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(A/N) when I write stories I set out with an idea and a vague knowledge of where I want my story to go and take it from there, as my teachers might tell you amidst other things ,lol. The plot will work out, I think ,but this chappie will be a bit uneventful, I don't want to rush things.
Disclaimer: If I was J.K I would probably not be writing fan fiction.
Chapter Two.
Settling In.
As Minerva Mcgonagall shrunk the last of her luggage to fit in an a dark green Auror combat bag, she looked around at her flat, she was not at all sad to leave it.It was nothing special, and the rent was cheap, so that she could use her wages on other things. It had been kept, however, in as neat a condition as was possible to keep a flat that belonged to someone else. The flat was small, square and beige, and the only thing left in it was all the things that one would normally find on a moving day, such as plastic tabs and bits of spellotape.
Minerva heard someone coming, it was Mrs. Hammond the landlady, a dour old woman on whose mind money, complaining and money weighed most heavily. Minerva wouldn't miss her either.
"So you are leaving then,? An old woman's lodging not good enough for you?" Mrs. Hammond rasped.
"Hardly, Mrs. Hammond," Minerva said through clenched teeth, "I have been offered a job teaching at a big school in Scotland."
"Oh really?" she sneered,"teaching what, gymnastics?"
Mrs. Hammond had once walked in on Minerva doing some balancing excercises for her next assignment.
Minerva thought quickly,she couldn't exactly say Defence Against the Dark Arts, could she? "No, mathematics, actually Mrs. Hammond."
"Huh, which school then? I didn't know there were any big ones in Scotland."
"Oh this is a new one, they've just set it up." Minerva was good at lying, an important talent for an Auror.
"What's it called then?"
Minerva couldn't be bothered anymore, "OH! Mrs. Hammond what's that boy doing in next doors vegetable garden?!"
"Eh? What? I cain't see no boy! Where?," she demanded.
Minerva was amazed how useful Auror training could be when dealing with troublesome landladies.
"Sorry Mrs. Hammond I must of been mistaken, goodbye then! and thanks for all the hospitality" she muttered.
"Bye, Miss Mcgonagall."
As Minerva walked over the threshhold of the flat for the last time she distinctly heard her say, "where's this boy now?"
Minerva shook her head and and hurried of round the corner to a small alley where she could disaparate.
She gathered her thoughts together and focused on Hogmeade Station where someone was to meet her.
"Destination,determination, deliberation" she murmured and with a small pop disaparated.
Albus was in the small Hogsmeade waiting hut at the station in the nasty drizzle, waiting for Miss Mcgonagall. It was two minutes to two, in two minutes and five seconds she'd be late, Armando and him hadn't taken into account whether she was punctual or not. He was wistfully contemplating Honeydukes new range of Fireside Toffees (guaranteed to bring warmth on the coldest of days) so that when Minerva aparated he didn't hear her.
Minerva looked around, it was good to see Hogsmeade in the daylight again,( she had many times taken part in ambushes and raids during Grindelwalds reign) that it felt like coming home after a long absence, which really she was, she had always felt more at home in Hogwarts than she ever did at her Aunt Hera's house. It wasn't that her Aunt and Uncle had ever mistreated her or even neglected her, they were just very uptight and old-fashioned and there only son far older than her, whenever she wanted to go exploring the rugged, wild countryside of her Highland home she had to escape and give a good excuse and when she wanted to ride her horse properly, not side-saddle, she had to do the same. It made an excellent basis for her later career as an Auror.
Minerva looked around and saw in the distance the magnificent gates of Hogwarts. She made her way to them past The Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes, Zonko's and others until she stood right beside them. She was just wondering what she was supposed to do when she heard someone calling from behind.
"Scuse me! Miss! Miss!"
"Yes?" she turned round and saw the elderly porter from the station jogging towards her. She kept a tight hold on her wand just in case.
"There's a Pr'fessor from the school waitin' for ye back at the station."
"Is there? I didn't see anyone."
"You wouldn't of, he wus waitin' in the lil' hut on the platform for ye."
"Oh, thank-you, I shall meet him shortly."
"O' cors' ma'm, will ye be comin' wi' me?"
"Yes certainly,"
It was suspicious,that she hadn't seen him first. Many innocent (or not) Aurors had been tricked in this way, and she wasnt about to be one of them. She entered the hut cautiously with her wand out, keeping to quiet search mode.
Albus had been horrified when the porter told him that Miss Mcgonagall had left and when he heard someone coming he was profoundly grateful,Armando would have his head if he lost her!
He watched as a person,alert and careful, slowly entered the hut. He could tell it was Miss Mcgonagall by the tall, elegant build and resolute chin, though her face was darkened.
"Hello Miss Mcgonagall."
Her wand snapped to point straight at his throat, held by a steady hand.
"Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes." he had to be cautious, she seemed a little paranoyed, not mention dangerous, but her next question threw him completely.
"What is my animagus form?"
"It is a tabby housecat."
She lowered her wand and looked at him, " so it is you."
"Who did you expect, Miss Mcgonagall?"
"Oh, I don't know, some dark wizard trying to get revenge on me? No, it is alright. So, are you going to let me into the grounds? I didn't know how to open the gates."
"Yes of course, but why would dark wizards be trying to have revenge on you?"
"You think that I did nothing during Grindelwalds reign?" she must of picked up on the accentuated she,for a shadow had sprung in her eyes, and behind it danced a furious fire, " Or perhaps you think that, I, a woman cannot fight? I have made alot of enemies, Professor Dumbledore, if you wish to dispute me I would gladly duel you."
Albus was flabbergasted, who was she to say all this, to have so many enemies? And in such a icy hard voice. She definitely would not win against him, but there was no doubt about it, she was powerful.
" I...er...ahm" he stuttered.
"No matter, but please, do not be so quick to judge."
Albus privately thought he was the last person to judge quickly, but didn't make point of it. He didn't want to cross this fairly unknown witch.
"Let's go, the Headmaster is expecting us by half past two."
She merely nodded and followed him out of the hut.
"Where is your luggage?" he couldn't see anything but a green bag she was carrying.
"In here" she said indicating the bag,"It's an Auror combat bag, made to be light, despite what is inside. I shrunk my luggage to fit."
"That's clever."
"Thank-you" she answered, still facing straight ahead.
As they reached the gates Minerva turned away while Albus undid the them with some spell.
"Why did you look away?" he asked as they entered the grounds.
She looked at him in some astonishment, "I know there are protective spells on the gates and it is against etiquette to look at an allies secret spells."
"Where did you learn that?"
"Battle Aurors have different training than the other aurors, we have finer knowledge of spies and..." she stopped abruptly.
"And what Miss Mcgonagall?
"Nothing"
Again he didn't want cross her so he said nothing. Luckily he saw the Thestral drawn carriage coming towards them.
He looked at Miss Mcgonagall, how would she react to the Thestral?
His answer was not at all. She calmly walked over to the carriage and ,disregarding his helping hand, got into the musty carriage, though Albus could of sworn that he saw her give the Thestral a quick pat as she alighted.
Minerva settled herself so that she could see the broad road that the cariage was trundling along.
The road leading to Hogwarts.
The next bit'll be with Poppy and Rolanda .
I am so sick of calling Minerva 'Miss' and I know she was prickly, but I like her prickly. Oh and I love Thestrals! There'll be more about them later.
Anyway, thank you reviewers of the past and future!
Diolch yn fawr iawn
Aeronnen
