A/N: I'm terribly sorry for not being able to acknowledge the reviewers from last chapter. On that particular page and that one only, ff.net keeps saying that the site is experiencing an overload. (Why is the review page overloaded? The story should be! Sheesh! *mock glare*) But thanks to all five of you; I read and appreciated, and will thank you properly when I can get onto the page again.
II - Evans, Lily; Monday, 1:30
Almost ten minutes past one-thirty, and Lily Evans had not arrived.
Minerva had been rather hoping to have all consultations finished no later than Wednesday. It was a bit premature to say how well and smoothly they were all going after seeing only two of the children, of course… In any case, Minerva had not expected it from Lily Evans. Punctuality generally went hand-in-hand with responsibility, which was a quality Evans had shown for years.
She waited. It would hardly be the first time a student had forgotten their appointment, and often they'd be a little late. Actually, it was students like Evans that would forget much more quickly than the irresponsible and unacademic ones, who would remember when they had a chance to skip class long after they had forgotten their parents, ethics, Quidditch stats, and basic wand care skills.
Evans was a bright girl, brimming and bursting with magical talent. She had her head on fairly straight right from the beginning, which set her apart from her classmates and made her something of a loner. She and her roommates got on very amiably, but there was no friendship. She was Muggle-born, but she took such an interest in everything wizarding, you would never have guessed her parentage, and anyway there were a lot of Muggle-borns who fitted in much better than Evans.
She was studious, but hardly a Ravenclaw, and clever, but not excessively so, not in the way that alienated very intelligent students from their classmates. Minerva honestly couldn't place it. The girl was blunt, but wasn't rude or mean to anyone. She had a healthy sense of humour; she wasn't straightlaced or pompous or stiff.
Minerva could scarcely understand the tricky ins and outs of female adolescents and their society when she herself had been one, and could hardly figure out why Lily Evans's position was what it was now. It didn't matter. Evans would be fine; she was magically and mentally strong. They had given her a prefect badge, an obvious choice; it had separated her even further from her peers and she didn't show any sign of caring.
She arrived now, having obviously hurried, or embarrassed, or both, from what her pink face told. 'I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall,' she said, with a sheepish smile. 'One-thirty is right in the middle of History of Magic, and - ' She broke off awkwardly, and her embarrassment made her smile increase involuntarily. She was going downright red, now. 'Not a very good excuse, is it?'
'You don't need to explain yourself to me further, Evans,' Minerva said dryly. Binns had taught her History of Magic as well - or, rather, he hadn't. Shut the door, if you please. I know History of Magic of old.'
Evans relaxed as she obeyed. 'I have four and a half years' worth of notes on the first ten minutes of Professor Binns's lectures,' she chuckled wryly, losing some of her ashamed colour, and the two had to exchange a smile at that.
Lily Evans stuck out sharply in a crowd, with noticeable red hair and even more noticeable emerald eyes. That along with her slender figure and peaches-and-cream complexion made her quite a pretty, if quite striking, girl. Perhaps that even explained some of her leper-like status. Jealousy.
'Which, sadly, is ten more minutes than most,' Minerva commented as Evans sat down. 'Right then, Miss Evans. Have you given some thought to a possible career?'
She hesitated slightly, as most people did when this question came up. 'Erm - actually, yes, I had a few ideas, in fact.'
Minerva did not press her at this moment. 'Whatever you're looking at, the staff rests pretty much in agreement that you can complete the requirements for it.'
Evans blushed some. 'Thanks. Well - I was looking through those pamphlets we've been bombarded with… well, see, I've pretty much narrowed it down to two, healing or an Auror.' Minerva was sufficiently impressed: an Auror was becoming a popular consideration, almost a trend, but Evans was never one to follow trends. And the idea of Healer was unexpected, but not unwelcome. 'I can't decide - but the requirements are very similar, aren't they?'
'Very much so,' Minerva agreed. 'Both are a great deal of work, but that's never much stopped you before… let me look over - yes, you're managing perfectly well in all of those classes - Charms, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions - Herbology for healing. You're averaging at least an "Exceeds Expectations" in them all… a very strong "Outstanding" in Charms… I don't think that will be a problem, will it?' She looked back up at Evans, who looked nervous again.
