Chapter 42: When Families Meet For The First Time
May 7, 2006
Continuation
"Are you still going to conduct one final inspection of the grounds?" asked Professor Rolanda Hooch.
"Yes," responded Minerva. "I will be heading there from here," she added as she finished off the last of her tea. But before she could stand up to leave Hogwarts dining hall, indeed to have a final look at the venue, a familiar owl flew in, slowing down in its approach, before dropping an enveloped letter for her... She accio'd the plate of ham and forked a piece to give to the dutiful bird that gracefully landed beside her chair.
The letter had 'MM' at the top left and 'HP' at the bottom right. Minerva already knew the sender; the HP stood for Harry Potter. She broke the seal and read the missive.
. . . . . . .
Hi Minerva,
I know you told me last night that everything is ready at Hogwarts for today. But, in case you need advanced cavalry to help with anything, there will be easily ten to twelve able bodies at your disposal hanging out at Hogsmeade as early as 8am… Just let me know.
Love,
Harry
P.S.
Ginny said that she thinks Ron has developed a crush on one of the customers that came to their store- Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. I found out that her name is Ellie Wakefield. And the only Ellie Wakefield I know is the witch I met at Hogwarts while I was visiting you a month ago, the one you introduced as a relative of Susan Bones. But, is it true that Ellie is a secret daughter of your friend Amelia Bones who lived with her American-muggle father? I'm sorry for gossiping, and that I will bugger you more of this, I'm just excited for Ron. See you soon!
Again, Love,
Harry
. . . . . . .
Minerva shook her head in amusement at Harry's message, both at the offer to help (a repeated one) and at the curiosity about Ellie— who was indeed Amelia Bones' daughter, whose full name was Elizabeth Bones Wakefield— a fact that also shocked her very much upon discovery.
Last December, Minerva received a letter from an American requesting for a meeting about a personal matter. Honestly, she had thought that it was possible that it had something to do with her cousin who went AWOL and lived off away from the Wizarding world during and even after Grindelwald's war, who eventually perished during Voldemort's first war with her only nephew. But it was not about that.
But never in Minerva's wildest imagination would she guess she'd meet the daughter of her closest witch friend- Amelia Bones!
Minerva was confused to say the least. Her memory supplied her of that time in 1977 when Amelia confessed to her about getting pregnant, but her friend subsequently said that she lost the baby. She tried multiple times to talk to Amelia, to offer comfort, or even just be a sounding board. Only it always got dismissed by Amelia, the witch often declaring how it was for the best because they were in a bloody war…
Good Merlin, it never occurred to Minerva that 'lost' meant anything other than the notion of miscarriage… She could not fathom how Amelia managed to carry the baby to full term, obviously going on to arrange giving up the child to the father (who was an American)— all the while fighting in Voldemort's first war…
Ellie revealed that her father was tight-lipped about her mother, whether from unwillingness to talk about her, or from a magical bond for silence, she couldn't say. She only found out the truth when she came of age. She was merely reorganising some documents and unintentionally perused her birth registration, one which she swore her mother's name had always been omitted from prior— but suddenly the name 'AMELIA BONES' was staring back at her…
A consultation with a friend who was an expert in the protracted period of concealment charms informed her that the secrecy was tied to her mother's concealment wish on her birth certificate. But as with most cases on birth registration concealment, it became void when she came of age. And with a bit more research, it was not hard to find references to the Bones Family in Europe. And in 1996, the information provided that there was a current high-ranking Ministry officer named Amelia Bones in Britain…
Ellie confessed to Minerva that she had no plan to seek her mother, not really caring for an introduction for a variety of reasons... Foremost, the concise info she learned about the massacred Bones was bizarrely sufficient for her to grasp the true meaning of why her birth was cloaked with top confidentiality, which gave reason to her mother's abandonment. Then it felt that too much time had passed. And mostly, she was living quite a good life in America.
But in the same year, she had a short study stint in Europe. Fortuitous or not, it was at the French magical immigration office when Ellie crossed paths with Amelia Bones…
Across the room, with neither knowing each other, their eyes caught the other's… Except the colour of their hair (Amelia was dark haired, and Ellie was blonde), their shared physical features and stance were too much. The similarities became a dead give-away for both of them… And they could not ignore the pull to one another. It was simply an introduction between mother and daughter, short of providential meeting of families for the first time.
