Chapter 2508 Minerva's Past

Many people know that Minerva McGonagall, a strict and excellent transfiguration professor and current headmistress, worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement of the British Ministry of Magic for two years before joining Hogwarts.

There, the young Minerva met Elphinstone Elcott, who was her direct supervisor at the time, and after more than 20 years of unremitting pursuit and silent waiting by the other party, she was finally able to get married .

The marriage was actually quite short-lived, as Elcott, who had retired from the Ministry of Magic at the time, died of an accidental bite by a poisonous tentacle after living with Minerva for less than three years. After that, Minerva moved back to Hogwarts Castle, determined to devote the rest of her life to her teaching career.

It's just that few people know why Minerva, who should have always liked Elcott, her former colleague and boss, rejected the other's marriage proposals time and time again in those years, making this event a reality. The marriage that was supposed to be happy and long-lasting was postponed for more than 20 years, so that both parties in the marriage failed to get a good ending...

At the bar, Aberforth, who was carelessly wiping his goblet, glanced at the two people who were talking - he didn't listen to the conversation between Minerva and the other party, but what the two were talking about, But he can more or less guess.

Because, he is one of the very few people who know that secret.

Aberforth and Ercott knew each other.

I can't say how familiar it is, but in the first few years when Minerva turned down a great promotion opportunity to leave the Ministry of Magic and choose to return to school to work, Elcott would always go to Hogsmoor whenever he was on vacation Have a few drinks at the Pig's Head bar in Decun - that little man who works fast and hard, but is always a bit clumsy outside of work, especially around beautiful women, doesn't even dare to go The Three Broomsticks, which was obviously more lively, was afraid that Minerva would feel too annoying if she met Minerva there.

After going back and forth, Ercott became familiar with Aberforth, and Aberforth also learned from Ercott, who occasionally drank a little, that the Miller he had always loved deeply Wa McGonagall—the junior in the workplace that my brother often praises, seems to have someone he likes.

It's just that in the eyes of outsiders like Aberforth, Elcott is not as "cheeky and wishful thinking" as he himself always nags when he is drunk... That little man who is usually somewhat silly, just A little "late" in Minerva's life, that's all.

Perhaps Elcott actually understood this, so he has been waiting silently, never giving up.

So as expected, at nightfall one day, Elcott, who had retired from the Ministry of Magic, reappeared in the Pig's Head Bar,

He went to invite Aberforth to his wedding with a flushed face - he probably had a few drinks before going out!

Then that night, Elcott got very drunk at the bar.

It was also that night that Aberforth finally heard from Elcott clearly about the man who was said to be Minerva's first love and who was even talked about getting engaged at one point.

According to Elcott, he was the son of a farmer named "Dougall McGregor" who lived in Caithness County, Scotland, and was a Muggle.

He heard Elcott also say that although Minerva loved that man, she couldn't tell him that she was a witch. Because Minerva, who had just graduated from Hogwarts and joined the Ministry of Magic, suddenly realized that if she accepted the other party's marriage proposal, she would have to abide by the "International Statute of Secrecy" like her mother, lock her wand, and lose her job at the Ministry of Magic. , and let go of all your ideals and goals.

And that kind of life... is obviously not acceptable to Minerva, who is young and energetic and has a strong sense of career.

So Minerva finally rejected Dougal's marriage proposal, and then left each other. Even though the other party sent Minerva many letters later—in order to prevent the other party from waiting unnecessary, Minerva never agreed.

However, the emotion that she wiped out with her own hands still left an irreparable wound in Minerva's heart, and even affected her views on the work of the Ministry of Magic and many regulations of the International Statute of Secrecy, thus directly What happened led to her leaving the Ministry of Magic.

It wasn't until the death of the farmer's son named Dougal three days before Ercott went to the Pig's Head bar to confide in drunkenness that Minerva's long and rough first love finally came to an end.

"...I went to see that guy called Dougal secretly a few times. He is indeed a nice man, even I have to admit it. It's just...he lived a relatively happy life—that kid later got married with the locals. A farmer's daughter got married and gave birth to a daughter... Minerva is suffering! She just can't let it go... just can't let it go..."

These were the last words Elcott said that night before passing out completely drunk.

"It's the same with you kid!"

At that time, Aberforth shook his head at the little man who was lying on the bar after finishing speaking, and replied angrily, but the drunk little man obviously couldn't hear him.

"I just didn't expect that a few years after a low-key wedding that few people attended, there would be another funeral. If you want me to say, the most pitiful thing has always been that little man."

Hearing a few vague words like "poor" coming from there, Aberforth shook his head secretly-although he knew that what McGonagall said was definitely not the same thing, but it obviously had nothing to do with him. He just remembered for a while the poor little man who always came to his bar, sat in front of the window at almost the same position, and looked at the direction of Hogwarts Castle and poured himself a drink.

Elcott was probably one of the few old friends he'd had over the years, among the patrons of the Hog's Head, which was full of shady stuff.

"...Miss McGonagall, I don't know much about magic and the like, and I only know you in the magic world. So, for Dougal's sake, my poor grandson still has to ask you Please... please!"

While Aberforth was thinking about the past at the bar, the old Muggle woman sitting opposite McGonagall at the small round table in front of the window had tears in her eyes.

"Don't worry, don't worry! The healers of the Blois family are the best magic doctors in France. They will do their best to treat the child—whether it's a wizard or an ordinary person, it's the same! Just take the child over, so you can rest assured!"

Mag looked at each other and said seriously.