Chapter 14
"I love how she makes me feel like anything is possible, or like life is worth it."
- Tom Hansen [in 500 Days of Summer]
"Can you believe we made it!"
"Halfway done!"
"Cheers!" The four girls clinked their butterbeers together excitedly, taking large gulps of their drinks. Rose grinned at her three friends as she set her glass down on the table. The atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks was a general air of celebration as all of the students enjoyed the last Hogsmeade trip before their winter vacation began.
"I am so ready to go home and do absolutely nothing," Mari proclaimed getting a round of laughs from the other three. "Except for attending your engagement party of course."
Rose smiled nervously at this statement, taking another sip of butterbeer. Looking across the table at an unusually quiet Ava, Rose knew she wasn't the only person feeling nervous for the holidays.
"How are you holding up?" Rose asked her and Ava started slightly, drawn back out of her thoughts. Sam wrapped an arm around her comfortingly and Ava smiled weakly at her girlfriend before responding.
"I'm alright, I guess. Just not ready to go home and be called Avner for a week." The three nodded at Ava sympathetically. Ever since coming out to her parents and beginning her transition, holiday breaks had become a painful rather than pleasant experience.
"I wish you'd come stay with me and my family," Sam said, her tone slightly pleading, but Ava shook her head.
"I couldn't do that to Daniel," Ava responded immediately. "Winter holidays are the only time I get to see him during the school year."
"He'd understand, he's your brother, and he loves you." Sam reassured her. Rose and Mari remained silent as they had never met Ava's twin brother. Unlike Ava, he hadn't inherited their father's magical abilities and was attending a muggle boarding school.
"Has your dad come around at all?" Mari asked gently.
"He barely spoke to me over the summer," Ava replied with a shake of her head. "If anything, it feels like he's getting angrier and angrier each time he sees me…."
"At least you get ten days of gifts to distract you instead of just one," Mariko said, trying to liven the mood.
"It's eight days, Mari." Ava corrected in amusement before her face fell again. "Eight days of mom giving me gifts I won't use. Last year I got a new set of clippers, cologne, cufflinks, you get the idea. It's funny because we didn't really give elaborate gifts before. I think she's convinced if I have all the right accessories, I'll somehow turn back into her son…. Can we talk about something else?"
Cold wind blew through the small tavern as a group of people entered. Glancing reproachfully at whomever opened the door, Rose saw Professor McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid, and, unexpectedly, the Minister of Magic trickle in and take a seat near one of the Christmas trees. Rose waved briefly at McGonagall who returned the gesture amusedly before ordering her drink from Madam Rosmerta.
"Are you excited for your engagement party, Rose?" Ava asked, bringing Rose's attention back to the group
"I'm… looking forward to it." Rose said after a long moment. Mari rolled her eyes at her. "I haven't met Stefan's parents yet, so that will be exciting. I just know mom is going to go overboard on the party. I wish the two of you could come."
"It's alright," Sam said with a shrug. "We know we're not your parent's favorite people. They're not my favorite people either if I'm honest. Don't get me wrong, I hope you have a great time, it just isn't my cup of tea."
"It's going to be wonderful," Mari gushed. "Narcissa always throws the best parties!"
"At least Mari will be happy if you aren't," Sam joked.
"That is the most important thing," Rose agreed with a grin. Mariko just shrugged and finished her drink. The Arai's were long time guests at the Malfoy Manor and Narcissa was known to fawn over Mari almost as much as she fawned over Rose.
"Isn't it all happening kind of fast?" Ava asked tentatively. She knew Rose could be fiercely defensive of her family and didn't want to push any buttons.
"Not really," Mari answered before Rose could respond. "The two of you just don't understand how things work for purebloods."
Ava and Sam both shot Mari a glare. Mari, sensing the tension smiled sheepishly and added, "…No offense."
"Come on Ava, let's leave these purebloods to their drinks." Sam said haughtily, grabbing her girlfriend's hand and tugged her from the booth.
"Nice going," Rose commented dryly, and Mari looked mildly regretful. "You should go apologize; you won't get another chance until after break."
Mariko slid out of the booth with a clear air of 'I really don't want to do this.' Throwing back the last of her butterbeer, Rose got up and headed to the door. She looked up in surprise as it was held open for her by none other than Cornelius Fudge who grinned down at her from beneath his lime green bowler hat. Stepping through hastily, she smiled brightly at the man.
"Thank you so much minister."
"Not at all, my dear," he replied jovially. "I just received an invitation from Lucius this morning, I believe congratulations are in order, young Dolohov will make a fine husband. I work with him on the Wizengamot you know."
"You're too kind," Rose said, her eyes flicking to McGonagall who was standing beside Fudge and whose lips were now pursed so tightly as to be nearly invisible.
"I look forward to the party, for now I have to go up to the castle and meet with Dumbledore, you know how these things go."
"Of course minister." Rose agreed immediately, even though she did not in fact 'know how these things go.' But she was ready to escape from McGonagall's watchful gaze at the first opportunity. Rose had already half turned away when McGonagall's sharp voice split the air.
"I wonder if you might join us, Miss Malfoy. I need to have a word with you before the train arrives."
"Happy to, Professor." Rose said in a tone that didn't sound particularly happy. She fell into step with McGonagall and Flitwick. Hagrid was leading the way with his large stumbling gait, singing Christmas carols very loudly.
