AN: Well, I must thank everyone that has reviewed for their reviews. Such simple yet heart felt words mean a lot to me. Dragonwing, you wanted to know where the name Nephthys came from. Well, and pardon me ahead of time if I make this too lengthy, Nephthys is the Greek name of an ancient Egyptian goddess. She was the sister of Isis, Osiris, and Set; and, she was married to her brother Set. She is more than likely the mother of the jackal headed god Anubis, mating with Osiris behind her husband's back as Set and Osiris are enemies; though, others claim that Set is actually the father of Anubis. Nephthys (who was known as Nebt-het to the Egyptians) called 'Lady of the House' and was the youngest of the four siblings. She abandoned her husband when he killed Osiris, assisting her sister in the care of her son Horus (who's the son of Osiris) and the resurrection of Osiris. Along with her sister, she was considered the special protectress of the dead. Also she was the guardian of Hapi, the protector of the lungs of the deceased. If you want to know more, get in touch with me and I can give you some links and stuff to help you out.
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Snape was a few paces behind Harry as they neared the forest. He could see Draco just entering the tree line, causing him to quicken his pace as much as he could. Who would have thought Severus Snape could, or rather would, run so much in one day! Oddly, that thought took his mind to Remus Lupin, who he knew would be able to run faster than he. His mind was just as suddenly taken off the werewolf as it had gotten there when he heard the voices of Pansy and Millicent.
"Draco!" The girl was near sobs as she whined to him. "That awful girl and Potter…"
"You mean Nephthys?" Draco asked, sounding calm.
"Yes! She's been seeing Potter behind your back, and when I confronted her…"
"Confronted! You don't confront someone by using Crucio!" Draco roared, shoving the girl away from him. Both girls cowered before him. He was seething, and they knew that meant he was extremely dangerous. "I should use a far worse curse on you, but Azkaban is a much better punishment. If my sister suffers any lasting effects, however…" The threat was plain, simple.
Pansy gasped and inched away. "S… sister?"
"Yes, Miss Parkinson," Snape answered for Draco as he came to the boy's side. "Draco, you need to return to the castle with Potter. I must see to these two." Draco seemed hesitant as he glared heatedly at Pansy another moment. Finally, he did as his Head of House wished and left with Harry for the castle.
The boys decided against running, knowing that Nephthys would be where they had left her. Besides, they doubted Dumbledore, or actually Pomfrey, would let them see her yet. By the time they made it back to the infirmary, however, things were quite different than they had figured they would be. The met Dumbledore at the door, his eyes mischievous as he smiled at them. "She is awake, though I doubt Poppy is happy about that now." A crash from inside made them peer at the door curiously. "Seems Nephthys is not of the mind to stay in bed."
They shared a glance then rushed inside. Dumbledore's chuckling following them as he made his way to meet Severus. Harry was the first to spot the disgruntled patient, smiling when he did. Draco busted out laughing the moment he set eyes on her. She had her arms cross, the meanest scowl on her face, and Madam Pomfrey making quite the fuss. As the older woman tried to adjust her pillows, Nephthys snapped.
"Would you stop acting like I about died! Lands sakes, I do notwant coddling!" She roared at the woman. "Now, if you would get it through your skull that I am fine, I will be leaving!" Nephthys made to get out of the bed yet again.
"Oh no you don't," Poppy said. "Back into bed with you." She grabbed Nephthys' legs and swung them back up into the bed.
"Woman, I am more than capable of walking out of here!" Nephthys began patting herself down. Where was her wand? She would be damned if she was staying another moment in the healing ward.
"Sorry, my dear, but I have your wand," Poppy told her, figuring out what she was doing.
"Fine! Draco, Harry, one of you give me yours. Snap to it so I can get the hell out of here!" She held out her hand. Harry was not about to hand over his wand, neither was Draco.
"Sorry, Neph, but you need to stay here where Madam Pomfrey can watch over you," Harry tried soothingly.
