A/N

This little piece takes place, once again, during Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts, although this is at the end of the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

And this was brought on when the Mad-Eye impostor was discovered. Dumbledore sends Snape to get some of his brewed Veritaserum and Dumbledore tells McGonagall to go to Hagrid's hut, where she would find a big black dog in the pumpkin patch, and to lead the dog to his office.

Another Dead Student and a Nice Dog:

"Professor McGonagall – what's going on-? We heard – Diggory…and Potter –"

"My dear lady, could you perhaps let us in on what happened? They're saying that someone died-"

"Where's Dumbledore? Is it true that –"

"Who won the Tournament? Diggory or Potter? I know that this isn't the-"

"My son! Vher is my son? Vher is my Viktor? If there is-"

"You are a…Professeur here? Zere are many problems 'ere, I can tell. Nothin' like Beauxbatons and-"

"Professor! Professor McGonagall! Harry – where's Harry-"

"Is Cedric alright, Professor? We've been hearing-"

"Iz 'zis ze way zey look after zere young ones, here? I-"

The grim faced, dark-haired Professor was at the end of her wits as she strolled past the many parents and students who had wormed their way into the castle once it was clear that the Tournament was over; with tragic consequences.

To say that she was relieved when she reached the doors that led outside was an understatement, for she was sure that, had the questioning continued – from both parent and student alike – she would have hexed someone.

Slamming the doors shut behind her, she gulped as she saw the remnants of the thick maze that covered the Quidditch pitch. Many of the officials were now slowly taking the thing down...and she could not help but wonder if they knew.

If they knew what happened to one of the Hogwarts' Champions.

A lump formed in the Professor's throat as she recalled the sight of that prone, battered – from the maze – body that Harry Potter had held onto, as though it was a matter of life or death.

How, she wondered, how could such a thing have happened? And then Alastor Moody...she shuddered, an impostor...this is serious business, very serious business inde-

"Minerva, oh thank goodness!" Turning sharply, McGonagall winced as she caught sight of the plump red-haired woman who was hurrying towards her, her sons in tow.

"Not now, Molly," she said, tersely, "not now. I have something to attend to and-"

"-What in the name of Merlin is going on?! They're saying that that boy, dear Cedric Diggory, is...dead," said Molly, her face pale, "and...oh, where's Harry?"

McGonagall sighed.

"Diggory is...dead, Molly," she said, and the woman's face turned white. "Harry's alright, but...but I think the Headmaster would like to speak to him for a while and...and try and grasp what happened." She nodded at them all, gathering up strength she didn't even know she had. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

And with that, she hurried towards the gamekeeper's hut as fast as she could, not bothering to pause or turn around whenever she heard her name being called out. She tried to push aside the thought that she would have to come back this way, with the...

Dog.

As she saw Hagrid's hut before her, she allowed herself to slow down somewhat. A dog. Why in the name of all things magical had Albus asked her to fetch a...dog? What good could a big black dog possibly do in their current situation?

Albus has his reasons, she said to herself, as she made her way to the pumpkin patch, he may be 'forgetful', she snorted at that, but he would certainly not suggest this for no reason.

She stopped short when she saw the dog, lying down on the ground with its tongue lolling out of its mouth. It was quite a big dog...somewhat like...the Grim.

Honestly, McGonagall, she reprimanded herself, this is just a...surprisingly inactive dog, not the Grim.

"Er...you there..." She stopped. How was one supposed to address a dog? Had Albus given her a name...? No, she didn't think he did. "You, dog!" The big creature's ears lifted and, a moment later, it raised its head ever so slightly to look at her.

She could have sworn that the dog's eyes widened. "Ahem, yes, well..." her voice trailed off. She may not know the dog, but it certainly felt...strange, calling it 'dog'. "Albus – Dumbledore – sent me. He is...busy at this very moment, but...he would like it if I escorted you to his office and if you...stayed there until he decides to join you---"

The dog was on its feet in an instant, tail wagging. It bounded towards her and she found herself stepping to the side – unconsciously of course – to avoid the big mass of...dog. In return, it turned around and gave her a look that she could have sworn was a pout.

Oh, that's just wonderful, Minerva, she said to herself, you're seeing things now. Brilliant. Just what we need added on to the current hectic situation.

Shaking her head and straightening, she nodded briskly at the dog, who was staring somewhat unnervingly at her.

"Right," she said, tersely. "Right. We should...get going now." She took a few steps forward when she felt the wagging of a tail against her leg. "Perhaps you could stop...hitting me with your tail...?" she suggested, dryly, when she stopped, causing the dog to send her a curious look.

Again, she could have sworn that the dog smiled.

Insanity, Minerva...I hear that it does tend to occur in the minds of several witches and wizards as they go along with the ageing process...

She continued walking, her pace quite brisk – but not as fast as it had been when she had been making her way to the hut.

She groaned when she saw the crowd still gathered in the area between her and the castle. The dog gave her an inquiring bark, causing her to shake her head.

