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Chapter 8

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By eight o'clock on the evening of Boxing Day, the Ministry Yule Ball was in full swing.

The Great Hall of Hogwarts was unrecognisable as its usual self. Filius, Hagrid, and several Ministry volunteers had transformed the Hall into a glorious forest of white and gold trees, their branches illuminated from within, the light falling on pillowy drifts of "snow" that served as comfortable couches. The enchanted ceiling sparkled with stars.

Trays of champagne and savoury treats floated among the dozens of guests; Filius's charms ensured that nothing spilled or got in anyone's way. Anyone who wanted water or wine or ale or tea had merely to tap their glass and whisper their preference.

A dais draped with holly and evergreen stood in place of the usual high table, and a dance floor glittered in front of it, wisps of glowing red and green smoke swirling gracefully around the dancers.

Minerva surveyed the scene with satisfaction and no little amount of relief. In a few short hours, her official duties would be over, and she could start what she thought of as her real Christmas - - three days at Wilhelmina's cottage, the school left in Filius's capable hands, her only companions her books and her Willa.

"Pretty, what?" said the very woman. Willa had come up beside her and was indicating the bedecked hall.

"Lovely," Minerva agreed. They watched the dancers companionably until they saw Kingsley coming toward them looking purposeful. Willa gave Minerva's elbow a quick, unseen squeeze and moved off; they'd long since perfected ways to secretly acknowledge each other in public.

"I expect you're just as ready for this to be over as I am," Kingsley said as he reached her side.

"Definitely," said Minerva, taking her first glass of champagne from a passing tray. One drink only before the speeches; that was her rule.

Kingsley snagged a flute for himself. "I need this," he groaned, taking a long swallow. "What a term this has been. Still, apparently all's well that ends well."

"Yes." Minerva had told the staff about her encounter with "Lady Wandsdown" and had owled a report to Kingsley, Griselda, and Arthur (whom she had seen earlier jitterbugging with Molly), but otherwise, the story would go no further.

"At least some good has come of it all," Kingley said, and he nodded toward Filius and Pomona.

Filius had charmed himself to hover in the air at Pomona's height; they were holding each other close for a slow dance, trading brief kisses as they swayed together, oblivious to the crowd.

Minerva smiled. "Some good indeed. And you might not be surprised to hear, Kingsley, that Rolanda Hooch came to see me earlier today. To submit her resignation, as of the end of spring term."

He gave a low whistle. "She's starting her training school?"

"She's starting her training school."

"Well, good for Hooch!" Kingsley lifted his glass in a toast. "Here's to the successful conclusion of our mystery letter-writer and our ball. And to getting through our speeches."

Minerva touched her glass to his. "To the conclusion."

"Ready for the spotlight?" he asked after a moment, letting his champagne flute vanish into the charmed air. He held out his arm; Minerva took it, and they set off for the dais.

Kingsley motioned the band to silence, and his magically-amplified voice boomed out over the crowd. "Greetings of the season to you all. On behalf of the Ministry of Magic and the staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I'm pleased to welcome you all to this year's Yule Ball."

His smooth voice went on, touching briefly on the horrors of the year just passed but moving almost at once to the promise of the future, and Minerva stopped listening. She let her mind drift on the current of Kingsley's soothing cadences, surfacing only when she heard him say, "And not that she needs any introduction, but it gives me great pleasure to present to you everyone's favourite professor, our esteemed headmistress, Minerva McGonagall."

Minerva had thought long and hard about this moment, and she stepped forward resolutely, silencing the applause with a quick wave of her hand.

"I won't keep you long from your dancing and drinks," she said. "Merlin knows we've all earned a party. But I would be remiss if I did not thank the many people who made this lovely evening possible."

She carefully named every helper, from her own staff to the ministry workers to the decorating committee to the dedicated elves who had prepared the food.

Then she took a deep breath, summoned her inner Godric Gryffindor, and said, "My final thanks go to the person who deserves all the gratitude and adoration that I can offer her. It's long past time for me to publicly acknowledge my beloved life partner - - Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank."

A moment of stunned silence followed this announcement. Then, after a shout from Hooch - - "About time!" - - a buzz of chatter started and swelled as guests looked at each other with wild surmise. Some were clearly asking if they'd heard what they thought they'd heard; many cheered and grinned; several waved happily at Minerva from the crowd.

Of course, some looked horrified; others were frowning and scowling. One member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors had already cornered Arthur Weasley and was gesticulating angrily.

Ah, well. Minerva had always known that some sort of fight was inevitable.

She hadn't thought she wanted it. But as she'd sat in the Room of Requirement on Christmas Eve, she'd realised that somewhere along the line - - as she'd talked with Kingsley and Griselda and Severus and Willa and the astounding Lady Hogwarts - - her decision had made itself: she was ready, at last, to show her true self to her world.

And whatever fight might come, she would, as Kingsley had said, "deal with it."

Because "Lady Wandsdown" had been right: - - "We have been backward long enough."

The time had come to embrace a better age.

Whatever its fights or promises, though, the future was the future, and at the moment, Minerva didn't care about it.

At the moment she had eyes for only two things:

Wilhelmina's brilliant smile, beaming up at her in front of the dais.

And the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, where the Lady Hogwarts was offering her reaction.

Gone were the decorous, distant stars that had shone down upon them earlier.

The Castle's enchanted sky was now blazing with the bursting green, blue, and red dazzle of the Northern Lights.

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Author's Note: And so we reach the end of "Bridgerwarts." I hope you've had fun with it; I certainly had fun writing. (I used to enjoy writing angsty fics, but the real world is now so grim and scary that I can't bring myself to add any further darkness; I write mostly upbeat endings these days.) My grateful thanks to all you readers and to Gozzy78, Zeugma, and everyone who has kindly left comments. Feedback is love!