Chapter Twenty-Five – Change at Hogwarts

July 1968

"I don't know what to do, Albus," Minerva said wearily. "She's fifteen. She's past the age where I can force her to see Montgomery."

"It's a difficult situation," Albus said gently. He picked up his cup of tea and blew on it to cool it down. "Have you told him yet?"

Minerva shook her head, and again wondered why Albus never referred to Montgomery by his name. "She supposed to have dinner with him tonight. I'll tell him then."

"Netta's out with Bellatrix, no doubt," Albus sighed.

"I don't understand the power Bellatrix holds over Netta," Minerva said. "Netta would do anything for her. And her entire crowd. The Lestrange brothers. Malfoy. The only one she won't deal with is Andromeda."

"Andromeda has a more open mind then her sister, Minerva. She's friends with several students that are muggle born," Albus said.

"I didn't know that," Minerva said. She crossed her legs and leaned onto the armchair. Minerva loved these conversations with Albus in his bedchamber. They were so calming.

"What's the worst part?" Albus asked.

"That I can't really scold her for not telling her friends that Montgomery is a muggle. I tried once, and she threw the fact that I left out that I was a witch for all those years right back in my face," Minerva said, remembering one of their more heated arguments.

"That is difficult," Albus conceded.

"I tried explaining how hard it is to keep up a lie like that, but she just won't listen," Minerva complained. "I love Netta more than anything in the world, but right now, I don't like her. I don't like my own child, Albus."

"I believe that is common with most parents of a teenage daughter," Albus said, his eyes twinkling a bit. "And I understand. She hasn't asked me to play chess in two years. I really enjoyed our chess matches."

Minerva sighed and took a sip of her tea. "Let's talk about something happy," Minerva said suddenly. "I need some good news."

"Did you hear that Arthur Weasley and Molly MacKenzie are engaged?" Albus asked.

Minerva smiled. That's exactly what she needed, to gossip a bit about former students. "Arthur told me straight away," Minerva said. "I wonder how long they'll wait before they get married?"

"They only graduated a few weeks ago, so let's hope they take some time to set up house before they rush in," Albus mused.

"Very true," Minerva said. "Very true."

-

Later that Night

"Where's Netta?" Montgomery asked.

Minerva had chosen her outfit carefully. She wore a muggle dress with no robe. Minerva didn't bother to keep up with muggle fashions, and didn't realize the dress was quite dated.

"She's not coming," Minerva said softly, placing one hand on the counter of the shop.

"Again?" Montgomery sighed. "She hates me, doesn't she?"

"I can't get into her head, Montgomery," Minerva admitted. "I'm having a hard time with her."

"Is it because of her fire?" Montgomery asked.

Minerva shook her head. Surprisingly, Netta was able to control her powers quite well now. She had the advantage because her powers manifested so early in life. While most Inflammagus learned of their gifts during puberty, with their emotions controlling them, Netta had already learned to contain her anger.

"I don't want you forcing her to see me anymore," Montgomery said. Minerva lifted her head and looked at him sharply. "Netta barely talks to me when she's here. And she lets me know she doesn't want to be here."

"Montgomery, I'm so sorry," Minerva said.

"It would be so easy to blame this on you, because you made her a witch," Montgomery said sadly.

"I didn't make her a witch," Minerva said defensively. "It's what she is."

Montgomery waved his arm. "I meant that you took her to that school. Sometimes I wonder if I should have fought harder, made her go to a normal school."

"But Netta's not normal," Minerva said. "She has fire to deal with."

"I know," Montgomery said. Minerva looked at her husband. She couldn't quite believe that it had been twelve years since they lived together as man and wife. Minerva was forty-three now, which meant Montgomery was almost fifty.

She could see the grey in his hair. But his red hair was so bright, that it didn't look grey at all, rather it simply dulled the redness. There were lines around his eyes that hadn't been there before.

"So what do we do now?" Minerva asked hopelessly.

Montgomery sat down behind the counter and unconsciously rubbed the stump of his arm. "I've been doing some thinking, Minerva…" He trailed off.

"Yes, Montgomery?" Minerva asked quietly.

"I think the time has finally come for us to get a divorce," Montgomery said sadly.

"A divorce?" Minerva said in surprise. "But I thought-"

He cut her off. "I know what I said. I'll be completely honest with you, Minerva. I'm lonely. I see my brothers with their wives and children…Even grandchildren now. Thomas and Mary's boy just had a daughter."

"Good for them," Minerva whispered. She pictured the last time she saw Patrick. He had only been thirteen, and Minerva herself taught him in the school house.

"I hope to remarry, Minerva," Montgomery said. "What do you say?"

"I'm in no position to deny you anything, Montgomery," Minerva said honestly. "If you want a divorce, we'll divorce."

"Do you think she'll want to see me again?" Montgomery asked sadly.

"I do," Minerva said. "I really do. She's just growing up. Things will change."

"I hope so," Montgomery said, smiling slightly.

Two months later, the divorce papers were signed.

-

March 1970

"A werewolf, Albus?" Minerva asked, a bit concerned. "You're thinking of letting a werewolf go to Hogwarts?"

