Part Two

DISCLAIMER:

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

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"That is a very unusual frog." Albus Dumbledore commented as he peered over his glasses at the small amphibian, which was still held aloft on the end of Snape's spoon.

"Indeed." Professor Snape agreed. "It enjoys soup and…" He stared at it with a frown on his face. "I swear the thing is looking at me!"

"Yes, and why not?" Albus muttered, hovering a finger over the frogs back. "As I said this is no ordinary frog…" Snape watched the Head Master's arthritic finger wriggle above the frog in hypnotic circles.

"Children!"  The old wizard's shout made Snape start in his seat. Flustered he blinked to see the old man turning away to lift his hands and draw the attention of the student body. "I believe there is some mischief afoot."

Dumbledore absently waved a trembling hand toward the frog. "It would appear that our Head Girl Hermione Granger has not been called away home as we previously thought," He took a wheezing breath. "She has in fact been transformed into a frog." He stared down at the Slytherin table and fixed Malfoy with an intense intimidating glare. "Would anyone know how or why this unfortunate event has occurred?"

As to be expected there was no immediate answer, it was Ron Weasley jumping to his feet and shouting obscenities at Malfoy that broke the momentary lull. This was quickly followed a general uproar.  Everyone seemed to be talking at once and arching his or her necks trying to see the tiny frog perched on the bowl of Snape's soupspoon, everyone except Draco Malfoy, who sat quietly, fixing Dumbledore with a cool steady look that, did not waver.

At the teacher's table all of the Professor's were horrified, not the least Snape, who seemed more put out about a female Gryffindor being in his soup than some common all garden frog. He did manage to maintain enough control to continue hold the spoon aloft and then gently lower it to the table.

Obligingly the instant it contacted the worn wooden surface Hermione hopped off the spoon. In proper froggy fashion she shook her legs to dispatch the last of the sticky soup, before sitting down to ponder at her teachers.

Flitwick, Sinstra and Snape's faces returned her study. They gazed down at her in wonder. She smugly peered back up at them blinking slowly in an effort to show off her beautiful yellow eyes.

Yes, see I am a frog. She tried to tell them. I had nothing to do with my transformation, but aren't I a clever witch?

Snape's face moved closer as if in accusation. How dare you be a frog in my soup!  

Hermione cringed inwardly at the intrusion. The expansiveness of Snape's nostrils, the curled nostril hair, the black heads and the small patch of whiskers he had missed shaving made her shudder. His breath buffeted her, cooling her shiny green skin and she it surprised that it did not stink considering the poor state of his teeth. She could almost sense the urge the wizard had to prod her with his fork, but thankfully Snape resisted.

"Very well!" The Head Master's voice rang out and the great Hall fell into silence. "I see no alternative but to have Miss Granger transferred to the care of Madam Pomfrey until the culprit - or culprits - find it within themselves to come forward. Professor Snape?" He glanced back at the Potion's Master who shot upright in his chair and nodded his head. "A word please."

"It will be alright, Hermione." Dumbledore reassured her as he came back to the table. "Severus? Would you kindly escort Miss Granger to the infirmary."

"Me?"

"Yes Severus, you. Madam Pomfrey is not here and Minerva is in the midst of exam preparation."

Hermione could tell that Snape was not impressed by the request; he flounced back his hair and was about to say something contrary when Dumbledore stopped him with a simple word. "Malfoy."

"Malfoy?" Snape glanced over the Head Master's head and squinted thoughtfully at Draco.

"He did this, Severus. For reasons best kept to himself I dare say. I think as a show of staff solidarity it would be best if you removed Hermione to the infirmary."

Before Snape could rise to the argument another shout erupted from the Gryffindor table. The teaching staff snapped their attention to see the rising forms of students.

"Oh dear…" Albus' concerned whisper was met by a parting of the crowd and Snape tilted his head in disbelief as a small pink pig trotted forward. "Could you escort Lavender Brown to the hospital wing as well?"

"What about Potter?" Snape muttered, aware that Ron and Harry were barely containing themselves, itching to spring up from their seats and do something  -anything 'heroic'.

"They are not used to handling delicate situations." Dumbledore muttered, stroking his beard. "I will talk to them later."

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"This is a fine kettle of fish." Madam Pomfrey huffed as the frog gently hopped from Snape's outstretched fingers onto her desk and the pig primly sat down before her. "Hermione Granger and Lavender Brown I presume?"

The Mediwitch looked up to Snape as she put on some latex gloves and asked, "Did you discover Hermione making Polyjuice again, Severus? I thought you would have learnt from that mistake my girl."

"No." Snape said simply. "It appears Miss Granger and Miss Brown are under the influence of a transformation spell."

"Oh…" Madam Pomfrey's face fell and her mouth opened into an 'o' of surprise. "I suppose Albus expects me to perform a miracle and reverse it for them?"

"I have no idea, Madam." Snape impatiently wrapped his cloak about him and with a flourish began to swirl away. "If you'll excuse me?"

"Professor Snape?" Madam Pomfrey called out after him. "You are aware that some transformation spells-" She was interrupted by an audible pop and thud… "Are transmitted by touch for up to seventy two hours after casting?" She gazed down at the writhing shape of an angry blackadder on her hospital floor.

"Oh dear." She gazed from the small perky frog to the bored pig and finally the medium sized snake, which was beginning to rear back and glare up at her with furious beady eyes. She could not help but smile, but caution being the better side of valour she put her hand to her mouth and struggled to hold back a hysterical fits of giggles, "Oh dear me."

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tbc