Post by Sensiblyquirky on Jul 23, 2005 21:08:55 GMT -5
Title: Completely Impractical!?
Summary: Minerva and Albus meet while she attempts to complete an assignment for a University class.
Rating: anyone on the board
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Yes I know I need to finish other stories, but I’m stuck so I dug this idea out to give me some writing time. I have every chapter written, and almost all typed so the updates shall be prompt.
Chapter One
Professor Emelius Kipling walked into his crowded University classroom smiling to himself. Gazing around the room he noted Mr. McInnis already falling asleep in the back row, how he did love waking the young man up every morning with some insidious plot to ensure the poor fellow came closer to having a heart attack every day. Moving down the aisles Kipling’s eyes landed on his star pupil.
Naturally she was sitting in the front row, same seat in the center, and her head was bowed reading the book in front of her. Minerva McGonagall was a teacher’s dream student: she was highly intelligent with a passion for learning, and an excellent work ethic. However practical Ms. McGonagall would have a difficult time enjoying Kipling’s lesson today, but it was exactly for students like her that he chose to give this particular lesson every year with the necessary assignment to drive it home.
“The young minds of the future!” Kipling called his class together promptly at nine, “put away your newspapers, love letters, and even textbooks and notebooks if you please.”
A cacophony of sounds immediately broke out as papers rustled and chatter commenced, but as expected Ms. McGonagall looked quite disturbed.
“As interesting as your individual lives are, your attention is required.” Pausing for silence to retake the room Kipling soon continued.
“We will not be doing any transfiguration today, but rather a lesson on human connection. As many of you know I take my lunch on the center most quad on campus every day, and my observations have not been positive. Each of you passes people you do not know without a smile, a glance, a mere acknowledgement that the other exists.”
His students always began cutting their eyes at each other at this point in his speech, but Ms. McGonagall’s eyes were right on him with her eyebrow raised dangerously high.
“A life is an important thing, and every day when you pass someone you are passing by a life with a story, a connection you could make that you do not. What if, Ms. Davidson, you passed that husband you so seek because you refused to stop? Mr. Baldelli you are missing out on new friends, shared experiences, wisdom, and some fun I’m sure.
You see it is connection above all else that is required, for without it we loose ourselves and the very essence of that which makes us human.” Climbing the steps in the center aisle Kipling rounded upon Ms. Keenan-Mitchell: “What if you were locked in a cell without connection from anyone? You are totally alone, and only have yourself to talk to. There is no other person to keep you grounded, what would happen do you think?”
“I’d go insane.”
“Precisely, Ms. Mitchell, precisely.”
“Now your assignment is to meet someone new. You must talk with him or her for at least one hour, and in addition you must say hello to five people you do not know. You will each be required to detail you experience with the class, and turn a report into me. You are dismissed.”
As he expected Ms. McGonagall quickly approached with an argument on her tongue. “I do not want to hear it, Ms. McGonagall. I believe this assignment will do you some good, and not even if you offered to correct papers would you get out of this. Now you have two days, and I have full confidence in your ability to complete the assignment. Good day.”
Minerva McGonagall stared at the retreating form of her Professor in disbelief. “Of all the stupid ideas, doesn’t he know we were supposed to do Metaphorii today?”
“I’m sure he did. Come on Minerva, it isn’t all that hard of an assignment and you can have extra reading time which you so love,” Sally Douglas teased her on her way out the room.
Ignoring Sally as usual Minerva walked out of the classroom in a daze. The last thing she wanted to do was walk around campus with a smile plastered to her face looking like an idiot. She figured she could say hi to five people, but engage one in an hour long conversation?
Not paying attention Minerva was brought out of her daze by running into a very solid figure.
“Hey, watch out!”
“Hey, I’m sorry. Are you hurt?” Minerva asked concerned.
“You don’t weigh enough to hurt me, just focus on the sidewalk next time.” With a smile and a pat on the shoulder the young man was off.
‘Well that counts I say, so one down,’ Minerva mused as she continued on her way.
*
Day two arrived for Minerva, and she had only spoken to two people. Getting ready for the day Minerva muttered to herself as she puttered through her room.
‘ Ok three classes today, so sit next to someone new and just say hi as you sit down. But what if they aren’t looking at me? Then I would have sat in a different seat for no reason! I hate this assignment, completely impractical!’
