This had so far turned out to be such a busy week. News, the visit to St. Mungo's, the body found within London and all the troubles surrounding it. The sort of week that would make most grateful for a quiet, pleasant lunch with such an esteemed figure. Minerva McGonagall, war hero, Wizengamot Elder, and now the Headmistress of Hogwarts.

Aisling had arrived early as usual.  It had been a month and more since she was last at Gregor Ramsley's, and the enchanted windows now showed lovely, lonely scenes of snow, ice, and tiny footprints. She could feel the cold, some magic or memory seeping in.

The service was swift, a waiter in crisp black robes led her to her table and then vanished. Soon after, a pair of menus and a glass of ice water floated their way over. A small vase of delicate purple orchids rested on the side of the table nearest the wall. Pleasant, restful, and barely punctuated by the soft sounds of those speaking at other tables. She hoped that she would not be waiting long.

Madam Knight was indeed not waiting long before the elderly witch in gold embroidered robes entered the restaurant. She took the barest of moments to drop off her coat with the doorman before being escorted to the table where Aisling was sat. “Hope I haven’t kept you waiting long?” She asked kindly, taking the seat opposite the much younger witch and taking off her pointed hat. Gregor Ramsley’s was certainly an interesting place for lunch – good food, good service, and always good company.

The Headmistress of Hogwarts took a moment to look over the menu, while glancing up at Aisling occasionally. It wasn’t often Minerva took time to meet with parents – that was the job of Heads of Houses after all, and it wasn’t often that Minerva had time to spare for such frivolities, but today was an exception. Aisling Knight wasn’t just a parent; she was a former student, an asset to the magical community, and a friend.

“How’re things?” She asked shortly. Placing the menu back on the table and waiting patiently for a member of the wait staff to come and attend to them.   

And there was Minerva, looking as smart and intimidating as always. Aisling smiled over at her, but remained quiet until the other witch spoke. It had been a pleasant surprise to have this meeting agreed to, but then this seemed to be a time for at least a few pleasant surprises, amid everything else. "Things have been well enough. A bit busy, given the situation at the Bank[1]." An incident that would be a thorn in their side for a few days at least, but it could be managed.

"Rowena has been writing again to mourn that she is not old enough to participate in the Tournament. She was so excited to hear it would be at Hogwarts again, though I will admit that I was rather surprised to hear it would be held once again." Her tone was kept light, and paused for a moment to take a sip of water from her glass.

"But I would hate to speak too much of work, with such pleasant company. How have you been?" The orchid on their table bobbed a little, as if the deep purple blooms were too heavy for their stem. Aisling reached for her menu, but did not open it yet.

1.	Benefit of Interest

"Things have been well enough. A bit busy, given the situation at the Bank."

“Oh yes, that’s been dreadful. Even with our shaky relationship with the goblins, I know it hit our Arithmancy professor rather hard,” Then again, when one finds a vicious murder of one’s own kind, anyone might be a bit upset. On the other hand, wizards have been murdering each other for ages, and instead of banding together, it seems to draw the group of humans even further apart. “The individual was a distant relative of his, I’ve been told. He’s been a good chap about it though. I’ve offered him time off, but he’s dedicated,”

“The tournament is certainly an honor. I won’t deny that I’ve had my misgivings; it was banned for good reason. I do feel, however, that with the new rules, and the addition of Salem, that this year might have been the perfect time to bring it back. International Magical Cooperation is more important than ever. No doubt Rowena will make a wonderful champion next time the tournament rolls around,” Though Minerva liked Aisling, she wouldn’t tell her the secret fears she held for the tournament. She was one of the first there when Cedric Diggory’s body was brought back from the graveyard. Death wasn’t anything new to the Headmistress, but that didn’t mean that Minerva had any desire to watch it continue.

“I’ve been well. Hogwarts is proving to be more difficult to run than last I remember. Staff turnover is astronomical, though student discipline seems to be down, so we must be doing something right at least. I’m afraid I’ve been shirking by Wizengamot duties as of late, you’ll give Tarron my apologies?” asked Minerva. Truly, Minerva was glad for the excuse to be away from the governing body. She hated the diplomacy of the group as it was so different from the way she ran Hogwarts.

"Dreadful indeed. I don't think I could stand to work with such cases regularly, they're much too saddening." She'd seen enough of death, there was no need to further seek it out. And of things worse than death.

