CXXXVIII: Back to Hogwarts

CXXXVIII: Back to Hogwarts

Minerva walked up the drive from the gates, her bag following behind her. Her mother had provided her with the formula for her customised Blood-Replenishing Potion after having made sure that she swallowed down a dose of it first. Albus had left almost immediately upon their arrival at the Cliffs, only pausing long enough to greet her parents and to tell Minerva's mother that she required a dose of Blood-Replenishing Potion. Minerva had felt fairly well by then, and she had nearly protested its necessity, but at the look in her mother's eye when she brought the draught for her, she had meekly swallowed down the noxious concoction, then answered her mother's few questions regarding why she might require such a potion. Although she didn't go into great detail, Minerva did tell her mother that she and Albus had performed an ancient warding that required arterial blood. Her mother had merely nodded in acknowledgement and told her to be sure to take a second dose before dinner, but her father's eyes had lit up in interest. She had to tell the disappointed wizard that she had scarcely understood a word of it, and if he was curious, he should discuss it with Albus the next time they saw each other.

It was only five minutes until the staff meeting, so Minerva had no time to return to Gryffindor Tower to leave her bag, nor even to fetch a quill and parchment, but she was sure she could find some in the staff room. One reason that she was so delayed was not simply that she and Albus had left later than planned and she had needed to take the potion, but her mother had needed to speak with her, as well. Apparently, Egeria had tried to owl her with a message, but the owls had returned, unable to find her. Malcolm had fortunately reassured their mother that Minerva was fine and only away from the castle for a few days, and he had volunteered to have Dumbledore's house-elf deliver a message, but Egeria had not wanted to disturb her holiday, particularly as there was nothing that Minerva could do.

Siofre's husband, Herbert, had fallen ill a few days after Melina's wedding, and it now appeared that he was not long for this world. Minerva thought that after the staff meeting, she would mention it to Albus and try to find some time later that day to stop and see both Siofre and Herbert. She had never been particularly close to her grandmother's quiet Hufflepuff husband, but he had been kind to her when she was a child, and she knew that her grandmother would certainly appreciate the visit, whether she showed it or not.

Minerva opened one of the large oak doors and smiled as she saw Johannes coming down the stairs toward her.

"Good afternoon, Minerva! You had a nice little holiday?" he asked, greeting her with a bright smile.

"Lovely, thank you, Johannes. And how have you been?"

"Very well, thank you," the Herbologist replied. "Your brother brought me into the Forbidden Forest the other night and we watched the Nocturnal Dancing Umbratrope. I did not know that there were Umbratropes in Scotland. It was very beautiful."

They walked into the staff room together. "I thought he was trying to get Gertrude to go out with him to see it the other night," Minerva said.

"He did. She went out the night before I did. I believe she suggested to Malcolm that I might enjoy it." Johannes chuckled. "I believe her actual words were that I would enjoy it more than she had. It seems that she found being in the Forest at night somewhat frightening despite Malcolm's redoubtable presence."

"Perfectly understandable," Minerva replied, taking a seat beside him.

There were already several staff members present, although Albus was still not there. Gertrude smiled slightly at Minerva and Johannes, nodding to them as they took their seats across from her. Malcolm was sitting down the table from them, chatting enthusiastically with Filius Flitwick. He turned briefly and winked at his sister. A minute later, Albus hustled into the room carrying a sheaf of parchments. He bent and whispered something to Gertrude, smiling and nodding at her, then he began the meeting by introducing Malcolm as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor and, temporarily at least, the Flying instructor and Quidditch referee, though most of the staff had been present for the duel, and so were familiar with him.

The meeting went smoothly, with no indication that the Headmaster had arrived back at the school less than a half hour before. Gertrude discussed the matters under her purview, then a few of the other staff who had announcements, questions, or concerns spoke up. Finally, at almost four o'clock, Albus declared that the meeting was over and that he would be available to them over the next few days, and anyone who needed to speak with him could either drop by or make an appointment. His final announcement was that Norman James would be installed as Head of Hufflepuff House that evening and that a small party had been planned by Poppy and would be held there in the staff room.

"In addition, please do not forget the annual staff party on Friday evening. As always, if the weather is fine, it will be held out by the lake, otherwise, it will be moved to the Great Hall. Please feel free to invite guests, if you like, but do inform Gertrude of the number of guests who will be coming so that we may plan accordingly. We are fortunate this year that Filius has agreed to provide the musical charms. If you have any requests, please speak with him!"

