Chapter Two
Later that same day
Minerva could not help but to notice that Professor Dumbledore seemed more distracted than usual in class that day. It was the final day of lessons before the holidays began, so no one else seemed aware of the fact, even when the professor could not recall what he had just transfigured into a raven. It had been a black top hat, Minerva reminded him. She was, of course, one of his most promising students. She was also more than halfway through her Animagus training. Dumbledore thanked her and turned the bird back into a hat.
Minerva tried not to blush, but it was so difficult when dealing with that particular professor. He made her stomach flip-flop and her heart race. It was so silly! He was old enough to be her father, several times over, no matter how young or attractive he looked. And Dumbledore was her professor too! It wasn't as though he were young, arrogant Professor Krohn, who stole kisses from pretty Slytherin girls at every turn. Albus Dumbledore was respectable! And so very kind. And compassionate. And strong. And handsome ...
"Miss McGonagall? Minerva? Are you quite all right?" questioned the professor.
She blushed a magnificent crimson as she realized that class had been dismissed and she was still sitting there, staring dreamily at her transfigurations' professor.
"Yes, professor. I'm so sorry." Minerva stammered.
He chuckled softly and sat down at a chair near hers and said, "I can hardly fault you, Miss McGonagall. I find my mind wandering quite a bit these days too."
"The war?" she questioned.
"Yes." he affirmed.
"I saw your picture in the newspaper." she stated.
"Did you now? The headmaster will not be pleased."
"I think ... well, I think that it's very brave and noble of you." said Minerva, summoning all of her courage.
"I just want them to know that they haven't been forgotten by all of us over here, that some of us are concerned and aware of their struggles." said Dumbledore. "But it is very kind of you to say so. I am gratified to hear that I am at least setting an example for my students."
"You are." she assured him. Then she faltered slightly as she said, "But, professor, we don't really know what is happening exactly on the continent."
"Of course not. Very few people do, even if they read the paper." nodded Dumbledore sadly. "The Ministry doesn't want to frighten people. I can understand that, to a point, of course, but this crisis won't resolve itself, and our brothers in Europe need our assistance to rid themselves of this accursed Dark Wizard and his minions."
"So you won't tell me?"
"No, Minerva, it would be too terrible for you to hear. I can only say that there are far fewer muggle-born and mixed-blood witches and wizards than there were a few years ago." he answered.
"Killed?"
"Yes, and tortured as well. I have seen the evidence of both myself." he said, sighing softly and rubbing his eyes under his spectacles.
"I'm sorry, professor."
"So am I. And I will continue to do what I can until the Ministry decides to act ... whenever that might be."
"Can I do anything to help, professor?" she asked.
Dumbledore smiled at her, knowing the great heart that was in Minerva McGonagall, no matter how she tried to hide it from her peers, whose lives had been more sheltered and who were not so willing to shoulder burdens as she. The pureblooded students especially seemed to distance themselves from the unpleasantness in the continental wizarding world, not to mention the muggle war and its tragic effects on the non-wizard population of Europe.
"If the war lasts much longer and Grindelwald continues to prevail, you may be asked to do many things, Miss McGonagall, but not today. At present you are still too young and in need of training. And I believe you have more lessons this afternoon." he told her gently.
Minerva was late when she slipped into a seat at the back of the potions' classroom where Professor Krohn was teaching. He sneered at her and summarily deducted ten points from Gryffindor house. Nothing new there. He had hated the scarlet and gold for as long as either teacher or student had been at Hogwarts, and she imagined that he would continue hating Gryffindor house long after she had graduated and gone into the Ministry and become an Auror like her parents. And every Slytherin head of house after him would no doubt continue the lovely tradition that dated back to the Founders with no end in sight.
She sighed softly as Krohn continued his lesson on poisons without missing a beat.
"What a nauseating topic!" she thought to herself, taking notes and occasionally glancing at Trudy Weasley and Daniel Vector, who were secretly passing notes under the table.
Krohn turned and Daniel lobbed a note in her direction. Trudy smiled behind her hand as Minerva fumbled for the balled up piece of parchment, just managing to catch it. Throwing and catching things was all well and good for two of Gryffindor's prized chasers, but Minerva was all thumbs.
She glared and pursed her lips at them and unfolded the parchment to read it.
"You must have had quite a conversation with Dumbledore after class. You simply must tell us all about it! Was it about that Dark Wizard - they refused to write Grindelwald's name - and the war and everything? We're both dying to hear about what he does over there!"
