Guess who's spending their birthday in isolation this year?
Sorry for the super late update. Stay safe everyone :)
February 15 1983
"Saved a village from a werewolf?" repeated Minerva, skeptically. She looked up at Pomona who was holding an open copy of the Daily Prophet. Plastered on the second page was the smiling figure of Gilderoy Lockhart, one of their former students.
Pomona nodded. "Wrote a book too. Wandering with Werewolves I think it's called," she said, watching Minerva readjust the small blanket her three-week-year-old baby had accidentally kicked off. She smiled slightly, then leaned forward and tossed the newspaper onto the coffee table. "I have to say, I'm surprised that's what he ended up doing after graduation… Battling werewolves."
Minerva tore her eyes away from baby Grace, whose small hand was curled up in a fist and brushed her ginger curls. "I know," she answered, "It seems a little… Well, who are we to judge? It could be true."
Pomona raised an eyebrow. "Are we talking about the same boy who didn't master the summoning charm until 5thyear?"
Minerva shrugged. "He may have been a slow learner but he wasn't incompetent. Anyway, he should know all the spells now so it's not inconceivable that he managed to defeat a werewolf," she trailed off and glanced at the folded newspaper, "even at 18," she added quietly. Despite her attempts to defend him, Minerva still remained a little dubious of Gilderoy's recent successes.
Her attention was caught suddenly when she noticed something green creep it's way up the coffee table in her peripheral vision. Turning, she gently slapped the Wiggentree's branch away from her mug and picked up her tea.
"Oi! I hope that's not how you've been treating my plants at school," said Pomona.
"It's not my fault your tree has no manners," answered Minerva, smoothly. She watched the branch of the Wiggentree slowly slither its way back to the corner of the room. "Anyway, I'm not the Herbology Professor anymore. I got Transfigurations back this week."
"Hm, no wonder you've been so chirpy," remarked Pomona, leaning back in her chair. "I take it Dumbledore wasn't too pleased."
"Not in the slightest," replied Minerva, finding it very difficult to hide her smile. "Even more so because the cover teacher arrived a few days earlier than expected."
"Oh?" Pomona leaned forward slightly.
"She's French," explained Minerva, waving her hand. "Her papers got processed quicker than expected."
"And how is she settling in?"
"Well enough. I hear that a lot of the students enjoy her classes. But she is retiring next year and moving back to France. You don't have anything to fear, Pomona," she added.
Pomona shook her head and pretended she hadn't been sitting on the edge of her seat waiting to hear all about this new teacher. "I'm just curious," she explained, in an attempt to sound casual.
"I know. I'm just reminding you," answered Minerva, taking a sip of her tea. "We all miss you very much back up the school. Your Hufflepuffs never stop asking when you will be back."
Her words had the desired effect and Pomona relaxed slightly. "As it should be," she said. "How are they all doing? Anything juicy to tell me?"
Minerva laughed. "Juicy? When did you become such a gossip?"
Pomona rolled her eyes. "The most interesting things that happen around here consist of the radio magically turning on in the night and Albert telling me about his biology students. You are my only contact to Hogwarts so you have tell me everything."
"I have to do I?" Putting the mug back down on the coffee table, Minerva leaned back in her chair and folded her hands on her lap. "Well, in all honesty, nothing has happened really. There aren't any real troublemakers anymore."
Pomona nodded knowingly. "Not since James and Sirius you mean?"
Minerva felt her heart clench. "Lupin and Pettigrew made their fair share of trouble too," she added, in an attempt to sound natural.
"Hm," agreed Pomona. "They did calm down after their 5 year though."
Minerva nodded, remembering the time she had walked into the Gryffindor Common room to give an announcement. Sitting in the chairs beside the fire she had watched Lily Potter, Evans in those days, scold the four boys for trying to prank her. It still hurt her when she thought about the potential of her 5 Gryffindors. Every now and then this memory of Lily telling off the boys resurfaced in her mind and it saddened Minerva to think how good a teacher Lily would have made.
"I think Lily Potter may have played a part in that," she said, after a moment.
Pomona nodded. "She did seem to be the only one they would listen to," she said. Then, clearing her throat, "Did you see the article about-"
"Harry," interrupted Minerva. She moved in her chair. "They just won't seem to leave him alone."
Pomona sighed. "It would be foolish to think that they will," she answered sadly. "He is still the wizard who ended the war."
Minerva didn't say anything for a while, thinking instead of the day she had watched that small baby being carried into his aunt and uncle's house. "I know. The Boy Who Lived…" She sighed and rested her chin on her hand. "That name is going to follow him for the rest of his life."
Pomona placed her finished tea back on the table. "There are worse names to be called," she said, gently.
Suddenly, Grace moved in her chair. Her eyelids fluttered and both women held their breath. However, Grace merely rolled over and continued to snooze comfortably.
