Magical Love
Magical Love

         

Gryffindor had won the house cup again! Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor House, hurried up to her room to get changed for the end-of-year feast. She entered the room and walked over to her brown bureau to get out her dress robes. On her way, her eyes slid over her bed, table, and desk, and landed on a small picture, which was smiling and waving to her merrily. That picture was very old. It showed the Head Girl and Boy of that year. Professor McGonagall was the girl, and the boy was… her one true love. That picture brought back many memories, flooding her brain and warming her heart.

~*~*~

          Professor Minerva McGonagall had been a young girl when she first met her love. By the time they finished school, they had been dating for two years. They were both very successful. Everyone said that he would one day be Minister of Magic because of how powerful he was already. Minerva had just started teaching Transfiguration at Hogwarts in replacement of Professor Dumbledore, who had been promoted to Headmaster.

          When he finally proposed to Minerva, she was ecstatic! Everyone said that the two would have a great marriage, very successful as they both were already. They planned their wedding to take place privately on the 7th day of a world-round trip.

          So the trip began. They traveled first all over the America's, then to Asia, Australia, and finally Europe. The 7th day, the day of their marriage, they found themselves in Italy. They went their separate ways that day, preparing for the wedding that evening. At 7:00, their appointed time of marriage, Minerva was in the church, ready and excitedly waiting. But her fiancée was nowhere to be found. She waited for three hours, but at 10:00, she gave up and went out searching for him. She passed through rich, paved roads, and small, dirty alleys. And then, as if by chance, she heard his voice coming from inside a small room on a dangerously scary back-road. She entered the room cautiously, and then saw him. She called out his name and turned, surprised. But he did not meet her with warmth. He looked dangerous, acting as though angry that she had shown up. Looking behind him, she saw the feared dark lord, Solantar.

          "Hurry, let's get out of here!" she called to him.

          But in a response, he walked to Lord Solantar. It was then that she realized that he, a former Slytherin, was evil.

          He turned and stared coldly at her, saying, "Goodbye, Minerva. You are such a naive girl. Don't you see that by me dating a former wholesome Gryffindor, I could achieve more than just being a former smart Slytherin? You have given me the opportunity to travel around the world without looking suspicious, so I could attract followers. Now leave, before I decide to kill you!"

          With that, she ran form the room, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn't stop running until she was out of view of everyone. Then, she apparated onto her bed and continued crying long into the night.

~*~*~

Yes, that picture brought back painful memories.

Professor McGonagall finished getting ready. She sadly took one last glance at the picture, rereading the familiar names:

'Minerva McGonagall and Tom Riddle, Head Boy and Girl, 1953'

Then she silently straightened back up, and headed down to the feast.