Enter for the Quidditch League Competition - Daily Prophet Competition - Caerphilly Catapults - Beater 1
Prompt: Vera Verto – [plot point] learning to become an Animagus
Word count: 530
you see, all the wisest women had to do it this way
Minerva looked at the book in front of her, trying to decide what to do. It was something she was always interested in, but never had the nerve to actually do it.
"Have you reached a decision yet?" a voice from her side said, before dropping on the chair next to her. "You've been looking at this book for some time now, I'm getting worried."
Minerva snorted, Poppy was always worried about her. That's why they were such good friends, and why she was going to be an amazing healer.
"When are you not worried about me, Poppy?" Minerva said, without looking up from her book. "Besides, this isn't an easy decision, you know."
"Of course I know," Poppy replied, putting a hand on her shoulder. "But I know you, Minnie, and I know you're going to be amazing in everything you decide to do, and this isn't going to be different."
Minerva was glad to have a friend like Poppy; someone who would be there for her, no matter what. Someone who would help her if needed, and considering what Minerva was planning to do, she would need Poppy by her side.
"I think I want to try," Minerva said in a small voice, afraid of voicing out loud. "I want to see if I can become an animagus."
Poppy squealed and threw her arms around Minerva, making her smile at her friend's reaction.
"You're going to be amazing, I just know!" Poppy looked at her with a big smile on her face. "Since you already decided what you're going to do, you could help me with our Transfiguration essay, right?"
Minerva snorted, knowing that if Poppy was asking for help, it probably was because she hadn't even started.
"What's the problem this time?" Minerva asked, grabbing the book about animagus transformation and putting it in her bag. "I thought you had understood the concept?"
"I did! But I can't make it work," Poppy whined, throwing herself on the library table. "Can you help me, please?"
Minerva nodded, and Poppy managed to take a cage with a bird inside from her purse—Minerva thought it wasn't wise to ask about it—and put it in front of Minerva.
"If you could show me how the spell works, I would be eternally grateful!" Poppy said, smiling at her, with her puppy dog eyes.
"Fine, don't need to lay it on so thick," Minerva joked before taking the bird from the cage. "Look at the wand movement and you would be able to do it. One, two, three, Vera Verto."
The bird in front of them turned into a clear cup made of glass, and Minerva smiled proudly at what she managed to produce.
"Alrighty, Miss Smarty Pants, it's obvious you know what you're doing. I'll try it one more time when I return to the dorms. Meanwhile, you can start a list about the ingredients for the potion you'll need. I can help with the brewing."
Smiling wider, Minerva hugged Poppy. She knew she didn't need it, but it was like receiving the blessing of her best friend to try to become an animagus.
Minerva could hardly wait for the next Hogsmeade weekend.