An American Professor

The next few weeks went much more smoothly. After speaking with Ron, Erin had contacted Mr. Weasley and now received regular shipments of what he deemed 'interesting Muggle artifacts'. Erin took the complicated items to her 7th year class and the simpler ones to her 3rd and 4th year classes. Everyone seemed to enjoy her class, especially when she taught them about American Muggle food and had an indoor barbecue. The students seemed to get quite a kick out of hot dogs and hamburgers. Erin had quite a time procuring the items, but it was well worth it in the end.

Flitwick had explained to her that enchanting Muggle artifacts was strictly forbidden in the wizarding world. Erin was very much bothered by this, but she was working on getting over it. Every evening after dinner she began with a run, followed by intense studying, and a hot bath before bed. Erin was learning to live without her hair dryer and curling iron, but she was beginning to realize that she couldn't live without her coffee in the morning.

Violet was growing steadily. Erin took her to all of her classes, both while she was teaching and while she was being instructed. All of the other professors adored Violet, except for Snape and McGonagall. Minerva seemed to tolerate the kitten, and was starting to grow fond of her, but it had been touch and go in the beginning.

Erin hadn't chanced taking Violet to Potions because of Snape's generally rotten attitude. So, Ginny, Hermione, and George traded off watching her until Erin finished class. She would walk to the Gryffindor common room to retrieve her from George who seemed a little too pleased about being a cat-sitter. Erin suspected it was because he was sweet on her, but Violet liked him, so she didn't worry too much about it.

Erin wanted to finish her first year classes by Halloween or at the latest the first few weeks in November. She began going to the library after classes and before dinner as well as after running. She knew she was pushing herself when Filch, the caretaker, had to wake her one night in the library.

One Saturday, she decided that she couldn't live without her coffee any longer. Erin realized that she needed to have her coffee. I can stay up later if I can have my caffeine fix, she decided. Mustering up her courage, Erin approached Dumbledore after breakfast.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, I was wondering if you could help me out with a little problem that I have been having."

Dumbledore smiled at her benignly. "What problem is that, dear?"

"Well, sir, the house elves don't have access to coffee, and I really need it, sir. I've been trying to cope without it, but I really need to get some before I hurt somebody."

Dumbledore chuckled before answering. "Erin, if its such a big problem for you, then we can fix it for you. What are you doing today?"

"Uh, today, sir? Uh, well, just studying sir, why?"

Looking at Dumbledore, she realized that he was scribbling something on a piece of parchment. "Well, I have a friend in Hogsmeade who owns a Muggle vehicle. You can borrow it, and go into a Muggle settlement south of Hogsmeade. Here, this parchment will guide you there."

Erin stared at Dumbledore dumfounded. She had completely lost her voice.

"Erin? Is something wrong?"

"No, I just can't believe that you are going to make this happen, and so quickly."

Dumbledore laughed out loud. "Of things that I have to do today, this will definitely be the easiest. Now, I don't expect that you'll be gone that long. You should probably be able to make it back here by dinner time."

Erin nodded dumbly. "Thank you sir," she said taking the parchment, and turned to exit the Hall.

Just as Erin reached the door, Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Oh, Erin, I don't think it would be wise for you to go alone." Erin turned in time to see him scanning the staff table and realized with a sinking feeling that the only professor still at the staff table with Snape. No, please, don't ask him, it'll ruin my day away from this place!

"Severus, what do you have planned for today?"

Please, please, please be busy. "Well, uh, sir, I, uh, I didn't really have any actual plans." Dammit!

"Good, then you can accompany Erin into town to find some coffee." Erin felt a little better when she noticed that Snape looked about as thrilled with the idea as she was.

Giving him a glare she said, "I'll be outside when you're ready to go." With that she turned and stalked out of the hall. Standing outside for what felt like forever, Snape appeared and the two made their way to Hogsmeade in silence.

Following the directions given to her by Dumbledore, Erin entered a second hand bookstore, and walked quickly to the counter in the back. She approached the bald, ruddy man with a warm smile.

"Hello, sir, I'm a professor up at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore said that you might have a Muggle automobile that I could borrow?"

The man regarded Erin skeptically. "You're a professor up at Hogwarts." Great, another one. The man seemed to see Erin's companion for the first time. "Severus! So good to see you! You haven't been down here in a while."

"Good morning, Mr. Wickley. How are you doing?"

"Fine, fine. Business has been great. So, are you two really going into the Muggle settlement?"

"Yes, afraid so."

"Well, in that case, follow me." He led them to the back of the shop and outside to a makeshift garage in the back. Opening the garage door he revealed a tiny little white convertible.

Erin could hardly contain herself; she wanted to get behind the wheel so badly. It was all she could do to stop herself from jumping up and down.

The man eyed her suspiciously. "You'll probably need to push gasoline into her in town. As soon as it looks like rain put the top up, as it takes a few moments. So, which one of you will be driving."

Snape quickly pointed to Erin. "She will be. I haven't a clue about driving one of those things."

