Tragedies of War - Marauders Era

Minerva McGonagall - Obliviation

Minerva McGonagall

Hogwarts

November 6, 1981

Sirius was innocent.

Those three words had been running through her head ever since she had disapparated from Azkaban.

Sirius was innocent.

She hadn't been able to sleep all night because of those three words. She had even had to suspend classes because of the lack of sleep.

Sirius was innocent.

Sirius' terrified face ran through her mind and made it unbearing to think she had had to leave him in that horrible place. She remembered hearing his screams just before she disapparated, and felt like running back in to save him. She refused to think he would have to spend a lifetime there and vowed to herself she would do anything in her power to get him out. She had even written a note to herself, just in case she did forget and hid it in a book - a photo album of the marauders' time at Hogwarts. She had snapped pictures of every prank they pulled, unknown to them, and kept it in a memory album.

'Oh, that's it!' Minerva huffed to herself late that night. 'I'm going to see Dumbledore!'

She walked the distance to the headmaster's office, feeling strange deja vu.

Right there was where Frank had kissed Alice for the first time...

Remus had proven he wasn't innocent right by that bench, where she had caught him preparing for a new prank...

James had first proposed his undying love for Lily right on that table...

Lily had first slapped James right by that table...

Sirius had served his first detention when he blew that wall up in rage...

Marlene first asked Dorcas on a date, right by the tree over there...

Dorcas had eagerly accepted the date by the tree...

Mary had met Reginald Cattermole by that lake, and though she was adamant she would never have a relationship with him, Minerva knew otherwise...

Peter had done his first bit of transfiguration (out of class - odd) by transforming the flowers on the greenhouses into buttons...

'Sherbet Lemons,' Minerva told the gargoyles on either side of Dumbledore's office, and they admitted her entrance.

'Minerva,' Dumbledore greeted her warmly when she marched into the office, not even bothering to knock.

'Sirius is innocent.'

'I beg your pardon?' Dumbledore looked up, his face darkening slightly.

'Sirius is innocent,' she repeated, 'and we both know it.'

'Miner-'

'He did not kill the Potters! He wasn't even secret keeper!'

'Min-'

'He did not kill Pettigrew, and if he did then I would congratulate him! Pettigrew was the traitor!'

'Minerv-'

'SIRIUS BLACK IS INNOCENT AND YOU LET HIM GO TO AZKABAN!' Minerva screeched, losing her head.

'MINERVA!' Dumbledore shouted, equally angry, 'I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING!'

'So you did know! You did know he was innocent!' Minerva's shrill voice had caused many of the portraits to wake up and they were muttering to themselves curiously.

'Of course, I did! I planned everything!' Dumbledore admitted. Minerva and several portraits gasped.

'Why?' Minerva wondered, 'Why did you let the Potter's die? Why did you frame Sirius? Are you responsible for everyone else's deaths?'

'Harry,' Dumbledore said simply, 'Harry is the saviour and when Voldemort rises again, Harry will defeat him again. I'm just laying out the pawns for him to do so.'

'So Harry can't be the saviour with his parents alive? Harry can't have his godfather? Harry has to be alone just because of your selfish reasons?'

'Yes.'

'That's absolutely ridiculous!' Minerva declared.

'I thought you may say that,' Dumbledore smiled sadly, 'But, alas, you know too much. Obliviate.'

Minerva woke up in her bed.

'How'd I get here?' Minerva wondered to herself. Sirius, whispered a quiet voice in the back of her head.

Sirius was a traitor.

Sirius killed everyone.

Minerva stood up and crossed her quarters to her desk. She smiled down at a photo of her - though she would never admit it - favourite students.

Lily and James were in the centre, grinning as they held hands. Marlene was riding Dorcas' shoulders to their left, laughing wildly. Mary was watching the two, clapping. Frank and Alice were dancing in the background, Frank laughing as Alice tripped and he bent down to grab her. Remus was beaming at Lily, though it didn't stop him from teasing her about her and James' entwined hands. Peter was next to Remus, smiling nervously as his eyes darted around and Sirius... Sirius was leaning on James' shoulder, grinning brightly at his brother.

Minerva suppressed a sob. Most of those students were dead now or better off dead. Remus was alone and Mary had quit being a witch. Sirius was in Azkaban.

Anger rushed over her like a broken dam. All of her lions, her brave lions, were now facing the consequences of war alone or buried, while he sat in his cell probably laughing at them all.

Sirius was a traitor.