Breaking the shadows

Professor McGonagall.

1997

Wednesday March 5th

Over the years, Professor McGonagall has been my favourite teacher, and she still is, I love transfiguration class, and just because of her it became my favourite class. I like some of the other teachers as well, but I have a special love for McGonagall, just because, she made me feel more welcome than the other teachers, when I had trouble sharing a room with Hermione, she was there to fix it and she told me that I could tell her everything, sometimes I just hung out at her office when I was feeling lonely, when she graded papers I would sit and draw in her office, one time I drew her because I didn't have any other ideas, I gave her the drawing that same afternoon, and the next time I was in her office I saw that she had pinned it on her bulletin board, and I felt proud of myself, looking back that drawing was really bad, so I painted her a portrait of her as her human form and as her Animagus, I haven't given it to her yet, but right now I am on my way to do just that.

Standing in front of her office I knock, and I hear her voice: "Come in."

I open the door and McGonagall is sitting grading papers, she looks up for a second as says happily: "Ah Harlow, do you need to talk?"

"Not today, Professor, but I just wanted to give you this."

I hand her the canvas and she say surprised: "What's the occasion?"

"There's no occasion, I just wanted to redo the drawing I did years ago."

McGonagall: "You didn't have to do that, but this is beautiful."

"Thank you, Professor."

As I'm about to leave she stops me by saying: "Sit down Harlow, I wanted to discuss something with you, if you have time of course."

"Yeah, of course, I have time."

I sit down across from McGonagall, and she starts by saying: "You are a really talented artist, have you ever thought about teaching others?"

"No never, I mostly draw for myself."

McGonagall: "I have a few first-year students who came up to me the other day asking if they could take art class, and as you know, Professor Burbage doesn't teach first years. So, I thought about you."

"I'm honered Professor, but do you really think I could teach?"

McGonagall: "I know you would be great at it, and if it works out, I could maybe get Dumbledore to pay you to teach the first-years."

"Are you sure? But won't it affect my lessons?"

McGonagall: "You would of course need to work harder on your lessons, but if you are going to be teaching it won't affect your classes, as we can arrange the first-year classes, so it fits with your free periods."

"If its possible I would love for the first years to learn from me. And I don't really care about the payment."

McGonagall: "If you are spending your time teaching, you should get paid for it, but if you are up for it, I can talk to Dumbledore."

"Thank you so much Professor, I would love to teach the first years."
McGonagall: "Then it's settled, I will talk to Dumbledore."
"Thank you so much for this opportunity."

McGonagall: "Now run along, it seems like someone is waiting for you."

---

I walk out of McGonagall's office with a smile on my face, I'm going to teach first years, I am so happy. But McGonagall was wrong, no one is waiting for me, I don't know why she said that. I go back to my room where Ginny is talking with Hermione and they both say in unison: "Where have you been?"

"I was talking with McGonagall."

Hermione: "About what."

"She want's me to teach art to the first years."
Ginny: "Exiting, but why you? Can't Professor Burbage do it?"

"No, she doesn't teach first years, she had an incident a few years back."

Hermione: "I am so proud of you. You could really learn them something."
Ginny: "Yeah, you are going to be an excellent teacher."

Hermione: "But are you ready to go?"

"Huh?"

Hermione: "Don't you remember, we are having a girl's night tonight?"

"I am so sorry I completely forgot. I'll be ready in a minute."

First now I see that both Ginny and Hermione are wearing flowery dresses, I find mine in the back of my closet, quickly change into it and put my denim jacket over, and say: "Now, I'm ready."

Ginny: "Great let's go."

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Puplished: 10-06-23