Author's Note:
Well, all I can see is a foot-tall snow drift outside my study's window. So I'm not going anywhere for a few days because there is still MORE snow coming! No guarantees about how many chapters I'll write because cabin fever can make writing hard.
Filius:
He adjusted his suit in the alleyway he apparated into by Minerva's clinic. The coat was shorter and he wore a necktie. His stature always attracted attention but he was Minerva's healthcare proxy and needed to meet with the doctor. Only Filius could do this.
He walked to the office. Hermione had luckily remembered the Weasley's phone number. When a receptionist called yesterday to schedule a meeting with him, Arthur caught the phone call. He sent him a Patronus with the information. It could have been a lot more complicated if Granger hadn't known their number from her brief time in muggle studies class.
The reception area was empty. Resisting the urge to levitate up to the reception window, he knocked on the wall. A doctor in a white coat appeared. The man looked to be in his late seventies with curling gray hair.
"Professor Flitwick?" he said.
"That is me."
"Come with me. I'm Dr. Caith."
Flitwick walked through the labyrinth of hallways. There were also sorts of Celtic artwork on the walls. He hoped this helped put Minerva at ease.
Caith opened the door to his office.
"Have a seat, sir."
"Thank you," he said. He ignored the uncomfortable feeling of not being at the same level as Caith. The doctor for his part leaned forward.
"I need you to be aware of exactly how much I'm risking to treat your colleague. The last record for Minerva McGonagall dates back to her birth in Scotland. No immunizations, no surgeries, routine exams, so absolutely nothing about her health history except her birth in 1935."
"I imagine that is putting you in a difficult position," Filius said.
"A position to be jailed for if the patient dies while under my care. I could lose my license if she falls into a coma as an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. Even after I have you sign all of the right paperwork, unwanted attention could come to my office if McGonagall becomes sicker in a way that cannot be treated by my staff."
Filius raised himself as much as he could to meet his gaze. "What exactly do you want, Dr. Caith?"
"I want your word that you won't share my questions beyond these walls and you will not alter my mind. I have told my primary that if I start to act out of character, I to ask to have Minerva's treatment moved elsewhere. I don't like playing with my patients' lives, but others under my care who will be at risk if you do something to me over McGonagall."
Filius let the word sink in before responding. "You have me at your advantage Dr. Caith. You have my word. I will do nothing to affect your mind. What do you wish to know?"
"Thank you," he said and pulled out a clipboard from his desk. "My associate is going to be performing surgery to remove the apparently cancerous lumps in her glands and breast. This will involve the use of anesthesia. I need some questions answered. To your knowledge, has McGonagall suffered from any illness that might have seriously affected her lung function?"
"No."
"To your knowledge has McGonagall suffered from anything that might have seriously affected her cerebral functions such as a concussion, stroke, or exhibited signs of dementia-related illnesses."
"She is as sharp as ever."
"Has McGonagall suffered from anything that might have adversely affected her pulmonary functions such as a heart attack, high cholesterol, or irregular heartbeat?"
Filius sighed. "You do know about magic, don't you."
"That's not what I'm asking Professor Flitwick. What happened that affected her heart?"
"She was hit with four stun spells two years ago," he said. "She was trying to protect a colleague from being sacked when four corrupt government agents hit her with the spell."
"At once?" he asked with a note of surprise.
"Yes."
"Describe what organ systems this spell affects."
"It freezes the whole body in place and knocks them unconscious. It slows the heart rate to close to zero but does not kill them."
"Even four of them?"
"Minerva is a witch. I think you've figured that much out. Our bodies have certain magical immunities. This strength actually increases with age because performing magic is like a muscle in our bodies."
Filius could tell Caith was trying to control his emotions.
"What happened to her as a result?"
"She was unconscious for three days. Her body was greatly weakened so she would depend on a cane for two months. But she made a full recovery. She faced off against some of the most powerful dark wizards of our time just three months before now, held her own, and suffered minimal injuries."
Caith added more to his notes. "My associate does not know about magic. He mercifully asks a few questions. For the anesthesia to be applied the doctors need to know about heart issues. There are things called stun guns that have a very similar effect on the body. I will say she was hit with one of these while on holiday two years ago. Does that sound reasonable?"
"It does."
"I'm not out to expose muggles to magic. I just wanted to treat Minerva so I needed answers. I thought it would best to ask you instead of her because I'm not convinced, she would answer me as honestly."
"I get the impression you know her."
He nodded. "I do. From before I knew she was a witch. Scottland is a very small country in ways like that. Please don't ask anymore."
"I won't. It's not my business and Minerva is an intensely private person."
"I'm glad we understand each other," he said and offered his hand across the desk.
Flitwick shook it. "Minerva's life is at risk if I tell anyone. We shall keep each other's secrets."
Caith presented him with some paperwork to sign regarding Minerva's end-of-life wishes. He read them all carefully and signed his name twice.
"Very good," he said. "Let me take you to her."
He led him through the halls. They were mostly empty.