Amelia never made any excuse for the abandonment according to Ellie. Her mother simply apologised for such a decision, and called it the most difficult one she had to make in her life... Amelia told Ellie without reservation of many things during that reconciliation, even including Minerva McGonagall—the Deputy Headmistress, and her closest friend, who would have been Ellie's godmother in any other circumstance…
And then because their timing seemed to be the unluckiest of all, Amelia heartbrokenly gave another apology, telling her daughter that they had to cut the recently formed connection… Apparently, Amelia told Ellie about one Harry Potter and the surrounding happenings in relation to the returning dark wizard. Her mother was coming to terms with the Wizarding society in Europe soon being plunged into another war; one that they mistakenly thought had ended that Hallow's night in 1981…
There was no way Amelia wanted Ellie to be caught in it and be collateral damage. Amelia knew that Voldemort would be putting her on his target list. And because Ellie had read about Voldemort, and also because amazingly she got her mother's logical mind, it was not hard for her to comprehend that her mother was once again making the same reasoning— wholly distancing herself… Asking Ellie to stay away from Europe and instructing her to not even make inquiries about Amelia to avoid association.
Wretchedly, Amelia was right. A few months after that meeting, she was one of the first killed by Voldemort. Proving without a doubt that it had been for the best that no one knew about Ellie, which basically kept her safe…
That's mostly what Minerva found out when she met Ellie for the very first time… But when she prodded as to the reason for the delayed presentation, when Amelia had been long dead, and the war had been long over, Ellie was honest enough with Minerva...
There was admittance that she had no reason between those years as she was doing well in life; she was successful with her illustrated books and most content with her low key day-to-day living. She didn't think she'd come to Europe and trace back her so-called magical heritage with the famous Bones family. Besides, she had survived the double heartbreak of losing her mother and being unable to tell a soul about it. It was even pitiful how she found out; belatedly realising the fact that her mother had been dead for over a year when rumours had reached America that the Ministry of Magic in Britain had fallen to Voldemort's hand.
However, almost a decade after, Ellie found her own life falling apart. She was suffering from an artistic block and really jeopardising her career. Further, she had been trying to recover from having her domestic partner walk out on her, ending their long term relationship without a hint that they had a problem. The short summary of it, she felt lost…
Ellie admitted to Minerva that she couldn't find any bearing that would get her through the tribulations... And she thought that maybe, that one thing her mother told her during that first and last time they had met would grant her a window to deliverance.
Amelia's words to Ellie were—
'If one day you ever find yourself ready to access this side of your life, or if you ever need to have a new start for some reason, provided there is no wizarding or muggle war enveloping Europe, you simply cross over. Then we can find out together if there is something worthy here for you. And if, regrettably, I am no longer around, then actually you get the better deal if you introduce yourself to my best friend— to Minerva McGonagall— because Minerva is family. She will never reject me, and by extension will never reject you, my daughter.'
Minerva was not exactly prepared for such unraveling of profound remarks. Naturally, it left her more compressed than even her usual stiff posture permitted, and could not immediately find any fitting reaction to return… When Ellie came up with an excuse for both of them to leave the matter for the meantime, and hastily scheduled for another visit, it probably did them both a favor. Giving them time to ingest everything...
After Amelia's daughter departed her office, Minerva could not sit still and she wasted the day being unproductive with over-thinking… By nightfall, the scruple became too much, she accio'd her winter cloak and then disapparated from the castle.
She landed directly at the foot of Amelia Bones' grave. Ignoring the cold night of December, she uselessly screamed her anger and hurt for not meriting the truth from her friend… It took an agonising burning attack (the after effect of her anti-apparition breaking from Azkaban) for her to pause in her hopeless grievance. And that was how Ellie Wakefield found her at Amelia's resting place—slumped on the tomb, trying to hold on to consciousness, and overcoming the pain.
Once the burning attack completely passed, Minerva had more or less righted herself. And then she covered up her woeful state with a pointless question, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm not really sure… But I remembered that Mother said you would be royally pissed and probably kill her when you found out. But as she is dead..." Ellie trailed off of the direction of that half-serious-half-joke, and brought forth a more pressing matter. "Don't you need me to fetch you a healer right now?"
Minerva snorted in an answer to the first part of what Ellie had said. And for the posted question, she began to state her standard reply, "I am…" But she halted… Looking at Ellie under the dark sky with their wands giving off the faint light, she felt like she was thrown several decades back as she could see Amelia's younger version right at that moment. The effect of the imagery made her venture into honesty. "I'm not entirely all right. But I can manage now."
"Are you really, really, sure?" Ellie queried gently but firmly. She did not think twice about what she was doing until she used her wand and without permission ran one specific diagnostic spell over Minerva. Afterwards, sighing in relief, she spoke of the assessment, "Okay, it was not a heart attack. But anyone who'd have seen you would say that you had one."
Minerva was a bit surprised at Ellie's actions; strangely the usual invasiveness she'd always feel wasn't present. And instead of having a fret over it, she inquired, "Did you study magical healing? How do you know that spell?"
"My partner… ex-partner, the one who broke up with me, is a healer. I asked…well, it was way before…I asked to be taught the top three most important diagnostic spells that are usually neglected by magical people when checking someone," Ellie responded, giving a tick on two of her fingers in demonstration, "Internal hemorrhaging and ruptured appendix are the other two…" And then she added in minor alarm, "Wait, must I scan you for those two?"
