Chapter Twelve
March 23rd, 1945
Minerva was excused from classes for a full week, but she still insisted upon eating her meals with her friends and house mates. Daniel and Trudy often tried to cheer her up with talk about how badly Ravenclaw had beaten Slytherin in the last Quidditch match of the season. Poppy and Agatha were a little more subtle, leaving chocolate and freshly transfigured flowers on her pillow or on the table by her bed. They didn't mention the war or anything to do with it. They were all young and quite intelligent, but did not know exactly what to say or do for her while she mourned. Minerva could never quite find the words to tell them that she was grateful for the Quidditch talk and the small expressions of concern and sympathy, but she was thankful for all of it and for their silent, but genuine support.
Professor Dumbledore, once he was certain that Minerva would be all right, had returned to the battlefield again at the behest of his friends in the French Ministry. Though he had refused their offer of official certification, Albus was acting as an Auror, tracking down Dark Wizards and capturing or killing them. His preference was always for the first option, though they often would not come willingly. More than one Dark Wizard in the face of certain capture had turned their wands upon themselves. But no matter how many were captured or how many died, there always seemed to be more to obey the commands of Grindelwald, who continued to elude them all.
Some days remained before Minerva would return to her classes. The grief had become less shattering, but it stayed with her nonetheless, haunting her like a pale specter of anguish and loss. She spent many hours alone in the library, dutifully continuing her studies despite the fact that it had been her mentor's intention that she rest and come to terms with what had happened. But keeping Minerva away from the library or her books was a fool's errand. Those were always the things that had always made her the happiest, at least in her transfigurations' professor's absence.
After a long day researching for her potions' essay and preparing for the transfigurations' study group, Minerva stuffed her books and parchments into her bag and started back toward Gryffindor Tower. As she passed the corridor leading down to the dungeons, she heard a ripping sound and looked down just in time to see the contents of her school bag spill out on the floor. She sighed softly and knelt to gather up her books, quills, and parchments. Everything was jumbled together and out of order.
"It will take hours to straighten up this mess." she thought miserably.
As she shuffled the parchments together, she failed to hear the sound of approaching footsteps until they were nearly upon her.
"Well, if it isn't McGonagall." said an unpleasant voice.
She started and looked over her shoulder at the three Slytherins standing behind her: Hadrian Malfoy and Olive Hornby with none other than the leader of the Slytherins, Tom Marvolo Riddle standing coolly behind the pair. It was Malfoy who had spoken.
"What do you want?" she asked crisply, continuing to gather up her things.
Hornby idly kicked a quill out her reach and giggled to herself. Minerva merely glared at her, though she was very close to rising to the occasion. Hornby, like many of the young women of her house, was normally content to work mischief from a less conspicuous position, but with companions like Riddle and Malfoy, she could afford to appear bolder.
"Want? What makes you think that we want anything of you? I should think, perhaps, you might want something of us though, orphan that you are and very much in need of - shall we say - protection in these perilous times." said Malfoy conversationally.
"How very interesting, Mister Malfoy. Do go on." said an impassive voice from just behind them.
Minerva was on her feet just in time to see Professor Krohn step out of the shadows. He looked at his three students very carefully with an inscrutable expression on his face. She saw his eyes glint beneath his hair. His anger, though carefully hidden, was almost palpable as he stepped toward the trio. Malfoy gulped quietly, and Hornby stared at the floor. Only Riddle could even look at him, but it was well known that nothing frightened Tom, except perhaps Professor Dumbledore.
"I am quite ashamed of all of you, especially you, Tom. You all know better than this. In the future, you would all do well to remember to leave Miss McGonagall strictly alone. It is unseemly to badger a helpless thing." he told them all very sternly.
Minerva felt her cheeks redden at his words. Helpless? Thing? Of all the nerve! She clenched her fist and struggled to find words to fit her anger.
Then Tom Riddle smirked at her and said, "Of course, professor." He spoke for all of them.
"Then get out of my sight." Krohn said, pointing them toward the dungeons.
As they hurried away he regarded Minerva with his piercing, cool gaze and glanced at her things upon the floor.
"My apologies." he said quietly, picking up the quill that Olive had kicked away from her. "They are who they have become."
"And you? What's your excuse?" she questioned, gritting her teeth and kneeling to retrieve her belongings.
"One and the same." he replied, taking no notice of her tone as he knelt to offer his assistance. He lifted a piece of parchment and glanced at it. "Still working on your essay?" he questioned.
"Naturally."
"You have an additional week ..."
"It will be done on time, professor." she said, taking the parchment from his hand.
"Miss McGonagall, I know this will not mean anything to you ... especially coming from me, but I am truly sorry for your loss." he told her, taking his wand from his pocket and repairing the burst seam of her bag.
She looked up at him curiously and asked, "Why shouldn't it mean more coming from you?" Privately she added, "Just because you're mean-spirited, arrogant, and snide man ..." But then there was the other matter. "We have both been touched by the war and by the darkness of these days. We have something in common there." she said aloud. "Though I would prefer if you didn't refer to me in such unflattering terms. I dare say that Malfoy and Hornby need no assistance in finding ways to taunt Gryffindors." she told him.
