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Poppy received the patronus message late one August evening. She had just gotten home from a long shift at St. Mungo’s in which she had to treat a six year old girl who had been bitten early that morning. The lycanthropy ward was small and almost always packed since she started it ten years ago. Since then she’s treated dozens of kids, the werewolf attacks being particularly brutal on the children.
The patronus was from Dumbledore who was now Headmaster at Hogwarts. What could he want from her? The phoenix came to life and Albus’s voice started speaking,
“Poppy Pomfrey, how long it has been since we spoke last. I have heard exceptional things about your work in lycanthropy treatment and activism for werewolves in the wizarding community. Recently, we have accepted a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who suffers from lycanthropy. He is the first of his kind to attend the school, and we are seeking an expert in the field to watch over him. We would like to offer you the position of Matron at the school, and jurisdiction over the hospital wing. Please contact me with your response as soon as possible. Until then, be well. Albus.”
The patronus faded away and Poppy was left with the silence of her empty house. No husband, no kids, just her. It wasn't like she ever really wanted a family. She was never boy crazy like the other girls in her year. Except Minerva of course. The two spent almost all of their years at Hogwarts together. Poppy wondered how she was doing, where she was now. The thought of returning to the castle without her felt wrong, but maybe it was just the kind of change she needed.
Without thinking too much about it, she walked into her office, sat down at her desk, and started writing a letter to Albus. She was going to accept the offer. As crazy as it was to pick up and leave with such short notice, she had to admit; she missed the castle. The sunrise on the black lake, the smell of a fresh feast in the Great Hall, all of it. And on top of everything, she would be helping a young werewolf, allowing them to experience Hogwarts too.
This was going to be good. She was excited.
*****
After her long journey up to the school, she finally arrived and was getting settled in her room in the teachers’ corridor. She’d never been there as a student and it felt strange to be on the other side of it.
After a couple hours, most of her stuff was unpacked. Poppy checked the clock and was surprised to see that it was already time for dinner. She was even more surprised though when she bumped into someone in the hall, looked up, and came face to face with none other than Minerva McGonagall.
“What are you doing here?” Minerva blurted out, clearly also surprised to see her.
“I--”
“I’m so sorry, I mean, hello… It’s good to see you Poppy,” she corrected, shifting uncomfortably.
“It’s good to see you too Minerva… And to answer your question, I am the school’s new Matron.” Poppy answered, a hint of pride in her voice.
After a few awkward moments spent staring at each other, Poppy broke the silence.
“Well we should probably get to dinner then…”
“Yeah, I… Yeah.” Minerva trailed off.
They walked the rest of the way down to the Great Hall in silence, though Poppy couldn’t help but steal glances at Minerva along the way. She’d aged so much but still had that glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. Poppy wondered if she still saw the same ‘warm smile’ she’d once told her she had, almost twenty years ago now.
Only a few tables were set up in the Great Hall as students weren't arriving for another week. There wasn't anywhere else to go so the two women sat down across from each other, and scooped spoonfuls of food onto their plates.
Once their plates were almost scraped clean, Poppy couldn't take the silence anymore and set her fork down with a clatter.
“Minnie I can't take it anymore,” she started “why won't you look at me?”
Minerva finally looked up and met her eyes.
“We were close,” she continued “really close when we left school. What happened? You went to work at the Ministry and you stopped responding to my letters. And now you're teaching here?!” She paused, not breaking eye contact with the woman across from her, and took a deep breath.
“I’ve missed you Minnie… a lot.” She could feel tears pricking at her eyes but fought to keep them back.
Minerva looked at her with a strange expression, one she'd never seen before. She almost looked afraid.
Looking around at the others in the hall she lowered her voice,
“Not here.”
She got up from her seat and Poppy immediately got up to follow her.
Once they were out of the hall, Minerva finally spoke.
“I'm sorry Poppy, I just need to do this right. Come back to my room with me, I'll make us a cup of tea.”
“Minerva, what are you--” Poppy started before Minerva cut her off.
“Please just…” she trailed off.
She could see the desperation in her eyes and relented.
“Okay Minnie.” She said, still concerned but her response seemed to calm Minerva.
Once again, they walked across the castle in silence.
*****
Minerva's room looked well lived in, like she'd been here a while. Books packed the shelves around the room, a few of them scattered on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. Two chairs sat on a carpet in the middle of the room. She gestured for her to sit down by the fire so she took the closest chair, waiting nervously to hear what she had to say.
She came back a few minutes later with two cups of tea. She was about to ask for sugar when Minerva started,
“Three sugar, no milk.” Minerva simply stated, a hint of a smile behind her eyes.
“I-- thank you,” Poppy replied, surprised that she still remembered.
