Chapter 28
Happy Birthday, Professor McGonnagal
Their first class the next day was Magical History, not one of Harry's favorites. Their instructor, the ghostly Professor Binns was about as much fun as dust...but, it was a required course, so there was nothing he could do about it. He and Ron entertained one another---to Hermione's irritation--- with an impromptu match of Exploding Snap, which ended with a violent explosion that singed Harry's eyebrows. It was now fifteen minutes into their lesson, and...strangely enough, Professor Binns, who was tediously punctual, never showed. This led to some speculation as to whether or not the good Professor had finally decided---once and for all---to move on to the hereafter.
That argument was in full swing when, much to their surprise, Professor Bat entered the room and waved for their attention. "May I have your attention, please," she called out in her exotic voice. Everyone became quiet, watching the dark-haired Transylvanian begin to pace at the head of the class. "I regret to tell you that Professor Binns' great, great, great, great, great grandson passed away last night, so he´s off to be with his family to give them his support." She paused to let that sink in, then continued. "So...until further notice, I shall be your instructor for the History of Magic."
"All right!" Ron howled with enthuiasm, clapping. Everyone cheered her, causing the Dark Art---now History of Magic---professor to bow to them and smile. "Now, on to the lesson for the day. I'm quite afraid that I simply do not care anything at all about the Great Gnome Rebellion, or whatever uprising it was that Professor Binns was speaking of. I can never remember which one was which, anyway. So, in lieu of that, this lesson we shall talk about the history of the ancient wizard families, specifically their histories..." Professor Bat spoke on about ancient wizard families, riveting the class to the point that they still were paying her rapt attention when the bell rang ending the period rang. As her student began to gather their things, she called out, "Your homework for next Friday is to find an ancient wizarding family, and then write an essay about its history. Dismissed."
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard now, should it?" Ron pointed out hopefully to both Harry and Hermione.
"No, I suppose not...but we had better find ourselves a family for each of us to write about," Hermione said. "To the library, I think..."
"The library, she says? Will wonders never cease," remarked Ron with a whisper and a grin to Harry, begin careful to avoid Hermione hearing. Harry smothered a laugh, turning into a small cough, that only drew a moment's attention from the enthusiastic Hermione.
Once inside the library, they politely asked Madam Pince just where books on ancient wizarding families might be found. The vulture-like librarian frowned, then led them to the other end of the library. "This very shelf," she said, pointing to some dusty, thick leather-bound tomes on the third shelf up.
"Thank you, Madame Pince," the trio replied.
Ron, the tallest of them, fetched down the nearest three books, and set them upon a nearby table. They each looked through a thick book in search of some ancient family. Ron was the first to find one.
"Here we are! Look what I've found," Ron observed, pointing down to the page in his yellowed-vellum book.
"The Potters?" Harry read in disbelief, looking with surprise at his name in the ancient book. "I'm from an ancient wizarding family? Can't be..."
"C'mon, Harry! Can I write about your family, eh mate?" Ron asked, almost pleading.
"All right. Go ahead then," Harry acceded in embarrassment, then continued his search through his own book. It didn't take him long to find a subject for himself. "Found mine," he declared moments later. "The McGonnagal's."
"No! You mean McGonnagal's from an ancient wizarding family too? Huh. Never knew," Ron said, shaking his head in wonder.
"Well, at least it looks like it from this," Harry replied, digging out his quill, ink, and parchment.
"Ah, here we are," Hermione then said, sounding very pleased with herself. She rather theatrically thumped her slender finger down on the page of her book, smiling, and said nothing.
"Bloody hell," went Ron, becoming a bit pale. Harry looked over at the book, and grinned. "The Weasleys," he read, causing Ron to blush and Hermione to grin even more.
A bit later on, they all sat, working diligently, in the common room writing their essay homework. "Hmm. Look at this," Harry pointed out. "This is the McGonnagal family tree. Whoa! They go back into the 1530s!" Harry turned the page, then another before nodding his head. "Here we are...Professor Minerva McGonnagal! Says here she´s the youngest of five children. She has two brothers, and two sisters...all older than she is, if you can believe that!"