"Miss McGonagall, kindly hand that over." said Professor Krohn practically in her ear. His long strides could cover the classroom front to back in three seconds flat, and silently, which was a thousand times worse.
Minerva gulped and placed the note in his hands. Thankfully Trudy and Daniel had not signed it. At least she would be the only one in trouble.
"Let me see ..." said Krohn, skimming the note. "Shall I read this to the class or not?" he mused, returning to his desk.
"We'd love to hear it, professor." said Hadrian Malfoy with a smirk as he turned to look at Minerva. How she hated having potions with the Slytherins! It was insufferable!
"Well, I suppose you all deserve to know why Miss McGonagall was late for class." said Krohn before reading the note aloud.
Minerva could feel her cheeks turning a rosy color as he read. More than anything she was afraid that the Slytherins would somehow figure out that she fancied her transfigurations' professor.
"So you want to know what he does over there, do you?" asked Krohn with quiet menace in his voice. He wasn't just looking at her or asking her. He was looking at all the Gryffindors in his class. "Well, do you?"
No one answered him. They were brave, after the fine tradition of their house, but they were not stupid.
Malfoy and some of the others snickered derisively at their silence.
"He helps them collect the bodies and identify them, or what's left of them anyway. He sends for the family of the dead, if there is anyone left. He's no hero nor a soldier. He isn't even certified to be an Auror." Krohn told them.
The Gryffindors shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but refused to meet his sneer nor the eyes that sparkled angrily from behind his blond veil of hair.
"Nothing over there concerns you. Any of you. You think it's a shame. You think it's so terrible. Well, it is, but nothing can be done. No one can defeat Grindelwald. Half of wizarding Europe has died trying. Oh, and it's getting worse," he said, his gaze flashing toward his own students, who looked a bit too smug, "because they say that Grindelwald has gone mad."
It was the Slytherins' turn to look uncomfortable. A few of them flushed with either suppressed rage or embarrassment depending upon how committed they were to the ideals their parents had passed onto them concerning Grindelwald, his 'cause', and purity of blood.
"Oh, yes, he is quite mad they say. He's killing everyone now. Purebloods of good families who do not bend quickly enough to his will. Even those who do are not safe from his madness, his insanity." spat Krohn. "But nothing can be done! We can only hope and pray that his attention is not turned toward wizarding England, that he is content with his sway upon the continent, because we could never hope to fight him and those most devoted to his cause. They are too many and too strong."
Minerva shivered as she struggled to her feet and said, "Then we are to wait as lambs for the slaughter, professor?"
She could see Krohn tremble with rage as he turned toward her. His hair flew away from his face, revealing eyes that looked half-maddened with some strange emotion, not quite anger, but not quite fear. Regret? Agony? Grief? Minerva guessed wildly as he took the aisle between the Slytherins and Gryffindors in four long strides. She gripped the edge of the table where she stood, but did not back down.
"What can you know of it, you silly, stupid, sanctimonious girl! What the hell can you possibly even think that you know? My own family was ..." he began, bellowing at the top of his lungs.
Then, seeming to choke on the words, he stopped suddenly and let his hair fall over his eyes again. He was breathing hard. It was a terrible sound to hear, but Minerva could feel his breath upon her face as he loomed over her. She was also aware that several of her house mates had leapt to their feet, ready to defend her. She could not see it, but even a few Slytherins had left their chairs, terrified by the sudden outburst by their often reserved head of house.
Krohn put a hand on her shoulder to steady himself, but withdrew it quickly. Minerva looked up and into his eyes, which only she could see. There were bright, unshed tears in them.
"Get out of here, you foolish girl, and do not dare to trouble me again." he rasped, turning on his heel and retreating to his desk.
He stood there with his back to the class as Minerva gathered her things in great haste and left the classroom.
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A/N: I don't think I have any particular notes for this chapter.
Arwen Sol: Thank you for reviewing!
Inca: I was kind of hesitant when I started writing this because of my very American views of the past (well, it's where I was born and educated - what can I do?). I am desperately hoping to get through the story without offending anyone. That's my only hope. Thank you for the review!
Serenity Raye: Thanks for the compliment about the characters. I worry that Krohn is too Snape-like (probably not without reason). Thanks for reviewing!
LadySnape: I'm glad you like it (and "Another World"). Thanks for the review!
MK: Thanks!
Michelle: I have never read a Minerva/Tom story. I think it's because I went out with a Tom-like guy in high school *shudders* and wouldn't wish that on anyone, much less Minerva (too much info). Would that be PtQ Riley? That might make it worth checking out. Thank you for reviewing!
