You three should be the ones I shouldn't be worried about.

If Dylan hadn't felt bad about his actions...Er, lack of...he most definitely did now. He knew the older lady was stressed. It had just been last term when she'd fallen out and he'd assumed she was dying...

Even on their trek to the office just a little while ago...The Slytherin Captain was convinced their Head of House had passed. How he would've reacted had that been confirmed, he didn't know. Dylan respected the woman a great deal and had even...teared up...

...But then Sierra was saying something...He'd missed it due to his over-thinking...and she was rushing from the room, looking utterly destroyed. Ken Barbie had been right behind her. Dylan wasn't sure why...but that STILL annoyed him to no end. SIGH. Yes, he could over-think that later.

"Once again...I do apologize. I will not embarrass you again." Because that's what it had boiled down to. The three of them had embarrassed her. Hard facts. He was man enough to admit it.

With a nod of his head, the Captain stepped from the room, taking a deep breath as he went. In fact, Dylan hadn't even realized he'd been holding it...Merlin, he needed fresh air...

"Professor," Milton said with a small nod as she opened the door. Milton stepped inside and looked around at the office before sitting down in the very uncomfortable chair in front of the professor's desk. He was probably going to get some grand lecture about... STUFF. Ugh. Lame. Though he probably deserved it. But at least he got her to call him by his real name.

She placed her things down on the desk, turned and sat down on it, crossing her legs in her tight long black skirt.

She stared at him for a few moments not saying a word.

She REALLY wanted to set the boy on fire... why was it that she couldn't again?

... right.

It was wrong.

"I'll give you five points back if you tell me why I called you here?" She asked and glared at the boy.

Ooooh, they were staring now. Two could play that game, Lafay. Milton stared back with a rather content look on his face. He wasn't really angry, probably because he got what he deserved, but he wasn't scared either. He had gotten over that.

Why did she call him in here? Because she was testy, manipulative, old woman who liked getting her annoying students in trouble. But Milton knew better and held his tongue. "Because, like you said... I was bold enough to stand up to you when you got my name wrong for the nine-hundredth time, but not when you took points from the wrong house." Which was selfish, much like himself. Milton had to give the woman props; she knew what she was doing.

She got off the desk and began walking around him, while he sat in the chair. "And why did you not speak up when I so obviously took points from the wrong house?" She asked and raised her wand.

The sound of the old wooden door locking was loud enough to hear.

She smirked.

Milton raised an eyebrow and watched her get up from the desk. But then he kept his eyes ahead as she.... locked the door? Lovely. He wondered what she intended to do. Or maybe she just wanted to scare him? Hmm.

Now why didn't he speak up when she took points from the wrong house? Milton pondered that question for a moment. "Because I'm... selfish?" Yes, pretty much.

"So you do know..." She said looking leaning on the locked door behind him. "I do not like selfish people..." She told him plainly. "And I bet you figured out, I don't like you." She smiled and returned to standing behind her desk.

"Whether I like you or not, I will still teach you. And you will still learn." She said staring straight in his eyes. "You don't seem to have any honor, or shame for that matter, and you seem to think you can challenge me..." She smirked and then sat in her chair. Wasn't a big deal... she hadn't liked a lot of kids... some of them she'd changed her mind on.

"I also understand that you believe you are Aphrodite's gift to the girls here at Hogwarts... As I don't see it, I'll give you five more points back, if you tell me why that is." She asked leaning back in the chair and crossing her legs again.

"Tea?" She offered.

Milton leaned back in his chair, although it wasn't much more comfortable than his position before. The chair seemed to be made out of lumpy rocks. He laughed quietly to himself. "Oh, I know you don't like me." That was quite obvious.

He watched her sit down again and stared back at her as she continued to speak. He listened to her words carefully and... shrugged. Honor, shame, whatever. And yes, he did think he could challenge her. She wasn't THAT special. You know, besides being the Minister's wife, but Milton forgot about that a lot.

Lafay's next comment made his eyebrow raise. His lips twitched into a tiny smirk because, well, it WAS true. Heh. But he was rather confused as to why Lafay wanted to know... "You want to know why girls like me?" That was odd.

Milton narrowed his eyes at the offer of tea. But he figured poisoning a student was against the law so he accepted. "Sure."

Now back to being the gift of Aphrodite. "Well," he began, his smirk returning a little. "I am charming. And attractive. I'm the quidditch captain, which makes me, like, ten times hotter." Not that he needed it, really. He had all the HOT he needed. He shrugged a little. "It comes naturally."

She allowed him to speak as she prepared two cups of tea. She placed one cup on the desk where he sat, and hers she held in her hand and sipped at. She then summoned the sugar, milk, lemon and honey, to float on the desk and carefully place themselves in arms reach of the boy. Just because she liked her tea to taste like tea, didn't mean others didn't need a little help.

