Minerva Mcgonagall had one close friend, a fellow Gryffindor who, though she did yet not know it, would be her colleague later in life. Minerva was a studious girl, but in her third year, became the second ever girl to play Quiditch on a Hogwarts house team.
The first had been two years before, when Rolanda Hooch, a girl in the year above Minerva, joined the Ravenclaw Q team in her second year. Well, Rolanda had been in the year above Minerva. But in Rolanda's third year, she hadn't done well enough on her final exams, and was given two options. She could be kicked out of Hogwarts, or merely repeat her third year. And so, ever since Minerva's third year, she and Rolanda had been in the same year, and some of the same classes.
Many people did not particularly like Rolanda. It was of the common belief that the only reason she hadn't been expelled after she'd failed all her classes was because her uncle, Albus Dumbledore was the transfiguration professor, and had pulled some strings on his nieces' behalf.
Then, towards the end of fourth year, Rolanda started very publicly sleeping with girls. She was considered a player by all the other girls. And this was a time before sleeping with someone before Marriage was okay, and it was definitely at a time where being openly gay was not something someone did. So, of course, Rolanda was widely scorned.
It was about a fortnight into fifth year when Roland's was wandering Hogwarts, looking for a comfortable place to relax, away from the judging eyes of her peers. She opened the door to a classroom far away from anything anyone actually used, thinking it might be a good place to make a refuge. Unexpectedly, there was someone already in the room. Minerva Mcgonagall lay on the floor one of her arms was bloodied. About a foot away from the girl lay a knife. Rolanda backed slowly out of the room, until she was out. Then she ran. Ran as fast as she could to the hospital wing.
Poppy Pomfrey was the only person in the hospital wing. The healer had offered her an internship after Poppy had spent a good deal of time asking to be taught by, and to help the healer the previous year.
When Rolanda burst into the hospital wing panting, Poppy turned her attention from the paperwork she'd been doing to the girl in the doorway, struggling to catch her breath. After a few seconds, Rolanda managed to pant out a few words between her gulps of air.
"Minerva … bleeding … follow me. "
Poppy immediately got up, grabbed some wipes, disinfectants, and bandages, before following the ravenclaw. When they got to the room, Poppy knelt down besides her friend. She was unintentionally blocking the view of Minerva's injured arm from Rolanda, who stood still in the doorway, watching. After a moment of Poppy cleaning out the wound in silence, she spoke, her voice shaky.
"Thank you Rolanda. You - you should probably go now."
There was a pause, before Poppy continued.
"And be a decent person. Don't go spreading rumors. Or even truths. Please."
"Of course not."
Rolanda turned to leave. Then thought better of it and turned back around.
"So, does it look like she cut herself?"
"One can't be sure, but it does look like that's the case. I'll, I'll talk to her once she wakes."
At this point, Poppy turned to look at Rolanda.
"Though it may be awhile before she does wake up."