About 20 years later
Minerva walked briskly across her classroom and snapped her wand on the desk of a boy named James Potter. " Potter!" she barked. " Stop talking to Mr. Black and try doing your work. That is of course unless your so suberbly good at what we're practicing you've no need to practice. In any case, I'm sure I can find you something to do." " Yes Professor." James sighed dramatically. She raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips, then shot James's best friend Sirius Black a warning glance. " That goes for you too Mr. Black. I'm sick of telling you to be quite. Don't make me talk to you again."
With that she walked back to the front of the classroom and saw another student, hoplessly stupid, wacking hsi wand against his desk and cursing. Minerva threw up her arms. " Pettigrew! How many times do I have to help you in a day?!" she glided over to him.
James Potter grinned at Sirius. " Well looks like we've got Peter duty again tonight Padfoot." Sirius grinned back. " Nah. It's Mooney's turn tonight. WE did it last night." They were referring to their other best friend, Remus Lupin, whom they called Mooney.
Another boy with long greasy black hair, a white complexion as though he never spent any time in the sun, and a very skinny figure scowled at them. " Don't you two ever shut up?" James and Sirius turned around slowly in their chairs. " Don't you ever wash your hair Snivelly?" James asked. " Yea Snivellus, stop iterogating us. Unless you want us to turn you into a squash or something." Severus Snape, the greasy haired boy whom they called Snivelly or Snivellus, put on a look of pure menice. " Shut up Black. You wouldn't have the nerve. " Sirius looked at James, then back at Severus. " Look Snivelly, I have the guts. Your the one who doesn't have any. So why don't you go back to the dump you came from with your greasy, nasty parents you git."
Severus's face became contorted with rage. He whipped his wand to Sirius's face and jumped up. James and Sirius jumped up as well, whipping out thier wands. Severus yelled the Stunning Spell and missed Sirius by a mere half an inch, hitting some other kid behind him. Sirius and James both shouted their spells at once, and Severus only just threw up a protection wall. However the force of the two spells gave him a bloddy nose. He sent a stunning spell at James, then Sirius before they heard McGonagall shout at them. Severus whipped around.Standing in front of him was Professor McGonagall, lips as thin as they could go, arms folded across her chest, pierceing green eyes narrowed alarmingly.
He really hated McGonagall, and not just because she was the head of the Gryiffindor house and he was in Slytherin, but because she always got him into trouble and because he just did. Right now he was too mad to care what he said to her. " What do you want McGonagall? We were in the middle of a duel you know." Severus scowled. " I'm very well aware of what you were doing Mr. Snape. And I suggest you not talk to me in that tone of voice. 50 points from Slytherin. However I am fed up with you three fighting all the time. I think it's time for a visit to the Headmaster." McGonagall barked at them. " You know what McGonagall? I don't care. You just a stupid old bitch who can't keep her nose out of other people's buisness. So shutup!" Snape yelled.
McGonagall just stood there, not moving. All she said was ' 150 points from Slytherin.' However james and Sirius reacted faster than her. James yelled a spell that flipped Severus upside down in the air. He hung there as if gripped by invisible hands aorund his ankles. Sirius pointed his wand threatingly at Severus's head. She pulled out her wand and realeased the spell, letting Snape fall to the floor. She however did not repremand Sirius and James.
" You listen here Snape. I suggest you keep your overly large mouth shut or I shall shut it for you and believe me, you won't be able to get it undone again unless I do it. Follow me boys, we're going to see the Headmaster. " Then with a flick of her wand and 'locomotor mortis' she flipped Severus into a laying position falt on his back in the air and walked out of the room, silently putting a good behaviour spell on the class.
Severus, floating motionless behind her, followed. James and Sirius were so mad they couldn't even snigger at Severus. But they followed, not in good spirits about seeing the Headmaster. The Headmaster was a very good man and he was fair, but they fought with Severus and the Slytherins so much, James didn't think that they would be fine this time. The Headmaster was the greatest wizard of the age and the smartest not to mention. James knew he wouldn't yell but he was afraid that they were going to get expelled.
