Chapter Eleven – The Start of Term
May 1945
Together they walked towards the small town. To Minerva's surprise, the small main street was full of people. Minerva saw people crying into their hands and others hugging anyone around them.
A young man put his hands on Minerva's waist and lifted her up in the air. "It's over!" he cried. Minerva couldn't help but laugh at everyone's excitement. An older woman hugged her. Everyone seemed to want to celebrate the moment.
An older gentleman stood up on a chair. "There will be no work today!" he cried. "Let's all enjoy this wonderful day!"
The crowd cheered. Minerva felt herself get caught up in the moment. She looked around; Montgomery was smiling at her. Minerva shyly returned his smile. Hardly believing what she was going to do, she walked right up to Montgomery and put her arms around him.
"Thank you," she whispered into his ear. "If it wasn't for you and all the soldiers, we wouldn't be celebrating."
Minerva felt his one arm go round her waist. "Pretty girls like you to come home to make it worth it," he said softly back. They let go and just looked at each other for a moment. Minerva felt herself blush under his gaze. Finally, Montgomery smiled and started walking towards the boarding house.
"Where are you going?" Minerva cried. "Didn't the man say no work today?"
Montgomery grinned. Minerva could see a small gap between his top two front teeth. "Where'd do you think all the working men will want to celebrate? I will have pulled quite a few pints before the day is over!"
Suddenly, Minerva felt out of place without Montgomery next to her. Shaking a few more hands, and hugging a few more, she walked back to the boarding house. As she entered her room, she felt a strong desire to write Albus. If it wasn't for him, this war would still be going on. No one would be celebrating out in the streets.
She sat down at the small writing table in her room and wrote page after page. Minerva thanked him for his bravery, and for his confidence in her to help. When she was finished, she wrote the address of the muggle PO box for the school.
Minerva walked down to the lobby. Montgomery was right. It seemed that everyone wanted to celebrate with a pint in their hand. He had changed from his uniform to a pair of khakis and a gray shirt. He stopped briefly in his work and waved at Minerva. She smiled back at him.
Minerva stayed in the boarding house for two weeks. And every day she spent a portion of the time with Montgomery. She told him all about her brother. He seemed to tell her everything she could want to know about him.
She couldn't explain why, but she held back that she was a witch. Maybe because this seemed like such an ordinary town. Minerva truly didn't know how he would react to the news, so it seemed safer to keep it a secret. Just for now.
They were walking in the early evening, before Montgomery's shift at the bar was about to start. He offered his arm for the first time since they met, and Minerva took it gently.
"So you leave for London tomorrow?" he asked softly.
Minerva nodded. "The summer term starts soon. I have to find a place to stay," she answered.
He walked a few steps away from Minerva. "You know, I think I remember you from way back when," he told her.
"Really?" Minerva asked. "I went to live with my brother when I was five. How old would you have been?"
"Nine," he said. "I remember the Duncans. Please don't take any offense, but people thought they were...odd."
Minerva silently answered, "Because they were wizards." But out loud she said, "I'm sure you were imagining it."
"That's really more of what my parents thought, not me," Montgomery added.
They stood on the edge of a large field. There was a bench, and they both sat down. "So what do you want out of life?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," Minerva answered honestly. "That's why I'm going to University, to help me decide."
"Not many women go to University around here," Montgomery said. Minerva could hear the admiration in his voice.
"Well, I'm not like many other women," Minerva said teasingly.
A silence fell between them. Unlike some silences, this was a very comfortable silence. Minerva didn't feel pressured to speak.
"What do you want out of life?" Minerva asked.
"I want to get out from behind the bar and own my own business," Montgomery said. "I want to find a nice lass, settle down and have a family."
"Isn't the boarding house in your family?" Minerva asked.
Montgomery nodded. "It's my father's now, but it will be left to my older brother. It's hard being the youngest of four sons."
There was another silence. Minerva could tell that Montgomery wanted to say something. But she had no idea what it could be.
"Minerva," he started. "When you go to London...do you ever plan on coming back here?"
Minerva looked into his bright blue eyes and knew that she would like to come back. Very much so. "Depends if I had a reason to come back," she said shyly. Why was he making her act like a schoolgirl?
Before she knew it, Montgomery put his arm around her and kissed her passionately. She opened her mouth slightly and felt his tongue slip into her mouth. Slowly, they explored with tongue on tongue.
Finally they broke apart. "I want you to come back," Montgomery said firmly. Minerva looked up and saw the passion in his eyes.
"Then I'll come back," Minerva said simply.
Minerva looked up at the imposing Victorian house in front of her. "This is your last chance," she whispered to herself. "If you're not hired here..." Minerva didn't want to think about that.
Taking a deep breath all the way down to her toes, she knocked on the large house three times. After a moment, she could see a figure walking down the hallway. The door opened slowly.
"Yes?" asked the man in front of her.
Minerva held out of gloved hand. "I'm Minerva Duncan," she said, sounding much more confidant than she felt. "I'm here about the tutor position."
"Are you a student?" the man asked, clearly looking bored.
"Yes, I am," Minerva said. "I'm looking for a place to earn my keep."
