Post by morgan72uk on Jan 24, 2006 14:32:30 GMT -5
A/N - I would have posted this ages ago - but I was at a bit of a loss about which section it belonged in.
It's fluff - but it's not entirely serious - and it's about Albus and Minerva - they just don't appear in it.
So - that makes sense then.
Title: Catching a Glimpse
Author: Morgan72uk
Rating: PG13
Summary: She saved our lives once…
Disclaimer: The characters belong to JK Rowling – I thought some of the grown ups deserved to be taken out for a spin – I promise not to break them.
Catching a Glimpse
“She saved our lives once.” Sirius dropped the words into the conversation like ice cubes into a glass. Harry and Ron, who had been mid-complaint about the impossible amount of homework their transfiguration Professor had set them over the Christmas holidays, stopped moaning and looked at him in surprise. Sirius couldn’t possibly mean what he seemed to be implying. “McGonagall,” he clarified, “she saved our lives – James and mine.”
“Sirius,” Remus warned quietly from his chair in front of the fire, “I thought this was one of the things from the past we were supposed to leave in the past.”
“It was a long time ago.” Sirius glanced around the sitting room at Grimmauld Place, Harry and Ron were already listening avidly, Hermione, Ginny and Tonks had set aside their game of exploding snap and even Mrs Weasley had paused in her attempts to dust a set of very ugly ornaments.
“You have to tell us now,” Ron said, “you can’t just leave us hanging after saying something like that.” Remus’ expression said he still didn’t think this was a good idea – but he sighed.
“Tell them – perhaps they’ll be more enthusiastic about doing the homework she sets.”
“Some of us don’t need an excuse,” Hermione sniffed, “and actually some of us don’t need to hear a story from the past to admire Professor McGonagall.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” Remus smiled, “but since Sirius has started the story – it won’t hurt you all to hear the end.”
“It was in our 3rd year,” Sirius began – obviously relishing his role as storyteller, “the war was coming closer, but it hadn’t really impacted on our lives yet. He was bidding his time, gaining power – but tucked away at Hogwarts, our lives were relatively normal; pranks, homework, House rivalries. We Gryffindors respected our Head of House, we complained about the homework she set us, well except the class swot over there.” He nodded his head over towards Remus, who didn’t dignify the comment with a response. “But we didn’t know anything about her beyond her determination for us to master transfiguration – and her desire for a half decent house Quidditch team. It was a Hogsmeade weekend, the first of term – and James and I were a little stir crazy. McGonagall was supervising and, do you remember who else Remus?”
“Simpson.”
“That’s right – he was the Muggle studies master back then. We’d just left the school grounds when they apparated in – Death Eaters, four of them, although we didn’t know that’s what they were called then. There must have been some sort of pre-arranged signal because their timing was close to perfect. They started flinging curses and hexes almost at once. Some of the students screamed, but McGonagall had already got herself between the group and them, telling people to stay together, not to break away from the group and give them a target. The Death Eaters weren’t up to much – or perhaps McGonagall and Simpson were just much better than they were expecting. It was all a bit of a blur to be honest, but they stunned a couple of them and then McGonagall was shouting to some of the older students to get everyone back to the school while she held them off.”
Sirius glanced around – everyone was hanging on, open mouthed at his story. But it was Harry who asked, “so, how did she save your lives?”
“Well, your dad and I, we’d been messing around, running off, so – when all hell broke loose we weren’t with the others. We at least had the sense to stay out of sight – and McGonagall must have known where we were, she was trying to circle to get between us and the remaining death eaters – while still covering the rest of the students. Seeing everyone start to leave, realising how much danger we were in – it was the first time I really knew what it felt like to be scared. Just as they saw us, she yelled us to make a dash for it – and we did, until James tripped and fell. I stopped to pull him up but McGonagall was just, faster – she stunned one of them and then took the curse they’d meant for James. I saw her mutter something – and the curse sort of rippled before it hit her – and then nothing happened. I’ve never seen anything like it, everyone was surprised – including the remaining Death Eater – we didn’t stick around for an explanation – we just ran.”
