Squib Puppet
a Harry Potter fan-fic
by Ozma
a sequel to "A Squib's Proper Place"
Chapter 9: Just Desserts
Everything in this story really belongs to J.K. Rowling
As the days passed, I slowly grew stronger. The kittens continued
to spend a great deal of time either lying on my bed or scampering about
in the hospital ward. When Poppy allowed me to have more visitors, I was
often surrounded by children as well as by rambunctious kittens.
Generally, I would say that Poppy Pomfrey has far more patience
than I do. But I could tell that her forbearance was nearing its limits.
"You can't keep the children out," I protested, when she grumbled.
"The Creeveys and the Morgans, and Hannah, Daniel and Ginny have all
been so patient. It wouldn't be fair to keep them away from their
kittens."
I didn't have to add that the children had also been deprived of
their kittens' company during the whole week that I'd spent confused and
ill, under Malfoy's Double-Curse. My guilt and sorrow must have been
obvious. Poppy relented.
But, when the kittens were completely weaned, Poppy was even more
relieved about it than I was.
Still confined to my bed, I comforted Mrs. Norris. My cat seemed
to have mixed feelings about her little ones going off on their own.
"There, there, my sweet. You've done a splendid job with them and
they'll be fine," I soothed her.
Hermione, teary eyed and full of last minute instructions,
formally gave Bastet to Ginny, Juno to Lilith, and Beatrice to Gehenna,
Pellinore to Colin, Paladin to Dennis, Briar to Hannah, and Semyon to
Daniel.
*******
Several weeks earlier, Minerva had translated some tidbits of
feline parental advice, as given by Crookshanks and Mrs. Norris to the
kittens, on the subject of selecting a companion.
"Crookshanks advises that young humans are quite affectionate,
extremely playful and very easy to train properly. Especially if the
kittens have the good sense to choose themselves a clever one," Minerva
had told me, gravely.
"Oh?" I'd murmured. "And what does Mrs. Norris have to say about
this?"
"She agrees with Crookshanks, though she points out that young
humans can also be quite messy. Not to mention overly curious, which
often leads them to wander about in places where they ought not to be,"
Minerva had said.
I nodded, pleased with my cat's good sense.
"Mrs. Norris goes on to say that a fully grown companion can be
much more attentive, patient and gentle..."
I smiled.
"and, is usually well worth the occasional extra effort required,"
Minerva had concluded, dryly.
"Extra Effort, eh?" I'd muttered, gruffly. "Hmmph!"
*******
Seven of the kittens had taken the "children are easy to train"
option.
But Azoth had opted to follow the "adults are worth the extra
effort" route. On the day in question, his chosen wizard had thus far
remained conspicuous by his absence.
"Professor Snape hasn't forgotten, I'm sure!" Lilith Morgan
assured Hermione and me.
"An owl came to him, this morning at breakfast..." Gehenna added.
"It seemed to be about something very important. He left the Castle
immediately after his last class. There's a note on his office door..."
Azoth was washing his small whiskers, attempting to look
unconcerned. But his eyes were wide and his tail was fluffed out in
anxiety.
Looking at the kitten, and listening to the Morgan sisters, I felt
a surge of foreboding too. An urgent message? Something important enough
to make Severus rush away from the Castle? What could it be?
"Not the Dark Lord..." I told myself. "The Evil One has far worse
ways of summoning people. Surely, He Who Must Not Be Named wouldn't do
something so ordinary as send an owl..."
Lucius Malfoy then? What did he want with Severus?
The pale haired Dark wizard would have been gratified by my
reaction to the merest thought of him. I shuddered.
"Did this message seem to upset the Professor?" I asked, trying
not to sound as bothered as I felt.
Hermione and Ginny were as interested in the answer as I was.
Lilith and Gehenna looked at each other.
"He didn't seem upset, exactly..." Lilith said, after a moment.
She was busily rubbing Juno's ears while the kitten purred up a storm.
"I think that he seemed more ...exasperated," Gehenna said, in
between giggles as Beatrice climbed up her robe to wrap herself around
the girl's small shoulder.
"Exasperated?" I wondered, baffled.
Hermione and Ginny exchanged a glance and grinned.
*******
Poppy had been looking forward to a more peaceful hospital ward,
once the kittens were no longer full-time residents. Now that her goal
was within her grasp, she could afford to be generous.
She didn't object when the kittens and their young owners chose to
linger for a while.
But, when Harry and Ron came into the ward, levitating a dripping
wet, whimpering Snuffles between them, poor Poppy finally reached the
end of her patience.
Firmly, the medi-witch sent all the children and the kittens
(except for Azoth, who looked smug at being allowed to stay) out of the
hospital wing.
Though she was sympathetic to Harry's concern for Sirius, she sent
him and Ron away with the other children as well.
"I'm going to keep Snuffles here, for tonight. You may come back
to see him later, if he behaves," she said, giving the Animagus a dark
look.
Alone, except for Poppy, me, Mrs. Norris and Azoth, Black
Transfigured back to his human shape. His grey, shabby robe was sopping
wet. The Animagus was rubbing his back, looking pained.
"Overdoing things a bit, were you?" Poppy growled as she hurried
over to him. "Worse than a puppy, you are! Don't know the meaning of the
words `take things easy!' What happened?"
Black looked embarrassed. "Some of the children were throwing
sticks into the lake, so I started fetching them out. Just for
exercise..."
Poppy frowned at him.
"I have to keep myself fit, don't I? Wouldn't want to start
putting on weight," Black continued, wryly.
This earned him an even bigger frown from the medi-witch. In spite
of all the food that Snuffles received at the Castle, the Animagus
remained too thin.
"Well," Black continued, sheepishly, "one thing led to another.
Soon, I started catching the sticks as the children were throwing them
in. Only, on the last catch, I think I may have... er... twisted my back
a bit."
I winced as my sore back gave a sympathetic twinge. Poor, playful
idiot. He really wasn't healed enough for such antics.
Poppy helped the Animagus out of his wet robe. Rapidly, she
conjured him a dry robe, and two large, fluffy towels. Black wrapped one
towel around his waist, and Poppy began rubbing his hair dry with the
other.
