Chapter 1: Letters and Meetings over French Toast

Minerva McGonagall sat at her Desk in the chambers of the Headmistress for Hogwarts, a glass of single malt scotch whiskey in her hand, specifically Talisker 18 yr old, she needed the bite from the salt water used in distillation to get over what she was reading, a letter from the interim Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt.

The Second war against Voldemort had been won, but it was a brutal war, and even though they had won, there were Death Eaters everywhere on the lose who had escaped after Tom Riddle had fallen to Harry's rebounded Sectumsempra. Most expected him to have used Expelliarmus as that had been known to be his signature spell, however the war changed all, including the infallible Boy-Who-Lived, however Minerva knew the real Boy-Who-Lived and she knew that he would always be Harry to her. Not that he ever complained that after the war she only called him Mr. Potter in company of others and still treated him as her student.

That poor boy had so much pressure mounted on him, she was glad to see him when he turned up at Hogwarts before the battle, she was even more surprised to see that the famous trio of her Gryffindors were not together, only Hermione Granger was by his side, Ron Weasley turned up for the battle, and after the battle she saw the three talking to each other. But she had a large suspicion that a separation had happened, and for that reason Harry and Hermione changed, they weren't the same young adults she saw leaving at the end of their 6th year. The war had changed them, as it had changed many people. However, the 'light' side had one, Minerva wasn't sure if she could call themselves the light, all of Magical Brittan who fought in the war sat more along the 'grey' spectrum. Minerva in times remembered a quote by a Muggle by the name of Eleanor Roosevelt "No one won the last war, and no one will win the next", in this occasion she thought this was right.

However, what had Minerva dipping into her sacred collection of scotch whiskey, was the results of the war, those who should have attended their 7th year at Hogwarts…. Well, they didn't exactly complete it, some were on the run, some were captured, and some stayed at Hogwarts, but it was no school then. However, those young adults were given the option by the Minister to join the Ministry without completing their NEWTS, which had previously been so desperately required for a position at the Ministry.

And this is why Minerva sipped and swirled her whiskey while she read the letter.

Dear Minerva,

I hope you are well and that the rebuilds of Hogwarts are completed. The Ministry is still recovering and we are still trying to fill positions. I struggle with the inner working of politics, I am a trained Auror, not a politician. Yet my voice seems to hold sway, how things have changed…

However, this unfortunately isn't just a pleasantry message sent between friends, I need to update you and ask for a favour.

I am sure you remembered my offer to last years previous.. 7th years, that if they wished they could join the Ministry without completing their NEWTS, I shouldn't be surprised that so few took up that offer. What they didn't know was there was a consequence to not joining the Ministry.

They must complete their NEWTS.

I need you Minerva, to either convince them to join the Ministry or to return to Hogwarts where demons hide in their sleep as I imagine they do in yours. It's a tough decision to make for the young adults who are still recovering from fighting where the Ministry did not support as they should have, regardless of who controlled them.

I am getting pressured to do this, I do not wish to force any of them to do this, I wish I could let them recover, however the Ministry is fragile… It needs to be fixed and that has to be my priority, not what some young adults want to do.

Could you talk to the students in the list attached, or at least to the more influential ones, I don't believe most of them have replied to your Hogwarts attendance letters. This could help you as well the younger and new students with the older students presence.

I hope to hear what these talks resulted in soon…

Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Minerva was not looking forward to these talks, however she knew where to start, however that was tomorrow's job, tonight's was to finish this scotch and head to bed soon.

A soft pop announced Minerva McGonagall as she appeared on a street in London. She knew this place well; However, she was glad to be able to see a certain person as she approached the property walking a path she had travelled often. Minerva stopped and knocked on the door to 12 Grimmauld Place.

A minute later it was opened by young man with bags under his eyes, messy black hair and distinctive green eyes. Harry Potter's face grew into a smile as he saw who stood in the doorway.

"Hello Mr. Potter"

"How many times do I have to ask you to call me Harry… Minnie" Harry exclaimed as he engulfed her in a hug.

A smile was able to break across Minerva's face "I can never work out if I'm annoyed Sirius told you that nickname or happy about it"

The two broke the hug and Harry led her inside the house towards the kitchen, the house had changed since she had last been here. It was clear that Harry and who she suspected and hoped, had put effort into changing the house.

This was proven when she walked into the room to see Harry slide his hand around her other favourite student, Hermione Granger, whispering in her ear clearly alerted her to Minerva's presence as she turned around smiled, and engulfed her in a hug.

Minerva could clearly remember the moment these two students changed from her favourites to ones she would consider her young friends. It was right after they had shown her Snape's…. Severus's memories… it hurt to think about her friend, who's memory of him would always be tainted to her.

