Post by emeraldeyes on Aug 8, 2005 20:23:32 GMT -5
Okay, I decided to write this because it caught a hold of me, and so here it is! The ending is a tad weird to me, but ah, well. please R&R! 
**kate**
Title: Telling Her Any Story
Rating: Some mild language, so proceed with caution! You've been warned!
Spoilers: OotP
enjoy!
“…Minerva, go and head her off – tell her any story – “
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (US Hardcover, page 474)
Minerva McGonagall rushed out of Albus Dumbledore’s office, his request to her pounding through her head. It was almost too much-Arthur Weasley bitten by the Dark Lord’s snake, Potter’s dream. All of it was surrounding Minerva, threatening to swamp her with unwanted emotions and things she had no time to deal with right now.
Which reminded her, she still had to think up a story....
As the spiral stairs slowly descended, quite a few ideas flitted through her mind. She could say that Peeves had gotten into the Fanged Frisbees again, Poppy needed more dreamless sleep potion, or even that Professor Flitwick’s beard had caught on fire and needed to be attended to by none other than the High Inquisitor.
Of course, she could divulge something more personal, or even something connected with the school... Maybe she could convince Dolores that there were students out of bed in the Astronomy Tower, or tell her that she and Albus were having a privet meeting.. But Dolores might mistake that..
Sooner than she knew, Minerva was standing outside the stone gargoyle, hearing footsteps hurrying towards her from down the corridor, the sounds of quickened breath bouncing down the halls. Knowing that it was Dolores, Minerva McGonagall straightened her emerald robes and raised her chin, ready to face the other woman.
However, as Dolores Umbridge rounded the corner, Minerva suddenly changed her tactics, rushing up to the other professor, widening her green eyes and pasting a relieved expression onto her face. Trying to hold back a grimace as she caught up the other’s short, stubby fingers, she breathed, “Oh, Dolores! Just the woman I wanted to see!”
Shaking off Minerva’s slim fingers (here the Deputy Head breathed a silent sigh of relief) the accurately dubbed Toad stood at her full height, glaring up into Minerva’s face, puffing from exertion, and spit out, “Minerva McGonagall, there are students out of bed and I want to know where they are!!”
Minerva managed a shocked expression, although she was inwardly seething at Umbridge’s information, and stuttered, “W-what do you mean? Mr. Filch has just finished his rounds and assures me that no one is roaming these hallowed halls! Oh, Dolores, we must find them! Did he say where they were? If we hurry, we might-“
Cutting her off and glaring even more, Umbridge nearly spit on Minerva as she managed through clenched teeth to say, “Minerva, if you value your place in these “hallowed halls,” then you had better damn well tell me where those brats are, because I know that you are protecting them, McGonagall. I know you’re trying to protect their pathetic hides, but honestly, do you think they’ll see your ‘deeds’ as a wonderful way to keep them safe as they wander through the halls, like hormonal monkeys?!? For the sake of Merlin, Minerva, they don’t give a damn about you or whatever you do for them!! They’d rather watch you burn in hell than care about you! To them, you’re just an old hag with no life, no love, left to give!!”
Her eyes afire, not caring if she wasn’t keeping up her pretense, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration teacher, barely managed to restain sending a rather nasty hex at the infuriating Toad when a familiar voice whispered through her head, offering a small warning right before the gargoyle sprang aside, revealing Albus Dumbledore, dressed for bed, night cap and all.
As Dolores’ mouth dropped open at the sudden appearance of the Headmaster, Minerva silently fumed at her lost chance to take her frustration out on the High Inquisitor. Albus stepped up behind Minerva, and, placing a hand on her shoulder, he sent a signature twinkle in Umbridge’s direction before quietly saying to Minerva, “My dear, is anything wrong?”
Umbridge glared at her again, and Minerva gritted her teeth, but managed to paste a small smile on her face as she replied, “Why, no, Albus. Dolores and I were just discussing my relationship with the students of this school. I believe we are finished?” This last she directed at the other woman.
Dolores opened her mouth to respond, but Albus quickly cut in. “Well, I personally believe that all the student feel greatly relieved to have Minerva around. She is a brilliant teacher, and they all really do respect her work. This school has never seen a better Transfigurations teacher, either! But, I apologize, Dolores. Minerva and I must really get back to bed. That is, if you are still joining me, my dear?”
Eyes twinkling merrily, Albus wrapped a strong arm around Minerva’s waist and, leaving a stunned DADA Professor behind them, led the way back towards her rooms. Once there, he murmured the password to the portrait (“White Bee”) and ushered her into the plush, red and gold chambers.
Turning to face her, he wrapped his other around her waist, leaning her back against the closed entrance, and, his blue eyes filled with child-like curiosity, demanded to know just what Dolores Umbridge had said to her to make her so tense.
Knowing full well that Albus wouldn’t like to hear a word of it, but also that he wouldn’t let her be about it until she told, she kept her face turned away from him as she recounted what all had passed between her and the Toad.
When she had finished, Albus had hugged her, telling her that none of what she had said was true, and exclaiming on how wonderful of a teacher and woman Minerva McGonagall-Dumbledore was. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he tilted her face towards his, meeting her sad green eyes with his own blue ones. “Minerva, you are a wonderful woman. Don’t let Dolores get to you. Besides. I believe you have a lot of love to give..”