"Harry! That's not very nice," admonished Hermione, though she had to work very hard not to grin herself.
"Hmm, it seems the McGonnagals had a thing about Greek gods...well, at least their names," Harry then read aloud.
"Why do you say that, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking over his way.
"Well, says here that Professor McGonnagal's siblings were called Apollo, Ares, Athena and Demeter. Now, throw in Minerva, and I see a pattern developing..."
"Quite," Hermione added, which caused Ron to crack up, laughing. She spared him a quick scowl, but then went back to work.
Once he'd composed himself again, Ron spoke next. "Well, mate, you've got yourself a quite the family tree here," Ron told Harry, looking down into his book. "Not quite as old as McGonnagal's...but, eh, go figure that one, right?" He looked back over to read in his book. "Eh now, listen to this," he said in an interested tone of voice. "Says here that there are very few Potters remaining today...sorry to say it, mate, but Harry Potter---that's you--- is the only living heir to the family." Ron looked over sheepishly at Harry, realizing what he just said. "Sorry 'bout that one, Harry."
He looked up a moment later, clearing his throat. "Dad told me about books like these... that they can update themselves."
"Eh? What's that?" Harry asked, frowning.
"Well, it's like this, mate...suppose another Potter was born, right today? Well, this book, it would state it right here, right now," Ron told him. Harry could only shake his head and continue on with his reading on the McGonnagals. He saw that every member of the McGonnagal family sported a page of their very own, describing them. He flipped pages until he got to Minerva's page.
"Whoa! Guess what, you two?" he asked suddenly, looking up.
"What is it, Harry?" Ron and Hermione answered.
"It tells me right here that Professor McGonnagal going to have herself birthday in a few months, the beginning of May.
"Oh? When exactly, Harry?" Hermione asked, moving over to peer over his shoulder.
"Um, the third of May," Harry replied. "Get this...she's going to be seventy this year!"
"Wicked. Had no idea the old girl was that old," Ron said, feeling clever.
"Ron..." Hermione chided him...again. "Oh, I've just had an idea," Hermione then added.
"Okay...what?" Ron and Harry asked, a bit reluctant.
"Oh, you two!" Hermione replied, rolling her eyes at them. "I was just going to suggest we throw her a surprise party is all." After Harry and Ron sighed in relief, she shook her head, and continued. "You know...as a sort of 'thanks' for her being there for us."
"Hey, yeah! And we can get everyone to join in," Ron said. He stood up quickly, and surveyed the crowded common room. "Oy! Eh, you lot! Can I have your attention, please?" He yelled to everyone in the common room. Heads swiveled about, looking up at him. "Right. We've just figured out that this May Third, our dear Head of House, Professor McGonnagal, will celebrate her seventieth birthday! And...that being the case, we intend to throw her a right proper surprise party, right?"
All the Gryffindors cheered that suggestion, and quickly crowded around, wanting to help. The first and second years were put to work making banners and confetti. The other classes were sent down to Hogsmeade to buy presents. The Trio sat down and began pondering just how the cake should look like.
"Say, I've got an idea," Harry suddenly declared. "We could use the Gryffindor crest, but instead of writing Gryffindor below it---like it usually does---we could write 'Happy Birthday'."
"DEAN! Get over here, mate!" Ron bellowed, and Dean came running over towards them. Ron explained to him how they wanted the cake to look, and Dean sat down and began drawing.
"Right then, we can work on this each day---yes, Hermione---after finishing our homework," Ron said, adding the last before Hermione could say a single word.
"Great! That reminds me...don't we have to still finish that History of Magic essay yet?" Harry said.
"Oh! And it's due tomorrow," Hermione squealed softly, dashing off to fetch her massive bookbag, returning a moment later. The three then sat down again, cracked open their books, and commenced writing.
