She is immortal, born in the highlands of Scotland over three hundred years ago. She is not alone. There are others like her – some good, some evil. For centuries she has battled the forces of darkness, with holy ground and Hogwarts Castle her only refuges. She cannot die, unless you take her head, and with it her power, for in the end, there can be only one. Among the wizarding world, she is Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts. But in the Game of the Immortals, she is Fiona MacLeod – the Highlander.
*Highlander: The Series version of Princes Of The Universe plays*
Chapter 3
When Harry came to, he found himself lying on a bed in the hospital wing. He blinked a few times, then without thinking, reached to the bedside table where his glasses were, and put them on. Then he took them off again, raising and lowering them half a dozen times, until he was certain. His eyesight was now only blurry with his glasses on! "You won't be needing those any more, Potter." Harry flinched, and turned to see Professor McGonagall standing by the other side of the bed.
"Professor, what –" as Harry began to ask a question, Professor McGonagall held up a hand. "I will answer your questions, Potter, but I feel it is best to get all the surprises out of the way first." And she held up a mirror. Harry gaped at his reflection in astonishment. His scar was gone! Looking down at his hands, the scars from Umbridge's lines had disappeared as well. "What you experienced in the Entrance Hall," began Professor McGonagall, "is what is known as a Quickening. You will not find the term mentioned in any book in the library, for it is a phenomenon of which both worlds at large – wizarding and Muggle – are unaware. To the best of my knowledge, before you, the only witch or wizard to have experienced a Quickening is myself."
This made no sense to Harry. "But what does it mean, Professor? Do I have some kind of magical illness or something?" Professor McGonagall flicked her wand and conjured a chair, sitting down before answering. "You are not ill, Potter – no, Harry – I must get used to addressing you thus in private. You will never be ill again. You will heal from any injury, save beheading or dismemberment, without even a scar to show for it. As far as I am aware at this time, you will no longer age. And I know this because the same is true of me. You and I are Immortal."
Harry stared at Professor McGonagall in disbelief. And yet as he stared, he felt a sense of certainty. Professor McGonagall wasn't lying. "I'm… immortal? I can't die?" "That is what the word means, Harry, yes. Now only beheading will kill you." "But who would want to kill me? Apart from Voldemort, and the Death Eaters, obviously." "Other Immortals, of course." Harry instantly rolled off the bed, away from Professor McGonagall, reaching for his wand. "There's no need to be dramatic, Potter," Professor McGonagall said with a hint of exasperation. "I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to train you." Harry narrowed his eyes. "Train me?" "Of course. You don't think you could win a swordfight without any training, do you? We shall meet every day once your OWLs are concluded, but for now, I shall tell you the basic rules of what we call the Game." Harry took a deep breath and calmed down. Professor McGonagall was back to normal, even if the subject matter was completely different to what he was used to.
"Firstly, outside of the wizarding world, you are safe only on holy ground – churches and the like. To the best of my knowledge, all the other Immortals are Muggles, so they cannot even see, let alone reach, magical places. Secondly, all duels between Immortals are one-on-one. Should two Immortals be in the same place, and a third arrives to challenge one of them, the non-challenged Immortal must stand aside, and not interfere on behalf of either duellist. Though naturally, once the duel concludes, the third party is free to challenge the survivor. Thirdly, duels are not to be undertaken where there are witnesses, if at all possible. And finally, in the end, there can be only one. To that one, shall go the Prize." "And what's the Prize?" "That, I'm afraid, is unknown to us. There have been speculations – a return to mortality, knowing all things, but perhaps it is simply being the only Immortal left, having gained the Quickenings of all other Immortals, possessing their knowledge and skills. Should you kill me, for instance, you would gain my skill with a sword, and likely my proficiency with Transfiguration. Perhaps even my Animagus ability." At this, Professor McGonagall stood and Vanished her chair. "But we are getting ahead of ourselves. For now, you still have exams, and I have classes to teach."