Chapter 26

Disclaimer: JKR owns her own characters, as do all other authors mentioned in this fiction. Anybody left over belongs to me.

Author's Note: This fiction is brought to you by the beta/Britpicking team of noybate and SlytherinsHeirx. Much gracious thanks to them both.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The two witches who emerged from the dooryard behind the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley looked like any other shoppers...intent on picking up what was needed and Apparating back home in time to fix supper for their families.

"Is a glamour really necessary, Poppy?" the younger witch asked, gazing longingly at Flourish and Blotts as they walked past.

"My dear, I have no intention of being caught by that Skeeter woman," the elder witch said. "Filius said these charms would last all day, unlike Polyjuice." She held up her bracelet as if admiring the intricacies of the dangles hanging from it.

Poppy smiled as her companion turned almost all the way to the rear. "I'll make a deal with you, Hermione," she said.

"What kind of deal?"

"Let us conclude our business in the Apothecary as quickly as we can, and then we can browse the shelves at the bookstore for a while."

Hermione looked at her in confusion. "What...?"

"Close your mouth, dear," Poppy chuckled. "I like a good book as much as the next witch. In fact, I want to purchase the latest Jean Johnson and J.D. Robb. I know they're Muggle authors, but they certainly know how to tell a story."

"I can't believe you read Muggle books," Hermione said, a breathless hitch to her voice. "Who else have you read? Any Robin Owens or Nora Roberts or Stephanie Laurens?"

"My dear, I love the Regencies and almost any good historical. And you can't really expect me to pass up a good fantasy or science fiction, especially if they have something to do with magic. And I adore the romantic thrillers that Nora Roberts and Catherine Coulter write." Poppy looked over at the display window. "Oh, yes. We will definitely stop in before going home."

"Even though all those writers think magic is nothing but fiction?" Hermione asked. She was definitely learning more about this side of the Hogwarts mediwitch and loving it. "I didn't even know Flourish and Blotts sold Muggle fiction."

Poppy smiled broadly. "More so in the last few years since the end of the War. Most of the books were purchased as curiosities at first, but the stories are so well written that they've caught on with the average witch or wizard." She pouted. "It's too bad Dr. Asimov is dead. I really enjoyed reading his books, and I wish there were more."

Hermione laughed. "Now you sound like my father. He loves reading Isaac Asimov."

"I think the Wizarding world and the Muggle world have more in common than most people think." Poppy winked at her and started to search in her robes. "Now, where is my list? Oh, yes, here it is." She pulled a long scroll of parchment out of her pocket.

"Now, let's see... we need ingredients for Skele-Gro, Pepperup, Blood Replenishing Potion ... oh, and don't let me forget we need some more Hiccup cure." She shook her head. "I don't know why the students think it's funny to cast a hiccup charm on a fellow student in class."

Hermione giggled. "Because it takes the professor's eyes off the other students for a few seconds while they deal with the hiccups?"

"That could be it," Poppy said in agreement. "So... we also need contraceptive potion, both male and female..."

"Do the parents know...?" Hermione was aghast.

"What? That we hand out contraceptive potions?" Poppy asked. "Of course they do. In fact, most of the Wizarding parents insist upon it once their child reaches puberty. Only the Muggle-born students are usually unaware it's available unless they come to me and ask. Obviously, you never needed it while you were attending school, or you would have known."

"No," Hermione said with a blush. "Ron and I weren't actually intimate while we were at school. Just a lot of snogging."

"Hermione, are you...?"

"Still a virgin? No, of course not. Not since I was sixteen, anyway. And not at school either. During that summer with the son of friends of my parents. Merlin! Why am I even telling you this?"

"I am a professional, my dear," Poppy said with a wink. "I've heard much worse."

"Oh, I'm sure you have," Hermione declared, opening the door to the Apothecary. "May I see your list, please? The sooner we're done here, the sooner we can get to all those books that are calling our names."

* * *

"That's the lot then," Poppy said with a satisfied sigh as they left the Apothecary. "The supplies will be delivered directly to the school's infirmary, and we can start brewing tomorrow. Now, let's get some lunch, and we can spend the entire afternoon in Flourish and Blotts if we wish." She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

Hermione laughed. "I wish I'd known about your addiction to Muggle literature while I was in school. I could have borrowed books from you."

Poppy smiled benignly. "My dear, I wouldn't have dreamed of corrupting your tender sensibilities with the books I was reading. Besides, Albus told me not to." She opened the door to the little café situated across the street from Flourish and Blotts and waited for Hermione to enter first. "After all, he did know his students rather well, and you had the entire library to browse."

"Well, not the entire library..." Hermione hedged, giggling when Poppy eyed her with reproach. "Okay, so I did sneak into the Restricted Section a time or two. But it was in a good cause," she hastened to explain.

"I'm sure it was, dear," Poppy said, settling into a booth at the back of the café and picking up a menu. "All the same, Albus wanted you to concentrate on your schoolwork, not on what kind of Muggle literature I might or might not have had on my bookshelves."

"May I join you ladies?" A lofty-toned voice caused both to look up from their menus.

"Mrs Malfoy, how are you?" Hermione said, sliding over towards the wall to offer more room on her bench.

