So I havent updated this in FOREVER!
begs for forgivness I seem to be on a writing spurt at the moment, so anyone who is reading this may get lucky and recieve a few more chapters from me!
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine...sniff...except two new characters that is. :-)
Slipping down the hallway quickly and quietly Minerva, still in cat form sought out Poppy Pomfrey. Moving as quickly as she could, ever mindful of her tail, she managed to avoid all students and staff, finally arriving with a sigh at the infirmary door.
Reaching up to paw the door open Minerva was flung off balance as the door suddenly opened from within revealing a small blond haired child. "Kitty!" screamed the child. Before Minerva could scramble backward out of reach she was scooped up into the embrace of a rambunctious three year old. "Kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!" Exclaimed the child. MEOW-OW-OW! Screeched Minerva as her tail was yet again squashed.
"Elsbeth! Oh Elsbeth put that cat down!" Came a voice.
"Yes, please for the love of all things tartan PUT ME DOWN!" Thought Minerva
"Kay momma" said Elsbeth dropping the tabby. Minerva lay on the floor fighting unconsciousness. "This is not the way I prefer to begin my morning."
"Poppy? I'm afraid my daughter may have harmed one of the castles cats. The poor thing made a terrible sound when Elsbeth picked her up." Said the voice. Minerva noticed distantly that the voice was coming closer and sounded vaguely familiar. "Oh dear! The poor thing looks half crushed to death. Can you do anything for it Poppy?"
"Kitty OK An-oppy?" asked Elsbeth.
"Well let me see the poor dear-OH!" Exclaimed Poppy. "Minerva!"
"Minerva? You mean Deputy Headmistress Minerva!" Vaguely Minerva registered being moved from the floor by the door to one of the infirmary beds. "Poppy, you didn't answer my question!"
"Do you know of any other Minerva's that are registered animagi Amelia?" answered Poppy. "Now please go sit over there so that I can tend to her tail." Minerva felt a warm soothing wave wash over her tail and heard Poppy murmur soothing sounds. "Minerva, can you hear me?" Minerva twitched her ears. "Do you think you can transform back? I think your tail should be alright now." Poppy stepped back as the silver tabby rolled onto her stomach and transformed into a black haired witch in emerald robes.
"Oh Deputy headmistress I am so sorry! I didn't know it was you! I should have watched Elsbeth more closely, I-"
"Please Amelia, I do not blame you or your daughter for what happened this morning." Said Minerva, stopping the flow of apologies. "Indeed I blame the lack of organizational skills all young men seem to have. I swear he is worse than Albus in the amount of junk he has accumulated." Thought Minerva. "Also, you should know better than to be so formal with me. You are practically family." She chided.
"Kitty go bye-bye momma!"
"I know sweetie. I'm sure you'll find another creature to play with soon enough." Soothed Amelia. Minerva turned a quizzical eye on the little blond haired child sitting in her mother's lap.
"What may I ask, is an An-oppy?" she inquired of the child. Pointing at Poppy, the child exclaimed; "That An-oppy!"
"It's short for Aunt Poppy. She hasn't quite learned her T's and P's yet." Explained an amused Poppy.
"I see." Said Minerva. "She gets her love of animals from her mother I am sure. And I take it she must get her blonde curls from her papa." She said after a pause.
"She most definitely does. All of the Pomfrey babies were dark haired." Said Poppy. Glancing at Elsbeth she continued. "Still, it amazes me just how blonde she is."
"It will probably darken as she grows older." Amelia said smiling fondly at the fidgeting child. Minerva watched the exchange with a slight smile on her face.
"I cannot believe that wee little Amelia has a little one of her own." Minerva glanced at Poppy.
"Who are you telling? She is my little sister." Laughed Poppy. Minerva shifted position and grimaced. Noticing this, Poppy gave her friend the 'I want to know why you were dying at my door' look. Minerva returned with the 'not now I will tell you later' glance. Slowly standing, Minerva turned to Elsbeth and Amelia.
"What brings you two to Hogwarts? She inquired.
"Well, for one thing, Elsbeth had a bit of a cold that she couldn't shake…" Began Amelia
"Yup! An-oppy fix me!" The child interjected.
"Secondly, we thought a visit would be nice, since we haven't seen 'An-oppy' in a few months." Finished Amelia. Minerva looked at her closely, sensing that there was more to the story. After one glance at Poppy however, she let it be.
"Well I will let you continue your visiting. I have a few things to work on before breakfast in the great hall. I assume that I will see you there?"
"Of course." Said Poppy. As Amelia stood up the young toddler waddled over to Minerva and attached herself to the older witch's robes.
"Go with kitty lady!" She claimed. Poppy smiled at her niece.
"There are plenty of things for you to mess around with in here without bothering the nice Deputy Head, Elsbeth." Her mother chided. Minerva, knowing that Poppy would want to talk with her sister, and also well aware of the lack of luck she seemed to be having with children this morning sighed softly, sent a silent prayer to her namesake and decided to intervene.
"It would be no problem keeping track of the youngster for awhile." She said. "Besides, she thought, if the child really does become a problem, I can always take her to Albus. That old coot loves playing with children." With one last glance at Poppy, Minerva led the young Pomfrey out the door and into the hall. "Shall we go to my office, lass?"
"More kitties?" Asked a hopeful Elsbeth.
"As if I would subject another creature to your loving yet incredibly crushing embrace!" Thought Minerva. "We'll see Elsbeth, we'll see."
I wonder just what it is they will see!
Stay tuned!
TabbyKit