Just in case any of you have forgotten my little rant at the beginning of the last chapter you can completely disregard that now! I'm in Pottermore! And no I won't tell you my username, at least not yet. Once it opens to the public I'll be glad to put my username up so that people can friend me, however when you do you must send me a private message saying who you are, at least on fanfiction I can't be accepting random people now. And to those of you who haven't gotten in yet or didn't do the magical quill challenge, you are missing out. I'm not allowed to give out spoilers "obviously" but McGonagall's story… ugh! Very moving, and so nice to truly know her story.
Anyway, I'm really am trying to update this more and more I know I haven't been a very good author the last year, but I am trying. And hopefully with the way my college schedule is set up I should have more time to type.
Disclaimer: I own nothing especially now that I know Minerva's back story.
If it was one thing Minerva McGonagall prided herself on was her own punctuality. She had never once been late in her many years of life and she did not plan on starting now. And knowing her mother well and knowing Mr. Lupin for many years led her to believe that although she had asked them to show up at 3 o'clock that they would be a couple minutes early. She loved being proved correct.
At almost precisely 2:45 Remus apperated into the Leaky Cauldron gripping Harry's shoulder tightly. The lad had taken to apperation about as well as Hermione had. She made her way over to them.
"Hello Harry, Remus." She said smiling at them. They both did a double take.
"Professor?" Harry asked so shocked he slipped back into student mode. Harry glanced up at Remus and noticed he was shocked as well.
"Well I couldn't exactly look like myself could I?" She said huffing. "I'd be pretty obvious to all the Weasley's who I was." It was true of course, Harry could only barely recognize her now, and that was mostly by her expression. She had left her hair black but it now had a distinct curl to it, though not as bushy as Hermione's. Her face seemed rounder and she was a couple inches shorter. And she had made her eyes the exact shade of brown as Hermione's. She looked almost exactly how Harry would have pictured Hermione at forty except for the black hair of course.
"Wow you look just like Hermione!" Harry exclaimed. She chuckled.
"That's the idea, hopefully I look enough like her to prevent the rest of the Weasleys from looking to closely at me." She shuddered. "Especially the twins that would be horror in itself, for Hermione and I." Remus gave her a questioning look but she shook her head. She did not plan on telling a Marauder, even if it was Remus, about those twins.
"Well I suppose I had better be leaving, don't want to cause any problem with… the Weasley's?" Remus said declining Minerva's offer for some tea. "Harry it was wonderful to meet you and spend some time with you today." And he surprised the boy by giving him a hug that Harry sheepishly returned. "Any time you want to hear more stories about your parents just come and find me alright?" Harry grinned and nodded. Although he had been feeling quite sad earlier he did appreciate Remus allowing and taking him to see his parents.
After shaking Minerva's hand one last time he stepped into the floo and disappeared in a flash of green fire. Not even a minute later the floo flared up again and out came Hermione and Aurora. Harry sneaked to hide behind Minerva slightly, he didn't really want Aurora to recognize him and make a fuss. At Hogwarts she had been so concerned with Hermione that she hadn't given much notice as to who her little friend was, hopefully it stayed that way.
Hermione had no trouble recognizing her mother even after she had transfigured herself and gave her a big hug as soon as dusted the soot off of herself. Harry briefly wondered if Minerva had already shown this look to Hermione.
"Did you have fun?" Minerva asked Hermione beaming.
"Yes! I got some new robes and I picked out a couple of books before lunch!" Hermione said eagerly and proceeded to pull the various books out of her bag to show her mother, who indulged Hermione and looked at every single one of them. Only after all of this did Minerva confront her mother.
"Hello Mum." She said softly. "Thank you for taking Hermione shopping, but you didn't need to get her all those books."
"Of course I did. You've keep her from me for so long, I need to make up for it." Minerva made a face but looked at Hermione, who shook her head no. Minerva gave a big sigh.
"Very well, thank you mother." Aurora looked positively shocked but smiled widely at Minerva and embraced her.
"You're quite welcome dear. I must be off though, my stories come on at 4 and I still have some food shopping to get done. Ta ta!" She said waving, and after giving Hermione another hug apperated away.
"Well do you two want some drinks while we wait for the Weasley's?" they nodded and Minerva walked over the bar trying to act completely muggle. Hermione turned around to look at Harry.
"Did you have fun today?" She asked, and frowned when Harry's face darken considerably. "Are you alright?" She continued.
