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Chapter Four:
Minerva beckoned Filius forward. She waved a note into existence with her wand.
"This is the speech I planned for tonight," she said. "Edit and then read it. You've been preparing for the job. Say you're stepping in for me while I address several issues relating to the games."
"Okay," he said resolutely.
"Lead the students back."
He nodded and addressed the students.
Hermione stepped forward.
"What sort of trick is this? What is going on?"
"If I knew I would most certainly tell you," Minerva said angrily.
The minister of games appeared. Clay Burel was a man with thick dirty blond curly hair that made him younger than he looked despite being in his forties.
"Excalibur has chosen you to compete," he said.
"I want to convene a conference to appeal my termination," Minerva said. "It is my right."
"Fine," Hermione said with a huff.
"I suggest we leave to let the students be sorted," Burel said.
"This isn't the end of this," Hermione said. "I'll be back tomorrow."
"I don't doubt it," she said in return.
Minerva watched as the ministry traipsed across the lawn to the gates.
She was left alone by Excalibur. All she could smell was Hermione's destruction of what Neville had grown.
"I have never been particularly good at gardening magic like Pomona, but I'll try."
She closed her eyes and focused. Happy memories were a powerful source of energy. Transforming into a cat for the first time. Her wedding. Seeing Harry catch the snitch for the quidditch cup for the first time.
"Regermino!" She said mentally.
There was a massive groaning sound. She felt the magic coursing through her. It was so intense. She couldn't keep her footing. Minerva fell to the ground.
"Professor!"
Katie Bell, the Healer for Hogwarts appeared by her side.
"I don't like criticizing you, but performing revival magic on something as elaborate as Neville's work is dangerous!"
She helped Minerva stand up. The garden was back in place.
"But it worked," she said lightly.
"The students are at the castle. I want to put you through some tests, to evaluate your condition."
"Of course," she said.
They walked across the grounds.
"So, this is what it's like to move without aching," Minerva said.
"Do you have any idea why Excalibur de-aged and chose you?"
"There are some legends where Merlin was de-aged whenever he came back from being trapped by Morgan."
"Merlin is one of the most famous wizards to ever live, yet I feel like I know little about him."
"Binns prefers to teach history rooted in fact. Merlin's life is so fantastical it is hard to know the difference between truth and fantasy."
They walked to the entrance of the castle.
"Was he really a student here?"
"A Merlin did attend Hogwarts, records show. The first class after the founding of Hogwarts. But records of Merlin predate Hogwarts also."
"I don't understand," Katie said as they walked through the halls.
"Some, say it was his son. Others say it was Merlin crossing his timeline to fulfill a prophesy that he would be the greatest wizard to ever come from Hogwarts. The truth, as usual, is probably somewhere in the middle."
"I always thought Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard to ever come out of Hogwarts."
Minerva blinked at the mention of his name.
"How he is being remembered is still being written," Minerva said.
Katie unlocked the door to the infirmary.
"Do you just pick up on this sort of thing when you become headmistress?"
"My muggle father happened to enjoy studying Arthurian legend. I helped him whenever I came home."
Minerva pulled out a mirror She gasped.
"I was never this pretty when I was a teenager," she said. "My hair is shinier; my cheeks are softer. My nose is less pronounced."
"Professor," Katie stuttered. "I need you to—"
"Katie I thought we were past this," she said. "Do you know how often I've undressed in front of students? I'm ninety-seven! Almost everyone is younger than me these days."
With a wave of her wand, Minerva removed her clothes.
"The scar where you were nearly stunned to death is gone," Katie said as she scanned Minerva with her wand. "Yet the bruising from your quidditch injury is still relatively fresh. There may be a glamor spell element, but your body has been de-aged."
There was a rapid knock on the door. Minerva quickly waved her robes back on.
Neville and Hagrid appeared.
"You revived my garden!" he cried as he rushed forward to hug her.
