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The first few years after the war were hardest for the young. The students of Hogwarts were trying to come to terms with the fact that friends, family members or even acquaintances had given their lives so that the rest of them could live. They were damaged and traumatised but were still expected to go back to their so-called normal lives straight away. The Castle was restored over the summer and the influx of students grew exponentially considering very few had finished the past school year and had to retake it, as well as considering all the muggleborns that hadn’t even bothered to show up to their first year. This resulted in double 7th years and double 1st years and more work than any of the staff had ever had before. The adults didn’t have an easier time per se, but they had been through this process once or twice and were well aware that it would get better.
Minerva McGonagall, newly appointed Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, thought of this post-war period as the calm before the storm. They were all exhausted and that reflected the general mood of both Hogwarts and society as a whole. There were fewer social activists, not quite as many pranks and definitely no revolutionary choices of melodies for the school song.
The morning of Minerva’s second end-of-year feast as Headmistress was a beautiful, unusually sunny day for Scotland. As she got ready for the day, she did feel that somehow, this period of respite was approaching its end. There was something brewing in the air that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. A restlessness that was manifested in more talkative portraits, louder students, and a general willingness to complain more in the staff room. Securing the last pins in her hair, Minerva headed down to the staff room for the day’s debrief before they could count down the hours until the students left. Approaching the room Minerva heard the usual, slightly raised voices echoing down the otherwise empty hallway.“Yes, well, there are no Gryffindors on the staff apart from her and you know she can’t do everything so you will have to step up this year, Aurora!” Septima seemed to be quite close to her pre-war rallying in both tone of voice and absolute conviction. “I was on Gryffindor-duty last year and it is not something I wish to do twice! The mess, the smell, the sheer volume of that common room is the stuff of nightmares, I’m telling you! Can’t imagine how Minerva has put up with it all these years.” “You’re not doing a great job of convincing me, my dear,” the soft reply from Aurora was barely audible through the door Minerva was most certainly not eavesdropping through. “I’m a Slytherin for goodness sake! I should be the last person to consider for this! Well, perhaps after Severus”.Minerva sighed and decided it was time to break up this little discussion and entered the room with a flare that rivalled Severus’ more dramatic power-shows.
“Aurora, Septima, how lovely to see you so enthused ahead of the last day of term.” Minerva’s voice dripped with sarcasm as she stared down at her two employees. Both women had the decency to look slightly chagrined. Professor Aurora Sinistra, however, was not someone who easily backed down.
“Really Minerva, you know we are right!” Her conviction shone through her slightly blushing cheeks. “It’s not that you’re not capable, but you’ll run yourself to an early grave”, Aurora proclaimed. “You should at least appoint a transfiguration professor, Minerva. You simply cannot continue as you have these past two years. What are you trying to prove? That you’re invincible? You’ve already done that by living through 3 wars! Step back, please, Minerva!” Aurora’s voice had become more desperate and ended in a pleading note.
Minerva observed her colleagues’ worried faces and realised she’d have to at least consider it. Mainly for their sake, but also because of that little niggling feeling at the back of her head that said they were right. She was tired, had been since the end of the war, but she’d refused to consider the feeling, lest she’d fall into that rabbit hole.
“All right, keep your hats on, I’ll consider it,” she reluctantly acquiesced whilst trying to maintain an air of disapproving school mistress. * * * * * * In spite of the raucous feast, the academic year came to an end and the castle was quiet once more. Minerva finally had time to sit down and mark all the OWL and NEWT exams, write end of year reports, make sure they were adequately staffed for next year, once again convince Severus to stay on, fund any reparations to the castle, prepare the letters for the upcoming first years, set aside some time to visit the ones that were muggleborn children and their families. Maybe she did have a bit much to do lately. She had appointed Filius as her deputy but there were some things that she simply always had done, and would prefer to keep doing. She imagined with an amused expression what it would be like to send Filius to visit muggles for the muggle-born induction. Although, maybe it would be easier to convince some of the more sceptical parents if they were faced with a part-goblin in their homes. Aside from the propriety she thought she could bring the introductions in general, she was also of the opinion that Albus had had surprisingly few duties as Headmaster of Hogwarts. The only assignment she took over from him seemed to be the innumerable speeches in the Great Hall and the appointment of new staff members (through the Board of Governors, obviously). Minerva contemplated what she’d do if she took the advice of her friends and colleagues. She’d employ a transfiguration professor and leave the traditional deputy head responsibilities to Filius. And then what? What would she do with her time? It was hard enough now approaching the idle summer months. In spite of all her duties she felt a dull pressure over her chest when she thought about it. She’d always been a hard worker and had judged people harshly who weren’t as self-sacrificing and dedicated as herself. If she came across a Boggart now, she was pretty sure it would show herself as a useless, forgotten old witch. Minerva shook herself out of her steadily declining mood and set to work listing potential candidates for the professorial position. However, every time she put quill to parchment, she’d paus and realise that particular person was no longer alive.
