Chapter 9: I'm Keeping the Shirt, Though
"It's not that bad, really."
I took another bite of bland, runny pumpkin pie. Honestly, it was the worst pumpkin pie I'd ever eaten, and that included my sister's. Jennifer was much better now, but when she was learning…
"Yes it is. It's horrible, just like the turkey and the potatoes…Merlin's pants, it's all crap. I'm so sorry."
She looked like she was ready to cry. There was no way I would let her know that this was the worst Thanksgiving meal I'd ever eaten in my life, and that included the year I was stuck in the airport and lived off of vending machines. She'd gone to great lengths to give me an American Thanksgiving. I took a big drink of coffee and forced down the last few bites of pie, hopefully without making a face. She had really tried, but it was apparent that Melody was not a very good cook. The emergency before Ginny's baby shower was obviously not an anomaly. It didn't matter, though, as I was having a Thanksgiving dinner just with her. Well, her and Churchill. He'd jumped on the table at one point and was intent on having some turkey. Eventually Melody had to lock him in her bedroom, which he did not like, as he intermittently let out some loud howling meows.
"You're just being sweet. You didn't have to finish that, you know. Bloody hell, I wish I could cook."
She stood up and took the undercooked turkey and crunchy mashed potatoes and unceremoniously slid them in the garbage. "Come on, we're going out. I will not have you go back to Hogwarts on an empty stomach."
We ended up at a Chinese restaurant and spent the rest of the evening laughing and drinking entirely too much beer. Sometime during our conversation I felt her foot curl around my leg. This was the best Thanksgiving I'd had in ages, as it sure beat watching the Detroit Lions get killed on TV while some distant relative snored in the recliner. Definitely beat the arguments and tension of Thanksgivings with Janine about having to go to my family's Thanksgiving events.
"So, Hank, what are you doing for Christmas?"
"I guess I'm going to stay at Hogwarts. Neville says that some students stay over Christmas, so I'm going to be there with the others that can't see their families." At that moment I thought about the complete chaos that was Christmas at my parents' house, and the idea of a quiet Christmas didn't sound so bad.
"That's nice, I'm sure the students who stay will appreciate that." She started twirling a piece of hair in her hands.
"What do you want to ask me, Melody? I know you well enough so far to know that you've got something on your mind when you do that."
She stopped twirling her hair immediately. "I guess I must be pretty obvious. Ok, here goes. Mum wants you to come over for Boxing Day tea. Are you up to that? You don't have to."
"No, I'd like to. Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, right?"
"Yes. She's been pestering me for a while now. I swear that woman is relentless when she's got an idea in her head."
Well, I don't want to make your Mom angry. Tell her that I would be happy to come over on Boxing Day."
I looked around the room for a moment and realized that we were the only people in the restaurant except for one man reading The Daily Prophet in the corner.
"I guess it's getting late. I have to teach tomorrow, and I think my shadow is ready for us to leave as well."
"Your shadow?" She adjusted her glasses and then looked around the room. "The man in the corner?"
"Yep, I'm pretty sure that's the Auror on 'Hank Duty' tonight. We should get him home soon."
Melody wouldn't let me pay for our Chinese, which was good as I'd forgotten my Wizarding money back at Hogwarts. We walked back to her place and watched as snow began to start falling in very small flakes. When we arrived back at the house I walked towards the fireplace with her, holding hands.
"I guess I'd better Floo back now. Classes tomorrow, you know."
She was standing next to me, her glasses pushed up on her head. I could see the very faint echo of freckles on the bridge of her nose. Damn she smelled good.
"I know. I wish you could stay longer, but I have work tomorrow, too." She came closer and put her arms around my neck. "I won't see you then, so I just want to give you an early birthday present." With that she leaned up and gave me a damn good kiss, one of those that almost makes you lightheaded.
We broke apart eventually. "How did you know?"
She smiled up at me. Damn I liked seeing that smile.
"A girl has her ways. Now off you go."