"Yes I'm fine." Harry assured her. "Remus took me to my parents graves." Hermione gasped.
"He did! oh Harry! Are you sure you're alright?" She looked really worried now.
"I'm fine Hermione. I wanted to go; now I feel as though I've met them somehow. And that they've seen me now that I've been there. I actually think going helped a lot and even got some stuff from my old house."
"Oh really! What'd you get?" She asked but Harry shushed her as Minerva came back over.
"I'll tell you tonight." He whispered. "I don't want Minerva to know." Hermione nodded and leaned back into her chair. Hermione gave her mom a shrewd look when she sat the pumpkin juice in front of Hermione. Minerva glared right back.
"I acted like a muggle, I asked for that orange drink that my daughter was telling me they had at Hogwarts. I didn't ask for pumpkin juice."
"Okay good." Hermione said handing Minerva her packages so that she could quickly shrink them before the Weasley's arrived.
"Minerva." Harry started getting her attention. "What do I call you? Mrs. Granger?" It was obvious that he had been thinking about this for quite some time. Minerva and Hermione just shared equal looks of horror.
"Did you tell Mrs. Weasley a first name when you talked at Kings Cross?" Hermione asked.
"I don't think I did. Oh dear we didn't think about that at all." Harry pretended to look shocked which caused his professor to glare at him. "I suppose we could use my middle name which is Athena."
"Isn't that a bit obvious?" Hermione asked.
"Why's it obvious?" Harry asked not understanding. This caused both Minerva and Hermione to laugh.
"Maybe it's not so obvious." Hermione said chuckling.
"And it might make the whole thing a bit more believable if your mother has a Greek name as well." Minerva said smiling. "What about Helen?"
"I'd certainly be ironic." Hermione said smiling.
"Your name's Greek?" Harry asked Hermione shocked. She nodded giving him a curious look.
"My parents thought that they could show how clever they were by naming their daughter an unusual name." She blew her hair out her face. "Hermione was the daughter of Helen of Troy."
"Who's that?" Hermione looked shocked.
"Helen of Troy was the whole reason the Trojan War started. Hermione was actually her daughter with Menelaus. But the Trojan War started when…" Minerva placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder to stop her.
"If he didn't understand why Minerva and Athena are similar he's not going to understand the Trojan War."
"Wait I do think I remember that!" Harry said excited, causing Hermione to perk up. "That's the war with the giant horse right?" Hermione groaned and put her head on the table.
"Hey Harry! Hermione!" A voice shouted from behind them. Ron had just tumbled out of the fireplace and was making his way towards them. Hermione gave him a hug and Harry a slap on the back. The rest of the Weasley's were now tumbling out one by one.
Percy immediately made his way to Harry and very solemnly said, "Harry, how nice to see you."
"Hello, Percy." He said holding back a laugh glancing over at Hermione who had just greeted Ginny. She looked as if she was holding in laugher as well.
"I hope you're well?" Percy continued pompously.
"Very well, thanks –"
"Harry!" Fred said coming over. He pushed Percy out of the way and grabbed Harry's hand shaking it fiercely. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy –"
"Marvelous!" George pushed Fred out of the way and seized Harry's hand as well. "Really corking to see you—" Percy scowled deeply at both of them.
"That's enough!" Mrs. Weasley said coming out behind them.
"Mum!" said Fred, as though he'd only just spotted her. "How wonderful to see you!"
"I said that's enough!" She said again. "Hello, Harry dear, hello Hermione."
"Hello Mrs. Weasley." They chorused. Hermione briefly back up at her Mum who seemed to be holding in laughter at the twin's antics.
"I will never tell them that I think they're funny." Minerva whispered into Hermione's ear.
"And did you hear our news!" Mrs. Weasley said pointing to Percy who's head boy pin was stuck to his chest "Second one in the family, how wonderful."
"And last" one of the twins mumbled.
"I don't doubt that." She said frowning at them. "I noticed neither of you became prefects."
Minerva couldn't help it. She laughed into a cough. As if she would have ever made Fred or George a prefect.
"Oh I'm sorry hello Mrs. Granger how are you?" Mrs. Weasley said shaking Minerva's hand.
"Fine thank you Mrs. Weasley." Minerva said smiling.
"Oh call me Molly, and this is my husband Arthur."
"How do you do?" Mr. Weasley said he looked positively thrilled to be meeting a "Muggle".
"Pleasure to meet you both, but you must call me Helen." I don't like being called Mrs. Granger after all she thought thinking of that awful woman.