Slughorn expressed his approval of the announcement regarding the musical charms, and when he saw Minerva's puzzled expression, Johannes leaned over and whispered to her.

"The past few years have been rather disastrous. The last year Dippet was Headmaster, he did the musical charms himself, and they were . . . ugly. I do not even know if he could tell. I think his hearing was going. The year before that, Katherine had been in charge of the music, and she refused to play anything other than Elizabethan dance tunes. Fine for a while, but after five of them, I was snoring," he said with a grin. "Then last year, Albus put Hagrid in charge of the music, and he had some friends playing fiddles and such. It was like listening to cats fight." He shuddered.

"I like fiddles," Minerva said. Her brother Morgan played the fiddle for family gatherings.

"Then you would have been horrified by the tortures the poor instruments underwent!" Johannes stood and took the back of Minerva's chair for her. "You are going to your rooms now?"

Minerva looked over at Albus, who was deep in conversation with Slughorn. Something about moving the Potions classroom and changing the dungeons' wards. She wondered why the man hadn't raised these issues before the rewarding at the beginning of the month. Albus would likely be involved with Hogwarts business until dinner, perhaps beyond.

"Yes," she said, hefting her bag. With all the staff milling about and catching up with each other after weeks apart, she didn't want to Levitate her bag and try to navigate it through them all with the Locomotor charm.

"Let me take that for you," Johannes offered, reaching for the bag.

"No need. I have it," Minerva replied.

Johannes smiled. "But I would like to invite myself to tea in your new rooms, and that would be easier if I were to have an excuse to accompany you."

Minerva laughed. "Would you care to take tea with me this afternoon, Professor Birnbaum?" she asked, handing him her bag.

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall," he replied with a slight bow and a broad grin. "That would be lovely."

They began up the stairs, and Johannes let go of the bag and it followed them smoothly up the stairs.

"Did anything of note occur while I was away from the castle?" Minerva asked.

"Malcolm and I created a few discreet charms to keep the Jarvey and his new girlfriend from the tender ears of the underage students and to hide his den – "

"Whose new girlfriend?" Minerva asked, puzzled. She wondered whether Johannes's English was failing him or her own. "Hagrid's? And why would you cast charms – "

Johannes laughed. "Jeremiah's girlfriend – that's what Hagrid calls her. He hasn't yet decided among 'Jennifer,' 'Jezebel,' or 'Judith' as a name for her."

"Well, I would definitely advise against 'Jezebel' – although it does have the advantage of being distinctive. We would hardly confuse the Jarvey with someone else."

"Yes, and he was preferring 'Judith' for a while, but Horace's sister is named 'Judith,' so I think he may be considering the other two more seriously."

Minerva laughed. "I'm glad that you and Malcolm are enjoying each other's company."

Johannes nodded. "We are. He is good for Gertrude, too. I have not ever seen her smile so much or be so ready to try something new as she has been these last weeks." He looked over at Minerva, and his happiness for Gertrude was evident in his eyes. "She deserves some joy in her life."

"So," Minerva said as they reached the seventh floor, "is there a particular reason you invited yourself to tea, or is it just general collegiality?"

"You most kindly invited me," Johannes reminded her. "I am curious about your rooms, actually. Everyone who has seen them says they are a vast improvement over the way they were when Wilhelmina was Head of House. I only got a small glimpse of them before."

Minerva was about to answer when they reached her rooms and she immediately noticed something peculiar: Fidelio was settled beneath the apple tree, sleeping with his head on his paws, but the Knight was nowhere to be seen.

"Fidelio," she said, addressing the dog, "where is your master?"

The dog perked up, lifting his head, his ears forward, and looking off into the distance. He barked twice, then stood and barked again, wagging his tail.

Just as Minerva was wondering whether she should fetch Albus, despite his Hogwarts business, the Knight stepped into the frame, carrying both his helmet and his broken shield.

"Greetings, my lady," he said with a bow, his long blond hair falling forward. "My apologies for not being here to admit you immediately!"

"You left your portrait!" Minerva said, astonished.

