Resolving a Misunderstanding
MMADfan954 Reviews | 6.45/10 (954 Ratings, 0 Likes, 108 Favorites )
Minerva has just finished her first term teaching. A series of misunderstandings leads to an embarrassing moment, injured feelings, regret, growing understanding, then resolution. A Minerva McGonagall fic set in 1957, with forays into the past. More than a Romance; stories within stories. Features Minerva, Albus, and Poppy, with appearances by Slughorn, Grubbly-Plank, Hagrid, Flitwick, Moody, Riddle, Grindelwald, and other canon characters. Not DH-compliant. Disregards DH.
Nineteen Parts.
Most content T-rated, but ratings rise to M and MA for several later chapters. Overall M rating reflects later content.
Pertinent warnings in individual chapter summaries.
Voted First Place, Minerva McGonagall: Legacy Fic, in the HP Fanfiction Fan Poll Awards Spring/Summer 2013.
Chapters (141)
About MMADfan
Author
MMADfan
41 Stories | Favorited by 312 | 127 Reviews Written | 4,741 Review Responses
Note 10 December 2015: I've been unable to write fanfic the last couple years, but I haven't abandoned my works-in-progress!
Many of my completed fics are available for download in ebook format through my blog and LJ.
Perfect Imagination accredited beta. PI:7311261659.
More about me here. 
Reviews for Resolving a Misunderstanding
Auror Sprangle should have been Auror STRANGLE! That's exactly what I want to do to him. GRRRR. He's such a goofball.Minerva's letter home to her parents was so touching. It's interesting to read between the lines and to see all the things that she didn't say as well as the things she chose to emphasize. The progression of Minerva's relationship with Carson was believable too. I'm glad they were able to have some time together before the war.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Carson was a really good friend and a great guy to have as a "first." Sprangle is based on a conglomeration of idiot bureaucrats I've had to deal with. Nightmarish! LOL!Thanks!
How awful for Carson. I feel so bad for him. At least Albus is there to take the best possible care of him and to make him as comfortable as possible. I feel really bad for Alastor too. I love how you explain little details like physical descriptions from canon into your story. It explains Alastor's fake leg and all his scars in such a believable way. GO YOU!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Glad you liked that. At some point, we were supposed to learn that Albus's "London underground" scar came from when he was on his knees dragging Carson across the frozen ground, but it never came up.Ta!
And thus begins some of my favorite chapters in this story. I love seeing Minerva in the "action" role and for her to be seeking Albus in the hopes of saving him from certain death and horrors...that's just icing on the cake. I always think of this section when listening to my cd's (wink wink, you know the ones) and it makes me want to come back and read this section again and again.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Everyone always thinks of Albus in the action-hero type role, but I thought that Minerva could certainly do it too, and the challenges would be greater for her, esp here, since she is not only not as powerful as Albus, but she's young and fairly inexperienced, but she rises to the challenges and succeeds. I also thought it would be interesting to experiment with an Albus who was temporarily weakened and who was very aware of it. I enjoyed writing these chapters, but it was also a challenge for me, since I hoped to make them somewhat suspenseful and convey the sense of action, but I hadn't done anything like that before. The first scenes with Minerva at the Ministry were supposed to convey, partially, her own sense of impatience and having to wait before they could leave, and those were easier to write, I remember.I'm glad you're enjoying the reread -- and the "soundtrack"!
Cheers for posting.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
<--- that's me, posting. Aren't I cute? 
I'm so happy to see that Albus has finally seen the light and that this is the start of making amends with Minerva. It's terrible to see them at odds but then again, if it hadn't been for Minerva's rant in the first chapter, there wouldn't be the wonderful story that followed, even with the ups and downs. Gotta love a man who can admit that he's made a mistake and is willing to go the extra mile to make up for it. HUGGLES.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
"Gotta love a man who can admit that he's made a mistake and is willing to go the extra mile to make up for it."Agreed -- and Minerva does!Thanks!
