A/N: No copyright infringement intended. I once again need to thank lolwrwg for sharing her thoughts and suggestions. Don't forget to check out her amazing stories as well.
Chapter 2: Moving forward
1982
A year had passed since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had disappeared and even though most of the wizarding community was convinced they had seen the last of him, a small minority of the staff at Hogwarts knew differently. It would simply be a matter of time before he was strong enough to make his return and try again to eradicate the wizarding world of anyone who wasn't of pureblood descent.
After Minerva had learned of the fate of the Potters, the Longbottoms and countless other good wizards and witches, the need to keep her friends and family close had become even stronger. Her friendship with Rolanda had flourished over the past thirty years and Minerva had recently confided in her that she had started to meet with her former boss, Elphinstone Urquart, on a regular basis.
When she'd been employed at the Ministry, he had not only been a mentor to her but also a good friend. After she'd left for Scotland, they had kept in touch from time to time and over the years, Elphinstone had even proposed to her on several occasions, yet Minerva had always politely declined, stating she had no desire to get married.
This evening Elphinstone had come round again and they'd taken a leisurely stroll along the grounds of Hogwarts, enjoying the warm summer breeze when their small outing had surprisingly turned out to be more than a simple walk. Right now Minerva was on her way to the Quidditch pitch to share her news with Rolanda who was working late, preparing the field for the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw match the next day.
As Minerva approached the pitch, she saw her friend standing in the distance, hugging someone, before the person mounted a broom and swiftly flew off. She looked up at the sky, squinting her eyes in an effort to identify the figure, when she suddenly recognised who it was and pursed her lips – Gwendolyn Morgan. She picked up her pace, anxious to find out what was going on, when Rolanda spotted her.
"Minerva!" she called out. "What a pleasant surprise! What brings you by? I thought you were out with Finn?"
"I was," Minerva answered distractedly, looking back up at the sky. "Was that Gwen I just saw leaving?"
"Yes, it was," Rolanda confirmed happily. "She came by to see me."
Gwendolyn Morgan was a former head of the Holyhead Harpies who had once famously turned down a proposal of marriage by rendering her suitor unconscious. Rolanda, never one to shy away from a challenge and having been head over heels in love with her, had pursued her relentlessly. However, their tempestuous three-year relationship had ended fifteen years ago and Rolanda had never fully recovered from the break-up.
Minerva observed the twinkle in Rolanda's eye and a sense of worry crept up on her. "Rolanda... What exactly is going on between the two of you?"
Recognising the berating tone in Minerva's voice, Rolanda immediately put up her defences. "What do you mean? We're just friends."
Minerva scoffed. "Do not even try and lie to me, Rolanda! You have not spoken to each other in years and all of a sudden she decides to come and see you? That makes no sense! What is going on?" she demanded to know, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Do not use that tone of voice with me, Professor McGonagall!" Rolanda snipped back. "I am not one of your students and I am neither impressed nor intimidated by you," she spoke confidently before taking a deep breath, knowing that Minerva would not relent until she'd gotten an answer. "But if you must know, although it is hardly any of your business, we happened to bump into each other at The Three Broomsticks two weeks ago and we ended up reminiscing and spending quite an enjoyable evening together."
"None of my business?" Minerva declared, offended by Rolanda's offhand remark. "I seem to remember a certain yellow-eyed witch spending countless evenings in my quarters, heartbroken and wanting to hide from the world because of that... that woman. So I do not see how you can possibly stand there and say this is none of my business?"
"That was years ago," Rolanda said, dismissing her worries with a wave of her hand. "Things have changed."
Minerva's eyes narrowed. "Please don't tell me you are contemplating getting back together with her?"
"And why not?" Rolanda asked defiantly. "We were happy together."
"Until she cheated on you," Minerva countered.
Gwen's betrayal had hurt Rolanda immeasurably and it had taken her months to recover from their breakup, accounting for Minerva's less than pleased reaction to discovering the woman was once again worming her way back into her friend's life. Minerva had been by Rolanda's side through all of it and when some of her fighting spirit had finally returned, she'd resolved never to allow anyone to hurt her like that again.
Rolanda was taken aback by Minerva's sharp words. "That was a long time ago. We are not the same people we once were," she retorted.
