She tried not to have favorites, really, she did. She’d favored the Marauders, she would admit that, Sirius above the others but she loved all four of them above the love she had for all the students- House not withstanding. But she’d lost Sirius and James both, coming to realization that she’d never had Peter, and accepting the likelihood that she would lose Remus as well before this war was over.
She’d lost Albus, her best friend, to Severus- another favorite.
She had told herself that when Harry came to Hogwarts, she would go to lengths to treat him like any other student. Hermione, she couldn’t help but love, reminding her much of young Remus Lupin and Lily Evans. Ronald Weasley, who she thought might actually be one to beat her in chess had she ever played against him. And Harry.
She’d tried. She didn’t smile at him when she saw him in the Entrance Hall, standing with the youngest Weasley boy and in awe of his surroundings. He’d looked too thin, too timid, too like his parents. Albus had told her that Voldemort would come back, and she knew investing her heart in young Mr. Potter would only get it broken the way it had last time. But she did it anyway, starting with the Nimbus.
She looked at him, watched him, as the thousands of wands lit up in mourning. She knew it was coming. Others, lucky ones who only knew of the goings on from the paper, might say Albus’ death was the beginning. In a way, she supposed it was. It was the beginning of the end.
Happy Birthday, Minerva McGonagall!
October fourth.