Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter or Oh My Goddess.
Keiichi was only mildly surprised when Urd asked for a private discussion. With nothing else vying for his attention, he followed her as she made her way to the garage. Once inside, Urd turned to her future brother in law with a serious expression.
"Right. I think we need a small change in our plans, Keiichi."
"Which plans?" Keiichi asked innocently. There was a lot on their collective plates at that time, so Urd's comment was just a little ambiguous.
Urd sighed. "The plans for your wedding. The last time you talked about it, you said something about holding the wedding in summer next year?"
"That's right," Keiichi agreed, "that gives us time to organise it with my family and build up enough leave for a small honeymoon."
Urd nodded. "That sounds good, but unfortunately I think we need to move the schedule up a bit."
"By how much?" Was the rather tense response.
"I'm thinking the end of this year," Urd said, "Harry will be in his new school by then but will have some time off over the Christmas and New Year period. In that time we can get to Japan, hold the wedding and then get back here."
"Why the rush?" Keiichi demanded.
"Two reasons," Urd said softly, "one practical, the other less so. The first reason relates to Harry's recent nightmare. You and Belldandy did a good job to help him with it, but we can expect more like that in the future."
"I thought that might be the case," Keiichi said with a sigh, "but what does that have to do with the wedding?"
"Harry knows you two are engaged," Urd explained, "he was there when you proposed. I believe that the sooner we can give Harry a family the faster he'll heal from his past. Having you two married - and having Harry attend the event - will go a long way towards that goal."
Keiichi thought about it for a moment. "That makes sense I suppose," he allowed, "if nothing else the wedding will be a happy memory for him. What was the other reason?"
Urd looked uncomfortable. "Less of a reason and more of an instinct. I have a gut feeling that the sooner you two are married the better. Call it a hunch. I've learned to not ignore hunches over the years."
"When the Norn of the Past has a hunch, I think we should pay attention," Keiichi said seriously, "OK then. I'll talk to Belldandy and let my family know about the change of plans. I should be able to get enough leave for a quick trip to Japan by December, even if I have to take some unpaid leave to do it. The honeymoon will have to wait, I suppose."
Urd nodded. "I'm afraid so. Sorry to dump this on you, K-boy, but sometimes these things happen."
Keiichi just nodded. After everything we've been through, changing the wedding date is trivial. It isn't like we're talking about the end of the world...again...
With Skuld's workshop (or laboratory, as Skuld insisted on calling it) now established, the youngest Norn spent most of her time buried inside of it as she caught up on her training. Given that she had been neglecting her education for a few years by that stage, she was working overtime and then some. Consequently, the rest of the family only ever saw her at meal times, and even then she would often get something portable in order to eat while working.
Belldandy didn't like it, but understood. Harry was puzzled at first, until Urd explained.
"Skuld took time off from her magical education when she came to Japan with us. Now she has to catch up a lot of material fairly quickly. So, you can expect her to be off by herself for a while. Though she does need to relax, so if you can get her to unwind with a game or something occasionally, that would be good."
Harry decided that if what Skuld was doing right now was an example of what happened when you put things off, he would do his best to get his work done on time. Belldandy approved when he voiced this to her, surprising him with a hug.
"That's a good attitude to have, Harry. Procrastination can often result in more work later - there's an old saying, 'a stitch in time saves nine'. Skuld is discovering the truth of that now, if you learn from her current plight you could save yourself a lot of trouble later on."
Keiichi, in the mean time, had managed to purchase a mini-bike kit for Harry. Harry now had a new weekend activity - helping Keiichi assemble the bike. This took a while, as Keiichi took the time to explain every step of the process to Harry before they did it. He also explained what all the parts were and what they did. Keiichi explained to Harry that he would be able to do a lot of his own maintenance if he had a good understanding of the nature of his motorbike, and the fundamentals were important.
Work on the mini-bike was a good incentive for Harry to master his bicycle, a goal that Belldandy and Keiichi were only too happy to help with. The trio were soon undertaking extended rides around the town of Hinckley, learning its layout.
A week before Harry's birthday, Belldandy organised to have him visit an optometrist to have his vision checked. As she had expected, his prescription was out of date and needed to be replaced. Belldandy took the opportunity to get Harry a more stylish set of frame that suited him a lot better than the cheap (and many times repaired) set that the Dursleys had seen fit to give him.
