Moody And Minerva

1959, December 20th

"Nothing new. Just another muggle disappearance." Minerva sighed, her head in her hands as she read the new copy of the newspaper on her desk. "Our world is going to hell." The day had ended, and the students were relaxing in their common rooms, but it seemed to make Minerva uneasy with the idea that students could go missing any moment as well, as presumably safe security measures were at Hogwarts. "We must all soon make the choice between what is good and what is easy."

She got on her feet, pacing through the empty halls of the castle. In such times, there seemed to be a need for her to relive good memories. "Sugar quill." The door to Albus Dumbledore's office opened, and she stepped in, taking a container from the rows of silver ink on the shelves near Dumbledore's Pensieve. She opened the cap, pouring the beautiful, nearly-transparent liquid in. Then, it was all foggy.

"Minnie! My precious mouse, come here." Robert McGonagall had come home after a day of work, little Minerva Maggie (Margaret) McGonagall scooped into his arms. It had been brighter days, when she had long, beautiful midnight hair wavy and to her knees, with eyes the color of the sky on an elegant summer's day. "Papa!" Her voice was high, squeaky and loud. But the memory shifted to one of the worst in her days.

The day she'd left Dougal.

"Please, Minerva, we can fix this! Minnie, wait! Please, I beg you-" Minerva turned back, bags near the door. She hadn't wanted this, but how big of a risk was she really going to take? "I'm sorry, Dougal, we can't." Dougal's face fell, his mouth now in a sore frown. "Minnie, did I do something wrong? I promise, I'll fix it." It only made her feel worse. "Dougal.."

Something pulled her by the arm, and she jumped. "Got something on yer face." Minerva turned to see Alastor Moody standing behind her, and she sighed in relief. Although, only now did she realize that she'd been crying.