Minerva sank into a chair in her room. She had just come back from taking the Gryffindor's back to the tower. Nothing was wrong in the castle and the lights came back on after two hours. She was exhausted and the baby was not making it any easier. There was a knock at the door, but it didn't sound like Albus. She went over and asked who it was.
"It's Harry and Ron. Can we come in, Professor?" Minerva quickly opened the door, fearing that something was wrong.
"What's wrong?" Harry and Ron both looked as though they had been sleeping.
"It's Neville, Professor McGonagall. He had a really bad nightmare. We think it's got something to do with his parents. He's going nuts!" Minerva frowned at Ron, but knew he was only telling what he had seen.
"Alright, let's go." She put a locking spell on her door and walked quickly towards Gryffindor Tower. Ron and Harry jogged to catch up to her long strides. "He didn't say anything about what his nightmare was about?"
"No, Professor, he just woke up screaming." They hurried though the portrait hole, the fat lady very perturbed at being woken up at such a late hour. Harry and Ron followed Minerva into the boys dormitory and found Seamus and Dean looking scared out of their wits. Neville was curled up in a corner of the floor. His sobs could be heard from the next floor down. Minerva rushed over and bent down next to him. She ignored the stabbing pain in her back. Reaching out, she gently pulled the scared boy into her arms.
To her surprise, Neville didn't push away. Instead, he threw his arms around her and sobbed into her shoulder. She tried to comfort him as much as possible. Looking around, she saw the looks of terror on Neville's four roommates. After almost 15 minutes, Neville's sobs turned to whimpers. Minerva lessened her hold on him and looked him in the eye.
"How about I give you something to help you sleep?"
He nodded and then questioned, "Will you be here when I wake up?"
She smiled and said gently, "Of course. Come now, back to bed." She helped him up and after covering him up, gently spoke a sleeping spell. He fell asleep quickly and without protest. Minerva turned back to the other boys.
"What time does Neville usually wake up?"
Seamus shook himself to stop staring at Neville to answer her. "Around 7 o'clock."
"I'll be here then. Don't be alarmed when I come in."
"Thank you for coming Professor." She smiled sympathetically at Harry. She knew how much he was going through himself.
"Any time Mr. Potter. Now, I suggest you all get back to bed." She closed the door behind and made her way back to her chambers. The pain in her back was almost unbearable. She quickly changed into her nightgown and collapsed into bed. She reached over, wishing Albus was with her. But, she knew he was checking the castle more closely, for any sign of activity throughout the night. She fell asleep, praying the pain would soon go away.
A week after Neville's nightmare, Albus walked into the Great Hall, looking for the young man. He was sitting with Seamus, Dean, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine at the Gryffindor Table. He motioned for Neville to come over and Neville quickly obeyed.
"Neville, I would like to see you in my office after lunch." Neville looked a little frightened but quickly agreed. Albus made his way to the head table and sat down, noting that Minerva was not there. Lunch began and no one else seemed to notice her absense, all except Hermoine.
"Where's Professor McGonagall?" Ron and Harry looked at the Head Table and saw their teacher was missing.
"Maybe she's not eating today." Ron continued with his lunch but Harry noticed the look of fear on Hermoine's face.
"It's alright Hermoine. Maybe she's working on some lesson plans or something." Hermoine gave Harry a weak smile.
"I guess you're right." They finished their meal and were off to Care for Magical Creatures with Hagrid. Ever since he had come back after the reign of Dolores Umbridge, Malfoy and his crew had backed off a bit. They didn't want to cause too much trouble while Dumbledore was still upset over what had happened the previous year. Hagrid dropped a box on the ground in front of the class and all took two steps backwards. The box shook like mad and began moving towards the class until Hagrid put his foot on its top.
"Mornin class. Today we're gonna be working with these little creatures. Now, I need a volunteer. Malfoy, how about you?"
Malfoy backed away.
"What is it?"
Neville hurried up to join the rest of the class.
"Sorry Professor Hagrid. Professor Dumbledore needed to speak to me after lunch."
"Quite alright Nevillle. Professor Dumbledore tol' me you would be a little late. Now where was I?"
"I asked what they were called!" Hagrid frowned at Malfoy's tone but answered cheerfully.
" Well, they're called octatodules."
"And what do they do?"
"They're used mostly for helping capture creatures that are infected with any dangerous diseases. Very useful indeed."
"Can they harm people?"
"Well, that all depends. If a person is nice to them, talks softly and pets their backbone, they'll be nice to ya. If not, they can bite."
"I'm not touching it. Not after what happened with that stupid thing that almost bit my arm off!"
"Buckbeak didn' mean to hurt ya! You just scared him is all."
"No! I'm not doing it and you can't make me! I'll tell my Father about this!"
Hagrid gave up and asked for any other volunteers. Nothing more happened during the class, except that Neville had a difficult time getting rid of his octatodule. It had taken a liking to his arm and wanted to stay there and sleep all day. It wasn't too thrilled when Hagrid tried to wake it up. The trio headed back to Gryffindor Tower, only to be stopped by a crowd gathered outside of the Great Hall.
"What's going on," Ron asked as soon as they reached the group of students.
"I have no idea. There's no special event today is there?" Ron shook his head no to answer Harry's question. Hermoine made her way through the crowd and looked at the sign on the door. She pushed people aside after reading it over thoroughly and found Ron and Harry once more.
"It's a new rule for all students. We have to be in our respective towers by 7 o'clock each night."
"7 o'clock! But that's right after dinner!"
"Well maybe it will give you two some time to do your homework for a change." She turned around and began walking towards the tower, Harry and Ron quickly scurrying to catch up with her.
"Hermoine, why are you in such a mood?" She turned to glare at Ron before answering.
"For your information, Ronald, this just shows that something is wrong. They would never make us stay in the towers at night unless there was some evil lurking about this castle. I'll bet that is the reason Professor McGonagall hasn't been looking well the past few days."
"Hermoine! I thought we went over this! We found nothing in the library about Professor McGonagall! Nothing's wrong with her! Give it up!" Hermoine's bottom lip began to quiver and before she allowed Ron and Harry to see the tears that were about to fall, she rushed through the portrait hole and up to the girls dormitories. Harry looked at Ron with a frown.
"You didn't have to yell at her Ron. She's just worried." Ron sighed.
"Women. So bloody confusing." He stepped through the portrait hole with Harry and they walked to the common room, finding Neville all by himself.
"All right, Neville?" Neville quickly looked up, a frightened look on his face. Ron and Harry sat on the couch next to him.
"Neville, what's wrong?" Neville shrugged.
"It's nothing. I just keep thinking about that nightmare I had."
"What was it about?" Harry jabbed Ron in the side with his elbow, causing Ron to yelp in pain but understand not to ask anymore questions about the dream.
"Er..Neville, do you need us to do anything for you? I mean, we could go get Professor Dumbledore or something...." Ron's voice trailed off as he trid to think of a way to better help his friend. Harry, though still a little upset at Professor Dumbledore, agreed with Ron that he would be the best to help Neville at this time.
"Yea, Professor Dumbledore could help you Neville."
Neville silently shook his head no. "I don't need anyone....but....thanks anyway." Harry and Ron waited another moment, but sensed Neville needed to be by himself.
"Well, we'll see you in Potions in a few minutes then." Neville nodded and the two made their way to the dormitory to get their books. Once out of Neville's hearing, Ron leaned over to Harry.
"I wonder what's going on with him."
"I don't know, but I don't like it one bit."