347Please note several Original Characters included in this chapter.
Recurring OC: (1) Professor Creighton – Transfiguration Professor, (2) Olivianne 'Via' Dench – Head Auror and sister of Healer Hypatia Dench Allis. (3) Ellie – Amelia's daugther, (4) Chris Taylor – Australian Visitors
New OC: (1) Meissa Malfoy – Draco's daughter - 3ish old
Chapter 49 – How to Release the Green-eyed Monster
May 7, 2006
Still at the fair (Still at 5th Episode)
Minerva and Harry were quiet once again, but not entirely uncomfortable, and for a while she simply nibbled on what was left of her scones and let the jolly noise around them distract them. Eventually, she thought of changing course, and she was going to ask him for the ballpark count of people that were admitted at the time he was helping at the gates, but her attention was stolen at seeing Auror Via Dench about five tables diagonally away.
Relief swamped Minerva after she had noted that Hermione was not with Via anymore. Nevertheless, this relief was replaced posthaste with reprehensible bitterness after she failed to not recall the earlier scenario of Via and Hermione nearly shoulder to shoulder when they first made an appearance at today's event.
The unwanted impression produced a soundless but harsh grunt from the green-eyed monster in her core, but not wanting to give away her feelings, she curbed the restlessness, lest she clue in Harry of her jealousy and potentially force open gateways they had marked painfully irreconcilable for the time being.
"Is she really retiring next year?" Harry asked, and it told Minerva that he had followed what/who had caught her attention. And also, he gave a faint incline towards Via.
Several months ago, Kingsley had disclosed to Minerva that Via Dench would officially call it quits by next year. He had shared too, in confidence, that Harry was Via's pick to replace herself at the Head Auror post, for the boy-who-lived-twice had proven himself many times as an Auror.
"I suppose they already sat you down?" she asked, tackling what he had brought up.
"No…" Harry replied and Minerva raised a brow in question. "Um, Hermione told me…" Minerva did not miss Harry's screwed up face before he further narrated, "She said my name was one of the three that are up for deliberation. She even said that she thinks I have Auror Via's vote. Although I can't help but think that's because of my name—"
"Don't." Minerva intercepted Harry's misgivings.
Despite the disconcert that Minerva felt from the account that pertained to a more than usual work association between Hermione and Via, she focused on bracing Harry; for it was very much like him to distrust if the merit given to him was because of his qualifications, or entirely because of his name. She needed to clear the cobwebs of his doubts.
"Listen to me well, Harry… Naturally, you as Harry Potter will always play into the picture. That is one reality that cannot be erased." Minerva paused, carefully considering her words, but she knew that sugarcoating them would only be a disservice to him, which would be the case if she were to sweep aside the ascendancy of having Harry Potter for a name. "When you saved our world from the darkness, you were barely of age. But you forget that old people like me knew that you could have conveniently not taken the burden. Or worse, fallen into the dark side, for that side seemed to have gotten dominance over our society. But you, Harry Potter, made the hardest choice and triumphed. It will always be part of you, and part of what people see in you."
"So everything else is reduced?" Harry muttered resentfully.
"Only if you allow that. And I said, 'part' of you, Harry, but not only that." Minerva gently corrected. "You shouldn't be the first to understate your other achievements. People are aware of your charms mastery, of your consistent brilliant scores in the Auror mandatory recertification test, and that you are one of the most hardworking Aurors clocking in day after day… You should bear that in mind."
"I'd hate to find out that the reason I'm being considered for that position is only because of my past and not my performance at work," he grumbled.
"I understand, Harry." Minerva empathized with the kind of doubt plaguing him. "But in this case, you know that having Harry Potter for a name wouldn't be enough to make you a candidate if you haven't checked all the qualifying dockets, regardless that your boss favors you," Minerva firmly assured him.
She gave Harry time to absorb her words, patiently waiting for the slightest sign of acceptance in him, and when a tiny bit of wry smile cracked his face, she decided to call forth a blast from the past scenario in hopes of making that smile truly come out.
"Do you remember the career advice chat we had in your fifth year?"
That instantly made Harry grin.
