A Cat's Tail: Minerva McGonagall Fan Fiction

Chapter 6

Minerva gaped. Green tendrils curtained the walls, blushing pink flowers spilled out of pots and grumpy looking cacti gave the greenhouse an aura of absolute chaos. She had never seen so many eccentric looking plants, or, in all honesty, such a dramatic teacher. He had flyaway brown hair which reached his shoulders, with purple at the tips. His robes were turquoise, at least they had been at some point, now being coated in soil, and he was wearing polka dot boots.

"First years!" The teacher boomed, making half the class jump as he leaped into the front of the class with an over exaggerated swoop . "Welcome to Greenhouse one! The haven for many a blooming creature, though none of those bloomers are beasts! Don't let their complex exterior fool you, though your eye may be confounded, Greenhouse one is home to the most simple of plants. Though devils snare may take your breath away, quite literally, if it squeezes you too hard, and those prickly cacti may draw blood, no dangerous species lurk in here." The teacher, who still hadn't introduced himself, continued his theatrics, until Minerva, who thought this man was more of an actor than a herbologist, raised her hand timidly. 

"Excuse me? Sir? What's your name?" The teacher blinked at her. 

"A name is just a label, though an intricate one at tha-" He was cut short by Pomona saying:

"Could we start? I really want to know how to make this - devils snare, did you say? - leave me alone!" The rest of the class mumbled in agreement. The teacher gave a dramatic sigh.

"Fine! If I must! I am the great..." He paused for suspense that no one was feeling. "Professor Beery!" The class stared at him silently. Professor Beery sighed. "Devils snare, Miss Sprout, hates sunlight, as you can remember by this rhyme!" Professor Beery began to do some sort of crazy dance, and put on a 'mystical' voice. "Devils snare, devils snare, deadly fun, but will shrink in the sun!" The professor began to show them how to perform the spell lumos, and by the end of the lesson, Minerva felt sorry for the plant, seeing as everyone had managed to flood the greenhouse with light. 

"You there! Scottish one!" Minerva went red. "Five points to Gryffindor for being the first to be able to produce the spell! What was your name, sorry?"

"Minerva McGonagall."

"And you? Miss Sprout, I believe?" Pomona blushed. "Five points for recognising devils snare. You may go." The class all left with smiles on their faces (though annoying, Professor Beery was very  funny) and Minerva and Pomona got several pats on the back for their house points. They grinned at each other, before splitting up to go to different classes. Minerva joined Ria, Ivy, Iris and Affrodille on their quest to find transfiguration. It was a lot harder than it sounded. 

Once, after what seemed like forever, the group finally reached the classroom, Minerva slid into the seat next to Hagrid. "Hi!" Minerva could hear her Scottish accent plainly behind the words, but for once she didn't mind. Hagrid smiled at her, and Ria turned around and raised an eyebrow at Minerva.

"Already got a boyfriend I see?" Minerva blushed furiously (much to her surprise, she'd never really blushed before). She could see Hagrid doing the same. Ria laughed. "I was only joking!"

"Welcome! Welcome!" Professor Dumbledore beamed at the students, and his eyes twinkled as he looked between Minerva and Hagrid. Minerva had the strangest sensation that Dumbledore could read minds. "As well as your head of house, I am the deputy head, and head of transfiguration! Transfiguration is a very tricky subject,  and I don't expect you to be able to do anything first try." Unlike Professor Beery, Dumbledore seemed to just be naturally hilarious, rather than theatrical, with his sparkling blue eyes. Dumbledore proceeded to explain how to turn the matches in front of them into needles. 

Minerva and Hagrid reached for the matches at the same time; their hands touched. Minerva felt a warm tingle go up her hand. She could feel her cheeks heating up for the second time in about five minutes. "Sorry!" They said in unison. There was an awkward pause, but then the atmosphere returned to normal as they began trying to turn their needles into matches. Hagrid waved his wand clumsily, repeating the spell Dumbledore had told them to use. Minerva flinched as he nearly wacked her in the eye.

"Hagrid, maybe do it a bit gentler! I know I'm wearing glasses, but I don't fancy loosing an eye!" She laughed. Hagrid mumbled sorry. "I'll have a go, hang on," Minerva copied the spell and wand movement she'd seen Dumbledore use. To her surprise,  the match became a needle. She grinned. Hagrid gaped.

"How did yer, did yer just, YER DID IT MINERVA!" Hagrid said, loudly, causing half the class to stare at her. Dumbledore walked over, looking flabbergasted.

"Well I never! Well done, Miss McGonagall! Ten points to Gryffindor!" After that, transfiguration became her favourite subject. After the class, Dumbledore expressed his amazement at how quickly she had transfigured the matchstick.

The rest of the week proved to be fairly fun, although history of magic with Professor Binns, a very  old man, was extremely boring (she was the only one awake, but barely), potions with a brand new teacher, Professor Slughorn, was chaotic (Hagrid's potion exploded), flying was fun ("You should try out for the team next year Minerva!"), DADA with Professor Merrythought, was not so merry (but productive) and charms was also fun, and Minerva proved herself yet again, being the first one to successfully make her feather levitate. Minerva LOVED Hogwarts. 

A/N: Sorry about the vagueness with the transfiguration spell, it isn't specified.