Chapter 36

Currahee506- K so I'm such a weirdo and I imaged that comment in this cute little voice and it made me smile so big! Thanks for brightening my day.

Sapphire's point of view

I could tell by Harry's face that though he was interested he was really wondering where this story. So for the sake of time, as I had a very distinct feeling I was about to be questioned I skipped McGonagall's ears in school and just went to the end of her story just before the part I came in.

"Through all her early years at Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall remained on terms of friendship with her old boss at the Ministry, Elphinstone Urquart. He came to visit her while on holiday to Scotland, and to her great surprise and embarrassment, proposed marriage in Madam Puddifoot's teashop. Still in love with Dougal McGregor, Minerva turned him down.

Elphinstone, however, had never ceased to love her, nor to propose every now and then, even though she continued to refuse him. The death of Dougal McGregor, however, although traumatic, seemed to free Minerva. Shortly after Voldemort's first defeat, Elphinstone, now white-haired, proposed again during a summertime stroll around the lake in the Hogwarts grounds. This time Minerva accepted. Elphinstone, now retired, was beside himself with joy, and purchased a small cottage in Hogsmeade for the pair of them, whence Minerva could travel easily to work every day.

Known to successive generations of students as 'Professor McGonagall', Minerva - always something of a feminist - announced that she would be keeping her own name upon marriage. Traditionalists sniffed - why was Minerva refusing to accept a pure-blood name, and keeping that of her Muggle father?

The marriage (cut tragically short, though it was destined to be) was a very happy one. Though they had no children of their own, Minerva's nieces and nephews (children of her brothers Malcolm and Robert) were frequent visitors to their home. This was a period of great fulfillment for Minerva.

The accidental death of Elphinstone from a Venomous Tentacula bite, three years into their marriage, was an enormous sorrow to all who knew the couple. Minerva could not bear to remain alone in their cottage, but packed her things after Elphinstone's funeral and returned to her sparse stone-floored bedroom in Hogwarts Castle, accessible through a concealed door in the wall of her first-floor study. Always a very brave and private person, she poured all her energies into her work, and few people - excepting perhaps Albus Dumbledore - ever realized how much she suffered."

"But then how do you know all this stuff?" Harry asked, which was a legitimate question, I did know a lot for a girl my age.

"Well see the next part of the story is where I come in Harry. Shortly after Minerva's move back to the castle, I came along I believe you know why" I said with a small sad smile, "She was lonely by than even though she didn't show it and me coming along was a perfect distraction, she played with me as a child, talked to me as a grandparent, taught me as a teacher, and loved me as a mom. She was my family, but she realized probably more than anyone how much secrets can hurt people and relationships so were always honest with each other it might not be in the moment or even in that month but we always come back to honesty." I smiled at the memories.

"She sounds like a great mom."

"She was, she's the reason I was told about you after all. That is an argument I shall never forget even though I was five at the time."

"What she's the one who told you about me?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, but that dear brother is a story for another day." I replied. "And if we don't want to be late for class I suggest we leave." He nodded and stood up and then I think I surprised him, because as soon as he stood I hugged him. Thankfully he didn't push me away but hugged me back.

Harry's point of view

Sapphire caught me off guard with her hug, but it was nice. It was a nice feeling to know someone loved you to take the time to show with small deeds there love. It was something that I had never really had before, but with Fira I felt as if I was the kid who had been loved their whole life.

After the hug we walked down to breakfast again. Although I have too sat its nice not being dragged down to breakfast this time. Ron, Fred, and George were already there and apparently the "prank" Fira had pulled was major news, as they were vehemently discussing it.

"Ya but did you hear that Malfoy was red, and his two brutes were gold?" Fred asked.

"No but did you hear that Madame Pomfrey refused to treat their feet for the puncture wounds they got on their feet from tacks?" George questioned. For some reason Fira looked proud like she had personally arranged for Madame Pomfrey to not help them. She hadn't had she? I looked over at her and she just shrugged, or maybe she had.

"I heard that Flint was Blue" Ron interceded.

I sat on the opposite side of the table by Ron and Percy who was unwilling to take part of the conversation while Fira sat between the twins who had scooched apart to make room for her. Fred, George, and Fira had really hit it off; it was neat to see how fast friends could be made without a Dudley hanging over me.

"Yes," Fira said, "But the real question, is who's pulling these pranks isn't it?"

"A question I was hopping you'd help me answer Ms. Roxanne." Snape said over her shoulder "So if you wouldn't mind coming with me." She sighed in annoyance, rolled her eyes, nodded, and got up seemingly all in one fluid motion.

Sapphire's point of view

I didn't take long for Severus to get down to the point once we were in his office. I moved over to the desk and sat on it, because I had a feeling I was going to be here for a while.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Severus asked.

"Before, after, or while I was locked in a closet?" I asked.

"I OUGHT TO EXPEL YOU, wait what?" Snape said my words just know registering with him.

"Before, after, or during my stay in a closet night before last night?" I repeated.

"Wait a second you mean to tell me you were locked in a closet, two nights ago, by Draco, Goyle, Crabbe, and Flint? And the reason you died their skins, destroyed their hair, made it so ghosts haunted them all night, spread tacks all over the place for them to step on as soon as they crawled out of bed, and made it so Madame Pomfrey refused to treat them?"

"Small. Tiny. Closet. Gasping. Crying. Fainting." I said

Almost all the teachers new about my claustrophobia, which was a fact I was so exploiting. But hey I could have done way worse.

"Fine, Ill let you get away with it this once, but I better not ever hear about it happening again." He said, and walked out leaving the door open. I jumped off my perch, and skipped out of the room, happy that that hadn't taken near as long as I thought it would.

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