Explanation of sorts: I've got a Creative Writing class coming up in mid-October, and I'm trying to get back into the hang of writing again before then. I found a list of prompts on my computer (I have a habit of saving prompt lists to my files for the occasion that I find myself short on ideas) and decided to have a go at a series of fic regaling the eternal courtship of Rubeus Hagrid and Minerva McGonagall. Here's the first one! It's unbeta'ed, so if you spot something I've botched up, feel free to let me know.
Eternal Courtship
Prompt 1: Winter
Pairing(s): Hagrid/McGonagall (friendship)
Notes: The background about Hagrid's father was taken from the fic Hogwarts 194o, because I liked the idea and wanted to keep it.
Additional Notes: This is really more of a mood piece, painting a scene more than something that has an actual plot. Hope that doesn't put you off. For the first few I'm mostly just trying to build up their friendship for when they're reunited as colleagues later.
Blanket Disclaimer: I never understood why these were so necessary, but anywho, Harry Potter is the property of an obscenely rich British lady, and that isn't me.
(o/o/o)
It's a beautiful day, early January, just before the new term at school starts. Because of the war, many students had remained at school over winter break. Minerva is one of them; her mother felt that Hogwarts was much safer for her than was their home. Hagrid is still at the school too, but his reasons are different- he simply has nowhere else to go. His father had been killed in the war some few months back, and he has no other family, at least, none that are willing to take in their relative's half-breed son.
The two are walking across the grounds in silence. Professor Dumbledore had asked Minerva to keep an eye on Hagrid after word of his father reached them, and she had taken the duty of comforting him to heart. At first, it was simply because she felt obligated, as a prefect, but now she's come to admire the boy. He has a kind heart, and despite his great size, can be very gentle.
They've taken many of these walks in the past. Few words are spoken; Hagrid is usually lost in his own thoughts and Minerva is not talkative by nature.
Their breath forms clouds which hang in front of their faces and their cheeks are red from the cold. The snow crunches under their feet with every step they take.
Out on the lake, they can see patches of ice where the water has frozen. Minerva has heard that there are merfolk living at the bottom of the lake and she wonders idly how they're getting on in the cold.
The snowfall picks up a bit and Minerva pulls her cloak tighter around her, thinking of the Gryffindor common room, with it's warm fires and comfortable armchairs. She looks up, startled, when a heavy coat is dropped around her shoulders, and Hagrid smiles sheepishly at her.
"You looked cold," he says.
"Won't you be cold now?" He's only wearing his robes, and they're not exactly thick enough to block out the icy winds pushing at them.
"Nah. I've got thick skin. Cold doesn't bother me so much."
The coat is warm, and envelopes her almost completely. She wraps it around her gratefully and the silence returns as they make their way back to the castle.
Despite his claims, he's shivering by the time they return to their common room. She comandeers two armchairs near the fire and prepares a mug of cocoa for each of them. The cocoa is warm and the fire is hot and the cold melts away soon in the light of that.
The sun sets outside, casting a pleasant glow in the tower until it finally drops below the horizon. Darkness settles in, broken only by the glow of a few candles and the fire. One by one, the other students in the common room get up and make their way up to their dorms, until they're the only two left.
Minerva knows that they should be heading to bed soon, but she it's nice, sitting here with Hagrid in the warm glow of the fire. She decides to wait a bit.
She's nothing going on tomorrow, no reason to get up early. It won't hurt to stay up just a little longer.
(o/o/o)
As an last minute footnote: I have no idea where I initially got the list of prompts, so if you recognize them, please inform me so I can give credit where credit is due.