I woke up Christmas morning to find presents at the foot of my bed. There was a coffee mug in the shape of a Snitch from the house elves, a dark blue knitted sweater (or jumper, as they say) from Molly Weasley and a nice collection of books from Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry. Neville had given me a plant with a note that explained how rare it was, as well as instructions on keeping it alive. I was going to need his help on that one. I saved the package with Melody's writing for last, and upon unwrapping it I found a very impressive bound leather collection of Winston Churchill's The History of the English Language in five volumes; they weren't first editions but they were very old. I remembered that the versions I knew had four volumes, but apparently there was an extra volume in the Wizarding edition. Luckily I had Hermione on my side to help out, as I had owled her right after Thanksgiving in a panic on what to get Melody and everybody else for Christmas. I gave George the money to pay for everything, as he was seeing Hermione and Ron at The Burrow for dinner the weekend after Thanksgiving, so with Weasley Christmas elves everything had been taken care of.
I imagined Melody opening her present, and hopefully she liked the scarf. It was a dark-blue one in the same fabric as Ginny's red carpet dress. Hermione had thought my idea was good, but she sounded a bit worried about the expense. What else was I going to spend my Wizarding money on? After all, I was at Hogwarts with no real expenses, thanks to my "anonymous benefactor" named Harry Potter, not to mention my salary. Hermione had also been thrilled about my idea of presents for house elves and took it upon herself to select the perfect items. As for everybody else I was clueless, but Hermione said she'd take care of that as well. I also told her that even though it was worse than tacky, she was to pick herself out something very nice. When I told her how much I was spending she was shocked, but it was the least I could do. I hoped everyone liked their presents, especially the house elves. I had no idea what the presents were, but I trusted Hermione, after all, if anyone knew more about house elves I hadn't heard of them.
I spent the morning leafing though my new books and started up Churchill's wizarding volume when Neville knocked on my door. I let him in, but he didn't look like he had good news.
"I'm sorry to bother you on Christmas morning, Hank."
Whatever it was didn't look like good news at all. He was breathing deeply and looked pale. "Its fine, Neville. What's wrong?"
"I just received an owl. Minerva McGonagall passed away this morning."
"I'm so sorry, Neville. Is there anything I can do?"
"No, thank you. I just thought you should know." With that he sighed, nodded his head at me and left my room.
Happy Christmas, indeed.
The Christmas dinner was a somber affair, nobody seemed to talk much as the news had obviously spread throughout the school. I ended up at a table with students from different houses, and all of my attempts to spread any Christmas cheer were met by deafening silence or quiet, monosyllabic statements. Hagrid made a late entrance, but the sounds of his using a handkerchief to loudly blow his nose only accentuated the feeling in the room. I thought that Neville might say something to the students, but he looked lost in his own thoughts. I knew he had planned to have Christmas with his Gran and maybe Hannah, but that obviously didn't happen. I guess the loss of Minerva combined with the fact that he was now perhaps the permanent Headmaster was weighing heavily upon him.
I went to my rooms with a swirl of guilt, grief and expectation playing around in my head. I was sad that Minerva had passed away, but I didn't know her very well. To me she was a very nice lady who had given me one of the best presents I had ever received. She'd given me great advice during our one lunch, and I knew she was respected by almost everyone. I felt guilty because I wasn't feeling as the others were feeling, but I knew that was just because I hadn't been one of her students; I didn't know her like they did. As for the expectation, well Boxing Day was just hours away. I was looking forward to seeing Melody, but meeting her mother…well, that was the part that made me nervous. After looking though my closet for about an hour and trying to decide what's proper to wear, I eventually laid my clothes out and tried to relax. Easier said than done, I found myself looking through a book on Quidditch from Ron, mostly just reading the captions underneath the moving pictures. Some academic I am. Eventually I found myself thinking about Minerva again, and looked over at Balthasar. The least I could do for her would be to support her friends. That would be my role. Somewhat settled, I finally turned in and slept like a very sound rock.
"Are you sure I look ok?"
