5 September 1992
"Creevey!" Minerva barked.
The first year jumped with fright and turned around. "Professor McGonagall?" he squeaked.
Minerva pursed her lips and approached the boy who had been following Harry for the past 5 minutes.
"I believe you have Charms beginning in two minutes, Mr Creevey," Minerva said, looking at the small boy over her spectacles. "Do you need some assistance in finding the classroom?"
"N-no, Professor Mcgonagall, Ma'am," he stammered, going red in the face. "I was hoping I could get a...erm, nevermind..."
He fiddled nervously with his camera.
"I think maybe I should go if I don't want to be late," he mumbled.
"I think perhaps you should," Minerva agreed. "You will find the Charms classroom down the stairs first door on your left."
"Thank you, Professor," he said, hoisting the strap of his bag back onto his shoulder. At that precise moment, Ginny Weasley walked past, holding a black notebook and a quill lying precariously on top.
"Miss Weasley," Minerva said, calling Ginny to a halt. "Perhaps you could show Mr Creevey the way to your next lesson?"
"Oh...erm, yes, of course, Professor," Ginny said, her eyes flicking between Minerva and Colin as she put the black notebook hurriedly back into her bag.
"Good, now off you go, quickly," Minerva said, shooing them away.
Colin caught up with Ginny and together they walked down the opposite way to the Charms classroom, Minerva watching them closely. It wasn't the first time she had caught Colin running after Harry, or Ginny Weasley walking alone for that matter.
With Colin, it was more a matter of making sure he did not harass Harry too much if it were at all possible. Minerva had noticed that the boy had been following Potter about since the start of term and, despite the fact that she was still annoyed with Potter for his serious breach of school rules, there was still a part of her who felt very strongly that he need not face this year being ogled at again by every student in the castle; if she could help it, of course.
In the case of Ginevra Weasley, Minerva had been keeping her eye on the girl after noticing that she spent a lot of her time alone. Her concern for the youngest Weasley had also increased quite considerably this morning when she had received a letter from Molly Weasley (whom Minerva was already in regular contact with due to the twins' numerous stunts) asking her about Ginny who apparently had been very quiet in terms of correspondence.
Minerva continued to watch the two until Ginny's flaming red hair and Colin's blond curls disappeared from view. Perhaps pushing them together would do them both some good, she thought, before shaking herself and continuing her way down the corridor to her classroom for her next lesson.