Chapter 45 – 'Bestest' to Rotten to 'Bestest' Day!
Returning OC: Gil – Kingsley's Chief of Staff
New OC: Alicha and Brian Taylor – Australiann Retired Aurors
THANK YOU to Beta BrendaTheGoodBitch
May 7, 2006
Continuation
Minerva McGonagall had been an educator most of her life, and engaging with children between eleven years old to about reaching of age was entirely up her alley. However, her experience was limited when it came to younger ones than those of Hogwarts students, say as young as Rose— the daughter of Hermione. And more remarkably, despite only meeting Rose just once; their present interaction seemed to be a marvelous hit.
"We have a bit of time," Minerva faintly gauged after finely casting a wandless and wordless tempus spell. And with a soft smile, she offered, "Would you like me to show you around Hogwarts?" She willingly set aside her usual assiduousness, never minding the busy day she knew she would be having as the Headmistress of Hogwarts.
"Yes!" Rose gave an exhilarating yelp, "Yes, please, please, please!" She actually bounced whilst her small hand ardently reached up to Minerva's. "Now, you are also my favorite person in the whole world!" She uttered with utmost fidelity as much as a five-year old girl could communicate, and her words were supplicated with a grand encircling gesture in the air with her other hand to sketch her 'whole world'.
That statement and the charming manner of its delivery pulled at Minerva with endearing force. And as her emerald eyes locked with such a truly familiar but very young version of chocolate coloured eyes, Minerva defencelessly surrendered to captivity.
"Perhaps I could share a secret or two about this castle?" Minerva grinned as she extended the threshold of her Hogwarts tour submission.
"Oh yeah, wicked!" James, who mostly remained wordless, unexpectedly exclaimed with obvious thrill.
"Hold there a moment," Harry tittered in pseudo protest.
Minerva heard both of the Potter's comments, but seeing Rose's face sporting the signature Granger Cheshire grin had an imperio–like spell on her…it had her venturing into a tender teasing mode.
"Yes, despite your Mom, and your Uncle Harry, and Uncle Weasleys' adventures here, let me tell you something about this castle that I am certain that they don't know!" She finished with a playful wink at Rose.
Harry guffawed at Minerva's good-humor. And Rose's whole face lit up, and she half threw herself to hug Minerva's side in elevated delight.
Minerva, in return, could not help but chuckle. And her own multiple-wars-surviving hands instinctively returned the warm clutching over the young girls' shoulders… It occurred to her, but oh so vaguely how out-of-character it was for her to be shedding her default physical reservation, one she had long established when interacting with children, or adults, for that matter…and the sole instigator was none other than this mini-Hermione.
"This day is the bestest!" Rose proclaimed with uncontained excitement. And without undoing her hold of Minerva, her small head turned to her Uncle Harry before gushing, "She's the best! She's the best, as you said!"
Minerva knew that there were not many moments in her long dreary life wherein a sequence of a few heartbeats had swept her exclusively to inexplicably radiating elation, but these moments with Rose effortlessly produced true treasures in her mind—the memory of which she was certain she could now insert into her short portfolio of scenes to select from when calling upon her patronus.
Normally, Minerva would have already mentally launched into an examination of such novel sweeping feelings, of the extra-ordinary overindulgence emitting from within her, but it seemed to not matter, as she wouldn't permit distraction right now, not with Rose trustingly clasping her hand on their way to touring Hogwarts.
But most rottenly, before they could even reach the end of the hallway from exiting her office, they were intercepted by Professor Sprout; bearing the pre-alert information that the Minister of Magic— Kingsley Shaklebolt was on the way being escorted by Professor Flitwick to see her; apparently, bidding an urgent meeting with the Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Minerva actually sounded off a loud and irritated tut...something she could not remember doing except under specially pressing circumstances, mostly only around Albus Dumbledore and away from any audience. But there she was, not bothering to mask her severe infuriation for the intrusion, and loathing her duty at that moment. And by the look of surprise on Professor Sprout's face, Minerva knew she was being uncommonly transparent of how cross she was at this intrusion…
Still, Hogwarts' Headmistress Minerva McGonagall had to accede with Minister Shacklebolt's impromptu but supposedly important meeting. She nodded to Professor Sprout, who then pivoted and rushed away, presumably to communicate her acquiescence to Professor Flitwick.
Minerva sighed, heavily, before she began apologising to the kids— to James and Rose, for having to terminate their tour of the castle.
