I forgot to add this on the first chapter so I'll add it now. I own nothing at all if I did own this series no one but the bad guys would be dead and I'd be the one with lots of shoes!

Darkness. That's all she could see no matter which way she turned. Her head pounded and spun until she couldn't tell which way was up anymore and her whole body screamed in pain. There was no sound at all just a deadly silence that seemed to get louder with every second. 'It wasn't supposed to be like this!' She screamed in her head. Riddle was supposed to fall not her. What had happened? How did she end up in this dark world? Suddenly a light appeared in the far off distance. Something about this light was familiar, it sparkled with a kindness and a...goodness. Suddenly it clicked, 'Albus?' She must make her way to that light. It was the only hope she had.

)O(

"Albus?" He jerked awake and straightened up from the uncomfortable position he'd slumped into, hearing his neck click as he did so.

"Mary? What is it?"

"The board is insisting we get this meeting over and done with. I've managed to convince them to hold the meeting in my office but they refuse to put it off any longer than this afternoon." She explained shifting from foot to foot as though she was afraid of his reaction.

"Damn them" he muttered to himself glancing towards minerva who now lay motionless

"Anyway you best make yourself look at bit neater before they arrive. I've brought you some breakfast and retrieved some fresh robes and your toothbrush from your rooms" she said thrusting a tray into his lap and dumping a bag next to his chair and turned to walk away

"Mary?" He called "Is she any better?" She sighed and turned back to face him.

"Her vitals are a little better and she's much calmer but her fever is still much too high. I'll give her more medication when the meeting is over, but now I've got to go. All the first years are after pepper up potions."

Nodding he began to get ready for the meeting and twenty minutes later the headmaster, the potions master and head of the board Mr Lottering all swept into madam Greene's office.

"Please everyone have a seat" said Amardo waving his wand as the required chairs appeared and tapping a piece of parchment to take notes. Once everyone was seated he opened the meeting

"Meeting between board and school professors regarding duel on hogwarts grounds involving Miss Minerva Genavive McGonnagal and Mr Tom Marvollo Riddle. Members Present: Headmaster:Professor Amardo Robert Brandon Dippet, Head of the Board: Mr Mark Peter Lottering. Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration Master Professor Albus Percival Wilfric Brian Dumbledore. Head of Slytherin house and Potions Master Professor Horence William Shaun Slughorn. Accused are being charged with meaningful destruction of school property, intention of harming another student and using illegal curses. Do you all follow me?" They all nodded their ascent and he carried on. "Suggested punishment, to be expelled from the school and forbidden to use magic again unless subsequently proven innocent. Now then, Mr Riddle claims Miss McGonnagal fired the first curse but according to our resident nurse minerva appeared to have been hit by a silencing charm before Riddle put up any protective barriers. Which would mean Miss McGonnagal would have had to have used non verbal spells which she would only learn here next year-"

"I'm afraid I can explain that Professor" interrupted Albus "Miss McGonnagal has decided to attempt to become an animagus of which she needs to learn how to do a non verbal spell. I have been giving her extra lessons in order for her to achieve that." Amardo looked up in surprise before clearing his throat and continuing once again.

"Miss McGonnagal was eventually hit by her own re bounding Stupify curse as well as Mr Riddles Cruciatus curse. She is now in a coma and has yet to wake up to tell us her story. Mr Riddle suffered no injuries except for a scratch above his right eyebrow as a result from a slicing hex. He has been seen too and has made a full recovery although he has not stopped shaking since the ordeal" here Slughorn took over. "My student has been emotionally traumatized by this whole fiasco! And its the year before he writes his newts! Who knows what damage this could cause him...surely that should be punishment enough?"

"Professor slughorn, my student is lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life because your student used an unforgivable curse on her. She writes her Owls this year and is quidditch captain. I think if anyone is worse off it would be her" albus replied sharply not daring to look at the man for the urge to throttle him was becoming harder and harder to control. "Mr Riddle was given an award for special services to the school as well as being the current head boy. He is top in every class and is capable of doing great things. To end his career now would be a huge loss to the wizarding world" Slughorn said with an air of pride as if he were the one achieving great things." Albus spluttered indignantly "Miss McGonnagal is top of her grade and is top of the school in transfiguration. She is soon to become the youngest animagus in over a century and has already been asked to play for the hollyhead harpies. To say that her career should be destroyed while Riddle's lives on is highly prejuduced."

"Gentlemen, that will do." Said Mr Lottering, before Slughorn could reply again. "I am ready to make my decision and I would like your permission to do so." When there was no answer Amardo gestured for him to go ahead. "Both students will serve detention for a month with Amardo here or the caretaker. They will lose their hogsmead privilages for the remainder of the year and will not be permitted to continue in the chess club together. Should Miss McGonnagal not wake up within two weeks we will review this decision as we will if Mr Riddle has not returned to normal by then. Are we in agreement?" He asked, peering over his glasses. Both albus and slughorn muttered "I suppose so" and Amardo declared the decision final.

"Excuse me please gentlemen," said Albus rising from his seat. "I wish to get back to my student" and with that he swept from the room.

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