6. POPPY

Lucius had given up struggling, having been buried standing up. His head protruded from the ground and the rest of his body was tightly

packed in dirt. The grass tickled his face,and he kept sneezing.

The new groundskeeper kept laughing as he drew near with that

lawnmower; he had seen what those blades could do to human flesh

and it wasn't pleasant. He hadn't felt this much panic since

Sirius Black had turned his ass into a Portkey. "Look," he yelled,

"Can we talk about-"

I seem to be getting ahead of myself.

Okay,here we go:

"Put up yer dukes,ya decrepit limey cahghswolla."

Voldemort raised his eyebrows. He'd understood "decrepit" and

"limey" but the last word was lost forever in Willy's thick accent.

"Fine." He put his wand away. "If you're jonesing for a donnybrook,

a donnybrook we shall have."

With that,he put up his fists.

-what do I have to tell you people about REWINDING the TAPES? All

right,I think this is the right spot...

Willy woke up and groaned. He could just discern a strange taste

in his throat. "Gaagh," he said.

"I see you're awake."

He looked up. The nurse stood at the head of the bed. "Headache?"

she asked.

"Get away,woman," said Willy. "Me,'ead feels just feyne."

"Ah,I see. So your little wrestling match with the Whomping Willow

was just for giggles,was it?"

"I've 'ad worse," Willy said,smiling. "Got boned in me 'ead with

a crowbar,last soccer riot I was at."

"How lovely," she said. Then she looked towards the door. "Ah.

Headmaster. Come right in."

"Thank you,Poppy."

He led Poppy towards a window.

"He just woke up," she said. "He's got a bad taste in his mouth

from the sleeping draught. Other than that,he's perfectly all

right. I'll have to let him go."

"That's fine,Poppy. You did what you could." Albus put a comforting

hand on her shoulder. "Just discharge him if he wants to go."

She met his deep eyes. "Are you sure?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. His smile warmed her.

"How much damage can he do?" he asked.