“What curse was it?” It was the kind of questions only Hermione would ask.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ron said, annoyed at having the story interrupted, “let Sirius finish.”
“It matters Ron,” Remus replied quietly, “it was a cruciatus curse.”
“That’s not possible,” Harry’s response was firm, “you can’t just shrug those off, there’s no counter-curse.”
“We made it back to the castle,” Sirius said, going on with his story, "the other teachers were out by then, so we had cover. We got all the way inside the castle, heard the doors slam behind us; I was just starting to feel safe and then…”
“Yes?” Ron spoke, but it could have been any of them. There wasn’t a single sound, as everyone seemed to be holding his or her breath.
“She just fell, her knees buckled and she screamed.” His face darkened, “I’d never heard a scream like it – then, though I’ve heard plenty like it since. She was in agony when the curse hit.”
“I had no idea.” Molly said quietly – her face pale.
“We didn’t know what to do, you can’t use magic until the curse has run its course – and it seemed to be lasting for ever. And then, suddenly the Headmaster was there. I saw his face when he got to her, I’d never seen him look like that before – or since.”
“He was angry?” Hermione asked quietly.
“He was terrified. It made me realise that we couldn’t even begin to understand their relationship, I’m not even sure I understand it now that I’m adult. But I never assumed she was just his Deputy after that. Anyway he picked her up, whispered something to her and carried her away – to the hospital wing I presume – she was still trembling. The next day she was back on her feet – as though it had never happened, and when we tried to talk to her about it she just said if we had to remember it then we should treat it as a warning that we lived in dark times. But James and I didn’t forget, actually I don’t think any of us who were there ever forgot. Looking back, it was the moment that I realised we weren’t safe anymore, not even at Hogwarts.”
There was a long moment of silence as they absorbed the words he had spoken, the different picture of a familiar figure that he had shared with them. Inevitably it was Hermione who broke the silence,
“Did you ever find out what spell she used – to stop the curse I mean?” Sirius glanced over at his friend, a decidedly mischievous smile making him look years younger.
“Remus had a theory.”
“Sirius,” Remus didn’t look too keen on sharing whatever his theory had been.
“But, if there’s a way to stop the cruciatus curse, shouldn’t we know about it?” She urged.
“Whatever she used didn’t stop the curse,” Remus pointed out, “she still experienced the effects, possibly intensified effects – she merely delayed them for a few minutes. I did some research – a lot of research actually and you’re right – there is no way of blocking the cruciatus curse once it hits you. Not even a wizard as powerful as Dumbledore can do that – although I’ve seen him divert it – which in itself is really extraordinary. But that wasn’t what she did, there was nothing in all the books I read to explain what she’d done. At first I thought she might have done something complicated to do with transfiguration but then it occurred to me that McGonagall is a clever witch, clever witches and wizards sometimes use simple spells in imaginative ways. So, I started looking for a spell that could delay the effects of something.”
“But this could be really useful – a break through.” Remus looked down at his finger-tips and didn’t respond to Harry’s excited comment. He was actually looking rather uncomfortable, almost embarrassed in fact.
“Just tell them Remus,” Sirius said, “they won’t leave you alone until you do.”
“There is a spell that might have had the effect we observed, it’s rarely used – but it delays the onset of either pleasure or pain.”
“Why would anyone want to do that?” Ron asked, eyes wide.
“Torture,” Sirius whispered – his eyes haunted for a moment, “causing a delay can heighten the pain.”
“Or heighten the pleasure in sex,” Tonks offered – she put her hand over her mouth a moment later, as though she’d just realised that she’d spoken out loud.
“Tonks!” Mrs Weasley hissed, her cheeks very pink.
“Actually she’s right,” Remus said, “it’s seldom used in torture – especially in this country. But it is used in the bedroom. You’ll understand why I decided not to ask McGonagall to confirm my theory,” he added drily.
“Why would anyone want to,” Ron began – only to stop when he realised everyone was looking at him. “Never mind,” he said firmly. “So, Harry, transfiguration homework?”