As soon as the Animagus had pulled on the dry robe, Poppy waved
her wand again.
"A hot bath is just what you need..." she said.
A huge metal washtub appeared on the floor in front of the beds,
with a loud BANG.
"What? In that?" Sirius protested, sounding as if he'd regressed
down to age eleven. "Remember when Snape got hurt? You didn't make
*him*..."
"Severus is neither a wanted man, nor an Animagus," Poppy said,
sternly. "Now, how else would I be expected to give a dog a bath?"
*******
Poppy summoned six large buckets. Soon there was a chain of
buckets floating back and forth from the small bathroom at the end of
the ward, each one full of steaming water to pour into the washtub.
The metal tub filled up, slowly.
"I'm going to fetch some healing potions to mix in your
bathwater," Poppy said, sternly, to Black. "Do not go anywhere!"
With a meek nod, the Animagus settled himself gingerly onto an
empty bed.
Keeping his human form, for the time being, Black watched the
floating hot water buckets as if hypnotized.
"I hope that they'll stop bringing water when the tub is full," he
said. "Lily took us to see this Muggle film. There was a sorceror, and a
mouse..."
I had no idea what Black was talking about.
Poor little Azoth had my attention at the moment. The small black
cat had leaped down from my bed and padded over to the nearest wall.
Scratching at the wall, he mewed plaintively.
He'd been doing that from time to time, ever since I'd been well
enough to take proper notice of him. I didn't understand what he wanted.
Both Mrs. Norris and Minerva had witnessed his behavior. They
clearly knew what Azoth was after, but neither one would tell me.
Mrs. Norris had always responded to Azoth's wall-scratching with a
scolding hiss, and Minerva had frowned at the kitten.
"He's hardly well enough yet..." Minerva had told Azoth.
"Never mind what he wants, Argus, you're supposed to be resting,"
Professor McGonagall had said to me, sternly, when I'd questioned her.
My curiosity was definitely piqued. But, I'd never had much luck
at winning arguments with either Mrs. Norris or Minerva. I certainly
wasn't about to take on the pair of them, together.
But, Azoth wasn't giving up. He'd found a new, and possibly
sympathetic ear. He mewed plaintively at Black.
"Do you understand what he wants?" I asked the Animagus.
"He wants you to go and fetch his basket for him," Sirius said.
"His... oh!" I said. "Poor little lad... is that all you wanted?
Your Mum and your Auntie Minerva mean well, but I'm sure that I can
manage that much."
With a guilty glance after Poppy, I sat up. Very carefully, I slid
myself out of bed. I felt as if someone had used a very strong jelly-
legs curse on me. The floor seemed like it was a mile away.
I'd already summoned black-and-yellow. The Door had appeared on
the wall in front of Azoth, only two steps away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Black asked me. His tone was a
blend of amusement and concern.
"Why, to fetch his basket, of course," I said, gruffly. "Poppy
told *you* not to go anywhere. She didn't say a word to me!"
"Only because she never imagined that you'd wander off..." Black
pointed out, reasonably.
"That's completely beside the point! I'll be right back," I
replied.
Then I half fell, half staggered, through black-and-yellow.
*******
Helga Hufflepuff's sunlit workroom never seems to change. Always
friendly, clean and inviting, with lovely tapestries on the walls, a
small, cheerfully splashing marble fountain, and colorful rugs on the
floor.
The rugs were soft and thick, as well as colorful. I was truly
glad of that. Landing in a heap on a hard, stone floor would have been
painful, otherwise.
Azoth and Mrs. Norris had accompanied me through the Door. Mother
and son nudged me in concern. Mrs. Norris hissed indignantly, first at
Azoth, and then at me.
I was sure that poor Black was going to get an earful from Mrs.
Norris, for translating the kitten's request, when we returned to the
hospital ward. And Poppy, if she returned before I did, wasn't going to
be very pleased with me either.
But, poor Azoth... all his brothers and sisters had gone, and
still no Severus! The kitten had to be worried about his wizard.
Merlin's Beard, I certainly was...
Fetching the basket was such a small thing and it would comfort
the kitten.
Azoth trotted over to the basket, which was by the distaff.
Rubbing up against it, he purred like a miniature thunderstorm.
"It is quite a nice basket, really..." I told Mrs. Norris. "Large,
plain and sturdy. And there's plenty of room for him to grow into it.
Severus doesn't have to *know* that it's Helga Hufflepuff's old
workbasket. I won't tell, if you won't."
Now, all I had to do was reach the thing. The few tottering steps
I'd already managed had left me very weak. It occurred to me that
Minerva and Mrs. Norris had been right. I wasn't really up to this.
But, having made it to Helga's Workroom already, I was determined
not to leave without Azoth's basket.
I had to crawl. Finally, basket in hand, I paused to catch my
breath. It had been nearly a week and a half now since Hagrid had
brought me out of the Forest. My strength was returning so slowly.
"The thing you fear will happen, before the start of summer,"
Professor Trelawney had predicted.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had tried to ease my fears. But I could
not dismiss the Divination Professor's words as easily as the children
seemed to be able to do.
What if I never regained my strength? What if I could never resume
my duties?
I was already afraid for Severus, and now I was terrified for
myself too. Burying my face in my hands, I trembled.
Suddenly, as if in response to my fear and helplessness, there was
a change in the air. A tingle of magic ran down my spine. Something
inhuman, ancient and incredibly powerful, was stirring.
My first inclination was to shrink away in shame.
The Headmaster had said that the Castle would not be angry with
Its Caretaker, but I'd been weak and disloyal. And now I was probably
useless into the bargain.
No. Minerva had told me that I was brave. She was being overly
generous, of course. But she'd also said, truthfully, that I'd done my
best and fought as hard as I could.
Let the Castle decide if I was worthy or not. I knew that I would
be Caretaker as long as the Castle would have me. Giving in to the
magic, I let it wash over me.
Four times, in recent months, I had endured these experiences.
Each time the power had blazed through me, leaving me wrung out,
battered and exhausted.
This time was different. Only the smallest fragment of the magic
touched me. It was gentle, like a soft breeze against my face.
