Back in Business
Minerva always dreaded seeing her marks on exams. While she always studied hard and did better than all of her friends she just couldn’t shake it. Maybe it was a fear or maybe it was just competition. She lives for the thrill of turning the parchment over and finding a 100. really anything that’s a 97 or above will do. But anything below will have her marching up to the teacher declaring she must be told why she got such a mark. She sometimes felt bad about her competitiveness, as her friend Euphemia hadn’t always done best in school. Well of course she was smart. When it came to interacting and caring for others, Effie was the smartest out of anyone Minnie knew. She still did well in class as well, just not quite as well as Minerva herself. While she was only a third year, she was pretty sure if she kept it up, that when she graduate she’ll be top of her class. She’s be certain if there weren’t two other students that she was rivaling for it. Ravenclaw, Poppy Pomfrey and a Slytherin named Eileen Prince. She could understand challenging a Ravenclaw for it- but a Slytherin? No way she’d let it happen. Oh well, she’ll just have to outsmart her.
She got off the train September, 1st, 1949 ready for her third year. This Term she had five classes, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Astronomy, Herbology and Defense against the dark arts. She had also signed up for Muggle Studies, Arithmancy and Care of Mythical Creatures. She wasn’t all that excited about Herbology. However, She was over the moon for another year of Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was her favorite. While her parents and teacher kept pushing her to become a healer, Minnie couldn’t help herself from daydreaming about saving the world. It’s how she spent most of her free time. She daydreamed about helping others. She knew she could do that as a healer but there was a difference between helping after something had happened versus when something was happening. She could never sit in hospital watching people come in already hurt when she could be out there stopping people from getting hurt in the first place.
Later that day she was sat in the Grand Hall as the first years got sorted into houses. Across from her. Euphemia and Ann MacDonald, another friend of hers had been guessing which house each first year was going to be sorted into. While is was amusing, and a good way to pass time during the very long ceremony, she couldn’t quite grasp why they would do it. I mean, for the most part they know nothing about these kids yet they assume everything about them. It was pure chance about weather they would get it right. Apparently however, this was a fantastic Idea, because Lyall Lupin, another Gryffindor from their year had joined in as well.
“No that boy does not have a single Slytherin trait in him, of course he’s a hufflepuff.” A voice from behind her had startled Minerva. It was Poppy. So of course now this was a competition.
“What are you talking about? He’s clearly a Ravenclaw.” And right then, the hat had announced that the boy wearing said hat was in fact a Ravenclaw.
“What? it’s pure chance anyways.” Huffed Poppy.
“No it’s not, I could tell because as soon as he walked in the door to this place I had seen him start calculating his chances of getting put in each house, and hasn’t said one non-sarcastic sentence. That’s a Ravenclaw if I’ve ever seen one.” Minnie spoke as if she just proved she solved the worlds most difficult maths problem.
“Fine. Let’s turn this into a game then if you really can figure it out before the hat. First one to get 5 students right wins.” Poppy retorted.
“ok” Minnie said surely.
The next girl walked up on stage, and she had short, blonde hair and blue eyes. She had her fingers crossed behind her back and muttering something below her breath. The hat does take into account what the student wants so, she tried to read her lips. Gryffindor? Maybe Hufflepuff? As she finished the word Minnie could see her lips forming the or at the end of Gryffindor.
“She’s going to be a Gryffindor.” Minnie declared.
“No, I’m saying Ravenclaw.” Poppy answered.
They both had a dead stare on the hat for the few more seconds it took for the hat to decide.
“Slytherin!” decided the hat.
“What!” The two girls said surprised, in unison, both of them slamming their hand down on their respective tables.
The next boy, a short brown haired boy , Minnie couldn’t be more sure he was a Slytherin. He was already wearing green a black, and probably comes from a Slytherin family. When he heard his name she wasn’t surprised.
“Cygnus Black!” The professor called, the boy then sitting down to have the hat placed in his head.
“He’s a Slytherin.” Said Minnie.
“Hmm, I don’t know, he seems like he could be a Ravenclaw.” Stated Poppy.
“What are you talking about? Didn’t you hear his last name? He’s a Black.” Said Minerva.
“Yes and? Are houses by surnames or something?” Poppy questioned.
“Who are your parents?” Minerva wondered.
“They’re both muggles.” Poppy answered. “And who are yours?”
“Robert and Isobel McGonnagall,” Minnie stated, proudly, “My father’s a muggle too, but my mother’s a witch.”
Poppy looked as though she realized what Minnie meant. She didn’t know things because she was muggle-born. Poppy began to look a little sad.
“It’s not a bad thing your parents are muggles, I’m sure you’re really good at Muggle Studies.” Minnie stated, trying to cheer her up.
A professor got up to announce the sorting ceremony was over. Neither girl had won their competition. Poppy was clearly upset over her realization about her muggle-born blood. Minerva wanted to help her fee better, but she still had that competitive edge to her, she didn’t want to let her guard down.