Harry immediately waived it off, stating how the Headmistress can't ignore the call of duty. Minerva caught his defense on her behalf, plus how swiftly he asked her permission to be the one to show James and Rose around Hogwarts— a clear move intended to take the burden from her. She understood that he was bridging the gap; she faintly gave the consent with the advice that wards were meant to effect at noon, designed to cordon Hogwarts non-residents out of classrooms, dormitories, and most areas inside the castle during the open fair.
Rose and James were obviously disheartened at the deletion of their Hogwarts excursion; even Harry's concealed crestfallen feature was cracking through, and the regretful situation only made Minerva apologise to them again, feeling as if she had accidentally killed someone's beloved...
"Don't worry about it, Minerva," Harry placated. And with a small smile, he began to take leave; "We will see you later at the fair ground." He stepped closer and gave her a tight but brief hug.
Surprisingly, both kids followed Harry's gesture without prompting, and Minerva squatted low to accept their hugs. James, first, less demonstrative than his father, yet a wonder given the young lad used to only shake her hand. And then Minerva instinctively furthered lower to receive Rose, who definitively wrapped her diminutive arms around Minerva's neck.
"I'm truly sorry, sweetheart." Minerva didn't know where the endearment came from; just that it felt natural to mumble it to Rose.
"It's 'kay. Uncle Harry told me how yousss always busy." Rose murmured back, and before Minerva could release the young girl from her arms, she felt a chaste kiss on her cheek. It did nothing to Minerva but make her hate herself.
When Harry, James and Rose were out of her sight, she marched back to her office, mentally cursing at the rotten feeling of being the reason for the dimmer look in Rose's eyes.
. . . . . . . .
"Headmistress, I am only asking if you're certain that it'd be best wanting to hire him?" Kingsley questioned in his learned guarded tone that Minerva often heard him use when opening a possibly difficult dialog with her.
"Other than he has the qualifications?" Minerva haughtily retorted, ignoring his temperate effort.
Minerva's lips thinned and she did not bother hiding her displeasure. It had immensely irked her that Kingsley thought it was pressing to deliberate, of all days, the subject matter of the letter she had sent him nearly a month ago, one concerning Hogwarts' staffing replacement for the resigning Potion Professor.
Firstly, she had only exercised the courtesy of informing him before she was obligated to send an official memo to the Board. Even the latter chore was just a matter of reporting, as the Headmistress had the complete authority to hire the school's staff. Minerva was sure that Kingsley was cognizant of where the preeminence laid on this; hence, it was potentially angering her as she had the suspicion on why he seemed to be probing her intended course. And again, of the rotten timing to have this discussion.
"Quit the rubbish, and let us go at it right now since you deem today as the perfect schedule to do so," She scoffed.
"All right…lets…" Kingsley coasted and momentarily pressed his hands together, a telltale sign to Minerva that he got her message to speak plainly. But he did not proceed right away, and Minerva let him assess his thoughts, observing him in his internal plucking of the needed boldness to declare them out in the open with Minerva McGonagall…
Following their appointments: respectively him as Minister and her as Headmistress, they had elected an understanding of sorts that certain politicking can be shoved away between them to get to the bottom of the truth or to arrive at the intended solution for the sake of their wizarding society as they just survived the war.
Right at onset, Minerva had professed to Kingsley that she had zero interest in his job. That openness paved for an accord between them to rid excruciating distrust of hidden agenda as was often usual with their high-ranking positions. It enormously helped them even the toughest objectives, together or in their respective dominion. And eventually it resulted in trust and respect, not just for the sake of their roles, but also genuinely between the persons behind their titles— forging some kind of a friendship between the witch and the wizard.
"Minerva…" Kingsley's use of her name told her that now he would not hold back and she readied. "Do you truly want Draco Malfoy to teach at Hogwarts? With all of his and his family's past? He is really your topmost preference?"
There it was… as Minerva had expected.
"Yes."
"And your other point in wanting to do this NOW would be?"
"There shouldn't be any other point." Minerva's eyes flashed in annoyance. "And that is the point."
"You have to be more obliging in explanation, Minerva," he countered, but he spoke calmly. "You know that I trust your ability to discern what is best for Hogwarts. Nevertheless, you have to bear with painting a clear picture for everyone. You know I am not asking because I am battling you on this. There are many slow ones who wouldn't easily see the right motivation behind it. You must have the patience to edify the purpose."
