Not much is mentioned about Severus Snape's early life or birth. So, I am trying to tell it in my own way. It was out of a whim that I turned Irma Pince as Snape's relative. This time around, I am planning to finish it. I could have taken down the entire thing, but I didn't wish to lose those valuable reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling.

Chapter 17

Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft
30th January 1960,

A 7th-year prefect Poppy Pomphrey, Hufflepuff, was hurriedly making her way towards the library. At dinner, a rather harried 6th year Ravenclaw prefect, Thomas Twotoes, approached her, asking if she had seen her friend, Irma Pince after lunch. Poppy was most surprised and worried. Iris Pince was her senior, dear friend, and mentor in her house, and Irma was just like a sister to her. Though the latter was sorted into a different house, there was always a healthy competition between the badger and the eagle, unlike the bloody battle, those snakes and griffins waged throughout the castle.

Her face lit up in a bright smile when Poppy saw an unharmed and as thoughtful as ever Irma, walk out of the library closing its door behind her. She schooled her features immediately and wore a rather realistic scowl on her face. "And you have been, where exactly?"

Irma was both happy and a little apprehensive to see Poppy. Happy because she now had someone to walk her to the entrance of the Ravenclaw common room. And apprehensive, because Poppy was appointed as a prefect this year, and like any true Hufflepuff, she was just and loyal to the core. The younger student was about to come up with an excuse, when decisively her stomach growled aloud.

Poppy raised one palm and uttered " Don't say a word!"

Next she ushered an embarrassed and blushing Irma to a nearby empty classroom. Once the door was locked with a swift spell and two desks cleared off settled dust, Poppy brought out a parcel she had been carrying so long, in her robe pockets. It was a decent meal- half a loaf, some shepherd's pie, a small portion of roasted chicken, and a muffin for dessert. Next, she brought out a little flask- which had pumpkin juice inside. For water, her wand had already conjured up a goblet, and a precise Aguamenti spell had filled it up with water.

Now, signaling to the diner spread, Poppy arched an eyebrow up and simply ordered Irma, "Sit and eat. All of it".

Irma wiped her eyes. She couldn't quite believe someone would be so considerate. After whispering a "thank you" she diligently began ravishing the meal. Poppy sat in front of her studying the girl minutely. She, like the rest of the castle, referred to her as "the tiny girl" behind her back. But the Hufflepuff was sure her Ravenclaw friend cum sister was quite far ahead than the rest of them. She was both intuitive, observant, and mature. She fought her own battles, stood at her own grounds, never wavering for a bit. All of these impressed the Hufflepuff spirit in Poppy Pomphrey. She was just short in structure, and that cannot be classified under dwarfism.

While in the first year, Irma had accidentally walked too close to the Whomping Willow, and the vengeful tree had tossed the girl in the air. Its branches had cut through her robes and dress and the way she had landed, in turn got her two ribs broken and a leg and an arm twisted and dislocated. Poppy had witnessed the whole incident, and it was her singular interest in Healing charms and her desire to pursue Medi Witchcraft, that she had known the required spells, to limit the damage. Irma had been whimpering in pain when the elder student had righted her wet and bloody hair. She had surely cut open a wound back there as well. The Hufflepuff had muttered a stupefy and had inspected the small wound on the side of the girl's head. That was dealt with a shaky mending charm.

A thoughtful petrificus totalus and mobicorpus later, Poppy had led the unconscious girl hurriedly through the large entrance door of the School and into the infirmary as swiftly as her legs could. Her timely aid had not only got her applauds from her head of the house, Madam Sprout, but even the deputy headmistress and the headmaster had appreciated her efforts. She had bagged a total of fifty points for her act. But Poppy would treasure more the opportunity she got from Madam Moonstone- to be inducted into the apprenticeship program she had formulated for Iris Pince, once Poppy would become a 7th-year student.

"It's getting tiring, Pops", Irma said with a bored voice,while sipping her last gulp of Pumpkin juice.

A baffled Poppy looked back confused, "What?"

"You, staring at me, thinking, Merlin knows what? And grinning like a sap."

"Oh! You better be quiet. I am not done with you yet."

"Pops, I meant no disrespect, I just couldn't sit quietly at the common room, doing nothing, and those sounds coming from the castle. I had a hunch- "

"And you had to visit "the sacred library"- so pray, tell me- did your many books whisper hymns of knowledge back to you?"