Krohn swept his hair back slightly to reveal a look of mild surprise on his face.
"I don't know what to say. I never meant for my words to offend. Surely you understand ... But, no, you are a Gryffindor. You wouldn't understand our code of conduct."
"I suppose not." Minerva agreed dryly.
"But you are right. We do share something now. We have both lost those dear to us because of events that are out of ours hands. I hope this changes your opinion of the conflict. I hope that you see now that no good can come of recklessly challenging Grindelwald."
"I don't see it that way at all." she told Professor Krohn, putting her things back into the mended bag. "I know that I can never get back what was taken from me, but ... more than ever I want to see him punished for what he has done. I want to see Grindelwald punished for all the murders on the continent, including ... including my parents, and even for what has happened to your family. I won't stop wanting it until ... until I get it." she said forcefully.
"Revenge?" he questioned. "Or perhaps justice? Perhaps in this case they may be the same thing. In either event I do not think you will get it. You will find only pain."
"I will not be content to do nothing. Not always. I am not like you." Minerva told him with fierceness in her eyes.
"No, you are not." said Krohn, rising and looking down at her with a pinched expression. "Good evening, Miss McGonagall." he said shortly, turning and walking away.
Minerva watched him go and felt her anger diminish as she swung her bag onto her shoulder. It was a pity, she decided, that he was so unwilling to act, so cowardly. He could have been a useful ally. With that thought Minerva turned and walked in the opposite direction down the corridor.
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A/N: I am not a Riddle fan. Sad, isn't it?
MK: I definitely think you're right about Minerva keeping it inside. Thank you for reviewing!
Isis Malfoy: I have read a number of stories where Minerva's parents are killed in the Grindelwald era conflict. I think it's one of those things that might become fanon one day. As for the ending in the other story (as it relates to this one), the sequel to it is almost done, so I don't want to comment on bittersweet (my favorite) vs completely happy endings. But I really appreciate the review!
Child-of-the-Dawn: *blushes* You're welcome! I can totally picture that conversation. Thanks for reviewing!
Inca: Minerva is sixteen (going on seventeen). Poppy doesn't have classes with her, but since the whole house eats at the same table, Poppy sometimes eats her meals with Minerva, Trudy, Daniel, and Agatha, who are all older. When I was thirteen I had a lot of older friends (16 -18). Maybe my life experiences have shaped that aspect of the story too much. Meh ... Poppy eventually goes into medicine, so maybe she's just more mature. Anyway, thanks for pointing out the lack of clarity there, and thank you for reviewing!
March 23rd, 1945
Minerva was excused from classes for a full week, but she still insisted upon eating her meals with her friends and house mates. Daniel and Trudy often tried to cheer her up with talk about how badly Ravenclaw had beaten Slytherin in the last Quidditch match of the season. Poppy and Agatha were a little more subtle, leaving chocolate and freshly transfigured flowers on her pillow or on the table by her bed. They didn't mention the war or anything to do with it. They were all young and quite intelligent, but did not know exactly what to say or do for her while she mourned. Minerva could never quite find the words to tell them that she was grateful for the Quidditch talk and the small expressions of concern and sympathy, but she was thankful for all of it and for their silent, but genuine support.
Professor Dumbledore, once he was certain that Minerva would be all right, had returned to the battlefield again at the behest of his friends in the French Ministry. Though he had refused their offer of official certification, Albus was acting as an Auror, tracking down Dark Wizards and capturing or killing them. His preference was always for the first option, though they often would not come willingly. More than one Dark Wizard in the face of certain capture had turned their wands upon themselves. But no matter how many were captured or how many died, there always seemed to be more to obey the commands of Grindelwald, who continued to elude them all.
Some days remained before Minerva would return to her classes. The grief had become less shattering, but it stayed with her nonetheless, haunting her like a pale specter of anguish and loss. She spent many hours alone in the library, dutifully continuing her studies despite the fact that it had been her mentor's intention that she rest and come to terms with what had happened. But keeping Minerva away from the library or her books was a fool's errand. Those were always the things that had always made her the happiest, at least in her transfigurations' professor's absence.
After a long day researching for her potions' essay and preparing for the transfigurations' study group, Minerva stuffed her books and parchments into her bag and started back toward Gryffindor Tower. As she passed the corridor leading down to the dungeons, she heard a ripping sound and looked down just in time to see the contents of her school bag spill out on the floor. She sighed softly and knelt to gather up her books, quills, and parchments. Everything was jumbled together and out of order.
"It will take hours to straighten up this mess." she thought miserably.
As she shuffled the parchments together, she failed to hear the sound of approaching footsteps until they were nearly upon her.
"Well, if it isn't McGonagall." said an unpleasant voice.
She started and looked over her shoulder at the three Slytherins standing behind her: Hadrian Malfoy and Olive Hornby with none other than the leader of the Slytherins, Tom Marvolo Riddle standing coolly behind the pair. It was Malfoy who had spoken.
"What do you want?" she asked crisply, continuing to gather up her things.