Caith read his thoughts. "My practice starts at nine and we shifted some things around to empty the office a little to better accommodate McGonagall's needs."
Flitwick couldn't help but wonder what the story was for Caith to do so much for Minerva. It was as though fate allowed for this.
Caith opened a door. Minerva was sitting up in a hospital gown with a pair of nurses. They were playing cards with pretzels on the table.
"Minerva is a card shark," the dark-skinned one said. "It's like she can read our minds!"
"These are nurses Emma and Jane. It seems I don't do enough to keep you two busy!" Caith said with good humor.
"Technically we didn't even clock in yet, so you can't ding us!" Jane said.
"Nurses that are working before clocking in? You're being spoiled, Minerva," Filius said.
"It is good to see you Filius," she said and smiled the first real smile he had seen from her in the last week.
"So, you're the physics professor," Emma said. "Can you tell me the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"
"African or European?"
Minerva raised an eyebrow as the nurses burst out laughing. He'd have to explain the story of Jeremiah Gether, the muggle-born whose father was an extra in the Monty Python movie another time.
"You've seen more cinema than McGonagall," Jane said.
"Only a little more," he said. "We are kept very busy at school."
"I bet," Emma said.
"Go clock in now. Let's give the teachers some privacy," Caith said.
Jane peaked at Minerva's cards. "She was going to beat us again!"
"You'll tell me my tell another time, right?" Emma asked with a wink.
Minerva nodded. The nurses cleaned up and left.
"You can have twenty," Caith said. "Willard will be in then to discuss the procedure."
"Thank you," she said.
The look shared between them was controlled. As though neither wanted to show how they truly felt. Caith closed the door after him.
Filius turned to her. "How are you feeling?"
"Better now that I'm here," she said. "These nurses seemed to have adopted me as their grandmother. While I don't usually care for so much attention, it is comforting in a way when I feel so out of place."
"That's good to hear."
"They do believe it is cancer. They examined my blood and are reasonably certain that is what these lumps are."
"I'm so sorry," he said.
"The good news is, they intend to discharge me shortly after the procedure. It will take time to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan. I can go home for a while."
"That is good news."
"Now tell me: Has my rescue caused a ruckus?"
"Kingsley seemed to have smoothed it all out. I heard from Harry that he might have threatened Jewks with dereliction of duty for not abiding by your wishes."
"Now answer me honestly," she said more firmly. "Am I no longer headmistress?"
"I fought for your right to a hearing," he said. "I pointed out how Dumbledore was often gone for long stretches of time and the school never suffered because you were there to take care of things. I argued you should be afforded such latitude."
"And what did they say?"
"The one with all the wrinkles, Curgis mentioned how he had a muggle cousin by marriage who suffered from the disease and argued in your favor. She was a well-loved cousin. After more debate, they asked if I could continue to do my duties without Hogwarts suffering and I said yes. We had been planning for me to replace you for the last decade. If Hogwarts suffers because of your absence then the issue will need to be addressed sooner. But for now, they're willing to give you until the first of October."
"That's better than I imagined," she said with a relieved sigh.
"I'd do anything for you," he said and offered his hand. "I will always be by your side. Every headmistress needs a good deputy."
Minerva placed both hands over it. "That may change sooner rather than later Filius. It is just a fact at this point."
"Focus on getting better," he said. "I can handle the school, the board, and the ministry. Everything. You just need to get healthy."
Minerva looked like she was ready to cry. She started to control her breathing. Even as Filius had seen her cry many times over the years, he could tell she didn't like looking vulnerable at that moment. She released his hand.
"I'll visit again as soon as I can."
"No," she said with a shake of her head. "Send Pomona. I need you at Hogwarts. Please tell any staff that wishes to visit not to ask questions or perform any spells here. There are forces at work we do not entirely understand."
She knew Caith knew about magic. It made sense given their history and he seemed to have puzzled everything together.
"I will and I will do so discreetly," he said. "No robes either."
"Good."
Filius took a breath before asking his next question.
"Minerva, I know your family is none of my business, but I can't help but wonder if Malcolm should be told."
She sighed. "I knew this was coming. Let me tell him after I am discharged. I want to do this face-to-face. Not through another person and me in a hospital gown."
"If that is what you want, I shall abide by your wishes."
"Thank you again."
"Take care, Minerva. We'll see you healthy and booing the Slytherin quidditch team in no time."
This made Minerva smile. "Count on it."
Filius stepped outside. Another doctor in a white coat was waiting.
"I hope you had a good visit," he said.
"We did."
"We'll keep you informed of any changes."
"Thank you."
"Take care, sir."
Filius followed the signs back to the reception area. His head felt heavy. What were the odds the muggle doctor Granger tracked down was an associate of Minerva's from decades earlier AND knew about magic? Probability magic was not one of his specialties, but it had to be at play here. There was magic going on, somewhere in the midst of all this talk of cancer. Filius needed to think hard about what or if anything should be done about it.