The Herbology Assistant

Chapter Forty Two

The pair had finally made it back to Hogwarts and Clarice was delivering her gifts to the other professors in person. 

"You really outdid yourself this year, haven't you?" Albus chuckled as he pulled out a pair of pink hand knit socks. 

"I made them from sheddings of Puffskeins. They're the softest I've ever felt." She smiled as Albus hugged her and then placed a gift in her own hands. 

"Don't open this until you're alone in your chambers." He winked at her and set off. Clarice stood there, with her mouth open. He was such an odd fellow, but none the less she tucked it away in her pocket and set off to find Minerva. 

"Clarice?" She heard her name called and spun to see Remus Lupin walking her way. She put on a smile and greeted him. 

"Hello Remus, how was your Christmas?" She asked. 

"Pleasant. Your creatures make great company. As well as Sirius; it was nice to hang out like old times." He said and pulled out a box from behind. "I got you something for Christmas."

"Oh you didn't have to. Thank you." She said as she unwrapped the red and gold paper revealing a black box. She furrowed her brows as she took off the top and smiled at the gift. Chocolate. 

"I got you something as well." She chuckled as he opened the box she handed him and began laughing, for she had also gifted him chocolate. 

"Seems we have good taste in gift giving." He said as he embraced her tightly and thanked her. 

"Oh and this is for Severus. If you could just give it to him when you see him, it would be greatly appreciated." He handed her an identical box. 

"I will, but I should tell you that he's not much of chocolate person." She informed him. 

"It's not chocolate." He smiled and walked away. Again, Clarice was left standing there with her mouth open. What a strange day and it's only 11am. After exchanging gifts with Minerva, she set off to go see Poppy. She had a few things to discuss with the woman and of course had a present for her. 

"It's just some new remedies Severus and I experimented with. This one's for boils, that one is for tickling fits, and this one should help with returning appearances back to normal. It was made when Fred Weasley gave me one of those dumb candies and my hair turned green. I reckon there's going to be a few more of those cases." Clarice laughed. 

"Oh thank you dear. I'm sure these will come in handy. Why do I feel like you're not just here to give these to me?" She asked and Clarice's smile dropped. 

"I need to talk to you. Privately." She said looking at the few students in the infirmary. 

"Very well. In here." She lead Clarice into her back office space and shut the door tightly. "What's troubling you dear?"

"I'm pregnant and I have a few questions." She told her expecting a gasp or something from Poppy, but the woman only nodded letting Clarice know she was listening. 

"With everything that's happened to my body, I just want to know my options." She told her. 

"Well, do you know what you want to do? Do you want to keep it?" Poppy asked as she decided to make tea for the two of them. She placed Clarice's cup down and she took it immediately looking for something to clutch onto as she spoke about her situation. 

"I want to keep it. Severus said he wants to keep it. I just think it's foolish to have a child at this time, you know, with the future being so uncertain. I also don't know if my body could keep this baby healthy." She said and Poppy furrowed her brows as if she was thinking.