There is no remedy for love but to love more.
~ Henry David Thoreau

Thursday, March 8th ~ Evening

---

Trying to ease their relationship back to appearing merely friends wasn't easy, but it was what Izabel thought Remus could handle.

( Until he breaks of course.Collapse )

An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less.
~ Nicholas Murray Butler
Tuesday, February 13th ~ Morning

---

She'd put off the interview she needed to have with Minerva for a day and her time was running out.

Who am I kidding.

I don't know my own mind, so how in the hell am I supposed to help anyone else find out what's rolling around in theirs?

London is safe. I'll go back to - doing what I did before.

"And hate every minute of it," Anne said with a sigh as she sat down in a chair and looked around the office that had been hers for such a short time. It hadn't take long to box up the things that she'd be taking with her.

"It was fun?" she questioned the quiet air around her before she rose and headed toward the stairway that would take her to the headmistress' office.

Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.
~ Erma Bombeck
Saturday, February 10th ~ Afternoon

---

As she waited for the door at Glen Hollow to be answered, Minerva frowned. The news that Remus had regained consciousness was good - the rest of it was troubling. She'd never heard of a virus or wolf flu before and Izabel admitted she hadn't either, but that it was the only reason they could think of that Remus had had such a bad reaction to the traditional wolfsbane. When Izabel explained that Severus was going to be working on a variation, Minerva had nodded. She had no doubt the potions master could perform a miracle in the long run, but she did speculate a bit.

I wonder how much Severus is going to enjoy experimenting and being able to use Remus as a guinea pig?

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
~ Dylan Thomas
Monday, February 5th ~ Early Morning

---

Smoothing the corner of his blanket, Poppy frowned while gazing down at Remus' face. She'd managed to make him comfortable, she hoped, but other than that, she had no clue why he was unconscious. Izabel had sounded the alarm when he didn't respond to her after his moon. When Poppy asked if anything unusual had occurred, the other woman had hesitated only a moment before shaking her head no.

Poppy had been uneasy around Izabel and she knew why. Izabel seemed to have a guilty air about her.

I'm being a silly, jealous, old fool, Poppy tried to tell herself. And it has to stop now.

Those thoughts didn't stop her from contacting Minerva and not Izabel for a consultation about Remus, however.

Minerva's the Headmistress of this school.

She has to make the decision.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
- Helen Keller
Sunday, November 12th ~ Evening

---

I've been thinking about this long enough.

Time to 'do' something about it.

And if I fail - I fail and there's nothing to be ashamed of.

Izabel's pep talk to herself kept running through her mind as she raised her hand to knock on Minerva's door. She hadn't made an appointment because she really didn't want to sit in the other woman's office to have this discussion among the portraits of the past headmasters.

Her hand hesitated for a heartbeat before the knuckles rapped firmly on the door. Second, third and fourth doubts assailed her while she waited for it to open.

Oh, grow up.

It's not like it's going to hurt.

Will it?

Something is changing inside of me
colors seem darker in light
and I don't know what that means
but it's not a good sign
Wednesday, November 1 • Morning

---

The room smelled of smoke. It smelled of smoke, and she had to leave.

Vera didn't pause to get dressed. She walked out to the sitting room, to the fireplace, and opened the bag of Floo powder with shaking fingers.

"Roger? Wake up."

She stood next to his bed, arms wrapped tightly about herself.

"They're back, Roger. We have to go see Minerva. We have to ... we have to do something."

You wouldn't believe
On All Hallow Eve
What lots of fun we can make,
With apples to bob,
And nuts on the hob,
And a ring-and-thimble cake.
~ Carolyn Wells
Tuesday, October 31st ~ Late Evening

---

As Minerva closed the door of her quarters a smile lingered on her lips. The annual Halloween feast had gone well and only three students had had to visit Poppy before heading to bed. She missed Albus the most on this day. His love of sweets had been legendary and while most of the teaching staff indulged a little, she'd always wondered if he hadn't indulged a lot.

I should see about having his portrait moved to the Great Hall for - Who am I kidding, she decided with an small laugh. He was probably peeking out from one of the other portraits the whole night.

Not another year older, simply another year wiser.

Wednesday, October 4th -- Afternoon

---

Dipsy the house-elf - or was it Doosey? - had been given his instructions. Now it was a matter of waiting until Minerva settled down at her desk and ordered her afternoon tea.

I have a theory about the human mind.
A brain is a lot like a computer.
It will only take so many facts, and then it will go on overload and blow up.
~ Erma Bombeck
Saturday, September 16th ~ Afternoon

---

I still can't believe it. Why me? I don't have any experience with - people! How in Merlin's name am I supposed to do this without royally screwing up? Maybe that's it. They want to fire me for some reason and sending me clear out here to fail makes it easier somehow?