"No need." Minerva did not know why, but she wearily informed Ellie of the truth. "It is none of those. I am aware of my ailment. I've been having it for a few months now. It is terrible, but I'm surviving it. And you need not worry, it will not kill me, and it never happens twice in the same hour."
"There could be a first time. And I would not be thrilled to become a suspect if you were to die while I am here with you."
That made Minerva unexpectedly chuckle, genuinely finding it amusing. If she had been unsure about Ellie's biological origin despite her being a splitting image of her deceased friend, she couldn't be anymore. The fashion in which Ellie slid into that sardonic remark was so Amelia… It was one of the great things that her and Amelia had shared, that type of humour. Albus used to shake his head whenever she and Amelia would have their private depraved jests… It was surreal— but meeting Amelia's daughter was giving Minerva's emotions a rumble, a good kind of rumble. It made her share with Ellie something about her mother.
"You know, Ellie, you have your mother's wit...impressively brilliant, tremendously dry, but—" Minerva held out the last part in deliberate suspense…
"But?" Ellie grumbled. "Come on!"
"But hopefully not as dirty."
Ellie laughed, full laughs. And it sounded so much like Amelia's laugh that it made Minerva smile again, and her heart thudded, missing Amelia.
"My mother had a dirty mind! Why am I not surprised? After all, she didn't hesitate to reveal to me how she got pregnant with me… How that one-night of all-consuming sex with my muggle father carried into one more round in the morning that she was sure that had produced me…"
"Amelia told you that?" Minerva nearly choked, irrationally feeling the second hand embarrassment brought by the revelation that her friend clearly had no qualms speaking of her sexual experience with her daughter.
"Yes, she did." Ellie chuckled at Minerva's discomfiture.
Minerva and Amelia became friends as far back as their Hogwarts days as students. Of course she knew Amelia did not want a husband, and loathed society's misconception that there must be something wrong for a woman to not want a husband, specifically of her caliber, one who was beautiful, smart, wealthy, and packing with powerful magic. Their discussions on it were too many to count.
But only Amelia's bright, daring, and wicked mind would come up with a formula on how to reduce complication by eliminating engagement with wizards. Her simple tenet was to have rendezvous with muggle men only. No repeat meeting. No faking relationships with unsuspecting muggles. Just straightforward physical interaction.
When Minerva was young and yielding very much to her well-private sexual life, she had taken to Amelia's practical ways; she bedded muggle women— only women, as unlike Amelia, men never ever appealed to her.
And the trysts were never meant to be callous, as it plainly dealt with what she and the other woman wanted from each other. She supposed that for those women she had spent time with clandestinely, it was as convenient, mainly with the muggle world still under those years of heavy suppression for those outside the label of heterosexual...
Meanwhile, for the Wizarding world, it was better with legalities promulgated for equal rights. But honestly inadequate in terms of perception, as the idea of same gender relationship was swinging back and forth from 'acceptable' to 'accepted but don't flaunt it'... And Minerva McGonagall had no desire for her private life to be a point of reference for the wizarding society.
"She really told you that?" Minerva's brow drew together, "But according to you, you only met Amelia once."
"Twice if we separate our initial meeting at the immigration office from the time we agreed on spending in France that following weekend." At Minerva's muddled countenance, Ellie added, "I know how shocking for you it is that she told me that. It was too, for me. But, we kinda felt stupid to hold back. We just ploughed through everything we could think of. We basically exhausted 48 hours squeezing in a lifetime of stories… Of my life in America… Of her life here; her career, her colleagues, her friends, most especially you... Almost half of her stories had been about the two of you. She said you are incomparable…that had her preference been different, she would have jumped your bones when she was fifteen and kissed you."
"What?" Again, Minerva was flabbergasted.
The unspoken narrative was quite glaring in Minerva's mind that Amelia told Ellie of, (1) Minerva's sexual identity, and (2) of that incident at the Manor when she outed herself, or rather when 'Amelia outed Minerva to Minerva'.
At seeing the widened emeralds of Minerva McGonagall, Ellie backtracked a bit. "Oh-oh, Mother said, you value your privacy the most. I hope you're not offended that she told me that…and many things about you."
Minerva's mind just re-paraded what she remembered about her affairs with muggle women, instinctively convinced that Amelia did tell Ellie about that too. She was left to repeat her stunned remark, "What?"
"She told me. Yes... I think it was because you and her had been friends for so long…" Although uncertain, Ellie could not seem to stop and she yammered on. "I do not think she revealed this to me to violate your trust. Rather, to communicate to me how personal the two of you were. How important you were in her life even though you seemed not as close in later years… You know she hated that, but understood your paths had widely taken you apart. She knew your devotion to Mr. Dumbledore and to your school. Which she also said didn't matter, for she knew you inside-out, and vice versa. She knew that you'd never doubt how much you meant to one another, regardless of how you practically stopped visiting each other. And that was more than enough, mother said so."
