Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, and all these other people are characters belonging to J.K. Rowling. I claim no rights to them, their surroundings, or their situations. Much to my sorrow.

--- 16 McGonagall: The Beauty They Possess

Moving around the ball-room-turned-temporary-dormitory to check on her Gryffindor charges, Minerva noted with mixed feelings that this was very easy to do; without any sort of directions from the staff, the students had divided themselves neatly into four distinct House groups, with scarcely a straggler out of place.

The rumors about the new school had barely trickled down from snippets of overheard faculty conversations before they had begun to Transfigure wildly, she noted with some amusement. One eager fifth-year was heard to confidently predict that Harry Potter, with help from Professor Dumbledore, would call down the new building from out of the heavens and squash Voldemort underneath it.

Another was equally certain that the old school had not been destroyed at all, but that it had all been a vast illusion designed to fool both the Death Eaters and the students themselves, and that Hogwarts was still standing safe and sound right where it had always been, waiting for the all-clear when the Dark Lord had been defeated.

Still another, no doubt playing off of the security issue, speculated that Albus intended to co-opt Azkaban Prison and house the Academy there, over Cornelius Fudge's dead body if necessary. (Exactly what this ingenious student thought would be done with the current inmates was not entirely clear. McGonagall made a private note to check back later and see whether he had devised a solution to that minor problem--and to get him an appointment with Poppy for possible counseling.)

Entertaining as their theories were, other rumors of a far more disturbing nature were circulating in guarded whispers; these too took various forms, but could be summed up, taken altogether, by the phrase 'No more Slytherin.' A few of the more inquisitive students went so far as to ask her outright whether it was true that the House of the Serpent was about to be eliminated.

Inwardly cursing Sirius Black, she repeated firmly each time that she was aware of no such plans, and reprimanded several intelligent students who should have known better for believing unsubstantiated gossip.

It did not escape her attention that the general reaction to this squelching of the rumor was disappointment.

With all Gryffindors safely accounted for, and as comfortable as one could reasonably expect under the circumstances, Minerva turned her attention to the very small, closely packed group of Slytherins.

When she'd brought up the fact to the rest of the faculty that someone needed to be looking after these children, she had been immediately and unanimously elected. Albus had too many other things on his mind, and both Sprout and Flitwick had deferred the matter to her as the senior Head of House--and also the only other person whom they judged Snape would tolerate coming within a furlong of 'his' students in his absence. What indescribable irony...

She hadn't been certain of their number--that had been Severus' responsibility--but taking a quick head count as she approached them, she was somewhat take aback to realise that there were no more than twenty students present, most of them fifth- and sixth-years.

And where the devil was Draco Malfoy? She vaguely recalled seeing him asleep in a cot some time earlier, recovering from his near-miss, but he was nowhere in sight now. She added one more item to her private 'Things To Look Into' list, and considered the Slytherins who were accounted for.

It was immediately apparent that they'd heard the rumors as well; they had arranged themselves in a defensive huddle, and stared out forlornly over the relatively huge groups of Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws that sprawled on every side, as though expecting to be rushed and overwhelmed at any moment. Her approach was greeted with general apprehension, and set two fifth-year girls crying before she had said a single word.

"Now, now. There's no call for that," she said kindly. "Gather around, Slytherins, you all should hear this." They shuffled reluctantly a bit closer, but she could see that she'd only unnerved them further with this approach.

Well, there was no help for it; they were accustomed to Severus' unique style of leadership, and as inadequate a substitute as she was, they were stuck with her for the moment.

"First, you should all be pleased to know that we've received word from St. Mungo's. Professor Snape's condition has stabilised, and though he is still quite ill, Madame Pomfrey tells me his prognosis looks very hopeful."

She hadn't expected a rousing cheer at this news, and did not get one, but most of the youthful faces brightened at least a bit.

"And second..." She paused, wondering just how much they had heard and how it had come to them. "There are a good many wild and baseless rumors making the rounds this evening. I wish to caution you all not to jump to conclusions on the basis of such a rumor.

"If any of you have questions or concerns about what is being planned for the future of Hogwarts, do not hesitate to come and speak to me, until such time as your own Head of House has returned."

Many skeptical glances were exchanged, and she sighed, aware that her words carried unwelcome echoes of the sort of balderdash that vile Umbridge woman had been spreading about the school a few years previous.

"I do appreciate that you are all in a very difficult position," she said quietly, trying to meet each gaze directly for at least a moment. "And no one could ever take Professor Snape's place. I certainly wouldn't presume to try. Still, my door will be open at any hour, if you feel a need to talk to someone..."

She began to turn away, then paused and smiled slightly. "Even this dried-up old Gryffindor hag still has perfectly functional ears, you see."

A chorus of snickers, punctuated by a few mortified gasps, told her that she'd chosen the correct approach that time, as she headed off to find Albus and bring him up to date on the rumor mill.

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