The Knight smiled at her. "Indeed, I did! As I have been able to these last three days. It was a most remarkable experience. I did not know that you would not be stepping through this door, or I would have found you to tell you. My geas is lifted! It is somewhat disappointing to see that the curse remains, but I may now travel freely within the Portrait Network, as may Fidelio, although I have always made certain that one or the other of us is here to guard your door, my lady."

"When did this happen?" Minerva asked, as a puzzled Johannes listened to the conversation.

"The evening before you left for your holiday. I believe that you and –"

"I think another time would be more appropriate to discuss this," Minerva interrupted, glancing over at Johannes.

"Of course, my lady. Would you like entry?"

"Yes, please. Protinus," she said quickly before the Knight could simply open the door for her, raising Johannes's curiosity any further than it no doubt already was. She would have to make certain that the Knight, if he remained her door warden, only opened the door if the correct password was given. It simply wouldn't do to have him using his own judgment and opening it without it. If he could not follow that one rule, then he would have to be replaced.

"A geas?" Johannes asked as they entered her sitting room.

"Yes. I have the most peculiar portrait. Always saying the most absurd things, on those rare occasions he deigns to speak. So," Minerva said brightly, "tea! I will call Blampa. Would you care for anything to eat? I thought I might have something light."

"That was the first time I ever heard him speak," Johannes said.

"Yes, as I say, he rarely speaks, and when he does, nonsense. Would you care for a sandwich? Biscuits?"

"Just tea, thank you." He looked around. "Very nice sitting room. Shall I put your valise in the bedroom?"

"Thank you," Minerva replied, relieved he seemed to have lost interest in the portrait. She would have to explain to the Silent Knight that he would have to remain silent about certain facts regarding her relationship with Albus. He seemed still pleased to serve, however, so that should not pose a problem. "Why don't I give you the five Knut tour now, and then we can call Blampa for our tea," she suggested.

Johannes was as impressed by the changes to the suite as everyone else had been. He, like Quin, immediately noticed the tiles depicting her with Albus.

"That is you! And Albus!" Johannes knelt beside the tub and examined them, fascination on his face. "This is fabulous! Here you are again, and here . . . he looks ill. Is this the time that Albus was so badly injured, that winter before Grindelwald fell?" Johannes asked, turning his head to look up at Minerva. At her nod, he said, "But I did not know that you were involved in that. I did not know you did anything like this during the war." He looked back at the tiles. "And here, they are following you. You are pursued by Dark Wizards."

"It was close, but we made it out, obviously," Minerva said matter-of-factly. "Let me show you my study."

Johannes stood. "You are a true Gryffindor, Minerva."

Minerva shrugged. "I should think so, but bravery is not the sole province of this House, as you know, no more than intelligence and curiosity are that of Ravenclaw – fortunately!"

"It is impressive, that you save the life of the powerful Albus Dumbledore." He looked at her with admiration, but he smiled, too. "Your brother rides dragons, you save the most powerful of all warlocks, and you say that your Grandmother Siofre is a witch not to be crossed; what are your other relatives like? Should we fear your clan?"

Minerva laughed lightly. "I suppose if we had the ambition to be dangerous, we might be. But come, see my study then take tea with me."

The two had tea, Minerva eating a few ginger newts, but Johannes declining. He said that although nothing of great significance had happened at Hogwarts while she had been away, he personally had come to a decision.

"I have decided to wait a year or two before returning to Germany after I leave Hogwarts. I think it is time for me to move on in my life, that is the same, but I think that I was only returning to Germany because I had always assumed that I would do that. Now I do not know. I think I need some time to ponder it, time when I am not at Hogwarts, and to consider what other alternatives there may be," he said.

"So what will you do, then?" Minerva asked. "And are you certain you want to leave Hogwarts? I know that there are many who would miss you, and you are an excellent teacher."

"Yes, I do believe I will leave Hogwarts. It would be easy enough to stay. Comfortable. But I think I need a different sort of life, that I do believe, although the one I have here is pleasant enough. If for some reason Albus should ask me to stay, then I would stay, of course. I owe him much. As for what I will do . . ." Johannes shrugged. "I do not yet know precisely. I do not think that I will make a long commitment, however, make no land purchase or the like. I am sure that I will find something to occupy my time. There are always people in search of an Herbology expert. Perhaps I will simply consult for a while. We shall see!"

