Chapter 9: The Slytherin with the Sweet Venom

Tabitha led her Aunt into the woman's bathroom and turned on the hot water. She poured a strange black purple goop into the water as the heat and steam filled the room fogging up all the mirrors. Tabitha sat on the sink as Minerva undressed and climbed into the large tub.

"Was life really that bad with your adoptive parents?" Minerva asked as she leaned against the tub sighing softly as the hot water soothed her bones.

"You've noticed how I just space out and seem to just be in another world? Well that helped. When they figured I wasn't going to listen to them shouting at me anymore they stopped," Tabitha sighed, "Of course they died in a car wreck about three years ago. I was babysitting their friend's kids."

"Oh I didn't know that," Minerva sighed.

"Well you did loose track of us after we turned eighteen and went on our own," Tabitha smiled as she stared at the wall.

Minerva slipped under the water and washed her hair. When she came back up her eyes snapped open and she looked to the door ready to snap at the intruder but found no one there.

"Tabitha did someone come in?" Minerva asked.

"No Aunt I'm the only on here and I locked the door," the girl replied.

"I thought sure I …never mind," she shook her head and leaned back.

"Well all right," Tabitha nodded.

"You know after being her a few weeks I've started to get flashes of my mother and father. They were both aurors weren't they," Tabitha asked.

"Yes they were. Angelica and Rupert Reynolds. They were tops in their field," Minerva nodded.

"Mother was the middle child and you were the youngest. I had an earache once and you both sang to me to sooth me," Tabitha smiled as her eyes closed and she went off into her dream world.

"I never thought my voice was that good," Minerva sighed. She inhaled and was sure something was up with this bubble bath.

"Tabitha what exactly is in this?" Minerva asked.

"Oh my own design. If you smell something it's your deepest heart's desire. That's how I designed it. I find that people relax better with it. Just for curiosities sake…what do you smell?" Tabitha asked.

"Nothing," Minerva lied.

"I swear it will go no further," Tabitha replied. Minerva exhaled and closed her eyes as she let the smell envelope her.

"Lemons on a fresh summer day…warm hot chocolate…and…Wizard's Old Spice," Minerva sighed. Those were the smells she always associated with Albus.

Tabitha smiled to herself as she heard those words.

Tabitha vaguely awoke the next morning to the smell of Wizard Brake No. 6 cologne and roses. She stretched very cat like and opened her eyes to see a single rose being held over her head by Sirius. He was dressed in blue boxers and kneeling over her smiling.

"Morning," he smiled softly.

"Morning," Tabitha smiled taking the flower and sitting up. She inhaled the flower and sighed. "It smells wonderful thank you."

"Professor Sprout is very nice to dogs in the morning," Sirius stated by way of explanation.

"Oh?" She asked conjuring a vase of water to put it in and disappeared into the shower.

"Yes so I was thinking…let's just throw them in a closet and lock it," Sirius said as he sat on the end of the bed. He heard the shower running but she hadn't shut the door.

"No that's too simple. Besides….its the complicated plan that will get them to say it themselves," Tabitha said in reply.

"Minnie will never say it unless Albus does first," Sirius shook his head dressing in jeans and a shirt. He didn't dress up a lot since he was always in dog form. He strapped the collar around him just as she came out with her hair damp and a towel around her slender frame.

"Why do you tease me so?" he groaned.

Tabitha giggled as she disappeared behind the screen to dress.

"I know. Rina and I are going to talk to him after lunch today about it…well sort of. Anyway she thinks by then he won't be mad at her anymore for invading his mind," Tabitha answered.

"He was probably only mad because the toad was there," Sirius stated.

"Probably…but at any rate we have to set an example," Tabitha stated as she came out from behind the screen wearing dark washed jeans a white baby t-shirt and black vest. Her hair was pulled half back. She zipped up black boots and donned red jewelry.

"An example?" he asked.

"For the students at how they should treat the Hogwarts High Inquisitor," Tabitha replied clipping her leash onto his collar.

"Lead on my lovely pet," he smiled transforming into his animagus form.

"Come Furball, it's time Dolores finds out just who your mummy is," Tabby said winking at him as they left the bedroom. The dog followed obediently as he was led down the professors' hall to a portrait of a woman that really looked like the Fat Lady's sister but in a black dress. All the professors' quarters had portraits guarding them.

"Password?" the large woman asked.

"Oswald," Tabitha replied.

The woman nodded and the portrait swung open allowing the young woman to enter. Padfoot pawed at her pants leg whimpering softly.

"What? Oh that…it was too easy to figure out her password," Tabitha said waving her hand, "Now shush!" She drew her wand and crept into the sitting room toward the bedroom door. She opened it and peeked in seeing the woman asleep in a horrible pink night gown and cap.