"First, you're not old. You're literally showing everyone today that you're not old!" he said in protest as his face transformed, showing a playful spirit. And then he jabbed, "Secondly, did you mean the sparring session you had with Umbridge?" Truly laughing now, he added, "I was torn between wanting you to blast the woman and fearing that you might actually do it!"
"I was on the verge of blasting the pinkness out of my room." Minerva groaned, but her emerald coloured eyes sparkled with pleasure. "I only refrained from doing so by reasoning that I mustn't set a bad example in front of you."
"Ha! Well, it was that incident that had me convinced that there was no doubt I'd become an Auror with you onboard as my mentor!"
"I didn't train you. But look where you are!" Minerva replied with equal measures of regret for not being able to fulfill her words to tutor him, and pride for Harry's achievement on his own.
"You could still tutor me to be a better Auror," Harry sweetly appealed.
Minerva snorted. "I'm sure you've surpassed by now whatever wiles I used to have as an Auror."
"I doubt I've surpassed anything in regards to you."
Minerva felt the statement was not said to indulge her; she appreciated the expressed belief in her capacity. But at any rate, she flipped back and delved into Harry's own luster. "Harry, you've been an Auror far longer than I was. An excellent one... And we both know that it requires a backbone to do it year after year. That kind of dedication isn't for everyone."
"It's just that…there's nothing else I'd want to do." Harry's eyes reflected such certainty.
"There you go. Destined to be an Auror." Minerva had laced her tone with admiration.
"How about you? Even then you didn't think you were… a destined life-long Auror?" Harry was intrigued, as he knew that Minerva had an impressive record as an Auror, which catapulted her into an accelerated promotion. But it was also well known how she left the MLE shortly. He was definitely curious and added a question, "Would you have stayed if they didn't have you jump from being an Auror to MLE Deputy?"
"I know that most Aurors have an aversion to being transferred to the main MLE department because of less actions and more pencil pushing. But honestly I never minded it… Did it surprise me to be suddenly promoted shortly after my transfer…? Certainly… but anyone in my position would have been blind to not see the opportunity."
"I have seen your names in many initial versions of programs and frameworks as the original author."
"Bear in mind that back then there were still shadows un-scrubbed left by Grindelwald's horrible reign. So many ripped structures that had not been mended, ignored or unknown by good people who were too worn from that war… But once I got the authority that came with the promotion, I tried to hit the ground running so others may be impelled to at least bring them on the big table."
"You still left though?"
"I did."
"Why?" Harry asked with nothing but plain curiosity.
Minerva knew exactly why. Decades ago and she could still remember the moment she knew that a Ministry job was not it for her. It was one of those peculiarly preserved in her memory. "It was Amelia— she actually made me realize."
"She told you that you ought to teach at Hogwarts instead?" Harry's jaw kind of dropped at the thought.
"Not quite." Minerva gave a half-smile as she shook her head. "But it was the period when Amelia just entered training as an Auror and we had dinner to celebrate her acceptance. And while she was chatting about all her ambitions for an Auror/Ministry career with so much clarity, it dawned on me that I didn't have them, didn't feel any of that in my guts when I started my Auror training or even with the promotion I just got…"
"I can understand that." Harry's brows drew together in empathy. "She opened the door of doubts."
"Unintentionally." Minerva nodded pensively. "But one that I needed… Amelia's bursting passion for Ministry work made me recognize that it wasn't what I'd want to devote my life to."
"Then it was Hogwarts?"
"Fortunately, the castle opened its gates with an opportunity for me, and I took it… And you could say that from day one of teaching, I knew it was what I wanted to do. So, I never looked back."
"It explains why they say you turned down the Headship of the Ministry after the war… And it explains more why you still insist on teaching first year transfiguration even though you're already so busy as the Headmistress."
"The first year is all I can manage. You already know how I tried taking second and third years." Minerva winced at the chaotic timetable she had juggled between classes and Headmistress' duties the school year they opened Hogwarts after the war. She was thankful that Professor Creighton was more than willing to have taken the load. "But yes, ultimately it was for the best I be content with year one classes since I also have had countless hurdles with pushing for the needed changes in the school."
"Yea, fighting for and winning, I'd say." Harry smiled with utmost respect. "I couldn't imagine Hogwarts without you."
"Well… Even so… Hogwarts would still be Hogwarts without me— It'll always be… after I retire."
