Seamus Finnigan (approbation) wrote in icb, @ 2015-12-30 01:21:00 |
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Seamus wasn't exactly a stranger to the Hogsmeade area - his favourite watering hole since school had been The Hog's Head. In fact, he considered himself fairly good mates with Aberforth Dumbledore. However, when it came to how frequently he visited Hogwarts since the battle... he could probably count that on one hand. He'd always been content just seeing it from a distance - never really had a need to actually step foot in the place after the memorials and clean up were over. As he entered the building he made note of how quiet it was for the Holiday. An array of memories flooded back to him both happy and devastating. He offered a nod to a teenage boy who was exiting the Great Hall with lunch in tow. Seamus asked whether McGonagall was at the head table and the boy shook his head, unable to speak right away with the turkey sandwich in his gord. "She ain't been to lunch all break," the boy managed after swallowing down his food. "But she's around?" A shrug, "She comes to dinner. Why? You got a date with her sommat?" "Yeah," Seamus offered sarcastically, "I'm bringing her a round of afternoon delights." The teenager made a face of disgust as he continued his way to the Hufflepuff corridor. Seamus grinned as he climbed the stairway to the Head Mistress's office. He took his time meandering about the hall. Portraits who had survived the Battle of Hogwarts recognized him, waved, and offered small talk on his trek up the many flights of stairs. Finally approaching the entrance of Minerva's Office he entered cautiously. "Professor McGonagall?" he called out. The office wasn't much different than he remembered. The only difference, really, was that now there sat a portrait of Headmaster Snape next to Headmaster Dumbledore and Headmistress McGonagall. All of whom made a point to shush him when he entered. Seamus jumped slightly at the shushing. It was an unexpected order. As he stepped further into the room he saw McGonagall rising from a rocking chair and placing a familiar sized human into a wicker bassinet. The man approached close enough to recognize the child - even from a few paces away. His heart became light at the sight of Wesley Bones. It was an emotion he hadn't anticipated in feeling during this visit - but he was glad the child was safe. "I thought you said you had a family for him?" "I don't recall having a meeting set up, Mr. Finnigan," Minerva replied as she cast a silencing ward around the child so they could speak freely. "We didn't," he answered, "Which explains him being here... don't it?" "Wesley is going to a family in America," the woman explained calmly, "It's taking a little longer than I anticipated, but-" "Don't send him to America," Seamus interrupted. "There's people here that want to take care of him..." "Really?" she perked a brow, "You intend to take responsibility for a child you were suspected of kidnapping? How's that going to look?" "Not me," he defended, "But I know someone who's interested and could do it." "Go on..." "She already came and talked to you about him-" "Miss Patil?" "Yeah..." "Miss Patil is a very sweet girl... but she never mentioned being interested in adopting him. And I don't know if her health would--" "She can do it," he interrupted the older woman with a particularly strong tone. "Parvati helped tremendously when I was watching after him-" "You shouldn't have involved other people, Seamus. We've discussed this." "Excuse me, Professor, but don't change the subject," the younger man was very adamant about his point. "Susan contacted me to help, not you. And while I'm sure she appreciates everything you've done to keep him safe - Susan wouldn't want some American family taking care of her kid. She'd want people who knew her, valued the same things she did, people she considered family to take care of him. And now that people think he's dead he can't go to the Towlers... that'd be the first place they'd look." "And Patil adopting a child so soon after wouldn't spark red flags?" "Susan and Parvati weren't close. Even in school they were only surface affiliates anyone can tell you that. Plus, if we're being honest, Parvati's put herself on the outer circle of our friends. I think she needs this to bring her back to life." "As much as I can appreciate Miss. Patil's need to care for something a child is not something to be 'tried out' in order to make the potential parent feel better about themselves." "That's not what I meant," Seamus shook his head, "Parvati's going to adopt a child whether it Wesley or someone else. But it just seems like a damned shame to pass up an opportunity to let a boy be raised by someone who at least knew his mum. And I'd be there to help from a distance... Justin, Hannah, everyone from the DA... we'd all be able to help. He deserves to know what Susan stood for and to know that he was loved." "People can't know that he's alive, Seamus." "Well not now. But eventually he'll want to know where he came from - and we could all help with that if he were closer." He let out a heavy sigh, "I'm just saying -- it's an alternative that you should really think about. My mum's family runs The Emmeline House - they could help make it a legitimate adoption. They'd also be able to age him in the paperwork to cover the tracks. Just promise you'll consider it... " Minerva McGongall crossed her arms and looked at the young man. She remembered his first day at Hogwarts and how incredibly hot spirited and excitable he was. Even in his mid-twenties he still had that spite-fire to him that was impossible to ignore - but there was something else there. Something calmer, safer, and far more cautious than she remembered. "I'll think about, Mr. Finnigan," she offered with a nod. Seamus nodded and gave a glance to the bassinet, "If he gets into one of his mid-night fits... you can hum that rainbow song from The Wizard of OZ to him... he likes it." Minerva offered a small smile and a nod as the former-Gryffindor turned to go. "Oh, and thanks for helping pull some strings during all that interrogation rubbish..." "I don't know what you're talking about..." she said with a knowing curl of her lips. Seamus smirked, "Sure you don't." Truth was five hours after Megan's warning on the 15th of December, Seamus was arrested by Ministry Aurors. Thankfully, given Megan's heads up he'd made sure Justin kept the child that evening. After 8 grueling hours of being asked the same questions over and over... a higher up had signed paperwork that made it all go away. A gentleman from the Minister's office came down from his high castle, said some fancy words to the Aurors, and Seamus was set free. Granted he was certain he was being watched for a few days afterwards. And thanks to Parvati and Justin splitting the duties of the child they were able to keep Wesley Bones a secret from the Ministry. Or so Seamus thought. He still hadn't figured out how much the Ministry knew about this whole thing. Or who exactly had signed him out of being detained any longer than 8 hours. He was certain Minerva had pull she wasn't willing to admit to. And regardless of whether she would admit to it - he was grateful. Exhausted by all of it. But grateful. |