Chapter 3

Hogwarts School, Scotland, Monday, April 7, 2014

Andy dismissed her last class of the day, holding in a sigh, barely. She felt out of sorts, and she did not wish to acknowledge why. In truth, she should feel rather satisfied. Her classes were progressing well, and even her seventh years seemed intent on learning as much as possible before sitting for their N.E.W.T. exams. If she were younger and not as self-aware, she might have attributed her restlessness to spring fever. She knew herself much too well, however, to hide from the truth.

She was, in a sense, grieving. Grieving for the loss of New York's hustle and bustle. Although London held its own charm, it was not the same. She hardly had time to visit the City, anyway, and there was no chance of catching sight of anyone she knew from New York or, in particular, that one person she missed. Although I did bump into Nigel, of all people, just last week. She grinned.

His reaction had been priceless. He had been so surprised that he had actually tripped on the sidewalk, necessitating that Andy reach out to steady him. They had shared lunch, and he had plagued her with endless questions. Why was she in London? How long would she be there? Working for her aunt—doing what? How could he get in touch with her in the future? What about her writing career?

She hadn't wanted to answer his questions, and to a great extent she hadn't. She felt it was best to keep her life in New York and her life at Hogwarts as separate as possible. It was hard enough to not think of New York, of her, each time she saw Miranda's daughters during Charms class. It would only muddy the waters that much more if she gave Nigel an easy way to contact her. So she had given him the address of a post office rental she had set up when she had decided to teach at Hogwarts. It was a street address, so only a person who took the time to research it would know that it was not her residence.

Nigel's parting words had rung in her ears ever since their unplanned lunch. "She's been looking for you, Six. I dare say she's worried. We all have been. But our Snow Queen, well, you know how she is. The fact that she has been asking about you says a lot. Wouldn't you agree?" He had given her a pointed look before air kissing her cheeks in farewell.

Hearing a politely cleared throat, Andy looked up from her desktop, strewn with piles of paperwork. She had not realized that, while staring blankly at the stacks of homework waiting to be graded in front of her, Caroline and Cassidy Priestly had remained seated.

"May I help you?" Andy asked, noting their nervousness with interest.

"Yes, Professor," one of the girls began. Andy was sure that was Caroline. She was a bit more assertive and tended to sit straighter. She also had more freckles across the bridge of her nose and lighter red hair than her twin. "Cassidy and I, we were wondering whether you used to live in New York City."

"That really is none of your concern," Andy immediately answered. Professors tried not to reveal their personal lives to students. Not that she believed they would use such knowledge against her, but she was uncertain whether she wanted them to piece together the fact that she knew them and their mother outside of school. The swirl of emotions Caroline's simple question evoked warned Andy that it was best to deflect their curiosity.

"Oh, well, of course not," Caroline said quickly. "Only, you seem familiar to us, like someone who used to work for our mom." She stopped and stared expectantly at Andy.

Not wanting to lie, Andy wondered how best to respond. If she confirmed the connection, they might have more questions. It amazed her that they even remembered her from so many years ago. "What do you know of my past, exactly?" Andy asked.

Cassidy spoke up this time. "We looked you up in The History of Hogwarts. It said you went to school in the United States. That's where we live, too. In New York City. And you look so much like her…"

"Like who?" Andy asked softly.

"Andy Sachs. I know that's not your last name, but Mom changed her name when she came to the United States, too, 'cause she didn't want anyone to track her down and hurt us," Cassidy blurted out.

"What's your mother's true name?" Andy asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Miriam Princhek," Caroline said.

Andy's eyes rounded in surprise. That was Miranda? "Accio Notable Witches and Wizards," Andy commanded. She kept her eyes trained on the twins, whose eyes had also widened at Andy's response. A moment later, Andy felt the air shift as the heavy tome flew toward her, the summoning charm working perfectly. The book had a record of every witch and wizard of importance. It magically updated itself as noteworthy events occurred. She extended her hand and finally broke eye contact as she grunted with the weight of the tome.

Opening the weathered book, Andy scanned to the correct page and gasped. Miriam Princhek stared imperiously at her, as if daring Andy to deny what she saw. Miranda—a younger version certainly, but her nonetheless. She read the information underneath quickly. Hogwarts 1966 to 1973, Prefect and Head Girl for Slytherin House, Lead Dragon Master for Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures from 1973 to 1985. Independent Contractor and Consultant for Dragon Behavior 2014 to present.

