Squib 28 Fall 1975

Minerva had already decided 75-76 was going to be her last year. Her school contract was expiring next Spring, so she would just 'neglect' to renew it. She'd wait to file for formal Retirement until right before she left next Summer, the moment her Contract vows lapsed. Her Transfiguration idea was working out better than she had hoped, and her finances were in great shape. Collecting her Pension would be a nice bonus. Little Minnie would not turn 11 until their Birthday next year. She would enroll her in Beau Batons, or maybe one of the Mediterranean Island schools, somewhere warm. She wanted no more Scottish winters!

Stopping in the Cafeteria one day between classes, Tobias sat with several of his younger classmates discussing today's lesson over tea. One of the classmates was a young French girl, blond and pretty, dressed rather skimpily. Truly, she seemed barely older than Petunia, though she kept her chest pushed forward and tried to talk to him no matter who else he spoke to. She seemed determined to sit close to Tobias, both in class and now in the cafeteria. Tobias noticed his wedding band heating up with a slight glow on his finger. That had never happened before, and was quite distracting! He wasn't sure, because the lights were bright, but he thought there was a red glow around the girl. When there was a busy moment, with people joining and leaving the table, he risked a quiet "Finite" in her direction. Finally he pulled a packet of malt balls out of his book bag and spilled them out on the table for everyone to share. Candy was always popular, and everyone took some. The blond ate a couple absently, and then to everyone's surprise she started quietly crying for her mother! The other girls took charge, carrying her bag and leading the sobbing child to the college Clinic. Tobias never saw her again, but one of the other girls told him a few days later that her mother had come all the way from France and taken her home!

September 1, 1975

Once again, the Marauders met in a forward compartment. James had brought crisp pastry horns full of sweet cream. One change this year was that Remus, quiet Remus (!), was wearing the Prefect badge! "Really didn't expect this, guys! I get good marks, but I'm sick so often! I guess you got in trouble so much they decided they need a closer watch kept on you instead of picking one of the others! So, don't let me catch you, OK? Don't make potions in our dorm, and keep that notebook out of my sight!"

Sirius agreed, "Got it! You and James are going to be going spare with those double sets of lessons! Grandfather says I have to start on that book list now, but he won't make me take the tests until after Graduation. You can show me how to set up the Notebooks. James is still on Quidditch with me. Peter and I will uphold the Marauder Honor!"

Peter, hearing his name, looked up from his book to find out what he was being dragged into this time! Once a chubby and rather mousy boy, Peter was now as tall and thin as the rest, with golden curls the girls all coveted. He was quite aware of all those sidewise glances! His confidence had increased by leaps and bounds as his Magic had matured. Because Siri had insisted, both he and Remus had begun talking to girls, but neither had a favorite. They often sat in the small groups that centered around Siri and Marlene. Marlene was getting involved by finding them group dates on Hogsmeade days. Most of the older girls seemed to be Betrothed, but the younger ones who may have been available didn't seem interested in rich, pure blood boys! Peter wasn't rich. His dear mother was of a good family, but his father had disappeared when he was young and she had been forced to support him by working in a flower shop, which she now owned. He no longer blindly followed powerful classmates, because he knew HE had power. Becoming an animagus was no easy task, but he was doing it! All those Theory hours they had drummed into his head had finally begun to make sense. He knew that when they graduated James and Siri would find him a good place in their family businesses. He would find a pretty wife and move her with his mother into a nice house, and his wife could help with the flower shop. His future looked good, so he ignored Malfoy's hints of power to be had for those willing to take it. Malfoy would graduate this year and be out of their hair!

Remus left, to go to the required Prefect meeting. Four Houses with six Prefects each, plus the Head Boy and Head Girl, meant they had a special enlarged compartment at the very front of the train. The walls had been removed, to make three compartments into one very large. This was still only six Prefects for over 140 students in each House. With 13 pairs, there would be one pair patrolling the halls for an hour before and after Curfew each night to help anyone who needed it. A straightforward rotation was set up, with each also assigned as 'backup' for someone else, because there would always be some night you couldn't do it. A Staff member would also be patrolling until midnight. Curfew didn't matter for visits to the Hospital Wing, so those students got any escort they needed and their Head of House would be notified. Prefects would each take a turn in the Train, particularly looking for firsties who might be homesick or need a box lunch. After the Feast the new 5th year Prefects would escort the new members to the Dorms and get them settled. For the first week all the firsties would be escorted in groups to their classes and meals, so each prefect would have to check their schedule against the First year to see which classes were nearest their own. It was inevitable that they would be late for class at some point, but the Professors were expecting it. Prefects also were expected to sit with 'their' First Year group, so Remus would be taking most meals with his group of boys until he graduated. The Head Boy and Head Girl were expected to rotate among the older classes, who were not expected to need as much supervision.

