Waiting Room

*September/October 1971*

Minnie thought awhile about her new students. She was wrong thinking she would be prepared for her new position. Was there many previous students with the same issue as Remus and she was just unaware? Surely not as Poppy herself seemed unprepared in how to bring it up to Minerva. What about Sirius? Was she supposed to teach him like any other student? He wasn’t just another student. He was the heir to practically the entirety and more of Tom Riddle’s army. Maybe James would teach him right and wrong. James was pure goodness, he really was. Minerva didn’t know the boy well, she was visiting the Potter household less and less as she worked more at Hogwarts. She probably hasn’t seen James since he was three. He doesn’t know her. But if he was anything like his parents he was too good for this world. Peter. The shy boy that was also around them. Minerva didn’t know him well. She doesn’t remember his mother or father. Possibly a muggle born maybe. But she does remember his aunt, Enid. She was a short hufflepuff and quite quiet. She frightened easily and was in the year after Minnie. While most of the childrens boggart was clowns or dark magic hers was well, somehow it was a boggart. She was quite afraid of boggarts and fear. But other than that there wasn’t much to her.

Classes began and that’s when Minerva got to really meet her students. She tried her best to be even and give points to Gryffindor fairly but it was hard to stop herself. Sirius and James were tied at the hip. Brothers already. Minnie found this ironic. Anyone who met their parents would. James Potter truly was only filled with light. His parents were too. Sirius black wasn’t so much not filled with light. He was filled with a different type of light. James was sunshine. Sirius was moonshine. Perfect brotherhood. All four boys, even though only meeting a mere two weeks ago couldn’t stop talking to each other. She’d separate them in class but no matter what they would find ways. Even if it was passing notes, whispering to others telling them to pass along the message or even blatantly screaming across the room. All four were inseparable. Although Minnie couldn’t understand one thing. While they spent all of class talking and doing anything but their work, They all still did all their work and understand most of it. Remus was certainly to smartest, at least with transfigurations. James certainly wasn’t far behind and Sirius and Peter still did quite well. While for the most part she didn’t know what to make of this, she couldn’t say she wasn’t impressed.

Remus’s first full moon at hogwarts began September 30th. After dinner, he went to the infirmary and met Poppy and she brought him to the shack far behind the school. Minerva was there as she talked him through it while the three of them walked to the shack. She was nervous for the boy. She knew the process of turning into a wolf probably wasn’t the best feeling in the world but the scars it left made her questioning how much she really knew. They walked into the shack together. Minerva felt bad. Mostly because it wasn’t the new space that was most frightening. It was the transformation that was to come. One that no one should endure. Unfortunately Poppy and Minerva had to leave soon after and walked back to the castle together.
“The poor, sweet boy.” Poppy muttered, shaking her head.
“I know. I don’t know much about his condition, but he’ll be alright though, right?” Minerva asked.
“Well yes i mean he will be alive. But the wolf tends to direct its violence towards itself when it’s in a new and enclosed location like that.” Poopy answered. “But I will help him in the morning, don’t worry.” She reassured.
When they got back to the castle, they went their separate ways and Minerva went to her room. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for Remus. She wonders what he told his friends about where he was going.

The next morning was a Saturday. Minerva didn’t have to wake her up for classes that day but still woke early as she was worried about Remus. She knew he’d be in the infirmary most likely. She got out of bed and went about her regular morning routine. She showered and then got dressed in her normal robes and put on her hat. She went to down to the infirmary. She walked past the door the went to the Gryffindor students dorms, and walked past Sirius, James and Peter walking out to go to the great hall for breakfast.
“Good morning Minnie!” James shouted. She was caught off guard at the student’s use of not only her first name but her nickname.
“Mr. Potter would you like to correct yourself with my name before I give you a detention.” She asked. Trying not to let her amusement show.
“Oh right sorry your my teacher, I am very sorry, Minerva.” James said. Minnie knew he had not a single hit of hatred or disrespect behind the jokes. She let him go before remembering she had a question for him.
“By the way, boys. Where is your friend, Mr. Lupin?” She asked. She knew, obviously. But rather, wanted to see what he told his friends.
“Oh his mum’s not well so he’s visiting her.” James answered, blissfully unaware of his friend’s condition. He then turned around to his friends to go eat.

Minerva got to the infirmary and was greeted by the sight of a sleeping Remus and Poppy filling out paperwork at her desk across the room.
“Oh,” Poppy said, surprised at Minerva’s presence. “What do I owe the pleasure?” She asked.
“Well, just checking on Mr. Lupin. Do you think he’ll miss many classes?”
“Well, from what he has told me I believe this was a particularly harsh moon for him so he might until this Wednesday. However he is also a resilient young man so it all depends but I will let you know.” Poppy confirmed. Minnie eyed the paperwork on Poppy’s desk.
“Would you like me to bring you some breakfast, or…” Minnie trailed off.
“Oh. I mean… it’s really alright.” Poppy said in protest.
“No it truly isn’t of any trouble, Poppy I really wouldn’t mind.” Minerva told her.
“Oh. ok, alright.” Poppy allowed.
Minerva left the infirmary and went to the great hall to get breakfast for her and her coworker. With so many options she put a little bit of everything with also plentiful of fruits on her plate as that was the one thing Minerva knew she ate most breakfasts. On her own plate she put some toast with raspberry jam. Meals on weekends at Hogwarts were less structured as some kids went to hogsmeade and there was not school day to structure it around. So, a lot of times she took her plate to her own room or classroom to grade papers and exams.

Minerva res turned to the infirmary, struggling to open the heavy doors with her full hands. She eventually got into the room and walked to Polly’s desk where she put down Poppy’s plate. Poppy looked up and thanked Minerva before her eyes landed on her plate.
“Oh where are you eating?” Poppy questioned.
“Oh just my room to grade.” Minerva answered, before her eyes went back to the door to leave.
“No, that’s nonsense! You shouldn’t be eating alone.” Poppy told her, then standing up and grabbing a chair for Minerva to sit.
“It’s very funny you said that.” Poppy told Minerva, to which Minnie gave a confused look.
“In our own hogwarts years you were very strict and always ate in the great hall even if it was a meal or only a short snack.” Poppy recalled.
Minerva tensed at her mentioning their hogwarts years, guilt creeping up on her.
“Oh well I did live a routine, especially then.” Minerva said.
“It’s weird seeing how we’ve all changed is small and big ways,” Poppy mentioned.
Minerva chuckled in agreement.
“I think it’s hope. All of us. We were so stable then. But since we’ve had to turn to hope.” Minerva said. It’s something she’d thought about a lot.
“Yes. I believe you are correct.” Poppy said.
They shared very similar memories over their breakfast, with stifled laughs to be cautious of the sleeping Remus.