Hmmm... "Well, I cannot disagree with the Quidditch Captain theory..." she'd married her former quidditch captain "...but the whole charming and attractive thing, seems rather far fetched. Tell me. How you define charming, because someone as selfish as you seem to me, who would harm another house to not deteriorate his own, well... doing it poorly anyway."

She sipped her tea.

"Thanks," he said with a nod, accepting the cup of tea. He added some lemon and honey before taking a sip. Well, it didn't TASTE poisoned...

Being a Quidditch captain helped and Lafay totally agreed. Smirk. Although... he wasn't sure WHY he was smirking. This was all rather odd, especially since she wasn't yelling at him or anything. Milton took another sip of his tea as she questioned his charming personality. "Well, I suppose my attractiveness is an objective thing." And honestly, he was okay with Lafay not thinking he was attractive. But how did he define charming? "Attractive personality. Which I have. Most of the time." It was hard to be charming when your Potions teacher was getting on your last nerve, though. Milton shrugged again. "It depends on the person and situation. I'm not always charming." But she probably knew that.

"I have not ever found you charming... not with me, not with anyone I've seen you with." She said bluntly sipping on her tea. "But if you feel you can be charming... by all means. Charm away."

She stood there watching his face and smirked.

"Charm me, and I'll give you back the remaining 30 points I took from you. I doubt you could charm me, but may even give you points for trying..."

Milton sipped his tea again to keep himself from saying 'maybe you're just not a good enough stalker.' Yes, he did feel like he could be charming. But... Wait.

*blink*

Lafay wanted Milton to charm her? Okay... Erm... Milton stared at her for a moment to make sure he heard her correctly. Charm her and she would give back thirty points. She was being totally serious, wasn't she? "Alright..." He hadn't ever been TOLD to charm someone. Could he even charm on command? To someone who was expecting it? Or... expecting him to fail at it? Milton sat up in his chair and cleared his throat. Merlin's beard. Milton was good at charming sixteen year-olds, but how in the world was he going to charm a professor? Professor LAFAY, even. She was like a brick wall. With fangs.

Milton had to do it, though. He wanted those points back and he didn't want to seem like he was a coward. So... Let the charming begin.

"I understand you have been the, uh, Potions Mistress for quite some time. And it's obvious, really - your talents for this area of study are quite impressive." Not that he really knew much about potions, but whatever. "How long have you been brewing potions?" A little small talk never hurt, right?

More... he needed more charm. Hmmm. "And the news of your recent marriage to the Minister of Magic himself... Well, that was hardly a surprise." Cue genuine, pearly white smile. "He is certainly lucky to have married such a lovely and strong-souled woman like you." Milton managed to say all that without missing a beat, but he certainly hope he didn't sound... flirtatious. "I think you bring a whole new meaning to the term 'power couple'." Milton nodded and sipped his tea. Charmed yet, Lafay?

The boy nodded and sipped his tea.

...Wait.

Was that it??

Seriously?

"You call that charming? Other than sucking up, I'd call that downright rude. Not only did you not stop to hear the answer to the question you asked me, which proves that you don't care about my answer, nor about engaging me in conversation. And prying into my personal life... that was just rude. No Shacklebolt. You are definetly not charming, not even when you try... and attractive, well..." She summoned a mirror and showed him what the tea had done to his face while she spoke to him. "That's a face only a mother could love."

.... Nothing?! Milton quit the failing charming act and pushed his eyebrows together. That was not RUDE. Okay, he hadn't really left time for her to answer his question... but he WAS going to let her answer... later. And - HOLD UP. Interruption. "I was not prying, Professor. Your marriage to the Minister is common knowledge." Milton saw her summon something, but kept going. "In my defense, it's hard to try and charm someone on comma-" Wait. What about a mother's love?

Milton finally looked at the thing Lafay had summoned...

O_o What was that...?

O_____________O MERLIN'SBEARD.

"WHAAAT?" Milton squealed like a girl yelped and flailed and jumped in his chair, sending the rest of his tea flying across the office. Milton scrambled to get out of his chair, tripped over himself and who-knows-what and ran into the door before GLAAAARING at Lafay. "WHATDIDYOUDO?!" His FACE! HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE! IT WAS HIDEOUS!

"I'll give you 5 more points for trying." She said pulling her mirror away and ignoring the panicked boy.

"Don't act like your face is on fire..." She wasn't allowed to do that anymore. "Think of it like the story of The Beauty and The Beast. And you, if you hadn't noticed, are the Beast. Find someone who will find you charming and attractive and will say so, and you'll return to normal..."

Either that or he could run and hide for the rest of the day, cause the effects wouldn't last more than 24 hours... but he didn't need to know that.

"Look on the bright side," She said with a smile... "No will come near you on the pitch... Ravenclaw is sure to win."

At least he got five points...?

Milton cautiously put his hands to his face, absolutely horrified. His face was seriously deformed! He barely caught what Lafay was saying, but he caught the end of it and stared at her, STILL horrified. He had to find someone who found him charming... NOT on the outside? "Are you serious?" He would be ugly FOREVER!

