Chapter 2

Before anyone realized it, the summer was very close to over. August was closing up quickly, and people were flying around buying school supplies, new robes, everything they needed and for Ron, Hermione and Harry, it was getting jobs.

When the twenty-ninth of August caught up to them, it was time for all the staff to return to Hogwarts. By nine o'clock that night, they were sitting around the staff room, waiting for Minerva to come and begin the meeting.

"Good evening." McGonagall had just appeared in the doorway, "I'm very glad to see that a large amount of us have returned." She swept across the room, taking a seat in a red arm chair. "After the war ended, we lost two of our valued teachers, and, as a result of that, I will be taking over for Albus, Charlie," She gestured to him, "Will be taking over for Rubeus. And, as I will not have enough time to fully continue my teachings, Catherine is here to help me. Now, let me remind you that Catherine is older than you think, as she was pulled back in her schooling to keep an eye on a few certain people." The woman concluded.

"Uh..." Professor Sprout began, "I hate to bring this up, but, are there any death eaters left?"

"Five." Minerva sighed.

"Six." Severus corrected quickly.

"What?"

"There's six death eater..." He stopped, "Wait... never mind, I'm thinking wrong." Minerva shook her head, then continued.

"Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy and Nott juniors, and Peter Pettigrew."

"Are they a risk to us?" Flitwick asked.

"No, they have no inside access in the school anymore, and Draco is only a hazard if he has an heir." Her eyes shifted over to Cate, "Which means you may be at risk."

"So I've heard." The young woman replied, only slightly worried.

"So...is security going to be increased?" Hooch asked.

"Not to my knowledge. There are five members of The Order entwined with our staff, and Catherine can take care of herself."

"All right." Madam Hooch fell silent.

"There isn't much else to say, lessons start September third, and the students arrive on the second, be sure you're ready by then." A few of the staff nodded, muttering yes's, they then began to head off slowly in pairs or trios. "Cate?" Minerva voices just as the young woman was leaving with Charlie.

"Yes?"

"Would you please come by my classroom tomorrow to sort some things out?"

"Of course. Around what time?"

"I'd say...two."'

"Okay, I'll see you then." Cate smiled, taking her husband's hand as they walked back to their rooms in silence.

"That was an eventful day." Charlie sighed lightly, closing the door behind him.

"Yes it was." Catherine replied, crossing the room to the bedroom, she dropped down on the bed.

"You tired?" Charlie sat beside her.

"Not really...I just..don't want to do work yet, but I'm not tired."

"Well that's good." The young man leaned over, kissing her softly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Cate replied, pulling Charlie back down on top of her. Her lips brushed across his skin gently as her fingers roamed around his back.

Charlie's hands found their way to the clasps of her robes, undoing them quickly, getting them out of the way. The young man tickled her exposed stomach lightly, crawling up underneath her shirt. Catherine softly reached down to the hem of his shirt, pulling it off, as the couple departed, Cate's shirt ended up on the floor too.

The next morning, Charlie woke up when the sunlight warmly sprawled across them. Cate lay peacefully on his chest, rising and falling with each breath he took. The young man smiled softly, kissing her head, wakening her.

"Morning." She greeted softly, stretching as she sat up.

"And a good morning it is." Charlie replied, sitting up as well.

"Always." The nineteen-year-old pulled her husband toward her, kissing him passionately. Charlie hugged her tightly when they departed.

"What time is it?"

"Half past noon."

"Huh."

"Well it was a rather late night yesterday."'

"That's true." Catherine laughed, "I should get going soon though, I have to meet Minerva soon, and some lunch would be nice."

"All right." The young man kissed her quickly, "I'll see you later then."

"Yup." Cate brushed her hand along his arm as she left their rooms. A few minutes later, she emerged in the Great Hall.

"Good afternoon." Severus spoke from where he sat at the staff table.

"You too." Catherine dropped down into a chair, taking a sandwich off the platter on the table.

"How did you sleep the first night back?" Severus asked. In response, all his daughter did was raise an eyebrow. Snape was about to ask her, but then her came to a realization. "Good God, you didn't have to suggest that."

"Meh." She replied, biting into the sandwich, "You asked for it."

"I guess." Severus sighed lightly, "Out of curiosity, are you concerned about Draco?"

"Uh...not really."

"Well after last year, the true security of Hogwarts has been seen."

"And it isn't that good."

"Exactly, Draco could walk in at any moment."

"Yes, but as Minerva said, there's five Order members here, and I can take care of myself."

"So I've heard."

"I learnt at a young age." Snape looked up, a confused look on his face.

"What do you mean?"

"I was such an ass to Mom that she kinda gave up on me, making me take care of myself."

"Ah." He went back to his lunch.

"Yeah." A few moments of silence passed while the two finished their lunches. This silence was soon broken by the door to the Great Hall opening, Severus and Catherine looked up to see Professor McGonagall entering.

"Afternoon." She greeted, walking up to the table, she placed a sandwich onto a napkin.

"Afternoon." The two replied.

"Cate, would you be able to come with me now?" The woman asked, "It turns out I've got some things to see to at two."

"Of course." The nineteen-year-old stood up, "I'll see you later." She waved to her father, then headed off with Minerva.

"This is going to be rather brief." McGonagall said as they both dropped down into chairs in her classroom. "I've told you already that up until you turn twenty-one, you will be 'student teaching' with me. For the beginning of the year, you'll only be watching, come January, you'll take over the first through fifth years. The beginning of next year, I will no longer be attending the classes of the first to third years. When you turn twenty-one, you can take over everything."

"That sounds good." Cate replied, "Anything specific I should know?"

"Be careful of some of the Slytherin's, they can be a bit harsh, especially with young, new teachers. Also, I find that you need to have a certain type of teaching personality to keep a class calmed."

"Which would be?"

"A number of things." Minerva began listing them off on her fingers, "Be strict with them, or let them get away with lots, you know, be a friend to them, or to be blunt, make them fear you."

"I see."

"There isn't much you need to know from lectures or books. You know all the Transfiguration, and passed with flying marks. There's teacher manuals in that cupboard," she pointed, "lesson plans and all. Uh...you will be picking up teaching skills and techniques from shadowing, and you will get some from teaching your own classes."

"Alright, that sounds good."

"Here, " Minerva dumped a few books onto the desk, "You should probably look through these course guides."

"K, thanks Minerva."

"No problem." The woman smiled as Cate stood up, "If you have any questions, please, don't shy out of asking."

"Have I ever?" The nineteen-year-old laughed.

"That is true. I'll see you at dinner."

"Thank-you." Catherine smiled, picked up the books, and left the room.