"Woo." Ron's response was the first to break the stunned silence.
"He shouldn't have told us that." said Neville, his face red again.
"He shouldn't have told her that." Lupin corrected.
Harry heard something more than anger in Lupin's voice, but he wasn't sure what exactly it was. Tonks's look to Lupin made Harry suspect she had a better idea of it then he did. He didn't get much time to think about it though, because Tonks excused herself and followed after Malone.
"Children," Mr. Weasley's voice was very firm. "I want you all to forget what you just heard. If I ever hear even the suggestion any of you repeated that -"
"Mr. Weasley, I've heard stories worse than that about Professor McGonagall."
Harry and Ron looked at Luna, the shock in their faces obvious.
Mundungus joined the conversation. "Arthur, it's not exactly the world's best kept secret. She made the front page of The Daily Prophet more than once. Minerva's had more than a bit of a scandalous past."
Neville held his head up high to look Mundungus Fletcher right in the eye. "My Gran says Professor McGonagall is a fine, upstanding woman and anyone who says otherwise isn't worth knowing."
"I never said she wasn't a fine woman, quite the contrary. Being a fine woman is what's gotten her in trouble more than a few times." Shot back Mundungus suggestively. "As for the upstanding part, well being as I never had the pleasure personally I couldn't -"
"That's enough Mundungus!" Lupin warned.
At that point, the only thing that saved Mundungus from a bloody nose was the appearance of Molly Weasley. Whether it would have been delivered by Lupin, Arthur Weasley, an oddly menacing looking Neville, or Harry himself wasn't clear.
"What's going on here?"
"Nothing," was Mr. Weasley's too quick response. "Children go get sandwiches."
Luna shrugged.
Looking back and forth from Neville and Luna, Ron said, "Well? Will one of you two explain what that was about? Oy and you Hermione. Why didn't you look even a little shocked back there?"
When no one replied, Ron glared at Hermione. "Come on then. I thought you always had the answer for everything? This not covered in the new edition of Hogwarts: A History?" He teased.
"Really, Ron!" Hermione looked uncomfortable. "One or two things are mentioned in it."
"What!?" asked Harry.
"Oh, well . it mentions.the author suggests." Hermione exploded. "Oh if you're so bloody interested why don't you go read it yourself!"
Hermione's raised voice caught the attention of Arthur and Charlie Weasley.
"What did I just tell you. I don't want any of you talking about this!"
Harry snapped. "I'm still not sure exactly what it is we're not allowed to talk about!"
"Yeah, maybe we should go ask Mundungus. Then at least we would know what not to talk about." added Ron.
The usually benevolent Mr. Weasley looked more furious than Harry had ever seen Mrs. Weasley. Expecting a Howler worthy tongue lashing, Harry was surprised when the older man spoke in a quiet, uncomfortable voice.
"I would just as soon tell you myself, rather than have you hear even more exaggerated versions." Mr. Weasley sighed. "There have been, in the past, a number of stories and rumors that have circulated about Professor McGonagall."
"What kind of rumors?" Harry was genuinely interested.
"Well..supposedly when she first started at Hogwarts, teaching I mean." Mr. Weasley was clearly having trouble picking the words. "There was a man. a muggle. During the summers, she lived with him. This went on for a few years and then.Well purportedly, he suspected.he suspected there was someone else at the school. And well he didn't want her going back."
Arthur paused for a long minute before continuing. "To keep her from leaving . He . He cut off the tips of her fingers so she couldn't fly away. The man was clearly deranged."
"I'll say." said Ron. "He just cut off her fingertips? And how was that supposed to stop her from leaving? I mean, yeah that guy sounds mental."
"Yes, well she nearly died and it became quite a sensation in the papers. A few less reputable reporters-"
Harry noticed Mr. Weasley's eyes couldn't help but drift towards Luna.
"Managed to make quite a story of it and of course Minerva didn't regain really consciousness for nearly a month. So the reporters had carte blanche to write whatever they liked. By the time she could defend herself, the papers had finally moved on. Her claims the man was only a passing acquaintance, well if they made it into the papers at all, it certainly didn't get the front page treatment the allegations against her did."
"Was that it?" Harry knew that couldn't be it. That had a reasonable explanation. Surely even Mundungus Fletcher couldn't have exaggerated just that out to the insinuations he made. McGonagall's own nephew surely would have taken her word over the Rita Skeeters of the world.
"Well, there were rumors when I was in school about an affair with the Potions Master, Professor Pomfrey."
More than one eyebrow went up at the familiar name.
Mr. Weasley noticed. "Yes, he was Madam Pomfrey's husband. Some of the students overheard a rather heated argument with his wife. Mrs. Pomfrey thought Mr. Pomfrey was spending too much time giving Professor McGonagall potion making lessons."
"Why would one Professor be giving another Professor lessons?" Neville asked innocently. After an exasperated sigh from Hermione and a kick from Ron, he said, "Oh, never mind. I get it."
"No, that's just it though. Professor McGonagall was horrible at potions. To this day I don't think she can make a simple sleep draught. Headmaster Dippet had asked Professor Pomfrey to help her make something."
