Post by Dragonlady on Apr 2, 2005 14:31:49 GMT -5
AN: I was going through my old files the other day and I found this. It was my entry for the first chapter of the fanlib that a few people had tried to coordinate a while back...it's a shame that it ended up dying out. I'm not sure if I'll continue this or not. Oh, and I also beta for Perfect Imagination and The Firelight, so if anyone would like me to beta their AD/MM story I can be reached at dragonlady1290@hotmail.com. And without further adieu, here is The Aftermath. Comments and constructive criticism are, as always, appreciated.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine.
Summary: Hogwarts is celebrating the Dark Lord's defeat, but there is much more to be done. Harry Potter may have saved the wizarding world, but it is Albus Dumbledore who will have to rebuild it-and Minerva McGonagall will be there to help.
The Aftermath
Hogwarts was celebrating.
A continual feast had been going on in the Great Hall for three days. The common rooms had been opened to all of the houses and parties were going on in each one. Curfew had been abolished. Classes had been canceled for a week. Everywhere people were toasting Harry Potter. After all, it wasn't every day that Lord Voldemort was defeated--and by a one-year-old boy, no less. All of the teachers and students of Hogwarts were celebrating, and with good reason.
All, that is, except one.
Professor Minerva McGonagall was curled up on her favorite window seat in her personal chambers, a pensive frown on her face. She was happy that Voldemort had been destroyed, of course, but Harry Potter's victory-as all victories do-carried an undertone of sadness.
Lily and James Potter were dead, sacrificing themselves so that their son might live.
Sirius Black was as good as dead, locked up in Azkaban for the betrayal of his friends and the murder of innocents, including Peter Pettigrew.
Severus Snape was being held at the Ministry of Magic, awaiting the judgment of the Wizengamot. Only the interference and testimony of the headmaster kept him from being locked up in Azkaban as well.
Remus Lupin had barricaded himself in his London apartment. He hadn't been seen since Sirius' capture.
And Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, savior of the wizarding world, had been placed in the care of Muggles who neither understood nor cared for him. Minerva knew. She had shadowed the house in her Animagus form for two days. Only the strict orders of the headmaster had kept her from taking Harry away, far away, where he would be cherished and cared for and loved. She had protested vehemently the night that she, Hagrid, and the headmaster had left him at Privet Drive, but she had been overruled by Albus Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore. Minerva stared unseeing out her window as a purple firework floated by. He was her superior, her mentor, her teacher, her friend--and perhaps more. She hadn't seen him for days, not since that night at Privet Drive. There was much that needed to be done, however-Voldemort might have been defeated (and even now some skeptics feared that he might return) but there were still Death Eaters to catch, lives to rebuild. Albus, as the headmaster of Hogwarts and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, was in the thick of everything that had been going on. Still, Minerva resolved to speak to him about Harry Potter again when he returned. Perhaps some other arrangement could be made.
A knock at her door startled her. "Enter," Minerva called, straightening. The door opened, and in walked Albus Dumbledore himself.
"Good evening," he said with a smile, but Minerva wasn't paying attention. All thoughts of berating him for his placement of Harry disappeared as she got a good look at him. He looked horrible. His twinkling blue eyes were bloodshot with dark circles under them. He was pale, and his beard, normally so tidy, was a mess.
"Good heavens, Albus," Minerva exclaimed without thinking. "You look awful."
This earned her a chuckle. "And you look as lovely as ever, my dear," the headmaster said, seating himself beside her on the window seat.
Minerva blushed. "Really, Albus!" He chuckled again as she conjured a cup of tea for each of them. The compliment and his close proximity made her heart race, and Minerva sternly told herself to remain in control. "What brings you here?"
Albus' expression sobered, and he put his tea down to turn and face Minerva. "I apologize for burdening you in what should be a happy time, but I have called a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix for tomorrow night."
She nodded. She had been expecting something like this. Minerva was something of a spy for the Order; not on a level with Severus Snape, but her Animagus form made it possible for her to hear and see things that others could not. "You-Know-Who may be vanquished, but many of his followers are not."
"Indeed." Albus sighed. He looked as if he was going to say something more, but thinking of her duties for the Order made Minerva remember something.
"What is to be done about Severus Snape?"
"He is still at the Ministry; his trial is scheduled for tomorrow. If all goes well, he will be present at the meeting tomorrow night." Minerva raised her eyebrows, and Albus nodded. Most of the Order members were not aware that they had a spy, much less that the spy was a former Death Eater. Severus would not receive a warm welcome. "It will be all right, Minerva," the headmaster said reassuringly. When she still looked skeptical, he covered her hand in his. "Trust me."
