"Lucius."
He didn't need to know what Narcissa wanted to talk about, he had the paper in his hands and was mostly through the article already. The most interesting article that had crossed their breakfast table in almost a decade, honestly.
He did take note that she did not have a paper in-hand, yet seemed perfectly aware of the situation already going by how primly she sat in her normal chair, accepting the teacup an elf handed her. She never ate much breakfast on days she was particularly busy, so clearly this was not the news to her that it was to him.
"Sirius Black? Really?" He sniffed, laying down the paper and taking his own coffee for lack of a better option. "There had to have been better options than that."
"Given the boy isn't already adopted by someone else I can only assume I beat you to the punch then." She snipped and he couldn't deny it. His own plans of manipulating other pureblood names into taking an interest in the boy had clearly taken too long.
He wasn't that upset over losing this particular battle with his wife; over the years he'd lost and won several bouts of varying importance to him. Being able to be a win and lose with grace had been a key to their happy marriage, after all.
No, what he was genuinely concerned about now was how on earth she'd actually done this. They'd talked about Sirus' supposed innocence back when Draco was still a toddler, but despite their combined brainstorming and half-hearted attempts to probe the situation, had come to the conclusion it was not possible to broach the topic of a trial safely. Which implied she'd either found a new solution, or had done something that was in fact not safe at all, which was a great cause for concern.
He knew better than to outright ask though, or she'd get defensive and then a bit peeved at him for meddling too much.
"It seems I've been beaten, but that only remains true if this trial actually happens, much less if he is found innocent and sane. I do doubt he's truly guilty of at least betraying the Potters, but Pettigrew? Not to mention he was hardly sane as a Hogwarts student much less what the years in Azkaban have done to him." He pointed out, fully aware she likely already knew this.
True to form she didn't blink, her grey eyes measuring him with a warmth he only rarely got to see, but it was a welcome sight.
"Leave that to me. In the meantime, I would like to ask a favor of you while you're at Hogwarts today."
He sighed, knowing it was no use to put up a fight now that he'd clearly been defeated. Gone was the chance to try and outsmart her, now was the time to work as a team once again.
"Of course dear."
That earned him a rare, genuine smile that brought him his own share of happiness on this rather cloudy morning.
000
Without warning, Minerva found herself with three people in her office that she would never have imagined would be there at the same time. Much less that for some reason, everyone seemed to know what was going on except for her.
She'd woken up as if this were any other day—and oh how utterly wrong she'd been.
She was supposed to escort her lions to breakfast under the new lockdown rules, however she'd barely gotten her spectacles on when she'd received a patronus from the headmaster, about aurors in the castle. In his office, specifically.
By the time she'd gotten there, before she'd even had a chance to really grasp what was going on, Albus was already gone and Lucius Malfoy in all his sneering glory was standing before the headmaster's desk with an annoyingly confidant smirk. Minerva chose to ignore the three aurors in the room going through the headmaster's bookshelves and desk rather bluntly, despite recognizing two of them as past students of her own house, one of them looking up and nodding a greeting to her.
"Mr. Malfoy, I assume there is an explanation for this." She said by way of greeting and he offered her a rolled parchment almost casually.
"I'm here on behalf of the school board. Auror Adams here represents the Minister, however given the nature of the visit I am his escort while on Hogwarts grounds before making the introduction." Lucius intoned dryly.
Minerva glanced at the parchment and felt her temper flare, but kept it firmly in check. "It is the school board's decision then, to resign Albus from his position? Ignoring our summons for ministry assistance with this petrification issue and going straight to his removal?" She clipped sharply, Adams giving her a wry smile of apology.
"Sorry Professor, but we're here now. I'm sure Dumbledore will be reinstated as soon as we find this thing." He looked almost no different than the boy she'd given detention to almost fifteen years ago as he sheepishly apologized, and she knew it wasn't entirely his doing. There was no way the school board had unanimously decided to vote Albus out without Lucius pulling some strings; she knew for a fact half of them were too afraid of being petrified themselves to remove the protection they considered Albus Dumbledore to be.
No, the timing was all the machinations of this particularly infuriating Slytherin, Minerva was sure of it.
She pressed her lips into a thin line.
"It seems for the time being I am acting Headmistress then. I will cooperate with the investigating aurors and leave you to search this office, but once you are finished you will all return to my office to discuss proper protocol. There is new information you will need while you conduct your search, but more than that I will not have you frightening the students even more than they already are by wandering around recklessly. Do I make myself clear?" She commanded sharply, all the aurors in room stiffening.
"Yes professor," They agreed easily, like they were still students.
She gave a silent sigh, before returning an icy look to an irritatingly unbothered Lucius.
"Mr. Malfoy, with your business on behalf of the school board complete and Albus removed from office, is there a reason you are still here?"
"There is, actually. It is unrelated to the true reason of my visit." His cold eyes seemed to be getting a little too much enjoyment from the way her jaw flexed. "It appears you've not seen the news this morning. Please allow me a bit of your time to bring you up to speed?" He smirked.
She held her tongue.
"My office." Was all she could get out as she removed herself from the headmaster's office to let the aurors conduct their search. She knew Albus was not dumb enough to leave truly important things where even people actively looking would ever find them, and despite her new role she was not about to act as if that were now her space. Her office was still her office and even while acting as Headmistress it would continue to be so.
Speaking of those duties though, on her way she sent off quick patronus for the other teachers informing them of the change, and that they needed to stay with the students until she knew more for now. She was sure Severus would be in her office as soon as the students were safely in the great hall for breakfast, but she needed to deal with the Slytherin in front of her first—she'd get to the potions master later.
Thankfully, no sooner had her office door shut behind her did Lucius get to the point without prompting… or, almost the point.
"I'm sure you're wondering why Fudge did not come personally, since he has always been a great friend to the Headmaster, not to mention very supportive and involved in all Hogwarts affairs," He hummed, and while yes, Minerva did take note of that, it wasn't nearly the most concerning thing at the moment.
"I'm sure the Minister has other duties to attend to rather than be personally involved in a single DMLE investigation." She sniffed, moving to stand behind her desk though she did not sit. It was a comfort to have the separation though, reminding him that she was still in a position of power. Even if the look on his face as he casually inspected the small room around him in mild distain implied he barely considered her much of an authority at all.
"That is true, particularly today. Hogwarts gets its mail at a standard time but the Ministry gets the first issues much earlier. Fudge will be quite busy for the foreseeable future considering what the world is about to hear," He smiled in a way that made her stomach twist, before merely withdrawing a Daily Prophet from his robes and tossing it carelessly onto her desk.
She glanced at the headline, intending to not let him witness her reaction no matter what it said so he wouldn't get the satisfaction of that haughty attitude of his looking down on—
-- she was unable to stop herself from snatching it off the desk and choke on air as it sunk in what she was reading.
"…this is a joke." She got out in a strangled voice. Honestly, she was praying it was.
The alternative was… unthinkable.
"It is not. Read that at your leisure but the interesting part is that he was never given a trial, so he'll finally get one this Monday. Narcissa is particularly invested since he is her cousin after all, and as I'm sure you're aware Mr. Potter is a dear friend of my son. Narcissa insisted I allow the boy to attend the trial of his own godfather, and as the president of the school board I should be a sufficient chaperone if you, as acting Headmistress, would permit me to take him from Hogwarts temporarily." Lucius talked as if this were business as normal, but it was everything Minerva had to keep standing and not sink into her desk chair—and weep.She would not shed a single tear in front of a death eater though. That was not something she would ever do.
