A Potter Secret

More Friends

          Minerva waits for the stands to clear before turning back. Isabella sits there still appearing like Severus. "How bad is it?" Minerva asks.

Isabella sobs slightly, holding just above the burn. "I can't look."

Nodding, Minerva rubs her back. "Turn into your kitten form. I'll bring you to your rooms and send for Madam Pomfrey, alright?" Isabella transforms quickly, ending up standing on three legs. Minerva is quickly to catch her as she tips. "I've got you, don't worry." Minerva wraps the leg up with some cloth to keep it from getting hurt worse before rushing off.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Minerva? Where is Isabella?" Severus asks as Professor McGonagall enters his chambers.

She sets Isabella down on the couch before turning back. "Call Poppy, Severus." Minerva forces Isabella into her human form and helps her lay out. "Now!"

Severus quickly floos Poppy before running towards Isabella. "What happened?"

"A fire in the stands. Something was wrong with Harry's broom and Isabella was trying to cast a charm to stop it but before she could finish, her cloak caught fire. Her leg is burned," Minerva explains ask Poppy appears.

"She should be fine," Poppy notes, cleaning Isabella's leg. "These are very minor burns but they'll still hurt for a bit. She'll need to wear these bandages until tonight and stay off her leg until tomorrow at the earliest. Let her rest."

Severus nods. "Thank you, Poppy. I make sure she does."

Isabella looks up at Severus, tears in her eyes. "I thought Harry was going to fall," she sobs. "Someone was cursing his broom and I kept trying but the curse wasn't dissipating!"

Severus picks her up and hugs her. "Shh," Severus tries. "It's alright. You did what you could. You're not expected to be able to do everything. You've been through a lot this morning. Why don't you just get some sleep for now, yes?"

Sniffling, Isabella nods and curls up against Severus, falling asleep. He rocks her gently, trying to calm her down. "Thank you for helping her, Minerva. I never should have let her go. How could something like this happen?"

"Severus, you can't stop her. She probably would have snuck out to see the game. She wants to be a part of her brother's life," Minerva reminds. "It was safer for you to let her. She can't be hidden away for the rest of her childhood and we know that. Eventually, the world will find out about Isabella."

Severus sighs. "That doesn't meant they have to know about her now."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry, Hermione and Ron are walking along a path with Hagrid, talking. "Nonsense. Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" Hagrid asks.

"Who knows. Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?" Harry asks.

"Who told you 'bout Fluffy?" Hagrid inquires.

"Fluffy?" Ron demands.

"That thing has a name?" Hermione demands.

"Well, of course he's got a name. He's mine. I bought him off an Irish feller I met down at the pub last year. Then I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-" Hagrid stops short.

"Yes?" Harry asks.

"Shouldn'ta said that. Don't ask any more questions. That's top secret, that is," Hagrid explains.

"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it!"

"Codswallop. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher."