AN: I repay my beautiful readers with another chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 11- A New Teacher

Everyone had to practically run to grab on to Albus before he apparated them away with a loud pop. They reappeared in the middle of nowhere. Soft fields of grain stretched on for miles, bordered on every side by a forest of tall pines which on one side led to snow-capped mountains that towered far above them. In the center of the fields not far from them was a small wooden house.

The only signs that the house wasn't long abandoned were a small wooden chair sitting outside it and little puffs of smoke drifting out of the brick chimney. Albus smiled softly at the house, "I spent a great deal of my childhood here." He sniffed the air, "Ahhh the scent of grain right after it rains. It's not something you ever forget."

He led them forward, following a worn path that winded through the knee-high grain fields. He pointed often to random spots saying things like "It was here that I transfigured my first piece of grain. Into a chair if I remember correctly" or "Over there I fell of my broom playing quidditch once. My arm has never been the same since."

Harry laughed at a few of them, seeming to have warmed up slightly to the odd professor. As they got closer and closer to the house Severus started to notice that the air felt funny. It took him a second to recognize the feeling- it felt like Harry's magic when he had attacked Dumbledore earlier that morning except somehow it felt lighter and less threatening.

Severus prickled as the power continued to increase. "Oh don't worry he's just checking us out," Albus said cheerily when he noticed Snape's wariness.

Harry looked around in wonderment, feeling the power wash over him like a cool breeze. His magic had only felt like an angry storm whenever it flooded out of him, nothing like the magic surrounding him.

When they were only a few feet from the house the door flew open and out burst Harry's new teacher. He was a short and rather pudgy man, with a tiny dark goatee and buzz- cut hair. His robes were a vibrant shade of orange that almost hurt to look at.

"Albus!" he exclaimed, walking up to shake Dumbledore's hand rather vigorously. "It's been too long, my dear friend. And I see you've brought guests!"

"Yes," Albus said with a beam, "This is Professor McGonagall." The man took Minerva's hand and kissed it, giving her a gracious smile, "It is a pleasure to make acquaintances with such a beautiful witch." Minerva blushed.

"And here is Auror Severus Snape"

The man gasped and said excitedly, "I've heard much about you; it's a pleasure to finally meet!" Thankfully he decided not to kiss Severus's hand and instead gave him a firm handshake.

"And last but not least this is…"

"Harry Potter…" breathed out the man, staring at Harry with wonder. "The Boy Who Lived."

He seemed to snap out of it at that because he quickly stepped over to Harry and shook his hand, his benevolent smile fixed back on his face.

"Oh where are my manners?" the man rushed on, continuing to sound like a 5 year old on Christmas, "My name is John Tucker, but feel free to call me Tuck, that's what all my friends call me." He winked at McGonagall who forced out a smile. "Now come in, I put a pot of tea on as soon as I sensed your presence."

He beckoned them all inside. As soon as they stepped past the threshold they knew this was no ordinary house. Outside it looked like it could hardly fit more than three rooms. Inside was a different story. Hallways stretched out in all direction with multiple rooms leading off of each one.

The extension charms were so powerful that it looked more like a mansion than a cottage. Every room had neon colored paint of various colors- hot pink, lavender, bright green. He led them through a maze of rooms, most of them containing odd pieces of random furniture thrown together in a strangely pleasant manner. The house in an odd way resembled a giant playroom, as if once dozens of children had run freely through its halls.

As they walked through Dumbledore smiled nostalgically at everything, Minerva had to force the horrified look off her face, Severus glared at everything as if it had personally offended him, and Harry looked around in wonder. This house was the exact opposite of the Dursleys and he loved every bit of it.

After taking a small tour through the house they arrived in the kitchen, a relatively small room with yellow wallpaper covered in pictures of dragons. Harry jumped when one of the dragons moved. He stared at the wall with glee as the dragons flew around, breathing fire at each other and flipping through the air.

Tucker accioed in a couple of chairs (all colored and cushioned) and placed them around a tiny table. He forced everyone to sit down then went to get tea. Soon the table was loaded with teas of multiple types ("I didn't know which type of tea everyone liked so I made them all"), biscuits loaded with sugar, and to Dumbledore's delight lemon drops.

Severus and Minerva quietly drank their tea, shooting helpless looks at each other as they watched the other three members chow down with more enthusiasm than was called for. Albus and Tucker took the opportunity to fill in each other about every tiny detail that had happened in the year they hadn't seen each other.

Finally Severus couldn't take it anymore and had to interrupt, "I'm sorry, Albus, but I believe we're here for a reason." His eyes shot daggers at Dumbledore who ignored them.

"Ah yes," Albus said, a little subdued. Harry stared pointedly at his lap. "I'm afraid that our friend Harry here has more power than he frankly knows what to do with. I was thinking that you might be able to help with that."

He looked up at Tucker and they seemed to have a silent conversation before Tucker turned to Harry. "Don't worry kiddo. I know exactly what to do."

Harry looked doubtful. "You do?"

"Of course!" Tuck exclaimed cheerfully, "In fact, I think I can have you all fixed up by the time you reach Hogwarts! How old are you?"

"Ten…. But I'm sorry what's Hogwarts?"

"Well the wizarding school of course," Tuck answered without missing a beat, but he exchanged a meaningful look with Albus. "So you have a full year, that's plenty of time."

"Excellent," Albus said. "When can you start?"

Tucker seemed a little taken aback by the question. "Um when do you need me?"

"The sooner the better," Albus answered with a slightly demanding edge to his carefree tone.

"Erm, sure. How does tomorrow at 8 am sound?"

"Perfect," Albus said, beaming once again.

To Severus and Minerva's horror they stayed another hour, thankfully managing to escape with excuses of "it's been a tiring day," when Tucker threatened dinner.

Harry and Severus were left alone soon after returning home. Severus practically collapsed in the kitchen, too tired to do anything, much less make dinner. Instead he ordered pizza (he had been raised by a muggle father after all).

They ate quickly and then Harry went straight to bed. Severus transfigured a couch in the living room into a bed and instantly passed out. Tomorrow was bound to be an interesting day and he had a feeling he would need lots of sleep for it.