It took her several long, precious moments to collect herself, but it was too much even for her. From losing Albus to being Headmistress in less than twenty minutes, to this…
And suddenly, before she could find her voice, things got even worse somehow.
"Minerva!" Her fireplace flashed green and then a familiar voice she hadn't heard in years was calling for her. Someone she'd left her floo permission open to just in case, but someone who hadn't actually appeared in those flames for upwards of nine years now.
And with the image of a young Sirius Black still fresh in her mind like a newly reopened wound, she was nearly not strong enough to be faced with a grown Remus Lupin in front of her now—looking just as panicked and overwhelmed as she felt.
In any other situation she might've felt a sense of relief to have someone who understood her pain, someone who probably felt it even deeper than she did honestly. This moment was potentially the worst moment he could've chosen to reappear after all this time though, with aurors upstairs and headed their way here any minute as well as Lucius bloody Malfoy standing in her office and turning to give the new arrival a distinctly disgusted, albeit mildly surprised look.
"Remus," She managed to get out, though her tone was strangled. Remus went from looking at her to realizing Lucius was also there, and paling significantly.
"Ah. The werewolf." Lucius noted with a blankness that set Minerva's already frayed nerves on edge and Remus stiffened sharply. The blond surprised them though by merely lifting a brow. "I suppose you are involved with this in some way." He allowed. Both in tone but also deciding as if on the spot not to object to his presence here.
Surprising grace aside, Remus was clearly on a mission and decided the audience didn't matter.
"I can only guess you are both well aware of what I'm here about then." He frowned, glancing at his old professor with wide eyes and it was everything she had inside of her not to flinch.
"We are." She cleared her throat, setting the prophet down pointedly. "It's good to see you again, Remus. It truly is." She shot him a calm, but stern look. "However now is not the time."
"Actually now is exactly the time," He shot back, a fire she hadn't expected from him flaring in his gaze. "Does Harry know yet!?" He demanded.
Right… Harry.
Breakfast would start in a couple minutes, she was sure he'd learn about this any moment now. And when he did… she knew there was no telling what his reaction would be. She wasn't even sure he fully understood who Sirius was.
The idea he was about to learn made her heart ache.
"If he doesn't then he's about to when the morning mail arrives." She allowed. "I understand you're worried about him but now it not the appropriate time to make introductions when he's about to witness something like this, whether he's ready to or not." She argued, not understanding when Remus openly balked.
"Whether he's ready to? Minerva have you met Harry!?" he spluttered.
She paused, heart skipping a beat.
"I have, yes… have you?" She was realizing some things when the werewolf winced, looking to the side briefly before getting a stubborn look on his face. He'd been a better liar as a student.
Or maybe he'd only ever been confident when he'd had James and Sirius at his sides to back his lies up.
He didn't answer, changing the subject bluntly. "I'm sorry for barging in here so suddenly but I need to speak to Dumbledore immediately! If this trial happens then Harry has to be there." He demanded, and Minerva was taken aback at the sense of déjà vu.
Lucius cleared his throat, catching Remus' attention—and visible caution too as he remembered the man was there.
"In that, we actually share a goal. I am here as a representative of the school board to request the boy be permitted to leave to attend this trial." He intoned, ignoring the shocked reaction to that. "I'm not sure what argument you were about to make, but frankly I'm a far more trustworthy chaperone than someone such as… yourself."
The very blatant once-over he got made Remus clench his jaw for a moment but since it was a painfully true fact, he couldn't openly argue.
"And your interest is purely because Draco is Harry's friend?" He accused quietly, Minerva once again wondering how the hell Remus had known that… but knowing the answer wasn't that hard to put together.
Oh Harry… I'm glad you found each other.
Lucius looked down his nose, seeming very unimpressed a werewolf was speaking back to him right now, and clicked his tongue against his teeth. "It is partly the reason perhaps, but may I remind you Black is my wife's cousin. Should the boy get his godfather returned to him then he'd practically be family, no?"
The way he'd said it made both Gryffindors want to shudder, and they barely kept their glares off their faces. Lucius didn't seem to mind though, almost basking in their mutual ire. He seemed to take a lot of pride in getting under both their skins at once.
"I suppose a grander reason would be beyond you," Remus' tone was polite but by the way the Malfoy's brow twitched Minerva really wished the werewolf had left the sass at home this once.
"Enough. I agree that should he wish to, I will permit Harry absence from Hogwarts to deal with this as it is a family matter. It will be up to him though." She announced, and seeing Remus' confused look she clarified. "Dumbledore has been suspended for the time being in response to ongoing issues here in the castle. I am acting as Headmistress temporarily so it is my permission to give. Remus, I understand you are invested but I do have to allow Mr. Malfoy to be the chaperone if needed. I could not allow a student to leave the school during the semester without being accompanied by a parent or guardian, or in this case an official school representative."
The words felt blatantly awful on her tongue, because she'd known James Potter once. She'd known him well, she'd practically raised him like she did with many of her lions.
And James Potter fully considered Remus Lupin more than a guardian for his son; for all intense and purposes they were brothers. To tell this young man he wasn't felt like each word was being spit directly onto James' grave and the heart inside her chest hated herself for it.
But she had no choice.
She was genuinely apologetic and tried to make that clear in her tone, and thankfully Remus didn't argue. Though the frustration within him was nearly tangible to the entire office, Minerva could only share in it silently.
"Thank you, Professor. I assure you he'll be returned promptly after the trial." Lucius inclined his head cooly, and Minerva wanted to raise her hackles again but knew there was nothing this man would truly do. He'd brought Harry to the school when he missed the train at the start of the year after all, and despite her knowing in her bones that he was up to something, she had faith it wasn't at Harry's expense at least.
And Harry really did deserve the right to see what became of his godfather. She really hoped that by giving him an option and not telling him he had to go, that he'd actually choose to stay in the castle while this went down but… she knew he wouldn't.
They all knew he wouldn't.
"I will need to ask the both of you to leave for the time being, as I've only just taken over as Headmistress and need to secure the school against visitors while the aurors are here for their investigation." She straightened her back and got down to business. There would be time to listen to what was churning sickeningly in her heart later, but for now she had a school worth of children to look after and a petrification monster to deal with.
Her priorities took over, and the most urgent thing was to remove Remus from her office before the aurors saw him. Next would be to inform the aurors of what Harry had told her about the monster potentially moving within the walls, and then inform the teachers and the school body of what was happening, both with Dumbledore and the investigation. All of this preferably needed to happen before breakfast ended so she could announce it to the students directly all at once, and there wasn't much time as the great hall doors had probably just opened for breakfast.
She looked to the werewolf pointedly and she could tell he got the message by the alarm flashing across his face. He hadn't known there were aurors here and if they saw him now of all times, he would be taken for questioning related to Sirius' trial. If Minerva recalled correctly, those aurors upstairs had been at Hogwarts the same time as him, if not several years older… there was almost no chance they wouldn't remember who he'd once been friends with.
After all, the Marauders had been infamous to everyone that knew them, ever since they pulled their first prank at their own sorting ceremony.
