The doors to the infirmary slammed open, and Poppy felt her desk rattle. Barely awake, and seeing it was practically midnight, she sighed and threw on a robe over her nightgown. It was probably a student out of bed trying to see Mr. Potter. She opened the door and rubbed her eyes at the light that came through. In front of her, a woman dressed in a smart suit, complete with a huge goose hat was glaring down at her. "Augusta?" she asked, unsurprised but still displeased to see Mr. Longbottom's grandmother in the infirmary.

"Mrs. Longbottom," she corrected in her usual tone.

Poppy sighed; at an earlier hour with other guardians, she would have hidden her distaste a bit more. "Augusta," Poppy repeated, dragging out her name, watching as the woman's face tightened. "To what do I owe this pleasure at midnight?'

"My grandson is laid up in here again," she replied. "So of course, I came for an update on his wellbeing. Poppy rubbed her temples. "As I'm sure the headmaster explained, it was a simple body binding spell. Minerva reversed in as soon as she found him. I am keeping him here just to give him anything if he is sore in the morning. Two of the others are here as well, trying to sleep. I w-,"

"Oh, the two that attacked him?"

"If you are asking about disciplinary measures, you'll have to bring that up to Professor McGonagall in the morning. I would appreciate you come back when the students are awake. I would like them to sleep." Poppy tried to lead her out of the hospital wing, but Augusta shrugged her off.

"No, no; she can talk to me about it now," Minerva said, stepping out from behind the curtain that Potter was behind. Her glasses were low on her nose, parchment and pen in her hand. "How are you, my dear?" she said so sweetly it made Poppy cringe. Minerva had been in the wing to write up reports for Albus as she always did when something large happened with the students. The perfectionist she was, it always took her late into the night.

Poppy knew the two were friends, but she also knew Minerva used the term 'friends' loosely. Augusta had gone to school with them, but Minerva was the only one of them that she had ever seemed to like. To the rest, she had always turned her nose up to. Minerva tolerated her for the friendship with Frank, and now the relationship she looked to develop with Neville. Augusta had always put a lot of pressure on the boy, something that angered Minerva endlessly. As much as she had looked over Harry growing up, she had looked over Neville just as much. She cared about the boy as much as she did her own nephews. "I am here to check on my boy," she explained as if her presence needed any.

"He's just fine."

"Am I hearing correctly that the other three will not be punished?"

"All four of them will be rewarded."

"For what?"

Poppy wouldn't have pushed Minerva when it came to how she handled her students. Augusta should have known her better than to do so. "For what? Have you not heard that Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger saved a very important item and stopped one of our professors from bringing back You Know Who?"

Augusta glared at her. "I appreciate the service of these three. That, however, does not answer my question about their punishment."

"I do not intend to punish them, no," Minerva said matter-of-factly.
"And why is that?"

"I prefer to see the bravery of all four of them; I think that's the lesson to take away from this."

"And, pray tell me, Minerva, what bravery do you think Neville has shown?"

Minerva crossed her arms, and Poppy couldn't tear herself from the situation. "He stood up to his friends. That is not an easy task, especially not at this age."

"He was stopped by three children."

The Deputy's nostrils were flared, and Poppy knew she was not going to back down. "Do you ever see anything positive about Neville? Anything at all?"

"I see a boy who needs looking after. Don't you dare question how much I care for my grandson."
"I wouldn't question that," Minerva retorted, "But I would question if you have a single shred of confidence in him."

Augusta shook her head. "I'm not having this argument again with you, Minerva. Do notify me when he's awake." The older woman turned to go, but Minerva pulled her wand and shut the doors to the hospital wing. They slammed loudly, causing Poppy to jump slightly.

Augusta turned back to face her, and Poppy stared at Minerva who hadn't looked that angry in a long time. "That boy has had a hard enough first year, and you want to disregard this truly brave thing he has done? All the talk you've made over the years, that he won't be sorted into Gryffindor, that he won't live up to his father, and he finally does something, and it's not good enough?"

"He's not your boy. You would do well to remember that," Augusta hissed. Poppy knew this wasn't the first time the two had been in such a heated debate, and with Minerva as his head of house, it certainly wouldn't be the last.

That struck a nerve with Minerva. Anyone that knew her knew the members of her house, which she so fondly referred to as her cubs, were the closest thing she'd ever had to children. With a red face, Minerva visibly tightened her grip on her wand to the point where her knuckled looked white. "He is when he's here. They all are."

The doors Minera had just shut opened, and Poppy wished she could have told Severus to turn around the moment he walked in. He reached an arm out, as if to reach for Minerva, but Poppy watched his face change as he read the room. Minerva's face was red, and her breathing was becoming almost audible. He slowly put his arm down and narrowed his eyes at Augusta.

"Ah, Professor Snape," Augusta smirked as if she were the cat getting the cream. "I see that some of the things I've been hearing are true," she muttered.

"Do speak up, Augusta." Minerva snapped.
"I was just saying, Minerva, that I suppose the rumors are true."

"I love good gossip," Minerva replied. "Do tell."

"About you and the Potion's Master here. Now, don't tell me it's true that you have taken him as a lover?"

Severus looked uncomfortable, as if he would pay anything to get out of the conversation he had just walked to. His face was bright red. Minerva, however, showed no signs of embarrassment or backing down. "One hears many things; it doesn't mean it's true. And tell me, Augusta, if it were? Does who I choose to spread my legs for have any impact on your grandson's education?" Severus's mouth physically dropped open, and Poppy almost burst into laughter at her boldness. "It may do you some good to find a lover of your own," Minerva added, her eyes raised. "Perhaps redirect some of that negativity towards something a little more productive."

Augusta was speechless; Minerva had won, and the smirk on her face showed that she knew she had won. "Poppy," she said, her face disgusted. "Do let me know when Neville is awake."

Trying not to laugh, Poppy nodded, wishing Rolanda was there for once. Augusta stormed out of the infirmary, slamming the doors shut. Left in silence, Poppy looked at Severus who widened his eyes, mouthing, "What happened?" to her.

Poppy shook her head, rolling her eyes. He looked partially amused and partially shaken. "You've had good timing, Severus," Minerva said, breaking the silence. "I've just finished my reports for Albus. Poppy, I trust the three are in good hands?" She spoke like the conversation with Augusta hadn't just happened.

"Of course; Mr. Potter is the only one I am concerned for, and I do believe he'll wake up in a few days. Severus came earlier and assessed the effects of the dark magic. He didn't seem concerned."

"Then, Severus, I intend to get back to my rooms, if you would walk me back?"

"Ah…yes, Minerva," he nodded, looking completely confused, but not willing to argue. They looked like a couple from the few Muggle sitcoms she had seen, the man lost, but going along with the woman without argument. It was so rare Severus showed any signs of submissiveness.

As the couple left for the night, Poppy pulled of her headpiece, letting her hair fall out of its constraints. With everyone out of the wing, she intended to relax for the rest of the night. Chuckling to herself as she walked through the ward, she couldn't stop thinking about Minerva's comment to Augusta. Sometimes she forgot how bold her friend was.