“Just not today.” Harry glanced at the tower of sweets.
“So… want to help me eat some of these?”
“Minerva,” Shiva said as she slipped into her colleague’s office, “we need to talk.”
“Shiva.” McGonagall looked up with a weary smile.
“Please, sit. How can I help you?”
“It’s about Harry.” Shiva crossed her arms and sank into the chair opposite the desk.
“Ah. I suppose I should have expected this. Tea?”
“This feels more conversation, Min.”
like a whisky
McGonagall grimaced but rose and moved to the small cabinet she kept for emergencies.
“Have I really managed things so badly?”
“I think it’s more that a lot of small things have piled up… but yes, Min. You rather screwed the pooch on this one.” Shiva accepted the glass, took a sip, and sighed.
“Have you noticed I’m one of the only members of staff he actually comes to talk to?”
“He spoke with Filius and me shortly after Halloween…” McGonagall trailed off, brow furrowing as she tried to recall any other occasions the boy had sought out a teacher outside class.
“And I know he has taken several private lessons on basic duelling spells…”
“That’s essentially it.” Shiva leaned forward, eyes steady.
“He doesn’t trust any of you. He barely trusts me, and half of that is because I practically forced him to think of me as someone closer to his own age rather than another authority figure.” This chapter is updated first at novelping . com.
McGonagall’s eyes narrowed.
“That is—”
“Not appropriate. Yes, I know. I don’t care, Min. That boy could have blown up half a classroom because no one was there to warn him about the risks of what he was casually experimenting with. You were present the day I nearly killed Hestia and myself—and what I was working on was tame by comparison. If I have to sacrifice a little professional dignity to keep the same thing from happening to Harry, then I damn well will.” She drained her glass and poured another.
“But that isn’t why I’m here. I’ve got that side of things under control. He’s consulting me, and I already supplied him with proper safety equipment months ago. I’m here about his trust issues.”
She exhaled a breath that still carried the scent of firewhisky and leaned back.
“He was doing a little better until that conversation with you after Halloween sent everything into a downward spiral.
From a few off-hand comments he’s made this year… I’m guessing the talk had something to do with his relatives?” “His family?” McGonagall rubbed her chin.
“Yes. I believe I mentioned that Albus and I were the ones who delivered him to his family.”
Shiva scowled.
“Relatives, Min. Not family. Harry is very careful to correct anyone who uses the wrong word. I don’t know exactly what goes on at the Dursleys’, but whatever it is, it isn’t good. And he blames you and Dumbledore for putting him there.”
McGonagall’s mouth opened.
She tried several times to speak before giving up and knocking back another measure.
“Just how bad do you believe it is?”
“I don’t know. I won’t push him—if I do, I’ll lose him entirely. My money is on Granger finding out first and then coming to one of us. I don’t think they’re actively beating him, but I imagine the difference is academic. I already spoke to Albus about moving him to a wizarding household or even letting him stay with the Grangers for a few weeks. He was… rather insistent that Harry remain where he is.” Shiva’s voice dropped into a near-growl.
“I’ll likely be right beside you,” McGonagall said quietly.
“I was assured the Dursleys were the safest option and that James and Lily would not have objected. But now… and apparently their wills specifically forbade placing him with those people…” She sighed.
“I imagine I did not help matters with the way I dismissed Harry, Hermione and Neville’s concerns—especially since those concerns proved entirely correct.” Shiva shook her head.
“No, you really didn’t. I spoke to him before I came up here. Once they found the door open they didn’t return to the dorms the way I told them to, because they were afraid Snape would finish the job before Dumbledore and I got back. When I asked why they didn’t come to you a second time, Harry said they had already tried and didn’t believe you would listen if they tried again.”
McGonagall threw back another glass.
“I left them with the impression I would simply ignore them?”
“Apparently so. Even genius thought the same.”
our resident
McGonagall pressed her fingertips to her temples.
“Perhaps I have been juggling too many responsibilities of late… Tell me honestly, Shiva—do you think I can still repair this? The last thing I want is to have permanently lost those three through short-sightedness and stupidity.”
Shiva offered a small, crooked grin.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here otherwise, Min. Give him the summer to cool off. When he returns, apologise properly, don’t brush aside his opinions or criticisms, and you’ll be well on the way to mending fences. Hermione will come around faster than Harry—you’re not Snape, after all.” Both women managed a brief laugh.
“Neville seems fine, as far as I can tell; I haven’t had much direct contact with him. The single most important piece of advice I can give is this: do not appear to favour Dumbledore over Harry.”
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