'I don't countenance breaking rules, even for Quidditch.' Great first line!
She watched the other woman efficiently stripping bent bristles from the stirrup attachment, a ray of afternoon sunlight making her eyes glow like a candle's flame. Beautiful descriptive sentence there; I feel I'm right with them inspecting Hooch in the afternoon sunlight.
'She said she would be Rolanda henceforth. In honor of Roland.' Ah. I love the importance this draws to her name: a personal choice always strengthens the bond more than the whim or desires of parents in the naming process.
Rolanda did not cry out nor scream as Minerva was wont to do in proper abandon. The most vigorous, boisterous woman she knew gasped and sighed and, only once, moaned as if in pain before relaxing into a quivering heap. I love the juxtaposition of the opposing forces/contradictions here; it paints them both as very powerful characters in their own separate ways.
'Nor I, Ro. We're, neither of us, young as once we were, but it's far easier for two to bear than one.' I love the construction of this line. It's beautiful and so very much Minerva.
Her kiss was gratitude and benediction, and deep-seated sorrow and weary acquiescence. Great reminder. I love the circular nature of their relationship. I love Ro staying to help, based on the past and the present proposer.
The Confucius quote is pure brilliance; equally, the contrast between what the two characters would recall of the home. Adore your description of the final-year celebrations - especially the term 'diddies'.
Her scenes with Moody were heart-breaking yet I understand them completely, having once had to pull up an impenetrably shell as well. It keeps the pooled hurt inside and the potential further hurt outside, yes; it also re-labels what is love and compassion into pity and superiority, just to make the pain less acute. Strange how that can work out to be true. Well done in the story! And good on Minerva for understanding without being told, however much it pained her.
'You might not want one, Severus Snape, and it might seem late in the showing, but you've a friend in your corner. Remember that.' I am in love with your McGonagall and how she dealt with that situation. Class act! Loved the Northerner comment. (:
...or mayhap a wee tot at Rosmerta's.' Oh, that absolutely cracked me up. Brilliance. Your Dumbledore was fantastic. I love how well you've expressed his expansive area of grey-black, rather than the wholly angelic 'white'.
The year he presented her with a set of vials for her birthday, half Sober-up Solution and half Hangover-Halt, she had laughed heartily and surprised them both with a brief, but tight, hug. Ah, the audacity of it, Snape: well done. :P I can see laughter and a quick hug being Minerva's response.
His deep, rich voice was as expressive as his face was not. Love those inverse statements. Snape is the perfect target for one. This line is rich! I enjoyed your words on wizard and witch ages - very true!
'Severus, you may have the position, but you cannot actually work without the approval of the Heads of House,' Minerva clarified. 'The school itself will stand against you if it does not sense you have the backing of all four Heads of House.' Oh! That idea is just right. Never thought of it, but perfect indeed!
Magic lives in me as much as him and I'll not leave a person that needs aid if I can at all help it. That's the strong spirit of our Minerva. (: Well said!