Minerva Matchmaker
Chapter Two: Partners In Crime By: Princess Vicks
Minerva strode purposely towards the Quidditch pitch. If any of her students had seen her, they probably would have snapped to attention and bowed their heads respectfully - they knew that stride very well indeed - Minerva on a mission. However, they probably wouldn't have noticed the uncharacteristic impish smile that played around the corners of her mouth.
It felt - how did one put this - odd thinking about the love lives of her students. As a general rule, Minerva preferred not to know about the hormone-induced activities of her students. A few sharp words and a carefully aimed glare was usually enough to make any testosterone charged boy think twice.
She never dreamed of meddling in student romances. In Minerva's opinion, it was not the done thing - it was far too messy. Minerva stopped and sighed as an image of gentle blue eyes, twinkling behind half-moon spectacles popped into her head. Her own love life was complicated enough. Huh? Minerva balled her hands into fists, mentally kicking herself. She had promised herself she would not think about Albus anymore. "Snap out of it woman!" she muttered to herself as, once more, she hurried in the direction of the Quidditch pitch.
Maybe matchmaking one couple would take her mind off . well. never mind. That was where Rolanda Hooch came in. After all, if she was going to involve herself in student romance/dramas, her best friend may as well be there to get into trouble as well!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rolanda Hooch, meanwhile, was enthusiastically trying out various prototypes of new broomstick models, for Quality Quidditch Supplies (as a special favour to the manager, of course). She cut through the air - taking both hands off the latest Cleansweep broomstick to adjust her racing goggles.
Rolanda dived - pulling off a spectacular catch of the Golden Snitch. "Yes!" she grinned, clasping the tiny golden ball in her hand. She turned the Cleansweep around and landed gracefully onto the grass. She snatched up her quill and clip board and scribbled:
Cleansweep - Nice! Nice! Nice! Great aerodynamics, lightweight, superb handling and turbulence control. Bonus points for the extra-cushioned seat (Rolanda rubbed her backside at this point - strictly speaking, she needed slightly higher levels of comfort, now that she was not twenty anymore). My only fault - a little tail drag.
She turned to the next broomstick in the line on the ground - the Firebolt! She bit back a smile. "My job isn't half bad." she mused. Rolanda picked the Firebolt up gently, the way a mother picks up her baby, and spent two minutes grinning stupidly at it. She had wanted to "test fly" a Firebolt ever since she had first set eyes on Potter's broomstick.
Rolanda kicked off the ground, the wind whistling through her spiky grey hair. "Ahhh." she breathed, as she soared over the pitch. Rolanda zoomed up and down, her eyes closed, experiencing the epitome of flying bliss. She did not see the tall emerald green figure march onto the Quidditch pitch, nor did she hear the cries of, "Rolanda! Get your Quidditch-obsessed butt here right this instant!" In fact, Minerva McGonagall was yelling for a full five minutes before Roland landed spectacularly in front of her old friend.
"Evening Tabby!" Hooch smiled. "Fancy a quick round?" She nodded towards the pile of sparkling new broomsticks and the assorted collection of snitches, bludgers and quaffles.
A look of child-like temptation passed over Minerva's face, before she peered sternly through her square-framed spectacles, sniffing impatiently. "Aren't you a little too old to be testing new model racing broomsticks?"
Hooch arched an eyebrow. "My bottom - unlike some people I know, who shall remain nameless - is still perfectly suited to racing broomsticks!"
Minerva sighed. "Yes I admit it," she said. "My bottom is a wee tad more delicate that it used to be."
"Oh, I'm very sure Albus Dumbledore still thinks your bottom is very attractive." Hooch winked.
Minerva's mouth dropped open indignantly and a furious blush swept over her cheeks. "ROLANDA HOOCH! IF I WASN'T SO AFRAID STUDENTS WERE WATCHING - AND IF I DIDN'T KNOW HOW FRIGHTFULLY EXPENSIVE THOSE FIREBOLTS WERE - I WOULD HAVE HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH A BROOMSTICK!"
Hooch smirked. "You obviously didn't come to help me with the oh-so-dubious task of testing these broomsticks. Apparently, you also didn't come to give me any juicy gossip about you and Dumbledore. So, what can I do for you?"
Minerva bit her lip - not entirely sure how to explain to her best friend that she wanted to set two students up together. Her predicament must have shown on her face because Rolanda pulled off her racing goggles and peered intently at Minerva. "Well?" she demanded impatiently.
"Umm - you see - there are two students who are - err - attached to each other and." Minerva trailed off, hoping Hooch would get a clue as to where the conversation was going.
Rolanda, who unlike Professor Sprout was quite quick on the uptake, threw her head back and roared with laughter. "Oh Tabby," she gasped as the tears rolled down her face, "Which students?"
Minerva smiled mischievously. "Does that mean you will help?"
"WHICH students?"
"Um. Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."
Hooch nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm.. That does make sense in a crazy way. They are both likeable kids, stubborn as hell, of course."
"Yes, and both exceedingly clumsy in the relationship department," added Minerva.
Hooch stared at McGonagall intently. "Sounds like someone I know."
Minerva gave her friend a warning look. "Anyway we need a plan of action."
"HEY! Who said I was in on this hare-brained scheme?"
"I did," replied Minerva grimly.
"Oh. Ok. Partners in crime then!" beamed Hooch.