"Is that what she has been telling you?" Minerva asked sarcastically. "Honestly Rolanda, don't you think you are being rather naive?"
"No, I don't," Rolanda gritted through her teeth, not wanting to start a fight but finding it difficult to keep a civil tone. "Don't you worry about me, Minerva. I am quite capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much."
"Of course I worry! Have you forgotten what happened the last time you took up with her?" Minerva uttered, growing more annoyed by the minute. "I don't trust her," she said menacingly, peering over her spectacles.
"Why are you so dead-set against me being happy? You are supposed to be my friend," Rolanda inquired, confused and slightly hurt but also curious as to why Minerva was reacting so fiercely against her renewed acquaintance with Gwen.
"I am your friend and I do want you to be happy!" Minerva replied indignantly.
"That is exactly what I'm aiming for, Minerva, to be happy. We have been through a gruesome war and I for one will take my happiness where I can get it," Rolanda stated decidedly. "I appreciate your concern, truly I do, but trust me when I tell you I am more than capable of handling Gwen. I outgrew my training broom a long time ago. I'm a big girl now."
Minerva watched Rolanda intently. She was smiling at her, but judging from the look in her eyes it was quite clear there was no room for further discussion. Minerva knew better than to pursue something when Rolanda had no intention of complying so she decided to relent.
"Fine," she said curtly before inclining her head, her voice now soft and caring. "And I do trust you. I merely do not want you to get hurt. You are my friend and I care too much about you to let someone betray you again."
"Thank you," Rolanda accepted, grateful to be changing the subject. "Now, why did you come and see me? I thought you were supposed to be out with Finn all evening."
"Well," Minerva started, "that is actually what I have come to see you about."
"What do you mean?" Rolanda frowned. "Did something happen?"
"Yes. In a way," Minerva smiled. "While we were strolling along the lake, I was talking about my work here and Finn spoke of his impending retirement from the Ministry, when suddenly he asked me to marry him again and..."
"Oh no, not again?" Rolanda chuckled. "Did he really? The poor man does have it bad for you, doesn't he? What did he say when you turned him down this time?"
"That's just it, Rolanda. What I was going to say, before you interrupted me..." Minerva said, raising one eyebrow, "...is that I have accepted."
"You've accepted... Accepted what? His proposal?!"
"Yes, that is what I am saying."
"But you... how... why..." Rolanda gathered her thoughts together before continuing. "You have turned him down time and time again. Why accept him now, after all these years? What changed?"
"The war," Minerva answered, regret lacing her voice. "I realised our lifetimes are limited, even in the wizarding world, and I'd rather spend my life with someone who respects me and makes me happy and fulfilled than live the rest of it by myself."
"So you're settling?" Rolanda asked, her tone a little more harsh than she'd intended.
"Rolanda, please. You know I would never do that to Finn. Perhaps what we have is not like the passionate love affairs of my younger years, but there is familiarity, friendship and trust, and that means an awful lot. Being with Finn makes me happy. What more could anyone ask for?"
"Do you love him?"
"Well, yes. I mean, I am not in love with him in the same way I was with Dougal and…" Minerva paused for a moment and sighed, "...but I do love him. Besides, Dougal is gone now, so I can finally stop holding on to that juvenile notion of us one day miraculously finding our way back to each other."
"I hate to point out the obvious, but you don't sound convinced," Rolanda noted wryly. "I'm not sure that choosing comfort over passion is the right thing for you to do. You are not the type to settle."
Minerva pursed her lips. "Well, pardon me, Rolanda, but I did not know I had to ask for your approval before making any decisions about my life. I do not see how me wanting to find happiness with Finn is any different than you seeking the same in another ill-fated fling with Gwen, do you?"
"Alright, alright," Rolanda said, putting up both of her hands in defence, not wanting to quarrel any longer. "You're right. I know when I'm licked. Though you are wrong about Gwen," she hastened to add. "I did not mean to doubt your judgment. I just care about you and I want you to be sure that you're making the right decision."
A small smile started to grace Minerva's lips as Rolanda continued.
"I really am glad you've found someone who can make you happy again. You are one of a kind, Minerva McGonagall, and you deserve the very best," she stated honestly. "Now come here and let me congratulate you properly."
Minerva laughed and walked over to Rolanda's outstretched arms, allowing her to pull her into a warm embrace.