'Yes - er, no, rather. In any case, I wanted to ask you…' She took a deep breath. 'When I look at being a Healer, I've a particular interest in - well, not the typical St Mungo's route. I mean - whenever there's an attack on Muggles, we generally wipe their memories and leave them to the mercy of their own doctors - that's what Muggles call Healers - and sometimes the damage is too extensive for Muggle medicine.' She paused. 'But we could heal it very easily.'
'I see.'
'I don't know how to go about finding a way to reach them, though. The Ministry forbids any unnecessary contact with Muggles during and after attacks - even for healing - unless it's something very obviously magical.' She was frowning slightly, but not getting overwrought. 'They don't seem to encourage what I'd like to do there. Which, I suppose, is why I'm also considering being an Auror - us witches and wizards will be healed, and I think I could do that, too, being an Auror I mean.'
Minerva couldn't help but think of how Dumbledore could arrange ways for Evans to reach Muggles. This was the kind of idea he'd consider excellent, even more so because they had a willing volunteer. Minerva herself considered it an excellent idea, if it came to that.
'The opportunity might come up,' Minerva began, trying very hard not to hint at Dumbledore's plans. 'I suggest that you study healing heavily even now. Madam Pomfrey occasionally takes an assistant.'
'Only seventh-years, I've heard,' Evans said. 'And no one very recently.'
'The demand hasn't been high.' Minerva couldn't help but think that Poppy was also showing more overprotective tendencies toward Lupin, her most regular patient. It wasn't like Poppy to get sentimental, but she was extremely aggressive when it came to protecting Lupin's health (often much to the boy's slight but obvious irritation). But Poppy would have to be persuaded to risk a few things, and to make an exception in the seventh-year rule. It was a war, after all, as Black had said, and they needed Healers. Poppy would be able to see that. 'It will make you very busy, however - you're aiming for high N.E.W.T.s in quite a few classes…'
'With all due respect, Professor,' Evans said cheerfully, 'but most students are busy with Quidditch, the opposite gender, music, and hair. I'm not worried about any of them, so I always have time to spare.'
'Don't speak too hastily. You're permitted an interest in any of the above.'
'No interest.'
'I find that the interest in boys at least usually comes, later if not sooner,' Minerva said dryly. 'But all the same I think there's some truth in what you say. Well, let's see if we've covered it all - I don't think you need Muggle Studies… if you have the time still, I suggest attending the evening lectures. They start for the sixth and seventh years on various topics, and there's also opportunities for Ministry-recognised credits on projects for them.'
'All right,' nodded Evans.
'Your one weakness seems to appear on theory exams.'
'Yes,' she nodded again, dryly. 'I may be talented, but I'm not very clever. My memory is horrible; I wouldn't - ' She broke off, and then muttered, 'actually, I would wish it on my worst enemy.'
'I wouldn't say horrible,' Minerva said mildly, inwardly startled. The war had been going on for years now, ever since Evans was a slight, little first-year. None of Minerva's other classes had shown such an interest in You-Know-Who. 'Just not quite as good. You'll be sure to study, I hope.'
'Unfortunately, yes.'
She liked this girl, all in all.
'That concludes this interview, then, unless you've any other questions…'
*
She spoke with Dumbledore about it that evening.
'Stands to reason,' he murmured, half to himself.
'It seems quite abrupt to me,' Minerva said, rather annoyed because it didn't stand to her reason, which, she readily admitted, fell short of Dumbledore's. Everyone's did.
'Well, the war has really only intensified this year. Voldemort's playing the game much more seriously - viciously - all the sudden.' He sighed. 'So this class has started noticing it to the extent that it comes up when they think of their future. Apparently they also think this will not be a short war that will end within two years…'
'They think it, perhaps, but it's not as if they know,' Minerva said briskly.
'Oh, children have great intuitions. If they think so, then I feel credence is lent to my own theory… they're very young, aren't they? Very strong, though.'
'Quite bright,' Minerva agreed, somewhat reluctantly. It felt nearly brutal to recruit children. Of course, they would be of age within a year. On the other hand, with a life expectancy of one hundred and fifteen years, anything under thirty was still considered youth. But You-Know-Who was brutal, after all. 'And to think that they're the ones we're trying to protect…'
'We're protecting the ones after us. After Miss Evans and Mr Black, even.' Dumbledore's words were cold; his tone was not. He brightened somewhat. 'Do keep an eye and ear out for anymore mentions of a wish to fight against Voldemort - ' Minerva winced; Dumbledore was really impossible ' - and I do believe I shall throw a hint to our other Heads of Houses to do the same.'