Happy Birthday, Professor McGonnagal
Their first class the next day was Magical History, not one of Harry's favorites. Their instructor, the ghostly Professor Binns was about as much fun as dust...but, it was a required course, so there was nothing he could do about it. He and Ron entertained one another---to Hermione's irritation--- with an impromptu match of Exploding Snap, which ended with a violent explosion that singed Harry's eyebrows. It was now fifteen minutes into their lesson, and...strangely enough, Professor Binns, who was tediously punctual, never showed. This led to some speculation as to whether or not the good Professor had finally decided---once and for all---to move on to the hereafter.
That argument was in full swing when, much to their surprise, Professor Bat entered the room and waved for their attention. "May I have your attention, please," she called out in her exotic voice. Everyone became quiet, watching the dark-haired Transylvanian begin to pace at the head of the class. "I regret to tell you that Professor Binns' great, great, great, great, great grandson passed away last night, so he´s off to be with his family to give them his support." She paused to let that sink in, then continued. "So...until further notice, I shall be your instructor for the History of Magic."
"All right!" Ron howled with enthuiasm, clapping. Everyone cheered her, causing the Dark Art---now History of Magic---professor to bow to them and smile. "Now, on to the lesson for the day. I'm quite afraid that I simply do not care anything at all about the Great Gnome Rebellion, or whatever uprising it was that Professor Binns was speaking of. I can never remember which one was which, anyway. So, in lieu of that, this lesson we shall talk about the history of the ancient wizard families, specifically their histories..." Professor Bat spoke on about ancient wizard families, riveting the class to the point that they still were paying her rapt attention when the bell rang ending the period rang. As her student began to gather their things, she called out, "Your homework for next Friday is to find an ancient wizarding family, and then write an essay about its history. Dismissed."
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard now, should it?" Ron pointed out hopefully to both Harry and Hermione.
"No, I suppose not...but we had better find ourselves a family for each of us to write about," Hermione said. "To the library, I think..."
"The library, she says? Will wonders never cease," remarked Ron with a whisper and a grin to Harry, begin careful to avoid Hermione hearing. Harry smothered a laugh, turning into a small cough, that only drew a moment's attention from the enthusiastic Hermione.
Once inside the library, they politely asked Madam Pince just where books on ancient wizarding families might be found. The vulture-like librarian frowned, then led them to the other end of the library. "This very shelf," she said, pointing to some dusty, thick leather-bound tomes on the third shelf up.
"Thank you, Madame Pince," the trio replied.
Ron, the tallest of them, fetched down the nearest three books, and set them upon a nearby table. They each looked through a thick book in search of some ancient family. Ron was the first to find one.
"Here we are! Look what I've found," Ron observed, pointing down to the page in his yellowed-vellum book.
"The Potters?" Harry read in disbelief, looking with surprise at his name in the ancient book. "I'm from an ancient wizarding family? Can't be..."
"C'mon, Harry! Can I write about your family, eh mate?" Ron asked, almost pleading.
"All right. Go ahead then," Harry acceded in embarrassment, then continued his search through his own book. It didn't take him long to find a subject for himself. "Found mine," he declared moments later. "The McGonnagal's."
"No! You mean McGonnagal's from an ancient wizarding family too? Huh. Never knew," Ron said, shaking his head in wonder.
"Well, at least it looks like it from this," Harry replied, digging out his quill, ink, and parchment.
"Ah, here we are," Hermione then said, sounding very pleased with herself. She rather theatrically thumped her slender finger down on the page of her book, smiling, and said nothing.
"Bloody hell," went Ron, becoming a bit pale. Harry looked over at the book, and grinned. "The Weasleys," he read, causing Ron to blush and Hermione to grin even more.
A bit later on, they all sat, working diligently, in the common room writing their essay homework. "Hmm. Look at this," Harry pointed out. "This is the McGonnagal family tree. Whoa! They go back into the 1530s!" Harry turned the page, then another before nodding his head. "Here we are...Professor Minerva McGonnagal! Says here she´s the youngest of five children. She has two brothers, and two sisters...all older than she is, if you can believe that!"
