Busted: Your character will catch mine doing something they shouldn’t.
Minerva thought the saying, “Ignorance is bliss” was one of the most daft things she’d ever heard. She had never felt the need to listen to such a saying, when in her mind, knowledge was everything important. Without knowledge, how could she protect her students? Without knowledge, how could she help others? Ignorance equated to stupidity.
However, even Minerva fell to stupidity, on the occasion.
When a first year Slytherin wizard had come to her, his eyes wide with fear, of course she had tried to pry what was troubling the youngster. The poor thing had stuttered and made excuses for a while, but Minerva was a persistent woman. Eventually, the boy told her about the secret gatherings that were taking place; dark meetings where two Slytherins discussed the dangers of Muggle-born witches and wizards. Outraged, Minerva had demanded to know who these students were, but the boy had suddenly gotten sick and rushed to the infirmary.
Minerva recognized a curse when she saw one, and she knew she had to get to the bottom of these meetings.
Although Slytherin wasn’t her house, as an Order Member, her instincts screamed to her that this wasn’t just a simple school antic.
After a few inquiries, Minerva discovered that two of the suspected ringleaders were the Carrows, and she was on her way to have a nice chat with them.
The Carrows. A strange pair of children. Not just strange, Minerva thought, but broken. Possibly irreparably, but I can’t leave them alone in the darkness.
She entered the Great Hall, where Minerva saw Alecto Carrow holding court at the Slytherin table. Minerva had never stopped to examine Alecto, too busy watching out for her own house, but something in her manner reminded Minerva of a fire: warm and welcoming, but with the potential for untold destruction.
"Miss Carrow, may I have a word with you, please?" Minerva asked. Alecto looked up, surprised to see the professor standing before her, but she inclined her head.
"Of course, Professor," Alecto answered. Minerva saw Dumbledore’s questioning gaze, and she knew that she would receive a summons later.
Minerva lead the Carrow girl to a secluded corner, and gathered her thoughts together, trying to figure out a way to approach the delicate subject.
"Miss Carrow, I need to talk to you about a very serious matter," Minerva started, using her sternest voice. "It has come to the attention of the faculty that certain students are hosting secret meetings, encouraging younger students to join the anti Muggleborn movement."
Alecto’s eyes flashed, but she said nothing, waiting for Minerva to finish.
"The reason I’m telling you this, Miss Carrow, is because there’s talk that you and your brother are involved in this organization."
At this, Alecto’s mouth pursed, and she met Minerva’s eyes.
"I can assure you, Professor, that we are not apart of such a group," she said. Her voice was honey-coated, syrupy and altogether wrong.
"Nevertheless, Miss Carrow," Minerva said. "I am warning you that if proof is found of your tie to this group, the consequences will be severe, for both you and your twin. Do you understand?"
Alecto nodded, again silent, as if she could not trust herself to speak for fear of unleashing her fury. Minerva noticed the twitch in the girl’s jaw, and her intuition screamed foul. But without proof, there was nothing to be done.
"Stay on the right path, Miss Carrow," Minerva said, by way of dismissal. Alecto murmured a goodbye, and headed back to her table.
For once, Minerva wished for sweet ignorance, as she realized that some of her students were being drawn to the Dark.