DUN DUN DUN....the infamous drippy tap!!!Albus always makes me smile like a silly schoolgirl when he does such nice things for Minerva as having her to dinner in his rooms. I know it's nothing more than dinner and that his inetntions were pure but it still gives me a warm fuzzy. And yay for Minerva being able to transfigure her hand. It's not long now. haha.CHEERS!The Cheeky GLM...tee hee.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
I at that chapter was actually in his classroom, but I'd have to reread it -- see, you're making me reread! Again! LOL!I think I may do a side-story about Minerva's Animagus training, set in the RaM universe. I have more about it in my notes that never made it into the story (can you imagine how much longer it would be if everything was put into the story? yikes!), so I may use them someday for a little short fic.Cheers to the cheekiest GLM! (And I am beyond my nausea -- I guess there is actually a point beyond ad nauseum, which I never knew before! LOL!)
Cheers for posting.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
The emoticons available on TPP are outstanding. I particularly like the owl, the dragon, and the Albus icons. I have wanted to use this one for a while . . .You are most very welcome!
I love Blampa. Bless her heart she really does try to please Minerva at every turn and she's such an eager little thing. tee hee.The section where Minerva is casting the spell on Albus' hand after she's memorized it is outstanding. The desciptions are so vivid that I could actually see it all unfolding in my head. I love it when that happens.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
I'm glad you like her. By the end of RaM, Minerva is quite fond of her, too.I'll have to look at that section -- I haven't read it in ages. I'm glad that it was so vivid for you!
Okay, so the Cheeky GLM has to admit that upon first reading this story, Gertie was by far my least favorite character. I did not like the way she interacted with Albus nor the way she interacted with Minerva. It always seemed she was speaking with a forked tongue or was being intentionally vague to keep Minerva guessing.However, as the story progressed and more things were revealed, it turns out she's not as bad as I had one thought. THERE, ARE YA HAPPY NOW???? lolI think she makes a perfect match with Malcolm. Awwww.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
It's all in the power of perspective! Teehee! I had lots of fun presenting her from Minerva's very biased perspective and gradually shifting her perspective and how Gertie was presented. It was quite fun to see how some people liked her, some weren't sure about her, and others identified so strongly with Minerva, that they really disliked her. And since I know you like Malcolm, I figure the "she's not as bad as I had once thought" actually means that you like her now! haha!Thanks! (even though you're cheeky ;-))
WOO HOO...IT has arrived and in such a profound way. I'm sure Minerva had an inkling already that she had a major crush on her professor but that magical experience brought it all to the surface. Things will never be the same for her again.And Dustern...ugh. Don't even get me started on that wretched witch. BOOOOO HISSSSS!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Yes, Dustern doesn't behave as well as she might, does she? But at least she's not as bad as, well, the witch who shall not be named! LOL!Yup, Minerva, being a sensible girl, was trying very hard to ignore her crush on her professor, but she certainly couldn't ignore it after that -- it wasn't just a crush any longer!Thanks much! (Nice to read more than three words . . . ;-))
“May Wilspy serve Professor Dumbledore and his Miss?” I love how Wilspy addresses Minerva throughout this entire story. Having read the later chapters, it's great to see the continuity in the way she calls Minerva Albus's. Awwww.The picnic and the glider are wonderful. I love to see Albus doing little things for Minerva, even when she's still under his care as a student. It just goes to show the depths of their relationship and how it blossomed.“Well, I suppose we should be going back now; as much as I would like to sit here in a swing with a pretty girl, we do need to consult with Wilspy about dinner.”Albus is just too cute when he tries to flirt without really flirting. In a few years, he'll get to do a lot more with the "pretty girl" in a rocker. tee hee.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Wilspy was always that canny one, wasn't she?Yes, it's that little bit of innocent teasing that later becomes genuine flirting -- and sometimes without him even trying or being aware of it (or trying to pretend to himself that it's not! haha!). And what a naughty girl YOU are to think of the rocker! LOL!I'm glad you're enjoying the reread!
