The Raptor and the Raven
Chapter 8: Preparations
--Last Chapter--
Albus' blue eyes twinkled as he watched Toboe answer question after question from his potions master. "Very well Toboe or should I say Professor Toboe."She smiled at him,her eyes glittering beautifully. "You will come to the school with Severus and Lucius in three days in order to get both the paperwork done and to set up both your classroom and quarters."Toboe opened her mouth. "Before you ask my dear your wolves are welcome also."She relaxed.
--This Chapter--
Toboe didn't tell anyone that she was going to teach. Severus and Lucian were watching her pack her black trunk the night before she left."Well Severus it will be cool that I'll get to teach a whole class! And Lucius Malfoy will be handling the magical side of it. We talked about it after my potion's lesson two days ago and we decided that we would teach individual lessons then merge the class for a dual lesson!"As Toboe talked the wolves ears and heads would twist or turn, and it would look to anyone watching as if the wolves were understanding what she said.
She finished packing her books closed her trunk and locked it. Dumbledore had told her that her trunk would be gotten by a house elf and that she would need to get a bird to carry mail for her. "Hermes will be so surprised when she gets there!"Toboe smiled and checked everything one last time before going to bed.
--Dawn that morning--
Toboe woke with the dawn as she had since she was small. She stretched and twister her body into looseness before she submerged herself in spearmint scented water, as she shaved and scrubbed her self. As she got out she rubbed cinnamon scented lotion into her skin. She dressed into the outfit she had been wearing when Remus was hit. "Sing to the dawn my loves today fate favors us."She told them as she departed the room. She said her goodbyes to Mrs. Black and made her way silently to the kitchen so she could feed the wolves and herself. Toboe had just made some coffee when one cranky, cantankerous Severus Snape appeared. "Coffee?"Toboe asked holding out a second cup. It was snatched from her hands and downed by the man. "More."was all he said.
She made him three more cups before he seemed to come awake. "awake now Prof.?"He sighed then growled. "you might as well call me Severus as we'll both be teaching together."She nodded her head in respect for him,he grumbled silently. "Tell me girl why did you name that wolf Severus its a very uncommon name."He inquired as she turned setting bacon and eggs on the table.
"In her letters Hermes would describe a man who growled at all who approached,called no one friend and would never smile. But she also Described that same man being tortured and tearing his own soul apart in order to protect her friend from his enemy,I came to respect that man all she told me of his name was Severus and there for I named my beloved noble shadow for him."Toboe spoke with her back to him as she sat down his fourth cup of coffee. "And thats how his name came to be Severus. But I'll stick to calling him Sevare in the presence of students."Severus thought about what Toboe had said. "I See."was all he said.
It took another hour before Lucius showed up. The elder Malfoy had fussed with his appearance. "Where did you get coffee Severus?"He asked as Toboe smirked into her cup. "Toboe"was all he said. Lucius looked at the American woman. "My dear may I beseech you for a cup?"she chuckled and fixed him five full cups before he spoke again. "We should depart the Headmaster will be waiting for us."the other two rose and Toboe flicked her wand to banish the dishes to the sink. "shall we gentlemen?"she smiled. Lucius smirked and led the way to the front door.
"Can you aparate Toboe?"Lucius asked. "No not yet"she replied. And Remus appeared with a smug smirk. "I'll aparate with you Toboe Malfoy and Snape can take your wolves." "OK Remus, Be good boys."She called and then smiled at him and took his arm. The two Slytherins growled as they slipped out the front door walked into the alley and vanished with a loud crack. "Damn Werewolf!"Lucius grumbled as they followed them. The wolves looked downright vicious. "I'll take the black menace."The dark haired wizard grabbed the wolf's tail and before the animal turned he aparated out. Lucius followed his friends example. And was almost nipped as they landed outside Hogwarts front gates.
--Hogwarts--
Toboe was floored by the beautiful castle she saw,She didn't even look when the two loud cracks signaled her wolves arrival. "Look Severus Lucian Hogwarts!" she turned to Remus and hugged him. "Lets go!" as they walked the men and there wolvish name-sakes had a glaring contest. "Its so beautiful Remus."Toboe said as they walked through the hall towards the headmasters office.
As they came into view of the phoenix statue it moved aside and Dumbledore came off the steps. "Welcome the portraits told me you were here."He motioned them into his office where two chairs waited. "I am going to begin stocking my cabinet headmaster."Severus rumbled. "Ah, very well my boy. See you at lunch time."And with that the potion's master departed.
