Belonging

The Other Half -Minerva McGonagall-

- Minerva McGonagall-

Monday morning the first day of school

Minerva made for the Great Hall very early to watch for those with curiously high hunger pangs. On the first day you would typically see a flood of eager first years, who were too nervous to sleep any more, up and ready, worried to get breakfast out of the way with ample time. Everyone else would arrive leisurely. Seventh years would barely make an appearance at the table. Socializing was more the priority for them. 

She scanned the early arrivals. Lucian Grimwaldon who was always a big eater was present. But she felt sure he was just his usual hungry self. There was Melinda Gregson... but she was more sitting there reading witch weekly and crying about some article inside it than eating. Unlikely. She felt certain the mate would also have to be in seventh year. She would have to ask Poppy, but they had certainly never seen the mating bond on any sixteen year olds.

Severus pulled out the chair beside hers as usual. She tried to remove her eagerly searching face. She did not want to tell Severus she was looking for a possible mating bond and bring up all his bad memories. Merlin knows he would be a terror to his students all day if she did.

"Morning, Minerva." He greeted as he sat down.

"Morning, Severus." She returned, subtly casting her eyes over every new entry to the hall. She was trying to keep track of what people were eating. Too many people to really remember if someone was having cereal and eggs, and toast. It might be very subtle. She was about to sigh in frustration at her task when the sound of a clattering chafing dish beside her drew her attention.

Severus was heaping his plate with eggs. Now, it was breakfast and usually that is what people do. However, her good friend Severus usually sat beside her and drank two black coffees and barely deigned to eat a piece of toast in the morning. Her friend ran on caffeine and repressed emotions.

She looked back at the students and catalogued the new arrivals but the sound of Severus' fork repeatedly hitting his plate was drawing her attention. "Hungry this morning, are we?" Minerva had to ask.

"Ravenous." He answered with barely enough space to say the word between bites.

Minerva looked around the room again. Everyone at the student tables was eating and chatting. More chatting than eating, except the man beside her. Usually he read the Prophet and they discussed his findings. Not so today, as he was shovelling scrambled eggs into his face at a pace which precluded reading a newspaper.

"How are you feeling, Severus?"

"Do I look sick?" He stopped to ask.

"No...why?"

"I feel a little ill."

"In what way?" She asked, attempting nonchalance.

"Head hurts. Ears have been aching all night. Didn't sleep." He grumbled into his plate.

Minerva did not answer him, not that he looked particularly in need of input while he slathered toast with jam. Her body had gone all hot and cold with the horror of the realization of the situation. She excused herself, though her excuses fell on deaf ears as he was not interested in talking this morning anyway as he devoured his food. She made her way upstairs.

When at last the statute reached his office she knocked and walked in.

"Problems already, Minerva?" Albus asked over his tea cup.

"A problematic development, yes." Minerva wrung her hands.

"Ah, has there ever been a year at Hogwarts without one?" The Headmaster met the news of a problem with the same twinkling eyes he always did.

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