As they were leaving the optometrist, Belldandy turned to Harry with a suggestion.
"While we're here in town, why don't we get you a haircut? It must be difficult taking care of your hair the way it is."
Harry looked glum. "Aunt Petunia once cut my hair off. It re-grew overnight. She was very angry about that."
Belldandy's smile remained fixed to her face, even if it looked a little brittle. "I'm sure that was because it was something you didn't want, and your magic responded to it. This time we'll get you a style that you want and like. OK?"
Harry perked up a little. "OK, let's try it."
An hour later, Harry had a new haircut that was a significant improvement on the untamed mop (though the hair-dresser had kindly referred to it as a 'Beatles cut') that he'd had before. Now his hair was generally neat and tidy on the sides, but enough fringe had been left that he could cover his scar if he wanted to. The hairdresser had talked about "layering" and other terms that Harry didn't understand, except that it made what was left look slightly more ordered than his old mop had ever been.
"It looks good on you, Harry! Let's get home, if we go now we can be there for lunch." Belldandy said as Harry paused to look at himself in the reflection of a window. Harry looked up and smiled back at his Aunty Bell.
When the report on one Urd Odinsdotter finally reached the desk of Amelia Bones, the recipient was momentarily confused by it. It took a minute before she remembered who Urd Odinsdotter was and why she had authorised a background check.
She turns up at the Ministry asking about the trial records for Sirius Black, triggering his trial which has seen the most political upheaval since the Death Eater trials, then she starts a potions shop and secures a contract with St Mungo's in no time at all...there's something more going on here. Let's see what my researchers dug up.
The report was a typical example of the thoroughness that the DMLE could achieve when properly motivated. Of course, having the Director issue orders usually got results. Unfortunately for Amelia, what she found was a very thorough and in depth report on somebody who was, in essence, just another witch.
Raised in Norway, excellent academic results across the board, though there's a note here from the Headmaster that she was constantly making trouble and pulling pranks. I guess every school has their share of mischief-makers...
All in all, there was nothing that raised any red flags anywhere in the document. Apart from achieving her Potions Mastery in an astonishingly short period of time and her relationship to Harry Potter, Urd Odinsdotter was not the type of person who would ordinarily attract the interest of the DMLE.
She's obviously a prodigy with potions, based on how quickly she got her Mastery. That might go some way towards explaining how she got that contract with St Mungo's. Why weren't the Odinsdotters considered for Harry Potter after the death of his parents, though...
The section that dealt with Urd's family was succinct and to the point. They had been estranged from any relatives in Britain by the Statute of Secrecy. The researcher had glossed over this to a certain extent, neatly ignoring the heart ache that went along with such family divisions.
Sadly, that isn't that uncommon a case, having families split up by the Statute, Madam Bones thought unhappily, it also explains why they were never considered as Harry's new guardians back in 1981.
There was one omission that puzzled the Director. Urd had mentioned that she had been chasing the records of Sirius Black's trial because of her relationship to Lily Potter. But there was no mention at all regarding any contact between the Odinsdotters and the Boy-Who-Lived following their arrival in Britain. Then again, it isn't like they'd file paperwork with the Ministry for something that might have been as mundane as dropping by for a cup of tea...assuming they know where he lives. That's one thing that has kept the public guessing these past 8 years or so.
Amelia set the report down on her desk and rubbed her eyes. Everything pointed to Urd Odinsdotter being a genius with potions but nothing more than that.
I'm getting paranoid. Old Mad-Eye's influence, no doubt. Still...maybe I should visit Miss Odinsdotter's new shop some time soon. Just for a chat.
Belldandy hummed gently as she walked down Diagon Alley, window shopping. She was here by herself today seeking to purchase some sort of magical gift for Harry. His birthday was just a week away, and while Keiichi had already had his sister send over a brand new Nintendo Game Boy from Japan, Belldandy wanted Harry to have something that would help him identify with his magical heritage as well as his non-magical roots.
So far she had inspected the apothecary (discounted as Urd had started to teach him about potions), the pet store (Belldandy had been sorely tempted by some of the kittens, but decided that Harry was not yet ready for a pet) and a joke shop (Belldandy decided that Sun Wukong did not need to be tempted). Deciding that inspiration would strike eventually, she was about to pause at the next shop window when a small disturbance ahead caught her attention.
