A/N: We do love Filius, bless his heart. I missed him so he's here for a visit.
Apologies for the hour - my laptop bricked itself last night and I had to go and pick up a new one and pick up the kid and all that jazz. But we're here now. I just have to get used to this new keyboard. Sigh.
-0-
"So," Filius' voice startled Minerva from her marking and she looked up sharply. He was carrying a bottle of her favourite Scotch and two glasses with a wry smile.
"You had better come in, I suppose," Minerva chuckled as she waved her hand and closed her classroom door behind him.
It had only been a day since her outing with Hermione but with Albus away, there had not been time to really analyse it or unpack it. Filius' arrival had her on edge but not unhappy. Throughout her life at Hogwarts, Filius had been an upright friend and, often, confidant in some things and as he knew of Hermione's newfound powers, she realised it might not be a bad idea to enjoy a drink with the man.
"There we are," he said, having already poured a rather generous measure into her glass. She transfigured two desks into soft chairs and sighed as she took hers opposite him.
She took a sip, sighing at the apple notes and broody overtones and undid her top button with a groan.
"Alright," she muttered. "Out with it."
"Me, Minerva?" Filius smiled. "I believe you're confusing me with Rolanda, I am merely here to enjoy a drink with my good friend."
"Tosh," she chuckled. "Though I am glad you're not Rolanda, Merlin knows my business would be up and down the country before too long."
"You know you have my complete discretion, Minerva."
"I do," she said carefully. "Though I am unsure why you would think I would need to be reminded?"
"I have eyes, Min," he said softly. "Miss Hermione Granger -" Minerva swallowed. "Is exhibiting an extraordinary, new set of powers that she doesn't seem altogether comfortable with at the moment. She has been absent for weeks and has come back to class a shell of her former self and you," he said so kindly. "You have not smiled since it all began."
Minerva let out a shuddering breath and sipped her drink. In the face of all of that, she wasn't quite sure what to say, but Filius, once again, did it for her.
"I am not here to make you talk, Min. I'm not. I am here, though, because you have been my friend for an age and if there is anything I can do, despite me knowing only a fraction of what is occurring in front of me, I will gladly do it."
"You," she cleared her throat. "You cannot help in this situation, my friend. It is beyond so much of our knowledge."
"So something has happened."
"Oh yes," she said flatly. "So much has happened."
"The scars?"
Minerva blinked and wondered why she knew that Hermione covered them up most days. She may not have been speaking to her properly but she had eyes. Again, it stood to reason that Filius would have noticed that too.
"Instead of you fishing, my friend, why don't you tell me what you know."
Filius had the good humour to chuckle.
"That is precisely what Albus said to me."
"And it is not because we don't trust you, Filius," she implored. "But rather to protect you and yours. You must understand that."
"Hermione is the key, is she not? Something has happened, perhaps that weekend you were away, she was away, Severus," he glanced at her. "Away." She sighed but remained mute. "Something happened that weekend. Albus was all of a to-do, you disappeared completely and as I said, you have not smiled since. Minerva, you would hum after you met with her and now, she is distant and listless at times, you are absent, even when you are before me, what on earth is going on?"
"Please believe me when I tell you that I would love to tell you, Filius, but I simply cannot."
She got up and placed the glass down beside his and patted his shoulder before leaving to go back to her rooms via the door at the back.
"She is a creature, Min. That much, I know."
Minerva stopped, midstep, and tried to think of something to say to refute it that he would believe.
"Filius, I -"
"Don't," he said, coming over to her. "I know it to be true. Sometimes," he muttered. "There is a part of me that cannot be hidden. I know we all step conveniently around it and I thank you all for that but," he stared up at her. "At times, it is undeniable."
She frowned at him and tried to understand what he was saying.
"When she enters my classroom, I have the urge to bow," he revealed. "Goblins," he winced. "Do not do that for many creatures, Minerva. The list is very, very short."
She gaped at him now.
"Min," he whispered. "You are my friend. Please tell me what is happening under my nose, so that I may at least help. I cannot be of any use to anyone if I am kept in the dark."
"Filius," she said, though her voice wobbled. "I cannot, for you have loved ones to lose. If you know and they ask, you would give us up and you should, my friend. I and all mine would want you to, for the loves of your life you should betray us all but for that very reason, Filius, I simply cannot."
"Minerva -"
"I will not," she reiterated.
"Then tell me why you -"
"Filius," she hissed and turned to leave. "I will not."
"Minerva, you are bound to her."
