Returning was always going to be hard

Chapter 12: Truth, Family and A little compromise before breakfast

As they walked through the school corridors, Harry hurried along behind is two professors in desperate need to keep up with them “Professor Rhiannon, What’s going on?”
“Not here Harry my dear, get inside?” she said as they reached the classroom door, “Into my office” Harry followed instructions given and sat down. He could only partially hear the conversation between his two professors and could tell that Professor McGonagall was telling Rhiannon to be careful not to be over heard.
“Min love you’ll be here as well, I’m not doing this without you, cos I’ll need your help, I can’t protect him on my own” Rhia said “I’m not that strong and when Li….” Minerva raised her finger to Rhiannon’s lips
“Inside before we say too much out here and then you might as well tell the whole school and point an arrow at your head saying target here Volde” Mineva gave her a smile
Rhiannon smiled, smirking slightly “A joke, from you Min. Now that is rare pleasure” they both went into the classroom and through the doorway into Rhiannon’s office.
They watched Harry for a few moments without letting themselves known. He was no longer sitting in front of the desk but standing by the window (Rhiannon had moved her photos there this morning, as they only distracted her when they were on her desk). He had picked up the one of her and the others playing in the snow. Rhiannon looked at Minerva, both were watching him with sadness in their eyes “Min we have to tell him, he needs a family and I can, no we can give him that please, no one need know”
Rhiannon was almost pleading with her and that tugged an Minerva’s heart probably more than she should let it “Rhia what you say now, will no doubt put you and Harry in danger”
“He does not know I’m at the school, if he did her would have made an attempt on my life already, I assure you, if any of the students had figured it out, then that information wouldn’t be long in reaching ‘Volde’” Rhia smiled at the look on Minerva’s face when she realised she used the nickname of sorts they had dubbed him a few moments ago with Minerva’s attempt at a joke. The two had fallen into a comfortable silence watching Harry as he observed the photos by the window.
“Excuse me professor’s but what’s going on?” it was Harry who had eventually broke the silence.
“Harry sit down will you” Rhiannon asked and he sat down in front of the desk again, Rhiannon sat opposite him, and Minerva set about placing silencing wards around the office before joining Rhiannon and standing behind her, her hand resting on her shoulder to let her know that she was there and that she had her support.
“Professor?” Harry asked again.
“Harry, this is going to be hard for me to say, so please don’t make it any harder for me”
Harry looked at her with confusion but he nodded all the same.
“What Rhiannon means is Mr Potter, is that she has been told never to say anything unless she felt that it was truly necessary” Minerva said
“Min its ok, thank you” Rhia smiled up at her before turning her attention back to Harry “Harry hand me your consent form please”
Harry handed it to her without question and watched with amazement as she picked up her quill, dabbed it in some ink and signed the bottom of the piece of parchment. She handed it back to Harry, for she felt it would be better to answer questions than to try and work out where to start with the whole tale.
Harry started at the parchment in disbelief
I Professor Rhiannon Iphigenia Kalypso Leto Dumbledore as the undersigned and witnessed By Minerva McGonagall
Hereby give permission for Harry James Potter
To Take part in this years Practical Defence Against The Dark Arts Lessons
Taught By Professor’s RJ Lupin, Rhiannon, M McGonagall, P Sprout and F Flitwick
Harry looked up at Rhiannon “but how can you give me your permission, you’re my teacher?”
“I know this must be slightly confusing for you Harry, as you may not know, or have worked out from the photos on the ledge there, that I did indeed attend Hogwarts with your parents, and from my Severus’s memory that I was best friends with your mother while we were at school.” Harry nodded slightly he still looked rather confused.