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Head of Gryffindor House and Professor of Transfiguration was feeling just a trifle irritable. With the school year over, she had decided to use some of her precious free time to catch up with some much needed shopping therapy in Diagon Alley. While she was hardly the most profligate of spenders, she did take some small pleasure in the process of hunting down the best bargains and then haggling for a better price.
All of which had been ruined by some inconsiderate nyaff who had decided that going for a run in front of the shop doors of Diagon Alley was a good idea. The Professor had just been leaving Scribbulus Writing Instruments when she had been all but bowled over by the lousy scunner. While she had been more stunned than hurt, the collision had scattered her recent purchases over the pavement.
Glaring in the direction that the useless bugger had taken off in, McGonagall ran through some choice insults in her head before she turned to the task of picking up her belongings. When she did so, she found a young woman standing close by with an inquisitive look on her face.
"Can I help you pick up your things?" She asked politely. McGonagall nodded, happy to see that not everybody in Diagon Alley was a complete oaf.
"Yes, thank you, I could use some help."
With two people working to collect the scattered items, it didn't take long before the Professor's shopping had been gathered and put away. Looking over at the young woman with a grateful expression, Minerva cleared her throat before speaking.
"Thank you for your kind assistance. Please allow me to treat you to lunch."
The young woman did not hesitate, and simply smiled. "That would be delightful, thank you. My name is Belldandy Odinsdotter, and you?"
"Minerva McGonagall." The older woman said simply as she extended a hand.
A short distance away, Urd Odinsdotter was just thinking about opening up the packed lunch that Belldandy had provided her with (something the Norn of the Present insisted on doing every day, in spite of Urd's comment that her current profit margins allowed her to eat out at the Ritz every day without noticing the expense) when the door opened. This was accompanied by a small bell jingling, something Urd had seen in British shops on TV and had implemented in an attempt to lull customers into a sense of familiarity. When Urd looked up, she saw the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, accompanied by two witches who were obviously Aurors out of uniform.
"Madam Bones! I hadn't expected you." The Norn of the Past said by way of greeting. Amelia Bones nodded in reply.
"I saw your shop as I was passing and remembered our meeting last month. I thought I'd drop in to have a bit of a chat."
Bollocks, Urd thought, the Director of the DMLE does not just take a random walk down Diagon Alley with two bodyguards in tow. You came here for a reason.
"Well, welcome to my little shop. Urd's Elegant Potions offers the finest quality magical elixirs, tonics and remedies in Europe."
Madam Bones kept her face impassive as the rehearsed spiel washed over her. It was the usual type of self marketing that most traders in the Alley gave, but in this case there was a chance that the claim might be accurate.
"Delighted. I suppose you heard the news regarding that case you were trying to find?"
"Of course, I could hardly miss it," Urd said with a smirk, "it was on the front page of the Prophet for several days, and they're still running articles about it. I must say I was surprised by the final outcome."
"Indeed." Was the measured response. "Rest assured that such a violation of our judicial system will not happen again. Steps have been taken to prevent this kind of thing from reoccurring."
Urd's smirk changed to a smile. "I'm glad to hear it. Can I interest you in a potion?"
Amelia raised her eyebrows a fraction of an inch. "Actually, I heard from my colleagues in St Mungo's that you recently secured a contract to supply them with some medical potions. It made me curious as to how you managed this within a week of opening your shop."
"Hard work and innovation," Urd stated, "I developed new techniques that allowed for the creation of new potions as well as variants on existing brews. The one that got me the contract with St Mungo's is an almost painless version of Skele-Gro."
This comment caused Amelia's eyebrows to be raised almost fully. "Almost painless?"
"Yes, there is still some discomfort but not nearly as much as the traditional potion. I also improved the flavour a bit, though it is still unpleasant to drink." Urd explained proudly.
"I see." Amelia said a little distantly. Evidently the Potions Mastery was well deserved. "Speaking of Black, I was wondering if you had any contact with your family here in Britain?"
