Two

Hogwarts Reborn

When she had first occupied this office Minerva had been surprised to find it was exactly the same as it had been when she was last in there, when Albus had still resided in it. Not one thing was out of place.

Various silver and bronze magical objects filled the numerous shelves crammed into the room. some of which were, even now, completely unknown to her. To her left was the familiar old cupboard which housed the pensieve and to her right was the fireplace through which she had passed many times. Fawkes perch still stood next to the heavy oak desk; though it sat empty now. Minerva; like Severus Snape before her, had not the heart to change it. Her Friend would think her a sentimental old fool, she knew.

This last year had taken its toll on the wizened witch. She had lost so many friends, yet again. Including the best one of all. But when so many around her had fallen to pieces Minerva forced herself to remain strong, people needed her now. She pushed her grief to one side to continue with what needed to be done. She focused all of her energy on rebuilding the castle. It was a difficult task. The lack of sleep and excruciatingly hard word had aged her, her already lined face was now more pronounced and her tawny hair now stark grey.

Minerva slumped down in her chair in exhaustion, Sighing at the relief of taking the weight off other feet, she groaned as she finally set down to catch up on some much needed paperwork. She set her quill to work with her wand, reciting what it was to record, she felt much to tired to write by hand.

'I am pleased to announce that Hogwarts is to reopen on September the 1st" she recited to her quill for the twentieth time.

'You look tired Minerva my dear', came a familiar voice from behind her.

'Indeed, I am dear friend, Indeed I am', she replied as she turned to face him. The wall behind held the portrait of every former headmaster/mistress of the Hogwarts. Retired headmasters are duty bound to the school to provide any help or assistance they can the current head. Minerva knew if she did not have this support network behind her, she would not have made it through the last few months. Most of the paintings now feigned sleep, all except one; the one who resided in the largest frame. Albus.

'How has today treated you, my dear. Is that pesky warthog still giving you trouble' Albus replied with a humorous tone and a twinkle in his painted blue eye.

'No, thank goodness. Thank you for the spell by the way'. She turned to smile at him. 'I'm still quite sure whoever charmed it, did so as a practical joke. But still, it has caused quite the bit of commotion. It has all but destroyed much of the grounds on the western side of the castle. And hagrid had only just finished the gardens" her voice rose higher and high as she let out her frustrations. A wide grin broke on Albus's lined face and he chuckled 'not to worry, I promise you hagrid loves nothing more than working in the grounds, he has a love for this castle like no other. It will please him to be able to help'.

'No one could be helping more than Hagrid' she said returning his smile. His face turned grave as his eyes bore into hers. She always had the impression he was trying to read deep down to her soul, when he did this. 'Something is causing you stress my dear' he said to her knowingly. She hated it when he did this. 'Of course I am stressed. Renovations are still being done on the castle, I'm still down three teachers and I'm only now getting round to invîting the lower years'

He looked at her thoughtfully, there is something more I think' he said to her.

She held his gaze as she swallowed a lump in her throat. 'I'm still not quite sure I have invited back the right people' she admitted.

'We have been through this, Minerva. Who is it that causes you concern my dear?' He questioned thoughtfully.

'Do not play dumb with me Albus, you know my concerns.' Minerva snapped at him.

'You have sent invitations now, what's done is done.' He replied kindly.

She half sneered and half grunted at his dismissal of the subject,

A knock on her office door interrupted their conversation. Turning back to her desk, Minerva sighed. 'Come in' she called. Kingsley Shacklebot, the new minister for magic walked in, in bright green robes.

'Minerva, how are you' he shook her hand as he took a seat at her desk.

'Kingsley, to what do I owe the pleasure' She enquired, stunned at his arrival.

'We have a meeting arranged, or am I very much mistaken.' He replied as she looked at her appointment schedule.

'My apologies, it seems I forgot. Well since you are here,there is no harm done.'

'No matter, I am only here for a flying visit, I wont take up much of your time. How are you Minerva. He asked with a sympathetic edge to his voice. 'I'm fine thank you' she replied In her clipped scottish accent.

'You're looking tired' he said not unpolitely.

Twice in one hour, she thought, maybe I should take all little more care with my appearance.

