Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter. JKR does, and we appreciate the fact that she has a great sense of style and humor, to let us play with her characters. The plot is ours. Ernest is a wonderful figment of both our imaginations.
Chapter 2.- Feels like Hogwarts!
1 July 2001. London, England. 12 pm.
Hermione was feeling absolutely giddy as she Apparated to Grimmauld Place. She had a leave for four weeks off from work. It wasn't easy to manage around the muggle relations department, since the end of war.
The actions of the Death Eaters and their Leader Voldemort, had turned the relations between the non magicals and the magicals difficult. Voldemort left too many scars, on both worlds. She had worked continuously for over two years, but minister Shacklebolt was aware that both the Potters and her were strained, so he gladly authorized the time off, for Harry and Hermione.
Hermione packed all her clothes in a medium-sized suitcase, and was about to go for a month's retreat. For once she had foregone packing books, well except for a bare minimum, maybe twenty or thirty and of course, Hogwarts a History, but she really hoped the library was as well-stocked, as it had seemed in the brochure.
Ginny greeted her, equally as excited. Harry and her would take the opportunity to get to know eachother better. They had been struggling as a couple, both suffering from PTSD, but they refused to give up.
Hermione admired them for their strength. She wondered if she would ever find compatibility like theirs, on a loving mate. Harry joined them in the kitchen, carrying his own luggage, and, of course, their brooms.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
Confirmations were heard all around, and the three of them firmly took hold of the invitation.
The note had instructions, the brochure could turn into a portkey, only by the signature magic of the guests, when the three visitors recited the words and activated the enchantment simultaneously. The trio got in place, after one mutual head nod, in one voice the incantation resonated:
"Portus"
Hermione, along with the Potters, felt a tug behind her navel. As usual her balance was off, and she stumbled at landing.
Luckily for her, Harry's hand was already there to support her. He laughed.
"You'll never did get used to it, now did you?" he teased her.
"Oh, shut up Harry!" she huffed, sending a mock glare his way.
She turned as she heard Ginny gasp. It spoke volumes about their state of mind when both Harry and herself drew their wands in reflex.
"Look at it!" Ginny gushed. "This place is beautiful. Look at the building, it's incredible!."
Hermione looked around, and couldn't help but agree with the redhead. They were standing in an ancient forest, the trees around her standing tall, the vibrant green of leaves surrounding them. It almost looked like it was still spring, and not summer. To their left was an enticing looking pond, it's waters clear even from a distance.
She noticed they were standing on a path made of cobblestones, the stones flattened by thousands upon thousands of feet that had treated them. Following the path with her eyes, she noticed a building not far away. Again she had to agree with Ginny, it looked magnificent.
The weathered sandstone blended perfectly with its surrounding. The building reminded her of Hogwarts, sturdy but elegant. High, arched windows adorned the facade in between buttresses. Statues and floral designs decorated the buttresses. Small pinnacles adorned the edge of the slanted roof. Big, wooden, double doors formed the main entrance.
Harry voiced her thoughts: "It reminds me of Hogwarts." He sounded somewhat wistful.
"It does, doesn't it?" Ginny replied, taking her husband's arm.
At a prompting from Hermione, they started the short trek to the front doors. They swung open at their approach. Once inside, the trio stopped, and gaped. The massive entrance hall was open all the way up to the roof. The exposed beams both grand and welcoming.
Settees, ottomans and chairs were scattered throughout the room, mixed with an occasional couch or chaise longue. They were grouped around small tables, and provided light by floating candles. People were lounging about, reading, talking, or simply enjoying a drink.
The room was divided in two by wooden bridges, creating pathways for the upper floors, connecting left and right. Slender, richly decorated columns supported them. On either side of the room there was a staircase, reaching the first bridge, and then continuing in a spiral. All the wood was dark, offsetting beautifully against the pale sandstone.
The walls were adorned with paintings of all ages, styles and corners of the world. Somehow, they formed a perfect unison. Some of them moved, others didn't. Hermione was surprised to see Muggle paintings in this, no doubt, magical building.
