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Chapter 2: One Hour
Determined to put her new resolutions into practice, the following Friday morning, Minerva sat down next to Tom Riddle during Potions. She was going to prove to him that she was very good at the subject and that she could be a valuable partner in the project.
The last person who had tried to sit next to Riddle had been Benjamin Levistine in Third Year. Safe to say, he was never happy to repeat the story of that foolish mistake.
The only time he allowed anyone to sit next to him was during a test, when either Malfoy or Black needed to copy from him.
The entire class was watching the imminent disaster unfolding before their eyes.
'McGonagall, no one sits here,' Riddle told her calmly as he saw her set her things beside him.
'Hello, Riddle,' she said, looking away. 'I know you won't do anything to me while we're in class, because you value Slughorn's opinion of you.'
Riddle raised an eyebrow.
'So let me just sit next to you for once,' she continued undeterred, 'and prove to you that I am more than capable to work with you on the project.'
Riddle was quiet for a moment. He was wondering why McGonagall had turned so daftly valiant all of a sudden.
'I admire your courage, but I am going to say no,' he finally spoke.
'And I am not going to take no for an answer, because this is important,' she said quickly, sitting down.
Riddle frowned incensed.
'And you will see I can be very helpful with the project,' she said, opening her books.
Riddle signalled Macnair in the back and the boy nodded briefly, assuring him through his expression he would take care that Minerva McGonagall never bothered him again.
'Now, I know we are not on very good terms, but I am going to ask you to share your pliers, I seem to have misplaced mine,' she said in a crisp, official tone, jotting down notes for the class assignment.
Riddle took out his wand lazily and pointed it at her tall frame.
'Imperio,' he cast inaudibly.
Minerva's feet started to melt slowly as she slipped out of her chair. She tried to keep her balance, steadying herself against the desk, but the force controlling her was too strong and she was going to cower.
She eventually fell down on the floor with a large thump. A large hand was pressing down her back, immobilizing her. When she looked up, she realized it was just the curse.
The class started sniggering. They thought Minerva had fallen like an idiot.
When she recovered her breath several minutes later, the young girl slowly raised herself on her feet and pressed her hands on her desk to keep herself up.
She sat down on the stool again and went right back to jotting down notes, as if nothing in the world had happened.
She knew that if she reacted in any way, Riddle would think he had already won.
The boy was a bit curious, despite himself. She showed no sign of having been cursed, she just went back to work without a single word of complaint.
'Pass the dragon skin, please,' she told him casually.
Riddle was too immersed working on his own potion and he signalled her to get it herself.
Minerva rose self-consciously and went to the end of the table to the small moving cupboard and took out a fist of dragon skin.
As she was in Riddle's immediate ear shot, she decided to say something after all.
'I would have thought you would have more sense than to throw an Unforgivable in the middle of class. You could go to Azkaban for that, you know.'
Riddle shrugged his shoulders.
'That is of no consequence to me.'
Minerva shook her head. She returned to her seat.
'You are not afraid of Azkaban? Some of the greatest men have lost their minds in there,' she continued.
'You will find it is an improvement for them,' he commented lackadaisically.
They remained in silence for a while.
'So, may I borrow your pliers?' she repeated her request from earlier.
He sighed and pushed them in front of her.
'Thank you, very considerate of you,' she replied briskly.
Riddle rolled his eyes in annoyance. Her obsequiousness was getting on his nerves.
'There, I think I am almost done with them,' she muttered after some minutes as she gathered the ingredients in front of the cauldron. She passed the pliers back to him.
He nodded noncommittally.
'So, how is your potion going?' she asked blandly.
'I would keep quiet, if I were in your place McGonagall,' he replied.
'There's nothing wrong with some dialogue. It breaks the monotony,' she said sourly.
'Don't worry, you won't find me so monotonous in the future,' he said, his voice tinged with a malicious threat.
'I wasn't saying you are monotonous, you are generally unpleasant, but certainly not monotonous. However, the atmosphere can get too much sometimes without some talking,' she argued.
Riddle could not believe his ears. Minerva McGonagall was trying to get into an argument with him, yet again. Had she forgotten Fourth Year?
'Do you have some death wish I don't know about, McGonagall?'
'Not that I am aware of,' she said, stirring her potion.
'You are trying my patience.'
'I am only trying to make a point.'
'Which is?' he drawled.
'That I can work with you effectively and that I am good at Potions,' she said.
'I cast an Imperio on you and you think you can work with me effectively?' he asked.
'That won't happen again,' Minerva said coldly. 'I won't allow it. I will be more careful.'
'Are you mental, McGonagall?'
'Not in the least.'
Riddle said nothing else and turned to his own potion.
When the time came for Professor Slughorn to inspect their work, Minerva smiled smugly when he praised her potion as one of the best in the class room.
Riddle's was however, the best.
But that did not damper Minerva's spirits.
'I think that by sitting next to you for a full hour and still managing to make an excellent potion is more than proof that I can handle myself on this project,' she said bravely, as they all got up and started packing.
'One hour. You think you can handle me after one hour,' Riddle repeated amused.
'Yes, I think I showed I can work well under pressure.'
'Don't make me laugh, McGonagall. I am only going to say this once, stay away and you won't have to suffer on account of your foolishness.'
Minerva frowned and folded her arms.
'You have not won yet,' she suddenly said. 'I can do it. You know I can.'
'You leave me no choice but to put you in your place,' he said, hovering over her darkly.
Minerva's sense of preservation told her to relent and accept defeat, especially since it was extremely unwise to continue upsetting him.
But I want to learn, I want to work, I want to be his equal! her mind yelled angrily.
'Thank you for the warning,' she finally replied, feeling the drops of sweat on her forehead.
Riddle was once again unnerved by her politeness.
He stormed past her, followed by his group of loyal minions. Macnair turned towards her before leaving and gave her a knowing look.
Minerva released a breath and collapsed on the stool again.
What had just happened exactly?
'You've done it now, Minerva!' Natalie warned her as they walked towards the Gryffindor tower.
'You couldn't keep your opinions to yourself, now you are going to have to worry about Riddle breathing down your back,' she continued, scolding her friend.
'I am not giving up, Natalie, I won't let it go so easily,' Minerva said firmly, although inside she was feeling quite the opposite.
'What? Are you barking mad, Min? Do you want to spend your last two years here in the Infirmary?'
'Oh, come off it,' Minerva said, wavering slightly.
'Just let it go. It is not worth it. None of it. You will only end up hurt.'
Minerva promised Natalie she would reconsider her options, but she was still feeling very strong about standing up to Riddle.