28th November 1997- Friday
"What're you doing after this then, ma- uh, Harry?" Ron blustered over the word, smiling sheepishly. "Got any plans?"
Transfiguration had just ended, with yet another hour of McGonagall ignoring him, and Harry wasn't truly in the mood for anything anymore. He was disheartened by his professors' continued cold shoulder, and with no let-up of the treatment in sight, all he wanted to do was escape the classroom fast.
"Relaxing, probably. I'm still not feeling one hundred per cent. And I'm going to make some cupcakes later tonight if I feel up to it, to snack on in the-"
"Mister Potter." McGonagall's stern voice called after him suddenly, just as Harry was heading out of her classroom. He was startled at the unexpected, stony tone, waving off Hermione and Ron as they hesitated in the doorway, promising he'd meet up with them tomorrow.
He turned back to McGonagall, the door shutting behind the last people. That left them alone, and the silence continued until Harry spoke. "Yes, Professor?"
"I wished to speak with you about your absence from class last week. I found it unacceptable that you would miss a class in such an important year." She spoke primly, shuffling with some of the papers on her desk.
Confused, Harry explained. "I informed you that I was ill, Professor."
"And yet you were not in the medical wing when I checked with Madam Pomphrey later on."
The woman sounded upset, and Harry winced. He'd never enjoyed being scolded by authority figures, especially ones he was close to such as the transfiguration Professor. However, in recent weeks, McGonagall had been unexpectedly curt with Harry, and he wondered what had changed between them.
Was his new status as a Creature really that abhorrent to her?
"Professor, my mates were able to take care of it-"
"It is inappropriate to skip class for a minor sickness that can be helped with simple home remedies. I do not care for your excuses, you will be serving a detention for your unreasonable absence. I will expect you in my office at seven o'clock tonight. You may leave."
Numb, Harry exited her classroom without further argument, frowning as the door slammed shut behind him. Huffing, he stomped down the hallway, emotions bubbling within him.
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"Harry, I was just talking to Blaise about- Harry? Are you okay?"
Elian's joyous tone swiftly changed to that of concern as Harry swept into their rooms, looking ragged and dazed.
Harry, still feeling very stunned, shook his head. Elian's hands were on his shoulders immediately, the man lowering himself to meet his gaze. "What's the matter? Are you hurt? Did someone say something?"
"McGonagall..."
A thud sounded from behind them. Tom had placed his stack of papers on the table, and he was frowning, lips turned down in a scowl. "McGonagall said something to you? What about it has made you so upset?"
"Um...No, I-" He hesitated. It felt childish to him to come back just to whine about his day when his mates were so obviously busy with work, or to ruin the blatant happiness they had been feeling before Harry had entered. "She gave me a detention."
"Oh, Harry," Draco sounded mildly disappointed, and it made him shrink. "What for?" Blaise frowned by his side.
"For, um...I was late. She said to meet her in her office at seven tonight."
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Fanfiction◇ Word Count: 85k ◇ ● Harry's mostly normal life was flipped upside down when, on the morning of his 17th birthday, he woke up with the wings of a fairy, and a carpet of moss covering the floor of his room. Strange, but not the oddest thing to wake...