After an hour, Johannes rose and said that he had promised Professor Flitwick a game of Go before dinner. "He does not know the game, and it will be enjoyable to have an opponent whom I might occasionally beat, unlike Albus," he said with a grin. "We will play on only a portion of the board while he learns. You play Go, do you not?"

Minerva shook her head. "I have seen it, but I haven't a clue how it's played."

His eyes brightened. "I will teach you and then you can play with Albus."

Minerva smiled. "I would enjoy that." She walked Johannes to the door and opened it for him. She was just thanking him for his visit when Albus appeared, walking down the hallway toward them.

Albus smiled and greeted them both cheerily. "Discussing Head of House business?"

Johannes blushed mildly and said, "No, Albus, but I do believe we are both quite prepared." He looked quickly at Minerva and added, "I am sure that Minerva knows she can come to me with questions at any time, though."

Albus chuckled. "You needn't worry, my boy! It was a simple inquiry. I trust you will both be prepared."

Minerva let Albus in and shut the door behind him. She smiled up at him delightedly. "I did not think I would see you until sometime this evening, if then! This is a lovely surprise."

Albus took her hands in his and leaned forward, kissing her lightly on the lips. "I thought we would spend a little time together, but primarily, I brought you this." He pulled a small phial from his pocket. "You are to take it before dinner," he said, holding up the small, clear container of muddy green sludge-like potion.

"I am fine, Albus," Minerva said, just avoiding a grimace and a shudder at the sight of the potion. "I feel quite well."

"You also look quite well, but your mother said you were to take a second dose before dinner, and so I fetched it from the Hospital Wing, where Poppy kindly decanted a single dose for me."

"You can't 'decant' that stuff. It's like muck," she replied, this time making a face. "And one dose is sufficient."

"And when did you become a Healer?" Albus asked rhetorically. "Egeria was quite clear that with the altered potion, you require two doses. I would not have bled you as I did had I known that you would allow yourself to suffer the consequences like this," he said with disapproval.

Minerva chafed at his scolding tone. "I am hardly suffering, Albus. And I could easily have skipped the potion altogether. A pint is hardly worth noting. I understand that Muggles give pints of blood to each other all of the time with no ill effects."

"We are not Muggles, you provided more than a pint, and we can replenish your blood with this potion, which you will take," he said more mildly, but still holding out the phial.

"I will take it, then, Albus, if you are so insistent," Minerva said with a sigh, recognising that he only had her best interests at heart. "But it is revolting and I do feel fine. It isn't quite time for it yet, though, so you can put it away until we leave for dinner – unless you can't stay?"

"I can stay. I told Dilys that if anyone needed me, she could come and let me know, and I would return," Albus replied, taking Minerva's hand and leading her over to the sofa. "It may be difficult to make the transition back to Hogwarts after our being able to spend so much time together the last few days. Almost every moment, waking and sleeping, in fact." He raised her hand to his lips briefly. "But I do hope that you will not find it too painful, my dear."

"I am certain I won't be happy about having less time to spend with you," Minerva replied, "but we will both become used to it."

"Indeed we will. I was happy to see you spending some time with Johannes. He is a good man."

Minerva nodded. "And it seems that now that he knows Malcolm better, he is very happy for Gertrude, and he likes Malcolm, as well. They apparently spent some time together while we were away," she said.

"Gertrude told me that there are now some Jarvey-wards in Hagrid's garden, so that hopefully no students will happen upon him. Did Johannes tell you that he has a girlfriend?"

This time, Minerva wasn't confused. "Yes, he did. Jezebel and Jennifer are apparently the top candidates for a name."

Albus chuckled. "I do wonder what Hagrid will do when they begin having pups!"

Minerva smiled. "Perhaps we won't have to worry about the Joshuas, Jaspers, Jessicas, and Joans until spring, if I remember my Care of Magical Creatures classes rightly," Minerva said. "But I have something more serious to speak with you about. Mother had tried to contact me by owl while we were away – "

"Oh, dear. Was she worried?"

Minerva shook her head. "No, Malcolm reassured her. Gertrude had told him that Wilspy could bring us any urgent messages, but Mother chose not to disturb our holiday with news about which I could do nothing."

Albus furrowed his brow. "Bad news?"

