The phoenix had chosen the most outstanding wizard of the Dumbledore family: Albus, the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
So when McGonagall saw Fawkes standing on the windowsill, she knew Dumbledore was looking for her.
As it happened, she had plenty of questions to ask him as well.
"Albus, is that thing all right?"
The moment she stepped onto the spiral staircase, McGonagall saw Dumbledore feeding some unknown berries to the phoenix.
"Oh, it's fine for now. But that's why I called you here as well."
As Dumbledore spoke, he stopped feeding Fawkes and turned to look at his assistant.
"Severus is deeply suspicious of Quirinus, and he suggested strengthening the protections around the Philosopher's Stone."
"Quirrell? That child is indeed rather strange. Even if he was frightened by a vampire, he shouldn't have become like this."
McGonagall sighed, then seemed to recall something and continued.
"You weren't in the Staff Dining Hall yesterday. That pungent garlic smell made it impossible to eat."
"Really? I thought he rarely went to the Staff Dining Hall."
"Exactly, which is why I remember it so clearly."
"Well, it seems necessary to have Poppy find a way to help the child."
McGonagall did not know what Dumbledore truly thought of Quirrell.
In any case, as Deputy Headmistress, she found it deeply unsettling that he taught students magic while carrying around garlic that served no purpose whatsoever—especially when he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Quirrell really should stay in the School Infirmary for a while. But the protections around the Philosopher's Stone also need strengthening. Do you have any suggestions?"
Dumbledore was the one leading this entire matter, so McGonagall asked him first.
"Oh, the mechanisms all of you designed are already quite ingenious. Redoing them is hardly feasible, so I was wondering whether you could