Reviews would be very much welcome if you have the time to leave them :) This chapter took me ages to write for some reason
19 December 1996
It was nearing the end of the day, and Minerva was currently with Hermione Granger who had come to discuss some of her concerns regarding students. As a Gryffindor prefect, Hermione and Ron Weasley came to her every once in a while to discuss concerns they had about students - particularly younger students who had yet to properly settle in.
It was something they did of their own volition; Ron had come once or twice and Hermione had come perhaps a few times more. Their judgement always seemed correct which pleased Minerva. She was glad Ronald Weasley had ended up as a Prefect - many underestimated the boy but Minerva had found him to be reliable and quite observant at times.
Today Hermione had come in about some concerns she had of a first year who seemed particularly upset at being away from her family for so long. With recent events in the Wizarding World, the young girl was apparently worried about receiving a similar letter that another student had received about their brother mysteriously disappearing last week.
Minerva had thought Miss Cartwell was behaving a little more quiet and nervous than usual. Minerva's brief meeting with Hermione had only confirmed her worries.
"Thank you, Miss Granger," she said, scribbling down a note before placing her quill down. "Was there anything else?"
Hermione hesitated and Minerva raised her eyebrows. Finally, Hermione sighed. "I actually do have something to add," she admitted.
"About a student?" Minerva asked, pausing slightly to gauge Hermione's reaction. "Or is this more of an academic-related question?" she added, already guessing the answer.
Hermione smiled slightly. "Academic."
"I thought it might be," Minerva said, folding her hands on her lap and leaning back on her chair. She had to admit that she quite looked forward to Hermione Granger's questions sometimes. They always caught her a little by surprise and nearly always made her pause for thought. It was quite luxurious sometimes to have this opportunity to discuss or explain truly complicated theories. It reminded Minerva how much she enjoyed Transfigurations, but also how much she enjoyed teaching. "Ask away, Granger."
Hermione took a small breath as though preparing herself to ask the question. "I wanted to ask about transformational abilities. Particularly, erm, a paper you and Professor Dumbledore wrote last year."
Minerva raised her eyebrows - the article she had written with Albus was quite an obscure piece. She was surprised Granger had managed to find it, let alone read it and understand it enough to be able to ask a question on the topic. Indeed, many of the themes, let alone the terms, were much more complex than any encountered in 7th year let alone 6th year Transfiguration.
"It was in the library," Hermione admitted, blushing a little bit. "Madam Pince keeps all copies of Transfiguration Today in the library."
Minerva nodded — she knew this of course as she and Albus were the two professors who had requested Irma to order the periodicals in the first place. "I am aware," she said lightly. "What particularly piqued your interest?"
Hermione took a deep breath. "Well," she began, "you assume that it is possible to identify metamorphmagi transformations from those who have used magic to change part of their appearance."
Minerva nodded, a slight frown creasing her brow. "Indeed," she said.
"I just don't understand how that's possible," Hermione said. "Metamorphmagi and wizards using transformational spells all use the same sort of magic to transform. So how can you really tell the difference between them?"
Minerva nodded and clasped her hands resting on her desk. "The key word here is that these populations use the same sort of magic; similar but not identical. Over time, and occasionally with some analysis depending on the strength of a spell and the capabilities of an individual, it becomes possible to distinguish between a metamorphmagus and simply a wizard using spells to modify their appearance."
"But how?"
This time Minerva gave a slight smile. "Through years of practice and exposure to magic," she said. "Every spell leaves a trace," Minerva added. "Similarly to how each witch or wizard has unique control over their magic that can be traced should anyone want to know who cast a spell, for example. It is a tricky business, and it does take many years until these slight differences can be distinguished."
Hermione nodded, her brows furrowed slightly as she thought hard.
"Perhaps—" Minerva stopped speaking as she was interrupted by a smart rap at the door. "One moment, Miss Granger," she apologised, before calling, "Enter."
Horace Slughorn entered the room and Minerva wanted to close her eyes as her heart sank; would this man not give her a moment of peace, she thought tiredly. He was almost as bad as Lockheart - disturbing her every second of the day to talk about affairs she did not really care much for.
Hermione began to get up. "I'll—"
"Oh, no this won't take a moment Granger," Slughorn said, and Minerva felt her heart sink even further as she realised what it was Slughorn had come for. Hermione sat back down, though a little hesitantly. "I only came to drop this off, Minerva."
Slughorn walked over and placed a small card on Minerva's table — an invitation to his Christmas party this coming weekend.
"Thank you, Professor Slughorn," Minerva said, taking the card and eyeing it warily.
"I've been trying to get her to come for years - ever since she was a student," Slughorn added, briefly looking at Hermione, "but you always seemed to have other plans," he continued, turning to look back at Minerva who felt a small blush creep up her neck and then cheeks - a combination of embarrassment at being caught out, and irritation at being referred to as 'she' whilst in the same room as the speaker.
"I hope I will see you there this time. You too, Granger," Slughorn added, making Minerva internally sigh at the comment. He then straightened and cleared his throat lightly. "I won't take up any more of your time, Minerva. I shall see you at dinner," and with those last words, he gave a polite nod to both witches and then left Minerva's office.
The door clicked shut behind Slughorn and Hermione turned to look at Minerva again. "You were taught by Professor Slughorn?" she asked, looking at Minerva who was now frowning slightly at the invitation in front of her — indeed this time, she was not sure how she could worm her way out of this dinner; perhaps she would organise to meet Malcolm on the 20th or leave for Caithness five days earlier than she had intended.
With that last thought, Minerva sighed tiredly and slipped the invitation into her desk drawer. "Yes, a long time ago now," she answered. "Was there anything else, Miss Granger?" she asked, having quite forgotten what it was she had wanted to say before Horace's interruptions. Minerva clasped her now empty hands on her desk and looked attentively at her student.
Hermione shook her head. "I think that was all," she replied, picking up her bag. "thank you, for the help."
"Not at all," Minerva said, giving Granger one of her rare smiles. Then, suddenly remembering what it was she had wanted to say, she added, "Perhaps, once they resume, you would be interested in attending some Transfiguration Conferences?"
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I didn't even know there were conferences."
"They occur a few times a year, usually during the summer. Although once in a while they do occur during term time," Minerva added, remembering the one time Albus had managed to get permission from Armando Dippet, the then Headmaster, to take his 5th year Transfiguration class to a Transfiguration Today conference. Professor Merrythought had accompanied them, along with Armando himself, who had always had a soft spot for Transfigurations.
"It allows leading academics to discuss some of the most controversial topics in the field," Minerva explained. "They are always most illuminating," she said, "though admittedly some discussions do get a little heated."
Hermione smiled. "I expect some must," she agreed, getting up and putting the strap of her bag over her shoulder.
Minerva nodded. "The dates of the meetings are announced in the most recent Transfiguration Today copies," she said. "Usually on the first page."
Hermione smiled and Minerva picked up her quill again so that she could finish some marking. "I shall see you tomorrow morning, Granger."
"See you tomorrow, Professor."
Minerva nodded, and Hermione slipped quietly out of her office.
