Chapter Three – Still Minerva's POV
At the Christmas Eve Feast/Dinner
Minerva slid into a chair, surprised to see the Great Hall so empty, then again, she reminded herself, the war would bring families closer together and parents would want to see their children. There were only two other students there, about half of the school's staff, along with a woman that she didn't recognize. Besides her, Minerva was happy to see Rubeus Hagrid, who, although no longer a Gryffindor, still someone she felt she could talk to without having Armando question her any longer. But to her dismay, on her other side, the Potions Master, Horace Slughorn, took a seat besides her as soon as she sat down, looking worried. On Horace's other side, sat Tom Riddle, a sixth year Slytherin who had few friends and, according to him, had gotten the most of Slytherin's house points each year.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Head Girl," Tom laughed quietly, making sure no one heard him, "What've you been doing all year, locked up in your rooms. Honestly, call yourself Head Girl? What kind of Head Girl skips class?" He laughed, turning to a fourth-year Slytherin besides him, and he gave another laugh, muttering something else.
"Ignore 'im," Rubeus frowned, "he's jus' a whole lot o' trouble." He laughed, taking a bite of a dinner roll and continuing, "Although he's righ' – where 'ave you been this year Minerva? None o' us see yeh around anymore…" he trailed off, seeing a glare Armando was giving him from across the table. "Never min' – happy Christmas Eve, 'ope it's a good one … with Dumbledore gone an' all …" he trailed off as tears slipped down Minerva's cheeks.
"I hope so too," Minerva choked out between sobs, ignoring Tom and his friend's laughter behind their hands. She wiped her eyes and ignored the worried looks from some of the staff, and shook her head, taking the handkerchief Horace had offered her and blew her nose.
"You an' Dumbledore are close aren't yeh?" Rubeus went on quietly, hoping Armando didn't hear him. Nodding, Minerva gave a slight smile, helping herself to a dinner roll and buttering it quietly, "Sometimes las' year, he call yeh Mina around me, an' I kept wondering why, since he's a teacher an' all." Pouring a mug of hot cocoa, Minerva nodded, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.
"Yeah, Albus called me 'Mina' a lot, I think my mum called me that at first, I'm honestly not sure where Albus got it." Minerva smiled and helped herself to a dish of steaming chili, which according to Rubeus, had been made by Armando earlier that day. "I think it's why Albus allowed me to call him by his first name when I was having my lessons, since we were such good friends."
"Can I call yeh Mina? Or do yeh want me to call yeh Minerva?" Rubeus asked, seeing Minerva smile slightly. Minerva laughed, "Mina is perfectly fine," she shot a look at Tom, "but I only allow my friends to call me Mina. Everyone else has to call me Minerva."
"Pudding?" Horace suddenly turned to Minerva, offering a large silver bowl of what looked like red milk that was partly curdled. Cringing inwardly, Minerva shook her head, shuddering as a few other members of the staff swallowed mouthfuls of the pudding. Horace shrugged, "You missing out Miss McGonagall…" he turned to his own dish and spooned it into his mouth, smiling.
Professor Merrythought, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher turned to her, a worried smile on her face. She was one of Minerva's favorite teachers, and Minerva partly regretted not taking her class, because she knew it would be likely that she would have gone down to the Lake if there were a class to be held there. Her eyes were a soft hazel green and when she spoke, it sounded as if she was singing, "Any careers in mind of next year Miss McGonagall?" she asked, causing about half the table to look her way.
"No, not really," Minerva felt a faint blush creep into her cheeks, "I've considered some things, mostly jobs at the Ministry or odd jobs in Diagon Alley for now, nothing serious."
"You'd be good here Miss McGonagall, if only there were a spot open for next year as a teacher." Professor Ramirez, the Herbology professor put in from his place besides Tom's friend, who's name Minerva couldn't seem to remember.
"A student teacher maybe?" Professor Merrythought suggested, "You did wonderfully in Care of Magic Creatures."
"And Charms," Filius Flitwick added from besides Rubeus, "but I'll bet you've got your eyes on Albus' Transfiguration spot. He doesn't shut up about how well you've done in his classes." Minerva felt a blush creep into her cheeks and inwardly, her stomach flip-flopped, realizing that Flitwick had just spoken her exact feelings.
"Possibly," Minerva nodded, feeling her tears near breaking point at another mention of Albus, "or Potions. But you're right Professor Flitwick, Albus' Transfiguration spot does look good, I've always enjoyed the subject." She felt tears slip down her cheeks, and unable to remain at the table any longer, rose and took of towards the door.