As Time Goes By
Professor Minerva McGonagall walked down the halls and through the Great Hall of Hogwarts with a spring in her step for the first time in years. She was finally happy; she was engaged to be married to Professor Albus Dumbledore, her childhood crush and best friend since she was twenty-five.
As she walked down the hall, for the first time since she started teaching at Hogwarts, she smiled at all her students and colleagues. Feeling as if she was on cloud nine, she walked into her classroom with a beaming smile that made her look ten years younger. "Good morning boys and girls, collect your animals and get started on what we worked on yesterday, and remember have a wonderful day." said Minerva beaming down from her platform.
Suddenly a student's hand shot up, obviously with a question. "Professor McGonagall, are you all right? You seem a bit perkier and happier than usual. Something has changed in you." said Hermione Granger.
"Well, you're right Miss Granger, something has changed. For the first time in years, I'm happy and content with my life. I'm getting married to Professor Dumbledore this summer! So yes, things have changed considerably. Especially since I was a spinster married to my job and now I feel younger and much prettier and I'm finally fulfilling a dream I've had since I was a young lady. But that's enough about me, get started on your lesson, please."
The buzz around the classroom was enough that it was starting to give the steadfast Professor McGonagall a headache and was distracting her from doing any marking. She was worried about her students being able to focus after her announcement, and so, using the sternest voice she could she said, "Just because I've made a major announcement doesn't mean I've given you free reign to gab all class. Get to work, all of you, now!"
A groan from the back of the class made Minerva stop, "Is there something you wished to say Mr. Malfoy?"
"Oh, something's never change!" Draco Malfoy replied. "You haven't let up on discipline, even though you say you're happier. You're still a tyrannical bitch!" A groan went up from the whole class. They all knew instinctively, what would happen next. Minerva McGonagall didn't tolerate such behaviour from anyone.
"Detention everyday for a month for that comment I think, Mr. Malfoy, and a stern letter to your father as well." Professor McGonagall said smiling deviously.
A look of panic crossed Draco Malfoy's normally calm face. "No, Professor, anything but that! My father will kill me! He feels I should be treating the teachers with more respect. He holds you in the highest esteem, ma'am, and if he knew I'd called you a tyrant, well, anything could happen."
"Mr. Malfoy, do stop babbling. It's distracting me from writing my letter. Now in it do you want me to include the part where you called Professor Snape a tyrannical jerk, or shall we make this two months of detention?" Professor McGonagall asked knowing she had one up on the young boy.
"How did you know about that? Professor Snape promised he was going to keep his mouth shut. What a traitor that man is!" Draco Malfoy exclaimed loudly.
"Not all things need to or should remain confidential, Mr. Malfoy. Professor Snape felt this was not an occasion in which he could be secretive. He told me at breakfast the other morning and I heeded his warning that you were being overly temperamental, and particularly difficult. He felt the faculty had a right to know what you had done and said to your former favourite teacher. Your father will find out about every indiscretion made by you, as per his request. Now sit down and get to work before I have to cite you for disobedience as well." Minerva cracked down on the spoilt boy that managed to be insolent without even saying anything.