Now betaed! Thank you to my wonderful and the most amazing Beta thislifeisawasteland. Sending all my love and gratefulness :) Heather means hesitation
The staff room was almost silent if not for the rattling of a teaspoon against the cup, roaring fireplace and two women huddled together. Engaged in some interesting gossip, their whispers filling the air. The Sorting Hat, brought here after the death of Albus, was singing quietly to itself. Crooks, brought to Hogwarts with his mistress, was purring in front of the fireplace. Snape winked to the cat and discreetly transfigured his quill into a small mouse for him to play with. Crooks let out a wild yowl and ran after his prey.
The Headmistress and her guest paid no attention either to Snape or to Crooks; they were too busy with their vivid discussion. Snape was too much of a spy to let their grapevine pass unheard, so he occupied the farthest corner of the room and eavesdropped.
Hermione was gesturing vividly and fervently complained to Minerva: "Could you imagine it, Professor? Ron just packed his suitcase and left for Romania to work with dragons with his brother. He just packed everything and left! He even left his Quidditch kit behind."
Minerva slid her glasses back to the bridge of her nose, poured some tea to her guest's cup, summoned more cookies. She paused, sighing. "I always considered mister Weasley a wrong match for you, my dear, so, I think, it's high time for you to understand that yourself."
"Professor, we were childhood friends! I've always thought we would leave Hogwarts and get married eventually," Hermione cried, tears pricking her eyes.
"Well then, but what about your apprenticeship, career, and ambitions? I refuse to believe that my own Gryffindor cub was going to leave her studying behind to sequester yourself in the kitchen until your husband comes home from work."
Snape laughed to himself. He had the same thoughts about Hermione's potential marriage to the Weasley.
"No, professor, of course not. I was never going to be that kind of wife," Hermione huffed indignantly, "It's just, my life eventually hunted me down and I desperately wished for some "safe haven". First, it was that Horcrux Hunting that nearly cost us our sanity, then I nearly lost my parents and in the end, we were to face that damned Great Battle that nearly cost us our life. I was tired, I wanted to find some peace, and Ron seemed like a peaceful place."
"My child, are you sure that you can consider the impatient and bustling mister Weasley your "safe haven"?"
"I don't know, Professor McGonagall. It always went without saying for me, I mean, I've known Ron since we both were eleven, he was there for me, he annoyed me with his behavior and always asked for help with his homework," Hermione sighed sadly.
"Sure, he was there for you. But he left you during the winter, in the middle of the forest, alone with that Merlin-damned Horcrux," Minerva replied, venom in her voice.
Snape almost wanted to applause her.
"Well, yes, he left me and Harry, but it is past time now, I could never hold a grudge against Ron," Hermione answered, shaking her head.
"My dear girl, I doubt you are aware of the fact, but I was a childhood friend with our darling Albus Dumbledore, the Great Headmaster."
Snape pricked his ears up. Hermione was not the only one who was unaware of that friendship.
"We were friends all our teenage years, all our youth and, it seemed, all our lives. His older brother was always lecturing us. We would always run away from him when we got bored with his judgments. We nicked sweets from the kitchen and we were just happy. It seemed to me that our friendship would last forever," Minerva reminisced. "Albus amused me, he always invented games, made plans, dreamed of conquering the whole world. In a way, he even succeeded. We graduated from Hogwarts and went in different directions. Albus went to fight Grindelwald. I got married and followed him to Germany. My husband and I strove to prevent the war, Albus fought for Higher goals, too lofty for our understanding. He wanted to be a hero, he dreamed of atonement for his own sins, tried to earn the forgiveness of his dead sister. I just wanted to go home, to Scotland, where I would still be needed by someone. Where nothing would remind me that I lost my husband in another senseless war. That war, my dear girl, took too many lives. So, I returned home, and Albus and I once more met at Hogwarts. He was going to take over the post of Headmaster. I desperately wanted to find at least some job and a roof over my head. Albus provided me with both."
"So, you were friends all your life?" Hermione whispered in shock.
"You know, I suppose our friendship ended well before the war, but I, just like you, could not believe that my childhood friend would be blinded by fanatical dreams of power and dominance over the world. Albus built his great schemes under my very nose, and I refuse to notice them. We've trampled on the trust of too many, Hermione." Minerva shook her head as she recanted her history. "Eileen Prince was my classmate, we kept in touch after school, that's why I knew about the situation in her family, so I tried to help, but Albus ordered me not to interfere. He said that since she was married to a Muggle, they would have to figure it out themselves. Augusta Longbottom, who stupidly lost her son and daughter-in-law in the last war, because, again, the Headmaster was sure that the two brave Aurors would be strong enough to fight. James and Lily Potter, who believed Albus without question, only seeing his good intentions. Sirius Black, who ended up in Azkaban without trial or investigation. Remus, who was denied a normal job everywhere… Albus never once bothered to write him a recommendation. Severus, whose trust I would never be able to win back and redeem myself. Harry, Ron, Draco, Luna, you - the list would be endless."
