Chapter 7: An Unexpected Visit

Pomona Flitwick Sprout was the Herbologist's full name. Not everyone knew this fact. Only a few close friends knew and the whole entire staff knew as well. It's not like they tried to keep a secret since they were always cuddling in the staffroom. The thought of Minerva haunted her in her sleep. She could see the ghostly form of her dear friend pouring her heart out as she cried out in despair. She wished she could help her friend, but really how could she?

Pomona woke up from her nightmare. Never had she seen something like Minerva. She was scary and unreal. Her new form was absolutely beautiful but still horrifying nonetheless. All Pomona had right now was the feeling of her husband by her side and the crackling warm fire. Everything was going to be alright; it just had to. Then the flames of the fire had blown out unexpectedly causing shivers run down Pomona. She was frightened all right, and what frightened her more was the sight of her friend. Minerva stood in her eerie aura as she looked down at Pomona and then at the sleeping Flitwick. She shook her head in pity. Pomona could see that Minerva was at the verge of crying. Pomona could see her friend's despair and Merlin damn it she was a hufflepuff after all. She ran to her friend's side. Minerva moved away.

"You should not be concerned about me Pomona." Minerva told her friend as she now faced her. Minerva's eyes were unsettling as it made the back of Pomona's hairs stand up. This is what her friend had become. She was a monster, but she didn't look like one. She was more ghostly and more importantly she was an omen.

"What do you mean? Please Minerva, let me help you." pleaded Pomona, but Minerva shook her head. There was no helping her at this point thought Minerva. She was cursed this life and shall life through it. Nothing that Pomona could do would help her now. She then averted her eyes to Filius. She sighed when she looked at his peaceful sleeping form. Pomona followed Minerva's eyes and gasped.

"Please Minerva, spare him. He is my everything. I don't know what I would do if he died. Please Minerva and spare him. He is your friend." begged Pomona to Minerva to the point that she was on her knees. Her legs had gone weak and had failed to keep her from standing. She could feel her tears coming and surprisingly she felt someone cradle her. It was Minerva.

"Fate will decide my dear." Minerva whispered to her friend. She had seen the vision of the death of Filius Flitwick and it saddened her. Surely it would break Pomona's heart, but it wasn't her fault but fates. It was fate that had brought her this new life wasn't it? She then kissed the witch tenderly on the forehead and then left her side.

Filius woke up immediately as Minerva had left. He could somehow feel her presence.

"Pomona, my dear where are you?" he asked frantically as he went to search for her. Pomona was at loss of words. Was this the last time she would hear the voice of her dear husband? Filius spotted her kneeling on the ground as he rushed to her side.

"What is wrong my flower?" he asked her as he wrapped his small arms around her. Pomona started to cry uncontrollably. She didn't want to see her husband to leave her side. Filius wanted to know what had caused Pomona's distress as it broke his heart to see her this way. His question was answered when he heard the chilling cries from the banshee. They echoed through the room which sent chills down the couple's back. He was going to die he thought and he held Pomona tighter.

"It's going to be alright." He whispered to his wife lovingly even though he wasn't sure if it were true. Pomona shuttered since she didn't know either if her husband was right.

She shook her head and managed to utter, "She was here Filius, Minerva was here."