In fact, the entire building made her feel home. Somehow, it touched her soul, soothing the pains she was holding, caressing her like a lover. It almost made her cry with want. With the want to be held, to no longer feel alone, to belong.
She sniffed, and glanced at Harry and Ginny, hoping they hadn't noticed. To her delight, it seemed both were too overwhelmed as well, and not paying her any attention. From the corner of her eye, she saw an ancient elf waiting for them to notice him. She frowned, but before she could comment, the elf made a bow.
"Don't worry, Miss Granger, I serve no master. I am here of my own free will, my only purpose is to keep the Playhouse in honor. My name is Bern, if you and your friends would follow me for check-in?"
The trio nodded a bit dumbfounded, and agreed to follow the very elegant and quite respectable looking house elf. With the formalities of check in already met, the friends continued on locating their rooms.
Hermione was escorted to her apartment, and more than a little nervous, she asked the magical tour guide, and host Bern:
"Monsieur Bern, is it true about the library?"
Bern turned around, and smiling with a surprisingly beautiful set of teeth he answered:
"Why yes Miss Granger, the library is real, and the brochure picture doesn't do it justice. If you want to, I'll take you there myself?."
Hermione opened her eyes as wide as saucers and nodded just like a child being promised a visit to an amusement park. Bern waited, as she flicked her wrist and magically accommodated her clothes. She then moved on to the bathroom, braided her hair, and changed her clothes to yoga pants, trainers, and a hoodie. She got her beaded bag, Accioed her lipstick and gloss, and added some bordeaux coloring to her lips for moisture and a spritz of her favorite scent. On her way out, she sighed and reminded herself to refrain from hugging the very nice and helpful Bern.
Bern continued leading her to the courtyard, and the beautiful and heavy wooden door, with red poppies on its framed ironwork. She stepped in and stood still as tears of joy formed in her eyes. She was being silly, she knew, but lately life had been turning quite mediocre, and promises had a way of turning into empty words, so she was ready for disappointment, hence why she packed those thirty books.
But this amazing site, with its arched ceiling, full of light in different shades, the spiral staircases, the rows upon rows of books, and the reading tables, not to mention, the solemn respect for knowledge? The scene displaying in front of her, seem like oxygen to her failing breath. Quietly she stepped in, wondering if she was respectful enough, which made Bern smile, he added in a low tone of voice:
"Miss Granger relax, the library is real… there are bells marking the passage of time. 7 am, noon, 7 pm and midnight. There are other library house elves to serve and they are quite good at discussing any and all topics, so call upon them, I will be at the Playhouse, do enjoy your stay."
"Thank you monsieur Bern." Said Hermione. Bern added: "Just Bern mademoiselle, monsieur makes me feel so old."
Hermione smiled and nodded. Bern bowed and walked outside. In one of the corners from the library, a silent gasp acknowledged the entry of the woman.
Yasen Prince, was busy as always writing his notes with a dicta quill. He was double checking a healing guide for a case he was working on. A victim of Death Eaters, a burned muggle-born teenager, that was allocated in Avignon.
He paid no notice to the entries and exits of the locals and tourists, however, today an oddly familiar shape made an entry. He did a double take, for a moment he thought of Minerva, but no, that wasn't McGonagall at the door trembling.
This woman was young, her attire was not ill-flattering, but more akin to being functional. She was dressed in a burgundy ensemble, painted pants, that made sure to announce the world that she was slim and curvaceous, her perfect apple shaped ass was quite firm, slender ballerina legs, a petite waist, and flat stomach, a strong back, she obviously carried books, and then a voluptuous set of breasts. "She must have ugly hands", he theorized, "definitely, something must be off, because she seems too graceful." A long and thick braid of chest brown curly hair, quite shiny and healthy looking, and then an angelic face. "No something is off", he silently debated.
Potions Master Yasen Prince considered his guidelines, in regards to beautiful women, except for Minerva, and his mother, the fairer sex did not become speechless at the sight of a library. It was even more rare to encounter well formed females in this close environment, it was just like encountering a genuine sea monkey.
He concluded that she definitely was lost, gorgeous creatures like that usually got confused about direction, and left as soon as they realized there was nothing in here, other than parchment and books. Still, like a curious spectator, he waited for the tourist to realize her error, and vacate the premises.
