Wonderful Things
Slowly you walk down the pathway as if you expect someone to jump out and scare you. You feel you should be overjoyed that the war is over, but you're not. You can't be. Too many had died because of it. You just want be alone, escape all the stares, the cries of people mourning.
You step down off the final step and stop. Someone has already beaten you to seclusion. You watch as they stand near the edge of the lake and stare at the water lapping at their feet.
Minutes later, you walk down and stand next to them. Neither of you speak. She watches the water, you watch the wind. You think of what you've gone through, but then you realize that it is nothing compared to what she has gone through. You lower your arms to your side and pause before grasping her hand firmly.
She turns to look at you, but you continue to watch the leaves moves from the wind. Slowly, she turns back to watch the water again. You feel her squeeze your hand and you tighten your grip in response. You stand in silence, holding her hand in your own.
When you hear her ragged breaths, you turn to look at her see her tears. Gently you pull her into your arms and hold her as if she was made of glass. She clings to you and cries.
You think to yourself that you had never seen her cry before. You think that she must trust you to let her guard down in front of you.
Soon her body stops shaking from her sobs and you begin to pull away, but she stops you. "No. Please." You hesitate at her plea, but you give in and pull her back.
After standing still, for what seems to be hours to you, she pulls back and wipes away the last tears that linger. She laughs nervously and looks you.
"Thank you, Harry." She says to you.
You smile and shake your head. "We all need someone to cry on Professor."
"Minerva." She says, and turns back to watch the water.
You blink in surprise. "Ah, Min-Minerva?"
She turns to face you with one of her rare smiles. "Minerva McGonnagall." She says and holds out her hand.
You lift your eyebrow in question, but take her hand firmly. "Harry. Just Harry."
Her smile widen and you smile back. This was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
