Maggie

Chapter 23 - Remember

 McGonagall didn't reply. I waited every day of the remaining holiday, spent hours up in my room with the window thrown open for Kubo. He never showed. And, by the time my last day before my return to school arrived, I had lost hope of receiving a reply completely.

I couldn't figure out if the silence was because McGonagall didn't know, didn't care, or both.

However, the first morning after my return, I arrived at the Slytherin table for breakfast and had only just squeezed onto the bench between Gianna and Scorpius when Kubo landed on the table in front of me. His enormous, feathery wings beat hard as he regained balance after landing. Gianna and Scorpius were quick to pull any jugs and goblets out of harms way.

Kubo nuzzled his feathery head against my hand in greeting, then held his leg out. Tied to it was a neat, tightly bound scroll. I unrolled it, shielding its contents best I could from the rest of the table.

Maggie,

I wish to see you in my office the moment you receive this. Don't worry about your classes - I have already spoken to your teachers.

Your letter left me extremely worried. Believe we have much to discuss.

You're welcome to bring someone along if anybody else is aware of the situation but, if not, come alone. We need to keep this as quiet as possible while we decide how best to approach the predicament.

Kind regards,

Professor M. McGonagall

"Whose that from?" Scorpius was trying to read the note over my shoulder. I unpinched the bottom so it snapped up again, back into its rigid curl.

"Just my Dad, making sure I made it here in one piece." I turned to Albus, crushing the note in my fist. "Al, I need a bathroom break before lessons. Since you've finished eating-"

He jumped up before I'd even finished. At the look he sent my way, I nodded and flashed my eyes. He had seen straight through my toilet pretence, though no-one else had.

We left the hall together, turning towards the marble staircase.

"Whats going on?"

I held a finger to my lips and, silently, handed him the scroll. He read through it quickly, his eyes darting left to right so fast, they were nothing more than green blurs.

When he had finished, he nodded in understanding before lighting the note on fire. I watched as it curled into ash and embers, falling through his fingers onto the floor. No one else would ever be able to read it now.

We walked silently through the school. It was empty - everyone else was still down at breakfast. Albus knew not to speak, knew that anyone could be listening. The weight of our silence made my chest cave inwards. Everything was getting so serious, so quickly. It was difficult to take in.

We reached McGonagall's office and I tried the password Zabini had used last time I had come here.

"Loch Lomond."

It didn't open.

But, as if she had been waiting for my call, McGonagall's voice spoke from the gargoyle's mouth.

"Yes?"

I gulped. "You asked to see me, Professor?"

"Ahh. Maggie. Yes, come on up."

The statue jumped aside and, after a nervous glance at one another, Albus and I made our way up the silently revolving staircase.

As soon as we reached the top, the door flew open. McGonagall made no comment at Albus' presence beside me, but instead signalled with a delicate, veined hand for us to go inside.