Hermione tried to interrupt her with forgiveness.
"Oh, hush, Hermione, I don't need you to justify me here, I know perfectly well that I am to blame. I trusted my friend blindly, but he saw only his great intrigues and did not pay attention to the ruined destinies at all. I should have intervened, but I was too afraid to make the first step. He made plans, I dutifully followed him, refusing to doubt the correctness of his decisions," Minerva sighed, catching her breath.
After her words, there was a hum of silence in the staff room. Snape stared in awe of his colleague, his trusted friend, and one of the few he considered family. Hermione hugged a cup of tea with both hands and sat in stunned contemplation. All this time, it turned out, Minerva McGonagall knew about all the intricacies of the Headmaster that were being conducted right in front of her nose. She knew, but she never dared speak up. Well, Severus thought, everyone had their own path to repentance. McGonagall smiled as if sensing the confusion of her colleague and dimmed the overly bright candlelight.
"Very well, enough about the past, my child, tell me, better, what do you intend to do next?"
"I will continue to fight with the Ministry for the right to obtain the degree of Master of Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermione sighed wearily and covered her face with her palms, muttering in a displeased voice. "I have no power to fight them, Professor! Tell me, why would I achieve the highest marks on all my exams if no one wants to deal with the former brains of the Golden Trio? Not that I'm becoming a lesser swot, but they act as if- as if- Oh, I don't know. As if they are afraid of me. They don't want to deal with a war heroine."
"I think they're just a bunch of baboons," Minerva squeaked indignantly. Snape, hiding in his corner, agreed in solidarity, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"And I would hate to leave Britain. I can, of course, fly to my parents in Australia. Or I could try my luck in France. I don't understand why I should look for happiness around the world when my home is here. I don't want to go anywhere else!"
Minerva was pensively silent for a while, listening to the silence and the measured tinkle of a teaspoon on a cup. Severus pretended to be absorbed in checking fifth-year essays. Hermione bit her lip nervously and glanced at her watch.
"I'll see what I can do about it," Minerva finally concluded. "Pomona took Neville as her student, Filius took on Luna. I'm not getting younger, my child, it's time for Gryffindor to attend to its successors."
"Professor McGonagall, what do you mean? What successors? Are you leaving?" Hermione berated the professor, shocked at the vague statement.
"Now-now, Hermione, I'm just talking about Gryffindor House. I'm not ready to part with the post of the Headmistress yet. However, I also have someone in mind to replace me in the worst-case scenario," Minerva smiled. "In the meantime, I'm just talking about Remus returning to teach Defense, you seem to have had a friendly relationship, and I suppose he will not be disturbed by an apprentice."
Severus clenched a regular ballpoint pen in his fist - he could not get rid of the habit of using ballpoint pens instead of quills imposed on him by Hermione. No, he did not need the post of a teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and he had caused enough damage as Headmaster to even consider that post again. Deep in his soul, however, a wave of irritation arose. Once again, the Gryffindors were plotting under his very nose. Replacing him at every turn.
After settling organizational issues with Minerva, Hermione hurried to take her leave. Just as she was about to disappear through the door, she glanced back and noticed Snape hiding in the corner.
"I thought, Professor, that you would join our conversation," she said with a smile, turning back around and striding towards him. She held out her hand and Snape hid the tremors in his hands as he shook it.
"I see no point in indulging in meaningless chatter, Miss Granger. I don't believe I have anything to offer you."
"I dare not agree with you. You have always been considered one of the best specialists in Dark Arts. I was going to stop by later this evening and get your advice on the matter anyway. I'll see you then?" Hermione said quickly and left, giving him no time to answer.
Minerva crept up to Snape, barely audibly, and stood beside him. "Don't be offended, Severus, but Remus needs this position more."
"And who said that I need this position? Perhaps I'm filing the same application year after year just to annoy you?"
"Severus, you want to appear colder than you really are," Minerva chided softly. "However, I came to tell you that Halloween is coming up, and I would like you and Miss Granger to chaperone at the traditional ball."
Damned Gryffindors, weaving their intrigues quietly and with a smile.