Finished securing her hair in a braid Minerva grabbed her books, and hurried to her first class. The classroom was devoid of any human form, so Minerva sat one row behind her usual seat, ‘no need to wander too far,’ she rationalized to herself. Instead of reading Minerva kept her head up, and repeatedly checked the door. After five minutes the less studious began to stroll in, and luckily a young woman neared her seat. Taking a breath Minerva said hi.
“Oh hey. Don’t you usually sit up front?” the woman responded sitting to Minerva’s left.
“I decided on a change, for today,” she added. The woman gave Minerva a strange look, and turned toward a friend who had just arrived.
‘Well only two more, and then an hour long conversation.’ The next lesson proved as successful as the first, and Minerva smiled to herself. She would have half the afternoon, and all evening, if necessary, to find someone with whom she could chat for an hour.
However Minerva’s second professor had a habit of torturing his students longer than necessary, which resulted in the class being kept late. Running to her next class Minerva’s seat was the only one unoccupied. Frantically she looked about the room for anyone she did not know to say ‘hi’ to, but class started before she caught anyone’s eye.
Slightly dejected Minerva took notes half-heartedly, her mind trying to create another scenario in which she could say hello to someone.
Gritting her teeth Minerva settled on having to say 'hi' to someone walking down the sidewalk. She did not know whether the task was always this difficult or merely because she had to do it, but every person she tried to make eye contact with averted their gaze. ‘Why wouldn’t anyone say hello? For the same reason you never did,’ a voice answered in her head.
Minerva glared, and looked around the quad just in time to catch Sally Douglas approaching her.
“Minerva, Minerva!”
“Yes, Douglas?”
“Someone’s touchy. I suppose that means you haven’t finished Kipling’s assignment? Well I have. Just had a nice long,-”
But before she could finish Minerva bid her good day, and quickly headed to her favorite cafe for some much needed solace.
Opening the door Minerva sighed as she took in how crowded the establishment was. Glancing around she spotted one free chair at a table already occupied. Though the individual was reading the Daily Prophet, which obscured his face, Minerva was sure it was a male.
“Excuse me; I was wondering if I might sit with you, unless you have a companion? The café is quite full.”
Albus Dumbledore lowered his paper and smiled serenely at the beautiful young lady. “Of course, please do take a seat…”
tbc...
Summary: Minerva and Albus meet while she attempts to complete an assignment for a University class.
Rating: anyone on the board
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Yes I know I need to finish other stories, but I’m stuck so I dug this idea out to give me some writing time. I have every chapter written, and almost all typed so the updates shall be prompt.
Chapter One
Professor Emelius Kipling walked into his crowded University classroom smiling to himself. Gazing around the room he noted Mr. McInnis already falling asleep in the back row, how he did love waking the young man up every morning with some insidious plot to ensure the poor fellow came closer to having a heart attack every day. Moving down the aisles Kipling’s eyes landed on his star pupil.
Naturally she was sitting in the front row, same seat in the center, and her head was bowed reading the book in front of her. Minerva McGonagall was a teacher’s dream student: she was highly intelligent with a passion for learning, and an excellent work ethic. However practical Ms. McGonagall would have a difficult time enjoying Kipling’s lesson today, but it was exactly for students like her that he chose to give this particular lesson every year with the necessary assignment to drive it home.
“The young minds of the future!” Kipling called his class together promptly at nine, “put away your newspapers, love letters, and even textbooks and notebooks if you please.”
A cacophony of sounds immediately broke out as papers rustled and chatter commenced, but as expected Ms. McGonagall looked quite disturbed.
“As interesting as your individual lives are, your attention is required.” Pausing for silence to retake the room Kipling soon continued.
“We will not be doing any transfiguration today, but rather a lesson on human connection. As many of you know I take my lunch on the center most quad on campus every day, and my observations have not been positive. Each of you passes people you do not know without a smile, a glance, a mere acknowledgement that the other exists.”
His students always began cutting their eyes at each other at this point in his speech, but Ms. McGonagall’s eyes were right on him with her eyebrow raised dangerously high.
“A life is an important thing, and every day when you pass someone you are passing by a life with a story, a connection you could make that you do not. What if, Ms. Davidson, you passed that husband you so seek because you refused to stop? Mr. Baldelli you are missing out on new friends, shared experiences, wisdom, and some fun I’m sure.
