Disclaimer: no copyright infringement intended
"Well…I guess this a goodbye," I said, glancing up at Tom. He had recently made another horcrux—his eyes were now crimson. I wondered if he could still see me as he once did. He nodded, placing a
cold hand on my cheek.
"Don't come looking for me," He said, giving me a familiar smile.
"What if…what if I need to talk to you?" I asked nervously. I didn't want to go—but I had already promised Dumbledore. He shrugged.
"You won't. They'll be lots of others in your life," He replied nonchalantly, but I could see he was struggling underneath his cool façade.
"I have a feeling I'll see you again. I always do," I told him sadly. He opened his arms, and I embraced him. I smelled him, touched him, and tasted him for the last time—he would never be the same
again after he finished making his horcruxes. He gently took a strand of my raven hair and held it up to his mouth, smiling hauntingly—and then he was gone. I shivered, feeling his absence stronger
than anything else. I saw a small, bobbing figure walking towards me rapidly, holding a lantern that seemed too big for his figure.
"Ah, hello, Minerva McGonagall. I'm Filius Flitwick, but you may not have known me. I was a couple years above you," He greeted me, in a small, squeaky voice. I smiled politely, and nodded.
"Yes…I never had the impression that I knew you," I admitted, as he unlocked the gates. Sniffling the entire way, he led me back up the trail to the castle. Once the giant doors of the Entrance Hall opened, I had a great feeling of sentimentality wave over me as I remembered the seven years I had stayed here.
"Albus will want to see you. You know where his office is, I presume? The password is 'Nitwit." He informed me, leading me to the grand staircase. I smiled, gave my thanks, and started towards
Dumbledore's office. I was nervous—I wondered if he would know that I had been with Tom just moments before, now known as Lord Voldemort—a ruthless killing machine.
"Nitwit," I said, and the Gargoyle allowed me to pass. I stepped into the circular office—Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen. I took a seat, crossing my legs and wringing my wrists.
"Hello, Minerva." His voice came out of nowhere, and I whirled around in my seat to see him next to the Pensieve. "Forgive my absence—I was taking just…visiting a memory," I forced myself to smile, but I could feel my palms sweating.
"Greetings, Professor Dumbledore," I said. There was that familiar twinkle in his piercing, sharp, blue eyes when he saw that I was nervous.
"Albus will do, Minerva. You and I—we are both part of the staff now, are we not?" He asked, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Yes…we are," I said.
"You'll be sleeping in your own room. You can get in through your office. I presume you know everything else? I sent you the rest," Albus said. "I think you will find Hogwarts very comfortable once again," I nodded, standing up and wiping my wet palms on my skirt.
"Thank you, Albus." I said, and sped out of the office as quickly as I could. He hadn't asked me anything about Tom—but then again, I hadn't given him the chance to.
My office was perfect. Crimson red was everywhere, as was the Gryffindor lion and crest. Stacks of books on shelves covered the walls—Tom would have liked to stay here and study with me, if only we
were still sixteen. But we were both in our twenties. We were separated, because he wanted to be great—and I wanted to live a quiet, happy life.
1981—
The first thing I saw was Hagrid speeding towards us with immense speed on his bike, holding a tiny baby in his arms. He was sobbing pathetically, and I failed to comfort him with my words. Because
me, myself—Minerva McGonagall, had no idea that Tom would come to such an unfortunate end. I knew he was not really dead; he had made many horcruxes in his life. I saw a scar on Harry Potter's
forehead. I couldn't help letting out a little gasp of surprise. How could have Tom done this? This boy—the boy who lived—was not even a boy, he was only a baby! Dumbledore placed him on the
doorstep, and I felt a rush of anger towards Tom. Once we had apparated back to the castle, I stepped into Dumbledore's office, no longer nervous. I may have needed to betray Tom—but if he was
going to keep killing little innocent children, I felt no sympathy towards him.
"Albus," I said, and he raised his head to look at me, looking very weary and tired.
"Yes, Minerva?" He asked.
"I—I think you need to know something."
Just a couple more chapters and this story is over..