Chapter 195 - The Birds and the Bees Ⅱ (2/2)
Prefect Pizzaro smirks and says, ”It's so much more fun to be on this side of things. Good Evening, Matron Pomfrey,” before striding away.
Matron Pomfrey ruefully shakes her head and glances down at the time. Dinner was still twenty minutes away; she'd finished with plenty of time. And after dinner, she would meet with the third-year female Hufflepuff's, while Professor Flitwick would do so for the third year Hufflepuff boys, and tomorrow for the Gryffindor boys, and his own Ravenclaw's.
Seeing that she still had time for a quick cuppa, Madam Pomfrey makes her way to the staffroom. The staffroom is a long, paneled room full of old mismatched chairs that had seen better days. Pleasantly chatting over a steaming teapot of tea and gingersnaps are two witches; Professor Pomona Sprout, a squat little witch with wry and dirt covered clothes, while the other, Madam Hooch, a witch with short frazzled hair and yellow like eyes debate the winner of the next Quidditch league match between the Wimbourne Wasps in their next upcoming Quidditch match against the Montrose Magpipes.
The two women barely nod at Madam Pomfrey, who takes a seat next to them and serves herself a cup of tea. Madam Hooch a fan of the Wasps and proud to call herself, ”A Stinger,” argued, ”Really Pomona, the Magpipes have no chance of beating the Wasps in the upcoming match!”
Professor Sprout tugs on her patched hat over her flyaway hair and says, ”Rolonda, though the Wasps do indeed have beater Ludo Bagman on the team. We must remember that the Montrose Magpipes have won the League Cup 32 times and the European Championships, twice! And they presently have some of the best chasers around. I do believe that even if the Wasps seeker catches the snitch, the Wasps will still lose the match against the Magpipes!”
The two witches glare at each other, while Madam Pomfrey wryly says, ”Pomona, I'd wager that your Hufflepuffs and the rest of the students would be shocked to find out how feisty you are in regard to your precious Magpipes.”
Professor Sprouts faintly blushes and says, ”Well, we Magpipes must flock together against the Stingers!”
Madam Hooch lets out a huff and crosses her arms over her chest. Her sharp yellow eyes dart over to the matron of the infirmary. ”So, how were the Slytherin girls, Poppy?”
”Perfectly embarrassed,” Madam Pomfrey chuckled.
”The poor lasses,” Professor Sprout muttered with pity. ”It will be my poor badgers turn later tonight. But I suppose it's a small mercy that it will be you doing so, Poppy. For which I am forever eternally grateful to you, my dear.”
Madam Hooch shudders in horror, ”I still recall ours with Matron Wally in that sharp librarian tone of hers explaining about the birds and the bees.” All three women shiver and despite being in some years apart, they'd all had the misfortune of knowing Matron Wally.
”Thank goodness for small mercies,” Madam Pomfrey muttered under her breath.
The three women quickly change the subject as the door to the staff room opens and the younger Professor Zephyros, the Divination teacher enters the staff room. With distant, red-tinged eyes and in a dreamy voice, says, ”Good Evening ladies. Might I have a cup of tea before dinner?”
”Have a seat, Ariel,” Professor Sprout kindly gestured, while Madam Hooch made a face. She didn't think much of the Divination Professor, who always smelled of burned herbs.
Professor Ariel Zephyros takes a seat next to Madam Pomfrey, who carefully eyes the young man. ”Ariel Zephyros, I would hate to remind you that I am obliged to report any illegal use of herbs to the board members of Hogwarts,” Madam Pomfrey sternly said.
Professor Zephyros shakes his oily head causing the strings of his stringy hair to whip around him. ”They are medicinal herbs, Matron, I can assure you that I have a prescription,” Professor Zephyros stammered.
Madam Pomfrey gives the younger Divination Professor a look of disbelief as Madam Hooch lets out a loud snort. Failing to notice the displeased expressions of the three witches, Professor Zephyros begins to ramble, ”I can't wait to see what my Tessomancy reading will tell me today! Did you now that tea reading is a practice that is believed widely to have from the orient to Europe? It is-.”
All three women quickly down their tea and make inaudible excuses about heading to dinner. Professor Zephyros is clearly lost somewhere on the horizon and fails to notice them leave in a hurry. In fact, he would completely forget about them as he solely concentrated on drinking down his tea and reading his tea leaves. It was a triangle, an unforeseen legacy.