Cure for Insomnia 02
Disclamer-Not mine, not your's (unless you're JKR. Why you would be reading this though is beyond me), not our's. Me no makey money offy thisy!
A/N- Sorry this took so long. Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter one! Makes me so happy ::wipes away tear:: Anyway, Schnoogen Floogen (don't ask, just read) belongs to me. Actually my dad, whose love to change words around drives me crazy, came up with the word. Yaddady yadday are thoughts, yadddady yaddady is that little voice in Min's head. Enjoy!
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Breakfast that morning after was the same as usual, although a little strained. The students were all still half-asleep or doing homework. The teachers noticed the rings under the headmaster's and deputy headmistress' eyes, along with their lack of conversation. Figuring it was something to do with the Ministry or disagreeing opinions, most of them returned to their breakfast. Xiomara Hooch, on the other hand, could never miss a chance to pester her friend. After breakfast, she jogged to catch up with Minerva's long strides.
"Good morning, Min!" She made her voice sound as chipper as possible and stuck her hands in her pockets. "Watcha up to?"
Minerva shot her a look meant to kill. "One, do not call me Min. You know I hate that." Hooch rolled her eyes at her I'm-a-professor-hear-me-roar tone of voice and played with some lint from her pants. "Two, I am obviously on my way to my classroom, and three, your speech is atrocious."
"Hey! Just 'cause your all b-" She looks around and notices some first years trading chocolate frog cards in the hall, "crabby in the morning doesn't mean you have to take it out on me!" Her eyes were round with innocence.
Minerva sighed, "You're right Xio'. I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm sorry I snapped."
Xiomara snorted, "As you should be." She kicked at a nothing and snuck a sly glance at her friend. "So… what kept you up 'til the wee hours of the morning with Professor Dumbledore?" she teased.
"Xiomara… what makes you think I was up with Albus?"
Hooch put her hands up in defense, "He looks tired too, that's all. Besides, I was just wondering." It was Minerva's turn to snort, this time in disbelief, and they continued down the hall. Just as they reached the Transfiguration room, Madam Hooch turned to Minerva with a huge grin on her face. "Did you two have fun snogging each other senseless?"
With that, she sprinted down the hall, fearing the professor's wrath. "Xiomara Hooch you are dead!" At the same time McGonagall was thinking, If only it were true. She stepped into the room, thinking of ways to get her revenge. Maybe Severus would like to help…
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After dinner, Albus had asked Minerva to meet him in his office when she had the chance to play a game of chess. After reassuring Hermione that her grades were fine and unaffected by her prefect duties, she walked down the hall towards the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster's office. Her mind was running in so many directions that she was starting to get a headache.
What if he wants to talk about last night? What should I say? You'll tell him to forget it ever happened and that it was just an accident. That way you can keep his friendship. She nodded. That's the best thing to do. But is that what you want? Minerva slowed her swift pace and eventually paused for several minutes. While thinking, she noticed a suit of armor to her left, standing just before the gargoyle. Of all the times she'd been down this hall she never realized he was bowing in a gentlemanly manner. Minerva smirked, resisting the urge to return the gesture. Probably Albus' doing, the old coot. A whisper in her ear tentatively spoke, You love that old coot.
She smiled. Yes, I- Minerva jerked, blinked, and looked around, finding herself still in front of the knight. I need to stop talking to myself. I'm turning into Xiomara. She shook her head. Now was not the time to be thinking of the insane flying instructor. Not insane, just touched in the head.
Professor McGonagall stepped in front of the gargoyle and spoke the password, "Schnoogen Floogen." The candy, an invention of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, caused one's nose to run with multi-colored snot. It wasn't a pretty sight when the staff had received a box. Severus' nose had run for hours. Albus had forgotten to tell them who the package was from. The candy is, obviously, a hit among the students, especially the Gryffindors who had an entire case sent to them via the inventors.
The gargoyle began to spiral upwards. Minerva stepped onto the platform and allowed it to lift her to Albus' office door. The door itself was made of cherry wood and had a golden lion for a handle, which bit any unwelcome visitors who happened to stumble across the password. The bite caused his or her hand to swell to twice its size.
Minerva took a deep breath, raised her hand and paused. Knock that door down girl! The frustrated voice sounded strangely like Madam Hooch…
Shrugging, Minerva gently rapped twice on the door.
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Albus sat behind his desk, a small paper bag in his lap and Fawkes on his shoulder. He was staring at his desktop, but every so often he would pop a lemon drop from the bag into his mouth and then give one to Fawkes. And so it went in this fashion: one for Albus, one for Fawkes, one for Albus, one for Fawkes, two for Albus, one for-
The phoenix on his shoulder began to squawk in protest. Albus chuckled, "Sorry dear friend, didn't notice what I was doing." He handed another lemon drop to Fawkes and the disgruntled bird took it and turned his head as if he disagreed.
Albus returned to staring at his desk. It's just a game of chess, nothing more, nothing less Suddenly there came a knock at the door. "Come in, Minerva"
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