"Retire?" His face scrunched up with the notion, "And do what?"
"I don't know…" Minerva shrugged, "Organise the library at home… Read muggle books I've long put aside… try not to kill the plants at the manor's greenhouse…"
"Whatever, Mim! You'd perish in boredom," Harry decided. "Nope, you're faaar from retiring," he exaggerated. But then he impishly took a sharp segue. "Do you think Auror Via is about to settle down at home with plants and books?"
"Are we now gossiping?" Minerva lifted an eyebrow at Harry's theme transition.
Harry wickedly smiled, shooting the briefest glance at Via Dench before whispering, "Did you know that for 5 years she was with Hestia? Waaay before Hestia dated and married Kingsley! And THIS is not gossiping because it's all true, no…? But here's the gossip part— they are saying now that she's getting involved with someone new, and that she wants to devote herself to that lucky witch."
"You're incorrigible, stop It." said Minerva, frowning.
Minerva knew that it wasn't in Harry to be defamatory or be a tittle-tattler. More likely he was distracting himself from something, and only taking refuge in chatting of petty things, considering the kind of day they were having. Still, Minerva didn't really want to talk about people's personal lives, less so about Via's… And there was not a bloody chance that she desired to do a crisscrossing of Via's rumored new romantic interest— that Minerva fucking refused to believe was Hermione…!
Minerva felt a brief but gigantic rumble from the green-eyed monster, but she immediately fortified the chains attached to it. There was no way she'd allow it out.
But of course Minerva knew about Via and Hestia as once upon a time lovers… While it was not really a secret, as both witches were very discreet, she didn't think it was widely known by the public. She only knew because Amelia had told her. Who else would…? And Harry probably knew because of his fellow Aurors.Those who had been Aurors for so long definitely knew— and Minerva could swear that the Aurors' bullpen was one hell of an information source, including people's personal lives, and bottomless gossip…
Despite her unwillingness to ponder this matter involving Via Dench, Minerva realised the conflicting premises between Harry's awareness of the veteran Auror's latest romantic interest in one unnamed witch, and his obliviousness to her inference that his golden girl best friend could be the said witch…
Still, at the thought, Minerva felt bile in her throat heaved by the green-eyed monster, blasting some restraints, and demanding attention. Minerva aggressively brushed it aside and centered on Harry's sudden shift of topic again, realising that she had missed out what he had said.
"Sorry, Harry, what about the new Auror trainees?"
"Oh, I was talking about how we seem to have a double in the number of applicants this year for Auror training. But never mind that." Harry quickly shifted into another topic. "I heard that when Susan was asked by people if Ellie was indeed her cousin and the daughter of the late Amelia Bones, she responded that the way Ellie looks should be a dead give-away… So, that's as good as public confirmation, yea?" he animatedly narrated and it helped Minerva partially leave her brewing thoughts about Via and Hermione.
"You might as well ask them." Minerva motioned to Ellie and Susan still several feet away, but positively heading towards their table…
"Oh."
"And so much for your confidence that we'll have the first and second interruption from Gryffindor House," Minerva teased about the lost bet, as she referred to the first ones approaching them— to Ellie who did not attend Hogwarts, and Susan who was from Hufflepuff house.
"Pffff, my day continues to be a win some—but lose and lose more, day", Harry mumbled, leaning more on seriousness than the supposed silliness, especially when he added, "Bloody Gryffindors are failing me today."
Minerva's worry was re-ignited upon hearing his burbling despondent timbre. The ribbing she had served about their petty betting had fallen flat and Harry's reaction wasn't what she had anticipated. It was supposed to be a trivial matter they were entertaining themselves with, a way to distract them. Apparently, Harry was still smarting from something, but not wanting to exacerbate his mood, their moods, Minerva decided to play a special card.
"Harry, dear, you still have to pick a restaurant for our dinner date next week, alright?" Minerva warmly submitted, as she lightly touched one of his shoulders. "I'll even let you pay." She deliberately added the jest, which successfully traded Harry's dejected countenance for a heartened one.
Harry put a hand to his face before completely accepting and riding on Minerva's offer of happy diversion. "And Mim, I don't need a case of your special whisky on my birthday, just a bottle will do so long as you will be the one bringing it." Minerva snorted at his impertinence, but grasped the underlying point.
