A/N: Hello all.
I. Am. So. Sorry.
It's been ages and I apologise for that. Life has taken a most wondrous turn and it's taken me this long to catch up with it. Remember that beautiful woman I met through FanFiction back in February? Well, I went to America and finally saw her for real (not through a computer screen) and since then it's been a whirlwind of love and beautiful-ness (It's a word - trust me, I'm an author) and her son and my crazy family in Australia. I'm back in OZ right now, but the plan is to move temporarily to the US in December to be with my family until we can all live happily ever after back here in the land down under.
I'm stupidly happy and life as a partner and step-mum is busy, especially with graduate university work and 2 jobs.
So, sit back and enjoy another chapter of Age of Healing. As always the plan is to write more asap, and I'm going to try but I have three uni assignments to do so bear with me - as you all have been doing, like the most amazing and best fans ever.
Also, if you get a chance, head on over to Inkitt and check out my submissions for their Fandom competition piece.
-0-
The afternoon with the unicorns had done wonders for both Álainn's soul and Minerva's. No longer was there the oppressive need to do things perfectly for Alainn; Minerva was willing simply to love the little girl to the best of her ability, and it was exactly what she needed. Álainn was soothed after her playtime with the unicorn foal, and the overwhelming sadness that plagued her was no longer waking her through the night. A week passed before a knock on the door gave Minerva something else to worry about.
"Headmistress?"
"Draco, come in my boy. How are you? How is class going?"
"It's going okay. I think people have noticed I have your," he struggled for the word, "favour, I guess. They tend to leave me alone."
"Anyone bothers you, you let me know."
"Yes Headmistress," he said with a grin.
"DRACO!"
Álainn sprinted from her room where she had been playing; the low tones beckoning her forth to find her favourite student besides Harry.
"Hello little one," Draco said easily as he caught her and swung her around. "Have you been having fun?"
"I played wiv a unicorn baby!" Álainn said, her whole body practically vibrating with excitement as she regaled him with every detail of the story.
"That's really something Álainn." Draco said, glancing at Minerva to check the story's validity. Minerva chuckled and took Álainn from Draco's arms, patting her bottom and whispering for her to go and wash her hands.
"Tea?" she asked, nodding for him to go into the sitting room.
"Um, sure," he shrugged, settling in and leaning back on the chair.
Minerva observed him for a moment. He looked tired, but there was a fire in his eyes she hadn't seen before.
"I think you have found your place," she remarked quietly after Winky had disappeared with the tea order.
"I admit, I am enjoying it," he shrugged. "If I keep busy I don't spend too long thinking."
"Don't be too eager to run from your thought Draco. It will only work for so long - take that advice from someone who knows."
He nodded, and the conversation waned as Álainn skipped into the room. Minerva was mostly thankful for the intrusion. She knew why he was here, and she was dreading the time when he finally stopped allowing her to stall and told her that Álainn's latest potion was ready.
For now though, she decided, she would simply sit back and enjoy her tea while Álainn played tea parties with Draco Malfoy. She stole a glance towards the portraits of Albus and Severus. She had to bite her tongue when she saw the revulsion on Severus' face. Apparently watching over Hermione while she was this age was fine, but to actually play with her was something he was not willing to accept, even in his godson.
Seeing them quietly playing together, Minerva stole back to her desk and continued working on the preposterous amount of paperwork that was still left to do. Her mind wandered as she signed form after form. The castle seemed to be running smoothly so far. She knew that chaos was only a step away from order so she was not willing to say she had it under control, but she felt like a piece of a well oiled machine. The teachers were mostly happy; Madam Roberts had settled in better, helping the students learn instead of teaching them. Draco was helping her with some of the more difficult concepts, on top of completing his Newts preparation. Harry's job as an Auror was taking him through Europe, but he was not in any immediate danger, so she wasn't worried.
A tap on the window alerted her of yet another owl and she waved her hand letting it in.
"Mama? I feed it?"
"Alright Álainn, go and get some bacon," Minerva said, looking down at the envelope. It was not from the Ministry as she had expected; the run in with Miss Annabelle Proctor had not been forgotten, and she had no idea what the woman wanted now, but she refused to even think of it until it was absolutely necessary. No, this handwriting was rather more familiar and she was shocked to see it there. She glanced up as Álainn offered a piece of bacon and glared at the owl, who seemed a damn sight less eager to take the treat afterwards. Minerva smirked and ruffled the feathers under its chin in a thank you for being so gentle with her, and he was off back out of the window.
"I better get back," Draco said, hugging Álainn when she clung to his neck.
"Ah yes, I expect there's something you wanted to tell me. It's ready?"
"It is," he shrugged. "I'm sorry."
"Please don't be," she sighed. "It must be done."
"We tested it, Uncle Sev and I made sure it's safe. It will be stronger this time. That's why it's taken longer, we," he paused, "I wanted it to be safe."