The End
It's fluff - but it's not entirely serious - and it's about Albus and Minerva - they just don't appear in it.
So - that makes sense then.
Title: Catching a Glimpse
Author: Morgan72uk
Rating: PG13
Summary: She saved our lives once…
Disclaimer: The characters belong to JK Rowling – I thought some of the grown ups deserved to be taken out for a spin – I promise not to break them.
Catching a Glimpse
“She saved our lives once.” Sirius dropped the words into the conversation like ice cubes into a glass. Harry and Ron, who had been mid-complaint about the impossible amount of homework their transfiguration Professor had set them over the Christmas holidays, stopped moaning and looked at him in surprise. Sirius couldn’t possibly mean what he seemed to be implying. “McGonagall,” he clarified, “she saved our lives – James and mine.”
“Sirius,” Remus warned quietly from his chair in front of the fire, “I thought this was one of the things from the past we were supposed to leave in the past.”
“It was a long time ago.” Sirius glanced around the sitting room at Grimmauld Place, Harry and Ron were already listening avidly, Hermione, Ginny and Tonks had set aside their game of exploding snap and even Mrs Weasley had paused in her attempts to dust a set of very ugly ornaments.
“You have to tell us now,” Ron said, “you can’t just leave us hanging after saying something like that.” Remus’ expression said he still didn’t think this was a good idea – but he sighed.
“Tell them – perhaps they’ll be more enthusiastic about doing the homework she sets.”
“Some of us don’t need an excuse,” Hermione sniffed, “and actually some of us don’t need to hear a story from the past to admire Professor McGonagall.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” Remus smiled, “but since Sirius has started the story – it won’t hurt you all to hear the end.”
“It was in our 3rd year,” Sirius began – obviously relishing his role as storyteller, “the war was coming closer, but it hadn’t really impacted on our lives yet. He was bidding his time, gaining power – but tucked away at Hogwarts, our lives were relatively normal; pranks, homework, House rivalries. We Gryffindors respected our Head of House, we complained about the homework she set us, well except the class swot over there.” He nodded his head over towards Remus, who didn’t dignify the comment with a response. “But we didn’t know anything about her beyond her determination for us to master transfiguration – and her desire for a half decent house Quidditch team. It was a Hogsmeade weekend, the first of term – and James and I were a little stir crazy. McGonagall was supervising and, do you remember who else Remus?”
“Simpson.”
“That’s right – he was the Muggle studies master back then. We’d just left the school grounds when they apparated in – Death Eaters, four of them, although we didn’t know that’s what they were called then. There must have been some sort of pre-arranged signal because their timing was close to perfect. They started flinging curses and hexes almost at once. Some of the students screamed, but McGonagall had already got herself between the group and them, telling people to stay together, not to break away from the group and give them a target. The Death Eaters weren’t up to much – or perhaps McGonagall and Simpson were just much better than they were expecting. It was all a bit of a blur to be honest, but they stunned a couple of them and then McGonagall was shouting to some of the older students to get everyone back to the school while she held them off.”
Sirius glanced around – everyone was hanging on, open mouthed at his story. But it was Harry who asked, “so, how did she save your lives?”
“Well, your dad and I, we’d been messing around, running off, so – when all hell broke loose we weren’t with the others. We at least had the sense to stay out of sight – and McGonagall must have known where we were, she was trying to circle to get between us and the remaining death eaters – while still covering the rest of the students. Seeing everyone start to leave, realising how much danger we were in – it was the first time I really knew what it felt like to be scared. Just as they saw us, she yelled us to make a dash for it – and we did, until James tripped and fell. I stopped to pull him up but McGonagall was just, faster – she stunned one of them and then took the curse they’d meant for James. I saw her mutter something – and the curse sort of rippled before it hit her – and then nothing happened. I’ve never seen anything like it, everyone was surprised – including the remaining Death Eater – we didn’t stick around for an explanation – we just ran.”
“What curse was it?” It was the kind of questions only Hermione would ask.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ron said, annoyed at having the story interrupted, “let Sirius finish.”