A weighty look passed between Minerva and Harry. It bore the paramount message of part appreciation and part assurance of exceptional support for today, for each other… Without a doubt, the interchange had made Minerva feel less alone today.
Eventually, the Bones cousins had reached them, and a re-introduction happened between Harry and Ellie. The happy beam on Ellie's face reminded Minerva so much of Amelia as she listened to Ellie validating to Harry that she was truly Amelia's daughter.
It wasn't obvious to others but it was transparent to Minerva when Harry shoved aside whatever was bringing him down by launching into his newest meddling quest to rope Ellie and Ronald together. Harry's not so deftly bringing up the name of his best friend- Ronald Weasley into the conversation became an entanglement of exchanges with Susan's inadvertent tangent of questions on the latest products from Ronald's (with his brother George) joke shop. It was clear that Susan was absolutely clueless as to Harry's cupid intention, and it almost made Minerva laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of the unconnected dialogues.
The next approaching guests following the Bones were Rolf Scamander and Luna Lovegood. The former was another Hufflepuff, and the latter from the Ravenclaw house.
"More non- Gryffindors," Harry imperceptibly angled towards Minerva and she heard his exasperated low mutterings… but she was glad to also have caught his overriding amusement for the maddening forfeiture to their frivolous betting.
"Two bottles…" she softly murmured back, to increase that loving offering to what had been previously put at stake for his birthday arrangement. Harry grinned. They both knew it wasn't about the bottles of alcohol, but about the depth of her commitment to be there for Harry on his next birthday.
Then Minerva was pulled into a wild but enchanting conversation with Luna that utterly drove her disordered and astounded. Luna just told her that had she definitely lost all the 'incancosus'— magical insects attracted specifically to the magic of de-glamouring spells, which apparently Luna had been seeing around Minerva ever since the first time they had met, years before she got her Hogwarts letter, as her father had once introduced them in Diagon Alley.
The last time Minerva had heard the term Incancosus was from Kingsley. But he was less knowledgeable of what they were, except that he told her that a great presence of them would always be identified by the special warding in the Head Minister's office whenever Minerva was there, which then had given him the basis for his suspicion that she was employing some sort of magical wrapping to her appearance. But that was the extent of it.
On the contrary, Luna had explained that when she concentrates hard enough, she could see the unique emitted wave of magic behind these magical insects. The academics behind magical properties were not lost on Minerva. She was actually well-read on the subject of magical creatures; in different compositions of kingdoms and these creatures' magical makings. Also, she knew enough about charm spells fundamental configuration. Hence, she could follow Luna's explanation about the correlations between the Incancosus and the de-glamour spell…
But unlike Luna, she had no gift in seeing or sensing most unseen creatures. Her knowledge was strictly from a great deal of reading and from noteworthy encounters with different but seen magical creatures. Oddly, the subject matter of magical creatures had helped her rigorous study of some aspects that are unaccounted in the subject of transfiguration when she was only in her twenties. Truth be told, Minerva always considered her proficiency in swapping identities between animate beings and inanimate things (and vice-versa) from extensively knowing the academics behind them…that there was an element that wasn't all innate transfiguration prowess in her blood.
Then amidst the discussion with Luna, and Harry's amusing talk with the others, Minerva observed that Draco Malfoy was tracking his way with his family in tow to their table. And when Harry too picked up on the incoming caller and met her eyes, she subtly winked at him to send the same message between them. That gesture effectively draped over the two of them a sense of droll that silently overtook them… Unbeknownst to their company, their exclusive amusement was surely heightened with Slytherins beating Gryffindors for they would be among the first to disturb Minerva's reprieve.
Minerva watched Harry offering a hand to shake with Draco with a most sincere countenance… and it got her heart clenching with pride. She believed with all her heart that Harry was the real-deal hero, one of the finest for his consistent sense of standing up for the discounted. She already knew this about him, but it would still astound her how innately gallant he really was, despite all the tragedy he had experienced.
It made her ponder then, that it may be those same ordeals that enabled him to easily register exclusions suffered by others— particularly one that Draco had been trying to overcome since the war, and it struck Minerva that Harry could be aware of Draco's need for some backing… As Minerva silently witnessed this overpowering moment, she was mindful of other eyes around them having their focus on the unfolding scenario… an ultimatum dangled: whether their society was truly making headway or quietly in stagnancy in the eight years since the last war.