Minerva could not say that she expected less or something tempering from Kingsley. She had guessed as much of his exertion and his genuine meaning in doing so. Indeed, she was merely being impatient, and she was still prickling from having to cut short spending time with Rose earlier.
"It's overdue, Kingsley." Minerva's eyes pinned Kingsley's as she rendered home the difficult reality. "We'd only become a version of what we fought against if we do not start mending, not just on the surface level. If we leave our own backyard with intolerance…"
"Have we not been doing exactly that in the last eight years? Besides, you forget that younger but equally committed officers in the Ministry— the likes of Hermione Granger will continue towards that direction, even when we, veterans, take leave of our respective reins."
Minerva momentarily lost her rejoinder, as often was the case when someone mentioned Hermione's name, just as Kingsley did. And no one was ever the wiser on how her heart had skipped a beat at the striking vision of Hermione taking charge in their wizarding world. But eight long years of experiencing the emotional jolt had made her adept in nonchalant appearance while managing swift recovery to carry on with the conversation at hand.
Instead of giving a direct comment on what Kingsley had said of the younger bunch of reformists, she returned back to themselves and asked, "Don't you think with our current positions we could do more?" And then she conceded to be more honest as she disclosed, "I need to do more. I want to do more... At least while I have the command of—Hogwarts' authority…"
"But you have many years to do just that—" Kingsley suddenly tarried, as if a grave thought occurred to him that casted doubt on what he just said. And as he peered into Minerva's eyes, he frowned at whatever he supposed and voiced it with an offended shock. "You're not retiring as Headmistress, are you…?" Kingsley prodded, and when Minerva did not reply, he growled, "You can't!"
"I can." Minerva glared at him. "Don't be absurd, one day I would have to retire…"
"Yes, one day… But not today! Not even soon… And you can't vacate your post prior to my vacating mine!"
Minerva only resorted to a dismissive wave of her hand, and she returned to their prior concern.
"I need you to support me on hiring Draco. You said it yourself, you trust me to know better for Hogwarts. And I would not have decided on this for nothing."
Minerva watched as Kingsley made a steeple of his fingers as he obviously pondered whether to let her get away with diverting from the issue of her probable contemplation of retirement, or drag the topic back.
"You'll be the first I'd go to when I have a retirement date in mind," Minerva volunteered in order to end that subject.
"It better be many, many years from now," Kingsley fretted.
Minerva ignored his response and forced him to resume talking about hiring Draco.
"I know you understand that if we truly want to triumph over prejudice, we ought to uproot any nodes we naturally and conveniently buried in the aftermath of the war… I know you trust my assessment—"
"Minerva, it's the distrust of him and his family's past—"
"I heard you the first time you said that, Kingsley, I know very well of their past…"
"And is it wise to ignore that?"
"Not ignore the past!" Minerva snapped, and then momentarily collected her temper to better converse, while remaining absolutely unwilling to ignore the irony of the intolerance they were presently displaying whilst proudly declaring to have fought injustice in the war. "But do you suppose we ignore the signs that we have actually acted as if we haven't learned the lessons from the past?"
"I do not follow, Minerva—"
"Aren't we supposed to learn the lesson that any exclusion breeds contempt within the discounted?"
"Are we discounting anyone?"
"Draco Malfoy has two kids, Kingsley…two small human beings who also have the right to a bright future, a future we so claimed to have fought for— for everyone… Or, must we burden his children and other children of their family's PAST actions when they didn't even exist in all that dark period?"
"We are not doing those kids any harm, or any kids for that matter?"
"That's worse, Kinglsey, that we don't even realise it, but we do… We do when we grossly disregard the last eight years of atonement from the parents of these kids… Most of these people have shown how they've been participating in every which way, which we, the victorious side, have inflicted on them since the end of the war. But we discount them, Kingsley… There's an unwritten but existing list of people this society has disqualified since then for post or any opportunities. It exists, for Merlin's sake, admit it or not!"
The rotten anger Minerva was feeling was mostly turned onto herself… for having a much delayed insight of such discriminating reality, which in her mind she construed as some form of her own participation… In fact, she would not have come to this wretched realization had she not been troubled with another unrelated matter of Hogwarts staff posting...
Last January, after Minerva received the resignation letter from her current Potions Professor, she groaned in her office, sharply turned to Severus Snape's portrait, and flippantly accused him of cursing the teaching post, because apparently she would need to hire the 6th Professor in the last 8 years!