Albus noticed Minerva was looking very tired this year, much older than her actual age. Her hair, which he had insisted be darkened from its' original copper, was developing lighter streaks. She dressed heavily, as if she was cold all the time. She was the same age as Poppy, still young for a Witch, which is why he insisted she look older so the students would respect her more. But, now she really looked old! She had been coming back from her vacation trips looking refreshed. She must have been much fonder of little Minnie's parents than he realized! It was a good thing she had the child to keep her occupied. He still fed his staff the loyalty potions every day, though he had given up on the students for now. He thought it might be a good idea to start the staff on real daily tonics. He would be handicapped if he lost Minerva, too! He wondered when her next physical was due?

He had hired some Junior staff since he had nearly doubled the First year class this year. Slughorn in particular had complained about the increased workload. The Aides circulated in the classrooms during the practical portions of the lessons, tutoring and demonstrating, collected and passed out paperwork, and Proctored tests. They could Proctor Detentions – Slughorn immediately delegated all cauldron-scrubbing detentions to his! They could hold open office hours and help with homework or tutor a student who didn't understand the lessons. They ate at the tables with the children, seated in different groups each day so the children would consider them to be more like Prefects than Teachers. He assigned one of his younger Meadowes to the Hospital Wing, explaining to the Interns that she was interested in Nursing as a career. They were pleased to get her and treated her more as a trainee than a drudge. This year's Defense teacher, the retired DMLE clerk, immediately assigned his aide to doing all of his grading, which was already piling up. His 'lesson plan' was easy one chapter a week. The first class of the week he lectured and demonstrated, mostly examples from he had seen from his years in the DMLE, and he included quite a lot of gossip (without names) to keep them awake. Second day was Theory, usually with a short essay question. Homework was due the third day of class each week, and consisted of answering every question in the text chapter as well as the Theory essay. Class was Demonstrations and class practice with a couple of the simpler spells from that chapter. Last day of class each week was the chapter test. You were to read the next chapter over the weekend, and begin answering the questions. If you needed you went to the Aide during their office hours, where they were usually grading papers. The teacher held his required two hours of office hours a week and showed up in class. He seemed to consider that he worked an 8 hour day, and was not seen other than at meals. His aide even took his share of Detentions, and soon turned them into Q&A help sessions with open attendance. Grades in Defense actually went up this year!

Most of the actual Teachers immediately treated their Aides as sort of a pre-Apprentice, assigning them advanced readings and material preparation for the classes. It was a good deal for everyone.

Lily and Sevi and the rest of the 5th and 7th year students agreed with last year's assessment. The teachers had lost their minds! All essays were at least twice the length of last year, and required double the examples and citations in the Bibliographies. Their muggle essays might require 5 examples; the Magic would require 10. Answering every single question in the Defense text was tedious but worth it, because most of each test would be those exact questions. If you did your homework you were fairly sure of a good grade. Professor McGonagall remained incredibly picky, requiring precise and detailed answers and taking points or even giving Detentions (mostly to the Marauders) for the slightest of mistakes. Transfigurations were examined one characteristic at a time, by Arithmancy, and by wand movements deliniating each. Once she was convinced you thoroughly understood a simple change, you were working on it wordlessly and finally wandlessly. Other classes, including Charms and Defense, were also beginning silent and wandless, Intentional Casting. They were warned that most spell casting in 6th and 7th Years would be wordless and wandless. Other classes, including Charms and Defense, were also beginning silent and wandless, intentional Casting.

In Potions they were moving on to determining the differences between Poisons and Potions. Many recipes could produce either. Some could produce either a poison OR its' own antidote, determined only by the Intent of the Potioneer and/or a few differences in the preparation. This was delicate Magic, requiring strict attention. The same ingredients, picked at different phase of the Moon, of the Day, or even different parts of the same plant would have different magical effects. For convenience, these were usually identified by different names so you needed to know them all.

Runes had moved to the New World, including Seminole, Eskimo, Aztec Codices and Maya Calendar Rune sets. Inca Quipu were not exactly Runes, but the basics of reading them were covered one week. Most were quite boring, tallies of crops and warehouses, but some were Magic. Practical work had moved from carving to etching, which meant coating the surfaces of glass or stone with a layer of wax and carving away the design before painting on the etching acids. Suddenly the Art lessons Lily and Sevi had done had a practical application! Their Runes were neat, even pretty! They began working on sets of small mirrors for Yule gifts, a class project everyone could use.

Squib 28 Aberdeen

The Aberdeen School Visitor, who was a Grandmotherly retired Nurse who circulated through all the schools, remembered to check on little Minnie when she got back to that school. In a school setting, there are a lot of staff at all levels that interact with the children, and the Administration was quite aware of their little transfer student and her home situation. Little Minnie was just fine. She was properly dressed, glowed with health, and was making friends. Her weekly visits to the skating rink were noted. Her tutor reported her grades were excellent. She had actually been a little ahead in Maths, and her French was quite good. Her grief counselor reported she was still not grieving as they would expect, seeming rather distant from her parents and referring to them as though they were on another trip. That was a clue to them. The child was a 'poor little rich girl', rather neglected by busy parents. She was clearly emotionally much closer to her Aunt, which was a good thing as it had worked out. When asked about her family, she bubbled about visits with all of her cousins and the fun trips her Aunt arranged for all of them each year. Uncle Malcolm, his wife June, and their children featured.

