It never rains but it pours

[alt_mcgonagall]

After the board meeting last night (as usual) and a quite productive meeting with Lucius, I was quite ready for a good night's sleep.

Unfortunately, it appears that Mr Marvolo got it into his head that he needed to save an animal Professor Macnair was keeping - a Norwegian Ridgeback. I knew nothing of this creature, but I learned of it quickly when I arrived on the scene. Coincidentally, Professor Slughorn and I ran into Professor Macnair on our way to investigate - so together we discovered Marvolo, Mr Malfoy, and the mudblood Granger facing off a very angry small dragon. They had packed it in some kind of crate and brought it out to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and were apparently trying to set it free, but Granger had been bit when it turned on them - quite the little heroine in the melee, apparently.

Well, very well: two students out of bed, either tricked into it by the mudblood or having forced her along, it was difficult to tell, and a wild animal. Macnair dealt with the beast, I docked House points, and Slughorn was to take them to bed - but there we saw a figure skulking in the woods.

Now what part could ex-Professor Quirrell have to play in all this?

He has been apprehended, of course, and I delivered him into the Ministry's hands via Lucius - fortunately Lucius was making a late dinner of it with Professor Carrow, and therefore available.

This morning was an unpleasant scene in my office. The mudblood is still in the hospital wing, quite ill from the beast's poisoned bite; Malfoy and Marvolo are in disgrace, and Malfoy at least is assigned detention for the next age. These children have been more troublesome than the entire year above them!

Comments

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[alt_arthur]

Good heavens, Minerva.

We'll want to hear the rest (including an update on Hermione) once you've extricated yourself from all the official cleaning up and inquiries.

[alt_narcissa]

Professor McGonagall,

I am coming up to see Draco this morning. What was Walden thinking, keeping a dragon where the children could be hurt by it?

[alt_mcgonagall]

You shall have to ask Professor Macnair that question yourself.

[alt_macnair]

The creature shack is off limits to all students and set quite apart from the castle, Mrs Malfoy, so the dragon was not actually kept anywhere near the children.

[alt_narcissa]

You ought to know how inquisitive and daring young children are, especially boys, Walden. How did you imagine someone wouldn't eventually discover the beast and decide to yield to temptation?

It's irresponsible and dangerous.

[alt_macnair]

It was a worry of mine, and I kept the shack locked up with very difficult charms for that reason. But after months had gone by with no incident, I may have got careless. That's my mistake, and I apologise for it.

[alt_narcissa]

I assume there's to be an inquiry. You might want to make sure you've no other surprises lurking about to lure any other unsuspecting innocents to their peril.

But I accept your apology, Walden. I know you'd never deliberately put the boys in danger. And they can be a handful - I can attest to that.

[alt_macnair]

Yes, I would assume the same. But besides Eithne, there's nothing to object to. I don't think.

Thank you for your understanding, Mrs Malfoy, it means a mountain to me.

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[alt_arthur]

Now what part could ex-Professor Quirrell have to play in all this?

That is something I've been puzzling about all day. (Well, in between trying to shore up Bill and ducking both Warrington and his deputy.)

What on earth could the man have been about? Do you have the faintest idea?