Aunt Mini

‘When I told Hermione and Ron I wanted to stay here, I never told them why, I thought we should have some time first.’

‘Everyone will know soon, we’ll tell them once all the funerals are over.’

‘I would like that, but dad didn’t know, never suspected?’

‘No, I was a bit of a wild girl in my youth, I only stopped by the family occasionally. I think I only saw your father about three or four times. Right now is not the time for such intense discussions because you are obviously tired.’

‘So are you, you’re also hurt, when you hit the wall,’ Harry shuddered, ‘I thought he killed you.’

‘I may be old Harry, but I am tougher than I look. Yes, I have a few injuries which I will get sorted very soon. Why don’t you go sleep for a while?’

‘I want to, but I’m also still on edge, plus I want to see how Remus is. First though,’ Harry stood up and placed his bag on the desk. He put the horcrux books and horcruxes on the desk, ‘Those books were Dumbledore’s, Hermione summoned them the night he died. He didn’t have them enchanted so we figured he left them for us. But they are dangerous, that’s why he took them out of the library when he first became headmaster.’

‘I’ll discuss them with Kingsley, see if he believes as I do that they should be destroyed. The items, well they might be damaged but they did belong to the founders. Even though I want to know everything you were doing while you were away, now is not the time. So go see Remus then sleep.’

Harry smiled, ‘An order from my aunt, I think I like it. Um one more thing, you said after the funerals we’ll tell everyone, so what will I call you?’

‘You can call me aunt Mini if you wish or Minerva if that makes you more comfortable.’

Harry stepped over to his great aunt, ‘Aunt Mini, I want to and it makes it more believable and makes me think of family.’

‘Then aunt Mini it is, now go sleep Harry, you’re exhausted.’

‘Alright…aunt Mini,’ Harry grinned then kissed her cheek, ‘You sleep as well,’ Harry picked up his backpack and left the office. Even though he was tired, sore and still on edge, he couldn’t believe how he was feeling. He had family, something he never believed would happen.

The following day Poppy explained to Harry that Remus will be alright, but he won’t be conscious for a few days. He had been hit with multiple spells at the same time, so with the healing and potions, that will keep him unconscious so he has time to heal. While he had been sitting beside Remus, some of the DA carried in another person, a person Harry thought had died, Severus Snape. Harry stood with Michael and Cho while Madame Pomfrey worked on his many wounds, aunt Mini stood beside Harry. He had whispered to her about Snape, how he didn’t really kill Dumbledore but would explain later. Once it was known he was going to live, Harry and Minerva left the makeshift hospital where Harry explained Severus’ role. Minerva wrote while Harry spoke, then sent her letter off to Kingsley to work on making sure Severus wasn’t punished, but if he needed proof there was a memory at Hogwarts he could see.

It was two weeks after the death of Voldemort that the funerals began. Remus was a mess as he held his son while he buried his wife, Harry and Andromeda on either side of him. Harry also attended the funeral for Ted Tonks, Colin Creevey and Lavender Brown. He spoke with Colin’s parents and Lavender’s parents. The Browns knew who Harry was both being magical, Dennis Creevey had explained to his parents who the saviour was and how Colin hero worshiped him. Harry offered his condolences but also told the Creevey’s that Colin had been a good friend. Harry did like Colin and considered him a friend, even with how annoying the younger wizard was, always taking Harry’s pictures.

Harry loved spending time with his aunt Mini, she was telling him about the family and what she remembered about his father as a child but also what she knew of him as a student. Harry filled her in on everything he had done while away with his friends, but he also told her about the abuse he went through with the Dursley’s. She felt guilty, Harry could see it so he tried to reassure her that what she did was for the best and safer, for Harry and for her. Harry was always concerned about Hermione and Ron as Voldemort and his death eaters all knew they were close to Harry, so they were always in the most danger, what would happen if Voldemort found out that Minerva McGonagall was Harry’s great aunt.

‘Have you been thinking about what you might like to do now Voldemort is dead?’

‘I know I don’t want to be an auror like I thought, maybe it was what was going on that made me think that would suit me. You might find this hard to believe, but I really enjoyed potions when Slughorn taught, it was a bit hard with Snape. I get why after seeing the memory because I do look like my father. Maybe I could really concentrate on potions and do something with that.’

‘Well when you come back to do your last year, Horace will be continuing as the potions teacher.’

‘I’m not sure how I feel about that, could I come back, I feel too old now.’

‘Harry, you must finish your education. Imagine this, say you do very well in potions and go for a job at St Mungo’s where potions masters make all the potions needed for patients, without your O in your N.E.W.T.s they would not even look at you. You do want to have some type of career until you settle into family life.’

‘I’m not going to have a family apart from you aunt Mini. If you think of my life and how I’ve lived, I could never go through losing more people even with him gone. So I’ll dedicate my life to whatever I decide to do.’

‘You aren’t even eighteen yet even though you will be soon, maybe that will change once you’re older.’

‘Um, okay, there’s another reason why family isn’t going to be in my future and I hope this doesn’t make you uncomfortable with me, or make you want to have nothing to do with me.’

‘That will never happen, but explain what you mean?’

‘After professor Dumbledore died, when I was at the Dursley’s for those couple of weeks I did a lot of thinking. See, when I dated Ginny Weasley to me something was never quite right. At first I thought maybe because she was Ron’s sister, because he was always around. But something Dumbledore told me something personal while we were watching memories. I started to think about that a lot and I realise why I didn’t feel right with Ginny.’

‘Albus told you he was gay, so you believe you are?’

‘It’s not really gay or straight, but I know I prefer men. I sort of tested myself, I would go for a walk around Little Whinging and deliberately look at pretty girls and good looking boys, I found the boys were who I liked looking at, so I think I’m bi. I dated Cho and we had fun even though it didn’t end well and that was mainly down to Umbridge and what was going on. But thinking about girls or boys, it’s boys I see myself snogging now, maybe that means I am gay, I don’t know. So you see, if I end up with a bloke no kids even if I get into a relationship. But are you okay with me, being with a man?’

‘Harry, I have nothing against same sex relationships. I met Albus’ partner before he died, I know a few gay men. If you are bi, then you are the first I have met, but I wouldn’t rule out you being gay. But now something I think will shock you, something you never got a chance to learn about the magical world,’ Minerva smiled at her nephew wondering how he would take this next bit of news.