2 May 1998

"Are you leaving, Minerva?"

Minerva backtracked so that she was back at the entrance, or rather the crumbling doorway, to the Charms Classroom. Unusually, it was Rolanda and Poppy who were inside - not Filius.

"Yes, she is, Rolanda" Poppy said forcefully. Her eyes were red-rimmed, from tiredness or tears Minerva could not quite tell. But Poppy seemed to have recovered or retained her brisk manner, and she gave Rolanda a warning look - she clearly thought that Minerva was likely to stay at Hogwarts if she thought she was needed. This was not entirely incorrect.

"I can stay—"

"No, you can't," interrupted Poppy, and she waved her hands, shooing Minerva away. "Go home, Minerva. We have it under control here."

"We do," Rolanda agreed - she too sounding rather worse for wear.

Minerva hesitated and Poppy sighed. She got up from her seated position on one of the desks and walked stiffly towards Minerva. "My sister is on her way here, and Rolanda's brother is also going to come to Hogwarts. We won't be alone. And you deserve to see your family too, Minerva. I'm sure we can manage a few hours before your inevitable return tomorrow."

"I will be back in the morning," Minerva confirmed.

Poppy smiled. It was possibly the first time she had smiled in goodness knows how long, Minerva thought. It was a genuine smile too. Touched with some deep sadness and tiredness, but a smile nevertheless. "Of course, you will," Poppy said. "Now go home, let us know when you arrive, and then we will see you again tomorrow morning."

Poppy gave her a quick hug, then gently pushed Minerva away.

Not really knowing what to say, having opted for 'Stay safe', 'Be careful' or something of that manner for the last few years at least, Minerva could not think of appropriate parting words. She waved, making sure to catch Rolanda's eye too, and mumbled a quick "Good evening," before leaving that corridor behind.

She found that she was walking briskly down the broken halls. Her senses were still on high alert it seemed, and Minerva jumped several times at small noises as she made her way out of the castle.

"What will you do?"

Without meaning to, Minerva's ears pricked up as she recognised Hermione Granger's muffled voice. It came from an empty classroom Minerva was walking past. She slowed her pace.

"I don't know."

The voice belonged to Harry Potter, Minerva realised.

"Ginny said we can stay at the Burrow but..." Hermione trailed away. She cleared her throat. "I don't want to—I just—I can't believe what they're going through."

There was the sound of movement from within the room, and then the sound of crying. Minerva felt her heart clench as she thought of Fred Weasley. How was it that she, an elderly woman now, had survived and yet a young boy like Fred Weasley had not?

"We could find someplace to stay. The Leaky Cauldron—"

"The place would be swarming with people if they knew the defeater of the Dark Lord was there."

Harry was silent, or perhaps he had said something too quietly for Minerva to hear. Either way, Minerva internally admonished herself for eavesdropping - she really should have left the two alone and continued going on her way. But for some reason, she found herself frozen to the spot.

Potter cleared his throat. "We could stay here. McGonagall needs help, and I'd rather distract myself for a while. I know some other seventh years are staying to help with the reparations." He paused. "Couldn't you go to your parents now?"

"They won't know who I am."

"They're safe now, Hermione. You can reverse the spell."

"I can't—"

"Sure you can—"

"No, Harry, I don't know how!"

Someone sniffed, possibly Hermione, and Minerva felt that she now had to either offer help or stop listening altogether to a conversation that clearly was meant to be private. She opted for the former - indeed, Granger's words had sent slight alarm bells ringing.

Minerva knocked on the door. Someone yelped, then a throat was cleared and a tired voice came from within the classroom - Minerva's own classroom. "Come in."

Minerva entered. Granger and Potter were sitting side-by-side on a desk. Granger hopped off as soon as she realised it was Minerva.

"Professor McGonagall," she said, her voice high-pitched and wavering slightly. Minerva looked tactfully away as Granger wiped her eyes. "Sorry—we should have asked—we were just leaving—"

"Please do not leave on my account," Minerva said quickly, stopping the girl in her tracks. "You do not need my permission to use this room."

Hermione hesitated, then sat back down. Minerva looked between her two students. Her former students, she corrected herself. Though both Granger and Potter had been in the castle for several hours at least, and Minerva had fought alongside them for the duration of that time, she had not had the time or the opportunity to speak to either of them since the Battle had ended.

Hermione Granger was covered in dust, blood and other such dirt. Her hair was singed at the tips - a little like Minerva's, though Minerva had plans to chop a good three inches off her own hair as soon as she reached Caithness again. Potter was not any less grimy. His glasses were lopsided, broken no doubt. And his clothes were torn and stained in several places. But neither looked hurt - or physically hurt at least.

"We were wondering if we could stay at Hogwarts for the time being, Professor?" Harry said.