After her monologue about running out of qualified and available Potions Masters (whom she liked to hire), Severus' portrait meaningfully answered that she should start her research for proficient candidates by looking at the potions in her own closet. He said that if she had confidence in these potions for consumption, then it might lead her to a Potions Master who may also be competent to teach the dunderheads.
Minerva did not have to actually check her potions supplies for she had a lightning-quick recognition of the proficient maker of those excellent potions— it was no other than Draco Malfoy… precisely the candidate Severus wanted her to consider for the teaching post.
During her first year of being the Headmistress, the young man came to Minerva and volunteered his skills to brew some potions for Hogwarts medi-wards requirements. And despite financial constraints on their family with their wealth under temporary seizure, Draco had quantified that he would not need nor accept any payment and the offer was purely his way of giving back to Hogwarts.
Minerva was surprised and initially declined; but not for any reason other than that the potions brewing obligation for Hogwarts fell with the school resident's Potions Professor. Unfortunately, after another Potions Professor left, the collective intermissions ultimately causing inadequate supplies for the school that should have been prepared and re-stocked in between school terms.
Coincidentally at that time, Minerva already had confidence in Draco's skills; after all, the wizard had brewed that complicated potion required in the healing of Hermione's cursed mudblood scar. And admittedly, she had seen Draco's fervent need to contribute in his own way as he had been sending to the Headmistress' office a written proposal of such volunteerism every now and then.
Minerva eventually accepted Draco's offer. But initially she stipulated that the school would pay for everything as it had the budget. Draco argued back that it would be self-serving on his part, to be monetarily contracted. In the end, they agreed that Draco would accept at least the reimbursements of the utilized ingredients. And this current school year was already the fourth run where the bulk of Hogwarts' potions were actually brewed by Draco.
At the realization that she never bothered to consider Draco for the teaching post despite knowing that the wizard had achieved his Potions Masters Education, Minerva was extremely disappointed with herself, and was awoken to her own participation in the exclusions of people like Draco, more so as she had long sensed the sincerity in his wanting to contribute. And now that she was aware of the slighting, she was adamant in changing her course. And would want to get the Minister on her boat.
"All right, Minerva," Kingsley finally responded after a long pondering. "How would you appeal the minimum that qualifies Malfoy?"
"To declare that the bare minimum is well above the minimum," Minerva started confidently.
When Minerva first started vetting Draco's Potions higher educational records, she was shocked to discover that he had actually achieved a level-two Mastery, contrary to what she had previously known, that he only achieved level one. She informed Kingsley of the verified records and she opined how inspiring it was, considering the trying times Draco had had those first four-five years being on the very tight leash that the Ministry had on him and his mother.
At her wordings of Ministry leash and whatnot, Kingsley was seemingly about to launch a protest, but Minerva brandished it away.
"I know. I know, Kingsley, that that was that. I have no wish to get into a lengthy discussion on that with you. I do agree that appalling choices must be dealt with accordingly; that not to do so is a disservice to Lady Justice."
She understood all the 'right' consequences the Malfoys had to deal with that their government had sanctioned. And she acknowledged the necessary order of events after the war, but now, she was also on a mission to bring about consciousness that some matters had actually been paid. And their society was equally responsible to recognize, verify, and amend what was needed.
"Of course I've checked Draco's higher level academic records," Minerva said, returning to their actual discussion. "You know what else he achieved that's more than minimum and entirely impressive?" She asked. Not really waiting for Kingsley's response, she imparted, "He had journals released."
"He published?"
"Two." Minerva wandlessly and wordlessly summoned hardbound books from one of her bookshelves, and they landed on top of her office desk one after the other. "Both brilliant." She gestured to the author's name bared in the front cover."
"He used a penname?" Kingsley asked, but his non-questioning tone had only meant that he quickly understood the discrepancy, as the name Draco Malfoy was nowhere shown.
"They are excellent, Kingsley. I spoke to our resigning Potions Professor and she said she had used them as a complementary teaching source. But the short story is, she has no idea that Draco Malfoy actually wrote them, yet she asserts the brilliance of the textbooks."
"Did you know?" Kingsley pointed to the alias.
"No. I wrote to Jean Laurent— he was the one who mentored Draco, apparently the only one willing at that time to take on Draco as an apprentice, given that he started his mastery only two years after the war ended. And I did not only acquire a raving feedback of Draco's skills, he was the one who told me of these two publications as testament to Draco's qualifications…" A layer of anger heightened on Minerva's face as she lifted one of the books, "We can surmise that Draco had the same concern— rejection of his academic hard work just because the author's name on the front was a Malfoy."