Sirius Black
Remus Lupin
Nymphadora Tonks
Hestia JonesMaybe she could convince Horace to come back yet again but this time to a different subject. But no, he’d been hard enough to convince when Albus had taken Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, to see him. She had no such cards up her sleeve and none of Albus’ charisma.
Could Victor Krum be interested in a teaching job after an illustrious career in Quidditch? Probably not.
Had there been any especially outstanding students lately? Of course, there was one obvious answer but Minerva had several reservations about her. Hermione Granger had graduated the year before, together with the younger year group, considering she missed her own final year completely. She had no practical experience and was probably young enough to feel cowed by some of the older students. She was likely still traumatised from having taken such an active part in the last year of the war and subsequently losing her family to memory charms of her own hand. Last she’d heard, Miss Granger wanted to work at the Ministry and help shape a new society free from the old pure-blood prejudice. It was unlikely she’d succeed though so maybe she could be lured out of the Ministry’s clutches still. Yes, maybe it was worth a try. Miss Granger could be her apprentice and, in that way, ease them both into their new roles. With renewed determination Minerva started to formulate a letter to the young graduate in order to invite her over for tea. Tea was always a good start to any good transaction. * * * * * *That evening Minerva sat on the edge of her bed in her private quarters. She had managed to accomplish quite a lot, she felt. Another school year was over and no disasters had plagued neither students nor staff. The Defence against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Brocklehurst, had stayed on both years since the war and the curse on the position seemed to be finally broken. She had also had a short, but delighted response from Miss Granger who claimed she looked forward to tea with her former professor. Whether or not that was true once Minerva presented her suggestion was a different question.
So why did Minerva feel like something was missing? As she looked around her bedroom, she realised it had to do with her colleagues’ earlier assumption that she was working too much. She felt like she wasn’t. What else was she supposed to do with her time? She had no family left and her only friends, if they could be called that, were her staff. And now they had all left the castle to go home to their own families. Well, almost all. She knew Severus Snape was in a similar position to herself and would stay in the castle all summer. She decided she’d go visit him in the morning, whether he liked it or not. They could both use some social interaction this summer, as part of their otherwise tragically lonely lives. * * * * * *Severus had just gotten out of bed and donned a dressing gown when he could no longer ignore his bladder. Now that he was up, he should probably have some lunch as well. It was nearing 2 in the afternoon and he hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before. On the other hand, he had nothing to do for several blissful month and might as well just crawl back into bed. Just as he had reached that decision there was a sharp knock on the door. He sighed deeply, there was only one other person in the castle at this time and he really didn’t have the energy to entertain the Headmistress. He considered ignoring her but knew she’d just keep insisting.
“Severus, how lovely to see you! It’s rather hard to believe we live in the same building, considering how seldom we see each other. Would you care to take lunch with me?” Minerva sounded like she forced cheerfulness into her tone, but her expression seemed genuine.
“Of course, Minerva, my quarters or yours?” Severus really didn’t want her to come into his rooms but propriety dictated he had to at least offer.
“Well, seeing as I’m already here, I won’t make you traipse across the castle to my quarters,” if Minerva noticed his reluctance, she didn’t show it.
“How considerate of you,” Severus managed to drawl. “Do come in then, and don’t mind the mess, please,” he stepped aside to let her in and waved his wand trying to tidy up a bit without appearing to care.