Sally-Anne had arrived in Hogsmeade the day before. The Ministry, in all its wisdom, had packed up her belongings and settled in her a flat with a minimum of fuss. And she didn't know if she liked it or not. The flat itself was fine and not that much different than the one she'd had in London, but her mind was still spinning with the instructions from her supervisors.

( Not to mention the interview with the Minister himself.Collapse )

All those in favor for
cutting the workweek short,
raise your hands and say yeah!

Friday, September 15th ~ Afternoon

---

The school year is two weeks old, and the ebb and flow of classes have nearly become routine: or at least they will be once Hogwarts sports a full complement of teachers once more.

Hogwarts welcomes the new Muggle Studies teacher! And what better way to do so than the comforting embrace of a Friday staff meeting?

A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions.
~ Anonymous
Friday, September 8th ~ Afternoon

---

Minerva had listed the pros and cons of her idea and since the pros heavily outweighed the cons, decided to present her idea to Mr. Creevey.

What's the worst he can do? Say no? We'd be no worse off than we are now.

She then ordered an extra special tea from the elves and sat back to wait for her visitor.

If my arguments don't do it, perhaps a reminder of the food Hogwarts provides? To a young man without a current position...

Free room and board plus a salary in exchange for a few hours telling students about the Muggle world might make a very attractive package.

Junk Mail?
Wednesday, September 6th ~ Morning

---

Colin set aside his journal and reached for a clean sheet of parchment. Moments later he crossed the small rented room to open the cage of his new owl.

"Alright, Ansel, take this to Headmistress Minerva McGonagall at Hogwarts. Please don't get lost. Oh, and if you can, wait around to see if there's a reply of she's just going to throw this in the dust bin. That's a good boy, bird... Ansel."

( Dear Headmistress McGonagallCollapse )

He was a good man. Wasn't he? Wait, which one was he again?
Friday, September 1st ~ Morning

---

"Minerva," Horace called out as he came through the door to the Headmistress' office. Yet again, he didn't bother to knock first.

In his hand was a folded piece of parchment and he was waving it about in a suitably dramatic fashion. "Minerva, I have the most dreadful news. We'll need to hire another instructor immediately."

Experience is a dear teacher,
but fools will learn at no other.
~ Benjamin Franklin
Tuesday, August 29th ~ Evening

---

The Great Hall has once again been temporarily revamped. The long student tables have been removed and round ones accompanied by comfortable dining chairs have taken their place. They dot the floor under the enchanted ceiling, the soft ivory tone of the linen covering the table tops invite you to sit and enjoy yourself.

It's been a year since the re-dedication ceremony and six years since the Dark Lord was finally defeated. This is an evening for reflection, celebration and if Minerva will allow it, more than a few glasses of good wine with friends, both old and new.

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future
Sunday afternoon

---

The newscaster wrapped up the report on a minor river troll rampage and moved to a tiny bit of business news before the segue back into music:

"Enterprising mums are getting the hop on the back-to-school season by doing their shopping a bit ahead of the crowds soon to be swamping Diagon Alley. Shopkeepers report their early August sales receipts are up 5 percentile points from last year."

"Meanwhile, all the young folk, soon to be bright scholars once more, are eager to capture all the idyllic moments remaining before the carefree days of this summer are gone forever."

"And the perfect soundtrack to accompany all your summer fun is just around the corner — a little birdie has slipped the WWN the latest from the Weird Sisters! We'll be bringing it to you before it hits the shops, right after these messages."

I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way.
~ Franklin P. Adams
Friday, August 18th ~ Evening

---

From what Remus had told her, if they managed to find the missing people in the Fae world, it would require a great deal of coordinated efforts on their part to have even a chance of a successful rescue. Glancing around the room, Minerva had to wonder what their chances were. Her eyes lingered for a moment on Luna and she mentally shook her head.

Ravenclaw? I just don't see it, but that's why we have the Sorting Hat.

At least Horace isn't here.

She still didn't see what Doris saw in him, but having him go off to be with her saved Minerva some aggravation so she wasn't going to object. Rising to her feet, Minerva cleared her throat lightly and when the small bit of chattering died down she raised her chin slightly.

"I think we all know why we're here and I'm not going to waste any time expounding on it. Remus? What do you want us to do and how?"

Everything has gone topsy-turvy.
August 8th -- Mid-morning

---

Nothing like being woken up at the arse-crack of dawn by a temperamental demon owl and a letter from Snape. Snape of all people. He's lucky the owl made it out in one piece after the bastard tried to bite Bill's thumb.