“What you may also know is that Sirius, your fathers best friend was your Godfather at your fathers request, the choice of your Godmother laid with your mother, and she also chose her best friend from Hogwarts.” There was a look of understanding on Harry’s face “Your mother also knew that once you were born, and after the prophecy had been made inadvertently linking you to Lord Voldemort, there must be measures in place for your protection, which she requested mine and my fathers help with, she requested that I became your Godmother, knowing I was or will be a powerful and as skilled as my father. My father and your mother set about placing enchantments, protection spells and wards to keep your location safe. If Voldemort ever found out that he couldn’t harm you while I was alive he would seek me out first, rid himself of me before he went after you, which is why after the first war my father sent me into hiding, to keep both of us safe.”
“So as long as you are alive and at this school, Voldemort cannot touch me?” Harry asked
“Not entirely Harry, if he was to make an attempt on you, I would know about it instantly and be summoned to yourside, and he would have to face me instead. Which why he must not know of this connection Harry for your own safety. And this must not be repeated to anyone” harry opened his mouth to speak
“ no Mr Potter not even Mr Weasley or Miss Granger are to know of this is that clear?” Minerva said sternly
“Yes Professor” Harry said watching the two women in front of him “But why didn’t you tell me before that you were my Godmother, why couldn’t I have come to stay with you instead of my aunt and uncle?”
“I asked my father that same question once Harry, and all he said to me, and I’ll repeat this to you only once, is that ‘It is for the best, it will protect you both until such times as the need for the two of you to stand together is at hand’ Now Harry I don’t pretend to understand what he meant by all that but as long as the truth is kept quiet we are all safe here at the school.”
“But Dumbledore placed wards around the school, surely they should have fallen once he died” Harry said “But they are still in place, he is bound to know that there is a Dumbledore at the school, there has to be for his wards to work wouldn’t he”
“Rhiannon smiled, I’m glad to see you have inherited some of Lily’s smarts Harry, yes that was one of the reasons my father wanted me to return to the school as well, to make sure his wards held”
“But won’t Voldemort know that they haven’t fallen?” he asked
“Lucky for us, he hasn’t seemed to have caught onto that, but its only a matter of time” Minerva said “If you have no more questions Harry I think you should be returning to you dormitory its getting late and no doubt, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger will be wondering where you are?”
“Um I have one question Professor Rhiannon?”
“Yes what is it Harry?” Rhia asked
“After all this is over and the war is over and things are well back to normal, can I…….can I come live with you? I mean just until I get my own place?” Harry looked at her now realising that in some small way this was the closest he would get to having a real family since Sirius died
“Harry, course you can, I mean that is if Minerva doesn’t mind?” she asked looking back over her shoulder
“Yes Harry you can come live with us” she said looking at Rhia “At McGonagall house”
“Thank you professor” Harry said he stood and went back over to look at the photos again, he picked up the one with his parents in, he looked at it sadly
“Harry, would you like a copy of that?” Rhia asked standing up from her desk and making her way over to the window, she placed her arm around the young mans shoulders
“Yes please professor” he said looking at her
Minerva sat down in Rhiannon’s vacated seat and watched the scene in front of her, Harry and Rhiannon were almost the same height, but Rhiannon was still the taller of the two. Rhia waved her wand and duplicated the photo, and gave the copy to Harry she could just hear Harry mumble an emotional thank you before completely catching Rhia off guard by giving her hug.
“Off you go Harry” Rhiannon said “Before your missed, I’ll see you in class”
He nodded and wiped his eyes before leaving the office and heading back to the Gryffindor common room.
Rhiannon looked at Minerva before collapsing in a heap on the floor, her emotions getting the better of her, like she knew they would. Minerva was at her side in seconds.
“Rhia love what ever is the matter?” she asked pulling her into her arms as she sat down beside her
“I tried not to let it get to me, really I did. I guess I’m not as immune to it as I thought, I really do miss him” Rhia said tears started to fall heavily now.
“Albus?” Minerva questioned gently “Its only natural to miss those we have loved and lost, your not any weaker for it, if anything at all it makes us stronger. It makes us realise how precious life really is”
“Always the voice of reason, sometimes it sounds as though you swallowed one of those daft muggle books my father loved reading” Rhia managed, her voice a little shaky.
