Chapter 6 - did I just say that out loud?
Kathy stood routed to the spot her mouth had gone dry and she couldn't say a word. She was flabbergasted. Hundreds of questions instantly whizzed round her head, what just happened? Is that the truth? What happens now? Why the hell did she tell me that? Why did she leave me? But before she could reach the end of the list in her mind Dumbledore came around the corner and saw Professor McGonagall walking briskly off, by now she was in tears, and put his arm out to stop her. She stood still and looked into his eyes, which seemed to be a bit grave. She nodded her head; he shook his in a disbelieving manner then whispered something in her ear. She nodded again, swallowed then walked off.
He now turned his attention to Kathy who was still stood still at the other end of the corridor. He walked up to her, put his hand on her shoulder then said in a kind voice.
"Are you alright dear" she nodded slowly. Then realizing her mouth was still open shut it quickly. She still couldn't find her voice "I think you should come to my office, it seems that several things will need explaining" Kathy could only nod. Her heart was in her mouth and beating furiously.
Kathy slowly followed Dumbledore to his office when he opened the door she was quite surprised to see that Professor McGonagall was already sitting there looking slightly calmer but not much.
Dumbledore motioned for Kathy to sit in the seat beside McGonagall and then seated himself behind his desk.
"Ok" he said looking at Professor McGonagall "I think you'd better explain from the beginning" She swallowed hard and turned to look at Kathy. She looked her in the eye and started to talk. Kathy just sat there transfixed as McGonagall started explaining her past to her from when she got her job at Hogwarts to when she found out she was pregnant. It was clear to Kathy that she'd missed big chunks out by the look on Dumbledore's face but thought better than to mention it. Finally decided that it was useless to resist and accept the fact she eventually found her voice and put her most taxing question forward.
"But why did you give me up?" She asked. McGonagall seemed a little taken aback by the question. It was obvious from her expression that she had known it was coming but Kathy guessed that not so soon.
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath and then continued in the same defeated tone as before. "Well I didn't want to, but really I had no choice. I couldn't leave my job here at hogwarts, as there was no replacement professor's available. Albus checked for me, that's how he came to find out about my situation. He reminded me that you-know-who was still at large and that I should seriously consider if it was the right situation to be bringing up a child. Well shortly before I was due to give birth You- Know-Who found out and wanted to kill you. Of course I was petrified so as soon as you arrived I had Albus send you to live with muggles. I didn't want to but there was no stopping him. He came to my house just after you had left and asked me where you were." Kathy noticed that McGonagall's face had started to go very pale at the memory. "I told him that you had been still born but I don't know whether he believed me or not, he said that there was still a chance and still at least one risk. He left immediately." Kathy did not know what to say. Voldemort wanted to kill HER and what was this risk that was mentioned. She got the feeling that McGonagall was still not telling her the whole truth but seeing the tears welling in her professor's eyes she decided not to say anything but to change the subject.
"Why didn't I come to Hogwarts in first year like the other kids?" At this question Dumbledore gave a small grunt and sat back in his chair.
Professor McGonagall gave him an unreadable look then spoke "That was my fault, you should've come but when I saw your name on the list it brought tears to my eyes and I just couldn't imagine seeing you and teaching you yet not mothering you. It was an unbearable thought so..." She paused a moment then continued, "...so I missed you off and didn't send your letter. I had no idea that this would happen. I didn't think you'd cast magic."
"Well you should have thought it through, or at least consulted me about your decision." Dumbledore butted in.
"I'm sorry" she snapped "but you wouldn't understand" The two professors glared at each other for what seemed like ages in silence. Kathy felt that she should break the silence by saying something but wasn't quite sure what. She eventually decided on something and spoke up,
"Ermm, could I go back to the common room now, please" The professors looked at her and both simultaneously said of course. This seemed to lighten the mood.
Kathy headed back towards the common room realizing that she had missed both her appointment with Snape and diner.
When she reached the tower both Harry and Ginny were stood there looking worried. (Hermione was up with Ron).
"You missed dinner" said Harry almost sourly.
"I didn't ditch you" She said quickly seeing his expression "I erm had some rather shocking news"
She sighed and was reduced to explaining the whole thing to her two friends. Neither uttered a single word as she explained just sat there looking shocked.