From they day they arrived until the day they left they'd been a headache and a half… but even mentally complaining she couldn't help but be rather fond about those memories too.
It was that fondness that gnawed a hole in her stomach though, because to her knowledge no one had seen Remus Lupin in almost a decade. That he was suddenly back the exact morning Sirius Black was announced to be getting a trial, and many people being very aware of their connection… it was too much of a coincidence.
Even to her, as Minerva was very much wondering what on earth Remus had been up to all this time, if he wasn't involved or if…
She shook it off.
Later.
"Mr. Malfoy, I will speak to Harry and give him the option, so when it is time to attend—"
"PROFESSOR!"
All three of them jumped as the door slammed open. It would've been way more amusing to see Lucius Malfoy so taken off guard if Minerva weren't horrified that yet again, someone was barging into her office. The lack of control she had over this situation, over everything that had happened since she first opened her eyes this morning, was making her bitter that it wasn't socially acceptable to start drinking so early in the morning. It was really making her regret ever agreeing to be deputy headmistress.
This particular interruption was her own fault though, as Harry had stopped knocking at some point and she hadn't kept on top of correcting him about it, so eventually he'd taken it as free license to charge in whenever he wanted. Normally he at least attempted to look in first to see if there wasn't someone else here before throwing the door open without hesitation if there wasn't, permission to enter received or not. Today he didn't seem to care at all, given he had likely just received some very alarming news and wanted her attention about it immediately.
Any other day, she would've welcomed him in and offered him some tea to explain the whole situation in a much gentler, kinder way. Speaking as teacher-to-student, as a mentor who wanted to help him through this the way they had spoken a hundred times before.
Not today though. Not with so many people suddenly appearing in her office and increasing the chaos ten-fold each time. Not with Remus within arm's reach and the hyperawareness that aurors were walking down to her office at any moment causing her to feel physically ill. Not while Lucius Malfoy was standing there observing the whole situation and surely looking for any crack in their armor—any weakness on her part specifically that he could use against them all.
Not while she could barely think about why this was all happening around her without feeling like she needed to lie down… or just cry.
"Mr. Potter!" she shot out and he froze in the doorway at her tone, before his eyes bugged out when he realized she was not alone.
"Oops," He had the audacity to realize his mistake but seemed annoyingly unrepentant about it. But then he did a near comical double-take and inhaled sharply when the full situation sunk in. "Moony!?"Which essentially confirmed her suspicions, unfortunately.
Even worse, hearing Harry Potter say that old nickname brought memories back to her she really couldn't afford to deal with right now.
"Please tell me that is not how you normally enter Professor McGonagall's office," Remus seemed very stressed but still somehow amused as he immediately went to the boy and pulled him from the doorway, firmly shutting the door behind them both.
Right, that was probably a good idea. Minerva waved her wand to lock the office door—no more visitors and she could get them out of here before the aurors just walked in themselves. If they asked she'd blame Lucius and she doubted they'd really question it.
"What are you doing here!?" Harry ignored the question completely, looking rapidly between all three adults but seeming unable to look away from Remus for long, fear written plainly over his expression.
"I take it you've seen the morning's paper." The werewolf sighed with deep, resigned eyes.
"I mean yeah but you—how did you—!?" Harry stammered.
"Hogwarts gets its mail a little later than the rest of the world." Lucius felt the need to inform the boy in a bit of a patronizing tone, and Harry's expression shut off some.
"Ah, right… hi Mr. Malfoy." He greeted politely, purely because he was his best friend's father most likely, going by his posture clearly saying he was stiff about it.
Minerva hoped that would mean he'd decline the offer to let an ex-death eater be his chaperone but unfortunately knew better than that.
"Mr. Potter I can explain everything to you later if you'd like but for the time being I'm going to ask you to return to-" Minerva cut herself off, suddenly remembering the lockdown rules and knowing she couldn't very well send him back through the halls unattended. He'd already broken the rules but coming here alone in the first place. "Actually, how did you get here? One of the teachers should've been escorting Gryffindor to breakfast right about now?" She frowned disapprovingly and he gave an awkward laugh, but didn't answer.
"Well, about that…"
"We will deal with that later, I assure you, but given the situation I will walk you back to the great hall personally. Gentleman, while it's been a pleasure, as I'm sure you can see I'm rather busy at the moment and we can continue this conversation later. Via owl, preferably, given the investigation." She came around the desk to attempt to guide Harry out, shooting Remus a significant look. He winced, but got the message that he needed to leave before she unlocked that door, just to be safe.
"But wait, Professor-!" Harry tried to interrupt and quailed under the mild glare she shot him.
"Now is not the time, Mr. Potter! I understand this is quite overwhelming but give me an hour and I can explain properly," She spoke it as an order but was internally pleading with the boy to understand. The stress was getting to her.
"I—okay fine, but can I just—can I talk to Moony for a second?" He pleaded, emerald eyes pleading right back at her and she wondered for a moment if she was strong enough to actually say no. Especially when he grabbed the werewolf's hand to cling on for dear life and going off Remus' expression… she really doubted she was cold-hearted enough to actually break them apart now.
She wasn't sure if she was lucky she wasn't forced to make the decision though, when the elder Malfoy interrupted once again.
"Hogwarts will be in chaos for a little while yet, while the investigation is underway. As acting headmistress you'll be tasked with the whole school instead of one student, so how about I take the boy now? We can explain everything and give him some space before the coming ordeal." He offered silky, and Minerva wanted to tell him to fuck off but bit her lip.
Especially because it wasn't the worst idea. Not a good idea, but not a bad one.
"Mr. Malfoy-" she began to tell him no.
"Take me where!? To the trial?" Harry was unfortunately too clever for his own good and caught on to what was happening immediately, eyes going wide. "I get to go!?"
She held her natural reaction in tensely, offering a single stiff nod. "Yes. Mr. Malfoy here, as a Hogwarts representative from the school board, has offered to accompany you Monday. If you choose that is, you don't have to--"
"I want to go," He latched onto the offer immediately like they all knew he would, expression set in determination.
"Very well." She knew she could not stop him—she didn't have the right to even ask him not to go, despite how she hoped he wouldn't need to witness something like this. She almost couldn't stomach the thought of it herself, much less letting a twelve-year-old see it.
"I will be your chaperone then, and see you safely there and back." Lucius so graciously declared, smirk making her hackles rise. "The offer I just spoke of was if you'd like to come with me now instead of waiting out the weekend here. Narcissa and I would love to have you again, and of course answer your questions. As you know, my wife is Mr. Black's cousin so she would be a good authority on certain things. With the ongoing auror investigation into the petrification business, the acting headmistress and other professors will surely be too busy to attend to you, but I assure you we will not." He spoke to Harry but eyes pointedly drifted to McGonagall's to make his point.
Even if she wanted to sit with him and explain everything, she was going to be neck deep in work juggling being headmistress during the investigation while also still being the Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house—who were undoubtedly about to be nightmares to handle with aurors on-site as well as going insane once news of the trial broke to them. Her duty was to the whole school, not to one student… no matter how it pained her, she likely wouldn't have the time she just promised him to explain everything as gently as she wanted him to hear it.
But how the hell would the Malfoys be better!?