That was a sudden change of topic, what is your game here? "Some. There aren't that many that we know of beyond our cousin Lily and her sister. Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering if you had met Lily's son, Harry." The question sounded innocent, as was the expression on Madam Bones' face. Urd knew better.
"I did meet him at Lily's sister's house briefly." We weren't there for long, so it was brief. "Why do you ask?"
"His exact location has been kept secret since 1981." Amelia explained. "I was curious as to where he has been since his parents were killed."
Urd pursed her lips. "Shouldn't there be records? Even if they were classified, you of all people should be able to access them."
"You're probably right," Amelia admitted, "did you say you met him at Lily's sister's house? Is that where he was being cared for?"
"I don't think so," Urd said, "I'm pretty sure he isn't there now either." True on both counts - he wasn't being cared for at all with the Dursleys for all that he lived there, and he definitely isn't there now.
Madam Bones simply nodded as she turned to leave. "I will have to check the records to see what I can find then. Thank you for your time, Miss Odinsdotter, it has been a pleasure."
"Likewise, Madam Bones." Urd said with a knowing smile.
Minerva McGonagall found herself a bit curious about her lunch companion. Here was a witch who was a cheerful, pleasant and friendly person on the surface. Underneath, however, Minerva was sure that there was something a bit deeper, as evidenced by the questions that the younger witch had been asking.
The usual introductions had been exchanged, Minerva being slightly surprised to discover that her lunch companion was not a native to Britain. She had commented on the lack of any obvious accent, to which Belldandy had replied that she had visited many countries before and had lived in Japan for a while, resulting in a mish-mash of accents that tended to be imperceptible. Minerva's role as Hogwart's Professor of Transfiguration had immediately triggered a discussion of the field. Minerva found her knowledge had been taxed by the questions that Miss Belldandy Odinsdotter had posed as they waited for lunch in the Leaky Cauldron.
Their conversation had stilled for a moment as their food was delivered, both women waiting until they had the privacy of their own table before they resumed their chat.
"I must say that it is rare to meet anyone who has such insight into Transfiguration," Minerva said once they were alone again, "what did you say your Mastery was in?"
"Charms," Belldandy said as she started to eat, "I did well at Transfiguration but I was strongest in Charms."
"I must introduce you to Filius," McGonagall mused, "he is Hogwarts Professor of Charms. If our talk of Transfiguration is anything to go by, you two should get on extremely well."
"I'd be delighted to," Belldandy replied with a smile, "it is always good to speak with somebody who appreciates the field as much as I do."
The Deputy Headmistress nodded as she sampled her vegetables. Slightly over-cooked, but then again it was the Leaky Cauldron they were dining in.
"So, I have heard about Hogwarts and its House system," Belldandy said, changing the topic, "can you explain to me how it works?"
Minerva raised an eyebrow slightly as she reminded herself that in spite of appearances, the woman across the table was not a native of Britain. "Certainly. There are four houses, one for each of the founders who established the school. Gryffindor, named for Godric Gryffindor, is the house for the brave..."
McGonagall recited the same spiel she had given to hundreds of muggleborn wizards and witches over the years. It was something she had done so often that she could almost set it to music.
"...the House that has the most points at the end of the year wins the House Cup. The colours of the winning House are displayed during the Leaving Feast, and the trophy is placed in the office of the Head of House."
Belldandy looked curious. "Head of House? Who is that, and what do they do?"
"The Head of House is a member of staff who is a Hogwarts alumni and a member of said House. They are the first staff member for students of that House to go to for any trouble or concerns..."
This spiel was given less often, as most people simply took the job of "Head of House" for granted. Minerva added this to the indicators that Belldandy Odinsdotter was a lot more perceptive than the average witch.
"...currently, I am the Head of Gryffindor House. I have been for over twenty years now." Minerva took a sip of her wine as she concluded.
Belldandy looked fascinated. "So you are the Professor of Transfiguration and the Head of House for Gryffindor? That sounds like a lot of work, you must be a very busy person during the school year."
Minerva smiled briefly. "More than you might imagine, as I am also the Deputy Headmistress."
"Deputy Headmistress as well? What does that involve?" The young woman asked.
"It is mostly administrative work, providing assistance to the Headmaster. I am responsible for handling student enrolment each year, and conduct the first interview for muggleborn children. During the school year I take on some of the Headmaster's work when he is too busy with his roles as the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW." Minerva explained briefly.