“I have a proposition for you, Severus,” Minerva started formally after making some space for herself on the sofa.
Severus’ scandalized expression made her let out an unladylike snort whilst trying not to laugh in his face. “Oh, for goodness’ sake. Get you mind out of the gutter, lad, I’m old enough to be your mother!” she exclaimed with a smirk.
“And don’t I know it, by how you are constantly mothering me,” his face was back to scowling at her in a much more predictable fashion.
Minerva’s sigh indicated her proposition was not going to be to his liking. “If you’ll let me finish, I was simply going to suggest that we might socialise a bit more this summer. It’s practically just you and I left here for the duration of the summer and I have to admit that last year…” Severus glanced up at her as she paused. “Well, last year I was miserably lonely and I dare you to suggest you had a better summer. I didn’t see you for the whole summer and when you deigned finally grace us with your presence you were barely more than a ghost. And I simply refuse to let you waste away as you did then!” Minerva had grown steadily more agitated and was visibly reigning herself in by the time she finished.
Severus observed his colleague as she tried to intimidate him with her professor persona. His cold refusal of her company melted away as he found it rather endearing that she’d think he could be intimidated by her. “I stand by my earlier assessment of your constant attempts of mothering me. I neither need nor care for it.” He still had to put up at least a token refusal.
“Severus.” Her gaze was pitying and he really did not care for it. “I wish to ask, and I give you my word I will not force you, for your company every few days. We could have tea, play a game of chess, complain about students or why not life in general. I think you and I might have gathered enough to complain about to last several lifetimes. What do you say, Severus? Will you indulge an old woman’s need for gossip?” Behind her smirk there seemed to be a genuine fear that he might refuse her.
He took a deep breath as he considered how this might change his usual plans for the summer of wallowing in guilt and starving himself into a grave that should already have been occupied by him.
“Do not expect me to prepare finger sandwiches for you or any such nonsense” he sneered, but without malice.
Minerva let out a surprised laugh. “I would never dream of it, Severus. Although I’m going to have to insist you have a shower every once in a while. You smell worse than a pub at closing time and considering I’m Scottish that is saying something!”
“I would have done a refreshing charm had I known you were coming,” he said staring pointedly at her.
“Fine, I’ll suit myself then, shall I,” she huffed out whilst rolling her eyes. “How about this then? Lunch tomorrow at 1pm in my quarters. I’ll make sure there is something other than finger sandwiches for your delicate tastes”.
Severus nodded at her and waited until she had showed herself out of his sitting room before allowing himself a small chuckle. Trust Minerva McGonagall to turn his general disposition from miserably depressed, to fondly irritated. He felt strangely comfortable knowing they seemed to be regaining their mutual respect and friendship after the strain put on them during his year as headmaster. He missed the chess games and easy conversation. He most definitely would not admit to missing all the fussing over him but it was nice knowing someone cared. * * * * * *Two weeks later Minerva and Severus had settled into a comfortable routine. They had tea in Minerva’s quarters every other day and usually ended the evening with a game of chess or simply sat conversing until Severus took his leave.
“Did I tell you I have decided to take on an apprentice?” Minerva asked in a tensely innocent tone.
“An apprentice?” Severus lifted an eyebrow in her direction.
“Yes, I thought it would be prudent to have an apprentice to teach and then hand over my duties as Transfiguration professor, now that I’m apparently no longer able to cope.” Her lips tightened at the same time as she tried to seem unaffected.
“Not cope?” Severus scoffed. “What a load of Hippogriff shit. You’re falling for peer pressure, aren’t you, Minerva? Vector and Sinistra say some utter tripe and you trip over your own feet to accommodate them”.
Minerva scowled. Had it not been directed at him he would almost have been proud. “I most certainly am not!” she exclaimed in her most righteous voice. “Just because you actively contradict your colleagues at any chance you get doesn’t mean they cannae sometimes be correct”.
