A/N Rowlings created this world and all its characters. Headmistress X created a spectacular adult McGonagall in her story 'ancient magic'. 'Hauntingly beautiful' has become a cliché but this story truly is beautiful and her MM has haunted me. I decided to lay my ghost in this fanfiction, which will therefore contain very explicit M. in later chapters.

Please review, it's only my second effort and I could do with some help! And English is not my first language, all corrections are welcome!

She was running towards Hagrid when the young man pointed his wand. He actually pointed his wand at the Deputy Head of Hogwarts. But then he had always been an extremely silly boy.

T H U D

The impact. Shock. Reel back. Run again. Not true. Not happening. There is no world where Ministry Officials attack the Deputy Head. But then there should be no world in which that young idiot is a Ministry Official. Run harder.

T H U D

Nearly falling. Knees buckling. Nightmare. Cannot happen. Is not happening. Just run.

T H U D

Pain. Oh Merlin, the pain. Albus! Help. Somebody help. Am falling. Must not. The children. Must not let the children see me fall. Must … not …

T H U D

But by then she was unconscious.