Part Thirteen
A/n: Sorry, I know this is a little over due, but I haven't really had much time to write lately. It's the half term and my dad's gone and done his back in, meaning I have to run around helping him do things like put his socks on. Trust me, I'd much rather be writing! I don't know how many of you read the transcript from the chat Rowling did on the sixteenth (I think that's the right date) but she actually gave away McGonagall's age, and, well, she's seventy. Which kind of makes this whole series even more unbelievable than it was to start with. So I'm only going to continue with this if people want me to. If not, I'm sure I can come up with some way to end it and pull together all the loose strings. Because I can't really see much point in continuing with a character who, in a sense, isn't really real unless people want me to. But I'm going to write this fic as I was planning on doing before I found out just how old McGonagall really is, and I guess we'll see what happens from there.
A couple of weeks had passed at Hogwarts since the school board had ordered that the school be informed of the relationship which existed between Minerva and Severus, and things were very slowly (very being the operative word) beginning to return to normal. It would be a while until things were fully normal again, if they ever were, but at least now both could walk down corridors without a sea of whispers breaking out. Now it was down to a dozen or so people staring and pointing where ever they went, but it was better than the entire school, at least.
Lessons had returned to normal a matter of days after the revelation, with Minerva tiring of hoping that things would die down if she let her students get whatever they needed to out of their systems, after a few hours. And, well, there had never really been any change in Potions lessons to begin with.
But at least now there was a light (no matter how dim) at the end of the tunnel, with Christmas break coming up shortly, meaning that everyone would have a chance to forget over a week long period. (A/n: I think that's how long they get in the books isn't it? Traditionally other schools in England get two weeks, but then, Hogwarts isn't exactly a traditional school is it?) And it was this thought and this thought only that was allowing Minerva to relax, something it had been a while since she'd last done.
"What are you smiling about?" Severus asked. They were sat together, her on his knee, in a large and comfy armchair, that had appeared from somewhere, in the corner of her room.
"Aren't I allowed to smile any more then?" she asked.
"I was just wondering. You've been acting all stressed out for ages now."
"I have not!"
"So what were you smiling about?"
"It's nearly Christmas."
"Another trivial holiday, just an excuse to let children out of school if you ask me."
"Not very religious are you?" He shrugged. "Besides, isn't that a good thing? The school will be nearly empty." He paused, as if considering this.
"Suddenly I'm beginning to warm to this holiday." She smiled and closed her eyes, as if imagining it.
"Just think, no staring eyes, no whispering or pointing and for a whole week."
"You do know they're going to get bored of staring sometime don't you? It won't last forever."
"I know," she murmured. "It just doesn't feel that way right now."
"Well it has only been two weeks. You do have to give it some time you know. Besides, don't you think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself? Christmas isn't for over a month yet." She groaned.
"Don't remind me." She was sure he almost laughed. "Do you think they'll ever accept this as a normal relationship?" He paused.
"Define normal." Her brow furrowed.
"I don't know. Just, normal. As in not strange."
"You want my honest opinion on that one?"
"Yep."
"No." She sighed.
"Oh well. It was worth a shot." Suddenly she wasn't in such a good mood anymore.
The following Monday, shortly after lunch, they found that they were alone in the staff room, which was a rare occurrence. It didn't last long though, because, shortly, they were interrupted, when Dumbledore entered the room. He looked around, a little dismayed.
"Oh." he said. "I was hoping there would be a few more here. But never mind. Do you remember a few weeks ago, when I said I would be looking to take on a supply ancient runes teacher?" Minerva cast her mind back. She vaguely recalled him saying something of the sort, but if she were quite honest with herself, she would have to admit that she hadn't really given it much thought. She nodded though.
"Well I advertised in the Daily Prophet and had a single applicant. I interviewed her a few days ago, and found no fault. And she's here now." he smiled at someone stood outside the door. "Come in dear." A woman, who looked to be in her early forties, with long red hair and narrow green eyes entered the room. "This is Rebecca Thomlinson." Minerva heard both Severus and the woman she now knew as Rebecca gasp, and before she knew what was happening, she found herself being almost pushed to one side as they met in the middle of the room, locked in a tight hug.
"Oh Sev, I've missed you so much! How long has it been?"
"Too long." He kissed her on the cheek, a friendly gesture, which, if she were a little more neurotic, Minerva could easily have interpreted as otherwise. She met Dumbledore's eyes over the tops if their heads. His eyebrows were raised. He cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Yes, well, Rebecca, perhaps you would like a brief tour of the school? Refresh your memory a little?" Rebecca gingerly pulled herself out of Severus's arms, and walked towards the door. Looking back over her shoulder she smiled widely and said:
"I'll talk to you later okay?"
"Okay." Severus didn't move until she had fully left the room, and the door was closed. As he turned back around, Minerva smiled sweetly and said:
"An old friend?" Severus couldn't hide the embarrassment in his face.
"Funny story." he mumbled.
"I'm all ears."
"Well, uh, Rebecca and I were what you could probably call high school sweet hearts. But alot less sickly." he wrinkled his nose. "And, uh, when we left school, she went off to Poland, to study...something. But we, uh, we never really broke up." At seeing the disbelieving look on Minerva's face, he muttered; "Okay, maybe it wasn't such a funny story."