And that is the end of year 5. On to year 6 :)
24 June 1996
Minerva finished wiping her glasses before sighing and clearing her throat. "Enter."
The door to the Transfiguration classroom opened, and Pomona stepped in. "You look tired."
"And hello to you too," Minerva replied, putting her glasses on. "Is it time already?"
Pomona folded her arms and nodded. "In fact, we barely have 5 minutes before it starts," she said, giving her friend a pointed look. "Really, dear, you work too hard. It could be dark outside and you wouldn't notice."
Minerva pursed her lips. "Fiddlesticks," she said, though she caught Pomona's eye and shadow of a smile crossed her lips. "Give me just a moment, Pomona, then I will be all yours."
Pomona nodded and waited as Minerva slipped the files she had been working on into her desk drawer then got up from her chair. She must have got up to quickly, however, as she instantly staggered and was forced to steady herself by placing both hands on her desk.
Fortunately for her, Pomona did not say anything. Indeed, the Herbology Professor had briefly turned her back on Minerva to reprimand two students for running in the corridors. For this reason, Pomona had not noticed how the colour had drained from Minerva's face as she had stood up. She had not seen, either, the way Minerva had swayed and stumbled before she had managed to steady herself again.
The few seconds Pomona had turned her attention away from her friend, had given Minerva just enough time to mask her emotions again. She had been pretending to be all right all day, but in reality, Minerva felt terrible. Ever since she had woken that morning, she had felt nauseous, dizzy, and incredibly sore - worse than usual.
In fact, Minerva had not been free of these symptoms since she had arrived and left St Mungo's. It had felt more manageable before. Since being back at school, however, Minerva had found that exerting herself had only increased the degree to which she felt light-headed, or in pain.
Minerva heard Pomona tut and sigh exasperatedly. She raised her eyebrows questioningly as the Herbology Professor turned around.
"Just two 14 year-olds excited that it is the end of the year," Pomona explained with a sigh. "I can't say I blame them."
Minerva acknowledged Pomona's comment with a tired nod. "Neither can I," she agreed.
"Come on, dear. Best get on," Pomona said. She kept the door open for Minerva. "The Headmaster was looking for you when he got back from the Ministry. Something about winnings?"
Pomona looked at her questioningly but all Minerva could do was frown and shake her head. She did not know to what Albus was referring.
It did not take them long to get near the Entrance Hall where there lay a large staircase. Minerva eyed it warily until she felt a gentle nudge on her elbow - Pomona was offering to loop arms with her.
"No one will see," Pomona said quietly, correctly identifying why it was that Minerva was reluctant to accept the help she needed. Indeed, Minerva did not want students to notice that she was struggling.
Pomona smiled, and Minerva finally conceded and reached out to gently hold Pomona's elbow for support. There was enough fabric on the sleeves of their robes to just about disguise the fact that Pomona was helping Minerva at all.
"When are you leaving for your brothers tomorrow?" Pomona asked as they reached the last few steps.
"I'm actually leaving next week," Minerva replied. "Friday afternoon," she added.
Pomona pursed her lips and gave her friend a look. "You know you can rest you know? I believe that is allowed."
"I am aware of that," Minerva replied. "But there are a few things I need to sort out here before I can leave."
"Such as?
Minerva shrugged. "References for students, paperwork for Albus, and—"
"Albus is a grown man and can do his own paperwork, Minerva," Pomona said, rolling her eyes.
Minerva smiled slightly. "It is not his that I'm doing," she said. "He has agreed to do some of mine," she added. "I just need to tell him what it is that needs sorting out."
Pomona nodded, as though she approved of this. "And?" she prompted.
"And something needs to be done about Dolores," Minerva finished.
Pomona's features darkened immediately. "I couldn't agree with you more," she said. "Albus should have left her for a little while longer."
Minerva pressed her lips together. "Fortunately for Dolores, Albus would never do such a thing. Too bad it was he who found her and not I" she murmured, as they approached the doors to the Great Hall. They paused for a moment and looked up to see large yellow banners strung up on the walls.
"It doesn't feel well earnt," Pomona commented mildly.
Minerva tutted. "Don't be silly," she said. "I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner - your Hufflepuffs are always very well behaved."
"Well, with the Headmaster showing blatant favouritism it's no wonder."
Minerva laughed. "1991?" she queried. "They did deserve those points."
"That's just biased," Pomona said, though she caught Minerva's eye and a small smile tugged at her lips. They began to move up the aisle towards the teachers' table in the Great Hall. "But you're right. They did."
Minerva smiled.
Albus was waiting for them behind the teachers' table, and he smiled broadly when Minerva reached him. Despite having been back for two days, neither of them had had hardly enough time to speak to each other - Albus had had business to attend to at the Ministry, while Minerva had been working at the school. Today - the last day of term - was the first time they had properly crossed paths at a time when neither was in a rush to get somewhere.
Minerva returned his smile. "What is this I heard about winnings?" she said, as she pulled out a seat and sat down with only a modicum of difficulty. She moved her walking stick so that it was out of sight, then turned to raise her eyebrows at Albus. He appeared amused.
"I am afraid you have beaten me yet again, my dear," he said, "at our friendly chess tournament," he added.
Minerva laughed - indeed she had completely forgotten. Granted, they had missed at least ten of their usual matches because of the way the end of this year had unfolded. For this reason, the fact that Minerva had been in the lead had completely slipped her mind.
"Goodness, you should not have reminded me, Albus," she said. "I had completely forgotten."
"I would have deemed myself a sore loser if I had not reminded you," he replied. "I daresay you would have remembered it later on as well," he added. "And then I really would have been in trouble."
Minerva shook her head exasperatedly, though she was still smiling. "So, these winnings?" she prompted.
"Ah," Albus said. "Well, they are very interesting if I say so myself," he added. "Upon my return to the castle, I decided to clear out one of my bookshelves..."
"The one I have been telling you to organise for years?" Minerva said.
Albus smiled. "The very same," he agreed. "While I was reorganising I happened across a small box containing a handful of photographs taken between 1975 and 1983."
Minerva raised an eyebrow.
"Do you remember those Sunday lunches we used to have at Diagon Alley?"
"Oh," Minerva's eyes widened and she covered her mouth as she realised what it was Albus had found in the small box. "You are not serious, Albus? The ones with Alastor and Finn?"
"Pomona and Filius appear too, I believe," Albus added his eyes twinkling.
A small smile crept up Minerva's lips. "Goodness, that was years ago," she breathed.
Albus nodded. "I will show you later this evening," he said, just as Hagrid gasped.
Both Minerva and Albus turned to look at the Care of Magical Creatures Professor who was pointing out of the window beside their table; Filius was standing beside him.
"What is it, Hagrid?" Minerva asked.
Hagrid turned to speak but Pomona beat him to it. "Dolores is leaving," she said. "Peeves is chasing after her."
Albus raised his eyebrows, looking pleasantly surprised. Meanwhile, Minerva began to get up - she wanted to see this for herself.
"Oh no, don't," Pomona said, urging her to sit down again. "Peeves has your cane."
Minerva frowned and looked down beneath the table where she had last left her walking stick. The space was indeed empty.
"Sit, Minerva," Pomona said, and Minerva slowly conceded and eased herself back into her chair. "You're helping indirectly anyway," Pomona added, with a wry smile.