TBC
II - Evans, Lily; Monday, 1:30
Almost ten minutes past one-thirty, and Lily Evans had not arrived.
Minerva had been rather hoping to have all consultations finished no later than Wednesday. It was a bit premature to say how well and smoothly they were all going after seeing only two of the children, of course… In any case, Minerva had not expected it from Lily Evans. Punctuality generally went hand-in-hand with responsibility, which was a quality Evans had shown for years.
She waited. It would hardly be the first time a student had forgotten their appointment, and often they'd be a little late. Actually, it was students like Evans that would forget much more quickly than the irresponsible and unacademic ones, who would remember when they had a chance to skip class long after they had forgotten their parents, ethics, Quidditch stats, and basic wand care skills.
Evans was a bright girl, brimming and bursting with magical talent. She had her head on fairly straight right from the beginning, which set her apart from her classmates and made her something of a loner. She and her roommates got on very amiably, but there was no friendship. She was Muggle-born, but she took such an interest in everything wizarding, you would never have guessed her parentage, and anyway there were a lot of Muggle-borns who fitted in much better than Evans.
She was studious, but hardly a Ravenclaw, and clever, but not excessively so, not in the way that alienated very intelligent students from their classmates. Minerva honestly couldn't place it. The girl was blunt, but wasn't rude or mean to anyone. She had a healthy sense of humour; she wasn't straightlaced or pompous or stiff.
Minerva could scarcely understand the tricky ins and outs of female adolescents and their society when she herself had been one, and could hardly figure out why Lily Evans's position was what it was now. It didn't matter. Evans would be fine; she was magically and mentally strong. They had given her a prefect badge, an obvious choice; it had separated her even further from her peers and she didn't show any sign of caring.
She arrived now, having obviously hurried, or embarrassed, or both, from what her pink face told. 'I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall,' she said, with a sheepish smile. 'One-thirty is right in the middle of History of Magic, and - ' She broke off awkwardly, and her embarrassment made her smile increase involuntarily. She was going downright red, now. 'Not a very good excuse, is it?'
'You don't need to explain yourself to me further, Evans,' Minerva said dryly. Binns had taught her History of Magic as well - or, rather, he hadn't. Shut the door, if you please. I know History of Magic of old.'
Evans relaxed as she obeyed. 'I have four and a half years' worth of notes on the first ten minutes of Professor Binns's lectures,' she chuckled wryly, losing some of her ashamed colour, and the two had to exchange a smile at that.
Lily Evans stuck out sharply in a crowd, with noticeable red hair and even more noticeable emerald eyes. That along with her slender figure and peaches-and-cream complexion made her quite a pretty, if quite striking, girl. Perhaps that even explained some of her leper-like status. Jealousy.
'Which, sadly, is ten more minutes than most,' Minerva commented as Evans sat down. 'Right then, Miss Evans. Have you given some thought to a possible career?'
She hesitated slightly, as most people did when this question came up. 'Erm - actually, yes, I had a few ideas, in fact.'
Minerva did not press her at this moment. 'Whatever you're looking at, the staff rests pretty much in agreement that you can complete the requirements for it.'
Evans blushed some. 'Thanks. Well - I was looking through those pamphlets we've been bombarded with… well, see, I've pretty much narrowed it down to two, healing or an Auror.' Minerva was sufficiently impressed: an Auror was becoming a popular consideration, almost a trend, but Evans was never one to follow trends. And the idea of Healer was unexpected, but not unwelcome. 'I can't decide - but the requirements are very similar, aren't they?'
'Very much so,' Minerva agreed. 'Both are a great deal of work, but that's never much stopped you before… let me look over - yes, you're managing perfectly well in all of those classes - Charms, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions - Herbology for healing. You're averaging at least an "Exceeds Expectations" in them all… a very strong "Outstanding" in Charms… I don't think that will be a problem, will it?' She looked back up at Evans, who looked nervous again.
'Yes - er, no, rather. In any case, I wanted to ask you…' She took a deep breath. 'When I look at being a Healer, I've a particular interest in - well, not the typical St Mungo's route. I mean - whenever there's an attack on Muggles, we generally wipe their memories and leave them to the mercy of their own doctors - that's what Muggles call Healers - and sometimes the damage is too extensive for Muggle medicine.' She paused. 'But we could heal it very easily.'