She blinked. And turned, and stared. And blinked again.
"I -" She swallowed. "I beg your pardon?"
"You are bound, Min. I -" It was his turn to blush now. "Again, not many know, but I have an eye for seeing things that most cannot. And you and Hermione are as one."
"I will not be -"
"Minerva," he implored. "Please, just listen to me. I will not push beyond what you wish, but I want you to hear me when I say this. I see the way it has broken you, but you asked me to tell you what I know, so I will."
She turned and met his eyes.
"This would have been made in a moment. It was not there before, it was never there. I would have seen it. There were moments, as you grew together, that sparked and flashed, but nothing like this. This is fire, Minerva." She paled. "Together you are fire and it is beautiful if you'd only let it be."
"Filius," she said with a hollow voice. "I thank you for the drink and the counsel. I would ask that you keep that information to yourself and perhaps reveal it to Albus when he returns but -" She stood to her full height. "I will bid you a good evening."
-0-
Had Albus been in the castle, she would have gone directly there but as it was, she was in charge and so she went straight home and paced in front of the sofa with her arms wrapped around her middle.
"Minerva," Michael's voice came down from his portrait softly, like he looked as though he didn't really want to disturb her. "I am sorry, but the Minister of Magic is approaching the castle."
"Damn it all to hell," she hissed.
"We can stall him if you like," he chuckled. "The castle will lose him if you were to wish it, my Lady."
"Michael," she tutted.
"Just an option."
She chuckled and fell silent.
"Delay him for a short while. I need to gather my thoughts."
"Hermione says he is dangerous, but not evil. Bear that in mind."
"What -"
"Her -"
"No, I heard you, I'm asking you how you are to know that, sir."
"We talk," he shrugged. "We're friends."
"Friends?" she squeaked. "You are a portrait!" She frowned. "You are my portrait!"
"Yes, and I am allowed to converse to your -"
"Michael."
They stared at each other and Minerva dropped to the sofa under his pitying gaze.
"Minerva, I surely do not understand why you fight this."
"You don't?" she said, aghast. "You don't understand why I, someone who has been alone, for -" her voice cracked. "For so long. Should suddenly be told that I am bound to another, another who is a bairn in comparison."
"She is hardly a bairn, Minerva," he said softly. "She is a talented and accomplished woman. Young, to be sure, but when it is right, surely that is just that. She loves you, thinks the sun shines for you, I don't even know -"
"Michael, I cannae do this now. I cannae -"
"Alright," he said with a nod. "Alright. Though you should talk to someone, yeh ken? Properly, without filter. It might as well be me, lass. Who am I going to tell? I am bound to you, different to her, but with love all the same. Remember that, my Lady. What you tell me, I'll not be speaking t' others."
She stared at him desperately and he bowed his head.
"I will delay the Minister. Calm your thoughts, I will warn you before he is near."
"Thank you," she whispered.
She turned from her living room and sat behind her desk, dimming all the photographs she had dotted around the room for extra measure. She took several deep breaths and pulled forward the correspondence that was waiting for her to deal with it to calm her mind before doing battle with the Minister.
-0-
Hermione was irritable, even after dinner and she spent a good portion of the evening growling under her breath.
"Hermione," Ginny hissed. "Quit it."
She blinked and looked up. A number of the students closest to her were looking at her sideways and she groaned and stood up.
"I'm going for a walk. Something is bothering me."
"Want me to -"
She waved Harry off and slipped out of the Common room and set off to the Chamber where she could throw something and scream without disturbing anyone. She rounded the corner of the third floor and noticed the Minister for Magic looking perplexed as a staircase changed under his feet.
"Wait, lassy," a voice hissed in her ear. She turned slightly and saw Michael leaning gallantly on his sword. "Your woman needs him stalled so we have turned him around and again."
"That's what we're calling her now?" Hermione smirked.
Michael laughed and shook his head.
"You will win the war, woman, I think. You may lose a few battles along the way, though. I dinnae fear for you though."
"Hmm," Hermione muttered, making note of that, but watching as Scrimgeour pulled out his wand and stilled the staircase. "I suppose I might accompany him to her office? Would you tell her in advance, please? I would like to ensure she is not surprised. Between you and me, however, I believe his presence has me spoiling for a fight."
"I'll tell 'er what she needs to know," he nodded, disappearing out of frame.
She took a deep breath and pulled up her collar to cover her throat as much as possible and stepped forward.