"Pleasure to meet you as well. And if you don't mind I had a suggestion for the shopping." Molly paused to glare at the twins, who were chuckling merrily behind her back. They obvious were still proud of that little stunt they pulled "I thought Ron could go shopping with yourself, Hermione and Harry. That way I can focus on watching a certain pair of twins." Fred and George glared at her. "Then we could all meet up at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour for some dinner?" Molly finished. Minerva agreed right away, she had enough of the twins during the school year.
She smiled and said, "that's perfectly alright with me, Hermione lead the way." She said pretending to not know her way around. Once they were a good distance away, Ron had to ask.
"Professor how did you change your appearance?"
"It is some advanced animal transfiguration. You won't learn it until you're in NEWT class transfiguration. Which I assume you all will be taking?" She asked looking at the boys. She already knew Hermione would be.
"Sure I will." Harry said thinking maybe transfiguration could hide his scar. Ron on the other hand looked worried.
"Can I get though 4th year before I decide that?" He asked nervously.
"Certainly." She replied and he let out a sigh of relief. "Where are we going first?"
"Flourish and Blotts!" Hermione suggested immediately. The boys both groaned. Minerva rolled her eyes at Hermione's eagerness.
"How about we head to the Apothecary and get your potions supplies first" They all agreed and got the third year potions kit. As they were leaving the store Minerva bent down to Hermione.
"All the ingredients there this time? No one got scammed?" Minerva whispered. Hermione laughed and looked.
"I think we're good this time."
"Could we stop by Magical Menagerie next? I want to get my rat checked out." He pulled Scabbers out of his pocket. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him." He held him out for Harry and Hermione to see. Minerva looked over their heads.
"Yeah he doesn't look good Ron." Harry said poking the rat with his finger. Minerva frowned inwardly. The boy kept the rat in his pocket? That can't be safe or sanitary.
"Oh yeah and I need to get a new wand." Ron said stuffing Scabbers back in his pocket to pull out some gold Galleons.
"Well, by all means lets go there first, you realize if you had had exams last term I would have had to fail you because you couldn't perform any of the spells." Minerva told him causing him to pale. Hermione snickered; her Mum would not have failed Ron. She had told Hermione how every year Crabbe and Goyle fail her exams, but their "outstanding" potions grades and the school governor's force her to pass them every year.
They entered Olivanders who correctly named Harry and Hermione's wands before moving on to find a wand for Ron who had never been in the shop before. Thankfully it didn't take long for Ron to find a wand, willow unicorn hair 14', and they set off to Magical Menagerie. Ron approached the counter while Hermione glazed at the owls and Harry was looking at treats for Hedwig.
"How can I help you?" The woman at the counter asked looking very bored.
"It's my rat ma'am." Ron said pulling Scabbers out of his pocket. "He's been ill and not really eating for a couple weeks now. I don't know what to do." The woman began probing Scabbers and looked at him under a magnifying glass.
"How long have you had this rat?'
"Umm, quite a few years he use to be my brothers." Ron said.
"And has he shown any magical qualities." Ron and Harry both looked at each other and shook their heads. Minerva started looking at the rat curiously.
"No, none at all." The woman sighed impatiently.
"Well a normal garden rat such as this should normal only live a couple of years. Now if you'd like you buy one of these…" She gestured to a cage full of dancing black rats on the counter. Ron glared at them and shook his head. "Fine, then try giving him this rat tonic that should get him eating again but I make no promises. – NO! CROOKSHANKS! NO!" The woman yelled as a giant orange ball of fluff flew out and attached itself onto Ron, who dropped Scabbers and screamed. Minerva pulled the cat off Ron as he ran into the streets after Scabber followed closely by Harry.
"Oh I'm so sorry. He's normally such a well behaved cat." Hermione took the Crookshanks from Minerva and looked at him. He started purring as Hermione scratched his ears.
"Oh Mum can I keep him?" Hermione asked pouting slightly.
"No." Minerva said picking Ron's rat tonic off the counter.
"But you said I could look for a birthday present."
"Exactly, I said you could look but your birthday is not for another couple of weeks, so you'll have to wait until then for any presents." Minerva picked Crookshanks back up and handed him to the lady, who looked slightly disappointed she wasn't getting rid of the cat.
"You know he's half Kneazle, very smart would be a good familiar for your daughter." The woman tried again. Minerva glared at her.
"No I'm sorry." But Minerva did ponder a Kneazle?
