Post by Sensiblyquirky on Sept 16, 2004 19:29:54 GMT -5
Part One:
For the past hour various members of the Order had been sitting in attendance at the International Confederation of Wizards meeting listening to wizards and witches from around the world admonish Albus Dumbledore. Many argued that he should have told them more about last year, and acting on his own was not the best course of action.
“I can’t believe this, how can they treat Albus like this,” Minerva McGonagall mumbled to herself but Hermione Granger had heard her. “I don’t know Professor, but this is ridiculous.”
“THAT IS ENOUGH,” shouted Minerva as she rose to her feet. The room immediately fell silent as everyone stared in shock at the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Albus was standing at the front of the large room, and even he was surprised. He knew Minerva was upset over their questions, her facial expressions the last hour were enough to give that away, but he didn’t expect this. He set his penetrating gaze on her, and it never left for the duration of her outburst.
“I cannot believe all of you! For the past hour you have sat here wasting our time. Instead of discussing the necessary steps to take to stop V-Voldemort, and secure the future of our world you have been ripping Albus Dumbledore apart and I for one am disgusted. What has that man,” pointing to Dumbledore, “ever done but put his life on the line time and time again for you, your children, your grandchildren even, and you sit here treating him like dirt.” Minerva had started to walk during her speech making her way toward Dumbledore.
“McDowell, you spoke of unity and the importance of standing together, but then you proceeded to reprimand Professor Dumbledore for keeping Hagrid as our gamekeeper and for sending an envoy to the giants. Yet, have you thought that if we continue to treat them as inferiors they will join him? You have always cared too much for the purity of blood and the nobility of wizards. Look at what that belief has led to! That is what Voldemort and his followers believe in.”
Minerva was now standing below Dumbledore facing the crowd. “And you, Kettleburn, how dare you have the audacity to suggest that the Ministry’s interference last year was warranted, and that it wasn’t all that bad. You were not at Hogwarts, but I was. In fact I have four bright red scars on my chest as proof of the destruction and chaos caused by the Ministry’s interference and our subsequent disunity.”
“I agree unity is what we need. Unity in the decisions we make, including befriending the giants and removing the Dementors; unity in the urgency and rightfulness of our cause, but most importantly unity behind one man, this man Albus Dumbledore. He has never led us wrong before, and I have complete faith he won’t now. I stand before you pledging my support for, behind, and with Albus Dumbledore. If you will not join me then we will fight this war without you,” after a slight pause she added, “I hope you join us, we need you as much as you need us, but the only leader I will stand for is Albus Dumbledore.”
By the end of her speech Minerva was standing right beside of Dumbledore, and when she was finished not a soul moved or spoke in the entire room. Minerva was beginning to question whether she did the right thing when a few minutes had gone by and no one had spoken, but the moment Albus’ hand went around hers in thanks she could care less. It wasn’t long after that that Gabriella Delacour, a French witch spoke up: “Vell, Dumbly-dore vhat do you think ve should do?”
“Yea, Dumbledore what do you think?”
“Speak man!”
“If you all would be quiet he could!”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?”
Albus turned and smiled at Minerva, “My dear, I don’t know what to say. Thank you. You’ve turned everything around.”
“Nonsense Albus I just helped them to see what they already knew,” Minerva replied blushing slightly.
“It will go down in the history books, my dear. I’m sure of it,” he answered her in return his eyes twinkling madly.
Minerva just shook her head and made to leave, but Albus held her back. Pulling out his wand a comfortable chair appeared behind him to the right, and he told her to sit down.
“Albus I can’t sit up here.” Minerva said slightly exasperated.
“I want you to, Minerva. You deserve to be up here, and I have always preferred you by my side, please,” Albus asked throwing her a pitiful look.
Minerva gracefully sat down as Albus turned his attention back to the conference, she could never deny him anything.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please…”
Hours later the meeting had just come to a close, and Minerva was hoping she could sneak out with Albus. They still had three hours before the big banquet that evening, and they had yet to really see the city. This year the conference was held in Vienna, and Minerva really wanted to tour the city at some point before they had to leave. Alas, as soon as the meeting was adjourned she was surrounded by people, and everyone wanted to buy her a drink.
“Professor McGonagall that was great,” Harold Oliver greeted her.
“Let me buy you a drink,” suggested Fyodor Raskolnikov. Albus didn’t like the looks of that guy, and he knew he was a reported ladies man. Unawares he began to grip the podium a little harder each time a man offered to buy Minerva a drink. Just as he was about to intervene hoping to steal her for himself Minerva was whisked away by the crowd, and she could not so much as get a look over her shoulder at Albus.