"Minister," she called politely. "You seemed to have become a victim of the stairs, would you like help?"
"Ah, Miss Fraiser."
"Granger, Minister," Hermione corrected with a smile. "Good to see you. Are you lost?"
"I'm afraid I am a little turned around. I was trying to see the Headmaster, though he usually meets me at the Doors."
"Ah, the headmaster is absent this week, sir. You may need to come back another day."
"Alas," he said with a sniff. "I must raise this to his second in command then Miss McGonagall?"
She only just bit back the growl at his disrespect and instead ground her teeth before she managed to speak again.
"That would be Professor McGonagall, sir. Our Deputy Head. I will take you to her, as I was going there myself."
He fell into step beside her and though he didn't speak, she noticed him taking in everything around him. She remembered Albus saying that he wanted access and she took him the shortest way possible until she was at Minerva's door.
"Sir, Madam," Michael greeted. "May I have your names, please?"
Hermione bit back a smile as the Minister announced himself and Michael turned expectantly to her. She fought with her mouth as she tried not to laugh.
"Hermione Granger, thank you."
"I will be but a moment."
They waited silently until Michael returned and bowed, opening the portrait with a flourish and giving Hermione a look. She grinned as the Minister went in first and then she followed. The amount of caution she felt over this man being alone with Minerva was guiding her steps.
"Her -" Minerva shook herself. "Miss Granger, perhaps you might wait outside? I will not be very long."
"Oh, sorry Professor, I see you've forgotten. I was just going to find that book on advanced mastery transfiguration that you said I could borrow, I won't be a moment. Please don't let me intrude."
She turned and went over to Minerva's bookshelf without another word and without allowing Minerva time to argue. Michael watched her across the room and Hermione wished beyond hope that Minerva would just allow it and carry on with her meeting.
"Minster," Minerva said cordially after a while. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"I'm here on official business."
"I thought no different," she said, though he seemed not to have noticed her tone. Hermione bowed her head and smiled at her feet to stop herself from laughing as he continued.
"I have already spoken to Dumbledore, of course, I am just here to pick up the files."
"I beg your pardon?"
"The personnel files, Miss McGonagall. I am here for them."
"There seems to be a misunderstanding, Minister. I am afraid I cannot release those to you. If that is something that you and Professor Dumbledore have arranged then I'm afraid he must be here, you understand."
"Nonsense, a witch such as yourself. You can do it, Miss McGonagall."
Hermione clenched her fist at his blatant disrespect but Minerva's voice hardened a little.
"Minister, I am affording you the respect your title gives you, I'd prefer it if you were to use mine."
"Oh, nonsense," he chuckled. "An eligible woman like you, surely not."
Hermione was halfway across the room before Minerva stood and very subtly cast a body-bind spell on her. She stopped halfway and glared at her as Minerva stood to her full height.
"Minister, it seems as though our meeting has run long. You are not here at the invitation of the headmaster and you are blatantly lying to me about your requirements."
"But -"
"Let me relieve you of the burden of wondering, sir. You will not ever be given access to the records of Hogwarts. Not while I draw breath, so if you don't mind," she clapped her hands. "Dobby, Minister Scrimgeor was just leaving."
"Of course Misteress. Dobby helps."
Hermione was released as the Minister disappeared with Dobby and she growled as she stared at where he had been.
"That is enough," Minerva said quietly.
It took a long time for Hermione to be able to speak. She was so angry. How dare he speak to her like that. How -
"Hermione," Minerva said again, softer this time. "It's alright, calm down."
Hermione blinked as Minerva drew near and she reached for her. In the split second before she could touch her, she remembered that Minerva was not open to that and she just as quickly retracted her hand.
"Sorry," she muttered. "I didn't want you in here alone with him."
"You think me weak?" Minerva asked, but not angrily.
"No," Hermione said with absolute surety. "Not at all, not ever. But sometimes, things go wrong."
Minerva acknowledged that statement and looked at Hermione carefully. She tipped her head to the side while she looked and as Hermione calmed, she couldn't help but feel a little like a bug under the microscope.
"These move a little when you are angry," she said quietly.
Hermione stood dead still as Minerva reached out and traced her fingers over the edges of Hermione's scars. She took a shuddering breath and stepped back quickly when her body followed suit.
"My apologies," Minerva whispered, looking aghast. "I don't know -"
"It's fine," Hermione muttered. "I will see you tomorrow."
She turned and fled from the room before anything else was said, leaving Minerva standing in the middle of her living room, conflicted.