"Stop that silly act- and No, they didn't, at least not yet. Therefore, I wrote back home, "patting her pocket where the letter lay tucked in, "and Mother will have something positive to say, I suppose."

Poppy had heard how well-read Aida Pince was, and she too agreed that maybe the older lady could throw some light, until the teachers tell them what they have found out.

Just close to curfew hour, Poppy Pomfrey and Irma Pince climbed up the stairs to the Ravenclaw common room.

A landing away from the Tower entrance, Irma stopped, turned towards her companion and asked," Pops, do you believe everything that's written in the books?"

The other was quite surprised by her question. Grabbing hold of the girl's shoulder she asked thoroughly concerned," I can't believe you are asking this question Irma, what about putting your trust in books! They never fail to teach you! What's wrong?"

"Urm, well, you know, books are written by people like us. Surely none of us have read, heard or experienced every single magical thing in this universe?"

"That's philosophical. But what is it you are trying to tell me here, Irma?" the Hufflepuff prefect tilted her head with interest.

"Well, if Dumbledore, Professor Flitwick or any of the teachers are honestly clueless about this humdrum the castle is making. I can guess because none of the teachers have briefed us as of yet...if the books in the Hogwarts Library or in the Ministry have nothing to provide us...I mean what if we never heard of such a thing before because, nobody ever experienced it before! As if this is a new thing happening or perhaps it is too old for anyone to sit and write about it!" the Ravenclaw waved her hands in exasperation.

Poppy stared at the girl with sympathy and stirred her up the stairs saying," Now, Now, all I can understand, young lady, is that you are in need of a whole night's rest. You got too much information cramped out in that little head of yours in a day's time! Sleep it in, take deep breaths, relax, okay?"

"Pops, I got a mother and an elder sister to mollycoddle me, but I do give you a pass now and then. Just don't overuse the privilege, prefect or not," Irma sneered but she was yawning already.

The brass knocker with the eagle head looked down at the Ravenclaw and tersely asked the riddle, "What works every day but never gets tired?"

Irma quietly replied "The Sun."

The door swung open. The Ravenclaw bid her rescuer a pleasing good night. She was about to turn to retire for the night when Poppy playfully grabbed her shoulder and whispered, "3 points from Ravenclaw for being ensconced in the library."

Irma looked up to her and with a sweet smile returned, "I did break rules, Pops. And I have Professor Flitwick to meet as well. I am sure he will be disappointed too. So, here goes, some more points flying out of the window."

Professor Flitwick had just come out of his chambers with both the Ravenclaw Prefect Twotoes and The Grey Lady trailing behind him. Finding a perfectly healthy Irma near the common room entrance, the party gave up on the thought of visiting the library. Instead, they walked up to the two girls.

Filius Flitwick dealt with his students, not like Minerva or Horace. He would both award and deduct points after making the students decide whether they really were guilty enough. His logic so far had never failed to discipline the little ravens. That logic presides in the court of the just and intellect- a Ravenclaw un-codified motto, which many pass outs till this day recalled fondly.

Both the girls wished the half-goblin Charms professor, "Good afternoon sir" and to Grey Lady, "Good Afternoon".

"Good Afternoon, Miss Pince and Miss Pomphrey." Turning to the 7th year perfect, the professor thanked her, for her thoughtfulness. Turning to Miss Pince, he just huffed.

Irma had the manners to address the situation well enough. She started with a polite apology and then explained her discomfiture in the entire situation. Professor Flitwick was rather proud.

"Regarding the whole situation as quite a putout, I will leave you with a mild warning this time, Miss Pince. "

As expected, his student bowed her head in resignation and meekly answered, "Yes, professor."

Flitwick added with a mirth dancing in his voice, "2 points awarded for being not up to some mischief".

"Mister Twotoes, please see it and Miss Irma truly gets back to her dorm. Miss Pomphrey, come along, I am on my way to the kitchens, I will escort you to your dorms as well."

Twotoes and Johnson, Moonstone, and the minister's secretary are my brainchildren.

The Ravenclaw clue was prompted by Ashleigh Meyer(What works every day but never gets tired?)- (sun)- she frequents at the Ravenclaw group at FB.