Chapter 4-A Happy Ending
Author's note: I really meant to update sooner, but I was away this weekend. Sorry! Anyway, here's the next chapter. It's inspired by the feast scene in the Chamber of Secrets movie.
Minerva McGonagall surveyed the Great Hall from her seat at the staff table. It was the end of term, and for once in her life, Minerva was glad. This had been such a trying year; students had been petrified, Albus had (temporarily) been removed from the Headmaster position, Hagrid had been taken to Azkaban, and the Chamber of Secrets had been reopened. Minerva looked down the staff table and sighed.
"Albus, where is Hagrid? He should have been here by now," she said anxiously.
"I'm sure everything is alright. But he should have been here by now."
His words were not reassuring, but Minerva tried not to worry about Hagrid. She looked around the Great Hall again. Her eyes stopped on the Gryffindor Table and two Gryffindors in particular. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were sitting together, looking tired but otherwise in good spirits. She smiled, thinking about what they did in the Chamber of Secrets. They were two typical Gryffindors; they didn't mind breaking rules at all, and were brave almost to the point of recklessness. But they were loyal and cared about the welfare of their friends. She was proud that they were in her house.
Minerva noticed the empty seat next to Harry. "Albus, how is the Mandrake Draught coming?"
"Madam Pomfrey is administering it to the petrified students right now," he replied.
As he said this, the door to the Great Hall opened, and the students who had been petrified headed to join their house at the feast. Minerva and Albus watched as Hermione ran over and greeted Harry and Ron. It was good to see friends being reunited.
"Sorry I'm late," Minerva heard someone say, and she looked up to see Hagrid enter the Great Hall. He was hugged by Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Albus slipped his hand into Minerva's and smiled at her. She smiled back with a smile so brilliant that Albus fell in love with her all over again. He squeezed her hand briefly before letting it go. It was their way of communicating their love for each other when they were in public without revealing their relationship.
Later that evening, Minerva knocked on Albus' door, and entered his office when he invited her in. He was sitting at his desk, but stood up when he saw that it was her. Minerva walked over to him and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Is something wrong, my dear?" he asked.
"No, I'm just tired. It's been a tiring year, and I'm glad it's over."
Albus nodded. "It was pretty bad for a while. Even I was worried."
"At least there was a happy ending to it. I hope next year is a quiet, normal year."
Albus laughed. "A normal year at Hogwarts? I don't think that's possible!"
Minerva laughed too. She and Albus stayed in their embrace for a long time, enjoying their rare quiet time together. It had been a tough year, but it had ended well, and Minerva was thankful for that.