"That has never been an issue, and you should know it."
"I do, at that," he admitted. He squeezed her hand gently, and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Really! she scolded herself. It's not as if he hasn't touched you before! She hauled her mind back to the subject at hand. "Where have you been, if I may ask?"
Albus took a lemon drop out of his pocket before replying. He offered it to Minerva, and she shook her head with an exasperated sigh. Unwrapping the candy, he said, "The interim Minister requested my assistance in dealing with the aftermath of Voldemort's defeat."
She didn't need to hear any more. The Minister of Magic had been killed by Voldemort, so the Ministry was temporarily under the control of a man called Cornelius Fudge, a rather incompetent fellow. "I see," Minerva said disapprovingly, wondering if it was possible for that man to do anything by himself.
The headmaster chuckled, as if he knew what she had been thinking. Finishing his tea, he stood. "Forgive me, but I must depart. Undoubtedly there will be a mountain of correspondence waiting on my desk."
"I beg to differ," Minerva said, smiling inwardly.
"I beg your pardon?"
Minerva stood and took out her wand. "Accio letters!" A bundle of letters, complete with separate addressed envelopes, came zooming out from the next room. She caught it and handed it to the headmaster. "These await your signature and seal. The originals, as well as those letters that Fawkes indicated were for your eyes only, are on your desk."
With a delighted laugh, Albus took the papers and strode towards her. "Minerva, my dear, you are truly a wonder." He leaned in toward her and kissed her cheek, and suddenly Minerva forgot how to breathe. When he pulled back, the twinkle in his blue eyes had been replaced with another unreadable emotion. "I bid you good night." Speechless, she could only watch him leave.
Minerva sank back down into the window seat as the door closed and ordered her cheeks to stop blushing. What on earth had come over her this evening? She was no longer an adolescent, governed by hormonal impulses; there was no reason that she should have reacted so forcefully to a simple gesture of thanks. And there were other, more important things to be considered. She forced her mind away from Albus' extremely odd behavior.
What would tomorrow's meeting bring? There were many issues to be addressed, the remaining Death Eaters and Severus Snape being not the least of those. Minerva wondered what news the headmaster would give them. She fully realized that he had avoided saying exactly what he had been up to during the days since Voldemort's defeat. She was extremely glad that she had decided to take some of Albus' work upon herself. His appearance upon entering her rooms clearly indicated that he had been working overly hard. And there was much more to be done.
After all, Harry Potter may have saved the wizarding world, but it was Albus Dumbledore who would have to rebuild it. And Minerva would be there to help.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine.
Summary: Hogwarts is celebrating the Dark Lord's defeat, but there is much more to be done. Harry Potter may have saved the wizarding world, but it is Albus Dumbledore who will have to rebuild it-and Minerva McGonagall will be there to help.
The Aftermath
Hogwarts was celebrating.
A continual feast had been going on in the Great Hall for three days. The common rooms had been opened to all of the houses and parties were going on in each one. Curfew had been abolished. Classes had been canceled for a week. Everywhere people were toasting Harry Potter. After all, it wasn't every day that Lord Voldemort was defeated--and by a one-year-old boy, no less. All of the teachers and students of Hogwarts were celebrating, and with good reason.
All, that is, except one.
Professor Minerva McGonagall was curled up on her favorite window seat in her personal chambers, a pensive frown on her face. She was happy that Voldemort had been destroyed, of course, but Harry Potter's victory-as all victories do-carried an undertone of sadness.
Lily and James Potter were dead, sacrificing themselves so that their son might live.
Sirius Black was as good as dead, locked up in Azkaban for the betrayal of his friends and the murder of innocents, including Peter Pettigrew.
Severus Snape was being held at the Ministry of Magic, awaiting the judgment of the Wizengamot. Only the interference and testimony of the headmaster kept him from being locked up in Azkaban as well.
Remus Lupin had barricaded himself in his London apartment. He hadn't been seen since Sirius' capture.
And Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, savior of the wizarding world, had been placed in the care of Muggles who neither understood nor cared for him. Minerva knew. She had shadowed the house in her Animagus form for two days. Only the strict orders of the headmaster had kept her from taking Harry away, far away, where he would be cherished and cared for and loved. She had protested vehemently the night that she, Hagrid, and the headmaster had left him at Privet Drive, but she had been overruled by Albus Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore. Minerva stared unseeing out her window as a purple firework floated by. He was her superior, her mentor, her teacher, her friend--and perhaps more. She hadn't seen him for days, not since that night at Privet Drive. There was much that needed to be done, however-Voldemort might have been defeated (and even now some skeptics feared that he might return) but there were still Death Eaters to catch, lives to rebuild. Albus, as the headmaster of Hogwarts and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, was in the thick of everything that had been going on. Still, Minerva resolved to speak to him about Harry Potter again when he returned. Perhaps some other arrangement could be made.