Belldandy nodded. "It sounds like a lot of work for one person. However do you find the time for three jobs?"
"Oh, I manage." Minerva said with a knowing grin.
For Harry, Monday morning meant training with Sun Wukong. This was both exciting and daunting. On the one hand, learning real martial arts was thrilling. On the other hand, the physical effort involved and the difficulty he had in matching the skill demonstrated by his sensei was more than just a little intimidating.
Sun Wukong had told Harry that he should not be comparing his own skills against those of his teacher. "I've been practicing this stuff for longer than you've been alive, Harry. I have no doubt that you'll be just as skilled if you spend as much time practicing and learning as I have. So don't be discouraged if you make what appear to be clumsy mistakes when you look at my movements, it is all part of the learning process."
Today's lesson had involved the usual exercises that helped to build up his stamina and endurance, followed by more katas. Monkey had decided that Harry had progressed with the basic katas to a point where they were now adding to them. Small variations, changes in the order, extensions...Harry was intrigued at how much a small change could change the entire flow of an exercise.
"OK, that's enough for today I think Harry. Next time we'll also look at tactics." Sun Wukong said as he ended the lesson.
"Tactics, sensei?" Harry queried.
"Yes. There's more to combat than just knowing how to fight, Harry. There's also a matter of knowing where to fight. Positioning yourself such that your opponent cannot reach you, or is at a disadvantage, placing obstacles in their path and so on. In this way you can defeat or escape your opponent more efficiently, and possibly even without having to fight at all." Sun Wukong explained.
Harry nodded before they bowed off. They returned to the house nearby, picking up Skuld from her lab on the way through. On entering, they found the house empty.
"Big sister? Are you here?" Skuld asked loudly. She was answered by silence.
"I guess she got caught up on her shopping trip," Sun Wukong mused, "never mind. I'll cook lunch today. Care to help me, Harry?"
"Sure!" Harry said happily.
That afternoon, McGonagall was sitting at her desk in the small study that she maintained in her home. Something was bothering her, and she was thinking hard.
It was a small niggle at the back of her mind that had started during her conversation with Miss Belldandy Odinsdotter. It was how the young woman seemed daunted by the workload that Minerva routinely undertook at Hogwarts.
She was hardly the first person to comment on the number of hats that Minerva wore at the school. But Belldandy had been the first person to ever ask the Professor just where she found the time to do everything.
It was a question she had sometimes asked of herself, particularly when the job got stressful. Now that somebody else had asked, and not in an accusatory manner...
...I'm seriously wondering just how I do it all. The more I think about it, the more it looks like I'm trying to do two full time jobs at once.
There was also the fact that she had basically detailed all of her responsibilities during the lunchtime conversation. It was one thing to say 'oh, I'm the Professor of Transfiguration, Head of Gryffindor House and Deputy Headmistress' in passing. It was quite another to spend some time explaining what those roles actually involved.
Minerva was not used to self-doubt. With the sole exception of how she had handled her private life, she had always moved forward with confidence that she was more than capable of handling anything that life might throw in her direction. To find herself questioning her own abilities, and not having an answer immediately available, was quite unsettling.
As a teacher, when I'm not in class I'm either preparing lesson plans or marking assignments. As Deputy Headmistress I handle enrolment and the paperwork that Albus does not have time for. As Head of Gryffindor, I...
A thought suddenly seared its way across her consciousness like a thunderbolt.
As Head of Gryffindor, I've done little other than welcome new students to the House each year. I'm supposed to be a surrogate parent that students can approach with any problem, up to and including being their advocate for any disputed disciplinary measures. But I haven't been doing that. I haven't been there for Gryffindor students for years.
It was a conclusion that shocked her. The sudden realisation that she had been grossly derelict in one of her duties for a long time.
No time for recriminations. What do I do about it? Can I reorganise my time at Hogwarts to give my Lions the attention they deserve?
Minerva quickly scribbled down a typical daily timetable of her own activities at Hogwarts. She then reviewed it to determine if anything could be taken out, or perhaps done more quickly to free up space later on in the day.
The more she looked at it, however, the less flexible it appeared.
There's nothing here I can remove or reduce. It is all too important or too time consuming.