I sat on her couch wearing my grey flannel pants, white shirt and navy v-neck sweater. The wingtips were hurting my feet a bit, but that was honestly the least of my worries. Melody was gathering packages into a bag that was the size of a reusable shopping bag, and they were disappearing into it with no problem. More Tardis "bigger on the inside" stuff, but I really wasn't concerned about that.
"Hank, you look fine. Quite nice, actually. Do try to not fall apart on me, it's just my Mum. And my Aunt and Uncle." She stopped in the middle of the room. "Uh, and my cousin and her husband. That's it, really. You'll be fine." With the last of the presents in the bag she laid it on the chair. "I'm sorry; I'd forgotten that we were doing Christmas with my Aunt's family today. Don't worry, you'll be fine."
"But I didn't bring anything. I feel like a bad guest."
"You are most certainly not a bad guest. You've been invited to tea. It's just tea. We don't have to stay long."
"If you say so, Melody. So, your Mom…any tips?"
She stood in front of the big floral patterned chair and let herself fall into its arms. "Well, Mum is kind of old-fashioned. For Merlin's sake don't let her know I have a tattoo, I'd never hear the end of it. Other than that, just be your normal, polite self." She leaned back her head and rested it on the back of the chair, looking up at the ceiling. "Just try and avoid talking about the war if at all possible. We're definitely leaving before she gets the firewhiskey out; Uncle Reggie will say something awful after he's had a few. He always does."
She stood up and looked at the sides of her white blouse; telltale signs that Churchill had been in the chair before were all over her back as well.
"Um, do you have a lint roller around here anywhere? I can help you out with that."
She looked at me and grinned. "You silly Muggle. I'm a witch." With that she took out her wand and the cat hair was instantly off of her blouse. "But you can help me with these damned heels." I stood by her and she put her hands on my shoulder while she slipped into her shoes. "Please don't let me fall in these things."
After assuring her that I'd do no such thing, she took the bag off of the chair, took my hand in hers and we apparated out of the house.
Melody told me previously that her Mom lived in a country home, and in my mind that meant a place like my Aunt and Uncle's house in Minnesota, a smallish house on some land with a barn. Obviously, a country home in England means something entirely different, as I thought I was walking onto a BBC historical drama set. Even with the snow covering everything I could tell that there was a wonderful garden and landscape out front, and the house? To my American eyes it looked more like something that the Royal Family would use on weekends.
I. Am. Screwed.
As we were walking up the, um, driveway? The lane? What the hell do you call it? Anyway, while we were walking up to the house two massive black dogs came out to greet us, or more likely, to warn us that we were definitely on their territory. I stood still as Melody shook her head.
"I hate these dogs. Most dogs I like, but these two…" She took a deep breath. "MUM! COME GET YOUR BLOODY DOGS!"
I grew up around dogs, so I didn't do anything. I simply stood there and looked at two mastiffs barking at me like I was either their worst enemy. Or lunch.
"Brutus! Cassius! Come!" A very thin, tall blonde woman stood at the door. Upon hearing her voice the two mastiffs turned and trotted over to her.
Melody leaned over and whispered "I hate those two. I'll make her put them away until we leave."
"Really, it's fine. I don't mind, Melody." With that she took a hold of my hand and we walked towards the door, her steps wobbling occasionally in the heels.
The thin, blonde woman reached out to Melody. "Gwennie, so good to see you, darling." She held Melody's hand and kissed her on the cheek. "Your scarf is wonderful." Then she stepped back. "Oh, what have you done to your hair?"
Melody looked slightly pained. "Good to see you too. The scarf was a Christmas present from Hank, and it's called a haircut. Mum, this is Hank. Hank, this is my Mum, Lane."
I extended my hand. "Very nice to meet you, ma'am." She took my hand and held it very slightly. A multitude of gold bangles on her wrist jingled as we shook hands.
"So nice to meet you, finally." She looked over at Melody after that last part. "Now do come in before you catch your death of cold."
Her hair was immaculately done and fell to just below her shoulders. Her eyes were grey and I didn't have to look long before knowing that her cream colored outfit must have cost a pretty penny, let alone the earrings and necklace. I was completely out of my element.