She was graceful and mindful of her manners, just like a pixie in human size, she got close to one of the helpers.
The library elf nodded and presented the guide book to any topic available at site and again, a scent assaulted his senses. She smelled like myrrh, parchment, biscuits, honey and citrus, flowers.
Yasen shifted, her perfume seemed familiar, and it was enticing him. She walked up to him, and like a mist in a desert, or a mirage, he became less certain of his senses, his vision shifted, he noticed her swaying hips, and unlike Minerva, this set of hips, were seductive in their discretion. She smiled with politeness and besides her perfect teeth, the glow of the deep ruby painted lips, made the young male selkie aware, that she was trouble. Yasen looked at her hands, and he fought the self sneering when he realized, that she was, in fact, immaculate. She spoke in a gentle and well read voice:
"Good afternoon, my name is Hermione Granger, and I was told that you are a healer of prestige, um Yasen Prince?, yes?... well healer Prince"... "I was wondering if you had the copy of the latest "Liquid Magic"? The librarian elf commented that it has an interesting article about PTSD and how to treat it along with a new version of a calming draught?"
Yasen felt like a cold running down his back, as it dawned on him, the identity of the delicious young female. It was Miss Granger, crap!. When did she evolve from awkward duckling, to aesthetic naiad?.
Then her beautiful golden eyes blinked, she shifted her face to the side, her eyebrows scrunched, and she added, in a whisper:
"Have we met before?"
He handed the periodical and denied, he got up, and in baritone voice he replied:
"No, excuse me, Miss Granger."
He walked away, and said:
"It's not polite to stare."
Hermione spun around and tried locating the absolute prat, and letting him know just how much less polite she could really be, to self important pompous asses, but then he vanished without a sound.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Severus cursed silently as he strode through the library. "How had Miss Granger, of all people, ended up at the Playhouse? And she had said he seemed familiar. Merlin's balls!"
He ducked in an alcove, opened a well-hidden door, and walked outside, into the forest, hoping nature would calm him.
"This could not be happening! He had to avoid her at all times. The Playhouse was huge, it shouldn't be all too difficult to avoid her. Even the library was vast enough to make sure they never met again."
He stopped his frantic walk and leaned against a tree.
"Sweet Merlin," he thought to himself. "She had looked gorgeous and so BLOODY ENTICING!"
He was used to beautiful women trying to get his attention by now, however, his encounters were even more scarce than his conversations. He had a job, helping others, healing. The dedication to nurturing health in others was part of how he had kept his sanity. He found solace in books, and he loved his privacy. To the world, he was an eccentric healer, a miracle worker, with the social skills of a hermit, and Yasen Prince was fine with that.
Now looking back at Miss Granger, he had to admit, she was no longer the girl he had thought at school. It seemed the war, and time in general, had matured her to a voluptuous, young woman.
With a sigh, he started walking back to the Playhouse, planning how he would avoid Miss Granger. He dared not rely on his changed appearance. She was, after all, the smartest witch of her time. He neared the quidditch fields when another, very familiar, voice washed over him. Practically trembling with trepidation, he looked up.
"Bloody, fucking Harry Potter!" he grumbled. Of course he was here too. That probably meant the redhead wasn't far behind. He groaned, realising he was in trouble. Deciding to find out what had been happening with the Golden Trio the last three years, he headed towards the main building in search of Minerva. Selkie blood beckoned, like the whistle, that one or two other siblings were in the area, at the present time.
Hermione was fuming. How dare he presume she would be staring like some besotted teenager? Yes, he was good looking, absurdly good looking in fact, with that raven hair, lean body, and those expressive eyes. His hands had looked so elegant, with long fingers, never mind the rude way he had shoved the paper her way.
She shook her head. Looks meant nothing if not accompanied by at least a minimum of intelligence. His presence in the library, obviously taking notes, had spoken in his advantage, but his idiotic comment had all but wiped away his initially good first impression. The arrogant prat!
Dropping herself in the chair he had vacated, she read the titles of the books he left behind: 'Unburning Dark Magic, a Healers Guide', 'Deep Tissue Healing by Transplant, when all else fails' and 'Scar reducing Potions and Salves." Blinking in surprise, she re-read all three titles.
