The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

I.XVIII

"Miss Black? Mind if we have a word?"

Electra cringed.

She had just finished packing and was racing to the Hufflepuff dormitories to get in as much Diggory-time before she had to return to Manhattan.

She turned on her heel and faced Professor McGonagall. "Sure, professor." The older woman motioned for Electra to follow her and so she did. They crossed the entrance hall and into the faculty tower. McGonagall opened a door guarded by two gargoyles. She nearly jumped out of her skin when one of them greeted the professor. "Last day of the year and you're still dealing with students."

The other gargoyle shook its head as Electra walked past them, watching them in wonder. This castle still managed to surprise her.

She looked around the room McGonagall had led her to and frowned. It was nothing special, just a long room with a few tables and no two chairs that were the same. There was a wardrobe against one of the walls and a fireplace on the other as well as a few sitting chairs, but it was otherwise unremarkable.

"Please sit," said McGonagall as she gestured to a chair opposite to the one she was settling herself into. Electra noticed a small stack of papers on the table.

Electra warily sat in the wooden chair. She wished she could have anticipated this, she hated surprises. "May I ask what this is in regards to?" Electra asked, crossing her leg over her knee to keep it from shaking.

"It's come to my attention that you have not had your Careers Advice meeting." She raised one of her already high brows.

"Ah," said Electra in almost a groan. "Right, to be frank, I didn't see the point in meeting with Snape—"

"Professor Snape," McGonagall corrected.

"Professor Snape," Electra sorely amended. "He and I don't exactly see eye to eye."

McGonagall let out a sigh, which sounded more like a huff to Electra, but what else was to be expected. "Well," she said sharply, "I may not be your Head of House, but lucky for you, Dumbledore has granted you permission to talk to another. So, let's hear it."

Electra blinked at her. "Like— like right now?"

The professor waved an impatient hand. "I'd get started soon, Miss Black, the train will leave today whether you are on it or not."

"Uh— well, I don't really have any careers in mind," confessed Electra. "None have really stuck out to me."

McGonagall picked up the few pieces of paper sitting on the table and rifled through them. "You're top of your class, a Prefect and as you already know, Outstandings in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms and Astronomy, Exceeds Expectations in Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and History of Magic, and an Acceptable in Potions on your O.W.L.s. Congratulations on those marks might I add," she said, while peering over her square glasses with eyebrows arched in praise.

Electra nodded humbly, even though internally, her head was growing half its size. "Thank you, professor."

She set the papers down. "With these marks, I don't see you having much trouble joining any career you put your mind to. That being said, I don't wish to see someone as talented as you throwing away their potential to be a dishwasher at the Leaky Cauldron. A girl of your grit and disposition belongs in the Ministry of Magic. Do you understand?"

Electra nodded once. At least she still had one other professor in her corner with Lupin leaving. "Good," continued McGonagall. "Now, based on your O.W.L.s as well as your classes, I would recommend fields within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement—"