To Diko

The Greater Good

Minerva McGonagall writes today’s date on the parchment of her Transfiguration essay, in her neat handwriting. May 1st, 1942.

Minerva is seventeen years old today.

She imagines Professor Dumbledore’s pleased expression as he reads her essay on the potential dangerous effects of human Transfiguration. It might be a little too moral to his taste – but Minerva is growing up during a war, and morals are her only defence against the dark magic of Gellert Grindelwald.

She is sitting in the middle of Gryffindor’s common room, surrounded by the gifts her housemates offered her – books, sweets, and an adorable kitten. For one hour she writes diligently – no one disturbs her, they know her and respect her need of peace. But peace is brutally shattered when the Head of House comes in and announces that Grindelwald has brought more political opponents to Nurmengard, the jail where they let people starve all for the greater good. Among them is Minerva’s father.

The world twirls around her, and for the first time in her life, words fail her, she’s silent and tearful and more fragile than she ever thought.

She wonders what kind of good is greater than her dad smiling at her.

She doesn’t understand why Professor Dumbledore avoids her eyes for months afterwards.

She doesn’t attend to the Quidditch match on the next day, for the first time since she entered Hogwarts. And Gryffindor wins… but does it really matter?