For the past hour various members of the Order had been sitting in attendance at the International Confederation of Wizards meeting listening to wizards and witches from around the world admonish Albus Dumbledore. Many argued that he should have told them more about last year, and acting on his own was not the best course of action.
“I can’t believe this, how can they treat Albus like this,” Minerva McGonagall mumbled to herself but Hermione Granger had heard her. “I don’t know Professor, but this is ridiculous.”
“THAT IS ENOUGH,” shouted Minerva as she rose to her feet. The room immediately fell silent as everyone stared in shock at the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Albus was standing at the front of the large room, and even he was surprised. He knew Minerva was upset over their questions, her facial expressions the last hour were enough to give that away, but he didn’t expect this. He set his penetrating gaze on her, and it never left for the duration of her outburst.
“I cannot believe all of you! For the past hour you have sat here wasting our time. Instead of discussing the necessary steps to take to stop V-Voldemort, and secure the future of our world you have been ripping Albus Dumbledore apart and I for one am disgusted. What has that man,” pointing to Dumbledore, “ever done but put his life on the line time and time again for you, your children, your grandchildren even, and you sit here treating him like dirt.” Minerva had started to walk during her speech making her way toward Dumbledore.
“McDowell, you spoke of unity and the importance of standing together, but then you proceeded to reprimand Professor Dumbledore for keeping Hagrid as our gamekeeper and for sending an envoy to the giants. Yet, have you thought that if we continue to treat them as inferiors they will join him? You have always cared too much for the purity of blood and the nobility of wizards. Look at what that belief has led to! That is what Voldemort and his followers believe in.”
Minerva was now standing below Dumbledore facing the crowd. “And you, Kettleburn, how dare you have the audacity to suggest that the Ministry’s interference last year was warranted, and that it wasn’t all that bad. You were not at Hogwarts, but I was. In fact I have four bright red scars on my chest as proof of the destruction and chaos caused by the Ministry’s interference and our subsequent disunity.”
“I agree unity is what we need. Unity in the decisions we make, including befriending the giants and removing the Dementors; unity in the urgency and rightfulness of our cause, but most importantly unity behind one man, this man Albus Dumbledore. He has never led us wrong before, and I have complete faith he won’t now. I stand before you pledging my support for, behind, and with Albus Dumbledore. If you will not join me then we will fight this war without you,” after a slight pause she added, “I hope you join us, we need you as much as you need us, but the only leader I will stand for is Albus Dumbledore.”
By the end of her speech Minerva was standing right beside of Dumbledore, and when she was finished not a soul moved or spoke in the entire room. Minerva was beginning to question whether she did the right thing when a few minutes had gone by and no one had spoken, but the moment Albus’ hand went around hers in thanks she could care less. It wasn’t long after that that Gabriella Delacour, a French witch spoke up: “Vell, Dumbly-dore vhat do you think ve should do?”
“Yea, Dumbledore what do you think?”
“Speak man!”
“If you all would be quiet he could!”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?”
Albus turned and smiled at Minerva, “My dear, I don’t know what to say. Thank you. You’ve turned everything around.”
“Nonsense Albus I just helped them to see what they already knew,” Minerva replied blushing slightly.
“It will go down in the history books, my dear. I’m sure of it,” he answered her in return his eyes twinkling madly.
Minerva just shook her head and made to leave, but Albus held her back. Pulling out his wand a comfortable chair appeared behind him to the right, and he told her to sit down.
“Albus I can’t sit up here.” Minerva said slightly exasperated.
“I want you to, Minerva. You deserve to be up here, and I have always preferred you by my side, please,” Albus asked throwing her a pitiful look.
Minerva gracefully sat down as Albus turned his attention back to the conference, she could never deny him anything.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please…”
Hours later the meeting had just come to a close, and Minerva was hoping she could sneak out with Albus. They still had three hours before the big banquet that evening, and they had yet to really see the city. This year the conference was held in Vienna, and Minerva really wanted to tour the city at some point before they had to leave. Alas, as soon as the meeting was adjourned she was surrounded by people, and everyone wanted to buy her a drink.
“Professor McGonagall that was great,” Harold Oliver greeted her.
“Let me buy you a drink,” suggested Fyodor Raskolnikov. Albus didn’t like the looks of that guy, and he knew he was a reported ladies man. Unawares he began to grip the podium a little harder each time a man offered to buy Minerva a drink. Just as he was about to intervene hoping to steal her for himself Minerva was whisked away by the crowd, and she could not so much as get a look over her shoulder at Albus.
I loved how Minerva verbally smacked them all upside the head! ;D
