Love & Death (The Poisonous Princess Book 4)

First weeks

*Minerva McGonagall POV*

As every beginning of new year, we reunited Albus, Severus and myself in the headmaster's office. Usually we would convey the new professor of Defence Against Dark Arts but, precisely this time we needed to unite against Dolores Umbridge. I bet my wand this woman would bring trouble with her strong affiliation to the ministry.
However my preoccupation was not about her yet.

I started to speak : "As a new year is beginning, I want to discuss with you again the issue of students having close relashionships and action we want to take about it. Our nurse cannot just give them cures while keeping the taboos.
I reaffirm that teaching them to brew Moderatio Serum would..."

(*moderatio, latin for control, birth control serum)

"No." Rejected Severus immediately.

"My opinion is still to slightly sedate their ...commotions. But my idea remains unapproved..."

"Severus, it is almost 21st century ! They are not wrongdoers. You have been their age as well..."

Albus chuckled in his beard.

"Headmaster, you take this topic too lightly !" I blamed.

"Minerva, our teenagers are far too scared to take care of a baby to not be responsible enough.
Moreover, in history only a couple of kids were born in the hospital wing. And it's always an honour. Last one was from Daisy Jones, I think ?"

Severus recalled with pity :

"She named her daughter Cinnamon..."

"That's not the point Severus.
This girl never ended her studies afterwards.
If you two don't feel concerned, will you at least provide the funds and ingredients to our nurses ?"

"Mrs Pomfrey knows that all the medical needs will always be provided.
But I do agree with Minerva, Severus... This serum is a common use for both witches and wizards, it should not be embarrassing to discuss.
We should think about adding this cure to the program."

"I don't teach potions for small booboos, neither cooking tricks."

"Booboos and cooking ?!" I was outraged !
"It's far more serious to be pregnant ! It's not a surprise that your students go to find Mrs Pomfrey when they need advice..."

"They can find the recipe in books easily at the library.
Moreover, Slytherin are more disciplined than the others."

Albus chuckled again !
This time he politely covered his laught with his hand.

"I'm sorry." He admitted.
"Here Severus, I think you're blinded. Being strict to your students is not working outside of your classroom. From what I heard during my long years, Slytherin are mostly night owls. And proud of it, needless to say."

I frowned to this statement.

"On that topic, youngs are all the same equally, sirs"

"Fine. I'll teach the cure to the advanced groups. We should hope that they blend it easily, since this is barely a potion anyway. Closer to a cocktail if I may compare..."

"Good. They will achieve it without trouble then." Albus concluded.

"What do you imply ?"

"Hm just that, a little bird told me that there was not just pumpkin juice at the dungeon's celebrations."

Albus may have kept his playful spirit even after a hundred years, but Snape and I didn't find this amusing at all !

I was in shock : "Alcohol ? Again ? This is a school, not a bawdy-house !"