Harry's testimony for the Malfoys included the fact that he and Draco fought in the room of the requirement as opposing sides. But also his strong emphasis of the events that had saved him— of Draco not giving them away at Malfoy Manor when they were captured, of Narcissa's defiance when she declared him dead to Voldemort, and ultimately the Malfoys walking away from Voldemort at Hogwarts. Even being not quite an adult at that time, Harry's given testament was extremely factual, and he was lobbying for fairness for everyone.
The memory had Minerva concluding that she would need to have that dialogue with Harry, about her wanting to hire Draco as Potions Professor for the next school opening. That she could now do so without worrying that Harry would pick the battle only because he knew she wanted to win it, but because Harry would see it was the right thing to do.
"Thank you, Headmistress," Draco quietly said to her. "—for ensuring that my family would have this wonderful experience today." The message was delivered with standard courtesy, but Draco's eyes carried all the sincerity and appreciation for the inclusion extended to him and his family.
Aware of the valid reluctance of Draco to partake in public events such as today, she had sent a letter to him a fortnight ago as a direct invitation from the Headmistress of Hogwarts… Minerva had no doubt that Draco was an intelligent man capable of grasping her meaning that the invite was the start of her bolstering him in public. Whether he knew or not that she had only recently come to the realization of the appalling yet unintentional snubbing she participated in, she hoped that he knew that she was now setting about its rectification.
"I want to set a meeting with you in the last week of this month, all right?" Minerva said to Draco. She was absolutely pleased to see him not shying away from attending today with his family. And also genuinely delighted to be meeting his son, Scorpius and his daughter Meissa. Minerva vaguely noted that the young boy was the same age as Rose, but Draco's daughter was two years younger.
Given that the exclusive party with Harry had truly ended with the growing company around their table, it also meant that Minerva's reprieve was over. She could deduce that not long after, many others would resume seeking an audience with the Headmistress…
But what she did not anticipate was to have the Weasley clan as the next ones to invade their table… more than a dozen of them— Arthur, Molly, their sons (except Ron), the only daughter, the three daughters in law (and even Charlie's latest boyfriend), and including all the sired third generations. The lot had the effect of completely deterring others from their intent to converse with Minerva McGonagall… Deliberate or not, she had to smile at the fortuitous barrier around her…
When Ginevra approached her, she was not surprised with her good-humored question of 'if her husband had indeed communicated her admiration for her badass outfit'.
"Gin…" Harry groaned.
Ginny only laughingly shushed him, and almost Molly-like stated, "Sweetheart, the Headmistress is family not just to a Potter, you know, but to all of us Weasleys too!"
"Gin, you're a Potter—"
"Tsk… Don't rain on my parade, Harry!" Ginny playfully battered before returning to her declaration to Minerva. "I want to express my support… directly to you because I am not sure if my husband can be relied on to tell you the compliments I made him swear to tell you." She grinned. "But yes, I applaud this latest move of shocking everyone with how brilliant you look, Headmistress!" She bobbed her head as she affirmed, "Truly, truly badass!"
