Once A Student - Always A Student?

Coventina walked slowly to her classroom, her mind racing. Considering her position at Hogwarts and the words from Lupin, she glanced out of the window. She could see the students making their way to her class and the smiling faces of Ron, Harry and Hermione. Hermione reminded her of her little sister Erin. Coventina remembered five years ago when Hermione had completed her detention work, and she had given her a nail polish as a thank you. Coventina had come from a non-magical background, so when the letter arrived from Hogwarts she was very surprised. Being a Muggle born in Slytherin did have its plus sides. Not many people talked to her, and that suited her fine. She hadn't taken her time as a student at all seriously, wishing instead to go to a normal school like the rest of her family. Resenting the fact that she now found herself back at Hogwarts she gathered up some papers and started placing them on the student's desks. She would not be there if her sister wasn't sick. Coventina hated Hogwarts and the twisted people at the Ministry...but the money helped. Her job was to deal with Harry, no one told her that she had to hurt Hermione. Hermione would be safe; she'd make sure of that.

Taking her wand, Coventina made three dark purple goblets appear on the desk in front of her and waited for her class to arrive. When everyone was finally seated, she began to speak. "The Epona defence spell is very powerful. It forms a protection aura that shields the wizard from various attacks. To enhance the spell and gain its full benefit, it is common practice to drink Orla first. Orla is made out of fifty different herbs, and can increase the spell's power by 98% I'm going to need three people to help me out." Hermione's hand shot up in the air. Coventina smiled to herself. "OK, Hermione," she said "And Pansy, how about you?" Sulking, Pansy joined Hermione at the front of the class. "Right, one more helper. I think we should have a boy now," she looked around the class-but her mind was already made up, "Harry." Ron shot Harry a sympathetic look as he got up to join the others. Coventina turned to the goblets on her desk and waved her wand over them. A sparkling, dark green liquid filled the goblets. She discretely placed a drop of clear liquid from a small bottle in one of the goblets. "OK Pansy, you have this one," she said handing the goblets out, "Hermione, you take the one in the middle, and Harry, you take the one on the end..."

Just then there was a knock on the door. It was Filch. Mrs Norris lurked in the background. "Professor Arawn, there's been a new delivery of Doxies for you. I suggest you pick them up now because they're causing chaos in my office."

"Mr Filch, I'm in the middle of a class!" she replied.

"If you don't pick them up now, I can't guarantee they will still be there later. A few have already escaped."

"OK, just wait there you three. Don't do anything with those goblets until I come back."

"Why did she pick me?" Harry mumbled when Coventina was safely out of earshot.

"Maybe because you looked so interested," laughed Ron.

"Harry you should be pleased," said Hermione, "It looks like fun."

"Hermione, your idea of fun is slightly different to the rest of the world," responded Ron.

Harry smiled. Then Ron started to throw empty chocolate frog packets at Harry. Harry ducked and bumped into Hermione, sending half the contents of her goblet on the floor. Hermione looked crestfallen. "Here Hermione, you take mine. I'll have your goblet." Harry and Hermione swapped goblets just as Coventina returned to the classroom. She put the Doxies in the room at the back of the class and returned to the front.

"OK, firstly, I need you to drink the Orla. It doesn't taste bad, I promise. It's just the sort of herbs you would normally find in your garden."

Ron made a face, "Yuck!"

Harry, Hermione and Pansy started to drink from the goblets and Coventina watched them carefully. Harry finished first followed by Pansy. "Come on Hermione," yelled Ron. Then he began to lead the class in chants of "Hermione, Hermione, Hermione."

"I'm doing the best I can," she smiled. Then she started drinking again, and began to shake. The goblet started knocking against her teeth, she was shaking so much.

"Hermione," said Coventina slowly, "What's wrong?" The goblet fell out of Hermione's hand and smashed upon the floor. Stepping in the dark green liquid, she turned and fell on the hard ground.

"No," shouted Coventina, rushing to Hermione's side. She looked up and all the class gathered round. "Pansy, go and fetch help." Pansy was frozen to the spot. She still had her goblet in her hands. "NOW!" yelled Coventina. Pansy ran from the room, still clutching her goblet. "Go back to your seats," she said as calmly as she could, "Hermione's had an allergic reaction; you're not helping her by crowding her." Pansy was followed in to the class by Madam Pomfrey, Snape and McGonagall. Madam Pomfrey rushed to Hermione's side. "What's she taken?" she asked.

