1Chapter Four
Dumbledore's office. How much time she was spending there. When she wasn't with Lara, reading up on crazy spells (their most recent endeavor was finding one that tied shoes) she was in his office, studying on her own or with him. Mostly with him, as he was such a wonderful teacher.
He had taken her in to help the fifth years, and she loved it. It wasn't like she was herself when she was teaching them - she could explain things without feeling awkward or flustered. There was no embarrassment. Lara had especially enjoyed having Minerva in her class. She had paraded Minerva around her friends, asking her to perform various difficult transfigurations. Normally Minerva wasn't a boastful person, but for Lara's sake she complied. She had even been able to teach some of Lara's friends various transfiguration tips, which delighted Minerva more than impressing them.
This was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She wanted to teach.
"Professor?"
"Yes Miss McGonagall?"
She took a deep breath. "Do you think I have the temperament to become a teacher?"
He was silent a moment. "I've wanted to suggest it for a long time. Yes, I think you'd make a wonderful teacher. In fact, I want you to come back to Hogwarts and teach."
Minerva was confused. "But Professor - "
"Dippet told me in private he is retiring," he said quietly. "And I am to be his replacement."
She smiled. "Congratulations, sir!"
"Miss McGonagall…if you don't mind, may I call you Minerva?"
"I don't mind, sir," Minerva said with a small smile.
"Good, good…Miss McGonagall is quite the tongue twister…and I shall reciprocate the favor and allow you to call me Albus, as well."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Quite positive. I see ourselves as equals."
Minerva beamed. "Very well then." She bit her tongue to keep from saying 'sir.' "I will continue to call you 'sir' in public, though, out of respect."
"That's perfectly fine."
They were quiet, and Minerva delved back into her Modern Transfiguration magazine, which was providing her with some useful tips to minimize wand movement.
"Oh Minerva...I forgot to tell you."
She looked up.
"I announced this to all of Gryffindor house but you were elsewhere...Hogwarts will be hosting a ball, this Saturday."
Minerva looked up quizzically. "A ball?"
"Yes, Dippet is going to announce his retirement there. All students are required to attend...you do have dress robes, don't you?"
"Er – "
He smiled. "No matter. Since it was my fault you did not hear the announcement, I took the liberty of finding some for you."
He opened up the cabinet behind his desk and pulled out a magnificent green robe. "I thought it would go well with your hair."
She blushed. "Thank you...Albus."
"My pleasure, Minerva. You deserve a night off, and you should look magnificent during it."
Minerva returned to the common room and found Lara, who eyed the green robes enviously. "Oooh Minnie! Where'd you get them?"
"Dumbledore gave them to me," she said, "Since I think I was studying in his office when he announced the ball to everyone else."
Lara smacked her hand to her forehead. "I meant to tell you about that! But I suppose it doesn't matter now, since you have these gorgeous robes...it's kind of weird though, isn't it?"
"What?" asked Minerva.
"Well, Dumbledore giving you the robes," she said. "Teachers don't usually do stuff like that for students..."
Minerva shrugged. "I'm there so often...I suppose he felt sorry for me." Saying that stung a bit. It made her feel that Dumbledore really didn't care for her at all...though she really didn't know why that mattered to her... "He offered me a teaching job once he becomes headmaster."
"Ah, so the rumors are true!" said Lara. "Well, he does favor you immensely...when you aren't in class with us, he's always talking about you..."
"Really?" asked Minerva. "I don't know then. I guess he just likes me because I like his subject."
Lara nodded, but there was a questioning look in her eyes.