A/N: Ah, chapter 10 wipes tear seems like only yesterday I posted chapter one...
Disclaimer: Your mom owns Harry Potter.
Minerva looked at her watch and swore under her breath. She was late.
The Gryffindor/Hufflepuff match was due to start any moment. She was excited. This year would be their year. This year Gryffindor would finally win the cup; she could feel it.
As she hurried through the corridors, hoping that she would get there before the game started, something glinted and caught her eye.
A mirror?
She went forward to pick it up but as she turned the corner something else entirely captured her attention.
Two students lay on the floor, clearly petrified.
A Ravenclaw prefect—Miss Clearwater and one of her own Gryffindors—Hermione Granger. McGonagall wondered briefly what the two had been doing together and not at the match.
She heard a distant noise and spun, wand raised, trying to see if the culprit was nearby. When she found no one, she proceeded to send Poppy a patronus; they needed these two to be attended to immediately.
As soon as the girls were in the hospital wing the set off for the Quidditch game again. The students weren't going to like this.
Rolanda was in the middle of the pitch releasing the balls when Minerva showed up with the megaphone. Rolanda knew at once that there had been another attack; Minerva McGonagall did not cancel Quidditch for just any reason.
There was an outcry from the spectators as Minerva ordered them to their common rooms. Oliver Wood looked like he was going to have a heart attack.
Rolanda ran forward, wanting details, but Minerva gave her a look that clearly meant 'later' and left for the castle with Potter and Weasley, looking grim.
Rolanda stayed long enough to make sure that all the students had left and that everything was in its rightful place before leaving the pitch herself. She needed some answers.
Sarah Sinstra entered the staff room with her arms full of star charts to find that it was not empty at all.
"What's going on?" She inquired. "Is Quidditch over already?"
Sarah had never liked Quidditch, or flying for that matter. She always used game time to take advantage of the quiet workspace.
"No, It was cancelled," said Rolanda mournfully, "There was another attack."
"What? Who?"
"A Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor."
Emily looked up. "I heard it was Penelope Clearwater and—"
"Percy Weasley?" interrupted Sarah hand over her heart.
"No," she looked puzzled. "Hermione Granger. Why did you say Percy?"
"Oh, I just thought… they're together a lot, that's all."
"Oh."
The door opened and they all turned to find the heads of houses looking worn.
"I hate this." whispered Pomona sadly. "Absolutely hate it."
"Me too." said Flitwick, sinking into a chair. "They all seem so young to be dealing with this. I had three criers. I can't handle crying. I had to take them to Poppy."
Minerva shook her head. "Don't blame yourself, Filius. It's hard to know what to do. I'm worried for my Gryffindors, I'm worried for all the students—I'm worried for Hogwarts; it can't continue like this."
It was silent for a few minutes.
Then Severus spoke. "About your Gryffindors, I was wondering if it was you who revoked the Weasley twins' detention?"
"No, maybe it was Albus, it's a rather annoying habit of his. What did they do this time? It must've been bad as Gryffindor is down a hundred and twenty points."
"They, ah, interrupted something." His eyes flickered to Rolanda.
Minerva looked amused. "Oh, really? Well it serves you right. What were you thinking, during school hours?"
"It wasn't like that." insisted Rolanda. "Honestly, they just came in at the wrong time…"
"Do you get the feeling we're missing something?" Emily asked, smirking.
"Why yes," grinned Sarah, "I think we are. But, you know what? I think it'd be best if the spared us the, ahem, details."
Rolanda and Severus' stutters were cut short when the door opened again.
"I bring good news! The culprit has been caught! Hogwarts is safe!"
There was an explosion of questions.
"Who?"
"Who was it?"
"Where are they?"
"How do you know?"
"Where's Albus?" Minerva wanted to know. "He should've told us."
Lockhart raised his hands to stem the flow.
"The ministry has apprehended, with my help of course, the grounds keeper Hagrid!"
"NO." The staff was shocked.
"Yes. I always knew he was shifty. I can always tell—"
"But it can't have been him!" cried Minerva
"Tabby, don't worry, that man will never hurt anyone again. How about I take you out for a walk. We can…talk, ok?" He was smiling in what he clearly thought was a reassuring way.
Merlin, she hated him.
"Where's Albus?" She asked through gritted teeth.
He waved away the question. "Order of suspension or something. So, baby, how 'bout that walk?"
"S-suspended?" sputtered Pomona. "They can't do that!"
"Oh, but they have. And I say good job to the ministry too. Something had to be done. You ready, kitten?"
Minerva was shaking with suppressed rage. Her hand twitched towards her wand and her eyes were flashing—a sure sign of danger. Her colleagues simultaneously took a step back.
