Hello - almost forgot to post as I forgot it was a Wednesday. Life has been very busy, but a have a few pre-written chapters now so updates will be more regular :)
As always, thank you for the lovely reviews! Also worth noting that there's a teenie tiny time jump between this chapter and the last!
15 June 1998
Malcolm shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand and looked up at Hogwarts. Following the battle, the castle had been in quite a dire shape. Now, the turrets were almost fully rebuilt, and large scorch marks no longer adorned the castle's exterior.
Minerva had come in every day to coordinate and support reparations. Many others had come to help too. These included students, teachers, Ministry workers as well as family members of those who had been involved in the battle. Malcolm and Helen had come to help on a few occasions. Even Pomona's husband had come on a few days to help shift rubble.
While those who came every day, morning until evening, justified their trips with the excuse that they wanted to see Hogwarts rebuilt, Minerva suspected that most came back as a means to keep themselves busy and distracted. With a constant flurry of activity and tasks needing to be completed, it became difficult to allow oneself to truly process what had happened during the battle, and all those who had been lost.
Minerva had found herself thinking of her brother, Robert, and his wife, Florence, who had been killed in their home by Death Eaters several years ago now. She had also found herself thinking about those who she had worked with during the First Wizarding War: Alastor, Frank, Alice, Gideon and Fabian. She thought of Albus too, which almost instantly made her think of Severus and Potter and then her mind drifted again to the puzzling and disturbing idea of Horcruxes.
Minerva cleared her throat suddenly and pushed thoughts of Horcruxes from her mind. She then followed Malcolm's gaze and looked up at the front of the castle, basking in the warm glow of the setting sun. She estimated that it might take another week and finally, Hogwarts would be returned to its previous glory.
Malcolm put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close to him. Minerva and Malcolm did not frequently show overt forms of affection with one another. Yet, recently, Minerva had noticed Malcolm hugged her more than usual. He came with her on errands to the shops, or to Hogwarts. He even sat with her in her office when she was conducting administrative duties: writing to Kingsley, and consulting maps of Hogwarts to ensure that each section was being rebuilt appropriately, for instance.
After a full year of no contact, Minerva suspected that this display of care and affection was an indication that Malcolm was just as glad to see her as she was to be finally reunited with her family.
"How much longer?" he asked.
"Perhaps another week." She sighed and straightened. "I have a student who wishes to speak with me, Malcolm. I can meet you back at yours?"
"I can wait if you want me to?"
Minerva smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "But I have a feeling this might take a while."
"Right-O. Well, we'll have some chocolate cake waiting for you," Malcolm replied. "Rosie's birthday celebrations won't begin until her great-aunt is home."
Minerva shoved him gently with her elbow. "Let's lose the great, shall we?"
He laughed and patted her arm. "Don't let them keep you here too long, Minerva," he said a little more seriously. "We'll see you soon."
Minerva nodded and waved as Malcolm made his way to the school gate and disapparated with a pop.
When Minerva finally reached her classroom she found Potter already waiting for her. He jumped when he heard the door open and turned, startled, to look at her.
"Apologies for keeping you waiting, Mr Potter," Minerva said. "The Giant Squid was not feeling very amicable this afternoon and it took us longer than expected to change his bandages."
She sat down behind her desk and then, upon noticing Potter had not moved, indicated that he should do the same.
"Do please take a seat," she said. "After the day we have had, I am sure your feet would appreciate some well-deserved rest."
She smiled and Harry smiled too, though hesitantly.
"Erm—right you are," he stammered. He sat down and clasped his hands on his knees. For a moment he looked again like the nervous 16-year-old boy waiting to be lectured by his teacher.
Except, this time Minerva had not been the one to organise the meeting but rather it had been Potter. They had spoken on several occasions since Voldemort's defeat but those had been brief conversations in public. Potter had hinted that he wished to speak to her at some point about a specific topic in private.
"What can I do for you today, Potter?" she asked.
"Actually," he began, "Actually, it's more about what I can do for you, Professor. I realise I've never shared much about what happened last year. Professor Dumbledore made me promise to keep some things quiet. I did that—and now everything is done so—so I thought maybe it's time to share some of that information."
Minerva froze for a moment, and she felt herself tense slightly. After all the months she had spent badgering Albus to share information when he had been alive, and all the months she had spent after his death wondering what it was that he had been doing before he had died, Minerva did not know if she was ready to finally hear the whole story.
She knew bits and pieces of it — Severus, the Horcruxes and the reason Lily and James Potter had died. But that was the sum of it. Albus' portrait had not told her anymore. She had not asked him to. Yet.
"I—I see," she said eventually, and she nodded slowly. "Erm—well, do proceed, Potter."
Harry nodded and cleared his throat. "I'm not sure how much Professor Dumbledore told you..."
Assume nothing, Minerva thought. And immediately she felt terrible for her lingering feelings of hurt and slight betrayal. Very childish Minerva, she silently admonished herself.
