Shut Up and Scratch

By: RavenPaine (at) http/ One: You have got to be kidding me...

Humiliation has its limitations, Draco thought sourly as he was carried to the Hospital Wing by none other than Professor Severus Snape. The young Malfoy was beyond mortified as he remembered what the rest of the third period Transfiguration class had seen happen to him, and it was all Professor McGonagall's fault, not matter how many people in the class had tried to deny it. She had deliberately cast a spell on him, which was linked to the fact that she still blamed him for the death of Dumbledore, blatantly ignoring the fact that both he and Snape were cleared of all charges by the Ministry of Magic.

"-not to worry though. Denarios' in the process of contacting your father about your, eh, condition, as we speak. That should be a riot," Snape mused to himself with an eerie smile as they made it to the Infirmary. Carefully, Snape set Draco down on the nearest bed which was covered in white linen.

Draco softly brooded over the preliminary question of why the Healers always used white cotton opposed to a darker color that wouldn't stain with blood that easily. Another mystery of the world that will have to remain unsolved for today, he thought. Sitting up, Draco looked around the Infirmary to find it void of human life. Snape had gone over to Madam Pomfrey's office to explain to her the conditions of the incident. Sunlight poured through the arched stained-glass windows, contrasting the current mood of Draco. A team of what looked like rather large bumblebees could be seen through the windows playing a practice Quidditch match.

"Fine, fine Severus, I'll look over Mr. Malfoy. I'm telling you though all he's doing is making a big show of it to get out of doing something like he always does," the voice of Madam Pomfrey drifted through the almost barren hospital. Her gaze quickly scanned over all of the beds in the room looking baffled. "Severus, where is Mr. Malfoy?" her voice inquired, giving away her confusion. When Snape pointed to the bed closest to the door where Draco was dutifully sitting, Pomfrey's usually serene face broke into a gleeful grin. "Oh, you must be kidding me!" She walked over and sat on the bed next to Draco's sitting form, putting two fingers under his chin so she should better look in his eyes. "I do say, Severus, you really outdid yourself on this one! He even has Malfoy's eyes!"

By this time Draco could not believe what he was hearing. Pomfrey did not believe it was really him. Worriedly, he pushed his back further against the pillows. He watched with wide eyes as the aging Healer had begun to emit downright maniacal laughter. Ashamed, he turned himself and buried his head beneath the white pillow.

"What, may I ask, do you find so amusing, Poppy?" Snape asked angrily, turning to face her instead of Malfoy's cowering form.

"You expect…me…to…believe that….that… thing… is….Malfoy?" Pomfrey managed to get out in between gales of laughter.

"It is Malfoy! Now will you please try to help him instead of embarrassing him more than he already is?"

"Oh, Severus, you shouldn't have! April Fool's Day is not until tomorrow! If I were you I would check my calendar again!"

"Knock it off, Poppy! This is not some childish prank! This," he said picking up Draco by the scruff of the neck and holding him out in front of her. "This is Mr. Draco Malfoy. If need be, I will go and fetch Denario and he will only prove said statement to be true!" Snape snarled, beginning to shake with rage at this point.

Madam Poppy Pomfrey stopped laughing immediately and looked at 'Mr. Malfoy'. "But, Severus, this is a kitten," she said quietly, taking the small creature from Snape's grasp and into her own.

"It is, but it's also Mr. Malfoy. Professor McGonagall 'accidentally' cast the spell on him and she refuses to tell anybody the counter curse. We were hoping you could help him."

"Honestly, I don't know of anything that could help with this. I will ask around though. Have they made plans for his classes yet?"

"The incident only happened twenty minutes ago, I would give it until this evening before we get an answer."

"All right. I guess it's just you and I here until we get this sorted out, Mr. Malfoy."

Upon having his worst thoughts confirmed, Draco nudged his way out of her hands and promptly moved over to the night table which had a tin-like plate on it for decoration. Staring back at him was a kitten's small face and body with jet-black, downy fur and large grey eyes. Dejectedly, he stalked back over to the pillows and curled up on top of them, determined to ignore everybody until this problem was resolved.