A Cat's Tail: Minerva McGonagall Fan Fiction

Chapter 22

Over the coming weeks, Minerva made it her ambition to help Hagrid through his grief. On one occasion, Minerva was searching the castle for Hagrid, she found him in a conveniently positioned, cosy room.

"Hagrid?" Minerva tip-toed in, whispering as to not disturb the peace in the room. Hagrid was sitting on a worn brown sofa looking into a fireplace. She gingerly sat down next to him, and Hagrid leant his head on her shoulder, his face emotionless. They just sat in silence for a few minutes, staring at the fire. "What is this place?" Minerva drank in the deep blue walls with grey undertones, a small wooden coffee table with a lamp sitting on it and a scattering of pillows on a worn carpet. The whole room just seemed so...Hagrid-y. Everything was comfortable but a little bit battered.

"I'm not sure, I jus' stumbled upon it," Hagrid replied hoarsely.

"Do you want to talk about anything?" Minerva asked gently. Hagrid shook his head and they spent the next few hours in companionable silence, occasionally exchanging the odd fragment of conversation.

Over the next few days, Minerva and Hagrid stumbled upon the room only once again, and this time it had a desk and a pot of ink. Coincidently, Minerva was holding her unfinished potions essay and a quill, although she'd forgotten to bring her ink. Minerva made a mental note to ask Dumbledore later, seeing as the room definitely hadn't had a desk and an inkwell last time...had it? They engaged in quiet conversation and sipped steaming mugs of hot chocolate that Pomona had given them, seeing as the Hufflepuff's had a surprisingly strong connection with the kitchens.

A week later, Minerva was sat in the Great Hall, reading over her breakfast, when she stumbled upon something in her book.

Occulamency

The ability to magically block your mind from legilimency (see page 142) or external penetration such as Veritasium. A Leglimans will not be able to access an Occlumens thoughts or emotions. Elementry Occulamency involves emptying your mind of any thoughts or emotions.

Minerva remembered what Dumbledore had said about occulamency being an interesting topic. How did he know...Even though the answer was sitting right in front of her, Minerva wouldn't realise Dumbledore's status as a Leglimens for several years to come.

"'Ello?" Affrodille waved a hand in front of Minerva's face. The girls all laughed at Minerva's startled expression.

"Old Dippet just said that there are going to be QUIDDITCH TRIALS and you're READING!" Ria exclaimed. Minerva grinned wildly.

"Finally! They were supposed to be after Summer!" Ria and Minerva dove into a heated Quidditch discussion with Hagrid and Ivy.  Affrodille and Iris exchanged a look. 

"It's just a game!" Iris shook her head, earning her a few glares from various Gryffindors along the table. 

Minerva had never actually ridden a broom, but she'd read hundreds of theoretical Quidditch books and was pretty sure she knew every trick in the book. She was grateful for the quick coaching session the Quidditch Coach did at the beginning of the trials. The cold wind slapped Minerva's face, giving her an exhilarating rush. Her hair was unravelling from her bun and streaming behind her. 

"Catch!" Minerva caught a Quaffle that someone had lobbed at her and lightly passed it to a fifth year speeding past her. She dove out the way as a bludger narrowly missed her ear. 

"Ok! We're going to switch it up a bit now! McGonagall take the beater's bat and Prewett play chaser for a bit!" Ria and Minerva smiled encouragingly at each other as they swapped positions. Affrodille and Hagrid cheered from the stands. 

Minerva fell asleep before anyone else that night, still slightly flushed from the Quidditch tryouts.

"OK, 'ow are we going to get those two to kiss before the end of this year?" Affrodille asked the moment she knew Minerva was asleep. 

"Who?" Ria asked groggily, half-asleep.

"You and Dumbledore! Who do you think, genius? Minerva and Hagrid!" Affrodille teased playfully.

"I'm not kissing Dumbledore!" Ria said indignantly as Affrodille facepalmed. 

"Ever 'eard of sarcasm?" Affrodille shook her head at sleepy Ria. Iris grinned at Ivy.

"Well..." The girls had never seen such a mischevious glint in Iris' eyes. Everyone looked at her expectantly. "Truth or dare. If mistletoe didn't work, this will," Ria started to snore. Affrodille laughed, knowing Ria was probably the one who would appreciate the plan the most. 

"That, my dear sister, is the best idea you've ever come up with. I told you there was more to life than books," Ivy patted Iris on the back, and Iris stuck her tongue out at her.

"Tell that to Dad when you get a C!" 

"Oi! I can get As too you know!"

"Sssh!" Affrodille flicked Ivy's arm. "They are asleep!" 

Iris decided that Pomona should be in on her 'master plan', and the girls exchanged knowing looks and stifled giggles each time Hagrid and Minerva were near each other - which was quite often seeing as they sat together in most of their classes and at meals. There was one flaw in their plan though, and that was the fact that Hagrid and Minerva were never in the common room together. Plus homework was beginning to increase and the stress of thinking about their options for next year, so everyone was busy.

One Saturday morning, Pomona and Minerva were sitting in the library reading. Minerva was desperate to find out how to use Occulamency and stop the dreams that Tom Riddle was torturing her with. 

"Minerva, could I ask you something?" Minerva looked up from her book.

"Ok..." 

"Do you like Hagrid?" Pomona didn't think she'd get a straight answer but thought it was worth a try.

"No! I don't, course not...he's just my friend!" Minerva answered a little too quickly, turning a light shade of pink that didn't go unnoticed.

"Right..." Pomona winked at Minerva, making her blush harder.

Minerva looked at the list pinned outside Professor Dumbledore's office. 

"I'm a Chaser!" Minerva squealed, high fiving Ria. Dumbledore came out of his office, surprised that such a high pitched sound could come out of Minerva's mouth and patted her on the back.

"I'm a seeker!" Ria exclaimed. They danced back to the common room, earning themselves several cheers and pats on the back. Tom Riddle walked past the list later that evening.

"Now I'll break her on the Quidditch pitch," He smiled cruelly to himself.

"Tom, what would you be doing outside my office?" Dumbledore asked coldly.

"Just checking out my opposition Sir," Tom replied with a false cordial note to his voice. Dumbledore obviously didn't believe a word of it, but it was getting harder and harder to read Tom's mind these days.