In October, for Minnie's 10th Birthday, the Visitor stopped in to see Minerva again, bringing a cookie from the bakery as a gift for Minnie. The flat was still neat, though a bit more lived-in than before. The radio was playing Classical music. The cat had several chewed balls and toy mice stashed behind her cushion. Minnie's puzzle had changed to a colorful view of the Grand Canyon, in America. The heater was on, and a small rack of stockings was drying behind it. Minervas' embroidery had the dragon castle rolled under the edge, now showing a green meadow with Unicorns playing. The grass under their hooves actually sparkled silver. The golden little ones had been joined in their play by a tiny Centaur boy, also golden-haired. His parents could be seen watching from the nearby forest. Minervas' chair had a tartan blanket draped over the back, as though she was often cold, but she seemed as healthy and happy as Minnie. She seemed younger than the Visitor had assumed at first. Her hair was lighter than she remembered, with streaks of ginger.

As they talked, Minerva was knitting rapidly, turning out a long red-and-white striped stocking. She finished, and the Visitor asked to see it. She handed it over, and started a second. "This is interesting! You don't have any seam at the toe? Where did you start this?"

"At the toe. Look here, at this one I've just begun. It's all in how you roll your yarn." She held out her needles, with the first rows cast on. It was true. She had started in the very middle of the yarn instead of at an end. There was no knot, and as she turned the toe there was no seam. These stockings would not chafe toes! "This is the way my mother taught me to knit, and I am teaching Minnie. These stockings are going to be for Minnie's school Halloween costume. She's chosen to be a Witch." She indicated a layered skirt with points, hanging on Minnie's door. "She already has pointy black boots. She wants a striped sweater to match the socks, and a pointed hat. I think I can find that in a shop."

The kitchen timer rang. Minerva pulled out a baked chicken-and-veg with a Phyllo crust, which woke up the cat. Minnie came from her room and started setting the tiny table, which bore a couple of fairy cakes. There was a pile of cards, photographs, and gifts on the counter, which Minnie chirped were from her cousins! The Visitor took her leave.

At the school party, Minnie was an adorable striped witch-let. For her Treat, she brought a plastic cauldron full of American style chocolate-bit biscuits, which the children all loved. The snow was already deep. Minnie wore the sweater and stockings, with black bell-bottom jeans, to skating almost every week that Winter. Since she had yarn left, Minerva had also knit her a long cap with a pom-pom, a scarf, and a pair of thick mittens. For Christmas Minerva gave her a pair of her very own skates, with red pom-poms that had a bell in them.

Yule/Christmas 1975

For Yule, there was another Snow Ball at Hogwarts. Again, the study groups went as groups, wearing matching red orchids tied with tiny glass bells. This year Lily wore a cream colored dress, which really brought out her hair. At almost 16, she was as tall as her mother. This year she again gave out wrapped jars of 'malt balls' that were really Bezoars. She even gave one to Filch, the janitor, when she gave Mrs. Norris a new catnip ball with a bell in it.

James and Miriam danced again, this time a sultry Tango in full Argentine costume. James was quite a bit stronger now, and could easily handle the dramatic dips. They didn't do it on skates in the gardens, but it was going to be their next Contest entry. Several other couples also did exhibition dances this year, but James and Miriam were clearly the best.

The entertainment for the younger ages was the play "Peter Pan", a truly Magical Musical by a Magical cast. Mary Martin and the Lost Boys flew once more, without strings. The train going home rang to children singing "I Won't Grow Up", and, "I'm Flying", with an undertone of "Ugga Wugga"s. Many would rent or buy tapes to watch again at home. The older children on the train had stayed up far too late, both dancing and talking afterward. They slept most of the way home.

At school, at skating, and at Hogwarts, Minnie had been asked where they would spend the Holidays. She replied, "Someplace warm!", in a voice that reminded everyone of her Aunt. In fact, they were going back to Corsica.

At home, Lily, Sevi and Petunia spent almost every afternoon with Eileen doing Math. They loved on the babies, of course. They had family dinners and exchanged gifts. But, they spoke only German with Harold, only French with Eileen. They did Science Labs every morning in the back of Harold's Shop. They were in the final stretch before their first attempt at their "A" levels. Petunia seemed sure to pass with good scores, but she was two years older and NOT taking the second set of classes. Sevi and Lily wanted good scores, but they would get another try next year. They did their holiday essays for Hogwarts the first day, and didn't pick up anything Magic for the rest of the vacation. They also did not sleep very much!

On the return train it was easy to tell who were the older students, 5th and 7th years in particular. They were all asleep!