Early update because I have a pretty hectic day tomorrow.
Also, thanks for the reviews :) Would love to know what you think of this chapter too
23 October 1994
"Yeh, I'm havin' the students look af'er them."
Minerva nodded uneasily. It was lunchtime and currently, she was sitting beside Hagrid at the head table. For the last ten minutes, the Care of Magical Creatures Professor had been telling her all about the new creatures he had been using during his class. Though he appeared thoroughly excited, Minerva herself felt a little unsettled as Hagrid proceeded to tell her more and more about these magical beasts.
"These are the Blast-Ended Skrewts you are telling me about?" she asked.
"Yeh, a mix of manticores and fire crabs," continued Hagrid happily. "Breathin' fire now," he added.
Minerva frowned slightly as it occurred to her that Hagrid had possibly got involved in the crossbreeding of at least two x rated species. Merlin knew he did not make it easy for himself sometimes, she thought tiredly, making a mental note to investigate this later.
"I hope you know what you are doing, Hagrid," she said, trying to show him that she was slightly concerned about these creatures. "I would not want—"
"Sorry, excuse me."
Minerva and Hagrid turned as Pomona Sprout joined them.
"Sorry, Minerva, it's rather urgent," Pomona said hurriedly, bending over so that she was whispering into Minerva's ear. "I've just had word that Professor Moody has been teaching fourth years students about Unforgivable Curses."
Minerva frowned. "That is part of the curriculum," she said.
"No, Minerva," Pomona said. "Grace told me he has been using the spell on them; the Imperius Curse. Apparently, he even used the Killing Cuse on a spider a few weeks ago."
Minerva stood up abruptly at this so that Pomona had to take a few steps back, and Hagrid looked worriedly at her.
"Does Albus know?"
"The Headmaster was in a meeting with Severus so I thought I should come to you first," Pomona said quickly. "I think Alastor is teaching right now."
Without another word, Minerva swept away from the table and left the Great Hall at a brisk walk. She arrived at the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom barely 2 minutes later. After taking a steadying breath, she knocked sharply on the door before coming in.
"Professor McGonagall?" said Alastor, the chalk in his hand paused in mid-air. Meanwhile, the rest of his class all had their heads turned so that they were staring at her.
"May I have a word, Professor Moody?" she seriously.
Alastor hesitated for a second then nodded. "Of course," he said, already beginning to walk towards her. "I want you to finish chapter 5," he told his class. "And no magic until I return."
The class nodded and resumed their work while Minerva pulled the door to so that she could speak to Alastor privately.
"Everything all right, Minerva?" he asked gruffly.
Minerva pursed her lips. "No," she said, sharply. "It has come to my attention that you have been teaching your students about the Unforgivable Curses, Alastor."
"It is part of the curricul—"
Minerva found that her anger was getting much harder to suppress now. "It is not part of the curriculum to use spells on students. Never, in all of my years of teaching, have I found it necessary to use a spell on a student," Minerva interrupted him, her voice rising so that a few heads in the classroom turned as though trying to catch the conversation taking place outside. "Much less an Unforgivable Curse, Alastor!"
"They need to learn—"
"They can learn by reading about it!" Minerva snapped. "Not experiencing it! I would think that you of all people would understand the effects some of these curses can have on someone. Particularly if you consider that some of your pupils have witnessed these spells being used on their own family members. And are living with the consequences."
"I spoke to Longbottom after class," Alastor said.
"I am not speaking only of Mr Longbottom, Alastor! And speaking to him after class still does not justify your actions in any way," Minerva said shortly. "This is not the first time I have found you using spells on students. I am astounded that you thought it fit to use Unforgivable Curses on 14-years-olds this time." She took a deep breath and gave him a very hard stare while she thought about what she wanted to happen next. "As it is, I should report you to the Ministry."
Alastor opened his mouth to speak, but Minerva cut him off by raising her hand again.
"I will leave this in the hands of the Headmaster," she told him. "But if I hear anything else about magic being used on students in your classroom, I will have to ensure your immediate removal, Alastor. Please do not give me any other reason to do this."
Alastor nodded silently. "Understood, Minerva."
"Very well," she said, her anger subsiding slightly - but only slightly. "I trust that I can leave you to finish teaching this class without any more incidents?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall."
"Good," she said, pursing her lips and looking at him once over. Then, she opened the door to the classroom and the second years instantly bent over their work and scribbled on their parchment furiously, as though trying to prove that they had not been trying to listen to the heated conversation outside. "Thank you, Professor Moody, for your understanding."
"I will see that it is done," Alastor said. He held her gaze for a fraction of a second before turning abruptly around and waving his wand so that the chalk began to write notes on the board.
Minerva watched him teaching for a minute then sighed and left, closing the door an inch behind her - though not fully. She then glanced at her pocket watch which told her that she had a few minutes before her next class.
With a moment of hesitation, Minerva finally decided that she would inform her 3rd years that class would start 15 minutes later than usual. This was not a decision she was entirely pleased with because she still had a lot of content to get through with that class. Nevertheless, Albus was not going to be in the castle for a while so she only had a short window of time - less than half an hour now - to tell him about Alastor's behaviour. It was not, she thought, something that one could write in a letter.
With a nod, she slipped her wand in her pocket and marched to the Transfiguration corridor which was not, thankfully, very far. Though she did not leave before asking one of the portraits to observe Alastor teaching. If he tried anything during the class, it would be possible for her to be alerted immediately.
