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18 December 1992

"Quiet, please!" Minerva said sharply, getting up and moving to the back of the classroom where a student had jumped onto a chair and was gesticulating wildly at something on the floor. "Miss Williams cease that noise at once."

Sophie Williams closed her mouth but continued to make jabbing motions at the floor, her eyes fearful. As Minerva followed where the student was pointing to, it did not take her long to realise what had happened. Between the legs of the neighbouring desk wandered a small badger that looked dazed and confused.

Minerva tutted and bent down to help the animal, who was in actual fact a student, and guided it to a space free from desks so that she could untransfigure them.

"Get down from that chair, Williams," Minerva said, "and be careful not to trod..."

But it was too late. A tremendous squeal came from the badger, its eyes almost popping out of its head as Sophie's shoe came into contact with its poor tail. Horrified, Sophie instantly lifted her foot and as she did so the badger pelted across the floor to the other side of the room.

"I'm sorry-so sorry, Professor, I didn't see-"

"Enough," Minerva said, raising her hand to stop the girl's gushing. "Can anyone see where Mr Robinson was gone?" she asked the rest of the class, who had all been watching the developing scene with keen interest.

There was a short pause during which everyone looked around for the small animal - Minerva wanted to leave using Accio as a last resort as she believed Robinson had been subject to enough pain and confusion already. Thankfully, the search only lasted a few seconds as another student, Ian Walker, finally managed to locate the trembling badger and coax it towards him.

"Got him!" Ian shouted triumphantly, raising a squirming badger in the air. "So wriggly," he giggled.

Minerva gave him a look and immediately the grin vanished from his face. "Bring him here, Mr Walker and refrain from injuring Robinson any further."

"Absolutely, Professor McGonagall," he said, bringing the badger to Minerva. He placed it back on the floor and Minerva, with a graceful flick of her wand, returned Mr Robinson to his human form.

No sooner had she done so, Robinson turned accusingly to face Sophie. "You stepped on me!"

"I didn't do it on purpose, Oscar," she shouted back indignantly. "I'm sorry-"

"And you turned me into a badger!" he interrupted heatedly. "Did you forget we were meant to be practising on tables?"

"You distracted me-"

"That is quite enough," Minerva cut in smoothly before Oscar had any more time to retort. "Now, first things first, Mr Robinson do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?"

Oscar rubbed his shoulder but shook his head. "I'm fine, thanks."

"Very well," Minerva replied, "please return to your seat then."

Oscar did so grouchily and sat back down next to Sophie who was determinedly looking away from her friend and staring at an apparently fascinating mark on the floor.

"Miss Williams, in future please attempt to point your wand at the object you are intending to Transfigure," Minerva said told the girl, who nodded mutely. "Your wand is not a toy and as such should not be waved about like one."

"Yes, Professor McGonagall."

"Good, now return to your-"

"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK!"

Minerva turned around abruptly as did all of the students sitting at their desks.

"NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES ATTAAAACK!"

For the first time in a long time, Minerva's professional appearance slipped for just a moment and the colour drained from her face. As Peeves continued to yell at the top of his lungs, Minerva pulled open the door to her classroom and hurried down the hallway - barely registering that her class had followed her.

Minerva had been waiting for ten minutes outside of Albus' office. Her index finger tapping rhythmically on her arms as she waited was the only outward indication of her internal nervousness and stress. As ten minutes became fifteen and then twenty, finally, the door opened and Harry emerged looking pale and shaken. The expression on his face and the shaky steps he took before breaking into a run for the Gryffindor Dormitory made Minerva regret how stern and sharp she had been with him before - the poor boy had probably been scared enough as it was without the added pressure of Peeves, Ernie, half of the fifth year and herself all talking to him.

With a small tut, Minerva chided herself before then pushing those thoughts to one side and beginning her ascent to Albus's office.

"How are Mr Finch-Fletchley and Nicholas?" he asked, no sooner had she pushed open the door.

"They are both in the Hospital Wing," Minerva answered. "Mr Finch-Fletchley is just like the others; we will have to wait for the mandrakes to be ready. Sir Nicholas is—actually I am not sure what we can do for him," she admitted, "with him being a ghost."

