A Cat's Tail: Minerva McGonagall Fan Fiction

Chapter 26

Dear Minerva,

Would Hagrid like to come over for the Easter holidays? I'm sure he'd much prefer it to being at school alone. Congratulations on getting 100% in that Transfiguration test, Professor Dumbledore tells me that you're quite a prodigy when it comes to Transfiguration. Well done on scoring those goals in your match against Slytherin. I was a chaser too when I was at Hogwarts.

Mum and Dad x  

 Her parent's letters were getting shorter and shorter, Minerva thought bitterly. The Easter holidays were in a week, and Minerva felt like it'd just been half term. At least she was closer to getting a new broom. She'd been saving up for two years, and hoped to walk into third year with a brand new Cleansweep.

"Hagrid, do you want to come over for Easter?" Minerva asked over breakfast. 

"I'd love to, bu' I don't wanna cause yer and yer family any bother," Hagrid crunched down on his toast.

"My dad really warmed to you last time, and so did my mum. They'd love to have you round," Minerva smiled. "I'm sorry my dad was...er...slightly odd at the beginning, he just doesn't want any boys 'spoiling my innocence'"

"He has reason to be worried then," Ria winked.

"Ria!" Hagrid and Minerva exclaimed in unison. 

"Owl me!" Pomona waved to Minerva as they went into different compartments.

"I forgot about us writing our names in this compartment!" Affrodille pointed to their initials scrawled in the corner. Minerva yawned and laid her head on Hagrid's shoulder, falling asleep in seconds, which never happened to her. Hagrid fell asleep a few minutes after.

"They actually need a happy ending," Whispered Iris.

"Together," Ivy whispered back.

"I was going to suggest the game of truth or dare game, but they've gone and fallen asleep," Ria grumbled.

"It's weird to think that Minnie's going to be ze first one of us to get a boyfriend," Affrodille laughed quietly. "I had my money on Ria," Ria went a little pink.

"Psh, boys are way to ignorant for my liking,"

"A bit mean," Ivy laughed.

Minerva looked around the bustling station and thought for a second about everything her mum had given up for her to be here. How her mum could give magic up, Minerva didn't understand. She should probably be a bit nicer to her mum...

"Minerva! Hagrid," Minerva jumped at the sound of her mum's voice. 

"Hey mum," Minerva hugged her mum and gestured for Hagrid to come over. She grabbed her mum's and Hagrid's arms, and they apparated back to the quaint country house that Hagrid had come to love.

Tom Riddle stalked the corridors restlessly. The girl still wasn't cracking. Every other girl in the school would date him in a heartbeat. But Minerva McGonagall...she was made of tough stuff, and was in love with that filthy half-breed Hagrid. If he could have both of them on his recruits, it would be great. Tom, however, wasn' going to give up just because someone's itty bitty feelings might get hurt.

Minerva leaned against the frame of the back door, watching her dad and Hagrid working over on the woodworking table. It was good that they were close. If she dated him she'd need her dad on his side. Wait, what? What was she thinking? She couldn't and wouldn't date Hagrid. It would ruin their friendship...and her education! 

"Minnie, if you're going to stare wistfully out at your 'friend', at least put a jumper on!" Isobel appeared behind Minerva, startling her. 

"I'm not cold," It was true. She felt warm to the pit of her stomach. What could ever come of a schoolgirl crush anyway? 

"I'd like to remind you that this is Scotland, not Australia. Spring is cold. It might snow. You can still see your breath. It just rained. Put a jumper on," Minerva shook her head and grabbed a jumper. 

"Happy now?" Isobel watched her daughter falling in love, and it hurt her to see how much she resembled her in naivety concealed under layers of wisdom.

"Look, Minerva. If he doesn't end up being your future husband, please don't marry a muggle. I gave up so much to be with your father...and I didn't get much back," Minerva gasped as her mother walked away. 

"Hagrid, come," She dragged him away from her father, who eyed her suspiciously. "I want to have a normal conversation with somebody who isn't going to give me grey hair aged 12!" Minerva dragged Hagrid to the lake. This time it wasn't frozen.

"Minnie..."

"I want to go swimming. Now please turn around whilst I take off my dress. I'm going to leave my underwear on, don't worry," Hagrid turned away, cheeks scarlet. He heard a splash and turned around to see a nimble figure cutting through the freezing water. "Come in," Hagrid went pinker.

"Um...I can't, um, swim, very well," Minerva just held up a shockingly pale arm from the water. 

"I won't let you drown," She smiled, then dove underwater. Hagrid timidly got in after taking off his coat, jumper and trousers. He breathed in deeply, before diving underneath the water. Her hair was spread around her like a halo and her green eyes stood out against her skin, even paler from the cold. She smiled, floating back to the surface. When Hagrid broke through the water's surface, he splashed and flapped like a fish, reeling from the cold. Hagrid's teeth chattered.

"I can tell you're not a Scottish lad," She smiled, before diving under again.