She could see Harry was tempted only because of the answers he wanted, but not actually that convinced either. They all knew if he went back to the great hall now, he'd have to face the entire student body asking him questions about a man he didn't know, nor would he have any more answers than anyone else. It would be an unpleasant experience surely… but he was also not stupid nor overly trusting just because these were his best friend's parents they were talking about. His curiosity was probably dire but also not quite that dire to actually accept the offer.
Unfortunately, Lucius seemed to know this and casually waved a hand.
"Lupin you are welcome as well, since it seems you have something to say." He offered uncaringly, but all three lions felt themselves startle.
Minerva didn't know what he was playing at but she didn't like it.
Because to her sinking horror and resignation, she could see it had immediately worked as intended when Harry perked up and gripped Remus' hand even tighter. He was probably about to decline and Lucius had known that, but he wouldn't be parted from his unofficial uncle if he could help it. He'd been presented with an opportunity that was too good to pass up, and the snake had full well known that when he offered it.
"Lucius," Remus was of course insanely suspicious and wary of the invite, but he put his free hand around Harry's shoulder automatically at the stronger grip, as if trying to comfort the boy. Or perhaps subconsciously protect him. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Though what he really meant is what are you playing at.
The Slytherin just gave a put upon sigh.
"It is of little inconvenience to me, nor do I care much for or against dark creatures. I've met a werewolf or so before and let's just say you are not the most impressive nor threatening, Lupin. Come for tea, I do not care."
Draco definitely learned his ability to look down on people while making straight eye contact from his father. The younger Malfoy made it look merely arrogant and proud—Lucius used it as a finely wielded insult that struck a nerve precisely where he wanted it to.
Minerva felt her wand still in her hand and wanted to go for it, wanted to hex this blasted death eater to the sky… but she couldn't. If she attacked the president of the school board she'd be out of a job herself and unable to help anyone at all.
But how dare he.
How fucking dare he invoke the reminder that his old death eater pal had been the very same monster who'd made Remus a werewolf in the first place as a child.
Going by her old student's expression, the anger written there but buried beneath a world of hurt and pain, Remus caught the reminder loud and clear.
Thankfully it didn't seem like Harry caught it, more looking overjoyed he was actually given permission to leave in the company of a werewolf... thrilled with the prospect that the Malfoys were not as bigoted as everyone definitely thought they were. Minerva supposed it was a bittersweet development in Harry's eyes: the Malfoys were not tolerant of anyone, but they were not particularly more intolerant to one group versus another.
"If that's really okay, can we Moony?" He glanced up at Remus only kind of asking permission (like he already knew Remus would give in to him), and it was a true testament to how much he cared about the boy that the werewolf fixed his expression before Harry could see it. He swallowed his reaction amazingly well, pulling Harry into a half hug by his grip on his shoulder and offered a thin, but remarkably believable smile.
"If that's why you want pup, a quiet place to speak would be great. There's a lot to talk about," He assured him kindly, and…
Minerva had to look at the fireplace they were about to leave through instead of them, or she'd break.
Remus Lupin was a better man than most.
"Thank you for letting us impose then, Lucius."
"It won't be for long, I assure you."
They finished the exchange while Minerva found her grit once more, turning and addressing Harry pointedly with a stern look.
"I expect no trouble from you while outside the school, Mr. Potter. And you will return promptly as soon as you are able to, understood?"
"Yes professor!" He promised, gripping Remus' hand tightly as they followed Lucius lead towards the fireplace.
"That goes for you as well, Mr. Lupin." She startled him by addressing him outright, golden eyes blinking widely at her just like they once did when he'd gotten caught out after curfew all those years ago. She offered him a stressed turn of her lips she hoped was more of a smile than she felt it probably turned out to be. "I wish we could've met again under better circumstances so please stay out of trouble yourself before we can speak properly once more." She instructed with no room for argument, like she did with all her students.
Thankfully it seemed to work and he offered her an understanding look back.
"I'll do my best, Minerva. Thank you," He didn't just mean her permission.
"Of course." She nodded, then again to Lucius as he politely bid his own farewell. Harry was clearly overwhelmed and had no idea what lay ahead of him as he shot her a smile and a wave—and just like that they all slipped out her fireplace, leaving her office blissfully quiet once again.
…she sunk down into her chair, shooting a distracted spell at the flames to close her floo access entirely for a moment. She just… she needed one moment.
She would not cry.
There was so much to do, and aurors would be knocking at her door and wondering why it was locked in a couple minutes, so this brief moment of quiet was all she could afford… she had to do her duties as a deputy headmistress, especially at a time like this. She couldn't keep the door closed and put her head in her hands, surrendering to the tidal wave of nameless emotions that wanted to rip her under right now.
Maybe later.
Maybe tonight when she had a moment to herself after dinner, when she could pour half a bottle of fire whiskey and let herself finally feel the horror and the pain. The memories of students she'd had so long ago would tear her to pieces she was sure, but it wouldn't be where anyone could see it hurt her.
Truth be told… she didn't want to know. It had been years and while it still ached, while there was melancholy and solemn toasts raised in quiet corners to those who remembered them, she already spent a lot of time grieving and coming to peace with the memories of James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. She'd buried them years ago, both in the ground and in her heart, laid her worse grief to rest alongside them eventually and could now think more fondly about them most times. She could tell Harry stories of his father with a fondness she only reserved for those not around to see it and the entire conversation would feel warm, if only just a little sad in some corner of her smile.
Even Remus to a point… she'd let him go when he disappeared, knowing he wanted nothing to do with her after she refused to help him get Sirius a trial back then. Minerva had never once been afraid of the werewolf, not even in his wolf form as back then he'd been a child—she might've had more caution for a fully grown wolf but Remus was just a boy, his wolf just a puppy too, and hadn't posed her or the other teachers much harm at all. Not to mention him willingly locking himself up, his hatred of his own condition turning his wolf against himself each full moon… Remus' wolf had always been incomparably weaker than any other werewolf you might encounter. She's seen Greyback and others who'd fought with him in the war… the young wolf under her care had always been sickly and thin in comparison—a creature that yelped and screamed instead of roaring.
She had only ever feared him once, and it had nothing to do with him being a werewolf.
The last they'd spoken, they'd… well it hadn't been a conversation, it had been a devastating shouting match. Mainly on his part, at her… when he'd been unable to believe she wouldn't help him. Wouldn't help Sirius.
She bit her lip and leaned her hands onto her desk heavily, trying not to let the warring guilt and horror consume her.
If she were being horrifically honest… and she would never be able to be this honest to anyone but herself, in the safety of her own mind…
…Sirius Black had been her favorite.
She could re-write history all she wanted, she could mourn and be free to talk about the charming James Potter and sweet little Peter Pettigrew all she liked, but it wouldn't change the horrible truth that she'd never admitted nor shown.
They weren't the boy with big silver eyes that had never once been afraid of her stern look and insisted on calling her 'Minnie' no matter how many detentions she'd given him about it. They weren't the young man who was fleeing a Slytherin family and who'd sat in her office talking about his dreams of being an auror and just free of his family the moment he could achieve it. They weren't the student who cared about quidditch just as much as she did, who got excellent grades without trying and despite being insanely flippant about it had never slacked off on his homeworks or tests—whose personality shone through the page of his essays like starlight so that they were never once a boring read. The troublemaker who almost didn't even try to hide it from her; while the other boys would try and lie their way out of it, sometimes he'd give up halfway and laughingly ask her if she liked the prank or at least found it funny.
