have a biscuit

Andromeda, are you all right?

She froze, like a rabbit under the eyes of a bird of prey, when the question registered. There were people Andromeda found it easy to be open with - easier, perhaps, but not truly easy. With Ted or Caradoc or Molly or Marcus, she could do it a bit more easily. But there was something different about Minerva McGonagall. As a student in Hogwarts, Andromeda hadn’t done much to establish strong relationships with any of her professors, and she had a bit of distrust of those who weren’t from her own house. It was difficult to trust a professor who gave you judgmental looks simply because of your last name and house colors.

Now, of course, as an adult she highly respected Minerva and liked to think she had the older witch’s good favor. But that didn’t necessarily make it simple for her to explain everything that was going on, and particularly with Dora in earshot. So she prepared to try a little white lie - make up something believable about Dora’s running off getting worse, which wasn’t far from the truth, honestly. She could lie convincingly, or else she wouldn’t have survived in the Black household as a girl. It would be enough to get her out of this conversation. But something held her back. Something in the back of her head thought that it would be good to have advice from someone older, someone who might have better ideas.

Clearing her throat, she cast a glance down at Dora, whose hair was still tinged red. “We were going to the park. If you’re not busy -” She shrugged a little, then knelt down to fuss with Dora’s jacket. “Would it be all right if we had company at the park today, Dora?” Her daughter’s hair had lightened almost instantaneously as she turned to look at Minerva, eyes bright.

“Please come with us?”

Minerva’s gaze was sharp, focused on Andromeda, watching carefully for even the slightest indication that there was something she could do to help the obviously shaken mother feel more comfortable. Andromeda seemed to hesitate rather than answer the question, and Minerva noticed the way that she evaded the question. With some of her former students, Minerva might have been tempted to push the issue, but she knew that she didn’t have that type of relationship with Andromeda, so she let it drop, determined to find out the real answer some other way.

If Minerva was surprised by the invitation, she didn’t show it, instead smiling in delight. “I would love to join you!” She looked down at the eager look on Dora’s face and couldn’t help that her smile widened even more in a very uncharacteristic way for Professor McGonagall. She had been looking forward to spending the day alone, but between the pleading on Dora’s face and the obvious tension that seemed to settle on Andromeda’s shoulders even after having her daughter safe in her grasp, Minerva couldn’t bear to say no. 

She looked back up at Andromeda and gave the younger woman a smile, feeling slightly awkward. She had never been very close to Andromeda, even during Andromeda’s days at Hogwarts. Despite the fact that Andromeda hadn’t been as cruel as some of the Slytherins in her circle, Minerva had found it difficult not to judge Minerva based on her experiences with Bellatrix. Bellatrix had been a nightmare for Minerva, and another Black girl had caused so much tension and anxiety in the pit of Minerva’s stomach. Yet Andromeda had ended up turning out the exact opposite of Bellatrix, laying out a path for her younger cousin Sirius to one day follow, and MInerva respected her immensely for that.

Benjy would be lying if he said it had been a tough choice, he had barely even considered what it all meant, what would happen. But it had not mattered. He had agreed. He had been sworn to secrecy. And for a moment the people around him were not the very same he had been hunting since the day at the Quidditch Cup. They were allies. Allies trying to get Minerva McGonagall back. A mix of strategy and the stubbornness of everyone involved, they had managed to get her back. After the initial mix of emotions, relief, shock, happiness, worry, Benjy truly realized what he had done.

It had been hard to face Alastor, at first Benjy believed nothing was going to happen, that having Minerva back safe and recovering would be enough. But a few days later Benjy had found himself being interrogated by Alastor. Scolded. He had refused to say anything, and still hoped that Alastor would eventually see that it was something that needed to be done. But a third shift patrolling Hogsmead lead him to believe that somehow this was because he had not turn in the members of Aversio. Not that he minded much, but he could not help but feel like he was being punished.

After his shift Benjy had realized he was starving, nothing like a warm slice of pie to feel better after beating himself up for letting people down. As he walked through the door he decided to also take an entire pie home for Charity and Hestia. But first he was going to sit down and enjoy a proper slice. Just as his order was being called he spotted a familiar face. An extremely familiar face. He got his order and walked towards her, ❝Professor❞ he called softly, then remembered she wasn’t her professor anymore, ❝Minerva❞ it still felt strange to use her first name. He hoped he hadn’t startled her, but then she smiled at him and he felt himself relax. ❝I- uh, I was just finishing my patrol, and I was famished so❞ he awkwardly held up his plate, ❝and I’m picking up a pie for the girls too…❞ Benjy finished with a small smile. ❝What are you doing here? I mean obviously eating pie but…❞ he rambled.