"I was hoping they would have gone by now..." she murmured to it. "Oh well. Keep up with me boy – you are a male...?" The dog wagged its tale again. "...Right, well, keep up with me for we will be all but running back inside."

And just like when she had been leaving the grounds a few minutes ago, the murmurs and the questioning started once more.

"Professor! There you are! Where is everyone? I wanted to speak to-"

"The rumours are correct, aren't they? Oh dear, oh dear, they-"

"They're saying that Harry Potter-"

"Is there something you want to tell us, Minerva McGonagall?" asked one fair-haired male as he stepped forward with a rather ugly, determined expression on his face. "We'd all like to know what it is that has got everyone so hot and bothered. Dumbledore's nowhere in sight, but perhaps you could enlighten us as to what happened?"

McGonagall stared evenly at the man.

"It is not my place to say anything now, Sir," she said, politely. "Rest assured that everyone will be informed of the situation once we ascertain what it is all about. Until then, however, I ask that everyone remain calm and-"

"-Remain calm? They're saying that someone died, woman! How the bloody hell can you expect us to remain calm?!"

The dog took a step forward, a threatening growl erupting from deep within its throat as the man clenched his fists and glared at the Professor.

Unconsciously reaching out, McGonagall scratched the dog's head.

"I am sorry," she said, firmly, "but I cannot tell you anything when we are not certain as to what actually happened."

"Dammit, woman! Our children attend this school!" exclaimed the man, taking another step towards the dark-haired Professor. "We have a right to know-" The fair haired man screamed when the dog lunged at him, biting down on his leg. "What the – call it off! Call your vicious beast off!"

McGonagall fought to keep the grim smile from her face.

"Stop that," she said, addressing the dog. "I am certain that he doesn't taste good. In any case, we should be on our way..." The dog released the man's leg, spitting out the bits of trouser that had gotten caught in his mouth.

With a curt nod at the grimacing man, McGonagall and the dog continued on their way to the castle. Or rather, McGonagall followed the path that the dog more or less cleared for her.

Once they were clear of the people, the dog slowed down and returned to her side. She petted its head, a small smile on her face.

"Technically," she said, "I shouldn't like dogs. Merlin only knows the amount of times your kind has tried to have me for a meal while in my Animagus form..." She shook her head. "But, I suppose you're alright...although why Albus wanted me to-" She sighed as they continued.

"I can understand that man's feelings, though. I can only guess the extent to which people are going to, to create all of these...rumours." Another sigh escaped her lips. "Just wait until they find that...that Diggory...that Potter..." her voice broke off.

If she had been looking at the dog, she would have seen the way its ears perked up at the mention of the name 'Potter' before its tail lowered when she stopped talking abruptly.

It pawed urgently at her, ears drooping. "I am sorry, but I don't know what it is that you want," said McGonagall, glancing down at it and wondering if that was a troubled expression that she saw on its...er, face. "Maybe you'd like some food to be brought up to Albus' office...? Yes, I think that can be arranged. I'm sure that Potter would need something to eat too...although I do not think he will be able to hold his food, what with Diggory...being dead and..."

She pushed open the doors to the castle, gesturing for the dog to enter, before closing them behind her. Taking a different route, so as to avoid as many inquiring minds as she could, she led the dog to the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

A minute later, they were both inside and an uncomfortable silence fell on them.

"Well...I suppose you'll be wanting something to eat..." Brow furrowed in thought, she waved her wand and a plate of minced sausages appeared on the floor, along with a bowl of water. "You should wait here until Albus comes up..."

She let out a troubled sigh. "And I suppose I should go and see Albus now...and then-" her voice softened, "-I should find Pomona and speak to Mr and Mrs Diggory. Sweet Merlin, how do you tell a parent that their only child is dead...?"

How do you deal with the knowledge that another one of your students is dead? By the hand of evil? How many more of my bright students must I see fall, must I see die while I still live? At least Diggory was not betrayed...which is more than what I can say for James and Lily.

McGonagall glanced down in surprise, drawn away from her dark thoughts when she felt the dog push against her knee, rubbing its head against it – in what, she supposed, was meant to be a comforting gesture.

"You know," she said, as she stared down at the dog for a moment, "If I didn't know any better, I would say that there was more to you than meets the eye..." She sighed. "And I would say that I must be insane, to be talking to a dog..."

With a last look at the dog – who appeared to be grinning this time - she turned on her heel and walked out of the office, making sure to close the door firmly behind her.

If she had gone back into the office at that moment, she would have been surprised to notice the absence of the big, apparently intelligent black dog.

And she would have been stunned into silence at the presence of the all too familiar black-haired man who had betrayed her trust.

A/N

Well, that's that! I couldn't do much, concerning the points of view of the other professors, but that was because I was focusing more on the 'dog' and Professor McGonagall.

Hope you enjoyed that!

See ya soon!

Siriusgirl1