Hermione denied, and considered: "There was no way that man was a Healer, not with his sour demeanor."
She was certain she had never seen him before, but somehow he had seemed familiar. Something about him, she didn't know what, gave her the impression she was supposed to know him. And whether she wanted to admit it or not, that baritone voice had struck a cord. It had vibrated within her, even though the words he spoke were utterly unacceptable.
Hermione breathed slowly and exhaled, she needed to keep her sanity, and said to herself: "Right, so this place is not perfect, it has its share of morons, phew, good!, it's real." She smiled and decided to double check the books on the table, she was after all quite curious, and like a good Gryffindor, up for a challenging topic.
Meanwhile, Minerva and Ernest were walking into the registry of the Little Brussels Playhouse, sorting their sign-in as the new honeymooners on site, and the couple were laughing and hugging and by their loving gestures, made several of the patrons jealous.
To all it seemed like the Fae Queen and King decided to grace the hall, and with them the allure, like a delicate veil, seemed to follow.
Ginny Potter was walking down the staircase and noticed how a very beautiful couple just walked in, and behind them in long strides a young, dark, breathtakingly gorgeous male, attired in black, also followed, the newest arrivals. The youngest male Fae asked in a annoyed baritone voice to the dark Fae female:
"Minerva?"
Ginny did a double take and stepped closer, as the voice of the Dark Fairy Queen, replied in a very familiar tone:
"Yasen, how are you darling?"
Ginny blinked and sat at the staircase, waiting for the outcome. She was excited, this looked promising. It was then, that the Fae Dark King, turned to inspect the hall and noticed her, he drew a megawatt smile, that made Ginny stutter, even though she wasn't talking. He got close to her, while Ginny felt that she wanted to have the ground open and swallow her. He took out a little notebook and a fountain pen, and said:
"You are Ginny Potter, right?... you're the captain of the Holyhead Harpies, right?, can I have your autograph?"
Ginny blinked and then blushed, then nodded like an automaton, and shyly took his pen and scribbled the autograph, it was then that she asked:
"What's your name?"
He answered:
"Ernest, uh, Ernest Finch-Fletchley- McGonagall, you should hyphenate the McGonagall, I'm taking her last name… that's her, isn't she something?"
Ginny Potter dropped the notebook, then blinked and realized what she did, and immediately sought to correct it.
She tried to pick it up and ended up head butting Ernest, since he, too, considered picking up the notepad, at the same time, both of them cried, "Omph and Ahh".
Harry Potter really liked the Quidditch field, the weather and wind were idyllic, after a test fly he couldn't wait to share the news to Ginny, so he flew to the entry door and noticed a beautiful couple of dark hair siblings greeting one another and his wife at the base of the staircase, blushing like a ripe tomato, while talking to man.
Next, he noticed how his wife looked in shock to the siblings and then back at the man in front of her, her gaping mouth, as she realized she dropped what she was holding on to a moment before, her empty hands, and then the collision of the two heads, he couldn't help himself, after the entire comical exchange and goofed at the accidental bump.
He ran up to Ginny and said, with mirth:
"Ginny, are you alright?"
"No you bespectacled git, I just headbutted the gentleman… Mister Finch-Fletchley McGonagall."
Harry turned around and noticed the very pretty Dark Veela male and repeated like a berk:
"Finch-Fletchley McGonagall?... as in married to Minerva McGonagall?, wait are you related to Justin?"
It was then that a Goddess of Dark Hair and obsidian eyes reached the three people on the floor and asked with concern:
"Are you alright Dear?"
Harry was about to answer, when Ginny knocked his intentions down. She said: "She is asking the male Veela, Harry, it's her mate..."
Another voice replied with a bit of annoyance in his tone.
"Selkie."
Ginny and Harry looked astonished to the second most attractive male in the Lobby. They felt even more out of element, for crying out loud, it was like first year at Hogwarts all over again, the only thing that was missing was a Malfoy and the Sorting Hat, because it looked like their childhood awkwardness was coming back in style.
