A/N: Hey guys! I'm so sorry this took so long to update! I had a death in the family and the end of the semester was insane. Here it is, finally! Thanks for sticking around. And thank you to everyone who reviewed! And, of course, I don't own any of the HP characters.

Enjoy!

The morning of September first comes without further incident. Albus seems to have gotten over whatever was bothering him the week before and Kettleburn has, thankfully, kept his distance. I'm anxious enough about the students coming without him making it worse. The teaching part of it doesn't concern me; I've been working on lesson plans basically since I arrived. Knowing I'll be around children every day, considering my previous history of terrifying them, is what makes me nervous. Luckily, I still have a few hours to prepare myself since they won't actually arrive until tonight.

Madame Hooch has made quite a bit of effort to talk to me in the last few weeks. I've only ever had one legitimate friend in my life and that ended disastrously. Despite my best efforts to distance myself, it hasn't deterred her at all. According to Albus she is a stubborn woman when she wants something. She is seemingly hell-bent on becoming friends, though why she would want to be friends baffles me.

Madame Pomphrey seems to be warming up to me too though she is still somewhat detached. She and Albus both look at me like they know more than I'm letting on, and this makes me very uncomfortable. Neither, much like Hooch, is at all discouraged by my defense mechanisms.

"Professor?"

I look up to find Professor Merrythought looking at me with slight concern in her face.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to see if you were alright. You seemed very far away."

"Oh, yes. I'm fine, just lost in thought. Can I help you with something?"

She smiles ever so slightly. "I understand. I just wanted to wish you luck on your first year. I'm sure you'll do brilliantly."

I find myself returning the smile, "Thank you, I appreciate that."

She nods before walking past me to her seat at the high table to eat her breakfast.

Well, at least most of the professors have finally gotten used me.

After breakfast I decide to go over this week's lesson plans in the teacher's lounge. I've been making an effort to avoid spending all of my time in my rooms. At the moment though, no one else is in here but me.

An hour or two later the door to the teacher's lounge opens and I look up, half hoping it'll be Albus. However, it's Silvanus Kettleburn that comes through the door and I fight the urge to groan. I look back down at my papers before he notices me. I'm aware of his eyes on me a few moments later, and his footsteps coming closer to my chair. When he stops in front of me I don't acknowledge him right away.

"Can I help you with something?" I finally ask, looking up at him.

"No, not at all. I just figured I'd check on you."

The smirk on his face and tone do not bode well. He's definitely up to something. The door opens and two other professors whose names I've yet to memorize come in and settle in chairs on the other side of the room.

Silvanus smiles, continuing the conversation despite the new audience. "Working on lesson plans, are you?"

I raise an eyebrow at him but don't respond. Instead I turn my attention back to my work.

"Of course," I can't hold back a sigh, looking back up. "I don't know why you're bothering with the pretense. You probably just got those from Dumbledore. He taught transfiguration before you, I'm sure he's letting you use his since you have no idea what you're doing."

I chuckle softly, "I hate to burst your bubble, but I have taught before. And, while Professor Dumbledore did give me his lesson plans to look over, I've adapted most of it."

"You sure seem to have quite a bit of confidence for your first year."

I roll my eyes. "Kettleburn, if you're trying to make me uneasy, trust me, it's not working. So please, either change the topic or go find your own work to do."

I look back down at my plans, trying to ignore him. I know he'll never give up that easily, but I'm about two seconds away from cursing the smile off his face.

"McGonagall, your charade isn't working on any of us. I mean no one here actually believes you'll be able to do this. You won't last a year." He says it loudly, spreading his arms out to the rest of the room for emphasis and glancing at the few other people in the room.

I glance at them too. Both are looking in my direction, obviously paying attention to our conversation. When I turn my head toward them, they immediately look away. I try unsuccessfully not to be bothered by this.

I put my head back down and look away from them. The slight smile I had on my face is gone when I look back up at him.

