Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Harry Potter, and I never, ever will!
A/N: I know it's been about half a century since I updated this… or really did anything related to fanfiction. I apologize. After a while of trying to write the sixth chapter and getting bombarded with homework, I became unmotivated and kind of… lost my feeling for the story. I realized how hard it would be to make the smooth transition to two already-written later chapters without it seeming unrealistic or completely unjustifiable. I'm sorry if this sucks from this point forward. Really.
Fallen Lioness
Chapter 6: Bludgers
It was late after another stressful week at Hogwarts. The velvety sky was littered with glowing stars, and the moon shone with all its might, illuminating the entirety of the grounds of Hogwarts. It had been a while since Minerva McGonagall had been out so late. The time was well past midnight, and here she was, soaring about the Quidditch pitch.
Stress relief. That was the sole reason she was outside at such an hour, flying on her trusty Cleansweep. In her right hand was a Beater's bat which she had taken from the equipment closet. For the past half hour or so, she had been swinging and swiping at a couple of Bludgers. She had charmed the wild balls to stay within the boundaries of the pitch and to stay a safe distance away from injuring her. With an utterly serious look on her face, she smashed one of the Bludgers to the ground, only for it to zoom back up to receive for another beating.
Playing Beater was easily Minerva's favorite method of letting out steam. She felt free as she flew around the stadium, and sending violent blows to objects was understandably a stress-reliever, just as one might make use of a punching bag or scream into a pillow. She generally only took advantage of the vacant Quidditch pitch when things got really crazy around Hogwarts.
This week happened to have mayhem around every corner and chaos in every secret passage. First of all, Peeves the Poltergeist had reached a new level of being a nuisance. Much to his entertainment and to the dismay of Minerva, he had decided to follow her everywhere she went. Not only was it annoying to have him singing or shouting in her ear at every waking moment (and at some moments she was truly awakened by him), but it was rather disturbing when he tried to follow her into the shower. Fortunately Peeves chose a new victim to bother for the next week.
In addition, the seventh years came up with the idea of a "prank week." After twenty-seven detentions issued by Minerva alone, the tricks stopped by lunchtime Monday. However, finding all of her writing utensils replaced with Sugar Quills and several random papers that read "PRANK WEEK!" in her files seriously hampered her attempt to get any work done in or out of lessons.
"This one's for you, Murphy!" Minerva yelled as she smacked a Bludger across the stadium. Gerald Murphy was one of the seventh years who participated in the short-lived Prank Week, who had stolen her wand and "accidentally" transfigured her hairpins into hummingbirds, forcing her to spend the whole hour with her hair down, since the birds escaped through the open window. Gerald received a week's worth of detentions, doing any and every task asked of him by a member of the Hogwarts staff.
Of course it didn't help that she was still trying to resolve her situation with Albus. It had been almost two weeks, and she was still nowhere nearer to moving on or understanding her silly emotions and thoughts. She swore it was love, but then again, she had every reason to second-guess herself. Her friends weren't being very helpful, either. Pomona's best suggestion was to take up potting Mandrakes with her in the mornings in order to take her mind off of Albus, to which Minerva immediately declined. Rolanda was being ridiculous and told her to "just forget about him". At that, Minerva simply walked away and wondered if Rolanda even believed in love.
"Merlin, that was close!" Minerva heard someone shout in the distance. She looked around for a minute or so until she saw a dark figure striding across the pitch. Whoever it was disappeared into the equipment room and came out on an old school broomstick. Minerva considered sending a Bludger in his or her direction just for kicks, but she quickly decided against it.
"I understand that you are dedicated to improving your game, but it is well past curfew!" the person, female, called up to Minerva as she flew towards her. "Now, I suggest that you—Minerva?" She stopped abruptly a few feet below Minerva and wore a vaguely distinguishable puzzled expression.
"Professor Sinistra?" Minerva said upon recognition. "What are you doing up so late?"
"Stargazing," Professor Sinistra replied tersely, "which I believe is reasonable for me, considering I'm the Astronomy teacher. What brings you out here at this hour, Professor McGonagall? As far as I know, you are not actually a professional Quidditch player on the weekends."
"This is my way of relieving stress," Minerva explained.
"Well, if that is so, then please try not to hit Bludgers at the Astronomy Tower, especially on Friday nights. I always come out on Fridays, and it would be exceptionally difficult to observe the skies with a broken telescope."
"I apologize if I've done any damage, Aurora. I suppose I'm not really thinking fully at the moment."
"It's all right. You haven't broken any of my delicate instruments. And I understand how you feel. Sometimes Hogwarts life can be trying. I've been working here a long time, too, Minerva."
Minerva nodded. A silence passed between them.
"Well, good night, then," Professor Sinistra said and started to return gently to the ground.
"Good night," Minerva said softly as she, too, descended slowly, the Bludgers circling around her. She remained stationary, floating about two feet off the ground, watching as Professor Sinistra returned to the castle. Soon she was beyond sight and inside the building, and Minerva continued staring into space.
"Life can be trying…," she quietly agreed. She seriously questioned her sanity for living such a life. Really, was it all worth it?
Minerva uttered a long, low sigh. It was cold enough to see her breath. With a slight shiver, she decided it was too late to be doing anything anymore. Clouds moved in upon the stars, creating a darkness too dark to see much of anything. Minerva could scarcely distinguish the outlines of the encircling Bludgers from the shadowy air. She dropped her feet to the ground and started to put away one of the Quidditch balls. The second was still hovering by her head as she removed the Charm she had put on the two Bludgers.
Promptly, the airborne ball whammed into her head before she could finish strapping the first one down, and the energetic Bludger rocketed vertically out of the case, knocking Minerva out cold.
A/N: Um. That was shorter than I intended. Really, I am sorry if this is the most horrible imitation of literature you've ever read. Perhaps I should write the endings to my chapters when there are no fireworks giving me headaches.
- Erin -