It was then that the term selkie, rang a bell in Ginny, she cleared her throat and said:
"Selkie?... are you kidding?... Selkies don't exist!... I mean, sirens and mermaids are the norm, tree naiads, water sprites and veela, but Selkies are the most rare… they live in lochs and are lured...and wait...McGonagall?... what are you saying?" Ginny looked at the female SELKIE, and Harry Potter looked at Ginny and then at the Dark Nymph, and joined the dots, in the absence of Ginny's voice:
"You!, you are Headmistress McGonagall!?"
Yasen Prince smiled, and so did Ernest to many last names, and his mate Minerva. The Fae Queen in question smiled with calmness, and nodded in agreement to the question, while Yasen added:
"Well what do you know? Harry Potter has a brain? Will the surprises never end?"
Harry and Ginevra knew that the two were reliving the past now, because moments before, they felt awkward and where missing a Malfoy to complete the scene, well the flashback feeling was complete, no thanks to that comment made by the good looking mule, in black.
Which in turn made Minerva react and she slapped his big head and replied:
"Mister Prince do behave, otherwise I will smack you again, no brother of mine is rude!" She then added to the poor couple gaping at her:
"Yes mister and madame Potter, I'm Minerva McGonagall, and it's good thing you are here, because I'm doing the presentation of my memoirs in just two days from now, if you want to join us at our dinner table?, I would be more than glad to give you the highlights, oh and by the way mrs. Potter, amazing recollection on the magical lore, no doubt Care of Magical Creatures was your favorite subject?"
Ginny got up and added a bit shyly:
"About that, I was jealous of Fleur, and wanted to see if I could find some trash on the gorgeous blond, by her heritage... I didn't, but it was an interesting read, plus, I was told by the same book that the Selkies were an oddity, and I believed it… so."
Ernest smiled and added to her comment:
"Nonsense, you were driven, and there is nothing more attractive in a woman, than her desire to excel at common and fae knowledge, to keep her killing instinct, sharp… a warrior through and through, don't tell me, you were a Gryffindor?"
Ginny blushed and nodded, then asked: "You were a Slytherin?" Ernest smiled with genuine warmth, and said: "What gave me away?" Ginny answered. "Silver Tongue." Ernest laughed and said, "It's so nice to finally meet you, both of you."
Harry nodded and then replied to Minerva's invitation:
"Madame McGonagall, it would be a pleasure to join you at the dinner table." Minerva smiled and added:
"It's good to see you again Harry, and might I introduce you to healer Yasen Prince?"
Harry nodded in respect, and acknowledgment. "Healer Prince, nice to meet you sir."
Yasen Prince became speechless by the gesture of civility by a Potter, however, he recovered and he too, nodded and added:
"Nice to meet you mr and mrs Potter, please forgive my rudeness, it was out of line and Minerva is correct, I should mind my manners."
"No harm done, I guess we will be seeing you as well at dinner?"
"I'll do my best to make it."
"Very well, excuse us… Ginny I want you to take a look at what I just uncovered."
Ginny and Harry mounted the brooms and flew away, while Yasen stood dumbfounded by the very mature attitude of the Potters, maybe it was time to bury the hatchet?
Healer Prince turned around, and Hermione Granger was walking straight to him. She had one of the books 'Scar reducing Potions and Salves' in her hands.
She look ready for battle, and Ernest and Yasen became mute at the aura of power displayed by the woman in burgundy. Minerva recognized her, however, before she could call out her star pupil, the young woman had her attention on Mister Prince.
Hermione came to a stop, rose her chin, narrowed her eyelids, and asked in a firm yet curious tone to the healer in black in front of her:
"Can you heal scar tissue, from a dark magical dagger, with one of the salves, or potions in this book?"
She looked quite sober in her attitude, however, Yasen was two seconds away from dismissing her. She, on the other hand, wasn't going to be discarded. She placed the book under her arm and then uncovered her forearm, turned it around and snapped her fingers.
The carved word "Mudblood" became noticeable like a web of somber nightmares on her otherwise perfect skin.