A knock at her door startled her. "Enter," Minerva called, straightening. The door opened, and in walked Albus Dumbledore himself.
"Good evening," he said with a smile, but Minerva wasn't paying attention. All thoughts of berating him for his placement of Harry disappeared as she got a good look at him. He looked horrible. His twinkling blue eyes were bloodshot with dark circles under them. He was pale, and his beard, normally so tidy, was a mess.
"Good heavens, Albus," Minerva exclaimed without thinking. "You look awful."
This earned her a chuckle. "And you look as lovely as ever, my dear," the headmaster said, seating himself beside her on the window seat.
Minerva blushed. "Really, Albus!" He chuckled again as she conjured a cup of tea for each of them. The compliment and his close proximity made her heart race, and Minerva sternly told herself to remain in control. "What brings you here?"
Albus' expression sobered, and he put his tea down to turn and face Minerva. "I apologize for burdening you in what should be a happy time, but I have called a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix for tomorrow night."
She nodded. She had been expecting something like this. Minerva was something of a spy for the Order; not on a level with Severus Snape, but her Animagus form made it possible for her to hear and see things that others could not. "You-Know-Who may be vanquished, but many of his followers are not."
"Indeed." Albus sighed. He looked as if he was going to say something more, but thinking of her duties for the Order made Minerva remember something.
"What is to be done about Severus Snape?"
"He is still at the Ministry; his trial is scheduled for tomorrow. If all goes well, he will be present at the meeting tomorrow night." Minerva raised her eyebrows, and Albus nodded. Most of the Order members were not aware that they had a spy, much less that the spy was a former Death Eater. Severus would not receive a warm welcome. "It will be all right, Minerva," the headmaster said reassuringly. When she still looked skeptical, he covered her hand in his. "Trust me."
"That has never been an issue, and you should know it."
"I do, at that," he admitted. He squeezed her hand gently, and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Really! she scolded herself. It's not as if he hasn't touched you before! She hauled her mind back to the subject at hand. "Where have you been, if I may ask?"
Albus took a lemon drop out of his pocket before replying. He offered it to Minerva, and she shook her head with an exasperated sigh. Unwrapping the candy, he said, "The interim Minister requested my assistance in dealing with the aftermath of Voldemort's defeat."
She didn't need to hear any more. The Minister of Magic had been killed by Voldemort, so the Ministry was temporarily under the control of a man called Cornelius Fudge, a rather incompetent fellow. "I see," Minerva said disapprovingly, wondering if it was possible for that man to do anything by himself.
The headmaster chuckled, as if he knew what she had been thinking. Finishing his tea, he stood. "Forgive me, but I must depart. Undoubtedly there will be a mountain of correspondence waiting on my desk."
"I beg to differ," Minerva said, smiling inwardly.
"I beg your pardon?"
Minerva stood and took out her wand. "Accio letters!" A bundle of letters, complete with separate addressed envelopes, came zooming out from the next room. She caught it and handed it to the headmaster. "These await your signature and seal. The originals, as well as those letters that Fawkes indicated were for your eyes only, are on your desk."
With a delighted laugh, Albus took the papers and strode towards her. "Minerva, my dear, you are truly a wonder." He leaned in toward her and kissed her cheek, and suddenly Minerva forgot how to breathe. When he pulled back, the twinkle in his blue eyes had been replaced with another unreadable emotion. "I bid you good night." Speechless, she could only watch him leave.
Minerva sank back down into the window seat as the door closed and ordered her cheeks to stop blushing. What on earth had come over her this evening? She was no longer an adolescent, governed by hormonal impulses; there was no reason that she should have reacted so forcefully to a simple gesture of thanks. And there were other, more important things to be considered. She forced her mind away from Albus' extremely odd behavior.
What would tomorrow's meeting bring? There were many issues to be addressed, the remaining Death Eaters and Severus Snape being not the least of those. Minerva wondered what news the headmaster would give them. She fully realized that he had avoided saying exactly what he had been up to during the days since Voldemort's defeat. She was extremely glad that she had decided to take some of Albus' work upon herself. His appearance upon entering her rooms clearly indicated that he had been working overly hard. And there was much more to be done.
After all, Harry Potter may have saved the wizarding world, but it was Albus Dumbledore who would have to rebuild it. And Minerva would be there to help.