Those overpowering comments surprised Minerva furthermore. Her heart ascended into unfamiliar sentimentality… She could not feel the offence that Ellie mentioned. Nor any of the common uneasiness she would have when it came to her personal life that obviously Ellie had been given access to by Amelia.
Ellie stood up and created a small distance, but Minerva could see the vulnerability and possibly the grief and regret.
"When I met Mother those years ago… she didn't really think her immediate future was bright with your socio-political shifting. That's what made me understand why she advised me to come here later on…" Ellie made the general gesture that she meant here as Europe. "Mother wanted to…somehow gift me something valuable—and that was to ensure that if ever my own future hit a stone wall… that when it happened... just as now I've come to this time of my life that I need to find an anchor of sorts, and on her behalf, mother gave the assurance that it would not be unwise to at least meet you…" Ellie expelled a breath and continued, "BUT by no means are you obligated by my mother's declaration… Please, I hate to be an obligation to you, Headmistress."
"No, Ellie… I…"
Minerva searched for a better description of what comprised the many emotions induced by this unexpected situation with Ellie— that for one, she was truly realising that despite Amelia never revealing to her the truth, she was part of that limited but undeniable momentous mother-daughter reconciliation, many years ago… She also sighed, followed Ellie where she stood away, and faced the woman completely.
"I am not in any way offended nor obliged. I promise. And… actually, just mark this very moment as me being entirely smacked by how suddenly I am missing your mother. And that..." Minerva momentarily lifted her eyes to the sky and slightly blew a breath, "And that my heart is presently clenching and wishing very much that she's right here with us… Nonetheless, I am very grateful that in her astute way, she set you up to find me."
"Really?" Ellie nervously asked for confirmation.
"Yes, I am delighted, Ellie, to have met you... To have met Amelia's daughter... Her family is family to me... " Minerva smiled and hoped that Ellie would see that she meant what she had declared.
"Thank you."
"Likewise, Ellie." Minerva returned, and then added in slight aversion, "And please, NO 'Headmistress' or other titles of the sort to call attention."
Ellie laughed, overcoming her tension. "Mother said you hate those, hate titles and attention."
That second interaction with Ellie expedited a certain friendship between them. Perhaps it was because Ellie did not really know her as the formidable McGonagall. That she was unfamiliar with the Minerva McGonagall known by people as closed off and unwilling to be personal. That had Ellie exempted from having to reconcile the public persona with the emotional friend of her mother who she witnessed battling a clear ailment wrapped in blasé pretense…
Moreover, she was equipped with personal information supplied by her mother about the unknown Minerva... Over all, the barrier was consequently removed for Ellie, being unaware of the McGonagall walls, which she was actually prevailing over…
And for Minerva, as she accepted the unforeseen connection with the daughter of her friend, she could only catalogue this bewildering matter as something akin to— 'closure'. Something she always felt to be missing, as exactly explained with the things Ellie had said that her mother told her… That she and Amelia had drifted apart in the latter years before her friend died…
Minerva could not forget how awful it was the last time she had talked to Amelia. They had argued heatedly about Harry's case hearing. She walked out of her friend's house after spitting insults at her. She never had the chance to rectify that to Amelia… But now, learning from Ellie all those intensely reassuring and loving pronouncements from Amelia, Minerva felt that her friend had sent a gift from the other side of life…
That night was terribly icy, but the understanding between the two women ran incredibly warm and prodigious. And both were quite resolute to follow through with it. And they did...
Around Christmas, a formal introduction was set by Minerva between Ellie and Susan Bones. And like Minerva, Susan was just as dumbfounded to learn the existence of a relative… And being a sole Bones for quite some time, Susan was beyond delighted at meeting another member of her family.
Come February, Ellie had mustered enough courage to migrate. Susan offered her to reside at the only un-destroyed family house that no one was using. Furthermore, Susan wanted to rightly allocate what Ellie should have from the family's wealth, but Ellie put her foot down; she really did not want any of it. Susan argued that Ellie was more than entitled. Minerva negotiated with both to have the matter suspended for the time being, and revisit it in the future. It was settled that way, inadvertently proving to both that the other was truly family.
Then Ellie's work got easily ironed out with the publication agency she worked for in America. It turned out it was mere paperwork for her transfer to their European office, with the company onboard in keeping her employment… And as with anything in life, when one dived deeper, a whole new wider section was presented.
