I haven't written anything in ages (though this makes my 40th fic according to my bio) but I thought it was time I wrote something again for the challenge section on the Charming Roots board. This is the "long" version...the version that meets the 300 word limit can be found on the CR boards (link in my bio). Take this one as you will...they can be together or not. I just checked the challenge today and realized that it was actually about me so I figured it would be good to participate. (Substitute "life" for "day on the job" ) "Write a story about either Mona or Fil having a rough day on the job and the other's reaction."
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me: my professors have cast lots for my every waking moment, my first born belongs to my roommate, and these characters belong gto JK Rowling.
It was late Friday afternoon that Pomona Sprout sat down to dinner in the Great Hall. She looked down at her plate as she ate. The fork seemed to weigh six times heavier than usual and a small, detached part of her mind told her that all her movements were being performed in slow motion.
It had been a hellish sort of week, with a full schedule of classes to teach, a tutoring session every other night and enough student breakdowns and teacher meetings to last her a lifetime. Exams were on their way and the students weren't the only ones having a rough time in the run up.
Pomona couldn't remember when she'd been so tired. She had been looking forward to Friday as the end of the week when she could almost relax and take a breath, but it had been just another long day that seemed to go on forever. Even now that it was over, Pomona hadn't yet felt that it was all right to exhale and relax.
Pomona's colleagues were all absorbed in their own conversations, or like Pomona, could no longer manage to eat and think at the same time and so she was left to consume her dinner in peace. But Pomona's exhausted state did not go unnoticed. Filius Flitwick was watching her from across the table. She had entered the Great Hall and taken her seat without paying any attention to her surroundings and had certainly not noticed him sitting at the other end of the table. He had watched as she sank down into her chair and he could tell that she was close to catatonic from the stresses of the week.
Filius wanted to get up and move over to sit with Pomona, but the professor on his left seemed intent upon talking and by the time Filius could escape, Pomona had already left the table and was making her way out of the Great Hall. Filius caught up with her just as she was starting to trudge up one of the dozens of staircases that stood between her and her quarters.
Pomona had tapped the last of her strength at this point and it was taking all her force of will to keep herself from plopping down on the stairs and having a good cry. She was seriously considering this course of action when she felt a small but strong hand slip into hers and give it a quick squeeze. She sniffed and fought back tears as she looked to her side and found Filius gazing at her, his lovely brown eyes full of understanding and the strength he was offering her.
Pomona squeezed his hand in return and together, they climbed the stairs.
End.