Minerva laid down the fork that she had been using to push the pie around on her plate, self-consciously tugging down her sleeves again, her mind jumping to the marks that covered her body. She shouldn’t be self-conscious about it, really. Benjy had been one of those to see her at her worst, her most battered and broken. But at least then she hadn’t been fully aware of how bad she looked. She hated to think of anyone seeing the evidence of the time she had spent being tortured by Death Eaters and pity her. If there was one thing Minerva hated, it was being pitied. 

She listened to his explanation of his presence, nodding with the forced smile fixed onto her face. At this question, she looked down at the pie on her plate, trying to think of a way to answer his question that would make him leave. When she realized she was thinking this way, she sighed. No wonder Albus wanted her to get out of the castle. She needed to stop avoiding people. Looking back up at Benjy, Minerva gave another smile, this one less forced. “I figured it was time to get out and about for a bit and I thought this would be less crowded than the Three Broomsticks,” she answered, deciding to give him the truth. Minerva gave him another smile. “Besides, I love pie.” 

She glanced at the plate of pie in his hands and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Would you like to join me?” She still wasn’t entirely convinced that she wanted company, but at least having someone with her posed a greater chance that she would be able to be distracted from her thoughts. Besides, didn’t Poppy keep telling her that she needed to talk to someone? Not that she was sure she wanted to talk to Benjy about what had happened, but talking in general would be good for her, right?

Perhaps there was some truth to the saying, that you could take the girl from her upbringing, but never the upbringing from the girl. Or perhaps it was just that old habits died hard. Whatever it was, Katrina couldn’t help but read people, it was such a strong part of her. She knew of what the woman’s reaction would be before it had been spoken, but truthfully it couldn’t be helped – Katrina bled respect for those she considered deserving.

It was because McGonagall was apart of the Order, one of - if not the - most trusted confidantes Dumbledore held in high regard. She had once been her teacher, and seven years may have come to pass now but that did not become any less relevant. Minerva McGonagall still seemed to have more to teach her, official teacher and student relationship expired or not.

“Minerva.” She corrected herself, trying the word out on her tongue. It tasted strange, almost inappropriate. Seven hells, why was she like this? A wince towards herself followed the word, followed by a self-conscious chuckle. “I’m sorry, old habits. I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful.”

Slender hands wrapped around the strong mug settled in front of her, allowing the warmth to pull into her skin. She listened with polite attention, yet another habit from her school days – perhaps it really wasn’t in her nature to be disrespectful. “Things have been…well, they’ve been going.” She sighed, in admittance. Truthfully, the nightmares and insomnia had only been growing in recent days, and Katrina trusted Minerva, she did. But she knew (again, upbringing remained) that the question of how are you was very seldom something anyone wished for awholeheartedly honest answer to.

Minerva bit back a laugh as Katrina winced at the sound of Minerva’s name leaving her lips. She would have thought that her former students would be used to it by now, but so many of them still seemed to struggle with it. She supposed that had to do with the fact that even if she tried to be more relaxed and casual in her work with the Order, she could never fully stop exuding the authoritarian demeanor that she had possessed from a young age.

“I understand,” she said with a kind smile instead. “It took me quite a bit to remember to stop calling you Ms. Parkinson.” She took a seat next to Katrina at the long table they had been sitting at for the meeting, turning her body so that she was facing Katrina even if she was next to her.

Minerva frowned slightly at Katrina’s response, sensing the younger woman’s hesitation to answer fully. She leaned a little closer, her expression turning more serious. “No, how are you really?” She usually wasn’t one to prod where others obviously didn’t want her to, but with Katrina, something felt different. She had been watching her during the entire meeting, and Katrina seemed...off.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t participating in the Order meeting or that she was acting suspiciously in any way. She just seemed...distracted. She seemed down. And even though her hair looked nice and her makeup was perfect, she looked tired. Exhausted, really. And her smile didn’t quite seem to reach her eyes. So, in the end, her concern for her former student and fellow Order member won out over her desire to be polite.

She had felt like a fool after her first Order mission. She had been so excited the first time she heard her name on the list of people going. It wasn’t until after they returned that she understood the true and sheer enormity of what she had gotten herself in to. This was so much more than hateful words and simple hexes being thrown in a school corridor. They were fighting for their lives now. It was messy, it was draining, and it was hard.

Her former professor’s invitation took her by surprise, and Lily immediately brought all of her focus to the woman in front of her. “Professor McGonagall, are you sure? I -” If she was being completely honest, Lily hadn’t thought of professors’ personal rooms. She had been into most of their offices throughout her time in school, whether it be for questions regarding subject material or duties related to her time as a prefect or head girl. But rooms were an entirely different matter all together, she felt.

