Bonus post! I was in a good mood and couldn't wait until Wednesday :) Hope you enjoy it.

30 November 1981

Minerva scowled as she watched Snape claim a locker in the teacher's lounge. His greasy hair hung limply around his long pale face, and she could not help but feel slightly disgusted as she watched him from her sitting position in the corner of the room.

Although she had spoken to Albus since their argument and had assured him that she trusted his judgment, she had not gone as far as telling him that she shared his views. Minerva still felt much of what she had felt before when the Headmaster had first told her of Snape's hiring. In fact, she also felt the added emotions of hurt and betrayal that Albus would go against her advice and hire a teacher he knew made her and the rest of the staff uncomfortable.

Resisting the urge to mutter under her breath, Minerva shook her head and pulled her eyes away from the new Potions master and resumed marking her fifth-year essays. Interrupted every so often by the loud bangs and clangs of Snape's books and beakers hitting the surface of his new cupboard, Minerva had hardly got through three essays by the time Pomona entered the staff room and hurried over to her friend's table.

"Feeling better?" she asked as Pomona settled down next to her.

"Hm?" said Pomona, absently. Her eyes were fixed on the third person in the room who was now hanging up his teaching robes.

Minerva rolled her eyes and tapped Pomona's arm in an attempt to make her focus. "You told me you've been feeling terrible these last few days," she said. "Are you feeling any better?"

Pomona turned around to face Minerva and shrugged. "I'm dealing with it," she said vaguely. "Are you still coming round for dinner, by the way?"

Minerva leaned back in her chair. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?" she said, frowning. "Is there something wrong?"

Pomona shook her head distractedly. "No, no, everything's fine. I just have something important to tell you."

"Now?" asked Minerva, bemused.

"Later," said Pomona more attentively. "Anyway, I only came because I wanted to let you know that my dear husband is going to be cooking," she added, sighing. "So whatever he puts in front of us, just smile and take it."

Minerva chuckled. "I promise," she said when Pomona raised her eyebrows at her. "But if it looks too suspicious we should make him take a bite before us."

"Deal," replied Pomona, shaking on it. "I'll meet you in the Great Hall at six." She stood up suddenly and picked up her books. "Side–along apparition?"

"I have been to your house before, Pomona," said Minerva, looking up from her essays, "I do know where it is."

Pomona didn't say anything.

Minerva sighed and shrugged. "All right," she said, finally. "Have you invited anybody else?"

"Sybill," said Pomona seriously. Then, she laughed. "Oh, you should see the look on your face, Minerva. I'm just messing with you," she said, still chuckling. "It's only going to be you, me, and Albert. No need to worry."

Minerva rolled her eyes. "Go to your lessons, Pomona," she said, shooing the Herbology Professor away, "I'll see you later."

Pomona chuckled. "See you later, Minerva."

Minerva waved briefly as the other witch made her way out of the staff room. Then, noticing that it was now oddly quiet in the room, she looked up and made eye contact with Snape. Not knowing how long he had been watching her, she broke eye contact and tried to go back to her marking. A few minutes later, the staff room door clicked shut behind him. She was alone.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. By half past five, her marking was finished. Deciding to get changed out of her teaching robes and into something nicer, Minerva started to gather her things and prepared to leave.

It was almost 11 o'clock when Minerva got back from Pomona's house. Still shocked by the news, she climbed up the stairs and continued to make her way up to her private quarters, smiling faintly. Digging into her pocket for at least the hundredth time that evening, she pulled out the small card Pomona and Albert had given to her earlier that evening. The thought that she was going to be a godmother and her best friend a mother was an idea she was still trying to get used to.

"Professor McGonagall?"

Minerva slipped the letter quickly back into her pocket. "Headmaster," she said, raising her eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't think anyone else was up."

"Peeves was causing quite a ruckus outside my office," he explained good-naturedly.

"I see," Minerva said. Despite the fact that they had made up, she could still feel tension in the air. Trying her best to match his efforts at normal conversation, however, she asked, "Is it all sorted?"

"It is," Albus assured her. He smiled and tucked his hands into the pockets of his violet dressing gown. "Thank you for showing Professor Snape around the school today," he added sincerely. "I appreciate it."

Minerva pursed her lips. "You're welcome," she said crisply. Then sighing, she added more softly, "I wasn't going to leave him to get lost on his first day. I'm not that mean."

Dumbledore smiled. "I would never accuse you of being so, my dear," he said. "Anyway, I won't keep you. Avoid the Charms corridor if you can, though," he added, winking. "Peeves was heading that way."

Minerva nodded. "Thank you, Albus," she said. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Minerva."