Chapter X: Theodore McGonagall

            "Minerva, I'm afraid we will have to close down Hogwarts... Permanently."

            "Oh, for heaven's sake, Albus! Not forever. Yes, we may have to shut down for a semester, to figure out who's behind this, but Hogwarts will reopen."

            "No, that will not happen. For you see, Professor Snape found something rather interesting when he investing the strange substance that Miss Granger had been encased in."

            Professor McGonagall stood back from Dumbledore's desk and shook her head violently. "I don't know what you mean."

            "Don't you?" the old wizard asked as he pointed to a jar on his desk. "We found this same substance in your office, Minerva. In your office!" He slammed his hand abruptly on the wooden desk and glared fiercely. "Now, tell me, what part do you have in all of this?"

            Tears stared to trickle down her cheek as she tried to snivel in her emotion. Loud snorts erupted, releasing all her frustration. Her face, covered in wetness, slowly unwrinkled as it looked up toward Dumbledore compassionately. She then whispered a name.

            "Theodore."

            "Beg your pardon?"

            She repeated in a more stern voice. "Theodore McGonagall. My brother."

            "Yes, I know who he is, a Death Eater. What does he have to do with this," he pointed to the jar and continued, "this evil, here?"

            "No! No, he is not! He's, he's—"

            "He's right here."

            A man, six feet tall with slender legs underneath a tattered robe, entered the room. His face was fallen, thin and frail. A thick golden mustache covered his upper lip while a few strands grew out of his chin. His head, half balding, was covered with a thick, black pointed hat that tilted to the right. Underneath his large spectacles were beady gray eyes resembling very much of Minerva McGonagall.

            "How did you get here? You were sentenced to Azkaban!" Dumbledore yelled and grabbed his wand from under his beard and robe.

            "He was," Professor McGonagall whimpered, "But I helped him escape. He's been hiding here at Hogwarts for the past few weeks."

            "Never in all my stars could I have imagined such a conjuring. All of people… How did you do it? Why would you break out a criminal?"

            "I am no criminal, sir," Theodore stepped forward in between his sister and Dumbledore. "I am but a man, not a wizard. I had never heard of this dark wizard you called, what was it, Voltemar?"

            "Voldemort…" Dumbledore corrected.

            "Yes, yes, same difference. I was living in the, what you call, Muggle world, when a band of robed figures came to arrest me. However, my sister kindly withdrew some favors when she heard of my arrest. After my unfair trial, some wizards from some Order of the Phoenix came to my rescue. In my place at Azkaban there is a soulless replicant of myself, which they cannot tell the difference I might hope."

            "That explains the how, but why, Minerva, why? How do you know he still does not follow Voldemort? It is not unheard of that the Dark Lord puts Muggles under his spell. And how is he a Muggle and you're not? So many questions," Dumbledore rambled on as he took a seat.

            "I can explain only part of that," she responded. "As for the why… He is my brother. That is all the reason you should need. I must believe in him. For all my life he has never been dishonest, and he isn't about to start now. As for his lack of powers, that is of another agenda. I would rather not say."

            "Then I will," Theodore said in his British accent. "We do not share the same mother. When Minerva's mother passed away in childbirth, our father fell in love with a new woman, a Muggle, shortly after. Yes, that would still make me half-wizard, but I did not inherit any of my father's power. I am as ordinary as any Muggle out there."

            "If this is all true, which I cannot fully know… Then how did this substance get in your office, Minerva? If Mister McGonagall did not send these letters, then who did?"

            "I do not know that, Albus. The evidence seems to stand against me sadly."

            "Yes, I'm afraid it does."

***

            "Slow down!" Harry shouted.

            "You're not fast enough! Come on!"

            "This would be easier if I knew where we were going."

            Abruptly, Kimberly stopped and turned. "My mum."

            "Coach Hooch? How will she help us?"

            "My mum will do anything for me, including lending me her transfera."

            "What's that?"

            Kimberly sighed. "You don't even know what a transfera is? Where have you been living? In a rock?" She paused, barely remembering what had happened with Sirius. "Nevermind. I didn't mean it that way. Sorry."

            "Whatever. Anyway, what does a transfera do? And why would your mother let you have it anyway?"

            "It's a device that can literally transport your mind to another place, but not your body. Actually, it's quite illegal to posses one or use it, but my mum hides lots of those kinds of gadgets around. And no, she won't let us use it."

