5 Chapter 5 - The secret is out...

"Alright, you guys and girls know about the extra study group tomorrow, so just stay behind after breakfast tomorrow, if you want to join and we'll go up here together like I asked you to before."

After two more days of classes full of lessons, Ash was almost done with his first week of lessons. This double lesson on Friday morning with the first year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs was as good as over, and before lunch, he had another lesson with the second year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Then, after lunch, all he had to teach was another round of third years before dinner.

"Have fun at charms, guys!" Ash ushered out the last stragglers with a smile and a wave. "Phew, don't know how they do it, caring for all 7 years at the same time. Even with all the open blocks I have now, I'm still so exhausted!"

He took out his wand and began to straighten out the classroom for the next lesson, as he began to think out loud. "7 time slots a day, that's 35 lesson slots a week. 7 years to teach, with the first 5 years divided into two houses each. With one double and one single lesson, that's 30 lessons a week for years 1 to 5. That leaves us with 5 open lesson slots for years 6 and 7. How does Snape usually solve that problem? Do N.E.W.T. students require less time? Huh, I should have attended the courses even if I took my potion N.E.W.T.s early... why did I never think of that before?"

"Well, if you think about it, with me here, Snape has 24 less lessons to teach, and I know he dislikes the younger students the most... Why is he still so mad about this arrangement?" Ash began to think about how he could improve his colleagues' mood, but he began to realise it might be out of his hands.

"I might have had his respect as a student, but I think he always disliked me a little bit after the prophet began writing article after article about me after my fifth year. Can't do anything about that... does he really care about me also being a potions professor? Taking away his 'limelight'? I thought he wanted to teach DADA - won't me being here raise his chances?"

After he let out a sigh, he turned around and noticed Luna was already in the classroom, listening to him with a dreamy smile.

"Oh, hi Luna! Were you here long?" Ash scratched the back of his head a little embarrassed.

"No worries, I wasn't here for long." Ash breathed out in relief. "I mean, I did hear the entirety of your musings on Professor Snape," Luna added afterward with a sagely nod.

"Wait, why did you tell me not to worry then? I was worried you heard all of that." Ash looked confused.

"Oh, I told you not to worry because I already knew you think out loud sometimes, and your secret's save with me anyway," Luna explained in a sweet voice.

"Haaa, guess you're right. How was your day so far?"

"Oh, it was good. The nargles left me alone all morning."

"Nice, those are days to savor. Any more lessons after lunch for you?"

Luna took out a leather-bound and colorful journal decked out in feathers and sprinkles, leafed through it, and eventually found what she was looking for. "Hmm, oh yes, I still have transfiguration later, a free study period and herbology afterward before dinner."

"Ah too bad, though I guess you could join me after herbology at my super secret, super magical, super secret project. I'll have more of it finished at that time anyway. Would make seeing it for the first time that much more impressive."

"Oh, you mean that super secret japanese style bath house you built at the lake that everybody has been talking about since Wednesday?"

Ash's gaze suddenly turned vacant. "You uh, you already know about it?"

"Yes! Everybody does. I think Fred and George took a few seniors for a grand tour yesterday. That really increased its popularity as a sight-seeing spot. I've been there too."

Ash sat down dejectedly. A few moments later, he let out a long breath. "Whatever, it was never meant to be a secret anyway, just thought if I worked fast enough, I would be the one telling everyone about it. You know, before they found it on their own. Can't believe the students figured out it was going to be a bath house, though? The spring in the cave isn't even finished yet. It's just a dry cave in the back of the big house."

"That's because I told them I knew it was going to be a hot spring because you showed me that photograph at Christmas, remember?"

Ash turned to Luna with a betrayed look, but Luna never lost her dreamy smile. And yet again, Ash let out a long breath, shoulders slumped.

He shook his head, regained his smile, and relaxed his posture on the stool he sat on behind his workstation in the center.

"Whatever, nice solve, Luna. I hope you're excited about the bath house? Since you've already been there - any notes? Something to improve?"

"Yes! But no, you're doing a good job, Professor Ash."

Their conversation finished, Ash did a quick head count of all the second years that joined, while he talked to Luna and, upon confirmation, started his lesson.

"Good day everyone, time to continue where we left off."

Ash continued his lesson, already fully in his element from almost a full week of teaching. Mid lesson, he caught a few bright smiles after he answered some questions, and he was once again elated to do what he always thought was his calling: teaching.

At lunch, Ash got the attention of Filius and Minerva, and they agreed to accompany him to the black lake before dinner. Remus, still rattled by the Hufflepuff conspiracy, asked to tag along, and Ash agreed.

After lunch, Ash taught the third years, and once again, the golden trio stayed behind.

"Yes, how can I help you? Already done with the homework I just gave out, Kitty?" Ash asked them with a smile.

"Huh, yes - how did you know that?" Hermione was a little shocked, but still moved forward to give Ash a good 60 lines on her thoughts about the next potion they were going to brew.

"Very well, know that you won't earn any brownie points with me for handing it in early Hermione. I'll look over it before our next lesson and give you feedback. Like I mentioned when I explained my homework types to you - this," Ash pointed towards the parchment, "is optional for your own benefit." Ash patiently explained after Hermione looked a little dejected, as Ash packed away the parchment without reading it.

"Anything else you three? I have a prior commitment, though I suppose I have half an hour left."

Harry took that as his queue and began, "Yeah, I wanted to thank you for talking to Professor McGonagall about my broom. She said she asked Professor Dumbledore to look it over tomorrow, so I should expect to get it back before practice on Monday."