"Orla, just an Orla."

"She must be reacting to one of the herbs then."

"All right Gryffindors go to your common room," said Professor McGonagall, taking charge.

"She had better be OK," said Ron angrily to Coventina - his face red. Professor McGonagall waited for all the Gryffindors to leave, and then she gently led Harry and Ron away.

"You can all go to your common room too," said Professor Snape addressing the Slytherins, "And I do not want to hear any noise." Then he joined Madam Pomfrey and Coventina at Hermione's side.

"I'll take her to the hospital wing," said Madam Pomfrey, "It's a reaction, she will just need some rest."

"Are you sure it's just a reaction?" asked Snape.

"What else can it be? She has taken a simple Orla, that's all," replied Madam Pomfrey. Snape reached for an empty jar and scooped up some of the Orla from the floor.

"We will soon find out," he said slowly, deliberately looking at Coventina. Coventina was pale.

"You must not blame yourself dear," said Madam Pomfrey gently, "It's just one of those things. Serverus, please can you assist me in getting Hermione to the hospital wing."

"Of course," he replied. They took Hermione, and left Coventina alone. She sat against her desk and buried her head in her arms.

***

Snape returned to his office as soon as Hermione was settled safely in the hospital wing. He knew what she had suffered was much more serious than an allergic reaction, and he had put counter effect potion in a glass of water so she would drink it when she woke up. He didn't say anything to Madam Pomfrey. He studied the sample Orla that he picked up from the floor. It was definitely contaminated. Snape had walked past Coventina's classroom on the way back to his office, and she was still sat on the floor where they had left her. He had contemplated confronting her, but she had looked as shocked as anyone. Snape decided it would be best to wait for Dumbledore to return. He would know what to do.

***

Coventina waited a few hours before she went to see Hermione. She had watched Snape return and made sure she looked in a state for when he spied on her. She knew he would. Madam Pomfrey let her in without any questions. She felt just as bad for Coventina as she did for Hermione. Coventina sat down next to Hermione's bed. Hermione opened her eyes. "Hi Hermione," said Coventina gently, "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," she replied briskly.

Coventina was dismayed. "I'm really sorry; I didn't know that would happen."

Hermione turned over so she wasn't facing Coventina. "I still have it," she said eventually.

"What?" asked Coventina, confused.

"The nail polish."

Coventina felt the colour drain from her face. She didn't answer.

"I thought I recognised you. And I just thought it was odd that..." her voice trailed off, "the last time I saw you, you were in detention. Then suddenly you're here as a teacher." Hermione paused, then continued, "I saw you do something to one of the goblets and I took it...just to be safe."

"I think," said Coventina, "that you need some more rest," and she got up. "I'm very pleased that you're feeling better, however, I suggest lots of sleep." Coventina walked over to Madam Pomfrey. "Hermione is very traumatised," she began sadly, "She's not making any sense. Is there a possibility you can use a 'Forget' charm on her? It's not right that she should suffer."

Madam Pomfrey patted Coventina on the arm. "I'll see what I can do. She's lucky to have such a caring teacher." Coventina smiled and left the hospital wing. No one was going to stand in her way, not now.

***

Madam Pomfrey walked over to Hermione. "How are you feeling, dear?"

"Professor Arawn, I have to stop her, she's..."

"Ah, I was afraid of this. Hermione, I'm going to give you a 'Forget' charm to help you overcome your trauma."

"But, I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me!"

Madam Pomfrey handed Hermione a yellow sweet. "Here you go dear. Take this and you will soon be back to normal."

Hermione dutifully took the charm sweet off Madam Pomfrey and popped it in her mouth. As soon as Madam Pomfrey's back was turned she spat it out and hid it under her pillow. "Two can play at this game," she said quietly.

***

Coventina returned to her classroom. Some House Elves must have been for the floor was spotless-not a piece of shattered Goblet anywhere. Sitting down in her chair, she hoped that Madam Pomfrey had given Hermione the 'Forget' charm. She would have to wait until tomorrow to find out.