Though, Lily was no longer a student. She was on personal terms with many of her former professors now, and Professor McGonagall in particular had always had a calming effect on the younger redhead. “If you’re sure, Professor, I think that sounds absolutely perfect.”

Minerva could see the surprise on Lily’s features and she resisted the urge to chuckle. She was ordinarily such a private person that it really was no surprise that one of her former students was shocked at the offer. But if there was anyone that she trusted enough to let into a more personal part of her life, it was Lily Evans. And after all that Lily had done, all she had been through, all she was still giving to the Order...well, she deserved it.

“Of course I’m sure, Lily. We’ll actually be able to talk there. Follow me.” With a smile, she turned on her heel and led the way through the castle, comfortable with the silence that fell between them as they made their way to her rooms. A cold breeze rippled through the corridor, the chill seeming to touch Minerva to the bone, and she sped up a little bit, anxious to make it back to her warm corner of the castle, her safe haven from the raging storm of the war outside.

When they reached the part of the castle where the professors were all housed, Minerva stopped in front of a nondescript tapestry, glancing around before reaching into her pocket wth her wand. Giving Lily a reassuring smile, she prodded the tapestry with her wand. As they both watched, the tapestry seemed to meld into the wall, becoming solid, and then slid open to reveal a passageway. “This way,” she said with a smile, leading Lily inside. The wall slid shut after them and the lights flicked on to reveal a carpeted hallway that seemed to curve upward. It was warmer here, more homey. Minerva led Lily all the way down the hallway to the last door. Tapping the door with her wand, it opened onto the living room of her quarters. “Come on in,” she said, leading Lily inside.

“Probably McGonagall. She’s bloody brilliant and doesn’t take shite from the idiots in my class.”

Send a Symbol, and they’ll tell you about:

⚡️ future

“I owe her everything. She’s the reason I made this far, the reason I’ve survived two wars… she’s everything to me.”

🔍 younger

“Wouldn’t you like to know? Sorry I was sworn to secrecy and I’ll rather not face Minerva’s wrath if I ever let slip she’s not as goody two shoes as everyone thinks… I’ve already said enough.”

He smiled slightly, pushing up from his seat. “I have been practising, ever since the attack, to move with precision and caution. I find it easier to sneak up on people now”. He had fought with Evan Rosier but if he had been quieter, if he had been able to sneak up on the other man without being caught, perhaps the duel would not have gone the way it did and Marcus would not have had to use a cane for three months and an awful amount of pain potion. “However, from now on I will announce myself to you Minerva. You look worried enough as it is, without me adding to it”.

He moved over to the side and tapped his wand against the kettle. As it boiled, he switched between glancing at the water as it bubbled and watching Minerva, who was bent over pieces of parchment that were causing frown lines to appear on her face. Whatever she was reading, whatever task she had been handed, it was either unpleasant or far more complicated than she had anticipated and he sympathised. “How do you take it?” he asked, “Milk? Sugar?” He rarely made tea, for anyone, so remembering people’s beverage preferences was not his forte.

He was not at all naive, as she shuffled her papers he knew there was something that she was looking at that either concerned him or something she did not want him to see. He didn’t mind though, he knew Minerva and he knew that she always had good reasons for doing anything that she did. “As well as can be expected, with my sister missing and a department to run” he smiled, shrugging his shoulders lightly as he began to pour the boiled water from the kettle into the teacups. “How are you, Minerva?”

Despite the twinge of sadness at Marcus’ mention of the attack that had injured him so badly, Minerva smiled. “Well, you’ve certainly improved if you could get past my cat-like reflexes.” She didn’t bother to mention that her lack of noticing probably had more to do with the anxiety that had been distracting her and less to do with his stealth. 

“Oh, do I really look that worried?” Her brow furrowed further at the thought. She really was getting worse and worse at hiding her true emotions lately. The toll that this war was taking on her was greater than she liked to admit, but at moments like this, she had to face up to that reality. “I’m not worried, just working on the rotations schedule. That must be how my face looks when I’m focusing.” She bit her lip at the lie, reminding herself that she was doing it to protect Marcus. He didn’t need to know about the rescue mission at all, and he certainly didn’t need to know how worried she was about it.

“Just a little bit of milk and a tiny bit of sugar, please,” she responded, her tone grateful. She watched as he worked around the tiny kitchenette, glad to see that he was moving more easily than he had been in a while. Minerva’s smile became more pained at the mention of his sister, but it lit the fire even further within her to bring Marlene safely home for him--for them all. She started at his question, pulling herself out of her thoughts to focus back on him. “I’m...okay.”