Post by beMMADfabulous on Jul 7, 2007 18:03:14 GMT -5
A/N:: Ugh, I am beyond disappointed with this story. It could have been so much better. 
*grr* This is post HBP, btw.
FanFic 100 Challenge #:: 076- Who?
The Transfiguration classroom erupted in sounds of relieved sighs and the shuffling of students to their feet as the dismissal bell rang for the last class of the day. In eager attempts to join friends in enjoying the last bit of daylight before dinner that evening, students hurried out of the room, but one child lagged behind.
"Miss Young, may I see you for a moment?"
The girl's pain-filled eyes widened as she looked into the face of Professor McGonagall, as if hoping to discover if she had done anything wrong, but McGonagall's countenance was inscrutable.
"Sit down, please," she said, indicating the seat facing her desk.
The girl sank down into the chair cautiously, as if preparing to be reprimanded for something.
McGonagall leaned forward and dropped her voice to barely over a whisper.
"I'm sorry for the loss of your parents," she said with sympathetic concern.
The girl nodded, dropping her concentration to her own hands in her lap. The girl's parents had been murdered only a few days before by two of Voldemort's Death Eaters, but she did not want sympathy from others who knew nothing of the true hurt she felt for her loss. It would do no good now, anyway...
"I know what it's like to loose someone you love," McGonagall went on. She then dropped her voice even lower, and the sorrow broke through her words. "It has been almost a year now, but I still grieve over the loss of my husband."
She stopped, not daring to tell the child the rest- that there was not a moment that went by that she did not miss him, that sometimes she could even still feel his presence in her life..
The girl looked up, meeting McGonagall's eyes, which were now shining slightly at the brim with tears.
"Your husband?" the girl spoke warily. "But, who-"
McGonagall inclined her head and sniffed quietly.
"Albus Dumbledore."
The words seemed to hang in the tangible silence that followed. The girl's jaw dropped. Dumbledore and McGonagall.. Of course..
Despite the girl's own grieving, she could not help but feel her heart shudder for McGonagall as she stared into her now deeply lined, sorrow-stricken face. She wanted to comfort her as well, to know just how many people were aware of their relationship, but all she could muster was a feeble "I'm sorry."
McGonagall nodded, allowing the corners of her mouth to turn up into a weak smile.
"You may go," McGonagall said, leaning back into her chair.
"Thank you," the girl said, picking up her books.
Before closing the door behind her, she looked back at McGonagall. For the first time, it seemed, she appeared to be more human, more complex than she had ever been before. She marveled at the fact that this woman was capable of love and even marriage, though she had always been so strict and inflexible as a teacher. Right then, the girl promised herself she would never tell anyone of her beautiful secret revelation.
THE END
*grr* This is post HBP, btw.FanFic 100 Challenge #:: 076- Who?
Comfort and Revelation
The Transfiguration classroom erupted in sounds of relieved sighs and the shuffling of students to their feet as the dismissal bell rang for the last class of the day. In eager attempts to join friends in enjoying the last bit of daylight before dinner that evening, students hurried out of the room, but one child lagged behind.
"Miss Young, may I see you for a moment?"
The girl's pain-filled eyes widened as she looked into the face of Professor McGonagall, as if hoping to discover if she had done anything wrong, but McGonagall's countenance was inscrutable.
"Sit down, please," she said, indicating the seat facing her desk.
The girl sank down into the chair cautiously, as if preparing to be reprimanded for something.
McGonagall leaned forward and dropped her voice to barely over a whisper.
"I'm sorry for the loss of your parents," she said with sympathetic concern.
The girl nodded, dropping her concentration to her own hands in her lap. The girl's parents had been murdered only a few days before by two of Voldemort's Death Eaters, but she did not want sympathy from others who knew nothing of the true hurt she felt for her loss. It would do no good now, anyway...
"I know what it's like to loose someone you love," McGonagall went on. She then dropped her voice even lower, and the sorrow broke through her words. "It has been almost a year now, but I still grieve over the loss of my husband."
She stopped, not daring to tell the child the rest- that there was not a moment that went by that she did not miss him, that sometimes she could even still feel his presence in her life..
The girl looked up, meeting McGonagall's eyes, which were now shining slightly at the brim with tears.
"Your husband?" the girl spoke warily. "But, who-"
McGonagall inclined her head and sniffed quietly.
"Albus Dumbledore."
The words seemed to hang in the tangible silence that followed. The girl's jaw dropped. Dumbledore and McGonagall.. Of course..
Despite the girl's own grieving, she could not help but feel her heart shudder for McGonagall as she stared into her now deeply lined, sorrow-stricken face. She wanted to comfort her as well, to know just how many people were aware of their relationship, but all she could muster was a feeble "I'm sorry."
McGonagall nodded, allowing the corners of her mouth to turn up into a weak smile.
"You may go," McGonagall said, leaning back into her chair.
"Thank you," the girl said, picking up her books.
Before closing the door behind her, she looked back at McGonagall. For the first time, it seemed, she appeared to be more human, more complex than she had ever been before. She marveled at the fact that this woman was capable of love and even marriage, though she had always been so strict and inflexible as a teacher. Right then, the girl promised herself she would never tell anyone of her beautiful secret revelation.
THE END
That poor girl ... at least she's finally seeing Minerva as something other than just a strict teacher. Great job!
I appreciate both the criticism and compliments. 