"Well, you're much more respectable looking than the other girls who have been here. The Hooch family is a very prominent family. They won't accept just anyone," the man sneered. "Follow me."
Minerva followed the butler through a long hallway. Paintings filled the walls. She started to ask why the paintings weren't moving, but she held her tongue in time.
"There are two girls. Rebecca is the eldest at eleven. Rolanda is nine." The butler stopped suddenly. "Rolanda's eyes are a color not found in nature. If you say anything about them to her, you can leave."
This peaked Minerva's curiosity to no end. As if on cue, two girls walked through the hallway. Minerva could tell immediately which one was Rolanda. The little girl had eyes that looked like the color of a hawk's eyes. She smiled brightly and was gone in an instant.
Minerva grinned. She would bet twenty galleons that Rolanda was a witch. She hoped that the family would be accepting.
Minerva interviewed with the butler. Then with the housekeeper. Finally, she had a short interview with the children's father. He asked a whole three questions and told her she was hired.
The housekeeper showed Minerva to her room. It was small, but since Minerva didn't have many possessions it would be perfect. "Thank you," Minerva said softly.
"Not a problem, dear. You'll eat with the other servants. Dinner will be at seven," Mrs. Gray said sweetly.
Minerva could tell Mrs. Gray was hoping for more information, probably to tell the other servants. It wasn't every day that a new employee came along.
"I'll see you at dinner," Minerva said firmly.
Without another word, Mrs. Gray left the room. Minerva sat down on her bed and looked out the very small window that was in her room. Again she told herself that she was doing the right thing. Lying back on the pillow, she ran her tongue over her lips, remembering the kisses she had shared with Montgomery just three nights ago. She had never dreamed she would meet such a man in a million years.
He reminded her of Stewart. Montgomery was a little more relaxed about everything. That was probably because he was drafted while Stewart had been a career military man.
Part of her wanted to say to hell with school and stay with him, see where it led. But the more practical side of Minerva had won out, which is how she was here. The tutor of two young girls from a wealthy family.
Two days later, Minerva had her first class. It was a Latin course. Minerva was thrilled to be learning Latin. Since most spells were Latin based, she knew this would give her a whole different perspective of her spell casting.
Then on to English history. Minerva hadn't taken a muggle history class since she was ten years old. It was fascinating to compare the muggle version with the Magic version.
When classes were over for the day, Minerva walked back to her new home. She laughed at herself, realizing that both classes were very good for her Magic education. "Remember, you're a muggle now," Minerva whispered to herself. She knew that would never be completely true, as she patted her handbag, which held her wand.
December 1945Minerva let herself into the large house through the servant's entrance after her last class for the day. It was the final day of classes before two glorious weeks of Christmas break. Overall, Minerva was quite pleased the way her muggle education was going. To her surprise, Minerva found herself at the top of her class in every subject except for Mathematics. Her chemistry class was just like potions. Latin was a snap. And English Literature was wonderful.
As she entered the hallway, she heard a large crash to her right. "Not again!" a small voice cried.
Minerva walked briskly towards the voice. Rolanda was sitting on the floor, her small arms outstretched. Above her were two small vases, with one vase crashed at her feet.
"Minerva!" the young girl cried. "Go away! You shouldn't see this!"
Another vase crashed to the ground. Shards splintered everywhere. Minerva walked up to the final vase and set it down gently on the floor. "You're going to get hurt," Minerva said softly.
She sat next Rolanda, trying to figure out what to tell her.
"I'm a freak," Rolanda cried. "This happens all the time. I don't mean to do any of it. Mummy loved those vases. I'm going to be in so much trouble."
Minerva put her arm around the girl. Rolanda started crying into her shoulder. "Do your parents know?" she asked gently.
Rolanda looked up, frightened. "No! You can't tell them. Please don't tell them!" Rolanda begged.
Minerva smiled. "If I'm going to keep your secret, you have to keep one for me," she told her.
Rolanda hiccupped. "Okay," she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Minerva took her wand out of her handbag. "Do you know what this is?" she asked.
Rolanda yellow eyes went wide. "A magic wand?" she asked excitedly.
"Exactly," Minerva said, tapping Rolanda on the nose. "My magic wand."
Minerva pointed her wand towards the shattered vases and whispered, "Reparo." The vases repaired themselves quickly.
"How'd you do that?" Rolanda asked.
"I told you. Magic," Minerva smiled. "I'm a witch, Ro. I need to write a letter to be sure, but I think you might be just like me."
Rolanda looked at Minerva with awe. "I might be a witch? Is that why my eyes are this color?"
"It's possible," Minerva said. She would write to Albus tonight asking if Rolanda's name was on the list to attend Hogwarts.
Rolanda relaxed next to Minerva. "So I might not be a freak," she said happily.
"That's right. We need to keep this a secret. When I find out for sure, we'll tell your Mum and Dad," Minerva said.
"Deal."
A/N - I'm having trouble formating the spaces between the different sections. Usually, I have a line inbewteen sections, but the document mangaer is not letting me do that. Hopefully you all won't be too confused. Cheers!
