One month had passed since the new year in Hogwarts had begun. Harry had fully arrived in this time and was a Professor at heart, he was a strict teacher, and he had a reputation for being as strict as McGonagall, maybe even more, but also as fair as her.
"You will write me two feet of parchment on Grindylows until Friday," Harry said to his third-year class, who all nodded and then packed their things. He now had a free period and decided to walk on the grounds on this pleasant autumn day. But when he walked down the stairs, his feet did not carry him towards the portal. Instead, he walked into the inner yard and to the Transfiguration classroom where the students were just entering. In one moment, he had decided what to do and disillusioned himself before slipping inside the classroom just before the last student would.
Minerva stood in front of the class and waited until the last student, a Hufflepuff girl, had closed the door. "Well, let's begin!" she said, and Harry quietly walked up the front and sat down on the windowsill to Minerva's right.
As she taught them, he somehow felt transported back into his own school days. Her teaching methods hadn't changed that much in the years until he would attend school. What troubled Harry a little were his growing feelings for the Transfiguration Professor, which he couldn't deny. He couldn't explain why maybe because she was the only one left from his old time who was still alive and with whom he had a good relationship and whom he considered a very good friend.
There was also the fact that she was simply beautiful, a natural beauty at that, who wasn't fixated on her appearance and a great woman. Even though she had changed because of the war, they still had so much in common. He had always searched for a woman like that, one who was fun and loving but also fierce, strong and independent and here she was. Maybe she had always been there, but he hadn't realized it. Back then, they both had no such intentions as age, and many other things had robbed them of the chance to might find the one their heart truly belonged to.
Another thought then entered his mind, could he really do this in this time? It wasn't his time. He was from the future; Harry would never be truthful to her, he would live a lie. And this was something he couldn't do to her. Minerva deserved nothing but the truth; could he really be that selfish? Harry didn't want to hurt her or see her hurt in any way. Harry also knew what would happen, what suffering they had to go through. Could he watch how she changed into the Professor he knew? Knowing it was because she would watch friends and students die under her eyes, Harry himself doomed to watch, not allowed to interfere too much.
Thinking about that, what would happen if he revealed his feelings to her? Were they even able to be together without him changing too much? Harry couldn't do that, especially not to her, if she ever was to know who he was and that she was the reason the future had changed for the worse? No, he couldn't do that to her. Harry just couldn't, even if it meant to live alone again.
The ringing of the bell pulled Harry out of his thoughts. He watched as Minerva gave the students their homework, and Harry quietly stood up once the last students left the classroom. Harry then became visible again and sneaked up on the black-haired witch before he spoke.
"I can see why they fear you," Harry said and startled her so much she gave a small yelp of surprise as she spun around. Though when she saw it was Harry, she relaxed.
"Harry! Merlin, you nearly gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here?" she asked, and Harry grinned. Both of them didn't notice the two shadows by the door.
"Well, I wanted to take part in the famous Transfiguration class of Minerva McGonagall." she rolled her eyes.
"Of course you did," she said sarcastically. "Why are you really here?" she then asked.
"I just told you," Harry answered her honestly, and Minerva walked back to her desk on which she sat down.
"So? Did you enjoy spying on a colleague?" he chuckled.
"When that colleague is named Minerva McGonagall, then yes, it was quite interesting," he said and scratched his chin which was now covered by a black beard.
"Hmm, I guess I should call myself lucky then that the great Professor Potter wasn't bored of my lesson."
"Oh, I would never be bored by you, and even if that was the case, I wouldn't be as crazy as to tell you." Minerva glared at him, while Harry smiled at her, then her eyes softened.
"The first Hogsmeade visit will be on the weekend," she stated, tilting her head to her right and looked him in the eyes.
"Right, I can't say I'm not happy to be able to have a drink at the Three Broomsticks," he answered.
"Yeah, well...do you- do you want to go there with me?" Minerva tried to ask casually yet somewhat hopeful, but Harry wasn't fifteen anymore. He knew that it was meant like a date. Damn it, just when Harry had decided to go against his feelings and not aim for a closer relationship with his beautiful colleague, she was asking him out on a date. Harry's heart was thumping strong in his chest. He couldn't do it, he couldn't do that to her. Minerva deserved someone who could make her happy and fulfil her dreams.
The witch in front of him grew visibly nervous and fiddled with her hands a little.
"Harry?"
"Minerva...I don't think this is a good idea...I really like you but not in that way. I'm sorry if my behaviour suggested anything else," he said and watched how her face fell. What he hadn't expected was the pain he felt inside him as he lied to her.