"I didn't create that reality, Minerva," Kingsley interposed to deflect Minerva's antagonism of the discrimination. "Nor do I support it."
"And that is my point Kingsley." She crossed her arms over her chest. "It's rotten. And to some extent we have supported it. Yes, inadvertently, I am certain. But now that we know that abominable notion, we also know that we have the influence to remold reality."
Kingsley sighed before he relented. "I get your point, I do… But, sometimes, when things are coarsely enforced, they do tend to backfire. You have to iron everything out."
"Naturally. Therefore, I did my homework, Kingsley. I asked for a relevant opinion."
"Relevant how?"
"I asked the opinion about hiring Draco from one of his contemporaries."
"Harry Potter?"
"Neville Longbottom." Minerva almost rolled her eyes at how Harry Potter was the default name. She ignored the oversight, although she could understand the tendency of reverting to the most popular wizard name of this age. "Neville told me that Draco has always been very good in potions. And that as far as he had heard, Draco was no longer the dreadful wizard he was once."
"Longbottom endorses Malfoy?"
"He didn't object to hiring him. I'll take that as good and acceptable."
"Minerva, I am not saying that this is already a lost course," Kingsley gently said, but a line appeared between his brows in concern as he met Minerva's defiant emerald-colored eyes. "But it'd be prudent to do more…as you say, homework— because if you can't even achieve a direct endorsement from someone like Longbottom, your effort might be worth focusing on another ambition. Again, I'm not saying this shouldn't be addressed, I'm merely saying that maybe a bit more time would help."
The reasonable part in Minerva already had the same contemplation even before Kingsley had articulated it, that an ambiguous stance was not what she had expected from a kind and brave hearted wizard who had once taken Godric Gryffindor's sword in a battle and killed Voldemort's pet… But, at the core of it, no matter how tempered it was—it was a setback she did not expect from Neville, and one she could neither negate.
Minerva hated that Kingsley had hit her with the truth, leading her to all the more acknowledge the condemnation she had to overcome. Still, as it must be, injustice should have no place in her school. And if anything, it made her more determined to achieve her goal. Only that her current meeting with Kingsley was causing Minerva's rotting temperament to only worsen.
And worsen… And worsen, as it was obvious to her that the rest of what Kingsley would tackle in this spontaneous meeting were (1) disagreements, and (2) not at all urgent and could have been rescheduled for another time thus freeing her to show Hogwarts to little darling Rose…
Now they'd arrived at a point when Minerva was ready to 'courteously' throw out the Minister from her office. Fortunately, a tap on her window indicated another intermission; it was a message-delivering owl. The missive was addressed to the Minister, and as he read through it, Minerva managed to grant the animal with a treat, and then let it fly away.
"This would be the final matter I wanted to discuss with you." Kingsley passed over the letter to Minerva, before he admitted, "Actually it was primarily why I wanted to see you today before the event."
"Ahhh… And here I thought you only wanted to ruin the Headmistress' day, of all days when the school is about to host more than a thousand guests excluding currently residing students." Minerva responded with unmistakable acerbity before turning her attention to the written message.
Dear Head Minister,
The visitors from Australia have arrived, ahead of schedule as you have predicted. And with your instructions, I have informed them that I would be accompanying them at Hogsmeade for the meantime until your current meeting is over. And that afterwards, you will be the one to escort them to Hogwarts.
Respectfully,
Gil
"Today?" Minerva asked. "Again! Kingsley! Of all days?" She nearly scolded in confusion. "Did I miss your memo regarding these foreign visitors?"
"No! No. There was no memo, and nothing official." Kingsley gesticulated to wave off the misconstruction that this visit was another formal conduction.
"Then?" Minerva raised the missive in question.
"They are my personal guests from Australia. I've invited them to the commemoration-open fair today. Of course, I intended to tell you, but it slipped my mind. I was only reminded when Hestia mentioned it earlier when we were having breakfast." Kingsley hurried in clarification, then warily asked Minerva, "Do you mind their attendance?"
"I mind your rotten timing." Minerva could not help her criticizing tone; she was still chafing from their less than inspiring discussion about hiring Draco, and this news of international visitors was making her more irritated. Nonetheless, she knew that her crossness with Kingsley's was in no way a valid reason for her to be terribly discourteous, and so she relented. "But, no, their attendance would not be a problem, Kingsley."
