Gravity
*November 3rd, 1972*
Minnie sighed as she woke up the morning of November 3rd. Yet another marauder’s birthday. As of yet it was looking as though they had no plans what so ever to diminish the festivities compared to last year. Minnie came to the conclusion that she was at least grateful there were no classes that day for the boys to interrupt to mention their friend’s birthday.
At breakfast she was of course met with the first celebrations of the day. The boys whose birthday it wasn’t was had decided to sing, or rather… shout a happy birthday song to Sirius.
Lunch was no different. They were louder and this time had decided to stand on the Gryffindor tables while shouting the celebratory song. However at this meal, James had converted a ham sandwich into a two story chocolate cake with vanilla icing. On the top, in red and gold icing was the words, Happy Birthday, Sirius!
Minnie was at least glad they were understanding the transfigurations work.
During dinner, as the boys were about to start again, Bellatrix, a Slytherin girl who Minerva has never enjoyed talking with, casted a spell wiping the mouths off of the boys’s faces. While for a very brief second Minnie enjoyed the quiet, she soon developed a protective mood over the boys she was always annoyed by.
Minerva quickly fixed there faces while giving them an expression letting them know to put an end to the planned song and celebration.
~~~~
That night was a full moon. While it wasn’t a big deal or noticed by most of the people at Hogwarts, it was certainly noted by Minerva, Poppy and Remus. They followed their typical routine of walking him down to the shack and being forced to abandon him in a dark shack with the inevitable pain and transformation that was to occur in less than an hour or two from then. Both Minerva and Poppy dreaded this. Of course most likely not as close to the amount of fright the boy was feeling. Minerva almost felt a gravitational pull towards Remus in these days. As though he was her son and hold him as though she would be strong enough to keep the wolf inside of him and he wouldn’t feel the pain or horror and he would be alright. But no matter how much she felt for him it would never be enough. Never enough to get him safe and healthy.
~~~~
Every once in awhile Minerva would briefly stop by the infirmary the mornings after the full moon to make sure Remus was alright. Poppy assured her multiple times Remus’s condition would become fatal, but Minerva’s seen the times it been too close. This was one of the days Minerva went to check. She quietly padded her way over towards where Poppy was filling in some paperwork at her desk.
Poppy eyed over to where Remus was on a cot sleeping.
“I gave him a potion to let him rest.” She said, pointing out the obvious to make conversation.
“How can I help him?” Minnie asked, desperately.
Poppy stood up, picked up her chair and walked over to where a chair was next to her desk and set her chair down and sat in it. Poppy eyed the chair next to her, inviting Minerva to sit with her.
Minerva gently sat down in the chair, and looked at Poppy desperate for answers.
“He’s a stubborn boy who doesn’t accept a lot of help. Make him accept the help, he won’t ask for it.”
The words echoed in the air of the quiet morning along with small chirps of birds and the beginnings of children waking. The dew from outside somehow made its presence inside in the air making it smell as though it had just finished raining.
Earlier, Minnie felt helpless, as though she were falling. But right now, with Poppy; it felt almost as though it paused or maybe she had reached terminal velocity. She wasn’t sure, but she breathed and enjoyed the surely brief peace she had in the moment.