Kathy stood routed to the spot her mouth had gone dry and she couldn't say a word. She was flabbergasted. Hundreds of questions instantly whizzed round her head, what just happened? Is that the truth? What happens now? Why the hell did she tell me that? Why did she leave me? But before she could reach the end of the list in her mind Dumbledore came around the corner and saw Professor McGonagall walking briskly off, by now she was in tears, and put his arm out to stop her. She stood still and looked into his eyes, which seemed to be a bit grave. She nodded her head; he shook his in a disbelieving manner then whispered something in her ear. She nodded again, swallowed then walked off.
He now turned his attention to Kathy who was still stood still at the other end of the corridor. He walked up to her, put his hand on her shoulder then said in a kind voice.
"Are you alright dear" she nodded slowly. Then realizing her mouth was still open shut it quickly. She still couldn't find her voice "I think you should come to my office, it seems that several things will need explaining" Kathy could only nod. Her heart was in her mouth and beating furiously.
Kathy slowly followed Dumbledore to his office when he opened the door she was quite surprised to see that Professor McGonagall was already sitting there looking slightly calmer but not much.
Dumbledore motioned for Kathy to sit in the seat beside McGonagall and then seated himself behind his desk.
"Ok" he said looking at Professor McGonagall "I think you'd better explain from the beginning" She swallowed hard and turned to look at Kathy. She looked her in the eye and started to talk. Kathy just sat there transfixed as McGonagall started explaining her past to her from when she got her job at Hogwarts to when she found out she was pregnant. It was clear to Kathy that she'd missed big chunks out by the look on Dumbledore's face but thought better than to mention it. Finally decided that it was useless to resist and accept the fact she eventually found her voice and put her most taxing question forward.
"But why did you give me up?" She asked. McGonagall seemed a little taken aback by the question. It was obvious from her expression that she had known it was coming but Kathy guessed that not so soon.
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath and then continued in the same defeated tone as before. "Well I didn't want to, but really I had no choice. I couldn't leave my job here at hogwarts, as there was no replacement professor's available. Albus checked for me, that's how he came to find out about my situation. He reminded me that you-know-who was still at large and that I should seriously consider if it was the right situation to be bringing up a child. Well shortly before I was due to give birth You- Know-Who found out and wanted to kill you. Of course I was petrified so as soon as you arrived I had Albus send you to live with muggles. I didn't want to but there was no stopping him. He came to my house just after you had left and asked me where you were." Kathy noticed that McGonagall's face had started to go very pale at the memory. "I told him that you had been still born but I don't know whether he believed me or not, he said that there was still a chance and still at least one risk. He left immediately." Kathy did not know what to say. Voldemort wanted to kill HER and what was this risk that was mentioned. She got the feeling that McGonagall was still not telling her the whole truth but seeing the tears welling in her professor's eyes she decided not to say anything but to change the subject.
"Why didn't I come to Hogwarts in first year like the other kids?" At this question Dumbledore gave a small grunt and sat back in his chair.
Professor McGonagall gave him an unreadable look then spoke "That was my fault, you should've come but when I saw your name on the list it brought tears to my eyes and I just couldn't imagine seeing you and teaching you yet not mothering you. It was an unbearable thought so..." She paused a moment then continued, "...so I missed you off and didn't send your letter. I had no idea that this would happen. I didn't think you'd cast magic."
"Well you should have thought it through, or at least consulted me about your decision." Dumbledore butted in.
"I'm sorry" she snapped "but you wouldn't understand" The two professors glared at each other for what seemed like ages in silence. Kathy felt that she should break the silence by saying something but wasn't quite sure what. She eventually decided on something and spoke up,
"Ermm, could I go back to the common room now, please" The professors looked at her and both simultaneously said of course. This seemed to lighten the mood.
Kathy headed back towards the common room realizing that she had missed both her appointment with Snape and diner.
When she reached the tower both Harry and Ginny were stood there looking worried. (Hermione was up with Ron).
"You missed dinner" said Harry almost sourly.
"I didn't ditch you" She said quickly seeing his expression "I erm had some rather shocking news"
She sighed and was reduced to explaining the whole thing to her two friends. Neither uttered a single word as she explained just sat there looking shocked.
