Here you go. Minnie's birthday! Happy birthday, girl! Honestly I'm not totally sure what this one is about lol but here she is, see you for Flitwick's on the 17. If you have any thoughts about the random characters lives (or when people's bdays are), feel free to comment. I have my super major characters sort of thought out, but not the non-main characters.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
"Happy Birthday, dear," Pomona said, as she handed her a package wrapped in brown paper.
"Thank you," Minerva said with a heavy sigh.
"Whatever is wrong?" Poppy asked, eyebrow raised.
"I'm feeling… lethargic," Minerva said softly, "It doesn't feel like anything is different. I suppose I thought there would be more."
"I think you'd better open our gifts," Poppy said with a small smirk.
Minerva gently tore the paper off the gift in her hands and saw, confusingly, a pair of short trousers and a pair of sunglasses. "It's October," she said with a bark of a laugh, "and I haven't worn anything like this since the 50s."
"Well you'd better open this one then," Poppy said, handing her an envelope.
Minerva opened the gift and found a ticket to the Seniors Singles Safari. She snorted. "I won't be going to this," she said, smartly.
"You act like you're an old maid," Pomona said with an eye roll, "you're barely middle aged. Hell if you wanted kids you could still have one."
Minerva looked at her sharply. "I'm quite happy being child-free, thank you very much."
"Well how do you feel about being an Aunt?" Poppy asked.
"I'm quite happy being an aunt, my nephews are truly a joy," she responded with a sniff.
"And a niece?" Pomona asked.
"I don't have an-" Minerva cut herself off and looked at the two women in front of her. "Are you?"
"Just came out of the first trimester last week," Pomona said, patting her stomach. We're due in April and with Neville here, there's no time like the present."
Minerva felt tears prick her eyes. "Congratulations, I'm quite excited for you!" She'd never had the desire to have children of her own, but she knew that Pomona and Poppy had always wanted to. Pomona was nearing 50, and while technically most witches could have children into their 70s, it wasn't recommended after 55.
"All that's to say," Poppy continued "after April we'll both be on Maternity leave so we wanted to make sure you got a trip in before then. You'll be going on your safari over Christmas and we won't be taking no for an answer.
Minerva sat and thought about it for a few moments, "Alright, it can't hurt, I've always wanted to see Uagadou. And I'm sure I can get a portkey there. Wouldn't hurt to look for another Potions Master, Horace has been talking about retiring for ever."
"Steady talking about poaching from the other schools, eh?" Pomona said with a chuckle. "So you'll go and you'll really try to enjoy it?"
"I'll do my guest," Minerva said with a small smile.
"No work on the Safari, Healer's Orders," Poppy said, crossing her arms and winking.
The rest of her birthday went swimmingly. Horace gifted her a box of sweets, and Neville a small succulent for her desk. Hermione Granger had sent her a lengthy letter describing her work at the ministry and had mentioned that Draco had taken her on a holiday to Morocco.
That evening as she sat with a glass of whiskey, she looked toward the photograph of her late husband, Elphinstone Urquart with a small box of letters from her first love, Dougal McGregor underneath. "What do you two think?" she asked rhetorically. "Will I ever find love again? I was already so blessed with the two of you."
She sat and contemplated for a few more moments. She always got very introspective on her birthday. She'd always enjoyed working with children, but never saw herself as a mother. She'd found that the relationships she'd fostered with her students had been more than enough. Occasionally she had deeper relationships with students like Hermione who she saw more like a niece.
She smiled softly, Hermione had had a rough couple of years, and had lent on Minerva quite a bit since her own parents couldn't be recovered. She'd been rather pleased when Hermione had come for tea and told her about Draco Malfoy. The boy had been painfully obvious in his crush for years and had finally gotten up the courage to ask her out.
Neville Longbottom was another one who she loved to check in with. He'd married Hannah Abbott a few years ago and the pair already had one child, Franklin who was a charmer. She'd spent quite a bit of time with Augusta Longbottom as they'd been schoolmates and lifelong friends.
Her life was good, and if she happened to meet someone, all the better.