"I don't need watching over! I am perfectly alright!" She again threw back the covers and made to stand. Soon as her feet hit the floor Madam Pomfrey was pushing her back to bed. "Get off me you insufferable woman!" She pushed Poppy's hands away.
"Now, you listen, young lady. You are going to stay in this bed until I deem otherwise. No amount of fighting or arguing is going to help you. I'll just charm you to the bed if I have to." The old woman was finished trying to reason.
"Go ahead and try, you old bat," Nephthys snapped.
"Nephthys Ciara Snape, do not talk to Madam Pomfrey in such a manner!" A commanding voice scolded as her father walked over to them. She met his eyes defiantly. "Do not look at me like that, young lady. You will listen to Madam Pomfrey or else."
"Or else what? You'll Crucio me, too?" She asked snidely.
Snape's face grew dark as he tried to keep his temper in check. Draco stepped up to Nephthys and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You need to do as they say, otherwise no one is going to have any peace."
Harry nodded. "We'll come visit you as much as we can. I'm sure some of the others will, too."
Severus looked at the boys, frowning. "I see no reason you should have to stay more than one night. Right, Madam Pomfrey?" He gave her a pointed look.
"Well, no, as long as she is supervised for a few days to make sure there were no lasting effects." Poppy eyed the four of them. "I must see to Hagrid, I'll leave you to them, Professor."
Severus sighed and nodded. "Draco, Potter, you should get to the Great Hall." Both boys knew it was not a suggestion. They nodded and left, each smiling at Nephthys as they did. "Nephthys…"
"What?" She was still in a very bad mood.
"Don't take that tone with me," he warned. "Why were you in the forest to begin with?"
She looked over at Hagrid, who was very sore from his dose of Shocker Lizard. "I had to relocate some… shall we say, nuisances that Hagrid had decided to let the sixth years raise."
"Would they be the reason he is up here?"
"Yes. Too many people were around their pin, and he was the closest target." She pulled herself up into a better sitting position. "Must I really stay up here tonight. What of the classes tomorrow and those quizzes I have yet to grade?"
"If you are doing this well in the morning, I see no reason for Poppy to make you stay."
"Then why can't I go now?" She gave him an exasperated look.
"We must not take what happened to you lightly. Now, I need to see what Dumbledore has decided to do with Parkinson and Bulstrode. You will listen to Madam Pomfrey."
Nephthys rolled her eyes and fell back on the bed in disgust. "Fine! But, I do not have to like or enjoy it."
"Do not be rude, vulgar, or mean. Obey what she tells you, and do not sneak out." He glared at her. She grumbled something and rolled over, her back to him. He snorted at her behavior and left. As soon as he was gone, she rolled back over and sat up. She was not staying in the infirmary if she could help it. All she had to do was be too annoying for Madam Pomfrey to be able to put up with her. She grinned mischievously and began to plot what she had to do.
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Hermione and Ron pounced the moment Harry sat down at the table. "What happened?" "Where have you been?" Harry rolled his eyes. You would think they were his parents.
"Can I at least get something to eat before you hound me?" He asked. Hermione made to comment, but Ron put a hand over her mouth.
"Sorry, Harry, but we 'eard that Nephthys 'ad been hurt. We were worried you 'ad been, too."
Harry nodded apologetically himself. "She was. Pansy Parkinson used the Crucio curse on her as we were coming out of the forest."
"What?!" Both of them exclaimed, drawing the attention of many of the other students.
"Keep it down," he hissed. "I'll tell you about everything later, alright." He looked to the Slytherin table . Oddly, Blaise seemed to be the only one paying much attention to Draco. Even Crabbe and Goyle were keeping their distance. Hermione followed his line of sight and frowned.
"Why are they not hanging all over Malfoy?"
"He has been actin' rather odd lately," Ron reasoned.
"Yes, but why? You know, everyone thinks he and Nephthys have a thing for each other." Harry cough on the pumpkin juice he had just spit back up. "Harry, are you alright?"
"Fine," he croaked.