When it faded, I felt a little stronger. Just enough to be able to
return to black-and-yellow. Carrying the basket and accompanied by Azoth
and Mrs. Norris, I stumbled through, back into the hospital ward.
Sirius Black was there to take my arm before I could fall.
"I was about to come in after you..." the Animagus told me, wryly.
He took the basket's handle in one hand, and helped me wobble to my bed,
with the other.
"I do hope you're joking," I said. "Even if you're not, it would
be impossible for you to go in on your own, thank Merlin. Mind your
back! You wouldn't want to twist it again..."
"Falling from the West Tower was unpleasant. But the Door? I
wouldn't mind giving *that* another go..." Black said, with every sign
of sincerity.
"It wasn't that bad..."
"Gryffindors!" I thought, glowering.
I wanted to scold him, but Mrs. Norris was already taking care of
that. Though Azoth was purring and rubbing against Black's ankles, which
balanced things out.
When Poppy returned with the potions she'd gone to fetch, she
found me settled back in my bed, looking weary. Mrs. Norris was curled
up beside me, still looking indignant.
Black had shifted to his dog form. Like a good dog, he was waiting
patiently by the now-filled tub.
Azoth was in his basket, which Black had placed on the floor by my
bed. Poppy noticed the basket and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
*******
I drifted off to sleep, concerned about Severus, though my dreams
were untroubled.
It was Severus's voice that woke me.
"You... LOUT! Stop that!!!" Snape roared.
"Bad Snuffles!" Poppy scolded.
I opened my eyes to see one very wet dog and two very wet people.
The newly bathed dog-Animagus had emerged from the washtub and had
apparently attempted to shake himself dry. Poppy hadn't minded much, as
she was already thoroughly soaked.
Severus, on the other hand, was both dripping and livid.
That was the first thing that I noticed about him. The second
thing was the scent of strawberries with a hint of lemon that surrounded
him.
"Professor...?"
He sighed, still glaring at Black.
"Yes, Filch, I am using a glamour. I could hardly walk through the
Castle, looking like this..."
He took out his wand and removed the glamour spell.
With a start, I realized that the "scent" of the glamour had been
masking other magical traces.
Without the glamour, poor Severus had the scent of a wizard who
had just been in a magical battle. Traces of powerful magic, both his
own and those of another strong mage, lingered about him.
And the poor man was covered with awful scratches! He looked if
he'd been mauled by an army of cats!
Or perhaps, just one really big cat.
Knowing, through sad experience, how uncomfortable he must feel, I
winced in sympathy.
Poppy said a word that I didn't think she knew and started
gathering her bottles of healing potions and salves.
Dragging Severus over to a bed, she began cleaning his wounds.
Snape submitted to this treatment with stoic forbearance.
Black, taking his human shape and slipping into a dry robe,
grinned at the wet, bloody Potions Master.
"So, who looks worse? You or the other fellow?" the Animagus
wanted to know.
"What?" Snape snarled.
"Does Dear Old Lucius have a tail?"
The Animagus seemed to be having a difficult time keeping a
straight face.
Snape glowered.
"Yes, he does, as a matter of fact. How did you...? Ah, never
mind. You needn't tell me. I can guess. I might have known it was
you..."
Black smiled, mysteriously.
I knew that he had not been the primary architect of this
particular mischief. That honor belonged to Ron Weasley, aided and
abetted by Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley.
However, the Animagus clearly thought it would be safer for the
young Gryffindors, if Severus assumed that he was to blame.
I agreed with Black. Lucius Malfoy could never force Severus to
reveal the true culprits, if the Potions Master never knew who they
were.
On the other hand... Lucius Malfoy had resources other than his
connections in the Death Eaters. He was a wizard of wealth and power,
while Sirius Black was a wanted fugitive. I hoped that Malfoy would
never question Severus as to who was responsible for his condition...
for both Severus's sake and Black's.
The Potions Master gave the Animagus a very caustic glare. "You
were expecting something like this!"
"Lucius appears to have been a bit ... distraught." Black said,
cheerfully, not really answering the question.
"To put it mildly," Snape said, in a sour voice.
"When I told him that the effects would simply have to wear off,
in their own good time, he didn't take the news very well. In fact, he
became quite irate..."
Poppy muttered something unintelligible and angry, as she began
cleaning a group of five diagonal slashes across the Potions Master's
face.
"It's his own fault, really," Snape continued, trying not to
flinch.
He was still glowering at Black, but now, the traces of a rather
wicked little smile were beginning to linger around his mouth.
"I could have told the arrogant fool that the hair he'd used in
the Polyjuice potion was not what he thought it was!"
"Do you mean that there's a way to tell?" Black asked him.
"Yes, of course there is!" Snape said, smugly.
"There is a very subtle difference in the normal hissing and
frothing reaction. Quite plain to the educated eye. In, fact, judging
from the rather interesting after-effects, I'd have to say that the hair
he used was a cat hair, Transfigured to appear human."
"You mean that the Transfiguration spell mucked the potion up even
more?" Black asked, grinning.
Snape nodded.
"Lucius had a tail and claws, obviously," Black muttered, watching
Poppy cleaning a nasty looking gash on Snape's jaw. "What else? Fur all
over his face?'
"Not only his face. Everywhere." Snape's wicked little smile was
back.
"Cat's eyes?" Black wanted to know.
"Yes... not to mention cat's teeth. And cat's ears."
"Hmmm. Sounds terrible."
"Dreadful." Snape agreed.
"How long do you think that the effects will last? Two weeks?
Three?" Black wanted to know.
"Perhaps a month." Snape's wicked smile had gotten a bit bigger.
"That's what I told poor Narcissa, when she asked," he continued.
"She was quite beside herself. Though she seemed to be managing
capably enough. She was able to distract Lucius, so I could escape..."
"What did she do, offer him a bowl of cream? Or tempt him with a
catnip mouse?" Black had begun to laugh, helplessly.
"Something along those lines, I think." Snape was trying very hard
to keep a straight face, but he seemed to be losing the battle.
Both young wizards were suddenly laughing together like a pair of
children.
Poppy and I stared, first at Black and Snape, and then at each
other, in astonishment.
No one in the Castle was ever going to believe this.
Black finally stopped laughing when his back started hurting him.