One of the fundamental changes at Hogwarts that Minerva had lobbied, then got approved, and started implementation of a few years ago, was revamping the basic curriculum. The aim was to make young people more prepared and well balanced in life, which was usually only received by very wealthy Wizarding children, as they had private tutors. One course was in Arts and Literature, an inclusion for fourth and sixth year students. It had received appreciation from the public, then pleasing the board of governors. However, Hogwarts' tenured Professor in basic art and literature would not return next school term, consequently needing Minerva to find a replacement. Coincidentally, it was just the professional field of Ellie...
Since Ellie's move, they had had regular visits. Minerva was indeed turning out to be a confidante for Amelia's daughter, which made Minerva quite comfortable to have had the initial discussion with Ellie about the teaching slot for her. She knew that Ellie was about to finish her latest illustrated children's book and likely would be occupied with its promotion. But that was the only hindrance Minerva could think of, especially with Ellie having expressed the interest to teach after determining that she had the qualifications. After all, Hogwarts was still the prestigious 'Hogwarts'… And as Headmistress, she'd be gratified to have a professor at the school like Ellie— who under her pseudonym, 'Kief Walde' had five successfully published books, and another one very soon.
Minerva had invited Ellie to attend today's open fair at Hogwarts. She had no idea if the young woman would attend. Nevertheless, they had the discussion that if she showed up, Ellie had every right to want or not want to be introduced as Amelia's daughter. But…Harry's letter already conveyed the probability that some people had already gotten the information. Perhaps because Susan and Ellie had recently visited the Ministry records to regularise some documents and someone trickled out the info… No matter, Minerva had promised Ellie that she would give support however she wanted it.
But the other thing that Harry mentioned in his letter— Ronald Weasley's interest in Ellie… Minerva was a bit uncertain. She was too old to meddle or not meddle. Notwithstanding the fact that 'Ellie was Ellie', and 'Ronald was Ronald'… Minerva shook her head as she finished that unintelligent dictum in her head… Although one thing was inevitable, Harry was guaranteed to plague her about Ellie...if that meant he could play cupid for his best friend Ronald Weasley.
Sure enough, as Minerva returned to her office after doing the final round of inspection of Hogwarts' grounds for today's event, a corporeal patronus in the form of a recognisable stag was waiting at her door. No message, just playfully moving his head from side-to-side…
Minerva knew what it meant, Harry was asking if he could come and see her at that moment, without an agenda really, but just to see her if she had time… Minerva pleasantly sighed at the thought that Harry had indeed resumed visiting her, a habit that was broken in the last years, but one that originated just after the war…
. . . . . . .
On the fourth night following the battle of Hogwarts, Minerva found Harry waiting for her outside her damaged office. When she inquired on how she could assist Harry, he shrugged his shoulders and mumbled that he came by to check-up on her. Minerva shook her head incredulously, of all things he could say; nonetheless, she invited him inside of what was left of her sorry state of an office.
Aching and exhausted coming from helping out at St. Mungos, Gringotts, and then the Ministry, and apart from attending funerals, Minerva'a instinct as always was to be dismissive of others' concern for her wellbeing. In her customary turnabout manner, she told him that he should be the one being looked at, seeing his skin-and-bone physique.
However, Harry firmly but respectfully returned the opinion. "I am not the only one who is skin and bone in this room..." And then quite dispassionately, he justified his own state. "For me, camping out with limited food for a year in order to find and destroy horcruxes while trying not to be killed are the reasons."
Minerva was a bit surprised at his reaction. Not at his wording per sé, but the way he tiredly stated the appalling account. He sounded so aged… And although on a logical level, Minerva could identify that this Harry was no longer that young student she knew, that while he was indeed the young hero that sent Voldemort to his true end, she was realising how far behind she was at grasping the other aspect of this weathered young person…this survivor who had elected to seek her for a grave and honest dialogue… The sudden awareness made Minerva decide to converse with him on the same page.
"Hogwarts food was not as appetising when there was a need to keep watch that the Carrows hadn't poisoned what was on my plate. And losing sleep every night since September first to ensure that no student was taken from their bed by the death-eaters… Those are my reasons."
"Guess there is no contest." Harry's somber olive eyes drifted to emerald eyes. His soft casting of challenge had effectively dissipated the war aftermath adrenaline running inside Minerva. It drove her to be heedful.
"Fair point, Mr. —" Minerva paused. Suddenly, the formal reference to Harry tasted pretentious on the tip of her tongue with everything that had happened. She opted to make a complete concession. "Fair point indeed, Harry."
Her use of his first name was not lost on him. He then ran a hand over his unruly dark hair, looked at her, looked around her still disorganised room, looked back at her once more, before directing his eyes towards his lap. Then unknowing what to say next, he ended up expelling a long breath.
Minerva could read how Harry was readying himself, carefully unlatching the strappings inside of him before he'd take the dive he was aiming at. For a veteran like Minerva, a third war in her life, the ranges of emotions after surviving were not strangers to her, along with how and where to deal with them. Plus, her age must count for something… However, she would never discount anyone's coping mechanism. Young and old, each person was built differently.
