Who'd I copy homework from?
Early the next morning, taking advantage of the fact that she had no Transfiguration class that day, Professor McGonagall returned to the Headmaster's Office and found Albus Dumbledore, who had only just gotten up. A nightcap still sat on his head, and his bleary eyes were still somewhat unfocused.
She had only come for one reason: to relay what Madam Hooch had reported to her the night before. She wanted to use the opportunity to persuade Dumbledore to let Gryffindor make an exception and recruit a first-year, so the team wouldn't suffer another crushing defeat like last year's.
At first, when McGonagall told him about Harry Potter and said she planned to make him Gryffindor's Seeker, Dumbledore had readily agreed.
But!
When he heard what McGonagall had to say about Annie—how she had been bouncing around among the brooms in midair—and that she wanted to recruit Annie for the Gryffindor team too, he fell silent.
"Well..."
"Are you sure, Minerva?"
Frowning, Dumbledore pondered for a long time before asking cautiously, still looking somewhat uncertain.
"Absolutely sure!"
"Professor Hooch saw it with her own eyes, and all the Gryffindor and Slytherin students in Flying Class that day saw it too."
"Quite a few other teachers and students saw it from the corridors around the castle as well. There's no doubt about it!"
McGonagall lifted her chin with an air of certainty and pride.
Clearly, she hadn't just taken Professor Hooch's word for it. She had investigated herself, questioned quite a few students, and only come here after confirming the story.
"But..."
"Harry is one thing. He's already eleven, and another year or so won't make much difference. I can make an exception for him."
"But Annie..."
"She's only eight. She's still a child!"
"Albus!"
"All the