Minerva chuckled and thanked Ginevra for her kind and amusing words… But honestly, the witch was correct, she had known that apart from her relationship with Harry, the rest of the family was trying their best to see her less as a distant and revered person of authority…
The resolve had been prompted after she supported George by encouraging him to re-visit Hogwarts if he wanted, and as much as he wanted… She didn't know what made her think of it, but as it turned out, it did help George with his grief from losing Fred… And that simple grant had the Weasley family determined to scale at least one of Minerva's erected walls. Plus, it got her an open invite to their monthly Weasley family dinners, which she had yet to allow herself to attend…
Detachment was etched into Minerva's character; for decades and decades she only had Amelia and Albus accessing her inner sanctum… Yes, Ellie had arrived last year in her life and the entire affair had so much of Amelia's impression that a fixed attachment would surely be developed, but Minerva was already warning herself that Ellie was not Amelia, and she couldn't set expectations of that sort… Then there was Harry, who indeed had managed to pave his own path to reach out to her heart just after the war. However there was the reality that it came with tethers to Hermione… And her dynamic with Hermione, well, it had always felt like such a limited pass to a paradise where she never allowed herself to be greedy to have more…
But sure, the thought of breaking decades of solitude had begun visiting Minerva more and more in the last year or so… She remembered the hours after the battle of Hogwarts… After that first informal meeting with Kingsley to set crucial actions in motion within the next 24, 48, 72 hours… After she had known that she would obviously become Hogwarts' Headmistress. That was when she was convinced that she had entered the final phase of her life…
This final phase was already set for her, where she was to take that stage up to the end and then bow out… She had seen that kind of life— one that Albus Dumbledore had lived, one she had witnessed after she went back to Hogwarts to teach and had been allowed entry to the private chapters of the wizard's life… They hardly mentioned the verity between them, but once in a blue moon when students had gone home for summer vacation and there was no war to be concerned with, Albus had spoken without obfuscation of the same plate she would be served once he was gone… one he had encouraged but had sprinkled with a dire warning of personal cost… Minerva had known it… and accepted it all…
Then Hermione 'happened' to her a mere five days after the battle of Hogwarts— Seventh of May in the year 1998 hit her with the wildest curveball. And Minerva wasn't the same… Since then, she was in a pendulum, swinging to wanting a life with Hermione and abandoning everything for love, but as fervent as it was, it had swung her back harshly towards just following the set path she had known… then convincing her strongly of the wisdom that it also meant for a better and clearer path set for Hermione— one that would afford the younger witch to become truly great, surpassing so many great ones that came before them, and even others that would come…
In the early years after the last war, there had been numerous and seemingly endless grounds, goals, and expectations from Minerva as someone of her stature, as Hogwarts' ultimate authority, and even as Special Ministry Advisor to a society still raw from Voldemort's soiling. Minerva had them all as roaring fuel that kept her from not taking the plunge of loving Hermione openly. But as she had ticked off so many lists in the last eight years, the pendulum was slowing down… By fair means bidding to transfigure itself into a compass… And the direction it was beginning to indicate was towards one thing— a life with Hermione… Pointing to living a life with family and friends… having that goddamn chaotic but surely delightful dinner with the Weasleys…
Perhaps she should start considering that dinner, just once in a while say yes, and open herself to those who had long considered her family. Ginevra spoke the truth; she had felt their family's keenness to bring her in… Perhaps it might help chip off a coat of the forlornness in her chest… the tiniest of baby steps that maybe…just maybe could eventually drive her home— home to Hermione…
"She's still angry with me?"
Minerva didn't mean to catch that heated question. It was Harry's voice, in a half-whisper but unmistakably intense tone that caught her attention. She subtly glanced around and found him speaking with Ronald whose face was on its way to completely turning red.
The two wizards were slightly separated, not quite away, and generally within their created huddle (several tables pulled and joined with theirs), but no other Weasley was minding the two… possibly not even realizing Ronald's arrival, as Minerva had not till now. Of course, she instinctively checked around for Hermione and Rose, thinking that mother and daughter had been hanging around with Ronald. And again, it wasn't the case. But it seemed that something was truly brewing amongst the trio…
"Err, yes…" Ronald winced.
"Well, I am angrier with her." Harry spat his words.
Her... Minerva was sure that the 'her' in Harry's sentence was Hermione.
At this point, Bill with his wife Fleur, and Arthur, had traded with Ginny in conversing with Minerva. And while she was still paying attention to their discussion on the latest counter-curse experiments, she couldn't help but be concerned with the two-thirds golden trio who were clearly starting a wrangle between them. But then Ronald took out his wand and cast a silencing charm around him and Harry.
Minerva was vaguely surprised that it was Ronald who had the meticulousness to employ a confidential spell for their conversation, but then again, with those short sentences from Harry, Minerva supposed that he was already lost in his emotions. And the thought only increased Minerva's worry for him tenfold…
She must not, she knew. But after a moment of uneasy calculation, Minerva's desire to know what was going on in order to support Harry if need be had become an overwhelming motivation. And so without any outward movement, Minerva deftly drew on her animagus hearing to break through the silencing spell cast around Harry and Ron.
