What will happen when Dumbledore sends Tonks and Snape to New York City to bring back a muggle college student who is in more danger than she ever could have realized? Maybe Snape/OC but probably not.

A/N: This story is set Pre DH. I'm going to try to keep the characters as in character as possible, but this will not be strictly canon. I have my basic plot, but this story could really go in any direction. This chapter is sort of an experiment to see if I should write more or if people actually like it. This is more for my own entertainment, but if others like it that is always a plus. Feel free to give me any ideas. This is my first fanfic, so constructive criticism is welcome, but flames are not. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters or ideas. However, the original characters and plot are mine.

Chapter 1: The Mission

"Absolutely not, Albus." Severus Snape sat up as straight as he could in one of the Headmaster's plush armchairs and crossed his long, slender arms over his chest, glaring.

"Now then, Severus," the headmaster said cheerfully. "I really don't see what big deal is. I daresay you've dealt with a lot worse before." Albus's eye twinkled merrily. Severus knew that when that eye started twinkling, there was there nothing he could do to change the Headmaster's mind. Still, it wouldn't hurt to make Albus aware of how utterly ridiculous the entire situation was.

"Albus," Severus stressed, "you want me to go to the States, to New York City no less, convince some American teenage muggle brat that she is in moral peril because the most powerful dark wizard of this age wants to use her for we-don't-even-know-what, and that she would be safer under the protection of wizards and witches that she did not previously know existed? And if, by some miracle, I convince her to come with me, I have to then house said brat in my dungeons? How did you expect me to react to this, Albus? Did you think that I would be jumping up and down like some hyperactive adolescent at a Weird Sisters concert?"

"Look Severus, I know this isn't going to be very pleasant for you. However, this girl may just be the key in understanding what we need to take Tom down in the final battle. If I were to trust anyone with a task as important as this, it would be you. And don't worry, you won't be going alone."

Severus rolled his eyes. "And who, pray tell, did you arrange as my travel partner? Potter? Miss Granger? Longbottom perhaps?"

"Miss Nymphadora Tonks."

"WHAT?!" Severus stood up to full length in disbelief. "Albus, have you failed to notice that the little twit cannot stand straight on her own two feet for more than five minutes? Or how everything in the surrounding area seems to break when she is present? Honestly Albus, I think we would be safer with Longbottom."

"Now Severus, Miss Tonks is a very capable Auror. She will be an asset to have. Plus, she has always wanted to visit New York. She should be here any --" Albus was cut off by the sound of coughing, accompanied by smoke surrounding his fireplace. A few seconds later, Nymphadora Tonks stumbled out of the fireplace, in a coughing fit. She sported long, wavy, sky-blue hair, a black t-shirt with a multi-colored skull and crossbones, a pair of camouflage jeans, and blue sneakers that matched her hair. She managed to bumble across the room, falling into the fiery orange stuffed armchair beside Severus, who looked at her with as much distaste and caution as if she were a Blast-Ended Skrewt. Albus clasped his hands together merrily as if she had entered as gracefully as a Phoenix.

"Miss Tonks! How wonderful that you managed to arrive on time! I trust that your trip went well?

"I –cough—it –cough- …fine," Tonks struggled to breathe.

"Now then, dear, just rest for a minute. Have a lemon drop." Albus held out a colorful glass dish filled with hard, yellow sweets to her. She took one, but not before knocking over a bottle of ink and a quill. Tonks looked up apologetically at the Headmaster, and Severus covered his face with one of his hands. The Headmaster smiled and waved his hand dismissingly.

"No worries, dear. Scourgify." Albus pointed his wand at the spilt ink, which completely disappeared. He then got up, opened a manila folder, took out a couple of pieces of paper, and replaced the folder on top of a tall, black filing cabinet. He set the pieces of paper in front of Snape and Tonks.

"Now, this is a picture of the girl you're looking for. Her name is Amy Beckett. She's nineteen years old and very intelligent. She attends an esteemed muggle university. In fact, you could say that she sort of the intellectual equivalent of Miss Granger."

Tonks and Snape both sat straight up. "Wonderful," Snape said through clenched teeth. "Another know-it-all? This situation gets better and better, doesn't it?" He took the picture in his hand and studied it. The girl in the picture had long, dark brown hair, and serious eyes. If I didn't know any better, Severus thought, I would think she was a member of the Black family. He passed the picture to Tonks and watched as the Headmaster explained the other piece of paper on the desk.

"This is the address of her university. Tomorrow the university is going to host an open house for prospective students and their families. Severus, Miss Tonks, you will disguise yourselves as a muggle father and his daughter interested in the school. That way, you can get past the muggle security without running into any problems."

"Albus," Severus started painfully. "There are many other ways of getting past muggle security – disillusionment charms, invisibility potions…-"

"None of which you will be using in such a highly concentrated area of muggles. Magic is to be used ONLY in instances of emergency, is that understood?" Albus asked sharply. Tonks and Snape nodded silently, Snape's sour attitude evident as he once again folded his arms across his chest.

"Now, there is a flew network connecting my office with the basement of the Time Warner Building in New York. This building is across the street from the university. You will enter the building and tell the muggles at the entrance you are there for the tour. If you happen to see Miss Beckett during the tour, find an excuse to leave and go talk to her. If not, wait as long as you can and then go look for her. There will be many muggles on the tour with you, so you shall not be missed. It is imperative that you catch her before she leaves the building. Any questions?" The Headmaster looked up happily as if he had merely asked them to pick up a quill off the floor.

Severus looked up, an annoyed sneer on his face. "I have many questions, Headmaster. Why me? Why this girl? How can an American muggle be so important to-" the Headmaster held up his hand to stop him.

"Severus, I have already explained the importance of this mission. We don't know exactly what Tom wants with her, but we do know that it is extremely important that we need to get to her before he does. If there are no real questions—" Tonks suddenly spoke up.

"Professor Dumbledore, I have a question. How should we, er, dress?"

Albus chuckled. "It really doesn't matter, dear. New York is a very…diverse place. You could go as you are now without attracting very much attention." Tonks grinned at this while Snape glared at her.

"Well, if there are no further questions, I shall see both of you in my office at 9:00 A.M. sharp tomorrow. You are dismissed." Albus waved a joyous hand at them. Severus sprang from his seat and stalked down the stairs to exit. Tonks bade Albus an equally happy goodbye and bounced toward the fireplace. Albus watched the two leave in amusement.

"This is going to be the beginning of a very interesting week," Albus said thoughtfully, dropping a lemon drop into his mouth.