Four Heads Are Better Than One

Year Two: Problems with Potions

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The top of the Astronomy Tower

Pomona swallowed rather hard as she glanced over the side of the tower.

"Was this really a good idea?"

Minerva came to stand next to her. "Do you think Gilderoy will climb those stairs?"

"And risk creasing his robes? Not likely."

"Then it was a good idea. Besides, look at that."

Even Pomona had to admit that the view was rather spectacular. From where they stood, they could see the whole of the Hogwarts grounds, and miles beyond, and the setting sun set the skies afire in a blaze of reds and purples. The castle and its surroundings were sprinkled with snow, but with Heating Charms protecting them from the chill, the snow just served to enhance the evening's beauty. The sight took Pomona's breath away, and she temporarily forgot her fear as she drank in the captivating sight.

Eventually, the clatter of boots on stone told them that Filius and Severus were on their way. A few minutes later, the two wizards joined them, both breathing heavily from the long climb.

There was a scowl on Severus' face. "I still don't see why Albus couldn't just let us Apparate."

It was clear from the expression on Filius' face that the conversation had long since started to repeat itself. "Merlin's beard Severus; it's just a few flights of stairs."

"Feeling a bit tired, are we Severus?" asked Minerva sweetly.

Severus shot her a sour look as he conjured a chair. "You would be tired too if you had just had a double period of fourth year Gryffindors and Slytherins."

Pomona shuddered. "The Weasley twins plus Slytherins plus volatile potions… I can see what you mean."

Severus shook his head in exasperation. "I still can't decide whether they're brilliant or completely incompetent. Today they were meant to be brewing a Strengthening Solution, but all they succeeded in doing was drenching half the class in potion when their cauldron exploded."

Filius frowned. "Wouldn't that lead you towards total incompetency?"

"Normally, yes. However, since the potion caused very embarressing pimples to erupt when it hit, yet somehow only splashed Slytherins…"

"Oh. I see."

Minerva nodded, but it looked like she was struggling to keep a straight face. "They do have a habit of causing accidents to that effect."

Pomona smiled ruefully. "Do you remember when they got hold of my Bouncing Bulbs?"

Filius grinned. "The ones that somehow ended up in Gilderoy's office?"

Minerva smiled fondly at the memory. "How could we forget?" She glanced at Severus. "One of the few times you've actually awarded them points, I believe."

Severus smirked at her. "Well, their 'mistake' this morning quite made up for that occasion."

Pomona frowned. "Speaking of mistakes, does anyone know what's happened to Hermione Granger?"

Minerva shook her head. "All she would say when I spoke to her was that a spell she was practicing had gone wrong."

Filius raised an eyebrow. "While I can quite easily believe that she was practicing advanced spells, I cannot see her trying anything that could cause this."

"Neither can I, but she refused to say anything else. Poppy couldn't get anything out of her either."

Severus looked from one to the other. "What exactly is wrong with her?"

Minerva frowned at him. "I told you about it last week."

"Did you? I might not have been listening."

Seeing Minerva's eyes flash, Filius decided to take over. "Miss Granger was admitted to the hospital wing on Christmas Day with the face of a cat."

"And a tail."

"And a tail. Potter and Weasley brought her in, but none of them would tell us what had happened."

Severus snorted. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" He paused a moment. "You said she had the face of a cat?"

Minerva looked at him sharply. "Do you have an idea of what might have happened, Severus?"

Severus hesitated. "It sounds like she tried to use Polyjuice Potion for an animal transformation. But that's impossible."

Filius raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. Even if she could make Polyjuice Potion, which she couldn't, 'know-it-all' Granger wouldn't be stupid enough to use an animal hair."

Minerva did not look convinced. "Miss Granger is hardly a typical second year, Severus. And accidents happen to the best of us."

Filius nodded in agreement. "You said yourself that the evidence fits. Besides, weren't you complaining a few months ago about missing ingredients?"

Severus scowled at them. "Supposing you're right, and she did somehow manage to brew this exceedingly difficult potion, then why weren't Potter and Weasley affected? You know those three do everything together."

Minerva shrugged. "They may have used different hairs."

Severus threw up his hands in exasperation. "We don't even know if they made it! Granger just finally found a spell she couldn't do."

"Severus, which is the more likely scenario, that Hermione Granger got a spell so disastrously wrong, or that these particular students managed to brew Polyjuice Potion, bearing in mind that Hermione was the one to solve your riddle last year?"

"Logic and magic are not the same thing. For the last time, no second year could brew that potion!"

"You and Lily managed it in third year if I remember correctly," Filius pointed out mildly.

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "Did you? I never knew that."

Severus smirked. "We wanted to give the Marauders a taste of their own medicine."

Pomona glanced at him. "Even though it should be impossible for anyone below fifth year to do so successfully?"

"The fact that Lily and I managed it does not mean that Potter and his cronies could." He shook his head fervently. "There has to be another explanation."

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