If that was supposed to be a joke, Milton most certainly did not find it amusing. "You are a cruel woman," he said, jabbing his index finger towards her. Milton quickly retrieved his school bag from the floor and went back to the door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have someone to report to the Headmistress." And he needed to work on his inner charm...

GLARE.

And with that, Milton tossed his big hood over his face and left Lafay's office, slamming the door shut behind him.

"I doubt she'll see a difference in your looks... you aren't that charming to her either." She said while he left. She held her stomach, as she felt like laughing... She couldn't laugh either? That sucked.

"Next!" She said to the girl in the hallway.

Ugh.

Seri had been waiting outside for SO LONG she had fallen asleep. And then Mrs. Nasty called her in as some older kid with a hood over his face practically ran out of her office.. Seri narrowed her eyes... had the Potions Mistress tried to set another student on fire?

Seri found her way inside and shut the door, then realising it was a big mistake... what if it auto-locked? What if the Professor was gonna trap her here forever?! HELP! Seri sat down on a real uncomfortable chair in front of her desk and broght her knees up to make her a little more comfy.

"You know Professor, you could get a real comfy chair. This one is so hard. I know a place where you could get one. I could pick it and try it out if you like?'" Seri felt obliged to ask. Poor woman had never sat here and felt how horrible it was, surely when she knew her error she would correct it, make it a nice place for students to come and visit.. ACTUALLY they could get some beanbags right? Make the office a bit more relaxed. Maybe a muggle TV? Seri was lost in thought.

"The chair stays. What do you need Miss Wheeler." She asked annoyed and cleaning up the tea from the previous student.

"Oh." Seri said shortly. She didn't appreciate her kind gesture? What now?

Evil Mistress then cleared up a tray of tea.. Seri suddenly thought what might be nice. "I don't drink tea, but I wouldn't mind a hot chocolate. Just no marshmallows. I'm allergic to them." Seri always thought that was the coolest allergy ever. She was really thirsty actually.

"BUT anyway, onto to more important matters." Seri drew a deep breath, she had a LOT to ask. "Firstly, how would one go about making zombies. The type that eat flesh and such. I would ASSUME its by a potion or something.." but the library was too far away to go and look, Seri added in her head. "Secondly, how might one teach themselves Parseltongue?"

Hecate turned slowly to the girl.

"I didn't offer you tea. You are not staying long enough to drink anything, Miss Wheeler." She said glaring at her. "Firstly, it's called an Inferi. Secondly, how would I know how to make one? That's really dark magic and I am offended by the fact you assume I would know how to create one." The lady did protest too much. "And you can't be taught parseltongue... it isn't a language you can just... learn... Sure you can fake it, but you cannot learn it. It's an ability that you are or are not born with."

She then opened the door with her wand and said "You are finished here."

"But MISS. That's ridiculous. Surely the Potions Professor would KNOW about such things? Why can't you tell students anyway?"


What was up with her? WASN'T SERI ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS? This professor annoyed her SO MUCH.

"Yeah, but if people knew they could talk to snakes, wouldn't they try and record the language... Didn't Ronald Weasley learn it from Harry Potter?" Seri protested. She was sure he had, or something like it, her brother always went on about it like he was some MASSIVE hero.
....
Whatever. Seri just looked at the door but stayed in the uncomfy seat.

"No, he didn't... he mimicked the sound Harry makes. I'm sure you can moo like a cow, but I doubt you can communicate with it in it's own language." She said angrily. "And you can ask any questions you like, in a respectful manner. Even if I knew how to make an inferi, it's really dark magic. You do not what to know how to do it."



Hecate turned towards the knock. Her hand, which was still on the door, opened it even further. "Muir?" She asked seeing the boy. "What is it?"



"What?!" what were they babbling on about? Was this a prank of some sorts? The Seventh years? But then the girl mentioned it was happening to the other houses as well... Couldn't she have ONE year at Hogwarts without MADNESS?!

"Wheeler!" She said to the girl in her office, "We are done here, and as this is your common room too, it concerns you as well. Come."

Seri sighed and got up to follow the Potions Professor wherever she was going.

Hecate returned to her office.

She took four sheets of parchments and wrote on each an invitation. She then called for an owl to deliver her messages.

Oddly enough there was a tap on the door. She opened it and there was an owl there. She went to attach the note but the owl already had a note tied to its leg.

She untied the note.

They had owled her? They had discovered something that may help with her condition... This group wasn't exactly a medical board approved group of potioneers... but if muggles sometime went to medicine-men, why couldn't she try that?

Because she was tired...

... Tired of having her hopes brought up and then shot down so quickly. Tired of fighting with healers... tired of fighting this... condition.

But she was a mother of two now, thanks to her friend. And she wanted to see her newest daughter would be like... she wanted to see Sierra grow into a woman... and there was the Captain that had finally come back into her life.

She'd go. She'd make the trip. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

She put a galleon in the owl's beak and tied her invitations to it's legs and sent it off.