"Young Stefan Dolohov?" ventured Flitwick in his squeaky voice. "I remember him from his time at Hogwarts, he was in my house you know."
"In Ravenclaw?" Rose asked in surprise, she had of course assumed Stefan had been in her own house.
"Oh yes, the only one of his family not to be in Slytherin. A bright young man, quite adept at charms, rather serious."
"A passable transfiguration student," McGonagall said with a sniff, and Rose grinned at her reluctant compliment. McGonagall's stern gaze softened slightly, and her tightly pursed lips drew back in the barest of smiles. "I seem to recall his real passion was Ancient Runes."
"Yes, yes," agreed Fudge as they walked along. "And that has been indispensable to us at the Ministry. Indispensable. It can be a tricky job to translate some of our more archaic laws, and I've been told by Madam Bones personally that he is most adept. The two of you will make a superb pair."
"Thank you, minister." Rose said quietly. It was odd to hear about her fiancé from the perspective of those who knew him. She found that she quite enjoyed hearing the compliments. After all, what Stefan Dolohov earned and how people thought of him reflected on her. She realized that she'd have big shoes to fill as his wife. It made her walk with her chin raised a little higher. When they entered the castle, the group parted ways, and Rose trailed after McGonagall on their way up to her office. Rose examined the back of her stern shoulders nervously. McGonagall couldn't give her a detention for getting engaged… could she?
"Sit." She told her when they arrived in her office. Rose immediately sank into the offered chair, and McGonagall steepled her fingers, gazing at Rose intently.
"As Gryffindor's head of house, it is not my place to advise you," she began, and Rose's lips twitched slightly at the introduction. This was how McGonagall always began these conversations with her. "But as an adept transfigurationist and a promising young alchemist, I feel it is my duty to once again remind you that you are more than just a pretty face."
"Yes, Professor." Rose said. McGonagall's words stung as if the woman had slapped her.
"Have you given further thought to teaching? Professor Lupin has told me what a great help you've been to him this year. I believe he's planning on letting you teach some of the first-year classes next term."
"I've… enjoyed working with him. I'm not sure if teaching is right for me though." Rose said, her face coloring slightly at the knowledge that Remus had complimented her to McGonagall.
"What is it you are interested in then?"
"I… I don't know, Professor. I love learning about transfiguration, I love pushing my limits and the limits of the magic, I just don't—"
"Research then." McGonagall interrupted with a wave of her hand.
"Research?"
"Of course, silly girl. Did you think a N.E.W.T.s course was the end of transfiguration knowledge? There are plenty of adept witches and wizards who are working to expand what is possible in various areas of transfiguration and many of them take on apprentices, and a reference to any one of them from me will get you very far in the application process."
"Oh…." Rose replied lamely and McGonagall's lips tugged back in a slight grin.
"If you think it's something you're interested in, you will need top scores in your N.E.W.T.s exam—something you are more than capable of. We should also look to get you published in Transfiguration Today, it will help you be taken more seriously. Is there a topic of particular interest you can think of writing on?"
"Well… I've recently become interested in lycanthropy." Rose began hesitantly, and McGonagall's eyebrows shot up towards her hairline.
"Lycanthropy," she repeated in a suspicious tone of voice.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Most research into lycanthropy is done in the field of potions making, Miss Malfoy."
"Exactly," replied Rose enthusiastically. "But the transformation of a person into a wolf is inherently a subset of transfiguration. I think it needs to be studied more thoroughly from the transfiguration side of things—after all, the homorphus charm—"
"The homorphus charm is a myth," McGonagall said. "And even if it does exist it is unlikely to be a cure for lycanthropy, just a temporary transformation."
"It's a place to start though." Rose said stubbornly, and McGonagall gave her a genuine smile this time.
"I will review the draft of your paper, and we'll see if we can get it published. Lastly," McGonagall pulled out a small tin box and slid it across the desk to her. "You should seriously consider attempting the animagus transformation in the spring. It will be much easier to do here under my supervision and guidance than to wait. You should know it is a demanding task and much of it depends on luck and proper timing. There is no guarantee you will accomplish the transformation even if you try."
Rose picked up the tin hesitantly, opening the lid to see a handful of dried mandrake leaves sitting inside. Her brow furrowed in confusion and she glanced up to see a still smiling McGonagall.
"What are these for?"
"One of the ingredients in the potion you must drink prior to the animagus transformation is a mandrake leaf completely permeated by your own saliva."
"My saliva?" Rose repeated in mild disgust. "I have to put one of these leaves in my mouth?"
"That is correct, Miss Malfoy," McGonagall said, an amused tone to her voice. Rose narrowed her eyes at McGonagall suspiciously.
"How long do I have to keep it in my mouth?"
"One month."
"A month!" Rose exclaimed as McGonagall chuckled quietly to herself.
"From full moon to full moon. If it leaves your mouth at any time during the month you will have to start over. That's why I am giving them to you now. If you mess up, you will have a few tries next term to get it right. The next full moon is on Christmas day."
Rose stared at McGonagall for a moment, trying to decide if the stern woman had intentionally made a pun, but her impassive face gave nothing away. Holding up one of the leaves, Rose looked at it skeptically. 'You have got to be kidding me.'