Chapter 10

There was a short period of silence until Minerva broke it by stepping towards Madame Pomfrey and grabbing Dumbledore's hand. "Back off bitch, he's mine!" She spat. The nurse laughed airily. "Oh yer? Make me". Minerva's had shot out and shoved her. Madame Pomfrey stumbled back but regained her balance. Then she slapped Minerva in the face. Minerva drew back. Her lip was bleeding. "Ok, you asked for it" she said between clenched teeth. Then Minerva lost it. "You are a little bitch!" she cried shrilly. "Did you know that? Trying to crack on to my man! Who do you think you are?" she reached out for Madame Pomfrey's hat and yanked it off her head. Then she tugged at her hair, pulling out great big tufts. Madame Pomfrey shrieked in pain. "MY HAIR! MY HAIR! Get OFF me you old insolent cow! Nobody said he was yours! You know I wish you had died when you fell down the stairs! No one asked you to keep living!" she screeched. Minerva was furious! "Look, you. middle aged no hoper! You're a sad-case, failure good for nothing, total buffoon! So what if I'm old? I would ask YOU how old you are, but I don't believe you can count that high. I ended up becoming a transfiguration professor, earning quite a lovely salary while you're stuck here in a dead end job, sticking band-aids on kids and wiping their noses! You don't even have a life! You don't even have a position on the teachers table in the hall! Come on! Even that great oaf Hagrid does! And he lives in a hut out the back of the castle! So why don't you try to sink your claws into him instead and leave my Albus alone!" Madame Pomfrey scoffed. "You know Minerva, You are living proof that manure can sprout legs and walk. In fact, if shit was music, you'd be an orchestra!" Minerva put her hands on her hips and eyed Madame Pomfrey "Poppy, you know you are such a smart-arse, I bet you could sit on a tub of ice cream and tell me what flavour it is." Madame Pomfrey laughed scornfully. "Please Minerva, keep talking." She said. "I always yawn when I am interested." Minerva smirked. "Poppy," she said "Your origins are so low, you'd have to limbo under your family tree. Plus, if I had a face like yours, I'd sue my parents' libel! You have a face only a mother could love - and even she hates it!" Madame Pomfrey's expression turned heated, as Minerva continued. "Say Poppy, every girl has the right to be ugly, but I'm afraid you've abused the privilege. Madame Pomfrey was fuming. She responded by giving Minerva a hard kick in the ribs. Minerva was sent flying backwards and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor. "Ladies! Ladies!" Dumbledore cried. He helped McGonagall to her feet. Although she insisted she was quite unhurt, her ribs felt sore and badly bruised. Madame Pomfrey was trembling with rage in the corner, her fists were curled into tight balls, waiting to strike again. Dumbledore looked at them both. "Ladies please don't fight!" he urged them. There was a pause, as the two ladies glared at each other. Dumbledore continued "Cause I'm here all night!!!!!" Madame Pomfrey and McGonagall raised their eyebrows. "Ok, ok I'm just kidding!" he said. "I really should stop listening to D12. Now I think you two sassy lasses ought to kiss and make up!" McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey shook hands reluctantly. Madame Pomfrey scowled at McGonagall. "You better go back to your bed. After all I haven't discharged you yet" she snapped. "Get real." said McGonagall and stalked out of the infirmary, leaving a seething Madame Pomfrey and Stunned Dumbledore behind her.

Fred Weasley said goodbye to his friends in the common room and made his way to meet Hagrid in his hut to help him clean it out. This was part of his month's worth of detention which was the punishment for stealing potions from Snape. Fred had to serve detention every night with a different teacher and help them with their duties. Fred wasn't looking forward to helping Hagrid clean his hut but he knew he had received a light punishment. Professor Spleen however had not been so lucky. She had lost her job and her professional reputation had been tarnished. Spleen had little hope of ever being employed as a teacher again. As for Snape, he had been given an official warning but he had connections with the Ministry of Magic and his job had been spared. Fred sighed heavily and knocked on Hagrid's door. He knew it was going to be a very long night.

Professor McGonagall sat on the staff room lounge slowly sipping her tea. She did not feel well enough to attend breakfast in the great hall and her pride had prevented her from returning back to the hospital wing. Professor McGonagall had calmed down a great deal although her feelings towards Madame Pomfrey were hostile.

The fact that her ribs had been hurt in the fight last night added to her condition. Her thoughts were interrupted when Dumbledore entered the room. "This is all I need" she thought to herself, as she put her mug of tea down on the table. "I thought you might be here" he said, walking over to her. McGonagall buried her face in her hands. "I feel like crap" she groaned. Dumbledore sat down beside her. "Albus, I am terribly sorry about last night's happenings. I wasn't thinking straight- it was the drugs she gave me I swear! They messed up my mind! I just don't know what came over me, I." McGonagall trailed off and slumped back on the lounge. Dumbledore was staring at her with that gleam in his eye. "It was very funny actually, Minerva. There is no need to apologise! Your performance was quite entertaining. But I am quite upset you only loved me when you were under the influence of drugs." McGonagall's face went scarlet. Dumbledore smiled. "Do you think perhaps I could make you change your mind?" he asked. McGonagall smiled playfully. "Hmm.Albus maybe you could." She replied. "Perhaps I should take you to back to the infirmary; you do look unwell" suggested Dumbledore. McGonagall smiled. "I assure you Albus, I am not ailing. It is unnecessary for you to take me back to the infirmary. But would you like to take me back to my sleeping quarters?" she asked. "I would be happy to do so." He answered with a satisfied smile.

THE END (woooo-wooo!!!!)