Lesson 3

Thanks for your kind reviews! Keep them coming, please.

I do not own the characters, JKR does. Next lesson/ chapter; hope you like it.

Lesson 3

In which Professor McGonagall gets a lesson from her lover and Professor Snape enjoys an unexpected day off.

o-o-o-o-o

Professor McGonagall looked up from her desk when an angry cloud of green ash blasted into her office, accompanied by the Matron's order to see her at once. Knowing her friend better than anyone else, she knew she had some questions to answer.

Tumbling out of the fireplace in Poppy's office, she patted the soot from her robes and looked at her friend. 'What's wrong, love?'

'This is,' Poppy said curtly and pointed at her desk, where a cage stood containing a small rabbit.

'What is that?' Minerva asked, confused.

'It's Severus's homework, the pincushion you told him to change into a baby rabbit.'

She smiled. 'I knew he could do it…a cutie you are, aren't you…' but when she reached out to stroke the animal it narrowed its eyes, hissed and spat at her.

Poppy quickly pulled her away.

'Did it hit you?' she asked agitated.

'No, no it didn't, it just spat on the…'she gasped when she saw the little columns of smoke rise from the new formed holes in the desk where it had spat on it.

'Merlin, what is that?'

'The pincushion that you told Severus to change into a baby rabbit,' the nurse answered.

'It's poisonous.'

She trembled with shock, staring wide eyed at the rabbit. 'I don't understand…' she whispered. 'Poppy, what happened? Do you know?'

The mediwitch wrapped her arm around her friend and took her into her small parlour. They sat down on the settee and Poppy Summoned a house elf and asked for tea and biscuits.

'He told me it took him some effort to transfigure the pincushion,' Poppy said. 'Have you ever noticed him having trouble with that in your class, when he was a student?'

'No, never. He was one of my best students.'

'Then why did you make him brush up his skills?'

'Because I suspected he hadn't Transfigured so much as a hankie in a washcloth since he left school, and that was many years ago. Just a reminder.'

'I see…' Poppy murmured while preparing their tea.

'Are you going to tell me what happened?

'I don't really know myself, love. I am just as puzzled as you are. So no problems in class?'

'Nothing with his results, only he was constantly being bullied by James Potter's group. I felt sorry for the poor lad, but Albus told me to stay out of it…I still wonder if I did the right thong by listening to him..., why do you ask?'

'Because poisonous rabbits don't exist and yet he made one.'

'But Poppy, that's impossible. No one can Transfigurate an object into a live being that doesn't exist…'

'No one ever did so far,' Poppy confirmed. 'But Severus managed somehow, and now we'll have to find out what happened. Why did he need to brush up his skills anyway, Minerva?'

'Because he wants to learn how to be an Animagus,' Minerva whispered. 'Oh Poppy, is that safe? What if he turns into a poisonous rabbit?'

Poppy chuckled by the idea of Severus as a fluffy rabbit, poisonous or not.

'I really don't know, love. I suppose it depends on what shape he takes as an Animagus. A person's Animagus form is decided by birth, isn't it?'

'Yes, it is. No doubt about that.'

'That's good to know. I have a hunch this poisonous rabbit may have something to do with his Dark Mark. It might explain why he had never any problems in your class. I'll have to do a lot more research, though.'

Poppy wrapped an arm around her friend.

'We'll work together,' she said.

They had more tea, added a wee dram of Firewhisky and Minerva was finally able to relax.

'Poppy, I know it's a weekday but may I sleep here with you? Please?' she asked her lover. 'I don't want to be alone now.'

'Oh, come here,' Poppy said.

o-o-o-o-o

Severus woke up before his usual time, disturbed by the house elf he had ordered to apply the salve to his injured hand every hour during the night.

'Sorry sir but it's six sir! Came to put salve on!'

'Alright, go on,' he said sleepily. At seven the elf woke him again and when it presented itself for the eight o'clock treatment, Severus sat up and studied his hand. It was less red and painful, the throbbing had diminished, but the greenish blisters looked even more angry than they had the other day. But that might be a sign of the body cleaning up the infection.

'Thank you. Can you send me a message when Madam Pomfrey is alone?' he asked the elf.

'I will professor sir.'

The elf disappeared and Severus found himself dealing with an unexpected day off. He looked forward to finally having time to complete his experiments on the side effects of belladonna and chamomile when Madam Pomfrey' voice rang in his ears.

'Stay away from your kettles and fumes!' she had ordered and to his own surprise, he decided to give in.

