for some minutes, until Dumbledore was obliged to tap his glass again.

"Professor Sinistra of Astronomy will also be taking her first maternity leave next term, which brings me to your second new professor, Ms. Nymphadora Tonks."

A pink-haired, affable-looking young woman joined Lupin at the High Table. There was some applause, though not quite as much as there had been for Lupin and Tyler, and she seemed quite happy, shaking hands with both werewolves. She also glanced at the Gryffindor table, and even with her nose having changed for the umpteenth time, Harry recognized the wink of the familiar Auror.

"Last, but certainly not least, I am pleased to introduce next year's senior class guest lecturer, Mr. John Tyler."

It certainly wasn't a good night to have a blistered hand. As soon as the Great Hall quieted down enough, Dumbledore motioned for Professor McGonagall to bring something from the hallway to her left.

"Now, students, since we have such a great number of new faculty for next year, I have devised a measure for some of you with gambling tastes to acquire spending money for the summer holidays." Professor McGonagall shot Dumbledore a look, and the old man shrugged. "After dessert, we will be having a Sorting, this time of the entire faculty and staff. It promises to be amusing, if nothing else, so let's all finish our dinner –including all the green vegetables."

The merry old Headmaster motioned for the meal to continue and the new professors joined the others, happily tucking in to the delicious food. Harry seemed too happy to be betting much, but Ron was risking every Galleon he had among the other Gryffindors.

"Thirty says Professor Tonks is a Gryffindor."

"I've got twelve says Tyler's a Gryffie, too," Blaise offered.

"Which one?" Dean Thomas asked.

"Mrs."

"Aw, that's obvious."

"I bet she's a Ravenclaw," someone from the Hufflepuff table said, shaking hands with Blaise. "You're on."

"Mr. Tyler could be a Ravenclaw," Pansy Parkinson supposed. "Anyone want to say five?"

"Sure," Draco Malfoy replied. "I think he's a Gryffindor."

Betting went on for quite awhile, until finally the plates were cleared away. There was angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream, but everyone seemed to be far more interested in the professors' possibilities. At last Dumbledore tapped his glass.

"Professor Severus Snape!"

The dark-haired man slunk over to the stool and submitted to being re-Sorted. Naturally, the Sorting Hat called out 'Slytherin' within moments.

"Professor Flora Sprout!" The cheery lady was still a Hufflepuff.

Professor McGonagall set the Hat on her own head, but it didn't even touch her hair before yelling 'Gryffindor.' There was a ripple of laughter at that.

"Professor Remus Lupin!"

The shy werewolf climbed onto the stool and submitted to the hat treatment. As he was declared a Gryffindor yet again, there were quite a few disappointed sighs from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

"Professor…" The pink-haired female raised an eyebrow pleadingly. She hated her first name. "Tonks!"

The hat didn't even go past her ears. She was a Gryffindor and Ron had won his bet.

"Good thing," he whispered to Harry. "I haven't quite got thirty Galleons."

"Professor John Tyler!"

The American had recently trimmed his shaggy hair and beard, and it was evident quite a few female students found him attractive, judging by the whistles. Cass had the grace to not start singing 'na-na-na-na-na' or dancing about, but she did look her husband over with a quiet smile as Professor McGonagall set the Hat on him. A few moments passed, and the Hat called out "Gryffindor!"

Pansy Parkinson grumbled and handed her purse to Draco, who smirked and handed it back politely.

"Never mind."

"Professor Cassandra Tyler!"

There were cheers and encouragements from three of the House tables, with Slytherins only counting out their bets. Cass hopped onto the stool and waited as the Hat covered her eyes and nose.

Almost two minutes passed. Everyone in the Great Hall waited on tenterhooks. At last, the Hat shifted a little and opened its tear of a mouth.

"Slytherin!"