"You'll be just fine, Miss Chapman," Poppy said to the young Hufflepuff that was now sitting up with a cast set on her arm.

"Thank you, Madame Pomfrey!" The young girl scratched beneath her cast and stood from the bed. "How long am I going to have to keep this on?"

"Give it a week," she said, patting the girl on the shoulder. "Off you go!"

Practically skipping out from behind the curtain, Miss Chapman was out the door to the hospital wing. Poppy always enjoyed the Hufflepuffs; they were generally more pleasant than the other students. She would always be loyal to Ravenclaw, her own house, but when it came to students in her care, she always enjoyed Hufflepuffs.

The doors to the hospital wing opened seconds later, and she sighed as the Head of Slytherin stalked in. "Poppy!"

"Yes, Severus?"

"It's time," he muttered.

Nodding, Poppy walked towards Severus, grabbing the vial that he held out for her. "I almost forgotten."

"There seems to be a lot of that going around."

Poppy led Severus behind one of the curtains, preparing to administer the potion to their colleague when he arrived. As Severus unrolled a parchment with a list of ingredients and steps, just as she had requested, she felt sorry for him. "Severus," she said, touching his shoulder. Severus stiffened at her touch, but didn't push her away. "I know this is difficult."

"Please, Poppy. Let's get this over with."

Poppy rolled her eyes; he was just as stubborn as his lover. She tore the parchment from his hands, forcing him to look at her. "I know Minerva doesn't know everything."

Severus fixed his eyes on her, and for the first time in a long time, Poppy wasn't intimidated by his cold stare. "Tell me. What is it you think I should tell her?"

"The incident at the Shrieking Shack. I remember; I remember well, bandaging you up."

"She doesn't need to know."

Poppy shook her head. "You're just as stubborn as her."

"I guess it's rubbed off over the years," he snapped.

"Look," Poppy groaned, grabbing his arm. "Minerva would have expelled James and Sirius for that. Merlin, you should have heard the arguments between her and Albus over the years about the bullying. It was because of those arguments that Albus never told her; I only knew because I was the one to fix you up."

"And what do you think drawing up old history is going to do for her? What's she going to do? Expel a professor?"

"I'm not saying that," Poppy snapped, trying desperately to get through to him. "I think it would help her understand why you're so…bitter. He almost killed you. We both know it wasn't Remus's fault, but it's obvious you haven't been able to let any of this go."

"You sound just like her."

"Because we're both tired of you letting this ruin everything else." Poppy handed him back his parchment and placing the vial on the side table. "It's not going to change anything; she's not going to suddenly turn on one of her friends, and you're a fool if you think she'd do that to Remus. But, she might understand you a little bit better." When Severus began to protest, she held up a hand. "Think about it."

"There is nothing to think about."

"This is going to ruin your relationship with her. I've seen the two of you the last few weeks…"

Severus's jaw visibly locked and the corner of his nose flared. "That's none of your business. And here, I thought you were the one who didn't gossip."

"It's not gossip when I'm talking out of concern for two friends." The man was infuriating, and Poppy threw her towel down, walking out from behind the curtain for a break. She needed space away from him. It took a lot to get her angry, and she could feel her face growing hot.

"I'm ready, Madam Pomfrey," came a timid voice. Poppy looked up to see Remus coming through the doors. She smiled and met him in the middle of the wing.

"It's Poppy, dear," she corrected him. "Please. We're colleagues now."

"I suppose this is all an adjustment," Remus laughed. "Are you and Severus ready?"

"We are. Severus is back here with the Wolfsbane." Poppy opened the curtain to reveal Severus facing the wall, his hands clenched on the sides of the table.

"Remus is ready."

Severus turned around and glared at him. "It's here," he muttered, handing Remus the potion.

"Thank you, Severus."

Poppy looked back and forth between the two, ready for a drink as soon as they left. She'd have to be in touch with Rolanda. "Once you drink it, I'll keep you here for a few hours so we can monitor the effects. Severus was very careful in his brewing, so I don't suspect any problems. After this month, you'll be fine to take it in the comfort of your own rooms."

Remus nodded and downed the potion, grimacing as it went down. "What did you expect? Firewhisky?" Severus asked.

Remus shot him an equally intimidating glare. "No; surely, even you lower yourself to show a shred of emotion when something tastes off."

"I'll be back, Remus," Poppy said, taking the empty glass from him.

Leaving the two alone, Poppy knew she was opening the floor up for argument. While she waited to make sure Remus had no side effects, she took advantage of the empty hospital wing to straighten things up, making beds and cleaning out bottles so she could close once Remus was gone. "Albus could have gotten this damn Wolfsbane from any local potions shop, yet he insisted I make this for you. Ironic isn't it?"

"I see, perhaps, the man's attempt to help us resolve some of our conflicts."

"There is nothing to resolve," Severus snapped.

"I know what James and Sirius did to you," Remus said. "And I'm sorry for my part in it."

"If you were sorry, you should have said something then."

Poppy pulled sheets off a bed previously occupied by an injured fourth year when she heard Remus reply, "I was a child and I was so preoccupied with-"

"So was I!" Severus roared. "I am so tired of you using your condition as an excuse! You have gotten everything handed to you because of it! Poor Remus turns into a killer monster once a month, here's a job, here's a free pass on treating people like shit!"

"I haven't been handed anything!" Remus shouted, his voice equally loud. Poppy was thankful that no students were in the wing. This was the last thing she wanted them to hear. "If you think that, you're thicker than I ever thought!"

The two men continued to argue for what felt like hours when Poppy looked up to see her friend sliding through the main doors of the hospital wing. Minerva had a concerned look on her face as she quietly walked towards Poppy, careful not to let them hear. "I came to see how it was going," Minerva explained. "I can see as well as expected."

Poppy snorted. "They've been at each other since I left. Perhaps, I should take over for Severus.."

"No!" Minerva said, putting an arm out to hold Poppy back. "They need this; Severus needs this."

"He needs you," Poppy replied. She knew it was out of character for her to interfere in their relationship, but she knew Severus wouldn't admit it.

"I know," she replied, pressing her lips together. "I don't know where to start. I knew this was going to be difficult on him. If I'm being honest, I've been avoiding it. I just don't know what to do."

"I think he feels misunderstood; you ignoring it isn't helping."

Minerva sighed and rubbed her temples. "He needs to face it."

"Maybe make sure he knows you're still there, dear," Poppy said with a weak smile.

She broke from Minerva's hold and ducked behind the curtain to see Remus now standing, practically nose to nose to Severus. "Remus, sit down," she snapped. "Severus, come with me. I'll keep watch. This childish bickering between the two of you is going to interfere with the potion's reactions."

"The last thing we need is a werewolf to enter transformation already ruffled up," Severus snapped, a sarcastic smile playing across his face.

"Severus, out!" Poppy said, practically shoving the much taller man out from the bed area. At Severus's mention of transformation, a flicker of fear came across Remus's face. "Remus, I do not think you're going to transform. Just stay put, would you?"

Severus's breathing was heavy, and Poppy swore she heard it stop for a moment when he saw Minerva. "I came by to see how it was going," she said quietly.

"Did you get your answer?"

Minerva sighed and walked towards him, grabbing his hands which were visibly shaking. Severus looked at her for a moment, and for a moment Poppy saw his expression soften. He kissed her cheek softly, but hurried out the door, letting it slam behind him.

The two witches stood in silence for a few moments until Minerva let out a breath Poppy could tell she had been holding in. "I'm going to check on Remus and then retire for tonight."

Poppy nodded and continued her cleaning as Minerva went to tend to her now grown-up cub.