"Alright lad, I understand."
He turned and put his hand on the door, but Minerva called him back.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking up at him. "What you are doing is a good thing. No matter how I feel about it."
"I get it," he shrugged, suddenly smiling with a sparkle in his eye. "She's not that annoying when she's this age."
"Get on with ya," she shook her head as he almost skipped out of the door.
Álainn continued playing happily on the floor with Minnie the cat, so Minerva turned her attention back to the letter sitting unopened on her desk.
"Who is that from Minerva?" Albus asked quietly.
"Molly," she muttered, turning over the letter and peering at the seal.
It was the actual Weasley seal, which worried her. Usually Molly simply sent her a note with the family owl, but this had been sent from the Post Office, meaning that Molly herself had not mailed it. She frowned and glanced at Álainn before sliding her emerald encrusted letter opening under the seal.
Minerva,
I am, as you know, struggling with the loss of my darling son, the apple of my eye. I often find myself wondering why it is that you do not visit or call but Ronald told me that you were quite rude to him last he visited. I do not know why you insist on being so callous towards a poor man who has done nothing but protect us from evil. He is a hero, and you treat him like dirt. That Potter boy as well - he assaulted our poor Ron, and for no reason that Ron could think of. I only wish you would have some sense and decency to regard our national hero as such and not file him away because he is not Minerva McGonagall or Harry Potter...
Minerva's hands were shaking as she stopped reading. She glanced to the end of the letter; the tone did not change. Standing suddenly, she dropped the letter on her desk and summoned her cloak.
"Álainn, get your bag and your blanket please, you're going to stay with Auntie Mona."
"Yes Mama," she said happily, skipping off to do as she was told. Minerva would have smiled at another time, but the anger coursing through her was unbelievable.
"Minerva?"
"She seems to think that I am mistreating Ronald, that I should laud him for being a hero. That I should stop favouring Harry so and treat Ronald like the marvelous boy he is," she sneered, surprised at her own anger.
"Calm down my dear," Albus said quietly. "It will do you no good to go there angry. She is upset without reason. Show her where she is wrong and she will see."
"She will see," Minerva growled, struggling to reign her ire in before Álainn returned. "I will show her."
"Here Mama," Álainn said, holding out her blanket.
"Thank you darling, let's go."
She stalked from the room and pulled Álainn along with her, ignoring Albus' advice as he called after her.
Either Molly would see, or she would be made to.
-0-
The Burrow seemed even more run down than it had been during the war. Minerva was a little shocked at it's state, but marched towards the door and knocked viciously with her closed fist. She opened her mouth to release her tirade but paused as a very run down and weary Arthur opened the door.
"Arthur? Are you alright?"
"Minerva!" he said, straightening his cardigan. "I, um, didn't expect you. You should have sent an owl. Come in."
Minerva followed him in, closing the door behind her, as he had neglected to do so.
"Tea?" he asked, rummaging along the kitchen bench, among plates that looked like they hadn't been washed in a while.
"No thank you," she grimaced. "Arthur, what is going on?"
"Molly's not well," he uttered quietly.
"Ill, or something more?" she asked, getting right to the point. "Because I received a letter from her this morning, and I came here with the intent to tell her what I thought."
"She's not herself Minerva, please forgive her," Arthur said, rubbing his face with his hands.
He looked about twenty years older than ever - something he couldn't really afford if she was honest. His hair was long and thinning and his clothes had not been washed for some time if the look and smell had anything to do with it. Minerva felt a tingle of dread make it's way down her spine.
"Where is Molly?"
"Upstairs. She keeps to her room, writing letters to people and getting Ron to mail them."
"Ronald is taking care of her?"
"When he can," Arthur said, his tone
"That was one of the things she wrote to me about, treating Ron like the hero he is."
"Oh Merlin," he sighed. "I can't always be here. With Ginny at school and Fred," he gulped. "George won't come home and that is hurting her. I understand though. She just holds him and won't let go."
"Arthur, I had a word with Ron a while ago. I threw him out of my office and told him I never wanted to see him again." She sighed, rubbing her temples as a thought niggled it's way to the forefront of her mind. "Could he be, is it possible that he is not being as truthful as you think?"
"Ron? No, he loves his mum," Arthur scoffed.
"He does," Minerva agreed. "But he loves fame and fortune more."
But he," Arthur stopped and a wild look came over his face. "He..."
Minerva followed as he flew up the stairs and slammed open the door of what Minerva assumed to be Molly's room. It was the neatest room in the house, though Minerva assumed that it was not due to Arthur's attentive ways. They found her scribbling away at her desk, sipping frantically at a cup of tea while she did so.
"Molly, darling, I've brought you a visitor."
"No time," she said, manically. "Got to send this letter off before Auror presentations. Harry Potter will be shown for what he truly is."
