Tidying up was, apparently, a concept that great seers only approached theoretically, but although Minerva still needed more time in Sybill's classroom after the Divination teacher's round of help than she had spent in the whole Slytherin common room, she managed to finish the preparations on the evening of the fourth day.

Deciding that it was better to begin the first phase of the spell with a clear mind, she returned to her quarters. She still wasn't quite used to her new rooms. She had lived behind the Transfiguration classroom for so many years that it had become a true home to her. Despite the fact that she now had more space at her disposal, she still wondered sometimes if she could not strike a deal with her new colleague to get her old room back. Of course she only really considered that in moments of silly sentimentality, and she quite liked the Headmaster's office, although she kept thinking of it as Dumbledore's.

When she entered, the old Headmaster's portrait was awake for once. Sometimes Minerva thought he must be catching up with all the sleep he missed when he was alive. Now, however, he had moved over to Professor Snape's frame and they were talking - or rather, Albus was, but at least Severus seemed to be listening politely. When he saw Minerva, Albus smiled widely.

"The castle is all ready, I presume?" he asked.

Minerva nodded. "And everyone is out. Even Sybill."

"I imagine she was reluctant to leave," Albus said before returning to his own frame. "The school, to her, is really the only home she's had since she was a little girl."

"I know," Minerva sighed. "But the same goes for some of the students I had to send away. If there is any chance I can invite them back sooner than expected, I most certainly will."

"You have confidence the spell will work?"

She frowned. "It has to work. I still believe there is no better alternative."

The last time she had seen Albus awake, they had in fact had a long discussion about this. The few other options he had suggested had meant that the students could stay, but the temperature would only be corrected very gradually. She could imagine that a painting was not exactly bothered by that, so for once she had ignored his advice.

Clearly he wanted to avoid a new discussion just as much as she did, so he just nodded. Then, settling comfortably in his chair, he fell asleep almost at once.

For a moment Minerva stood with raised eyebrows, wondering if he was acting or not. Then she decided she did not feel much like talking anyway and walked through to her rooms, where she sat down in her chair with an extra tartan blanket and a pot of tea.

It did bother her that she could not offer a place to go to those who needed it. She hardly needed Albus to tell her that Sybill wouldn't be happy. On the other hand, Minerva wondered if Sybill was still capable of happiness that did not involve sherry. And she would find her share of that if she stayed at the Hog's Head.

It always pained her to see what had become of her young colleague. They might have had their share of disagreements, but still, there had been a time when Sybill could be reasoned with. In fact, there had been moments when Minerva admired her.

Once, at the start of Sybill's second year as a teacher, Minerva had overheard her standing up for a student who had not been considered talented enough by her classmates to be part of their group.

By that time, Minerva had been relieved that not all of Sybill's predictions seemed to come true. They had not really talked since their argument the previous year, when Sybill had told them that they would not only lose two teachers but also a student. In fact, she had been right about the teachers. After years of threatening or promising that he would do so, Professor Slughorn had retired, and it was only to be expected that the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would not stay, although for once this was for happy reasons, as she was expecting a child and wanted to avoid contact with dangerous creatures and spells for its sake.

The student, on the other hand, had returned to Hogwarts in good health. Minerva had noticed he was not quite as cheerful as he had been before, what with his boyfriend leaving him for Gryffindor's new Quidditch Captain, but she had been glad to see him again.

That relief, combined with what she had heard, had been enough to make her approach Sybill with a small smile.

Sybill had seemed startled at first, and then her eyes had hardened as if she expected another telling off from her former teacher.

"Thank you," Minerva had simply said.

"Uhm…" Sybill had managed. "Erh… What?"

"For what you just did. I think Perkins could really use that support."

"Oh… I…" Sybill had smiled and blushed a little. "Thank you."

"I thought it only fair to let you know that I appreciate what you did there. After all I did the same when I disagreed with your actions."

"Yes," Sybill had said, trying to look haughty. "So I noticed." Then she had smiled. "I assume you feel a little foolish after my predictions came true."

"I am mainly relieved that they only partly came true," Minerva had admitted.

"Partly?" Sybill had asked, looking rather confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you did say that Harris would not survive his OWLs. Fortunately that is not true," Minerva had explained.

"I said he would not live to enjoy his fine results," Sybill had said. "And I was right. He did not enjoy it. Or did you not witness the dramatic scene just before the end of the year?"

Minerva's eyebrows had knotted. "I did, but…" For a moment she had been trying to remember what Sybill's exact words had been and whether she was turning them into something that suited her now, but she had decided not to let it spoil her good mood. "Anyway. I wanted to ask," she had said quickly, "would you join us on the next outing to Hogsmeade? We have not seen you there, and we were planning an afternoon drink for the teachers this weekend…"

Seemingly surprised and rather pleased, Sybill had accepted the invitation. But when she kept giving her usual vague responses to the other teachers' questions, their patience had worn thin and in the end Sybill had stormed out, insulted but also, Minerva suspected, rather hurt by their condescension. Feeling responsible because she had been the one to invite her, Minerva had gone after her.

For a moment she had hesitated when she saw that Sybill had entered Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, remembering certain awkward situations that had taken place there, but with a deep breath she shook off those memories. Once inside, she had stood by Sybill's table, waiting for her to look up.

"I'm not going to apologise," Sybill had muttered, staring into her teacup. "I have the right to be myself and not conform to their narrow-minded expectations."

"I do not expect an apology," Minerva had said. "I'd rather offer you one on behalf of our colleagues."

Finally, Sybill had looked up at her. "You really mean that?" she whispered.

Minerva had shrugged. "Their behaviour was far from chivalrous. In my opinion, you did not do anything to deserve that." She had gestured to the chair opposite from Sybill and gave her a questioning look.

Sybill had nodded and then smiled. "Can I… offer you a cup of tea?" she had asked. "Or… perhaps coffee?"

"Tea would be wonderful," Minerva had answered as she sat down, "as long as you don't read me the leaves."

"I will not make any promises I cannot keep," Sybill had said in her usual mysterious voice. "But I will do my best to ignore any portents unless they are of a cataclysmic nature." She had held her serious expression for a few seconds before letting out a snort of laughter.

Fortunately, both their cups had proved to be very non-cataclysmic, and they had ended up spending a rather enjoyable afternoon together.