Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All rights go to respective owners.


Oh Captain! My Captain!

Minerva stood her ground between the irate Death Eater and Ravenclaw students. She wasn't going to let anything happen to them. Not on her watch. Feeling the spit hit her face, she wiped it off — only to then see Harry toss aside his invisibility cloak.

Oh, no.

He snarled something at the Death Eater — Minerva wasn't sure what, as her mind was still in shock — before shouting an unthinkable curse at Amycus.

"Crucio!"

She watched as the Cruciatus Curse nailed Amycus in the chest. He was blasted off his feet and was writhing in pain as he sailed through the air. While she was appropriately horrified at the situation, the analytical part of her mind noted that the Curse was cast quite effectively. And Harry seemed to know it, if the look on his face was anything to judge.

The Death Eater flew away from her and crashed into a bookcase, where he fell unconscious. Minerva looked back at Harry. His gaze was cold, his voice unyielding as he spoke to the lifeless Carrow, and she couldn't help but wonder if he had strayed down a path from which he could never return.

One that you helped place him on, her conscience reminded her.

Her heart beat a bit harder and more painfully at the thought. She remembered the moment Dumbledore had set Harry, just a tiny one-year-old, on the doorstep of those vile Dursleys. She had forced herself to turn away then; the first of many mistakes over the years in regards to Harry Potter.

She refused to let this be another one.

"Clear the room," Minerva commanded. Her gaze flickered around the room, noting that everyone was frozen in shock. "Clear. The. Room. You know what this is the beginning of. Get the younger students out now."

No one argued with that tone. The Ravenclaw prefects jumped into action, herding the younger students to the dorms. Minerva distinctly heard them giving orders and instructions of what to bring with them.

"Potter," she acknowledged, her Scottish accent thicker than usual. He looked up and all she saw were the faces of the past. James' unruly hair that matched his Marauder personality; Lily's piercing emerald eyes that belied wisdom beyond her years.

"Professor," he said, nodding in reply, "are you okay?"

She focused on her Lion and gave him a stern look; one that she tried to put everything into, so that he would understand.

That she didn't approve of his methods.

That she didn't deserve his loyalty.

That she wished things could have been different.

That no matter his mistakes, he was ultimately a good person.

That she was sorry.

And that she was so very proud of him.

Harry straightened slightly under her tense gaze, while she worked out a response to his question. There were definitely aspects of James and Lily in his features, but there was something patently Harry there, too. A moment passed and then she nodded. Minerva watched as relief flooded his features.

"I'm here," she responded, inside a rolling sea of emotions. "What do you need?"

Harry launched into a quick discussion about dangerous artifacts that needed to be found, in order for You-Know— Voldemort to be killed. Before they parted ways, she called him back.

"Wait!" He stopped at the sound of her voice and turned around, his features focused. She took a breath. "It's good to see you … Harry."

Minerva knew that until the day she died — which in reality could be in the next few hours — she would cherish the smile she received from Harry Potter. She knew in that moment that was the right thing to say to him.

He snapped to attention and saluted her, of all things.

"You too, Professor."


Prompt (Tiggerific Times — The Golden Snitch): (character) Minerva McGonagall

Word count (not including title and author's notes): 624

Name: Dessie / School: Castelobruxo / House: South

Total Points: 10