All is lost
-3-
Hagrid, McGonagal and Professor Slughorn were reunited at Hagrid's giant hut, discussing last hour's events with Voldemort.
"Are yeh c-crazy, Professor McGonagal?! Yeh living us like theese?! YEOW!!", Hagrid shouted, while he was placing his left arm in a bucket full of water. His Dark Mark was burning his giant arm like hell, and the Death Eaters told him it would last for him like a week, while the others would have to wait like a month.
"I had no choice. I'm alive at least, it's something I should be thankful for. He could've kill me at the Headmaster's office without a problem", McGonagal retorted. "Or perhaps I shall wear that mark for the rest of my life, which summing to my health problems, it's not recommendable for an old lady like me", she said, looking at Hagrid's bucket.
Hagrid looked down at his feet, like if he was tore down in million pieces. Professor Slughorn, who had been quiet for a while, spoke up. "So, what now?", he asked.
McGonagal denied with her head. "I don't know, I guess I'll return to my home at Godric's Hollow. Voldemort gave me just one more hour to pack my things. The train was delayed, but when I'm ready, I'll leave with the rest of the students".
"B-but what about the students? Aren't yeh gonna say goodbye to 'em?", Hagrid asked.
"For the millionth time, Hagrid, no. I can't do anything anymore for them. If I'm right, they'll have to adjust to Voldemort's rule. Not only them, but anyone out there, will have to wait, until someone else, with the same courage... and heart for his friends... and a spirit of curiousness... will fight the evil claws of Voldemort", McGonagal pulled out a tissue, tears spread freely from her hooked nose. She was thinking of Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom.
A shot of pain touched Hagrid's heart. And it was not his arm. He saw Harry die in front of his own eyes. Big tears ran freely through his colored white-black giant beard. "If only he was alive, we would face Yeh-Know-Who and crush'd him".
"It's not going to be easy now. I read the news, and the Auror-Death Eater group spreaded through all the countries in the world, controlling schools, hospitals, governments, everything is growing the side of You-Know Who", Slughorn told Hagrid. "A single group of them alive would mean total caos".
McGonagal nodded. "I heard also, that Mr. Malfoy was sent to Askaban, and killed by the Dementor's kiss. Her wife, Narcissa, was erraticated from the Malfoy manor. Bellatrix Lestrange used the Galleons the Minister paid to her to buy it for You-Know-Who. Narcissa was devastated to hear about her husband, and that she was betrayed by her own sister. And the worst for her is, her son Draco is trapped inside Hogwarts 'cause he has also the Dark Mark on him. He's not allowed to go outside the terrains of the school or visit her mother. She has nowhere to go, except living in the streets".
"Oh, well, that's what they deserve for trusting someone like HIM", Professor Slughorn replied.
"Sorry, am I interrumpting something?", a Death Eater asked, pulling out a wand from his pocket.
Professor McGonagal shook her head. "No, I'm just saying goodbyes to my friends".
"We remind you, Miss, you have less than an hour to board the train", the Death Eater warned. "If you don't board it, that'll mean you want to stay, but you're fired... so, we'll have to terminate you here on the spot".
Hagrid took out his pink umbrella with his left hand. "YEH DAMNED BASTARD-AAAARGH!!", he bellowed, but the Dark Mark burned him again. He shouted in pain, then he threw a new ice cube on his bucket and put his left arm in it.
"Watch it, new Warden!! If you tell insults to your pairs, you'll suffer the consequences!", the Death Eater warned Hagrid, elevating his wand.
Hagrid was sweating from pain. "New... new warden?! I-I... I thought I was.... fired".
"You can't leave, Hagrid, remember?", Professor Slughorn showed him his Dark Mark. "You'll have to stay as everyone else. I was going down the stairs with Professor-".
"Mrs. McGonagal, if you don't mind", McGonagal corrected Slughorn, raising a hand.
"-with Mrs. McGonagal, and I saw a glimpse of the board's new administration", Slughorn finished.
Hagrid nodded slowly. "I see. And I hoped I was going to live with Grawpy in the cave! Away from all theese people!".
"Watch it, I'm warning you!", the Death Eater heard Hagrid's comment and raised his wand again.
"Don't! Ok, I'll guess I'll have to leave. Take care you two", McGonagal waved. "Please, use your Dark Mark to tell others I'm leaving, Slughorn".
Professor Slughorn shook his head now. "I can't, Minerva! They have recent fresh marks, I can't make them suffer! The first time someone put me this mark and You-Know-Who connected with me, I thought my arm would explode!".
"I'll sent an owl then. Thanks anyway", McGonagal said, a little bit of deception in her voice.
"Wait! Prof--eh, yeh mean, Mrs. McGonagal!", Hagrid looked after her.
"What is it, Hagrid?", McGonagal asked Hagrid.
Hagrid was starting to cry again. "I-I yeh... I yeh...", he couldn't finish. He pulled her into a big bear hug, nearly crushing McGonagal's bones. "I'm going to miss yeh!! What will the school be without yeh!".
He released McGonagal, who was losing her breath.
"It's ok, Hagrid, take care". And with those words, she left Hagrid and Slughorn, in the most horrendous misery ever.
Nearly an hour later, some students shot their heads up to look at McGonagal dressed like a muggle, with two big bags floating beside her; her face showing concern, horror and repulsion; then, she was boarding the train. The gossip about McGonagal resigning was spreaded through the entire train, but she was not interested on answering any questions. The train started moving.
"He's waking up!", a voice shouted.
Ron woke up slowly, his ears identifying that voice. It was Ginny's. He slowly opened his eyes. She was looking at him, concerned, her eyes red and puffy, while he was resting on one side of the compartment on the train.
"My God, Ron!". Inmediatly, Hermione pulled him into a hug, crying. "I.. I though you were going to die!".
"I can't die... Hermione... I'm.. hard as a rock...", he coughed. His voice was still slow.
Hermione squealed, then kissed him a million times on the face. But suddenly, George pulled the door aside, desperated.
"Ron! You woke up!", George shouted. He looked at Hermione and Ginny. "Oi! Haven't you heard?! McGonagal was fired from Hogwarts!!".
"WHAT?!", Ron sat in a flash, astonished, forgeting all his pain. He touched his ripped flesh, then lied down on his seat again.
"Yeah, she's dressed as a muggle, and it's in compartment number 204, right next to us", George said.
"Let's go visit her then!", Ginny suggested.
"How? There must be thousands of curious kids looking at her! We would spend like hours to remove them!", Hermione complained.
George smiled. "Don't worry, I always keep Zonko jokes in my pocket".