“It matters Ron,” Remus replied quietly, “it was a cruciatus curse.”
“That’s not possible,” Harry’s response was firm, “you can’t just shrug those off, there’s no counter-curse.”
“We made it back to the castle,” Sirius said, going on with his story, "the other teachers were out by then, so we had cover. We got all the way inside the castle, heard the doors slam behind us; I was just starting to feel safe and then…”
“Yes?” Ron spoke, but it could have been any of them. There wasn’t a single sound, as everyone seemed to be holding his or her breath.
“She just fell, her knees buckled and she screamed.” His face darkened, “I’d never heard a scream like it – then, though I’ve heard plenty like it since. She was in agony when the curse hit.”
“I had no idea.” Molly said quietly – her face pale.
“We didn’t know what to do, you can’t use magic until the curse has run its course – and it seemed to be lasting for ever. And then, suddenly the Headmaster was there. I saw his face when he got to her, I’d never seen him look like that before – or since.”
“He was angry?” Hermione asked quietly.
“He was terrified. It made me realise that we couldn’t even begin to understand their relationship, I’m not even sure I understand it now that I’m adult. But I never assumed she was just his Deputy after that. Anyway he picked her up, whispered something to her and carried her away – to the hospital wing I presume – she was still trembling. The next day she was back on her feet – as though it had never happened, and when we tried to talk to her about it she just said if we had to remember it then we should treat it as a warning that we lived in dark times. But James and I didn’t forget, actually I don’t think any of us who were there ever forgot. Looking back, it was the moment that I realised we weren’t safe anymore, not even at Hogwarts.”
There was a long moment of silence as they absorbed the words he had spoken, the different picture of a familiar figure that he had shared with them. Inevitably it was Hermione who broke the silence,
“Did you ever find out what spell she used – to stop the curse I mean?” Sirius glanced over at his friend, a decidedly mischievous smile making him look years younger.
“Remus had a theory.”
“Sirius,” Remus didn’t look too keen on sharing whatever his theory had been.
“But, if there’s a way to stop the cruciatus curse, shouldn’t we know about it?” She urged.
“Whatever she used didn’t stop the curse,” Remus pointed out, “she still experienced the effects, possibly intensified effects – she merely delayed them for a few minutes. I did some research – a lot of research actually and you’re right – there is no way of blocking the cruciatus curse once it hits you. Not even a wizard as powerful as Dumbledore can do that – although I’ve seen him divert it – which in itself is really extraordinary. But that wasn’t what she did, there was nothing in all the books I read to explain what she’d done. At first I thought she might have done something complicated to do with transfiguration but then it occurred to me that McGonagall is a clever witch, clever witches and wizards sometimes use simple spells in imaginative ways. So, I started looking for a spell that could delay the effects of something.”
“But this could be really useful – a break through.” Remus looked down at his finger-tips and didn’t respond to Harry’s excited comment. He was actually looking rather uncomfortable, almost embarrassed in fact.
“Just tell them Remus,” Sirius said, “they won’t leave you alone until you do.”
“There is a spell that might have had the effect we observed, it’s rarely used – but it delays the onset of either pleasure or pain.”
“Why would anyone want to do that?” Ron asked, eyes wide.
“Torture,” Sirius whispered – his eyes haunted for a moment, “causing a delay can heighten the pain.”
“Or heighten the pleasure in sex,” Tonks offered – she put her hand over her mouth a moment later, as though she’d just realised that she’d spoken out loud.
“Tonks!” Mrs Weasley hissed, her cheeks very pink.
“Actually she’s right,” Remus said, “it’s seldom used in torture – especially in this country. But it is used in the bedroom. You’ll understand why I decided not to ask McGonagall to confirm my theory,” he added drily.
“Why would anyone want to,” Ron began – only to stop when he realised everyone was looking at him. “Never mind,” he said firmly. “So, Harry, transfiguration homework?”
The End
great fic!
xXx 
I just realised I never reviewed and let you know that I absloutely love this story ! It's great !
