Chapter 14: The dementors project [1958, Summer]
The Ministry's annual ball took on a sombre tone that year. Ignatius Tuft, Wilhemina Tuft's son, had become the Minister for Magic after she passed away in spring due to an unfortunate case of allergy. Ignatius came into power riding on the tailcoat of his mother's popularity. But their personalities were as different as chalk and cheese. While Wilhemina's graciousness allowed her to bring different groups in society together, Ignatius had a narrow view of things and the most outrageous ideas.
The new Minister started promoting the use of magical creatures 'for the good of society' recently. His pet project was to have dementors patrolling the streets regularly so that the wizarding community would would feel safer and magical law enforcers would have more time to rest. Albus always believed him to be slightly deranged, but preferred not to judge at such an early stage of his leadership.
"I'm glad you could come for the ball, I've heard so much about you," Ignatius walked up to Albus quickly at the first sight of him.
"I'm sure you will agree with my methods," Ignatius rambled on, after they had exchanged pleasantries. "Don't you think we will have more time on our hands if we could make the magical creatures work for us?"
"I don't know, Minister. I'm not sure I'd feel quite safe with dementors roaming around my neighbourhood," Albus replied.
"Oh, come on," Ignatius advanced. "Were you not all about the 'greater good' in your youth? I've read all your essays which you published under a pseudonym before you started teaching at Hogwarts, you know."
"I don't think Albus ever advocated for a dementors breeding ground, Minister," Minerva's voice was tart and her lips were thin.
Before Ignatius could continue, Albus asked to be excused on the pretext of a dance and led Minerva away to the floor.
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"I fear for our society in the coming years," Minerva said darkly, as they danced.
"My dear professor, let's leave it to the politicians and the bureaucrats and just enjoy ourselves tonight, we've earned it," Albus said, his eyes twinkling, as he twirled her around.
Minerva gave him a hard stare. "You mustn't let him discredit you, Albus. You're the glue that binds us together when those... politicians and bureaucrats crumble like cakes, and we can't afford to have society think that your intentions are muddled. Whatever that has happened in the past remains there, and I won't have anyone bringing it up again."
He was slightly taken aback by how highly she thought of him, how seriously she viewed his integrity and honour and how defensive she could be of him. And he was moved. He said nothing, but drew her closer to himself as they danced.
xxxxx
They were both so lost in their thoughts that they did not notice another couple coming up to them. Neville Sr and Augusta Longbottom were were a celebrated couple. Neville Sr had gained fame as an Auror, and although Augusta became a homemaker to look after their young son, it was widely known that she was a formidable witch of her own accord.
The two couples met, and after a while, Augusta pulled Minerva aside, leaving Neville Sr to catch up with their old professor.
"Are you quite sure Albus Dumbledore hasn't been treating you like his personal house-elf?" Augusta's eyes narrowed.
"Well, haven't you been saying so since our schooldays?" Minerva was amused. Augusta often joked about her being a house-elf when they were in school because she was always running errands. But over the years, her tone on the subject grew more serious. She often urged Minerva to get on with her life if there was no chance of building a relationship with Albus Dumbledore.
"Great men can be such chauvinistic snobs, Minerva. You've got to be careful of them! You can't let them take advantage of you!" Augusta sounded genuinely concerned.
Seeing that Minerva had no reply, she rattled on. "I never knew what you saw in Dumbledore. Sure, he's powerful and all that. And he was a good teacher. But, he's so queer too, isn't he? Who wears ankle-length trousers these days? Paired with a top hat? He doesn't even wear matching socks!"
Minerva laughed, Augusta was just so funny sometimes.
"With that kind of fashion sense... are you not he's not gay? Are you sure he's not just making use of you so that he can ward off all the other ladies and go about his odd ways forever?"
"And since when did you start judging a book by its cover?"
"I don't mean to judge, my dear girl. But look at how old we are now! Do you seriously intend to remain single all your life and not have any children? Look at how old my boy is already - he'll be attending Hogwarts before we can finish spelling gobbledygook! If Dumbledore's not serious about you, then for Merlin's sake, just accept the Head of Magical Law Enforcement! I know he's serious."
"How's Frank?" Minerva caught the opportunity to change the topic. Augusta could never stop talking about her son when someone brought him up in their conversation. To her relief, Augusta was successfully distracted and they started chatting about Frank and other things. Minerva made a mental note to give Albus a proper pair of socks the next Christmas.
xxxxx
Tom had been sitting in Albus' office for over an hour now but the Headmaster did not seem to have time for him. Albus had been replying to owls, entertaining visitors at the fireplace and shooting silver phoenixes from his wand all the while.
Tom was growing impatient. Although Albus had explained to him that there was an emergency at the Ministry, something to do with dementors, Tom did not expect to have to wait for such a long time before being able to speak to the Headmaster. He had an emergency too – his wand was not working well and Nagini had been hurt by a rebound effect from it. But Albus would not listen. He set him down on the couch promising to come back to him before continuing to bustle about his official affairs.
"I'm sorry Tom, but could I ask you to seek advice from your Head of House? I really have to head off to the Ministry now," Albus said after a long while and sent him off.
Tom emerged from the Headmaster's office feeling ignored and resentful. For the first time since he met Dumbledore, he was upset with him.
xxxxx
When Albus finally came back from the Ministry that night, he was thoroughly exhausted. Ignatius Tuft's dementors had gone wild in a village; drifting into houses and threatening to kiss every single person despite having no mind of their own, and it had taken a lot of effort to put them back in order.
As he sat down with a cup of tea, Albus was suddenly reminded of Tom. He could not remember what Tom was saying at all and he seemed to have sent the boy away to someone else, but he could not quite remember who.
"Did Tom Riddle visit you today, Minerva?" Albus asked, as Minerva stepped into his office just then.
"Why would he come to me? Horace is his Head of House," Minerva said stiffly, as she sat down.
Albus looked at her, and it suddenly dawned on him why he thought there was always something odd about her when it came to Tom. She did not show the amount of concern he thought she would have for her best friend's son. He was intrigued.
"Did you not know Tom before he came to Hogwarts?"
"I did see him a couple of times when he was younger, when I visited Merope," Minerva admitted.
"And when Merope passed on? The nurse said that nobody had ever visited Tom at the orphanage."
"I wasn't all that close with the boy, Albus. He takes after his father, who wasn't a very pleasant person to be with. And I was so busy."
Albus raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, all right," Minerva sighed and closed her eyes. "Merope and I... we were never the same after... what happened to my family."
He nodded.
"We still hung out while we were in Hogwarts but after school, we drifted apart. Our values and dispositions were simply too different," she took a deep breath. "And when she ended up with that Riddle guy, well, I couldn't quite get along with him, and I thought it'd be better for them to lead their own lives."
He understood. He could see why Minerva never really got over her prejudice no matter how hard she tried to because what happened to her family had left her permanently scarred. He said no more as they settled down to talk about the day's events and subsequently, to a comfortable game of chess.