"I think that is enough," Minerva said quietly. She drew her wand and stared at Arthur until he stepped aside. "Forgive me Molly," she said gently.
"Stupify."
Molly slumped onto her desk, narrowly avoiding upsetting the tea cup and ink pot she was using.
"I would like for her to go to St Mungo's," Minerva told Arthur. "Clearly all is not well."
"Ok," he said meekly, standing in the corner of the room.
She retreated for a moment, trusting that Arthur would do nothing to interfere while she fire called St. Mungo's.
"How may I direct your call?"Someone's chirp at the other end asked.
"William Pomfrey please," she said authoritatively. "Minerva wishes to speak to him urgently."
"Right away headmistress."
There was a pause before William came to the fire.
"Minerva! We should really stop meeting like this, people will talk."
She spared him a smile and relayed the information that he needed to know.
"Don't touch anything, I'll send them over."
Minerva didn't have to wait long after the call had ended before there was another knock at the door. She invited the two men in, and directed them upstairs. Arthur was sitting with his hands in his head on the sofa and she started to work clearing the dishes from the counter and putting on a pot of tea.
"Here," she said, pushing a cup of tea under his nose. "Drink."
"Headmistress?"
She recognised the boy as a Hufflepuff from a few years back and she flashed him a smile while following him up the stairs.
"I think we're going to have to admit her. She's being drugged."
"You're joking?" she spluttered, glancing at the other medi-wizard for confirmation.
"It's in her tea."
"But that means - Arthur," she looked down the stairs. "Surely not."
"I went to school with Charlie," he said quietly. "I knew him pretty well. I don't think Mr Weasley could have done this, but we have to be sure, and follow procedure."
"I could ask him?" Minerva said. "He wouldn't lie to me; I don't think Arthur is capable."
"You can, but we still will probably need to take him in and get him checked over."
"I just made him a cup of tea!"
They rushed downstairs to find Arthur with his empty tea cup in his hand.
"Mr Weasley, sir? Do you feel alright?"
"Me? No I don't feel alright! Someone is trying to hurt my family under my very nose."
"We think Molly has been given something in the tea Arthur," Minerva said, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"She has her own," Arthur said absently. "What do you mean? Someone is drugging my wife?"
"Arthur, think," Minerva said, blocking his exit from the room. "What do you mean Molly has her own?"
"Um, Molly has her own tea. The boys got it for her for Christmas last. She loves it, says it reminds her of happier times."
The tingle of fear that Minerva had felt earlier was back.
"Arthur, why is she still drinking tea from last Christmas. Did she buy more?"
"No, Ron got it -"
It was not what she wanted at all, not even a little bit to find that Ron had, for whatever reason, been drugging his mother.
"I am going to kill him," Arthur growled, frightening Minerva a little at the ferocity of it.
"Calm down," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "Let's get Molly sorted and then we'll deal with your wayward son."
"Yes," he said after a moment, "yes. What needs to be done?"
"We'll take her back with us, and you should come too, Mr. Weasley, and we'll get you both right as rain."
"Thank you," he said looking at the two men for the first time. "I know you, Charlie's friend. Ethan isn't it?"
"Yeah," he grinned. "Come on, we'll get Mrs. Weasley back to St. Mungo's and Headmistress McGonagall can come by later?"
"Minerva, Ethan, thank you. Arthur, I'll send an owl. There are some matters that need addressing first."
"Minerva?" Arthur called as she took her leave.
"Yes?"
"If you see Ron?"
She waited for a moment while he looked back at the two men climbing the stairs to fetch Molly's unconscious form.
"Arthur?"
"Arrest him," he growled.
The door slammed and she was left standing in the bare front garden of The Burrow, looking at the peeling paint. The afternoon had not gone as she had thought, and it had knocked the wind from her sails. She turned on the spot and Apparated to the Ministry.
"Headmistress McGonagall!"
Minerva rolled her eyes and refused to turn, ignoring Ms. Annabelle Proctor as she strode across the Atrium.
"Headmistress!"
Minerva rolled her eyes and turned.
"Miss Proctor, what can I help you with?"
"I'd like to discuss with you the disappearance of Hermione Granger."
"No," Minerva said, spinning on her heels and stalking down the hallway. She had found that being absolutely blunt with someone had the oft desired effect and she walked away without another thought.
The thoughts, however, raced around her brain as she pushed open the door to the Auror's department and stalked past the receptionist. She assumed that the young woman would eventually work it out, but until then, she ignored the calls to return to the desk and nodded regally as she made her way to Harry's office.
"Minerva? Are you okay?"
"Under Arthur's authority, you are ordered to arrest Ronald Weasley on suspicion of administering a poison to Molly Weasley, with the intent to render her under his control."
"What?"
"Just do it Harry."
"O-of course," he nodded.
She didn't wonder if he was watching when she spun around and left the room, heading for the Apparition point so she could return home to her baby.