I made a bit of a mistake earlier on and posted the wrong chapter (unedited - which is a little embarrassing). Anyway, should be fixed now, hopefully! Sorry again (and thank you to the person who pointed this out)!


10 October 1997

"Because the Forbidden Forest extends further than our borders!" Minerva interrupted heatedly. "Headmaster, there would be werewolves and a whole other manner of creatures out there. Not to mention that we have had previous dealings with the Centaurs and they have been absolutely clear that we are not permitted to invade their lands."

"Then Weasley and Longbottom should take care not to be caught," Snape said silkily. He closed Weasley and Longbottom's files and put them away in a desk drawer. "But you were not called here to discuss the punishment of two Gryffindors, Minerva. You are here so that we may discuss your behaviour."

Minerva's cheeks flushed in anger. "My behaviour?" she repeated hotly. "You wish to discuss my behaviour when it is you who has decided to send underage wizards into the Forbidden Forest, unsupervised. You wish to discuss my behaviour when, last night, two of your employees tried their very best to seriously injure three adolescents? I should think that your priorities are seriously ill-organised, Headmaster."

There was a sudden long stretch of silence. Minerva was aware that she probably should have stopped talking a while back now. Yet, the thought of having Longbottom and Weasley sent to spend one night in the Forbidden Forest, for no other reason than to frighten them, was beyond horrifying.

Minerva knew it would have been hopeless to attempt to convince either Amycus or Alecto to re-assess this punishment. But perhaps Severus had a shred of principle and morality left, Minerva thought. After all, he had chosen to become a teacher 25 years ago. No matter how much disdain he had for several students, something must have made him want to pursue a career in education. He had to care, at least a little, about student welfare.

After what felt like an age, Severus cleared his throat. He looked deathly white, and Minerva thought perhaps she detected signs of tiredness and pain too.

"I do not remember asking for your counsel, Professor McGonagall. And I believe you ought to remember your place," he said.

Minerva wanted to close her eyes as Severus continued to speak.

"You are no longer Deputy Head here. As such, you no longer have a say in how the school is run. Furthermore, it would be woefully careless of me not to mention how dangerously close you are to losing the only position you have left at this school. I hope I have made myself clear?"

There was a beat of silence.

"Certainly, Professor Snape," Minerva said. "But—" She paused, giving herself enough time to reconsider speaking her mind. In the end, she ignored her own warnings. "I do hope you realise that it is impossible to govern through fear. The more you administer these arcane punishments, the likelier it is that the students will continue to violate your rules—"

"That is enough, Minerva!"

"Lovegood, Longbottom and Weasley should at least be supervised!" Minerva powered on. "What will you tell parents if students begin to return home for the holidays with injuries they received at school? Advertising the shortcomings of this new education system is perhaps not your Dark Lord's wishes."

"I said enough, Professor McGonagall."

Minerva suppressed her desire to continue speaking. All the times she had told her own students to manage their anger and frustrations, she thought, and yet here she was hypocritically disregarding her own advice. She supposed there was a difference - much better she vented frustrations on behalf of her students than they did. Much better she got disciplined than her students, Minerva thought.

"My decision is final," Severus said. "You are dismissed, Professor McGonagall. I do not want to hear any more on the topic."

He waved his wand and the door opened with a bang indicating that she should leave. Minerva looked at him darkly before marching out of the office. She almost tripped over Neville Longbottom's foot as stepped out from behind the stone gargoyle guarding Severus' office.

"Longbo—"

"Sorry, Professor!" he apologised immediately. He jumped up from the floor, and Minerva noticed Seamus Finnigan and Ginny Weasley do the same. They were all looking at her eagerly and Minerva vaguely wondered if they had been waiting for her to come out of Snape's office.

"Why aren't you in class?" she said, a little more tersely than intended.

"Free period, Ma'am," Finnigan answered. "What did Snape want?"

Three pairs of eyes watched her attentively.

"Professor Snape," Minerva corrected, mostly because she did not want to answer Finnigan's question.

"What did Professor Snape want?" Longbottom asked.

"Are you all right, Professor?" Weasley added.

"I am perfectly well, Miss Weasley," Minerva replied. "What the Headmaster and I discussed need not concern you."

"But—"

"No buts, Longbottom," Minerva interrupted. "Now, if you all have a free period I suggest that you take some homework to the library or to your Common Room."

The three looked reluctant to leave and Minerva had to suppress a sigh. After speaking with Snape, and her little outburst, Minerva's anger had dissipated slightly leaving her feeling quite weary. She was in no mood to be interrogated by three students.

"Or," she said, "you could help Professor Hagrid tend to the Blast-Ended Skrewts—"

"Homework in the library sounds like a good plan," Finnigan and Longbottom said together.

Minerva nodded. "I thought so," she murmured. She had never intended on sending the students to help Hagrid with the Blast-Ended Skrewts - she was not that cruel. Yet, the threat had been enough to get Finnigan, Longbottom and Weasley moving. Perhaps she would use Blast-Ended Skrewts again to get students to do as they were told, Minerva thought to herself.

The boys picked up their bags and began to make headway to the library. Ginny Weasley lingered behind.

"I would not loiter, Miss Weasley," Minerva said, unintentionally allowing her tiredness to creep into her voice. "You will not be able to complete any work tonight."

"Because I'll be in the Forbidden Forest with Neville and Luna," Weasley said. She picked up her satchel and slung it over her shoulder. "I know, Professor. But," she hesitated, "we just wanted to make sure Snape hadn't...because it would've been our fault—not Seamus'—just me, Neville and Luna's. That's why Snape wanted to see you, right?"

"Miss Weasley there are a number of reasons as to why teaching faculty are called in for meetings with the Headteacher," she said. She knew she was dodging the question, but she did not want to tell Weasley the truth and neither did she want to lie to the girl. "But, the Headmaster and I did discuss last night's events. Again, I do want to impress on you the seriousness of your actions last night. Your punishment—"

"It doesn't matter—"

"It does, Miss Weasley," Minerva interjected firmly.

"But you shouldn't be punished for something we did!"

"Your professors, myself included, are not only responsible for your education, Miss Weasley. We are also responsible for your behaviour - whether your behaviour is appropriate or not. Especially this year." Minerva looked at Ginny Weasley significantly. "Better we are responsible, Miss Weasley, than you."

Ginny Weasley looked on the cusp of protesting. Minerva did not want to give her time to do so.

"It is late Miss Weasley, and I have much to do this afternoon. You have 30 minutes left of your free period. Spend it in your dormitory or in the library, please."

And with those last words, Minerva chivvied the girl away.