Double post this week :) Hope you enjoy it. Would love to know your thoughts :)

25 March 1996

The last of the green sand trickled to the bottom of the hourglass and Minerva heard Fred and George sigh with relief.

"Can we go now, Professor?" George Weasley asked.

Minerva nodded once. "You may," she said. "But I do not wish to find you using firecrackers in the trophy room again," she added seriously.

For the past hour, the Weasley twins had been cleaning trophies they had scorched after they had released a particularly loud and unruly firecracker. It was a miracle Minerva had found the boys before Dolores - Merlin only knew what sort of punishment Umbridge would have given them otherwise.

"We promise we won't do it again, Professor" Fred said solemnly.

"Would you like us to take the trophies back?" George added.

Minerva glanced at the clock on her wall, then shook her head — it was nearly curfew.

"You can leave them on the table, Mr Weasley," she said finally, clearing her desk and then standing up too. "I would like you both to go straight to your Common Room."

Fred nodded. "Goodnight, Professor," he said.

"Goodnight, Professor," George echoed, before slipping out of the room after his brother.

Once they had gone, Minerva sighed. She had had the most tiring of days that day. First, her classes had involved 2 seventh years bursting into tears when they had not managed to complete the toad to toadstool spell like the rest of their peers. Minerva had then given up her lunch hour to help those students master the spell.

Her next free period had been taken up by a first year student who had lost their pet toad - reminiscent of Neville Longbottom's frequent dilemmas when he had been a first year too. Upon finding the toad, Minerva then had to go straight to her next class, leaving her no time to do the marking she had set herself to do that morning.

Fred and George's mishap in the trophy room had also forced her to cancel seeing her brother for dinner that evening, leaving her less than happy. Indeed, this would have been the first time Minerva had seen her brother face-to-face in weeks. The only good thing that had come from Fred and George's detention was the fact that Minerva had now managed to catch up on her marking.

With another sigh, Minerva bent down to pick up the box of trophies. She was just straightening when the sound of a woman screaming pierced the silence of Minerva's office. Instantly Minerva tensed. Another scream echoed across the castle and Minerva quickly put the box back down, picked up her wand, and hurried out of her office.

"Mr Filch what on earth are you doing!" Minerva exclaimed as she met Argus on the landing. He was throwing two suitcases down the staircase leading to the Entrance Hall.

"Professor McGonagall, I am glad that you are here."

Minerva turned her attention to Dolores, however, before she could say anything, she spotted a figure behind Dolores' head.

"Sibyll is just about to leave—"

"To leave...?" Minerva trailed away as she looked in bewilderment from Argus to Dolores and then to Sybill who was sobbing openly. Argus made a move to throw another case down the stairs but Minerva held out her arm to prevent him from doing anything else. She began to descend the steps but Dolores held up her hand authoritatively.

"Minerva a decision has been made that you cannot stop," Dolores interrupted. Minerva gaped at her however Dolores went on. "Educational Decree Number—"

"Professor Umbridge—"

"No, Professor McGonagall," Umbridge interrupted, her raised voice causing even more students to gather in the Entrance Hall and watch the scene. "Unless you would like two Professors to leave on the same day, I suggest that you say no more on the matter. I have written my report," she added, turning towards Sybill now. "You are no longer a Professor At Hogwarts, Sybill. You must leave—"

"No!" Sibyll shrieked. "NO! This cannot be happening. . . . It cannot . . . I refuse to accept it!"

"That was the most horrible thing I have ever had to witness," Pomona said, as she followed Minerva into the Transfiguration classroom. She sighed and sunk down into a chair. "Do you want me to stay this evening?"

Minerva shook her head and sat down too. "No, don't be silly," she said tiredly. "I will check on Sybill later on. You go on back home, dear. Albert is probably wondering where you are."

"Are you sure?"

Minerva rubbed the corner of her eye. "Of course," she said. "Of course," she repeated more firmly, shaking her head and getting up again. "Go home, dear. I will see you tomorrow."

Pomona got up and picked up her things. Though she seemed hesitant. "I'll come early tomorrow," she said. "Before breakfast."

"It's Saturday tomorrow, Pomona," Minerva said, handing her friend her bag and then her coat. "Don't come if you do not have to," she said. "You deserve a break."

Pomona had her hand on the door handle, however, she paused before she opened the door. "You deserve a break too, dear," she said, before shrugging. "I need to water my plants anyway. I'll see you tomorrow."

Minerva pressed her lips together — she knew Pomona was only coming in to help her. Indeed, usually, she would ask Minerva to water her plants over the weekend.

"I will see you on Monday, Pomona," Minerva insisted firmly. "You go on and get some rest while you can."

Pomona sighed, though finally succumbed. She gave Minerva's arm a little squeeze, then kissed her on the cheek.

"Let me know when you get back," Minerva said, as she returned to her desk and sat down.

Pomona nodded weakly, then slipped out of the office.