Willow Song

X. Summer Seventeen Winding Down

Serena immersed herself in studying psychology and neurochemistry for the rest of the summer and researching ways to apply what she knew of Potions and Legilimancy and Seeing to these Muggle sciences. McGonagall still made her practice her wand work every evening, although the continuous study was making her head throb in rebellion.

Serena and Charlie exchanged letters every few days. Charlie told her about a Muggle-born dragon keeper who was teaching him to play the guitar, while Serena discussed looking for links and applications between magic and Muggle psychology. When Charlie asked what was up with her and Ron, she explained that she wasn't angry with Ron; he had just seen her at her worst with Draco, and the memory was embarrassing. She found that she could pour out more of how she felt on paper. She and Charlie grew more attached as Serena shared her fears and dreams. Charlie replied with his surprise that Serena's greatest fear was rejection, not the fear of her father finding her. He hadn't thought before about what it would be like to be moving constantly and then have your own security as a family upended. Charlie's greatest fear was disappointing his mother. She had such high expectations for each of them, and Charlie, as her second son, had always been especially close to her; therefore she expected him to shine for the world the way he shone in her eyes. He confided that the closeness Bill felt to his dad and he felt to his mum was probably the reason why Percy had always tried so hard to be perfect. Bill had relinquished Molly's lap when Charlie came along, but Charlie had only slid over and shared Molly with Percy. He confessed his fear that maybe he was mostly to blame for Percy's choices. With each letter their bond grew and Serena and Charlie realized that their mutual attraction and friendship was blossoming into love.

In mid-August Minerva handed Serena her book list. She needed books for NEWT level Potions, Charms, Herbology, Divination, and Astronomy. She also needed to continue to study Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration on her own, so the professor assigned the books that she thought would be helpful there. McGonagall was too busy with her Deputy Headmistress duties to apparate to Diagon Alley with Serena immediately, but Professor Sprout needed to get some Herbology supplies, so they walked to Hogsmeade and apparated to Diagon Alley together. Some additional books were assigned specific to her research in psychic healing. She appreciated McGonagall requiring them for her, although she groaned inwardly at the idea of all the extra studying they would entail.

Professor Sprout pretty much let Serena chart her own course through the alley as they both gathered what they needed. They had a pleasant lunch of lobster bisque and homemade rolls at The Leaky Cauldron, discussing Serena's studies, her new relationship with Charlie, healing herbs in psychotherapy, speculation on when Hermione and Ron might get together, and a broad variety of other subjects. Full, happy, and closer friends, Professor Sprout and Serena returned to Hogsmeade, climbing the hill to Hogwarts together.

Serena was just saying, "See, I really could have gone to Diagon Alley all by myself and handled it," when McGonagall ran to meet them, clutching her side and gasping for breath.

"Thank Merlin you're safe. We just received news of a Death Eater attack at the Leaky Cauldron. You two must have just missed them. I was running down to Hogsmeade to Apparate there and save you. Albus has already port-keyed there," McGonagall panted, hugging Serena. Sensing the Deputy Head had much more to say, Sprout patted Minerva on the back and left Serena and Minerva behind as she headed for the greenhouses. "I should have gone with you anyway. I shouldn't have put my Hogwarts duties above my obligation to you. Will you forgive me?"

"Minerva, I missed the danger. I'm okay. There's nothing to forgive."

Minerva looked more saddened than relieved. "I'm afraid I'm not much of a mother to you."

"You're my friend, my guardian, my teacher, and my mentor--I don't need a mother. Besides, I'm seventeen and a half and legally a full witch. I probably don't even need a guardian." Serena was mostly concerned with reassuring Minerva, but the niggling thought that this attack might indeed have been directed at her entered her mind. She shook her head to clear the idea away, but knew it would pester her later.

"I'm not going to let you let me off the hook as easily with that, young lady." McGonagall reached up and stroked Serena's hair. Serena could hear the love in Minerva's voice and knew that she was the closest thing to a daughter Minerva had ever had. She hugged her appreciatively and thanked her for her concern, wishing that she could open her heart to having Minerva as a mother figure instead of just a mentor . Aware of her solitude since the Samuelson's left, Serena's sense of loss had smarted just enough to keep her cautious about letting Minerva become as close as a parent.

"Professor...erm, Minerva, you do know how grateful I am to you. I don't know what I'd have done without you." They climbed up to the castle together.