"Thank you for saying that, Rolanda. So do you," Minerva replied, pulling back slightly and locking eyes with her. "Please promise me you will be careful around Gwen?"
"I promise. On my honour as a Magpie," Rolanda assured her, putting her hand over the batch on her chest before once again wrapping her arms around her friend.
"Good," Minerva let out a small laugh before hugging her friend close to her, knowing that better days were ahead for both of them.
When Rolanda felt Minerva wrap her arms tightly around her and relax into their embrace, she was suddenly struck by an unfamiliar though comforting feeling – a sense of home, of belonging. She was grateful Minerva was not able to see her face for she had certainly noticed something was off.
Rolanda could not make heads or tails of it which worried her. She was pleased for Minerva, wasn't she? Yes, of course she was! Then why had this unexplainable knot started to form in her stomach? Was it concern? Apprehension? Jealousy? Whatever it was, it made her feel restless and ill at ease. Though rather than dwell on whatever it was she was feeling, she shrugged it off, reprimanding herself internally, 'Get a grip, Hooch! You've been spending too many years in Minerva's company, you're starting to overthink things.'
Three and a half years later
Despite her initial scepticism, Rolanda had been forced to admit that Minerva and Finn were evenly matched and she had watched her friend blossom and enjoy one of the happiest times of her life. Their house had been filled with joy and laughter, especially during the frequent visits from Minerva's nieces and nephews, up until that fateful moment when Finn had passed away so unexpectedly. Minerva had been heartbroken and after she had moved out of their home in Hogsmeade and back into her quarters at Hogwarts, she had closed herself off from everyone, delving into her work and keeping her emotions buried behind what seemed like an impenetrable wall.
As Rolanda had watched her friend become more and more of a recluse, she'd enlisted the help of Poppy who had advised her to offer Minerva any type of distraction, other than work, to keep her from retreating too far into her own mind, which was what Rolanda had been doing for the past six months. Even though she was one of the few people with whom Minerva was still spending time, things had changed between them, which was not to Rolanda's liking.
This morning, she was on her way to Minerva's quarters, ostensibly to ask her for some advice, but in truth, to see how she was doing. She had informed Minerva of her intention to come by seeing as she would not allow anyone to visit her without prior consent. Minerva had reluctantly agreed to see her, because she was still miffed about Rolanda having arranged for Poppy to come by twice a week to check on her.
After Rolanda had arrived at Minerva's quarters, she knocked on the door. Yet instead of hearing Minerva's voice calling out to her to enter the room, the door swung open magically to reveal an annoyed-looking Transfiguration Professor sitting at her desk, trying to work, while the Matron of Hogwarts was performing diagnostic spells and checking her vitals.
"Good morning, Minerva, Poppy," Rolanda said cheerfully as she nodded to both of them. "And how are we feeling today?"
Minerva looked up from her papers, glaring menacingly over her spectacles. "I do not know how you are feeling today, Rolanda, but I for one am fed up with being treated like a weak and incompetent patient."
As Poppy waved her wand again, Minerva put her hand up. "That will be quite enough for today, Poppy. I am certain the patients at the infirmary are eagerly awaiting your care," she curled her lips ever so slightly, so as not to seem rude. "Thank you for stopping by."
Poppy tilted her head and sighed. "It was no bother, Minerva. I'm always glad to help, though it would be much easier for me to do my job if you weren't fighting me every step of the way."
Minerva looked pointedly at her, to which Poppy shook her head. "I know, I know. I should be going." She packed up her medical bag and pocketed her wand. "That stubborn streak of yours is not very becoming, mind you. I will be back to check up on you in a couple of days." And with that Poppy left Minerva's quarters, rolling her eyes and sighing when she walked past Rolanda.
Rolanda watched her go, "That poor woman," before turning back to look at Minerva. "She is only trying to help, you know?"
Minerva did not look up at her, but kept scratching away at the parchment with her quill. "I am well aware of that, Rolanda. And I have you to thank for that." She slowly raised her head and glared at the flight instructor.
Rolanda just smiled, unfazed. "You're welcome, Minerva."
