Tragedies of War - Marauders Era

Minerva McGonagall - Realisation Hits Twelve Years Later

Minerva McGonagall

Hogwarts

Late July, 1993

Minerva was sitting at her desk, breathing heavily. She had never thought when Harry first came to Hogwarts he would be so much trouble, but that was a joke to her now. He had just battled a ginormous fucking snake miles under the school and survived. She was supposed to be writing a record for this event, where several students had almost died, but she was honestly too exhausted. Dumbledore wasn't too worried anyway.

She sighed and got up. Walking over to her bookshelf, she thought she might read a book, now that all the students had left. Picking up a copy of Transfiguration Today, she stopped when she spotted a small book at the back. Reaching out for it, she read 1971-1978 - Gryffindor Graduating Class. She smiled as she opened it, remembering all the times she had snapped pictures of the marauder's pranks. To her surprise, a small piece of paper fell out. She picked it up and read, Sirius Black is innocent.

Memories came spilling back to her. Talking to Sirius in Azkaban, talking to Dumbledore, Dumbledore obliviating her...

'Sweet Merlin above!' Minerva swore. She had been obliviated. She had forgotten about Sirius. She had promised him that she wouldn't leave him in Azkaban, but she had, and she had never gone back. She had to suppress a sob as she controlled her rapidly growing anger. She couldn't just burst into Azkaban now, not after twelve years. What had she said to Sirius?

I will come back for you, even if it takes twelve years.

It had taken twelve years. Twelve years exactly.

She would have to get Sirius out another way, a subtle way. Her eyes brightened as she remembered something Sirius had said to her.

We're all animagus, me, Pettigrew and James

She knew for a fact that the Dementors had little effect on animals, it was why she had been waiting for Sirius in her animagus form all those years ago. If she could somehow send that message to Sirius...

She pulled a piece of parchment out from her desk and quickly wrote a paragraph for the Daily Prophet, before transfiguring a spare quill into an owl and sending it off. She paced her office with closed eyes. She would just have to hope that Sirius would somehow get the news. She thought back to when the marauders were at school. Sirius was always the more observant one. James was the leader, Pettigrew was the hopeless case they adopted and Remus was the intelligent one. Her eyes flew open suddenly. Remus!

'Oh for fucks sake!' she hadn't even thought of contacting Remus to see how he was going. He would be all alone with only his thoughts to occupy him. She knew that for Remus, being alone with his thoughts wasn't safe. She grabbed another piece of parchment from her desk and wrote a quick letter, not thinking twice. If Dumbledore had a problem with it, then he could come to fight her.

Remus Lupin,

I am pleased to inform you that we have decided to hire you for a teachers position here at Hogwarts. Our previous teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts has resigned, so the position is open. Please send your answer via owl.

Yours sincerely,

Deputy Headmistress,

Minerva McGonagall

She knew Dumbledore was looking for a replacement anyway and Lockhart had been admitted to St. Mungo's - Good riddance. She knew it was a risk with Remus' lycanthropy, but they had done it before. Also, the wolfsbane potion would make things much easier. She refused to let Remus be alone for any longer.