A Bend in Time - Chapter 675

With All Hallows Eve nearly upon them, Hogwarts was filled with excited whispers of the students regarding the yearly Halloween feast. It was rather abrupt and without warning when the Prefects of the four houses found themselves all summoned to the infirmary to see Madam Pomfrey during lunch. Hungry, and feeling rather cranky, Rowan glowered as she stomped her way down to the infirmary.

Severus, who was chatting with Remus, and Andrew happened to catch sight of his twin and hastily averted his stare lest he attracted his twin sister's ire. His twin tended to become rather irritable when she was hungry. A leftover symptom from their poor childhood, but one that Severus equally shared with his twin. Not that he would ever admit to it.

Pandora, who had been chatting with Lily opens her mouth to call out to Rowan, but Pandora instantly snaps her mouth shut at noting the dark air surrounding her friend. She was a Ravenclaw for Rowena's sake! She knew when to keep her mouth shut despite what the other houses might think!

Catching a glimpse of Pandora's wry expression, Lily cranes her neck around causing her straight red hair to swish around her. Lily's emerald eyes widen in understanding upon catching sight of Rowan, before reflexively peeking over at Severus. Severus seemed to be intently conversing with Remus Lupin and Andrew Abbott did not appear to have taken notice of Rowan's appearance. A soft sigh unconsciously escapes from Lily's throat as she lightly bites her lips in concentration.

Pandora rolls her eyes at catching Lily staring at Severus again. Lily had it bad for Severus, but the Gryffindor was just too stubborn to tell Severus her feelings. And from what she had learned from Lily and their friends is that Severus had already confessed his feelings towards Lily over the summer, and it had been Lily, who had turned him down! Where was that legendary Gryffindor courage that Gryffindors were supposed to possess?! Why if it were her, she would have already gone down and talked down to Xeno! Really, Gryffindors, they lacked absolutely any common sense!

Any further thoughts were interrupted by Pandora catching Rowan's gaze and hastily turning away. Rowan's lips twitched in a grimace as she walked over to Severus, Remus, and Andrew. Knowing that she was in a foul mood, the three boys tactfully remained silent after sharing rather pointed gazes. The other prefects largely fall silent including Prefect Olympia Branstone and Prefect David Goldstein.

The sound of coughing is heard behind linen curtains pulled around the infirmary patients. A bout of the common cold was making its way around Hogwarts, and more than a few students were laying sickly in bed. However, in a rare occurrence, most of the infirmary patients were not trying to escape but were peacefully resting. The infirmary matron had promised them that if they did so, they would be able to attend the Halloween Feast. Bribery or not, the sickly students did as they were told for once.

The silence is soon broken by the crisp footsteps of the infirmary matron, Madam Poppy Pomfrey. A kind, but stern witch in her mid-thirties rushes towards her, while her red dress, white apron, and white matron cap flutter about as she finishes checking on patients and strictly fills the sweet boxes in neat rows next to each bedside.

Finished tending to the last of her patients, Madam Pomfrey closes the curtains to one of the patient beds and marches over towards the gathered Prefects. With her skirts still swaying, she comes to a halt before them. "My apologies for the abrupt summoning, Prefects, but as you well know, this year especially we are all busy due to the wave of transfer students that entered Hogwarts this year," Madam Pomfrey said as all of the Prefects nod their heads in agreement and grimace at the understatement. They weren't busy, they were simply overrun with tasks!

"As you well know by this time of the year, I will have usually had the conversation of the Birds and the Bees with the third years-," Madam Pomfrey said as all the Prefects pale and stiffen. They all shiver violently as they recall the traumatic events of that day especially Severus. Professor Slughorn tended to describe his expertise on the male side of things leaving more than a few students unable to gaze at him without flinching.

"Considering the various proposition incidents that have occurred concerning Professor Winfrey-," Madam Pomfrey paused as all of the Prefects wince at her words. There wasn't a single house where the transfer students had not in some manner propositioned to the handsome Professor Winfrey. Why even Ravenclaw wasn't an exception to the abject horror of the upper-year Ravenclaws.

"And especially with the Halloween Feast nearly upon us, we do not desire for an even worse and more unfortunate incident to occur," Madam Pomfrey emphatically emphasized. "As such from this year forth we will introduce the curriculum a year earlier in the student's second year. For this year, we will have all of the second-years and third-years including the older transfer students attend the lecture."

All the Prefects flinch at the unfortunate announcement as Madam Pomfrey continues, "Much like the previous times before Slytherin and Hufflepuff's lecture will occur before Dinner and Gryffindor and Ravenclaws after dinner. Are there any questions?"

"No, Madam Pomfrey," the Prefects chorused.

"Excellent," Madam Pomfrey said with a crisp nod. "I shall see you all in a few hours then," before sashaying away leaving the rigid Prefects behind.

Prefect Olympia Branstone is the first one to leave with Prefect David Goldstein closely following after her. Pandora and Lily share sickly glances, before also quickly departing after them. Leaving the trio of Severus, Remus, and Rowan behind.

Trailing after them slowly in a group they walk as Andrew curiously asks, "Professor Sprout does it for the girls, but for the boys, we have Professor Flitwick. What about you all?

"Madam Pomfrey for the girls," Rowan grumbled, while Severus rather pale and ghastly adds, "Professor Slughorn." At his words, Remus and Andrew painfully shiver and gag-like.

After a moment in a rather weak voice, Remus says, "Well, that is pretty bad. The girls usually got Madam Pomfrey since Professor McGonagall was usually too busy in the past. I don't know about Professor Babbling, but she might give it this year. And as for the boys, we get Professor Dumbledore."

Rowan, Severus, and Andrew all choke and gaze at Remus with shock and pity in their eyes. With dead eyes in a deadpanned tone of voice, he says, "Yes, we could hardly gaze at Professor Dumbledore for a while. I think we mostly suppressed the memory in a dark corner of our psyche."

"Right," Andrew warily said, before hastily adding, "well, I best be going now. Bye!" Andrew fled before he was dragged into some horrific memory of the past.

Seeing the haunted gaze of Remus, Rowan and Severus hastily made excuses and fled towards the Great Hall. They would be safe at the Slytherin table! Well, mostly safe, unless Remus decided to sit with them which he did especially this year to escape from the younger Gryffindor's to get a bite to eat!