Part 1

The girl brushed her long, curly hair out of her face and chewed on her bottom lip in intense concentration. The last ingredient, which could only be added after she completed everything else, called for exactly nine drops of Agari. One more or one less resulted in disastrous side effects for the patient. Because she was known, not for her firm steady hand, but as a great goof, she must pay extra attention. In fact, her absorption was so intense that she did not hear the person enter the infirmary.

"Penelope!"

Penny startled violently and dropped the vile in her hands. Oh no, she thought while bending down to retrieve the shattered glass, that potion took forever.

Madam Pomfrey proceeded to bounce into the room and flop herself into a huge overstuffed chair. Looking up excitedly she waived a hand in an offhand manner, "Leave that for now. I have a HUGE surprise and just can't wait to tell you."

"Oh, please not another surprise," Penny begged while brushing long curls out of her face and rubbing her temple in memory, "my head still hasn't recovered from the last one."

"Oh fooh, kindly refrain from yet another guilt trip…I yelled for you to duck. It's not my problem you started quack."

"Well, it would have been funny except for the fact you had actually brought in one of those dreadful Cornish pixies; which promptly decided to throw a very heavy bottle of Asshido at me. I was absolutely covered in burns and boils and the blindness the swelling caused lasted for weeks." Penelope frowned at the memory.

After this tirade, she looked into the face of the woman who had been like a mother to her since they first met four years ago; the summer before Penny's coming to Hogwarts. Instead of the earlier excitement, that face now reflected concern and slight guilt; for Madam Pomfrey cared a great deal about others' health and the thought of their pain being even the slightest bit her fault distressed her great deal. Wishing to return the previous joy Penny relented, "Okay, pray tell, what is this great surprise?"

The worried look immediately disappeared. "Oh, it's too great to just come out in say… Why don't you try to guess?"

"Hmmm," Penny noised as she placed her finger on her lips, looked into the distance, and pretended to think. She then gave a little jump and squealed, "Blimey, I've got it. You just received a letter from my father in which he declared his undying love and were shocked because you've felt the same way for quite some time now. Immediately you raced up here to tell me of your mutual love for each other and that…YOU'RE GOING TO BE MY NEW MOTHER!!"

She then proceeded to dance around the room in great humor, as she hummed the bride's march the entire time. She grabbed a white towel and draped it over her head. "I can see it now: you in your veil, walking coyly up the aisle, Professor's Dumbledore and Snape in the front row weeping silently into their respective pale-blue and black handkerchiefs."

She then grabbed a handful of quills to use as a pretend bouquet and imitated marching down the aisle, "Dum dum dedum. Dum dum de…AHHHHHH!" Penny screamed and threw the quills when, as she turned to march towards the door, she confronted the devil himself.

It took her a few seconds to register the fact that it was Professor Snape and not the Grim Reaper, for even though he always wore black; it seemed even more comprehensive tonight. In addition to his customary black robes, he also donned a black cloak, black hiking boots, black gloves, and since walking into the room, a very black expression.

Madam Pomfrey brushed the quills from her robes where they landed after Penny tossed them in terror, and she rushed forward in silent mortification. Did he hear Penelope's last remark? She fluttered at him, "Professor you're early, I was just in the process of telling Miss Clearwater about the plans for tonight."

Snape looked down his long nose, "Hmmmm, yes, I see how you were telling her. Anyway, it's not important anymore because Dumbledore just informed me of his need for your services tonight. He knows how important tonight is: that the Vulgo only blooms once a year, and moreover must be gathered during a full moon, but all that does not seem to matter."

He gave a frustrated glare and pursed his lips. "I suppose you know what reason he deems more important, but I was not privileged with the information."

Madam Pomfrey, obviously torn between her desire to assist Dumbledore and her earlier plans with Snape, distressed over the situation. Eventually her face lit up as an idea occurred to her, "Professor Snape, you can still keep your plans for tonight, Penelope has just as much experience as I in the forest, and as I was just about to tell her, already has permission to accompany us tonight."

