Chapter 7: Minerva McGonagall and the Four Pubs

A.N.: I'll be honest with you guys, names are always very meaningful to me. Both Branwen and Blake had their names picked with care, as well as the other OC's. I invite you to look up the meanings of their names, if you have the chance. Enjoy!

Silvera filed into the room, unashamedly late, and inwardly groaned at the people there.

Branwen, the Welsh kid from the train, and the English kid from the train all stood with their backs to her, not to mention Professors Longbottom and McGonagall.

"Good evening, Miss Serpentina, though I would rather to have said good afternoon. Is there a reason you were so behind time?" McGonagall's voice was high and clipped. Silvera shrugged.

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Far too late!" the woman nearly shrieked.

"Minerva," Professor Longbottom breathed. "Let's just get on with it."

At his words, McGonagall seemed to swallow her anger, because she pressed her thin lips together and plowed on.

"I suppose we should begin with introductions. You are aware of my name, and this is Professor Neville Longbottom, your herbology teacher." She cast a look at one of the boys.

"Uh, Blake Bhruic, from Hufflepuff," he announced, smiling sheepishly. The hawk-like glare shifted onto the dark-skinned girl.

"Branwen Erna, of Ravenclaw," she repeated, in the same voice that had matter-of-factly introduced herself on the train.

"Silvera Serpentina, Slytherin," she said when the gaze passed to her. Longbottom gave a nearly invisible huff when she put extra emphasis on pent.

The gaze was cast to the last boy, who, somewhat ruefully, groaned "Gilderoy Lockhart Jr. I'm a Gryffindor." Both professors winced again.

"You all are wondering why Professor Longbottom and I have called you here. In light of past events here at Hogwarts, we've determined that an extra line of defense, beyond the teachers and the ministry, may be necessary. You four will be that line of defense."

Gilderoy, quite pale, whimpered "What do you mean, line of defense?"

"Like superheroes," Longbottom piped up. "You four students will be given extra tutoring in how to cast spells and protect the castle and her interests."

"Are you fecking joking?" Silvera interjected. "We're kids! What are you expecting; miracles?"

"I hate to say this," Branwen agreed. "But she's right. We're only children, most of us-" she cast a glare to Silvera "-have never cast a spell in our lives. We're not ready for this level of responsibility."

"Like we said, you'd receive special tutoring well before you ever actually do anything to protect the school, and you wouldn't stand alone, either. Your teachers can help you if you ask them."

"I'm in," said Blake. When he found himself under everyone else's scrutiny, he added "If Hogwarts needs someone to protect the students, I'm happy to step up."

"I guess I'm in, too," Gilderoy added, sounding unsure.

"You two will get killed," Silvera exasperated. "No fecking way am I doing this."

"Well," McGonagall said stiffly. "For your lateness and your blatant disrespect, I take-"

"Points?" she cut in. "You're taking points? The school year hasn't even started; no one's earned any points! You can't take points!"

"50 points from Slytherin! I very well can," McGonagall decided. "And detention."

"Fine. What's my detention?"

"You will be forced to join this team whether you like it or not."

"Wouldn't that be considered cruel and unusual?"

"Yeah, it's unfair to her!" Blake chimed in.

"I'm pretty sure there would be some laws against a punishment that lasts for an extended period of time, yeah," Branwen added. "Even if there aren't, we might be able to make some appeals." Even Gilderoy looked both uncomfortable and appalled by the punishment.

McGonagall's eyes flicked between the children before her, before they finally shared a look with Neville. Those eyes spoke of disapproval and a losing battle. She sighed.

"Very well," she said. "I will withdraw the detention, on the condition that you attend your secondary tutoring classes for two weeks. After that, you will be free to go. Does that sound fair?"

Silvera scowled, but Branwen and Blake seemed satisfied, and the disgust and fear had slid off of Gilderoy's face.

"It's decided, then. You may leave." The children filed out of the room, and Neville turned to Minerva.

"And if she does leave? Silvera, I mean?" he asked. Minerva deflated, but didn't answer.

BREAKLINE

"I can't believe you guys are doing this," Silvera exasperated. "You won't see me flying round the halls, you won't."

"Lot of talk, considering we saved your arse, back there," Branwen bit back. Silvera rolled her eyes.

"What are we going to call ourselves?" Blake wondered. "If we're going to be superheroes, we may as well go all out."

"We could just use our real names," said Branwen. "It's not like we're trying to be secret. Professor McGonagall didn't say anything about having secret identities, just that we'd have those extra responsibilities."

"I want to be the Black Badger! Since I'm a Hufflepuff, you know?" Blake waved a hand through the air dramatically as he said the name. "What about you, Gill?"

Gilderoy shrugged.

"How about the Gilded Lion?"

Gilderoy shrugged again, this time with "Sure, whatever." Blake turned around and walked backwards to look at Branwen.

"I guess the Bronze eagle sounds nice, if I had to pick one."

"You all sound like pubs," Silvera commented. But, when she couldn't escape Blake's curious gaze, she relented. "The Silver Serpent sounds nice, since we're going with our house themes anyway."

The Slytherin tried to pay some attention to Blake's and Gill's continued conversation, if only to get some juicy blackmail for later.

"So, what's your mom's name?" Asked Blake, curiously.

"Dalleen," answered Gilderoy.

"Seriously? That's my mom's name, too!"

"Lazy writer, anyone?" remarked Silvera. Before anyone could ask her what she meant, she had turned herself into a snake again, made Gilderoy flinch, and slithered off, escaping the conversation.