Severus sighed. He could still read Minerva rather well. Even after their falling out during the war. She seemed hurt but unwilling to admit it. “I simply meant that there is no conceivable way that you could have been neglecting any of your duties. Not ten years ago as this school’s de facto headmistress and definitely not now as its official one. You have been doing these same duties for the past several decades, you and I both know Albus was too busy to actually run a school, and your being named Headmistress changed nothing. If you do not want to give up teaching, don’t.”
A small smile appeared on Minerva’s face. “Thank you, Severus. That was exactly what I’ve been wanting to hear since the issue was brought up. On the other hand, since the idea was forced onto me, I have actually grown to quite like it. I’m rather looking forward to taking on an apprentice. Especially considering who I’ve picked”. The smile morphed into a smirk as she waited for Severus’ reaction.
“I suppose you need me to ask which dunderhead you’ve found for the dubious pleasure of being your apprentice?”
“Yes, Severus. Thank you for asking, if that was indeed what you were attempting. I’ve decided to offer to appoint Hermione Granger to the role. She’s arriving for tea this afternoon.”
“Have you LOST your MIND, woman?” Severus spluttered?
Minerva was quietly proud that she had managed to coax a stronger reaction than his recent apathy. “Indeed, I have not. She was a brilliant student, as well you know, and she will be a brilliant apprentice. I happen to be fond of the girl so please give her a chance, Severus Snape.”
It was clear she would hear nothing against the little know-it-all. “Fine. I will endeavour not to be actively cruel towards her but that is all you are getting from me.”
“I suppose it is all I could ask for. Thank you, Severus.”
Severus felt suddenly exhausted and in desperate need of crawling into bed. “It is time I retired, I bid you goodnight, Minerva.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Hermione looked up at the great iron gates in front of her and took a deep breath. 2 years ago, this had been a battle ground and she, amongst many others, had feared and fought for her life. It was difficult to imagine that she was back already, at the invitation of the Headmistress, no less. Admiring the castle, its turrets and spires, it really wasn’t hard to remember her first ever impression of Hogwarts. She’d been terrified then as well. All these tiny 11-year-olds, stuffed into wobbly looking boats, she’d been sure someone would fall in and drown and that really didn’t bode well for the security of a school. On the other hand – magic. Although, to be fair, the rest of her seven years at Hogwarts did follow in the same lack of health and safety. They’d had a war there for heaven’s sake! With children!A figure approached the main gates and Hermione realised she still hadn’t even attempted entering, ringing a door bell? How did one enter Hogwarts outside term time? She’d have to ask the very person who’d invited her and who was now smiling at her from the other side of the gate. “I see you haven’t forgotten how to find us yet, Miss Granger.” A slightly sarcastic raise of an eyebrow accompanied the statement as the gate was opened and Hermione stepped through.“Of course not, Professor… Headmistress! Sorry”, Hermione blushed slightly.“Oh no, none of that now, lass. You’ve graduated now, and with that comes the dubious privilege of calling your former professors by their first names! Imagine that”. Minerva smiled at the nervous-looking girl.“Right, thank you… Minerva. Oh gosh, that sounds so strange!” Hermione tucked a few strands of her unruly locks behind her ear. Maybe she was more affected by her return to Hogwarts than she’d thought. “My name sounds strange, does it? It’s not such a terrible name, I wouldn’t have thought.” The slight quirk of her lips belied her seriousness.“No! No, of course not! It’s a nice name, that’s not at all what I meant. I’m sorry. I’m afraid I feel a bit out of sorts, coming back here.” Hermione took a deep breath to centre herself.When she looked up Minerva was looking at her with a slightly disappointed expression. And however childish the original fear, she could at that moment imagine her Boggart would revert from whatever horrors she had lived through, back to its original shape of precisely this expression on precisely this woman.Minerva looked back up at the castle. “Oh dear, that does not exactly bode well for my proposal”.“Proposal?” Hermione was intrigued, despite her embarrassment. “Shall we make our way to my office? I’d rather have this discussion sitting down and Lotty has promised me a rather delicious sounding afternoon tea.” Minerva gestured to the path ahead of them.