As we followed her mother into the house I leaned down and whispered "Gwennie?"
"Later. Come on." She led me through a very large entrance room until we arrived in what looked like a library out of a movie set, the fireplace was roaring and the light played off of the wood paneled walls covered in paintings. I was holding on to her hand for dear life at that point.
Melody and I sat on the smaller, leather couch as her family unwrapped presents. I didn't recognize most of the items, so I chalked it up to more Wizarding Stuff That I Don't Get. As Melody unwrapped a cookbook (Beginners Cooking for Witches) from her Aunt Emily, I looked at the family in front of me. Uncle Reggie was wearing a bright blue tie with a sweater and tan pants, he looked about fifty or so and was in desperate need of a few years on a treadmill. His wife, Melody's Aunt Emily, was also tall, blonde and thin and several years younger than her husband. Her legs were crossed elegantly and the black skirt was artfully draped over her legs. I swore that instead of being with Melody's mother and aunt I was meeting with several retired models. The cousin and husband, Amelia and Clive more specifically, were a bit older than Melody and were quite reserved. I don't know that I ever saw them touch each other the whole time, and you could have sat Hagrid between them on the couch and still had room to spare. So much for being newlyweds, as I had been informed earlier. Everyone was very polite, but there was none of the warmth of The Burrow here. When Melody excused herself for a moment the two mastiffs made their entrance and came over to me and made low growls.
"Brutus! Cassius! Please behave." Lane looked at me with a slightly apologetic look. "I'm so sorry. I do hope they haven't given you a fright."
"No, they just reminded me of a quote. 'Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste of death but once.' It's ok." I laughed a bit and extended my hand toward the dogs, palm out. They sniffed me for a minute. One of them decided he'd had enough and walked away, but the other began enthusiastically licking my hand.
Lane looked surprisingly at me. "Shakespeare? I'm impressed. Not too many of my friends know where their names come from. Cassius, stop that."
The dog ceased licking and left the room. At least the dogs were fairly well behaved. "Before I came to Hogwarts I taught Literature. I've always liked Shakespeare, mostly the tragedies. Never been too fond of the comedies. You must be a fan of Shakespeare or history to name them Brutus and Cassius."
I felt the entire eyes of the room on me as Lane explained. "The Witch's Guild sponsored some performances; we were doing Julius Caesar when I got the boys." She looked up at Melody, who picked that moment to re-enter the room.
"What?" Melody sat back down. "What did I miss?"
"You never told us your…" She paused, and then continued, motioning towards me. "Your friend was interested in the classics, Gwennie."
Lane took a sip of tea. I didn't know how she managed to do that and look so elegant. I know I had to look like a truck driver in a hurry drinking out of a little girl's plastic tea set.
"Mum, it was in The Prophet that Hank taught Literature before he came to Hogwarts."
"That's right, I remember reading that." Reggie looked pleased with himself. "Professor Henry Aaron MacDonald Boyd. Saw the pictures, too. Kilt, eh? And with Ginny Potter."
This was the time that I had dreaded, Ask-The-Muggle. I knew it was just part of the getting to know someone process, but this somehow seemed different. "It was a formal occasion, and I was just helping out as Harry was busy with Auror stuff." Stuff? God, I must have sounded like an idiot. Language!
"Oh, so you're Scottish."
She spoke! It was Aunt Emily, who I don't think had uttered anything else besides "yes, please" and "thank you" the whole time I'd been there. She commented on my heritage with a tone approaching "oh my, who has broken wind?"
I nodded. "On my mother's side. I've been doing some research on my family tree, and I've traced them back to Scotland. I couldn't have done it without Molly Weasley's help." After saying that things went oddly quiet for several awkward moments.
"Hank's doing a great job at Hogwarts. His students are doing very well in Muggle Studies."
Thank you, Melody for coming to my rescue.
Lane nodded politely. "Muggle Studies, yes." Long pause. "So sad to hear about Minerva McGonagall. I'm sure she will be greatly missed at Hogwarts. I know I was never one of her favorite students, but Hieronymus thought the world of her. Gwennie, I know you thought well of her."