"Sure thing, Harry. Though you should probably already know how much Minerva liked quidditch. Had you asked, I'm sure she would have remembered to look into it with higher priority."

Harry scratched his head. He thought about that too - unfortunately only after Professor McGonagall explained it to him.

Ash continued, looking at all three one after another. "Does that mean you guys are on speaking terms again? No more hard feelings?"

Ron, like the true oblivious social butterfly he was, gave Ash a thumbs up, while Hermione still looked a little aggrieved. Harry was caught between both friends and just scratched his head... again.

"Haaa, you guys should work on your communication skills, lest someone's feelings stay hurt."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about all thi-," Harry was interrupted before he could finish his apology to Hermione.

"Not here, guys. This is a really big castle. Surely, you can do better than apologizing in a classroom with a professor present. Make it special. I don't know. Get the elves to bring you hot chocolate and hang out in the common room or build a snowman outside. Or Ron, hear me out - read a book in comfortable silence. Maybe a quidditch magazine if the book is too tall an order."

"What were you going to do? You said you had a prior commitment?" Ron tried to change the subject, clearly not excited about the prospect of reading on a weekend of all things.

"Hmm, that's a secret for now."

Hermione narrowed her eyes while Harry tilted his head a little before he tentatively asked, "Is it about the bath house you built at the lake?"

"Who told you it's mine?" This time, Ash narrowed his eyes.

"Uh, I think Luna did?" Harry wasn't sure, and immediately he was sorry for snitching on his friend.

"Of course she did. Well, no use to lie about it. She is right, and you were too. Still not going to tell you what I am about to do."

With that, Ash shooed away the trio and prepared warm clothes and his trunk.

As he walked outside trunk in tow, Ash met Minerva and Filius on the rampart, leading towards the forbidden forest and the lake.

"Ah, did you have to wait long?" Ash politely asked as he moved closer.

"No worries, Ash. We just arrived ourselves. Nice use of the locomotor charm," Filius jovially answered as he eyed the floating trunk.

"Yes, Filius and I just started talking about what we could offer to help out with the bath house."

"Really Minerva? Even you know about that already?" Ash shook his head as he asked.

"Well, after the twins discovered your little project, did you really think it would stay a secret for long?" Minerva asked with a smirk.

"Ah yes, the Weasley twins announced a trip towards the secret bath house after my charms class with them and took almost all their Hufflepuff and Gryffindor class mates with them yesterday. I wouldn't find it weird if we find students there, once we go there." Filius added helpfully, tossing Ash further into exasperation.

Filius continued, "I also heard nobody has been able to enter the smaller house because of a powerful locking spell or ward - my ravens were still not sure. However, I heard a few of them discuss that those bath houses are really the headquarters for the Hufflepuff conspiracy, and we only discovered the houses after a concealment ward failed. Apparently, a Gryffindor senior heroically sacrificed himself and destroyed a ward stone by paying with his life. All to uncover Hufflepuff's scheme to the world."

Remus had by now arrived and paled when he heard about the conspiracy again.

He tried really hard to forget about the whole thing, but he couldn't. Even though it was mostly in jest, students kept talking about it in the hallway or his classroom before the lessons started.

"Still thinking about the Hufflepuff conspiracy, Remus?" Ash asked with a big grin. "Come on, let's move. I'll show you our secret headquarters. I can open the smaller house for you to take a look."

As they moved along the lake and got closer to the bath houses, the four professors spotted several students close to it. Some had even gathered some firewood and lit a little bonfire close to the benches Ash had created outside the big house.

With a roof that allowed sunlight through over their heads, a fire to keep them warm and a perfect view of the lake in all its winter-y glory, this really was a cozy hang out spot for the students, who wanted to enjoy their weekend.

"Let's go to the smaller house first. Can't have too many witnesses," Ash explained, and he meant nothing by it, really, but Remus got nervous once again.

"Witnesses, Ash?" "Yeah Remus, they all know about the bath house thanks to Luna, but they don't yet know what this is really for."

Ash's explanation was not very helpful and only heightened Remus' nervousness.

"Come, I'll show you what we're working with." Ash led them towards them towards the house, and two professors followed him, oblivious to Remus' racing thoughts. "You coming, Remus?" Remus took out his wand, ready for anything.

Ash opened the locks, opened the door, and led the three professors inside. The house obviously had extension charms because the room was much bigger from the inside, but it lacked all furniture save for some pillows. At the back was another door towards a changing room the professors noticed. Ash led them through it, and from the changing room, they entered what appeared to be a cave.

The cave was well lit, and the roof was covered in luminous moss that made the cave's ceiling look like a very bright star gazers night sky.

Ash took out his wand, threw a Lumos ball further in that floated at head height to show off several pools of water varying in size in a rocky formation, and then he swung his wand a bunch of times to raise the temperature in the cave.

"So the reason I called you two here, Minerva, Filius." Ash turned towards the professors, and his next sentence was like music to Remus' stressed out ears.

"This smaller house is supposed to be for staff use, while the bigger one is supposed to open for the students. Feel free to give it your personal touch while we're in this house. On the other side we'll obviously have our work cut out for us with the separation of boys and girls and I'm guessing the boys won't appreciate a simple hot spring all too much and would want a corner for horsing around. We'll have to separate some areas for that... but enough of the big house."

Ash turned towards the pools of water again. "I want to make this place a... well, natural is stretching it, but let's say through magic, I want to make this place a 'natural' hot spring."