"Oh...oh o-okay that's alright...no problem," she tried to smile, but it didn't work, and it only pained him more to see her hurt, knowing he was the reason for it. Was it really the right thing to do? But before he could say anything else, the next class started to enter.
"I-"
"It's alright...please go." Harry wanted to say something but decided to leave it be. It was painful enough for both of them as it was and then left the classroom. He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't take notice of the two students who tried to look like it was the most normal thing in the world to just stand around in the yard.
"You saw that?" asked Lily once Harry had disappeared around the corner, and Remus, who stood beside her, nodded.
"Yeah, but more importantly, did you hear that? McGonagall likes Professor Potter, the poor woman."
"Why poor?" Lily asked her second favourite Marauder, slightly confused.
"Well, Professor Potter just rejected her," he answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh Remus, my dear friend, you have to learn so much more. Didn't you see how he looked when he left? He likes her too! Why else would he visit her lesson?" the Head Girl said.
"But why did he reject her when he likes her back?" Remus asked, a little confused.
"Hmm, I don't know why, but what I know is that the two would be perfect for each other."
"Who would be perfect for each other?" the deep voice of Sirius suddenly asked behind them with James by his side.
"Your cousin and McGonagall."
"They like each other," Lily added to what Remus had said.
"Oh really? Great, let's get them together. It's been years since he had a girlfriend." James said in an instant.
"Whoa, wait a minute," Sirius stated, holding up his hands "are we planning to set up down teachers?"
"Sure, why not? They deserve some happiness, who knows what will happen in a few months." Lily answered.
"Well, let's get a plan ready!"
The following days were hell for Harry, Minerva tried to act normal, but she couldn't hide the fact from him that she was hurt. This also caused Harry's mood to reach a new low level. Many students were confused as to why the DADA and Transfiguration Professors were both behaving strangely. Except for the Marauders and Lily, but nobody would say anything.
Harry even took points from Sirius in class because he had chuckled too loud. The young Professor was in an inner conflict. Should he give up and go after his feelings or not. It was fascinating that he already needed her by his side like he had only needed two people before her, Hermione and Ron. Harry felt miserable that he had hurt her and that she wouldn't be longer than a few minutes near him, even sitting in between Aurora and Pomona at the meals. First of the two would often glare at him whenever she got the chance.
It was nearly three in the morning on Saturday the 3rd of October and the first day for the students to spend in the wizard village. Harry sat at his piano and played while occasionally taking a sip of Fire Whisky. He had spent most of the Friday evening and night like that, even skipping dinner. Playing the piano helped him sort out his mind.
Finally, he had decided, didn't he of all people deserved to find someone to be with? He had destroyed the Dark Lord, fought in a war as a teenager, and when he finally had a peaceful life, two Unspeakables sent him back in time to do it all over again.
He was here, robbed of his friends and family, doomed to see his dead parents but not being able to tell him he was their son. So why did he talk himself into loneliness when there was a wonderful woman who might feel like him? He would let her decide if she wanted to be with him, but he would at least try. He played the last notes of the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata, then gulped down the Fire Whisky and walked to his bed to lay down, still half-clothed and fell into a dreamless sleep.
When Harry woke up the following day, he felt better than he had the last days before. He turned his head and looked out the window to his left. The sun of this bright and clear October day shone inside his chambers, he sat up, and as his eyes went over his nightstand and the clock upon it, he jumped out of bed. It was already half-past three! He had slept over twelve hours, something which hadn't happened since his time with the Dursleys. Minerva was probably already in the small wizard village if he wasn't too late, and she had already returned to the castle again.
He quickly showered and dressed before he hurried out his chambers and office to Minerva's. When he knocked on her door, he got no answer, Harry didn't lose any time and hurried down to the Great Hall, but she wasn't there either. Just walking through the great oak doors were Pomona and Filius.
"Do you know where-" before he could finish his question, the Herbology Professor interrupted him.
"She's still in Hogsmeade with Aurora, don't mess up again," Pomona said as they walked past him and entered the Great Hall, he turned his head, intending to say something, but the Professors didn't wait for an answer and walked up to the Head Table.
Pomona was right because when Harry entered the Three Broomsticks later, slightly out of breath from running all the way down to the village, he spotted her and Aurora on a table to his left, near the bar. Only a second later, hot anger boiled inside him when he saw an elderly wizard standing way too close to Minerva and his hand caressing her back.
Almost involuntarily, his hands clenched into fists, and it took Harry a moment to get his temper back under control, so he could walk closer to hear what they were saying without cursing the wizard.
"-I told you I'm not interested in you like that Elphinstone, and that hasn't changed," Minerva said, sounding reasonably annoyed. Aurora beside her also looked like she had to keep herself from interfering.