"Herbert McKenna is ill, likely dying," Minerva said. "I think that I should visit Grandmother Siofre. I would like to go soon so that I can see him. Mother said he wakes occasionally still. I would feel terribly if he were to die and I hadn't visited."

Albus nodded. "Of course, my dear. That is perfectly understandable. And there is nothing at the school that requires your immediate attention, although there is the first Head of House meeting tomorrow morning. I could move that, though, if – "

"I thought I would go this evening," Minerva interjected. "He really doesn't sound well at all. He may be dead in a day or two, though Mother said he could linger for a week or more."

"Ah, poor Siofre! Please do give her my best, Minerva. I would go with you, but there is much to do, including Norman's installation." He met her eyes. "Will you come by to say good-night when you return? Or were you planning on being away overnight? Either is fine, of course."

"I am not planning on staying away overnight. I will of course come to see you when I return to the castle."

"I never knew Herbert well, myself. He was a good fifteen years older than I, and we rarely had occasion to meet. He always struck me as a gentleman, though, and Siofre seemed happy."

"He was always kind to me as a child, though I cannot say I was very close to him," Minerva said. "Malcolm might be more affected as he is much closer to Grandmother Siofre than I am, and I always had the impression that he knew Herbert fairly well as a result."

"You should see if he would like to go with you, then. Gertrude assured me that he is well-prepared for the first several weeks of classes and has plans for Quidditch schedules and so forth, so I see no reason for him to remain here. If he wished to remain with Siofre to support her for the next day or so, we could spare him," Albus said.

"I will let him know. So he and Gertrude are still doing well?" Minerva asked.

"They are, from all that I could see." He twitched a smile. "You always seem ready to hear the worst about them."

"No, not precisely. I just worry about them both. They seem so happy. I don't know why I'm worried," Minerva said with a shrug.

"I was worried, but no longer," Albus said, smiling. "They may not even realise it themselves, yet, but I think they will be together for a long, long time."

Minerva smiled herself. "Perhaps like we will be, then."

"Perhaps." Albus took a breath and let it out. "So you will leave immediately after dinner?"

"I thought I would, if you approved. This is a matter of Hogwarts business, I realise, and if you required me here for the installation – "

"I would allow any staff member to visit a dying relative, Minerva, and I am sure that Norman will understand." He grinned. "If I were behaving from my own personal, selfish motives, I might wish to keep you here with me, after all!"

Minerva chuckled. "You would not want me fretting and unhappy, though, Albus, so I do not believe you would hold me here even if it were a personal decision."

"No, I would not." Albus was quiet for a moment. "Herbert is only twenty years older than Siofre, if that."

Minerva shrugged. "He was never a particularly hearty person. I am sure Grandmother Siofre has a good number of years left."

"I am older than Siofre, you know," he said softly.

"We are back on that again?" Minerva asked with a sigh. "Yes, I know, and we have had this discussion before. I do hope that returning to Hogwarts hasn't meant the return of your doubts."

Albus shook his head. "I do not doubt, Minerva. I simply remember that which I always am aware of: I am much older than you are. You will outlive me by many, many years if life proceeds as one might expect."

"I know, and I am not going to spend the next several decades mourning you before you are dead, so I don't want to hear of this again," Minerva said firmly.

Albus said, "But it may not be several decades. It might be considerably less. And we cannot forget, either, that if another Dark Wizard rises, I will be obligated to serve the wizarding world again. You know quite well the danger of death that accompanies that obligation. Indeed, I serve the wizarding world even now, though the times are less dangerous."

"I know that, too, and I would never wish to keep you from doing the work that you must perform. You are – as Johannes recently reminded me, though I know it well – the most powerful of all wizards, a formidable warlock, and it would be wrong of me to attempt to keep you from serving the wizarding world, even if I would prefer to keep you safe and to myself. But there is no Dark Wizard now, and you are in very good health, so let's wait and discuss these issues when they actually become more present worries, all right?" Minerva asked, giving him a squeeze.

"Very well, my dear." He kissed the top of her head. "It is best not to worry about the inevitable, anyway, wouldn't you say?"

"I would." She sighed. "I suppose I should take that disgusting potion now. Mother copied the formula for you, by the way. It's in my bag in the bedroom."

While Minerva swallowed down the potion then got up to get some water, Albus retrieved the potion's recipe from her bag. When she reemerged from the kitchen, she saw him puzzling over the formula and referring to the notes that Murdoch had made at the bottom of the parchment.

