Chapter 39

There were two things Mag wanted to do that she felt would be wisest to put off until graduation. The first, she'd taken care of yesterday with Severus, and the second had to do with Professor Flitwick. After breakfast she approached the staff table and asked if she could speak to him in private. As she addressed the small Charms Master, Mag could feel Severus's eyes on her. She hoped he wasn't having second thoughts, and for a moment was too nervous to even glance in his direction.

"Of course," Filius replied readily. "Let's talk in my classroom, shall we?"

Mag nodded and he rose from the table. As she turned to follow him from the great hall, her gaze moved to Severus, who gave her a slight nod. He didn't smile, but nor did he wave her over to tell her he'd changed his mind, so she nodded back before following Flitwick. Once in his classroom with the door shut she drew in a deep breath. "First of all, I wanted to say that I'll really miss you and I hope we can keep in touch, Professor Flitwick."

He smiled warmly. "I wouldn't expect anything less, Mag."

She drew in a deep breath, suddenly concerned that her question would offend him. She'd been so consumed with what she believed was her discovery, she hadn't considered how he may be offended if she happened to be wrong. "There is something I've always been curious about, and if I am wrong, I truly mean no offense. It's just that you're so magical...the way your magic works, the extra touch your charms have that I feel everyone else lacks...I was wondering...Are you half leprechaun, by any chance?"

She was shocked when all the color drained from Flitwick's face. "Please, Miss WestCraven. Do not speak to anyone else of this. You haven't already, have you," he asked, bright green eyes becoming even brighter with alarm.

"No...Well perhaps Severus once, but he didn't say much...He said he didn't know when I asked. It was a bit ago," she said, striving to remember. Had it been last year, or when he'd told her to go bother Filius for a bit when she was stressing out over her O.W.L.S?

Filius let out a relieved sigh. "Oh well...Severus wouldn't say anything. It's just that...you're too smart for your own good sometimes! I always lamented that you didn't end up in Ravenclaw. Same for both of your parents and Severus too for that matter. Slytherin and Ravenclaw can often cross boundaries, cunning and brilliance often working together as one form of applying intelligence. But I distract myself...To answer your question, yes. My father is a leprechaun... His side wants nothing to do with me and I never felt I fit in with regular wizards due to my height...I suppose I often felt overlooked," he admitted. His expression was fleetingly bitter but he smiled and shrugged it off. "I keep my bloodlines to myself even though I've been treated poorly by some who assume I'm half goblin or some such. Not that there is anything wrong with most goblins, mind...Leprechauns have specialized powers that many human wizards would love to exploit. I'd prefer not to have to fight or hurt anyone who could attempt to push me into doing anything for them that I did not wish to do. My father's people would not enjoy their powers being used for wizards, and I would be punished even were I forced to do so."

"That's hardly right," Mag objected and he nodded.

"Leprechauns keep to themselves and aren't overly forgiving or charitable. They suffer me, just. Fairness is probably too much to ask, considering that."

"I'm sorry that you have to deal with unfairness from both sides, and I promise never to mention it to anyone. I just read some things a few years back on leprechaun magic, and it made me think of yours."

Filius grinned. "As I said, too smart for your own good."

Mag chuckled and moved to hug him. "Thank you so much for all you've done for me over the years," she said, choking up as she experienced the first burst of graduation sentiment.

Gods she'd cried twice in less than twenty-four hours! It would be a relief when the day was over. Flitwick had tears in his eyes as well as he firmly returned her hug.

"I've enjoyed teaching you, Mag. Even during your O. preparation I only wanted to kill you perhaps four times."

Mag laughed. "Only four? I must not have been that bad, then."

Mag got her largest surprise during the graduation ceremony. She was the last to have her name called as there was no one in her year who's last name ended with X Y or Z. As she walked up to Albus Dumbledore, who gave out diplomas where the sorting usually took place, he met her gaze and smiled.

/Thank you for looking after Severus. He is like a son to me, and I am pleased that someone worthy of him sees him for the wonderful person he is./ The headmaster's voice spoke into her mind just as it would've sounded were he speaking aloud. Too shocked to know what to say, all she could do was smile and nod her thanks as she took the diploma. When that didn't seem like quite enough, she impulsively gave her second hug of the day. Mag didn't do hugs! She supposed today was a big enough deal to make it alright, though. As she walked across the stage, diploma in hand, Mag saw her parents and friends clapping for her. The Baron even sat clapping beside Kereston and Millie and Parvati was there too. Kereston had taken to Parvati quickly enough when Mag invited her to join them once in Hogsmeade, but Millicent kept making rude Gryffindor comments so the two hadn't gotten along.