"Harry! That's not very nice," admonished Hermione, though she had to work very hard not to grin herself.
"Hmm, it seems the McGonnagals had a thing about Greek gods...well, at least their names," Harry then read aloud.
"Why do you say that, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking over his way.
"Well, says here that Professor McGonnagal's siblings were called Apollo, Ares, Athena and Demeter. Now, throw in Minerva, and I see a pattern developing..."
"Quite," Hermione added, which caused Ron to crack up, laughing. She spared him a quick scowl, but then went back to work.
Once he'd composed himself again, Ron spoke next. "Well, mate, you've got yourself a quite the family tree here," Ron told Harry, looking down into his book. "Not quite as old as McGonnagal's...but, eh, go figure that one, right?" He looked back over to read in his book. "Eh now, listen to this," he said in an interested tone of voice. "Says here that there are very few Potters remaining today...sorry to say it, mate, but Harry Potter---that's you--- is the only living heir to the family." Ron looked over sheepishly at Harry, realizing what he just said. "Sorry 'bout that one, Harry."
He looked up a moment later, clearing his throat. "Dad told me about books like these... that they can update themselves."
"Eh? What's that?" Harry asked, frowning.
"Well, it's like this, mate...suppose another Potter was born, right today? Well, this book, it would state it right here, right now," Ron told him. Harry could only shake his head and continue on with his reading on the McGonnagals. He saw that every member of the McGonnagal family sported a page of their very own, describing them. He flipped pages until he got to Minerva's page.
"Whoa! Guess what, you two?" he asked suddenly, looking up.
"What is it, Harry?" Ron and Hermione answered.
"It tells me right here that Professor McGonnagal going to have herself birthday in a few months, the beginning of May.
"Oh? When exactly, Harry?" Hermione asked, moving over to peer over his shoulder.
"Um, the third of May," Harry replied. "Get this...she's going to be seventy this year!"
"Wicked. Had no idea the old girl was that old," Ron said, feeling clever.
"Ron..." Hermione chided him...again. "Oh, I've just had an idea," Hermione then added.
"Okay...what?" Ron and Harry asked, a bit reluctant.
"Oh, you two!" Hermione replied, rolling her eyes at them. "I was just going to suggest we throw her a surprise party is all." After Harry and Ron sighed in relief, she shook her head, and continued. "You know...as a sort of 'thanks' for her being there for us."
"Hey, yeah! And we can get everyone to join in," Ron said. He stood up quickly, and surveyed the crowded common room. "Oy! Eh, you lot! Can I have your attention, please?" He yelled to everyone in the common room. Heads swiveled about, looking up at him. "Right. We've just figured out that this May Third, our dear Head of House, Professor McGonnagal, will celebrate her seventieth birthday! And...that being the case, we intend to throw her a right proper surprise party, right?"
All the Gryffindors cheered that suggestion, and quickly crowded around, wanting to help. The first and second years were put to work making banners and confetti. The other classes were sent down to Hogsmeade to buy presents. The Trio sat down and began pondering just how the cake should look like.
"Say, I've got an idea," Harry suddenly declared. "We could use the Gryffindor crest, but instead of writing Gryffindor below it---like it usually does---we could write 'Happy Birthday'."
"DEAN! Get over here, mate!" Ron bellowed, and Dean came running over towards them. Ron explained to him how they wanted the cake to look, and Dean sat down and began drawing.
"Right then, we can work on this each day---yes, Hermione---after finishing our homework," Ron said, adding the last before Hermione could say a single word.
"Great! That reminds me...don't we have to still finish that History of Magic essay yet?" Harry said.
"Oh! And it's due tomorrow," Hermione squealed softly, dashing off to fetch her massive bookbag, returning a moment later. The three then sat down again, cracked open their books, and commenced writing.