You see it is connection above all else that is required, for without it we loose ourselves and the very essence of that which makes us human.” Climbing the steps in the center aisle Kipling rounded upon Ms. Keenan-Mitchell: “What if you were locked in a cell without connection from anyone? You are totally alone, and only have yourself to talk to. There is no other person to keep you grounded, what would happen do you think?”
“I’d go insane.”
“Precisely, Ms. Mitchell, precisely.”
“Now your assignment is to meet someone new. You must talk with him or her for at least one hour, and in addition you must say hello to five people you do not know. You will each be required to detail you experience with the class, and turn a report into me. You are dismissed.”
As he expected Ms. McGonagall quickly approached with an argument on her tongue. “I do not want to hear it, Ms. McGonagall. I believe this assignment will do you some good, and not even if you offered to correct papers would you get out of this. Now you have two days, and I have full confidence in your ability to complete the assignment. Good day.”
Minerva McGonagall stared at the retreating form of her Professor in disbelief. “Of all the stupid ideas, doesn’t he know we were supposed to do Metaphorii today?”
“I’m sure he did. Come on Minerva, it isn’t all that hard of an assignment and you can have extra reading time which you so love,” Sally Douglas teased her on her way out the room.
Ignoring Sally as usual Minerva walked out of the classroom in a daze. The last thing she wanted to do was walk around campus with a smile plastered to her face looking like an idiot. She figured she could say hi to five people, but engage one in an hour long conversation?
Not paying attention Minerva was brought out of her daze by running into a very solid figure.
“Hey, watch out!”
“Hey, I’m sorry. Are you hurt?” Minerva asked concerned.
“You don’t weigh enough to hurt me, just focus on the sidewalk next time.” With a smile and a pat on the shoulder the young man was off.
‘Well that counts I say, so one down,’ Minerva mused as she continued on her way.
*
Day two arrived for Minerva, and she had only spoken to two people. Getting ready for the day Minerva muttered to herself as she puttered through her room.
‘ Ok three classes today, so sit next to someone new and just say hi as you sit down. But what if they aren’t looking at me? Then I would have sat in a different seat for no reason! I hate this assignment, completely impractical!’
Finished securing her hair in a braid Minerva grabbed her books, and hurried to her first class. The classroom was devoid of any human form, so Minerva sat one row behind her usual seat, ‘no need to wander too far,’ she rationalized to herself. Instead of reading Minerva kept her head up, and repeatedly checked the door. After five minutes the less studious began to stroll in, and luckily a young woman neared her seat. Taking a breath Minerva said hi.
“Oh hey. Don’t you usually sit up front?” the woman responded sitting to Minerva’s left.
“I decided on a change, for today,” she added. The woman gave Minerva a strange look, and turned toward a friend who had just arrived.
‘Well only two more, and then an hour long conversation.’ The next lesson proved as successful as the first, and Minerva smiled to herself. She would have half the afternoon, and all evening, if necessary, to find someone with whom she could chat for an hour.
However Minerva’s second professor had a habit of torturing his students longer than necessary, which resulted in the class being kept late. Running to her next class Minerva’s seat was the only one unoccupied. Frantically she looked about the room for anyone she did not know to say ‘hi’ to, but class started before she caught anyone’s eye.
Slightly dejected Minerva took notes half-heartedly, her mind trying to create another scenario in which she could say hello to someone.
Gritting her teeth Minerva settled on having to say 'hi' to someone walking down the sidewalk. She did not know whether the task was always this difficult or merely because she had to do it, but every person she tried to make eye contact with averted their gaze. ‘Why wouldn’t anyone say hello? For the same reason you never did,’ a voice answered in her head.
Minerva glared, and looked around the quad just in time to catch Sally Douglas approaching her.
“Minerva, Minerva!”
“Yes, Douglas?”
“Someone’s touchy. I suppose that means you haven’t finished Kipling’s assignment? Well I have. Just had a nice long,-”
But before she could finish Minerva bid her good day, and quickly headed to her favorite cafe for some much needed solace.
Opening the door Minerva sighed as she took in how crowded the establishment was. Glancing around she spotted one free chair at a table already occupied. Though the individual was reading the Daily Prophet, which obscured his face, Minerva was sure it was a male.
“Excuse me; I was wondering if I might sit with you, unless you have a companion? The café is quite full.”
Albus Dumbledore lowered his paper and smiled serenely at the beautiful young lady. “Of course, please do take a seat…”
tbc...
. Hope she has a nice time with Albus, though 