To say the least, Penny was shocked. Sure she had tons of experience in a forest, but never in The Forbidden Forest, and certainly never alone with Professor Snape. Who, in her opinion, was much more frightening than anything they might confront.

Part 2

Upon completion of their task, the two black-clad figures snuck through the trees towards Hogwarts in absolute silence. With both this was the natural reaction from years of experience sneaking through a forest and leaving its inhabitants undisturbed.

Penelope felt his angry frustration at her presence and knew he only tolerated her assistance for lack of other options. The fact that she was doing him a favor, mattered to him not at all, so she slipped into her usual strategy: remain silent and pray to escape his notice. For his part, Professor Snape ignored her as he lead the way with a confident stride.

There was a sound behind them and both turned around quickly. Penny had just started to wonder what the sound could have been when Professor Snape suddenly grabbed her right shoulder, spun her back around, and looked down at her face. He stepped close with an intense look. Penelope's initial gasp as she jerked around cut short when she saw his expression; she'd never received such an intent stare so completely focused on her. They stood still staring at each other for several heartbeats until he raised a hand to her cheek. Penny was at a loss for all words as he rubbed his thumb along her jaw line. As his hand withdrew, she noticed it a shiny silver liquid covered his thumb where it had touched her face. There was no necessity in asking what it was; she felt its identity in his thoughts.

Because the moon was full and reflected brightly off her upturned face, Professor Snape noticed when a shadow interfered with the light's rays. He immediately shoved Penny behind him and swung his wand out ready to defend. This was exactly the wrong reaction, for it made his arm a perfect target and two very sharp fangs sunk deep into his forearm. The venom immediately started to affect him as he stumbled and fell.

"Professor!" Penelope cried as ran to crouch beside him. Initially her heart had given a violent lurch and distress had immediately raced through her veins, because, impossible as it seemed, she recognized the bright yellow snake. She would, in fact, have recognized it anywhere.

Bothriechis schleglii, the Eyelash Viper, remained one of the most dangerous, the most poisonous, snakes in Costa Rica. Known for hanging by its tail from tree limbs to attack its victims, she'd seen it claim the lives of many each year.

The nurse inside consumed Penny and she attempted to grab his infected arm. Immediately he jerked it out of her hands, and she thought, oh no, he's already becoming irrational. As she stepped back, she tried to reassure him, "Don't worry Professor. I know what I'm doing."

"Stupefy!"

Any answer he might have given immediately cut short as he collapsed, lifeless.

Upon rendering him unconscious, Penny raced back to his side, pulled out her knife (which her father had given her as a Hogwart's going away present--don't ask, he was odd), and severed his sleeve from the shoulder. Penelope was so intent in tying the material around his upper arm - to slow the venom - that she did not immediately notice the Dark Mark. However, when her eyes sought the two telltale incisions, she immediately noticed the large tattoo and smiled at the irony: that a snake should bite him on his snake tattoo. She remained completely unaware of its significance.

Penelope performed a disinfectant spell, followed by an anti-venom spell, and started to conjure a stretcher when she glanced back at his face. Two irate eyes glared at her. "Miss Clearwater," he said in a calm voice, which, when he used it in class, all the students knew to watch out, "do you make a habit of immobilizing all the patients when you assist Madam Pomfrey or just those who do not wish your assistance? And with such a pitiful show too."

Penelope was incensed. How dare he criticize her Stupefy when most students in her year couldn't produce the slightest effect; and he'd been unconscious for several minutes? Of course her's would not last as long as that of an adult witch, she was tempted to say, but wisely she remained silent.

"It appears we must quit the forest this evening," Snape continued as he lit his wand and stomped away, "do try to keep up child. I will have no more patience for further mistakes."

After shortly considering remaining exactly where she stood, she relented and chased after him. Professor Snape stomped along towards the castle but froze at the girl's next words.

"Professor Snape, what do you think it means? That unicorn blood?"