"S-Serves old Lucius right, really..." he gasped.
"Yes..." Snape caught his breath. The word was almost a hiss. "It
most certainly does."
His dark eyes were suddenly full of pain. I could tell that he was
thinking of Draco.
"Snape? Minerva knows. About the Transfigured hair. She was a bit
curious as to what the effects might be. She'd appreciate hearing about
them from you..." Black said. He grinned, wryly.
"Perhaps the two of you ought to collaborate on a paper..!"
Heedless of his aching back, the incorrigible Animagus was laughing
again.
In spite of himself, Snape smiled. "Perhaps, one day we shall.
However, I have more immediate concerns."
Thanking Poppy for patching him up, the Potions Master came over
to my bed.
'Argus," he said, gravely. "I mean it this time. Avoid Lucius in
the future. Do not allow yourself to be anywhere near him. He does not
know how you managed to trick him, but he's still blaming you."
I sighed. "Yes, Professor."
Snape gave me a caustic glower. The expression looked even more
fearsome than usual on his battered face.
"That's what you said last time!" he told me, irritably.
Then, Severus crouched down to stroke Azoth, who stirred sleepily
in his basket.
The black kitten purred.
"He was worried about you. Thought you weren't coming," I said.
"Foolish creature. I always keep my appointments," Severus said,
rubbing fondly under the kitten's chin.
Restoring the glamour that hid his scratches, the Potions Master
picked up kitten and basket together.
Black was grinning again.
Severus regarded him, coolly. "Come, Azoth. I'd best take you
home. It wouldn't do for you to pick up bad habits, or fleas, hanging
about here!"
*******
"Well, that's it then. Down to just you and me..." I said.
Mrs. Norris was curled up on my stomach, looking wistful.
"It's not like you won't be seeing them again..." I comforted her.
"There's still a few weeks yet before the end of the term. And they'll
be back next year, won't they? Now, all I have to do is ask Professor
Flitwick to put a new anti-estrus Charm on you..."
She blinked her golden eyes at me, in a rather non-committal sort
of way.
"As soon as possible...!" I said.
THE END
Author's Notes: Well, this one's done. I'm going to take a break for at
least a few weeks now and get caught up on some housework...
Melodie: Thank you!!
Pendragon: Thank you!!
RADKA: Thank you!! Your mention of "An Exercise in Cruelty" reminds me
that I read the story a long time ago and was totally awed by it. I
wonder if the author ever finished it?
Jelsemium: Thank you!! Your comments about Draco's smirk "quivering" was
intriguing. I hope that Rowling was showing that Draco was a bit
ambivalent.
Alchemine: Thank you!! I've often seen Draco described as the "Brat
Prince," so I tried to emphasize the "Prince" rather than the "Brat."
Emma: Thank you!!
AET: Thank you!! Hagrid was making a blanket for Fluffy. Filch was
worried that Hagrid was going to give the ugly thing to him, because he
didn't think he could manage to say something kind about it.
Lataradk: Thank you!! Ah, the melted cheese. We keep tureens of hot
melted cheese at our serving stations, to spoon over vegetables and
french-fried potatoes. One of my co-workers, (aged 76) dropped a full
pot of hot cheese on the floor. She was lucky not to have been burned,
but the mess was incredible. The cheese shot out of the pot like a
mushroom shaped cloud. Everyone in the kitchen had to help clean up.
Being relatively young and agile (in my thirties, rather than my
seventies) I was the lucky person who got to climb on top of her serving
station and clean the ceiling.
Eeew! Cleaning up vomit is far worse than cheese! Just thinking about
the smell makes me nauseous.
I'd like to write a story that has a bigger part for Draco's Amazing
Brutes, but I haven't had any ideas yet.
Both Sirus and Argus would be surprised to hear the word "friendship"
used in reference to them. Sirius thinks that the old man isn't nearly
as bad as he remembers, and Argus is glad that Sirius has managed to
mature, at least a little.
Sirius and Severus can cooperate, because Dumbledore has asked it of
them, especially when they are standing on common ground. They would
never admit it, but they do share a grudging respect.
Congratulations to your brother, on his graduation!
Branaugh does look GREAT as Lockhart. Oh, I can't wait for that dueling
scene...
"Millicent's cat" was a reference to what happened to poor Hermione in
"Chamber of Secrets" when she used what she thought was Millicent
Bullstrode's hair in her portion of polyjuice potion. The hair was
actually from Millicent's cat.
Fortunately for both Filch and Callandra, Lucius doesn't know that
Squibs can sense magic building up before spells are cast.
Filch broke through his Obliviate spell because his spell wasn't as
strong as the Obliviate that Lucius used on Draco. (Lucius didn't mind
if Filch broke through the Memory Charm because he still wouldn't be
able to talk about what had happened.)
Blue Moon: Thank you!! Yes, Lucius turned into a real pussycat! Poor
Baby...
Neville plotted so well, and so carefully in your story that I could
picture the Hat offering him a shot at Slytherin...
Elspeth: Thank you!! Yes, Draco doesn't consider telling a house-elf the
same as telling a "person." Draco kept protesting that he hadn't hurt
Winky because he knows how people see him.
The way I imagine it, Draco has been taught that "good" servants and
"good" house-elves should be looked after and protected. A responsible
"master" rewards loyalty.
I love the image of Severus in a deerstalker, with Pomfrey as Watson!
Yes, Neville and Callandra feel terrible, but they don't know that Filch
tried to jump out of the Owlery window. The suicide attempt isn't common
knowledge. All they know is that he "fell" while under the influence of
the double-Curse. (Neville suspects, though.)
I would like nothing better than to have Argus and Minerva just fall
into each other's arms, but both characters seem to want to move very
slowly.
If Sirius and Argus were told that they had a great deal in common they
would both be appalled.
Sirius: I am NOT an old grouch!
Filch: I am NOT a young fool!
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!!
Rabbit and Jinx: Thank you and Thank you!!!! I loved your musical
version of the Confrontation on the Hogwarts express at the end of
Goblet of Fire!!!