'Thank you' she replied tartly. The atmosphere suddenly became slightly frosty. Though there was no bad blood between the pair, they strictly maintained a professional relationship only. Trying to break the ice a little Kingsley got down to business.

'Building regulation decree 234 requires a ministry official to sign off any large scale repair or remodel, It is just a formality. Usually this would not technically be my job but I have to admit I am rather excited at seeing the place now that it is almost finished."

Minerva smiled at him, warming up considerably. "Well then, let us have a cup of tea and then I shall take you on the grand tour." With a flick if her wand a kettle began to boil out above the fireplace, with another flick a silver tea service went zooming through the air, coming to land carefully in the desk between them.

"How have you been keeping?" She as rising from her chair to retrieve the now boiled water.

"I am well enough, I keep my hours filled and my mind focused" he replied with a small smile. Minerva sat back in her chair and set about making the tea deep in thought.

"I know just how you feel" she finally said as she passed him his cup and saucer.

'So how are repairs coming along? The last time I was here the castle all but lay in ruins. From what I have seen so far, the place looks as good as knew".

'Well" she replied with a look of pride "the main structural work is finished now its just a case of replacing the furnishings. Most of the furniture in the dormitories was left untouched but nothing much else survived." No one could have imagined the work to be completed this quickly, the castle had been in a state of utter devastation after the battle. Kingsley looked suitably impressed.

"How are things at the ministry?" Minerva asked changing the subject.

She had heard rumour that things were not so well, though the ministry were portraying otherwise. Several known death eaters were still on the run and had caused a number of unpleasant incidents. Just last week a muggle postman had lost his arm due to an enchanted letterbox. With only a few aurors left, the ministry had been stretched to its limit.

'Things are not so well, I will admit.' Kingsley replied honestly. 'Everything is upside down, we are having to relocate and take on additional staff. Laws are having to be rewritten or restored. And to top it all off we are still facing attacks. We cannot train aurors up fast enough, but only few have applied so even now we are limited on numbers.'

'Hmm' she mused. 'Your week sounds as fun as mine' she gave him a forced smile.

'On the plus side, we caught two yesterday, Rabastian and Rodolophus Lestrange. The were found hiding in Forest land in Nottingham.'

'What'll you do with them now' she asked

'Well they'll be held in Azkaban until their trial.'

'A trial!' She gasped 'they're as guilty as he was, I saw them fight here my own eyes.'

'Arthur Weasley is a fair judge.' He replied with confidence. She could not disagree with him.

In the ministry shake up after the war Arthur Weasley had been appointed head of magical law enforcement, a promotion molly thought was too much, despite the extra money. Arthur, along with Kingsley and a few others, was responsible for rewriting the previously amended laws and punishing those who did not obey them. So far he had placed twenty-two death eaters in azkaban, he did not believe in sentencing the dementors kiss. He felt it was cheating their victims, murderers deserved to suffer for life.

Their conversation dwindled into general chit chat as they finished their drinks.

Minerva led the minister of magic out of her office and out into the grounds.

The castle looked much the same as it had before the war. The damaged towers had been reconstructed. Nothing had been replaced, just repaired, brick by brick. Smashed windows had been returned to their frames seemingly unharmed. Portraits had been repaired and their inhabitants had returned.

Working with the ancient charms the castle held, was skilled and exhausting work. Hundreds of people had volunteered their help and the work had taken just over two months. Minerva told Kingsley ao their work as she led him back inside the castle and through its many rooms.

Inside was just as the outside, it bore no mark of the battle now. Though the was an eerie atmosphere that lingered now. The great hall felt huge and empty without the tables that once filled the room. The classrooms too were devoid of any furniture or decoration. There was only two major change to the castle. Two new rooms had been added, a classroom and a dormitory..

"Well, I am more than impressed. This is massive feat you have accomplished Minerva, Well done."

Blushing slightly, Minerva murmured her thanks.

"I really should be going. Ill sign this paperwork back at the office and you a copy by owl. Thank you for the tour. And again let me say congratulations."

They bade each other goodbye and Minerva watched as the man walked down the path to the huge wrought iron gates and disappeared out of sight, before heading back inside to the mountain of paperwork that awaited her.