But as she waited for Harry, it became clear to her mind that she actually had one track she wanted them to go to... She dismissed all her hesitations, got up from the armchair she had opted for earlier and carefully transferred herself beside Harry on the couch. She lightly grasped one of his shoulders and made him meet her eyes. When he did, she was more committed to finally telling him one of the things she had carried heavily in her heart, more so every night these past months.
"Harry, I want… need to tell you how sorry I am. I'm truly sorry for all the times I've failed you."
Harry's unwavering stare did not leave her, and she endured the probing. She did not even think of putting up occlumency in case he employed legilimency to validate things inside her mind. But Harry only intended to see the sincerity in her eyes. When it seemed he had accepted the apology, Minerva felt him tentatively reaching out, and then in the next instant, she was crushed by his embrace.
She winced and hid her breathlessness from Harry, but it was not out of self-consciousness. Her injured ribs from the battle were truly hurting... It was only this morning when she finally decided to give herself some time to put on the healing salve, and only because the pain had been unbearable. She could hardly move without feeling she would pass out from the smarting. Breathing had started to become difficult from the ripened bruises. And right now, her ribs simply did not appreciate the unexpected tight embrace from Harry.
Then Harry abruptly leaned back. He caught her masking the pain from his hasty movement.
"Are you all right, Minerva?" Harry questioned, but Minerva heard how Harry was not really asking. And his purposeful use of her first name, for the first time, in that tone, had warned her that he already knew the truth.
"I have injured my ribs," Minerva admitted, and she could not help but wince again... Then gently, she tried to change her sitting position into something that would lessen the throbbing.
"Shite. I hugged you." Harry's widening eyes only got bigger, "Did I injure you more? Do you want me to get Madame Pomfrey?"
"No. And no. And Poppy already gave me the healing balm. Besides, they're merely bruised and not fractured." Seeing the same panic in Harry, she hurried to assure him. "I put on some balm earlier. But it needs more hours and re-applications for a considerable relief to take effect.."
"Could you not take a potion for it?"
"I also have the healing potions from Poppy. But I have too many concerns to attend to right now that if I take them, it will slow me down. I figured they're already black and blue anyway, therefore tomorrow they're bound to be better. I will just put on more balm later."
"Will you let me see and apply—"
"Harry! You may be our hero but I will not take off my clothes in front of you!" Minerva blurted without filtering her words.
"That's not… I didn't… I mean…" Harry stammered, turning absolutely red in the face.
Then both were speechless for a moment, but it didn't take too long before the silliness dawned on them, and they synced in genuine laughter..
"Owww! Bugger, I must not laugh too much." Minerva grunted, half in laughter, half in pain.
That made Harry laugh all the more. The absurdity of their earlier exchange and then witnessing the uncharacteristic grumble from Minerva McGonagall had him chuckling. And while contrite, as he raised his hands— palms out in a gesture of surrender, he could not stop laughing...
In mock retaliation, Minerva wandlessly sent Harry a light tingling hex, which had him yelping from his seat, more from the shock that Minerva McGonagall had just done that... And then they were back to laughing together, quite freely, and away from the weight of their roles in their Wizarding society…
When their laughter died down and the presence of one another wrapped them with great easement, they started to talk. And they talked for three hours, truthfully and bravely. They tackled more of the vital details that occurred during the war on each of their sides...
Harry told Minerva of the most essential facts about Severus Snape. He surrendered for her keeping the vial containing the said memory... He also told her of his trip to the forbidden forest when Voldemort killed him and his consequent landing at King's Cross, where Dumbledore met him… He narrated to her the conversation he had with Dumbledore… About the events of his parents' death, the prophecies, the choices made, and how it included the old wizard's faulty reasoning for many things.
But Harry also communicated to Minerva that it would be easy to charge other people for all the breaks and gaps, for all the tragedies. But he said he had learnt that everything could always mean one thing or another. And with everything that he had gone through, he was now choosing to look ahead, rather than backward or sideward…
On the other hand, Minerva revealed to him of her belated and insufficient comprehension of Albus' scheme concerning Voldemort and his horcruxes. She even disclosed to Harry how torn she had been, as she was abandoned at Hogwarts by Albus, basically blind and hands tied when the tide turned against them after Snape supposedly had killed Albus. That she had to trust that she was where she must be… With that, Harry tactfully brought to the table Minerva's indubitable loyalty to Albus despite everything.
Minerva's simple explanation was that for more than half of her life, Dumbledore had played a significant role in it. And contrary to many who believed that she was blind when it came to him, she had always been aware of his flaws. But the truth of the matter was, equally as many had never been privy of how she and Albus had fought side by side, and for so, so long…
Nonetheless, she admitted that perhaps that was the crack where she had fallen into the trap of assuming that the man would always be the same one she had known many decades ago— one who had saved her life, who had been astute to uphold the banner of light, and one who always fought AND won the good fight, never leaving anyone behind...
