After

It took a grand total of 110 volunteers, 9 specialist tradespeople, 8 weeks, 76,543 Galleons, (roughly 381,184.13 in 1998 Muggle Pounds Sterling) 2 major mishaps, and 1 carefully hidden nervous breakdown on Minerva’s part, to put the school back in working order. By the first day of August the castle was almost the same as it had been. Of course, it would take much longer for the lingering ghost of the conflict to fade, but for the first time Minerva had real hope that it would. 

She had begun to feel settled in her new position as Headmistress and in the office that she had worked in for decades without it ever being hers before. Her connected feeling to the school was not constantly at the forefront of her mind, the feelings of disruption and need had dissipated as the castle was repaired around her. Peace was settling in for the most part, and the new headmistress could not have been more relieved. Another relief came when Filius agreed to be the Deputy head, despite the fact that he insisted that he was retiring at the first opportunity. Minerva was determined that that opportunity should not present itself for a few years at least. 

It was the first of August, one month before her students, at least those who were able, would return to her, that Minerva looked at the fully restored halls around her and saw the joy before the terror. Students for generations, and she herself, had walked these halls alive and well and learning and falling in love and being heartbroken and confused and happy and hurt and excited and hesitant; and they had walked away with the very best that the school could give them. Minerva’s students had always walked away with the very best that she could give them. It may not always have been enough, but they left with the best of her and all her best. 

She looked forward to this year's graduation, smiling at the thought as she absently straightened the helmet on a suit of armour. She smiled again at the thought of this year’s first years, the sorting ceremony, the first in decades that she would be seated for. There would be new Gryffindor’s the first she would not be head of house for in a long time as professor Sinistra had agreed to take that job for the year at least. (Minerva had her reservations trusting the somewhat soft-spoken and reticent professor with her Gryffindor charges, who were always a rowdy bunch.) New members of every house, and all very very welcome at Hogwarts. 

New students also meant new Transfiguration classes to teach, which Minerva had not given up. She knew that this year would be a difficult one and knew that only a teacher of her caliber could be trusted to carry those difficult lesson plans… and unfortunately she is the only teacher of her caliber.

She was shaken from her reverie by a shout from across the main corridor, “Professor!” Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley were rushing across the hall now, smiling and clearly also forgetting momentarily the tragedy that had surrounded them.

“Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, how can I help you?” Minerva asked, not hesitating to show her good mood with an almost imperceptible smile. 

“You can get mum off my back and accept an invitation to the grand opening of the Burrow 2.0 next month,” Ginny said, beaming as Minerva noticed Molly coming towards them now. 

With a raise of her eyebrow Minerva asked, “Next month? That was rather quick, wasn’t it?” 

“Well, it’s not done, and some of us think that mum may be jumping the wand a bit, she’s a bit mad, as I’m sure you know, but…” The younger Weasley woman trailed off before asking, “She's right behind me isn’t she?”

Minerva couldn’t hide her smirk when Ginny turned to find her mum behind her looking stern but amused. Minerva decided she’d better distract from Ginny’s earlier pronouncement, “You’re getting good at that, Molly.”

Mrs. Weasley turned to her with a smile and said teasingly, “I know. It’s fantastic, I think I finally understand the twisted pleasure you must get from doing this to hundreds of kids every year.” 

Minerva sighed and said, “It is nice.” 

Molly decided to get the conversation back on track, “But how about it? I don’t think I’m getting ahead of myself” She gave Ginny a semi-sharp look,  “and I’ve set the date for the 26th.”

“Well, I certainly appreciate the invitation, and if you are not, in fact, jumping the wand,” She added her own sharp look at Ginny before turning back to Molly, “I’d be delighted.” 

“Excellent, we’ll be delighted to have you,” Molly said happily, “ But for now I’ll say goodbye, we’ve got to crack on if we’re going to meet that deadline.” they said their goodbyes as Molly shepherded the two young women before her out the door. 

Minerva shook her head and sighed, it was likely that she’d have to find a way out of going to their grand opening the night of, but she hadn’t wanted to decline the invitation flat out. She had to admit that her affection for Molly Weasley had, over the last several years, grown far beyond what she usually held for former students. 

Poppy had told Minerva who had rushed to the hospital when they’d heard of her grand collapse, she had expected that Pomona and Filius would, but Molly had surprised her. Even more when Poppy told her what Molly had said, “Time and war and trouble make families out of strangers, and it’s even easier when you’re already friends.”  Minerva found that she had to agree.