Forever Yours

Chapter 25: A Family Christmas Part 3

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Serenity, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick and any name you don't recognize, and isn't from the HP universe) are entirely my own.

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Wednesday, December 23rd, 1998 (Scotland):

"Are you sure you are ready for this Headmistress?" Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt asked, as he stood beside Professor Minerva McGonagall, who was staring at a large wooden door. The two stood quietly for some time in the Headmistress' office; the only noise around them was from Albus' old silver instruments that whirred and blew small puffs of smoke. Minerva had been using the office since the day after the final battle, but the room beyond the door in which they stood before, had yet to be entered.

As try as she might, Minerva couldn't bring herself to enter that room before this moment. It was the Head's private quarters, but no one had set foot in their since the last Headmaster's death. She had cried so many tears since Severus and her niece's, Katherine, deaths, that she just couldn't bring herself to rifle through their personal belongings. Which was why she had warded the doors to both of their private chambers in the dungeons, preserving them from the outside world. But with the Head's quarters, she knew she had no choice.

"As I will ever be Minister," Minerva sighed, as she slowly pressed forward; grabbing the silver door knob in her hand. Gradually, she turned the handle and pushed the door opened. The old door groaned and creaked with protest as it opened fully for the first time in nearly seven and a half months.

Silently, Kingsley lit the fireplace, emitting a soft orange glow to the darkened room. A thick layer of dust had settled over the quarter's furniture. Books were still piled high on side tables; a half bottle of Odgen's Firewhiskey rested on the coffee table in front of the fire.

Drapes over the windows still drawn shut, blocking the midday sun; journals laid strewn on the floor on the right side of the large four poster bed. Green linen sheets that looked to have been pushed back hastily and a black silk nightgown was thrown across the back of a chair. Creases in their pillows still shown the spots where their heads had laid gently just hours before.

The large mahogany wardrobe stood tall in the corner of the room. Its' doors still hanging wide open, revealing several pairs of black robes, a dress robe and a few gowns, that were now dulled by the dirt that had settled on them. Boots and heels lined its' floor, and heavy woolen cloaks hung on hooks on their doors.

The matching dresser was in a similar state of disarray. Drawers were pulled open; a white blouse peeking out of its' confinement. A small jewelry case sat on top of the dresser; its' lid lifted revealing a matching sapphire necklace and earring set.

"What do you wish to do with their belongings Minerva?" Kingsley asked, as Minerva waved her wand and silently drew back the curtains. She quietly studied the room once more before breathing a long and shuttered sigh.

"I do not know," the Headmistress said softly, as she quickly blotted her tearing eyes with a handkerchief. "A part of me still cannot bare to get rid of their possessions."

"You are not the only one to feel that way," Kingsley said, as he picked up an old tome to inspect its' cover. "Arthur, Ms. Granger and myself have placed numerous wards over Severus' old home on Spinner's End, to protect it from looters, but none of us dared go inside quite yet."