Words failed the potions master, the reality of the horrors she had lived, became unavoidable. Unfortunately, his mute and shocked response sent the wrong signal to miss Granger. She took his silence as indifference, she snapped her fingers and the glamour, plus cloth, covered her arm once more. She nodded and said:
"My apologies healer Prince, you must be quite busy… I will leave you to continue with your day." She walked up the staircase, and left him a pillar of salt.
Then he heard silent sobs, and Ernest just turned to his wife and embraced her, he added:
"Minnie, don't cry."
Minerva held on to Ernest and said in a whisper. "They lost their childhood Ernest… I never knew, what damage she endured, she never confided in me, not after her first year, since I dismissed the theory of the Philosopher's Stone, she never trusted me completely again… She walked into our world full of hope, a naive child, and that crazy bitch Lestrange tortured her and branded her. I was protected by my glamour, my lies, Harry and the Weasleys were protected somewhat by Albus, but she was branded… I can't help feeling guilty, because I couldn't protect her..."
Ernest gently rocked his wife and said:
"It's okay dear, we will find a way to fix this, come now, let us rest, it has been a full day, and I have a headache. Madame Potter packs a mean head punch."
Minerva quietly laughed, and walked away surrounded by her husband's arms.
Yasen Prince concluded that he was the latest and most efficient IMBECILE oaf, on the face of the planet.
The head administrator of the Little Brussels Playhouse, Bern, just looked at him with disappointment, to which Yasen added:
"What are you looking at Bern?"
"I'm looking at you, a caveman in need of finesse."
The elegant magical worker, turned around and he left him standing.
Hermione got to her apartment suite, and locked the door behind her. It was pointless to be so mortified, she kept saying to herself, that expectations were a waste of time. So she kept her cool face, until she crossed the door, once inside she left her tears roll. Soon she was sobbing and then, all of the pain of old wounds made an appearance and wrecked the last vestiges of self control.
She wasn't perfect, she was jaded, and she tried so hard to fit, but she still had to learn the intricacies of timing and asking for help. This place, in a funny way, reminded her of Hogwarts, and now, she felt like the little swot raising her arm, to ask a question. Unbelievably, people were still shocked at her brash questions. Except this time instead of a hand, it was a "Mudblood" scar making the appearance.
She realized her makeup was a mess, so she went to the bathroom to take it off and draw a bath. Water always made her feel safe, and once inside the tub's confine, she stretched in its warmth.
It had been a long shot, asking that prat about the possibilities mentioned in the book, but when she saw him standing in the lobby, she had acted on a whim. She had gambled that he was, after all, a healer. One would think that, after so long, she had learned to ignore those whims, and to always plan ahead. They only brought pain and disappointment.
Letting out a sigh, she shook her head. Silly her. The biggest library she had ever seen was at her disposal. Screw that selfish idiot, she would do her research, and find the cure herself. If she could find Voldemort's horcruxes, then she could find a cure for her scar. She frowned, in a way it was rather sad that finding those horcruxes was her biggest achievement in life.
A white flash made her jump up in surprise, water splashing over the sides of the tub. It instantly dried as soon as it touched the floor. Blinking, still seeing spots from the flash on her retina, it took her some time to notice the bag on the countertop next to the sink.
Wordlessly, she summoned it to her, and lowered it to the ground next to the tub. Unknown packages were a hazard, even if they appeared in a place such as the Playhouse. The content of the paper bag made her smile: a bottle of wine, chocolates, tickets of some sort, and a book. Silently, she thanked whoever had sent it to her.
Propping herself up, letting some extra warm water flow into the tub, she levitated the book so she could read. "The Secret Life of the Transfiguration Mistress."' Wondering why on earth someone wanted her to read this book, she opened the cover. Inside there was a short dedication:
"Only a few have known and guarded my secret. Those, of course are the first I need to thank, even though most already have left on their next, big adventure.
To those who knew me, but never really knew me: Gotcha!
I have been hiding for years, but now, let me tell you the story of the real me.
With kind regards,
Minerva McGonagall, former Headmistress of Hogwarts, Mistress in Transfiguration"
Hermione's eyes grew impossibly wide. A memoir of McGonagall? She had been hiding? How? Intrigued, she turned the page, and started reading.