Snape had quietly wandered over. "No, she can't. Minerva McGonagall is quite literally the only person I have ever met who is worse at potions than you, Longbottom. She can ruin the simplest potion just by walking into the room."
Neville blushed at this revelation.
"Why the discussion of Minerva McGonagall's potion making skills anyways?"
"I was just trying to dispel some notions that may have inadvertently gotten to the children," Began Mr. Weasley.
"I like her. She's a good Transfiguration teacher, but I'm not surprised she can't do potions." Luna interrupted. "I heard she was expelled from Hogwarts. She isn't a fully trained witch and Headmaster Dippet only hired her to teach so she would be around to warm his bed at night."
Everyone turned to stare at Luna.
"Isn't it true, when they found him dead, she was still in bed with him?"
Mr. Weasley began to rub his temples. Snape recovered his voice. "Miss Lovegood, who exactly tells you these things? Never mind, I don't want to know."
Not willing to hit a girl, Neville walked away from the group without a word.
Ron spoke up. "Wait, that can't be true. I mean Luna said it, so it can't be true. No way McGonagall got expelled. That's like got to be all misunderstood and not anywhere near the truth-right? Right?"
Luna shrugged. "Dad thinks the Death Eater attack was really a botched Ministry assassination attempt. I mean the only thing that made it look like a Death Eater attack was the Dark Mark above her cottage afterwards. Real attacks don't happen in the middle of the afternoon, they happen in the cover of darkness. Real Death Eaters torture and kill using wands and spells. They rape people, but they don't bathe their victims and they certainly don't drown them in bathtubs.
Snape had had enough. His voice was filled with such fury and malice it was a hiss more than anything else. "Let me assure you Miss Lovegood, your source of information on the habits and conduct of Death Eaters is severely lacking."
Luna began to speak again, but Snape cut her off.
"I was there Miss Lovegood. At Professor McGonagall's house that afternoon and I can assure you it was indeed a Death Eater attack. The Dark Lord bathed her because he wanted to make sure she was clean before - "
Suddenly, Snape realized what he was saying. "I am not having this conversation." Snape turned and walked away without another word.
Remembering something Bellatrix said earlier that night, Harry watched his Potion Master's retreating back with something far beyond his usual revulsion for the man. Standing there, suddenly Harry no longer felt at all curious.
Charlie Weasley, who usually had a kind word for everyone, was the first to speak. "Hey Luna, why don't you tell your dad to go piss up a rope."
Mr. Weasley didn't have to tell them to disperse this time. Ron, Harry and Hermione headed into the meeting room to find seats early.
"He shouldn't have told us that." said Neville, his face red again.
"He shouldn't have told her that." Lupin corrected.
Harry heard something more than anger in Lupin's voice, but he wasn't sure what exactly it was. Tonks's look to Lupin made Harry suspect she had a better idea of it then he did. He didn't get much time to think about it though, because Tonks excused herself and followed after Malone.
"Children," Mr. Weasley's voice was very firm. "I want you all to forget what you just heard. If I ever hear even the suggestion any of you repeated that -"
"Mr. Weasley, I've heard stories worse than that about Professor McGonagall."
Harry and Ron looked at Luna, the shock in their faces obvious.
Mundungus joined the conversation. "Arthur, it's not exactly the world's best kept secret. She made the front page of The Daily Prophet more than once. Minerva's had more than a bit of a scandalous past."
Neville held his head up high to look Mundungus Fletcher right in the eye. "My Gran says Professor McGonagall is a fine, upstanding woman and anyone who says otherwise isn't worth knowing."
"I never said she wasn't a fine woman, quite the contrary. Being a fine woman is what's gotten her in trouble more than a few times." Shot back Mundungus suggestively. "As for the upstanding part, well being as I never had the pleasure personally I couldn't -"
"That's enough Mundungus!" Lupin warned.
At that point, the only thing that saved Mundungus from a bloody nose was the appearance of Molly Weasley. Whether it would have been delivered by Lupin, Arthur Weasley, an oddly menacing looking Neville, or Harry himself wasn't clear.
"What's going on here?"
"Nothing," was Mr. Weasley's too quick response. "Children go get sandwiches."
Luna shrugged.
Looking back and forth from Neville and Luna, Ron said, "Well? Will one of you two explain what that was about? Oy and you Hermione. Why didn't you look even a little shocked back there?"
When no one replied, Ron glared at Hermione. "Come on then. I thought you always had the answer for everything? This not covered in the new edition of Hogwarts: A History?" He teased.
"Really, Ron!" Hermione looked uncomfortable. "One or two things are mentioned in it."
"What!?" asked Harry.
"Oh, well . it mentions.the author suggests." Hermione exploded. "Oh if you're so bloody interested why don't you go read it yourself!"
Hermione's raised voice caught the attention of Arthur and Charlie Weasley.
"What did I just tell you. I don't want any of you talking about this!"
Harry snapped. "I'm still not sure exactly what it is we're not allowed to talk about!"
"Yeah, maybe we should go ask Mundungus. Then at least we would know what not to talk about." added Ron.