Later that same day
Minerva could not help but to notice that Professor Dumbledore seemed more distracted than usual in class that day. It was the final day of lessons before the holidays began, so no one else seemed aware of the fact, even when the professor could not recall what he had just transfigured into a raven. It had been a black top hat, Minerva reminded him. She was, of course, one of his most promising students. She was also more than halfway through her Animagus training. Dumbledore thanked her and turned the bird back into a hat.
Minerva tried not to blush, but it was so difficult when dealing with that particular professor. He made her stomach flip-flop and her heart race. It was so silly! He was old enough to be her father, several times over, no matter how young or attractive he looked. And Dumbledore was her professor too! It wasn't as though he were young, arrogant Professor Krohn, who stole kisses from pretty Slytherin girls at every turn. Albus Dumbledore was respectable! And so very kind. And compassionate. And strong. And handsome ...
"Miss McGonagall? Minerva? Are you quite all right?" questioned the professor.
She blushed a magnificent crimson as she realized that class had been dismissed and she was still sitting there, staring dreamily at her transfigurations' professor.
"Yes, professor. I'm so sorry." Minerva stammered.
He chuckled softly and sat down at a chair near hers and said, "I can hardly fault you, Miss McGonagall. I find my mind wandering quite a bit these days too."
"The war?" she questioned.
"Yes." he affirmed.
"I saw your picture in the newspaper." she stated.
"Did you now? The headmaster will not be pleased."
"I think ... well, I think that it's very brave and noble of you." said Minerva, summoning all of her courage.
"I just want them to know that they haven't been forgotten by all of us over here, that some of us are concerned and aware of their struggles." said Dumbledore. "But it is very kind of you to say so. I am gratified to hear that I am at least setting an example for my students."
"You are." she assured him. Then she faltered slightly as she said, "But, professor, we don't really know what is happening exactly on the continent."
"Of course not. Very few people do, even if they read the paper." nodded Dumbledore sadly. "The Ministry doesn't want to frighten people. I can understand that, to a point, of course, but this crisis won't resolve itself, and our brothers in Europe need our assistance to rid themselves of this accursed Dark Wizard and his minions."
"So you won't tell me?"
"No, Minerva, it would be too terrible for you to hear. I can only say that there are far fewer muggle-born and mixed-blood witches and wizards than there were a few years ago." he answered.
"Killed?"
"Yes, and tortured as well. I have seen the evidence of both myself." he said, sighing softly and rubbing his eyes under his spectacles.
"I'm sorry, professor."
"So am I. And I will continue to do what I can until the Ministry decides to act ... whenever that might be."
"Can I do anything to help, professor?" she asked.
Dumbledore smiled at her, knowing the great heart that was in Minerva McGonagall, no matter how she tried to hide it from her peers, whose lives had been more sheltered and who were not so willing to shoulder burdens as she. The pureblooded students especially seemed to distance themselves from the unpleasantness in the continental wizarding world, not to mention the muggle war and its tragic effects on the non-wizard population of Europe.
"If the war lasts much longer and Grindelwald continues to prevail, you may be asked to do many things, Miss McGonagall, but not today. At present you are still too young and in need of training. And I believe you have more lessons this afternoon." he told her gently.
Minerva was late when she slipped into a seat at the back of the potions' classroom where Professor Krohn was teaching. He sneered at her and summarily deducted ten points from Gryffindor house. Nothing new there. He had hated the scarlet and gold for as long as either teacher or student had been at Hogwarts, and she imagined that he would continue hating Gryffindor house long after she had graduated and gone into the Ministry and become an Auror like her parents. And every Slytherin head of house after him would no doubt continue the lovely tradition that dated back to the Founders with no end in sight.
She sighed softly as Krohn continued his lesson on poisons without missing a beat.
"What a nauseating topic!" she thought to herself, taking notes and occasionally glancing at Trudy Weasley and Daniel Vector, who were secretly passing notes under the table.
Krohn turned and Daniel lobbed a note in her direction. Trudy smiled behind her hand as Minerva fumbled for the balled up piece of parchment, just managing to catch it. Throwing and catching things was all well and good for two of Gryffindor's prized chasers, but Minerva was all thumbs.
She glared and pursed her lips at them and unfolded the parchment to read it.
"You must have had quite a conversation with Dumbledore after class. You simply must tell us all about it! Was it about that Dark Wizard - they refused to write Grindelwald's name - and the war and everything? We're both dying to hear about what he does over there!"