Minerva walked briskly towards the Headmaster's office. It wasn't that far away from her classroom and rooms so they were standing in front of the stone gargoyle in no time. ' Blaster Pop' she muttered and the gargoyle swung forward to admit them to a long set of spiral stairs leading up to the Headmaster's office. She started climbing. She was used to the climb and it was very easy. When they reached the top, she rapped on the door three times, very shortly. The door swung open to admit her and she marched into the Headmaster's office.
He was sitting at his desk, looking over a book, and glanced up when she marched in. He could tell by the look on her face that whatever she was here for wasn't good. She floated Snape out in front of her and muttered the countercurse, which cause him to fall to the floor and be able to move again. The Headmaster sighed. " Where are the other two?" he asked softly. James and Sirius stepped out from behind her.
The Headmaster sighed again and looked at them over the top of his half moon spectecles. " Alright boys, out with it. Why were you fighting this time. I daresay Professor McGonagall is as sick of seeing you fight as I am. Aren't you?" He looked over at Minerva. " I am VERY sick of seeing them fight. Or in any case, hearing about them fighting. Professor Dumbeldore, I am fed up with it. I leave their punishment up to you. However I have already taken 150 points from Slytherin for Snape's tounge and 20 each for James and Sirius. " Professor Dumbledore nodded at her. "Alright boys. You can talk now. Mind you one at a time."
James spoke first, then Sirius. Snape refused to speak. Dumbledore listened solemly. He probed Snape's mind for the details about what happened on his account. They all told the truth, for they were afraid to lie to Dumbledore. He was a forgiving person but he hated being lied to.
In the end it wasn't as bad as they thought but they still had a week of detentions, James was suspened from Quidditch for a game for flipping Severus upside down and Sirius and was forbidden to visit Hosmeade for the rest of the year. Dumbledore knew about the Mauderers map, but he said nothing about it. Severus was two weeks detention with McGonagall and any more if she saw fit.
The bell rang and they all left the office. McGonagall however, stayed behind. She had no more classes for the rest of the day. Slumping down in a chair, she put her face in her hands. Dumbledore got up and put a hand on her shoulder. " I know it's hard Minerva. I wish they would stop fighting too. It tears me apart to see them like this."
Upon saying this, he was refering to James and Sirius. Minerva nodded in silence. It still pained her to have him touch her sometimes. However niether had a recollection of ever having kissed. The only two the knew were Kylie and Poppy, who were now the Quidditch Professor and the school nurse.
" I only wish they would stop and use the brains I know they have. James is very smart and clever and so is Sirius. Snape, well he's smart in some areas, if only he could learn to not provoke those two..." Dumbledore rubbed her arm comfortingly. " I know. They have talent and lots of it. So much potential. Although, they do have rather good marks but they could be better in some areas..." Dumbledore sighed and broke off, wandering over to his Phoenix, Fawkes. He stroked his head, looking forlorn.
" Today's just not a good day with them Albus." she paused. " Hmm. I wonder how long it's been since I've said that. Let's see. Yesterday, the day before that, and the day before that... Merlin they are troublesome, those boys." Once again Dumbledore sighed. " I think it's time I had a chat with James and company. I just don't want to. I mean, I shouldn't have to. It seems as though we have these chats too often. They should know by now." Throwing up his arms he said, " Well at least it didn't involve Pettigrew this time. Or Lupin but he never really gets invovled unless Severus provokes him enough. I though him being a Prefect would be a good thing and it is, I just wish he would excerise some control over his friends."
Minerva nodded, then stood up. " Well Dumbledore, if you don't mind, I've got to go visit Kylie before she has a hissy fit at me." She rolled her eyes to empasize her point. Dumbledore grinned. "Yes, I can imagine she would. And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Albus? We're collegues now, not teacher and student. Formality I could care less about now."
Minerva shook her head. " I just can't get used to calling you ' Albus'. It sounds to wierd. But I suppose I could try. Just let me work on it on my own." Dumbledore nodded and smiled knowingly. " Of my dear. Take all the time you need." He looked as if he were about to say more but stopped himself. " Thank you. I'll see you at dinner... Albus." she smiled and walked out of his study.