“Of course, I’m so sorry.” Hermione followed Minerva’s indication as they stepped up the path. “Afternoon tea sounds lovely. Although I have to say, what a way to keep me in suspense!” A little giggle escaped her lips before she could cover it up by clearing her through carefully.Minerva laughed lightly, causing Hermione to stare up at her, discreetly, of course. “Aye, lass. Although it was not my intention. I promise I will explain all about my reason for inviting you as soon as we’re both sat comfortably in my office, don’t fret.” * * * * * *They met no one on their way along the path and further up the stairs to the Headmistress’ office. Minerva kept an eye on her guest as they entered the castle that held so many traumatic experiences for the young, the ones that had fought for their right to be part of the magical world, the ones who lost friends, family and class mates here in these very halls. It had taken her a long time to be able to look at Hogwarts and not see death and destruction. Not seeing the dead bodies of children around every corner, nor the familiar faces of colleagues unmoving, unseeing. Albus, her mentor, her friend, cold to the touch. Minerva shook her head to rid herself of the gloomy thoughts. It happened more and more often, these introspections and lingering on the very worst moments of her life. They reached her office in silence and Minerva hurried to order the afternoon tea she had promised. Her coffee table was quickly filled up with cucumber sandwiches, scones and tea for two.“Please, sit. Let’s not stand on formality for this meeting. Do help yourself to anything you like and I will tell you my reason for asking you to come.”They made themselves comfortable in the armchairs by the fire as they picked from the veritable feast on the table. Minerva took a few bites before she decided to simply get this over and done with. “My proposal, as I called it, has to do with the fact that I’m getting old. No, don’t interrupt me, please, I’d like to get this all out in one go. As I was saying, I’m getting old, and it has been brought to my attention that I am apparently not managing as well as I thought I was.” She sighed. “Whether or not I agree with the assessment, I feel that I have found a rather brilliant solution that will hopefully quiet down all the worried voices.” Minerva stopped and looked up at the young woman sitting in front of her. She was the very picture of studious and focused interest. She really would be the perfect candidate to inspire young minds and show them the true wonders of magic. She could already imagine her gesticulating wildly and making that hair of hers sparkle with overflowing energy. She’d be the very opposite of her own tentative start as a young and insecure professional. Not that anyone could do worse than her, really. She’d been too intimidated, too easily manipulated to have had any success as a teacher. Minerva shuddered as she remembered the long process of trying to salvage her teaching career that started off so utterly disastrously. Hermione would have a better experience; she’d see to it. “You might already know where I’m going with this, with that sharp mind of yours. But just in case you don’t: I’d like to you to take over as transfiguration professor. No, wait, it’s not tenure. To start I’d offer you a position as my apprentice. We’d work through the syllabus and we would set up a plan for you to cover all the material and I would guide your teaching until we both feel you’re ready to fly your own broomstick, as it were. It’d anticipate a year, possibly two, before I’ve taught you all I know and you could take over as the sole professor for transfiguration. There, I can see you practically bursting with questions. The floor is yours, Hermione.” She took a deep breath and leaned back in her armchair, prepared for the onslaught of questions she’d learned to expect from this young woman.* * * * * *The sun had already begun to set when Hermione finally set out from Hogwarts. She had been given so many things to think about and she envisioned many chats with Harry to help her sort through her tangled feelings about the offer. It was tempting, of course it was. Apart from the fact that she had a warm feeling deep inside her, simply at the approval and high praise the offer of apprenticing signified, being a professor of transfiguration was a prestigious position. On the other hand, going back to Hogwarts had not been in her meticulously thought-out life plan.As she apparated home from outside the gates of Hogwarts, she resolved to come up with a new and improved life plan in the next few days. The first step in this plan was to put the kettle on (the muggle way, she’d never gotten the same satisfyingly ritualistic feeling from magically producing a cuppa, ironically enough) and floo her best friend.Soon after Hermione had stuck her head in the floo for a quick message, Harry Potter stepped through the green flames looking every bit the auror he was training to become, in his red robes and confident posture. “What’s wrong, has something happened? Do you need me to get Kingsley?”Hermione smiled at her friend’s sense of urgency. “No, Harry, relax. It’s nothing quite so dire, I apologize for making it sound so. Please sit, I need Harry now, not Auror Potter, if that’s at all possible.”