They found Harry and Ron next to a trashcan, Ron holding a shaking Scabbers in his hand.
"Here you go Ronald, you left this on the counter." Minerva said handing him the tonic. "I believe the only thing left is for you to get your books." Hermione squealed and ran towards the store. The first thing they had to get was all their new subject textbooks. The assistant cried when they said they need two monster book of monsters books. Minerva made a face when they all grabbed their copies of unfogging the future. Harry and Ron stared at Hermione as if she was crazy because she proceeded to get books for Arthimancy, Ancient Runes, and Muggle Studies as well. Ron couldn't believe this.
"Hermione are you mad? There's no possible way you'll be able to do…" he paused to count. "11 classes in a week!"
"I've got it all worked out Ron." She said glancing at her mother who nodded with a secret smile. Harry noticed but didn't say a thing. He'd heard in primary school of kids switching to certain classes every other day. Maybe that was what Hermione was going to do.
"Well I believe it's been an hour, lets go meet your parents for some dinner." Minerva said checking her watch. They headed back to the Leaky Cauldron where the other Weasleys had already gathered around a long table. Mr. Weasley made Minerva sit next to him and proceed to answer all his questions about Muggle technology. Thankfully Minerva had expected this and was prepared. Meanwhile down the table.
"So that's your Mum Hermione?" Fred said.
"Yes I don't believe we were ever properly introduced." George said.
"Perhaps we should go over and properly introduce ourselves." Fred finished raising his eyebrows at Hermione. She grinned at them.
"You could but I'll tell you my mom has quite a nasty temper when she gets angry." She warned them. Harry snorted into his cup. Yep her mother defiantly had a temper.
"Well Harry, does Hermione's Mum truly have a temper like that or is she trying to scare us." Harry thought back to the incident a couple days ago.
"Put it this way, she doesn't lose her cool much but when she does it's worse then your mother." Fred and George paled. Percy decided he was sick of this conversation and moved over to talk to the adults. "However I have learned that's where Hermione gets her famous glare from." He said laughing. Hermione hit him in the arm. "Mean." He said softly.
They talked about all sorts of things. Ron told them about the trip to Egypt. "We tried to shut Percy in a tomb but Mum caught us." And Harry and Hermione tried their best to describe Disney World. "Imagine the carts in Gringotts doing flips and stuff." And "Food from all over the world!" They also gave Ron the shirt they had got him that changed color in the sun. Needless to say the last fifteen minutes they were there, Ron and Mr. Weasley kept running out into the alley to watch it change then run back inside. Ron was practically gushing, he did tell Hermione he had gotten her something as well, but she'd have to wait till her birthday, because he had given Harry his present for his birthday.
As they said their goodbye's Harry pulled Hermione and Ron back out into the alley.
"I want to show you guys something, but you can't tell your parents, either of you." He warned them. Clearly confused they nodded and looked at him. He pulled out his parent's wands and showed them to Ron and Hermione.
"Who are those Harry?"
"My parents." He ignored their gasps and kept going. "Remus took me to see their graves and their old house and I found these in there. Apparently no one really searched the house after the attack."
"Oh, Harry." Hermione looked as though she was about to hug him. When he had told her he had found stuff, she had just assumed pictures.
"I was wondering if you guys would clause a distraction so I could go ask Olivander whose was whose. I wanted to do it earlier, but I didn't want McGonagall to know Remus took me there today." Hermione nodded understanding.
"We can provide a distinction go find out." Ron said pushing Harry down the alley.
"What did you have in mind?" Hermione asked. Ron grinned at her and stuck his head back into the Leaky Cauldron.
"MUM! Harry, Hermione and I are going to look at the firebolt one more time okay?" He shouted and pulled Hermione up the road before his mother could disagree.
"She's going to kill you." Hermione said once they reached Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"She'll get over it, the twins will do something and she'll forget about me." And he stuck his nose into the window to stare at the firebolt again.
"Boys." Hermione said rolling her eyes.
Harry entered Ollivander's for the second time that day and was happy to see that it was completely empty. Mr. Ollivander wandered out from the back of the store and seemed shocked to find Harry there.
"Hello again Mr. Potter is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes I was wondering if you could identify these wand's just so I can know whose is whose."
"Ah," Mr. Ollivander said taking the wands into his hands. "Yes, I remember these very well. You parents were quite the talented wizards. Now let me see ah, yes Willow 10 ¾" particularly good for charms work, these was the wand that favored your mother. And this one" holding up the larger of the two. "Mahogany 11" good for Transfiguration. Was there anything else you wished to ask me Mr. Potter?"
