"When you said you were taking me out for my
birthday," the witch whispered, "I was expecting dinner and
roses."
"Shh," the old wizard said.
"Minerva," said the other wizard, "get
going!"
Now one would expect a woman to emerge, but instead
came a cat. A cat with square shaped markings around it's eyes. It
prowled the hall for a few moments, stopping to sniff the ground once, then
came to a halt in front of a wide door. The cat crouched down, but a
moment later it wasn't a cat anymore. Instead, Minerva McGonagall stood
in it's place. She waved her hand.
Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and Rubeus Hagrid
came from around the corner. Dumbledore bent down by McGonagall.
"Are you sure it's them?" he whispered in her ear.
"Positive. I picked up Wormtail's
scent. I'd know that stench anywhere."
Snape pulled his wand out from inside his robes.
Dumbledore and McGonagall did the same. Hagrid pulled a length of rope
from behind his back.
Minerva looked down at her wand and a shiver went down
her spine. Okay, this is it, she told herself. Voldemort's
going to pay for everything he's done to you. Don't back down. Her
eyes became more alert.
Severus somehow knew what she was thinking.
"Don't do something you'll regret," he whispered.
"Don't worry," she replied more
determined. "I won't."
"Are you two ready?" Dumbledore
whispered. Snape and McGonagall nodded. "Have that rope for
Wormtail, Hagrid?"
"Ready and waiting, Sir."
Dumbledore nodded. "Right then. On my
count." All four of them stood ready and waiting.
"Ready... And... NOW!"
Snape kicked in the doors.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" McGonagall shouted pointing
her wand into the room.
Plaster and dust fell from the ceiling and crashed
down on all of them. They began to cough and sneeze, but when they were
done, Snape was the first to speak.
"Well," he said in his usual voice,
"That was interesting."
"I have to say," Dumbledore said between
coughs, "Maybe our ambush wasn't the best for this old house."
He patted the doorpost and it gave a large creek.
"Alright there Professor McGonagall?" Hagrid
asked. "Uh...Professor?"
McGonagall was staring at the wall. She pointed
to above the fireplace. Written in what quite possibly was blood was the
message, "Death to all Muggles and Mudbloods!"
Dumbledore stared at the message for a long
moment. He sighed. "They got away again."
McGonagall suddenly let out a growl of frustration
mixed with a scream of pain. She turned and headed for the backdoor, but
Snape stood in front of her. "I told you you would regret it,"
he said. She shoved him to the floor and ran out the backdoor. She
crossed the lawn and sat down where it met the beach. She stared down at
the wand in her hand and squinted with anger. You'll never get him at
this point, she told herself. Give it up. She threw her
wand into the lake and buried her face in her knees.
A moment later, she felt and large hand on her
shoulder. "Please go away, Hagrid," she said between sobs.
The half-giant sat down next to her. "Oh,
please don't cry Professor. I hate to see yeh like this."
Minerva still sobbed.
"Minerva, why did you do that?" Dumbledore's
voice said calmly from behind her.
"Why did I do what?!" she snapped in reply.
"Avada Kedavra. Why did you do it?"
With that, she flopped down between Hagrid and
Dumbledore and buried her head in her arms again. She suddenly heard
footsteps behind them. "He's killing every unicorn in sight,
Headmaster," came Severus's voice.
"I figured as much," the old wizard
replied. "It makes him weaker now that he's human again."
"So what is he doing for strength?"
"Maybe a nice bowl of his mother's chicken soup
and a shot of tequila for fun?" Minerva spoke up.
"Ironic you should say that," Severus
replied to her. "There were two empty tequila bottles in the
house."
Dumbledore smiled and chuckled at Minerva.
"Feeling like your old fiery self again?"
"Yeah. A little bit."
"Good. Then how about we apparate back in
Hogsmeade for a night cap and give you that dinner that you really should have
gotten tonight?"
"Apparate?" Minerva said shocked. She
buried her head in her arms and exclaimed, "Oh no! I can't!"
"What? Why not?" asked Severus.
Minerva began to cry and laugh at the same time.
She pointed her hand out over the water. "Because I threw my wand
out into the lake."
"You what?!"
Dumbledore and Hagrid began to laugh hysterically and
Severus rolled his eyes. "Oh. And I guess you expect me to
dive in and get it for you, huh?"
Minerva looked up and blushed sheepishly.
"Would you?"
Hagrid stood up. "Oh, please allow
me."
He strolled over to Severus, promptly picked him up by
the leg, and held him out over the lake upside-down.
"What the hell?! Hagrid! Put me down
you big ape!"
Hagrid smiled and looked back at Minerva and
Dumbledore. "Well?"
"Dunk him," they said at the same time.
"No! Wait-" But Severus was cut
off as the top half of his body was suddenly dunked into the dark water.
He gurgled for a moment, then was pulled back up. "Why you son of
a-" Hagrid dunked him again and picked him back up. "Stop
that you-" Minerva and Dumbledore couldn't help smiling and
snickering. Although she considered Severus a rival, but no doubt a close
friend, she couldn't help but think, this is a wonderful birthday present.
As Severus was pulled up for air a third time, he had a look of pure chill on
his face.
"Cold?" Dumbledore asked.
"I just realized it was flippin' freezing,"
Severus replied, teeth chattering.
"Find my wand," Minerva said pointedly and
Hagrid submerged him once more.
That time Severus struck gold and resurfaced with
Minerva's wand. Hagrid set him on his feet and Severus handed Minerva her
wand. "Happy?" he asked. She nodded in reply.
"Good." Severus shook his head out like a dog, covering them
with water. His hair began to stick up on end. Well, that look's
better than the old one I guess, Minerva thought.
Dumbledore wiped the specks of water from his glasses,
and said, "Let's head to the Three Broomsticks. I'm
starving." With that, he disapparated.