The rumbling only got louder and louder and just when Minerva thought the Muggles were going to come investigate, something large skidded to a stop in front of them. Silence reigned for a moment before the huge person atop the motorcycle started fiddling with the buttons on his dashboard. Click, click. The headlights flared its colors before another click, click, and the lights turned off.

It was Hagrid. Minerva saw that there was a blanket wrapped in Hagrid's strong arms. Was that Harry? Where did Hagrid even get such a motorcycle? Frowning, she turned to Dumbledore. If one had not known Dumbledore, they would've thought he was unfazed. However, Minerva did know him. Rather well, in fact and she could honestly say that he seemed to be momentarily at a loss for words. Clearly, he wasn't expecting Hagrid to arrive in such a manner.

Finally he spoke up. "Hagrid, there you are. I trust there were no problems? Where did you get such a motorcycle?"

"Borrowed it from Sirius Black, sir. Says he won't be needing it anytime soon. No problems, Professor Dumbledore sir. House was nearly destroyed but I got 'im out of there 'fore the Muggles swarmed the place."

Disembarking from the motorcycle, Hagrid securely held Harry Potter in his arms. Minerva and Dumbledore stepped forward to get a closer look.

"Is that - ?"

"Yes."

"Is it dangerous?"

"It can be, but considering that Voldemort is truly gone, it's just the impression of the Dark magic that touched him. Evidence of his ordeal, if you will. I've got a perfect map of the London Underground on my left knee."

Minerva wasn't sure she wanted to know what gave him such an unusual scar. Thankfully, Dumbledore didn't elaborate. Harry was shifted from Hagrid's arms and into the older professor's arms. He was about to speak when a loud howl interrupted him.

"Hagrid!" Minerva turned to him quite swiftly. It was a miracle the Muggles were still asleep. No need to rock the boat any further.

"I can't 'elp it!"

"Come, say goodbye Hagrid," Dumbledore raised the young boy a little while Hagrid bent down to kiss his forehead. It was a whiskery sort of kiss but Harry did not stir.

"Minerva?" She repeated the same gesture that Hagrid did, although with a lot less whiskers. Dumbledore stepped away from the two of them and proceeded to walk up to the door of Number 4 Privet Drive. Minerva watched as he set Harry down gingerly and pulled out an envelope from deep within his robes.

Once that was done, Minerva stepped away from the two men and into some nearby shadows. Transforming into a cat once again, she sped away to a safer location to disapparate from. There was a loud pop instead of a usual quiet one that comes with experience and concentration. That should've been the first sign. The second sign should've been the fact that Minerva took the path opposite from Hogwarts once she was in Hogsmeade.

She made her way to The Three Broomsticks. Once she opened the door, she realized it was a mistake coming here. She had already walked this way, might as well have that drink. She pushed onwards through the door and past the heavy throng of still-celebrating patrons. The past 11 years of terror and death eaters were now over. They would still be out there but in lesser numbers and more scattered about now that Voldemort was truly dead and gone. It was certainly something to be celebrated but all Minerva McGonagall could think about were all those that had been lost to the war. And most recently, the Potters.

She spotted an empty stool and sat down before anyone else could take it. "I'll have some firewhisky, if you please Rosmerta."

Madam Rosmerta turned away to bring the drink and returned within a matter of moments. The door opened once again and she hurried to attend the next party of uplifted wizards. Minerva kept mulling over the night's earlier events while she observed the deep amber of the Ogden's in front of her. She still wasn't convinced that Harry would be happy with the Dursleys, especially after what Dumbledore said about the turbulent relationship between the two Evans sisters.

Her earlier undercurrent of thoughts came back to her, less of an undercurrent and more of a growing river at this point. It continued with the fact that one of her spying spots today was an empty house, up for sale. A house that was conveniently located right next to the Dursleys. There was nothing to stop her from buying that house and moving in. Dumbledore might have had hope for some sort of redemption for Petunia via Harry but Minerva was under no such illusion. Would it be suspicious to the neighbors for her to be gone from her possibly future house for most of the year? Should she get a roommate? She was getting a little ahead of herself but she felt a vague sense of urgency.

She picked up her glass and knocked back the firewhisky, feeling the pleasant burn all the way down. A little liquid courage to spur her into action, not that she needed it. Minerva paid for her drink and steadfastly marched towards the castle.