The question was, "will the fact that the animal hair is Transfigured
make the side effects of polyjuice-gone-wrong any worse than using a
regular animal hair?" And the answer was "Yes."
a Harry Potter fan-fic
by Ozma
a sequel to "A Squib's Proper Place"
Chapter 9: Just Desserts
Everything in this story really belongs to J.K. Rowling
As the days passed, I slowly grew stronger. The kittens continued
to spend a great deal of time either lying on my bed or scampering about
in the hospital ward. When Poppy allowed me to have more visitors, I was
often surrounded by children as well as by rambunctious kittens.
Generally, I would say that Poppy Pomfrey has far more patience
than I do. But I could tell that her forbearance was nearing its limits.
"You can't keep the children out," I protested, when she grumbled.
"The Creeveys and the Morgans, and Hannah, Daniel and Ginny have all
been so patient. It wouldn't be fair to keep them away from their
kittens."
I didn't have to add that the children had also been deprived of
their kittens' company during the whole week that I'd spent confused and
ill, under Malfoy's Double-Curse. My guilt and sorrow must have been
obvious. Poppy relented.
But, when the kittens were completely weaned, Poppy was even more
relieved about it than I was.
Still confined to my bed, I comforted Mrs. Norris. My cat seemed
to have mixed feelings about her little ones going off on their own.
"There, there, my sweet. You've done a splendid job with them and
they'll be fine," I soothed her.
Hermione, teary eyed and full of last minute instructions,
formally gave Bastet to Ginny, Juno to Lilith, and Beatrice to Gehenna,
Pellinore to Colin, Paladin to Dennis, Briar to Hannah, and Semyon to
Daniel.
*******
Several weeks earlier, Minerva had translated some tidbits of
feline parental advice, as given by Crookshanks and Mrs. Norris to the
kittens, on the subject of selecting a companion.
"Crookshanks advises that young humans are quite affectionate,
extremely playful and very easy to train properly. Especially if the
kittens have the good sense to choose themselves a clever one," Minerva
had told me, gravely.
"Oh?" I'd murmured. "And what does Mrs. Norris have to say about
this?"
"She agrees with Crookshanks, though she points out that young
humans can also be quite messy. Not to mention overly curious, which
often leads them to wander about in places where they ought not to be,"
Minerva had said.
I nodded, pleased with my cat's good sense.
"Mrs. Norris goes on to say that a fully grown companion can be
much more attentive, patient and gentle..."
I smiled.
"and, is usually well worth the occasional extra effort required,"
Minerva had concluded, dryly.
"Extra Effort, eh?" I'd muttered, gruffly. "Hmmph!"
*******
Seven of the kittens had taken the "children are easy to train"
option.
But Azoth had opted to follow the "adults are worth the extra
effort" route. On the day in question, his chosen wizard had thus far
remained conspicuous by his absence.
"Professor Snape hasn't forgotten, I'm sure!" Lilith Morgan
assured Hermione and me.
"An owl came to him, this morning at breakfast..." Gehenna added.
"It seemed to be about something very important. He left the Castle
immediately after his last class. There's a note on his office door..."
Azoth was washing his small whiskers, attempting to look
unconcerned. But his eyes were wide and his tail was fluffed out in
anxiety.
Looking at the kitten, and listening to the Morgan sisters, I felt
a surge of foreboding too. An urgent message? Something important enough
to make Severus rush away from the Castle? What could it be?
"Not the Dark Lord..." I told myself. "The Evil One has far worse
ways of summoning people. Surely, He Who Must Not Be Named wouldn't do
something so ordinary as send an owl..."
Lucius Malfoy then? What did he want with Severus?
The pale haired Dark wizard would have been gratified by my
reaction to the merest thought of him. I shuddered.
"Did this message seem to upset the Professor?" I asked, trying
not to sound as bothered as I felt.
Hermione and Ginny were as interested in the answer as I was.
Lilith and Gehenna looked at each other.
"He didn't seem upset, exactly..." Lilith said, after a moment.
She was busily rubbing Juno's ears while the kitten purred up a storm.
"I think that he seemed more ...exasperated," Gehenna said, in
between giggles as Beatrice climbed up her robe to wrap herself around
the girl's small shoulder.
"Exasperated?" I wondered, baffled.
Hermione and Ginny exchanged a glance and grinned.
*******
Poppy had been looking forward to a more peaceful hospital ward,
once the kittens were no longer full-time residents. Now that her goal
was within her grasp, she could afford to be generous.
She didn't object when the kittens and their young owners chose to
linger for a while.
But, when Harry and Ron came into the ward, levitating a dripping
wet, whimpering Snuffles between them, poor Poppy finally reached the
end of her patience.
Firmly, the medi-witch sent all the children and the kittens
(except for Azoth, who looked smug at being allowed to stay) out of the
hospital wing.
Though she was sympathetic to Harry's concern for Sirius, she sent
him and Ron away with the other children as well.
"I'm going to keep Snuffles here, for tonight. You may come back
to see him later, if he behaves," she said, giving the Animagus a dark
look.
Alone, except for Poppy, me, Mrs. Norris and Azoth, Black
Transfigured back to his human shape. His grey, shabby robe was sopping
wet. The Animagus was rubbing his back, looking pained.
"Overdoing things a bit, were you?" Poppy growled as she hurried
over to him. "Worse than a puppy, you are! Don't know the meaning of the
words `take things easy!' What happened?"
Black looked embarrassed. "Some of the children were throwing
sticks into the lake, so I started fetching them out. Just for
exercise..."
Poppy frowned at him.
"I have to keep myself fit, don't I? Wouldn't want to start
putting on weight," Black continued, wryly.
This earned him an even bigger frown from the medi-witch. In spite
of all the food that Snuffles received at the Castle, the Animagus
remained too thin.
"Well," Black continued, sheepishly, "one thing led to another.
Soon, I started catching the sticks as the children were throwing them
in. Only, on the last catch, I think I may have... er... twisted my back
a bit."
I winced as my sore back gave a sympathetic twinge. Poor, playful
idiot. He really wasn't healed enough for such antics.
Poppy helped the Animagus out of his wet robe. Rapidly, she
conjured him a dry robe, and two large, fluffy towels. Black wrapped one
towel around his waist, and Poppy began rubbing his hair dry with the
other.