Tabitha rolled her eyes at the woman's absurdity and began waving her wand as she chanted softly. Padfoot waited patiently by the entrance keeping watch. He saw her come out ten minutes later running like a bat out of hell and dashed after her as fast as his four legs could take him. They didn't stop till they had rounded two corners and Tabitha dashed into an empty classroom.

"What did you do?" Sirius hissed transforming momentarily.

"I just made her look more like she should," Tabitha answered as she straightened her outfit, "Now let's go to breakfast." Sirius eyed her but transformed and allowed her to lead him to breakfast.

Sabrina and Severus were flirtingly laughing at something Sabrina had whispered in his ear when Tabitha and her dog entered through the teacher's entrance. She walked right past them and sat by Minerva as she started to fill her plate with bacon and eggs.

"She did something," Sabrina stated eyeing her cousin.

"How do you know?" Severus asked.

"You remember when I told the twins they couldn't prank Tabby?" she said. He nodded that he did.

"Well something tells me we may see why," Sabrina explained.

They didn't have to wait long for soon the Great Hall was filled with the students' laughter as the double doors opened and there was Dolores. She was wearing an army green set of robes and had an ugly wart pulsating on her cheek. Her hair looked very thin and her skin was green as her bulbous eyes surveyed the Hall. She went to take a stepped forward and instead hopped! She hopped all the way up to the staff table where she sat beside Severus.

"Dolores would you care for some toast or flies?" Severus asked with the utmost seriousness.

"Toast Ribbet Please Ribbit," Dolores croaked and the hall erupted into frenzied laughter.

Minerva and Sabrina turned their heads toward Tabitha; and in one motion the other professors did as well.

"Professor Reynolds would you have any idea what happened to Professor Umbridge?" Albus asked sternly.

"Well Albus Darling off hand I'd say she isn't feeling well. She looks a little green. I must say it's not her color," Tabitha smiled sweetly as she fed her dog some bacon.

"Tabitha Haley Reynolds what did you do to her?" Minerva snapped.

"Aunt Minerva I did nothing to her. It's not my fault her charms are wearing off," Tabitha said standing, "Perhaps it's all that sleeping around she does," she added flipping her hair and walking out of the hall with her dog.

"And that is why you don't mess with Tabby," Sabrina whispered to Severus.

"I'll make a note of it," Severus nodded.

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By lunch time Dolores had been put to right thanks to the extensive work of Professors McGonagall and Flitwick. It had taken them the whole morning and had been a fine learning lesson for their classes due in part to the extensive concentration and wand work that had been needed for what had been done to Umbridge.

After lunch Tabitha left Padfoot with Severus as she and Sabrina headed up to the headmaster's chambers.

"Come in!" Albus called at the knock. He peered over his half moon glasses as he saw who entered. "Ah Sabrina and Tabitha what can I do for you this time?"

"Hey she had it coming. Nobody bashes my Aunt like that and gets away with it! If I was in a duel with her she would be dead," Tabitha said indignantly as she sat on the edge of his desk.

Albus looked at her crossed legs up to her face and looked at Sabrina who had flopped into a chair in front of his desk. It floored him sometimes how the girls just made their selves at home around him. One would think they thought he was related to them.

"Dead?"

"Oh she's not kidding. In America she is licensed to use Unforgivables," Sabrina replied.

"All right well let's not use them here," Albus said patting the girl's leg.

"What ever you say Albus Darling," Tabitha smiled.

"About that… Why do you insist on call me darling?" Albus asked.

"Because I like you. You're like an uncle figure," Tabitha explained, "Speaking of uncles!"

"Yes speaking of uncle when are you going to pop the question to Aunt Minerva?" Sabrina asked standing.

"What are you talking about? We're not even courting," Albus exclaimed.

"Because you haven't made a move yet! What are you waiting for the next ice age!?" Tabitha exclaimed. Albus blinked at her.

"The point is we know you're in love with her and we are a hundred percent positive she loves you but both of you are to chicken to say anything. Where's that bloody Gryffindor courage!!!!???" Sabrina snapped banging her hands on the desk.

"There's no proof of that and my friendship with her is far to valuable to jeopardize," Albus said shaking his head.

"I'll give you proof," Tabitha stated as everything went black.

"Tabitha what are you doing!?" Albus asked.

"Just be quiet. Now what do you smell?" she asked waving a bottle under his nose quickly. She nodded to Sabrina who quietly left.

"What does this after to do with anything?" he asked frowning. He heard the door open and foot steps enter and again he was insulted with his most favorite smell. The smell of ginger and lavender and heath feather. The scent of Minerva.