"Please, Minerva, one evening, I will leave you alone after that; just give me one evening." his hand wandered down her back, and Minerva turned away from him, so the wizard's hand slid in the air.
"Stop that now!" she demanded, but it seemed like Elphinstone was tired of being patient and wouldn't accept a no anymore. He grabbed Minerva's upper arm and pulled her towards him.
"You won't be able to hold me off forever. I usually get what I want; you should know that!" he said, and now Harry wasn't able to control his growing anger and jealousy any longer. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that Aurora had also pulled her wand, but Harry was faster. He grabbed the older wizard by the collar of his robe, pulling him off Minerva.
"She said no, and you better listen to her and go now!" he held Elphinstone close to his face and was barely able to hold himself back from hurting the wizard. "You will never bother her again, or you will regret it. Because I will make you regret ever looking at her again, do you understand me?" Harry growled and pushed him away, so Elphinstone fell against some fourth years.
"Harry!" Minerva had jumped up looking quite resentful. Aurora, on the other hand, looked like she had to bite back a chuckle. "What were you thinking?" she asked him, and Harry stared after a fleeing Elphinstone, he then turned around, and when he saw her angry face, his own anger was forgotten in an instant.
"W-well, he was harassing you," Harry said, but it came out sounding more like a question than an answer.
"Yes, but I could have handled him myself just fine!" she said, glaring at him, but Harry smiled.
"Oh, I know very well you can, but that doesn't mean I'll stand by and watch." was his answer, and Minerva blinked at him.
"Come on, sit down with us Potter, your first drink is on me," Aurora said behind them and grinned at him. Harry and Minerva sat back down at the table.
"I thought you were too busy to come. At least Minerva said that after she tried to ask you- ouch!" Aurora yelped, stopped mid-sentence and glared at Minerva while she reached down, probably to rub her shin, which Minerva had kicked under the table.
"Yes, she was right, but I thought I could handle delaying my work for a visit here. It's been so long," he answered, and Minerva looked surprised for a moment. Maybe she hadn't expected him to cover the story she had told Aurora when her friend, who had made her ask Harry on a date in the first place, wanted to know how it went.
"Okay, I had already thought she made that up," Aurora said and only grinned when her friend threw another glare at her. Madam Rosmerta arrived at their table, and Harry ordered a Mead. The three of them had a great time, sharing funny stories about their years as teachers and his as an Auror, though he had to be careful so he wouldn't reveal that all that had happened in the future.
They spent the rest of the day in the Three Broomsticks. Around half-past ten, Aurora left them, and Harry pretended to not notice Minerva and Aurora's silent conversation when the latter left. He clearly saw that the Astronomy Professor winked at him and nodded her head at the witch beside him.
As the Pub had also emptied from Hogwarts students, as they had to be back at school so they wouldn't break the curfew, the two sat a little closer than before. The two of them continued their conversation, but nearly an hour later, Minerva asked something she probably wanted to ask the whole evening.
"So, did you really come here only for a drink?"
"No, not only," Harry answered honestly, looking at her.
"Then why are you here?" she asked again and couldn't conceal her confusion.
"Because I lied to you, and in doing so, I made a great mistake."
"You lied to me?"
"Yes, I did. When you asked me if I wanted to accompany you here, I lied to you; there was nothing in the world I wanted to do more. But I-" Harry paused, searching for the right words. "I didn't expect you to ask me out as I was convincing myself I wasn't good enough for such a wonderful witch. I still don't think I am, but the last days have shown me that I can't stand being away from you, not able to talk to you like we used to. So...well, I didn't want to take away your decision because you're an adult and can decide for yourself with whom you want to be, and I can't tell myself you wouldn't want me if you never said so yourself."
There was a long pause between them, then suddenly he felt a hand on his left cheek turning his face to the witch beside him and a moment later, warm and soft lips tasting somehow sweet and fresh laid on his own. For half a moment, he was too surprised to do anything, but then he gave in to the incredible feeling. He had nearly forgotten what it was like to kiss somebody for whom he felt so much; then again, maybe it had never been like this.
Even the hottest make-out sessions or the kisses during sex with Ginny were nothing compared to this gentle, single-lip kiss. It was enough to send giant fireworks off in his stomach, and the tiny hairs on his arms and neck stood up as both happiness and pleasure waved over him. Harry felt like he had never kissed someone before in his life, as these feelings were new, and he decided he never wanted to kiss anybody else. After a few moments, which for Harry could have gladly been some weeks, they parted.
"Does that give you an answer?" Minerva asked, a small smile on those wonderful lips. Harry pretended to think for a moment.
