Almost there! One more chapter! I'd love to hear thoughts about a sequel of vignettes.

Minerva:

She stood looking out the window of the upper room at the Three Broomsticks. The repairs to Hogwarts would be done in two weeks. Filius said the updates he received were encouraging. She was due at St. Mungo's in two days to revert to her current age in appearance. Minerva wanted to get this done now.

There was a knock on the door. Minerva answered it. Rita Skeeter gasped in surprise.

"I had warned you in my owl," Minerva said irritably. "I thought you had better composure for a journalist."

"I've never seen a de-aging potion work like that," she said evenly.

"So, you have agreed to my terms?"

"You're threatening to destroy me like the Granger girl if you don't like what I write. How did you did get the secret out of her anyway? I didn't take her to be one to break her promises."

"But I know your desire for a story is stronger than any sense of self-preservation. It's a good one too, I promise."

"You were Dumbledore's second-in-command but didn't know Snape was a double agent or anything about the orders he gave to Potter and his friends. I wouldn't say you're that interesting."

Minerva gestured to the box on the table. "Put the quick quotes quill in the box and you will find out exactly how interesting I am."

"I've interviewed death eaters with fewer trust issues," Rita said and put the acid-green quill in the box.

Minerva snapped the lid shut.

Rita took a seat and pulled out a notepad and what looked like an ordinary white-plumed quill. McGonagall took a seat opposite her.

"Where would you like to start?" Minerva asked.

"Current events," she said. "My sources tell me you were in Italy with the golden trio where you got into a scuffle with McMannus Tedonzik that resulted in your current appearance and the abandonment of his house elf."

"Your sources are well-placed."

"I try," she said. "Why exactly were you globe-trotting with my blackmailer, the youngest Weasley boy, and the great defeater?"

"We were on a quest to save Hermione from a curse put on her by the red witch. She needed to duel the witch to defeat her before she turned twenty to live a long meaningful life. I wanted her to learn more about dueling while seeking out information that would be useful to us. McMannus promised me useful information if I agreed to a nightcap at his home. I trusted him to some degree because he was an old friend of my second husband. He clearly had other plans and drugged my drink. He tried to rape me, but his house elf intervened."

"Wait a minute, you said 'second' husband," Rita said. "There are only records of you having one. Which one are you hiding and how?"

"My first one. I never took on his name, and the way wizarding records are kept, you wouldn't know about him."

Rita rubbed her chin with her quill. "I'm sensing two stories here. One about the legendary red witch and Granger's quest to defeat her. The other is about what you have been hiding from the wizarding world."

"Don't you see the connection?" Minerva asked.

"I haven't been your student of over twenty years, Headmistress. Don't test me."

"But you're a journalist. You should be able to connect the dots."

Rita sighed dramatically and looked at her closely. Slowly the realization hit her.

"How are you related to Hermione Granger?"

"She is my granddaughter and I have trying to keep her safe from a curse my first husband caused on my family during a battle with the red witch."

"Well, this meeting is certainly turning out to be a lot more interesting than I thought it would be."

"Remember our terms. I see the copy going to print or your secret is no longer a secret."

"Now I know where Hermione gets it from."

"I don't need you to elaborate on what "it" is."

"Good," Rita said. "Now start from the beginning with where you met your first husband."

Over a meal on Rita's coin and several glasses of water, Minerva shared her story.

…

Minerva dressed in loose-fitting robes for the day she was to revert to her normal self. Poppy Pomfrey was waiting for her in a private hospital room at St. Mungo's.

"How are you feeling dear?" Poppy asked.

"Tired of being young," she said.

"I doubt any young person has ever said that," she said with a laugh.

"I move with so little effort. I have the energy to do almost anything."

"But you don't like it."

"The thing we don't teach our students is magic moves differently when we get older. I don't trust my spell-casting strength at this age. The muscle memory has been undone. As nice as is to hurt less, I am not enjoying this."

"I can understand that," Poppy said and checked her watch. "I assume you followed all the instructions to a T."

"Loose clothes, less exercise, and spell work. Now I sit and wait to feel old and wrinkly again."

McGonagall kicked off her shoes and got into the hospital bed.

Poppy handed her a potion. "This will help with the change in metabolism."

McGonagall took a sip. "It tastes like bananas."

"I couldn't find anything that tastes like mangos to add to it."

"No, this is fine," Minerva said and finished drinking it.

Poppy stood and faced her. "How are you really doing dear? And don't say fine. I know what is on the minds of men when give that potion to women as I doubt you took it on purpose."

"It's been a very challenging few weeks. You'll read all about it in the Daily Prophet on Sunday. Don't worry I approved what was written."

"You're not one to go to the press about things. Why?"

"It's part of the undoing of a charm I put out. When a thousand eyes read Devon Herriot's name, everyone will know the truth about me and Hermione."

"I've suspected you carried a great burden you felt you couldn't trust me with. I wish you would have. In my years of treating students, I have known the importance of knowing the facts and not passing judgment."

"I know Poppy. I am truly sorry. I have learned I need to be better at letting people know the whole story if I don't want to repeat the mistakes of Dumbledore."

Poppy held her hand. "I look forward to standing by your side in the new school year."

Minerva shook it. "I'll certainly need all the help I can get."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Then Minerva felt it. Pain was the main thing she felt. Pain in all her joints. She noticed her hand was withering in Poppy's grip. Panic started to fill her.

"It's okay, dear," Poppy said. "This is perfectly natural."

Feeling slightly assured, Minerva felt herself let go of consciousness.

…

The first thing Minerva saw was a "W" shape. She realized it was a balloon from the Weasley's joke shop. There was also a huge arrangement of flowers, including some that were humming softly.

She sensed she wasn't alone. Minerva looked to her right and saw Hermione with a book.

Minerva tried to talk but ended up coughing instead. Hermione immediately reacted and got her a cup of water.

"Thank you," she said.

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked.

Minerva touched her hair. It was brittle again and her skin wasn't smooth.

"Old," she said with a little humor.

"Harry and Ron have sent flowers and cards. They figured you'd prefer privacy."

"They were quite right."

"Is there anything you need?"

"Some alone time, to adjust to my body. First, I need to tell you: I am undoing the spell that keeps people from discussing mine-our family. After the publication article written with my approval, by Rita Skeeter, everyone will be to speak of Devon and Megan Herriot."

"That's wonderful! Thank you!"

"Have you thought about what you'd like to do next? I know you mentioned right after the battle you'd like to finish your seventh year at Hogwarts. I'm not holding you to that decision."

"Truthfully, I think I learned more during our travels than I could have learned at Hogwarts. I may want to audit a few classes such as Defense against Dark Arts, now that the curse is done. But I don't think I can sit still in classes when there is so much else to be done."

"How wise of you. I'd like to have dinner with you once a month on Sunday."

"I'd like that too."

Minerva offered her hand. "This isn't going to be easy. I haven't had family to show love to in a long time. I'm going to be more 'teacher' than 'gran' at times and you're going to have to be patient with me."

Hermione took it. "Part of me is still intimidated by you. I'm still afraid of messing things up around you. I'm going to work on being less 'student' and more 'granddaughter' also."

"We seem to match one another."

"Can I hug you now?"

"In a second. Can I have my wand first?"

Hermione handed her, her wand. Minerva touched her scalp, and her bun returned. The tightness felt soothing on her head. She let out a breath of contentment.

Hermione smiled. Minerva beckoned her forward. This was a hug of joy and a promise to embrace happier times.