Light and cheerful before dark and miserable (poor Ginny). I've almost finished writing all chapters for Chamber of Secrets. Prisoner of Azkaban will start in the next four or five chapters :)

30 November 1992

"My dear woman, surely you would not be daunted by my expertise?"

Minerva's eyes widened as she looked incredulously at Lockhart. Up until five minutes ago she had been sitting pleasantly going through some notes for her and Albus' research; a small break she had afforded herself before she had to resume her other duties. Now, she felt anything but relaxed and comfortable as she looked into Gildeoy's boyish face watching her expectantly.

"I can assure you, Gilderoy, that I am not daunted by your magical talents," she stated shortly, "as renowned and praised as they are."

"I would be very careful, Minerva," Gilderoy said. "I would always give a woman your age fair warning."

Minerva's nostrils flared in suppressed anger - did he really just say a woman her age? A five-year-old would probably be able to tackle this buffoon, she thought angrily. Part of her now wanted to agree to his suggestions just to teach him a lesson. This feeling was short-lived however as she managed to reign in her emotions.

"I am afraid, Gilderoy, that no amount of persuasion will make me change my mind," she said in a clipped tone, her eyes briefly flicking to Pomona whose copy of the Daily Prophet, behind which she was hiding, was shaking slightly. "You will have to find another teacher happy to oblige and partake in the running of your new club."

"I'm sorry to hear it, Minerva," he said, shaking his head dramatically before turning to Pomona, who appeared to have composed herself enough to show her face from behind her newspaper. "Professor Sprout, may I tempt you into joining my Dueling Club? As a partner, of course, but I daresay you might learn a trick or two."

"Goodness, Gilderoy, what an honour," Pomona gushed, causing Minerva to make an odd noise with her mouth. "But I'm afraid I am going to have to decline your kind offer."

"Are you quite sure now?"

"Oh, quite certain," Pomona assured him, "you are going to have to find someone else, as Professor McGonagall said."

"That is a shame," he said disappointedly. "I have asked most professors now, and none have been willing...The price of fame and excellent talent, suppose."

Minerva raised an eyebrow but didn't comment; she deduced she would be fighting a losing battle if she tried to argue with him.

"Do you happen to have any suggestions?" he asked when neither Pomona nor Minerva responded to his previous remark.

"What about Filius?" Minerva asked lightly.

"Oh, I don't believe this is something he would be interested in," Gilderoy said quickly, passing a nervous hand through his golden hair; clearly, he was not so bigheaded enough to match himself with an accomplished duelist like Flitwick. "A pity really, he would have made a good match for my skills."

"Oh, undoubtedly," Minerva said, the note of sarcasm, unfortunately, going right over Gilderoy's head.

"Well, if it is not to be, I think I will bid both you good ladies goodnight," he said, picking up his hat and making his way out of Minerva's office. "But if you change your mind..."

"I wouldn't count on it," Pomona said apologetically. "But I wish you all the best with your search, dear."

Gilderoy bowed his head at Pomona who smiled pleasantly at him as he left the staffroom.

Once the door clicked shut behind him, Minerva muttered a quiet, "Good riddance," as she went back to her work.

Pomona, meanwhile, put her quill down.

"That was quite sly of you, dear," she said mildly. "Are you sure it wasn't Slytherin you were almost sorted into?"

Her words earned her a hard stare from Minerva however, this had no effect on the Hufflepuff.

"You know the poor man wouldn't stand a chance against Filius," she continued.

"I believe that was the point."

"And that mine," Pomona smiled before sighing and putting her marking away. "Oh, I can't focus anymore after that."

"What was it that got to you?" Minerva asked. "The bit about women our age not being able to duel, or the fair warning part?"

She looked up at Pomona who snorted.

"Honestly, that man. The cheek of it. Gilderoy would never say such a thing about Albus."

"Yes, but that is Albus, dear. No one would say that about—"

"Sorry, excuse me, Professors?"

The two witches turned to find Fred and George Weasley standing sheepishly behind them - Minerva was unsure how long they had been there.

"Mr and Mr Weasley," she said, putting down her quill. "I hope you are not here because you have been given another detention."

"No, we haven't," Fred said.

"No need to worry, Professor McGonagall," continued George. "At least not yet."

Minerva flashed him a sharp look, and George bit his lip back although not before a brief smile flitted across his lips.

"What can I help you with, gentlemen?"

"Neville Longbottom has lost his toad again, Ma'am," George explained, "and he's worried his Gran is going to send him another Howler. He's a bit upset, and none of us can find Trevor anywhere."

Minerva resisted the urge to tut. The number of times that toad got lost was remarkable. Not to mention the fact that after all of its excursion it was still alive... Minerva pursed her lips and stood up.

"Very well," she said. "Thank you for letting me know."

She walked past Pomona, telling her that she would be back soon, and then followed the Weasley's to the Gryffindor Common Room, where she would be attempting to appease a distressed Neville.

"By the way, Professor," said George, just as they reached the portrait hole, "We're in no doubt you could beat Lockhart in a duel."

"You would squash him easily like—"

"—a bug."

"Yeah, like a bug."

"Mr and Mr Weasley!" Minerva admonished, "That is no way to speak about a Professor. 5 points from Gryffindor."

The boys sighed, and Minerva adopted her usual stern appearance as she frowned reproachfully at them. However, when the boys turned and she followed them through the portrait hole, a brief amused smile appeared on her lips.