I hope you enjoy the chapter. It's a little short but the next one will be longer:)


28 June 1996

Minerva winced as she picked her case up and walked carefully down the stairs with it in her hand. She was in the process of chiding herself for not charming the case to be lighter when Hagrid appeared through the front doors where Minerva was headed.

"Need a hand, Professor McGonagall?" he said.

Though not one to accept help too easily, Minerva relented this time. "Thank you, Hagrid," she said. "And you can call me, Minerva," she added, giving him a knowing look.

Hagrid blushed. "Habit," he mumbled. "Where you headed?" he added, changing the topic and lifting the case slightly.

"Hogsmeade," Minerva replied. "But you do not have to accompany me there."

"I don' mind," Hagrid said. "Anythin' I can do to help."

They stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and Minerva patted his elbow in an unusually friendly gesture. In the last few days since she had returned to Hogwarts, Minerva had noticed Hagrid had been overly keen to be useful or helpful. He had thanked her multiple times for standing up for him that evening on the lawn. He had also been very apologetic, something which Minerva had assured him multiple times that he need not be.

Yet, Hagrid had persisted. And although Minerva disliked being fawned over, she had to admit that she was touched by Hagrid's concern.

"I believe I can manage, Hagrid," Minerva replied. "But I thank you for the offer."

Hagrid smiled but still held on tightly to the case. "I'll walk you to the gate," he said.

Minerva suppressed a smile. They stepped through the castle doors and emerged on the tidy front lawn basked in the warm light of the midday sun. Minerva narrowed her eyes but did not stop her steady walk to the gate - the cane, though an object Minerva disliked more than she could describe, helping her a great deal more than she would care to admit.

"I heard Umbridge migh' have a trial soon," Hagrid said conversationally. "Abou' that night and that quill of hers."

"Yes, I expect she must," Minerva agreed automatically. They continued to walk and it was only when they had come to a stop by the gate did Minerva frown. "What quill?"

"Oh!" Hagrid's eyebrows shot up, "erm-ar, nothin'," he stammered hurriedly. "Talkin' rubbish, I am."

Minerva frowned more deeply. Based on his reaction, it did not seem like simply nothing. "Nothing?" she prodded.

"Hm?" Hagrid said quickly, a little flustered now it seemed. "Oh look, it's Professor Dumbledore," he added, pointing at Albus who was walking up the hill towards them.

Minerva shielded her eyes and looked in Albus' direction. He seemed quite oblivious to his surroundings with his head down as he walked. Minerva wondered vaguely what it was the Minister had said that had made Albus look so thoughtful.

"I'll say my goodbyes then," Hagrid said, breaking Minerva's train of thought. They had come to stop by the gate. Hagrid's hand went out to pat her shoulder but he stopped suddenly, as though remembering the dozens of times he had gone to pat someone's arm but accidentally ended up sending them to the floor. Not wanting to do the same to Minerva it seemed, Hagrid settled with giving her a small awkward wave. And, forgetting again Minerva's assurance that he could call her by her first name, he added, "Have a good summer, Professor McGonagall."

"You as well, Hagrid," she said. "Thank you," she added as he handed her the case.

Hagrid smiled, then, after briefly waving at Albus who was almost upon them, stumped back to his small hut by the forest.

"Slipping away, my dear?" Albus said as he joined Minerva by the gates. "Without even a proper goodbye?"

"I did stop by your office but you weren't there. I left a note," Minerva added. "And a book."

"Oh?"

"The one we saw in Flourish and Blotts," she explained. "A small present from me to say thank you."

"I do not believe that I deserve thanks," Albus said, though he smiled gently and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. "But I appreciate the sentiment, my dear."

Minerva smiled slightly too. She had expected him to say something of the sort. Indeed, Albus had always been a modest man - far too modest, at times. And in this case, she really was truly grateful for his support. "You have helped me a lot this week, Albus. Getting you that book seemed only fair," she said. "How was the Minister?"

A puzzled look settled on Albus' features. "I am not certain," he admitted pensively, before shaking his head. "But we do not need to discuss that now," he added. "When will we see you next, my dear?"

"Sooner rather than later," Minerva replied. "I know how much you like falling behind on your paperwork over the course of the summer," she teased.

"Quite. We would be lost without you, my dear."

"Well, I shall be back in a few weeks," she reassured him. "I hope you can survive without me until then?"

"It will be difficult," Albus said. "But I believe we will manage." He smiled "Look after yourself, Minerva. And do say hello to the family from me."

"Will do, Albus. Take care."