"Just fine, Her..." Narcissa started to say as she sat down.

Hermione shushed her quickly. "Don't," she said. "We're here incognito."

"I thought as much," Narcissa confessed. "I'll admit I didn't recognise you, but I heard you discussing Muggle literature and Albus in the same breath, so I made some inferences. Very good charm work. Flitwick's?" She examined Hermione's bracelet with a critical eye.

"Oh, yes," Poppy said. "He does the best work. No offence, dear," she apologized to Hermione.

"None taken. I know I couldn't do something like this without a lot of thought," Hermione said. "He just flicked his wand and there they were, all ready for us to put on this morning."

"So handy to have a Charms Master at hand," Narcissa mused. "Now, tell me about this Muggle literature you've been reading. Is it any better than what's available across the street?"

* * *

The three witches were laughing as they exited Flourish and Blotts later that afternoon. Both Narcissa and Poppy were loaded down with book bags...although it was a tossup as to who had purchased the most books...while Hermione carried her ubiquitous beaded bag.

"I can't believe I bought so many books," Narcissa gasped in laughter. "Lucius is going to think I've gone mad."

"Give him the Piers Anthony first," Hermione suggested. "If he doesn't like that one, try the Tom Clancy."

"Yes," Poppy agreed. "But whatever you do, don't let him have the Terry Pratchett until you've read it first. The man is a genius."

"I'm looking forward to reading the thrillers you've recommended," Narcissa admitted. "I always did enjoy reading good mysteries. And with a romance included..." She sighed. "I'd better get home before Lucius sends Aurors to look for me."

"With any luck you'd get Ron or Harry." Hermione giggled then stilled. "Uh-oh." Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Rita Skeeter bearing down on them. "Skeeter alert. Bet she's wondering just who you could be shopping with that has you laughing so hard."

"I wouldn't take that bet," Narcissa said. "I'll talk to you later, and thank you again. I had a wonderful time." She waved her bags at them as she Apparated back to Malfoy Manor.

"We're off as well," Poppy said. "On three?"

Hermione counted down. "Three... Two... One..." and they both Apparated to just outside the gates of Hogwarts.

Laughing, Hermione caught her balance and helped Poppy settle her bags. "I don't know why you didn't just have them send the books to you," she said.

"What? And have nothing new to read tonight?" Poppy grinned. "Hold your tongue, child. Besides, we don't all have bottomless bags like yours."

"I could charm one for you," Hermione offered.

"Too tempting," Poppy said. "I'd have all my worldly possessions in there and not be able to find a thing. But I thank you for the thought."

* * *

Narcissa Malfoy and Unknown Companions Laughing in Diagon Alley

by Rita Skeeter

Correspondent, Daily Prophet

Narcissa Malfoy, wife of reformed Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, was seen in Diagon Alley today, exiting Flourish and Blotts with two unknown companions.

Mrs Malfoy and one of her companions were carrying several bags with the Flourish and Blotts logo. When questioned, the assistant manager admitted the three ladies had purchased a great many books from the shop's line of Muggle literature. Mrs Malfoy's two companions were overheard giving advice on which books she might enjoy and which books they thought her husband might read.

Investigations into the unknown ladies' movements showed that they had purchased supplies at the Apothecary for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry earlier this morning and, upon leaving, had lunch at the Lucky Witch café where Mrs Malfoy joined them.

It is this reporter's considered opinion that the unknown witches are teachers from the school using a glamour to enter Diagon Alley. The question is: why would a glamour be necessary unless the supplies purchased at the Apothecary were for a nefarious purpose? Does the Headmistress know of this excursion by two of her teachers? Was one of the two so-called ladies actually Severus Snape, who is known to be on exceedingly friendly terms with the Malfoys?

* * *

"Okay, I'm going to hex that witch until she doesn't know what hit her," Hermione said after reading the latest article in The Daily Prophet. "How she can write this drivel with a straight face, I'll never know."

"She's going to stir up trouble with the Ministry by insinuating that Severus was in Diagon Alley yesterday," Minerva said. "I'll alert Kingsley as to what really happened. Maybe he can head them off."

"I certainly hope so, Minerva," Severus sneered. "I've come too close to freedom to be sent to Azkaban because one petty witch is spewing vitriol."

"We'll get her to print a retraction, Severus," Minerva assured him. "Even if I have to Imperius her to do so," she muttered.

"I would prefer it if you could stay out of Azkaban as well," Severus said calmly. "Go talk to Kingsley. I'm sure the Wizengamot will accept the testimony of Hogwarts' Headmistress, all the professors, Poppy Pomfrey, and one third of the Golden Trio, as to where I was yesterday, and just who exactly was in Diagon Alley shopping with Narcissa."

"If not, then I'll help Imperius Skeeter," Filius said. The other professors sitting at the breakfast table agreed heartily.

A/N: The mention of Jean Johnson as a published author five years after the final battle is a tribute to the fanfiction of our own Ladyofthemasque, even though she didn't publish her first book, "The Sword", until 2005...two years after this story is set. I also think Poppy is mistaken in believing that the Lady is a Muggle. Anyone who can write about magic the way the Lady does must have some wizarding blood in her.