Out of habit, after the stick Tom offered a sweet date. "You are worried your humiliation will get back to Ilvermorny and you will not be able to show your face, right? I have two ways to help."
Sure enough, Cassandra's attention snapped to him. "What ways?"
"First, wipe the memories of the other Ilvermorny students. Once you handle them, I will take care of the two professors. I guarantee nothing goes back to your school."
Cassandra had started to develop immunity to Tom's outrageous proposals, yet she still broke composure. "Do you have a normal option?"
"Of course, you just do not have the strength for it." Tom shot her a sideways look and whisked away the macaroni in front of Cassandra. "Anyone dares laugh at you, do what I do and put them in the wall. After a while no one will dare say anything to your face."
This time Cassandra did not argue. She lowered her head and thought it over, then after a long pause sniffed, "You will see how strong I am at next year's finals."
Tom ignored her and focused on his food.
...
Half an hour later they left the room and went their separate ways.
That counted as completing Dumbledore's errand. The rest had nothing to do with Tom. Cassandra's appearance did not draw as much attention as one might think. Just as Tom had said, too many had been punished by him already. Her only special trait was being an exchange student. It was less explosive than Professor Frank's identity.
Even so, Cassandra felt a small knot loosen in her chest. It seemed Tom had told the truth. The consequences were not as dire as she had feared.
Very soon, another bit of news made her flush with shame and anger. Somehow students learned Tom had soothed Cassandra Voray, and that the two of them had stayed in her room for half a day. Variations of the story spread through the castle at once.
Even Tom was stunned when he heard. He knew Hogwarts gossip was ridiculous. A school full of adolescents with nothing better to do will make up tales for fun. He had already heard no fewer than eight different versions of the great Malfoy and Potter saga. He had not expected the rumor mill to turn on him one day. People were too idle.
Blame Professor McGonagall for delaying high frequency exams until next term. Otherwise who would have time to gossip about him. Thankfully Daphne did not believe it, or his back would be sore again.
...
In the days that followed, the castle settled down. With Cassandra soothed, only Frank remained a problem. He had planned to escalate, turn it into a diplomatic incident and pressure Dumbledore through the Ministry to punish Tom. This was where Rouse's stir stick talents shone. He drew off most of the fire. Frank now hated Rouse most and had no energy left for Tom. In a way, Tom had been saved.
Friday rolled around again. Tom had just made it in time for the last lesson of the day, Potions. Snape had dragged a chair to the back of the classroom to sit and watch. The teacher for today was Castelobruxo's Isabella Camado.
Harry's grin could not be hidden, which darkened Snape's face. Only when the ever sensitive Neville nudged him, warning of mortal peril, did Harry realize he was under the Professor's death stare and school his expression at once.
Tom was curious what this South American professor would bring that was different.
Soon Isabella strode in with a springy gait. The Castelobruxo visitors truly loved their animal prints. Beyond the leopard patterned robes, even their boots, gloves and scarves were leopard spot.
"Hello, everyone." Isabella greeted them with a bright voice that matched her own wild aura.
"Rather than call this a Potions class, it is more accurate to call it Herbology. Herbs are the basis of potions. If you do not understand their properties, you cannot grasp the distinctive character of South American brews or Castelobruxo methods."
She smiled. "Take our most representative craft, body transformation. Professor Flitwick told me he mentioned to you an auxiliary potion used for transformation at Castelobruxo."
The students nodded.
"That is true. Magic performed through such potions we call Druidic shapeshifting. A master druid can even take on the form of a magical creature."
"How is that possible?" Hermione burst out. "An Animagus can only transform into a mundane animal. That is a law of Transfiguration."
"That is a law of British wizardry," Isabella said without offense, smiling as she explained. "Because this is no longer purely Transfiguration. That is the wonder of potions. Am I right, Professor Snape?"
Snape's face did not thaw. He inclined his head. "Professor Camado, too few truly appreciate the marvel and grandeur of Potions. I do not recommend stuffing more into their limited brains than they can hold."
Every young witch and wizard pulled a face. Even Tom felt the AOE sting from the old bat.
Isabella laughed. "This is only a simple introduction. Do not force yourselves to memorize it. Relax and listen like a story. None of this will be on your exams anyway."
Soft chuckles rippled through the room. Isabella began in earnest.
"Our school lies in the depths of the Amazon, the region with the greatest known diversity of magical creatures in the world, a natural cradle for herbs and plants. On that foundation, Castelobruxo has developed potions and magic perfectly suited to living with the jungle.
"The core of Druidic shapeshifting is, in fact, a single herb."
A sheet of serpentskin parchment, enlarged dozens of times, unfurled across the blackboard.