Mr. Wickley didn't looked too pleased as he relinquished the keys to Erin, but he did eventually. Erin tried to walk calmly to the left side of the car and was opening the door when she realized that she was on the wrong side. Mr. Wickley apparently noticed as well, as he gave Snape a sidelong gaze and asked, "Are you sure you aren't going to drive?"

"I just forgot for a moment, sir. I'll be fine. Thank you so much for lending us your car." She slid into the drivers seat before he could protest further, and Snape followed suit. Pulling out of the garage cautiously, she moved through town slowly. Once she reached the highway heading south to the Muggle town, she really hit the gas.

"Isn't this great?" she asked pushing the button for the top to go down. She cast a sideways glance at Snape and saw that he was clinging to the door handle. "What's your problem?" When he didn't answer she added, "Lighten up!" Realizing that conversation with him was futile, Erin switched on the radio, and finding a rock station, she turned it up loudly. They arrived into the Muggle town more quickly than Erin expected.

"Well, here we are," she said, and looking at him swiftly stated rather matter of factly, "You may want to take off your robes. I have a feeling you are going to bring quite a bit of attention to yourself." Erin was at that moment slipping out of her own robes while the top of the convertible was slowly inching upwards.

"Well, hmm, I have a feeling that I would draw quite a bit more attention if I were to take off my robes. I'm not wearing anything underneath."

"What? Why…oh, nevermind, just come on," she snapped at him in her impatience.

They walked down the street looking for a grocer. Erin entered a small shop and was searching for the coffee when she realized that Snape wasn't behind her. She looked quickly around and found him staring fixedly at some boxed food. "You don't eat the box, or anything. You usually have to add water and oil, it all depends on the food item."

"How disgusting. What is wrong with these Muggles?"

"Well, most of them don't have the time to whip up a five course dinner for their families. These foods allow them to eat a little more quickly. So, therefore, there isn't anything wrong with them, in fact, its quite ingenious the way that Muggles have learned to deal with life without using magic."

He snorted. "If you say so."

Erin huffed away and grabbed some coffee. Walking to the register she glared at Snape who returned the nasty look before turning and walking outside. Erin paid for the coffee and then exited the store to join Snape.

"So, do you want to look around or head back?"

"I don't care."

"Well, is there anything that you need?"

"What could these people make that I would need?"

"I don't know. Even they have discovered a way to give a person a new personality." Instead of waiting for his reply, she turned away to look around the town square.

Sighing deeply, Erin began to walk down the street looking into the different shop windows. Snape trailed behind reluctantly. After a few minutes she turned around and saw him staring fixedly into a window a few shops previous to the one she had been looking into. Strolling back casually, she saw that he was looking into the toy shop. Leaning closer to him she whispered, "Let's go inside." He nodded in agreement and they entered the tiny shop.

Snape was absolutely fascinated by the toys. He looked at the high bounce balls, and the glow in the dark bugs. He tried out a yo-yo, but the item that seemed to fascinate him the most were the playing cards. Erin approached him, and he reluctantly explained, "My uncle had a pack of these, and he used to let me look at them."

"Well, why not get yourself a pack?"

"I didn't bring any Muggle money."

"Well, then, pick out a pack and I'll buy them for you."

"No."

"What do you mean no, you obviously want a pack."

"No, I don't need them. It was just a stupid childhood memory."

"But it was a pleasant one. Pick out a pack, or I'll pick out one for you."

"No, I told you I don't want any." With that he turned and walked briskly out of the shop.

Erin moved to the card display and picked up a pack and took it to the clerk. She paid for them and stuck them in her purse. Walking out of the shop, she saw him standing next to the shop. Sighing deeply she opened his door and got into the car. They rode back to Hogsmeade in silence.

Upon arriving in Hogsmeade, they exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Wickley, and Erin thanked him repeatedly for the use of his car. He seemed to be in a much better mood than when they had originally picked up the vehicle.

They headed back to Hogwarts in complete silence. Erin was beginning to grow weary of the tension between them, but didn't know how to break it. Resigning herself to the fact that it was impossible she followed him into the Great Hall for dinner.

Erin ate in silence. She didn't even feel like talking to Flitwick. When she had completed dinner she walked to Dumbledore and handed him the coffee.

"Thank you for the opportunity to go into a Muggle town, Professor. This coffee should last me for a couple of weeks. I hope that the elves know how to make it."

"Ah, be patient with them for a few days, and I am sure that they will figure it out. Now that you've shown them what coffee is, I'll make sure that they are able to procure more for you, that way you don't have to make trips every few weeks."

"That would be wonderful. Thank you again, Professor." Dumbledore smiled and nodded to her, and Erin turned to walk to the Great Hall's door. Just as she reached the doors of the Hall, she spun around on her heel. Walking back to the head table Erin stood in front of Snape. He looked up at her in surprise. She continued to stare at him a few moments before reaching into her purse and pulling out the playing cards. In one swift motion she tossed them to him, muttering, "Here."

He reached up and caught them with one hand and then stared hard at her. Erin decided that he wasn't going to respond, so she turned to leave again. "Thanks," he muttered so quietly she wasn't completely sure that she'd heard him.

Turning back, she looked into his dark eyes and nodded, letting the corners of her mouth turn up into a shy smile.