Minerva got shot out of the memory along with Harry and Hermione… and she was furious. One of her favourite students, who she had argued for years about his placement with those stupid poor excuse of muggles, those Dursleys, about how he seemed to always be in danger, about how he was isolated after Cedric died, after Sirius died, but she believed in the man, the friend who helped her after her husband had died…

All to find out that this man had led this child man to his death, that he never had a plan for him to survive, after putting all of this pressure on him…

Minerva paused, but this was only to allow the rage to rise in her, the rage and sorrow. She wanted Albus her so called friend to hurt, the best way she thought would be to attack his portrait.

She turned and starting blasting curses at his portrait, his damn portrait that wouldn't bloody break!

In the end it was Harry holding her and Hermione's shield charm that would ensure 'Albus Dumbledore's Headmaster Portrait' would survive, even if only ¾ of the frame remained and parts of the painting were blackened, especially his infamous golden chair.

But Harry holding her telling her he was alive and ok did more to alleviate her fears than anything else. Hermione joining them, finally broke her, for the first time all year without Poppy present she cried, she cried for the students that she couldn't protect, she cried for all the dead in the Great Hall, she cried to the two young people who would never get their young adult life back, to the two students who she failed because she couldn't protect them.

Since that day Minerva had made sure she kept in touch with her two favourite students, their change in relationship not surprising her, in fact it had won her 10 Galleons off Professor Sprout.

"I'm glad to see you both came to your senses about each other, I almost thought I would have to transfigure a broom closet around the two of you" Minerva smirked, but happiness eased through the smirk.

Hermione moved towards Harry and held his side and a large grin spread over her face as Harry laughed, "It's what makes us happy, and that's what matters" Hermione said as she looked up at him.

"Do you want breakfast Minne? We have too much food as usual, though this morning is French Toast"

"I'd love French Toast Harry, though I am curious that you were able to cook even with Kreacher around."

"We made a compromise, we are allowed to cook several times a week if he's allowed to clean without us helping"

"Tea or Coffee Minerva?"

"Tea, strong with a hint of milk please Hermione" As she told Hermione, she could hear a pair of footsteps come down the stairs, she expected maybe Mr. Weasley or Luna Lovegood. What she saw was surprising but not unexpected.

A Ginny Weasley in an overlarge t-shirt dragging a Susan Bones in overlarge golden long sleeved lose jumper. Seeing them together was not unexpected, she saw Ginny Weasley stand up while Harry was away to lead the DA along with Neville. Ginny needed support and Susan would be that as her rock, supporting her and keeping her calm, even if the other students didn't see it, she did.

"Morning Ms. Weasley and Ms. Bones, I must admit I am glad to see you have found happiness together "she said with a shit eating pleased grin, it always made her smile when her students found people to complement each other. Not to mention the old tradition of betting on students' future relationships with other faculty members.

Susan thanked her while Ginny smiled and said it was good to see her, both had blushes that reached their necks.

Eventually breakfast was served, Minerva had to admit that a breakfast cooked by Harry and Hermione tasted so good. But unfortunately, she had a reason why she was here,

"Thank you for breakfast" She exclaimed while nursing her tea, "I wish however that this was the only reason for this visit, unfortunately it isn't… I need to show you this"

Minerva slid the letter from Kingsley across to Harry and Hermione who had sat very close to each other seeming to need the comfort the other provided. She saw the annoyance and acceptance flash through their faces as they read through the letter only to pass it to Susan and Ginny who had similar reactions.

"I had hoped they might let us not come back but it was clearly a fools hope" Ginny muttered.

"I'm not surprised really, they want to control our generation the most, we are dangerous, we won the war, not paper pushers in the Ministry" Harry explained clearly annoyed.

"With us having Wizengamot duties, when it is eventually reformed in mid-October, sending us to Hogwarts instead of allowing us to spend time not working is a way to keep us distracted, you have to remember that most of us who fought in the war are the last of families that will sit on the Wizengamot" Susan had clearly already been thinking about this.

Hermione finished any talking however, "My issue isn't really about the Ministry controlling us, they have always tried to for as long as I was introduced into the Wizarding World. My issue is with the scars left from the war, not only physical but also mental"

Minerva was glad there were no physical marks left on Hogwarts, thanks to the original contract made by the Founders Hogwarts was rebuilded by the Goblins of Gringotts. It explained the reason that after Harry and Hermione had broken out of Gringotts that the roof was rebuilded the very next day. It took them one month for the Goblins to rebuild Hogwarts and it was exactly as it was besides a small monument Minerva had insisted was built.

"Minne… we can talk to our friends, most people are staying with others, at least those of us who don't want to work for the Ministry… right after the war anyway. However, something that could be done to help with our… shall we say mental scars, would be much appreciated for a place that, at least in our early years was considered a home".