            "Wait, if she won't let us—"

            "Please, Harry! We are going to take it anyway," Kimberly laughed and lead Harry down a twisting corridor. "Since everyone is so busy trying to keep Hogwarts all secure, they won't even notice our use of the transfera. Now, you with me?"

            At first, Harry wanted to back away. That letter from Hogsmead was most likely a trick and by sending their minds there, they could put themselves in more risk than imaginable. Perhaps it was better to just go back to the Gryffindor Tower and wait until things settled down in Hogwarts. In time, things will get solved and return back to the way they were, despite what Kimberly predicted about the school being destroyed. How did Harry know she wasn't a traitor? He didn't, but now, he had very few choices and people whom he could trust.

            And so, Harry sluggishly responded, "Yes."

            "Fantastic! Come on, we'll be there shortly."

            It took only a matter of minutes before the two reached Madame Hooch's office. The door was bolted shut, but that was no problem for Kimberly's masterball. She gently placed its orange orb next to the dead bolt and sparked it open quickly. A woman's high shrieking voice screamed back at them.

            "Intruders! I have a wand!"

            Kimberly giggled back. "I have one too, mum."

            "Kimberly? Darling, what brings you here? Why aren't you in your room? And who's that with you… Oh, dear words. Young Mister Potter. This is an odd get-together, is it not?"
            "We have so much to tell you!" Kimberly yelled and eyed over at Harry. She then looked over toward a rustic cage sitting behind Madame Hooch's desk. The top of it was covered in a thick, velvet cloth while the bottom peeked out a bit. It seemed as if a glowing, sapphire crystal laid inside it, flickering on and off as Harry looked at it.

            "But first, why aren't you in the Gryffindor common room with all your other friends?"

            "It's a long story, mum. Please, let's sit over here, and I'll tell you everything, I promise."

            Her mother smiled her ruby painted lips that matched the small streaks in her short, blonde hair. She then walked over toward a large, brown leather coach covered in a thin clear plastic so that when she sat, it squeaked back at her. Harry, however, ever so slightly inched over toward the desk, trying to make it seem as if he was just wandering and not bringing attention to where his eyes kept fluttering.

            As Kimberly blabbed on to her mother about Lucius, the letter, the Blue Bloods and everything else she could possibly say, Harry found his way to the covered cage. He had to act quickly before Madame Hooch realized what he was doing. After counting backwards from three, Harry lifted the cloth, unlatched the hook that closed the cage and grabbed the crystal that now glowed in his hand bright blue. He then shut the cage, put the cloth back on and tucked the crystal into his pocket.

            Suddenly, Kimberly grabbed her mother and hugged her tightly while motioning with her large eyes for Harry to come over to where she was. Harry understood, rushed over toward the broad couches and hovered near the two Hooches.

            "We should go back to our rooms now, Kimberly," Harry said innocently.

            "Oh, I agree. I'll walk you two down—"

            "No!" Kimberly shouted. "Really, mum, we can get there on our own."

            "But I insist. To ensure that no one harms you and—"

            "Really, Madame Hooch," Harry started, "we'll be fine. And besides, you can't leave your office. What if Dumbledore needed you? Really, we'll be fine."

            Hooch nodded. "You two be good."

            "We will, mum!"

            Whispering into her daughter's ear, Hooch said, "Potter's a nice catch, dear. Don't let him get away."

            Kimberly snickered back, grabbed Harry's hand and ran out of the office. After they passed through a few corridors, Kimberly turned to Harry and stared at the somewhat shimmering pocket.

            "That is what I think it is, right?"

            Harry nodded and lifted the crystal out. "Now what?"

            "Come on. We'll use it somewhere safe."

            "Another bathroom?"

            Kimberly smiled. "Ha, no, Harry. We're close to the astronomy lab. It's perfect there. It's so dark, no one will even see us."

            "Hello? The crystal is glowing! Of course they'll see us."

            "It only glows when it's not being used. If we use it right away, then no one will see us. Understand?"

            "Why do you know so much?" Harry asked.

            "I'm a girl. We always know more than you."

            Harry rolled his eyes and followed Kimberly into the astronomy lab. As they entered the open archway, Harry kept the crystal buried in his pocket. Thick oak trees blocked their path as they tried tiptoe across the lush grassy ground. A cricket sang its sweet melody near Harry's left ear as he tried to shoo it away. Finally, they found a crevasse that seemed deserted. No trees, crickets or anyone there to stop them from using the transfera.