Albus nodded and took a sip of his tea. There were in his bedchambers for their almost now daily chats. Albus just told her that Headmaster Dippett had decided to retire. The School board had just appointed Albus as next year's Headmaster. Minerva was thrilled with his promotion.

"I met him," Albus said slowly. "His name is Remus Lupin. His mother went to Hogwarts. "Gretchen Hooper. Do you remember her?"

Minerva tried to remember. Generally, she remembered every single student that she taught. If Minerva couldn't place the student that generally meant that the student simply didn't take Muggle Studies.

"No, truth be told, I don't," Minerva told him.

"Every full moon, they lock him in a cage until his transformation is over," Albus said. "Remus showed me the cage himself. He's a bright boy, Minerva. I can tell he's smart just by looking at him. He deserves every chance to excel at Hogwarts."

"The other students can't know," Minerva said quickly. "They'd be terrified of him."

"That they would," Albus conceded.

"What does Headmaster Dippett say?" Minerva prodded.

"He's completely against it. But luckily, the final decision is mine. Mars Bar?" Albus held out a candy bar. Minerva shook her head. Albus was always offering her sweets, and Minerva never accepted.

"No, Albus," Minerva said sternly. "And if you had half a mind, you wouldn't eat that either."

"I shall be forever grateful, then, that I have one whole mind," he said as he took a bite of the candy bar.

"So your mind's made up then?" Minerva asked.

"Yes," Albus said seriously. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't accept him. I'm sure Poppy and I will be able to come up with a solution for his transformations."

"When will you start interviewing for a new Transfiguration teacher?" Minerva asked interestedly. "I can think of a few former students that would love the chance to teach here."

"Funny you ask that, Minerva," Albus said casually. "I've come to the conclusion that I will be able to fill the Transfiguration position in-house. It's a Muggle Studies teacher that I'll be looking for."

"Muggle Studies?" Minerva started, and then realized what her friend was saying. "Really, Albus?"

"You still have the highest Transfiguration test score in Hogwarts history," Albus said.

"Tied with you," Minerva said quickly.

"True, but it's your score all the same. I think you'd make a wonderful Transfiguration professor, Minerva," Albus said.

"I've taught Muggle Studies for fourteen years, Albus," Minerva said, letting a smile show on her face. "I can't tell you how wonderful it would be to teach Transfiguration."

Albus slapped his knee. "Then it's settled! We'll consider this your interview. I'll put an ad in the Daily Prophet tomorrow."

-

"So you'll be my professor next year," Netta said slowly. "This is a good career move for you, Mother."

"Thank you, Netta," Minerva said. It was Netta's seventeenth birthday today. Luckily, it was the weekend, so Minerva invited Netta over to her bedchambers for a celebratory lunch.

Minerva cleared her throat. She took out a small envelop. "This is from your father, Netta."

Netta took the envelop and studied it for a moment. "Thank you," she said, tucking the envelop into her bag. Minerva was pleased that she didn't throw it into the fire like last year.

"You've been divorced for two years, Mother," Netta said, folding her arms across her chest. "Why do you bother to see him?"

"Montgomery and I have a bond that will never be broken, Netta," Minerva said. "That bond is you. Since you won't speak to him, I fill him in from time to time."

"I would prefer you didn't," Netta said.

"That is my choice," Minerva said, trying not to lose her temper.

"As it is my choice not to see him, Mother," Netta said calmly. "He has his new wife and family. Why does he need us?"

"I never told you that," Minerva said, alarmed. Montgomery remarried a year ago to a widow with two teenage sons. Netta hadn't spoken to Montgomery in two years, so Minerva decided not to tell the girl about his remarriage.

"I have ways of finding out information," Netta smiled.

"I see," Minerva said.

"But let's talk of other things," Netta said casually. "Who will be the Deputy Headmaster? Most Slytherins see you in the position."

"Me?" Minerva asked. "I don't know. Albus hasn't mentioned anything about that."

"Really?" Netta said. "I figured with all your late night conversations with Professor Dumbledore that he'd tell you everything."

She smiled a knowing smile.

"I don't think I like what you're implying," Minerva said sternly.

"I have to hand it to you, Mother," Netta taunted. "It's really quite a Slytherin thing to do. Sleep with the boss to get the job."

Minerva stood up so quickly that she almost knocked the end table over. "How dare you," Minerva said quietly.

"Do you deny it?" Netta asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course I do!" Minerva said shrilly. "Albus has been a good friend to both of us over the years, Netta. I have never done anything remotely like that in return of his friendship!"

"I see," Netta said, taking a sip of tea. She placed the cup and saucer on the coffee table. "It's time for me to go, Mother. Lucius has something planned for my birthday."

"You're still seeing him?" Minerva asked. From what Minerva could tell, Netta had been dating Lucius Malfoy for the past four months. He was a year younger than her.

"That's really none of your business, is it, Mother?" Netta said pleasantly. A moment later, Minerva was left alone in her bedchambers. It would be close to an hour before her hands would stop shaking.