"I don't know. Maybe you have to give me another hint," he answered, and Minerva leaned in again to press her lips gently onto his. Harry immediately responded to the actions, and his right laid on the side of her face. As they parted once more, Harry looked at her, and Minerva spoke again.
"Just one thing, don't lie to me again." he was barely able to keep the smile on his face, but then Harry quickly persuaded himself that he wasn't lying to Minerva. He was simply not telling her everything. He would be crazy to tell her right now that he was her former student from the future.
"I won't, I promise." Harry found himself saying and ignored the Hermione voice in his head telling him he was an idiot.
"I really thought that you meant what you said...that I had misinterpreted everything," Minerva said and looked down at her hands on the table.
"You didn't. How could somebody not fall in love with you." his mouth had been faster than his brain, and Minerva stared at him, but he made no attempts to take it back.
"You are?" he swallowed and then nodded.
"I am." he expected her to tell him that that was too early, that he couldn't know, but she didn't. Instead, Minerva took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.
"Well then...it seems like that makes two of us," she answered, and Harry couldn't stop the words before they already left his mouth.
"You are in love with yourself?" she looked dumbfounded for a moment, and Harry couldn't believe he had really said that and closed his eyes, grimacing at the sheer stupidity of what he said. But then, to his utter surprise, Minerva giggled and broke out into a full laughter seconds later, and he joined in.
"Can we please forget I ever said that?" Harry asked once they had stopped laughing.
"No, at least I won't." she answered, "But I probably won't tell anyone."
"Probably?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That depends what I get in return," Harry interrupted her when he kissed her again and smiled once he pulled back. "That might have been enough to keep me from telling Aurora."
"Lucky me," he said sarcastically but couldn't hide the smirk. He then looked down at his watch, another hour had passed, and now it was nearly half-past eleven. "I think we should go back to the castle," he stated, and Minerva nodded.
They paid for their food and drinks before stepping into the night, it was colder than both of them had expected, and before Minerva could even pull out her wand, she felt a heavy cloak on her shoulders. Harry had conjured one for both of them, and then they walked up to the castle, but they were in no hurry.
Harry was even so bold as to lay his arm around Minerva, who in return leaned into his side as they slowly walked up to the castle. "Would it be okay for you if we kept this...well us...from the others for a bit?" Minerva asked suddenly. "I don't mean it like I want to hide because I don't want anybody to find out, I just- I would like to keep this to us for a while." she quickly added and looked at him.
"Of course not," Harry stated with a reassuring smile on his face, he was even on her side on this. Nearly all his relationships had been out in the open in the early stages of the relationship, and keeping it to themselves would be nice. It would be something just they knew, something just for them, and it wasn't like they were in a real relationship just now.
When they arrived at the school, he glanced at his watch and saw that it was shortly before midnight, reminding him that Minerva's birthday was in a few minutes. He walked her up to her chambers, and once they arrived, she turned to look at him.
"Well, I actually don't know what to say," Minerva admitted and blushed a little.
"I do; close your eyes and don't open them," Harry said and smiled at her before she did as he had asked. Once her eyes were closed, he fumbled the little present out of his pocket. "Don't peek and hold out your hand," he said and then placed the small wrapped package in her open palm before he disillusioned himself. Harry then gave her a gentle peck on the lips before leaning in to whisper in her ear.
"Happy Birthday Minerva." he stepped back and watched how she opened her eyes and was surprised to not see him anywhere, then she looked down and smiled at the present. Unknowing to her, he watched as she opened it and gasped when she saw a beautiful brooch.
"Thank you, Harry," she whispered into the empty corridor and then went inside her chambers. Harry made his way back to his own chambers with swinging steps as he hadn't felt that great in a long time. At that moment, he couldn't care less which outcome his actions might have, he was happy, really happy, and nothing in the universe could change that.
Another chapter ready for you, my dear readers!
I really had them kiss! That little drama, in the beginning, was necessary. What is a romance without a bit of drama? ;)
Now our favourite Professors are dating, you read right, they are no couple yet, they are dating.
I hope you remember the brooch McGonagall wore in the first two films. I always wondered how she got it, and well here is what I think could have happened.
Also, Aurora Sinistra will be Minervas best friend in this, as I never read a story where she was a reappearing character, and I never wrote her, so I guessed this could be fun; I hope you all agree. She will be kinda a mix between Ron and Hermione, having a brain like our brightest witch of her age and Ron's humour and funny side remarks. At least I hope I can write her this way :D
A big thank you to everyone that reviewed the last chapter. You can't imagine how happy I am that you like the story so much! I hope you will also review this chapter and tell me what you think!
Patti