Another thought slunk into her mind. It was not a pleasant one.
That means...that I cannot do the job of being Head of Gryffindor House. I just don't have the time. There's only one solution.
McGonagall sat back from the desk and looked at where she kept her old Head Girl badge that she had earned when she had been a student.
I'm going to have to step down as Head of Gryffindor House. The students deserve more than I can give them.
The thought took her breath away. Being a Gryffindor had been a defining part of her character ever since she had been Sorted, the idea of suddenly resigning part of that identity, even if it was only a small part...
Enough wool-gathering. The important thing is to pick a successor. Now who at Hogwarts is a Gryffindor alumni...
When Belldandy returned home, she discovered Sun Wukong teaching Harry basic sleight-of-hand techniques in the backyard. He was in the middle of demonstrating exactly how to vanish a coin using nothing but skill.
The Monkey King was explaining. "...also helps to improve your dexterity. I'm not using any real magic here, this is a trick that relies on skill alone. Don't forget that sometimes you can achieve your objective using nothing more than a quick distraction and some quick thinking."
Harry was watching with rapt attention. He had a coin in his hands, but at the moment his fingers remained still as he watched his teacher's nimble movements.
"Hello. I'm sorry that I'm late, I got caught up in town unexpectedly." Belldandy said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it, Belldandy, sometimes we must all accept events as they happen." Sun Wukong said philosophically as he turned to the new arrival. "We managed to get along just fine without destroying anything."
"Hello Aunty!" Harry greeted enthusiastically. Somehow, just the presence of his favourite relative made the day seem better.
"It is good that you've been making good use of your time. How about you go and get the table ready for a quick magic lesson while I talk to Sun Wukong?" Belldandy suggested gently.
Harry nodded before he went inside at a brisk pace. He had never gotten into the habit of running around like other children his age thanks to the Dursleys, and now he was learning the virtues of moving quickly but with purpose from Monkey.
Once Harry was out of earshot, Belldandy turned back to Sun Wukong. "Harry's birthday is next week. Will you join us for the party?"
The Monkey King nodded. "It'll be my pleasure. Of course, I have to get a suitable gift..."
Belldandy looked slightly concerned. "Please, nothing too expensive. We want to make this a happy event without going over the top."
Sun Wukong nodded. "Don't worry. I'll get something appropriate for the occasion." With that, he bowed briefly before he left the garden. Belldandy sighed.
"I do hope he restrains himself..."
Hogwarts was usually an empty place during the months of July and August. With the students absent until the new school year, the staff generally left for their own holidays in an attempt to recharge.
There were a few exceptions. Rubeus Hagrid had duties at the school that were pretty much full time, as the needs of the grounds and the creatures that were resident at the ancient school never took holidays. Argus Filch tended to spend most of his time at the school, though he did occasionally take a brief trip away from the castle.
The most notable permanent resident was the current headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. This was actually not traditional at all, but for Albus the old castle was more of a home than anywhere else he knew. Of course, he spent a lot of the summer holiday out visiting friends and attending to Ministry business, but he always returned to the school as his place of residence.
Thus, when Minerva McGonagall requested a meeting at short notice with the headmaster, it was held in his office at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was quite surprised by the request. Normally Minerva did not bother him with anything that was this formal during the summer break, though it was not uncommon for the two to meet in a social context.
The Deputy Headmistress emerged from the Floo with her usual grace and greeted her old friend warmly. Albus had risen to meet his guest and the two exchanged the usual pleasantries as Minerva dusted herself off. Once they had seated themselves (and McGonagall had turned down the offer of a lemon drop), Dumbledore decided to cut to the heart of the matter.
"So, Minerva, what brings you to my office at this time of year? Not that I don't appreciate your company, but you usually have your own activities to occupy you when the students are on holiday."
Minerva nodded. She had a variety of activities that kept her occupied during Hogwarts' off-time, ranging from academic conferences through to sight-seeing trips around the globe. "Actually, Albus, I have an important school administrative task that needs to be addressed now. I require your assistance in this."
Albus' eyebrows went up an inch. He hadn't been aware of any major issues regarding the administration of Hogwarts. "You have my support, naturally. What is it that requires our joint attention?"