"What's the matter, mate?" Ron asked.
"Draco and Nephthys do not have a thing for each other. That would just be… wrong." He shuddered.
"Granted Malfoy's a git, but…"
"I heard that, Weasley," Draco said from behind him. Ron looked up and sneered.
"What do you want, ferret?"
Draco glared at the redhead but said nothing about the insult. He looked at Harry instead. "I'm going back to the infirmary. If Nephthys is as Slytherin as I think she is, she will be plotting to get out. I do not want Snape in a bad mood any more than you… well, definitely not more than you."
"Alright." Harry swallowed a couple more bites of food before standing and following Draco out of the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione shared a glance before following as well.
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Severus and Dumbledore were both ready hex the girls by the time someone from the Ministry arrived to take Pansy off their hands. Millicent had only been aware of the plans, if not the true intentions of Pansy, so she had gotten a slap on the wrist and plenty of detention. One more mishap, however, and Albus assured her she would be gone from Hogwarts. She had nodded vigorously before fleeing from the headmaster's office. She could tell both men were not at all happy about what had happened.
"Well, Severus, I believe we have missed our meal. Would you like for the house elves to bring you anything?"
"I'll see to it, Albus. First, I must go check on my classroom and then my daughter."
"Are you certain you should not reverse the order?"
"Why?" Severus asked as he stood. "Is she up to something?"
"Not currently. Harry, Draco, Ronald, and Hermione are keeping her company."
Snape sighed. "Very well. That should give me time to make sure I did not cause any damage to anything important. Me! Drop a potion!" He shook his head as he left the headmaster's office, Albus's laughter following him.
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"So, anyway, I demanded the wanker give me back my pouch. He wouldn't have it, saying that possession was nine tenths of the law or some such drivel. I looked him straight in the eye and told him to either give it to me, or I would turn him into a toad." Nephthys got a shine to her eyes as she smiled. "He laughed uproariously and asked if I thought I was a witch or something. So, I turned his fat ass into a toad. Far as I know, he's still hoping around somewhere, minus my pouch."
"You turned a muggle into a toad!" Hermione screeched. "How did you get away with it? Why didn't you turn him back?"
"Here now, what is all the ruckus?" Madam Pomfrey demanded as she came over to them. She was not in a good mood. Harry could tell by the look in her eyes. "That's enough visitation for now. You four run along. Miss Snape needs her rest." Ron and Hermione gasped at that. Poppy did not seem to notice she had let slip anything, despite the glared Nephthys was giving her.
"Really, Madam Pomfrey. If I wanted them to know who my father is, I believe I would have told them myself." Poppy realized what she had done but made no indication that she cared as she watched the others head for the door.
Harry lingered for a moment, waiting until the others were out of hearing before leaning down and whispering in her ear. She giggled slightly before turning her head to receive the kiss he mentioned. The clearing of Madam Pomfrey's throat made them separate. Harry grinned at the older witch before taking off out the door.
"You father will not be pleased by that turn of events," Poppy commented.
"I really did not ask for your opinion, now did I?" Nephthys retorted.
"You are such a hateful, rude child!" Poppy exclaimed as she moved away from the bed.
"I thought I told you not to be rude?" Snape asked as he came to the side of the bed.
"I thought I said I didn't want to be in here?"
"Nephthys," his voice took an edge the students knew meant he was not at all amused. She just hmphed, turning her back on him once again. He sighed, knowing full well that she was not going to forgive him for making her stay any time soon. "You can act like this as long as you want, but until Madam Pomfrey says…"
"Get her out of here!" The frazzled witch cried. "I can't take it any longer!"
Snape was surprised. Normally Poppy could handle the tough patients. "Alright. Draco can stay in her room with her tonight." He was not surprised when Nephthys immediately jumped from the bed and rushed out of the ward. He chuckled as he slowly followed her, wondering if she could just as easy get on the nerves of the other adults. He would have to ask her how she had gotten Poppy so upset in such a short time once he actually got her to go to her room.