"Miss McGonagall, kindly hand that over." said Professor Krohn practically in her ear. His long strides could cover the classroom front to back in three seconds flat, and silently, which was a thousand times worse.
Minerva gulped and placed the note in his hands. Thankfully Trudy and Daniel had not signed it. At least she would be the only one in trouble.
"Let me see ..." said Krohn, skimming the note. "Shall I read this to the class or not?" he mused, returning to his desk.
"We'd love to hear it, professor." said Hadrian Malfoy with a smirk as he turned to look at Minerva. How she hated having potions with the Slytherins! It was insufferable!
"Well, I suppose you all deserve to know why Miss McGonagall was late for class." said Krohn before reading the note aloud.
Minerva could feel her cheeks turning a rosy color as he read. More than anything she was afraid that the Slytherins would somehow figure out that she fancied her transfigurations' professor.
"So you want to know what he does over there, do you?" asked Krohn with quiet menace in his voice. He wasn't just looking at her or asking her. He was looking at all the Gryffindors in his class. "Well, do you?"
No one answered him. They were brave, after the fine tradition of their house, but they were not stupid.
Malfoy and some of the others snickered derisively at their silence.
"He helps them collect the bodies and identify them, or what's left of them anyway. He sends for the family of the dead, if there is anyone left. He's no hero nor a soldier. He isn't even certified to be an Auror." Krohn told them.
The Gryffindors shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but refused to meet his sneer nor the eyes that sparkled angrily from behind his blond veil of hair.
"Nothing over there concerns you. Any of you. You think it's a shame. You think it's so terrible. Well, it is, but nothing can be done. No one can defeat Grindelwald. Half of wizarding Europe has died trying. Oh, and it's getting worse," he said, his gaze flashing toward his own students, who looked a bit too smug, "because they say that Grindelwald has gone mad."
It was the Slytherins' turn to look uncomfortable. A few of them flushed with either suppressed rage or embarrassment depending upon how committed they were to the ideals their parents had passed onto them concerning Grindelwald, his 'cause', and purity of blood.
"Oh, yes, he is quite mad they say. He's killing everyone now. Purebloods of good families who do not bend quickly enough to his will. Even those who do are not safe from his madness, his insanity." spat Krohn. "But nothing can be done! We can only hope and pray that his attention is not turned toward wizarding England, that he is content with his sway upon the continent, because we could never hope to fight him and those most devoted to his cause. They are too many and too strong."
Minerva shivered as she struggled to her feet and said, "Then we are to wait as lambs for the slaughter, professor?"
She could see Krohn tremble with rage as he turned toward her. His hair flew away from his face, revealing eyes that looked half-maddened with some strange emotion, not quite anger, but not quite fear. Regret? Agony? Grief? Minerva guessed wildly as he took the aisle between the Slytherins and Gryffindors in four long strides. She gripped the edge of the table where she stood, but did not back down.
"What can you know of it, you silly, stupid, sanctimonious girl! What the hell can you possibly even think that you know? My own family was ..." he began, bellowing at the top of his lungs.
Then, seeming to choke on the words, he stopped suddenly and let his hair fall over his eyes again. He was breathing hard. It was a terrible sound to hear, but Minerva could feel his breath upon her face as he loomed over her. She was also aware that several of her house mates had leapt to their feet, ready to defend her. She could not see it, but even a few Slytherins had left their chairs, terrified by the sudden outburst by their often reserved head of house.
Krohn put a hand on her shoulder to steady himself, but withdrew it quickly. Minerva looked up and into his eyes, which only she could see. There were bright, unshed tears in them.
"Get out of here, you foolish girl, and do not dare to trouble me again." he rasped, turning on his heel and retreating to his desk.
He stood there with his back to the class as Minerva gathered her things in great haste and left the classroom.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: I don't think I have any particular notes for this chapter.
Arwen Sol: Thank you for reviewing!
Inca: I was kind of hesitant when I started writing this because of my very American views of the past (well, it's where I was born and educated - what can I do?). I am desperately hoping to get through the story without offending anyone. That's my only hope. Thank you for the review!
Serenity Raye: Thanks for the compliment about the characters. I worry that Krohn is too Snape-like (probably not without reason). Thanks for reviewing!
LadySnape: I'm glad you like it (and "Another World"). Thanks for the review!
MK: Thanks!
Michelle: I have never read a Minerva/Tom story. I think it's because I went out with a Tom-like guy in high school *shudders* and wouldn't wish that on anyone, much less Minerva (too much info). Would that be PtQ Riley? That might make it worth checking out. Thank you for reviewing!