A nice, hot long shower it was, then. Pulling a large dragon hide glove over his injured hand, he managed to keep it dry. A bit of magic proved to be useful to handle the towels with one hand. Dressed in clean, fresh robes and his hair shining and wavy, he sat down to enjoy his breakfast and took his time with it, scanning the Daily Rag.

Okay, so no experiments on the belladonna or even the chamomile. Then what to do?

On the floor next to his easy chair, his abandoned Muggle detective seemed to wink at him. So did the coffee pot on the stove, and the sofa. Hm.

Severus applied his salve and while tending to his blistered skin, he got an idea and decided to visit Diagonally. He hadn't been there in ages. The weekends were always overcrowd and he detested that, but today was Friday.

He was startled by a sizzling sound and found a note on the floor:

Madam Pomfrey can see you now professor sir., it read.

Good. Having enjoyed a cooked breakfast with bacon, eggs, beans and bangers, he felt ready to face the nurse.

'Have you any idea what happened?' he asked while he strode into her office.

'Good morning, Severus,' she said pleasantly.

'I'm sorry Poppy. Good morning to you, too,' he said, feeling a bit ashamed for his lack of manners.

'Thank you. And I may have some ideas, but I'm not sure about anything. It's a very interesting case. If you don't mind I'd like to owl Professor Wiggings over at St Mungo's, he will be happy to think along with us.'

'That's alright,' he nodded.

'Now, I'd like to take a blood sample from you. I've also taken one from the rabbit – I Immobilised it first- and then if you don't mind, I'd like to have a small flake of skin from your Dark Mark. I will only put sticking plaster on it and then pull it off, so no one needs to find out.'

No one meaning the Dark Lord, he understood, and he nodded.

'You can take what you want,' he said.

While she prepared the needle and tube she said: 'Minerva told me you were one of her best students, she was surprised that you had trouble Transfigurating that pincushion.'

'So was I. First I thought it was just lack of practise, I haven't Transfigurated so much as a toothpick in the last twenty years. But this nasty bite made me wonder. I believe it's getting better, though, it's less painful.'

Poppy had her samples and examined his hand. 'You're right, it's healing nicely…you'll be able to go back to work next Monday. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a sample from one of the blisters.'

'I don't mind. Am I to let them heal naturally or should they be pierced?'

'I prefer letting them heal. They should be smaller this evening and if they are not, come see me. This little one however, near your wrist, I'll empty.'

She had prepared a syringe and needle and carefully filled it with the blister's contents. Then she applied a drop of what he knew to be a disinfectant on the small wound and used quite a lot of gauze to dress it.

'There you are. Come see me tonight anyway, I'd like to see what happens. Fancy a cup of tea?'

'Yes, please.'

Poppy closed the door and prepared them tea. Severus smiled inwardly when he noticed the Scottish blend. He was one of the very few who knew about her and Minerva.

'Severus, what worries me is that you have created an animal that does not exist in nature. Poisonous snakes exist, poisonous rabbits do not. Yet you made one, and it took you effort. Minerva said you never had troubles of that kind in her class. That's why I think your Dark Mark may have had something to do with that,' she said earnestly.

'I realised that when you wanted a skin sample. I never thought of that, the Mark has been there so long I sometimes forget it's there and I never connected it with my troubles in Transfigurating a cute rabbit. Did Minerva have any idea?'

'She didn't but then again, you are an unique case. I only came across it through the train rabbit- poisonous- snake-Slytherin-Dark Mark. I may be totally wrong, Severus, but I have to start somewhere.'

He smiled at her. 'And I know you love it,' he said.

'No, Severus, I am concerned about you!' she protested.

'Of course, I know you are but admit it Poppy, investigating a totally new subject excites you,' he smiled fondly.

The mediwitch chuckled, admitting defeat while still looking a bit guilty.

'You're right of course.'

'I take it I have to leave my Transfiguration practise behind?' he asked.

'Oh no, go on. Minerva said you wish to be an Animagus and so far, I don't see any risk there. Just stick to inanimate objects please.'

'Good idea.'

'Mm. Any plans for today?'

'I had planned a visit to the shops in Diagonally, now I have the opportunity to go there on a week day.'

'Which shops?' she asked.

'Oh, there is a splendid apothecary and I need some new kettles for class. And Flourish and Blotts, of course.'

'Just be sure not to touch anything in the apothecary. Have them wrap it up for you. I am probably overcautious, but better safe than sorry. And would you mind picking up an order at the bookshop for me while you're there?'

'No problem, Poppy. Thanks for the tea.'

'Enjoy your day, Severus,' the mediwitch smiled at him.

o-o-o-o-o

TBC

Please, pretty please, let me know what you think!

Love, george