The "Harry Potter" characters belong to JK Rowling, her associates and affiliates. CPT Holdings Inc. and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment own "Bewitched" and "Tabitha". For entertainment purposes only. There. I have spoken.

A/N According to more than one website, Adam was a warlock in "Bewitched" and a mortal in "Tabitha". For this fanfic, he's a mortal. It just works better that way. And all due respect to anyone who disagrees.

HOUSE HUNTING

As it turned out, the house at Grimmauld place and all its contents were left to Sirius' godson, Harry Potter. Tabitha did not wish to live there alone because of all her memories connected to it. For the second time in a year, she had to make a decision about where to live. She looked in the newspapers and went to see some apartments and townhouses. She had narrowed her search down to two that she liked and was about to make a decision, when a casual remark to Tonks about her house hunting turned her search on its head.

"Leave it to me. Don't make any decisions yet," Tonks said.

Tonks obtained the necessary permission from Dumbledore and the following day she brought Tabitha to Hogwarts to meet with Harry. After some discussion on Harry's part and some argument on Tonks' part, they decided on a plan whereby the two women would live at Grimmauld Place and be in charge of its upkeep. Tabitha agreed, but under one condition: she insisted on paying Harry rent. Harry hated the idea and tried to talk her out of it. How could he charge rent to one of Sirius' best friends? But, on her part, she could never have lived with herself if she cheated a kid out of his rightful due.

So, it was settled. Tonks moved in to Grimmauld place, both women looked after the house and Tabitha had help with the childcare.

LAKESIDE

Tabitha sat on the rock, staring out over the lake. It was warm in the afternoon sun, and she sat quietly, enjoying the peace and quiet.

Her solitude was broken into when she observed Snape walking around the perimeter of the lake, towards her general direction. Tabitha felt torn. On the one hand, she had come to Hogwarts to talk to Aunt Minerva, who was not there after all, and she was feeling lonely. On the other hand, she was enjoying the peace and quiet. Not that Severus ever had that much to say, anyway. She waved to him and he headed towards her.

"I didn't expect to find you here in the summer," she said.

"I'm here sometimes."

"Where do you live when you're not here?"

"Spinner's End. You wouldn't know about it."

"Spinner's End sounds quaint."

"It's not."

Tabitha sat, hugging her knees and looking out over the lake. Snape glanced at her. She was dressed like a muggle today. Sandals, pants that ended below her knees, sleeveless blouse, sunglasses.

"Professor McGonagall isn't here today," he said.

"Yeah, so I found out. But there's no need for me to hurry back home. The girls are down for their naps and Tonks offered to mind them. I'll go back when they wake up."

"You know you can't Aparate or Disaparate from Hogwarts grounds."

"Yeah."

They sat again for a few moments when Tabitha spoke. "So the Ministry of Magic ignored the reports of You Know Who's return for a year."

Snape nodded.

"I realize I'm new here and all, but that seems either very irresponsible or naive or something."

"That's what some people are saying."

They sat quietly again, Tabitha brooding. Finally, she said, quietly," I've been to three funerals in the last seven months. But my husband's and my grandfather's deaths were different somehow. Did you know my husband died of an aneurism? Anyway, they were natural events and unpreventable. Then Sirius died. His was a completely senseless death. If the Ministry had only believed the reports--reports from credible witnesses, mind you--perhaps he would be alive today." She stared over the water again, brooding.

Snape looked at her, unsure what to say. She looked really upset, and hysterical females always made him nervous.

"You know what Severus? Three funerals in the space of seven months are just too much. Some people are calling this whole You Know Who thing a war. All I know is Sirius was a good friend of mine, and I can't just stand by and wait for my other friends to die, too." Vehemently she stood up, scooped up a rock from the ground and hurled it over the lake.

Quickly, Snape pulled out his wand and called "Accio rock" and the rock returned to the ground at Tabitha's feet.

"Don't go throwing things into that water, Tabitha. You might disturb its inhabitants. Anyhow, just what do you plan to do about the war?"

She threw her hands up in frustration. "I don't know," she confessed. "Maybe something with my radio show..." She broke off, intent on a new idea.

Snape looked at her warily. "Tabitha, be careful what you say on the air. The Ministry has the power to shut down WWN or to replace you, and the Order needs you as a liaison. You're the only one they have."

"Do you always play by the rules?"

"You can't really compare what we do for the Order."

Tabitha climbed back on the rock next to him. "Come to think of it, what exactly is your mission with the Order?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yeah, I really wanna know."

"I'm not at liberty to say. Dumbledore wants it like that. But I can assure you it's not safe, and you wouldn't want the assignment."

She sighed. Some sort of spying, probably. Then she looked at her watch.

"I gotta go back. The girls will be up from their naps soon."

Snape walked with her to the edge of Hogwarts grounds, where she could Disaparate freely.

"Next Tuesday for defense practice?"

He nodded. She Disaparated.