Minerva suppressed a small smile and went back to her work. "Thank you for stopping by but I do not need a babysitter, so if you would be so kind as to leave, I would be very grateful," she said sternly. "I am sure there are other people who would enjoy your company right now. May I suggest Gwen?" she added, a tad more snidely than she'd intended.
"You know very well I broke things off with Gwen two months ago," Rolanda gently chastised her. "And although you say you do not enjoy my company, I know for a fact that you do, otherwise you would not have agreed to see me."
Minerva did not respond because she knew Rolanda was right. In fact, she had found herself starting to look forward to Rolanda's visits in a different way than she used to. Ever since Finn had died, Minerva had decided that caring too much for people would only end up in heartache. Work had provided the distraction she needed, but over time, she had realised that her friendship with Rolanda had been instrumental in her healing process.
Being around Rolanda felt safe and familiar. She didn't have to pretend she was doing alright when in fact she was the furthest from alright she had ever been. With Rolanda she could be Minerva. Not Professor McGonagall, not Deputy Headmistress, not a member of the Order of the Phoenix, just Minerva. And at the moment, that was all that she wanted to be, though she was scared of allowing any type of emotion to bubble to the surface for fear of what would happen if she started to feel again.
Minerva sighed. "What have you come here for, other than to check up on me?"
Rolanda chuckled. "I can never get one past you, can I?
Minerva raised one eyebrow by way of answering her question, making Rolanda chuckle again. "As a matter of fact, I have come to ask you if you would be willing to inspect the Quidditch pitch with me? I thought some fresh air would do you some good and I could use another pair of eyes."
Minerva shook her head before directing her attention back to her work. "I am convinced you are more than capable of taking care of that yourself, Rolanda. And as you can clearly see, I am rather busy at the moment, though I do appreciate your asking me."
Rolanda quickly reached for her wand and within seconds Minerva's quill flew out of her hand and into Rolanda's outstretched one.
"What in the name of Merlin..." Minerva uttered irately before realising what had happened. She flicked her wrist and the quill instantly flew back to its owner. "You know better than to play games with me. Especially when there is work that needs to be done," she said through clenched teeth.
"All I know, is that staying cooped up in your quarters and burying yourself in your work isn't going to bring him back," Rolanda countered.
Minerva's scrutinising gaze fixed on her. "Thank you for sharing your abundant wisdom with me, Rolanda. Any more platitudes you wish to impart before you leave my quarters?" she asked haughtily.
"No. That was the only one that was on the list for today but I will make sure to bring some new ones for when next we meet."
Minerva couldn't keep herself from smiling when she noticed the smug grin plastered all over Rolanda's face. "You are infuriating, you know that?" she sighed as a small twinkle appeared in her eyes.
"So I've been told, but that hasn't stopped me yet," Rolanda winked at her.
Minerva snickered and put her quill down. "Alright, I concede." She got up out of her chair and went to grab her cloak and put it on before she extended her arm. "Let us go and inspect that pitch of yours."
Rolanda walked over to the cupboard and took out Minerva's broom, handing it to her as she took her arm. "Don't forget this. You are going to need it."
Minerva looked over at her friend, eyeing her suspiciously. "What are you up to, you wicked witch?"
Rolanda just threw her head back and cackled before guiding Minerva out to the field.
The two friends spent the next hour flying over the pitch checking to see that the goals, the stands, the field and all the equipment were in order before making their way back down to the supply room.
"Well, I believe everything is all set for the game this afternoon, so I'd best be returning to the castle," Minerva said as she dismounted her broom. "Thank you for persuading me to come with you. It felt wonderful to be flying again."
Rolanda still hovered right above the ground, looking playfully at Minerva. "Come on then. I'll race you to the edge of the Forbidden Forest."
Minerva frowned. "Rolanda, please. We are no longer children and I do have to get back to work," she chided her.
"Afraid you're going to lose?" The flight instructor said cheekily, as she proceeded to fly circles around Minerva, trying to egg her on. "I suppose you would have every right to be, since until just now, you hadn't been on a broom for ages and you probably have forgotten how to ride at high speed."
Minerva turned around and started to walk away, her broom tightly clutched in her hand as she tried to keep from giving in to her desire to give Rolanda a taste of her own medicine. "Your attempt at reverse psychology is not going to work on me, Rolanda," she called over her shoulder as she kept on towards the castle.