“Right, of course.” Harry wriggled out of his outer robe and flung it over the back of a chair. He’d never really gotten into the habit of carefully hanging up his robes, like most well educated members of the wizarding world. A pristine home reminded his too much of all the chores he’d had to do as a child at the Dursley’s. As soon as he started living on his own, he realised he’d much rather have a mess around him and feel at home. “So, what’s up? Got an A- on an essay?” he teased lightly. Hermione chuckled. “No. Although I recognise I would probably in a right state if that ever happened! No, my studies are going rather well, to be honest. This has more to do with what I might or might not do after I get my BA.” She watched Harry carefully. She valued his opinion but sometimes she wondered if she should sort out her own head before running to Harry. It was something she knew she had to work on but hadn’t really had the time yet. Her own opinion had never really felt like it carried the same weight as everyone else’s and with the experience of sometimes being catastrophically wrong (her House Elf campaign came to mind) she had become dependent on validation from others.“I got a job offer today”, she said carefully.“Really? That’s great, congrats! or..” Harry frowned slightly,” …do you not want it? You’re allowed to decline, you know.”“No, that’s not it. I do want it. I really, really do. But I’m worried I’d accept because I’m flattered, not because I’d actually do well at it.”“Right. So, you gonna tell me what this job is? I can’t really reassure you otherwise. For all I know you’ve been offered a place on the Chudley Canons, and I’m pretty sure you’d be terrible at any Quidditch-related job”.“Definitely! Well, the thing is, I got an owl the other day inviting me to tea.”“The owl was inviting you to tea?”“Yes. No! Stop it Harry, I’m trying to tell you something important!”“Sorry”“I got an owl, from Professor McGonagall. She asked me to come to Hogwarts for tea, with her. And then she offered me the job of transfiguration professor.”Harry started at her, eyes wide. “Wow! I mean, wow!”“Yes, you said. So, what do you think?” she bit her lip nervously.“That’s amazing! Why are you even asking me? Professor Granger, it has a ring to it, doesn’t it? But hang on, is McGonagall retiring then? She doesn’t seem as old as Dumbledore was…”“No, of course not! She’ll still be Headmistress and I wouldn’t be taking over all at once. She’s actually offered me an apprenticeship where I shadow her to begin with and then as I learn and gain more confidence, I’d start holding my own classes. We haven’t actually discussed the details of it all yet. She said someone had told her she was getting to old to hold all the roles she has, which is utter tripe, of course.”“Of course. So you’re saying she’d actually teach you to teach.”“Essentially, yes.”“Well, for what it’s worth I think you’d be a great teacher! And you’ve been marking essays for as long as you’ve been writing them, so you’ve got that down. Although to be honest I think you’re asking the wrong question. It doesn’t really matter if you’re good at it or not.”“What do you mean, of course it does! That’s the whole point of a job, Harry!”“No, Hermione, it really isn’t. And it’s kind of sad that you think so.”Hermione was starting to get annoyed. “So what is the point of a job, oh all-knowing saviour?”“To enjoy it.”“Hm”“See, you agree with me.”“No, I most definitely do not! What if I loved playing Quidditch, to use your example. Everyone knows I’m rubbish at it, so there’d be no point in me having that job.”“Exactly.”“What?”“Exactly, I agree with you.”“Aaargh, Harry, you can be utterly frustrating sometimes, do you know that?” Hermione dropped her head into her hands and took a few deep breaths. “Will you please explain what you mean?”“I mean that your point with a job is to enjoy it, always. It’s not up to you to decide if you’re any good at it or not. That’s up to your employer. If they think you’re rubbish at it then obviously they wouldn’t hire you. Seriously, Hermione, that’s like the whole point of applications and interviews and stuff. So, what I mean is: you decide if you enjoy the job, they decide if you’re any good at it. If they think that you are, then they offer you a job, simple as that. Obviously, you’ve done it all a bit backwards since you’ve already got the offer and now you have to decide if you think you’d enjoy teaching. So, Hermione Granger, do you think you’d enjoy apprenticing to McGonagall and teaching transfiguration at Hogwarts?”“Yes.”“Well, there’s your answer then.”