"She was a dragonologist?" Andy exclaimed. That was extremely rare.

"No, she only studied with Scamander," Caroline said. Newton Scamander, the famous dragonologist who wrote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—a mandatory book at Hogwarts. He was a legend, one of the few people able to communicate with dragons. Andy shook her head, finding it hard to reconcile who she had known at Runway and this powerful witch.

Flipping the pages, Andy found her own name. An animated picture of herself looked back and smiled cheerily. Underneath her picture it said: Salem Witches' Institute 1984 to 1991, Charms Master Apprenticeship 1991 to 1995, Potion Master Apprenticeship 1996 to 2000, Northwestern University (Muggle) for English Language and Journalism 2000 to 2005. Professor at Hogwarts 2014 to present.

Andy returned to the page where Miranda was located and watched as the picture tilted her head and stared back. What does that last entry mean? "Have you told her about me?" Andy asked distractedly as her eyes continued to roam over the picture hungrily.

"It's you, then?" Cassidy said excitedly.

Andy's eyes were ripped from the page with those words, and she stared solemnly at them for several moments before finally nodding her head.

"I knew it!" Caroline said excitedly. "You got us the Harry Potter manuscript just a few months before we got the acceptance letters from Hogwarts. Mom was so sad when you left."

"Why did you leave?" Cassidy asked.

"Did you remember us?" Caroline asked.

"Did you go to Hogwarts, too?" Cassidy asked.

"Mom said you were a writer for the Mirror," Caroline said.

"Girls!" Andy said firmly, stemming the flow of words. She shook her head, wondering what to tell them and how many questions, if any, she should answer. Before she could say a word, though, they heard a voice Andy had never anticipated ever hearing again.

"Caroline. Cassidy, are you in there?" The door opened completely, and Miranda strode into the room as if she owned it.

Andy looked down quickly and began gathering her materials as the girls ran to their mother. Glancing up fleetingly, Andy saw Miranda embracing the twins as they plied her with questions. The woman was a sight for sore eyes. Tailored black robes with tasteful silver designs etched on the shoulders emphasized a svelte figure and her signature coif of silvery-white hair. Smiling wryly, Andy turned around and exited through a side door to her office, leaving them to their reunion before penetrating blue eyes could meet hers. She knew she was behaving like a coward and only delaying the inevitable, but the thought of actually talking to Miranda after all this time made her tremble. She needed some time to ready herself.

As if she would ever be ready.


"I heard you two talking," Miranda said as Caroline and Cassidy stepped away. Miranda's eyes swept around the room, but she saw no one. "I thought I heard another voice…" she stated.

She had just come from speaking with the Headmistress, who had given Miranda her daughters' class schedule, and she had decided to check at their last class before making her way to their sleeping quarters in the Ravenclaw dormitory. Close to the classroom she had heard her daughters' excited voices, and the voice of an adult—surely their professor. Then, she had felt the oddest sensation.

When she had heard that female voice, her body had reacted. A bolt of electricity had raced through her body, heating her up and making her pause for breath. That voice. So familiar, so alluring. If not for the commanding intonation, she would have believed she was overhearing Andrea's melodic voice. But no. That could not be. Obviously, she had been thinking of the elusive journalist too much lately.

"That was Professor McGonagall. Where'd she go?" Caroline asked in surprise as she looked around.

"Her stuff is gone. She must have left to give us some privacy," Cassidy said.

"Stuff?" Miranda said with disdain. "Has this school not taught you proper vocabulary? Honestly, the caliber of instruction has lessened so significantly over the years, it is a wonder that you can piece together a coherent sentence."

"Mo-om!" Cassidy moaned while rolling her eyes. "I meant she has taken her teaching materials. Okay?"

Miranda nodded absently. She had felt this energy before, this heightened sense of awareness. She could practically smell the magical energy of a powerful being—Professor McGonagall, no doubt. She wondered how she did not know her. Surely the woman must have attended Hogwarts, and they must be close in age. In fact, she knew nothing about the Headmistress's niece. It was odd, really. She wondered whether the Headmistress had placed a Fidelius charm or some type of disillusionment charm around her family tree to prevent others from knowing too much about her relatives.

