It's so entertaining to watch your reactions to this story! Some people hate Cora, others love her. Some of you are worried about Severus and Harry, some cant wait to see them suffer - and all this makes me so incredibly happy :3

~ Chapter Three: You Gobermouch ~

Cora didn't like travelling anywhere nowadays. In her age, it was no wonder at all. Old bones hurt all the time, though she was a lady and she would never complain aloud, only perhaps for Carlson. Carlson understood. Travelling wasn't for her, and really, it should have been Minerva, who would get up from her high chair and brought her boney back over here to Griffinstone, not the other way around. Scotland was dreadfully far away, and all those noisy children and the moving staircases, really it would be a wonder if Cora still found her way to the Headmistress's office.

However, she would try.

Minerva was the one to bury the hatchet and send an invitation, it was only the right thing to do to accept it and not complain. Which was why, Carlson was now helping her coat on, ready to send her Mistress off to Hogwarts. Unfortunately, her Mistress wasn't so certain about whether this meeting should be happening or not. It had been so long since she had seen Minerva. What was even the point of all this?

As Appariton in her age was out of the question, even side apparition would leave her with a couple broken bones most likely, it was either a Griffin or Floo Powder. Though she like the idea of appearing in front of Minerva McGonagall, headmistress of Britain's best wizarding school, on the back of a beautiful griffin, she wasn't sure she would be able to sit, or even talk after a several hours long journey in the sky. Hence, she decided on the powder and warm confines of the fireplace.

The green flames were dancing in front of her and she stared at them for a few seconds, hypnotized. Carlson put a gentle hand on her waist to stir her towards the flames. Improper the motion might have been, without that she probably never would have departed from her home.

After a couple minutes of mad swirling, she stepped out from the fireplace as gracefully as one could. There was not a single spot of smudge on her purple robes. She was truly the excellent example of a noble, aristocrat witch.

"Good morning, Cora." Said Minerva from behind her large desk.

Cora had seen many Headmasters and Headmistresses behind that desk, and not many managed to look that terrifying as her.

She took off her hat and placed it onto one of the chairs. "You always had a knack for ignoring etiquette, Minnie."

"No one had called me that in quiet some time," the Headmistress noted in a weak tone.

"How long has it been?" Cora asked, pulling down her white lace gloves, dropping them onto her hat on the chair. "Fifty years?"

"Fifty-two," Corrected Minerva. "But who's counting."

"It was a long time ago." Sighed Cora.

"They say true friendship never fades." Noted Minerva, swishing a wand. A teapot rose to the air and started pouring tea into two cups. One floated to Cora once full of hot steaming breakfast tea, and two cubes of sugar hopped into the drink.

"Except when one disinherits her only daughter."

"What you did to Eileen isn't why I asked you here."

"Oh, I know that." Cora sniffed. "It's not out of friendly love either, is it? It is because of Severus." She stirred the tea with a silver spoon, then took a small sip. "Or perhaps, you just missed my company terribly." She said sarcastically.

"I assure you," glared McGonagall, "the latter would never cross my mind."

"And yet, here I am." Cora noted merrily.

"What are your plans with Severus Snape, Cora? Have you not tormented him enough in the last decades?"

"Torment him? I have no such thing in mind, Minnie." She placed her cup down. "And besides, he has Potter at his sides now to protect him from any tormentor."

"Potter?" Minerva asked, frowning.

"Oh yes, that dear boy had made my Severus fall for him apparently. My grandson cancelled his courtship and I assume now he intends to marry Potter."

"Worse matches had been made in history," was all Minnie's comment.

"You approve!" Cried Cora. "I am surprised. Dumbledore's company must have rubbed off on you."

"My opinion on a lot of subjects has changed during the fifty or so years we have not talked." The Headmistress agreed.

"Well then, we shall invite you to the wedding…" Cora promised, then added quietly, "if they survive the courtship."

"The courtship?" Minerva echoed dangerously, leaning forward.

"Well, my dear, you know how things are in my world." Said Cora with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "Some things must happen."

"I don't remember your courtship, Cora!" Hissed Minerva. "You met your husband and you fall for him, the next month you two were engaged and then married."

"I may have an ulterior motive…" Confessed Cora painfully.

"Which is?" Nagged Minerva.

There was a momentarily pause in which Cora hesitated whether it was truly a good idea to admit this to Minnie McGonagall, but then she rolled her eyes and shrugged, lady like. "I'm bored. Absolutely, mind-numbingly bored, Minnie. I need some entertainment, and you should have seen Potter's expression when I asked him about the courtship! Oh, it was a delight – the panic, the uncertainty, the terror. This is going to be so much fun!"

"Cora Prince, you gobermouch! You have not changed anything in the past fifty years, have you?" Cried Minerva.

"Not in the least, my dear Minnie," chuckled Cora. "And I'm sure, though your opinion has changed in many ways, you would not be averse to joining me on this little adventure. I promise not to be so hard on Potter, after all, I do want him to marry Severus. Besides, those two have been awful to poor Carlson, teasing him all the time. I now made him their chaperone. Can you imagine?" Cora laughed heartedly.

Minerva watched her for moments, her strict gaze not faltering for even a second. Just when Cora was about to take back all she had said and leave defeated, Minerva snorted loudly and started laughing. Portrays over them murmured upset for being woken from their slumber, yet the Headmistress just laughed delighted.

They continued chatting for half an hour more, but in the end Minerva had to return to her duties.

"I expect you for dinner this weekend," Cora said placing a kiss on Minerva's cheeks as a goodbye. "Have a nice day, Minnie."

"Cora," Minerva called just as she was about to step into the green flames. "It was good seeing you again."