Girls Night (Having Fun with Best Friends)

By Deirdre

Minerva sat down on a chair in the staffroom. She sat there gracefully, almost regally but her normally bright emerald eyes were dim. How could she tell him? What if he rejected her? She would never be able to face him again; the humiliation would be too extreme.

She never noticed the door opening softly, or heard the footsteps coming closer to her.

"What is it Min? I've never seen you this sad?" asked a voice.

Minerva turned to see a very concerned woman. She smiled sadly but Poppy's worry grew even stronger.

"What happened? Did you tell him?"

Minerva cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Oh you don't have to speak if you don't want to. Oh Min!" said Poppy sadly. "Did he say...I mean was it-?"

"I couldn't tell him." whispered Minerva. "I was looking right at him, he seemed so...I don't know but when I opened my mouth,"

"Yes?"

"I couldn't say it! I couldn't tell him! Poppy help me please what should I do? How could he ever love me, I was a fool to think Albus would feel the same!" Minerva's voice was getting louder and louder. She then collapsed into tears and Poppy hugged her tightly.

"It'll be all right in the end,"

"No it won't! I can't stay in the castle any longer, it's driving me mad! I'll leave at once!"

"Minerva," said Poppy sternly. "Pull yourself together. You'll never know until you ask! What if Albus did love you?"

She wiped the tears from Minerva's face with her sleeve.

"Now I have an idea! Come with me." Poppy helped Minerva up and steered her out of the room.

While they walked through the halls Poppy glanced quickly at Minerva. As soon as they had left the staffroom Minerva had changed dramatically, becoming the stern, dependable woman many people relied on. She only ever let her guard down around Poppy and Albus. And even then Poppy had only seen her cry a few times.

"Where are we going?" asked Minerva suspiciously.

"I can't say!"

"Please Poppy?"

Poppy sighed. Minerva was smiling childishly, all traces of her earlier tears gone.

"I'll give you a clue. What was something that we always used to do when we were younger? One of our favourite things? A something that involved you, myself, Rolanda and Georgina?"

"Poppy! You don't mean!" Minerva's face lit up and she laughed. "Oh dear Poppy, what would I do without you! Are we really going to?"

"Yes Min," said Poppy happily. "The first Girls Night in a decade."