Chapter Twenty: You Gotta Have Friends

If this be magic, let it be an art.

--The Winter's Tale

"What's your name?" Pomona asked as Minerva helped her to her feet.

"I'm Minerva McGonagall," said the raven-haired witch, watching the young girl closely. She looked slightly familiar; Minerva had probably seen her Sorting not all that long ago.

"Are you a student here still? I thought you were older," said Pomona Sprout, and Minerva smiled.

"Actually, I'm not a student anymore, not really. I finished last June, but I cam back because Al—Professor Dumbledore is training me to become an Animagus," Minerva hoped that the girl hadn't noticed her slight slip of the tongue, but when the girl spoke again she felt confident that all was well.

"An Animagus! Oh, I'm so jealous! My grandfather was a Seal. Not the most useful animal, but very cool!" Pomona was definitely more chipper now than she had been a moment before. Minerva noticed that the girl was actually really cute when she smiled, in a 'this is my dorky kid sister' kind of way. "I don't really remember him that well," Pomona continued, "Because he died when I was five, but I do remember him turning into that seal at will! What are you, do you know yet?"

Minerva could not help but grin too; the girl's smile was infectious. Quickly she conjured up a little sofa and sat down, Pomona beside her. "I actually succeeded in fully transforming for the first time today. I'm a cat."

"Show me, oh, please!" Exclaimed Pomona Sprout, and Minerva chuckled. "Sure!"

She became a gray tabby cat, and Pomona squealed with delight.

"You're beautiful," Pomona told Minerva once she transformed back.

"Thanks!"

Minerva could not believe how easy the girl was to talk to. An hour later she knew that: A) Pomona Sprout was a Hufflepuff. B) She was an only child C) Both of her parents had died when she was nine, leaving her to be raised by a horrible cousin for two years before she was sent to Hogwarts.

Minerva then told the girl about her family, her overbearing sisters and her less-than-proud mother, her wonderful but unfortunately deceased father and all of the many children who were always underfoot.

Pomona admitted that she was feeling depressed because she was lonely. "It's been six years since my parents died; they were killed by Grindelwald himself. And my mother's cousin only took me in so that she could have a hand in the inheritance. I'm only good at one class, and that's Herbology, and Transfiguration and Charms are my worst. I would love to be an Animagus one day, like my grandfather, but…"

"What about your friends?" asked Minerva, who immediately felt, upon seeing Pomona's reaction, that she had said the wrong thing.

"I don't really have any. I mean, I keep to myself I guess. I'm kind of shy. And when I first started, everyone was like, 'Were your parents really murdered? Did you really witness the whole thing?' And I got sick of that and told them all to bug off, and nobody really wanted to talk to me after that, and now I'm a fourth year and people still don't really talk to me."

Minerva now felt even more sorry for this girl than she had before, but all she said was, "My goodness, that's horrible. Tell you what? I'll introduce you to my friends! Skipper already left school, but Cicely and Poppy are seventh-years, and I bet they'll really like you! I know it won't be quite as good as having friends your own age, or in your own house, but they're really nice."

Pomona's tearful eyes widened. "Do you think so?" she asked hopefully. "You think they'll like me?"

"Sure!" said Minerva confidently. "They like me, and I like you, and so they'll like you too! Skipper is fun, she's a professional Quiddich player."

Somehow, Pomona's eyes grew even wider at this. "Wait, she went here last year? Is her real name Rolanda?"

Minerva grinned. "Yup! Rolanda Hooch. But we've always called her Skipper."

"Wow!"

The two girls laughed. They chatted on for another hour, just like old friends.

It was one of the best days of Pomona Sprout's life.

And Minerva's too.

It was mid-afternoon when hunger finally got the better of them, as neither had eaten breakfast, and together they snuck down to the kitchens for some sandwiches. Minerva showed Pomona how to tickle the pear in just the right spot, and fleetingly she wondered whether Poppy would be upset about her having let someone new in on the secret, but decided she didn't care; she was having fun. And more than that, she was relating. For some reason she really felt like she could talk to this fourteen year old Hufflepuff, and that made her happy.

The girls were in the middle of lunch when Professor Dumbledore entered the kitchens. "Minerva, dear, where have you been?" he asked, not immediately seeing Miss Sprout.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore!" she exclaimed, jumping up. After all, it was one thing for her three best friends to be in on the secret, and quite another for a fourth year to know things she should not. "I know that students are not supposed to frequent the kitchens, but Pomona Sprout and I missed both breakfast and lunch and I thought we ought to eat something."

Albus' eyes twinkled. "Ah, of course, Miss McGonagall. And how are you this afternoon, Miss Sprout?"

