History of Magic Assignment: Write about Godric Gryffindor. Alternatively, write about a student's encounter with his portrait.
Lions
December 1956
Minerva McGonagall walked towards her new office, her footsteps echoing across the empty corridor. She had just received the position of Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts from the new headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. The post was open, and she had gladly taken it.
As she was walking up the staircase, a portrait caught her eye. It was of a ginger-haired man dressed in an elaborate, scarlet robe. A bejeweled sword lay on his lap and he was snoring contently. Minerva smiled, her thoughts drifting to her days as a student at Hogwarts.
-.-
1935
Mary nudged Minerva in the side as Ralph walked to the Ravenclaw table, a dreamy smile on her face. "Isn't he just the perfect guy, Minerva?"
"That pushy sweet-talker?"
"You always have to badmouth him, don't you?"
"He's a good-for-nothing guy. Frankly, I can't see what you see in him."
Mary ignored Minerva, and continued to watch Ralph as he devoured his dinner. The two Gryffindor girls were in the last weeks of their seventh year. Soon, they would leave the familiar halls of Hogwarts, and Mary wanted to make the most of what time was left, though most of it consisted of staring constantly at Ralph.
Ralph finished the last of his dinner and he walked out, Mary's eyes trailing after him. "Continue your dinner without me, alright?" Mary said, getting up from the Gryffindor table.
Minerva watched her go, and then headed towards the library, ever the workaholic.
"A Gryffindor, are we?" Minerva looked up, startled, and saw that a portrait of a ginger-haired man had addressed her. "It is always gratifying to see a student of my own house. I only teach those with brave deeds to their name."
"You're Godric Gryffindor, aren't you?" asked Minerva, immediately recognizing the founder of her house.
"The one and only! Pray, what are you doing over here at a time like this?" He leaned forward in his chair, setting a ruby-encrusted sword to his side.
"I was just heading to the library, to study."
"Study! Are you quite sure you are in my house?" Minerva weakly nodded. "You seem to be more suited toward Rowena's house. Study, my word! Do not get me wrong, child, studying is not at all bad, but it seems like that is all you children ever do."
"But we have to study, or else we'll fail."
"There is no harm in courageously adventuring throughout these halls, many of which hold various secrets," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Go, my child. Do something bold and courageous. Or as you young ones would say, live a little. Take heed of my advice, it will do you no harm."
"I'll try."
"Good. But I am afraid I must leave you now, as the headmaster is in want of my help. I hope that we may someday meet again." And with that, Godric Gryffindor walked out of his portrait as Minerva gathered up her bag, walking not to the library, but to somewhere else, an adventure.
-.-
"And here we meet again," she whispered, looking once more at his portrait. "We'll teach all those with brave deeds to their name. And more."
It is unbelievably hard to write McGonagall. You have no idea.