Smiling down at her, she met him midway for a searing kiss, and he spent the remainder of the Christmas holidays reminding his wife of all the love she kept in her heart.
*Fin*
**kate** Title: Telling Her Any Story
Rating: Some mild language, so proceed with caution! You've been warned!
Spoilers: OotP
enjoy!
“…Minerva, go and head her off – tell her any story – “
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (US Hardcover, page 474)
Minerva McGonagall rushed out of Albus Dumbledore’s office, his request to her pounding through her head. It was almost too much-Arthur Weasley bitten by the Dark Lord’s snake, Potter’s dream. All of it was surrounding Minerva, threatening to swamp her with unwanted emotions and things she had no time to deal with right now.
Which reminded her, she still had to think up a story....
As the spiral stairs slowly descended, quite a few ideas flitted through her mind. She could say that Peeves had gotten into the Fanged Frisbees again, Poppy needed more dreamless sleep potion, or even that Professor Flitwick’s beard had caught on fire and needed to be attended to by none other than the High Inquisitor.
Of course, she could divulge something more personal, or even something connected with the school... Maybe she could convince Dolores that there were students out of bed in the Astronomy Tower, or tell her that she and Albus were having a privet meeting.. But Dolores might mistake that..
Sooner than she knew, Minerva was standing outside the stone gargoyle, hearing footsteps hurrying towards her from down the corridor, the sounds of quickened breath bouncing down the halls. Knowing that it was Dolores, Minerva McGonagall straightened her emerald robes and raised her chin, ready to face the other woman.
However, as Dolores Umbridge rounded the corner, Minerva suddenly changed her tactics, rushing up to the other professor, widening her green eyes and pasting a relieved expression onto her face. Trying to hold back a grimace as she caught up the other’s short, stubby fingers, she breathed, “Oh, Dolores! Just the woman I wanted to see!”
Shaking off Minerva’s slim fingers (here the Deputy Head breathed a silent sigh of relief) the accurately dubbed Toad stood at her full height, glaring up into Minerva’s face, puffing from exertion, and spit out, “Minerva McGonagall, there are students out of bed and I want to know where they are!!”
Minerva managed a shocked expression, although she was inwardly seething at Umbridge’s information, and stuttered, “W-what do you mean? Mr. Filch has just finished his rounds and assures me that no one is roaming these hallowed halls! Oh, Dolores, we must find them! Did he say where they were? If we hurry, we might-“
Cutting her off and glaring even more, Umbridge nearly spit on Minerva as she managed through clenched teeth to say, “Minerva, if you value your place in these “hallowed halls,” then you had better damn well tell me where those brats are, because I know that you are protecting them, McGonagall. I know you’re trying to protect their pathetic hides, but honestly, do you think they’ll see your ‘deeds’ as a wonderful way to keep them safe as they wander through the halls, like hormonal monkeys?!? For the sake of Merlin, Minerva, they don’t give a damn about you or whatever you do for them!! They’d rather watch you burn in hell than care about you! To them, you’re just an old hag with no life, no love, left to give!!”
Her eyes afire, not caring if she wasn’t keeping up her pretense, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration teacher, barely managed to restain sending a rather nasty hex at the infuriating Toad when a familiar voice whispered through her head, offering a small warning right before the gargoyle sprang aside, revealing Albus Dumbledore, dressed for bed, night cap and all.
As Dolores’ mouth dropped open at the sudden appearance of the Headmaster, Minerva silently fumed at her lost chance to take her frustration out on the High Inquisitor. Albus stepped up behind Minerva, and, placing a hand on her shoulder, he sent a signature twinkle in Umbridge’s direction before quietly saying to Minerva, “My dear, is anything wrong?”
Umbridge glared at her again, and Minerva gritted her teeth, but managed to paste a small smile on her face as she replied, “Why, no, Albus. Dolores and I were just discussing my relationship with the students of this school. I believe we are finished?” This last she directed at the other woman.
Dolores opened her mouth to respond, but Albus quickly cut in. “Well, I personally believe that all the student feel greatly relieved to have Minerva around. She is a brilliant teacher, and they all really do respect her work. This school has never seen a better Transfigurations teacher, either! But, I apologize, Dolores. Minerva and I must really get back to bed. That is, if you are still joining me, my dear?”
Eyes twinkling merrily, Albus wrapped a strong arm around Minerva’s waist and, leaving a stunned DADA Professor behind them, led the way back towards her rooms. Once there, he murmured the password to the portrait (“White Bee”) and ushered her into the plush, red and gold chambers.
Turning to face her, he wrapped his other around her waist, leaning her back against the closed entrance, and, his blue eyes filled with child-like curiosity, demanded to know just what Dolores Umbridge had said to her to make her so tense.
Knowing full well that Albus wouldn’t like to hear a word of it, but also that he wouldn’t let her be about it until she told, she kept her face turned away from him as she recounted what all had passed between her and the Toad.
When she had finished, Albus had hugged her, telling her that none of what she had said was true, and exclaiming on how wonderful of a teacher and woman Minerva McGonagall-Dumbledore was. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he tilted her face towards his, meeting her sad green eyes with his own blue ones. “Minerva, you are a wonderful woman. Don’t let Dolores get to you. Besides. I believe you have a lot of love to give..”
Smiling down at her, she met him midway for a searing kiss, and he spent the remainder of the Christmas holidays reminding his wife of all the love she kept in her heart.
*Fin*
