What next? - H/M - G
Title : What next?
Author : shocfix
For : abigail89
Pairing : Harry/Minerva
Prompt : "Mr Potter, is that alcohol in your glass?"
Rating : G
Words : 538


What next?
****
"Mr Potter, is that alcohol in your glass?"

Harry blinked up at a rather singed Minerva McGonagall. He nodded abruptly and she plopped down on the couch beside him.

She wearily conjured a glass and he filled it with Firewhiskey.

“Your very good health, Mr Potter,” she said, raising it to her lips and sipping.

He nodded numbly and took a swallow.

“Everyone else is asleep, Potter,” she said, tucking some straying hair behind a sooty ear.

Harry grunted.

“When did you last sleep?” she asked gently.

“I dunno,” Harry admitted. “Some time before I died.”

She snorted.

“I tried to sleep,” he said. “I just… can’t. Anyway, you’re still up.”

“I have rather a lot to do,” she said wryly. “It seems I am acting Headmistress once again. But everyone else…”

“Molly Weasley?” he asked. “Is she sleeping peacefully?”

“No,” she said quietly. “No, she’s not. She and Arthur are still in the Great Hall. I promised her I’d check on you and Ronald.”

Harry blinked her properly into focus for the first time.

“Not Hermione?”

“I’m sure Miss Granger is fast asleep,” she said, sipping her whiskey.

“As you’d find out if you went to check on Ron,” Harry said.

She raised an eyebrow.

“Well,” she said. “If Miss Granger is making sure he gets his rest, I won’t need to check on him.”

Harry snorted.

“Is that why you’re down here?” she asked him.

“No,” he said. “Not really. They weren’t doing anything all that dreadful.” He frowned. “They’re just asleep.”

“And?”

“They need their sleep,” he said, swirling the whiskey round his glass. “How many times have I watched them sleep this past year? But now they’re them.”

“Together?” she asked gently.

“Whatever they want,” he said. “Together, if they want, explorers, ballet dancers, lion tamers, chartered accountants.”

“Putting aside the disturbing mental image of Mr Weasley as a ballet dancer,” she said and he laughed. “What is wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” he said vehemently. “It’s all I ever wanted. That I don’t get them killed and they survive and can do whatever they want with their lives.”

“But?”

“But.” He sighed heavily. “But what do I do?”

“Whatever you like,” she said.

“I used to know what that was,” he said. “I used to know what the Chosen One wanted to do. But I don’t even know who I am, now.”

“Nonsense,” she said briskly.

“But…”

“No buts. It wasn’t the Chosen One we saw dead tonight.”

He looked shamefaced.

“I keep my promises,” she said.

“I… of course… I never…”

She ignored the interruption.

“I once promised you I would do everything in my power to make sure you become an Auror.”

He nodded slowly.

“And that is what you wanted,” she said. “You, Harry, not the Chosen One. Would you like me to mention it to Kingsley?”

He blinked at her.

“I… yes, professor,” he said quietly.

“Excellent,” she said, climbing to her feet and taking the whiskey glass from his fingers. “You go back up to bed now, and chaperone poor Mr Weasley, and we’ll sort it out in the morning.”

Harry stood and looked at her, a smile blooming on his tired face. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” she echoed.