Minerva just gave her a smile and kissed the top of her head “You look tired, come on lets get you back to your rooms” Minerva helped her to stand and they made their way out of the office and classroom and across the corridor “Rhia what’s your password this time you keep changing it?’ Minerva asked her asked her after a few failed attempts
Rhia gave her a smile “Its Silver Tabby” the moment she said these words the painting changed into an archway and beyond it the door.
Minerva blushed slightly at the obvious reference to herself in the password Rhia had chosen to her chambers as she led her inside. “I’ll let you rest Rhia, I’ll see you in the morning”
“No please Min” Rhia had taken hold of her hand “Please stay”
Minerva couldn’t deny her, she was so obviously upset and needed her to comfort her. She nodded and watched the smile that now appeared on Rhiannon’s face.
* * * * * * * * *
The next morning at breakfast, Harry, Ron and Hermione had noticed the two vacant seats at the staff table, and it was clear that they hadn’t been the only ones that had noticed either, everyone one else in the great hall kept watching the door to the entrance hall.
“Harry, you never did tell us where you went last night after dinner, we thought you were behind us on the way to the common room?” Hermione asked
“Sorry I had to ask the Professor something, I waited behind in the hall” Harry said
“Mum sent mine and Gin’s letters back this morning, so we can attend the classes, Hermione got her’s too” Ron said “Mum said she expected to receive yours as well Harry, thought you’d ask her, she sees you as a son you know”
“Thank her for me Ron, but mine has already been signed” Harry replied
“Who si” Hermione started before she was cut off by Ginny and Luna who had rushed through the entrance to the Great hall
“What’s gotten into you two?” Hermione asked, looking at the huge grins on the girls faces
“McGonagall and Rhiannon” Ginny smiled “Had another rather heated discussion outside Professor Rhiannon’s classroom this morning, and when I say heated they were rather friendly and flirtatious with each other”
“what about?” Hermione asked
“Get this, seems strange really but she gave in, they had an argument about McGonagall’s hairstyle” Ginny said “Professor Rhiannon wants her to wear it down or….well I’m not going to repeat that bit but I think she agreed to a compromise”
“I think it makes her look much younger, and prettier” Luna said her soft voice was just above a whisper as she sat down next to Neville (students were now allowed to sit where it pleased them during meal times, but it was only Luna who took advantage of it choosing to sit beside those she considered friends other than members of her house).
“Thanks Luna” Ron said putting his knife and fork down on his plate “I don’t think McGonagall and pretty are best in the same sentence when I’m eating my breakfast”
“But its true, they were on their way here when we saw them isn’t that right Ginny” Luna said
“Yeh they should be here soon” Ginny said and the five of them turned their heads towards the door and then back to Ginny, they listened as Ginny and Luna told them what they had just seen and heard less then ten minutes ago
----------Flashback----------
“Come on Luna, the others will be waiting for us down at breakfast” Ginny said as the two girls hurried through the corridors towards the great hall
“Ginny, isn’t that Professor McGonagall and Professor Rhiannon” Luna asked stopping to look down the all but empty corridor if it wasn’t for the two female figures towards the end.
“Luna come on, stop dawdling” Ginny said sounding a little irritated, she’d promised Harry she wouldn’t be too long
“They seem to be arguing again” Luna said her curiosity starting to get the better of her and she started to step closer to the arguing women
“Luna” Ginny called out, trying not to be too loud, Luna didn’t answer, instead she crept closer giving Ginny no option other than to follow if she had any hope of dragging her dreamy friend away
Luna hid behind the statue just outside the defence against the dark arts class, it was large enough to hide the two of them comfortably “If we’re caught” Ginny said which only earned her a smile from Luna
* *
“Rhia you can’t be serious, I’m not doing it, not for you or anyone, its one thing when we are alone, but not……don’t you dare look at me like that” Minerva said
“Min I’m not asking for much, last night you said you’d do anything to keep me happy, didn’t you” Rhia smiled at her
Minerva nodded slightly “But this, please Rhia, I’m not comf..”
