Chapter 9 - Another Meeting in McGonagall's Office

McGonagall, George, Neville and Draco were already seated at McGonagall's desk, when the four of us crested the top of the stairs. I saw motion to my left and was surprised to see Mum returning to a seat at the desk with a cup of tea in her hand. She pointed to the clock with her other hand, in a gesture that clearly said, "I'm disappointed that you're all late for your meeting with the headmistress."

Mum put down her tea and then walked over to give Ron and me a very un-professorial hug. As I wallowed in the comfort and sense of protection that my mother's hugs always gave me, a light went on in my head, but I instantly decided that I should keep this germ of an idea to myself, until I had the opportunity to test it out. Mum released me and moved on to Ron. "I got one too mate", said George. As Mum was releasing Ron, I thought I heard a whisper that sounded like "stop bothering Harry about your sister." Verbal and nonverbal messages delivered, we all got our tea and settled down for the meeting.

"Welcome back", said McGonagall, "you haven't missed anything except some social chit chat. To save a little time, I'll report for Neville that the parents of the children that were killed have agreed to the Colin statue as a memorial. There was a little dissention over separating the graves by House or by which side in the battle the student fought on. They turned out to be remarkably the same thing. In the end we decided that we should all be one school and go alphabetically. Professors Longbottom and Weasley have officially been added to staff and approved by the Ministry…"

With a slight whoosh, a sheet of paper flew out of the floo fireplace and floated into McGonagall's hand.

"Speaking of which", she said, grabbing the paper out of the air and glancing at its content, "it appears as if the Ministry has been getting some complaints from the Slytherin parents who weren't able to make it to Hogwarts to participate in our troubles. It would appear, Draco, that they fear the faculty and I won't be supportive of your fellow Slytherin scholars in their time of grief. In any event, you and I must see what we can do to ease their minds. It would also appear that we can look forward to a visit from our old colleague Delores Umbridge. I hadn't realised she was still with the Ministry. Oh well, as I was saying, Professor Longbottom will be teaching herbology and Professor Weasley Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"As I suspected at our last meeting, Professor Slughorn will be returning to retirement. He has agreed to stay on another month to help replenish our supply of potions. When he leaves, Professor Sprout will take over as the Potions instructor. She's always wanted more of a hand in what gets done with the things she grows.

"Now, Draco, have you and George had any luck finding your wand?"

"No, Professor, we looked all over the Great Hall and the lawn near the main entrance. We found a couple of wands, but neither was mine. The last I saw my wand, it was in Potter's hand, when he killed the Dark Lord. Is it possible you've misplaced my wand on your person, Potter?"

"I don't think so", said Harry standing slowly and elaborately searching his clothes. Here's my wand, and here's Dumbledore's, and here's a pocket knife, and the cloth I wipe my glasses with, and a cookie in case I get hungry, and two knuts and a galleon."

"Very funny, Potter, but perhaps I should check for myself, if you don't mind."

"Not at all Draco, but be gentle, or I'll let you have it with Dumbledore's wand. You know, there are those who say the Elder wand loves to kill and will attack on its own if it senses that someone is accosting or has simply irked its rightful owner. But then, even my own wand has defended me, without conscious action on my part. I am beginning to feel irked."

As he said this, Harry picked up Dumbledore's wand in his right hand and his own in his left and spread his arms wide in a mock greeting for Draco to begin his search. Despite an "ahem" from McGonagall, Draco was determined to search, but approached Harry very cautiously, giving a brief touch to the inside pocket of his robe, running his two hands around Harry's waist and bending to check each ankle. "Sorry, guess not" he mumbled and returned to his seat.

"I guess I was too focused on recovering Dumbledore's wand in all the celebrating after the duel to worry too much about yours", Harry taunted him.

"Gentlemen, if you are quite finished", said McGonagall, with some exasperation "when I mentioned the need to find Mr. Malfoy's wand to return it to his possession, I was referring to the one that he had yesterday, not the one that Harry used to duel Voldemort. I don't think there can be any question of returning that wand. But if that wand is also misplaced, we need to find it, I promised it to the Minister for display in the Entry Hall at the Ministry. In your searches Mr. Malfoy, were you able to retrieve the wand that you had yesterday? Think! What happened to that wand, yesterday?"

"I was sitting with my parents, comforting my mother and telling my father not to yell at her when somebody, I think Professor Slughorn, walked up behind me and pulled it out of my hand. He made my father give him his wand, too."

"Well then, Mr. Malfoy," said McGonagall with a rather stern expression, "we've had a lot of commotion and disruption of this meeting over a matter in which your course of action seems perfectly clear. Go to Professor Slughorn and ask for your wand. I daresay you were happy enough to go into battle with that wand yesterday, you should be pleased enough with it tomorrow, once you've gotten it back… Well, go get it. I believe you'll find Professor Slughorn down at the greenhouse talking to Professor Sprout. If not, try his office. And, Draco, be sure to turn in the two wands that you found. You can drop them off at Mr. Filch's office on your way to dinner. That's alright, don't take the time to do it now, you have other business to attend to. Return here immediately after speaking to Professor Slughorn. I don't want to give the other Slytherins a chance to challenge you."

A very defeated looking Draco got up and slowly walked down the stairs.

"Now then", said McGonagall, "the Minister has arranged that his very temporary under-deputy will apparate to outside the main gate of Hogwarts and seek admission. Molly, if you'd let her in when she arrives and see that she comes straight to this office … no, no need to leave now, I see no reason that she can't wait at the gate, while you walk down."

"Excuse me, Professor", said Harry, "I thought you were going to ask me to give back Draco's original wand."

"Harry, you must be thinking I've gotten too old and dotty to run an army. I don't know why you'd think I wanted Draco to have the wand that disarmed Dumbledore and killed Voldemort. It might be dangerous, and I certainly wouldn't want a Death Eater finding Draco with that wand. Which reminds me: I'm not aware that we've found Voldemort's original wand. I'd like to have that in my possession as soon as possible."

"When Umbridge gets here, she must be watched constantly, and Draco as well. Molly and I will be with Umbridge, but I'm sure she'll try to lose us milling around the Slytherin students and parents. I don't think she recognises you as much as the others, Luna, so if you and Professor Longbottom could spy from a greater distance and follow her if she slips us? George will be sticking with Draco, but Ron and Hermione should follow at a distance. Harry and Ginny need to check which wands Filch picked up after the battle. He might have Voldemort's. Your wand should recognise it, Harry. And pick up your brooms, and Ron's as well. I'd like a little quick reconnoitring of what may be lurking outside the walls. Don't fly beyond the magical protections inside the walls, just get high enough to have a good look around."

The fireplace regurgitated another note. "Off you go Molly, the pink pussycat has arrived. The rest of you should go as well, I don't want her to find you here."