Chapter Two: Partners In Crime By: Princess Vicks
Minerva strode purposely towards the Quidditch pitch. If any of her students had seen her, they probably would have snapped to attention and bowed their heads respectfully - they knew that stride very well indeed - Minerva on a mission. However, they probably wouldn't have noticed the uncharacteristic impish smile that played around the corners of her mouth.
It felt - how did one put this - odd thinking about the love lives of her students. As a general rule, Minerva preferred not to know about the hormone-induced activities of her students. A few sharp words and a carefully aimed glare was usually enough to make any testosterone charged boy think twice.
She never dreamed of meddling in student romances. In Minerva's opinion, it was not the done thing - it was far too messy. Minerva stopped and sighed as an image of gentle blue eyes, twinkling behind half-moon spectacles popped into her head. Her own love life was complicated enough. Huh? Minerva balled her hands into fists, mentally kicking herself. She had promised herself she would not think about Albus anymore. "Snap out of it woman!" she muttered to herself as, once more, she hurried in the direction of the Quidditch pitch.
Maybe matchmaking one couple would take her mind off . well. never mind. That was where Rolanda Hooch came in. After all, if she was going to involve herself in student romance/dramas, her best friend may as well be there to get into trouble as well!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rolanda Hooch, meanwhile, was enthusiastically trying out various prototypes of new broomstick models, for Quality Quidditch Supplies (as a special favour to the manager, of course). She cut through the air - taking both hands off the latest Cleansweep broomstick to adjust her racing goggles.
Rolanda dived - pulling off a spectacular catch of the Golden Snitch. "Yes!" she grinned, clasping the tiny golden ball in her hand. She turned the Cleansweep around and landed gracefully onto the grass. She snatched up her quill and clip board and scribbled:
Cleansweep - Nice! Nice! Nice! Great aerodynamics, lightweight, superb handling and turbulence control. Bonus points for the extra-cushioned seat (Rolanda rubbed her backside at this point - strictly speaking, she needed slightly higher levels of comfort, now that she was not twenty anymore). My only fault - a little tail drag.
She turned to the next broomstick in the line on the ground - the Firebolt! She bit back a smile. "My job isn't half bad." she mused. Rolanda picked the Firebolt up gently, the way a mother picks up her baby, and spent two minutes grinning stupidly at it. She had wanted to "test fly" a Firebolt ever since she had first set eyes on Potter's broomstick.
Rolanda kicked off the ground, the wind whistling through her spiky grey hair. "Ahhh." she breathed, as she soared over the pitch. Rolanda zoomed up and down, her eyes closed, experiencing the epitome of flying bliss. She did not see the tall emerald green figure march onto the Quidditch pitch, nor did she hear the cries of, "Rolanda! Get your Quidditch-obsessed butt here right this instant!" In fact, Minerva McGonagall was yelling for a full five minutes before Roland landed spectacularly in front of her old friend.
"Evening Tabby!" Hooch smiled. "Fancy a quick round?" She nodded towards the pile of sparkling new broomsticks and the assorted collection of snitches, bludgers and quaffles.
A look of child-like temptation passed over Minerva's face, before she peered sternly through her square-framed spectacles, sniffing impatiently. "Aren't you a little too old to be testing new model racing broomsticks?"
Hooch arched an eyebrow. "My bottom - unlike some people I know, who shall remain nameless - is still perfectly suited to racing broomsticks!"
Minerva sighed. "Yes I admit it," she said. "My bottom is a wee tad more delicate that it used to be."
"Oh, I'm very sure Albus Dumbledore still thinks your bottom is very attractive." Hooch winked.
Minerva's mouth dropped open indignantly and a furious blush swept over her cheeks. "ROLANDA HOOCH! IF I WASN'T SO AFRAID STUDENTS WERE WATCHING - AND IF I DIDN'T KNOW HOW FRIGHTFULLY EXPENSIVE THOSE FIREBOLTS WERE - I WOULD HAVE HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH A BROOMSTICK!"
Hooch smirked. "You obviously didn't come to help me with the oh-so-dubious task of testing these broomsticks. Apparently, you also didn't come to give me any juicy gossip about you and Dumbledore. So, what can I do for you?"
Minerva bit her lip - not entirely sure how to explain to her best friend that she wanted to set two students up together. Her predicament must have shown on her face because Rolanda pulled off her racing goggles and peered intently at Minerva. "Well?" she demanded impatiently.
"Umm - you see - there are two students who are - err - attached to each other and." Minerva trailed off, hoping Hooch would get a clue as to where the conversation was going.
Rolanda, who unlike Professor Sprout was quite quick on the uptake, threw her head back and roared with laughter. "Oh Tabby," she gasped as the tears rolled down her face, "Which students?"
Minerva smiled mischievously. "Does that mean you will help?"
"WHICH students?"
"Um. Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."
Hooch nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm.. That does make sense in a crazy way. They are both likeable kids, stubborn as hell, of course."
"Yes, and both exceedingly clumsy in the relationship department," added Minerva.
Hooch stared at McGonagall intently. "Sounds like someone I know."
Minerva gave her friend a warning look. "Anyway we need a plan of action."
"HEY! Who said I was in on this hare-brained scheme?"
"I did," replied Minerva grimly.
"Oh. Ok. Partners in crime then!" beamed Hooch.