Before she knew, the heating charm had to be cast, then she noticed her pruney skin. She walked out, dried herself, applied moisturizer in a flash, ordered lunch, opened the bottle of expensive wine, and continued reading. The book was a page turner. She couldn't picture Minerva McGonagall being so playful and vengeful, wait, not vengeful, righteous, and every time she ended a chapter it was with a smile, even though she had lost so many loved ones.
The level of respect she had for her old head of house was rising, and once she finished the book, she looked it over, and wondered if there would be a second part. So many secrets, and her lovers just seemed so handsome, and the censored pictures of Albus D. in the buff, wow, now she couldn't help giggling like a child.
She closed the book, took one of the chocolate truffles and sighed. Amazing, she could have just decided to be miserable and sulk, but this place was just like the room of requirement, it knew how to keep people, herself particularly, out of a funk. Then she looked outside her window and noticed the Potters just playing tag while flying. Hermione realized that life was still good, regardless of the Malfoys, and the dark unhelpful pompous healers, in this world. Again she smiled and said:
"Oh, my God!, professor McGonagall and professor Snape got down and dirty on 1988!, hooray for inter house UNITY!, and Gryffindor SCORES!"
She goofed off and laughed, then decided to let Ginny know of her discovery. She still had the coin from the DA club, and send a message. Ginny replied that she had news too and to get ready and pretty for dinner, they had an invitation, glam invitation, that is.
Hermione, got her sleekeazy hair kit, and asked one of the service elfs for beauty care. Half an hour later, miss Granger waltzed out of her room looking like a pixie princess, to meet Ginny Potter.
Hermione was wearing a mauve dress, and silver, while Ginny was wearing a frost blue ensemble. Both of them looked like exotic and graceful creatures of myth. Men around bowed and mrs Potter smiled, while Harry looked like a proud husband and brother, walking with one lady on each arm.
Hermione was over the moon, she was relaying the most juicy details about her book, and Ginny was telling her about the crazy encounter at the Lobby and Harry, well, Harry was quietly listening.
It was then, that Minerva McGonagall dressed in a bottle green ensemble and silver greeted them at the entry of the restaurant. She smiled and said:
"Good evening Harry, Ginny and Hermione."
Hermione and Ginny nodded, while Harry became a little detached. He wasn't trusting of people saying they were one person, and then coming out as different on a book. Minerva noticed, and she said in a low voice.
"You don't believe it's me, do you Harry?"
"Can you blame me?"
"No, but it's me… do you remember on the beginning of May 2nd 1998, Amycus Carrow was expecting to catch you in the Ravenclaw's common room, you were hiding under the invisibility cloak. Amycus became angered that he couldn't catch you, and spat on my face. You materialized and crucioed him, and I in returned said, that was very gallant of you?"
"Ginny no one knew you were manipulated by one of Tom's Horcruxes in your first year, only Dumbledore, and your family, and me. "
"Hermione, you crafted those Galleons that delivered Marietta Edgecomb as a Snitch and I was so proud of you!"
The trio all had tears in their eyes, and then Minerva snapped her fingers, and the glamour of old McGonagall appeared for seconds only to quickly fade back to the gorgeous dark haired Selkie.
"I couldn't tell you, this truth, would have been used in one way or another to hurt, and I was responsible for so many generations. It broke my heart to see you three taking a distance after your first years. I'm so sorry Harry, Ginny and Hermione, I'm sorry if I failed you, wonderful, resourceful, brave children, you deserved a better childhood..."
In one swift move Minerva was enveloped by three pairs of arms, all of them at a loss, and sobbing, just as said children, in the arms of one of their mother's figures, of their Hogwarts years.
After a while, Harry and Ginny calmed down, shortly hugging Minerva a bit more tightly, before letting go of her and holding onto one another. Hermione held on a bit longer before, she too, slowly released the transfiguration mistress.
Minerva looked at the disarray of young ones, and with a flick of her wrist, moments later, everyone was looking less like a mess and more akin to when they first met. Ginny said:
"Professor McGonagall, would you please teach me that charm? I know it will become in handy at my household."
Minerva nodded and the four walked up to the table.