Bitter Transmutation : Cruel Transformation || Drarry

Part 9

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There was tap-tap-tap against the windowpane. Draco blinked and slowly sat up from the couch, pulling his comforter around himself as he shuffled to his feet. Draco opened the window, removing a potion vial tied to the owl's leg and drinking it in one swallow, shuddering as the worst of his pain eased.

The owl hopped from the windowsill onto Draco's shoulder, using the fabric of the comforter to hold on. They hooted softly and began carefully preening the few loose locks of hair near Draco's temple.

Draco stared out at the lawns and the forest, far away and far below. For a long time.

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"...I see," McGonagall said with a frown, "I shall have to speak with Hagrid about where in the forest the herd was."

"And-?" Harry said expectantly.

McGonagall raised an eyebrow, picking up her teacup and taking a sip before saying, "And?"

"Aren't you going to cancel Hogsmeade weekend?" Harry said, shifting uneasily on the hard old fashioned chairs in McGonagall's office.

"The last Hogsmeade weekend before christmas? There would be a riot," McGonagall said.

"But-!"

McGonagall set her cup down with a clink and held up a hand, "I understand your concern, Harry, I really do."

"You understand? So what, you're going to just let it go? Just hope things work out like Dumbledore did?" Harry said.

McGonagall mouth pursed, "That isn't fair-"

"It doesn't have to be fair if it's the truth," Harry said.

"-to my situation," McGonagall went on firmly, "This is a school not a fiefdom. I can't order the gates barred and locked. I find myself in a constant balancing act between trying to maintain a safe learning environment, and allowing enough freedom to the students for their personal enrichment. And, unfortunately, Albus allowed far too much freedom. Trying to reign that freedom back in for the students that still remember it has resulted in a number of complaints to the Board of Governors, which they have conveyed to me." She slid a stack of parchment across her desk, pulling out a letter and frowning at it disapprovingly.

McGonagall held out the letter to Harry, who skimmed through the contents.

"What about the auror's? Can they help any?"Harry asked.

"They can, I'm sure. Will they? I very much doubt it," McGonagall said. "I understand that they have other priorities right now and trying to track down a dangerous creature in a forest full of dangerous creatures is not one of them."

Harry put the letter back on the desk.

"Unfortunately, I am beholden to the Ministry and the Board of Governors, both of which can remove me from my position," McGonagall said.

"They wouldn't- would they? Not after everything you've done," Harry said.

"My role in the war has been some help, but I don't have the power or influence that Albus had and... There are those that would use the instability following the war to push for changes that would better benefit them."

Harry sat back with a frown.

McGonagall rubbed her temples, "...I can shorten the curfew during the weekend to have everyone back to the castle before it's dark. And have the students travel in groups of at least three."

Harry nodded, "That's-"

"And you are to do nothing," McGonagall said, sounding exhausted, "I understand that your desire to help is how you manage your trauma-"