"Well, Kettleburn. I think you made your point. But fortunately for me, and unfortunately for you, I don't really give a damn what you think of me. So, let's do everyone here a favor and end the show before you make another fool out of yourself."

Someone laughs and I look behind him to see Rolanda Hooch.

"You know, Kettleburn, I don't think Minerva's messing around. I'd take her advice."

I gather my things and stand from my seat, looking past Kettleburn to Rolanda.

"Ah, good afternoon Madame Hooch."

"Hello," She says cheerfully. "Having another row?"

I snort, "Whatever it is, I've grown bored with these games. I've got better things to do with my time."

I take a step in her direction only to be intercepted by Kettleburn. I glare at him.

"Move aside Kettleburn, or am I going to have to move you myself?"

Rolanda laughs, and when I look up I see Albus standing by the door.

"Tell me something, Minerva." Kettleburn obviously didn't hear the door open, because he doesn't turn around. Albus nods at me to respond and I roll my eyes in frustration.

"What." It comes out like a hiss. I want nothing more than to get out of this room and away from this. These people remind me of the people back in Oz that turned their heads away to avoid getting involved.

Rolanda must notice how angry I'm getting, because she steps toward Kettleburn. "Silvanus, stop being such a bloody git. You're being ridiculous, this isn't right."

I'd be surprised and maybe even moved if I wasn't preserving all my energy keeping myself from hexing this man into oblivion.

"No, no, it's a perfectly valid question, really. I was just curious what she was going to do about her nonexistent records, or if she planned on leaving before someone found out about the secret she's keeping so close."

"You disgust me, Silvanus." I tell him. He looks confused and slightly offended, but I don't give him the chance to respond.

"Do you honestly have nothing better to do? Or is it your job to make any newcomer feel like a spy and humiliate them in public? If you think that you are the worst challenge I've ever dealt with in my life, you are delusional. Despite that, no one should ever have to go through this to make a living. If you think by continuing this harassment you can make me leave, you are wasting your time."

I take the smallest step closer to him. I'm still a respectable distance away, but the threat in it is clear. "I try to avoid confrontation whenever possible, but you've given me no choice. I will not stand for this any longer. I don't give a damn if you don't like me, but if you continue these pathetic attempts to alienate me, I will not be forgiving. From what I've heard, if you spent half of the time you spend uselessly trying to "expose" me working on your own lesson plans, your students would learn much more than they are now."

I see Rolanda trying very hard not to lose her composure behind him. Albus clears his throat, finally making his presence known. Silvanus spins around, seeing him. I imagine his expression must be quite comical when he realizes Albus was witness to part of their conversation.

"I daresay Professor McGonagall has a point, Professor Kettleburn. I strongly suggest that at least once you take her advice, since you don't seem to heed mine or the Headmaster's." Albus raises his eyebrows in the way he normally does when he's joking, but his expression is beyond serious.

"Professor Dumbledore-"

He raises a hand to stop him. "As for the question of her records, I have wonderful news for you! They've been found."

His mouth drops open. "What?"

"Indeed. Apparently, they were only misplaced. By the time I checked on your facts, they were found."

"That's- That's impossible!"

"Yes, I figured you'd be most anxious to hear the news, Silvanus. Seeing as you were oh so concerned about them and the safety of the school. Now it never needs to be brought up again. Don't you agree?"

The message in his statement is clear to everyone in the room. Silvanus doesn't look like he knows quite what to say. I laugh inwardly. Albus was right; it is definitely worth the expression on Kettleburn's face.

When he turns back to me, I can see anger in his face, but I no longer care. Any upper hand he thought he had against me was just taken away.

I raise my head slightly, looking him in the eye. "Well, now that that's settled. Move aside, Professor." I say firmly.

He breaks eye contact after a few moments and walks quickly out the door.

I look at Madame Hooch to find her grinning broadly at me. "Go McGonagall! Minerva one, Silvanus zero!"

I chuckle, "Well, thank you very much for coming to my defense, Madame Hooch. Most people don't bother."