Rolanda flew over to her and hovered close by, now and then mischievously brushing her shoulder. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, I am very sure, thank you very much," Minerva replied, straightening her back and picking up her pace.
"I don't think you are, though," Rolanda tried again. "But I can understand you not wanting to race against me. After all, we couldn't have the great Minerva McGonagall, famed for her fiercely competitive nature and refusal to admit defeat, lose against a retired and long-forgotten Quidditch Beater, now could we?" she added teasingly. "I can't wait to tell Severus you were afraid to take me on."
Before Rolanda knew what was happening, Minerva was flying right beside her, leaning over and whispering into her ear, "I'd rather eat my wand than lose to you. You want a race? You have got one, you persistent old witch." Minerva pulled back and watched as an impish smile brightened Rolanda's face, matching the one on her own face. "Alright. Are you ready?"
"Oh, I most certainly am!" Rolanda replied smugly, turning her broom around.
Minerva waved her hand and up in the air appeared an image of a clock that was set to count down from three. "The first one to reach the edge of the Forbidden Forest, wins. And remember, any type of foul play will be grounds for disqualification." She turned her head to her right and looked piercingly at Rolanda who was grinning like mad. "On the count of three..."
As the clock counted down, the two braced themselves on their brooms, looking at each other out of the corner of their eyes, and when the clock hit zero, they were off in a flash.
Minerva easily took the lead, looking back at her friend and smiling confidently when she noticed that Rolanda was trying everything in her might to catch up. For a fleeting moment, she relished the feeling of the wind caressing her face and the sight of the ground below rushing by as she increased her speed. She had missed the freedom and the excitement of flying; the way it helped her clear her head of all worries and cares. She closed her eyes and threw her head back, breathing in deeply and savouring the sense of peace and quiet as the sound of the wind whirling by became music to her ears.
After she opened her eyes again, she saw the edge of the forest come closer into view and her lips curled into a smirk when she noticed Rolanda was nowhere in sight. Just as she was turning around to establish how far ahead she was of her friend, she was surprised by Rolanda whizzing by and holding up both of her hands victoriously as she reached the finish line ahead of Minerva.
"What? How..." Minerva could not believe what'd just happened and only seconds after Rolanda had reached the edge of forest, Minerva caught up with her. "You could not possibly have won this contest fair and square. I left you eating my dust at the starting line. There was no earthly way for you to catch up with me, let alone defeat me, without improper use of magic."
"Oh, but I did. You may have gotten off to a good start, but you forget, I know your weakness when it comes to flying."
Minerva frowned, looking confused, which made Rolanda chuckle.
"You love flying, Minerva, and when you have gone months without enjoying the freedom it gives you, you always take a moment or two to relish it, completely forgetting everyone and everything around you. So it was just a matter of waiting for you to close your eyes and throw your head back before I was able to make my move," Rolanda explained, her eyes twinkling.
"You know me too well," Minerva grinned, flying closer and nudging her friend.
"Yes, I do," Rolanda proclaimed proudly. "Now back to the matter at hand. Would you like some Firewhisky or Butterbeer to go with your wand?"
"I think Firewhisky would do rather nicely," Minerva replied, deadpan, as she reached for her wand. "As much as it pains me to say this, I bow to your superior flying skills, Madam Hooch," she bowed her head before summoning a bottle of Firewhisky to float in front of her and bringing her wand to her lips.
Rolanda laid her hand on top of Minerva's and laughed. "That will be quite enough of that. You hold on to your wand for now. Simply knowing that you believe me to be superior to you will do just nicely."
An amused chuckle passed Minerva's lips as a warm feeling engulfed her body. She wondered how it was that Rolanda was always able to make her feel better. They had been close friends almost from the very moment they'd met and over the years, through all they had experienced together, their bond had become even stronger and Minerva could not imagine her life without Rolanda in it. Lately, she had never felt more at home than when she was with Rolanda. When that realisation hit her all of sudden, she did not quite know what to make of it so she quickly turned her broom around, watching as Rolanda followed suit.
They flew leisurely back to the Quidditch pitch, both lost in their own thoughts. Minerva alighted first and looked up at Rolanda who was slowly making her way down. "Thank you for helping me to take my mind off Finn for a while and forcing me to enjoy myself. I thought I had been coping rather well, but I am grateful for you reminding me that I needed to unwind and allow myself to loosen the reins, if only for a short time, in order to heal and move on."