He was the only student who seemed to just know when she secretly did find something funny, despite her pointedly stern expression and the immediate detention she handed out instead of responding.
He didn't do that to any other teacher. If someone else caught him rule-breaking he'd lie and try to come up with an alibi or an excuse… with her though, he sometimes caved for the fun of it. Even if he had a good alibi at moments, he still sometimes just decided to ask her what she thought of the prank like it was all greatly amusing to him.
There was a lot of love about her old students that called themselves the marauders, but she had very openly been Sirius Black's favorite teacher, and she had tried very hard to hide the fact he'd maybe once been her favorite student. There had just never been a student so unafraid, so open and childish, yet strong and happy to be there at all times. He had not needed her in the slightest, not like Harry did… but Sirius had respected her bluntly and was a solid, resolutely bright part of her life for the years she'd known him in her class, and even afterwards as he joined the fight alongside her and the Order.
It had never once seemed to matter to him what expression she wore or the sharp words that came from her mouth, he always just seemed thrilled to see her. That big smile and dopey burst of quiet laughter, like seeing her was the greatest part of his day for how much it entertained him. Even if she were catching him in a prank and about to punish him, he always just perked up and leaned towards her like he was ready for her newest detention, not alarmed or afraid or unhappy to see her. No matter what she did or what the world threw at them, that attitude had never changed.
She didn't have favorites, she'd made damn sure of that.
Not until Harry, at least. Harry had forced her hand to a point, and she was much older now so perhaps her heart was softer—or weaker—than it once was.
And… she knew all about missed chances. She knew all about having a student who maybe meant a little more for small, unimportant but precious reasons, and choosing never to act or let it show. She knew all about making those choices, and then suddenly it was too late and she never got the chance to tell them at all how important they'd been to her.
Just because she'd prided herself on never acting on it before Harry, that didn't mean it hadn't happened once or twice. Listening to the way Severus went on about it you'd think James was her favorite, but the truth of the matter was it wasn't him… it never was despite her playing along with the assumption to this day. She'd never been able to even say the words before though, and once he was gone and the world was convinced he was a murderous madman, it had just proved to her that she was right to never have favorites again.
Because look at what her favorite student had done.
She never admitted it back then and she would never admit it now, after everything.
But that didn't mean it hadn't been true.
Of course she'd been in flat out denial about the news, but that night she'd been given a task to watch Harry's muggle relatives and it was easier to focus on the task at hand than the breaking of her heart. It always was.
When Remus had finally caught up to her to beg for her help, she hadn't been able to say anything but the party line, repeating the blank platitudes others had told her and try not to shatter over how hopeless it felt. The evidence was there after all, Lily, James, and Peter were all dead and she…
She refused to break, but she watched Remus as he broke. She hadn't been able to do anything for him, nor for herself apparently.
Because the world was celebrating the end of the war, and yes she was relieved and had chosen to join that relief and focus on rebuilding the broken world left behind rather than the anger and disbelief that people whispered about. Anyone who had ever known Sirius Black was in disbelief, but when everyone else was saying 'good riddance' and 'they'd always known he'd go crazy', it was hard to hold onto the memories.
The memories of a young man in her class that laughed too loudly and called her 'Minnie' just to annoy the shit out of her.
Because three of her other students were dead, along with a dozen muggles, and there just… there was no excuse for that amount of horror. She hadn't been able to show her favoritism out of pride before, but she would absolutely never betray herself for a murder now too.
Obviously she hadn't wanted to believe Sirius would betray them all like that. Even now she couldn't reconcile the memory of the boy she knew with the man who'd supposedly done those things.
But people were dead and Sirius had always been the most reckless person she'd ever met or held witness to in her life. Just because she fully believed he had never meant anyone harm, didn't mean he couldn't have done it. He once spilled the secret of the Shrieking Shack to Severus after all, in a fit of anger and reckless wrath, and she knew better than anyone how loyal he was to his werewolf.
But his good intentions and kind heart had never meant anything in the face of his temper, and she had given him over fifty different detentions for things he'd done that had been 'too far'. Pranks that had crossed a line or fights with Slytherins that had been too aggressive or too inappropriate for school hallways. Despite what a kind and loyal boy he'd once been, he'd still been raised in the darkest Slytherin house of the age and he routinely went way too far with his pranks and jokes if his temper got hot enough. He didn't see it as wrong even, and one detention was not more important to him than any other, so he never really learned either, despite her efforts.
Minerva knew in her heart, for a fact, that Sirius Black had never intended to betray James and Lily.
She didn't know what Peter had done or if Sirius had just been driven mad by his failure to protect them and Peter had just gotten the brunt of his anger, but she also fully believed he didn't intend to kill his quiet friend either, nor those muggles.
But Sirius Black had always been reckless, and he'd never learned what 'too far' really meant.
Even if as a teacher she'd favored him, Minerva had always known that ominous fact about her student. Perhaps that was also part of the reason she never let it show that she enjoyed his presence in her class the most, because she needed to hold him accountable and know that there were consequences for one's actions.
All that effort, any attempt to instill that lesson into him… but it still failed.
She had failed, as a teacher.
And unfortunately it wasn't her that paid the price for her not being able to teach him restraint.
When he lost control and went too far with his rage and actions, she'd taken it as a betrayal but also as an ultimate failure on her part. She had almost retired then and there, if she could've found the strength to leave her children. If she didn't find meaning in what Albus had called for her to do. If she hadn't built her entire life and sense of purpose around being an teacher.
It was… darkly ironic that every time she ended up sitting here regretting her choice to continue teaching, it was always related to Sirius Black.
Even gone from her life ten years now he was still finding ways to make her doubt her ability as an educator, when that was what had defined her very being for most of her life.
Pain.
Shame.
Guilt.
But most of all there was this indescribable fear that she had been wrong. That Sirius truly was innocent, and if that were true…
Perhaps I should retire.
She folded her hands together on her desk, closing her eyes and breathing deep. She would not cry and have her eyes red for the aurors, she would not.
If Sirius had truly been innocent this whole time, then she was the world's worst teacher, and she did not know how she could continue to go on as she had. Surely, this would be it for her.
She couldn't imagine bearing this shame any longer.
Then again, if he were truly guilty then she'd just allowed Harry to go off and witness this horror show firsthand. He would see the man who'd betrayed his parents, perhaps driven mad by his years in Azkaban, spew who-knows how horrific a tale for all to hear. And he'd have what, Lucius Malfoy as his only support while it happened?
She was a horrible teacher.
When will I stop failing these children?
She pressed her eyes tighter for a second, then purposefully let out a breath, and with it the tension in her shoulders, her jaw, her hands. She stood and brushed down her robes, flicking her wand to unlock the door and putting the paper still staring judgmentally up at her into the desk drawer to her left. She'd read it later.
Petrification monster first. Then to the teachers for the situation about Albus, then she'd need to address the entire student body and if she showed any sign of being shaken then they would panic. Then of course with Albus removed and his greatest enemy making headlines, she was now doubly sure Severus would be in her office at the soonest available moment he could get here. He would undoubtedly be having a very emotional reaction which meant she needed to be the level-headed one for the time being. Nothing had even happened yet, they wouldn't know the appropriate response to have until Monday, or whenever they announced the trial's outcome.
She would shelve it until then, since it was no use losing their heads preemptively when there was still so much else to do.
