Hey, everyone! Now, I found a way that works, for real. I tested it out today, and there were some big problems, but I fixed them fairly quickly and now I know how to do that. So no longer will I have to skip posting a chapter one day just because I can't get on a certain computer! Enjoy the chapter!
As soon as class was over, I tried to leave, but McGonagall was too quick for me. She could even make it look like she was moving casually when she was really sprinting so that she could get to the door and block me! She was a natural-born teacher. She put her hand on my shoulder and pulled me across the room to her desk.
"Ginevra," she said sternly, once she had bolted the door again, "you are the single worst liar I have ever met. And I have met lots of liars in my time- and since I know that, I have met a lot of very bad liars in my time." I sighed. She was right, there was no use in denying that- it would just be another lie that she would detect, and then another if I denied that ... talk about a vicious circle, right? Anyway.
"Yeah ... I'm a really bad liar. I know that. But I've been sworn to secrecy- I mean, I just couldn't tell everyone where they are ... it would be dangerous for them and hard for me if they knew."
McGonagall nodded. "I can see where the problem would come in. But I think you can tell me. Those children were treasures, the three of them, and I would never do anything to hurt a Gryffindor." Call me crazy, but this was starting to sound like one of those movies where you shouted at the screen, "NO, YOU IDIOT, DON'T TRUST HER! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" And I was the idiot. But I didn't let myself think that thought.
I had to think about this- I couldn't just go spouting off my secret to anyone who asked for it! At this rate, Voldemort would know where they were by next Tuesday!
"I'm not sure, Professor. It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that, I just told my friends- with my mom's permission, of course, no worries- and even though I trust you more than I could trust them, just because you're an adult ... I just don't know if I can tell anyone else right now. I need some time to think about this." A lot.
"Besides," I added truthfully, "I really don't know just where they are. My family is being watched by the Ministry, have been ever since it was infiltrated. It was the day of my brother Bill's wedding," I heard myself saying. When had I decided to tell McGonagall my life story?! But, for some reason, I heard my idiot self keep talking.
"Everyone was having a really great time and telling us how beautiful the ceremony was during the reception. My mother was so happy, she had worked so hard on this day. Then the Patronus came from Kingsley, the one that told us the Ministry had fallen, in the middle of the reception." I swallowed. Now it was too late. I had to keep going.
"When the Ministry got to the Burrow, they didn't kill anyone, but everyone who hadn't gotten out before they arrived left as soon as they let them. And when everything was said and done, Ron, Hermione and Harry had managed to disappear. They had always been planning to skip school this year, to go chase Voldemort."
McGonagall looked surprised at this- she had clearly figured out that this was the secret I had only moments before said I couldn't tell her.
"Harry knows some secret, just him and his two favorite people," I continued bitterly. "We had to secretly send them a Patronus, saying not to worry and that they couldn't answer the message or send any of their own to us. Now we don't know why they're not answering- because they got our message, or because they're dead."
Now it was my turn to be surprised. McGonagall put her arm around me and hugged me. "I will miss the three most ... extraordinary children Hogwarts has ever seen. However, you are not such a boring one yourself, Ginny."
It took a while for her words to actually hit me. I just smiled and said thank you, at the time. She smiled back but managed to compose herself before opening the door to let me out and the next class in. Then, as I was entering the Great Hall for lunch, I realized it. The most formal teacher in all of Hogwarts history had called me by my nickname. She always refused to call her students by their nicknames! This was just too weird!
Was there even any such thing as normal anymore?
