Disclaimer: Not one tiny shred of the basic plot/characters/etc. is mine. OK? Are you happy now?
(Note: Bits in italics are dreams, *asterisks are thoughts* and #hashes are song lyrics, singing, etc.#)
Chapter 4: And So Does She
#Harry loves McGonagall, Harry loves McGonagall…#
The chant drifted around Hogwarts like a nasty bout of flu. Harry heard it ring in his ears all day, in the Great Hall, in the common room, everywhere. It enraged him so much.
Hermione was studiously ignoring him. Ron grinned every time they saw McGonagall. Neville followed him like a shadow. Basically his life was a mess.
And sooner or later she'd find out.
Harry was in the Great Hall. McGonagall was there, and they were dancing to the Magic Mushrooms. They swayed together, just them, and the air was speckled with silver and red glitter. The semi-darkness enveloped them.
"Only you, only me, only here, only now," Harry muttered. "Just us… dancing forever. Oh, Professor, it could be like this all the time. Will you… will you marry me? We could be so happy… just us. In Scotland," he added, hoping to persuade her.
"Harry – I would love to…" she said, and kissed him. A long, proper kiss. But there was one thing wrong with it.
It felt like she was rubbing a dead fish on his mouth. It was awful. It was the worst kiss he'd ever had – or have. He pushed away, and threw up at her feet.
Two days later, Harry was summoned to Dumbledore's office. For about the trillionth time in his time at Hogwarts. Normally Dumbledore would reveal something about his past, or tell him the Dark Lord was rising. The usual chitchat. But now Harry knew everything there was to know about his past, and he had defeated the Dark Lord two months ago. So there was no usual chitchat. This was serious.
He followed Snape up to Dumbledore's office. (Normally it was McGonagall… but for obvious reasons Snape had taken him, his greasy hair bobbing up and down… Harry remembered Ron's remark: *At least you don't have a crush on Snape… * although Snape did look good in the right light. ONLY JOKING.) Snape recited the password (love hearts) and led him in.
"Snape, bugger off." Dumbledore ushered him out of the door. "Harry – you are in love with McGonagall. Correct?"
"Yes."
"So. We need to kill this attraction… nip it in the bud."
"Yessir."
"So… Harry. I am a man of many words, and yet I cannot explain to you this… oh sod it. Sod the usual pish-posh. McGonagall is retiring." Harry gasped. "Along with me. We are going to set up a home in Scotland". He coughed. "Harry, I am old, and so is McGonagall… we need to retire. We have enough money set aside."
Harry was dumb. In more ways than one. "Why – why – why…?"
"Oh, Harry lad…" He smiled and sat down. "Now, when a man and a woman love each other very much, they get certain urges. And when-"
"I KNOW. Sir, I know. So… when are you leaving?"
"End of the year, Harry. I'm sorry."
"So am I."
"Leaving?"
"Yes." They were sitting once again in Harry's dorm and Harry was recounting to Hermione what had happened. Ron was supposed to be listening, but was gazing idly out of the window, watching a fascinating fly crawl across it.
"So… that means the problem's sorted, I guess."
"No – because Dumbledore knows."
"Oh yes. Blast."
They pondered. They ummed. They aahed. They deliberated. Ron gazed idly out of the window, helping no one. The he said, "Tell her how you feel."
"WHAT?"
"Well, what have you to lose?" Harry contemplated this for a moment. What did he have to lose? Dumbledore's respect. McGonagall's respect, possibly. Malfoy – he'd have a field day. Snape – same. The rest of the school could go hang.
He was most worried about the first two points. *But then again*, said the little devil inside him, *who wants an old geezer's respect anyway? Who needs it? * Whilst the angel positively shrieked, *Think Harry! Dumbledore is one of your oldest friends – in two ways. But he is very important to you. Don't throw it away! * Harry battled with the angel and devil all day. By six o'clock he had reached a decision.
*Sorry angel – devil wins. I'll see her tonight. *
Hermione looked shocked. "NO, Harry – think about it!"
"HE SAID TO!"
"YES BUT HE WAS WRONG!"
By now a crowd had formed. "Go on, Harry," Seamus yelled. "Go on – it's so sweet!" A group of first year girls (who all fancied Harry like mad) were chanting, "No, no, no," whilst all of the seventh years were telling him to go on. Hermione was almost crying.
"Harry," she whispered, "Please. Think."
Harry thought for a second. "RON!" he bellowed. Ron came across the room through the crowd and Harry asked him, "Should I tell her?"
He also thought for a moment. "I don't know. Go with your instinct. I would."
Harry knocked on her study door.
"Come in," she called.
He opened the door and stepped in. The whole room was McGonagall through and through. Tartan décor filled the room until Harry's head spun. McGonagall was in black robes, stroking her cat, Cheesabell, whom she had acquired last year. "Yes, dear?" she said.
Harry stood stock-still. The mouth was open; the eyes were blinking; but Mr. Brain had long since departed. Phrase from Blackadder there. He carried on opening and closing his mouth like a fish. He felt pretty stupid. He'd come here to reveal his undying love, and all he could do was blink. He had to say something.
Anything. At all.
ANYTHING.
"Crackerjack," he said. Maybe he shouldn't have. McGonagall was looking at him strangely. It was a Why the hell are you here look.
"Professor – I have something to tell you." He said it so quickly it came out as one word.
Iminlovewithyou." He fell silent. She was watching him with an even expression…
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R&R please.
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