Author's Note: I have been at this for a VERY long time. I know I am dancing on the edge of M territory, but I don't cross it here.
Minerva:
She heated up an arugula pizza. They ate mostly in silence. The situation was ridiculously awkward. Minerva had no idea how to even "fix it."
"Did you all bring semi-formal attire as I requested in my last owl?" she asked.
"Yes, though I didn't see why," Ron said.
"Dueling at this level is a social occasion. It is something of a spectator sport, though not as loud."
"Why isn't this a thing in the UK?" Ron asked. "I would have liked to have attended this sort of thing for fun."
"The rules are stricter at home," she replied.
The finished eating. Minerva took the plates to the kitchen sink and Hermione helped. Neither said a word.
As it approached seven, they assembled. Minerva was wearing a black dress with green trim. Hermione was a conservative navy dress, while the boys were wearing leisure coats in red and green.
There was a knock on the door. Minerva answered it.
It was Giulia.
"I understand you are attending the dueling event at the Jupiter Arena."
"How did you know that?" Minerva asked suspiciously.
"I didn't. Someone who saw your name on the attendance list. They offered to upgrade your seats."
She presented a gold olive branch with silver leaves.
"This could be a trap," McGonagall said to the trio.
"We scan all portkeys for threats," she said. "We detected no malicious intent."
"Even the red witch?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing in this world is one-hundred-percent safe," she said. "The red witch is not easily detectable by even our security. I offer you the best safety screening the Hokus Italia can provide."
Minerva looked to the group. No one looked assured. Then something jumped out of the back of her mind about who she knew who lived in the area.
"I do believe it is safe," she said finally. "I think I might even know who sent it."
"Okay," Hermione said.
Minerva took the branch. The trio also put their hands on it. They waited. Within seconds, they transported.
They landed on a purple rug.
"Minerva!"
A man with gold-coated muttonchops in turquoise robes reached forward and hugged her.
"Hello McMannus," she said.
"The general of the Battle of Hogwarts graces me with her presence," he cheered. "And you brought the golden trio. What an honor!"
"This is McMannus Tedonzik, an old friend of my second husband."
"Oldest," he said. "I knew him before Hogwarts!"
"Indeed," she said as the trio stared curiously at him.
"Come sit, sit," he said gesturing the blue leather backed chairs with tables between them. "I've ordered Elk wine, your favorite."
"This is not a leisure visit," she said.
Ron looked out. "Wow."
They were in box seats on the ground level. They had a perfect view.
"Do you ever take a vacation, Min. What is it now? Did Voldy produce an heir?"
"What do you know about the red witch?" Hermione asked.
Minerva raised her eyebrows. Not everyone needed to be interrogated about what they know about a boogey person.
"The muggles know her as the scarlet witch," he said.
"What?" Minerva said in surprise.
"My son has been collecting muggle comic books," he said. "I read a couple while in his bathroom. They are quite delightful. Now he sends them to me when he's done with them."
"So, what is she like in these comics?" Hermione asked.
"It would take too long to explain. I'll have Minerva pick them up from my place. I insist on a nightcap away from the younglings."
Harry and Ron made faces.
"Minerva!"
A trio dressed in matching blue and silver robes appeared. They all had graying brown hair. The woman was wearing silver butterfly crown in her hair.
"You three still dress up together?" she said disbelievingly.
They all laughed in perfect unison.
"Why stop now?" in unison again.
"These are the triplets," she said. "They are oldest children from McManus's brother. Tick, Blink, and Del."
They each nodded their heads.
"Their father, my Gesper, died so suddenly, I think of them as my own," McMannus said.
Minerva noticed Ron sitting and looking at his hands. He was blinking rapidly. She felt for him.
"The duel will be starting soon," she said and took a seat.
Curvaceous women in silver cocktail dresses with blond hair appeared holding plates of food. Hermione shot Ron a look and he glared back at her.
"Chimera cutlets?" one offered.
Minerva glanced at McMannus. "You have done well for yourself."
The triplets were quick to accept the food and started to eat.
"Not all of us are fighters Minerva. The expat business is booming. Most of my clients aren't even thinking about going home until the infrastructure is fixed."
"What do you do for a living?" Harry asked.
"Living," he said with a laugh. "I'm retired! Minerva is a good ten years younger than my good friend. She liked them old, my boy!"
It was only out respect for the legacy of her Elphinstone that she did not give him a stare that would have caused a first-year to faint.
"McMannus is a consultant for an international real estate firm," she said.
He took a gulp of wine and grinned. "That's a fancy way of saying I got the people who could afford it, out of the country while slither-face was in charge."
"So, you're a coward," Harry said with disdain.
McMannus thumped the chair. "And proud of it! I wouldn't expect the Boy Who Lived to get it. I am not built to survive a SECOND of the cru-cru curse."
Hermione glanced at Minerva. She couldn't explain it to her without words. How she never cared for McMannus but respected how much he meant to Elphinstone.
"The duel is beginning," Ron said.
A man dressed in black-and-white striped robes appeared. His black hair was tipped with flames
"Welcome, welcome to the Jupiter Arena's main event. After a year of competing, we have Sage Gamel of United States and Padraic Camelgoat of Ireland in our final round."
The duelers stepped into the spotlight. Sage was wearing a shining robe of red, white, and blue stripes with her blond hair in a braid. Padraic was wearing a shimmering green robe with his auburn hair in a bun. They bowed.
"You know the rules: No killing or torture curses. Begin!"
Sage came out first with a spell that shot out purple sparks. Padraic spun as the spell hit him and the sparks turned into gold lightning bolts. Sage threw her body to the ground and the lightning passed over her.