"Most of all, Albus was my best friend. And for a long time, the only family I had," Minerva told Harry.
It was then that Harry inserted the roles of his own best friends in his life… How he understood Minerva's enduring link with Albus, because he knew he secured his own version with Ron and Hermione. How he was expecting it to be eternal. How the two had been his family. And how both saved his life— especially Hermione, she who had so many, many, times over. He spoke of Hermione's superb mind and how there was no way he would have survived a single day out there without her. How she had made all the difference between him dying and living...
"Hermione took care of everything. I mean, everything. And I'm not exaggerating," Harry vehemently declared to Minerva. "Even when faced with her own endangerment, she still took care of me."
He narrated the horrifying incident when he activated the taboo spell by saying Voldemort's name. That broke all the protective enchantments, which resulted in them being found by the snatchers. He told Minerva of Hermione's one-second chance to help herself but she decided to use that to cast a stinging jinx on his face for him to be unrecognisable… If not for that, the death-eaters would not have delayed calling Voldemort to kill him as they were brought to Malfoy manor…
"And that cost Hermione a special torture session with Bellatrix. She was crucio'd repeatedly; we heard her agonised scream all the way down in the cellar where we were detained. And the asinine witch literally carved 'mudblood' on her arm with her cursed knife." Harry revealed the atrociousness, and it took the breath out of Minerva. "Bellatrix was lucky that Molly had killed her before I got to her. She was saved from receiving the thousand slashes I'd give her."
"Harry—"
"I know, Minerva. I know I should not be saying that but…" Harry sighed in frustration and Minerva let him as he mulled over things, before he was speaking again, "It's just that… Mione thinks she convinced me that she's over that cruelty, and that she got rid of her mudblood scar. She is obviously locking it inside her, not wanting to talk about it. And I know she still has the scar, merely hiding it from everyone. Even from me... Perhaps, most especially from me."
"We all have our own way and pace in healing, Harry. Whatever reason she has, you must not take it as your own burden."
"I only want…" Harry trailed off, and brought a hand to what was left of his own faded scar, uselessly touching it before he said, "I think, there must be no cure… because I know Hermione, she would not keep it as a twisted souvenir. Had she found the cure, she would have healed it herself already…" Harry ran a hand over his face before dishearteningly he said, "It must be one bloody hell of a curse... But... maybe... Minerva, do you know the cure for that cursed scar?"
"I can't say if I know or I don't, Harry. I would have to research it. I would need information about how it happened and all. And actually, I'd have to take a look at it." Minerva sensitively responded. "And that means—"
"She has to show you and tell you… Arrrgh!" Harry discouragingly clicked his tongue, "I doubt Mione would ever want to talk of it… Maybe in the future I can bring it up to her to talk to you when it is not so recent."
"I know you want to hasten matters of healing and moving on, so that it'd feel really over… But Harry, this is my third war, and I've witnessed how for some people it can be more difficult to shift from fighting in a war to suddenly no longer needing to fight, no longer needing to find a way to survive…"
"I just want to fix it for Mione."
"Harry, as I have said earlier, survivors tend to their own wounds differently… I know you feel responsible for her because she's your best friend. But you have to let her be, as it seems that's what she wants. You can be there once she's ready to ask for you."
Minerva watched as her words figuratively swirled inside Harry's mind, and she gave him time to ponder them. She watched his face contort in reflection. Then he cleared his throat, obviously preparing himself to say something, but his voice still cracked when he unveiled to Minerva his inmost belief, "I know people would automatically think I'm the hero because I killed Tom Riddle. But the hero, my hero is Hermione. My best friend is the most brilliant and courageous person I know."
Harry proceeded to tell Minerva some more, and throughout his testimonials of Hermione's actions, Minerva's mind kept blending the recent memory from her interaction with Hermione Granger just hours after the Hogwarts battle… How she was relieved beyond measure when the young woman walked up to her, and entirely surprised her when she handed her a drink.
Somehow, just as Harry sounded so aged and far from the student she had known, it was the same case with Hermione Granger. At that moment, the person who walked up to her was no student anymore, but a fighter, a new person of her own— a very grown-up woman coming out of war. And the only person who took it upon herself to inquire of Minerva McGonagall's wellbeing without second thoughts… who cleaned up the grime on Minerva McGonagall's face, without hesitation, as if it was a common thing she did, when the rest of the people had been coming to Minerva for directions and decisions. But with all the commotion around them, Minerva did not know how to put a designation to it at the time, although certainly she felt that the unseen bottom of it was more than what had been illustrated, and she felt she could not afford to dive into it in that moment.
