A Fic Snippet, Part Two
So I've finally figured out what this thing is. It's Sirius' journal, having been discovered some hundred or so years into the future (possibly more), and Wizarding society has completely changed. After some years of scholarly research and pondering over Sirius' words, it's being published with commentary by J.L. Reyer. These snippets comprise the first entry, dated 1 Sept. 1996.
Don't worry, when I get home, all of this will go to the beta and then be available in the 'Preferred Edition,' so to say. It is rather difficult to converse with one's beta when it's mid-Tuesday there and early Wednesday here.
After some time, the doors opened, and one whom I had once known well approached me. "Professor McGonagall," I said, standing.
She was dressed in robes of darkest black, not the green of my every memory, and her hair was more silver now. And high upon her breast was the crest, not merely of Gryffindor, but of all Hogwarts.
"Things have certainly changed, since I have been away," I said after a long, awkward silence.
"Yes," she said, "they have, and that is why I have requested your presence here now. I am offering you the position of Professor of Transfiguration and Head of Gryffindor House, as I must take up my duties of Headmistress, and I shall not have time to teach as well." She extended her palm, and upon it lay the bright red and gold crest of the House of Gryffindor.
I was stunned; never in my life, even before Azkaban, had I imagined something like this. From deepest Hell to highest Heaven, a professorship at Hogwarts, a home, my life back.
Before I could even summon forth an acceptance, she spoke again. "You are the most qualified person in all of Britain, Sirius. Your natural ability and your NEWT scores see to that. Your being an Animagus"--and here my jaw dropped--"simply means that I won't have to persuade the Board of Governors."
Advanced study at the post-NEWT level, or Animagus ability; the two qualifiers to teach Transfiguration. Usually, Animagus training occurred after NEWTs, but either was acceptable. And I had been an Animagus since 16..."How did you know that?"
"Mr. Pettigrew's testimony was enlightening in a number of respects."
"Pe--they caught Wormtail?" I cried, for this had been the main thought during my years in Azkaban.
"I see the Ministry is as helpful as ever--the Aurors who brought you were supposed to explain things, and to inform me when you arrived. Obviously they did neither. It was only Minister Scrimgeour's call that informed me of your presence at all. Come, we shall talk over dinner."
Scrimgeour--I filed that name away in my memory. It was unfamiliar to me. I followed her inside and upstairs to the Headmaster's office, where Fawkes, looking weary, was more than grateful for me to smoothe his feathers. "Professor Dumbledore is...gone, then?"
"Yes. In the spring."
"I am sorry to hear that, Professor. He will be missed greatly."
"Please, Sirius, call me Minerva, especially if we are to be working together," she chided me.
"My apologies, then, Minerva," I said, and waited quietly while she instructed a house-elf to bring dinner.
Perhaps more tomorrow.
Don't worry, when I get home, all of this will go to the beta and then be available in the 'Preferred Edition,' so to say. It is rather difficult to converse with one's beta when it's mid-Tuesday there and early Wednesday here.
After some time, the doors opened, and one whom I had once known well approached me. "Professor McGonagall," I said, standing.
She was dressed in robes of darkest black, not the green of my every memory, and her hair was more silver now. And high upon her breast was the crest, not merely of Gryffindor, but of all Hogwarts.
"Things have certainly changed, since I have been away," I said after a long, awkward silence.
"Yes," she said, "they have, and that is why I have requested your presence here now. I am offering you the position of Professor of Transfiguration and Head of Gryffindor House, as I must take up my duties of Headmistress, and I shall not have time to teach as well." She extended her palm, and upon it lay the bright red and gold crest of the House of Gryffindor.
I was stunned; never in my life, even before Azkaban, had I imagined something like this. From deepest Hell to highest Heaven, a professorship at Hogwarts, a home, my life back.
Before I could even summon forth an acceptance, she spoke again. "You are the most qualified person in all of Britain, Sirius. Your natural ability and your NEWT scores see to that. Your being an Animagus"--and here my jaw dropped--"simply means that I won't have to persuade the Board of Governors."
Advanced study at the post-NEWT level, or Animagus ability; the two qualifiers to teach Transfiguration. Usually, Animagus training occurred after NEWTs, but either was acceptable. And I had been an Animagus since 16..."How did you know that?"
"Mr. Pettigrew's testimony was enlightening in a number of respects."
"Pe--they caught Wormtail?" I cried, for this had been the main thought during my years in Azkaban.
"I see the Ministry is as helpful as ever--the Aurors who brought you were supposed to explain things, and to inform me when you arrived. Obviously they did neither. It was only Minister Scrimgeour's call that informed me of your presence at all. Come, we shall talk over dinner."
Scrimgeour--I filed that name away in my memory. It was unfamiliar to me. I followed her inside and upstairs to the Headmaster's office, where Fawkes, looking weary, was more than grateful for me to smoothe his feathers. "Professor Dumbledore is...gone, then?"
"Yes. In the spring."
"I am sorry to hear that, Professor. He will be missed greatly."
"Please, Sirius, call me Minerva, especially if we are to be working together," she chided me.
"My apologies, then, Minerva," I said, and waited quietly while she instructed a house-elf to bring dinner.
Perhaps more tomorrow.