"She is reshaping the shield," Minerva explained to Ron, Harry, and Hermione. "Most spells are aimed directly at the opponents so by going under, the shield doesn't have to a be as strong to thwart the spell. This is actually an energy conservation move."
"Shut up Minny," one of the triplets shouted drunkenly.
Sage stayed on the ground and stuck her wand into the ground. The ground turned red and Padraic summoned a flight spell to hover out off the ground.
"This is an open-air arena, so she is using the warmth of the sun, to help the spell," Minerva said. "If I had to guess she is going to use a lava spell next."
Padraic aimed water at the ground but the ground was too hot. Sage dove into the mud and re-emerged as a ten-foot lava monster.
"This takes a lot of discipline because she is now performing spells while maintaining the lava."
"Min, you're killing the mood!" McMannus said.
Minerva turned to glare at him. "I told you this wasn't a holiday visit. I am trying to teach them."
"I'm here to enjoy a duel. Either shut up or get out."
Minerva started to rise, as did the trio.
"I resold you seats. Sit down!"
The trio looked to her. She did not wish to make a scene. Minerva settled back in and the trio followed suit.
The lava monster spat fire. Padraic flew out of the way and then higher. Sage threw fireballs at him as he kept rapidly rising. The monster fell back to the ground just as Padraic returned in lightning bolt form. Smoke billowed from the ground. Both duelers stood covered in soot in scorched robes, breathing heavily. Sage aimed a weak stun spell and Padraic put up a shield. The stun spell bounced but not far enough to hit Sage. Padraic fell to the ground.
The referee stepped forward. "Sage is victorious!"
She weakly waved to the crowd as healers in red robes carrying potions tended to them.
"Wow," Hermione said.
"This is only the novice level?" Harry said.
"The death eaters we faced were really daft," Ron said.
McMannus stood up. "That was spectacular! I'm glad you all enjoyed it."
The triplets were standing up. "That Sage is amazing!"
"I've seen Padraic do better."
"I'm sick of lightning finishes."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione, were trying to keep up with everything.
She felt a hand on her arm. It was McMannus.
"How about that nightcap?" he said.
"You know I don't drink while with students," she said.
"You can have the comics," he said in a wheedling voice.
"I'm sure I can get them at any muggle shop, or ask the concierge," she said.
"You seem to have an agenda. Going through muggles shops would take time. Hokus draws the line at muggle-manufactured goods. One drink and you can have everything I own about the Scarlet Witch."
She noticed Hermione looking at her.
"One drink," she said firmly. "I'm a featherweight these days."
"That's all I needed to hear," he said happily.
Hermion stepped forward.
"Grownups only," he said with a laugh and held onto Minerva tightly. They apparated out.
If the Hokus Italia was a little overdone, McMannus's flat was tastelessly overwrought. The walls were gold and had different exotic magical creature heads hanging from them. The mantle was covered in dragon teeth. There was a death eater mask hanging above fireplace.
She approached it. "I thought you had better taste."
"It's a warning to my enemies," he said as he handed her a brandy glass. "I never believed in that nonsense but it scares the right people."
"Consider an alternative."
He laughed and took a sip. He was watching her closely. This was a mistake. She raised the glass to her lips with a tight smile.
Suddenly, he punched the glass into her mouth. It burnt her skin and vapors got in her nose. She tried to spit out whatever he spiked her drink with.
"I have wanted you for so long," he said menacingly.
Minerva tried to aparate out. Panic like she'd only known once set in.
McMannus laughed. "I deal with all sorts of dark entities. People only leave with my permission."
Just get him to talk.
"What happened to you?" she asked. "You were my husband's friend!"
"I was so jealous of the pretty thing he got to be his wife. How dare you come to my world and tease me?"
Her hair fell out of her bun. She noticed it was smooth and pitch-black, not brittle.
"What did you do to me?" she shouted as she backed away from him.
"I didn't want you as an old prune. Elph showed me pictures. You were a looker at one time!"
Her body was changing. This was not good as it would affect her spellcasting abilities. She gripped her wand.
Distract. Distract.
"Where are the comics?" she asked.
"In my locked library," he said he kept approaching her. "I'll give them to you when I'm done with you as a parting gift."
Her shoes were too small for her feet. She kicked them off.
"Now the dress," he said hungrily.
Minerva grabbed the mask and threw in his face. She turned a corner and ended up in a kitchen with what looked like dragon meat hanging from a rack. Searching for something sharp, she noticed stools everywhere. He had a house elf!
He was lurching forward. Minerva had been in enough pure-blood houses to know where the masters stowed the elves when they didn't want to be disturbed. She tried the oven, but nothing except a griffin head (who even eats those she wondered).
She checked the cupboard. It was locked magically. With the last of her energy, she recited the unlocking spell as she felt her dress being pulled off.
Minerva was no fool, even "past her prime." She was wearing an enchanted slip designed to protect women during these exact situations.
"You PRUDE!" he roared as she fell to her knees.
She had so badly wanted to protect the trio, especially Hermione.
A tiny hand touched her leg. There was a popping sound.
"PROFESSOR!" Hermion screamed.
She saw some red hair just as a bedspread was tossed over her.
Minerva tried to get up, but she was so weak.
"Easy," Harry said.
She turned and saw a house elf wearing nothing but carefully-placed silver garland. She saluted them.
"For Dobby! The greatest free house elf!" she shouted.
There was a popping sound and the house elf was gone.
"I'm sorry. You can't save her—" Minerva slurred out as darkness consumed her vision.