"Yes, Mum. She was wonderful. I know she'll be missed by all of her former students."
I sat there and drank my tea, rationing it so that I'd have something to do so I wouldn't have to talk much. Everyone seemed as if they really didn't want to be there at all, that they'd rather be anyplace else. I know I would have.
The official Boxing Day tea was over, and things were coming to a close. People were in different rooms talking about God knows what when Uncle Reggie looked at me and jerked his head towards another room. I followed and when I got close he pulled a little flask out of his pocket.
"This stuff's the only thing that keeps me sane at these things."
I took the flask, downed a bit of firewhiskey and handed it back to him. He took a long pull, and with a grin capped the flask and put it back into his pocket.
"So, Hank, seen her starkers yet?"
"Uncle Reggie!" Unbeknownst to us Melody was close by; she walked up and smacked him on the shoulder. "Honestly!"
Before anyone could do anything else Lane walked in, and placed her hand on Melody's upper arm. "Gwennie? A word please?"
While Melody followed Lane into the other room Reggie fished out the flask again.
"Here, take the bloody thing. You'll need it more than I will tonight." He took out his wand and tapped it against the flask. "Almost empty, and that simply won't do. Charm should give you about ten refills, give or take."
"Thanks. I appreciate it." I looked towards the room with the now-closed door.
Reggie put his arm around my shoulder. "Trust me; you don't want to be in the middle of that. If they don't come out soon it'll be another record. I think it's been five Boxing Day rows, or is it six? I can't recall. She'll be in a right state when you leave."
I took a pull off of the flask and offered it to him. He shook his head no. "I take it they don't get along?"
"Fair figuring. Gwennie's more like her Dad than her Mum. I miss that chap; kept the birds sane."
The door opened and Melody came directly towards me very quickly, only wobbling once in her heels. "Time to say our goodbyes now, Hank. We're leaving." Her face did not look like she was very happy at all.
I shook hands with Reggie and then proceeded to say goodbye to everyone very politely, making special effort on not stumbling over my words when speaking to Lane, trying to be as polite and gracious as possible. We then gathered our things and walked out the door into the cold. I could see from Melody's rapid breath in the cold air that she was not in a pleasant mood.
"Did I do something wrong, Melody?"
"No. My Mum is impossible. Let's go home." With that she grabbed my arm and we apparated away.
When we arrived at Melody's place I ended up landing on my butt in the middle of the living room. Apparating was not my favorite means of transport, to say the least. I watched Melody lean down, take off her heels and throw them across the room.
"Bloody hell, Melody."
"Don't say that, Hank. It sounds awful with your American accent."
"Ok, Merlin's pants or fucking hell, then. What happened?" I got up off of the floor and sat in the flowered chair.
"Mum is an awful person. Do you know what she wanted to talk to me about in the library? She'd heard that Brian Bottlesworth and Mafilda Kensington had broken up. She said that he was such a nice wizard, and he was doing quite well at the Ministry. Very good prospects and some rot. She had lunch with his mother the other day and…"
I didn't get it. "Yeah, so?"
"Hank, she wants me to go out with him. She said you're too old for me, and…"
I got it now. "And I'm a Muggle."
"Right. She'll probably take it out on Leeky." She stopped and closed her eyes for a minute. "The house elf. Honestly I wonder how I could ever be related to her sometimes, let alone be her daughter. I mean, I bring you over for tea. She nagged me for weeks to invite you. She doesn't like my hair, she thinks that it makes my face look fat and that I did it to make you happy. It's obvious to everybody in the house that you're my boyfriend, and then she tries to set me up with Brian Bottlesworth. As if. He's the last damn person on earth that I would ever go out with. She kept going on about how you are only a few years younger than her, that you teach Muggle Studies which is beneath you. That you have the brain for better things but obviously no ambition. Most of all that I am being a silly little girl."
As she was ranting Melody unbuttoned her blouse, threw it on the couch, then unzipped her skirt in the back and stepped out of it.
