((I'm sorry this update is a couple days late. (I left my laptop at my mum's when I visited her. Oops.) For your christmas present I give you a happy chapter. I might take a week off to get a headstart on a few chapters, but next we'll be returning to Hogwarts. Happy Holidays!))
The night before Christmas was a quiet one. After dinner McGonagall sat on the lounge and went over some paperwork from the Ministry while Hermione lay on her stomach on the ground, writing her essay. There wasn't much need for talk but it was entirely pleasant. When the owls from Luna and the Burrow had recovered from their flights Hermione tied the gifts she had bought from Hogsmeade to their legs and sent them on their way. She tried to stay awake as long as possible but eventually fell into a restless sleep.
When Hermione rose on Christmas morning Minerva was already in the kitchen, pouring a drink for Zena who was sitting at the table with her short legs swinging. The house elf turned and sang a greeting when the young witch entered, taking a seat at the opposite end of the table. Plates had already been set out so McGonagall could easily serve the omelette and bacon when it was finished.
"I've cooked the Christmas breakfast ever since I was a tyke," she said as she distributed the meal, "I didn't know what gift to get my mother one time so I made her breakfast in bed. Since then it's the only thing I've really known how to cook."
It was a lovely meal and afterwards the three of them talked at length about what they would do for the day. Zena was happily planning a roast dinner and mentioned having to go to the markets to get some vegetables. Hermione still had work to do for her assignment so McGonagall offered to look over it and then the two of them would go for a walk.
It was snowing lightly when they left the house just after midday. The soft blanket crunched under their feet, but the two women were wrapped up tight in their coats. They walked arm in arm, sometimes in silence, sometimes while Minerva was talking about her favourite places. Hermione remained quiet. She wasn't quite sad, although there was the persistent tug of it in the pit of her stomach, but she didn't want this week to end. Going back to school would mean people staring curiously at her and deadlines and loneliness. The only thing she looked forward to was seeing her cat again. She wondered what it was doing while she was away.
"You've been awfully quite, dear, are you okay?" The question broke her out of her reverie.
"I'm fine. I'm just really enjoying being here with you."
McGonagall smiled and ran her hand over Hermione's hair, "I as well."
"Will we be able to do this sort of thing when we return to Hogwarts? Go for walks and such?"
"Perhaps. We'll both be very busy, but we'll still have our dinners."
Hermione wrapped her arms around the older witch who was surprised, but awkwardly returned the embrace.
At the end of the road they were walking down there was a small village. They wandered the streets until they came across a tavern called the Dragon's Heart. Minerva opened the door and they were immediately engulfed in warmth. It was a welcome change from the bracing cold outside. There weren't many people inside, and those that looked up when they entered didn't stare. It was roomy and had a small stage where they would probably have entertainment, but today it was nearly empty. They ordered two butterbeers from the portly man behind the bar and then they took a table by the hearth.
A couple of wizards tipped their hats as they passed and McGonagall greeted them by name. Evidently this small town was a fairly tightknit community and even though she was away most of the year, the headmistress still remembered all her neighbours. Hermione was a stranger to these folks, but no one treated her as a zoo attraction which was a change from other magical towns where people knew her from her adventures with Harry.
"Everyone's so polite here," Hermione commented when a witch touched Minerva's arm and welcomed her home.
"Yes, we're among friends here. I grew up with Emilia and Kendrick Hawthorne over there." She nodded towards a witch and wizard at the bar, both wearing red robes. "And that's Ruth McLachlan with the beard. I baby sat for her before I became a teacher."
"Who's that?" Hermione indicated to a man in formal attire talking heatedly into a crystal ball.
"That's Alfred Silvertail. He's a ministry official. He was one of the first to turn when Voldemort came into power. They're investigating him at the moment."
Hermione shivered. She hated the idea that there was a death eater in the same room as her. She pointed to another witch and then another and McGonagall named them all, adding little anecdotes if she had them.
People came and went and a couple stopped to chat. They ran out of people after their third round of drinks and rose to leave. It was still light out, but night would fall quickly and they wanted to walk home before then.
The sun was beginning to set when they returned to the Manor and the wind was heaving. Both witches were grateful to be inside where the fire was blazing cheerfully and the most welcoming scent greeted them. Zena was in the kitchen, conducting the ingredients and utensils as if they were an orchestra. When Hermione stepped onto the tiles to offer assistance a defensive spatula chased her out again.
"It's best leave her be until she's finished," said an amused Minerva before suggesting a game of wizard chess.
They played a few rounds, but there was some time left until dinner was finished so they returned to their rooms to bathe. Hermione was finished first and took the opportunity to take her teacher's gift and place it under the Christmas tree. When McGonagall returned in her plaid nightgown, Hermione was curled up on the couch with a book open.
Zena announced dinner and they followed her into the dining room where two places had been set complete with candles and folded napkins. They sat at the table and two plates floated into the room. There was a light salad to start followed by roast beef and vegetables, soup and finally chocolate truffles for desert. Neither witch was able to complete every course, but they tried. The conversation was frivolous and joyful with no mention of the future. Unable to take another bite they retired to the lounge room to open gifts. At Minerva's insistence, Zena followed them.
The two witches sat on the couch, both too full to sit on the ground, and the elf handed out presents.
The first was from Luna and it was a charm bracelet with different symbols hanging from it. McGonagall got a book from Zena who in turn received a silver bauble with a golden inscription that Hermione couldn't make out. Whatever it said made the house elf tear up with joy. Harry had sent a book about identifying dark magic which he thought Hermione would find interesting as well as a letter. The package from the Weasleys had a box of chocolate frogs, a Weasley Wheezes love potion and an old spell book of practical magic.
Hermione curled her feet up under herself and held her breath nervously as Zena handed her gift to Minerva. It had silver wrapping which the older woman was careful not to tear. She pushed the paper aside and stood to hold up the garment.
It was a robe knitted from the softest blue wool. When McGonagall held it up there was a tremor of light in the fabric as if it were momentarily on fire.
"It feels like it's emanating heat." Minerva said as she examined the craftsmanship.
"It is," replied Hermione, "I weaved a fire spell into the wool before I knitted it so it'll always keep you warm."
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
They shared a smile and their gaze was broken when Zena shook the last gift to get Hermione's attention. It was wrapped in red and gold and the note on it said it was from McGonagall. She smiled shyly and unwrapped it carefully. There was a plain brown box and when she opened the lid there was a dirty old, deflated football. The smile disappeared from her face and she looked up in confusion. McGonagall was grinning and she explained.
"It's a port-key. A long distance port-key to be exact. It's how we'll go to Australia when you finish school. It only activates after the finals, so you won't be able to use it until then. I've already organised a meeting with a member for muggle-wizarding affairs at the Australian consulate for that time. We're going to find your parents."
Hermione stared at the box, speechless. Was this what McGonagall had been working on all these days? A hand rested on her knee and she looked up, realising they were still waiting for a response.
"I really don't know what to say. You went to all this troubleā¦"
"You're worth every bit of it." There was nothing but kindness in Minerva's lilt. Hermione flung her arms around her in a sudden burst of gratitude. She hadn't thought she'd ever see her parents again and now the first step had been taken. If she were doing it on her own she doubted she would make it.
"We're really going to find them."
"Absolutely." When they pulled away her face was tear stained and Minerva wiped her cheeks. "Please don't cry."
Hermione hiccoughed, "It's okay. I'm happy." There was a tang of guilt when she said it- doubt that she deserved happiness. The sadness was there, but she refused to let it corrupt the moment. Being happy was the least she could do for Minerva. So she smiled and laughed as she wiped her face. She wished that the week would never end.
