Albus knew the hour was late, but the information he had couldn't wait until the morning. He didn't know how long the information would stay relevant. Lifting his wand, whispered a few choice words to summon the members of the order to the Grimmauld dining room. Sleep would have to wait.
One by one Black, Lupin, Kingsley, and Severus appeared in all manners of dress. Sirius wore a royal blue dressing gown and Remus wore a pair of frayed stripped pajamas. Kinsley and Severus both sported their usual day attire.
Although they appeared disgruntled by the sudden calling they understood that Albus would not have called them if it wasn't important. It was only when they'd all taken their seats at the table that Albus realized his error. He'd failed to summon his deputy.
As before he whispered the words necessary to bring her forth.
In the Gryffindor tower, Minerva was just about to settle in bed when she felt her stomach drop in an all too familiar way. Horrified she lunged for the dressing gown hanging on the hook by the door. She disappeared before her fingers could grasp the tartan material.
Sirius had been about to fling a nasty curse in Severus's direction when Minerva appeared beside the chair occupied by Dumbledore. Wide-eyed, with their mouths hanging open, they stared at the shaking witch. Gone was the woman with the strict bun, stern expression, large emerald robes, and square glasses. Black silk, long raven hair, and stunning emerald eyes were in place of what they were used to seeing. Their eyes traced every aspect of the woman they knew but had never honestly seen.
Minerva blushed beneath their open stares, and for a moment her embarrassment threatened to overwhelm her. Her crippling humiliation crumbled beneath her famous temper as she snapped out of her moment of weakness.
"Now that you've all had your look, I would like to inform all of you that my eyes are up here!" Minerva snapped, her hands curled into fists.
"Merlin! It's like you all have never seen a woman in her night clothes."
The men blushed, averting their gaze as she transformed into her animagus. In cat form, she leaped onto the seat beside Dumbledore.
Sirius was the first to snap out of the Minerva induced haze. "I assure you that we have all seen women in night clothes before. Well maybe not Snively," smirked Sirius.
Snape's pale skin took on a red hue as he glared at Black. "I have seen plenty of women in night clothes!"
Sirius smirked. "Your mother doesn't count, but I'll give you Minni." Minerva hissed in Sirius direction, ears flat against her head.
Albus cleared his throat before things could further escalate.
"I summoned you all for a reason." Albus turned and towards Minerva. "I do apologize for the inconvenience, my dear. "
Minerva's cat eyes narrowed under his apology.
Albus smiled briefly before continuing. "I brought you all here because I have acquired a copy of a letter that has been shared amongst the death eaters." Albus handed the paper to Remus. One by one the members of the guild took turns trying to decipher the coded message. The mix of numbers and random letters blurred together in a confusing mess.
Sirius growled as Severus slid the paper in front of Minerva. "You're pretty close to those bottom feeders Severus. Do you mean to tell me that you know nothing of what is on that paper?"
Severus sneered at him. "Albus knows where my loyalties lie. If I knew what was on that paper, I would share it."
Kingsley rested his hands on the table. "The Auroras have been following the death eaters, but nothing of what they've reported relates to what you have come across Dumbledore."
Remus glanced at Minerva, who had her nose close to the document. "I have no news on my part. Things have been silent for quite awhile."
Albus sighed. "I was afraid this information would be useless if I waited until morning, but it would seem that the information this letter holds is not to be known to us regardless of the hour."
A small popping sound drew their attention towards the newly transformed Minerva.
Without a word, Minerva raised her hand, and two large books from the shelves in the den flew towards the room and landed on the table with a thump. The pages rustled until each book revealed a map. One of the wizarding world and the other of London.
"I've figured it out." They watched as Minerva summoned a quill to mark specific areas on both maps. "The symbols, numbers, and names are coordinates, shop owners, and elements." she traced a line from each marked area, connecting each one until an image of a snake with an open mouth formed. "They're targeting these people and their shops in the wizarding and muggle world. They must be warned before it's too late."
"Brilliant work my dear. Now that we know their plans, we have the upper hand."
Albus turned towards the Aurora. "Kingsley, do you think you can send out your Aurora's to these locations without them being seen?"
Kingsley nodded. "I'll assemble a team of my top and most trusted Auroras."
Albus smiled. "I believe a nightcap is in order," he said conjuring a glass of fire whiskey for each member.
Sirius smiled as he sipped his drink. "So mini," he said looking at her up and down. "Why on earth do you cover your lovely figure with those large robes?"
Minerva glared at him. "Mr. Black I may no longer be your teacher, but if you do not refrain from making further comments about my attire, I won't hesitate to give you detention."
"Well, darling as long as you're dressed like that I'll gladly stay there from dusk to dawn."
Remus choked on his drink and Albus eyes twinkled, but no one dared to laugh as Minerva rose from her seat. "Oh, Minerva, don't leave. I was only pulling your tail."
Minerva rolled her eyes. "I don't understand why you are all making a big deal about my attire."
"Well," Snape drawled, "maybe it's because for years we were unaware of how—" Snape was interrupted by Black,"What the bat is trying to say is that we were unaware of how womanly you are."
"Not that we did think you weren't pretty before," said Kingsley with a charming smile. Instead of hexing them all into the next year including Dumbledore because of his dam twinkling eyes, she decided to mess with them.
"I can be very feminine when I desire to be," she made her way to the fireplace as she spoke, hips swaying.
"If you have any doubts feel free to ask any of my ex-lovers just how womanly and feminine I can be."
She then stepped into the fireplace and was enveloped in emerald flames.
The men were silent until Snape spoke up "The sorting hat may have placed her in Gryffindor, but she would have made a perfect Slytherin."
They all nodded in agreement "I wonder if we can find any of her ex-lovers," asked Sirius.
"Well I'm going to retire, "said Albus smiling. Before leaving he turned to face them, "just so that you all won't stay too curious, I can personally say that she can be very feminine and cat-like," he said with a wink.
Their mouths hit the floor, as the head of the order vanished from sight.
Remus raised his glass. "Well, I propose we drink some fire whiskey in the name of that lucky old codger."
Kingsley shook his head. "I always thought something was going on between them when I was at school."
The rest laughed and drank in agreement.