CHALLENGE (there's a prize!)

[Dragonlady]

Well, thanks to a friend of mine, I now have a Gmail account. For those of you who don't know, Gmail is Google (as in the search engine) mail-it has 1000 MB of free storage and it archives emails as 'conversations' (so all the replies to one email are on the screen). In my view the only downside is that you can't do fonts or italics. However, Gmail is by invitation only. I have more invitations than I need, so I figured I'd issue a challenge and give an account to the person who writes what I think is the best story (featuring AD and MM). If I'm not allowed to do this, mods, let me know and I'll move it to another site. And if you already have Gmail (or don't want it) please don't let that stop you from participating.

THE CHALLENGE: (I deliberately picked something different) Write a story featuring AD and MM where they are *gasp* not together. They can be extraordinarily good friends, they can be dancing around each other, they can be in love with each other, but they cannot be together. I think that gives plenty of leeway for different categories.

Any takers?

[griseldalafey]

Innocent until proven guilty
By: Griselda la Fey

Author’s notes:
This one is written for Dragonlady as response to her challenge. I already have Gmail but I thought it would be fun to write an AD/MM in which they weren't in love. I only don’t know if it’s a story or a scene… And I’ve posted it here since I couldn’t think of another category under which it would fit.

***

A rapt knock on the door pulled the wizard out of his thoughts. Lifting his head he called out for the Head Girl to enter.

A seventeen year old Minerva McGonagall entered her Head of House’s office with an anxious look on her face. When she saw his sad, regretful expression her face fell.

“Please don’t say that Hogwarts will be closed”, she gasped.

He shook his head, a troubled look on his face. “No it won’t Minerva. We have caught the person who was behind the attack”.

“Really?” She asked, a bewildered expression crossing her features. If they had the culprit, then why was her professor looking so gloomy? “You know who has opened the Chamber of Secrets?”

“Yes”, he nodded. “We know who has set the monster free”.

Minerva felt a surge of hate surging through her when she thought of the person who had caused so much pain and distress. “Who was it?”

“Rubeus Hagrid”, he answered simply.

Her eyes widened in shock, but her voice sounded determined when she briskly said, “impossible”.

A smile crossed over his face, the twinkle returning in his eyes. “You seem very sure of that, Minerva?”

The girl looked away for a moment, portraying in her mind the kind, but awkward fourth year Hufflepuf. She knew Hagrid had an unfortunate liking for dangerous animals, but she couldn’t believe he would be the one to open Slytherin’s chamber.

“Hagrid would never intentionally hurt another person”, she answered. “He’s just… incapable of doing that”.

“I know and I believe that too”, the auburn haired man replied.

Minerva’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t think Hagrid is the one who did it?”

“No, I don’t”, he replied shaking his head. “Minerva, do you remember what Myrtle looked like when you found her?”.

“She was lying on her back in the girl’s lavatory”, Minerva answered thoughtfully. “Her eyes were wide open and there was a look of great shock on her face… but there weren’t any wounds on her or signs of a struggle”.

“Exactly”, Dumbledore nodded. “Hagrid was caught feeding an Acromantula. The school governors and the Headmaster believe that that is the monster that lies in the chamber. The monster that Hagrid has set free”.

“But… if Myrtle was murdered by an Acromantula, wouldn’t there have been evidence of that?” Minerva asked confused.

Her professor sighed. “That is one of the reasons why I believe Hagrid is innocent. The other reason is that I cannot believe that Hagrid is the heir of Slytherin. But the governors and the Headmaster are determined to point a culprit”.

“Who caught Hagrid feeding that spider?” Minerva asked.

“Tom Riddle”, Dumbledore answered gravely.

“What?” Minerva exclaimed. “If there is anyone not trustworthy then it is…”

“Careful Minerva”, Dumbledore warned her with a dangerous undertone in his voice. “You have no proof for such accusations. Therefore you should not utter them. An neither should I”.

Minerva stared at her teacher until understanding began to dawn in her eyes. “What is going to happen to Hagrid, will he be expelled?”

“He already is”, Dumbledore replied, his face turning sad again. “The school governors have snapped his wand in pieces”.

“Oh no…”, Minerva whispered, tears filling her eyes. “But he has no place to go to… his father is dead and his mother has abandoned him…”

“I’m trying to persuade the board of governors to allow him to stay at Hogwarts”, Dumbledore said with a heavy sigh. “As trainee groundkeeper or something…”

“It’s so unfair…”, Minerva muttered sadly. Then she looked up again. “What should I tell the Gryffindor students?”

“Tell them that Hogwarts is safe again”, Dumbledore answered. “But do not tell that Hagrid is the one who has opened the chamber. I’ll try to cover up the reason for his expulsion, blame it on his grades or something… I do not want students pointing at him or seeking some revenge of their own”.

“Very well, professor”, Minerva replied, turning around and heading for the door.

“Oh… and Minerva…”, his voice stopped her. “Hagrid is currently locked in the small Staff room on the second floor. The password is ‘Shrieking Quill”.

A small smile formed on her lips. “I’ll go and see him professor”.

He returned the smile. “He will need your support”.

When she had gone he too left his office, heading towards the keeper of keys and grounds. Ogg was by no means a pleasant man, but perhaps satisfactory arrangements could be made with him.

But when he walked over the grounds he could not hold back a troubled sigh as he saw the half-giant boy sitting in the windowsill. Innocent, but proved guilty.

]A useful little book, this ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them’ *smile*

[ginger newts]

That's really good, fantastic response to the challenge. Except, I think Hagrid was a Gryffindor. I actually wrote a fic (in my head, never typed up) where Minerva makes this great speech to the Gryffindors that night and Albus hears the end and is all proud of his best student. Anyway, tangent, it's cool to see someone else thought to play with that moment too. Wonderful interaction between them, respectful but still friendly and he obviously trusts her a lot. Well done.

[Dragonlady]

Wonderful story, Griselda! I love the way you portrayed them...more than teacher and student, but not together. That's a fine line, and I think you tread it perfectly. I also think that Hagrid was a Gryffindor, but I suppose that's a matter of opinion.

Dragonlady (didn't take the trouble to log in)

[Jestana]

Wow, good one! There are fics hidden all over the place here. *grin* Bravo!

[ArabellaFiggs]

Very good story,
their not together but still very cute together.

Joop