"But the night—it happened we were searching for—Horcruxes," Harry continued. He hesitated. "I don't know how much you heard. Or how much you know about..."
He trailed away and Minerva sighed.
"I know of Horcruxes, Potter. I have heard of them once or twice in the past," she said quietly. "Do proceed."
Harry cleared his throat. "Dumbledore thought he knew where we could find one, in a cave. He asked me to come with him—perhaps to show me what to do when Hermione, Ron and I had to find the others." He paused for a moment. "It was—it was hard. Harder than I think Dumbledore expected, maybe. I don't know."
He looked up at her, as though seeking reassurance or comfort. Minerva bowed her head forward slightly, "Albus kept much held to his chest. A difficult man to understand, or to predict." She felt her voice catch in her throat. "What happened in this cave?"
"There was a potion, and to reach the Horcrux it had to be drunk. Dumbledore drank it—I tried to offer but he was—adamant."
Minerva nodded, aware that both she and Potter were avoiding each others' eyes. Minerva because she could feel herself growing upset, and Potter, it seemed, because he was trying to give her some privacy - as much as was possible given the circumstances.
"It made him delirious—he saw his sister—and—well, it was painful. We got the Horcrux and travelled back to Hogsmeade. Dumbledore was quite—unwell." He sighed, and straightened in his chair, finding it hard to recount the subsequent events, it seemed. "We spoke to Rosmerta and she gave us brooms to fly to Hogwarts. By this time, the Dark Mark was already above the castle, and Dumbledore was very worried. We reached the Astronomy Tower, and—I should tell you now that I have an invisibility cloak..."
Minerva nodded when he looked at her hesitatingly. "I know. Albus told me about this Cloak of yours in your first year."
Potter looked surprised. "Oh," he said. "Hermione always thought you'd confiscate it if you had known about it."
"Believe you me, Mr Potter, I have been very tempted to do just that these last few years."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Harry's lips. However, his amusement disappeared as he took and deep breath and continued with the story. "We arrived at the Astronomy Tower and then... Well, I think you know the rest, Professor."
Minerva nodded. "Thank you for telling me, Potter," she said. "Al—Professor Dumbledore should not have asked such a great deal from you—"
"I understand why he did it," Harry cut in gently. "I think I agree with him, too."
Minerva pursed her lips slightly. Was she frustrated with Albus because she disagreed with his actions, or because she did not like to admit that what he had done, however mad, made some sense? It was a conversation she had been having with herself for weeks, and Minerva was no closer to reaching an answer than she had been at the start.
"Even so," she said eventually. "It was not fair..."
"Is life ever?" Potter interrupted.
Minerva sighed. "I suppose not," she said, and she frowned slightly as her heart fluttered in her chest. "I might not have been of much help this last year, Mr Potter, but if there is anything I can do in future, I would be most happy to oblige and offer any support I can. Whether you remain at Hogwarts as a student or not."
"I heard that a few people want to return to complete or redo their exams."
"It is not obligatory," Minerva assured him. "But the option is there should you like to take it. Although, I do believe Mr Shakelbolt has plans to recruit you."
The boy smiled tiredly. "Yeah, he does," he said. "Ron and I are thinking of going for it, but I know Hermione is keen to complete her education. I haven't made my mind up yet."
"If you are worried about our thoughts, I promise I shall not take any offense if you decide not to return to Hogwarts," Minerva said, and Potter smiled. "A list is circulating for those who would like to return. If you tell me or any other Professor, we will also make a note of it. Nothing will be set in stone, of course, but we do need to have an idea of numbers."
"I appreciate it, Professor McGonagall. I'll think about it." He then paused and cleared his throat. "How long until the castle is finished?"
"A week at the most," Minerva said, as Harry stood and wiped down his trousers. She stood as well, stiffly, and with her hand pressed firmly and steadyingly on her desk. Her knees protested at the movement, and her heart began to beat rapidly against her chest.
"Are you all right, Professor?"
"Yes," she replied automatically, a little breathlessly. She rubbed her chest a few times, hoping for her heart rate to calm and abate slightly, then walked Potter to the door. "Thank you for coming today, Potter, and for explaining what happened to—" she broke off and swallowed— "Albus."
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore did not want to keep so much from you, Professor."
Minerva hesitated to agree. Albus hadn't told her for numerous reasons, it seemed. Perhaps one of them was because he knew how much she would have argued with him had she known of his plans.
She wanted to apologise to Potter, on behalf of Albus, and of all the other Professors who should have protected him but had not, and that included herself.
Potter opened the door, and Minerva held it open for him as he stepped outside and hesitated on the landing.
"I am sorry, Potter," she said. "For all that you have gone through."
"It's not your fault," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Professor."
Minerva nodded. "Yes, indeed," she said. "Travel safely, Mr Potter."
He smiled, waved then descended the steps.