Summer 1994

Summer 1994

Chapter 3: Minerva's Extended Family

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all the original Harry Potter characters, but I gave Professor Sinistra her first name, since as of now it's unknown. Hugo and Luna McGonagall and Lynn Sonders are the property of moi. The Street Lawyer belongs to John Grisham. Got it? Good! Chapter 3!

"Gin." Jupiter Sinistra put her cards face up on the table.

Sybill was shocked. "What?! No! Let me see!" She grabbed at Sinistra's cards and Jupiter rolled her eyes. It had been a relatively quiet night back at Hogwarts except for the fact that Sybill Trelawney was continuously accusing Jupiter of cheating at black jack, poker, war, and now, gin. "You cheated!"

"Sybill, for the last time, I'm not cheating!"

"Yes you are! I see it with my inner eye!"

Jupiter turned to Flitwick, who was reading a book in the corner. "Flitwick, tell her she's off her fortune-telling rocker!"

Without looking up from his book, Flitwick said, "Sybill, she's not cheating. Now stop being such a sore loser."

Sybill scowled at Jupiter. "Just because you're younger than me, you think you're so smart."

Jupiter's thirty-year old face smiled back at her. "Well, yes, there's that, and the fact that I'm just plane right."

Flitwick sniggered into his book and Trelawney scowled at him. Just then, Minerva entered the teacher's lounge.

Jupiter smiled. "Hey you! How'd it go?"

"Well, let's put it this way," Minerva replied putting her cloak away. "Is there celebrating in the streets?"

Jupiter's face fell. "Nothing? Nothing at all?"

"Well, he despises Muggles, which we already knew, and he's killing every unicorn in sight."

"Anything else?"

Minerva sat down. "We found out the Dark Lord's drink of choice is tequila."

Sybill smiled smugly and said, "See? And you two didn't believe me."

"Shut up Sybill!" Jupiter and Flitwick shouted at her at the same time.

Minerva was at a complete loss. She raised an eyebrow. "What is it? What didn't you believe?"

Five minutes later, Minerva slammed the door to her office shut and plopped down into the chair behind her desk. She couldn't remember ever being so angry in her whole life. Well, almost this angry. There was the few weeks ago where she was tempted to slap Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, straight across the face. She began mumbling violent things about Sybill Trelawney under her breath. "I'd throw her from the Astronomy tower…stupid…simple minded…THAT BITCH!" she suddenly burst out.

Moments before Sybill had told Minerva that she had predicted that the outcome of her little mission would be worthless and that Minerva should learn to control her temper. She said this all so smugly, as if she should be praised for possessing an "inner eye". Minerva let it all out then. She told Trelawney what she wanted to tell her for years.

"Sybill Trelawney, I don't believe any of your bull. You hear me? You talk about possessing the power to know the future and the supernatural, but I personally don't believe a word of it! You're favorite way of greeting students is predicting their death! Your classes are a joke! And you think you get away with it?" She had gotten up at this point. "I don't know why Albus Dumbledore keeps you around."

Jupiter and Flitwick had been speechless and didn't dare move an inch through the whole thing. As Minerva reached the door to the teacher's lounge, Trelawney said, "Minerva?"

She turned from the door.

Sybill crossed her arms and sneered, "Happy Birthday."

And Minerva slammed the door nearly breaking the glass.

Now she sat with her head buried in her arms and she continued to rant to no one. The good mood that Liz had given her had gone up in smoke in a quick 20 minutes. It looked as if Minerva was destined to end up with a disappointing birthday. Just then a knock came from her door.

"WHO IS IT?!!" she snapped.

The door opened a crack and Jupiter stuck her head in. "Hey," she said gently. "You alright?"

Minerva sighed. "That woman is a…"

"Bitch. Yeah. I know." She closed the door behind her making sure her red robes didn't get caught. "Don't let her get to you Min. She doesn't know diddley-squat!" She sat down in the chair in front of her desk.

"Sorry I lost it," Minerva replied. "I've had a very trying night."

"I'd believe it."

"Did Albus, Severus, and Hagrid come in?"

Jupiter shook her head. "No not yet. They're not looking for you, are they?"

"No. I told them I needed air and not to follow me."

"So where did you go?"

"The opera house. I needed to see Liz." Minerva reached into the box Liz and Willis had given her. "Look at this," and she pulled out the green boa.

Jupiter's face lit up. She loved everything that the crazy Muggles wore. "Awww cool!" She swung it around her shoulders. "It's perfect for you Min. After all, you are the theater prima donna." Minerva smiled. "So what else did you get?"

It was just then that Minerva saw two boxes on her desk. She had been so upset at Trelawney that she didn't even notice. She grabbed the first one and opened the note that was attached.