"There is no Fire Salamander liver, nor liver of any kind, in this formula," he said, his brow knit in thought. "Nor any marrow, which I would have expected in its place. Most interesting . . . very ingenious, actually, the substitutions and the method used. But I can see that it works quite differently from traditional Blood-Replenishing Formula." He nodded to himself. "Very ingenious, indeed."

"Yes, and it takes twice as long to brew and a good deal more skill, according to Murdoch," Minerva explained. "He said I wouldn't be able to brew it myself, which I found quite insulting. But as I don't enjoy brewing, anyway, I'm just as happy to have him brew it for me. He does make up some for St. Mungo's and a few other clinics every now and then, but he says it's not worth brewing for general sale, as the other is easier to brew and very few people have an intolerance for it."

"Your brother lived up to his promise, then," Albus said. "I always found the apothecary's potions and potions ingredients of the highest quality, even after he took over completely from Perrin, but it is good to see that he also does original work."

"As I said, he and Mother developed it seventeen or eighteen years ago for me. But he does keep his hand in, doing some experimental work or the occasional special commission. He enjoys it." She looked at him curiously. "How would you know of his promise? You did not teach him."

"No, but I was one of the masters on his examination. He impressed me. I should have expected it, given your mother's side of the family and their talents in Potions and Healing, but I was impressed."

"I suppose we should be off for dinner now. It is odd to have everyone back after the castle has been deserted for so long. I had become quite used to it, as peculiar as it felt initially. It will be very strange when the students all return on Sunday," Minerva said. As she went to open the door, she suddenly remembered the Knight and his declaration. "I just remembered, Albus – when I arrived with Johannes this afternoon, the Knight announced that the geas had been lifted. He had been off wandering about the Portrait Network, actually, and only Fidelio was in the painting."

"The geas was lifted? But he's still trapped in the portrait . . ."

"Yes, although it could be he is suffering a delusion of some kind. Some error in his portrait charms," Minerva said.

"Possibly, but I am very interested in the phenomenon, regardless," Albus replied. "What did he say about the geas?"

"He said it was lifted the evening before we left the castle, but he hadn't realised we weren't going to pass through the door again, or he would have found us to tell us."

"Saturday evening? When you were introduced to the wards? And we, um, yes, we were in the Heart of Hogwarts, and, um – "

"We made love in the Heart of Hogwarts, you mean? I hadn't thought of that – though I do remember it quite clearly! – but perhaps that may have had something to do with it," Minerva said thoughtfully.

"I will try to find some time during the next few days to talk with the Knight about his experience and to research some spells that might be useful in determining what is occurring with him," Albus said.

During dinner, Minerva sat beside Malcolm and talked to him about going to see Grandmother Siofre. He had already been that morning, but he agreed to Apparate there with her again.

"She will be happy to see you. Herbert, too, if he is awake," Malcolm said. "I think that I will take Dumbledore up on his offer and spend more time there over the next few days."

"I thought you might. You and Grandmother Siofre were always close," Minerva replied.

"I spent a lot of time with her growing up, as you know. It changed a bit after she married Herbert, but then I was off to school, anyway." Malcolm grinned. "She would sneak me away when I was supposed to have lessons with Dad, and he'd think I was off with Mother for the day, and Mother, of course, thought I was happily at home with Dad."

Minerva's eyebrows rose. "She just snuck off with you?"

"It was very educational. It was much more fun with her than with Dad. You know Dad, and I love him, but the man can sit behind a desk for ten hours, hardly moving, then suddenly realise he's starving and has to pee. I just couldn't sit still for ten minutes at that age," Malcolm explained. "I liked going out with Mother, but even that got boring, especially when the witches didn't want a little boy in the room with them. Grandmother Siofre introduced me to people and to different kinds of magic – some of her friends are most interesting – and I may not have learned all the languages that Dad wanted to teach me, but I learned Scots and Irish Gaelic when I was with her, and some Welsh, as well. I picked up other languages later in life, as I needed them. Grandmother Siofre would bring me to the sites of great wizarding battles or discoveries, and that was much more fun than sitting with Dad reading a dusty old book. She told me stories that made the people and events come alive for me."

"Still, just to take you off like that," Minerva said with some disapproval.

