Not your usual Veela mate [Chapters 39-69]

Revenge Comes In Many Forms [54]

Wednesday, Sept. 18
L

ucius sat at the Head Table, sipping on a cup of tea. It was a pain having to sit in the Great Hall when fasting, but he had promised the boys he'd be here. Besides, there was no way he was allowing Severus to suffer alone, so he gritted his teeth and endured. After all, he had a lot of experience when it came to enduring. Biting back a sigh, Lucius sipped some more tea. How he hated to endure; that was not living, that was existing.
Then McGonagall picked up her knife and clanged it against her goblet. Immediately, the noise level in the hall died down as the students turned their attention from filling their stomachs to finding out what was going on.
Slowly, McGonagall climbed to her feet, ignoring the hiss coming from the Headmaster. "May I have your attention, please? Thank you," she began, although she already had everyone's eyes trained on her. Looking out over the sea of faces, the stern professor couldn't help but smile slightly. She couldn't wait to see the students' reactions to her news.
"The other day, a student came to me and asked me about some extra credit work they wanted to do. They had found an old book containing a rather exciting concept, and after careful consideration, I wish for the entire school to partake in an experiment. Which means there has been a slight change in plans. Beginning on Monday, instead of the scheduled lesson, each of you will be given a rock crystal, which you then will be transfiguring into a pet. We will continue with this until every student has a pet of their choice. However, I still expect you to turn in the homework I have already assigned you. This will not be used as an excuse for not doing it," Minerva said, looking around the room sternly, hiding a smile at the groans from her fifth, sixth and seventh years. Yes, she did know her students all too well.
Clearing her throat to regain the students' attention, McGonagall forged on with her speech. "According to the author of the book this experiment is based upon, it is quite possible to bring a transfigured animal to life if it is given enough love and attention. By the end of the school year, we will examine your transformed pets and see if there is any merit to this claim."
Suddenly, a scroll appeared next to every plate in the hall, and Minerva picked up her own copy. "This scroll contains the different animals you may choose from. I suggest you read it through thoroughly, and consider carefully what type of animal you wish to create. I also recommend that you find out all there is to know about your chosen creature, taking careful note of colorations and such. This is not the time to be fanciful, so I strongly recommend against acquiring a pink bunny, or an orange gerbil. If you are interested in an animal not mentioned on the scroll, please come and speak to me in private. Also, your choice has to be cleared by me before you are allowed to even attempt to transfigure the pet you want. Feel free to come and discuss your wishes with me at any time.
"Remember, if you wish for this experiment to succeed, you will be spending a lot of time with your pet, bringing it with you just about everywhere, even to most classes. I strongly suggest you pick something you can live with," McGonagall stated. Giving the student body one last stern look, she sat back down, resuming her focus on her breakfast. A quick heating charm had her tea steaming once more and she took an appreciative sip, reaching for a piece of toast.
At first, the students just sat there and stared at her. Then they dived for the scrolls. Soon the room was filled with their excited chatter and exclamations.
At the Head Table, the atmosphere was grimmer.
"Minerva! What do you think you are doing!" Albus hissed. He was livid and was working hard on hiding that fact from the students.
"I am conducting an experiment," McGonagall replied calmly.
"An experiment!" Dumbledore said in a strangled voice. "And you did not think it wise to discuss this matter with me beforehand?"
Minerva chewed on her mouthful of food. "I am well within my rights as a professor to do this. None of the animals are particularly dangerous, so the student body will not be placed in danger. Classes might be slightly disrupted for the first few days, but the children should soon adjust to their new pets, as will the teachers. The only concern I had was for the Potions class, since I don't think bringing in a lot of animals into that room would be beneficial to the students' health. Fortunately, Severus has already come up with a solution, and the house-elves are working on putting things together," she added, indicating that the matter was closed.
"Harry put you up to this, didn't he?" Albus said, looking down at the Gryffindor table. "This is his way to get back at me for those blasted horses, isn't it?"
McGonagall lifted an eyebrow. "What about those horses?"
Albus shook his head and turned his attention back to his Deputy Headmistress. He would deal with Harry later. "I cancelled the spell on those rocks, informing Harry that he was to spend his time with his friends, rather than gallivanting about on those creatures, causing the other students to become jealous. After all, the school only sanctions three types of animals, and horses are not on that list," Dumbledore explained primly.
"Oh, Albus, I can't believe how childish you can be at times," Minerva sighed, looking disappointed, causing Lucius to choke on his tea.
"Childish?" Dumbledore hissed, looking like he wanted to hex the woman for her impudence.
"Yes, childish!" McGonagall snapped. "If Harry had come to me, I would have told him to re-make those horses and to have fun. You know very well that that list only applies to the first years! Besides, it isn't like we have put much effort into enforcing it. Remember Ronald Weasley and his pet rat?" Minerva asked archly.
It was Dumbledore's turn to sigh; there wasn't much he could say to that. "I still say you should have discussed this matter with me first, before getting the children involved. They will be most disappointed when you cancel this little... project."
"I will do no such thing!" Minerva snapped, highly affronted. If she had been in her animal form, she would have been hissing, taking a swipe at the intolerable man with a paw filled with claws. "As I already stated, I am well within my rights as a professor to launch a project like this. I will not allow you to stop me. Have you any ideas what this could mean if it works? This could open up an entire new dimension when it comes to magic and what we can do with it!" McGonagall said, looking extremely exited, temporarily forgetting her annoyance at the Headmaster.
"Yes, I, for one, find this extremely fascinating, and I can't wait to read the book. The theory behind this concept sound very interesting! Too bad Filius got his hands on it first," Sprout said with a mock pout aimed at her colleague. "I wonder if this concept could be applied to plants?"
Dumbledore looked like he was about to have a stroke. "You discussed this with the other Heads, but you didn't discuss it with me?" he asked in a strangled voice.
"Of course I talked it over with the other professors," McGonagall said, calmly picking up her teacup. "They needed to know, especially since the students will be bringing their pets with them to class. I sent you a note informing you of the meeting this morning, Albus. It isn't my fault you didn't bother to attend," she added with some asperity.
"You sent me a note? I never got your message, Minerva. Are you sure-"
"Are calling me a liar, Albus?" McGonagall asked in a low vice, sounding as if she was beginning to get furious.
"Ah, no, of course not, my dear. Forgive me, that is not at all what I meant," Dumbledore swiftly said, trying to do some damage repair. "I am only saying that I didn't get your message."
McGonagall harrumphed, only slightly mollified. Pointedly, she returned to her breakfast, ignoring the Headmaster's attempts to talk to her, not about to forgive him anytime soon.