A/N: My first attempt at a crossover and I'm not sure how good it is. I revised this so it would work better with subsequent chapters. Thank you for your patience.
Minerva McGonagall could not believe her luck. Her first reconnaissance mission since the Potter and Longbottom boys were born and she was on the run! Three Death Eaters were pursuing her through the small, sleepy village. Wincing at a particularly loud shout behind her, she determined that her best chance of escaping the three oafs was to switch to her Animagus form. Without slowing her stride, she focused on the feline sleeping deep within and flowed smoothly into her feline shape.
Now processing the information being fed to her by her feline senses, she scented railway tracks up ahead. Spotting a pipe under the tracks to drain water, she dashed through it and through the other end, tumbling pell-mell into a Junkyard. Sprawled on her side, she could only stay down, trying desperately to catch her breath.
("Hello, who are you?") Springing to her feet when she heard the voice, she spun and arched her back, ready to attack. ("Whoa, whoa! Settle down. I'm not going to hurt you.")
She stared at the other cat. He was big and white with black patches. Dark blue eyes studied her, puzzled. She sniffed carefully and was immediately puzzled. ("You smell different.")
("So do you,") he replied, black nose twitching. ("Not Jellicle, but not housecat, either.")
("Jellicle?") she asked, perplexed. ("What's that?")
He appeared to concentrate for a moment and flowed into a two-legged feline form with a more expressive face. ("This is a Jellicle.")
("Are you a wizard?") she questioned, her interest piqued.
He laughed. ("No, I'm only a Guardian. We have a Conjurer named Mistoffelees.")
The puzzlement returned. ("We? Who's we?")
("The whole tribe that lives here in the Junkyard,") he explained, waving a human-shaped paw to encompass their surroundings.
She looked around. ("Tribe?")
("Yes,") he confirmed with a nod. ("What about you? Where are you from?")
She thought for a moment. How to explain? ("Well, I'm only feline some of the time.")
He looked puzzled by that. ("What do you mean?")
Without a second thought, she switched to her human form and blinked when the feline in front of her appeared to be a normal housecat. "What happened?"
The cat meowed up at her and, with the usual difficulty she had when communicating with felines while she was human, she was able to make out what he was saying. ("When we're around humans, we automatically turn into housecats.")
"Oh, well, that makes sense," she commented.
("You can still understand me?") He sounded surprised.
She nodded, crouching to talk with him. "Yes. One of the benefits of being an Animagus."
("Animagus? What's that?") he asked, his ears turning to catch the sounds that drifted to him on the night breeze.
"A witch or wizard that can turn into an animal," she explained. "It's a very difficult process. Few can accomplish it."
He appeared to be amused. ("And you're one of them.")
She nodded again. "Yes, I am."
("If I may ask, why did you rush in here?") he inquired, his head cocked to one side.
"May I know your name first?" she asked in return.
He looked abashed. ("My apologies. I am Alonzo, Railway Guardian for the Yard Tribe.")
"Quite a title," she mused, studying the Tom carefully. He was rather large and muscular, so she supposed that was why he'd made a Guardian. "Well, I was being chased by some bad men and the only way I could escape them was to become a cat for awhile."
The white and black head bobbed. ("Say no more. Would you like to stay in the Yard for the night? To make sure your enemies are gone?")
She shook her head. "No, I must be getting back. I need to report to my, well, I suppose you could call him my boss."
("Boss?") he repeated, his hackles rising.
She stared at him. "Yes. I work as a teacher at a boarding school for young witches and wizards and he's the Headmaster of the school."
("Oh.") The Tom relaxed.
Minerva gazed at him shrewdly. "Obviously the word 'boss' has negative connotations for you."
("Huh?") Alonzo stared at her, obviously puzzled.
Minerva raised an eyebrow at this. "Something about the word 'boss' doesn't sit well with you."
("You're very obvservant,") Alonzo remarked, sidestepping her unspoken question as to why. ("If you still wish to go, may I know your name before you go?")
She smiled and eased back into her feline shape. ("You may call me Tabby.")
("Tabby it is,") he agreed with a smile as he switched to his two-legged form. ("Will you be leaving now?")
She nodded. ("Yes, I can't afford to be gone any longer.")
("Well, if ever you find yourself in need of a quick getaway and you're in the neighborhood, don't hesitate to come here.") He smiled down at her.
("I won't. If ever you see me and there's something I can do for you, don't hesitate to come to me.")
He nodded. ("I won't.")
("Good.") She scampered back through the pipe and, after checking to make sure no one was around, returned to her human form and Apparated to her summer home.
"My dear, I wondered when you would be returning," her boss greeted her upon her return.
She smiled in response as he kissed her cheek. "Albus, you should know by now that I am quite capable of taking care of myself."
"Yes, I am quite aware of this." He chuckled as they sat down before the fire. It gave no heat, but still lit the room. "Now, tell me what happened tonight."
Sobering, she recounted her adventure, including her encounter with Alonzo. "I wouldn't be surprised if some of the cats our students bring with them are Jellicles as well."
"Neither would I, my dear," Albus replied with a chuckle. "Neither would I. Now, what do you say to a game of chess?"
