The two most gossipy old ladies at Hogwarts were none other than Poppy Pomfrey and Irma Pince. One was a gentle school nurse carrying a medicine tray, and the other was a grumpy librarian with a feather duster. On the surface, they were completely different people from head to toe.
However, few people knew that these two women, who seemed to have no connection at all, were actually long-time best friends who could sit together every weekend to chat and gossip.
After all, the two sisters' work environment—the Hospital Wing and the library—allowed them to always get the freshest, hottest gossip from Hogwarts.
The kind, slightly plump Madam Pomfrey possessed a talent. She was very perceptive and could always sniff out budding "little illicit affairs" from the unexpected visitors and subtle number of visits to certain patients.
The stern and gaunt Madam Pince had her own methodology. She was best at finding facts and evidence, and from her students who had studied together for many years, she could always count on her fingers some "little lovers".
In the midst of an incredibly boring work life, what could be more comforting than a gossip? In the words of Poppy and Irma, their shared interests brought them together: they were both big fans of gossi[s.
This hobby allowed them to forget the crow's feet around their eyes and constantly look back at the beauty of their youth.
If anyone visited the famous Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop in Hogsmeade on a holiday, they would almost certainly see these two radiant old sisters. They often spent an entire afternoon in a secluded corner of the tea shop, discussing gossip and secrets that even Professor Dumbledore did not know.
"The Chamber of Secrets is finally over, that is great. We can finally work in peace without having to live in fear." Madam Pince leaned back comfortably in her armchair, casually placing her wizard's hat on the empty chair beside her.
"Yes," Madam Pomfrey said with satisfaction. She was greeting the staff, indicating that she wanted to order tea.
"Any gossip lately?" Madam Pince asked listlessly, resting her chin on her hand as she handed the selected tea menu to Madam Pomfrey.
"I think… that Weasley boy named Percy has a special relationship with a certain Ravenclaw girl," Madam Pomfrey said mysteriously, glancing at the tea menu.
"I know! Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw prefect. They often read together in the library. A rather well-matched couple, are they not? Both prefects, excellent students, and both very fond of books." Madam Pince nodded, resting her chin on her hand, as if she had everything under control.
"Speaking of Ravenclaw, I think Ravenclaw's Seeker Cho Chang and Hufflepuff's Seeker Cedric Diggory have a bit of a fling," Madam Pomfrey said casually as she turned to hand the tea menu to the clerk.
"How did you find out?" Madam Pince asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had not noticed it at all.
"Once, when she was injured during training, Mr Diggory came to visit her—bringing flowers and chocolates," Madam Pomfrey said with a smile. "They are a perfect match, are they not?"
"I had not noticed. They do not appear together in the library very often," Madam Pince said, frowning. "Perhaps I should sound out Madam Hooch. She spends more time dealing with Quidditch players."
"Indeed, players! They are the easiest to spark a romance with," Madam Pomfrey sighed, her eyes filled with longing. "The romance of soaring through the air… especially when they are both Seekers, and they meet on the pitch, the feelings that arise from those collisions are simply irresistible…"
It was during the Easter holiday, and the sunshine and breeze at the end of March carried a warm feeling.
Through the shop window, you could see a few tender green shoots sprouting beside the tea shop steps. They swayed comfortably in rocking chairs, each holding their favourite tea, lost in their own daydreams.
"Speaking of which, what about the Seekers from the other Houses? Gryffindor's Seeker is probably the one who visits the Hospital Wing the most, right? Did he not go to the Hospital Wing a few days ago? Did you not notice anything unusual?" After a moment, Madam Pince snapped out of her reverie and brought up the topic again.
"You mean Mr Potter?"
"Yes! He has been giving me a real headache these past two years, always sneaking off to the Restricted Section…" Madam Pince said, sighing helplessly.
Madam Pomfrey said dismissively, "I do not think he is quite bright yet! His happiest moments are probably when Mr Ron Weasley comes to visit him in the Hospital Wing."
"Mr Potter's good friends are not just Mr Weasley, but also Miss Granger!" Madam Pince picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked at Madam Pomfrey. "I sometimes see them sitting together in the library. She likes to push them to do their homework and stuff."
"Oh… maybe… he seemed quite happy when she visited him before." Madam Pomfrey absentmindedly stirred her tea with a teaspoon.
"What kind of dismissive tone is that?" Madam Pince said.
Madam Pomfrey glanced around, then suddenly lowered her voice and leaned closer to say, "I do not believe Miss Granger and Mr Potter are a couple at all. In fact, I have recently discovered something that will shock you!"
"What? Tell me quickly!" Madam Pince exclaimed excitedly, taking a sip of tea. She knew Poppy's temperament all too well; such expressions and actions often meant a huge piece of gossip.
