Chapter 4A- Cas POV

Cornish Pixies. Not my favorite magical creature to study, but not my least favorite either. My least favorite has to be that bloody cat, Mrs. Norris. Ever since last year I always get the feeling that that thing is following me. I'll have to do something about it, but I don't know what. Soon.

Of course, I can't be distracted by that right now. I have more important things to worry about. Not the class I'm in, though. No. There's something else.

Jo. Her and the whole Quidditch thing is throwing me off. I expected much more of a fight out of her, and then at the end of the match Oliver whispered something to her. I tried to get her to spill, but she wouldn't budge. I hate being out of the loop. I'll find out eventually, one way or another. Even if it means finding some truth serum and slipping in her morning pumpkin juice. Of course, that's a little complicated since were not in the same house. I'll figure it out.

Whatever Oliver said, it seems like he has a leash on Jo, and I don't like it. I like her better when she's wild and reckless and challenges any and all authority. I keep trying to ask her why she didn't start wailing on that idiot that nearly hit her with a bludger. Jimmy, she called him. Said Oliver gave him the spot and that she'll just have to bide her time. Bide her time my ass. Either she plotting and not telling me, or she's under some sort of spell.

"You alright, Cas?" I look over- its Robin, one of my Ravenclaw friends. I tell her I'm fine, and look to the front of the classroom. Were in Defense against the Dark Arts. I liked this class well enough last year, but Quirrel left and now we have a new Professor- an oldish woman. Professor Knight.

Shes in the front of the class now, telling us to turn to whatever page and read about the Cornish Pixies. I'm not really focussed on the lesson though. DaDA comes pretty easy to me, so I'm not too worried if I don't pay attention right now. Instead I look around the room, but I keep coming back to Professor Knight. She looks like she's in her mid-thirties, mousy brown hair pulled in a bun, pale blue eyes, and a pointy nose. She's talking, but I'm not listening. My thoughts are drifting between Jo, Oliver, Mrs. Norris, and Fred, and I zone out again.

And then I'm pulled from my musings by a hand on my shoulder. I violently jerk, and the class starts laughing. I don't appreciate this- see, I have a thing about my shoulders. I don't like people touching them. I don't know why, but that's my quirk. Everyone has one. So the combination of being surprised and being touched on the shoulder was catalystic. I was lucky to stay in my chair. Once I regain my composure I look up to see Professor Knight, looking down at me.

"We are paying attention, aren't we, Cassidy?" My blackish-brown eyes meet her amber eyes and they lock for a minute, before she moves on and goes back to teaching.

Wait...

"Yes, yes we are, Professor," I mutter to myself. My hand shoots up.

"Yes, Cassidy?"

"Can you repeat that, Professor Nymph- I mean Knight?" I get a couple odd looks, but I only care about one reaction. Tonks's. And it's a good one. Those amber eyes bulge, and her face pales. I sit there, smiling quite contentedly. This is appropriate payback. Her slip at the party. Touching my shoulder- of course she knew it would bother me. I only wish I had realized it sooner.

The bell rings, and class is over. Everyone gets up to leave but me. I have some questions for my Professor.

Once it's just us I speak up.

"That was a rotten thing to do, embarrassing your student like that."

"How'd you figure it out, Cas?"

"So this is that "special program" for your auror training? I don't get how it'll help."

"Cas, you gotta swear not to tell anyone."

"You're little slip at the party, that wasn't nice either. But great class today, Professor." I turn to leave. She knows I won't tell anyone, and she smiles and waves. She has another class next anyway- Jo's class.

"It was your eyes- they were blue the first five minutes of class," I say as I leave. I hear her laugh behind me.

"But Cas, really- don't tell. It's important. No more...slips in class." Now it's my turn to laugh. I turn around and see she's herself- her Tonks self, with the purple hair and young face and light brown eyes. I remember when she first explained what she was- a metamorphmagus. She can change her appearance at will. She used to do it to entertain me when I was younger. I always wanted her to teach me, still ask as a joke sometimes- but she can't teach me. I always resented that- probably why I work so hard to excel in everything I can learn. Also because I'm a basically a wizarding genius. But I attribute my drive to Tonks and her inherited trait.

I see the clock and realize we both have classes to get to. Well, I have a class to get to, and Tonks has a class to teach. Jo's class. I wonder if Jo knows, but at the same time...if I didn't figure it out until now, she might not get it until the end of the year.

"Jo?" I ask. She shakes her head with a knowing smile.

"But...she can keep a secret you know."

"I know. I'll try to drop a hint."

"Don't be too subtle." She smiles and morphs into Professor Knight. I get shooed out of the room with the promise of a full explanation at some point in the future. Kids are coming for Tonks's next class. I wait around, looking for Jo. I feel like dropping her a hint too; it's the least I can do.

AN-

My dear ones, hello. Hope you liked the first first half of the chapter. Now, before you start complaining, before the wailing and grinding of teeth- I'm aware that the chapter is short. That's the way the cards fell here. Because I care so much about your sanity, I'll be releasing the second half of the chapter later this week. You're welcome. Until then,

-cowriter