Post by gear on Sept 22, 2011 11:25:34 GMT -8
Title: Purse and Paper
Rating: PG
Character: Minerva McGonagall
Word Count: 619
Warnings:
Summary: Minerva learns about the magical world. Follows Look but can be read alone.
The scene is an odd one, comprised of a young woman and an even younger girl. The girl is scowling, clearly skeptical. She is dressed in rags, but manages to look more regal than a queen on her throne. The woman manages to match her though – she is tall, neither fat nor thin, with mouse brown hair and stunning green eyes. In her left hand she is holding a slender piece of wood, in her right, a piece of paper and a small, plump purse. They are standing in Trafalgar Square, awash with tourists, cabs rushing to and fro, and workers returning home from their jobs. Despite this, they are unbothered, the traffic swerving around them, making a several meter wide bubble.
The woman gestures to the circle saying, “Is that not proof enough?”
A raised eyebrow and a contemptuous snort is all she gets in reply.
With a sigh, the woman seems to concede the point, and waves her left hand, still holding the wand, at a stone on the ground. There is a dull flash of light and in its place is a bouquet of roses. For the first time, the girl seems ruffled and she stoops quickly and touches the flowers, checking to see if they are real. The verdict is possible, and when she straightens, she also takes a step away from the woman, some of her self-assured manner gone.
“Are you convinced, Minerva? I should think that that would be proof solid enough for even the Scotland Yard,” the woman says.
“Even if I were willin’ to admit that your ‘magic’ exists, why should I go to your school – Pigsnorts or whatever it’s called,” Minerva replies, some of her old confidence regained.
“Hogwarts. Would you be willing to come if I told you that Daniel would be taken care of?”
Every muscle in the girl’s body becomes taut as a hunting cat’s. Until now, she has been wary, but has never had the air of anger, or violence about her that is now present. “How d’you know about Dan?” Her voice is cold and clipped.
The woman gestures placating – she can see that she has touched a nerve. “Magic. I would explain it to you, but I’m afraid it would take far too long. Your friend would be taken care of. He cannot come to Hogwarts – he has no magic – but we would send him to a muggle – nonmagical – school. He will be fed, and have a roof over his head. As will you. You don’t need to decide right now, although you can if you wish. If you want more time, I will be here at the same time tomorrow.”
She turns to leave, and has begun to walk away, when she hears a soft voice say, “Yes. I’ll go. But I’ll hold you to your promise. An’ I don’t have money fer books and things.”
The woman turns back around, no hint of surprise on her face. She gives the purse and paper to Minerva and says briskly, “In the purse is enough money for your school things and for you to stay in an inn until September first. The paper has instructions as to what you need to get and where to go for it. There are also directions as to how you are to get to Hogwarts. Do you have any further questions?”
Taking the girl’s lack of answer as a negative, the woman turns to leave again, this time disappearing with a loud crack.
After a few more moments of staring at the purse and paper, Minerva follows her, vanishing into the crowd in a more mundane fashion, the money and instructions tucked deep into her rags for safekeeping.
Rating: PG
Character: Minerva McGonagall
Word Count: 619
Warnings:
Summary: Minerva learns about the magical world. Follows Look but can be read alone.
The scene is an odd one, comprised of a young woman and an even younger girl. The girl is scowling, clearly skeptical. She is dressed in rags, but manages to look more regal than a queen on her throne. The woman manages to match her though – she is tall, neither fat nor thin, with mouse brown hair and stunning green eyes. In her left hand she is holding a slender piece of wood, in her right, a piece of paper and a small, plump purse. They are standing in Trafalgar Square, awash with tourists, cabs rushing to and fro, and workers returning home from their jobs. Despite this, they are unbothered, the traffic swerving around them, making a several meter wide bubble.
The woman gestures to the circle saying, “Is that not proof enough?”
A raised eyebrow and a contemptuous snort is all she gets in reply.
With a sigh, the woman seems to concede the point, and waves her left hand, still holding the wand, at a stone on the ground. There is a dull flash of light and in its place is a bouquet of roses. For the first time, the girl seems ruffled and she stoops quickly and touches the flowers, checking to see if they are real. The verdict is possible, and when she straightens, she also takes a step away from the woman, some of her self-assured manner gone.
“Are you convinced, Minerva? I should think that that would be proof solid enough for even the Scotland Yard,” the woman says.
“Even if I were willin’ to admit that your ‘magic’ exists, why should I go to your school – Pigsnorts or whatever it’s called,” Minerva replies, some of her old confidence regained.
“Hogwarts. Would you be willing to come if I told you that Daniel would be taken care of?”
Every muscle in the girl’s body becomes taut as a hunting cat’s. Until now, she has been wary, but has never had the air of anger, or violence about her that is now present. “How d’you know about Dan?” Her voice is cold and clipped.
The woman gestures placating – she can see that she has touched a nerve. “Magic. I would explain it to you, but I’m afraid it would take far too long. Your friend would be taken care of. He cannot come to Hogwarts – he has no magic – but we would send him to a muggle – nonmagical – school. He will be fed, and have a roof over his head. As will you. You don’t need to decide right now, although you can if you wish. If you want more time, I will be here at the same time tomorrow.”
She turns to leave, and has begun to walk away, when she hears a soft voice say, “Yes. I’ll go. But I’ll hold you to your promise. An’ I don’t have money fer books and things.”
The woman turns back around, no hint of surprise on her face. She gives the purse and paper to Minerva and says briskly, “In the purse is enough money for your school things and for you to stay in an inn until September first. The paper has instructions as to what you need to get and where to go for it. There are also directions as to how you are to get to Hogwarts. Do you have any further questions?”
Taking the girl’s lack of answer as a negative, the woman turns to leave again, this time disappearing with a loud crack.
After a few more moments of staring at the purse and paper, Minerva follows her, vanishing into the crowd in a more mundane fashion, the money and instructions tucked deep into her rags for safekeeping.