As soon as the Animagus had pulled on the dry robe, Poppy waved
her wand again.
"A hot bath is just what you need..." she said.
A huge metal washtub appeared on the floor in front of the beds,
with a loud BANG.
"What? In that?" Sirius protested, sounding as if he'd regressed
down to age eleven. "Remember when Snape got hurt? You didn't make
*him*..."
"Severus is neither a wanted man, nor an Animagus," Poppy said,
sternly. "Now, how else would I be expected to give a dog a bath?"
*******
Poppy summoned six large buckets. Soon there was a chain of
buckets floating back and forth from the small bathroom at the end of
the ward, each one full of steaming water to pour into the washtub.
The metal tub filled up, slowly.
"I'm going to fetch some healing potions to mix in your
bathwater," Poppy said, sternly, to Black. "Do not go anywhere!"
With a meek nod, the Animagus settled himself gingerly onto an
empty bed.
Keeping his human form, for the time being, Black watched the
floating hot water buckets as if hypnotized.
"I hope that they'll stop bringing water when the tub is full," he
said. "Lily took us to see this Muggle film. There was a sorceror, and a
mouse..."
I had no idea what Black was talking about.
Poor little Azoth had my attention at the moment. The small black
cat had leaped down from my bed and padded over to the nearest wall.
Scratching at the wall, he mewed plaintively.
He'd been doing that from time to time, ever since I'd been well
enough to take proper notice of him. I didn't understand what he wanted.
Both Mrs. Norris and Minerva had witnessed his behavior. They
clearly knew what Azoth was after, but neither one would tell me.
Mrs. Norris had always responded to Azoth's wall-scratching with a
scolding hiss, and Minerva had frowned at the kitten.
"He's hardly well enough yet..." Minerva had told Azoth.
"Never mind what he wants, Argus, you're supposed to be resting,"
Professor McGonagall had said to me, sternly, when I'd questioned her.
My curiosity was definitely piqued. But, I'd never had much luck
at winning arguments with either Mrs. Norris or Minerva. I certainly
wasn't about to take on the pair of them, together.
But, Azoth wasn't giving up. He'd found a new, and possibly
sympathetic ear. He mewed plaintively at Black.
"Do you understand what he wants?" I asked the Animagus.
"He wants you to go and fetch his basket for him," Sirius said.
"His... oh!" I said. "Poor little lad... is that all you wanted?
Your Mum and your Auntie Minerva mean well, but I'm sure that I can
manage that much."
With a guilty glance after Poppy, I sat up. Very carefully, I slid
myself out of bed. I felt as if someone had used a very strong jelly-
legs curse on me. The floor seemed like it was a mile away.
I'd already summoned black-and-yellow. The Door had appeared on
the wall in front of Azoth, only two steps away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Black asked me. His tone was a
blend of amusement and concern.
"Why, to fetch his basket, of course," I said, gruffly. "Poppy
told *you* not to go anywhere. She didn't say a word to me!"
"Only because she never imagined that you'd wander off..." Black
pointed out, reasonably.
"That's completely beside the point! I'll be right back," I
replied.
Then I half fell, half staggered, through black-and-yellow.
*******
Helga Hufflepuff's sunlit workroom never seems to change. Always
friendly, clean and inviting, with lovely tapestries on the walls, a
small, cheerfully splashing marble fountain, and colorful rugs on the
floor.
The rugs were soft and thick, as well as colorful. I was truly
glad of that. Landing in a heap on a hard, stone floor would have been
painful, otherwise.
Azoth and Mrs. Norris had accompanied me through the Door. Mother
and son nudged me in concern. Mrs. Norris hissed indignantly, first at
Azoth, and then at me.
I was sure that poor Black was going to get an earful from Mrs.
Norris, for translating the kitten's request, when we returned to the
hospital ward. And Poppy, if she returned before I did, wasn't going to
be very pleased with me either.
But, poor Azoth... all his brothers and sisters had gone, and
still no Severus! The kitten had to be worried about his wizard.
Merlin's Beard, I certainly was...
Fetching the basket was such a small thing and it would comfort
the kitten.
Azoth trotted over to the basket, which was by the distaff.
Rubbing up against it, he purred like a miniature thunderstorm.
"It is quite a nice basket, really..." I told Mrs. Norris. "Large,
plain and sturdy. And there's plenty of room for him to grow into it.
Severus doesn't have to *know* that it's Helga Hufflepuff's old
workbasket. I won't tell, if you won't."
Now, all I had to do was reach the thing. The few tottering steps
I'd already managed had left me very weak. It occurred to me that
Minerva and Mrs. Norris had been right. I wasn't really up to this.
But, having made it to Helga's Workroom already, I was determined
not to leave without Azoth's basket.
I had to crawl. Finally, basket in hand, I paused to catch my
breath. It had been nearly a week and a half now since Hagrid had
brought me out of the Forest. My strength was returning so slowly.
"The thing you fear will happen, before the start of summer,"
Professor Trelawney had predicted.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had tried to ease my fears. But I could
not dismiss the Divination Professor's words as easily as the children
seemed to be able to do.
What if I never regained my strength? What if I could never resume
my duties?
I was already afraid for Severus, and now I was terrified for
myself too. Burying my face in my hands, I trembled.
Suddenly, as if in response to my fear and helplessness, there was
a change in the air. A tingle of magic ran down my spine. Something
inhuman, ancient and incredibly powerful, was stirring.
My first inclination was to shrink away in shame.
The Headmaster had said that the Castle would not be angry with
Its Caretaker, but I'd been weak and disloyal. And now I was probably
useless into the bargain.
No. Minerva had told me that I was brave. She was being overly
generous, of course. But she'd also said, truthfully, that I'd done my
best and fought as hard as I could.
Let the Castle decide if I was worthy or not. I knew that I would
be Caretaker as long as the Castle would have me. Giving in to the
magic, I let it wash over me.
Four times, in recent months, I had endured these experiences.
Each time the power had blazed through me, leaving me wrung out,
battered and exhausted.
This time was different. Only the smallest fragment of the magic
touched me. It was gentle, like a soft breeze against my face.
When it faded, I felt a little stronger. Just enough to be able to
return to black-and-yellow. Carrying the basket and accompanied by Azoth
and Mrs. Norris, I stumbled through, back into the hospital ward.