Once she was inside the warm confines of her quarters, she hung her cloak on the coat rack and sat down heavily at her kitchen table. Elbows on the table, fingers in a steeple, she gave herself another minute (maybe even two) to think about her decision.

The answer was still yes. She thought about how preoccupied the Dursleys were with their reputations and she just knew that she had to ask, at the very least. The worst thing that could happen was a kind negative response, and needing to come up with some other sort of solution.

Standing up from the table, she searched her rooms for parchment and ink. Finding some, she settled back at the table to write her letter.

My dear friend,

It's been a while since we've written, and even longer since we've met in person. We must remedy this immediately. I find myself with a problem and I have a solution, but I would like your opinion on it. It involves a house, a family of awful Muggles in need of some scandalizing, and a child in need of protection. What do you say? This Saturday, if you aren't too busy with Quidditch that is?

M. M.

Despite the last hour, Minerva McGonagall rushed off towards the Owlery to deliver her letter before returning to her room in record time. She wanted a response (and therefore, a meeting) as soon as possible. Classes were rowdy today and they were likely to be the same tomorrow or at least until the war situation abated completely. She couldn't blame them. She went to bed.

The days went by slowly and she finally got a response early Thursday morning. The darkly mottled great horned owl that flew to the high table hooted in greeting as it neared her. He landed on the table and waited patiently while Minerva retrieved his letter. He flew off as soon as she secured it so that answered the question of whether he would stay for a response or not.

Dearest Minerva,

If you can pick me up after my 1 pm portkey at Hogsmeade on Saturday, then it's a date.

V. S.

A date, how presumptive. Just the way Minerva liked it with her friend, though she would deny it if Vanessa asked. To prevent from fretting about Saturday's meeting, she dove into adjusting her lesson plans and meetings with the other professors since Albus had cancelled classes for the remainder of the week. With the chaos and celebrations immediately following the fall of Voldemort (she shuddered at the name), it seemed like the best thing.

All too quickly Saturday was upon her. She tried sleeping in so she wouldn't have to wait as long for 1 pm to come around but years of ingrained habit prevented that. She passed the time by grading essays and proofreading an article of hers that was to be featured in Transfiguration Weekly. When she made a decent dent in the homework pile, she finally walked to Hogsmeade. It was not a long walk but she took the time to think about the future during that time.

She thought about the Dursleys but mostly, she thought about Harry and his parents. James Potter did not have any close relatives that she knew of, which only left Lily's side of the family. His godfather Sirius Black was still missing and Minerva didn't want to dwell on that ultimate betrayal.

Unsurprisingly, she was a little early. So Minerva decided to wait a few minutes outside of Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor, certain that by being in Hogsmeade this would technically consist of her picking up Vanessa. There were a couple of spots that her friend could come through if she was taking Floo, but Minerva had no idea exactly where her portkey could drop her off. She must've been in another country for Quidditch if she got permission for a portkey.

Before she could think of the various magical means of traveling, her vision went dark as two hands came forth to cover her eyes from behind.

"Guess who, Minnie?"

"Only one person has the audacity to call me Minnie and still wants me to guess afterwards," Minerva answered, reaching up to remove the hands obstructing her vision and twisting in her chair. Still, she greeted the tanned witch warmly, "Hello Vanessa, long time no see."

"That's my line. Not even a Howler my way..." Vanessa said almost wistfully. Minerva knew better, especially once she caught the mischievous glint in coffee brown eyes across the table. The newcomer pulled out a chair and was about to sit down when she seemed to remember something suddenly. "You haven't gotten some ice cream yet, have you?"

"No, I was waiting for you."

"That's awfully sentimental of you. I'll be right back then," the brunette witch turned to go buy ice cream for the two of them. Minerva waited patiently, if not slightly displeased that she'd been unable to deliver a witty comeback.

Vanessa came back shortly and Minerva took a moment to look over the witch she hadn't seen in a very long time. Years? Light brown hair was tied up in a ponytail, a Quidditch habit, Minerva mused. What was her own excuse, a teaching habit? She accepted the cup of ice cream that was held out to her and made eye contact.

Vanessa winked as she licked at her own colorful ice cream cone. "Did I get an acceptable flavor, your majesty?"