"By all means, Mr Potter," Minerva replied. "Many students and staff are staying here this evening until they can find appropriate accommodation."

This was mainly for those who had nowhere else to go or those who were too tired to even attempt to leave the castle.

"Thanks, Professor."

Minerva looked at both teenagers - or adults now, really - they were both of age after all. "You can stay as long as you like, both of you. In any Common Room but—" she paused, then made up her mind, "I am afraid I could not help overhearing what you said, Miss Granger."

Hermione went pink, but Minerva did not let this deter her. Despite all that the two had done over the past years, and especially the last few months, Minerva suspected there were still ways she could offer them support.

"Oh, it's nothing—"

"I don't quite believe that, Miss Granger," Minerva interrupted gently. "A problem shared is a problem halved," she added hopefully. "Perhaps if we put our heads together we can come up with a solution for whatever situation you are in now?"

"I don't want to be a bother. Everyone's going home—and this isn't urgent, it can be dealt with later."

"Nonsense, Miss Granger. There's no time like the present," Minerva said. "Would you like Mr Potter to stay?" she added more softly.

"Wasn't Aberforth looking for you, Harry?"

Harry nodded gently. He gave Hermione a hug, and then shared a nod with Minerva, before leaving the room.

"I hope you don't mind if I sit down first?" Minerva said. Hermione shook her head, and Minerva eased herself down into a chair with a sigh. "Now," she said, "what is troubling you, Miss Granger? Something about your parents, I gather?"

"It's quite a complicated situation, Professor. I'm not sure if anyone can do very much about it," Hermione admitted. 'I hadn't particularly thought of—of after—when I cast the spell."

Minerva nodded slowly, still not quite understanding the situation yet. "What was this spell?" she asked.

Hermione looked at her feet. "A memory charm. Not just to forget me, but—but I warped their memories too. They're living completely different lives now..."

Minerva tried not to let her surprise show - a dramatic reaction would not have helped the situation, she concluded. "I see," she said eventually, slowly. "Where did you learn to—"

"A book. I read it somewhere, but there's no counter-spell. Or none that I know of..."

"Yet," Minerva added softly. She pursed her lips and thought quietly for a moment or two. She had not come across an incident like this in her time, though she expected that it must have happened before. Perhaps during the first wizarding war, when families were hiding from Grindelwald and his followers.

Minerva thought of her mother; Isobel would have known. Albus would have known as well. And though Minerva had a few ideas herself, she did not want to jump the gun. The mind was a delicate thing after all, and it would not do to tinker and meddle without conducting proper and thorough research beforehand.

"I will need to speak with some members of the Ministry," she said, after a moment. "Within the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, there is a Division called the Obliviator Headquarters. I am certain someone there will have some idea on how best to proceed."

"And if they don't?"

"This cannot be the first time this has been attempted, Miss Granger. There are many professionals in this world, either at St Mungo's or the Ministry who might have dealt with such an incident. If not, there will most likely be a record somewhere."

Hermione nodded softly. She did not look completely convinced, but Minerva thought the girl looked perhaps a little more hopeful than she had done previously.

"I will ask Kingsley if we can have someone check on your parents. Do you know—"

"I think they left London. I'm not sure where they went, exactly..."

Minerva nodded. "That can de dealt with," she said. "In the meantime—"

The door to Minerva's classroom opened, and Harry Potter stepped in again. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he apologised, looking at Minerva and then at Hermione again. "Ginny said they're going to leave soon, and we need to come with them. She isn't taking no for an answer," he added. "Is everything..." he trailed away.

Hermione sniffed and then stood up. "It won't be a quick fix, but we've made a start," she said quietly. "I'll be down in a moment, Harry."

He nodded. "I'll wait for you," he said, and then he closed the door - no doubt hovering on the other side of the wall.

"I'm sorry for taking up your time, Prof—"

"Please do not apologise," Minerva interrupted the girl, and she meant what she said. She then stood up too, pressing the palm of her hand on her desk to support herself. "I will speak with Kinglsey before I leave, and I will write to the Ministry tonight."

Tears filled Hermione's eyes again. She wiped them away. "I don't know how to thank you, Professor."

"I should really be the one thank you, Hermione," Minerva replied gently. "Our world will be forever in your debt."

Hermione blushed, and Minerva pursed her lips a moment, considering the girl before her.

"I shall not keep you any longer, Miss Granger, as it sounds as though you are imminently expected at the Burrow," she said suddenly. "But do come to my office," she added, "either tomorrow morning or at some other time this week. We can continue discussing the matter of your parents, and formulate a more detailed plan then."

"I can come tomorrow."

"Very well. I shall be here all day. Come and find me whenever you are ready."

"I will, Professor. Thank you," she added sincerely.

Minerva nodded once and then walked the girl to the door. "Travel safely, Hermione," she said.

"You as well, Professor."