Quidditch League | Season 9 | Holyhead Harpies | Practice Round | Daily Prophet Issue #2 | Celebrating Good Tmes | Keeper: an anniversary
Word count: 1619
A.N.: Huge Thank You, to my awesome teammates Romystical and MisguidedPenguin for beta-ing!
(title inspried by X-Ambassadors 'Unsteady')
...
hold on to me (you're a little unsteady)
X-Ambassadors 'unsteady'
...
"This meeting is hereby concluded," Dumbledore said firmly and got up from his chair. "I will return to Hogwarts immediately, however, I believe that Molly has prepared a lovely dinner for all those deciding to stay."
This said, the gathered people started showing chairs around. Molly immediately rushed off to the kitchen, Remus and Tonks fell into a much lighter conversation, and the children that had probably tried to eavesdrop behind the door entered. Sirius couldn't help but give a relieved sigh. It's been two hours. Two bloody hours in which he was constantly lectured by several Order members how he had to continue keeping a low profile while all others were out, taking on dangerous missions and gathering information. And what was he allowed to do? Right, nothing. His orders were clear. Stay at Grimmauld Place. And get bored out of his mind in doing so.
He grunted involuntarily at the thought. He literally felt like a dog chained on an iron leash. Taking a deep breath, Sirius tried to get a grip on himself. He turned around, ready to join in whatever Remus and Tonks were talking about, when his eyes fell on one person in particular, who had wordlessly left the kitchen and made her way towards the small fireplace.
Sirius raised an eyebrow and looked at her in concern. She had taken a seat on the small sofa, and seemed to unconsciously play with something on her hands, while her clouded emerald eyes gazed lost and forlorn at the dancing flames.
The transfiguration professor had been awfully quiet throughout the entire meeting - not even once had she interrupted Dumbledore or critically questioned his ideas. The ebony haired witch was usually the voice of reason whenever something important was to be discussed - especially when Harry was concerned. This time, however, she barely said anything. Like now, her eyes were hollow and she seemed miles away, even a little unsteady.
For a moment, Sirius thought about what to do next. Nobody else seemed to have taken notice of the Deputy Headmistress. But something was clearly troubling his Head of House, and Sirius - having made up his mind - knew he had to do something about it. Admittedly, he and James did play the one or other prank on her, but apart from that, he had always respected and admired her. She had, after all, welcomed him to Gryffindor House with open arms - and unlike others - without judgement. Most of them had looked at him strangely or whispered behind his back. Students and teachers alike. McGonagall never did, which he would forever be grateful for.
His heart warmed, and a small smile played around his lips as he eventually sneaked into the hustling kitchen and - while Molly's back was turned - nicked a bottle of Firewhisky from the shelf and filled some of it in two coffee mugs. Completely unnoticed by the others, he crossed the room and sat down next to the elderly witch, who didn't even seem to notice his presence..
Wordlessly, Sirius handed her one of his mugs and when she finally looked up, he was a little taken aback to see tears shimmering in her emerald eyes.
"What is this, Mr. Black?" she asked, her voice hoarse and sounding slightly confused, as she brushed her fingers over her cheeks to dispose of the lonely tear that had fallen from her eyes.
"I thought you might need something to cheer you up, Professor," he replied sympathetically, crossed his legs and leaned back into the sofa comfortably.
When she brought the mug to her lips, her eyes widened in surprise and a small smile appeared on her face when she turned to look at him.
"How did you manage to get that past Molly? She's watching the liquor cabinet like a hawk when the children are here."
Sirius chuckled. "You should know better than anyone that I have my ways."
"That you did," she replied softly, before she took another sip from her mug, and continued staring at the flames.
Sirius studied her for a moment. She looked nothing like the strong Deputy Headmistress. Her hands were trembling and the flames in the fireplace revealed her pain-stricken face. She was sad and vulnerable - broken.
"You can tell me, you know," he eventually whispered, and looked at her with kind eyes. "Whatever it is that's bothering you."
Professor McGonagall didn't look up from the flames, and her hands kept fidgeting. Silence fell over them once more and Sirius took another sip and closed his eyes when the burning liquid ran down his throat.