Strictly speaking, the ability wasn't part of the package after one had successfully become an Animagus; there wasn't even any text written in conjunction with it, at least none that she knew of. But many, many moons ago, Albus Dumbledore had planted the idea in her head, citing that her extraordinary transfiguration gift may have untapped potential in relation to her animagus ability.
And with only a handful of attempts at balancing between intense tapping into the nature of her animal form and withholding the bodily transfiguration, she was stunned when she found out that she could call upon her animagus senses. Particularly peripheral vision, strong odor sensors, and heightened hearing… Then in the course of time, her mastery of her animagus senses, while in human form had progressed into having the ability to penetrate silencing or disillusionment charms… An ability she was now utilizing to listen to the private conversation between Harry and Ron…
"Harry, you caught her off guard; you know how she's paranoid—"
"No, Ron! You heard what she said to me, as if I put them in danger… as if she didn't know that I would die protecting them," Harry hissed.
"But you can't take offense when she misjudged your actions, because you weren't exactly following what we forced out of her… I mean, after all the talk we had, though we didn't hold a wand against her so that she'd pick a decision and live with it… honestly, mate, I feel that we kinda—"
"Oh Ron, for all the things we've said and unsaid, you know that with this one, we have no say, none at all… That we only know that we have to be there for her… That's why I do not understand how suddenly I am the villain?"
"You're not… There's no villain here."
"It feels like I am though."
"She probably felt like she was being manipulated?"
"What? I was not... I didn't even think… how could she think the worst? Ron, you could see the exaggeration, right?"
There was a lull, and Minerva could only deduce that Ronald had responded not with words but body movement. However, she didn't risk glancing over at them, and she just assumed that both wizards went into further ponderings as the silence stretched.
Arthur was now talking about the third stage of the counter-curse experiment, and Minerva maintained the appearance of active interest, but her mind was chewing over what she had heard from Harry and Ronald.
As far she could follow, Harry had done something that had gotten Hermione mightily angry. And that Ronald was clearly bridging the communication between his best friends. While he was sympathizing with Harry, he was also articulating to him the basis for Hermione's supposed belief of Harry's manipulative actions.
Minerva couldn't hazard a guess as to what Harry had done, and for Hermione to blow up as purported. But what had been confirmed to her was that Harry's downhearted mood had streamed from fighting with Hermione… a serious fight… and it was clear that it happened today… definitely after Harry had visited her this morning…
The conversation delivered to her by her animagus hearing had given her messy feelings, disorderly, swelling amounts of worry… And the more she replayed the dialogue she had heard from the two best friends, the dread only worsened… Also, it was bringing out a strange desperation, one looming over Minerva, but she couldn't quite put a finger on why…
On top of that, the guilt for prying was also gaining a footing in Minerva sense of right and wrong; the indignity in doing so had set the alarms flashing in red and loudly ringing. It was knocking at her to withdraw from the eavesdropping, and she was just about to, truly she was, but then she heard her name…
"Okay, but going to Minerva was—"
"Ahhhh, are you daft? Don't say her name!"
"I've put up a silencing charm, Harry! Bloody hell, Harry!"
"Oh. Sorry… Sorry, Ron…"
"Tsk. You were the one who wanted to have this conversation now and had forgotten that Minerva was only several feet away. I knew that she would take notice just with the exasperation in your voice. So, I set the charm right away. And good thing too that dad was probably hoarding her attention, talking about those experiments on curses breaking."
"Argh… I really hate today, Ron."
"Well, when did we ever love fighting with each other? Plus, it's Mione. We always feel like the worst gits when she's angry at us."
"Sometimes though, I feel that for her, doing nothing and doing something about this are the same— all wrong."
"I know, Harry… She's not exactly the brilliant best friend we know when it comes to this one thing… But honestly, Harry, your meddling does not help."
"Ron… I told you I only wanted to know, from Hermione and from Minerva… but after hearing finally from them… well, you know that I am staying away."
"Really? So then let me just ask you openly and you have to tell me the truth. You didn't bring Rose to Minerva today to meddle in regards to Hermione—?
"I did not, Ron. Merlin! Do you want to use legilimency on me?"
"Don't be angry at me, alright? But can you really not see how Mione would think you're undermining her decision to finally move on when you do pull a visit like that?"
