Author's Note:
I know I'm not really a known entity around this fandom. I also know this kind of story might not be all that appealing compared to others on the page. I try not to take personally when I don't get lots of feedback. It just gets a little frustrating.
This character takes a slightly dark turn because not even the videogames have tried to flesh her out. Her robes get more description than she does. I have always admired her and hoped for a little more description.
Minerva:
She just wanted until Wednesday. The first days at Hogwarts were always the most chaotic. Magic being performed for the first time always led to some property damage and some minor injuries. Then there were the mischief-makers who spent all summer plotting how to open the term with mayhem. The school needed its headmistress to get through these things.
The pain medicine was holding up. The stabbing pain became less common after the board meeting. Minerva felt certain on Tuesday morning she could get through to Wednesday.
She was rubbing her writing wrist at lunch when Tallis Ogg greeted her.
"Paperwork is a menace," he said with good humor and an accent so complex it was impossible to place.
"It feels like all I do is write requests for money and reports on how the money was spent," she groaned.
"That's why I shall never aspire to be in charge."
"Are my old classrooms to your liking?" she asked out of curiosity.
"I've never worked in a transfiguration wing with cleaner cages. I want your routine."
"It's nothing special. Though it does help to add some elbow grease to the reptilian containers."
"I bet."
Students came running in. "Doxies on the loose!" someone shouted.
"Speaking of a true menace," he said with a laugh as a swarm of insect-like creatures descended on the Great Hall.
Students came in with spray bottles.
"Don't use those in an eating area!" Minerva shouted and got up from her chair.
The creatures began to terrorize the students who came in early for lunch. Wands were out trying to contain them.
Minerva used an older more complicated version of the vanishing spell. Summoning a deep breath, ignoring the tingling sensation in her right breast, she waved her wand wide, and all the creatures dissolved into nothing.
Alicia rushed in at that moment.
"It was just supposed to be a demonstration for the second-years," she said shakily. "I was using them to show the difference—"
"Accidents happen Professor Spinnet. Teachers don't lose house points. Now go and collect those spray bottles before they get used for something they're not intended for."
"Yes, Professor."
Tallis was watching her as she returned to her seat. His pale face showed thoughtfulness.
"Next time let a teacher handle the chaos," he said. "I know I only look a few years older than Alicia, but I assure you I can do that spell in my sleep. You're headmistress, there's no need for you to get your wand and robes dirty anymore."
She was tempted to say she did not need to be told how to do her job, but she could detect no malice in his voice. He also did have a valid point.
"I shall take that under consideration."
He smiled and returned to his lunch.
…
Minerva sat with Pomona in Green House Two. She sobbed into Minerva's shoulder.
"My beautiful Asphodel!" she said. "I had been nurturing it since I was a sixth year when Crexdo started to give me more responsibilities in the greenhouses! Through every war, I worked to protect it. I would sneak out at midnight even during the Dark Year to tend to it. I had Neville hide it during the battle, which is a silly thing, but I loved that plant like one of my sons! All for a fourth-year to shoot off a summoning spell while aiming for a watering can and destroying the stems!"
She let her dear friend cry it out.
"I wanted to give the kid detention," Pomona declared. "I put on a Hufflepuff smile and said it wasn't the end of the world while wanting to set the kid on fire. I only deducted five points because it was an accident. I was so angry but terrified of letting it show. Now I think the mandrakes might be overwatered, a bouncing bulb is missing, and I have to sort out the rest."
"I shall have Filius write to the student's parents about the dangers of using spells in the greenhouses," she said. "Knowing the Gering family, they will most likely send a howler back."
That made her friend smile.
"The first days are always full of mishaps. You'll have everything back in order in no time," Minerva said.
"Minerva, I'm leaving after this year," she said in a firmer voice. "I know you wanted me to stay on for two, but I can't. I can't put myself through this much stress."
"We'll have that talk another time," Minerva said. "Go put your dear plant to rest."
"This school takes and takes from us. Especially you. When are you going to ask for something in return?"
"I don't feel like having this discussion right now," Minerva said and stood up.
"Do you really believe it is different this time? Do you really believe another Voldemort won't come along during your tenure and try to finish the job?"
Minerva rarely heard Pomona speak in such bleak terms.
"Things are better. We're going to have a good school year!"
"Unless Godric Gryffindor has a chamber of secrets with an ancient lion in it."
"Pomona please," she said.
"I'll tend to my affairs. You can attend to yours."
Pomona turned her back on her.
Minerva stepped out of the greenhouse to give her friend some privacy.
No one ever gives the Hufflepuffs credit for what they put up with Minerva thought as she traversed the castle. They're never expected to be competitive at anything and are treated as a joke. They also lost Cedric first. In some ways, Pomona's breakdown was not entirely unexpected.
She made her way to the faculty room for her final task. She softened her footsteps and quietly opened the door.
There was an air of joviality in the room. Teachers were laughing and holding bottles of butterbeer. Filius stood at the front with a drawing of Hogwarts with rooms labeled. Minerva stayed in the shadows.
"Welcome to the Damages Tournament! Since we have so many new faces, I shall set out the rules: Everyone pitches one period of duty into the pot EXCEPT holiday monitoring and whoever picks the place to get more than twenty galleons in damages by the end of the week wins three breaks of choice though not consecutively."
The teachers cheered.
"Who picks first?" Clara asked.
Minerva stepped forward.
"I do."
The room went silent. Filius did not look as cowed as Alicia.
"How long have you known about this?" he asked.
"Since you started it during your second year of teaching," she said. "I wanted to shut it down because I thought it was a distraction, but Dumbledore thought it was harmless fun."
Filius raised his wand to perform the vanishing spell. Minerva put her hand out.
"Now as headmistress, I see Albus had a point. But as my deputy I need your attention focused on other tasks. You can run this game but, for Christmas and Finals week, have a successor appointed."
"I understand. Thank you."
"Enjoy the rest of your night and don't stay up too late," she said as she walked out.
She heard voices up ahead on the staircase she was mounting.
"I thought Ron got that I wanted to finish my studies," Hermione could be heard saying. "He thinks it's ridiculous I have to abide by a curfew when I have quote, defeated the greatest evil."
"Why don't people get the fact we just want a normal school year?" Ginny said. "Mum wanted me to do home study because she is still in bad shape. I miss Fred too, but I need something else to focus on."
Minerva climbed the stairs at their voices grew more distant. She prepared to step over the trick step when she felt a spell of dizziness come over her. She lost her balance and her grip on the railing slipped away. There wasn't even time to yell.
"PROFESSOR!" voices shouted as she tumbled down the stairs.
She heard instead of felt bones break.
Minerva landed in a pile. Her right breast hurt so horribly that she let out a whimper.
"Ginny, get Pomfrey!" Hermione shouted as she appeared in her line of vision. "It's okay Professor, help is on the way."
For some reason, she couldn't focus on her injuries. Her thoughts were so scattered. Oddly, her thoughts were still stuck on the conversation she was overhearing.
"We the faculty lie to ourselves every year Miss. Granger," she said shakily. "There is no such thing as a normal year at Hogwarts."
Hermione was saying something, but Minerva couldn't focus on it. Pain coursed through her body as she blacked out.