"Do you mean to tell me that Albus Dumbledore, the only thing that was keeping our students from being murdered, has been removed?" Her voice was low and dangerous, and had any of the others liked Lockhart or even felt a little bad for him, surely they would've shouted a warning. As it was, they remained silent.
His grin was slipping. "Come on now, dollface, its for the best."
"How…?" She clearly had underestimated him. She hadn't thought he was this stupid.
"Minnie darling, calm down—"
And then it happened. With the force of Mount Vesuvius, she exploded.
"CALM DOWN!? I WILL NOT BLOODY WELL CALM DOWN! THEY CAN'T GET RID OF DUMBLEDORE! THE STUDENTS NEED HIM!"
Lockhart was backing away slowly; transfixed on the fury that was Minerva McGonagall.
"Now, now Min, it's all righ—"
"YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!" she roared. "THEY'VE GOT THE WRONG PERSON! THERE'S NO WAY- NO WAY THAT RUBEOUS HAGRID IS RESPONSIBLE!"
"Tabby, I think you're being a bit unresona—"
"UNREASONABLE?! UNREASONABLE?! HA! IS IT UNREASONABLE TO WANT THE STUDENTS SAFE?! IS IT UNREASONABLE TO PUT AN INNOCENT MAN IN AZKABAN?! DOES THAT SEEM UNREASONABLE TO YOU?! ANSWER ME!"
Lockhart was pretty much quaking in fear. "Umm, no?"
"YOU'RE BLOODY WELL RIGHT IT ISN'T!"
"Min, love, it'll be ok—"
That was the last straw.
"MY NAME IS MINERVA! MINERVA! WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS! I'M NOT YOUR MIN, MINNIE, BABY, GIRL, DARLING, DEAREST, TABBY, OR KITTEN! I NEVER LIKED YOU! I CAN'T STAND YOU! NO ONE CAN! YOU 'RE INSUFFERABLE!"
"B-but…?"
Minerva flopped back down on the couch. "The answer is no. Leave before I do something I regret. From now on you are to address me as Professor. Now go." Her voice was cold and harsh from yelling. The glare she fixed him with was probably her worst to date. No, Poppy's worst plus Snape's worst plus Minerva's worst times ten.
Yeah, that bad.
Lockhart tripped over himself he was trying so hard to get away.
After the door swung shut there was a stunned silence.
"Brava! Brava! Encore! Encore!" cheered Sarah. "That was ah-maze-ing!"
Minerva gave a weak smile that looked more like a grimace. "I shouldn't have yelled. It was unprofessional."
"Who cares?" asked Rolanda. "It was awesome! Inspiring, even!"
"Albus isn't going to be happy when he—" Then she remembered. "Oh."
The staff was quiet again.
"He didn't even say goodbye…"
And no one knew what to say.
Minerva was angry. Some one just had to mention Lockhart and she went into a mental rant. That and the damn gargoyle wouldn't let her into Albus' office without rigorous testing. Honestly, she could turn into a cat. How many death-eaters or impersonators could do that, even with the bloody polyjuice potion? Exactly.
Finally she managed it. And as she sat in his office, looking at their unfinished chess game from the night before, she realized she had no reason to be up here.
She sighed and rose, ready to leave. Right before she opened the door, she changed her mind and turned back to his desk, choosing a lemon drop from the dish.
"And you told me you didn't like them."
Minerva turned quickly, startled. Albus stood in the doorway, eyes twinkling.
"The gargoyle alerted me that there was someone trying to enter my chambers by force."
Minerva rolled her eyes. "Honestly, how many times over the years have I visited? His memory must be going."
He chuckled.
"Why do you have to go?" She was whining, and she hated it.
Albus shrugged slightly. "The ministry thinks its best. I'll be back soon."
"But you're the only reason no one has been killed! And since when does the ministry know best?"
"You flatter me."
"It's true Albus. Hogwarts needs you! I can't run a school by myself."
"You aren't by yourself. You have Filius, Pomona, Severus and the others to help you. And I am always close by if you need me."
I always need you, Minerva thought. She knew there was no use in arguing. "Do you have time to at least finish the chess game?"
"Alas, no. I am due somewhere else, but we shall finish this game in good time. Maybe you'll be so glad to see me that you'll let me win for once."
"Don't count on it."
He laughed again and moved forward. "You can do it Minerva. I know you can, I just came to make sure you knew."
His kissed her forehead gently, lingering longer than even a best friend should.
"I must go."
"I wish you didn't."
"I know. I am always with you Minerva. Just look for me and I'll be there. Goodbye."
And he swept form the office without another word, leaving Minerva filled with an awful sense of loss.
A/N: thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. i know i say this every time, but they are what keeps me writing. 3- Sloane