Once A Student - Always A Student?

Coventina nervously awaited her fifth year DADA class by pacing up and down the classroom. Gradually, they began to file through the door, but no Hermione. After waiting an extra ten minutes, Coventina began to speak. "Today, I want to talk about a few dark creatures and how you would protect yourself from them. I think we did enough practical work yesterday. OK, who can tell me what an Ash Winder is?"

"An Ash Winder is a serpent which lives just long enough to serve its purpose."

Coventina looked to the door and saw Hermione standing there and grinning.

"Hermione, I'm glad you could join us. I hope you're feeling better today? You look very well."

"I feel fine," Hermione smiled sweetly, "Never better." She walked over to Harry and Ron and sat down.

"All right, what about Erklings?"

Hermione raised her hand.

"Hermione?"

"An Erkling is a creature with a stupid laugh that causes harm to those younger than them. Thankfully, the Ministry of Magic are putting strict controls on them."

Coventina looked at Hermione for a moment. "Very good. But how would you protect yourself from them?"

"Vigilance is the key," replied Hermione, still smiling.

"Of course," replied Coventina matching Hermione's smile. So the 'Forget' charm didn't work, she thought to herself, it's a shame, Hermione need not of been hurt. Silly kid.

Coventina walked to the back of the class and picked up one goblet. Then she returned to the front and placed it on the desk. "Since Hermione did not get a chance to finish the experiment yesterday, I think it's only fair that she should have another chance."

Hermione turned slightly pale.

"You can't make her do it again, she's allergic to the herbs!" shouted Ron.

"No, it's quite all right, Ron. We discovered it wasn't the herbs that gave Hermione the reaction after all. Miss Granger, if you please?"

Hermione stood up and walked to the front of the class. She took the goblet from Coventina and looked inside.

"What are you worried about Hermione?" asked Coventina sweetly.

"Nothing," replied Hermione, staring straight into Coventina's nail matching eyes, which didn't look that impressive anymore.

"Professor Snape," said Coventina suddenly, "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to observe your lesson," he said smoothly.

"But you're only supposed to observe my first and..."

"Last lesson," he finished for her.

Hermione placed the goblet back on the desk, knocking over papers as she did so.

"Get out, Hermione," shouted a flustered Coventina.

Hermione looked at them both; Snape said nothing, so she quietly left the classroom.

"I see you are in the middle of an experiment, Professor Arawn. Please talk me through it so I can...assess it." The tone of his voice was deathly.

"It is a repeat of yesterday's experiment. This time, I am hoping to get it right."

Snape regarded her for a second then handed her the glass. "Drink it," he said.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, trying not to get even more flustered, "You have no right to come barging in on my lesson like this."

She looked at him straight in the eyes, silently pleading for him to leave. Snape did not move. There was no way out. Accepting defeat, Coventina raised the glass slowly to her lips, and shutting her eyes, drank the contents. He caught her as she fell, lifeless into his arms. Picking her up and ignoring the amazed and confused looks of students, he carried her to the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey rushed over to him.

"What happened?"

"Poison."

"Someone poisoned her?"

"No. She poisoned herself."

"Deliberately?"

"I made her drink it."

"WHAT? WHY?"

"I had to be sure."

"Sure of what?"

"She was going to poison a student."

Muttering incoherently, Madam Pomfrey fussed around Coventina.

"Will she be all right?" he asked.

"It's a bit late to be wondering that now, Severus!"

"Would you have preferred she poisoned a student?"

Madam Pomfrey stopped fussing for a moment and looked at Snape. "Of course not," she said quietly, "The best thing you can do now is get some rest. You look awful. Coventina is quite stable, and I will keep you updated on her condition."

Snape nodded and swept out of the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey thought it best not to tell him Coventina probably wouldn't make it through the night