The Marauders Rise (II)

Minerva's Confidante

November 20, 1973

In the Hogwarts greenhouses, MINERVA is walking through a rear aisle, overflowing with strange-looking green plants that are moving slowly. She carries a clipboard and examines the plants. POMONA enters, searching through the aisles until she spots MINERVA.

POMONA: Ah, there she is.

MINERVA: (glancing over her shoulder) Hey, Pomona.

POMONA: What are you up to, here in my neck of the woods?

MINERVA: Just observing the Mandrakes. Might need to get some more leaves as well-

POMONA: (curiously) And for what purpose?

MINERVA: Just a bit of rudimentary potion-making.

POMONA: (smiling) Potion-making? This coming from the Transfiguration Master?

MINERVA: Just some- antidotes. I think I'm coming down with a malady of some sorts- Horace said he would assist me-

POMONA: Come now, Minerva. There are only a handful of reasons why someone would need Mandrake leaves at this time of year. We've been friends for ages, Minerva, just tell me!

MINERVA: (hesitating) You promise to keep it a secret?

POMONA: Who am I going to tell?

MINERVA looks around cautiously, then leads POMONA deeper into the back of the greenhouse.

MINERVA: You remember the Lupin boy? Third year, in my House?

POMONA: Yes, the lycanthropic.

MINERVA: Yes, well. He's very close friends with three other boys in his year, and they found out about his condition.

POMONA: They know? Three of them?

MINERVA: Yes, but they're incredibly close friends. They might be immature, but they're extremely loyal to each other-

POMONA: We're talking about that Potter and Black and that Pettigrew boy?

MINERVA: Yes.

POMONA: And how exactly do Mandrake leaves factor into this?

MINERVA: Animagi. I'm instructing them to become Animagi.

POMONA: (incredulously) You're instructing- underage wizards to become Animagi?

MINERVA: Yes.

POMONA: How in the name of good Merlin is that going to help these boys?

MINERVA: Because- and this is still just a theory, mind you- that they may be able to keep the Lupin boy company during his transformations, as animals.

POMONA: As animals? That's incredibly dangerous, Minerva-

MINERVA: As I said, it's just a theory. It all depends on what animals these boys will become. If they are large enough, they may be able to restrain the werewolf, and keep Remus from harming himself.

POMONA: Heavens, Minerva. This is incredible. And also highly, highly illegal.

MINERVA: I'm aware. They won't be able to be legally registered with the Ministry, at least not until they're seventeen. But I care for these students, Pomona. I care for them deeply. Their friendship is not something that should be tarnished by such a terrible situation.

POMONA: This is quite something, Minerva. But it just doesn't seem like something you would do. You never were that rebellious.

MINERVA: You remember Dougal MacGregor?

POMONA: Of course I do, Minerva.

MINERVA: I know what this is like for them, Pomona. I know what it's like to have magic interfere with their personal lives like this. I don't want them to be hurt the way I was hurt, back then. I feel like I can do some genuine good with these boys. They need a role model and a mentor now. That is what being a teacher is about, right?