"I'm sorry for the error in the timing," Kingsley suitably apologized. "Thank you… And I'm certain that you have provisions, but it was also my wife who pointed out to me that the last few days have created quite a buildup for today's event, and it is likely that you have many more attendees than those on the list. So I wanted to check-in on that."
"We planned for that. And we do have allowances in anticipation of having a significant number of people who'd be attending, but not on the list," Minerva assured him.
The provision, which Hogwarts had prepared for, was in fact too much. Minerva need not have worried regarding sufficient supplies or space at the fair in case of swollen attendance. But she did foresee a bit of a snag— a likely delay in entry for those without a submitted magical signature serving as their RSVPs.
While the event was essentially open to anyone in their wizarding society, a sort of vetting system was arranged at the gates to provide for proper accounting of 'who was who' before entering the premises of Hogwarts. Minerva would not compromise on security; it was one of the top issues they needed to guarantee. It was even the one aspect of today's event where she had requested from the Ministry to employ Aurors, to help Hogwarts staff in the stricter security implementation at the gates.
Those with prior submitted magical signatures would be permitted with swift admittance as they'd been pre-screened and magically integrated into the entrance wards. Those without would need to register; they would have to endure a likely long queue. But Minerva would not allow short-circuiting of that.
"You better send Gil to Filius for your guests' registration ahead of the opening, to not be caught in delay later for entrance," Minerva advised Kinsley.
Kingsley nodded, "I will have Brian and Alicha Taylor's magical signatures for submission… And…and…" Minerva heard him suddenly suppose, "It just occurred to me… Do you remember the business of finding the Grangers after the war? When you commanded me to immediately find and protect Hermione's parents?"
At another mention of Hermione's name, Minerva 's heart thudded, as usual. But externally, her expression was pure indignant at Kingsley's choice of term, 'commanded'.
"I did not command you, Kingsley," she snappishly corrected. "I only requested that the Ministry do that one thing for Miss Granger after she had kept Harry Potter alive for him to finish Tom Riddle and end the war for all of us…" She knew she was unnecessarily attempting to sound assured in those contexts, but she did not care.
"Alright, you merely 'requested'. Kingsley gestured with quotation marks and tilted his head, and then actually released a laugh when Minerva glared at him. "And the said 'request' from you was made with a brilliant threat to me that I was not to 'bloody fuck-up' in finding the Grangers?"
Minerva elected to snub Kingsley's jesting of how she threatened him back then. Well, she knew she did, but she would never admit to it…
"What of the Grangers—" She was about to ask for an explanation when she precipitously deduced Kingsley's yet to be spoken information, "Ah, I see…the Taylors who are from Australia had been the ones who found the Grangers."
"Yes, the Taylors were the ones I asked for help. They were retired Aurors, even at that time. But you told me to get my most trustworthy and capable friends in Australia. Alicha was one of the best I knew from there, and she was the one who actually tracked the Grangers."
Minerva could recall that time. The moment she received Kingsley's update, she had to restrain herself from abandoning Hogwarts and traveling immediately to ensure the safety of the Grangers for Hermione's sake more than anything. She knew that it was a convoluted circumstance for herself to front, one that could produce questions if she were to irresponsibly set aside the still ruined Hogwarts. Instead, she had taken consolation that Kingsley had already handpicked and deployed their own trusty Aurors to take over protection of the Grangers.
"Would you rather I personally host them today when they get here later?" She solicitously asked Kingsley, in acknowledgement of his guests' remarkable help all those years ago. The memory had made Minerva feel acutely beholden to the Taylors; after all, she was the one who essentially pushed for prioritizing the exertion to find Hermione's parents.
"Oufff, nothing obligatory of sorts, Minerva," Kingsley allayed promptly. "I know your plate has been constantly full, particularly today. There's really no need."
"But let's pose a time for me to at least meet them later?"
"Of course, I've plans to introduce them to you," Kingsley affirmed. "I really do not want to consume more of your precious hours, I just wanted to run by you their attendance… I apologise for the hold-up for discussing…you know."
"You might have saved us the heated discussion earlier for another time," she pointedly told the Minister whose face went a tad scarlet as he was called out for his rotten timing.
"You are right. But I did want to sit down with you for a discussion on several topics…didn't plan it to be today. Sorry, I don't know what came over me that I bombarded you with them," Kingsley timidly explained as he stood up from his seat.