Miranda was aware that the Headmistress's wife was the youngest faculty member in the history of Hogwart's, and although normally she would question the quality of education given by such a young witch, even she—while surrounded by Muggles and to a great extent ignorant of wizarding affairs—had heard of the Golden Trio and of Hermione's skills. She knew her girls were not suffering by learning Transfiguration from such a vibrant, youthful witch.

"Mom, why are you here?" Caroline asked.

Miranda pulled her thoughts away from her mysterious reactions to the energy she still felt in the room and refocused on a pair of inquisitive looks. "Let's sit down. I am sure your elusive professor will not mind if we discuss matters here, and I would rather not be overheard by your classmates."

Settling herself in a chair, Miranda took the time to look around classroom 2E, located on the third floor of the castle. It appeared virtually the same as when she had taken Charms so many years ago. Dark hardwood floors, oak-paneled walls, and four long, sturdy wooden desks—the room spoke of tradition, hard work, and elemental teachings. Two sets of tables lined either side of the room, an aisle separating them. The second row of tables was elevated so that everyone could see. Located against one wall was a working fireplace, and at the front was the professor's desk, covered with books and papers. Behind the desk, beside the desk, and against the back walls books were stacked neatly. The class easily accommodated fifty students at a time. Smiling slightly, she noticed the current assignment—levitation charms. She took her time, allowing her mind and body to settle as her eyes perused all the details she hadn't realized she had missed so much.

With a silent sigh, she admitted to herself that she often did not allow herself to reflect on the past. Yet, change was in the air, and her old ways of dealing with loss, wrong decisions, and missed opportunities were no longer acceptable. Truthfully, they never had been—she had just been too stubborn to admit it. Oh, how she would behave differently if their Charms professor were Andrea!

Turning her eyes to her impatient daughters, fidgeting as they waited for Miranda to explain her presence, she could not stop her lips from turning upward with a small smile. It had been several months since she had last spent time with her daughters. She had missed them.

Miranda studied her daughters closely and was again amazed at how mature they were. Both had allowed their red hair to grow down to the middle of their backs, and their blue eyes, so like her own, sparked with curiosity and excitement. Judging from their grades and the honors they had earned over the years, they were well on their way to becoming outstanding additions to the wizarding community. Although she wanted to question them on their plans after graduation, that would have to wait.

"The Ministry of Magic contacted me yesterday regarding a matter of great importance." Miranda stopped, staring into Caroline's and then Cassidy's eyes, wanting them to understand the gravity of the situation. "My expertise is required to deal with a threat not just to the wizarding world but also to the Muggle world." She saw their eyes widen and their mouths open to unleash what she was sure would be countless questions. Quickly, she raised a hand to stop the onslaught of words. "Wait. Let me finish."

"Much of the information is confidential, but I suspect it will take some time to deal with this matter. Dragons are dangerous, and we only have a few people who are gifted enough to interact with them and remain alive. They have been attacking some of the outlying areas." Miranda paused, her mind working furiously. "It is odd," she said slowly, "for dragons to seek out people, to attack them. Normally they are content to remain in the wilderness, among the higher mountain ranges where they can live without our interference."

"Will you be in danger?" Cassidy asked, worry pushing her voice to a higher register.

Smiling reassuringly at her daughters, Miranda said, "It is possible, but I will be as careful as possible. Some of the best witches and wizards will be helping me as we deal with the problem. I am afraid, however, that I must cancel our vacation plans to visit the Bahamas." Miranda looked apologetically at her daughters. "I highly doubt I will finish with my business here by the end of the week."

"Don't worry about that, Mom," Caroline said. "We need to study for N.E.W.T.s anyway. We'll either stay here or at the townhouse."

"I'd rather you remain here. It is safer," Miranda said. "I will visit. In fact, I suspect I will be seeing you quite a bit. Feel free to send me messages by owl to the townhouse, or you can fire-call. Also, the Ministry has connected the floo network to the house in order to facilitate my travels, but do not come over without my permission." She looked sternly at them. "Times are dangerous, and with my being here to deal with the dragons, it is possible others will seek to harm me through you."

Noticing their grim expressions, Miranda felt a twinge of guilt. Even here her reputation placed them in the public eye. For a while her precious daughters had lived without her reputation hanging over their heads while no connection was made between Princhek and Priestly, but she could not afford to take any chances. "I am sorry," she whispered.