"No that was all." Harry took the wands back. "Thank you Mr. Ollivander."
"No problem at all Mr. Potter." Harry left the shop and to his great luck, managed to meet Hermione and Ron at Quality Qudditch Supplies right before Minerva and Mrs. Weasley came looking for them. Harry and Hermione said good bye to Ron and walked out of the Leaky Cauldron with Minerva, to apperate back home.
When they arrived back at McGonagall Manor, Minerva unshrunk their packages and handed them to them.
"Go on up to your rooms and pack these up, the Hogwarts express is leaving in only two days. I'll be doing some school work in my office if you need me." She told them, canceling the transfiguration on herself, so she became her normal self again.
Harry dumped all of his new books into his trunk; he'd pack it up better tomorrow. Instead he pulled out everything he got from his parent's house today. The wand's the toys, the blanket and the photos and spread them out of the floor. He stared at them not really looking, he felt himself become angry and sad again. It wasn't fair that they had died so young, that they had left him an orphan. A knock on the door shook him out of his stupor.
"who is it?" He asked prepared to stuff everything back into his bag.
"Hermione, can I come in." He sighed out in relief. He didn't feel like sharing these with anyone other then Ron or Hermione at the moment.
"Yeah come on in." She slipped and quietly and looked at him.
"Harry are you alright?" He opened his mouth to say yes when she stopped him. "And don't you say yes, because I know you aren't."
"Why'd you ask then?" he asked as she sat down next to him on the floor.
"Common curtsey." She cast a glance at the stuff littered on the floor. "Do you want me to leave so you can look at this?"
"No it's fine I'd actually wouldn't mind having someone look at them with me." He reached for the pictures and spread them out.
"Oh Harry look at you!" Hermione said pointing to a picture of Lily standing next to baby Harry in a highchair. Baby him had peas or something covering his face and he was laughing. Lily was trying to wipe it off but didn't seem to be succeeding. "Looks like you were a problem child." She said jokingly. "Oh and look at this one." Hermione went though and pointed out something cute or funny in every photo. She had managed to cheer him up considerably. So he showed her both of the wands and the stuffed animals and blanket he had gotten as well.
"Your Mum made this for you?" She asked holding the blanket up. To Harry's surprise she sniffed it. "It doesn't smell like you." She said at his odd face.
"Why would it smell like me?" He asked accepting it back.
"Because everything has it's own scent, most people don't realize it because they're around the same people most of their lives. I noticed when… when I came here. About a week and a half after being here my clothes no longer smelled like my parents… they smelled like Minerva and Albus." She blushed, but pressed on. If Harry could talk about his parents I can certainly talk about mine. "It doesn't seem like a big thing, but it was just nice." She said uncertainly and a little embarrassed. Harry felt a pang of guilt; he knew Hermione didn't like talking about her parents. He raised the blanket up to his nose and smelled.
Hermione was right it didn't smell like him. It did smell particularly of dust but there was something else there a flowerily smell. His eyes widened and he stared at Hermione who smiled.
"Of course some of my clothes that I never wear still smell like my old home." She finished. Harry smiled, it smelled like his mother, even after all these years. Because it hadn't been moved or touched by any other living thing. Just like Hermione's clothes. He started to cry.
"Oh Harry I'm so sorry I probably shouldn't have brought it up…. Especially since the smell may go away soon." She finished weakly. Harry shook his head and gave her a surprise hug.
"I'm not sad Mione, thank you telling me this. It feels more real now." He said rather lamely. He didn't know how to express himself but he thought Hermione knew, because she hugged him back.
"Glad to help Harry." She stood up to leave the room.
"Hermione!" he called making her turn back around. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when it happened to you. I wish I could have helped more." She shook her head at him.
"It wasn't your fault Harry." She paused. "I had a very bad year, but a very good year as well. Everything happens for a reason, I've always believed that." She waved and left the room. Harry stared after her and held the blanket tightly. Thank you Hermione, and he breathed in his mother's scent again.
I hope everyone likes this. I know lots of focusing on Harry the past two chapters, but the poor boy deserves it. And this whole little section at the end, completely made up as I was writing. The blanket then is partially true though. My mom packed away some blankets of mine when I was a baby and when you pull them out they smell more like my mom then me. I just thought it'd be a nice thing to give Harry.
Please review and let me know what you think. Things pick up next chapter as we're going back to Hogwarts!