"I'm glad you're both here," she said. "I've requested a hearing. Therefore, any resignation requests are put on hold until after the hearing. I strongly suggest you both reconsider your decisions."
"Ye don't look anything like yourself, but ye certainly sound like it," Hagrid said.
"What are we going to do?" Neville asked.
"I have a hearing to prepare for," Minerva said. "Can I count you both as character witnesses?"
"Absolutely!" Neville said.
"For sure!" Hagrid said.
"That won't be necessary."
Everyone turned to see Draco in the doorway.
"What is going on Mr. Malfoy?" Minerva said.
"The board convened an emergency meeting," he said. "Neville had sent us an owl, and we believed Granger-Weasley's actions warranted an immediate meeting. In a unanimous decision, that cannot be overturned by the Ministry, we declared Granger-Weasley was not acting in the interests of the students in her decision to terminate your contract."
"Thank you," Minerva said.
"Worry about why Excalibur has de-aged you and continue to keep Hogwarts running smoothly. Replacing Flitwick is also going to be a nightmare."
"I think I have decided to finally forgive you for holding Harry's broom," Katie said.
"You won anyway," he said with a sigh.
"Part of me will always see you as a git," Katie said.
"I have a feeling that all of you do," he said.
"You've made great strides in changing that perception," Minerva said and offered her hand. "As a younger version of your father would be livid."
"My father wanted me to be better than him," he said. "That is why he recommended I take his board seat. Being a grandfather has mellowed him a little as well."
"Change is possible," Minerva said. "All of you have grown in different ways, to be truly great versions of yourselves. I am proud to have called myself your professor."
"You've gone mushy," Draco said. "I'm leaving."
Draco walked out quickly.
"I'm glad some things haven't changed," Katie said.
"Everyone, leave," Minerva said. "Go enjoy the last of the feast. Tell Filius no singing tonight. The students are up late enough as it is."
"What about you Minerva?" Neville asked.
"I would be a distraction," she said.
Neville hugged her again.
"Thank you."
"See you all tomorrow."
Minerva left in the direction of her office.
Everything felt different. She had to use her wand to adjust her robes, as they didn't fit right. Her hair wouldn't stay in a neat bun without extra support. Even her shoes didn't fit as well, as they didn't need the arch support, she'd magicked into them. It was a surreal feeling.
She stood before the gargoyle.
"Sugar-quill," she said.
It moved for her to climb the stairs up.
"Did you suspend whoever tried that glamor spell on you?" Severus asked. "Why students with such talent waste them on pranks is beyond me."
"It worked out well for the Weasleys," Albus said.
"They are hardly an example to look up to."
"Regardless of how young I look, I am very tired," Minerva said. "I expect everyone to be of service in helping me learn more about Excalibur and why the bloody sword would do this to me."
"Why not now?" Severus asked. "This sounds like an urgent matter."
"Because I don't want to embarrass myself in nodding off in front of you."
There was a coughing sound. Cecil Jevorovich with his long soot-gray beard, and the first headmaster after the founders, woke up.
"Minerva, you need to understand something," he said. "Merlin altered the records. You won't find anything Merlin doesn't want you to find."
"What about the Sorting Hat?" Minerva asked.
"He swore it to secrecy."
"How do you swear a hat to secrecy?" Severus asked.
"By threatening it with a four winds spell," he said.
"The only way to completely destroy it," Albus said. "The only spell as powerful as the killing curse."
"Tread carefully Minerva," Jevorovich said. "There are incredibly strong powers at work."
"Great," Minerva said sarcastically. "I have a Minister of Magic who is most likely being corrupted by a greater power, and Merlin's legacy is somehow figuring into all this, and for some reason, I look like a teenager!"
"I think you're up for the challenge," Albus said optimistically.
"Better you than me," Severus said.
Minerva huffed as she went to her bedroom. It had been a long day of what was likely going to be a longer school year.