Chapter 194 - The Birds and the Bees (1/2)
It was the middle of the week when Professor Slughorn had the typically agitated Slytherin female Prefect grab all the 3rd year girls before dinner that day and have them assemble in an empty classroom in the dungeons. All the girls were staring at each other suspiciously wondering which one of them had gotten the rest of them in trouble. More than some dubious looks were cast Rowan's way causing Silvia and Tiffany to glare back.
Quyen and her gang sneered back but they didn't dare snark out loud given that the female Prefect Delilah Pizarro was with them. The poor female Prefect's chopped short hair was more than a bit untidy. Her cooked nose was pale with rather gaunt cheekbones pointing at a lack of sufficient sleep. No one in their right mind was about to be the first to trigger that deadly booby-trap. Because the first fool who did so would probably be stuck in detention until Christmas.
Prefect Pizarro curtly instructs them, ”Have a seat.”
All of the third year girls neatly take a seat in the rows of chairs without fuss. But the dungeon classroom was rather chilly as they settled down in their seats. They all subconsciously shivered at the damp, coolness of the empty classroom. Pulling their robes tighter around themselves, they warm their hands in their sleeves or in their pockets.
Slowly whispered conversations spring up as Tiffany wrinkles her nose and softly says, ”What do you think this is all about?”
”I don't know, but I saw Prefect Traver's grabbing all the third-year boys and taking them to another classroom,” Silvia whispered back.
”Well, whatever the boys did, I highly doubt we'd be in trouble for it as well,” Bethanie quietly interjected. ”Unless of course, one of the girls was in on it.”
Rowan, on the other hand, had the strong inkling that it was an entirely different subject. And given the chalkboard, it looked like it would be some kind of lesson. But what kind would be the better question?
Before Rowan can speculate out loud her suspicions, Perfect Pizarro glares at them to quiet down. Instantly the whispers die down including Rowan, who obediently closes her mouth shut.
The classroom is not silent for long when the sound of rustling skirts and footsteps can be heard down the hallway. As a collective group, all the girls turn their heads towards the open doorway to only see a familiar figure in a red dress, a white apron, and a white matron cap. The matron of Hogwarts, Madam Poppy Pomfrey.
Madam Pomfrey warmly smiles at them as with a flick of her wand she closes the door to the classroom behind her and flutters to a halt in front of the classroom. The girl's glance at each other in confusion as Madam Pomfrey kindly says, ”Well, I'm sure that all of young ladies are wondering why all of you are seated before me, correct?”
All the girls nod their heads as Madam Pomfrey continues, ”It is my duty as Matron of Hogwarts to ensure all of the students are properly informed and taught.”
A strange feeling of dread begins to creep up in the pit of Rowan's stomach as the other girls have bewildered expressions on their faces. What exactly was the matron of the infirmary going to teach them? It wasn't as though they were planning to become healer nor did the Matron offer any such lessons. And even if the Matron did so, it certainly wouldn't be to third-year girls but rather to the seventh years.
”This evening it is my job and duty in the absence of your mothers and other female relatives to explain the wondrous transformation of your bodies into young ladies, and the implications of such changes,” Madam Pomfrey confidently explained.