A Harry Potter/Throne of Glass/A Court of Thorns and Roses crossover

.1.

As Professor McGonagall stood on the balcony of the Head's tower, watching the scene unfold before her, she remembered the horror that the last few months had wrought, and wondered what changes the new school year ahead would bring for the current generation students attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For this summer the Ministry of Magic had decided that the ancient school needed to expand its horizons and had enrolled approximately two dozen students from two different magical dimensions. This worried Minerva greatly, for the Ministry had done this against her will. Not having been blessed with children of her own, Minerva looked upon the students sorted into her House as surrogate children, and she cared about them deeply. However, she was worried about all the students of Hogwarts today. It would be difficult for them to return to the castle – the place where so many of their classmates, friends and relatives had died. The trauma the war had caused was still very fresh had not yet healed.

With a tiny snort, Professor McGonagall walked back through the balcony doors into her office. Sitting down at the large desk in the centre of the room, Minerva rubbed her temples at the first signs of a headache coming on. What the hell was the Ministry thinking? she thought angrily. So what if the Wizarding world has been isolated and insulated for too long? We still haven't recovered from the war!

A sudden familiar voice roused Minerva from her stupor. "Minerva." Minerva startled and spun around in her seat in order to see who had spoken. Almost like a naughty, disobedient student, she chided herself. You have been an authority figure at this school for nearly half a century. You are the new headmistress. Act like it now!

Dumbledore's portrait smiled benevolently down at her. "I sense that you're still worrying about the new program that the Ministry has put in place," he said gently.

"Of course I am!" snapped Minerva glaring at his portrait angrily. "What the hell was the Ministry thinking? How is this going to be good for the school or anyone, really? I've got the students to think of, you know."

"Perhaps it will do the students good to interact with people from different cultures and learning about people with different magical abilities."

"I don't care!" Minerva snapped. "I don't want them here! They'll just be a distraction. We're still rebuilding the castle. This year is already going to be hard enough for the students, after the final battle. They've lost so much already.

"Dumbledore sighed quietly. They'd already had this conversation a hundred times over the last several weeks. Sometimes Albus Dumbledore thought that Minerva McGonagall was far too stuck in her ways for her own good. He wondered how he could get through to her on this. Personally, Albus thought the Ministry's new program was a good idea. Meeting people from different dimensions would be an incredible learning experience for the students. As Dumbledore opened his mouth to tell her this, Minerva rudely cut him off, which was something that he was unable to remember occurring ever before.

"I am the newly appointed headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft. The safety of hundreds of magical children from across the country has been entrusted to me. Does what I believe not matter?" she said, swelling with righteous indignation.

"Of course your opinions matter, my dear Minerva. But it's old fashioned, prejudiced views that led to Voldemort's ascension and both of the wizarding wars. Stuck-up, snooty people who were unable or unwilling to change with the times," Dumbledore said quietly, hoping against hope that Minerva would begin to listen to reason. He had never seen her so unhinged.

"What?!" Minerva hissed viciously. "How DARE you compare me to that evil terrorist? You knew what You-Know-Who was capable of before he rose to power – he was your student! You had ample time to deal with him before he committed those atrocities. The war – both wars, in fact – rests upon you and your negligence all those years."