As if reading her mind, Minerva spoke,
“I remember. How could I ever forget?” She laughed, mostly to herself though.
“I want you to know,” she continued. “It wasn't you. It was me. It was all me. I--” she paused to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes which were fixed on the cup in front of her.
“I--” she sighed, “I fell in love. Two months into working at the Ministry, I met a man. A muggle. We talked about running away. Hell, we almost did but… I couldn't do it. The day we were supposed to meet at King’s Cross, I ran. I didn't know where I was going, but I ended up here, the only place where he couldn't find me. Albus was so kind. He took me in, no questions. He eventually offered me the position of Transfiguration Professor. I took it of course, it was always my best subject.” Poppy caught the youthful glimmer in her eye as she talked about her school days.
“That’s when I stopped replying.” Tears were streaming down her face now with no attempt to hide them, still refusing to make eye contact.
“I wanted to tell you what happened, I did but… something was stopping me. For the longest time I couldn't figure out what it was. Then, one morning I was swimming in the Black Lake at sunrise, like we used to, and then I realized; it's you. It's always been you. No wonder I couldn't get you out of my head. Your eyes, or your hair, or-- or any of it!” She finally looked Poppy in the eye.
“It's you.” she finished.
Poppy couldn't process what she was hearing, Minnie’s mouth moving faster than her brain could keep up, just like how it used to. But it finally hit her.
Oh.
Oh.
Without thinking, Poppy stood up, almost spilling her tea, and strode across the carpet. She bent down and pulled Minerva in by the back of the head into a dizzying kiss. This was what had been missing her whole life; Minnie all over her. Her hands in her hair, her lips, her tongue… Just Minnie.
Minerva sunk into the kiss allowing Poppy’s tongue to explore her mouth before she pulled back.
“Pop, are you sure?” She asked, a little dazed.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” She replied.
They stayed like that for a long time; in each other’s arms, softly kissing, hands softly running through hair.
Poppy had never been happier, falling asleep in her best friend’s arms, the soft crackle of the fire behind her. This was all she needed.
Out of nowhere, Minerva spoke, voice soft,
“You’re falling asleep love,” she smiled.
Poppy blinked, and looked up.
“Do you want to lie down?” She continued, gesturing to the bed across the room.
She nodded softly and Minerva helped her up. They crossed the room together, hands intertwined, not wanting to leave each other for even a moment.
Minerva stopped to open the wardrobe and held up a pair of pyjamas, silently asking if Poppy wanted them. She nodded and took them from her. Minerva turned and grabbed her own pair and after a moment of silence, she started unbuttoning her top. Poppy was a bit surprised but not uncomfortable. She watched with intrigue for a moment then started pulling down her skirt.
Once they had both stripped down to their undergarments, they melted into each other's arms and started kissing again, abandoning their pyjamas. Still intertwined, they made their way to the bed, Minerva on top of her softly kissing her neck.
Poppy felt like she was floating but as Minerva started kissing down her chest, she came back to herself and pulled away.
“I'm sorry Minnie I-- it's just I've never…” she started.
Minerva paused and looked up at her, “With a girl or…?”
Poppy shook her head “I haven't… I tried, it just never felt right with any of the guys I…” the realization dawned on her.
No matter she never wanted a husband, never wanted to date, was always bothered by guys asking her out. Of course! It was guys asking her out. Poppy didn't like guys, she realized. Poppy liked girls, and not just any girl. Poppy liked Minerva. She always had, she just never had the words to describe it. All the nights they spent together at school, talking into the early morning, their sunrise swims. No wonder she was so devastated when she stopped writing back. She was--
“Poppy,” Minerva interrupted her thoughts. “are you alright?”
“I… I think I love you.” Poppy said softly.
Minerva smiled, “I think I love you too Poppy.”
She leaned in again and kissed her.
“We don't have to do anything tonight. We can just stay like this.” She reassured.
Poppy considered for a moment, “I… I want to, I just don't know…” she trailed off.
Minerva smiled, “It's okay love, I can talk you through it.”
“You’ll talk me--” Poppy paused, “Have you done this before? Like with a--”
Minerva cut her off, “Yes Poppy,” she smiled “I've slept with girls before.”
Poppy blinked, “‘Girls’? As in plural?” she asked.
Minerva couldn't help but laugh, “Yes, plural. But,” her eyes wandered, “none of them were you.” She looked back at her.
Poppy turned away, flustered. “I…” she looked back at Minerva, “I love you. I always have, I just never had the words to describe it.” She kissed her, “I love you Min.”
“I love you too Pop.” she responded.
They snuggled into each other's arms and curled up under the covers, softly kissing until they both fell asleep.