Today they seemed to have decided to make an exception just for her, though, and that made her cry again, curse it all. Griphook sat between Mira and Mag's father, watching the proceedings with a bemused, mildly perplexed expression. Mag waved extra hard for the goblin, honored that he'd actually accepted the graduation invite she'd sent him. She had few friends, but they were all amazing! As she rode away from Hogwarts in a boat, just as she'd arrived that first year, Mag's vision was still clouded with sentimental tears. She'd wanted to be finished with Hogwarts for years, and now that the time had come, she realized there were some people she'd really miss. She vowed to visit Flitwick and the Baron often and to meet Parvati, Kereston and Millie in Hogsmeade on the weekends. When the boat grounded on the other side of the lake, her parents stood waiting for her.

"We've planned a graduation party for you at home. Mira has already apparated everyone else, so she should be back for us any moment now," Heather told Mag, hugging her daughter tightly. "We're so proud of you, Baby," she said, voice thick with tears.

"Don't, Mum...I'll cry again, and I think I'm coming down with a cry headache as it is," Mag pleaded, giving a choked little laugh.

Mira appeared in front of them then with a crack. "Are we all ready," the colorfully dressed elf asked brightly. "Mag you looked so wonderful up there, getting your diploma! I'm so proud of you."

Mag broke away from hugging her father to hug Mira. "Thank you, Mira."

She peered around, wondering where Severus was. "Yes, we're almost ready. I'm just waiting for one more person, though."

"Who is it," Raislen asked, but then Severus approached with a trunk in either hand, expression one of trepidation and defiance. "I'm taking him on the graduation cruise with me," Mag told her parents.

"It wasn't my idea," Severus told Raislen and Heather with a glare.

"We probably shouldn't have this conversation where anyone can see," Mira said, and apparated them all to WestCraven manor before anyone could object. "Hello, Severus," the elf continued without missing a beat. "So pleasant to see you again." She opened the door to the manor with a gesture. "There are snacks inside, Mag," she added happily. "I made all your favorites for our graduation girl!"

Severus nodded, seeming surprised that Mira remembered his name or bothered to greet him.

"Thank you, Mira," Mag said, bending to give the elf another warm hug. "And thanks so much for having a party for me, Mum and Dad," she added, hugging both of her parents again. "I really appreciate it."

In all honesty, she hadn't even considered having a graduation party. Her imagination had just jumped to a quiet evening where she packed for the cruise and spent time convincing her parents that she and Severus were a good, no great idea. And then she and Severus would go upstairs later to her room and...yes a party hadn't entered in at all, but she didn't mind the change of plans even if it meant she'd have to rush her packing later and hope she didn't forget anything. Mira led the way into the parlor where everyone else was already gathered. She gestured to the huge sideboard of food and drinks. "Have at it," she said, relieving Severus of his trunks.

/I told her to put them in your room, Mags. That right,/ Nightshade asked.

Mag felt her cheeks flushing as she nodded. /Happy graduation and all that, by the way. I stayed with Prof to avoid all the icky crying shit. He didn't cry./

Mag chuckled. /That's good. I'd be concerned if he did./

Kereston was chatting up Griphook as they both stuffed themselves on crabcakes. Millicent was mixing drinks for herself and Parvati, bossily explaining that 'this was how it was done'. To Mag's surprise, Flitwick was even there, dividing his attention between mini lava cakes and cheese cubes.

"You let me get all sentimental today when I thought I wouldn't be seeing you for a while," she accused the charms master with an indignant scowl.

"Well I could hardly tell you about the party, now could I," Filius said around a mouthful of cheese and lava cake which he appeared to have decided to combine... "Besides," he added, after swallowing. "It appears we both had a secret. Hello Severus." The charms master gave Severus, who stood uncomfortably at Mag's side, a pointed glance. "I saw you bringing in trunks, and did I hear something about a cruise?"

Severus flushed. "It isn't...That is...Hello, Filius." They had only mentioned the cruise before leaving Hogwarts, and as Filius was already here by then, he couldn't have heard that conversation. Mag's parents must've mentioned the cruise in passing to everyone coming to the party, then Filius must have put two and two together when he saw Severus's trunks, Mag reasoned. He wasn't head of Ravenclaw house for nothing, though.