Hi everyone. Thanks for reviewing.
I'm going to post the next two chapters pretty quickly as there's not much Snape in them, but lots more of him soon, promise (I miss him too when he's not around). I've just begun drafting the Christmas chapters. It would be really great if I could time the posting to coincide with the holiday.
Here, without a safety net (my betareader JessiokaFroka is away), is the next chapter...
Chapter Five
TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
There was a steady flow of students to the Hospital Wing during Andi's first morning of work there.
Head colds, Headaches, stomach aches, itchy scalps and one very distressed first-year who had started her periods the night before and had been totally unprepared.
"Don't the mothers talk to their daughters?" asked Andi in disgust.
"That one lives with her father. I don't suppose he thought to educate her before she came here, poor man. But, no, I don't think many of them do. It is left to Dickie Hooch and myself to educate the girls about their periods, but we do not have a fixed agenda and neither of us really has time."
"How many other first-year girls do you think are uneducated about their periods?"
Madam Pomfrey shrugged. "Some may have all ready started, of course, but-"
"Do you think Professor Dumbledore would mind if I gave them a talk at some point? I mean, you and Dickie are obviously very busy and I don't have a full timetable as yet. I could do it this week - on Wednesday afternoon, perhaps?"
"We shall be busy on Wednesday afternoon - that is why I requested your help."
"Why? What's happening on Wednesday afternoon?"
Madam Pomfrey picked up a timetable and pointed.
"Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years have their first Potions lesson this morning. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, tomorrow. On Wednesday afternoon, all four houses are due to have their second Potions lesson. That means after lunch on Wednesday we shall be inundated with terrified eleven-year-olds all claiming to be too ill to attend class. It's the same every year. Severus scares the living death out of them."
Andi hid her smile. "Friday afternoon?"
"You see, Andrea, the problem is, no teacher is willing to let half the class out of their lesson."
Andi thought. "I'll have a word with Dickie. It's not fair for the girls to be unaware - like that little one today. I felt so sorry for her, but I understand if she hasn't got a mother. What happened to her mother?"
"Murdered - at the beginning of the summer holidays. That was Eloisa Lancaster."
"Murdered!" Of all the answers Andi could have expected, that was the last. "Wha..how...who...?"
"You-Know-Who," said Madam Pomfrey in an undertone.
"No, I don't know who - tell me."
But at that moment, two boys came in, one with blood pouring from his nose, the other turned out to have a broken arm.
------
She saw Severus at lunchtime - they sat at opposite ends of the table, the Professors seated in their house groups.
"Well, wish me luck," she said to Professor Sprout as she got up from the table. "Got my first piano lesson this afternoon."
"Oh goodness, yes. Who've you got?"
"A first year by the name of Jupe Quinn."
Professor Sprout shook her head. "Can't help you there. Haven't had any of the newbies for Herbology yet. Well, good luck."
She saw Snape walking out of the door and trotted to catch up with him. The word 'Severus' was about to tumble out of her mouth, when a trio of boys barged past her, loudly and boisterously, causing Andi to drop some of her music.
Snape turned. "Much as I wish you out of my vicinity as soon as possible, Trebold, it is against the rules to run in the corridors. You will pick up Professor Carver's papers and apologise at once."
"Sorry, Professor."
"Sorry, Professor."
"Sorry, Professor."
They gathered the papers and handed them to her. All three and Snape, looking at her expectantly.
"Trebold, Lukes and Penny are all from my own house, Professor," he said."I assume you wish to take points from them."
Andi felt a flush to her cheeks at the thought of docking points so soon after starting the job. "Oh, I...well...um..."
"Five points would appear adequate."
"Ah yes...five points," she glanced at Snape, who's eyes widened at her, as a signal. "Er...each. And don't run. If you are late, walk with haste."
"Yes, Professor."
All three walked until they rounded the staircase and then could be heard running and laughing down the corridor.
Andi grinned at Snape.
"Professor," he said, giving her a curt nod before swirling away.
Andi stared after him. "Good luck, Andrea. I know you have your first lesson today and you're nervous, but I'm sure it'll be OK' she muttered to herself, until she caught sight of two girls eyeing her suspiciously.
"Get to your lessons," she snapped.
----
Jupe Quinn was a small, dark-haired boy, with worried brown eyes and a crinkle to his brow that suggested he had a pain. He looked more nervous than she was. She tried to break the ice.
"Jupe. I've never heard that name before."
"It's short for Jupiter, but I hate it. It sucks."
"Oh, well..." Andi tried not to smile. "A lot of people shorten their names to make them sound better. I know I do. I think Jupe sounds pretty cool. Now, would you like to show me what you can do with this piano...?"
"That's very good," she told him at the end of the lesson. "Now I want you to go over this piece, and practise the right hand for this piece for next week." She looked at his worried expression. "How are you settling in, Jupe? Are you liking Hogwarts?"
"Yes," he replied, without conviction.
"It can be a bit overwhelming at first, can't it? I've been lost at least three times today."
"That's coz you're a Mug..." He coloured.
"That's OK, Jupe. Yes, I do come from a Muggle home, but I'm learning magic, just like you."
"My stepmum's a Muggle. She's the first one in our family who isn't magic. Dad's family are mad with him coz we're pure-blood. They didn't like him marrying 'out'. They've had loads of arguments-"
There was a knock on the door and Andi's second pupil poked her head around the door.
"Hello, Belinda. I'll be with you in a moment," she said to the girl, then turned back to her continually worried looking pupil. "You're in Gryffindor, aren't you, Jupe? Well, if you have any problems, promise you'll go and see Professor McGonagall, hmmm? And I'll see you here next week. Perhaps by then you'll be able to give me some tips on magic." She smiled.
"I can give you a tip right now," he said. "Don't do Potions. Professor Snape's really, really scary."
JessiokaFroka - I know! It's almost blasphemous, isn't it!
Thousandl - Oh, stick with the next two chapters and I promise some juicy Sev after that.
Josie - Thanks. I'm so glad you're with us.
Intelligent Witch - I know, but she wants this to last and thinks it is the best way. Absolute torture.
Helena Oe - A Mary-Sue as I understand it is where an author puts herself in the story just to get the man and is perfect in every way. Andi is definately not me. I am more like someone else in this story - but I ain't saying who!
FemmeLoki - I sigh as well at the yummy pictures I have in my head that I try my best to translate into words. I'm glad it works for you!