Written for the September event. Prompt used: (location) The Headmaster's Office.

Words - 422

And the Walls Bled

Minerva's PoV

I looked around at the office, grateful Severus hadn't changed much of Dumbledore's decorations when he had held the office. I knew I had to take those out, I can't live forever in the shadow of my precedent.

There was also the fact that I refused to allow Hogwarts to continue the way it had. There were changes to be made, which had to be made, to prevent another Dark Lord from rising.

It was still filled with the silver odd objects which, even now, kept whirling and puffing at random moments. There was the perch for Fawkes with the plate beneath it so that his ashes were always collected in the same place, to make his rebirth easier. There in the corner was the pensieve.

Lifting my wand, I started the giant task before me with the silver objects. I started sending the odd ones to his home at Godric's Hollow. Some useful objects like spy glass, I kept in the office for now. And I went on. Sorting through the items; keeping Fawkes perch as it was, in hope that he returned one day; going over the books, returning those from Albus' personal collection to his home.

This wasn't going to be done in a day, I realized. There was still the Headmaster's chamber left and I had a feeling Severus might have personalized it to make it his own.

Taking over as a Headmistress came with a lot of emotional baggage. Every now and then, I had to stop as some or other particular memory of the previous Headmasters hit me, even Dippet who had been a Headmaster when I was a student here.

Sighing I sat down in front of the desk, opposite my rightful chair, as I stretched my old legs. I still couldn't bring myself to sit down in that chair. Maybe I'll get the courage once I've added my personal changes and made the office my own. I had plenty of time. Classes had been disbanded and the term will commence next in September. It was just 18th May today, 16 days after the war.

The economy was repairing itself slowly. Many Hogwarts graduates have started the process of rebuilding Hogwarts, such that by mid-July it should be all over. I just had to set up my office and form the Governors committee to discuss and implement the changes.

Life would go on as usual outside these walls, which were scarred permanently now. These scars would act as a reminder to all its future students what a terrible thing a war is.

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