Her glass was cold, chilled by magic to the point where it almost made her teeth ache. Perfect. One benefit to visiting here somewhat regularly was that the invisible staff learned just how she liked things. Which tables she sat at, what small details made her smile. The soft sound of chimes drifted out from the orchid as it moved. "I am glad she's not old enough to participate yet. The way she speaks about Quidditch is worry enough, as much as I know that she's good with a broom."

Rowena had been the terror of the garden when she was home, often when Sophia was out there to read. It was amazing just how very different they were.

Minerva's apologies brought a small, honest smile, the sort that lit up her face even as it emphasized the fine lines around her mouth and eyes. "He understands, there's no need for apologies. Hogwarts is an incredible responsibility, especially with the Tournament there." She finally laid the menu out in front of her, though her attention still remained focused on Minerva. "The topic of Hogwarts has felt a bit more personal, recently. I'm reassured to know that you are there."

“Hogwarts always feels more personal when you have children within its walls. Thank you ever so much for your compliments, but Hogwarts certainly wouldn’t be running as smoothly as it has been if not for Herschel, and parents like you certainly make things easier,” Credit where credit was due. Minerva had never been a fan of such compliments. Work was done because it was necessary, not so that the worker would be praised. She’d almost refused the Order of Merlin when offered, but to save insult to the Ministry, she accepted – though it was anything but a gracious ceremony.

As the witch waited, her glass filled automatically with chilled water and as the glass finished filling, the headmistress lifted it quickly to her lips. “Enough of that; how are things otherwise?” Death and depression had no place at a luncheon with good people, and Minerva was sure to steer far away from it. As she waited for Aisling’s reply, she glanced again at the menu, just to be sure of what to order, and then pushed the parchment far away from her.

Gregor Ramsley's was certainly a masterpiece of a restaurant. Why she didn’t frequent the establishment more often was put down to the fact that the House Elves of Hogwarts were amazing cooks and also because Minerva simply had too little time to take out of her day for luncheons. If it weren’t so exhausting, the headmistress might try and get a time-turner, just so she could have more time to do things like this: good food with good people.

"True, but that hardly diminishes the work you've done either." Aisling smiled and then let that subject drop. Minerva had no great fondness for compliments, no matter how well deserved they might be.

She set her hand over the bracelet on her other wrist as she thought. "Things have been well. I'm grateful to have the holidays over as much as I miss them. I've enough to do without them." She slowly shook her head. "There's a few adjustments I'll be making at work over the next few weeks. I'll be taking over the position of Committee Head, next month."

It seemed like more of a change than it truly was, but then it was so tied in to all the other changes. So many more shifts to come. They'd manage. "How have you been, then?"

The headmistress gave a polite nod to the compliment, and was thankful when the subject was changed. It was simply in Aisling’s character to give praise where earned and though Minerva didn’t care to admit it, Aisling’s compliments weren’t wrong.

The conversation was then turned to her fellow witch’s upcoming promotion, and Minerva offered her a kindly smile. “Well congratulations on that! I’m sure you’ll do a superb job. What, exactly, is different between your current position and the committee head?” Was there even a post for that? Minerva could assume it would be more paperwork and less time in the field, but why one would choose that path, she couldn’t figure. It could also mean less time at the Ministry, but again, without children at home, why would one choose that? Either way, Minerva was truly happy for Aisling’s promotion – if it was what the witch wanted, then that was enough for Minerva.

How had Minerva been? That wasn’t a question she was asked often. It was difficult for the elderly witch to differentiate between how she was as a person, and how Hogwarts was. So much of the Headmistress’s life was intertwined in the castle; the answer was normally the same. “I’ve no complaints. Hogwarts is running smoothly at least,” Then, because she wasn’t sure what to say next, the headmistress went ahead and ordered her meal.

"It's more administrative and organizational, and with any luck I'll have a somewhat more consistent schedule. Leave the immediate fuss with emergencies to the Committee members themselves." And the concussions, or so she hoped.

A floating pad of paper rustled as it moved into her field of view, and Aisling smiled at it, then  ordered a bit of pasta for herself. She couldn't exactly get by on salad and jellybeans now. At least unless someone invented far more nourishing jellybeans.

“I’ve no complaints. Hogwarts is running smoothly at least,”

"Always good to hear. I hope that there will be nothing too demanding when it comes to the Wizengamot as well, matters could use a bit of calm there." It was, perhaps, surprisingly quick, but her salad chose that moment to float softly over to the table. Aisling paused to taste it before continuing on.

"I've a great deal of planning still to do for the annual party. You should be receiving an invitation soon, they're started already." It was a month away, so far and yet not nearly time enough for all the preparations she had to pursue.