"Wanker." At this point Bill wasn't sure if he was talking about the damn owl or Snape.

( The letter had woken him right up.Collapse )

When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
Friday, July 7th ~ Afternoon

---

The grounds of Hogwarts had never looked better. Pomona Sprout was in heaven.

The hedges had been trimmed and were bristling with pride, the songflowers were trilling softly in the breeze, the creeping vines had twined up onto the tables and were gently offering passersby cups of punch or tiny trays of appetizers.

She had never once in her life doubted that Hogwarts was fit to receive royalty, but to have it confirmed ... Oh! She nearly glowed.

The guest list had grown a bit in the planning. It was a once in a lifetime event, after all, to see the faerie-people and of course to see the castle grounds in the summer. Luckily, Minerva hadn't seemed to mind.

Everything, thought Madame Sprout as she looked around the mingling crowd, was simply perfect.

Beauty is all very well at first sight;
but who ever looks at it when it has been in the house three days?
~ George Bernard Shaw
Monday, June 26th ~ Afternoon

---

Unsettled and very unhappy with the visitors who had decided to camp out on Hogwarts grounds without so much as a by-your-leave, Minerva had returned to the castle after receiving Filch's owl about the 'infiltrators'. She hadn't actually met any of the Fae yet, but had received reports of what had occurred during the festival.

( Fairies on Muggle steriods, indeed.Collapse )

Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language.
-- Henry James

Friday, June 16th ~ Afternoon

---

"Thank you, Ezekiel.

"This is Anastasia Witherpool, live at Hogsmeade Station where the Hogwarts Express has just left, carrying many a thrilled boy and girl. To them school is out and summer has officially begun. Many a student mentioned plans for a celebration tonight.

"Here at home, things shall undoubtedly be quieter. Back to you Ezekiel."

...I said I'm on the air Rita, come back later.

"What was that?"

Someone cleared their throat and the anchorman's voice filled the airwaves. "Thank you, Anastasia, for that brief, yet informative update.

"As always ladies and gentlemen WWN is interested in the comments and concerns of our listeners. If you have one, please contact us by owl or floo. We appreciate the interest shown and will respond as soon as possible. The Wizarding Wireless Network now returns you to our regularly scheduled programing."

Experience is not what happens to you.
It's what you do with what happens to you.
~ Aldous Huxley
Wednesday, June 14th ~ Early Afternoon

---

Classes were finally over for the term, most of the students were packed up and ready to leave the next day. All that remained was the leaving feast scheduled for this evening. Minerva had considered waiting until the morrow to talk to Izabel and Vera reference their recent adventure, reasoning that a bit of stewing was greater punishment than anything she could possibly do to two senior professors.

What am I going to do - fire them? I think not. That would be cutting off my nose to spite my face - although nowadays, in my case, it might be an improvement, she decided with a smirk while catching her reflection in the shiny surface of a lamp.

Still, the leaving feast has always been a joyous time and with this hanging over their heads - decision made.

Rising, she called for one of the elves to have Professor Sinistra meet her at Vera's quarters since she knew Vera had taken the option of staying in her rooms rather than the ward.

On the prowl
Saturday, June 3rd - Evening

---

All the little kiddies were tucked safely in bed - Morgana help the little brat that he caught out in the halls at this point - and Horace only had one thing on his mind.

Oh, yes.

He'd seen the way Minerva had been looking at him lately, with that coy faux-disgust that was clearly masking her intense desire to feel the full force of his physical love.

( Tonight was the night.Collapse )

Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what's right.
~ Isaac Asimov ~
Saturday, May 13th ~ Afternoon

---

Minerva had done something she hadn't done in years. Slept in. It was Saturday and she had been tired. Tired enough she didn't care what Slughorn thought when she roused the lazy - Assistant Headmaster from his bed and informed him that she wasn't to be disturbed. She'd already made sure that the others were alright and that Poppy was handling any repercussions with the appropriate potions or healing charms.

(When Minerva finally rose for the day around the noon hour, she'd still felt tired, but not as content as she imagined she'd feel.)

Where secrets lie in the border fires,
in the humming wires
Hey man, you know
you're never coming back
Friday, May 12th/Saturday, May 13th * The Witching Hour

---

The corridors of Hogwarts were still, except for the occasional ghost or House Elf, and in their dormitories the students safely slumbered.

But in the staff meeting room, chaos reigned.

Professors in various states of alertness — some groggy and in nightdress, others prepared and eager to go out and face the night and whatever might be in it — had answered their Headmistress' summons.

( Firenze stood and watched Madame Pomfrey attempt to calm the Flying instructor. )