The Headmaster was concerned. Serenity had agreed to stay in order to investigate this twisted lycanthropy infection; she had a lead which she was not prepared to discuss yet. Albus trusted her implicitly; he refused to worry on that score. If anyone could solve the mystery, Serenity could. No, what concerned the old wizard was the mystery that was his Potions Professor. He had not had time to discover what the man was up to. He was fairly certain that the miserable little git was responsible for all the rumours circulating about the professional practices of other potions brewers. Three had been arrested for immoral testing, luckily it wasn't immoral "enough" to warrant further action. Albus couldn't figure the man's game at all, it seemed to have no purpose. It wasn't as if he was proficient enough to be able to rise in stature by bringing down his peers.

Remus interrupted his meditations when he slumped into the chair next to him. The man was looking rumpled again. He wondered what had depressed the man so suddenly. Harry and Ron were trying to get a smile or a rise out him, but he barely seemed to notice. Suddenly he sat more upright in his chair, straightened his robes and shifted his features from disgruntlement to hopefulness.

Albus turned in the direction of his friend's gaze. It was certainly a sight to behold. Serenity's bodices were becoming a little more relaxed, the neckline had dropped below her collarbone and cleavage was beginning to be evident. The dresses were not new, so it was obviously a sign of relaxation, not of some great change. Remus' reaction was...Ah. That might not be good. Or maybe it would. Hmm.

Serenity glided gracefully into the seat on the other side of Albus, smiling shyly at the Headmaster before starting on her food. Her barriers were dropping, that was definitely a good thing.

The staff had reacted well to her, despite her prickly and reclusive nature. The younger professors were in genuine awe of her. Hermione had adopted a more formal style of dress, taking the woman as a role model of sensual reserved perfection. It was good to see, Hermione had taken the stick in her stride, so to speak, but it had impacted on her sense of dress by banishing all sensuality. It was good to see the change in her. Hagrid kept gifting her with ingredients that were difficult to harvest and Minerva kept plugging away at winning her friendship. Like now. Ren resisted superfluous conversations but Minerva had managed to get her into a discussion about hair products. Minerva had long struggled to get her hair to do anything and Ren's silky curls were exactly what she would like to be able to perfect, in private.

"Do you make your own shampoos and conditioners?"

Serenity scowled, "No, I was never any good with that kind of stuff. I always make them too efficient on the cleaning, which strips all the oils out. Then I over compensate with conditioner and it goes lank and greasy. I don't know what the trick is, but it's not one that I have mastered. I've got a catalogue if you want to look. I need to order some more things anyway."

Minerva's eyes lit up. "I could come to your rooms tonight, if it's not an imposition."

"Of course not Minerva. I'd be... what on earth?"

The morning post owls flew through the window. It looked more like an invasion than a postal drop. Albus stood up, amazed and concerned. It soon became clear that the flock was almost entirely composed of Daily Prophet owls. There was one for every single student and someone had paid ahead; none waited for payment. The noise in the hall was almost deafening. Dumbledore was about to call for order when he caught sight of the gleeful look on the potion master's face. Frowning, he snatched up the copy in front of him and sat heavily back down into his chair. No no no no no no, this was NOT how it was meant to go. This was appalling.

Glancing to his right he saw white knuckles grasping the edge of the paper. Serenity looked as though all the blood had drained from her body, she teetered in her seat for a moment before groaning, her head falling swiftly towards the table. Minerva gently caught her before she hit her head and eased her back in her chair.

The room was silent. There was no shuffling of papers, no whispers, nothing but pensive anticipation. All eyes were firmly riveted to the top table. The staff were animated however, Serenity's collapse immediately had them all on their feet.

"For goodness sake, give her some room to breathe." Minerva shooed the rest of the staff back a few steps as she and Albus tried to help her regain her senses. Albus flinched as Minerva hissed through her teeth at him.

"Did you know? Did you know Albus?"

"Yes, I knew."

"Since when? Did you know at the funeral?"

Albus looked appalled. "No Minerva, I did not. My tears were genuine. My grief was genuine. I knew when we met her in Russia. It wasn't my secret to tell. It wasn't anybody else's secret to tell."

Albus looked terribly sad. There was a shout from the Slytherin table, loud and lone amongst the silence.

"Is it true?"

The echo of the Great Hall was illustrated for possibly the first time in its history. The question struck the walls like a free-spinning gong.

Albus and the other staff stood facing the students in proper Professorial stance. Albus sought for the words but for once, he was completely flummoxed. It was a frozen tableau.

Serenity lay collapsed in her chair, she was trying desperately not to cry but it went unseen amongst the static positions of the others. The children were waiting, waiting and waiting. Albus glanced around wildly at the other Professors. The Prophet lay at his place setting, garishly proclaiming: "Sex Change Spy Comes Home." As he stared at the paper a pale shaking hand reached across the comparative photos of Severus Snape and Serenity Rubor towards the water jug.

Bugger the students. Albus leant down and moved his own glass into Serenity's hand, wrapping an arm around her and holding her to him as he did so. She leant into the comforting embrace and whispered softly.

"Albus? What the hell do I do?"

He stroked the hair from her face and met her frightened brown eyes with his intense blue ones. Remus squatted down on the other side of her and took her hand.

Minerva hissed sideways through frozen lips.

"Albus, you have to say something."

"In a minute."

"Albus!"

"IN A MINUTE!" His shout was loud enough to carry through the entire hall. Slowly he rose, shifting Serenity's weight towards Remus, who pulled her into a similar embrace.

"It still doesn't matter Ren." He whispered.

Albus kissed her softly on the forehead and rose to address the students.