July 1, 1999
"So the kid who pretended to faint when he saw me then asked for my autograph put me down as his back up guardian if you couldn't get ahold of Narcissa Malfoy? What kind of school are you running here, Minnie?"
"Theodore Nott is a complete nightmare, Sirius. I'm just so glad he wasn't sorted into my house. I can't say that I blame Severus for quitting after this year."
"Yeah, that kid asked for my autograph too which I thought was really weird. Although not as weird as when he said, and I quote, "I don't mean to disrespect the late Lily Potter, but are we totally sure that Harry is the son of a marauder?"
Remus shook his head as if trying to decide if his memory had actually played out that way.
Sirius chuckled deeply, "Like that child doesn't look exactly like his father."
"I cannot fully express how grateful I am that Mr. Nott didn't attend this school when you heathens were causing your havoc. This year was unequivocally my worst year when it came to student management."
"Oh, come on, Minerva," Remus chided softly.
"I assure you it was absolutely that bad," she said as she downed a full glass of wine in one go.
"Wait, was it worse than my seventh year when we…" Sirius started before McGonagall interrupted him.
"My favorite part of this year was when one of the Death Eater kids we re-admitted as part of the rehabilitation program picked up a muggle misdemeanor while soliciting a prostitute and just waited it out in jail so he wouldn't go back to Azkaban. And I still don't think I got the full story on that one."
Beside himself with glee, Sirius said, "I bet good ol' Severus had the best time dealing with that."
"As he'd already put in his resignation, I was forced to remind him that he can't attack students."
"What is Severus doing next? He must be excited to finally leave. I figured he only stayed this year to keep an eye on Draco."
"Yes, and what a help that was," McGonagall dryly responded. "The boy graduating was definitely part of his reasons for leaving."
"Was the other part that you let slip that I was coming on in the fall?" Sirius' grin consumed his entire face.
"That may have been mentioned as well. Like I said it's been a year. It made complete sense to me that graduation started late because a brawl almost broke out amongst the graduates."
Remus finished sipping his butterbeer and said, "It still finished on time. I suppose Hermione declining the student speech worked out in the end."
"Minnie, why didn't you fill that spot with the student who finished second?"
"If you'd have seen my options, you'd have gone without too," she stated simply.
"That Theo kid came in second, didn't he? Shame on you for denying him that opportunity." Sirius watched his old head of house as her face let him know that he was right.
"He actually tied with Mr. Malfoy. During the meeting to work out the tie-breaker, casually let it slip that Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger had been married for months."
Remus' eyes were as wide as frisbees as Sirius leaned back and roared with laughter.
"Wait, you've known for weeks about that and you didn't tell me?" Remus was completely shocked.
"I mean, I can only send so many owls to a guardian who has no input with their student, Remus. I know you try your hardest, but Mr. Malfoy assured me they'd tell everyone after graduation and what was the harm in waiting three more weeks?"
"They did a spectacular job of telling everyone at graduation. I, for one, am proud of them."
"Sirius, you told Harry you were proud of him last weekend when he started breakfast with a butterbeer after waking up still drunk from the night before."
"It just proves that he listens to my advice. I was proud. I'm also exceptionally proud that he took my advice and refrained from proposing to the youngest Weasley at graduation. It was dramatic enough without Molly Weasley having a complete meltdown."
Shaking his head as he sighed, Remus said, "I still can't believe Narcissa Malfoy left the ceremony the moment it was over. I don't think she spoke to anyone."
"Yeah, I saw Draco looking for his mom and I think he missed her."
McGonagall leaned back in her chair. "I can't say that I blame her."
"Nor can I," Remus agreed.
"She missed the action after the ceremony though. I thought the graduation was supposed to be the real show but it ended up being a well-placed intermission during a teen drama I didn't know I needed in my life."
"Which after graduation show are you referring to, Sirius? The one where Ms. Granger announced that it would be fine if she was pregnant as long as it wasn't the youngest Mr. Weasley's or the one where Mr. Zabini had to contain and silence Mr. Malfoy as Mr. Malfoy attempted to challenge Mr. Nott to a proper wizard's duel?" McGonagall asked as she refilled her wine glass.
"Personally, I loved both, but I was partial to Mrs. Malfoy's verbal disembowelment of Mr. Weasley. Sounds to me like he's had it coming for a while."
The elderly witch flinched at Sirius' correction. "You would love Theodore Nott, Sirius. In fact, if you're up to it, the kid could use a mentor."
"What's wrong with the kid that Sirius is the best choice for a mentor?" Remus grinned as he asked the question and his old friend feigned being wounded.
"He was raised in a dark home. His mom died when he was born. His father seemed to ignore him for the most part until the elder Mr. Nott found himself facing life in Azkaban. He's been on his own for awhile now."
Remus shook his head sadly, "There's a lot of kids on their own now. It's horrible."
"Speaking of kids on their own, has the new Mrs. Malfoy announced her plans for next year?" McGonagall attempted to hide her face at her favorite student's new name but failed miserably.
Both men shook their heads and Remus said, "No, but we were formally invited to dinner at The Hog's Head tomorrow night with both Draco and Hermione so I assume we'll get something then."
"Aberforth serves food now?" McGonagall was utterly perplexed at the thought.
"Oh, I'm eating before I get there." Remus supplied before he got to his feet.
"What are you two on about? If you ate Kreacher's food at any point, you can survive just about anything. I'm sure this will be fine. Lovely, even," Sirius chimed as he finished his drink.
Minerva McGonagall stood as both men turned to head towards the door out of her private study. "Thank you both again for agreeing to come on next year. I can only hope next year will be calmer."
As he hugged the professor he once personally terrorized, Sirius said, "I still can't believe you formally rescinded my offer to be Head of Gryffindor."
The smirk McGonagall reserved for special moments made a rare appearance as she said, "You really can't? I thought you were smarter than that."
