Disclaimer:I don't own Harry Potter. I'm not J.K. Rowling.
However, that fire slowly faded away as days turned into weeks without Albus. The same night Hagrid was taken to Azkaban, Albus was also removed from his position as Headmaster. This meant that Minerva had to take his place, and it was wearing her down. Obviously, she had people there for her, but her family seemed to be disappearing around her.
She made her way down to breakfast where she was practically tackled by Pomona Sprout who seemed giddier than a first year on Halloween. "Minnie! The Mandrakes are ready to be cut. Everyone should be un-Petrified by tomorrow morning at the latest!"
Minerva was stood still in shock, ignoring the stares they were slowly gaining. "You mean, my Belle…My kitten's going to be okay?" She couldn't do anything but whisper now as her anticipation reached its maximum. Pomona simply nodded and embraced the once-stern professor again.
After regaining her composure, Minerva McGonagall walked to the middle of the head table and called for everyone's attention. "I have good news."However, the Great Hall immediately erupted in joyful yelling and squeals from every direction. After a few moments, the students quieted down to hear what their Headmistress had to say. "Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit." With that, Minerva began to walk away from the cheering and commotion, knowing she was needed more in the infirmary with her daughter.
However, a certain red-headed girl sat down beside Ron and Harry, wringing her hands together as she tried to decide what to say.
"What's up?" Ron said as he helped himself to more porridge.
The girl didn't say anything, but glanced back and forth, down Gryffindor table, looking terrified, as if she'd seen the Slytherin's monster.
Ron was growing annoyed as he watched her. "Spit it out."
Still wringing her hands, Ginny mumbled, "I've got to tell you something."
"What is it?" said Harry.
"What?" said Ron.
Ginny opened her mouth and tried to tell them, but no sound came out. She felt like her tongue was tied in knots that only grew tighter as Harry leaned forward.
"Is it something about the Chamber of Secrets? Have you seen something? Someone acting oddly?"
Ginny took a deep shuddering breath, and opened her mouth to speak when Percy Weasley walked up. "If you've finished eating, I'll take that seat, Ginny. I'm starving, I've only just come off patrol duty."
Immediately, Ginny jumped up and fled the Great Hall, heading to her first class.
Minerva was still roaming the halls, not able to convince herself to go see her frozen daughter. She seemed so lifeless, so broken. She decided she'd go after her first class because she had a free period afterwards.
After her class, she began heading toward the infirmary when she caught sight of two second years. "Potter! Weasley! What are you doing here?"
Ronald began to stammer and Harry eventually finished his statement, saying they were going to visit Hermione because they hadn't seen her in ages. Minerva gave a sad smile and nodded resolutely. "Of course. Of course, I realize this has all been hardest on the friends of those who have been…I quite understand. Yes, Potter, of course you may visit Miss Granger. I will inform Professor Binns where you've gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I have given my permission." With that, she turned away from the boys, not wanting to let them see her tears. She had been honest when she said that she understood. It was so hard seeing the blank faces staring up at you without recognition or any sign of life.
Minerva made her way downstairs and told Professor Binns that Potter and Weasley were in the hospital wing, visiting a friend. She barely got a response from the professor before he continued to drone on about their daily history lesson. They really needed a livelier professor to take his place one of these days.
Again, she paced the halls for a short time before coming across another message right below the first. All the blood seemed to fade from her body as she began walking toward the staff room, magically magnifying her voice. "All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staff room. Immediately, please." A flurry of students rushed past her, each one making their way to their respective dormitories.
After what seemed like forever, Minerva reached the staff room and found most of the staff, if not all of them, already there. She took her place at the front of the room and frowned as the room grew eerily silent. "It has happened. A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself." Controlling her emotions became harder as she saw her colleagues beginning to fall apart.
Even Severus seemed distressed as he asked, "How can you be sure?"
"The Heir of Slytherin left another message right underneath the first one: Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever."
Madam Hooch spoke up this time as she sunk into a chair, not able to stand any longer. "Who is it? Which student?"
Minerva cleared her throat as she gripped her wand tighter. "Ginny Weasley."
A collective gasp was voiced throughout the room, and Minerva let a few tears cascade down her cheeks before she began to speak again. "We shall have to send all the students home tomorrow. This is the end of Hogwarts. Dumbledore always said…"
The staffroom door swung open, revealing a beaming Lockhart who was foolish enough to say, "So sorry – dozed off – what have I missed?"
Most of the professors in the room were sneering at him, but it was Snape who stepped forward, "Just the man, the very man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."
Other instructors began to chip in, telling stories of the many times he gloated about his knowledge and power. Finally, Minerva decided to end the discussion as she lifted her hands. "We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy. Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. Your free reign at last." Soon enough, the man fled the rooms, claiming to be preparing himself. Minerva took a deep breath, flared her nostrils and forced herself to speak again. "Right, that's got him out from under our feet. The Heads of Houses should go and inform their students what has happened. Tell them the Hogwarts Express will take them home first thing tomorrow. Will the rest of you please make sure no students have been left outside their dormitories." She then went to address her cubs and patrolled the halls the rest of the day, making a stop every hour or so to check on her special cub: her kitten. Nothing changed though, and Minerva stopped after three times.