So many children she hadn't failed yet that still needed protecting.
There was a knock and she straightened her spine, chin up and spectacles on properly as she came around her desk and gave permission for them to enter. Adams was there with one of his fellows, both looking sheepish and nodding their greetings to her.
"Thanks for letting us intrude again professor, promise we'll be as quick as we can." He greeted. "We're finished with the headmaster's office, but you said you wanted to discuss something before we started with the rest of the castle?"
"Yes, I have some information that might help. Things the students have noticed that may be related," She agreed, proud when she didn't waver at all. Focus on the task at hand, not her breaking heart. "Are we one short? I would like to not repeat myself."
"Ah, Ferguson took the evidence we found in Dumbledore's office back to the Ministry for official logging. Just some letters and stuff that mention all the odd things happening in the castle this year. They'll get returned when this is over," He reassured her, and Minerva knew it wasn't like she could argue about it. Besides, once again, Albus wasn't that dumb—those letters were probably correspondence to parents about the incidents, he wouldn't leave actually critical things lying out like that.
She had full faith in that fact.
So, she got down to business, recounting the entire series of events as she knew them for the past year and anything unusual the teachers or students had noticed, hoping if this monster could be dealt with quickly then… then maybe she'd have a little more breathing room to deal with everything else.
000
"You will come for dinner tomorrow." Lady Malfoy told them as she walked them to the fireplace with a blank smile. And she was informing them, not asking.
Harry was kind of regretting the offer to come to Malfoy Manor for the weekend when it became abundantly clear not ten seconds into being here that Mrs. Malfoy was the only person happy with this turn of events. Even then, 'happy' was a bit of a stretch, she was more just… vaguely pleased and the disgusted scrunch of her nose was now accompanied by a polite smile that Harry was forced to believe.
Despite his earlier words, Mr. Malfoy had seemed very uninterested and half annoyed there was a werewolf in his house, and Remus was smiling politely but very clearly fighting the urge to leave—or at least fighting tooth and nail to bite back on the comments he actually wanted to make. Instead he played nice too and joined in on Lady Malfoy's small talk over tea that was, quite literally, impossible to escape from for some reason.
Thankfully, they weren't here long. It was still late morning by the time she'd decided to let them go, but that in an of itself was kind of a miracle, since Harry fully assumed she'd insist they stay here in her clutches right until the trial itself.
As it happened, she was one of the only living (free) member of the Black family and since Sirius was her cousin it wasn't an hour into the tea she'd made them sit for that she received a letter from the Ministry asking to speak with her. They'd played it off remarkably well but Harry knew the Malfoys had no intention of letting aurors into their home for this interview and Mr. Malfoy had no intention of letting his wife go to the Ministry alone. The idea they'd leave a werewolf and a child unattended in the manor didn't cross any of their minds from how weird that was, so Lady Malfoy had smoothly suggested Harry remain with Remus until they were more available.
She'd said it very politely but even the Gryffindors could put the clues together that she was letting Harry stay with Remus and covering for them. If anyone else asked she would be forced to say Harry was here the entire time, otherwise Lucius would be in trouble for failing his role as designated school chaperone.
Honestly, Harry was thrilled. He got a free weekend with Remus out of nowhere! Even if the conversation he knew Moony was waiting until the second they were alone to talk about was going to suck, it was still better than being here. He'd agreed in the rush of things but he had no idea how he would've handled his first night in Malfoy Manor being without Draco… that seemed insanely uncomfortable frankly.
He was already uncomfortable, and they'd only been here a couple hours for breakfast and then some tea. The small talk had gone nowhere despite Mr. Malfoy telling McGonagall they would be 'happy' to answer all of Harry's questions—by the time they were standing Harry still had no idea why Mrs. Malfoy was so invested in this nor any details about the trial he hadn't already gotten from the Daily Prophet article. Something Remus had said in passing as he stiffly tried to engage in the small talk also told Harry something had happened to Dumbledore, but even directly asking hadn't helped since Mrs. Malfoy had slipped out of answering and then cut off Moony when he'd tried to answer instead.
It was good their time was cut short as Harry had a headache already and knew he wouldn't be able to last here much longer.
Still, repeat of being trapped in Malfoy Manor aside, Harry had Remus beside him this time, so he wasn't actually that mad about it. He didn't enjoy being trapped in tea parties with Lady Malfoy much but having Remus beside him was a great comfort since Moony also seemed to be very far out of his depth and just as unsure of the situation as Harry was. So, while Harry felt slightly guilty in being happy they were sharing this misery, it didn't stop the fact he felt better not to be going through this alone.
"Thank you for the hospitality Narcissa," Remus was far more gracious about it than Harry was, or maybe he was just a better actor. "I don't mean to impose."
"Lucius is technically in charge of Harry's wellbeing during this outing, we can't very well send him off without checking in once a day at the very least. You coming here is actually more convenient of course." She blinked slowly, not accepting the thanks but honestly Harry appreciated she wasn't even hiding the ulterior motive. They were still letting a werewolf into their house without much other issue, even if they weren't overly friendly about it.
"You will need this," Mr. Malfoy had remained mostly silent, letting his wife do most of the talking but unlike before had remained present the entirety of this visit. He handed Harry a trinket that startled him but took obediently. It was a simple silver disc no bigger than a knut hung on a black cord laced with silver. "Unaccompanied by someone of Malfoy blood you would be unable to enter the wards and come in through the floo. That will allow you access—as well as a passenger." He explained.
Still kind of an asshole move, since he was pointedly saying Harry was invited—Remus only as a technicality because Harry wanted him there.
Still, they weren't saying Remus wasn't welcome at all.
Baby steps, and whatnot.
Anyone else in the world and Harry would be pissed about how they were speaking to his unofficial godfather but… given the context and who this was, he was more just shocked Mrs. Malfoy hadn't used the silver tea set to serve them their breakfast. He knew she had one after all, since that's how he'd been served last time he was here.
He knew he was biased both ways, between his godfathers and Draco's parents but… it was just a balancing act that'd need to keep happening probably. Because Mrs. Malfoy seemed extremely interested in Sirius' freedom and kept mentioning they were cousins every twenty minutes so clearly she was not about to just let any of them go if the Black heir suddenly regained his freedom. Harry only partially believed it was an inheritance thing since Lady Malfoy did not need more money and never would, but was way more concerned about whatever secret agenda she had going on.
No, she was up to something, but then again most Slytherin families were now that the news had broken. Whether he liked or not, whether he'd been sorted into Gryffindor or not, Sirius was still the Black heir and would devastate the political landscape of Slytherin families just by being alive and walking around free… even if he was only half sane from Azkaban in the end. For good or bad, Harry expected everyone to be up to something for a while as they tried to use this trial to their advantage, it was not a shock at all the elder Malfoys were in on it too.
It was both good news and bad news that Mrs. Malfoy seemed to want to be involved. Bad news because that meant she would be involved no matter their opinions on the matter, even if that meant a lot more stiff tea parties and awkward meals in their future. The good news being that she seemed fully aware that Harry and his godfathers seemed to be a package deal, and if she wanted Sirius around then she was going to need to deal with Remus too. After all, not an hour after the news had broken did the they invite a literal werewolf into their manor, which going by the shock on McGonagall's face when Mr. Malfoy had done it, wasn't just insane to Harry but was actually in fact a crazy turn of events.
