20th February 1973
Aware of the time, Minerva abruptly stood up and walked over to the window, which overlooked the now empty Quidditch pitch. She felt inexplicably nervous and had a great need to confide in someone of her worries. Looking back at Pomona sitting in the comfy armchair by the fire with her book, she envied her friend's ignorance or rather the seemingly more peaceful and stress-free life she led without Order meetings, Dumbledore's strange behaviour and the endless nights talking to the Auror department about suspected Death Eaters.
Minerva sighed loudly as she pressed a hand to her eyes and tried but failed to relax. Feeling the need to move again, she walked back to her armchair and sat back down, all the while keeping a close eye on the time.
"Restless tonight aren't you?"
Minerva turned to look at her friend who had been with her for almost the whole day. "Just preparing for Potter and Black tomorrow," she said half-jokingly.
"You have them first thing, don't you?" asked Pomona.
Minerva smiled. "Regrettably. I wonder what little surprise they'll have for us next week."
"I dread to think," said Pomona. She frowned, however, and put down the book she had been reading. "Anything else on your mind? You seem more worried than usual."
"I didn't think that possible!"
Pomona pursed her lips and folded her hands on her lap. "Joking aside, Minerva, what has really been going on? You and Albus disappearing every few evenings, these attacks that have been going on… Don't take me for an idiot, please! Every day, you look even more tired and worried. I swear at the rate you're going you'll be getting grey hairs at 37!"
"I've found more of those in my hairbrush than I care to admit," answered Minerva, in an attempt to divert the direction of the conversation. However, at the look on Pomona's face, Minerva made a split second decision to tell as truthfully as she could, what had been bothering her for the past few weeks. Adopting a more serious expression, she proceeded to explain.
"Did you hear about the attack yesterday?" Pomona's face darkened and she nodded solemnly. "And that green mark left on top of the family's house?"
"The skull and the snake, you mean?"
Minerva nodded and cast her eyes to the ceiling. "All this stuff about blood purity, death eaters and Voldemort – It's just moved all so fast over the past few years I can't quite believe it! And yet despite all the warning signs, the Ministry is doing nothing to stop it!"
"That's not all there is to it though is it?"
Minerva smiled sadly, "No it isn't."
"And I don't suppose you want to explain a bit more?" said Pomona, however the look on her face showed she already knew the answer to that question.
Minerva looked at her friend deep in the eyes and felt her stomach squirm as she thought of all the things she wanted to say but couldn't. "I can't."
Pomona inhaled deeply and suddenly got up from her chair. It seemed an age that she looked down at her friend a mix of exasperation, irritation and a hint of sadness in her eyes. Then, quite as suddenly as she got up, she said, "Well don't keep everything to yourself, Minerva. I think Dumbledore does enough of that for all of us!" Minerva was about to retort when Pomona waved her hand dismissively. "I'll leave you to wherever it is you needed to go to this evening. But if ever you do want to talk then I am always here. You know that don't you?"
Minerva opened her mouth feeling as though she ought to say something. She felt guilty seeing the hurt in her friend's eyes and wanted to explain why she could not say anything more, however, she could not find the words formulate her thoughts or ones that did not mention Order of the Phoenix. Feeling her voice catch in her throat, she closed her mouth and instead nodded and tried to smile but failed.
Pomona was still watching her and Minerva got up from her chair for the third time that evening. "I'm sorry I can't say anything more."
It was a moment or two before Pomona's shoulders suddenly sagged and she smiled, albeit tiredly and a little sadly. "Let's forget about it, shall we? I understand, really I do. It's just sometimes I get a bit worried and with everything going on…"
"It just makes everything seem much worse," finished Minerva.
Pomona nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, Minerva. Say hello to Elphinstone for me."
They hugged and the tension in the room eased slightly – but only just. Then, Pomona stepped out into the corridor and left Minerva with her own sombre thoughts swirling around her head. Later on that evening, as Minerva sat in the Hog's Head surrounded by fellow Order members, Elphinstone to her left, she could not help but feel lonely and admittedly, just a little scared.
I am going to try to update this story every Saturday evening. :) Reviews are much appreciated! Have a great day :)