'I see.'
'I don't know how to go about finding a way to reach them, though. The Ministry forbids any unnecessary contact with Muggles during and after attacks - even for healing - unless it's something very obviously magical.' She was frowning slightly, but not getting overwrought. 'They don't seem to encourage what I'd like to do there. Which, I suppose, is why I'm also considering being an Auror - us witches and wizards will be healed, and I think I could do that, too, being an Auror I mean.'
Minerva couldn't help but think of how Dumbledore could arrange ways for Evans to reach Muggles. This was the kind of idea he'd consider excellent, even more so because they had a willing volunteer. Minerva herself considered it an excellent idea, if it came to that.
'The opportunity might come up,' Minerva began, trying very hard not to hint at Dumbledore's plans. 'I suggest that you study healing heavily even now. Madam Pomfrey occasionally takes an assistant.'
'Only seventh-years, I've heard,' Evans said. 'And no one very recently.'
'The demand hasn't been high.' Minerva couldn't help but think that Poppy was also showing more overprotective tendencies toward Lupin, her most regular patient. It wasn't like Poppy to get sentimental, but she was extremely aggressive when it came to protecting Lupin's health (often much to the boy's slight but obvious irritation). But Poppy would have to be persuaded to risk a few things, and to make an exception in the seventh-year rule. It was a war, after all, as Black had said, and they needed Healers. Poppy would be able to see that. 'It will make you very busy, however - you're aiming for high N.E.W.T.s in quite a few classes…'
'With all due respect, Professor,' Evans said cheerfully, 'but most students are busy with Quidditch, the opposite gender, music, and hair. I'm not worried about any of them, so I always have time to spare.'
'Don't speak too hastily. You're permitted an interest in any of the above.'
'No interest.'
'I find that the interest in boys at least usually comes, later if not sooner,' Minerva said dryly. 'But all the same I think there's some truth in what you say. Well, let's see if we've covered it all - I don't think you need Muggle Studies… if you have the time still, I suggest attending the evening lectures. They start for the sixth and seventh years on various topics, and there's also opportunities for Ministry-recognised credits on projects for them.'
'All right,' nodded Evans.
'Your one weakness seems to appear on theory exams.'
'Yes,' she nodded again, dryly. 'I may be talented, but I'm not very clever. My memory is horrible; I wouldn't - ' She broke off, and then muttered, 'actually, I would wish it on my worst enemy.'
'I wouldn't say horrible,' Minerva said mildly, inwardly startled. The war had been going on for years now, ever since Evans was a slight, little first-year. None of Minerva's other classes had shown such an interest in You-Know-Who. 'Just not quite as good. You'll be sure to study, I hope.'
'Unfortunately, yes.'
She liked this girl, all in all.
'That concludes this interview, then, unless you've any other questions…'
*
She spoke with Dumbledore about it that evening.
'Stands to reason,' he murmured, half to himself.
'It seems quite abrupt to me,' Minerva said, rather annoyed because it didn't stand to her reason, which, she readily admitted, fell short of Dumbledore's. Everyone's did.
'Well, the war has really only intensified this year. Voldemort's playing the game much more seriously - viciously - all the sudden.' He sighed. 'So this class has started noticing it to the extent that it comes up when they think of their future. Apparently they also think this will not be a short war that will end within two years…'
'They think it, perhaps, but it's not as if they know,' Minerva said briskly.
'Oh, children have great intuitions. If they think so, then I feel credence is lent to my own theory… they're very young, aren't they? Very strong, though.'
'Quite bright,' Minerva agreed, somewhat reluctantly. It felt nearly brutal to recruit children. Of course, they would be of age within a year. On the other hand, with a life expectancy of one hundred and fifteen years, anything under thirty was still considered youth. But You-Know-Who was brutal, after all. 'And to think that they're the ones we're trying to protect…'
'We're protecting the ones after us. After Miss Evans and Mr Black, even.' Dumbledore's words were cold; his tone was not. He brightened somewhat. 'Do keep an eye and ear out for anymore mentions of a wish to fight against Voldemort - ' Minerva winced; Dumbledore was really impossible ' - and I do believe I shall throw a hint to our other Heads of Houses to do the same.'
TBC