"You need to think of your future, Gwennie. Think of all the problems a Muggle would have in the wizarding world. Blah blah blah. She's gone mental. That's the only explanation I have."
I had to admit, even with her as angry as this, I liked what I saw. The Hufflepuff tattoo was moving rapidly, I guessed that it was more animated when her emotions were flaring. Wait. Back up. What did she say? "Did you just say that I'm your boyfriend?"
"Do you think I'd be standing here in my bra and knickers if you weren't my boyfriend? I'm keeping the scarf on, though." She walked over and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the chair.
"Works for me."
The next morning I woke up with Melody's fingers rubbing the small bald spot on the top of my head.
"Are you going to be a cue ball or will you have some hair?"
The sheet was only partially covering her, and even in my newly awakened state and without my glasses I could tell it was a very good view.
"I'll have the stuff around the sides, eventually. Nothing up front or on top, that's what Granddad had. Depends on your maternal grandfather. Good morning, by the way." I leaned up and kissed her. Definitely a good start to the day.
"Good morning, yourself. That won't be so bad." She leaned up and bent an elbow, resting her head on her hand. "I'm really sorry about that lot. Now you know why I don't like going there."
"It's ok, Gwennie." I smirked at her and watched her roll her eyes.
"Merlin. My middle name is Gwendolyn, and that's what my family called me as a kid. I'm named after my Grandmum Bramble, so to keep us straight they called me Gwennie. Grandmum passed away years ago and they won't stop calling me that."
Churchill had heard us talking so he jumped on the bed, walked directly between us and flopped down. I reached over and rubbed his belly. He purred loudly and then took his paw and batted at Melody's hair. She reached down and scratched him under the chin.
"Yes, your majesty, I know you require breakfast." She reached over to the beside table and grabbed her wand. "Accio cat food." A can of catfood came floating into the room and landed on the bed. "Arrgh, Forgot the can opener. I have to feed the royal personage now, but you stay there. I'll be right back."
Without a thought she slid out of bed, and I watched her pick up my white button-down shirt and put it on, all the while walking into the kitchen, trailed by a vocal Churchill.
Moments later Melody came in and stood at the foot of the bed, hair disheveled and her curves making my shirt look much better than I ever could. "Would you like me to make you breakfast?"
I remembered the last time she cooked, and the gift of the cookbook, and said "Why don't you let me make breakfast? I'll show you the Muggle way."
She laughed, and then looked disappointed. "I'm sorry I'm a rubbish cook. Maybe you could teach me sometime?"
I sat up and rubbed the stubble on my face. "Sure. But for now I just want you to make some coffee or tea and let me take care of the rest." Then I remembered my inability to work her oven. "You'll probably have to work the stove, though. I don't think I can do that."
"Well, don't feel bad, because I'm crap at that as well."
I like making breakfast compared to the other meals, but it is a pain, with all of the pans and dishes involved. At the end I was happy with the results, over-easy eggs, bacon, sausages, toast, jam, some fried potatoes…all in all not a bad breakfast. We sat at her little table, her still wearing my shirt and me in my boxers and t-shirt. Cooking bacon shirtless is never a good idea.
"Good thing you can cook. If it wasn't for restaurants and takeaway I'd probably starve." Melody popped the last bit of toast in her mouth.
"House elves do it all at Hogwarts, so I'm a little out of practice. I did some cooking at a truck stop when I was in high school. Mom and Gran also taught me quite a bit." I took another big sip of tea. Damn, how did I get this lucky?
"Hank? Hank?"
"Mmm? Sorry, spaced off there. What was I saying?"
"Your Mum and Gran taught you to cook?"
"Yeah, Mom used to be a caterer. Plus growing up I was always hungry, and Mom told me when I was about twelve, one night after supper, that she had closed the kitchen for the night and if I wanted anything I'd have to cook it myself. So I did. Learned how to do laundry the same way."
"Well, at least you're domesticated" she giggled.
"Thanks, I think." I took another sip of tea and remembered something. "Melody, why did everybody go quiet when I mentioned Molly Weasley?"
