Chapter 8
"You know just because we are old, doesn't mean we should increase our wrinkles with such downed looks, my dear," Albus Dumbledore spoke. Minerva glared at the portrait of her late best friend. He always was a secretive man, and in his death McGonagall had found that she was very angry with him. The only reason his portrait still hung in her office was due to the fact that all previous headmasters and headmistresses had portraits lining the walls. They were there to pass their wisdom; although McGonagall hardly ever listened to any of them.
"Oh please, you insane old man," Severus Snape spoke next, "you caused nearly all of them." McGonagall laughed, "Both of you, quiet. Now is not the time." Two weeks into the semester and McGonagall was already contemplating resigning as Headmistress. The hope she had for the older students to show house unity was almost out the window. Almost. Half of the eighth years were on Harry's side, while the other half couldn't understand why he was protecting the Slytherin's. Most of the eighth year students have been given detention, but at this rate, McGonagall is going to run out of things for them to do.
"You could always have them play a Quidditch match," Dumbledore suggested, "they always fix things." Snape snorted, "Why yes. Let's have a group of students who absolutely loathe one another play a sport that consists of ridding around on broomsticks and flinging deadly flying balls towards each other!"
It was McGonagall's turn to snort, "I hate to say it, but I'm with Severus on this. It would possibly be the worst idea ever. I doubt Madam Pomfrey would have the patience to have all of them in her ward at once." That's when an idea struck. Without hesitation she called for Tinker, a house elf from the kitchens. "Headmistress calls for Tinker?" the small elf murmured. "Yes, Tinker. Would you be a dear and gather Professor's George, Fred, Fleur, and Bill, please?" Tinker nodded and vanished with a pop. "Why you say please to them, I will never understand," Snape sneered. He could never fathom the idea of treating the elves nicely. McGonagall had even gone as far as offering all the elves their freedom, and when they declined, she offered them pay. McGonagall sighed and chose to ignore him; it was usually best that way.
A knock at the door brought her back to reality as she summoned them into her office. "You wanted to see us, Minnie?" Fred questioned while the others took to looking around the office. "Yes, I'm sure that you all have noticed the animosity within the eighth year students?" McGonagall pursed her lips as the group nodded along. "Well, I have decided that I am absolutely tired of it."
Bill was the first to speak up, "We can understand. I had to stop someone from hexing Theo again this morning." McGonagall sighed, "I see. Well, I have an idea. Every Friday night all eighth years will gather in the common room. Fred and George are in charge of coming up with a way to ease the tension. The Potter's must be present, as well as the honorary eighth years. Which is where Bill and Fleur come in, someone must watch after young Lupin-Potter while the others are occupied."
The twins shared a grin. "Oh don't you worry Minnie-" Fred started. "We have just the plan," George finished. Fleur and Bill quickly agreed, they not only loved the idea of spending more time with Teddy, but they were just as tired of seeing the fighting that went on as she was. McGonagall nodded her head, deciding to push back the horrifying thoughts of what would actually happen at these Friday night games, but she couldn't back out now. "Good, I'm trusting you to help with this. If anyone could do it, you boys can."
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"You very well know that you cannot go around and hex every single person that hurts me," Theo whisper yelled. Harry, Theo, Hermione, and Astoria were seated at a table in the corner of the library. Harry had just left the Headmistresses office after a slightly terrifying conversation with McGonagall. "I didn't even get into trouble," Harry argued. It was true, McGonagall responded the same way to this incident as she had in fifth year when he called Umbridge out for being a liar. Although he was more terrified now than he was back then about what this meant. He didn't even get a detention. Just a simple 'no hexing other students, no matter how deserving'. Before he was directed to go find his siblings.
"I don't care, Harry. Theo is right, you could've gotten detention. Then what would happen to Theo?" Astoria questioned. Most of the other houses left her alone. She was under the protection of the golden boy, as was every other member of the Slytherin house. Hermione nodded, she decided to stay neutral in this case. She didn't really approve of her brother's use of some of their hexes against other students. But neither of them was there to see what happened to Theo. Hermione didn't think she could ever get the vision of Theo's blood off of her hands and out of her robes.
"While I agree, I do believe that they deserved it," she interjected. The other three stared at her in disbelief before Harry's face broke out into a grin, "See!" Astoria and Theo sighed, it was hopeless.
Someone thought that it was a good idea to use sectumsempra on Theo as he and Hermione made their way back to the common room two days prior. Hermione was quick to call upon Kreacher and the headmistress to get the counter curse and escort Theo to the infirmary. They agreed to let the color return to Theo's skin before calling in Harry. Who knows what he would've done if he saw Theo before then. Those students might not have made it out alive. Hermione shivered at the thought.
Before their conversation could continue, McGonagall entered the library and walked towards them, "Good evening, I was hoping to find you here." Harry looked grim, maybe she decided he needed a punishment after all. "Seeing as you lot missed the announcement, your Friday nights are now being spent in the eighth year common room. It is time to put aside all differences and become a unified front. That includes you as well, Ms. Greengrass." Harry was right, this was worse than detention, "But Headmistress, why? Putting all of Theo's attackers in one place so I could hex them all at once doesn't seem like a good idea to me."
Astoria had to agree, but she caught sight of the twinkle in McGonagall's eyes and knew all too well that it meant. Her and Harry had that same twinkle as they played the part of the happy couple. This could only mean trouble. "Well, Mr. Potter. The night will be supervised by George and Fred Weasley. They have come up with some very interesting exercises to build up trust. These mandatory nights will continue until my message gets engrained. We are no longer in battle." Astoria was right, this could only be trouble.