"Hm."

Minerva hesitated before coming forwards. "This cannot go one any longer, Albus," she said firmly. "We must find the culprit or the entrance and put an end to all of this."

"I agree," he replied. "I have spoken to the governors and the Ministry, however, they would rather the school stay open for as long as it is possible."

"I don't think that is going to be very long," Minerva told him truthfully. "I am all for education, Albus, but the lives of students and staff are at risk."

"Cornelius and the governors have been quite clear."

"Since when have you heeded the advice of the Ministry?" Minerva said tiredly. He looked up at her finally and she sighed. "What did Potter say?" she asked. "You don't believe it was him, I hope?"

"No, I do not," Albus replied, "but I believe there is a link somewhere," he said, "I just cannot see it yet."

"Do you know he stumbled upon the scene," she remarked, watching him carefully, "but it is odd that this is the second time it has happened - Potter and the attacks."

Dumbledore looked at her curiously as though he was noticing something about her for the first time. It made her uncomfortable and she briefly looked away from his gaze.

"You have a theory?"

She shook her head and took a seat. "Not entirely. Just—just a thought, really."

He continued to watch her carefully, his chin lightly resting on his interlocked fingers.

"Well...based on Mr Scamander's information," she began slowly, "and ignoring the statue curse...doesn't what has happened so far, fit with the idea of the beast being a snake?"

He tilted his head.

"Potter speaks Parseltongue," she said, "Severus told me after Gilderoy's duelling club. So, if Potter can speak to snakes, then I would assume he can understand them too?"

"That would make sense," agreed Dumbledore. "What are you suggesting, Minerva?"

"Nothing necessarily," she said, "just perhaps that that explains why Potter seems always to be the first at the scene," she explained, "perhaps he can—hear the Basilisk like—like You-Know-Who could?"

A quick flash of something flitted across Albus' features — recognition, excitement, worry, Minerva could not be sure. However, it unsettled her again and a small frown creased her forehead.

"I am not suggesting he is the Heir of Slytherin," she said quickly. "I just—I find it odd."

"Do you?" he asked lightly, rising from his chair and looking away from Minerva's curious paced for a minute then looked back at her and gave her a brief smile; a sad smile, Minerva came to realise many years later. "My apologies, my dear," he said, waving his hand and coming back to sit, "I hope you can excuse the wafflings of an old man."

"You are not old, Albus," Minerva said seriously. "And no one would describe you as a man who 'waffles' as you so delicately put it." She paused and considered him for a moment. "What are you thinking?"

"I am thinking that with this attack it may only be a matter of time before the governors find that I am not fit to remain as Headmaster. And the Ministry intervene."

"Albus—"

He held up his hand to stop her protests. "Minerva you must be ready to take over my place when the time comes, as I am sure it will unless we find and seal the Chamber."

"They can't—they wouldn't"

"They can, my dear, and they will unless we are successful," he told her measuredly. "Hagrid, I believe, will also be at risk."

"Both of you?" she said weakly.

"It is the logical next step for them, my dear, unfortunate as that may be," he said before smiling gently at her - an expression Minerva thought to be very misplaced given the circumstances. "I will take your protests as a compliment, however."

"Don't be daft," she tutted, "Hogwarts would never be the same without you."

"I must disagree with you there, my dear," he said. "There are many extraordinary Professors here who would successfully look after the school in my absence."

He raised his eyebrows at her and Minerva pursed her lips.

"Flattery doesn't work on me, Albus," she told him flatly. "Cornelius owes you a lot more than he should. He should bear that in mind when encouraged by the likes of Malfoy to ouste you."

"He may not have a choice—"

"—Backbone?" Minerva said over him. "I quite agree." She then sighed suddenly and stood up. "I am going to see Poppy and check on Mr Finch Fletchley and Sir Nicholas. Goodness knows what we are going to do with Nicholas," she added, sighing ad pinching the bridge of her nose.

"We will find a way, my dear," he reassured her.

"I do hope so, Albus, " she said seriously, "Because I cannot bear to think of the alternatives."