Hornby idly kicked a quill out her reach and giggled to herself. Minerva merely glared at her, though she was very close to rising to the occasion. Hornby, like many of the young women of her house, was normally content to work mischief from a less conspicuous position, but with companions like Riddle and Malfoy, she could afford to appear bolder.
"Want? What makes you think that we want anything of you? I should think, perhaps, you might want something of us though, orphan that you are and very much in need of - shall we say - protection in these perilous times." said Malfoy conversationally.
"How very interesting, Mister Malfoy. Do go on." said an impassive voice from just behind them.
Minerva was on her feet just in time to see Professor Krohn step out of the shadows. He looked at his three students very carefully with an inscrutable expression on his face. She saw his eyes glint beneath his hair. His anger, though carefully hidden, was almost palpable as he stepped toward the trio. Malfoy gulped quietly, and Hornby stared at the floor. Only Riddle could even look at him, but it was well known that nothing frightened Tom, except perhaps Professor Dumbledore.
"I am quite ashamed of all of you, especially you, Tom. You all know better than this. In the future, you would all do well to remember to leave Miss McGonagall strictly alone. It is unseemly to badger a helpless thing." he told them all very sternly.
Minerva felt her cheeks redden at his words. Helpless? Thing? Of all the nerve! She clenched her fist and struggled to find words to fit her anger.
Then Tom Riddle smirked at her and said, "Of course, professor." He spoke for all of them.
"Then get out of my sight." Krohn said, pointing them toward the dungeons.
As they hurried away he regarded Minerva with his piercing, cool gaze and glanced at her things upon the floor.
"My apologies." he said quietly, picking up the quill that Olive had kicked away from her. "They are who they have become."
"And you? What's your excuse?" she questioned, gritting her teeth and kneeling to retrieve her belongings.
"One and the same." he replied, taking no notice of her tone as he knelt to offer his assistance. He lifted a piece of parchment and glanced at it. "Still working on your essay?" he questioned.
"Naturally."
"You have an additional week ..."
"It will be done on time, professor." she said, taking the parchment from his hand.
"Miss McGonagall, I know this will not mean anything to you ... especially coming from me, but I am truly sorry for your loss." he told her, taking his wand from his pocket and repairing the burst seam of her bag.
She looked up at him curiously and asked, "Why shouldn't it mean more coming from you?" Privately she added, "Just because you're mean-spirited, arrogant, and snide man ..." But then there was the other matter. "We have both been touched by the war and by the darkness of these days. We have something in common there." she said aloud. "Though I would prefer if you didn't refer to me in such unflattering terms. I dare say that Malfoy and Hornby need no assistance in finding ways to taunt Gryffindors." she told him.
Krohn swept his hair back slightly to reveal a look of mild surprise on his face.
"I don't know what to say. I never meant for my words to offend. Surely you understand ... But, no, you are a Gryffindor. You wouldn't understand our code of conduct."
"I suppose not." Minerva agreed dryly.
"But you are right. We do share something now. We have both lost those dear to us because of events that are out of ours hands. I hope this changes your opinion of the conflict. I hope that you see now that no good can come of recklessly challenging Grindelwald."
"I don't see it that way at all." she told Professor Krohn, putting her things back into the mended bag. "I know that I can never get back what was taken from me, but ... more than ever I want to see him punished for what he has done. I want to see Grindelwald punished for all the murders on the continent, including ... including my parents, and even for what has happened to your family. I won't stop wanting it until ... until I get it." she said forcefully.
"Revenge?" he questioned. "Or perhaps justice? Perhaps in this case they may be the same thing. In either event I do not think you will get it. You will find only pain."
"I will not be content to do nothing. Not always. I am not like you." Minerva told him with fierceness in her eyes.
"No, you are not." said Krohn, rising and looking down at her with a pinched expression. "Good evening, Miss McGonagall." he said shortly, turning and walking away.
Minerva watched him go and felt her anger diminish as she swung her bag onto her shoulder. It was a pity, she decided, that he was so unwilling to act, so cowardly. He could have been a useful ally. With that thought Minerva turned and walked in the opposite direction down the corridor.
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A/N: I am not a Riddle fan. Sad, isn't it?
MK: I definitely think you're right about Minerva keeping it inside. Thank you for reviewing!
Isis Malfoy: I have read a number of stories where Minerva's parents are killed in the Grindelwald era conflict. I think it's one of those things that might become fanon one day. As for the ending in the other story (as it relates to this one), the sequel to it is almost done, so I don't want to comment on bittersweet (my favorite) vs completely happy endings. But I really appreciate the review!
Child-of-the-Dawn: *blushes* You're welcome! I can totally picture that conversation. Thanks for reviewing!
Inca: Minerva is sixteen (going on seventeen). Poppy doesn't have classes with her, but since the whole house eats at the same table, Poppy sometimes eats her meals with Minerva, Trudy, Daniel, and Agatha, who are all older. When I was thirteen I had a lot of older friends (16 -18). Maybe my life experiences have shaped that aspect of the story too much. Meh ... Poppy eventually goes into medicine, so maybe she's just more mature. Anyway, thanks for pointing out the lack of clarity there, and thank you for reviewing!