"Harry, I will promise to find something to help you all, we failed you by not allowing you your childhood and teenage years, I will make sure that your young adult years won't be as hard… I will try my hardest to ensure it at least"

"Thanks Minnie, you can't really promise us anything but doing your best is all we need. We will do our best to see who will come to Hogwarts this year".

Ginny fiddled with her hands as Minerva could see she was working up the courage to ask her a question. "Yes Ms. Weasley?"

"What about Lavender Professor? She is a werewolf now after what Fenrir did, will she be allowed back at Hogwarts?"

"Of course Ms. Weasley. Ms. Brown will be treated exactly as Remus Lupin was when he attended and we will supply her with the Wolfsbane potion. Any student who wishes to attend Hogwarts under my headship will be allowed to attend, no matter their specific conditions". Minerva explained with firmness in her voice, she was very firm on this point. Thankfully after the war the Board of Governors was disbanded, so she had full control of Hogwarts.

This comment had all four students smiling back at her.

"There is one more thing I must ask of you, Harry and Hermione especially. As you two are both extremely proficient in certain subjects, Defence Against the Dark Arts for you Harry, and Transfiguration for you Hermione. I am in need of assistance due to your skills, with the War being ended so soon to the start of this year beginning I am running out of time for certain positions. Harry, would you accept the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor?"

"WHAT… umm I mean Minerva I'm not qualified, I couldn't run it" there was a huge blush on Harry's face as he said this.

"Not qualified hmm? Let me see, who had the best grade in Defence Against the Dark Arts throughout your year? Who taught an illegal club to all years allowing for the best grades we have seen in that subject since the curse was placed on the position? You know the subject well and doing it this year would be revision for yourself. If you did this we would aim for you to teach all of your classes early in the week with one class on Wednesday allowing the rest of the week to attend each of your classes at least once meaning you can still complete your schooling".

"Can I have a think on this Minnie?"

"By all means just give me a month's notice, so tell me your decision in two weeks. As for you Hermione I would like you to take over for the first two years in Transfiguration this year, I am going to be needing to spend time elsewhere as Headmistress and if you could do this it would help immensely. You know the content for Transfiguration well, teaching the first two years would mean you would need to have one day during the week when you would be teaching, the rest of your time would be spent as a student besides marking assignments and tests".

There was a pause as Hermione was clearly contemplating the offer before saying, "like Harry I would like to think on the offer".

"No problem, I will mention that I will be talking to one more student but they will be looking after Arithmancy, the only other student who will be in a Professor-like position is Mr. Longbottom who is apprenticing under Professor Sprout".

A grin came to Ginny's face "he'll love that, I'm happy for him". The other three all nodded their heads along with her statement.

Minerva had her last bit of Tea as she asked where Mr. Weasley was who was usually attached to Hermione and Harry.

"He has decided to go into the Auror academy to …make amends for his actions during the war" Harry explained.

"Now I will get out of your hair, any chance you might know where I can find a Slytherin student to talk to them about the Ministry's demand?" Minerva said as she stood.

"Yea we can get you into contact with Daphne Greengrass, Harry do you mind sending her a Patronus message letting her know Minerva is on her way?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded as he stood, whipped out his wand and sent off a silver stag.

"I didn't realise you were in good contact with her?" Minerva questioned

"Trust me it was a surprise too when she made contact to us last year" cut in Susan.

Harry smiled as he explained "I became good friends with her in my fourth year during the Goblet of Fire, when nearly everyone turned their backs on me except Hermione. However, when Hermione was trying to keep our friendship with Ron alive, I was often by myself when Daphne caught me alone in the Astronomy Tower where we talked and eventually, she helped with the tasks ironing out any idiotic Gryffindor moves".

"Well I'm glad to know not all of the Slytherin students will be shunned" said McGonagall.

Ginny cut in with, "I doubt many will be, when you fight alongside people in green ties to survive it blurs any lines and any issues that were present during a year where Hogwarts was controlled by Death Eaters, we had the luxury of being safe in our common rooms, I heard rumours that the Slytherins didn't even have that luxury".

"We tried to protect as many students as we could, from all houses" Minerva pleaded belief with a pained expression.

"We knew Professor, we knew you all tried to protect the young ones and thankfully it mostly worked, we all saw the bags under your eyes, and when Professor Vector went missing after she stepped in to stop some second years having the Cruciatus performed on them. Its good to see you have more than skin and bones on you now" Susan ended on the joke to inject some humour into her sentence that hinted at how bad last year was for everyone.

So I have posted on before, years ago, it was a bad Fanfic so this is a proper attempt at a story, I have a rough idea on where I'm going with the story and already into Chapter 2 which is called Minerva has to kick some Sulking Slytherins out of Bed.

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