Two sets of loving arms surrounded her, pulling her into a protracted hug. Miranda fought to retain her composure, closing her eyes to soak in their affection.

Once they pulled away, she stood up and rearranged her robes. "Well then. Please keep this information to yourselves." She paused to gaze lovingly at them. "I trust you implicitly, but the same cannot be said for your classmates. Now, the Headmistress has invited me to eat dinner in the Great Hall. Perhaps afterward you can show me your sleeping quarters?" she asked, her eyes flitting up to see their nods of affirmation. "Shall we g—" Miranda's words stalled as she heard an office door located at the back of the room open and close. Looking up, her world slowed down as her vision tunneled, focusing solely on two chocolate-colored eyes laced with shock.

"Andrea," Miranda whispered.

Miranda stood frozen, her eyes drinking in Andrea's sudden appearance. Resplendent in rich dark-blue robes that emphasized her bottomless dark eyes and silky brunette hair which was currently swept back into a loose bun, Andrea exuded power and maturity. Nonetheless, Andrea appeared as stunned as Miranda felt, and that calmed Miranda's nerves. While maintaining Andrea's gaze, Miranda directed softly, "Girls, go on without me. I will see you at dinner."

In a matter of moments Caroline and Cassidy had crossed the room and exited. Miranda watched as Andrea raised her wand toward the door and murmured several spells, locking it and making the room impenetrable. Miranda raised an eyebrow.

"So that we will not be disturbed while we talk," Andrea said.

That voice reminded Miranda of just who was standing across the room gazing at her with an expression that looked very much like longing. She also saw trepidation, fear, and worry. "You are Minerva McGonagall's niece?" Miranda asked. She winced, knowing her voice sounded condescending and incredulous. She had not meant to begin the conversation quite this way, but this entire situation confounded her. Miranda had just found out not even a week ago that Andrea was in London, and now, it seemed, Andrea was the wonderful Charms Master her daughters had raved about over the last several months.

"Yes," Andrea answered. Silence took up residence between them, preventing Miranda from approaching the younger woman or even releasing another word into the space filled with so many unanswered questions and unexplained events. "Your daughters are wonderful. They are bright and quick and—"

Andrea's words broke the silence and Miranda's incapacitation. "You just disappeared. No warning. No word of where you had gone," Miranda accused, practically vibrating with anger and frustration.

"I did not realize it mattered to anyone. After I was laid off, I came here to spend time with my aunt and to strategize about my future. When she asked me to teach, I could think of no reason to refuse." Andrea's shrug irritated Miranda to no end.

Sputtering in indignation, Miranda strode toward Andrea, who bravely stood her ground. "No reason? No reason? How can you be so dense? So selfish?"

"I…I had no idea you were worried until Nigel mentioned it last week—"

"Worried? How absurd! I could not care less where you have been for the last five months, although your aunt should have notified me and all the other parents of your substitution as the Charms professor. Really, what could you possibly teach them?" Miranda stopped well within Andrea's personal space and glared.

Andrea glared back, her righteous anger rearing up between them as brown eyes tried to skewer Miranda, who wondered why she was denying her concern, why she was baiting this powerful woman, and why she was practically panting as emotions rolled through her.

"Sure. You care so little and yet you know exactly how long I have been away from New York," Andrea replied heatedly as she poked Miranda's chest with an extended finger.

Immobilizing the finger by grabbing Andrea's hand, Miranda pulled hard. Andrea's body smashed into Miranda's forcefully. Miranda held her ground and grabbed Andrea's luscious hair at the nape, forcing her head back as Miranda scraped her teeth up the neck. Nipping an earlobe, Miranda whispered harshly. "You are so obtuse, so oblivious—" Andrea's moan stopped her tirade and woke Miranda to the fact that the younger witch had not pulled away. In fact, she had grabbed the front of Miranda's robes to steady herself and had not let go.

Miranda's eyes raked over Andrea's face, and her body erupted with passion at what she saw. Those narrowed eyes darkened by ardor, defined cheeks flushed with emotion, moistened lips parted to suck in air with shallow pants. She had promised herself not to make the same mistakes—why was she attempting to drive Andrea away? Using her other hand to cup Andrea's stubborn chin, Miranda kissed her firmly.

And then her mind blanked out as desire overwhelmed her completely, stimulated by full lips moving against hers.