Multi-Pup Post

[necessary_child]

Minimalist, so you guys get to do all the work. :P

Sam Linnfer is outside in the sunshine, sitting on a rock by the lake and feeding the giant squid.

~

He's watching Molly Hayes with some amusement as she struggles with a large pink kite further along the lakeshore. Just as she's about to give up a magically-created gust of wind catches the toy

Comments

[gorgonfondness]

Professor McGonagall isn't the only teacher getting a little tired marking essays. Mia is getting thoroughly worn out by the many papers essentially copying a poet from one of the books.

She gets up to stretch for a moment when the other teacher catches her eye. Hasn't she seen her before? Commanding a bunch of desks?

Mia gathers up her papers with the intention of finding Croix and asking him to put them away, but looking for the owl instead of calling for him puts her directly in Minerva's line of sight.

So when she is completely aware that she's noticed, she asks, "You too?"

[gorgonfondness]

"He hasn't really needed to write a lot. That's more the council's doing, as well as agreements from other cities and zones. When I tested Draco out as a Premier, he ended up being the main representative for Vane during the Lann fish tax. He actually handled the situation very well. Between him and Nash, my work is a lot easier."

[gryffindortabby]

"Well," she allows, "I suppose even young Master Malfoy must eventually grow up."

She offers Mia her hand. "Pardon my lack of manners. I'm Professor McGonagall - Minerva McGonagall."

[gorgonfondness]

"It is a pleasure," she says, shaking her hand. "I'm afraid Draco hasn't spoken too much about school, too many bad memories connected to it. Sometimes it feels the most I've gathered about his old home is that his parents don't like me. But then, if their objection in the middle of the wedding wasn't a big hint about that, I don't think anything would tip me off."

[gryffindortabby]

Her eyebrows raise.

"In my experience, there are very few people whom the Malfoys like, so I shouldn't take it personally. Mr Malfoy senior is practically in the habit of sending my employer the most charming owls about his job skills, ancestry and sundry other details."

A small smile. "I took very great pleasure in hexing him, the last time we met. The censure was entirely worth it."

[gorgonfondness]

She shrugs.

"Well, it could be worse. If Draco still considered blood purity important, he certainly wouldn't have bothered with someone with as questionable blood as mine."

[gryffindortabby]

"It's nice to see that he has grown up on that score, at least," McGonagall allows.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia nods thoughtfully.

"I never thought I'd say this, but it's probably a good thing he was in the habit of jumping to conclusions when he was younger. When we first met, he assumed I was this sort of rich, pureblood queen that would be just perfect for creating an heir to the Malfoy family. His equal, so to speak. By the time he found out I was the complete opposite, those differences didn't seem to matter to him anymore. Had he known before, he might not have given me a chance."

[gryffindortabby]

Minerva chuckles. "He never did have much common sense. I'm glad to see he's apparently acquired some of that, at least."

[gorgonfondness]

"As much common sense as being in love allows," Mia replies. "He's also acquired some cooking knowledge in the time he's known me. He's actually better at it than I am now."

[gryffindortabby]

"Cooking?" That is a surprise.

"Professor Snape will be shocked. He always swore little could improve Mr Malfoy's shaky grasp of Potions-work."

[gorgonfondness]

"Really? He seems pretty adept at them to me. Dragonlight Potions, his shop, has been doing well and the headache tonics he makes for my mother have been helping her."

She shrugs.

"He had spent some years working on potions here. Perhaps that's why he's able to excel at them now. And being connected to water aides that as well."

[gryffindortabby]

"Oh, he wasn't awful, merely..." She considers.

"'Painfully adequate' was - is - I believe his professor's favourite phrase."

[gorgonfondness]

"Oh, I see. I guess coming here and worrying about paying his tab motivated him. And then moving to my world meant getting a job to keep up his lifestyle, as my job is technically civil service and pays as such."

She fiddles with her rings.

"He was....surprisingly generous with me. When I first came here and started worrying about running out of money, he offered to help pay my tab with his own earnings."

[gryffindortabby]

"Hm."

McGonagall had always wondered if Draco Malfoy had any hidden depths, but mostly only because she didn't think it was possible for anyone to be that shallow and still function.

"Well. It's good to see that he has at least grown up," she remarks.

And had a world to grow up in, considering what's been going on back home...

[gorgonfondness]

Mia smiles warmly. She's very proud of her husband.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. Knowing what he was like at school, I've a feeling it would mean something to him to hear that."