"For what is worth, Kingsley, I do appreciate the decorum in asking and discussing valid points with me," Minerva yielded, referring to the things they had deliberated. She also rose from her desk chair as she openly recognized the truth. "I am aware that you could make use of your authority, order me to this and that, being our Head Minister of Magic."
Kingsley actually laughed a bit, and his reaction stilled Minerva. When the Headmistress' head tilted in query, the Minister elucidated, "Are you still unaware how no one is foolish enough to order Minerva McGonagall?"
"Be serious, Kingsley," Minerva tutted.
"But I am!" he replied. However at seeing the impatient emerald eyes, he rubbed his chin and confessed, "Okay, half-serious, half-jesting…" He gave a timid smile before venturing more. " The serious part lies on those matters I've asked you to re-visit before forcing them." He clarified, clearing his throat, "I like that we work well together, Headmistress. Let us not put ourselves to where we may be strained to publicly question each other's agenda just so we could ease the public."
Minerva understood his meaning: of the compunctions in hiring Draco and her plans to expand the immersion of muggle academic subjects with wizarding courses that were ruffling many wizarding families because of her rapid pace, of too much reformation.
Perhaps Minerva had been spoiled in having a wide-ranging backing from her colleagues at Hogwarts from the moment they emerged from the war, hardly experiencing any deterrent as Headmistress in relation to the directions she had taken for the school… but this one regarding bringing Draco Malfoy to Hogwarts as Potions Professor was attesting to be more rough than she initially had assumed. She knew she needed to find a winning tactic. She had no doubt that Kingsley supported the underlying principle, but she understood the politicking in his position.
The Head Minister of Magic had the advantage (or disadvantage) of constantly being informed where the public was leaning, thus giving him fuel on favorable pursuits, or on the other hand a forewarning in order to avert disastrous reception, or generally look for a better common ground.
Unlike the Headmistress— who happened to be a three-time recipient of the First Class Order of Merlin, known as the ultimate Transfiguration Master, and the one revered as possibly the most powerful witch after the war eight years ago, it could be a downside— Minerva's downside when she wasn't being told with more honest valid opinions contradictory to hers…
"Minerva, here's a suggestion." Kingsley broke her rumination, and purposely held her eyes in a serious way that also conveyed that he did not want her to take offense. "Talk to Harry Potter about wanting to hire Draco— his testimony for the Malfoys single-handedly persuaded the Wizengamot to abstain from locking Narcissa and Draco in Azkaban. He sure could give you a hand in winning that battle…"
That was precisely the reason Minerva had wanted not to involve Harry; the young man was likely to take up this campaign himself the moment he sensed her fiery desire to win it. She was disinclined to load another burden on him, and would rather spare him from this kind of political participation. But before she could say so to the Minister, another idea had been put forth before her, and this one gave her heart a thud, a third time during this meeting.
"And how about uniting with Hermione Granger—" Kingsley unsuspectingly delivered a naughty scenario for Minerva as the images split in several fashions... "In joining forces with her, you will have subsequent sets of progressive tracks for Hogwarts. It helps a lot to have an influential ally. And I'd say that Hermione is the one for you—"
"The brilliant woman is preoccupied enough with much of her own vital work at DMLE." Minerva cursorily dispelled the counsel. "And Hogwarts reformation courses shouldn't derail her blazing career path."
It was the truth, but the almost harshly delivered statement was also Minerva's instinctive dismissive response in order to push Hermione from the discussion. It was not the first time that she had taken immediate veto to any possibility of work entanglement with Hermione. But in the same vein, Minerva always wanted to be explicit with her approbation of the woman's brilliance, and as before, she had done so in her remarks— hailing Hermione with laced cautiousness.
"I don't see any harm in conversing with Granger on this," the Minister reasoned, oblivious to Minerva's inner unrest. "I believe that you and her are far more at par. Anyone who ever had an in depth conversation with you two would know how both your intelligence and convictions are obviously aligned."
Minerva very subtly clenched and unclenched her jaw as she heard him continuing to promote a direct working relationship with Hermione. She didn't want this conversation with him. She nonchalantly stirred them away from it.
"Kingsley, you have guests waiting for you at Hogsmeade. And I, meanwhile, still have endless concerns before we open the fair in—" Minerva paused. "In approximately ninety minutes," she said informally after casting a tempus spell; intentionally dismissing Kingsley's topic involving Hermione and her, never mind that it was for work.
