1st April 1951
Minerva walked down the corridors alongside Leo Davis the Head Boy, her Head Girl badge pinned to her chest.
"McGonagall," someone shouted and the hurried footsteps told Minerva that that person was running, "Minerva wait!" shouted the person, Minerva spun around. The Gryffindor Quidditch Team Captain was running up to her, panting and clutching his chest, clearly, he had been running for quite some time.
"Minerva," he repeated, he gulped in the air deeply before continuing, "For the match today – we – we aren't playing against Ravenclaw but Slytherin instead… I-I just found out," he said breathing heavily.
Minerva looked at him with the utmost surprise then, when the information had sunk in, she looked positively furious. "Who – What? What?" she exclaimed and stopped walking abruptly.
"Professor Slughorn just told me," said Michael, having now regained his breath.
"But – but the match is in less than an hour!" spluttered Minerva, who had not been this angry for quite a while. "Does he really expect us to get ready to play a completely different team in under an hour?"
"I know, I know…" said Michael shaking his head, "But there is nothing we can do now," then seeing the still furious look on Minerva's face he continued, "Look, have some lunch, get ready and then meet me in the changing room as quickly as you can. Ten - fifteen minutes if you can make it. If you see any more of the team ask them to do the same. I need to make some new plans now and we'll discuss it as a team before the match," he started to walk backwards, "Don't worry about it Minerva, we have one of the best teams and you've all been flying really well lately. Just eat quickly and meet me down on the pitch soon okay?"
Minerva nodded however, she was still very angry. Then, she turned around and was surprised to see Leo still standing in the corridor, looking unsure on whether he should have left or stayed.
"Let's go," she said through clenched teeth and both of them finished patrolling the seventh corridor before Minerva quickly departed, running down the stairs two at a time.
She briefly glanced at her watch and noticed that she only had 5 minutes left to eat and find a broom. She made an impatient sound as she rushed through the doors of the Great Hall and quickly found a seat at the Gryffindor table.
"Minerva what on earth is wrong?" cried Augusta as she watched her friend pile her plate with carrots and Shepard's pie a harried expression on her face.
"No time to explain," said Minerva through rapid mouthfuls.
Augusta gave a concerned look to Frank Longbottom next to her, however, when he shook his head she merely shrugged and continued to read the Daily Prophet clutched in her hands.
It was only for another two minutes that Minerva was at the table before she abruptly stood up again and ran back down through the doors of the Great Hall. Her haste was so great that she didn't see Headmaster Dippet rounding the corner.
"Careful now McGonagall," called the headmaster as Minerva dodged him mumbling her apologies as she ran.
Finally, she skidded to a halt outside the changing rooms and walked inside panting slightly. Nearly the whole team were gathered around the whiteboard where Michael had written the new plan and new tactics. Hurriedly Minerva found a seat and sat down with the rest of them, waiting for the other team members to arrive.
The sound of the crowd was deafening as the Gryffindor team walked out onto the pitch. Minerva walked with the rest of her team a school broom clutched in her hand.
The Slytherin team could be seen walking over from the opposite end of the pitch, arrogant smirks smeared across their faces. Minerva's fingers tightened around her broom. Breathing hard, the only thought she had in mind was to wipe their smiles off their faces by beating them in this match.
"Mount your broom!" yelled the referee after the two captains had shaken hands.
Minerva mounted her broom and when the whistle went, pushed her feet off the ground. Eyeing Michael, the second chaser, she zoomed towards the airborne Quaffle dodging some Bludgers as she went. Together they both pelted towards the goal posts passing the Quaffle to each other whenever a Slytherin got too close.
"And Minerva McGonagall has the Quaffle who she then passes to Michael Hornby who tries to shoot but is stopped by the Slytherin Keeper, Lena McLorny," shouted Augusta the commentator.
Minerva however, paid little attention to what she was saying as she hurriedly tried to catch up with the Slytherin chaser who had taken the Quaffle. Narrowly dodging another Bludger she dove downwards heading straight for the Quaffle wedged in the Slytherin's arm. In one fluid movement, she seized the Quaffle and drew up from her dive.
Wind whistling through her ears, Minerva felt her hair flap wildly across her face as she sped towards the goalposts.
"And Gryffindor SCORES – " but the rest of Augusta's words were drowned by the roaring of the crowd.
Minerva grinned as she continued to dash from one end of the pitch to the other, Gryffindor scoring more and more points.
"Gryffindor 70 – Slytherin 20," shouted Augusta from the stands.
Minerva looked at Michael who gave her the thumbs up. Quickly she turned to face him ready to catch the Quaffle when suddenly the whistle blew and Augusta shouted from the stands that Alexander Moore the Gryffindor Seeker had caught the snitch.
Beaming Minerva whirled around to meet the rest of the team when suddenly a Bludger collided directly into her side. A huge gasp of horror erupted throughout the stadium as Minerva felt her vision cloud with black and yellow spots and slide off her broom.
"Minerva, are you ok? Minerva, please wake up!" pleaded a voice.
"Malcolm?" she muttered and gingerly she opened her eyes to see both of her brothers standing next to her. She blinked again and saw the rest of her teammates gathered around the other half of her bed.
"I - what are you all doing here?" she asked, her voice getting a little stronger with every word she spoke.
"Well seeing as you nearly died on the pitch we thought it might be kind to see if you were all right," said Michael, smirking slightly.
"Ha – ha very funny," replied Minerva sarcastically, however, a small smile appeared on her lips.
"We also thought that you might like to see this," said Alexander Moore. As she spoke the team broke apart to reveal a huge silver cup.
"We won!" said Minerva her smile now growing into a broad grin.
"Yes, we –"
But Michael was interrupted by the matron who had bustled through, several potions clutched in her hands, "All right McGonagall I'd like you to take these potions as soon as possible. Everybody out! She has just broken 3 ribs and cracked her skull! She needs peace, quiet and bed rest!" she exclaimed shoving the team, Robert and Malcolm out of the room.
"We'll come back Minerva!" shouted Robert from across the room.
"Yes don't worry!" yelled Malcolm who waved at her before disappearing behind the large oak doors.
Minerva chuckled however, she stopped quite abruptly due to the pain in her chest.
"Drink this," chided the matron, however her face creased into a more kindly expression.
Minerva did as she was told and, after setting down the empty potion bottles, she lay back down in the bed and closed her eyes.
