After

As students left for their dormitories Minerva sat back down with a sigh, Filius leaned over slightly and said teasingly, “You almost forgot the first years didn’t you?” 

Minerva sighed laughingly, she leaned back in her chair and said, “lay off, Deputy Headmaster Flitwick, It was a long list of things I had to say.” 

He wasn’t done teasing yet, though they both noticed that some of the eighth years were heading in their direction, “Yes well, don’t forget you have to be in class with half of those first-years first thing tomorrow, so you’d best hope they found their way, Headmistress McGonagall.” 

Minerva smirked as Harry and Ron came within earshot as she said, “Oh, no I want some of them to be late, that’s when I get to threaten to turn them into pocket watches.” She wondered if they recalled that instance in their first year. 

She realised they did when Harry said with a lopsided grin, “Or perhaps a map,” 

“Hopefully they won’t need one to find their seats,” Ron added.

Hermione laughed at them, “You two are never going to be allowed to forget that.” 

“Who wants to?” Ron asked, only half seriously. 

They turned back to the Headmistress as she said, “What can I do for you three?” as the other teachers started to stand from the table and head out of the hall. 

Hermione spoke up first, “We just had a few questions about the rules for the eighth years.” 

Minerva couldn’t fight a small smile, she shook her head and said, “Of course, you have questions about the rules, Hermione. What else did I expect? I suppose they’ve sent you three as a delegation from the entire class?” 

“Well, maybe,” Harry said in a way that meant yes. “We were just curious since we are technically adults...”

Minerva couldn’t help herself, “Only technically.”

The three of them grinned and Ron shrugged and said, “I guess that’s the answer, so far as our Professor McGonagall is concerned, we’re not adults.” 

“And it’s going to take a long time for you in particular to get there, Ronald,” Minerva said with a smirk, as even Flitwick left with a quick word of goodnight. 

The trouble trio were still getting used to her sarcastic jabs but had to admit that it was much easier to take now that they were - technically - adults. 

“Well, in the meantime, can we be adults enough so that we can go to Hogsmeade without having to ask my mum to sign a permission slip?” Ron asked before adding, “I mean, we didn’t need a permission slip to hunt Horcruxes…”

Minerva had a response for that too, she spoke somewhat sharply when she said, “Actually, Weasley, you did. You needed my permission and you never got it and you still don’t have it and if you three ever do anything so stupid again I will rescind all of the privileges I have already decided to give the eighth year class, take every point away from Gryffindor house, and shout at you until I’ve lost my voice, am I understood?” She asked, more to impress on them the severity of her disapproval of their previous actions than to imply that they would get the chance to do something that stupid again. 

The three of them smiled guiltily, “Yes professor,” They agreed, none of them planning on doing anything so stupid ever again.

“Good. Now as for Hogsmeade, yes you are allowed to go without parental permission, and you, Potter, are finally allowed to go, not that that has stopped you before,” She said with a sharp look over her spectacles which was tempered by a small smile.

“I wondered if you knew about that…” Harry said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his hair. 

“Well, you had the cloak and the map, why wouldn’t you go?” Minerva said, once again impressing them with her knowledge of things they had thought they’d hidden from her. 

“Well, I didn’t know you knew about that…” Harry said, shocked. “How do you know about that?”

“Mind, I didn’t realise it at the time or I would have stopped you but, please, Potter, I’m the one who confiscated that map from your father.” 

“The twins said it was…”

Minerva finished his sentence, “In Filch’s office drawer, yes.” Her tone changed to be heavy with sarcasm when she said, “I wonder how they knew that some odd scrap of parchment would turn out to be so useful.” 

“You told them?” Harry asked, eyes flying wide.

“No, of course not,” Minerva said slyly, “I just hinted at it very strongly and made sure they were within earshot when I finally handed it over to Mr. Filch at the end of their first year.” She smiled at their surprised reactions. 

“You?” Harry asked, simultaneously shocked and overjoyed, “You practically gave it to them?” 

“Well, that’s one of my flaws as an educator, I’ve always had a penchant for the troublemakers.” She gave them a look that suggested they were among that number.

“Wow, professor, I can’t tell whether I’m losing respect for you or gaining it,” Hermione said sarcastically. “All this rule-breaking. Tell me, why is it, when something happens, it is always you?” 

Minerva couldn’t help but chuckle at that response, “Believe me, I’ve asked myself that question for decades,” She replied before quickly moving on, “Speaking of rule-breaking, let’s set a few new ones so that you can break them, shall we?”

“Erm, that feels like a trap,” Harry said suspiciously. 

“Good catch, it was,” Minerva answered. “In regards to Hogsmeade, and most anywhere else you can get to I suppose, you are allowed to leave the school as you please. I’ve thought a lot about it and I decided that being as you are, technically, adults, I can’t stop you.” She let them have a brief moment of celebration before she said, “However, I will make you aware that the gates close at one a.m. because I refuse to have to go out and close them any later than that. So if you don’t want to miss breakfast the next morning, I would suggest being back in time.” 

“Wait, Professor,” Hermione started confusedly, “That makes it sound like we’re allowed out whenever we want. No structure at all?” She looked almost upset about it.

“Yes, Hermione, whenever you want, you’re technically adults who just happen to be taking classes here, and I don’t feel right about imposing the same rules on you as I do on students who cannot yet be trusted to apparate safely, or make at least relatively good decisions.” 

Hermione looked stunned. Ron smirked and said, “You think we make good decisions?” 

“I did not say that.” 

The boys were elated as the ignored that statement and said, “So you’re telling me that we could round up the eighth years and walk out the gates right now, no consequence?” Harry asked, clearly planning to do just that. 

Minerva stood up from her awful chair behind the table, rolling her eyes, being adults was clearly still very new to these three. “As long as you are back by one in the morning.”  

They followed her the length of the staff table, Hermione still half-stunned, the boys making plans. “What time is it?” Harry asked Ron, feeling torn between taking advantage of their newfound freedom and just going to bed.

“It’s only a quarter to nine,” Minerva supplied, holding back from laughing at them. “I would suggest you start spreading the word to the rest of your classmates.” 

“Won’t take long, they’re waiting in the corridor,” Ron admitted with a grin.

Minerva just rolled her eyes and waved them off in that general direction. 

“We were supposed to ask you a few other things too…” Ron said, then hesitated and decided against it, “But I think we’ve gone far enough for one night. Goodnight Professor,” And with that he grabbed Hermione by the arm and pushed Harry ahead of him out of the Hall. 

Minerva shook her head, then, with a gleam in her eye that spelled mischief, disapparated with a loud crack to announce her departure.