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November- The Marvellous Mind of Minerva McGonagall
"Does anyone know the purpose of the Knockback Jinx?" Questioned Professor Merrythought. Out of a class of twenty, only one hand shot into the air. "Yes, Ms McGonagall."
"The purpose of the Knockback Jinx is to send objects or small creatures backwards. It can be used against humans as well and can be used to stun creatures, such as gnomes." Minerva explained after taking a large breath of air.
Impressed, Professor Merrythought smiled. "Well done, Ms McGonagall, ten points to Gryffindor." She praised before turning to the rest of the class. "For the next few lessons, we will be looking at the Knockback Jinx and how to use it either against magical creatures or during duels. By next lesson, I want a half-foot essay on the Knockback Jinx and its uses."
Minerva wrote her homework into her diary planner with her flourished writing before packing it into her satchel. The bell rang to declare the end of the lesson and the start of lunch, leading to a wave of students eager to leave the classroom. Minerva lagged behind, pulling out a thick book from her satchel. She mindlessly followed the crowd towards the Great Hall, her nose stuck in her book.
As she arrived at the Great Hall, she took her seat and filled her plate. She continued eating while still reading her book; her eyes never left the printed words. As people around her chatted away with their friends, Minerva kept reading; no one paid any attention to the strange girl reading a book.
Well, all apart from one person.
Albus Dumbledore stared at Minerva as she read her book. A small smile ghosted its way upon his lips as she stabbed a roast potato with her fork and lifted it up to her mouth, not taking her emerald eyes away from the aging pages. She chewed softly, her eyes wide with interest from the wording of the book. While most students took this time to relax and gossip with their friends, here was one student who preferred to read. Dumbledore chuckled as she hardly noticed her roast potato slip from the teeth of her fork. She lifted the fork again to bite her potato but got an awful surprise when she bit hard on solid metal. Her eyes drifted to the floor and she quickly picked up her run away roast potato and dropped it back onto her plate. If anything, her face appeared annoyed that she had to tear her eyes from her beloved book.
"What are you staring at, Albus?" Headmaster Dippet questioned as he caught Dumbledore staring. Dumbledore quickly sat to attention and nibbled on his chicken leg.
"Nothing," He replied.
As the following fifteen minutes trailed by, the Great Hall emptied as the food vanished from the plates and platters. Herds of students left in groups, a few leaving by themselves. However, Minerva remained seated in her spot with her nose stuck in her book.
"I'd best be off," Dippet announced as he stood. "I have a pile of papers in my office to get through."
One by one, the teachers left. Dumbledore remained behind, chewing on a particular sweet. Within moments, there were very few people left in the Great Hall. Dumbledore rose from his seat and walked down the middle aisle. He paused as he approached Minerva, whom was still reading her book.
"Enjoying your book?" He asked. Minerva's head snapped up, her curtain of ebony hair swaying with the movement of her head. She met Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes with her own emerald with a surprised and confused expression on her fresh face. Dumbledore raised an auburn eye brown and nodded to the thick book held within Minerva's gentle hands. "Your book, are you enjoying it?"
"Oh, yes sir." Minerva replied.
"Would you mind if I asked what it's about?"
"Transfiguration, sir." She answered. With expert hands, Minerva held her page with a finger and closed the book, flashing the title to Dumbledore. His lips traced the words: Human Transfiguration. His eyebrows rose.
"It's…surprising to see such a young student reading something that is not taught to her until her third year."
"It's just really interesting, sir; I never knew people could change their appearance so easily." A fire lit within her eyes. "And becoming and actual animal? Can you image that? How brilliant would that be?"
Dumbledore grinned and repressed the urge to laugh at the marvel of the child. "You seem to have quite the interest in Transfiguration." He noted. A soft smile crossed Minerva's features. "You didn't grow up in the wizarding world, I take it?"
"No sir, my father's a Muggle and my mother decided to lock her wand away because we live in a Muggle village so it would be easier to pass of as Muggles. She never told me or my brothers that we are magical just in case we let it slip. She finally told me when I got my letter from Hogwarts." Minerva explained. "I'm trying to get up to speed with everything that I've missed out."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Well, seeing as you have such a high interest in my subject, I shall sustain high expectations of your essay due in next week."
"Already done, sir." Minerva informed, her eyes shining.
Once again, Dumbledore chortled. "Is it half a foot long?" He asked.
Minerva blushed. "It's around four feet, sir."
Dumbledore's grin grew even wider. "And how big is your writing?"
"From the very words of Professor Slughorn: tiny, sir." Minerva blushed more.
Amused, Dumbledore shook his head. "Ah well, but it's the context that matters. I remember two different students handing me in two essays. One was a foot long and the other doubles its length but however, it was the shorter one that received the higher grade."
"I'll keep that in mind, sir." Minerva smirked.
"I'd better be off," Dumbledore announced. "Enjoy your book, Ms McGonagall."
"Goodbye Professor." Minerva replied and once again sunk into the wonderful words of her thick-as-the-length-of-a-Flobberworm book.
As he left, Dumbledore couldn't help but marvel at Minerva's brilliant mind.