Pomona smiled. "Fine sir. Minerva is going to tutor me in Charms and Transfiguration!"

Pomona, Albus mentally noted, looked considerably more content at that moment than he could recall seeing her before. He grinned. "I think that is a great idea, ladies! Now, if you would excuse me, I was just stopping in to grab a cup of cocoa, but I'm afraid I just remembered something I have to do, so I will bid you good afternoon."

He nodded at them and exited to the sound of their cheery goodbyes.

"Wow," whispered Pomona after Albus had gone. "If only he was about seventeen, I would be rather smitten with him." Instantly her face went as red as Minerva's often did. "Gosh!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe I just said that out loud!"

Minerva giggled. "Don't worry. I find him incredibly attractive too, and I don't care that he's not seventeen!"

The girls laughed, and when Minerva caught her breath she asked, "If I were to have a sleepover party, would you come?"

Pomona's eyes grew very wide. "I've never been invited to a sleepover before! But when? We're not allowed to be out of the dorms after dark."

"My friend Poppy could help you sneak out," Minerva assured her. "Her Mum is Nurse Pomfrey and her Dad teaches Arithmancy. She's pretty much grown up here and she knows the castle better than just about anyone, except maybe Headmaster Dippet or Albus Dumbledore himself."

"Oh, wow!" said Pomona, jumping up from her chair. "This is the best day of my whole life!"

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After they were done eating Minerva said goodbye to Pomona and promised to introduce the girl to Cicely and Poppy at dinner. Then she made her way back up to Albus' rooms, walking quickly and with purpose. Even though she had not had the opportunity to wallow in sadness, ponder her future or even experience much confusion about the matters of the day and the night before, she suddenly saw everything so clearly. Here she had met a girl so deprived of love that she had felt like ending her own life, and just meeting had done them both a world of good. Minerva realized that she didn't care about possible infertility or Dippet's suspicions or any of Albus' previous relationships. The important thing was that she had found someone to love, someone who loved her too, someone she could talk to and laugh with and yes, have a physical relationship with. And more than that, she had friends, sisters, nieces, nephews and a mother, all of whom cared about her very deeply.

She reached Albus' room and knocked on the door. He opened it, surprised to see her there (and surprised because she knocked).

"Are you alone?" She asked breathlessly, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes…"

Laughing she threw her arms around his neck. "Good."

He pulled her into the room and magically locked the door.

"You want to talk?" He questioned, a bewildered smile on his face.

She grinned back evilly. "Talk? Maybe after."

That was when she kissed him.

And this time you don't need the details.

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That night at dinner, Minerva introduced Poppy and Cicely to Pomona, as promised. Thankfully, Pomona and Poppy hit it off straight away, and even Cicely seemed to have a soft spot for the isolated girl. Pomona decided that night when writing in her Private Journal, that her earlier assessment had been correct. It certainly was the Best Day of her life.

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Albus hated to leave Minerva alone for an entire week, but she was determined to have her sleepover and was adamant that it would be far less awkward if he was not there (that he agreed with) so they made a deal: He would go along without her on Friday night and she would have her party. Rolanda would stay the rest of the weekend, and on Monday Minerva would inform Armando that she was needed at home. Albus would portkey back to Hogwarts just long enough to pick her up, and she would accompany him at the convention for the rest of the week. It was a perfect plan. What could go wrong?

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Friday night Albus kissed Minerva no less than thirty-six times before finally leaving for the convention. She spent the next hour setting up decorations and setting out food and drink. She had sandwiches, ginger newts, chocolate frogs, talking toffees, and various little cakes and goodies prepared by the Hogwarts' house elves at her request. She had punch and tea, and Rolanda was bringing the Butterbeer and "a surprise or two."

Poppy, of course, arrived first.

"Hello, Minerva!" She cheerfully greeted her best friend. They chatted over a copy of Top Brooms for about ten minutes before Pomona arrived, and the three of them engaged in a game of Exploding Snap until Cicely and Rolanda were also present. Minerva introduced Pomona to Skipper, and then the real fun began.

A/N Okay, so the party has only just started, but this chapter was getting a little long (lolol) So I thought that I would go ahead and post what I have thus far, since you've all been waiting over a month for me to update! My last exam is tomorrow, so I hope to post the rest of the party asap! Thanks for all of your support, and if you're bored waiting for the next installment of my little fic, I have two one-shots, Harry Potter and the Dream of Something More and Curious Bedfellows, both that I like very much, even though they're not ADMM so feel free to check them out!

And don't forget to review! I'm taking any ideas/suggestions/whatev. for chapter 21! Thanks!