Chapter 2

Disclaimer: as before, it's not mine!

This time when they landed it was morning and students were streaming into a classroom. "Good morning. I'm Professor Dumbledore. As I've not taught you before, today's lesson will be for me to get an idea of your abilities."

This time they were standing behind Professor Dumbledore's desk while he addressed the class. "I would like you each to come to the front and perform a vanishing spell on a raven for me. Why don't we start at the front? Miss…"

"Hooch sir" said one of the girls they had seen staring at the opening feast.

"Very well."

The second was Professor McGonagall's younger self. She performed the spell and added a little extra. "Very good" Dumbledore said with a small smile on his face when he reappeared. The three of them stood open mouthed, for different reasons though.

"Bloody hell I hope we don't have to do that for our NEWTs."

"Honestly Ron that was very advanced magic. We don't have to do anything like that until university level."

"Oh thank god for that." The rest of the glass slowly went up and they saw that she was by far the best. "That was very good. Now for next time I would all like you to read the first two chapters of the textbook. Class dismissed. Miss McGonagall if you would stay a moment?"

"Of course sir."

"That was very impressive magic for a sixth year."

"Thank you sir" she said with a slight blush to her cheeks.

"You show great potential and you seem to enjoy transfigurations. I'm curious; would you be interested in becoming an animagus?"

"I would love to," she replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Very well meet me in my office on Thursday night at 8pm. I trust you're not busy at that time?"

"Of course not sir."

"I shall see you then." He grinned at her obvious excitement as she bounced out of the room.

The world became dark and spun around and they found themselves in Professor Dumbledore's office where Professor McGonagall was peeking her head around the door. "Come in, come in. Don't be shy my dear." She stepped fully into the room with a blush on her face, obviously embarrassed at being caught as shy. She stepped fully into the room and sat down into the chair she was directed to.

"Now I've been looking over your grades and I'm very impressed. You are the only person to yet beat my scores in transfiguration and 12 outstandings in your OWLs. Very impressive indeed. How many NEWTs are you taking?

"Nine, sir."

"That is rather a lot. Are you sure you can mange the animagus training? It takes an enormous amount of time and dedication."

"Of course I can sir." she replied forcefully.

He gave a small chuckle at this. "Well then, since we will be spending a lot of time together I suggest you start by calling me Albus." She blushed at this and suggested somewhat boldly "only if you call me Minerva." At this she caught his eyes and they shared a long look. Not even Ron missed the meaning of the look. "Oh my god they fancy each other"

"Ron!" came Hermione's shout "don't talk like that! They have a connection."

"Yeah obviously"

"Oi!" Harry shouted. "Why don't we watch the memory and we can discuss this when we come out." Ron and Hermione both looked sheepish and turned back to what was happening. Not much had changed except Dumbledore was explaining the procedure to McGonagall. She was staring at him with a fierce determination in her eyes. When he stopped she stared for a while longer and he caught her and she blushed again. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and she started jabbering. "Well I'd better go, I'd, err, promised Poppy another match."

"Oh, em, yes." he said somewhat flustered by her abrupt change in topic. "What about next Thursday at 8pm? We can start the potion work. Why don't you read up on the transformation? Here this is a good book you won't find in the library."

"Oh right thank you" and for the briefest moments their hands touched and they looked into each others eyes again then the moment was over and she fled from the classroom. He sat back into his chair and said softly to himself: "It's going to be an interesting year."

Again the world went black but they found themselves still in his office. There was no one else in the room and Dumbledore looked slightly annoyed and snapped when a knock on the door: "Come in."

"I'm so sorry sir. I was playing chess and we lost track of time."

"Say no more my dear. I play chess myself and understand how easy that is. Now what did I tell you about calling me Albus?" His tone of voice had changed dramatically since he had snapped at her to come in and he was now smiling.

"Sorry Albus" her cheeks were flustered and she avoided looking at him. He took pity on her and suggested they start the potion. They were quiet as they brewed the potion, focusing on it instead of each other and as they were waiting for the potion to finish he started asking about her chess game. "So who was winning?"

"Oh I was si- Albus. I've been playing far longer than Poppy and well, she's more interested in gossiping."

"Ah well. How about we play a game after you finish? I'm sure I could do with a challenge, my usual partner is a bit like Poppy." At her questioning look he continued "more interested in socialising then playing properly."

"I would like that" she said with a small smile on her face. "Good. Ah the potion is ready. Now you do realise that this is the part of the process where no amount of practising or determination will speed up the process?"

"Yes of course I do." she replied defensively.

"Well I'm just reminding you. You seem the wilful type so I'm just reinforcing the fact that this part takes its own sweet time. Sit down on the floor on the rug. Yes that's right now take a mouthful of the potion and just relax. You'll go into a trance and eventually you should see what animal you will become"

They next part of the memory flew by and they saw her come out of the trance and it was completely dark outside. She had an angry look on her face and he asked her gently: "I take it no luck?"

"No."

"Well don't worry it took me more than one trance before I found my form. Just remember that this part has no correlation with power, talent or determination, all of which you have plenty of. Now it's too late to challenge you to a chess match. I think it best that you get a full nights rest and we play a match on Monday night. Would that be alright? You could also ask any questions that come to you over the weekend about the trance."

"Ok Albus." she said with a tired smile on her face.

"That's better my dear, no more anger. I'll see you Monday then."

"I look forward to it." With one final blush she left the office and the world went black again.

Ron rose to his feet when they returned to the headmistress's office and asked: "What on Earth are we supposed to learn from that? That he and McGonagall fancied each other? Sorry had a connection."

"Obviously Ron, she helped him with something. Well I don't know we're only on the third memory." she said at Harry's look. "Oh stop it the two of you. He said they were important and he was right almost every time. I mean they were pretty much attached at the hip before he died. Oh honestly boys." She added seeing their sceptical looks. "Why don't we see what the next memories are about?"

A/N: mega thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter (I was bouncing off the walls; not a good idea when you're trying to study.) Feedback and constructive critism would be appreciated. Thankfully my exams are all over now so, fingers crossed, I should get the next chapter written sooner.

Thanks again,

Jenni