Mrs. Malfoy wanting to be involved meant they'd all be involved against their will, but it also meant she wanted to be on their better sides and make things go as smoothly as possible. Which was not a terrible thing… it'd be annoying, but it wouldn't be bad, Harry didn't think.
He was sure both he and her had the same mental image of, someday, the three Malfoys hosting a meal with Harry and both his godfathers here in the manor. Harry was sure she was pleased with this idea and he didn't hate it but he also knew it'd be the most awkward meal in the history of the world probably.
She had too many excuses to make it happen though. Harry being Draco's best friend, Sirius being her cousin, the 'proof' they were creating now that they 'welcomed' Remus…
Yeah there was no escaping this.
He didn't really know how to feel about it but he was at least comforted that Mrs. Malfoy seemed very convinced Sirius was going to be found innocent and let walk free in short order. If nothing else, that was great news.
"Thank you," He said to his hosts as he put the disk around his neck, playing polite since that was the only defense he had here.
"Dinner will be served at six, so you will be here at five." Narcissa nodded to them stiffly, then gestured to the fireplace as if telling them to go without much of a goodbye.
Harry didn't really need one either.
"Yes ma'am," He agreed, taking Moony's hand as he pulled him in for a side-along trip. He knew they couldn't enter Remus' bookcase fire so he actually had no idea where they were going.
"Thank you again; until tomorrow then," Remus bid them off and then the world erupted into flames.
Harry didn't let go of his hand but as they landed at wherever they'd gone, he pulled up his hood as the flames cleared and he disappeared beneath his invisibility cloak. Moony obviously noticed but didn't react, squeezing his hand tighter.
They were in a rather abandoned pub Harry didn't recognize at all, kind of filthy honestly and only one figure slumped at the bar but no tender or other patrons in sight. Still, better safe than sorry.
Especially as he was pulled to the door and they entered the chilly air of a small town, clearly magical going by the loopy signs and businesses selling potions and magical items. Not Diagon or any side alley close to it, the air was more open and colder—crisper. Not close to London at all probably, but in the countryside somewhere.
Then, as he glanced around he saw Honeydukes in the distance behind them.
"Is this Hogsmeade?" He whispered, and Moony half smiled though was mainly pretending he was walking alone.
"Yep. You'll be able to explore it more next year, but for now let's get to the edge of town. We can apparate from there."
"Are we going back to Mr. Benson's farm?"
"We are, I haven't had a chance to move yet. I still have a couple weeks left." Remus smiled for real that time, Harry's spirits lifting. He thought he'd have to say goodbye to that place forever, so this was unexpected but… happy.
Side along apparition wasn't as happy, but then they were on that familiar country pathway and Harry knew his way to the forest path by the edge of the road that would lead to the warm shack like that back of his hand. Which, he made visible again once beneath the shade of the forest, and was about to run ahead to beat him there when Moony's grip tightened and pulled him back.
He was about to ask before he was suddenly in a tight hug and he blinked at the still-sparse canopy above them.
"Moony?"
"…I'm sorry." The werewolf confessed tiredly, and Harry put his arms around him to hug back.
"What for? I… kind of already knew this was coming you know. Some of my Slytherin friends told me." He admitted. "I would've told you before but I wasn't sure…" If it would happen soon, if he wanted to hear it, if it was even safe to… many things, but he just trailed off and didn't finish the sentence, letting him fill in the blanks.
Moony released him but didn't let go of his grip on his shoulders, giving him a look as if pleading for him to take this seriously—to listen to him for a moment.
"Harry… there is a lot of things I couldn't do for you. Not just because of what I am, but because for a long time now I've been a coward. Even now I… I'm still being cowardly and weak. I'm sorry because even if I know it I can't find it in myself to make a better choice right now."
"What do you mean?" Harry frowned, having no idea what he was talking about. "If this is about my relatives again… Moony you know I don't blame you for that." He held into his sleeves pointedly with a quiet voice, but the werewolf just shook his head, kneeling on the forest floor to be face to face with him more properly.
"Not just that. I'll never forgive myself for that, but I thank you for your forgiveness anyway. It means… everything, to me, that you'd find it in your heart to forgive me." He offered a small, but genuine smile—it vanished just as fast as it'd appeared though. "I understand you believe in Sirius' innocence, that you want to see him free… I understand that you're excited to be here. If I were a stronger man I would be excited right along with you, but I'm not."
"You know he's innocent though," Harry couldn't help but mumble.
Remus' expression… twisted, then settled into a fond smile. His gold eyes were filled with pain.
"I do." He agreed, so quiet it sounded like it hurt. "The crazy thing is, it sounds like Narcissa believes it too, and that…"
"It's a good sign, right!?" Harry perked up, but was quieted when Moony just cupped his face and held him still carefully.
"It is." He nodded, but his voice wavered. "Lucius and Narcissa are… better, than I thought they were. I'm sure the credit is to you, being the bright young man you are—clearly you've won them over."
"I wouldn't say that exactly," Harry hedged wryly.
"But you trust them?" He pressed and he paused to give that real thought, since it sounded like Remus was very grave about whatever his answer would be.
"…yeah, I do. They're Draco's parents and he loves them." He admitted.
…Remus just nodded once, a small smile on his face.
"If I were a stronger man… I would've let you stay with them until the trial."
"Moony no! I trust them but I'd rather be here! You know Mr. Malfoy was full of shit when he said he was a better chaperone, that was all excuses and bullshit! I trust them not to do something terrible but they're still assholes sometimes!" Harry instantly fought back, but Remus didn't let him go, just giving a small, but sad laugh.
"Language," He half attempted to correct him, but they both knew he barely meant it. "Harry listen to me, please." He begged.
He pouted, "What?"
"I… I know I have no right to ask this of you, no right to put you through this but… pup I need you to be strong for me, okay?"
Harry frowned.
What… was he saying?
"I mean… yeah? Okay?" He covered the hands over the sides of his head with his own, both were pretty cold in the morning air. "Moony what's wrong?"
The werewolf just smiled and whatever it was that he wasn't telling him, he pulled it back and stood, ruffling his hair much to his annoyance.
"We don't have that much time before Monday, how about we make something this afternoon to take our minds off it for now." He suggested, the blatant change of subject obvious but Harry was pretty tempted by not only the promise of baking with Moony again and getting to eat something sweet later, but also avoiding the elephant in the room of Sirius and the trial. He hadn't been looking forward to that conversation anyway, and if Remus wanted to push it off for now too and just enjoy their time together, he was on board with that plan.
A couple hours later he was happily eating a slice of chocolate cake while Remus read aloud from one of the books they hadn't finished from Christmas, blissfully unaware of how badly he'd come to regret not asking.
000
"Lucius Malfoy, huh."
Madam Bones gave nothing away with that response, seeming neither happy nor sad by McGonagall's explanation of where Harry had gone. They stood in Albus' office once again, now ransacked but still pretty neat, Amelia's hands on her hips and seeming to be only slightly hassled by all of this.
She never seemed to be rattled by much, so even the slight impatience to her posture and that tapping of her foot was a pretty big tell to how tense she was about the situation before her.
