'Miss Lynn, may I share what you've told me with Headmaster Dumbledore and your Head of House, Professor Flitwick?'
If Lynn said no, she would tell neither Dumbledore nor Flitwick.
'Of course, Professor. As a student I should keep nothing from my Professors.'
Lynn answered without hesitation, her voice mechanical.
'You needn't always be so rigid, so obedient, my dear.'
Professor McGonagall set her witch's hat on her head. 'Learn from Miss Granger holding you—be a little mischievous, a little livelier.'
Hermione flushed at the words. Compared with Lynn… had she herself perhaps broken rather a lot of rules?
She nodded to the five Young Wizards, then left for the doorway with Madam Pomfrey.
Hand on the handle, Professor McGonagall added one last reminder.
'I expect you'll need plenty of time to talk things through. Since your magical skills are more than adequate, I've excused you all from classes today.'
With that she quietly closed the door.
The moment they stepped off the girls' staircase, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey were met by every Little Eagle still in the Ravenclaw Common Room.
'Professor McGonagall, is something wrong with Lynn?'
Platt stood up as the representative and politely addressed Professor McGonagall.
"There's been a minor situation, Miss Platt, but Miss Lynn is fine now," Professor McGonagall nodded. "The details concern Miss Lynn's privacy; if you wish to know, you may ask her."
"But remember, if Miss Lynn prefers not to speak of it, don't press her."
"Of course, Professor McGonagall, thank you," Platt said earnestly.
Professor McGonagall waved a hand. "Caring for my students hardly warrants thanks."
With that she left with Madam Pomfrey—Madam Pomfrey back to the Hospital Wing, she herself to the Headmaster's Office to report Lynn's condition to Dumbledore.
In the Headmaster's Office, Headmaster Dumbledore closed his eyes after hearing Professor McGonagall's account.
Clever as he was, it had never occurred to him that the child Lynn came from another world.
And... what that other world was like; he remembered suspecting her.
Headmaster Dumbledore shook his head self-mockingly—Tom had made him see enemies everywhere.
"To place all hope and pressure on children—I can't understand the thinking of people in that twisted world."
With no students nearby, Professor McGonagall let her fury loose.
"Cowards! Worthless fools!"
Looking at his old colleague, Headmaster Dumbledore fell silent—yes.
Using a dark future as excuse to force today's children, abandoning their health and happiness to make them grow up fast—
what was that if not adults' failure? The more he thought, the more Headmaster Dumbledore felt his own plans must change.
"Minerva," Headmaster Dumbledore lifted his head, moisture glinting in sharp blue eyes, "what if I told you we're doing the same thing?"
"What?" Professor McGonagall stared, incredulous.
Headmaster Dumbledore drew a deep breath and slowly recounted the prophecy Professor Trelawney had once made.
A newborn child would defeat the Dark Lord, possessing power the Dark Lord lacked.
Professor McGonagall's lips trembled; she stared at Headmaster Dumbledore in disbelief.
"So the child... is Potter?"
Headmaster Dumbledore paused. "Voldemort chose Harry. There were two boys who fit—Harry and Neville. He chose Harry."
"Preposterous!" Professor McGonagall clenched her fists. "All the great Wizards in the Wizarding World, and Voldemort fears a baby enough to kill him!"
"Why didn't he dare come to Hogwarts then? Why not face you!"
Headmaster Dumbledore sighed. "He feared death too much."
"I thought as much," Professor McGonagall snorted coldly. "So that's why you kept Sybill?"
"Yes." Headmaster Dumbledore nodded.
"That reason, at least, makes sense."
Professor McGonagall added, then narrowed her eyes as something struck her.
"Wait, Albus—surely you're not planning for Potter to defeat Voldemort? A child?"
After all, Albus had just condemned the other world's practice.
"I'm afraid it must be Harry, Minerva—Harry must defeat Voldemort."
"Nonsense." Professor McGonagall stepped forward. "Potter's only in second year; what he endured last winter was already too much."
"I will not allow anything more dangerous."
"I'm his Professor, his Head of House; you're his Headmaster, Albus."
"We're still alive—it's not that child's job to face Vol—Voldemort!"
She spat the name through clenched teeth.
"He took two of my best students; I won't let him take their child."
"Even if only Harry can kill him, we should bind Voldemort and let Harry finish him after he comes of age, not send him into danger now."
"I am his Headmaster, Minerva." Headmaster Dumbledore lifted his head; blue fire rekindled in his eyes.
He looked fifty years younger. "So I've changed my mind. Most of the Wizarding World has lost its nerve."
"But I'm glad you haven't, and neither have Hogwarts' other Professors. Voldemort is our burden."
"Not Harry's. We'll catch Voldemort and let Harry finish him—I'll find a way."
Professor McGonagall smiled. "You know, Albus, Hogwarts' Professors and everyone in the Order of the Phoenix will follow you."
"I'll do my best, Minerva." Headmaster Dumbledore rose, radiant. "So Harry and the others can grow up healthy and happy—and so we don't become cowardly adults."
Lynn and the others knew nothing of the conversation in the Headmaster's Office.
After Professor McGonagall left, Penelope exchanged glances with Maranhao and Marietta.
"I reckon everyone outside is worried by now."
Penelope spoke first; the hurried arrival of Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey would have been noticed.
Given how much everyone valued Lynn, they'd be frantic.
"So we'd better go out and calm them, give a brief explanation," Maranhao added quickly.
Marietta looked uncertainly at Lynn. "Lynn, do you mind if Ravenclaw knows?"
Lynn shook her head expressionlessly. "I don't mind."
Her past was just that; let them know.
"All right, we're heading out then."
Penelope nodded and left the Dormitory with Maranhao and Marietta to explain Lynn's other-world origins.
It was fine for Ravenclaw to know; beyond that—Harry and Ron could know, but no one else.
Mind made up, Penelope prepared to impose a secrecy vow after the explanation and have a seventh-year cast a confidentiality Charm for good measure.
Once the three left, only Hermione and Lynn remained in the Dormitory.
Lynn turned mechanically to look at Hermione, who was holding her.
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