"The Seeker of Slytherin—Mr Malfoy—and Miss Granger," said Madam Pomfrey, quickly covering her face with a tea towel. Across from her, Madam Pince, unsurprisingly, sprayed a mouthful of tea onto the towel.
"Are you serious?" Madam Pince's eyes practically lit up. This was a stark contrast to her usual stern demeanour in the library.
"I was surprised at first too. It all started with Miss Granger being Petrified..." Madam Pomfrey launched into a long, detailed explanation...
Twenty minutes later.
"Wow—" Madam Pince clapped her hands with shining eyes. "Wow! The only bottle of antidote was given to Miss Granger. If this is not love, then I do not believe in love anymore!"
"And he carried her in," Madam Pomfrey said with a wistful look. "The romance between little boys and girls..."
"I thought Mr Malfoy was a rather aloof man," Madam Pince said. "He seems rather haughty and does not like to talk to people much, does he?"
"But he was not cold to Miss Granger at all; on the contrary, he was incredibly gentle. You should have heard the way he spoke to her! He was constantly coaxing her, so tenderly and patiently," Madam Pomfrey said sagely. "This is very unusual. Something is definitely amiss."
"But I thought the Malfoys all despised Muggle-born people… Who would have thought? If Lucius Malfoy knew about this, he would be furious! Putting aside the long-standing feud between Slytherin and Gryffindor… just the issue of pure-blood versus Muggle-born is taboo enough… I could eat two extra bowls of rice today!" Madam Pince waved her teaspoon childishly, unsurprisingly earning a disdainful look from Madam Pomfrey.
"Mind your manners. There are other guests over there!" said Madam Pomfrey. Madam Pince coughed and regained some of her composure.
"I need to keep a close eye on these two! If there really is something going on between them, I do not believe they are completely unconnected in the library." Madam Pince put down her teaspoon, clenched her fists, and made up her mind.
Meanwhile, the man the two old ladies were gossiping about was brewing a Mandrake Restorative Draught in Professor Snape's dungeons. This was the last step; next, they would wait for it to boil, then turn off the heat and let it sit for a while.
He wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and finally let out a soft breath.
"Not bad, Draco," Professor Snape said slowly from behind. Draco gave a wry smile.
With Professor Snape overseeing the entire process of preparing the Mandrake potion, no one dared to let their guard down. Even Draco, considered Snape's favourite student, was no exception.
Favouritism sometimes meant setting higher standards.
"If I were you, I would add a few plantain leaves whilst it is boiling to relieve the fatigue the patients are experiencing from being Petrified for so long." Professor Snape waved his wand, and a plate of prepared plantain appeared before Draco.
"I see, thank you for your guidance." Draco smiled slightly.
The newly added plantain leaves floated and sank in the boiling potion, quickly becoming one with the Restorative Draught.
Draco observed the potion, recalling Hermione's exhausted and weak appearance after being freed from Petrification, and suddenly felt a burning sensation on his face. He once again admired Professor Snape's potion-making skills.
Simply reading from the textbook was not difficult. What was difficult was refining and innovating within the existing framework of potions.
"I must admit, your potion-making talent is outstanding amongst your peers, and your handling of materials is quite skilful." Professor Snape's expression softened slightly. "With just a little guidance…"
"If you do not mind that I am stupid…" Draco said humbly. He was dutifully playing the role of an "admirer," just like in his previous life.
"If you are stupid, then Mr Longbottom is probably a troll," Snape said irritably. He then remembered Longbottom's homework from the last class—a wretched lump of iron—and promptly gave it a zero.
Professor Snape was not difficult for Draco to please.
If you were a Slytherin student, you were halfway there; if you put in some effort in Potions class and made him think you were smart, his harshness would not reach you.
Of course, those students who were not from Slytherin House were never on Snape's radar. Especially the Gryffindors; Professor Snape particularly enjoyed mocking Harry and Longbottom, who were also from Gryffindor.
He could somewhat understand mocking Longbottom; after all, a clumsy and careless student like him would be a disaster for a Potions teacher who demanded meticulous work.
But Hermione, why? Even though she always gave the correct answer, all she got in return was Professor Snape's sarcastic remarks. Every time he saw the little girl huffing and puffing after losing points, he felt she was being wronged.
Whilst he was thinking, the potion was ready.
Professor Snape nodded in satisfaction as he watched his beloved student precisely extinguish the fire under the cauldron. He tentatively asked, "Draco, I have noticed you have been spending a lot of time with Potter from Gryffindor lately."
"Yes, Professor," he replied, staring at the cauldron that was still bubbling slightly.
"Perhaps Mr Weasley and Miss Granger as well," Professor Snape said slowly.
"Yes, Professor." Draco's eyes lit up.
Professor Snape never discussed such trivial matters without a reason; he seemed to be trying to imply something, or perhaps, to test something.