"Yes, yes, I am taking leave." Kingsley held out his hand and Minerva promptly shook it. "I will see you again later.
Kingsley turned towards the Headmistress' door, but instead of him proceeding to depart, he turned back to face Minerva and rested against it.
"Anything more?"
In a solicitous stance, Kingsley imparted, "You've always been vocal, at least with me, in giving your full support to all of Hermione Granger's Ministry initiatives. Now let me be so vocal as to say that getting the popular Golden Brain in your corner will be good for all your agenda."
Minerva internally groaned in frustration as she heard his inadvertently dense pronouncement on her being in the same quadrant with Hermione, but not to give anything away, she non-committedly responded, "Let me think about it. But in my opinion, it would be unwise to hassle the woman with Hogwarts' issues when she has—"
"Nonsense, Minerva!" Kingsley cut her rejection not unkindly. "I doubt it'd be a bother. In fact, I am a tad surprised that you have not pursued working together with her."
Minerva mentally smacked him for his insistence. She controlled her temper to not translate her assaulting thoughts into physical ones. But it became harder to not be overwhelmed with the next words he elected to tell her.
"Hermione Granger adores you, as far as I know, just in case you have no idea." Kingsley continued stating his formed inference. "If you seek her, I highly doubt she would hesitate returning the backing for you…especially if you come clean that you were actually the lead benefactor of the seed funding for the AWEs early programs."
"I only provided a little start-up fund, Kinsgley, in comparison to the actual garnered amount, you know that is the truth."
"Come on, Minerva. The fraction of the money you provided ONLY ended up diminished because of the tremendous FINAL amount. We both know that would not have been the case if the public did not get hold of the information that AWE was rapidly garnering the pledge for its seed security fund—which unknown to everyone, you had put forth, by parts, one after the other."
That time after reviewing the final draft of Hermione's proposal on AWE, which the Minister had sent her for her opinions, Minerva singularly zeroed in on the subject of the minimum seed money as the crucial stopper for its promulgation.
Freeing elves in essence was already a tough concept to acclimatise, both for elves and many wizarding people. While there had been folks who treated their elves decently, or even noble ones who had long signified them as family, tragically, the majority from both lots had never given thought to a relationship between themselves other than being servants and masters; the humans commanding the former without any compensation or at least dignity. And to mitigate the shock of financial burden, Hermione's proposition had attached the necessary seed money and its comportments.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank was naturally the institution to manage the funding, and Minerva went and made a deal with them. She had her vault release substantial funding as a guaranteed pledge, but she had the Goblins declare receiving several patronages instead of only from her.
But honestly, Minerva did not expect that because of her quick substantial funding, that the pronounced validation on the great cause of AWE would be brought. She was as surprised with the momentum her funding had created, triggering many others to provide their security share, and then resulting in a hefty initial budget for AWE, subsequently burying the fact that Minerva was the first to have made it happen. Indeed, Kingsley had spoken accurately as he had the knowledge as to having access to the confidential report from the Goblins.
"Still and all, that one was done and over." She dismissed Kingsley's statement. "I really have duties to attend to," she repeated to lightly push the Minister to get going. And after a swift gesture to the Minister's outfit that was almost casual, she added, "And it seems you have made me aware that I better change into something more appropriate for today's less than formal affair."
The Minister finally exited her office. Minerva took a few minutes to sit down and pack into one compartment those uneasy topics she had conversed with Kingsley. It did not help that it instantaneously reminded her of how dreadful she felt to have failed Rose with her proposal to show Hogwarts.
But Minerva had to be the Headmistress that she was, and so after taking a deep inhale and long exhale, she regenerated her concentration for today's commemoration that she had to open soon. She whispered a prayer that if the rest of the day couldn't be the 'bestest', at least it not be not a 'rotten' one.
"Yes, please…the bestest day…" She spoke almost inaudibly in reflection, a smile appearing on her face at realising that she could salvage this day… After all, she would see Rose again at the fair, perhaps sneak her in to show the castle… And then yes, she would also see Rose's mother— Hermione— the woman she was utterly in love with.
And the mere thought of seeing Hermione was powerful enough to convince Minerva that she wouldn't have to end this day on a rotten note.
.
.
.
End of Chapter 45
'Bestest' to Rotten to 'Bestest' Day!
Posted 2023.0412
With Minerva's POV, we learn more how she supported Hermione behind the scene.
And I hope you like the way we're building up Minerva and Rose interactions.