Minerva scooped a spoonful of the orange confection. Pumpkin and ginger. "Not bad. Dare I ask what atrocious flavor you picked?"

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavor ice cream. Each scoop guarantees at least 3 flavors!" Vanessa recited. "Right now I'm tasting cabbage, want a lick?"

"Merlin, no. I don't see how you can eat that."

They took a moment enjoying their respective desserts before Vanessa spoke up again, sounding a bit serious.

"So what's the deal Min? If you'd have wanted to just see me, you always have school breaks for that."

Minerva glanced behind her and across Vanessa's shoulder. "What I'm about to tell you is very important -"

"- my lips are sealed, go on."

Minerva continued as though the interruption had not happened at all. "- so this stays strictly between us."

She muttered a spell and Vanessa heard a resulting buzzing in her ears. Oh, so it was that type of conversation. She sat up straighter but also began munching on her waffle cone. She motioned for the dark haired witch to continue. "I… trust Dumbledore with many, many things but this is one issue where I remain doubtful. I trust you've heard about You-Know-Who's downfall?"

"Something about a baby, right? First person to survive a killing curse."

"Yes, that's correct. That baby is Harry Potter and his parents were part of the Order in the war against… Him."

"Right…?" Then Vanessa's hazel eyes got as wide as the cone she was currently working on and just as incredulous that someone could enjoy cabbage flavored ice cream. "Merlin, don't tell me you're related to the Potters and now you've got a little gremlin on your hands. That's not something they teach you at school, have you ever dealt with a baby before?"

It was Minerva's turn to be affronted by the implication that she was not good with children. Which one of them was stuck with them for the better part of the year? "What's that supposed to mean? Of course I'm capable, my nieces and nephews love me!"

"Only because they don't know any better!" Van chortled before choking on an inhaled globule of ice cream. She coughed and whispered, "The peppermint burned going down the wrong pipe."

"That's what you get. Cabbage and peppermint., what kind of….Anyways, as I was saying before you rudely interrupted, again, he's been placed with his relatives -"

"-that's good isn't it? It sounds like it's not -"

"Vanessa, I swear to Merlin…" Minerva trailed off threateningly, "If you interrupt me one more time I am going to hex you."

There was a suspicious moment of silence before Vanessa said, with a cheshire grin, "Kinky."

Minerva stabbed her spoon into her cup of ice cream and whipped out her wand to shut the other witch up properly. Now that the mischievous witch was silenced, Minerva continued, "He was placed in the care of his Muggle relatives -"

Vanessa exaggeratedly recoiled at that. "- and I spent the day observing them a few hours before Harry was supposed to be dropped off -"

The inaudible witch glanced at her with a loaded expression, complete with wiggly eyebrows, that the professor did not even try to decipher. Back to her explanation, "- and I am under the impression that these are the worst type of relatives to care for a magical child."

Minerva explained her observations to her long time friend and a more serious manner finally settled on her carefree features. "Given how famous he'll be, it might be better for Harry to be raised away from the Wizarding world but I don't trust these Muggles not to somehow screw up the poor boy."

Vanessa mouthed some words which the professor interpreted as, and what are you going to do about it? Minerva leaned closer and Vanessa mirrored the action. She spoke quietly, "There's an empty house, right next to his relatives' place. I'm planning on buying it, to sort of… keep an eye on them and Harry."

Minerva sighed heavily, cradling her head in her hands, "I don't know what I'm doing but I want to help that boy. I owe it to his parents and the Order and everyone else we've lost during the War. I'll take your help if you want to help. If you don't, that's fine since whatever I'm even asking for is a big favor but I'd love some advice either way."

At first Vanessa said nothing and after a few seconds had passed, Minerva glanced up and saw her waiting impatiently for her to undo the silencing spell. Minerva chuckled and teasingly said, "Cat got your tongue?"

Vanessa rolled her eyes at the joke that she didn't get to say. Her friend undid the spell and she replied, "Minerva, you're a dear friend of mine. I would be glad to help you out in whatever this is. Let's do it."

A/N 4/16/21 - Here's the latest chapter, I didn't expect a whole year to go by without any updates. Oops. I almost named this chapter 'The Future Gal Pal'. Maybe I had trouble with this chapter because I had to introduce an OC. I didn't really feel like finding someone from canon. Anyways thank you for your patience! Leave a comment maybe?