I feel for Marietta. I love Hermione but my was she harsh. I don't think it's mentioned if Marietta ever gets her skin back to normal. I believe she still has the scarring a year later when she attended Dumbledore's funeral :(

Anyway, thanks again for the lovely reviews :) I really hope you enjoy this chapter - the last few chapters of Order of the Pheonix are definitely my favourite so I'm excited to explore these a bit more from Minerva's point of view.

Would love to know your thoughts :)

16 April 1996

Minerva brushed the feathers of her quill against her chin as she looked at the essay in front of her. It was either at the high end of one grade boundary or the low end for another. In the end, she opted for awarding an Acceptable rather than a Poor. The student had tried hard, she could tell. As she scribbled the letter A on the paper, a knock sounded at her door.

Minerva frowned however before she could say come in, the door swung open revealing Marietta Edgecombe. The girl was shaking with suppressed sobs, and tears were trickling out of the corner of her eyes though she made no attempt to wipe them away.

Minerva put down her quill and began to get up. "Miss Edgecombe," she said, hurrying around her desk and going towards the girl. "Whatever has happened?" she asked worriedly.

Marietta shook her head, and Minerva frowned when she noticed how hard the girl was pressing her hand to her forehead. "Professor Umbridge wants to speak to you in the Headmaster's office," Marietta said in a trembling voice. "She sent me to tell you, Professor. It's urgent."

Minerva's frown deepened. "Why? Miss Edgecombe, can you tell me what has happened?" she repeated.

"I told Professor Umbridge something a—it was meant to be a secret—and—and she's going to catch them."

"Catch who?" Minerva prompted, increasingly puzzled now.

"I c—can't say in case..." she started to cry and Minerva, increasingly worried, produced a handkerchief for her.

"Take a seat, Marietta," Minerva said gently, wanting to ask more about the situation, but also very much aware that there was an incredibly distressed student in front of her. With a hand still plastered to their forehead, Minerva thought again.

Marietta shook her head resolutely.

"Do you need to see Madame Pomfrey?" Minerva asked.

Marietta shook her head again, causing Minerva to force herself to suppress a sigh.

"Your forehead, Miss Edgecombe..." she began.

"I can't say, Professor," Marietta cut in. "Please can you come?"

Still frowning, Minerva finally conceded and nodded. Marietta led her to Albus' office. While they walked, the girl detailed snippets of the most recent events. By the time they arrived outside the two gargoyles, Minerva had more or less an idea of what was happening.

"Professor Umbridge told me to wait for here," Marietta said, as they came to a stop.

Although concerned for the girl, Minerva was in fact pleased that she was refusing to come upstairs. Indeed, based on what Marietta had told her, Minerva was not keen to talk freely to Albus while Marietta was there. She did not blame the girl entirely, but by speaking freely in front of her she would be putting the girl and her mother in an even trickier position.

"Very well," Minerva said. She waved her wand a chair appeared beside the gargoyle. "If you take a seat here, you may wait for Professor Umbridge."

Minerva began to leave but paused. Although Potter's situation was pressing, she could not help but feel the need to discover what it was Marietta was hiding on her forehead.

So, making a great effort to appear more approachable - indeed, Minera was very much aware that her stern manner and appearance might make some students less likely to divulge their worries - Minerva crouched down beside the girl who was still shaking with contained sobs.

"I am sure you can understand why I am not keen to leave you here on your own, Miss Edgecombe," she said softly. "Is there nothing I can get for you? If not me, then perhaps Professor Flitwick or Madam Pomfrey?"

Marietta shook her head. "It's nothing, Professor," she said. "Really, it isn't. But it would help if you could tell Professor Dumbledore what I told you."

Minerva pursed her lips slightly, not quite believing her student's claims that whatever it was that had happened to her was nothing. Yet, she still stood up instead of persisting. "I will be back, Miss Edgecombe," she said.

Then, with one last concerned frown in her direction, Minerva gave the gargoyle the password and ascended the spiral staircase. As expected, Albus was sitting behind his desk. He appeared to be studying a map, however, Minerva did not have the time to know if this was in fact what she had seen. Indeed, upon her entrance into his office, Albus had immediately folded back the map, or whatever it was he had been studying so closely.

"Minerva—"

"Albus, I have just been informed that Dolores has called the Minister to come here," Minerva interrupted him urgently. "Something about discovering a student group practising banned magic at Hogwarts," she added. "And by banned I just mean regular magic that they are not being taught."

Albus closed his eyes. "The defence group Harry, Weasley and Granger created..." he said slowly. "They did set it up in the end..."

Minerva nodded. "It would appear so," she said.

"Have they been found?" Albus added, getting up.

Minerva shook her head. "No, but Miss Edgecombe has told Dolores where the meetings are taking place," she said. "Apparently they are in a meeting now. I think it is only a matter of time before they are discovered."

Dumbledore nodded again, a frown now creasing his brow. "Did Miss Edgecombe tell you where these meetings are taking place?"

Minerva shook her head, "I would have gone straight there if she had. Albus—"

"—One moment, my dear," he told her, turning to whisper something to Fawkes, before turning back again. "Dobby?"

There was a loud crack in the office, and a small house elf that Minerva remembered meeting two years ago, appeared on the rug in front of Albus' desk.

"Professor Dumbledore, Sir," Dobby said, his wide orb-like eyes starring unblinkingly at Albus.

"Would you locate Mr Potter, Dobby, and warn him that he is in danger of being discovered?"

Dobby looked as though he was about to say something. However, he appeared to hold back, then nodded silently and disapparated again. Before Minerva had time to question Albus' decision, he was already speaking.

"It may be that Dolores has forbidden the house elves of divulging her plans," he said quietly, "but I believe Harry will understand the message."

Minerva took a step towards him. "Albus this could give the Ministry license to expel several students," she said worriedly.

"If they are found," Albus reminded her.

"It is likely they will be. Miss Edgecombe has told Dolores exactly where to find Potter. Dobby may not arrive on time to warn him," she added, putting a hand to her forehead as she thought desperately for an excuse they could use. If the Minister himself was coming to the school, then it seemed likely that a handful of students would be leaving with more than a few detentions. "What if—"

"We will manage, my dear" Albus cut in gently. He put a reassuring hand on her arm. However before any more words could be exchanged between them, the door to his office burst open again.

"Dumbledore!" came Fudge's angry voice.

Albus dropped his hand from Minerva's arm. "Follow my lead," he whispered to her quietly, before sitting back down at his desk while the Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shackelbolt and several other Aurors entered the circular office.