"My pleasure, Minerva. Anything for you, my friend. I always enjoy any time we spend together. Especially when I can show you who is the better witch," she winked before dismounting and walking over to Minerva to give her a quick hug.
Minerva sighed, holding on tightly to Rolanda. "There are times when I miss Finn so much, I do not know how I will be able to make it through the day. I only wish I knew why we weren't allowed more time together." She sighed again, blinking back tears and trying to compose herself.
Rolanda didn't know what compelled her to do it, but she held on for a little longer than usual, softly rocking Minerva back and forth, not wanting to let go just yet. She slowly moved her hand up and down her back and smiled when she noticed the tension in Minerva's body ease away.
As Rolanda finally pulled back, she locked eyes with her and felt a slight blush creep up her neck when she noticed Minerva's cheeks had a pink tinge to them as well. She cleared her throat, "Yes... well... better get on now."
As Minerva nodded and turned around to make her way back to the castle, Rolanda called after her. "Wait! I completely forgot to ask you something."
Minerva stopped and turned. "Yes? What is it?"
"The Quidditch World Cup final is next week. Scotland is playing the United States."
"Yes? What about it?"
"Well, I know you're probably very busy, but I was able to secure two tickets and..." Rolanda wasn't able to finish her sentence as Minerva took a couple of steps forward and interrupted her.
"You have tickets to the final? How in Merlin's name did you get your stubby little fingers on those?! That match was sold out months in advance."
Rolanda's lips curled up. "Never mind that. Would you like to go?"
"Rolanda..." Minerva's voice lowered dangerously, "You did not do anything illegal in order to obtain those tickets, did you?"
"No, of course I didn't," Rolanda answered, miffed that she would suggest something like that. "Give me some credit, Minerva. I still happen to know a lot of people in the Quidditch community and one of them was kind enough to supply me with a pair of tickets. So? Do you want to go?"
"Do I want to go?! Is a Hippogriff easily offended? Yes, of course I want to go!" Minerva uttered excitedly.
"Good. Then it's settled," Rolanda stated as a broad smile adorned Minerva's lips. As she turned around to continue her walk back to the castle she heard Rolanda call after her. "Oh, and Minerva, if you ever need another flying lesson, you know where to find me."
Minerva just waved her hand and kept walking, calling out to her, "You are an insufferable wench!"
Rolanda threw her head back and roared with laughter.
The following week, Minerva and Rolanda were seated in the stands at the World Cup Quidditch final. So far, the game had been going for hours and from the looks of it, neither of the two teams were willing to hand over the win without a fight. Right now, they were tied yet again and the audience were waiting anxiously for the moment when one of the Seekers would spot the snitch and was able to end the game.
Rolanda had been entertaining herself by watching her friend, who was usually the very picture of composure and control, being swept up by the excitement of the game. It had been decades since Scotland had been in the final and Minerva had been uncharacteristically yelling at the top her voice and pumping her fist in the air whenever the Scottish team had been in possession of the quaffle or were fending off a bludger.
It was nearing the end of the sixth hour when suddenly the crowd watched in anticipation as the Scottish Seeker zoomed past his American cohort to go after the snitch. Minerva went to sit at the edge of her seat, her eyes glued to the snitch as both Seekers chased after it at high speed. They were dodging bludgers and quaffles as well as team members, both relentless in their pursuit of that one little ball that would lead them to victory.
Just when it looked as if the snitch had disappeared from view, the Scottish Seeker rushed by, his cloak following him like a tartan flag waving in the wind. The crowd watched in anticipation as he reached out his hand and just like that, he had caught the snitch, proudly holding it up in the air as a signal for the referee to end the match.
Minerva jumped up from her seat and screamed Gaelic phrases of joy and elation at the top of her lungs. She turned to Rolanda who was in stitches over her ordinarily stoic friend's euphoric behaviour now that her favourite team had beaten the American national team. Minerva quickly pulled her up by her arms and enthusiastically threw her arms around her, making Rolanda laugh even harder. When Minerva let go, she suddenly cupped Rolanda's cheeks with both hands and kissed her passionately on the lips.
To be continued
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.