Cheers for posting.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
I love quotations:“Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead.” Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)I don't think that Aldous Huxley was a very nice man, but that is fun quote!
Cheers for posting.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
“Every living sentence which shows a mind at work for itself is to be welcomed. It is not the first use but the tiresome repetition of inadequate catch words which I am observing—phrases which originally were contributions, but which, by their very felicity, delay further analysis for fifty years. That comes from the same source as dislike of novelty—intellectual indolence or weakness—a slackening in the eternal pursuit of the more exact.”- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841–1935) (one of my favorite jurists to read!)
Cheers for posting.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
As was once said, "Repetition is tedious. Three cheers for variation!"- Mason Cooley (b. 1927)Or perhaps 138-plus cheers for variation?
Minerva did not hesitate to follow her professor’s latest instructions. She stepped in closer to him, closed her eyes, and lay her head on his chest. She listened for his heartbeat, and she could almost imagine that she could feel the thrum of his magical core behind it. That accomplished, she envisioned the front gates in detail, the exercises she had been performing over the summer making it easy for her to create a crystal clear picture in her mind. She nodded against his chest. It seemed that as soon as she had nodded, he was speaking to herI love that section of the story. It just goes to show that even back then, Minerva's heart knew what she wanted and how she so willingly obeyed his instructions, never once thinking of being sick or worrying. I love that about her.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
I'm glad that you picked out that section. It really does exemplify so much about their relationship and Minerva's trust in Albus, no matter when you are looking at it or the specific stage of their friendship or their later romance. You see it again on their holiday, much, much later. Thank you for your thoughtful review!
Have i said lately how much I love Merwyn and of course Albus has my heart. haha. It's easy to see that Merwyn has Minerva's best interests at heart and I'm glad that he took the time to meet with Albus to discuss Minerva's special project. And I love that Albus told Minerva's father about the transfigured book. tee hee.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Aw, so glad you love Merwyn! I worked to construct a family around Minerva that seemed to fit her character, and I ended up really enjoying writing them, especially Malcolm, who was chomping at the bit to get written, but he had to wait a while before I'd let him appear! LOL! It's always nice to share amusing stories about people we love with other people who love them, I think. :-)Thank you for the lovely reviews!
Apiarus B White...tee hee. Albus is a hoot and a very clever man indeedy. I love the way you've constructed this story, blending current time and memories in a way that is easy to follow and interesting. So often in stories, it's easy to get lost in a flashback scene or two but here they compliment the "current time" of the story. It's easy to see that you put in a lot of hours in the plotting of this story.Thanks!
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Yes, I did put a lot of time into constructing the story, plotting it carefully, and working on the transitions. Thank you!Glad you liked Albus's nom de plume! ;-)
Mother McGonagall is so cute when she's taking care of Albus here. And her attention to the meal was perfection, though I'd have to crinkle my nose up at the spinach. Not a huge fan of the stuff, personally, unless it's mixed greens in a salad. haha. I love how, even back in the war days, Minerva was trying hard to make Albus' life easier and to remove as much of the burden from his shoulders as possible, a trait which never went away....awwwww.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
I love spinach. I can eat it at every meal. Mmmm! Spinach, collards, turnip greens, kale, chard, mustard greens -- it's the rare green that I don't like! LOL! It is great in a salad, too!Minerva has always felt that she needs to help take care of Albus, and that certainly is a constant over the years, regardless of the nature or stage of their relationship.I'm glad you're enjoying it! :-)
Oh gawd, heartbreaking stuff.
Cheers for posting.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Yep! :)
Cheers for posting.
Response from MMADfan (Author of Resolving a Misunderstanding)
Writing it, on the other hand . . . that was nothing compared with the posting!