If he was honest, Sirius hadn't expected her to open up to him, so he was quite surprised, to say the least, when she eventually tore her eyes away from the roaring flames to glance at her hands. She quietly whispered a spell and Sirius' own eyes widened in astonishment when a delicate golden wedding band revealed itself on her left hand.
"You're married?" he asked, and almost dropped his mug on the ground. He and James had always wondered about her. It was no secret in order to obtain a position on the Hogwarts staff one required both talent, power and skills. And although she had been quite young when she first started teaching, Sirius had no doubt that McGonagall possessed it all. Along with an elegance, dignity and kindness that would earn her even the Slytherins' respect. With her slender form, high cheekbones, emerald eyes and dark hair, she was quite an attractive witch, too, so it should not have come as a surprise that a man had fallen for her.
She sighed and lowered her head. "I was," she whispered quietly and if it wasn't for his Animagus hearing, Sirius might have missed it. "Elphinstone died. On this very day. Exactly ten years ago."
Sirius' heart ached and a wave of sympathy for the elderly witch washed over him. The anniversary of a loved one's death was reason enough for even the strongest of witches to hit rock bottom.
He didn't know what to say, but after another sip of Firewhisky, the witch continued on her own - a tiny smile playing around the corners of her lips when her emerald eyes fell on her wedding band.
"He was my superior officer back in the days when I still worked for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
So she was an Auror before she started teaching, Sirius thought and shook his head in amazement. Yet another thing to add to the list he never knew about his transfiguration professor.
"We started courting not long after I left the Ministry," she continued softly, and accio-ed a photograph from her pocket, which she handed to Sirius. "He was quite a few years older, but still dashingly handsome. Intelligent, kind, and stubborn like a hippogriff, mind you. Wouldn't cease asking until I finally accepted his proposal… In Madam Puddifoot's tea shop, of all places."
Sirius couldn't help but laugh whole-heartedly when he imagined the scene. With a smile, he accepted the photograph she handed him, and his jaw dropped. True to her name, Minerva McGonagall looked like a goddess on her wedding day.
Wrapped tightly in her husband's arms, the couple waved happily into the camera. Elphinstone looked indeed quite handsome in his grey muggle suit and matching tie. His strong arms were wrapped around her waist, with one hand cupped around cheek when he drew her in for a soft kiss. And Minerva herself… she was drop-dead gorgeous. She wore an ivory-coloured floor-length sheath dress with an off the shoulder neckline that revealed her porcelain skin and collar bone, and was made from elegant chiffon. It fit her slim waist perfectly and fell straight to the floor below her hips and ended with a short train, that was adorned with beautiful embroidery. The gown was simple, effortless, and elegant. The most beautiful thing for Sirius, however, was the professor's smile and the happiness that shone in her sparkling emerald eyes. It was captivating, and quite the rarity, for nowadays, the witch hardly smiled anymore.
"War changes people," Minerva continued with a sigh, as if she had read his mind, "And after his death… there were only little moments left to be happy."
Sirius nodded sadly, and returned the photograph to her. "How did he die?" he whispered and instantly regretted his question when he saw tears welling up in her emerald eyes.
"A venomous tentacula bite," she answered nonetheless, and wiped the tears away. "By the time I got him to St. Mungos it was too late. There was nothing they could do for him."
"I'm sorry," Sirius said and instinctively reached out to take her hand in his.
The older witch smiled softly at him and squeezed his hand. "Me too, Sirius, me too. It's been ten years, and I still miss him terribly. Especially today."
Sirius' heart ached once more. He looked at her for a moment, then - holding on tighter to her hand - he gently pulled her up from the sofa and put an arm around her waist. "Having been married to you, I guess Elphinstone liked Firewhisky?"
Slightly confused, the Deputy Headmistress nodded.
"Well, my mug's empty, and so is yours," Sirius grinned, and pointed towards the empty mugs on the ground and then towards the kitchen. "Let's sneak back into the kitchen and have a drink in his honour, shall we? Are you ready to engage in a wee bit of mischief with one of your Marauders, Professor?"
Minerva couldn't help but chuckle softly despite her tears, and Sirius smiled triumphantly.