She had always seemed younger than she was, her round face and blue eyes and sunny blond hair had made her seem very feminine and delicate as a student. However she was anything but: she'd been a beater on the Hufflepuff team and broken more bones than half of Slytherin team before she graduated, and despite never intending to marry or have children herself had taken Susan in as a toddler when her sister and brother-in-law had died in the war, all the while fighting as an auror on the front most lines, without ever missing a step. Everything she did, she had this iron-like attitude to it.
She wore her soft, halo-like blond hair in tight French braids, and her youthful, cherub face very rarely had anything but a firm frown on it. If you saw her on the street you might at first think she sold flowers for a living.
One word out of her mouth and you knew she would absolutely throw a punch before offering you a smile.
Minerva had not been shocked at all when she'd become the head of the DMLE before the age of forty, it wasn't like there were many others in the entirety of the Ministry who could match her ferocity, much less her skill with a wand.
So despite being once a student like many were, it was clear Amelia gave zero shits about their old dynamic. She was the head of law enforcement in their world and despite once grading her papers some twenty years ago, Minerva stood up straight and was the epitome of polite when the head auror appeared before her now, asking sharp questions.
"He is a school representative and Mr. Potter expressed a desire to go. Staying in the castle would've been difficult in a time like this. The entire school is talking about it and the boy only just learned he had a godfather at all with this morning's article, along with everything else." Minerva felt the need to defend herself. She hadn't imagined that the DMLE head would come herself, much less that she'd ask for an audience with Harry directly. She felt a little put on the spot that she'd actually let him go with Lucius… it would look like a ridiculously stupid thing to do, if you didn't know that Remus was with him.
And Minerva had no intention of telling Amelia that Harry had left with anyone aside from Lucius this morning.
Madam Bones just shook her head. "I'm not judging, I'm just wondering what he's up to this time." She dismissed, and both women shared a brief moment of commiseration since Minerva also wondered… but it wasn't like they could do anything about it.
"If you still need to speak with Mr. Potter, I'm sure it could be arranged."
Though they both knew the chances of her being invited into Malfoy Manor before Monday was almost non-existent.
Amelia waved it off. "It's not urgent, it can wait until after the trial even. I agree that this is probably overwhelming for a boy that age so honestly the Malfoys are a safe place to be right now if he went with them willingly. It'll be quiet there at least, and no one will be able to reach him to bother him—not the Ministry or anyone else."
Minerva frowned, not strictly liking the sound of that.
"It sounds as if nosy children asking insensitive questions should not be his only concern right now,"
The head auror just let out a breath, shoulders sinking some in defeat.
"To be honest, the Malfoys are not the only Slytherin family involved in this. It feels like everyone whose ever once worn green has been in my office in the past day trying to get something out of the situation. They're like sharks when they sense a bit of blood in the water—Black being guilty or innocent or even just not getting a trial in the first place is clearly causing mayhem in the snake world." She explained jadedly, and McGonagall blinked. Harry had spoken of Slytherin politics before, but hearing it on a Ministry level was… foreboding. "It's not just them either—everyone wants their finger in this pie. It'll be a spectacle like we haven't seen in decades."
"I see," was all she could respond. Though by her tone it was clear her question was if Madam Bones was so busy, why she'd taken a trip here to ask Harry a non-urgent question.
Thankfully Amelia took the hint.
"I'll get to the point, Professor. Some auror of the past did document what the Ministry had on Sirius Black in preparation for a trial ten years ago, which clearly got forgotten about or smothered amongst all the other death eaters being put on the stand. It's not good." She declared bluntly.
Minerva was proud of herself for holding her composure. If she'd started to feel hope at any point throughout the day, she stomped it out immediately and held her chin up high.
"I would figure it wouldn't be."
But the blonde woman before her had a look in her eyes that was both intense and… nearly apologetic.
"One thing though, was his movements before the night He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named fell. He was an auror so he was decently well tracked but there are large gaps in his whereabouts at some very telling moments." The look darkening into something far more threatening. Cherub face or not it made the acting headmistress uneasy. "I'm not dumb, Professor."
"You were an exceptionally bright student as I recall." Minerva deflected, but her stomach sunk.
"High praise from you, but I more meant what my predecessor knew and what is very obvious to me now too. Dumbledore had his own faction, didn't he?" She demanded.
Minerva couldn't answer that.
The pause lasted quite a while before Madam Bones gave a sharp, frustrated sigh as she let her arms rest in fists by her side.
"It doesn't matter if he did or not, the war is long over and my predecessor looked the other ways since more hands could never hurt." She got out through her teeth, as diplomatic as possible when it was clear her patience was thin. "What I want to know is if Sirius Black was part of it."
Before McGonagall could even form a response she was cut off.
"Minerva, if you don't tell me the truth now then Fudge is absolutely going to use these absences to claim he was attending death eater meetings. You don't have to confess that Dumbledore was leading it or perjure yourself but if you know anything…"
It was a threat, and she left it hanging in the air mercilessly.
…and her loyalty only lasted a moment before the memory of a boy with silver eyes had it crumbling into dust.
"A band of us did join together… to fight in our own way. A bunch of reckless Gryffindors mostly." Minerva quietly admitted, folding her hands calmly in front of her as if she still had control over anything at this point. "My memory isn't what it once was but give me the times and I could likely confirm he was with me… picking fights with death eaters most likely."
Amelia seemed relieved, nodding once.
"It might come to that. Would you be willing to testify?"
"Yes." Her voice was but a shadow of her normal strength, but she'd made her decision. She silently apologized to Albus, who thankfully was not here to witness this. "Are they not using Veritaserum?"
The blonde's expression twisted as if the reminder of it alone gave her a headache.
"That is what I and Black's counsel are trying to push for. It's more complicated than that unfortunately, as its use has always been highly debated for how ethical it is… funny those parties only chime in when they want something though." She tacked on that last part bitterly under her breath. "As it is, the prosecution is likely going to claim he's not sane enough to use it. That it might be the truth to him, but being a Black and after all this time in Azkaban what he believes is truth might be… corrupted."
"That…" Minerva felt her stomach twist. "Who is arguing that hard against him? Why not have a normal trial?"
"Nothing about this is normal." She deadpanned. "Professor, you should know… those Slytherins in my office today?"
"Yes?"
"Several of them have rather suspect backgrounds themselves. For some reason, they're the ones pushing for Veritaserum. The Zabini family has actually offered to fund the creation and validation of the potion for the court themselves." She informed her bluntly.
Minerva froze to her core.
Ex-death eaters… wanted Sirius to say the truth?
"Meanwhile, I've had this on my plate for months now. I don't know how the trial got leaked to the press, but it's been in the works since damn near October. It's not the snakes who kept interfering though, rescheduling and withdrawing approval to enter Azkaban, changing out appointed counsels a dozen times to continue to delay and convoluted things, evidence walking away from where it's being stored in the DMLE…" She ranted for a moment, before trialing off and giving the acting Headmistress a significant look.
"…what would you like me to say."
Amelia wasn't fooled. But, she did lean off, eyes cooling significantly.
"Nothing. I'll I'm saying… is that it's not the snakes who did this." She gave a blunt nod out of obligatory politeness rather than truly friendliness, moving back to the fireplace she'd come through. "Thank you for your time Professor, I'll try and keep an eye on Harry at the trial. I thank you for cooperating with Adams in the next couple weeks as well."
Minerva couldn't even nod before she was gone in a flash of green flames.
…she glanced at one of the many clocks in the room and noted how very late it had gotten.