She smiles wider. "Call me Rolanda! If we're to be friends, we can't be calling each other by our last names."

I stare at her, "Ah…"

"Shall we?" Albus asks, gesturing toward the door. He opens it for us as we make our way out the door. Hooch glances at the wall behind us, suddenly looking distressed. "Bloody hell! I was so busy laughing at Kettleburn I didn't notice what time it was. I've got so much to do before the students arrive. Gotta fly!" She yells quickly, patting the arm holding my papers.

"See you at the feast, Min!" She yells behind her as she runs ahead of us out of the room.

I'm more than a bit shocked, and even more so when I hear Dumbledore laughing as he shuts the door behind us.

"Albus!" I slap his arm. "It's not funny! Please tell me she's not going to start calling me that."

"I'm sorry my dear, but the odds don't look to be in your favor." He tells me, still laughing.

I groan as we walk further down the corridor. "You're no help whatsoever." To my slight annoyance and amusement, this only makes him smile more.

I hear the knock on my door just as I put my glasses on. Albus is here to walk with me to the Great Hall for the students' arrival. I take a deep breath to steady myself before opening the door.

"Minerva." Albus says with a smile.

"Hello." I give him a small smile in return.

As we make our way to the Great Hall I feel Albus looking over at me multiple times. After a few sideways glances I look at him.

"What?"

"You seem tense, are you alright?"

"Of course," I reply without looking at him.

Albus pauses for a moment. "Minerva, you'll do just fine. I'm sure of it."

I look at him now. "Thank you."

"You can do this. I wouldn't have hired you if I didn't have complete confidence in you."

I raise my eyebrow at him. I'm beginning to this this man is much too trusting.

"Albus, you didn't even know my name when you hired me."

He laughs, "Regardless, you're a talented and powerful witch, you'll do splendidly. If nothing else, you'll do everything you can just to prove Silvanus wrong."

I smile at him. "Well, when you put it that way..."

We both laugh as we walk into the Great hall and up to the High Table.

Albus sits next to the Headmaster and I take my seat next to Albus. Silvanus used to sit here, but ever since the first staff meeting he decided to move to the opposite end of the table, to the one that is the farthest away from me. I can't help but be pleasantly satisfied with the change.

A few minutes later the older students begin making their way into the hall and to their house tables. Albus stands from his seat to gather the first years in the entrance hall. I notice a few of the more observant students scanning the staff table for their teachers, and their eyes linger for a moment longer on me. No doubt they're wondering who the new teacher is.

I look up when Albus enters the hall with the first years in tow. They look around in wonder, excitement and a bit of fear. I find myself smiling at them.

As Albus warned, the Sorting Hat sings it's introductory song and the sorting begins. A few of the students take longer to sort than others, drawing out the ceremony. I'm sure the waiting probably gets tiresome after a while, but I find it fascinating to watch.

Armando stands to give a speech, during most of which I am busy focusing on the students. But when I hear my name, I freeze.

"It's my pleasure to introduce our newest addition and your Transfiguration professor, Minerva McGonagall."

He extended a hand in my direction and I sat stock still. Albus didn't mention that I'd be formally introduced in front of the students. Damn him!

Albus gives me a slight nudge and I look at him, trying not to look to nervous. He gives me a smile and nods at me to stand up.

I do it immediately, much more gracefully than I thought I would. I feel myself smiling slightly at the students and nodding. I'm surprised when I see the students clapping respectfully. Even the other professors are joining in. Everyone, I notice, except Kettleburn.

I sit back down a moment later, letting out a small sigh of relief as Professor Dippet begins the feast.

Well, I think to myself, at least none of the children ran screaming from the area like they used to. Of course, the lack of green skin might have something to do with it.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I will do my absolute best to update much sooner than before. I'm starting a new job soon so I'll be busy, but I'm definitely not going to abandon this story.

PLEASE REVIEW!

Thank you for waiting and until next time...

~Neve