Professor McGonagall: Dark Conspirator
by Rainsong
A/N: Thanks so much to my reviewers, bluemeanies and Kitty. Glad you liked it so far!
~~~
"That means absolutely nothing. She could have gone anywhere." Remus said as the four of them sat in the Three Broomsticks that night, sipping butterbeer and discussing the events of the day.
The pub was filled to the brim with regulars and foreigners. A group of hags was chatting noisingly in the corner, and a small table full of Aurors near the bar was arguing quite noisily. Madam Rosmerta shook her head as she listened to them ranting on.
"So, Rosie, have any news for us?" Sirius began, ignoring Remus.
"Not for your ears." she replied shortly as she filled a mug for a goblin.
"Oh, come on Rosie. Its not our first year; our brains are already sufficiently tainted." Sirius said.
Madam Rosmerta sighed, giving in, and leaned in close to the four boys. They huddled around, to hear whatever news she whispered.
"Rumor has it that there's a congregation of Death Eaters that are planning something big for this weekend. Possibly a raid." Rosmerta whispered. Sirius and James looked knowingly at Remus, who stared skeptically back. Peter looked terrified, and sat back slightly, as though not wanting to hear any more.
"That's one of the many reasons you boys should not be in here! If something happened to one or all of you, it'd be a nightmare." Madam Rosmerta said, standing back up and continuing to fill mugs.
James rolled his eyes, wanting more information than was given.
"Don't you roll your eyes, James Potter! I'm not joking. Scoot, all of you, or I'll hex you out!" Madam Rosmerta said, brandishing her wand.
The four boys stood up reluctantly, and walked out onto the streets.
"See, I told you. McGonagall is up to something." Sirius said the moment they left.
"You're just angry with her because she gives you detention so often." Remus said.
"Moony, I'm shocked!" Sirius said, in mock horror. "Just whose side are you on anyway?"
"I'm not on 'sides', Sirius. But I do think that you're overreacting to something very explainable." Remus responded.
"James! Agree with me." Sirius commanded.
"I'm going to give Sirius the benefit of the doubt on this one. The evidence is building up." James replied, looking over at Remus.
"Fine. You two can go on some insanity-driven mind trip together. But don't blame me when you both end up expelled for even suggesting that a Hogwarts staff member was a Death Eater!" Remus said. "I'll be in Gladrags." he added, and walked off.
Peter looked around nervously, and making up his mind, ran after Remus. Sirius and James were left alone on the darkened street of Hogsmeade. The lighted streetlamps cast an eerie glow on the pathway, making shadows stretch. The slight breeze that was filling the air grew colder, and Sirius and James retreated into Honeydukes. When they got there, they were surprised to see Remus and Peter waiting for them.
"I thought you two were going to be in Gladrags?" James asked.
"We were.. for about thirty seconds. There's really not much to do in there." Peter responded. Remus nodded, looking sort of sheepish.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments, until James spoke up again.
"Maybe we should all be getting back to Hogwarts, eh? Its getting late, and we're already out way past curfew."
The three others nodded, and they started down the secret passage way. As they neared Hogwarts, James unfolded his Invisibility Cloak and draped it over the four of them as best as he could. Though this was relatively simple in first year, it had become more of a difficulty as each got taller.
Sirius cursed loudly, followed by a whispered apology from Peter. "Will both of you shut up? Someone's going to hear us!" James hissed at Sirius and Peter.
They continued to creep through the tunnel, soon reaching Hogwarts once again. After climbing out of the statue of the One-Eyed Witch, they all hurried down the corridor. James slipped out from under the cloak, and approached the sleeping Fat Lady.
"Frog fritters," James whispered. Not even looking up, the Fat Lady verified the password, opening the passage into the Gryffindor common room. James beckoned towards the others, who were still under the Invisibility Cloak, and they followed him in, climbing through the portrait hole and sliding the cloak off as soon as the Fat Lady had closed behind them.
"So now we have new evidence," Sirius said, sounding very accomplished.
"Evidence about what?" came a voice from somewhere in the corner.
The four Marauders turned around, and saw Lily sitting next to the fire, reading a thick, leatherbound book. She was looking in askance at them, a hint of suspicion in her eyes. She had spent enough time around James and his friends to know that whenever they gathered 'evidence' about anything, it was usually a bad sign.
"McGonagall. Remember? Death Eater scum?" Sirius said before anyone could stop him.
"You're unbelievable. I refuse to be associated with this madness in any way, shape or form." Lily said firmly. She turned around and continued to read.
"Your loss." Sirius said, shrugging. He began to walk up the stairs towards the dormitory. Remus and Peter lingered for a moment, and then followed. James stood there, looking at Lily.
"Lil.. you're not mad, are you?" he asked, looking nervous.
"No, of course not. Sirius is the one who's mad! He's insane!" Lily whispered, in case Sirius was listening.
"Yeah, but he's insane in a likeable way, though." James said, looking unsure of his feeble attempt at defending Sirius.
Lily smiled. "You know I have nothing against Sirius. He's one of my good friends, too, in case you forgot. But this could hold heavy consequences. He's accusing a Hogwarts teacher of treason!" Lily said more sternly.
"Yes, Lily, I'm aware of that. But, frankly I think he has a point. We won't do anything drastic unless we have some hard evidence. We'll go about this cautiously, I promise." he said. Before Lily could say anything else, he kissed her softly, and whispered goodnight.
Lily sat in the chair, shaking her head. "The chances of Sirius and James going about something cautiously is about as slim as Professor McGonagall being a Death Eater," she mumbled to herself. She turned from the fire, and tiptoed off to bed.
by Rainsong
A/N: Thanks so much to my reviewers, bluemeanies and Kitty. Glad you liked it so far!