The usually benevolent Mr. Weasley looked more furious than Harry had ever seen Mrs. Weasley. Expecting a Howler worthy tongue lashing, Harry was surprised when the older man spoke in a quiet, uncomfortable voice.
"I would just as soon tell you myself, rather than have you hear even more exaggerated versions." Mr. Weasley sighed. "There have been, in the past, a number of stories and rumors that have circulated about Professor McGonagall."
"What kind of rumors?" Harry was genuinely interested.
"Well..supposedly when she first started at Hogwarts, teaching I mean." Mr. Weasley was clearly having trouble picking the words. "There was a man. a muggle. During the summers, she lived with him. This went on for a few years and then.Well purportedly, he suspected.he suspected there was someone else at the school. And well he didn't want her going back."
Arthur paused for a long minute before continuing. "To keep her from leaving . He . He cut off the tips of her fingers so she couldn't fly away. The man was clearly deranged."
"I'll say." said Ron. "He just cut off her fingertips? And how was that supposed to stop her from leaving? I mean, yeah that guy sounds mental."
"Yes, well she nearly died and it became quite a sensation in the papers. A few less reputable reporters-"
Harry noticed Mr. Weasley's eyes couldn't help but drift towards Luna.
"Managed to make quite a story of it and of course Minerva didn't regain really consciousness for nearly a month. So the reporters had carte blanche to write whatever they liked. By the time she could defend herself, the papers had finally moved on. Her claims the man was only a passing acquaintance, well if they made it into the papers at all, it certainly didn't get the front page treatment the allegations against her did."
"Was that it?" Harry knew that couldn't be it. That had a reasonable explanation. Surely even Mundungus Fletcher couldn't have exaggerated just that out to the insinuations he made. McGonagall's own nephew surely would have taken her word over the Rita Skeeters of the world.
"Well, there were rumors when I was in school about an affair with the Potions Master, Professor Pomfrey."
More than one eyebrow went up at the familiar name.
Mr. Weasley noticed. "Yes, he was Madam Pomfrey's husband. Some of the students overheard a rather heated argument with his wife. Mrs. Pomfrey thought Mr. Pomfrey was spending too much time giving Professor McGonagall potion making lessons."
"Why would one Professor be giving another Professor lessons?" Neville asked innocently. After an exasperated sigh from Hermione and a kick from Ron, he said, "Oh, never mind. I get it."
"No, that's just it though. Professor McGonagall was horrible at potions. To this day I don't think she can make a simple sleep draught. Headmaster Dippet had asked Professor Pomfrey to help her make something."
Snape had quietly wandered over. "No, she can't. Minerva McGonagall is quite literally the only person I have ever met who is worse at potions than you, Longbottom. She can ruin the simplest potion just by walking into the room."
Neville blushed at this revelation.
"Why the discussion of Minerva McGonagall's potion making skills anyways?"
"I was just trying to dispel some notions that may have inadvertently gotten to the children," Began Mr. Weasley.
"I like her. She's a good Transfiguration teacher, but I'm not surprised she can't do potions." Luna interrupted. "I heard she was expelled from Hogwarts. She isn't a fully trained witch and Headmaster Dippet only hired her to teach so she would be around to warm his bed at night."
Everyone turned to stare at Luna.
"Isn't it true, when they found him dead, she was still in bed with him?"
Mr. Weasley began to rub his temples. Snape recovered his voice. "Miss Lovegood, who exactly tells you these things? Never mind, I don't want to know."
Not willing to hit a girl, Neville walked away from the group without a word.
Ron spoke up. "Wait, that can't be true. I mean Luna said it, so it can't be true. No way McGonagall got expelled. That's like got to be all misunderstood and not anywhere near the truth-right? Right?"
Luna shrugged. "Dad thinks the Death Eater attack was really a botched Ministry assassination attempt. I mean the only thing that made it look like a Death Eater attack was the Dark Mark above her cottage afterwards. Real attacks don't happen in the middle of the afternoon, they happen in the cover of darkness. Real Death Eaters torture and kill using wands and spells. They rape people, but they don't bathe their victims and they certainly don't drown them in bathtubs.
Snape had had enough. His voice was filled with such fury and malice it was a hiss more than anything else. "Let me assure you Miss Lovegood, your source of information on the habits and conduct of Death Eaters is severely lacking."
Luna began to speak again, but Snape cut her off.
"I was there Miss Lovegood. At Professor McGonagall's house that afternoon and I can assure you it was indeed a Death Eater attack. The Dark Lord bathed her because he wanted to make sure she was clean before - "
Suddenly, Snape realized what he was saying. "I am not having this conversation." Snape turned and walked away without another word.
Remembering something Bellatrix said earlier that night, Harry watched his Potion Master's retreating back with something far beyond his usual revulsion for the man. Standing there, suddenly Harry no longer felt at all curious.
Charlie Weasley, who usually had a kind word for everyone, was the first to speak. "Hey Luna, why don't you tell your dad to go piss up a rope."
Mr. Weasley didn't have to tell them to disperse this time. Ron, Harry and Hermione headed into the meeting room to find seats early.