“Minerva dear, I’m not asking for much, really, just wear it in a simple braid once maybe twice a week”
“Rhia I don’t know if I can, the students are that used to seeing me a certain way”
“Is that It, your worried of what others will think of you if you change your image in the slightest way” Rhia said “Come on Min, they don’t care how you wear your hair.” Rhia waved her wand at her own hair, and now instead of her waist length pin straight dark hair, it now fell down her back in soft Auburn ringlets “Look, see not difficult, and the students won’t give two bricks”
“You’re a lot younger than me Rhia, its different”
“Min my love. Its got nothing to do with age, nothing at all, I could put years on my face if it would help you feel better”
“Rhia” Minerva said giving her a slight smile “As amusing as that maybe, I think it would give the students a bit of a fright” she laughed a little “But I still don’t feel comfortable with it”
“Please Min, for me, I won’t ask another thing from you, well not just now anyway might ask you for something a little later” she smirked which earned her a slap on the arm
“You are unbelievable sometimes Rhiannon, but I love you for it” Minerva said reaching her hands behind her head and releasing her long ebony coloured hair from its tight bun “If it will keep you happy, and get you off my back for a while”
“Much better” Rhia smiled as she pointed her wand at Minerva’s hair and it styled itself in an elegant braid which went halfway down her back.
“Don’t ever do this to me again” Minerva smiled placing her hand on Rhia’s cheek and stroked lightly “You know I can’t resist those puppy eyes you throw at me and I never could, even when you were a student”
Rhia smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek “Thank you for humouring me”
* *
Ginny looked at Luna with a bewildered expression on her face as the two professors walked passed where they were hiding “Hermione was right, they really are an item”
“I think they look sweet” Luna said as she come out of hiding “McGonagall looks pretty with her hair like that don’t you think?”
“I guess so, it makes her look younger, come on we need to get to the great hall and tell the others, there’s a short cut down here, Fred and George told me about it years ago” Ginny said grabbing Luna’s arm and hurrying off down the opposite corridor
----------End Flashback----------
“Hey Gin, snap out of it” Harry smiled “Your toast will get cold”
“Sorry Harry” Ginny gave him a smile causing his cheek to flush a light shade of pink “Hey look, theres McGonagall” she said
And sure enough, much to the amazement of the rest in their group, not to mention the rest of the students, there was Professor McGonagall, and Rhiannon exactly how they said they would be.
“See’ Luna said dreamily “Pretty” she smiled and waved at them as they passed them
Rhia gave Luna a smiled and rested her hand on her shoulder before lowering herself to speak to her “How are you Luna dear, I trust your father is keeping well?”
“Oh yes thank you Professor, oh here’s that form he sent it back an hour ago, oh and a copy of the new Quibbler for you, thought you might find it interesting” she beamed at her “Oh and I’m keeping just well Professor”
Rhia gave her a smile and took the other offered pieces of parchment from the other students at Gryffindor table
“Professor McGonagall?” Luna questioned as she walked away, causing her to turn around “I think it suits you by the way, makes you look much prettier, and younger than usual. You should wear your hair differently more often” she gave Minerva a huge smile
“Thank you Miss Lovegood” it was all Mineva could think of to say as she looked around at some of the others students in the hall, all of them smiling at her admiringly. “Rhia” she said calling her over and they headed up to the staff table
“See I told you none of them would give to bricks, and I have to agree with Miss Lovegood, it does make you look beautiful” Rhia smiled as she took her usual seat at the head table
“Rhia, I must commend you, Minerva hasn’t worn her hair like that since your disappearance” It was Pomona who spoke as she handed her the forms that had been given to her this morning by her students “Its good to have the old Minerva back”
Rhia smiled at her then looked over at Minerva who still hadn’t made it to her seat, she had the most beautiful smile she’d seen for a long time now, it was clear she was enjoying the attention. ‘It was good to see the old Minerva back’