Sirius Black was there to take my arm before I could fall.
"I was about to come in after you..." the Animagus told me, wryly.
He took the basket's handle in one hand, and helped me wobble to my bed,
with the other.
"I do hope you're joking," I said. "Even if you're not, it would
be impossible for you to go in on your own, thank Merlin. Mind your
back! You wouldn't want to twist it again..."
"Falling from the West Tower was unpleasant. But the Door? I
wouldn't mind giving *that* another go..." Black said, with every sign
of sincerity.
"It wasn't that bad..."
"Gryffindors!" I thought, glowering.
I wanted to scold him, but Mrs. Norris was already taking care of
that. Though Azoth was purring and rubbing against Black's ankles, which
balanced things out.
When Poppy returned with the potions she'd gone to fetch, she
found me settled back in my bed, looking weary. Mrs. Norris was curled
up beside me, still looking indignant.
Black had shifted to his dog form. Like a good dog, he was waiting
patiently by the now-filled tub.
Azoth was in his basket, which Black had placed on the floor by my
bed. Poppy noticed the basket and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
*******
I drifted off to sleep, concerned about Severus, though my dreams
were untroubled.
It was Severus's voice that woke me.
"You... LOUT! Stop that!!!" Snape roared.
"Bad Snuffles!" Poppy scolded.
I opened my eyes to see one very wet dog and two very wet people.
The newly bathed dog-Animagus had emerged from the washtub and had
apparently attempted to shake himself dry. Poppy hadn't minded much, as
she was already thoroughly soaked.
Severus, on the other hand, was both dripping and livid.
That was the first thing that I noticed about him. The second
thing was the scent of strawberries with a hint of lemon that surrounded
him.
"Professor...?"
He sighed, still glaring at Black.
"Yes, Filch, I am using a glamour. I could hardly walk through the
Castle, looking like this..."
He took out his wand and removed the glamour spell.
With a start, I realized that the "scent" of the glamour had been
masking other magical traces.
Without the glamour, poor Severus had the scent of a wizard who
had just been in a magical battle. Traces of powerful magic, both his
own and those of another strong mage, lingered about him.
And the poor man was covered with awful scratches! He looked if
he'd been mauled by an army of cats!
Or perhaps, just one really big cat.
Knowing, through sad experience, how uncomfortable he must feel, I
winced in sympathy.
Poppy said a word that I didn't think she knew and started
gathering her bottles of healing potions and salves.
Dragging Severus over to a bed, she began cleaning his wounds.
Snape submitted to this treatment with stoic forbearance.
Black, taking his human shape and slipping into a dry robe,
grinned at the wet, bloody Potions Master.
"So, who looks worse? You or the other fellow?" the Animagus
wanted to know.
"What?" Snape snarled.
"Does Dear Old Lucius have a tail?"
The Animagus seemed to be having a difficult time keeping a
straight face.
Snape glowered.
"Yes, he does, as a matter of fact. How did you...? Ah, never
mind. You needn't tell me. I can guess. I might have known it was
you..."
Black smiled, mysteriously.
I knew that he had not been the primary architect of this
particular mischief. That honor belonged to Ron Weasley, aided and
abetted by Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley.
However, the Animagus clearly thought it would be safer for the
young Gryffindors, if Severus assumed that he was to blame.
I agreed with Black. Lucius Malfoy could never force Severus to
reveal the true culprits, if the Potions Master never knew who they
were.
On the other hand... Lucius Malfoy had resources other than his
connections in the Death Eaters. He was a wizard of wealth and power,
while Sirius Black was a wanted fugitive. I hoped that Malfoy would
never question Severus as to who was responsible for his condition...
for both Severus's sake and Black's.
The Potions Master gave the Animagus a very caustic glare. "You
were expecting something like this!"
"Lucius appears to have been a bit ... distraught." Black said,
cheerfully, not really answering the question.
"To put it mildly," Snape said, in a sour voice.
"When I told him that the effects would simply have to wear off,
in their own good time, he didn't take the news very well. In fact, he
became quite irate..."
Poppy muttered something unintelligible and angry, as she began
cleaning a group of five diagonal slashes across the Potions Master's
face.
"It's his own fault, really," Snape continued, trying not to
flinch.
He was still glowering at Black, but now, the traces of a rather
wicked little smile were beginning to linger around his mouth.
"I could have told the arrogant fool that the hair he'd used in
the Polyjuice potion was not what he thought it was!"
"Do you mean that there's a way to tell?" Black asked him.
"Yes, of course there is!" Snape said, smugly.
"There is a very subtle difference in the normal hissing and
frothing reaction. Quite plain to the educated eye. In, fact, judging
from the rather interesting after-effects, I'd have to say that the hair
he used was a cat hair, Transfigured to appear human."
"You mean that the Transfiguration spell mucked the potion up even
more?" Black asked, grinning.
Snape nodded.
"Lucius had a tail and claws, obviously," Black muttered, watching
Poppy cleaning a nasty looking gash on Snape's jaw. "What else? Fur all
over his face?'
"Not only his face. Everywhere." Snape's wicked little smile was
back.
"Cat's eyes?" Black wanted to know.
"Yes... not to mention cat's teeth. And cat's ears."
"Hmmm. Sounds terrible."
"Dreadful." Snape agreed.
"How long do you think that the effects will last? Two weeks?
Three?" Black wanted to know.
"Perhaps a month." Snape's wicked smile had gotten a bit bigger.
"That's what I told poor Narcissa, when she asked," he continued.
"She was quite beside herself. Though she seemed to be managing
capably enough. She was able to distract Lucius, so I could escape..."
"What did she do, offer him a bowl of cream? Or tempt him with a
catnip mouse?" Black had begun to laugh, helplessly.
"Something along those lines, I think." Snape was trying very hard
to keep a straight face, but he seemed to be losing the battle.
Both young wizards were suddenly laughing together like a pair of
children.
Poppy and I stared, first at Black and Snape, and then at each
other, in astonishment.
No one in the Castle was ever going to believe this.
Black finally stopped laughing when his back started hurting him.