Toboe and Lucius sat in the chairs Dumbledore motioned them to. Toboe's wolves settling on either side of her. "As you both will be teaching the same class how do you plan to work together?"It was Lucius who replied to him. "Toboe and myself have decided to divide and conquer, then unite for a dual lesson using both muggle and magic together."Toboe nodded when the headmaster looked at her.
Dumbledore understood what they were saying and agreed to it. "I see now will you be teaching in different classrooms or using the same one?" This time it was Toboe who answered him. "We plan to have share and both have one of our own."At his puzzled look she continued. "By switching days to what class is in there like for example. Monday Lucius will teach magic, Tuesday I will teach hand-to-hand. It will continue like that so I can teach one on one sword combat and one of us can teach defense on days Remus can't."
The elder man was surprised that they had worked out a way to counter balance Remus,And Lucius was surprised that she had thought so much about this. "So you plan to teach swordsmanship also Toboe?"She smiled "Harry asked to learn and I figured if I'm teaching him I might as well teach a few more. But only those who display the talent for the weapon."Dumbledore nodded his head and thought for a moment. "Then We must find you a classroom large enough for your purpose.
--2 hours later--
They had been through five sets of classrooms but none seemed right to both one would like one and the other would hate it. Dumbledore was amused that when the elder Malfoy tried bullying Toboe into one set near the dungeons she had told him to kiss her black furred wolf. Albus brought them to the fifth floor and showed them a large classroom that was similar to the ones used by lockheart. "Whoa! This is cool and its big enough to use."Tobe said as she walked around checking the coat racks, the large windows and the huge floor space. "I'll have to pad it or there will be some busted bones."Lucius chuckled darkly as he too found something he liked. "showers right off the classroom proper? How convenient."
"this was the old Dark Arts classroom it hasn't been used since the Dark Arts were banned."Dumbledore said gently."I like it and the office is split between two levels, So Lucius and I could have our own spaces."Toboe said coming out of the office. Lucius walked towards her and she moved aside to let him in. "I can see this working out nicely."Lucius scowled at the dust but that would be fixed by house elves.
"Headmaster?"Toboe asked shyly. "Yes child?"he looked at her twiddling her fingers. "I was wondering If I could ask the sorting hat to see what house I would have been in?"It was her honesty that made Dumbledore allow it. "Come with me to my office and we shall ask him." She gave him a large smile. "Thank you Sir."Lucius smirked and headed for the dungeons to visit Severus. Dumbledore and Toboe chatted about American sweets all the way to his office. "So when they dip the lemon drops in the dark chocolate it makes them taste better."Toboe chuckled. "Truly I must acquire some and see if you are right."Dumbledore laughed. "what are they called again my dear?"He asked
"Chocolate drops Sir." He turned to the statue. "That will be the new password my friend." The statue winked and Toboe chuckled. As they walked up and into his office Toboe looked at the portraits. "Sorting hat."Dumbledore called the ancient hat, as its ripped seam widened into a yawn Toboe was shocked. "What is it Headmaster its summer you know."The hat spoke. "This young woman is a professor from America and she was wondering if you would see what house she would belong in had she been schooled here."The hat looked at Toboe and hummed gently. "What is your name girl?"Toboe understood this hat was very old but was starting to hate being called girl. "I am called Toboe Old One."
The hat smiled at her but understood the grumble in her voice. "You wish to know what house you would have been in?"Toboe nodded then spoke. "Yes I do"The hat scooted forwards to be levitated by Dumbledore unto Toboe's head.
The hats voice was in her head."You have a sharp mind Toboe and you are brave and cunning you also wish to prove your worth to the people you call friend" "I want my family to be remembered"She thought "Your family is old I myself sorted your 12 times great Grandsire and you are only one of two heirs to your family"The hat replied.
"There for I place you in..."
The last word was said outside of her head. "Slytherin!" She smiled as the hat was floated back to its shelf. She bowed before it "Thank you" she said and together they walked to the great hall for lunch.
The hall seemed huge to Toboe as she walked down the table to an empty spot near Severus. "How did your sorting go Toboe?"Lucius said across the table. "It went well I now know my house."she smiled and wouldn't tell him. "After lunch are you ready to see the quarters I have picked out for you?"Dumbledore asked Toboe midway through the meal. "Sure I was hoping to have a chance to take a bath before dinner."she said after swallowing a piece of rare steak. Her wolves were eating heartily from self refilling bowls set nearby.