"That's not exactly what it was…"
"Harry! She sees it as you setting her up, when on this very day you decided to visit Minerva with her daughter."
"I swear to you it was not like that. When she told us what she had decided, I honestly was wary, but I knew I'd only support her… We always do… So, why would I now stir the pot, and slosh it over TODAY?"
"Then what was the visit all about?"
"It was... Tsk... It so happened that I had James and Rose with me this morning. We were at Hogsmeade burning time before meeting the rest of you lot. But then, I realised that I needed to see Minerva… I thought of popping in before the event to make her smile or something… before… before the inevitable… before she saw the put on change in Hermione that I was certain Minerva would not miss, and that would cause her…pain. I don't know what I thought; perhaps having Rose this morning had me unconsciously deciding that it would help… that it would matter… I don't know why I hoped…"
"Harry… I understand how much you care for Minerva… I know you're hurting for them… But you already know that this whole thing is on them. That we can't do anything… So… next time, a little…maybe a pause, okay? Find me… Talk to me when it involves Rose… So we can avoid this wrath from Hermione. Yes, you're the wizarding world hero and all, but you know we wouldn't last without Hermione in our lives…"
"Argh. So what now? What am I supposed to do?"
"Just apologise. Just swallow the outrage you're feeling right now because of what she said to you... because you know that sooner than later, when she's no longer fearful of the 'could haves' in her muddled brain, when it's a golden brain again, she'll realize that she was also wrong, has wounded you, and say sorry for it."
"I just can't believe that she'd think I meant harm?"
"I know… She shouldn't distrust you…us, of all people… But then, we already know that it is not really us whom she distrusts…"
Every word spoken by Harry and Ronald hit Minerva with violent impact. They all felt like deep stabs to her chest, to her stomach, to her shoulder blades, to her face… each one robbing her of breath so that she felt lightheaded. Yet the roaring pain was keeping her from passing out...
The account she was hearing was cutting and scorching and simply devastating; Hermione had already made the ultimate decision. To walk away from whatever they had. And the definitive of it even had Harry foreseeing Minerva's descent into heartache… Given that today, here at Hogwarts, she would have no choice but to see it… and she had. She had denied it, her defense mechanism activating instantly, but somehow the shattering feeling of loss had already brutally wrapped around her when she first saw Hermione arriving with that countenance of dispassion…
The preservation instincts within Minerva were screaming at her to cease listening to Harry and Ron. But instead of pulling away from the ravine of agony, something sadistic seemed to have clutched onto Minerva. With claws digging deep into her guts, she excruciatingly permitted the wretchedness to continuously drown her…
"So, you'll apologise to her?"
"Yea, Ron. I really don't want to run this to the ground."
"Good. It scares me when we fight… And also because I can't chase away the latest talk about her without you."
"What talk?"
"Really? No one has asked you?"
"Asked me about what?"
"About Hermione with that Australian Chris Taylor…"
"THAT bloke is here?"
"Didn't you know? But you were at the admission gates?"
"No. Different Auror must have processed his entry... But are you sure? And why is he here…? And why I haven't seen him around? Come to think of it, I haven't seen Hermione either, since entering the gates, where she completely ignored me… Did she take Rose from you then?"
"Hours ago, with that bloke…"
"I see… So they're on full display today."
"Lee and Seamus asked me if he was Hermione's long secreted boyfriend."
"Bloody Gryffindors and their bloody nerve to ask! Did you tell them that it's none of their business?"
"I did. But I was dumbstruck when Parvati flat out asked about the truth of Chris being Rose's father…?
Minerva wrenched herself away from listening… NO…! NO…! NO…! Her vision swam, and blood rushed to her ears with breaking potency, and she would have fallen to the ground when her legs gave out if she had not been seated already.
And her heart, oh fucking gods her heart felt like it was ripped out from her… And that the split had left an ample expanse on her chest where the hopping mad green-eyed monster was truly roused and punching its way out, certainly forcing for its release… for it had one and only one goal— to wreak havoc in order to fight against the assaulting pain that had encased Minerva McGonagall.
.
.
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End of Chapter 49
Year 2006 – How to Release the Green-eyed Monster
Posted 2023.0518
There is a lesson there about eavesdropping :)
And could this be the final trigger that would make Minerva do— what?