She put down her tea and sighed deeply. "Mum thinks that, for some reason, the Death Eaters that killed Dad were looking for Muggles and the Weasley twins. You know Arthur and his love of Muggle stuff. Even though there's no proof at all Mum thinks that somehow it's the Weasley's fault that Dad was killed." She shook her head disgustedly. "Mum even had words with Molly once in Diagon Alley. I was so embarrassed."
The soft thumping of an owl was heard at the window, changing the mood entirely. Melody got up and let the owl in, giving it an owl treat from the bowl by the window.
"It's for you, Hank." She handed me the letter.
I opened it up and read it quickly. Damn. "I've got to go, it's from Neville. There's a Hogwarts staff meeting this afternoon. I guess it's about what to do now that Minerva is gone." I stood up from the table. "I guess I should be going then."
Melody leaned up and kissed me. "Well, you should be going, then. I'm keeping the shirt, though."
It was definitely more than a staff meeting, as Kingsley Shacklebolt, Percy Weasley and other wizards who looked Very Important were in attendance. After a bit of milling around and sad small talk everyone found a seat. Kingsley stood to address everyone.
"The Board of Governors has called this meeting to determine the Headmaster position for the duration of the term. Before leaving today we will need a statement crafted to deliver to the press, as I have already had several owls inquiring about what we will do in the wake of Minerva's passing. I know I am not alone in grieving for her loss, but we would do well to remember her dedication to the students of Hogwarts. In addition, plans must be made for the funeral, as I expect there will be a large number of attendees. Due to the nature of recent events…" Kingsley looked directly at me, then away "security will also be of paramount importance. Let us begin."
After Kingsley sat down Percy Weasley began going through several rolls of parchment, reading them in a tone that I know he thought was very serious, but honestly it was putting me to sleep. I tried fighting it, but couldn't help myself. I yawned. I just hoped nobody had seen me.
"Didn't get enough sleep? Up late last night?" The grinning face of George Weasley was leaning across the table. I swear that man has a special sense of how to say something completely innocent and embarrass the hell out of me. Before I could say anything he was moving around to sit next to me.
"Budge up there, Cho." Professor Chang moved over to let George slide in next to me. "So, how was Boxing Day at the Brambles?"
"How did you know?"
"Ginny and Melody. Girls, you know they talk to each other about everything."
Oh shit. Well, then again, who cares if everybody knows? I would love to show off Melody. "It was awful. I'll tell you later. We probably need to listen to this." I watched an older wizard in green robes stand up and start talking about educational consistency or something like that.
"Hell no, I'm only here for this year." George grabbed my arm. "Come on, Cho will tell us if we need to be here, won't you, Cho?"
"Yes, George, I'll let you know. From the sounds of it this could go on quite some time." Cho looked at her watch, and then back to George. "They have a break scheduled in a few minutes anyway. Just don't make it obvious."
For some reason we ended up back in my room. George had looked nervous about going to his room, stammering something about "not the best environment for a man-meeting right now" or something like that. I sat in the green chair while George sat in my desk chair with his feet up on my desk.
"So, Boxing Day? Met the Mum?"
I nodded. "Yeah, it was awful. Everybody there acted like they were just too, I don't know…"
"Like they had a stick up their arse?"
"Yeah, that's it. Except for her Uncle Reggie. He gave me an enchanted firewhiskey flask. But they were, I don't know, overly polite. When I mentioned your Mom…"
George winced. "Not the best play, there. But you didn't know that. Mum told me about her and Lane Bramble in Diagon Alley." He made another face, and then looked worried. "Don't say anything to Dad. She hasn't told him and he'd go spare."
"Sure thing, George. But here's the big finish. At the end of visit Melody's Mom comes and gets her and they go into another room and have a big fight; we left pretty much right after that." I could see the comments coming, but there was no way I was going to be able to stop them.
"Well, Hank, I have to say it was rather interesting that we had to send an owl to you to tell you about the meeting. You being a Hogwarts professor staying over at Christmas, not being in your room this morning. For a meeting at Hogwarts." He was grinning like a total idiot.