--After lunch--
As Toboe followed Dumbledore down a back hallway on the northwest side of the castle she was looking at the paintings until they turned into a dead end and a very large painting of a howling werewolf. "He is beautiful."Toboe said in awe. "Password"It growled. Toboe stepped forwards at the headmaster gesture. The werewolf will guard your chambers."The password I Chose is: Luna mors mortis" she said just loud enough for the headmaster and the creature to hear.
The painting swung open and admitted them. The common room was done in the same cherry wood that she had seen in Black manor. The Slytherin crest was woven into the soft emerald rug at her feet. The fireplace was guarded by two carved wolves looking similar to her own. "its Perfect!" She said after she had toured the rooms. "there is one more surprise Ms. Granger suggested. "He pressed a stone that had a small indentation on it, and a door appeared. As Toboe opened it she stepped into shadow, The balcony was perfect she could see into the forbidden forest and down to the lake. "Breathtaking"she breathed. "Ms. Granger said you spent your evenings out in the moonlight." Toboe hugged the old man gently. "Thank you for everything."
--One week Later--
Toboe had spent the week fixing both her office and rooms to her liking.
Lucius had started laughing when she had been startled into yelping,by a house elf. She had set a glass of warm water on the door and waited, but it wasn't Lucius who got soaked. Poor Remus had gotten the cup and she had spilled the prank to him in hogsmeade as they went shopping for a messenger for her. She had wound up with a beautiful Pure black Steller's Sea Eagle that she named Stormsong.
She had them send Stormsong's cage to Hogwarts and was allowing the bird to sit on her shoulder as she fed her bits of raw meat from her pocket. The wolves seemed not to mind the bird as she turned her head this way and that. "Remus why are you so nervous?" Toboe asked as they stepped into the school. "That is one scary looking bird."He said finally. "Oh Remus she won't hurt you."Toboe sent the eagle to hunt. "Stormsong is the only bird that isn't afraid of my wolves, or me" she said as they sat down to dinner.
They had talked all through dinner with occasional barbs from Severus and Lucius,That Toboe chuckled at. "I want to learn the Wolfsbane potion soon Severus."Toboe slipped into the conversation as she ate her desert. "Why do you want to learn that?"he growled she smirked at him. "I like reading about werewolves and I want to be able to brew the potion that helps them."She snarked back. Remus relaxed slightly thanking merlin that she didn't know his secret yet. "If you continue your beginners luck we shall see."he smirked.
Toboe knew that the students would be coming back the day after tomorrow and couldn't wait to see the look on the carrot tops face when he discovered she was a teacher. She chuckled evilly "Why do you look so evil Toboe?"Minerva McGonagall asked. "Ronald Weasley realizing I am a Teacher."was all she said and the Slytherins at the table joined in her chuckle. "That boy is not that bad Toboe"Minerva grumbled about her beloved Gryffindor house.
--The next day--
Toboe had found another picture of a werewolf in one of the lower unused hallways. She hung it at the head of her classroom. "There now you can see the moon and howl all you want." She told the portrait as it paced back and fourth. Lucius had about had a heart attack when it waited for him to stand next to its frame before giving a bone chilling howl. "Merlin be damned!"He had his wand out and trained on the picture. "Come now Lucius he is only testing you."Toboe said between bouts of laughter. "Indeed"was all he said.
Later that day at dinner Toboe and Lucius were debating over a book. "Come now girl its a good hex, It would stop a man flat"Lucius rumbled. "Yeah but its useless against a female in battle."Toboe countered. "You have that point but most of the opponents on a battlefield will be male."he argued back. "I'll give you that Lucius. But we have argued our way through the afternoon and dinner. I for one have a few things to do before bed."Lucius chuckled as Toboe stood up and stretched her back. "Good Night Lucius"She said as she started towards the door. "Goodnight Toboe"Lucius replied as she smiled at him before slipping into the dark of the halls.
As Toboe walked the halls her wolves meeting up with her as she neared the outer doors. As Toboe slipped out the doors and into the night she breathed deep and looked into the sky. Toboe's long legs walked towards the lake but her stride slowly lengthened until she was running. Faster and faster she ran,jumped and loped her wolves running with her. As they played and stretched muscles not used in awhile Toboe was happy she had come to Hogwarts. The wolves had settled down to rest by a large rock as Toboe climbed atop it. It was awhile later before the woman and her wolves returned to the great castle...
Well now Toboe is at Hogwarts. What will happen when Ron discovers his new enemy is his Teacher?
And I Must find a beta reader i Fear. But untill then-Cerberus