"Tell me Albus what it is," Tabitha whispered in his ear.

"It's the moor and ginger and lavender," he sighed letting his fantasy take over. "She grew up on the moor and always smells of her ancestral ground. Her hair smells of lavender because that's the shampoo she uses and the ginger is the smell of the cookies she always eats."

"Albus what do you feel when you smell it?" Tabitha whispered softly.

"Peace," he smiled, "everything is better and my troubles lighten when she's around. I…I love her."

"Who do you love?" Tabitha whispered.

"Minerva," he stated.

There was an audible gasp and the blindfold was taken from Albus eyes. His eyes widen as he saw Minerva standing before him.

"A-Albus i-is it true?" Minerva asked softly.

"Of course it is. How could I not be in love with you?" he asked walking toward her.

"Oh Albus I love you too," Minerva cried wrapping her arms around him. As the two met in their first kiss Tabitha and Sabrina left; Phawkes flew onto Tabby's shoulder and the portraits left as well.

The door was shut on the two lovers finally releasing all their energies and doubts in their first kiss.

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The days after were filled of both happiness and frustration. The happiness for the three couples' blossoming relationships and the frustration was at the Hogwarts High Inquisitor.

Dolores was making even the happiest of time for Minerva absolute hell as she continued to dig and dig with her girls.

"Damn that woman to hell!" Tabitha shouted as she threw a coffee cup at the door and it shattered just as Albus and Minerva entered the staffroom hand in hand.

"Well good afternoon to use as well," Albus stated.

"Oh I'm sorry Albus," Tabitha sighed falling onto a couch as Padfoot jumped up and laid his head on her stomach.

"No Albus Darling? There must be something wrong with Little Tabby," Albus teased.

"Can I get you to write me a sick pass? Or find me one of Fred and George's skiving snack boxes? She's supposed to watch my class today I just got this note?" Tabitha groaned holding up the pink parchment.

"Oh my poor sweetheart," Minerva sighed kneeling by Tabitha's head, "You still have to go though."

"Fine…but if she does that stupid coughing I'm libel to throw her to the centaurs! They're on my side after all," Tabitha exclaimed as she got up and left the staffroom.

Tabitha led her fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors to the edge of the forest and threw out some raw meat as she made strange clicking noise. The students waited for what felt like forever before someone gasped. A few more gasped before a hand rose.

"Yes Benjamin?" Tabitha asked the Slytherin.

"What are we not seeing?" he asked.

"Very good question. Can anyone tell me what we might or might not be seeing?" Tabitha asked. Hermione's hand shot up but Tabitha ignored it.

"Someone who can actually see the creatures," Tabitha stated as Hermione dropped her hand blushing.

Neville timidly raised his hand.

"Yes Neville?"

"T-Thestrals," Neville said shakily.

"Very good five points to Gryffindor," Tabitha smiled, "Yes thestrals. Thestrals; the winged horses used to pull the carriages to Hogwarts. I know you thought it drove itself but it doesn't."

"Excuse me professor but is it wise to show children so ill equipped such dangerous creatures?" Umbridge asked.

"A very good question," Tabitha smiled condescendingly, "Class we have a good question."

"Hermione Granger would you teach students about these creatures? I'm sure you've read about them," Tabitha replied gesturing toward the creatures.

"I…Well they are frightful to look at but there aren't many records of them attacking," Hermione replied.

"Vincent Crabbe would you teach about these creatures?" Tabitha asked. Crabbe shrugged.

"Neville Longbottom would you?"

"Well I…I don't know."

"Furball my love would you teach about these creatures?" The dog barked nodding his head.

"Excellent! Let's continue Dolores for I think we should teach them about these beautiful animals even if most of them can't seem them. Personally they should think it a blessing," Tabitha smiled. "Now Harry let's have you be the first victim. You've ridden a Hippogriff yes?"

Harry nodded.

"Let's ride a thestral. They are very good at directions you know. Better than even an owl. Come on don't be shy."

Harry stepped forward looking a little nervous.

"Here we go," she said handing him a small bit of raw meat, "Hold it out and see who comes to you."

Harry shrugged and held out his hand as a young male trotted over and ate the meat.

"Now just hop on and go," Tabitha smiled. Harry mounted the horse as Tabitha slapped its back and the creature tore off.

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"One more question Professor," Dolores said as the students were heading back to the castle.

"What?" Tabitha asked.

"How long have you been teaching?"

"Two months I suppose. I got my degree in May," Tabitha answered.

"Very good," Dolores nodded as she walked off.

"She really gets on my nerves," Tabitha sighed. Padfoot barked in agreement as they head to the castle for a snack.