6.

Minna and Ellie arrived back at school two days earlier than most students because Ellie had head girl duties to attend to and there was no way the McGongalls were going to let Minna take a portkey by herself. To Minna's surprise, the portkey deposited the sisters in their head of house's office.

"Good afternoon, Professor!" Ellie greeted Dumbledore, treading lightly on Minna's toe to make sure she did the same.

Dumbledore beamed. "Had a good holiday, ladies?"

"Yes, sir!" Ellie replied, but Minna was too absorbed by the quantity of curiosities in Dumbledore's office to remember about manners.

"No doubt you've a bevy of friends waiting to greet you in the common room, so I won't keep you," Dumbledore gestured to the door with a pleasant smile. Ellie exited without a backward glance at her younger sister, who paused in the doorway, still transfixed by Dumbledore's office.

"Sir? Is that bird an actual phoenix?" Minna's school voice was a whisper as usual.

"Indeed! Extraordinary birds, phoenixes" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at Minna, and she felt a bit braver.

"Can his tears heal actual injuries?"

"I expect they can! Though I luckily haven't had to rely on them."

Feeling she had been given permission, Minna's eyes were as wide as saucers taking in the scope of the room. "Sir, may I ask you one more thing?"

"You may ask any number of things, Miss. McGonagall" Dumbledore smiled gently at the anxious-looking pigtailed child before him.

"Truly?" Dumbledore nodded solemnly, eyes still twinkling.

"Then, what's that silver instrument puffing smoke? And what do the runes around that basin mean? And why does that mirror over there show me in my house at Easter holidays instead of me right now? And, also--" and here Minna broke off, suddenly embarrassed by her deluge of questions.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Also?"

Minna stared at her toes, still anxious about chattering too much. "Also, I like your shelf of muggle literature."

"And what is your favorite work from this shelf?"

"I couldn't pick a favorite favorite," Minna said carefully. "But I'm fond of everything George Eliot writes. I thought 'The Great Gatsby' was incredibly clever, but it wasn't my sort of book, really. I think I should like to see New York City for myself some day. Oh, and I liked the Odyssey, too, though I don't see how the muggles missed that Odysseus was a wizard."

"Indeed! Do you read Greek?"

"Not very well," Minna replied regretfully.

"Ah. I was going to lend you the version in Greek. Instead, perhaps you'd like to pick another book?"

"May I? I miss muggle literature at school."

"Of course. Your sister Margaret borrowed several books a term throughout her years here. I should have thought to offer it sooner!"

"Meg borrowed books from you?"

"Oh yes indeed! She generally favored more modern works. I believe Virginia Woolf was a particular favorite of hers."

"Could I borrow one of those, then?" Minna was suddenly shy again.

"Let's see," he murmured, surveying his shelf. " 'To the Lighthouse' is out right now. 'The Voyage Out' would suit you, but you won't love it half so well if you don't read 'Mrs. Dalloway' first and find Clarissa completely captivating, so here you are: Mrs. Dalloway!"

"Thank you, sir!"

"I would be happy to hear your thoughts on it, Miss. McGonagall. But I shouldn't keep you from your friends any longer."

Minna recognized the polite dismissal, thanked him again, and set off for the common room.

~*~

The common room was empty when Minna arrived, but upon entering her dormitory, she found Divya had already unpacking her trunk. There was a moment when both girls stood stock still staring at each other across the silent dorm room, and then suddenly they were hugging and giggling all at once.

"Mins, it's not fair! You got taller over the holidays" Divya exclaimed when they broke apart.

"If I did, you did too!" Minna grinned.

"I don't think so! All Patils are short. Especially my little brother Ravi!"

"How is he?"

"So darling! He was the best bit of the holidays for me" Divya glowed. "What about for you? What was the best bit of being home?"

"The same, really: seeing my sisters. Especially Claire. We played some good pranks."

"No! I can't believe you'd play pranks, Minerva!"

"Oh yes! All sorts!" Minna grinned wickedly.