McGonagall visibly hesitated, before she closed her eyes. A look of pain crossed her face. "I am standing down as Head of Gryffindor House."
Dumbledore sat back in his chair heavily. This was the last thing he had expected. "May I ask why?"
Minerva looked down. "I recently evaluated how I spend my time at Hogwarts. As you know, I have been juggling three positions for some time now. I have never resented the work, in fact I have been proud to be considered worthy of the roles I have been filling. But there was one thing I never considered..." She trailed off.
The Headmaster looked concerned. "What is it, Minerva?"
"I don't have the time for three jobs at once." The Transfiguration Professor stated. "I know that the Head of House role is intended to be carried out by a teaching member of staff, and that the workload is tailored to suit. Likewise the Deputy Headmistress role is meant to be an additional responsibility for a teacher here at Hogwarts. The issue is that combining the two roles with a teaching position is too much for one person - I worked out just how much is involved, and the three jobs between them count as two full time positions."
Albus nodded slowly as he thought about the concern that his friend had raised. I never thought about it that way. It really is too much for just one person, there just aren't enough hours in the day. I wonder why this never occurred to me before...of course. I've been too busy fighting Dark Lords and incompetent Ministry bureaucrats to be able to keep track of everything that happens here. I was depending on my staff to inform me of when things needed attention, rather than being pro-active and fixing problems that they might be too busy to notice.
The Supreme Mugwump sighed internally. Once again, I've had my eye off the ball. I need to think about this.
"Very well, Minerva. As much as I hate to see you step down from this role, I can understand your motivation. It is traditional for the retiring Head of House to recommend their successor - have you thought about who you would like to be the new Head of Gryffindor House?"
Minerva nodded. "Yes, it was the first thing I considered after I decided to step down. I recommend that Aurora Sinistra be appointed to be the new Head of Gryffindor House."
Albus paused for a moment. "I had forgotten that Aurora had been in Gryffindor. Class of 1975, I believe. Are you sure that she will be able to discharge the duties of the Head of House? As the Professor of Astronomy, she does work at night."
Minerva sighed. "Most of her teaching is done during the day, as the theory component is purely a classroom exercise. She is already available during daylight hours for students to consult with, so being Head of House will not deprive of her any more sleep than she's already losing."
"Very well. I will invite Professor Sinistra here for afternoon tea. Is tomorrow too soon for you?" The aged Headmaster asked.
Minerva pursed her lips. "The sooner the better. I will make myself available."
"Excellent. Once Aurora accepts - and I'm sure she will - we will notify the Board of Governors." Dumbledore concluded. He had the power to appoint Heads of House without outside interference, though it was considered customary to have the approval of the retiring Head. Thus he could make this appointment without having to worry about the usual moans and belly-aching from the Board.
"I will see you tomorrow, then. Goodbye for now, Albus." Minerva said as she stood up. Albus stood up as well in order to properly farewell her.
"I look forward to it. You have been an excellent Head of Gryffindor House, Minerva, I have no doubt that the students of that House will miss you."
It was a blatant lie and they both knew it. McGonagall would not be stepping down if she had been doing a decent job as Head of Gryffindor. Still, protocol demanded that some things had to be said...regardless of the truth of the matter.
Author's notes: Bloody hell, this took a long time. I had a minor case of writer's block.
Regarding Minerva McGonagall as the Head of House Gryffindor - there is an excellent story by Clell65619 called "The Board". It is a pretty thorough demolition of Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick as they appear in canon. While I'm not sure I agree with all of Clell's thoughts on the matter, I do think that Minerva was a non-event as a Head of House.
As for Aurora Sinistra - I am expecting a lot of people to start saying "but she's a Slytherin!". To which my answer is: show me where Aurora's house affiliation was specified in canon. Because as far as I know, Aurora was a character who mostly appeared as part of the background (I don't think she got any dialogue). Making her a Gryffindor alumni is not violating canon.
I have thrashed out a bit of a family tree for Aurora. It may make an appearance in future chapters.
Many thanks to Bil for proof-reading this rot. Also thanks to the other denizens of Caer Azkaban for their help in checking canon and providing me with background information on life in the UK.
Next time: Harry's 9th birthday. Which means I'll only have another two years to write before he gets his acceptance letter...joy.