"I stayed at Melody's last night" I mumbled.
"Only got one ear, mate. A bit louder, please."
"I STAYED AT MELODY'S LAST NIGHT." I thought I might have said that a bit too loudly. Now I was worried that the group downstairs or somebody in Wales had heard.
George must have guessed my fears as he nodded his head towards the door. "Don't worry, hit us with a muffliato the minute we walked in here. I'm brilliant at nonverbals." He swung his feet down to the floor. "Good for you. She's a cute one. Easy to tease, too. I like that. Can't wait to see her again."
"Don't, George. For me, please? Just let her be for a while."
"All right, all right. I'll take a week off. At least we know you'll be around for a bit, then. Hate to see you leave after the school year ends."
Damn, I hadn't even thought about that. If I kept going out with Melody that would mean that I wouldn't be able to see my family again. Secrecy statutes. Fuck me.
"Whoa, Hank. What happened there? You went all weird on me." George actually looked a bit serious, which shocked me.
"Are you actually concerned or are you giving me shit?"
"Concerned. It can happen, just don't tell anybody. What's up?"
I told George my newly discovered fear that eventually I was going to have to choose Melody or going back to my family, as well as all of the things that Lane Bramble had said about me. I also ended up going into how everything was so different with Melody as compared to Janine. Melody thought about me more than herself, she did a bunch of little things that I was sure couples take for granted, but I didn't. I'd been through enough crap with Janine that I just assumed that's how people in relationships were, that the stuff from movies and television and books was just fiction. That most of all Melody made me feel like I was alive, finally living my life instead of hoping to. And, most importantly, that she'd called me her boyfriend.
"Well, don't muck it up then."
"Gee, thanks, George. That's awesome advice."
"No problem whatsoever.
A flash of light outside my window brought our attention away from the conversation.
"Oh hell, I forgot about Cho." George took out his wand and waved it a bit, and sure enough we heard knocking on my door. I opened the door and an irritated Charms professor entered my room.
"Nice, George. How was I supposed to tell you what's going on?"
"Sorry, Cho. What is going on?"
Cho walked over and sat on the edge of my desk. "They've decided that Neville will be Headmaster on a conditional basis. They'll re-evaluate at the end of the year and if things go well he'll be the new permanent Headmaster. Minerva's funeral will be in Scotland, any student who wishes to attend will be required to notify the Ministry so they can set up appropriate security." She looked over at George in an expression that could only be classified as exasperation. "You know you missed the break and the second part of the meeting. It's all over now."
"Best kind of meeting. Over."
Cho rolled her eyes and set out towards the door. "Neville is pretty nervous right now, so any help you can give him would be greatly appreciated. Try not to blow up your students or anything, George. Goodbye, Hank." With that she was gone, leaving George chuckling.
George shook his head. "Blow up my students. Really, I'll never know what Harry saw in her."
Harry? "What do you mean, George?"
"She was his first kiss. Room of Requirement. Wonderful room, that one. Just don't mention her name around Ginny. She's still not too fond of her, and in her current pregnant state, Merlin knows what the results of that mood swing would be like."
I laughed a bit. "George, you really have a way with women."
"Ah, speaking of that, um, Hank, I may need your assistance on something." I watched George take out his wand and muffliato the room again. "The, uh, ah, reason, yes, the reason that I said we needed to come to your room to talk is, well, and I need some advice, some guidance…"
"Good grief, George, spit it out." I'd never seen this side of him. What could be freaking out a man who had fought in the war, lost an ear, ran a very successful business and was teaching at Hogwarts (and doing it very well) with no instructional background whatsoever?
"Angelina stayed in my room last night and I need help to pick out a ring because I asked her to marry me and she said yes but not officially until I have a ring and we're getting married on New Year's Eve."
"Holy shit! Sure, I'll help." Then I started laughing and couldn't stop for a while.
"What's so funny?" He looked worried.
"If Molly knew what you just told me she'd absolutely kill you."
"You wouldn't?"
"Just remember that the next time you think for a second about teasing Melody." I was one up on George Weasley, Master Prankster.
