Erumpent horn, Billywig stings, Chizpurfle shells, and Fireseed Bush seeds—these ingredients for a rare antidote were like a fully armed knight, burning with fervor and ready to charge into battle.
A broad-spectrum antidote, meanwhile, contained Unicorn and mistletoe berries. It was like a beautiful woman riding a Unicorn, taking a leisurely walk beside a tranquil lake.
It felt strange to assign human traits to potions, but Pomona could not think of a better comparison. In the autumn of 1989, Hogwarts had been attacked by a swarm of Doxies. Many people had been bitten, and the Hospital Wing had been packed to the brim.
The upper-year students had divided themselves into three groups. One helped Madam Pomfrey brew rare antidotes, another brewed Pixie Palsy Potion in Pomona's greenhouse, while the third escorted first-years to and from class and handled other matters as needed.
The teachers had played little part in it; the students had organized everything themselves. Minerva was busy at the moment as well. Since Dumbledore insisted that Aurors could not be allowed into the castle, some of the students were actually responsible for guard duty. Pomona did not know what Severus meant by "security work," either.
After spending an entire morning in the artifact exhibition hall, which was filled with a stale air and dimly lit only by the flames of the Goblet of Fire, Pomona decided to go out for some fresh air. Just as she often did, she intended to drag that old bat, drunk on experiments in the dungeons, outside to get some sunlight.
She dug out the robes she had worn as a student and put on a yellow Hufflepuff tie. She looked almost like a student herself.
At this school, what identity was more commonplace than that of a Hufflepuff student?
In high spirits,