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Chapter 7
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For a moment, Minerva would not have been able to rise from her chair even if the use of her limbs had been returned to her.
"You're what?" she gasped.
"I am Hogwarts. Yes," nodded her ladyship. "I have put my consciousness into this unprecedented corporeal form because. . .well, for many reasons, but largely because I believe that times of important change require bold new moves, new ways of doing. And also because I wanted to talk with you, Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. As a friend."
She patted Minerva's still-Immobulised arm.
"I have loved all of my headmasters and headmistresses," she went on, "yes, even Phineas Nigellus and that Trimble man, for they gave me their best. I did not, of course, love the unspeakable Madam Umbridge, but then, I never recognised her as a true headmistress.
"But you, Minerva - - you and Dilys and Albus, you three have been especially close to my heart. There is so much of all the Founders in you, my dear: you are a fit heir to Godric's courage and Rowena's intelligence, you are as compassionate as Helga - -" here she dimpled and added, "though you have much more of a temper. And you have the best of Salazar's craftiness. So I decided to meet you."
"Thank you," Minerva said automatically, feeling dazed. "I think. But - - "
"This is a surprising move on my part, I know," said the Lady Hogwarts. "So it is no wonder that you are wary. But since the Battle. . .well, the fact is that you nearly lost me in the war; I did not believe I could return after being so wounded and broken. I seriously considered shutting myself down. Yet I did not - - because there was so much strength and dedication in everyone's loving restoration of me that I changed my mind. I am back to stay."
"I'm glad," said Minerva.
But beneath the civilized conversation, her mind was racing. Could this woman possibly actually be the personification of Hogwarts Castle itself?
The idea seemed preposterous, but Minerva had to admit that this solution would fully explain how the mysterious "Lady Wandsdown" had known so many secrets: the sentient Castle would have heard, many times, Severus's annual speech about "ensnaring the senses"; it would have overheard Hooch's and Pomona's floo calls; it would have seen her and Wilhelmina together in private; it might even - - perish the thought - - be aware of people's sexually "busy" fingers.
And with the same magic that animated the Room of Requirement, the Castle could easily have created the physical letters themselves and caused them to appear - - "like magic" - - on people's desks and plates.
As bizarre as it was, the story made sense.
On balance, Minerva was convinced. . .and by more than just the logic. Somehow, the situation was beginning to seem, well, right, like something she had always known. She felt almost at one with the Castle.
Hogwarts seemed to sense her support, for the white-haired Lady smiled warmly. "As I say, I have determined that things will be different now. I will no longer be content just to watch my teachers and students find their homes within me. I wish to participate - - albeit with only a selected few."
She touched Minerva's arm again, and Minerva could feel the Immobulus jinx release its grip. She could move once more.
"These letters," she said, leaning forward but making no attempt to leave. "These 'Lady Wandsdown' letters. They feel frightening, divisive rather than healing."
The Lady Hogwarts looked thoughtful. "Such was truly not my intent. I had tried to communicate with everyone earlier this term, by altering the staircases and the Charms corridor, but these methods were ineffective."
"In a word," said Minerva dryly, and she could feel the Castle's amusement.
"In my defence, I will remind you that at that point, I was still not completely repaired," her ladyship smiled. "I daresay I was not thinking clearly. In any event, I sought another approach. Then the little elf - - Beldy, is it? - - left his book in the Room of Requirement, and I - - Hmm. How best to explain? I was able to absorb, let us say, a few chapters, and in the book at least, the letters appeared to do some good. The good characters ended well, and the bad ended badly, which seemed exactly the thing. So I borrowed a paragraph from 'Lady Scandalship' to start and then continued on my own."
"But," objected Minerva, "to tell all our secrets - - "
"My dear!" exclaimed the Castle. "Don't you see that that is precisely the point? The secrets were getting in the way of everyone's happiness! Dear Hooch was a mass of contradictory feelings: she didn't want to seem disloyal to you or to me, but she was no longer content to spend her life teaching broom skills to children. Poor Pomona and Filius were pining - - simply pining - - and for such unnecessary reasons. And you, my girl - - " here she fixed Minerva with a worried stare - "you and your beloved are missing so much potential joy."
"I don't - - "
The lady lifted a finger to forestall Minerva's response. "No, just listen. I know your arguments about your right to privacy, and of course I agree. If you and Wilhelmina are both satisfied with the situation as it is, then no outsider should interfere, not even me. But that is the question, of course, my love: are you thus satisfied?"
Minerva was silent. She'd kept her private affairs private for so long that it had become just the way things were; she no longer thought about how life might be different or whether it even could be different.
Did she really want it to be? What might a more public life look like? More importantly, would it unsettle what she and Willa already had?
Or would their lives be even better?
"I don't know," she said at last.
Lady Hogwarts smiled kindly. "Nor do I," she said. "Only you can decide. But I have no doubt that you will think things out most carefully. As for myself, I am feeling much better about my staff now. I think the letters have helped Hooch and Filius and Pomona. But I shall cease sending them, if you think it best."
"I do," said Minerva, almost sternly. "I do indeed."
"Well, then." Her ladyship got to her feet and unfurled the fan that suddenly appeared in her hand. It seemed that the audience was over. "I leave you to return to your Christmas Eve celebrations and later, I hope, to your Willa's arms. Good night, dear Minerva, and Happy Yuletide."
"I - - thank you, Lady Hogwarts," Minerva said. No other words seemed quite possible just then.
She was about to stand up when the lady spoke one last time.
"Headmistress," Hogwarts said, and it seemed to Minerva that the outline of her body was beginning to fade, "now that we've made each other's official acquaintance, I look forward to taking this form again and visiting with you occasionally. But only occasionally. The rest of the time, just know that you are surrounded, quite literally, by my support and care."
She smiled almost impishly and added, "And by the most stable of staircases and corridors, of course."
With a final gesture of her fan, she disappeared.
Minerva sat for a long time, alone with the candles, the mirrors, and her many complicated thoughts.