Malcolm shrugged. "It all worked out fine. Eventually, she and Dad worked out a schedule, and if I behaved well for Dad in the morning, she could have me in the afternoon. It was good for me."

"I can't imagine that Mother was very happy about it," Minerva said, taking a bite of apple pie.

"Nae, she actually was happy to see me excited about my trips with Grandmother Siofre. I always thought Mother knew and just didn't tell Dad – waiting for him to get used to the idea. And I was always home for dinner." Malcolm took a sip of his cider. "I am more like her and Grandmother Siofre than I am Dad – though I think I get my facility with languages from him."

"What about Morgan and Murdoch?"

"Morgan has always been the one for the books, you know him. And he was younger, not old enough to go hopping around as we did. Then Herbert began to court Siofre, they married, and she moved to the McKenna place. We still saw a lot of each other, even after Maisie was born." Malcolm reached for a second plate of pie. "But it was odd, having an aunt younger than I, and it wasn't the same as it had been. I was jealous, truth be told. But then I was off to school a couple years later, and I found new worlds to explore."

"She never did that with me," Minerva said, trying to remember the few trips she had made with Siofre when she was a child.

"She was busy with Maisie, and you always enjoyed Dad's lessons. Besides," Malcolm said, quirking a smile, "you had me!"

Minerva grinned at him. "I did. And you were a good big brother, even if I didn't always tell you that. I suppose we ought to leave soon. I'll just let Albus know that we are both going."

"I'll tell Gertrude not to expect me. If I'm back late, I'll go to the guest quarters and not wake her – Albus started fixing my new rooms for me this afternoon, though, and you should see them! They're right next to Gertrude's. He moved things around for me." Malcolm leaned close to her and said more softly, "He's even going to create a door between the suites for us."

Minerva felt a pang that it would be so much easier for them to see each other than it would be for her and Albus, but she was happy for her brother, so she smiled. "I'm glad. But I'm sure that Gertrude would rather have you return to her even if you did wake her."

"But this way, she won't wait up for me, just in case I decide to stay the night, you see," Malcolm explained.

Later that evening, Minerva walked wearily up the stairs to the gargoyle to let Albus know that she had returned safely and to say good-night, as she had promised. It had been a very long day, and she had actually Flooed to the Three Broomsticks then Apparated to the gates from there, despite the fact that it was a fairly short Apparition from the McKenna place to Hogwarts.

Minerva rode the spiral stairs up to the office, and when she opened the door at the top and stepped through, she heard Albus's voice calling her.

"Yes, I'm back, Albus," she answered, looking up to see him standing half-way down the spiral brass stairs. He was dressed in his night attire, a burgundy and black dressing gown on over a long nightshirt. "Were you asleep?"

"No. Well, I did doze a bit over my book, but I wasn't in bed yet."

Minerva started up the stairs to him, and he bent to kiss her cheek.

"How was Herbert?" he asked, taking her hand. "And Siofre?"

"Herbert woke once for a while while I was there. He seemed pleased to see me," she said as they went into the sitting room. "When I left, Siofre was sitting with him and Malcolm was with the house-elves, making some special tea for her." Minerva laughed lightly. "Would you believe that their house-elves call him 'Little Collie'? I never heard that before – I thought they were talking about a dog at first!"

"Would you like some tea?" Albus asked as they sat on the couch.

"No, thank you. I am exhausted. I just need some sleep. It seems as though it has been a very long day."

"You have had a long day." He thought a moment. "Perhaps you need another dose of that potion."

"Mother said two doses. I am just tired. I am certain that my blood is fully replenished!" Minerva smiled and caressed his cheek. "Thank you for thinking of it, though."

"I felt rather bad afterwards, when I got back here and thought about it," Albus said. "I should have waited until we had some of your potion on the island, and I ought to have done it so that you had more time to recover before you had to be active again. It was very selfish of me."

"No, I agreed. You did offer to wait, remember, and I declined. I am fine, as I knew I would be in your capable hands. But I see why the Ministry has banned most blood spells and rituals, apart from the fact that much of it is Dark Magic. In the hands of someone less adept, it could be rather dangerous."