~~~
"That means absolutely nothing. She could have gone anywhere." Remus said as the four of them sat in the Three Broomsticks that night, sipping butterbeer and discussing the events of the day.
The pub was filled to the brim with regulars and foreigners. A group of hags was chatting noisingly in the corner, and a small table full of Aurors near the bar was arguing quite noisily. Madam Rosmerta shook her head as she listened to them ranting on.
"So, Rosie, have any news for us?" Sirius began, ignoring Remus.
"Not for your ears." she replied shortly as she filled a mug for a goblin.
"Oh, come on Rosie. Its not our first year; our brains are already sufficiently tainted." Sirius said.
Madam Rosmerta sighed, giving in, and leaned in close to the four boys. They huddled around, to hear whatever news she whispered.
"Rumor has it that there's a congregation of Death Eaters that are planning something big for this weekend. Possibly a raid." Rosmerta whispered. Sirius and James looked knowingly at Remus, who stared skeptically back. Peter looked terrified, and sat back slightly, as though not wanting to hear any more.
"That's one of the many reasons you boys should not be in here! If something happened to one or all of you, it'd be a nightmare." Madam Rosmerta said, standing back up and continuing to fill mugs.
James rolled his eyes, wanting more information than was given.
"Don't you roll your eyes, James Potter! I'm not joking. Scoot, all of you, or I'll hex you out!" Madam Rosmerta said, brandishing her wand.
The four boys stood up reluctantly, and walked out onto the streets.
"See, I told you. McGonagall is up to something." Sirius said the moment they left.
"You're just angry with her because she gives you detention so often." Remus said.
"Moony, I'm shocked!" Sirius said, in mock horror. "Just whose side are you on anyway?"
"I'm not on 'sides', Sirius. But I do think that you're overreacting to something very explainable." Remus responded.
"James! Agree with me." Sirius commanded.
"I'm going to give Sirius the benefit of the doubt on this one. The evidence is building up." James replied, looking over at Remus.
"Fine. You two can go on some insanity-driven mind trip together. But don't blame me when you both end up expelled for even suggesting that a Hogwarts staff member was a Death Eater!" Remus said. "I'll be in Gladrags." he added, and walked off.
Peter looked around nervously, and making up his mind, ran after Remus. Sirius and James were left alone on the darkened street of Hogsmeade. The lighted streetlamps cast an eerie glow on the pathway, making shadows stretch. The slight breeze that was filling the air grew colder, and Sirius and James retreated into Honeydukes. When they got there, they were surprised to see Remus and Peter waiting for them.
"I thought you two were going to be in Gladrags?" James asked.
"We were.. for about thirty seconds. There's really not much to do in there." Peter responded. Remus nodded, looking sort of sheepish.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments, until James spoke up again.
"Maybe we should all be getting back to Hogwarts, eh? Its getting late, and we're already out way past curfew."
The three others nodded, and they started down the secret passage way. As they neared Hogwarts, James unfolded his Invisibility Cloak and draped it over the four of them as best as he could. Though this was relatively simple in first year, it had become more of a difficulty as each got taller.
Sirius cursed loudly, followed by a whispered apology from Peter. "Will both of you shut up? Someone's going to hear us!" James hissed at Sirius and Peter.
They continued to creep through the tunnel, soon reaching Hogwarts once again. After climbing out of the statue of the One-Eyed Witch, they all hurried down the corridor. James slipped out from under the cloak, and approached the sleeping Fat Lady.
"Frog fritters," James whispered. Not even looking up, the Fat Lady verified the password, opening the passage into the Gryffindor common room. James beckoned towards the others, who were still under the Invisibility Cloak, and they followed him in, climbing through the portrait hole and sliding the cloak off as soon as the Fat Lady had closed behind them.
"So now we have new evidence," Sirius said, sounding very accomplished.
"Evidence about what?" came a voice from somewhere in the corner.
The four Marauders turned around, and saw Lily sitting next to the fire, reading a thick, leatherbound book. She was looking in askance at them, a hint of suspicion in her eyes. She had spent enough time around James and his friends to know that whenever they gathered 'evidence' about anything, it was usually a bad sign.
"McGonagall. Remember? Death Eater scum?" Sirius said before anyone could stop him.
"You're unbelievable. I refuse to be associated with this madness in any way, shape or form." Lily said firmly. She turned around and continued to read.
"Your loss." Sirius said, shrugging. He began to walk up the stairs towards the dormitory. Remus and Peter lingered for a moment, and then followed. James stood there, looking at Lily.
"Lil.. you're not mad, are you?" he asked, looking nervous.
"No, of course not. Sirius is the one who's mad! He's insane!" Lily whispered, in case Sirius was listening.
"Yeah, but he's insane in a likeable way, though." James said, looking unsure of his feeble attempt at defending Sirius.
Lily smiled. "You know I have nothing against Sirius. He's one of my good friends, too, in case you forgot. But this could hold heavy consequences. He's accusing a Hogwarts teacher of treason!" Lily said more sternly.
"Yes, Lily, I'm aware of that. But, frankly I think he has a point. We won't do anything drastic unless we have some hard evidence. We'll go about this cautiously, I promise." he said. Before Lily could say anything else, he kissed her softly, and whispered goodnight.
Lily sat in the chair, shaking her head. "The chances of Sirius and James going about something cautiously is about as slim as Professor McGonagall being a Death Eater," she mumbled to herself. She turned from the fire, and tiptoed off to bed.