[voice recognition charm activated]

[aculeatus]

Poppy?

Much as it grieves me to admit defeat in any arena, personal, professional or in the wider scheme of things...

...I surrender.

I'll be at the Infirmary this afternoon at four o'clock and will submit to your prodding and prying, and take whatever wretched medicine you want to dole out. Just call them off.

And don't you dare deny that

Comments

[hl_npc2]

I'm not denying anything, Severus. Since you were not taking proper care of yourself and you would not come in and let me do what needs to be done to help you, I had no choice but to send someone to you who would watch out for your own best interests.

You shouldn't be thinking of coming to see me as surrender, you know. You should be thinking of this as beginning to reclaim that which is rightfully yours. You'll never truly be able to do what you're meant to do until you once more have a supple and strong hand and a keen eye to go with it.

I do hope you're willing to begin the procedure on your eye? We daren't wait much longer if you ever want to be able to dispense with your seeing eye bird. However, I should warn you that you will need to be prepared to spend at least 36 hours lying flat on your back once we've finished the first step.

[voice recognition charm activated]

[aculeatus]

You know what's worst about this damned voice charm thing? Flitwick won't let it recognise any of the really satisfying curses.

You know as well as I do that the work doesn't stop, just because you're not at your best. Minerva is sick, Albus is wrapped up in the school - someone has to deal with negotiating what happens with the students. We should be starting a new school year and we have no school. The staff are worn out and we're left with a choice of that cattle-shed in Greenwich or dragging people back to the safehouses and throwing away Floo powder gallivanting back and forth between lessons. I don't have the first idea of how long it will be before Hogwarts is ready to accept students once more. If ever. I don't have time to be ill

[hl_npc2]

You know, Severus, I am really getting tired of this. Do you truly think I nag you for my own enjoyment? I assure I get no pleasure from chasing after you or setting watchdogs on you. When I took this job, I was given the responsibility of overseeing the health care needs all the students, faculty and staff of the school, and I have tried very hard to live up to that responsibility. But I cannot do it alone. My patients have to want to get better, and they have to be willing to allow me to do my job properly. What good is gluing you back together, if you will not allow enough time for that glue to set

[voice recognition charm activated]

[aculeatus]

Oh don't be so bloody precious, Poppy. I've said I'll come.

Just tell me that it's going to work.