Harry accounted for more details of their horcrux hunt, but when he tried to smother a yawn, Minerva decided to send him home to the Burrow or, if he wanted, to take her couch. But she was adamant that he needed a rest (and she thought that she must check on her battered ribs).
When Harry chose to return to the Burrow, Minerva offered to accompany him there, which he waived off. As they made their way to her office door, Harry could not help but reconfirm with Minerva that she really didn't mind if they (the trio) chose to ignore the supposed ceremony of 'New Beginning', which the newly appointed Minister Kingsley wanted them to attend the following afternoon.
"I would answer for the three of you, I promise," Minerva assured him. She also repeated her intent to make it right for Severus, beginning at his funeral tomorrow.
Harry gingerly hugged Minerva, very attentive this time of her injury. "If you don't mind, I'd rather that I am allowed to do this again?" He playfully added, "You know, perks of saving the world?"
"What, embrace an old woman?" Minerva teased back, as she gladly endured the light pull of her ribs when Harry let go of her gentle embrace. But she did appreciate his meaning, and was more than happy to agree with him.
"You're not old, Minerva. I don't know if you realise that at times you actually look younger than many adults you're supposed to be older than," Harry said in between yawns."
"Could you apparate while not falling asleep?" Minerva disregarded Harry's remarks on her physical appearance, instead she dispensed another jest," We can't have our hero splinching from sleepiness."
"Hah! Another hero's perk, to have Minerva McGonagall come down from her serious throne and serve a joke!"
Minerva chuckled. "All right, all right. Go and sleep." She pressed a hand to his cheek and sincerely conveyed, "Harry, thank you for seeing me tonight."
"Thank you, too, Minerva…for everything. I'll see you tomorrow." Harry said, and without second guessing himself, he stepped closer and placed a chaste kiss on Minerva's cheek.
Inside a wrecked office at Hogwarts, in that very first meeting between two 'family-less' war survivors, and not between Professor McGonagall and her student Harry Potter, these two people contentedly established each other as their own family. The emotional bond between them was initiated and would be fortified in the many visits Harry would make in those early years after the war.
However, as was always the case, as years rolled on, as people moved on with their lives, she silently accepted when his visits became sparse in numbers. She thought it dwindled when his first son—James, was born. She would not fault the man for eventually limiting his visits. And also, whenever he managed to show up at the castle, she often excused the distracted and less than forthcoming Harry in his fatigue. She'd force him to rest on her sofa or in her guest bedroom, and before he'd take her offer, he would give her his usual smile and kiss her cheek just as he'd done that very first visit… But it was clear that Harry was opting to have less open conversation, a stark contrast to the visits she had gotten used to at the beginning of their familial rapport.
But then last year, it began to change again… Harry returned to visiting her at Hogwarts with the same simplicity and honesty they had that very first meeting in 1998… And if Minerva had to pick one thing that she was grateful to get from the attack last year— it was the chance to talk to Harry.
There at St. Mungos, while Minerva was spending the last hour keeping watch over Hermione who was still unconscious but expected to be awake soon, Harry walked in…and the two of them reached a certain understanding.
. . . . . . .
As Minerva entered her office for a short respite before today's event— The Eighth Commemoration— she took out her wand and sent out her own patronus to tell Harry that she had time to see him. Of course she had time for Harry. She would not lie; she was tremendously relieved that Harry, family to her, was again spending time with her at the castle.
A few minutes later, she was attending to one of the missives on her desk when her animagus hearing picked up several voices from outside her door, one familiar and the other two not quite. Nonetheless, she granted entry, and not long after, Harry's smiling face greeted her. And behind him, the voices that were unfamiliar turned out to belong to Harry's son James, and Hermione's daughter Rose.
"Hi, Minerva." Harry kissed her cheek, "Hope it's not a bother to visit you with these two rascals," he gestured to James and Rose. "I'm assigned to watch over them and didn't think you'd have time to see me before the event."
"Harry, I'm always glad to see you. And they are as welcome as you," Minerva returned, and smilingly reached for James, who shook her hand politely after she greeted the young lad. But when she shifted towards Rose, Minerva could not contain her widening smile as Hermione's daughter's chocolate eyes were roaming her room with the same brilliant marvel as her mother…
"Rose," Harry chuckled as he nudged the daughter of his best friend, "What do you think of Minerva's office?"
"Am I allowed to come here whenever I want to?" Rose asked without preamble.
Minerva was stunned, but she delightfully crouched lower to level with the young girl, "Certainly, Rose. But only when your mother permits you."
"Mum would. Uncle Harry said that you are one of Mummy's favourite persons in the world."
End of Chapter 42
Year 2006 – When Families Meet For The First Time
Posted 2022.0807
I Hope you like Ellie.
Maybe the shift is finally coming as with Harry's coming back to Minerva's life? What do you think?