"Oh, the lesser blood wards require very little blood, and venous blood, at that – just a little cut, a few drops, and they're done. But you are right about these stronger blood wards. They are magically complex and do require a certain degree of expertise and magical power to cast, but beyond that, any that require arterial blood can be dangerous, even deadly, if done without proper care, but you were never in any physical danger. I would not have allowed that." Albus put his arms around Minerva and kissed her forehead. "And how was Siofre?"

"She seemed well enough. Better than I would have expected, actually, but she is not prone to demonstrating her emotions. Maisie was there, too, as vague as ever. I don't think she's much help, practically speaking, to her mother, so Malcolm decided to stay the night. He said he'll be back at the castle for a while tomorrow afternoon unless Herbert takes a turn for the worse." Minerva sighed. "He asked me to let Gertrude know, but she's likely in bed already. Still, I should stop by."

"I think tomorrow breakfast would be soon enough if Gertrude knows not to expect him tonight. You do look tired, my dear."

"You're probably right. He did tell her not to expect him, but still, she may wait up for him."

"Gertrude is a very practical witch, Minerva. She will get on with what she needs to do, and if she is tired, she will go to bed."

"Oh, well, you know her better than I do," Minerva said, stifling a yawn and perfectly happy to wait until morning to give her the message.

"Would you like me to walk you back to your rooms?" Albus asked.

Minerva shook her head. There had been a very small part of her that had hoped he would ask her to stay the night, though she knew that it was impractical and unlikely, but she didn't need him to walk her back. "No, that's all right, Albus. You are all ready for bed. Though I wouldn't mind if you let me Floo from your office. I am absolutely knackered."

Albus walked her down to his office and opened the Floo for her to Floo to her rooms, lighting a tiny fire in the grate.

"Good night, my dear." He kissed her lips lightly, cupping her cheek, then he looked into her eyes and whispered, "I will miss you." He kissed her again before reluctantly stepping back. "Don't forget the Heads of House meeting after breakfast in the morning."

"I will remember, I'm sure. Good night, Albus!"

Minerva was pleased to see that Wilspy must have brought her second bag back, but all of her clothes had either been put away or taken to be laundered. Blampa, knowing Minerva's preferences now, had left her other personal effects in the bags at the foot of the bed. Minerva put the musical box on her vanity, but left her books and everything else in the bags. She would take care of all that in the morning. After getting ready for bed, Minerva opened her window a crack, then she took her wand, opened the musical box, and selected Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte, reading the small card to learn how to activate the charm that would have the musical box stop with that selection and not continue playing. As the piano music drifted softly through the room, Minerva drifted off to sleep, missing the sensation of Albus and his magic at her back, but still content and at peace after their holiday.

Minerva blinked awake. The music had stopped and it was dark, but something had woken her. She lifted her head. There was a shadow in the door.

"Minerva?" Albus's voice was a mere whisper.

"Albus," she said groggily.

"I am sorry to wake you." He took a step into the room.

"That's all right. Is there anything wrong?"

"No, well, not really. I couldn't sleep. I thought . . . you said once that if I couldn't sleep . . ."

"Of course." Minerva sat up, reached for her wand and lit a lamp. "Did you have a nightmare? Or is something else troubling you?" she asked, patting the bed beside her.

"No. I just missed you. I thought that perhaps for tonight, at least, I might stay with you? For a while?" He hesitated beside the bed.

Minerva smiled. "Of course you may stay with me!"

"I know you are tired – "

"Yes, but I will probably sleep better with you here, anyway." She moved over, making room for him. "We can get used to being back at Hogwarts gradually."

Albus smiled and took off his dressing gown, laying it over the bench in front of her vanity. "Yes, we have other nights to become used to being back." He climbed into bed and added, "I felt rather foolish, after all of these years of sleeping alone quite happily, but I missed you. I didn't want to disturb you, but – "

"You didn't disturb me," Minerva said, waving her wand and putting out the lamp. "It will be nice to have you here. And we may have time to have tea together in the morning if we get to sleep right now." She turned in his arms and kissed him, then lay her head on his shoulder. "I am very glad you are here, Albus. Sleep well!"

Albus kissed her temple and whispered, "I will now, my dear. Good night! Sweet dreams!"

If you only want to know why they stopped at the McGonagall Cliffs and got Minerva the Blood Replenishing Potion from her mother, those events appear in the last chapter of A Holiday with the Headmaster, though to fully understand that chapter and know where they are, it's best to have read the first two chapters, as well.