Minerva McGonagall sat in the staff room, surrounded by all the other teachers. Albus had called them in for this meeting to discuss everything that was going on. There was a current of restlessness around the room, especially coming from the Heads of Houses. Although they knew that this staff meeting ranked high in importance, they were desperate to get back to their students; many were stricken and traumatized from the night before, even those who had not known Cedric Diggory well. After all, every single person attending Hogwarts had seen the boy's lifeless body.
Well, Minerva amended to herself, three of the Heads of Houses were there. Severus Snape was not, and she felt her stomach sink as the implications of that ran through her mind. Being a member of the Order, she knew well exactly where the man had been since late last night, and it terrified her. The fact that he had still not returned weighed heavily on her heart. He might be a dour, bitter, cynical, unpleasant man, but he was her colleague and someone she cared deeply about. And even if she didn't, even if she despised him, she would never, ever want him in the position he was now. Looking at Albus, she could see the strain and worry in those blue eyes of his; for once, they were not twinkling. Knowing Albus for as long as she had, she knew it was weighing on him too, although he would never show it.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Dumbledore said, looking somber as he took in all of his staff members. "I am sorry I have had to call this meeting, for I know several of you are anxious to return to your students. But we do have some urgent matters of concern to discuss." He sighed, looking all of his many years as his gaze continued to wander around the room.
"First," he continued, "I should inform you that Alastor Moody will make a full recovery."
Minerva sighed in relief at this statement, and all of her colleagues did the same. Anger flared in her gut when she imagined all that he had been through. What that despicable monster Crouch had done to him ... her fury was beyond description. He'd kept Moody hostage, starving and dehydrated in his own trunk for nine months. There had been several hours when it looked like the man was too weak to survive, but it seemed as though Madam Pomfrey had worked another miracle.
"Thank Merlin," Filius Flitwick breathed. "Has he awoken yet?"
"No," Dumbledore said, "but Poppy is positive that he will in a day or so. He is weak, but he will recover."
"Where is Crouch?" Pomona Sprout asked, her face full of heartache from all that had happened.
"The Ministry are holding him," said Albus, and Minerva could sense the anger he felt just below the surface. She felt it too, but knew she was not nearly as proficient at hiding it as Albus was; it was broadcast plainly on her face.
"That complete idiot we have as a Minister kept him from giving testimony to the rest of the world, and he did it on purpose," Minerva fumed. "I'm sorry, Albus. I tried my best to make Fudge see reason, but ..."
"You don't owe me an apology, Minerva," Albus said sincerely. "You tried your best, and I couldn't ask any more of you than that."
"Yeah," growled Hagrid, his face contorted in a fierce scowl. "Blibberin' fool. Crouch was a disgustin' human bein', but now that he can' tell the world anythin', we've got a problem."
"Yes, we do," said Flitwick, and his eyes fixed on Dumbledore as he went on. "Albus, we need to tell the students that Mad-Eye Moody was not their professor this year. You wouldn't believe the nasty things I've been hearing all day. There are students who are drawing their own conclusions. They think Harry Potter murdered Cedric Diggory, and they won't hear otherwise."
"Filius is right," said Minerva, her gaze penetrating as she looked at Albus. "This secrecy needs to end now. We allowed you not to disclose the fact that Quirrell was compromised in the worst possible way three years ago. We, against our better judgment, kept several of the details of the Chamber of Secrets quiet two years ago. But we can't let it stand this year. A boy is dead because none of us realized the truth, and because we did not prevent these horrific occurrences, You-Know-Who has returned."
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