"S-Serves old Lucius right, really..." he gasped.
"Yes..." Snape caught his breath. The word was almost a hiss. "It
most certainly does."
His dark eyes were suddenly full of pain. I could tell that he was
thinking of Draco.
"Snape? Minerva knows. About the Transfigured hair. She was a bit
curious as to what the effects might be. She'd appreciate hearing about
them from you..." Black said. He grinned, wryly.
"Perhaps the two of you ought to collaborate on a paper..!"
Heedless of his aching back, the incorrigible Animagus was laughing
again.
In spite of himself, Snape smiled. "Perhaps, one day we shall.
However, I have more immediate concerns."
Thanking Poppy for patching him up, the Potions Master came over
to my bed.
'Argus," he said, gravely. "I mean it this time. Avoid Lucius in
the future. Do not allow yourself to be anywhere near him. He does not
know how you managed to trick him, but he's still blaming you."
I sighed. "Yes, Professor."
Snape gave me a caustic glower. The expression looked even more
fearsome than usual on his battered face.
"That's what you said last time!" he told me, irritably.
Then, Severus crouched down to stroke Azoth, who stirred sleepily
in his basket.
The black kitten purred.
"He was worried about you. Thought you weren't coming," I said.
"Foolish creature. I always keep my appointments," Severus said,
rubbing fondly under the kitten's chin.
Restoring the glamour that hid his scratches, the Potions Master
picked up kitten and basket together.
Black was grinning again.
Severus regarded him, coolly. "Come, Azoth. I'd best take you
home. It wouldn't do for you to pick up bad habits, or fleas, hanging
about here!"
*******
"Well, that's it then. Down to just you and me..." I said.
Mrs. Norris was curled up on my stomach, looking wistful.
"It's not like you won't be seeing them again..." I comforted her.
"There's still a few weeks yet before the end of the term. And they'll
be back next year, won't they? Now, all I have to do is ask Professor
Flitwick to put a new anti-estrus Charm on you..."
She blinked her golden eyes at me, in a rather non-committal sort
of way.
"As soon as possible...!" I said.
THE END
Author's Notes: Well, this one's done. I'm going to take a break for at
least a few weeks now and get caught up on some housework...
Melodie: Thank you!!
Pendragon: Thank you!!
RADKA: Thank you!! Your mention of "An Exercise in Cruelty" reminds me
that I read the story a long time ago and was totally awed by it. I
wonder if the author ever finished it?
Jelsemium: Thank you!! Your comments about Draco's smirk "quivering" was
intriguing. I hope that Rowling was showing that Draco was a bit
ambivalent.
Alchemine: Thank you!! I've often seen Draco described as the "Brat
Prince," so I tried to emphasize the "Prince" rather than the "Brat."
Emma: Thank you!!
AET: Thank you!! Hagrid was making a blanket for Fluffy. Filch was
worried that Hagrid was going to give the ugly thing to him, because he
didn't think he could manage to say something kind about it.
Lataradk: Thank you!! Ah, the melted cheese. We keep tureens of hot
melted cheese at our serving stations, to spoon over vegetables and
french-fried potatoes. One of my co-workers, (aged 76) dropped a full
pot of hot cheese on the floor. She was lucky not to have been burned,
but the mess was incredible. The cheese shot out of the pot like a
mushroom shaped cloud. Everyone in the kitchen had to help clean up.
Being relatively young and agile (in my thirties, rather than my
seventies) I was the lucky person who got to climb on top of her serving
station and clean the ceiling.
Eeew! Cleaning up vomit is far worse than cheese! Just thinking about
the smell makes me nauseous.
I'd like to write a story that has a bigger part for Draco's Amazing
Brutes, but I haven't had any ideas yet.
Both Sirus and Argus would be surprised to hear the word "friendship"
used in reference to them. Sirius thinks that the old man isn't nearly
as bad as he remembers, and Argus is glad that Sirius has managed to
mature, at least a little.
Sirius and Severus can cooperate, because Dumbledore has asked it of
them, especially when they are standing on common ground. They would
never admit it, but they do share a grudging respect.
Congratulations to your brother, on his graduation!
Branaugh does look GREAT as Lockhart. Oh, I can't wait for that dueling
scene...
"Millicent's cat" was a reference to what happened to poor Hermione in
"Chamber of Secrets" when she used what she thought was Millicent
Bullstrode's hair in her portion of polyjuice potion. The hair was
actually from Millicent's cat.
Fortunately for both Filch and Callandra, Lucius doesn't know that
Squibs can sense magic building up before spells are cast.
Filch broke through his Obliviate spell because his spell wasn't as
strong as the Obliviate that Lucius used on Draco. (Lucius didn't mind
if Filch broke through the Memory Charm because he still wouldn't be
able to talk about what had happened.)
Blue Moon: Thank you!! Yes, Lucius turned into a real pussycat! Poor
Baby...
Neville plotted so well, and so carefully in your story that I could
picture the Hat offering him a shot at Slytherin...
Elspeth: Thank you!! Yes, Draco doesn't consider telling a house-elf the
same as telling a "person." Draco kept protesting that he hadn't hurt
Winky because he knows how people see him.
The way I imagine it, Draco has been taught that "good" servants and
"good" house-elves should be looked after and protected. A responsible
"master" rewards loyalty.
I love the image of Severus in a deerstalker, with Pomfrey as Watson!
Yes, Neville and Callandra feel terrible, but they don't know that Filch
tried to jump out of the Owlery window. The suicide attempt isn't common
knowledge. All they know is that he "fell" while under the influence of
the double-Curse. (Neville suspects, though.)
I would like nothing better than to have Argus and Minerva just fall
into each other's arms, but both characters seem to want to move very
slowly.
If Sirius and Argus were told that they had a great deal in common they
would both be appalled.
Sirius: I am NOT an old grouch!
Filch: I am NOT a young fool!
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!!
Rabbit and Jinx: Thank you and Thank you!!!! I loved your musical
version of the Confrontation on the Hogwarts express at the end of
Goblet of Fire!!!
The question was, "will the fact that the animal hair is Transfigured
make the side effects of polyjuice-gone-wrong any worse than using a
regular animal hair?" And the answer was "Yes."