Remembering something Minerva frowned. "Did you say radio turning on in the middle of the night? Do you mean to say she's already showing signs of magic?"
Pomona shrugged. "What can I say? She has very good genes."
Minerva smirked. "Of course. Still, though, she's quite young. Usually it doesn't show for another two years or so."
"Says the witch who made her father's bagpipes play when she was barely a few months old." Pomona looked at her friend pointedly.
"Only once or twice," answered Minerva, slightly embarrassed.
"Liar. Joking aside though, admittedly her level of magic does surprise me a bit." Pomona looked over at Grace. "It doesn't help getting Albert used to it either. Of course, he's seen me use my wand but I try to keep it to a minimum - I don't really need to use magic at home. Grace's magic surprises him still."
"He will get used to it at some point. My father was the same. It's a lot to ask trying to get someone who never believed in magic before to suddenly accept it in their lives."
Pomona nodded, absently. "Naturally, naturally." Her eyes then drifted the clock attached to the wall and she seemed to shake herself. "He should be back from school soon. Do you want to stay for dinner?"
"Better not," said Minerva, putting down her mug and starting to get up. "I didn't realise it was already 6 o'clock. Finn will be wondering where I am."
As the two started tidying everything away, all the commotion seemed to wake Grace from her sleep. The baby groaned, rolled over on her side and, this time, opened her eyes and scrunched up her little face.
Thinking quickly, Minerva put the teapot back down and picked up the wee baby from her chair. She brought the small bundle close to her chest, knowing that most babies preferred to be held by someone standing up, and began to rock the small baby in her arm.
Grace's face relaxed, and she snuggled her small head closer to her godmother.
"How did you do that?" asked Pomona, shocked.
"Magic." Minerva smiled and continued to say ever so gently on the spot. "Lots of practice with my nieces and nephews," she explained, more seriously. "Compared to them, your daughter is very well behaved."
Pomona smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment." She then got up slowly and walked over to one of the bookcases that supported a small black camera on one of its many shelves. Taking it down from its resting place she crept back to her original position. However, just as she pressed the button, Grace's eyes shot open and, with a small hiccup she was promptly sick all over Minerva. The camera flash went off, catching Minerva's expression of shock and horror and, at that same moment, the front door of the Sprout's house opened to admit Albert who had just come back from work.
"I'm home- oh," the rest of Albert's sentence trailed away as he took in the scene in front of him.
Pomona was the first to laugh.
"Have you just been sick all over Professor McGonagall," she cooed, wiping Grace's mouth with a tissue and smirking in Minerva's direction. "So very well behaved."
Minerva raised her eyes skyward and tutted. "I take it all back. Right troublemaker, this one," she said, not unkindly.
Pomona chuckled and took Grace back who was now all clean and snoozing happily again. "Must be a thank you present for the pyjamas," she joked.
"Ha ha," said Minerva, before turning towards Albert and gratefully taking the tissues he was offering her – opting to follow Pomona's lead and not use magic despite the inconvenience.
"You've missed just a bit," said Pomona, pointing at the large gloopy stain on her friend's cardigan, clearly enjoying the moment.
"You might want to use the bathroom," said Albert, more helpfully.
Minerva faltered. She knew she would be able to do a much better job with magic. If she went into the bathroom she would have to mess about with water and soap and leave the house with a soaking top that smelled faintly of sick.
"I think I've got most of it off," she said, briefly checking her clothes to make sure there were no glaring pieces of churned up food still hanging off them. "Anyway, Elphinstone will be wondering where I am so I think I had best be off." She patted Albert's arm with her hand. "Thank you, though."
Albert smiled. "Right, I'll take this little monkey up to bed then." He took Grace out of Pomona's arms. "Safe trip back, Minerva. Let us know when you get home." He waved, then made his way out of the room and quietly up the stairs to Grace's bedroom.
"Oh dear," said Pomona, when Albert was out of earshot. She picked up her wand and looked at her friend. "You do not look nice."
"Or smell nice," said Minerva, awkwardly picking up her handbag.
Pomona chuckled. "No, not at all. Now, stand up straight."
Minerva did as she was told. With a flick of her wand, Pomona vanished the remnants of sick on Minerva's top. "There you go. Now, I can safely hug you goodbye."
They walked into the hallway, and Pomona let Minerva grab her coat and shoes, before giving her a hug.
"I'll try and stop by after work next week," said Minerva, stepping out of the open front door.
"Please do," said Pomona. "Come for dinner even. You can bring Elphinstone too."
Minerva stepped out of the house, turning up the collar of her coat to break the wind. "I'll let you know when we're both free."
Pomona smiled, then waved. "All right. Well, let us know when you get back."
Minerva nodded. "Will do."
After the front door swung shut, Minerva took a few steps away from the house. Stopping in the middle of the path, she checked to see if the coast was clear before disapparating on the spot.