Monty Potter and Minnie McGonagall
*December 1950*
Minnie could tell Effie had become saddened since their argument. Minnie was quite torn about it as well. She cried quite a bit. She didn’t know what to do or say. She wasn’t good with words. So she didn’t talk. She also seemed to realize she didn’t talk to many people often other than Effie. Effie was the only one who could understand that Minnie’s seemingly stern and rough and rocky words didn’t mean to be taken as that. While Minnie almost never meant to say anything slightly harmful she truly thought she was trying to be kind. So, with few people to talk to Minnie was almost always in her dorm studying. When she always studied for hours she was now only studying. She would forget to Eat if Ann didn’t regularly bring her food from the dining hall.
One afternoon when Minerva was studying after a particularly harsh day, when it took her longer to understand and memorize a potions concept and Poppy had received the same marks than her on an Astronomy exam Minnie left her desk to go down to the common room to grab a mug of tea she had left down. She was sure it would be cold by now but either way she didn’t want to have it to just take up space and was good chance to practice a new charm to heat things up she had just learned, so she went to grab it.
Minerva always loved the common room. She loved the warm fire that was light almost always between october and april when it was colder out. The warm reds and yellows for Gryffindor. She loved the soft carpet that was red and even if she was wearing thick socks she could feel how soft it is. She had studied in here her first two years at Hogwarts but made the switch to her dorm because of the loud chattering people that would distract her. She was especially glad of that today, with many people talking away with it being a Friday and them being able to stay up without the need to wake early the next morning. Effie and Ann were talking on the couch in front of the fire and while Minnie is a strong believer in privacy she missed her friend and listened to their conversation to see what was going on in her life.
“Ann i’m bloody worried. She’s practically become a recluse. I worried and I don’t know what to do all she does all day is read! To the point of it being unhealthy.” Effie muttered.
Ann relief, sort of chuckling “Well I think any studying could be unhealthy but yeah…”
Merlin, Minerva couldn’t take it. How could they just talk about her like that? Knowing h she would have to work harder than she should have to for her goals. It’s bloody unfair that’s what it is.
Minerva left the tower. Unsure of where she was going to go, but knowing if she was caught she would get a detention. That couldn’t happen. She’d immediately get a howler first off, so she’d have to find somewhere. Tears were starting to sting her eyes and she quickly walked through the corridor trying to find an empty classroom or something, when she passed Fleamont Potter. He was in her year and also a Gryffindor. Minerva hardly knew him but had nothing against him either. She wanted to just quickly walk by him and for him to ignore her. But as other things that day, it wasn’t going to go as she hopped.
“Minerva, that’s your name, right. Oh bloody hell, please correct me if i’m wrong oh now i’m just talking about your name,” The boy started to stutter. “Are you alright? I’m deeply sorry if this sounds mean but you look like somethings wrong. alright now i’m rambling i’m gonna stop.” The boy talked fast. And a lot. But did seem like he had Minnie best interest in mind. Honestly other than maybe Ann he was the first to check on her in months. She was almost relived that someone had seen her trying. Her struggling. She didn’t know how to feel. Other than maybe someone didn’t expect her to just know everything and be ok with that. She broke down. Crying slightly so she was actively crying but was still letting the tears fall. Her arms and her sides, hanging in defeat.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Fleamont began. “Do you want a hug, maybe? would that help? Or walk you back to the tower? Where are your mates? Can I help?” Now Minnie was starting to feel bad for him. He only wanted to check on her, not deal with her sobbing. But a hug would help. She gently nodded and held out her arms for a hug. And for what Minnie perceived as an embarrassingly long amount of time, they stood hugging in the middle of the corridor. But for once she didn’t care. The hug felt nice. To have someone holding her up for her. She hadn’t realized how exhausted she had just from holding herself upright. It was truly nice.
After a few more moment when Minnie’s sobs had turned into a few soft sniffles Fleamont broke the silence. “Do you want to talk?”
“Yes, please.” Minnie replied. She didn’t know why or how but she knew that in that moment talking to Fleamont Potter was absolutely going to help. He had pointed to an empty classroom nearby that they then went to. They sat on desks next to each other.
“Minerva, that’s your name right?” He was still quite hung up on getting her name right she could tell.
“Yes it is. You could also call me Minnie. I don’t mind either. Yours is Fleamont, correct?” She wondered.
“Yes it is. Or, Monty would also do. Unless you’re around Tobias Snape. He heard there was a boy with my name and laughed so he’s still under the impression my full name is Monty. He kept asking questions saying it had to be short for something but I told him my mother wanted me to be called Monty so she named me Mo-… I’m rambling now. What’s wrong you’re awfully upset?” He asked.
“I’m worried about my marks. I have great ones but they might not be top marks. So Effie became mad at me for this because she said I also need to take care of myself. But I don’t know why. And I heard her telling another friend that I had shut myself off.” Minnie explained.
“We’ll do you want me to comfort you or give advise?” Monty asked.
This confused Minnie. She had never really gone to someone with her issues before. She didn’t know. He actually had already comforted her. Now she did want her problem fixed. And she didn’t know how.
“Advise.” She told him.
“Tell her you do want top marks. And ask her to help you start taking care of yourself. And the important part, Do it. Minnie, You can’t get top marks if you don’t take care of yourself. It just doesn’t work. You need sleep, food and showers for that. By taking care of yourself you are working to get top marks. Tell her your sorry for getting upset and want to work on it. I can help with telling her if you’d like.”
She didn’t know how. But Fleamont Potter was making it make sense.
“Thank you.” Minnie said, smiling.
Minnie walked into her dorm and only Effie was there. These past few months they’d been silent with each other. Waiting for the other one to speak.
“Minnie I’m not certain what happened to us in October but I really miss you-“
Minerva almost stopped listening theres because Merlin was she just glad Effie started the conversation.
Minnie looked over at her friend.
“I’ve missed you” Minnie told her.
“What happened? I’m worried about you.” Effie said.
They sat down for a chat.