Chapter Three

I don't know if I can do this. It really is too soon. What do I do if HE comes along?

"Celeste?"

Celeste looked up from her teacher's desk. She was still wearing a Muggle woman's suit. This time though, it was emerald green, perfectly matching Professor Minerva McGonagall's robes. McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, was standing at the doorway of the Defense classroom, holding a plate of blueberry muffins.

"I was hoping to talk to you this morning at breakfast, seeing as you didn't come to the start-of-term banquet last night."

Which is exactly why I decided to skip it, Celeste thought. However, she just said, "Oh, uh, right. Come in, then."

McGonagall walked in, cleared a part of the table covered with books and put down the plate. For a while, she watched as Celeste scribbled away with a quill.

"What are you doing, anyway?"

Why don't you just leave me in peace? thought Celeste "Reviewing. I haven't opened a spell book in over ten years, you know."

"I find that hard to believe, Celeste."

"Believe it. It's true." Silence fell.

Again, McGonagall made an attempt at conversation. "Your students are going to wonder why you're dressed like that."

This time, Celeste grunted. "Let them wonder. They'd wonder even more if I tried to wear my robes. Moths have gotten to 'em. Must've forgotten to put them in mothballs. I'll go down to Hogsmeade when I get the chance."

Silence.

After a minute or so, McGonagall remarked, "I know you like blueberry muffins. They're good while they're hot."

Celeste looked up. "Hmm? I'm sorry, what did you say Professor?"

"Celeste, if you don't want me here, all you have to do is say the word."

McGonagall watched as the younger witch sighed and looked up at her. How intense her gaze is, she thought. It's just as Albus said, she's still grieving…

Now Celeste was really sorry. "Professor, I don't want you to go. I'm just uh, that is to say, I'm just a little shall we say, lost?" Urgh, what a lame statement! "Yeah, just a bit confused and ho hum…" she added. Sheesh, even worse!

"About what, Chel?"

Celeste squirmed at the nickname. No one had called her that in years. "Oh, about all this. Y'know, teaching and all. I really didn't think, I really wasn't counting on coming back to all this."

McGonagall nodded. Another spell of silence fell between them, not unlike the silence that fell between Celeste and Dumbledore in that meeting they had prior to the start-of-term banquet. She then said, "Well, those muffins are probably frozen now." She took out her wand and pointed at the plate. Celeste stopped her saying, "No, let me try. Just because I haven't done this in some time doesn't mean…" Having taken out her wand, she closed her eyes, trying to remember the spell for the Warming Charm. Just when she thought she'd completely forgotten it, she got it.

"Fovere!"

Instantly, the muffins on the plate started steaming as though they'd just been freshly baked.

She opened her eyes. McGonagall smiled. Just then they heard the bell signalling the start of the classes.

"What's your first class, Chel?"

"Gryffindor sixth years. Bummer, I don't think I can…"

"Sure you can. You were one of my smarter and more serious students. Just concentrate on what you have to teach and remember that You-know-who is running wild out there. You are now responsible for training these future warriors against him." Voices started getting louder as the students made their way down the Defense corridor. "Well, try to catch a bite before they come in."

Celeste nodded and reached for a muffin. "Thanks for coming to see me, Professor."

"Don't mention it. Good luck!"