As Minerva approached the Transfiguration corridor, a third year broke away from his group of friends and hurried towards her looking anxious "Professor McGonagall," he began nervously. "I wanted to ask if I could get an extension for my essay? I didn't have time to finish my conclusion last night."
"Normally, I do not give students extensions," Minerva said sternly. "However, fortunately for you, Mr Smith, I am here to inform you that your class will be starting 15 minutes later than usual. If you can finish your essay before I return I will pay no heed to the fact that it was not ready for precisely 2 o'clock."
Thomas seemed to visibly sigh with relief. "Thank you, Professor McGonagall."
Minerva shook her head. "I expect to return to a quiet and tidy classroom. Can I trust you to relay all of this information to your peers, Smith?"
"Certainly, Professor," Thomas assured her solemnly. "We won't cause any trouble."
Minerva nodded. "I am pleased to hear it," she said before turning briskly around and hurrying to Albus' office. She had about 10 minutes left now, she calculated.
She reached the gargoyles 2 minutes later and quickly told them the password so that she could be let through. Unusually the door to Albus' office was already open. Out of courtesy, she still knocked twice. "Headmaster?" she said, looking into the room.
"Minerva, my dear," said Albus, looking up from some parchment he had been organising. He smiled and stood up. "Can I help you with anything?"
"I was hoping I could discuss a matter with you before you leave," she said. "I know you only have 5 minutes, but it is rather urgent, I'm afraid," she added.
Albus, who had not yet shown any indication that he was in a rush, nodded and leaned against his desk. "I am all ears," he said.
"I wanted to ask if you might have a word with Professor Moody when you return," she said, hesitating slightly as she tried to think how she would describe the situation to Albus.
He frowned slightly. "Did something happen in one of his classes?"
"Yes, and I think you would agree with me that his actions were inappropriate," she said. "Professor Sprout made me aware this morning that Professor Moody has been using the Imperius Curse to teach students about Unforgivable Curses."
Albus sat up immediately, his whole demeanour changing as soon as he had processed what Minerva had told him. "What did he use the curse on?"
"On students, Albus," Minerva said. "I spoke to Alastor 15 minutes ago to tell him that that has never been allowed at Hogwarts. Nor will it ever be," she added. "I gave him a warning however this is the second time an incident such as this one has occurred. I thought you ought to know before you left," she said. "And I was hoping you would be able to speak to him as soon as you return."
"I will," Albus said, his eyebrows furrowed. "I am glad you made me aware of this, Minerva. Which class was this with?"
Minerva shook her head. "His fourth years, I believe," she said, catching his eye significantly. "But I will be finding out today if he has done this with any of his other students."
He nodded. "I would be most grateful if you could," he said.
Suddenly his watch chimed to mark the hour. He straightened, as did Minerva.
"I must leave to meet Bartemius," Albus said with a sigh.
"And Sirius," Minerva added.
He nodded.
"Do you believe Sirius is right? That he could go back to live in his family home?"
Albus sighed. "Perhaps. Though he did not seem keen," he admitted. "Even if it is possible, it is likely that the house will not be ready for quite some time. I have been told it was very well guarded by its predecessors. I will go there this evening to see if that is truly the case."
Minerva nodded, looking briefly away. "I—I was thinking last night that perhaps I may have a solution to Sirius' predicament," she said, another reason as to why she had wanted to speak to Albus before he left. "This should have occurred to me before but," she sighed and looked back into Albus' piercing blue eyes, "the cottage Elphinstone and I used to share is empty, and has been so for quite some time. I believe Sirius could stay there while Grimmauld Place is checked to see if it is suitable."
Albus raised his eyebrows slightly; possibly he had not known Minerva had decided to keep the cottage after all. Following what had happened to Finn, Minerva had been unable to step foot in the cottage more than once. She had immediately returned to Hogwarts, and Albus had always assumed she had sold the house. Indeed, she had never mentioned it again until now.
Minerva cleared her throat. "It might need some clearing out," she said. "But I believe it should do the trick. Sirius will be close to the castle and to Hogsmeade. It will be easier for us to bring him food and relay information. The cottage, as I think you will remember, is hidden away too. I very much doubt anybody will notice that it is being used again if Sirius is careful."
Dumbledore watched her carefully but nodded. "I can speak to Sirius about it," he said.
Minerva looked away again briefly. "Good," she said. "I will see what needs to be done there as soon as possible." She then looked back at Dumbledore. "I won't keep you any longer. When do you think you will be back?"
"This evening or early morning at the very latest," Albus said, picking up some files and slipping his wand into his inner cloak pocket. "I have a few matters to discuss at the Ministry regarding the Tournament." Minerva tutted at this; Albus as well did not seem pleased. Neither felt content with the fact that the Tournament was taking place. "Then I will be meeting Sirius to visit the house. I do not know how long that will take us."
"Do be careful," Minerva said, with a hint of worry. "As I recall his family were not the kindest of people. I would not be surprised if their house was protected by more than a few harmless charms."
"We will be very cautious," Albus replied, smiling slightly as he picked up the floo powder and stepped into the grate. "I will see you tomorrow, my dear."
Minerva nodded and Albus dropped the powder and instantly was enveloped in emerald flames.