"Dear Aunt Minerva,

Happiest of all birthdays to you! I wish I could've been there to celebrate with you, but I'm on mission from Professor Dumbledore, and unfortunately I can't reveal my position. But hopefully with luck, I'll be able to come home and see you and Papa soon. All my best to you!

With love,

Luna"

Jupiter peeked over Minerva's shoulder and read the note. "When was the last time you saw Luna?"

Minerva began to unwrap the package and said, "Last summer when I visited her up in Muggle Kent. With the You-Know-Who situation, she volunteered to help. So her and her old friend, Lynn, went along and played spy with Remus Lupin and Sirius Black." She sighed a moment. "In a letter she told me she wanted to do it for Lily and James."

Sinistra shook her head softly as Min opened the box. "Oh my…this is from last summer!" Minerva's face lit up as she pulled out a framed picture of her and her niece. They were sitting on the grass pulling faces at each other, Luna's long black hair blowing in the breeze.

Jupiter laughed. "What's so funny?" Minerva asked.

"I've just never seen you in Muggle clothes before Min. It's just a bit cute. How old is Luna now?"

"Thirty-two, same as Lupin." Minerva put the picture down and opened the other box. Inside were a dozen of the most beautiful red roses she had ever seen. She picked up the card, and after reading it, instantly began to laugh. "What is it?" Jupiter asked.

Minerva handed her the card.

"We tried. Happy Birthday!

~Albus, Severus, and Hagrid"

Sinistra laughed. "Awww…they're sweet. Well, I guess that just leaves mine!" She pulled out a thin package. "Enjoy!"

Minerva looked at it. "Hmmm…I don't know…a Firebolt?" Jupiter chuckled as Minerva unwrapped a book. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham.

"He's an American Muggle writer," said Jupiter. "I think you'll like it. It brings out a good perspective on life. Well…I think so anyways."

Minerva smiled. "Thanks. Maybe a good bath and book is what I need tonight."

Just then there was another knock at the door and Jupiter looked at the clock on the wall. "Let's see. Only one person goes visiting at 12:30 PM, and that person is…"

Dumbledore came through the door.

"Albus!" Sinistra declared with a smile. Severus came in behind him.

"Where's Hagrid?" Minerva asked.

"Let's put it this way. He had too much mead too fast," said Severus.

"Uh oh," Jupiter said with a slight smile.

Minerva looked at the two new arrivals. "Thank you for the roses."

Albus shrugged his shoulders. "After a night like tonight, we couldn't think of anything else."

Severus saw the picture of Minerva and her niece. "Is that Luna?" he asked in disbelief. She nodded. He put the picture down, rubbed his face and said, "I feel old."

Minerva looked at Dumbledore. "Well Albus, any chance of you telling me where you sent my beloved niece on this mission of yours?"

"Sorry Minerva, but not a chance. I will, however, assure you that Luna is in no danger what so ever."

"You mean immediate danger."

"Take it as you wish."

Minerva shivered. "So why you two here?"

"We wanted to make sure you were alright."

"And we heard about you and Trelawney, pardon the pun, cat fighting," Severus added.

"O! Bad joke Severus!" Jupiter said.

Minerva sat back and crossed her arms. "She had it coming," she said defiantly. "I don't care."

"I'm personally disappointed that it wasn't me who gave it to her," Severus said. "But it's nice someone finally shut her up."

"For now," said Jupiter.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Do as you two wish, but if someone curses the other, then I'm going to have to step in, understand?"

Minerva nodded.

"Well, I've had enough excitement for one night," said Jupiter, "so I'm going to leave our beloved Minerva and go to bed."

Minerva smiled as everyone headed for the door, but she suddenly said, "Hey." All three of them turned around. "Thanks for being my family," she said softly.

Jupiter smiled at Dumbledore. "Aww…I feel loved."

They exited, but Severus stayed behind for a moment.

"What is it Severus?"

"You can be a total pain in my side sometimes, but after all the crap we've been through, we both understand each other. That's why I probably care about you."

"Oh yeah? We'll for being a complete jerk half the time, you can be incredibly sweet when you want to," Minerva replied.

"Just don't tell anybody that," Severus replied.

"I won't."

"Happy Birthday Professor," he said and he kissed her forehead.

Minerva laughed and said, "Get out of here! You lowly student! You're making me feel old!"

With that Snape left.

Minerva tossed and turned for an hour before she finally fell asleep. Something had been missing the whole day through, and she couldn't figure out what. But as she was about to fall asleep, her mind fell on her brother. Hugo, she wondered. Where are you? I need you Hugo…

With that she fell asleep.

Note from the Hippy Gypsy: Well, I'm trying. The real excitement starts next chapter and Min and Sev end up in Paris chasing something, thanks to Dumbledore. And the Street Lawyer is a very good book! Read it! Please review and again I say…NO FLAMES!